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Francis Ford Coppola’s controversial “Megalopolis” production is now being given the documentary treatment. Mike Figgis directs “Megadoc” about the making of Coppola’s self-funded $120 million epic. While the buzzy cast included a slew of “canceled” actors as well as beloved stars, the feature was plagued with allegations of wild on-set antics and unwanted advances against extras (Coppola has denied the claims.) Figgis, meanwhile, was on set to capture it all.

“Megadoc” is billed as an “unfiltered” look into Coppola’s “Megalopolis” and the auteur’s creative process as a whole. The official synopsis for “Megadoc” reads: “A raw, fly-on-the-wall documentary about Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-long journey in creating his self-financed passion project, ‘Megalopolis.’ The bold and unrelenting epic returns in Mike Figgis’ portrait of Coppola’s creative process – weaving together archival material, unfiltered cast interviews, and a close-up view of how the legendary filmmaker drew from Roman history,...

For the second consecutive year, the Best Picture Oscar has been all in the family.

Husband and wife Sean Baker and Samantha Quan have earned statuettes for producing the comedy-drama “Anora,” one year after spouses Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas won the same award for “Oppenheimer.”

Baker and Quan, who shared the award with producer Alex Coco, are the fourth — or fifth, technically; see the “Lord of the Rings” team below — romantic partners to score the Oscar’s most coveted prize.

Julia Phillips was the first female producer to ever win Best Picture, 51 years ago, for the 1973 mystery drama “The Sting,” which she produced alongside Tony Bill and her then-husband Michael Phillips. They divorced the same year as their Oscar win, but continued to work together, producing “Taxi Driver” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

Phillips wrote the brutal, blistering and best-selling memoir “You’ll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again,...

Peter Jackson almost lost it big time during Lord of the Rings filming, and it wasn’t just over some elf drama. In the middle of shooting the iconic trilogy, Jackson’s cool melted when a massive issue threatened to derail the whole project. Imagine years of hard work on the line, all because of one potentially franchise-ending problem. Yeah, it got that heated!

Peter Jackson. | Credit: Mike Walen/Cca-by-sa-3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Jackson, known for his calm demeanor, went full-blown fiery rage mode, determined to save Middle-earth from disaster. It’s crazy to think this legendary series almost got torched behind the scenes. But hey, sometimes it takes a little chaos to create a masterpiece.

Peter Jackson’s Fiery Stand: How a Heated Budget Clash Nearly Derailed Lord of the Rings Gandalf the White in The Lord of the Rings | Credits: New Line Cinema

“I’m doing the best job I can,...

Nearly three decades after its release in theaters, Face/Off remains a fan favorite action movie for fans of lead stars Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. As a sequel slowly continues to develop, fans can revisit the movie on a free streaming platform.

John Woo's Face/Off is now streaming for free on Pluto TV. Written by Mike Werb and Michael Colleary, the film is well remembered for its unique concept. Travolta played FBI agent Sean Archer opposite Cage as Castor Troy, a dastardly terrorist. After their faces are surgically swapped, the two take on each other's identities. Despite the unusual premise, the film drew high praise for its action sequences helmed by Woo, and the actors were hailed for their unforgettable performances. Face/Off was also a big box office success, earning over $245 million upon release in 1997. It has since become a celebrated cult classic and holds a Rotten Tomatoes score...

Update: Lionsgate has pulled the trailer following word that critic quotes in the trailer were fabricated.

“Lionsgate is immediately recalling our trailer for Megalopolis,” said a Lionsgate spokesman. “We offer our sincere apologies to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error in our vetting process. We screwed up. We are sorry.” The original story follows…

Lionsgate has shared the official trailer and poster for Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, which will open in domestic theaters and IMAX on September 27, 2024. The film has been rated R for sexual content, nudity, drug use, language, and some violence.

Megalopolis is a Roman Epic set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who remains...

Lionsgate Studios has signed a deal to distribute Francis Ford Coppola’s epic Megalopolis, fresh off its electrifying debut in Cannes, in theaters in the United States and Canada, it was announced on June 17, 2024 by Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

The agreement extends the studio’s longstanding partnership with Coppola and his American Zoetrope banner. Lionsgate Studios previously distributed many of the visionary filmmaker’s greatest masterpieces on home entertainment. Lionsgate Studios will also handle the distribution of Megalopolis across all home entertainment platforms.

Megalopolis will be released in domestic theaters and in IMAX on September 27, 2024. Fogelson said, “Francis is a legend. For many of us, his gifts to cinema were one of the inspirations to devote our own careers to film. It is a true privilege to work with him, and to bring this incredible, audacious, and utterly unique movie to theatrical audiences. At Lionsgate,...

At long last, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis has a home in North America. Lionsgate Studios has picked up rights for the U.S. and Canada, arriving in theaters and in IMAX on September 27. This marks a long-term partnership with Coppola, as Lionsgate previously handled the director’s recent re-edits including Apocalypse Now Final Cut, The Conversation, The Cotton Club Encore, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, and One From the Heart: Reprise. Lionsgate Studios will also handle the distribution of Megalopolis across all home entertainment platforms.

Through separate deals, the film previously secured distribution in the UK (Entertainment Film Distributors Limited), France (Le Pacte), Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (Constantin Film), Italy (Eagle Pictures), Spain (Tripictures), Australia (Madman Entertainment), Benelux (September Films), Bulgaria (Profilm), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (Film Europe), Ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom Film), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Hungary (Mozinet), Israel (Lev Cinemas), Morocco (Facility Event), Portugal (Midas Filmes...

Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, announced today that Lionsgate Studios will distribute Francis Ford Coppola’s epic Megalopolis, fresh off its electrifying debut in Cannes, in theaters in the U.S. and Canada. Megalopolis will be released in domestic theaters and in IMAX on September 27, 2024.

The agreement extends the studio’s longstanding partnership with Coppola and his American Zoetrope banner. Lionsgate Studios previously distributed many of the visionary filmmaker’s greatest masterpieces on home entertainment, including Apocalypse Now Final Cut, The Conversation, The Cotton Club Encore, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, and One From the Heart: Reprise. Lionsgate Studios will also distribute Megalopolis across all home entertainment platforms.

Through separate deals, the film previously secured distribution in the UK (Entertainment Film Distributors Limited), France (Le Pacte), Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (Constantin Film), Italy (Eagle Pictures), Spain (Tripictures), Australia (Madman Entertainment), Benelux (September Films), Bulgaria (Profilm...

Lionsgate has struck a deal to distribute Francis Ford Coppola’s polarising Megalopolis in North America following its recent Cannes world premiere.

‘Megalopolis’: Cannes Review

The epic sci-fi starring Adam Driver as a visionary architect will open in the US and Canada including Imax on September 27.

The deal with Lionsgate appears to be purely a distribution play and not an acquisition. Recouping would be a tall order for distributors given that Coppola, who envisioned the film decades ago, sold part of his vineyard to fund the $120m production.

Megalopolis received a chilly reception from US buyers when it screened...

“Megalopolis,” the latest film from master Francis Ford Coppola and starring Adam Driver, has at last found a home and will be distributed by Lionsgate Studios in the U.S. and Canada following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last month, IndieWire can reveal exclusively.

Coppola’s $120 million epic, made and financed independently by Coppola himself, will be released theatrically and will also receive an IMAX release, as IMAX’s CEO had previously committed to doing regardless of the distributor. Lionsgate plans to release the film on September 27, 2024. Lionsgate Studios will also handle the distribution of “Megalopolis” across all home entertainment platforms.

“Megalopolis” is a Roman epic fable set in an imagined Modern America. Driver plays Cesar, a genius artist who wants to build The City of New Rome into a utopia, all against the will of the city’s mayor (Giancarlo Esposito) who prefers the status quo. Torn...

The most awaited film this year at the Cannes Film Festival, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, had its world premiere Thursday night, with the dystopian epic decades in the making landing a seven-minute standing ovation.

Coppola, the 85-year-old director and five-time Oscar winners, bowed as the lights came up inside the Grand Theatre Lumiere. He was congratulated by his Cotton Club star Richard Gere and got a hug from Cannes boss Thierry Fremaux as the ovation carried on.

Said Coppola to the crowd finally: “Thank you all so much — it is impossible to find words how I feel.” He then introduced those around him — including his granddaughter and son and collaborator Roman Coppola and sister Talia Shire. He called his cast “family” and emphasized the movie’s end message: “We should pledge allegiance to our families…that children should inherit a beautiful world from us.”

Coppola gives a speech after...

Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings stands as one of cinema’s most iconic and successful endeavors. The filmmaker brilliantly brought different elements of the timeless tale to the silver screen, captivating audiences worldwide. The film trilogy’s immense popularity not only garnered adoration but also transformed into a billion-dollar franchise.

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings | Credit: New Line Cinema

However, everything almost fell apart due to the filmmaker’s ambitious vision for the climactic Battle of Helm’s Deep in the 2002 film The Two Towers. The arduous filming process took its toll, not only on the filmmaker himself but also on the cast, including Viggo Mortensen, who later admitted that although he loved the sequence, he hated filming it.

Viggo Mortensen Hated Filming the Battle of Helm’s Deep in The Lord of the Rings Sequel

The climax of the 2002 film in...

Adam Driver has played a city-dwelling seducer before — think: “Girls” at the very least — but this time, the actor has transformed into a slick harbinger of chaos for Francis Ford Coppola’s epic “Megalopolis.”

Driver stars as artist and city planner Cesar Catilina, once again adjacent to faux Italian-ness for the screen. Cesar’s biggest opponent is Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare per the official synopsis. Yet when Cesar begins an affair with Franklyn’s socialite daughter Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), Cesar’s determined path to forge a new city begins to falter.

Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D.B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman also star.

Coppola writes, directs, and produces the epic feature which had an estimated budget of $120 million-plus.

“Our new film ‘Megalopolis’ is the best work I’ve ever had the privilege to preside over,” reads a quote attributed to iconic director Francis Ford Coppola attached to the official trailer for his new epic film.

The picture, which will premiere in competition on Thursday at the Cannes Film Festival, has been a project many years in the making for the director. He first began work on the screenplay in the 1980s.

The legendary filmmaker behind “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” has invested $120 million of his own money into the film.

The trailer starts with a voice-over musing about the decline of empires – “when does an empire die? Does it collapse in one terrible moment? No, no. But there comes a time when people no longer believe in it” — before cutting to a Roman chariot race, a metropolitan skyscape and scenes of protest.

According to the official synopsis, “‘Megalopolis...

Exclusive: Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis has sold to key independent buyers in Europe’s top five territories, we can reveal.

Ahead of its anticipated world premiere at this week’s Cannes Film Festival the movie has sold to Constantin Film for Germany and all German-speaking territories, including Switzerland and Austria; Eagle Pictures for Italy; Tripictures for Spain; and Entertainment Film Distributors Limited for the U.K. A deal with Le Pacte for France was announced last week.

The movie debuts on May 16 in Cannes with cast Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, D.B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman set to tread the red carpet.

Related: ‘Megalopolis’: What The Critics Are Saying

Coppola’s longtime lawyer, Barry Hirsch, and Goodfellas President Vincent Maraval brokered the new Megalopolis deals with Constantin Film’s Oliver Berben...

Adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings book series, Peter Jackson created one of the most epic film franchises that masterfully captures the source material’s immersive world and multi-layered characters. The film’s core has the timeless themes of heroism, battles against overwhelming evil, and an epic journey of human experience. The epic saga features one of the most chilling battle scenes in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, The Battle of Helm Deep.

Sir Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood in Lord of the Rings

However, things did not go well when Barrie Osborne was forced to share a message with the filmmaker when he was creating the legendary moment of the film. This resulted in Jackson bursting out in rage, as talking to the film’s executive over the film’s budget was the least significant task for him, at that point of time.

Adam Driver is front and center in the new teaser for Megalopolis. The self-funded Francis Ford Coppola film will have Driver's character able to control time as the architect seeks to rebuild a city from ruins.

Megalopolis dropped the just over two-minute first look clip on YouTube. The teaser showcases Driver's character, Cesar Catilina, who comes through a window and tentatively eases his way to the edge of a skyscraper. Ceaser is seemingly about to step off the building when he frightfully yells for time to stop. At his command, the cars below and everything else around him pauses as he steps back and contemplates the occurrence. Coppola wrote, directed, and produced the film. Fred Roos, Barry Hirsch, and Micael Bederman also produced. Anahid Nazarian, Barrie Osborne, and Darren Demetre served as executive producers.

Related 'I Hope He's Proud': The Crow Remake Director Says New Film Honors Brandon Lee...

Francis Ford Coppola’s self-funded feature Megalopolis has revealed a first look image after landing a Cannes competition berth.

The project follows the rebuilding of a metropolis after it has fallen into decline, with two competing visions — one from the idealist architect Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), the other from corrupt Mayor Frank Cicero, played by Giancarlo Esposito — colliding.

The first official image from Megalopolis reveals Driver eyeing a rebuilding of the City of New Rome, while Nathalie Emmanuel, as Julia Cicero, the socialite daughter of Mayor Cicero, looks on. Megalopolis is structured as a Roman epic fable set in an imagined modern America.

To rebuild New Rome, Julia Cicero ultimately comes between a Cesar Catilina she falls in love with and Frank Cicero whom she remains loyal to as her father, as the two men battle with competing visions.

The film will screen in competition in Cannes on May 17 in...

One of the year’s most anticipated films will be on sale for independent buyers at the upcoming Cannes market. We can bring you news that French sales company Goodfellas has boarded Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis ahead of the movie’s world premiere in Competition at the festival.

Also confirmed today is the film’s French deal with Le Pacte and the involvement of longtime Coppola collaborator Paul Rassam.

Speculation has been rife around rollout plans for the $120M self-financed epic ever since Coppola showed it for the first time to buyers at L.A.’s Universal CityWalk Imax Theater at the end of March, with the screening followed shortly after by news of its Cannes selection.

Adam Driver stars as an idealistic architect attempting to rebuild New York as an American Utopia, with the ensemble cast also featuring Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voigt,...

As Francis Ford Coppola's next big film inches closer to a release, the first official look has been revealed. A first look photo has just been released, though it remains unknown when the film itself could be hitting theaters.

The first look photo showcases two members of the movie's star-studded cast. It shows Adam Driver (Ferrari) and Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones) with the sights of a large city seen behind them. Driver is playing an architect plotting to rebuild a city from ruins, while Emmanuel plays the daughter of a corrupt mayor, a foe to Driver's character. Per Vanity Fair, Coppola describes Driver's character as having the "power to stop time," and Emmanuel's character is torn between her love for the architect and her loyalty to her father, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.

Related Francis Ford Coppola Praises Nephew Nicolas Cages Performance in...

“Oppenheimer” is the most nominated film at this year’s Oscars with 13 nominations. That’s one shy of the all-time record of 14 nominations so it missed out on Oscars history in the nomination phase.

However, Universal’s movie could match Academy Awards history in the awards phase by equalling the record of 11 Oscar wins overall. So far, three films have won 11 Academy Awards. They were “Ben-Hur” in 1960, “Titanic” in 1998, and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” in 2004. Here’s the breakdown of what awards they won.

“Ben-Hur”

Best Picture — Sam Zimbalist Best Director — William Wyler Best Actor — Charlton Heston Best Supporting Actor — Hugh Griffith Best Film Editing Best Cinematography (Color) Best Music (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) Best Costume Design (Color) Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color) Best Sound Recording Best Visual Effects

*”Ben-Hur” was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for Karl Tunberg...

It’s been two decades since an epic fantasy film made history at the Oscars, winning every category in which it was nominated, and three women set new records. There weren’t many surprises at the 76th Academy Awards, but there were some memorable moments. Billy Crystal hosted for his eighth time on February 29, 2004. Read on for Gold Derby’s Oscars flashback 20 years ago to 2004.

It was finally Peter Jackson‘s time as the third installment of his “Lord of the Rings” trilogy earned him a trio of awards. Despite numerous nominations, the first two films failed to make big showings; however, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” not only claimed Best Picture, but won all 11 categories in which it was nominated. It tied with “Ben-Hur” (1960) and “Titanic” (1998) for most wins in one ceremony, and holds the record for biggest sweep. It was the 10th film...

“Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” the first part of Wuershan’s big-budget “Fengshen Trilogy,” topped the mainland China box office for the second weekend and expanded its week-on-week haul by 35%.

‘Barbie’ also showed signs of resilience in a market where it opened a week earlier in a disappointing fifth place.

“Creation of the Gods I” grossed $57.6 million. according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. That compares with $42.6 million in it opening frame and after 11 days in Chinese theaters, it has earned $156 million. Also, unlike its first weekend, “Creation of the Gods” was the winner on each day between Friday and Sunday.

The “Fengshen Trilogy” set out to be a mega scale blending of history, folklore and mythology from more than 3,000 years ago, that would be China’s answer to both “Lord of the Rings” and “Iron Man.” It counts of Barrie Osborne (“Lord of the Rings...

While “Barbie” was romping to box office records in North American and scoring strongly in many international territories, the pink phenomenon could muster only fifth place in China, the world’s second largest movie market, on its opening weekend.

“Barbie” managed $8.2 million in its opening three days, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.

Local box office sources show the film trapped in that position on all three days of the weekend session, as the locally-produced titles jostled for leadership and swapped positions. Somewhat encouragingly, the daily score for “Barbie” had increased by Sunday as it was given more screening sessions by Chinese exhibitors.

“Barbie” joins a growing list of Hollywood films that have disappointed at the mainland Chinese box office this year. Others include “The Little Mermaid,” “Indiana Jones” and “Fast X.”

Hollywood titles are facing fewer structural impediments in China (import and certification delays) that they did in recent years.

Starting next week, you won’t need to have Disney Plus to purchase “Mulan” — but it will still cost $30.

Disney debuted the live-action remake of the animated original on Sept. 4, initially available only to subscribers of Disney Plus ($6.99/month).

As of next Tuesday, Oct. 6, “Mulan” will be available on multiple digital on-demand platforms, and they’re already taking pre-orders. Disney’s “Mulan” costs $29.99 and is being offered currently by digital retailers including Amazon Video, Google Play, and NBCUniversal’s Vudu and FandangoNow.

That means “Mulan” will have another two-month run as a purchase-only release before the title becomes available to all Disney Plus subscribers as of Dec. 4, 2020, for no extra charge.

Bonus content in the digital release of “Mulan” will include featurettes such as a look at actor Yifei Liu’s journey to becoming Mulan and Ming-Na Wen (who voiced the heroine in the original animated film) reflecting on her...

At the 11th hour, Amazon has come on board as a partner for Disney Plus’ “Mulan” $29.99 early-access movie release.

“Mulan” is available for purchase inside the Disney Plus app on Amazon Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices, an Amazon rep confirmed Friday. As previously announced, Disney Plus subs also can buy access to the live-action remake directly through disneyplus.com as well as through Apple, Google, and Roku devices for $30 in the U.S. (on top of the $6.99/month subscription price).

Those who purchase Premier Access of “Mulan” will be able to stream the film for “as long as you are an active Disney Plus subscriber,” according to Disney. In three months, “Mulan” will be available to all Disney Plus subscribers for no additional cost.

“Mulan” was originally set to get a theatrical release in March 2020. The film became available Friday (Sept. 4) after months of postponements because of the Covid pandemic.

Even without a presence in China amid Coronavirus concerns, Disney's remake of the classic animated adventure Mulan is poised to make bank at the box office when it opens later this month. The family drama is on track to make upwards of $90 million dollars during its first weekend, arriving as Disney's first big release of 2020. Today, we have a special look at the movie featuring previously unreleased footage. It also teases a new song from pop icon Christina Aguilera.

Christina Aguilera has released the new original song 'Loyal Brave True' along with an updated rendition of her classic 'Reflection', both of which are featured in Disney's new live-action retelling of the blockbuster Mulan. Loyal Brave True is available for download starting today, but as you can see, you'll get a little taster spoon of the song in a brand new sneak peek at Mulan which Disney sent over directly this morning.

“Mulan” may not be for very young children, as it’s become the first Disney live-action remake to receive a PG-13 rating.

The new take on the Disney classic got the rating from the Motion Picture Association of America due to the “sequences of violence” apparently depicted in the film. All previous live-action remakes from the studio have received a G or PG rating, and 2017’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” was Disney’s most recent film to be labeled PG-13.

“Mulan” is straying away from the model of previous remakes like “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Cinderella.” Unlike the other live-action takes, “Mulan’s” trailers depicted the film without its famous musical numbers and removed some of the characters featured in the original 1998 animated version, including Mushu, Mulan’s dragon companion who was voiced by Eddie Murphy. Two trailers have been released,...

Disney has released a new Mulan commercial for Super Bowl. The aim of the new footage is to announce that the studio is dropping a full-length trailer during Sunday's big game. While a lot of Disney fans have had mixed feeling with their live-action remakes, the studio is continuing on with one of their most beloved tales. Even with criticism, nearly all of the remakes have been huge winners at the box office, including last year's Aladdin and The Lion King. However, Mulan seems to be a completely different beast altogether.

This Super Bowl spot features more of the intense action that we've seen in previous trailers, but this is new footage. Disney is stripping away the musical aspect of the story and going for a war story with cinematic battles, which means breaking out into song would not have fit the tone in this particular project. The movie looks...

Mulan is all set to hit theaters on March 27th. In celebration of the upcoming premiere, Disney has released a set of character posters on social media to get fans hyped up. The live-action remake has seen some controversy over the past few months for various different reasons. With that being said, there are two factors that people are mainly concerned with. Fans are upset that the movie will not contain any of the songs from the animated classic or include Mushu, a fan-favorite character.

Director Niki Caro is going for a more streamlined approach to the Mulan remake. The trailers and promotional material makes it look like a full on war thriller. The character posters highlight the seriousness behind the project. Featured on the posters are Yifei Liu as Mulan, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, Jason Scott Lee as Bori Khan, Yoson An as Cheng Honghui, Gong Li as Xianniang,...

We have a brand new trailer for Disney's Mulan remake. This is the latest in the studio's ongoing effort to revisit its back catalog of animated classics and revamp them in live-action form for modern audiences. So far, with just a couple of misfires aside, that's a strategy that has proved itself to be quite lucrative. In this case, the Mouse House is taking things up a notch by making a grand Chinese-set war epic which will be a markedly different undertaking than say, turning Simba into a lifelike CGI lion for The Lion King remake. In this latest footage, we get a look at the new witch villain Xianniang played by Gong Li.

This is the second Mulan trailer for the movie that has been released. The studio previously unveiled a teaser, as well as a new Mulan poster, but this is a more thorough look at what's...

Cliff Curtis and Taika Waititi at the Nz premiere of ‘Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen’.

Cliff Curtis has more 50 screen credits as an actor but he is just as passionate about his role as a producer and executive producer – and he may soon direct his first feature.

“My interest in trying to understand my trade and craft took me behind the camera,” Curtis tells If on the line from his home in Rotorua. “When I got into producing I discovered there is a totally different aspect of my brain and how I think about things.

“With acting you are expected to play to the crowd and to be gregarious. I have that part to my nature but there is another part where I’m very private and I like to spend time on my own, isolated and within my head.

”As a producer you are there at the genesis of the project,...

Disney shared the first image of its live-action “Mulan” starring Liu Yifei.

Production, which began Monday, will take place in China and New Zealand. Niki Caro is directing the remake of Disney’s classic animated feature, which follows the titular character as she disguises herself as a man in order to spare her elderly father from having to join the military.

Jet Li will play the emperor of China, Gong Li will portray a powerful witch, and Donnie Yen will be Mulan’s mentor, Commander Tung. Yoson An will play Chen Honghui, a confident and ambitious recruit who becomes Mulan’s ally and eventual love interest. The cast also includes Utkarsh Ambudkar, Ron Yuan, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao, Cheng Pei-Pei, Nelson Lee, and Chum Ehelepola.

Chris Bender, Jason Reed, and Jake Weiner are producing the movie. Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King“), Bill...

Mulan (Yifei Liu) Photo: Stephen Tilley © 2018 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Production on Disney’s “Mulan,” a live-action adaptation of the studio’s 1998 animated feature, has begun.

The film will shoot on locations in New Zealand and China and will open in U.S. theaters on March 27, 2020.

Liu Yifei was cast as Hua Mulan following a year-long global casting search. Joining her in the film are: Donnie Yen (“Star Wars: Rogue One”); Jason Scott Lee; Yoson An (“The Meg”); Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Pitch Perfect”); Ron Yuan (“Marco Polo”); Tzi Ma (“Arrival”); Rosalind Chao (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”); Cheng Pei-Pei; Nelson Lee; Chum Ehelepola; with Gong Li and Jet Li.

“Mulan” is the epic adventure of a fearless young woman who masquerades as a man in order to fight Northern Invaders attacking China. The eldest daughter of an honored warrior, Hua Mulan is spirited, determined and quick on her feet.

Disney has finally started filming on the long-awaited Mulan remake. The movie is a live-action adaptation of the studio's classic 1998 animated feature. The film will shoot on locations in New Zealand and China throughout the rest of this year, with an eye for a March 27th, 2020 release date. Disney started development of the remake back in 2015 with hopes that the movie would hit theaters in November of this year, but it was taken off of the release schedule and replaced with The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

Mulan is the epic adventure of a fearless young woman who masquerades as a man in order to fight Northern Invaders attacking China. The eldest daughter of an honored warrior, Hua Mulan is spirited, determined and quick on her feet. When the Emperor issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army, she steps in to take the...

Cameras have started rolling on Disney's upcoming live-action adapation of Mulan and they've released our first look at the titular heroine. Come inside to take a gander!

It's crazy to think it's been 20 years since the animated Mulan film hit the big screen. Two decades later and filming on a live-action version of the story is now underway. To mark the event, Disney has released the first official image of Liu Yifei as the heroine herself, and she looks great:

Liu Yifei was cast as Hua Mulan following a year-long global casting search. Joining her in the film are: Donnie Yen (“Star Wars: Rogue One”); Jason Scott Lee; Yoson An (“The Meg”); Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Pitch Perfect”); Ron Yuan (“Marco Polo”); Tzi Ma (“Arrival”); Rosalind Chao (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”); Cheng Pei-Pei; Nelson Lee; Chum Ehelepola; with Gong Li and Jet Li.

“Mulan” is the epic adventure of a...

WaterTower Music has announced today’s release of the soundtrack to the science fiction action thriller “The Meg,” directed by Jon Turteltaub (the “National Treasure” movies), which will be released in theaters August 10, 2018. The soundtrack features music from the film composed by Harry Gregson-Williams (“The Town,” the “Equalizer” films, the “Shrek” franchise), and will be released on August 3rd, one week before the film is in theaters.

Harry Gregson-Williams is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after composers, whose scores span the spectrum of high-profile projects from action to drama to animation – each infused with the emotional punch and atmospheric intensity that mark his distinctive musical style. The Golden Globe- and Grammy Award-nominated composer offers, “For ‘The Meg,’ I set out to create a memorable recognizable sonic motif which follows the mystery of the great Megalodon—something robust in nature, which acted as a kind of warning call and instilled an...

Even Amity Mayor Larry Vaughn would close the beach if he saw this shark.

With a new trailer for the massive shark movie The Meg (based on Steve Alten's 1997 book) expected to arrive soon, EW unveiled a new image from the film (see below) that shows the prehistoric size of the Megalodon shark, which makes beachgoers look like minnows in comparison.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub (Last Vegas, National Treasure) and featuring a cast that includes Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Cliff Curtis, Rainn Wilson, and Ruby Rose, The Meg is scheduled to swim into theaters on August 10th from Warner Bros.

Stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates, check out the previous press release and new image below, and in case you missed it, read our Q&A with Meg author Steve Alten (back when Eli Roth was set to helm the film adaptation). Also, be sure to head...

It's capable of bringing down a T-Rex in prehistoric times, so just imagine the meal it could have with a modern-day menu. The massive Megalodon shark from Steve Alten's 1997 novel, Meg, will finally come to life on film via Warner Bros., but viewers now have a bit longer of a wait to see the ultimate apex predator make its splash on the big screen.

Multiple sources, including Variety, report that Meg will now be released in theaters (in 3D and IMAX) on August 10th, 2018, moving it several months from its previous March 2nd slot.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub (Last Vegas, National Treasure) and featuring a cast that includes Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Cliff Curtis, Rainn Wilson, and Ruby Rose, filming on Meg began last October in New Zealand, with shooting on the project also being done in China.

Stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates, check out the...

Pete’s Dragon, a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers and actors and hilarious bloopers. Today’s announcement also ushers in tomorrow’s World Dragon Day and the heartwarming adventure arrives on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand on Nov. 29; just in time to entertain the entire family this holiday season.

Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look...

When you first heard that Pete’s Dragon was coming to theaters, you probably expected something that would become one of the biggest films of the year. Of course, the cynical among us probably expected something to ruin their childhood.

Either way, once Bryce Dallas Howard and Robert Redford were attached, you had to take notice. But, in a year that was filled with bizarre disappointments, the movie didn’t take off the way it deserved.

Well, it’s headed home, and if you didn’t catch it in theaters, you really want to mark your calendars, because I know a lot of younger audiences didn’t get a chance to see this, and they’re going to love it. The release is pretty loaded with bonuses too, but in keeping with the current trend, they may not be things that younger viewers are especially interested in.

Take a look at all the info below,...

Pete's Dragon is coming home on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD!

“Pete’s Dragon,” a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot -- who just so happens to be a dragon -- comes home on Nov. 29 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand. Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers and actors and hilarious bloopers. "Pete's Dragon" stars Bryce Dallas Howard ("Jurassic World") as Grace, a forest ranger in the Pacific Northwest who happens upon 10-year-old Pete, played by Oakes Fegley ("This is Where I Leave You...

Burbank, Calif., Oct. 14, 2016 — Pete’s Dragon, a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot — who just so happens to be a dragon — comes home on Nov. 29 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand. And the timing couldn’t be better: Today’s announcement ushers in tomorrow’s World Dragon Day and the heartwarming adventure arrives just in time to entertain the entire family this holiday season.

Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers and actors and hilarious bloopers.

Pete’s Dragon stars Bryce Dallas Howard...

Principal photography is underway in New Zealand on the science fiction action thriller Meg, being directed by Jon Turteltaub (the National Treasure movies, Last Vegas). The film stars Jason Statham (Spy, Furious 7, The Expendables films). Award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing (Transformers: Age of Extinction, Forbidden Kingdom, The Message) has been set to star opposite Statham. In addition to New Zealand, filming on Meg is also being accomplished on location in China.

A deep-sea submersible-part of an international undersea observation program-has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific...with its crew trapped inside. With time running out, expert deep sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) is recruited by a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Winston Chao), against the wishes of his daughter Suyin (Li Bingbing), to save the crew-and the ocean itself-from this unstoppable...

The modern-day world meets a prehistoric threat from below in the massive shark thriller Meg (based on Steve Alten’s novel of the same name), which recently began filming in New Zealand with a cast that includes Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, and Cliff Curtis.

Press Release: (October 12, 2016 – Burbank, CA) – Principal photography is underway in New Zealand on the science fiction action thriller “Meg,” being directed by Jon Turteltaub (the “National Treasure” movies, “Last Vegas”). The film stars Jason Statham (“Spy,” “Furious 7,” “The Expendables” films). Award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing (“Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Forbidden Kingdom,” “The Message”) has been set to star opposite Statham.

A deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific…with its crew trapped inside. With time running out,...

Brazilian director David Schurmann’s film was selected over Aquarius by one vote, prompting some social media protests.

On the morning after the gala screening of Little Secret at the 18th edition of Rio de Janeiro Int’l Film Festival, the Brazilian director David Schurmann packed his bags to travel to Los Angeles. Schurmann is to meet awards consultant Steven Raphael, who has been hired (via Skype) to help him with his film campaign for the 89th Academy Awards.

Little Secret was chosen last month as the Brazil’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film, after beating its rival, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Aquarius, by one vote only (the result was five to four). The choice made by Brazil’s Oscar selection committee further fuelled the controversy around Aquarius and led to protests on social media against Little Secret.

“Although at that time no one had seen our movie yet, we were attacked...

As Travis Manawa, he's managed to navigate a world overrun with zombies on Fear The Walking Dead, but he'll soon have to face a more ancient and massive threat in Meg, the upcoming shark thriller from Warner Bros.

Deadline reports that Cliff Curtis is set to appear in the movie Meg, based on Steve Alten's novel of the same name. Curtis will play an Operations Chief on a ship called the Mana One, co-starring alongside Jason Statham, Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson, and Li Bingbing.

At one time set to be helmed by Eli Roth, Meg will be directed by Jon Turtletaub and is scheduled for a March 2nd, 2018 release. Filming begins later this year, and we'll keep Daily Dead readers updated on further details. For more information on the movie, check out the previous press release:

Previous Press Release: (May 16, 2016 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Pictures has set a March 2, 2018 U.

New Line is building an impressive cast for their upcoming thriller Meg. Action icon Jason Statham is set to star alongside Jessica McNamee, Bingbing Fan and the most recent casting addition, Ruby Rose, who came aboard earlier this month. Today we have word that The Office alum Rainn Wilson is coming aboard in a very important role.

The story will center on Jason Statham's character, a former Naval captain and expert diver. He is recruited to undertake a deep-sea mission rescue off the coast of China, where he must save a couple of scientists who find themselves under attack from a threat more terrifying than any monster. Deadline reports that Rainn Wilson is playing Jack Morris, the tech billionaire who funds an underwater observation program that unknowingly unleashes the giant shark known as the Carcharodon megalodon, which is said to be a 70-foot, 40-ton prehistoric cousin of the great white shark.

If you want one person fighting a giant shark alongside you, it's probably Ruby Rose. And as luck would have it, that's exactly who Jason Statham is getting as a sidekick in the long-awaited adaptation of Meg, the prehistoric great white novel from author Steve Alten. Jon Turteltaub is directing this thriller for Warner Bros. and Gravity Pictures, which is set for release March 2, 2018.

A break out on the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black, Ruby Rose is currently deep into negotiations to star in Meg. Earlier in the week, it was announced that Jessica McNamee (Sirens) had signed on as the female lead. Chinese actress Bingbing Fan has also signed on, with most of the story set in her home country.

Meg is considered an ensemble, which will be led by Statham, who plays a former Naval captain and expert diver. He is recruited to undertake a...

Nearly four months after action icon Jason Statham signed on to fight a prehistoric shark in the upcoming Warner Bros. thriller Meg, the rest of the cast is starting to come together. Today we have word that Jessica McNamee (Sirens) has come aboard as the female lead, with Chinese actress Bingbing Fan signing on as well. Unfortunately, no details have been given about their characters at this time.

Eli Roth was attached to direct Meg before he dropped out back in March, with Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure) immediately coming aboard to replace him. Variety reports that Warner Bros. has set a March 2, 2018 release date for Meg, putting it up against an untitled Fox/Marvel movie. Meg will also debut one week after Legendary's Pacific Rim 2 on February 23, 2018 and one week before Disney's Wreck-It Ralph 2.

The movie is based on the novel by Steve Alten, which was adapted by screenwriter James Vanderbilt (White House Down,...