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If your thirst for non-stop action isn’t sated by the bloodletting in “Gladiator II,” take a gander at previous epics like “Spartacus” and “Ben-Hur,” which both heavily influenced the original “Gladiator.”

We’ve also thrown in some cinematic suggestions that go beyond Ancient Rome, with sprawling battles in West Africa, Persia, Spain, Japan and Norway, and confrontations that don’t necessarily involve a sword and shield.

Behold some great, epic action movies like “Gladiator II” to watch next.

(Universal Pictures) Gladiator (2000)

The Oscar-winning Ridley Scott epic is obviously the template for the new sequel, but if for some reason you haven’t seen Russell Crowe’s Maximus (almost) single-handedly upending the Roman Empire, you should remedy that with due speed. The film, which won five Oscars, including one for Crowe as Best Actor, is always worth revisiting, especially in light of the many callbacks in the new film. Strength and honor!

Michelle Satter, the founding senior director of artist programmes at Sundance Institute, will be honoured at a gala fundraiser on January 24, 2025.

Satter is being recognised for her “longstanding commitment to nurturing artists and cultivating independent film through the Sundance Labs” over the past four decades.

The annual event will also see Vanguard Awards presented to Didi director Sean Wang, and Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, co-directors of Sugarcane. All three premiered their films in Park City earlier this year.

“For over four decades Michelle has been devoted to truly championing independent storytellers,” said Amanda Kelso, acting CEO of Sundance Institute.

The Sundance Institute is finalizing details for a festival gala fundraiser — Celebrating Sundance Institute presented by Google TV — that will honor one of its own and a roster of rising filmmakers.

Set to take place at Utah’s Grand Hyatt Deer Valley on Jan. 24, which marks the first weekend of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, the gala will shine a spotlight on marquee honoree Michelle Satter. The beloved and respected Satter, who serves as founding senior director of artist programs at Sundance Institute, will be feted “for her longstanding commitment to nurturing artists and cultivating independent film through the Sundance Labs, where visionary artists convene to develop groundbreaking projects through an in-depth creative process, for the past four decades,” per the Institute.

The evening will see a series of Vanguard Awards presented by Acura also doled out to Dìdi filmmaker Sean Wang and Sugarcane co-directors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie.

The annual Sundance Film Festival gala fundraiser has unveiled its 2025 honorees. Known as “Celebrating Sundance Institute,” presented by Google TV, the gala will bestow the Vanguard Awards to “Dìdi” writer/director Sean Wang, and “Sugarcane” co-directors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. Both features premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

“Dìdi” won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Cast, before being acquired by Focus Features.

“For over a decade, Sundance has been my north star, symbolizing artistic excellence and bold, distinct voices,” Wang said of the honor. “It has since also become a community of artists, an unwavering support system, and a creative home for both myself and my first feature, ‘Dìdi (弟弟)’. As the recipient of several Sundance Institute artist development programs — Ignite, Taaf, and the Screenwriters and Directors Labs — I know firsthand how deeply transformative that support can be for emerging storytellers.

The Sundance Institute announced today that Michelle Satter, Founding Senior Director of Artist Programs at Sundance Institute, will be honored at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival gala fundraiser, taking place at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Utah on January 24, 2025.

The event, dubbed Celebrating Sundance Institute, will see Satter recognized for her decades-long commitment to nurturing artists and cultivating independent film through the Sundance Labs, where artists convene to develop groundbreaking projects through an in-depth creative process.

Other honorees will include Dìdi filmmaker Sean Wang, as well as the Sugarcane duo of Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, who debuted their latest films at this past year’s festival and will respectively receive the Vanguard Awards for Fiction and NonFiction.

The Vanguard Award recognizes emerging artists whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence. Past recipients have included Celine Song, Maite Alberdi, W. Kamau Bell, Nikyatu Jusu, Ryan Coogler,...

Danielle Deadwyler, who was previously snubbed by the Academy Awards for her starring portrayal in Till, said she’s more “relaxed” about being back in the Oscars conversation with The Piano Lesson. And, in fact, de-centering awards season might be the way to go.

“I’m relaxed about it,” the actress told the Los Angeles Times in a recent profile. “I’ve always known what has always been most valuable, which is people, what is going on with people, what is going on with culture. This is so much about the ensemble, about how much we are connecting and the joy that it brought us all to make. It’s not about recognition individually. That should not overwhelm one’s ego or psyche. I feel good and more settled in that understanding. The incessant questioning about awards, awards, awards can be too much.”

Notably, Deadwyler found herself amid a 2022 controversy...

After public outcry over her performance as Mamie Till in 2022’s tragic biopic “Till” being snubbed by the Academy and others, Danielle Deadwyler is returning to awards conversations for her haunting turn in Malcolm Washington’s upcoming Netflix film, “The Piano Lesson.” Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, the story is set in 1936 and follows a Pittsburgh family as they confront the ghosts of their oppressive past in the hopes of finding a better present and future. Speaking in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Deadwyler shared that she felt “relaxed” about all the Oscar buzz she was receiving, but that this kind of material doesn’t make her think about individual recognition.

“That should not overwhelm one’s ego or psyche,” Deadwyler said. “I feel good and more settled in that understanding. The incessant questioning about awards, awards, awards can be too much.

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My Old Ass is a coming-of-age sci-fi comedy-drama film written and directed by Megan Park. The Prime Video film follows Elliott, an 18-year-old who takes mushrooms on her birthday and comes face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old. Soon, she is contacted by her older self who gives her life advice which makes Elliott forces to rethink everything from family to love. My Old Ass stars Maisy Stella, Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, and Aubrey Plaza. So, if you loved the coming-of-age drama, comedic tone, and compelling characters in My Old Ass here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (Prime Video) Credit – Amazon Studios

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is a sci-fi romantic comedy-drama film directed by Ian Samuels from a screenplay by Lev Grossman. Based on Grossman...

Wicked director Jon M. Chu will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards, which recognize the year’s best editing achievements in film and TV.

The American Society of Editors made the announcement Monday, along with revealing that longtime Robert Altman and Tyler Perry collaborator Maysie Hoy and Star Wars Oscar winner Paul Hirsch will be bestowed with career achievement honors during the ceremony, set for January 18, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

The Filmmaker of the Year honor goes to an artist who “exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” Ace said. Recent recipients include John Waters, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Kathleen Kennedy and Christopher Nolan.

“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” said Ace president Sabrina Plisco, Ace, noting Chu’s...

American Cinema Editors (Ace) announced today that “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu will receive the 2025 Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing an artist who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Ace will also bestow career achievement honors to film editors Maysie Hoy and Paul Hirsch for their outstanding career contributions to film editing. All honors will be presented at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards on January 18, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall where winners will also be announced in 13 competitive categories recognizing the best film editing achievements of the year in film and television.

In a press release, Ace president Sabrina Plisco said, “Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style. From the vibrant energy of “In The Heights” to the sweeping romance of the groundbreaking “Crazy Rich Asians,” his films...

Wicked director Jon M. Chu will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award from the American Cinema Editors (Ace), it was announced on Monday.

The award recognizes “an artist who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film,” according to Ace. Film editors Maysie Hoy and Paul Hirsch will also receive career achievement honors for their “outstanding career contributions to film editing.”

All honors will be presented at the 75th annual Ace Eddie Awards on Jan. 18 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Nominations will be announced on Dec. 11.

“Jon M. Chu is a visionary filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic storytelling and innovative visual style,” says newly elected Ace president Sabrina Plisco. “From the vibrant energy of In The Heights to the sweeping romance of the groundbreaking Crazy Rich Asians, his films are a testament to the power of cinema to transport, entertain and inspire.

Exclusive: Lena Waithe, the creator of The Chi, is to sit down with a slew of Black creators and actors in a new podcast.

Waithe is hosting the Legacy Talk podcast, which will launch on November 12. The series is produced by her own Hillman Grad banner with Lemonada Media overseeing ad sales, marketing and distribution.

Lemonada is the company behind Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Fail Better with David Duchovny that also signed a deal with Meghan Markle earlier this year.

Each episode will see Waithe interview Black icons, discussing specific projects in their careers that have served as key moments or milestones in their lives. They will dive deep into their journeys, how they’ve shifted narratives, broken barriers, and transformed the industry from every angle—whether on-screen, behind the camera, or in the writer’s room.

Guests include Sheryl Lee Ralph, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Jada Pinkett Smith,...

Slamdance is celebrating the best indie films from 2024 with an inaugural awards ceremony aptly called The Indies. The Slamdance Film Festival announced Wednesday that its new annual ceremony will toast “the spirit of truly independent filmmaking” on December 9 at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. Actor/comedians Nic Novicki and Steve Way (“Ramy”) will host.

An interesting caveat, though: For films to be eligible at the ceremony, features must not have held their world premieres at Sundance, SXSW, or Tribeca. However, nominees must have played at one or more domestic film festivals over the last calendar year leading into the ceremony. The Indies also are staying domestic, with a focus on narrative and documentary features from filmmakers only in North America.

“Independent U.S. and Indigenous filmmakers feel neglected and abandoned,” said co-founder Paul Rachman in a press statement. “The current landscape for recognizing fresh voices in cinema has never...

Exclusive: Veteran producer Tucker Tooley is partnering with Big3, the 3-on-3 basketball league founded by show biz multi-hyphenate Ice Cube and longtime entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, for a docuseries chronicling its rise to prominence over the last seven years.

Not yet titled, the series will tell the unflinchingly truthful story of the first new sports league to succeed since the UFC. Each episode will delve into the challenges and controversies of the past seven seasons, as well as the eclectic personalities, pinnacles, and heartbreaks on the court as teams vie for the 2025 championship title. Additionally, the series will examine the ongoing off-the-court entrepreneurial challenges of bringing a new sport and league to market.

News of the Big3 series comes following the recent conclusion of the league’s seventh season — its most-viewed season on record. Fully financed, the project will be produced by Tooley under his Tooley Entertainment banner. No word...

Exclusive: Jayme Lawson (The Batman) has been tapped for a key role in The Running Man, Edgar Wright’s adaptation of the novel by Stephen King for Paramount Pictures.

Lawson plays Sheila, the wife of Glen Powell’s Ben, who struggles to care for their sick child amid a dystopian future, leading to Ben’s participation in the titular competition. Others starring, as previously announced, include Josh Brolin, Karl Glusman, Katy O’Brian, Daniel Ezra, and Lee Pace.

Published by King under the pen name Richard Bachman, 1982’s The Running Man is set in an oppressive future where the government controls the media. The story follows Ben Richards as he volunteers to participate in a deadly game show called The Running Man, which will see him hunted by professional killers over the course of 30 days. Should he survive, he’ll win a cash prize that will help lift his family out of a brutal living situation.

The last five years have been transformative for cinema, between the impact of Covid, the streaming revolution, and the rise of AI technology. Which is exactly why Empire decided to poll an array of top filmmakers in Hollywood – and beyond – on what exactly is going on in the industry, and what it all means for the movies. The result is a major new article – available to read in full in our Mickey 17 issue (order here).

One of the hottest topics is the encroachment of AI, with the industry still figuring out how it could, should – or should not – be used in moviemaking. “It is not creative,” says Gina Prince-Bythewood, director of The Woman King. “It just takes from others’ creativity.” Sofia Coppola – director of Priscilla and Lost In Translation – questions its capabilities beyond creating mere imagery: “It can be helpful, but I think you need a heart and soul to make art.

Back in 2018, Sony Pictures announced that it was working on a Silver and Black movie featuring Spider-Man foes/allies Silver Sable and Black Cat.

The project got pretty far into development before being scrapped, with The Old Guard director Gina Prince-Bythewood attached to helm, and a competed script from Lindsey Beer.

Sony ultimately decided not to move forward with Silver and Black, but we did hear that there were plans in place for solo movies featuring the title characters. Nothing ever materialized, but insider Daniel Richtman is now reporting that a Silver Sable project is once again in the works (we're not sure if it's for the big or small screen).

Silver and Black was reportedly going to focus on Silvija Sablinova tracking down a fugitive Felicia Hardy for the U.S. Department of Justice. Spider-Man wasn't part of the script, but other characters such as Scorpion, Tarantula, Chameleon, Tombstone (and...

Despite a string of box office failures, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (Ssu) continues to thrive with numerous projects in the pipeline. Venom: The Last Dance is set to premiere next week, followed by Kraven the Hunter in December, while Spider-Man Noir is currently being developed for Amazon.

Additionally, there are rumors circulating that the long-anticipated film centered on the Sinister Six is still in the works.

According to the latest rumors from Daniel Richtman on his Patreon account, one Ssu project has resumed development—the film centered on Silver Sable.

A ‘Silver Sable’ project is reportedly back in development at Sony.

(via @DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/L0mXWfGusv

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) October 17, 2024

Silver Sable is a highly skilled mercenary, hunter, and soldier from Latvia. As the daughter of the former leader of the Silver Sable Sablinova family, she has a deep-rooted legacy of hunting war criminals and is dedicated...

Despite lining up box office bombs, Ssu is going strong with plenty of projects in development. ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ is set to release in a week, ‘Kraven the Hunter’ releases in December, and ‘Spider-Man Noir’ is currently in development at Amazon.

There have also been some rumors that the planned movie focusing on Sinister Six is still in development.

The latest rumors brought by Daniel Richtman on his Patreon account claim that one Ssu project is back in development – the one focusing on Silver Sable

A ‘Silver Sable’ project is reportedly back in development at Sony.

(via @DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/L0mXWfGusv

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) October 17, 2024

Silver Sable is a skilled mercenary, hunter, and soldier from Latvia. She is the daughter of the former leader of the Silver Sable Sablinova family, which has a long-standing history of hunting war criminals. Her background is marked by her commitment to bringing criminals to justice,...

Blade Reboot Reportedly Still Doesn't Have a Director - Main Image

There are several projects that sound great but could never get off the ground. For a while, it was the Sandman movie—which became a series, and then there was the Green Lantern reboot—which also got retooled for television. Another project that seems to be languishing in development hell is the Marvel Studios’ Blade reboot with Mahershala Ali.

The film was announced back in 2019, and there has been no significant update since. Now, the film just received a major update—but it’s not one the fans are going to be happy with.

Jeymes Samuel Reportedly Exits Blade Reboot

Reports have been going around recently that director Jeymes Samuel could be up for the Blade reboot helm, and some have said that he was able to impress Marvel with his pitch for the film. However, according to Jeff Sneider...

John Boyega and Danielle Deadwyler are set to portray late soul legend Otis Redding and his widow Zelma Redding in Fifth Season’s forthcoming biopic “Otis & Zelma.”

Directed by breakout filmmaker Channing Godfrey Peoples and produced by Fifth Season, Homegrown Pictures and Kinfolk Management + Media, the music-based film chronicles the life of Otis Redding, who is considered to be one of the most impactful singer-songwriters of our lifetime, with indelible hits including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Respect,” “These Arms of Mine,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and “Hard to Handle.” Redding’s burgeoning superstar career was tragically cut short when he died in a 1967 plane crash, leaving behind Zelma and three young children. He was 26 years old.

With revisions by Godfrey Peoples, “Otis & Zelma” is written by acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and actor Donnetta Lavinia Grays. The film “celebrates the 10 short years Otis and Zelma had together,...

Paul Thomas Anderson was 26 years old when he, in the words of Ebby Calvin Laloosh, announced his presence with authority. "Boogie Nights" was as familiar as it was revolutionary. Any kid who'd received an unofficial film school degree via their local movie theaters, video stores, and whatever pay cable channels to which their parents subscribed were fluent in Anderson's heightened cinematic language. We knew every reference, every lifted technique, and were certain that this brilliantly bratty mash note to the moving image would change the medium forever. A whole generation of young filmmakers suddenly had license to tell stories in their heavily referential yet deeply personal manner. For better or worse, we saw the world through the lens of a camera and/or the flickering light of a movie theater projector. We lived, we loved, we got our hearts broken and our asses kicked, and we were determined to...

Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Jason Reitman and his longtime collaborator cinematographer Eric Steelberg will receive the third annual Variety Creative Collaborators award at Virginia’s Middleburg Film Festival in October.

The award will honor their collaborations on films such as “Juno,” “Up in the Air,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and the upcoming release “Saturday Night.”

Middleburg Film Festival executive director Susan Koch said, “We are thrilled to once again partner with Variety on presenting the Creative Collaborators Award. This year’s recipients, Jason and Eric, couldn’t be more deserving. ‘Saturday Night’ is a fantastic film and beautifully showcases their remarkable decades-long partnership, which has produced so many memorable films.” Koch added, “We can’t wait to welcome Jason back to Middleburg and are delighted Eric will be joining him to share with our filmgoers a behind-the-scenes look at their collaborative process. “

“Saturday Night” editor Shane Reid, left, editor Nathan Orloff and cinematographer...

In a world where female filmmakers are consistently making strides, Zoe Saldaña’s comment has become a matter of controversy. The actress has starred in some iconic action blockbusters like Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy, and she recently expressed her concern about the lack of female directors in the action genre.

Zoe Saldana in Special Ops: Lioness | Bosque Ranch Productions

Her statement has drawn significant attention because there are indeed several female directors who are making waves in the industry. Saldaña’s opinion must’ve been in support of women, but not acknowledging their work makes her look ignorant about the subject.

Zoe Saldaña’s Claim and the Backlash Zoe Saldaña in The Losers [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]

As per reports from Variety, Zoe Saldaña spoke to the TIFF Ceo at the Toronto International Film Festival and made some remarks about the scarcity of female action movie directors, and...

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The young adult fantasy Children of Blood and Bone thrust Tomi Adeyemi into the spotlight, debuting at number one on the New York Times’ YA best-seller list. The novel was inspired by everything from Harry Potter to West African mythology, and it interpolates themes of colonialism in its story of a struggle to restore magic to the fictitious country of Orïsha.

Adeyemi followed her debut with Children of...

The Black Girls Rock! Awards, which is set to return following a five-year hiatus, has announced a new taping date for the 2024 ceremony.

The awards show, hosted by Oscar-nominated actress Danielle Brooks, will now be recorded live at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Friday, Nov. 1, and air at a later date on Lifetime. It was initially scheduled to be taped on June 27.

This year’s taping now “coincides with a convergence of history and progress, taking place during an election season of historic significance. As the nation stands on the cusp of potentially electing its first female president [Kamala Harris], Black women are not merely participants in this pivotal moment — they are at its forefront,” the press release read.

The honorees, which were announced earlier this year, include Tracee Ellis Ross receiving the Star Power Award; Gina Prince-Bythewood being honored with the Shot Caller Award; Fantasia receiving the Black...

On Saturday, August 24, the African American Film Critics Association honored the winners for its sixth annual television awards. Among the list of champions were Emmy nominees “Masters of the Air,” Apple TV+’s limited series about a bomber group during World War II, and Ayo Edebiri, the female star of FX’s cooking dramedy “The Bear.” Wendell Pierce (“Elsbeth”) and Josiah Cross (“Masters of the Air”) were also recognized with trophies. Gold Derby’s associate editor Latasha Ford hit the red carpet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel to chat with the stars, honorees and presenters heading into the ceremony.

See 2024 Aafca TV Awards winners: ‘Masters of the Air,’ Ayo Edebiri, Wendell Pierce …

Watch each Aafca TV Awards red carpet interview by clicking their name below:

Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood: Winners for Best Limited Series/Special (“Genius: MLK/X”)

Nkechi Okoro Carroll: Salute to Excellence Award...

Genius: MLK/X executive producer Reggie Rock Bythewood, in accepting the award for best limited series/special at the 6th Annual African American Film Critics Association (Affca) TV Honors Saturday afternoon, made a political plea to attendees as he and the producing team of the National Geographic series, which includes wife Gina Prince-Bythewood, noted the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s historic meeting in the halls of the U.S. Capitol building in 1964.

“Sixty years later, let’s pick up the baton, let’s organize, let’s elect Vice President Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States,” Bythewood told guests. “And by any means necessary, let’s continue to realize the dream.”

Aafca’s TV Honors was held Saturday at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in the same ballroom where the Academy Awards were first held 95 years ago. The association presented a total of...

Okay all you music biopic fans, just keep reading the title past the first two words. This should give you a hint that it’s not the “rags to riches” tale of the 60s talented titanic trio from Motown. Actually, this story is set quite a distance from Detroit. way down in North Carolina. And yes, much of the flashback sequences are set in the 1960s, but the title refers to a nickname given to three childhood friends. And if you’d guess that the ploy revolves around their “ups and downs”, romances and challenges, well you’re perhaps familiar with the novel this film is based upon…or you picked up the gist of it from the poster. So, get those tissues ready to wipe away the tears inspired by The Supremes At Earl’S All-you-can-eat.

After a brief flash-forward, the film focused on three middle-aged women strolling toward the aforementioned eatery.

In “Hollywood Black,” a four-part docuseries streaming on MGM+, director Justin Simien chronicles the vast and untold history of the Black experience in Hollywood. Inspired by historian Donald Bogle’s book by the same title, the series unearths parts of film history that don’t get taught in film school, and puts into historical, cultural, and societal contexts those performers and films that did break through to the mainstream. When Simien was a guest on an upcoming episode of the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast, he talked about how he was inspired to make the series by his own recent discovery of films, filmmakers, and rich periods of Black cinema that he was previously unaware of and wasn’t taught in film school.

“I am so shocked because it’s not what you think, it’s not what you were conditioned to believe,” said Simien. “What you finally uncover is some of the work is so sophisticated,...

Tina Mabry’s The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat shares the story of Odette, Clarice and Barbara Jean, three lifelong friends united through every challenge life brings. From escaping troubled homes as teenagers in 1960s Indiana, the women lean on each other through everything from heartbreak and loss to health scares.

Directed by Tina Mabry from a script co-written with Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film explores the power of their bond over decades. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor plays the outspoken Odette, with Uzo Aduba as pianist Clarice and Sanaa Lathan portraying Barbara Jean. Younger versions are acted by Kyanna Simone, Abigail Achiri, and Tati Gabrielle.

At its heart, the film celebrates the solace women can take in sisterhood when facing adversity. From their antics as youth to familial roles as adults, the Supremes lean on each other and local haven Earl’s Diner. Their friendship proves a source of fun, comfort, and strength,...

The Supremes At Earl’S All-you-can-eat follows lifelong best friends Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan), and Clarice (Uzo Aduba) known as “The Supremes”, who share the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood from decades of weathering life’s storms. Through the joys and sorrows of life, marriage and children, happiness and blues, love and loss, new shades of heartbreak and illness threaten to stir up the past when the trio sees their bond put to the test as they face their most challenging times yet.

Cast includes Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan, Uzo Aduba, Mekhi Phifer, Julian McMahon, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Russell Hornsby.

Directed by Tina Mabry and Written by Cee Marcellus and Tina Mabry, Based on the 2013 New York Times best-selling novel by Edward Kelsey Moore.

The film hits Hulu on Friday, Aug 23rd.

For a chance to win a code to stream the movie:

Email michelle@wearemoviegeeks.com to enter.

With “Hollywood Black,” Justin Simien peels back the history of Black creatives in Hollywood and how their impact helped shape the entertainment industry despite the onslaught of bigotry they faced.

The four-part docuseries was inspired by historian Donald Bogle’s book “Hollywood Black: The Stars, the Films, the Filmmakers” and spotlights Black talent and resistance, starting with the silent film era.

The series, which Simien directed, features Hollywood notables like Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler and Issa Rae.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch.

When does “Hollywood Black” come out?

“Hollywood Black” will premiere on MGM+ with its first episode on Sunday, Aug. 11.

Will “Hollywood Black” be streaming?

Yes, “Hollywood Black” will be streaming weekly on Sundays on MGM+ starting Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. Pst. There are four episodes in the series; check out the episode release guide below:

Episode 1: “Built On Our Backs” — Aug.

Although more and more Black stories are making their way to TV screens and movie theaters, the experience of Black filmmakers, actors, and other creatives in Hollywood has been largely overlooked. The new docuseries “Hollywood Black,” premiering on the MGM+ App starting Sunday, Aug. 11, aims to help in rectifying that. The series explores Hollywood from the silent era all the way to the present day, through the lens of key Black figures who made Tinseltown what it is today. Stream the series with a 7-Day Free Trial of MGM+ App.

How to Watch ‘Hollywood Black’ When: Sunday, Aug. 11 TV: MGM+ App Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of MGM+ App 7-Day Free Trial $6.99+ / month via amazon.com About ‘Hollywood Black’

Inspired by the book from historian Donald Bogle, this four-part docuseries, directed by Justin Simien, chronicles a century of the Black experience in Hollywood. By unearthing personal stories from actors,...

A little over a year after landing her first Oscar, and a month after earning her second-ever Emmy nomination for her role in The Bear, Jamie Lee Curtis can now add “doctor” to her long list of accomplishments.

The star was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts by the American Film Institute at the film school’s class of 2024 commencement ceremony on Saturday. Halloween director John Carpenter was on hand to present her with the honor, noting, “We did Halloween, and it made all of us famous, but Jamie Lee especially. She became the queen of horror movies; I’m not sure she wanted that. I’ve watched Jamie’s career through the years and watched her grow as an actress, and finally, finally, she won an Academy Award — and rightfully so. She is an amazing talent.”

Upon taking the podium at the Tcl Chinese Theatre, an emotional Curtis told the crowd,...

When the script for “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” landed on Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor’s desk, she jumped at the opportunity to star in the historical drama. Despite a three-decade-long career, it’s a rarity for Ellis-Taylor to find herself cast in projects that pass the Bechdel test. “The Supremes,” which debuted at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (Mvaaff) on Wednesday night, is based on the best-selling novel by Edward Kelsey Moore. Directed by Tina Mabry, the film offered Ellis-Taylor and her castmates, Sanaa Lathan and Uzo Aduba, the chance to participate in something rarely seen on screen.

“There is a lack of curiosity about Black women, about the lives of Black women. A lack of interest, and a lack of care,” Ellis-Taylor says, sitting down with Variety at the festival. “[The Supremes]” is a rebellion against that.”

Set in a small southern town, the film follows lifelong friends Odette...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Blink Twice, It Ends With Us, The Umbrella Academy and Borderlands.

The Umbrella Academy premiere

Stars Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher and Justin H. Min walked the carpet at the fourth and final season premiere of their Netflix series on Monday in Los Angeles.

David Castañeda, Elliot Page, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Tom Hopper, Ritu Arya, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher and Justin H. Min It Ends With Us premiere

Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate and Hasan Minhaj debuted their big-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s hit novel in New York City on Tuesday, with support from Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Brandon Sklenar, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Colleen Hoover and Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment...

Justin Simien’s Hollywood Black, an edifying if focus-challenged four-part docuseries about the central yet under-appreciated African American contributions to cinema history, comes with a couple of semi-contradictions.

The documentary’s entire premise is based on the inadequacy of how film schools address the topic, yet it’s inspired by the book by Donald Bogle, whose Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies and Bucks has been indispensable in cultural studies classes for 50 years. It presumably aims to bring its topic to the widest possible modern audience, but does so on a streaming service — MGM+ — whose footprint is rooted in the past and nearly negligible in the present.

Full of fascinating conversations with fascinating people and packed with interest-piquing clips, Hollywood Black nevertheless falls well short of resembling a definitive documentary on the subject. But even well-informed viewers are bound to come away with several insights and a few overlooked texts to seek out.

Get ready to go back to Hillman College. A sequel to A Different World is in development at Netflix, per Deadline. The college was the setting for six seasons of the NBC comedy, which was a spin-off of The Cosby Show. Felicia Pride is heading the project and is executive producing with Mandy Summers and original series vets Debbie Allen, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Reggie Bythewood.

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As so much media loves to remind us, life is not our hardships but the friends we’ve made along the way. Edward Kelsey Moore’s novel The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat is a charming examination of that maxim, balancing humor and heartbreak so as to reaffirm the value of keeping on.

The world has just gotten a little brighter with the news that Netflix is developing a sequel series to A Different World. Can you believe it? We couldn't be more excited about this incredible news!

If you didn't know, A Different World is an iconic late '80s Black sitcom that aired on NBC for six seasons from 1987 to 1993. It's a spinoff of another classic Black sitcom The Cosby Show, and it follows the lives of the students and staff at Hillman College, a fictional, historically Black college in Virginia.

This show even launched the acting careers of talented individuals such as Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Marisa Tomei, and many others. Other cast members included Lisa Bonet, Dawnn Lewis, Mary Alice, Darryl M. Bell, Sinbad, Charnele Brown, Cree Summer, and Glynn Turman.

While the first season mainly centered around Bonet's Denise Huxtable character, the subsequent seasons followed Denise's friends'...

Relax, relate, release. According to Variety, Netflix is developing a sequel series for the seminal sitcom A Different World. Details are scarce, but Variety says the project focuses on Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitney’s (Jasmine Guy) daughter. On the project’s ground floor is writer and executive producer Felicia Pride, whose impressive list of work includes Grey’s Anatomy and Queen Sugar. Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Reggie Bythewood join the effort as executive producers. Netflix will neither confirm nor deny the project’s status.

A Different World ran for six seasons from 1987 to 1993 and revolved around a group of students at a historically Black university. The show focuses on their struggles and up-and-coming youths in a world trying to keep pace with their radical ideas and worldview. The show is a spinoff of The Cosby Show, with Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable leading the cast.

A sequel series to “A Different World” centered on Dwayne and Whitley’s daughter is in early development at Netflix, Variety hears from sources.

The project hails from writer and executive producer Felicia Pride, whose credits include “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Queen Sugar.” Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Bythewood also serve as executive producers. Werner produced the original show via The Carsey-Werner Company.

Netflix declined to comment.

“A Different World,” itself a spinoff of “The Cosby Show” and created by Bill Cosby, ran for six seasons on NBC starting in 1987, and it followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and her new classmates at Hillman College, a fictional historically Black university. After Bonet exited the series after one season, “A Different World” shifted its focus to the other students, played by Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Cory Tyler, Kadeem Hardison, Lou Myers, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, Jasmine Guy,...

A follow-up to A Different World is reportedly in the works at Netflix, after being stalled by the legal issues that surrounded the Cosby Show spinoff’s creator, Bill Cosby, from 2015 to 2021.

A Different World ran from September 1987 to July 1993 on NBC, and followed Lisa Bonet’s Cosby Show character, Denise Huxtable, as she attended Hillman College, a fictional Hbcu. Following Bonet’s exit after one season, the sitcom pivoted to focus on the characters of Dwayne and Whitley (played by Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy).

More from TVLineThe Diplomat Sets Terrifying Season 2 Release DateStranger Things Prepares to Cast The...

Netflix is eyeing a return to Hillman College.

The streamer is in the early stages of development on a sequel series to A Different World, the 1987-93 NBC sitcom that was set at a historically Black university. The new project would center on the youngest daughter of Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), now a student at Hillman.

Netflix declined to comment.

The potential sequel comes from writer Felicia Pride (Grey’s Anatomy, Queen Sugar) and includes several members of the original show’s creative team, among them producer and director Debbie Allen, Tom Werner (whose Carsey-Werner produced A Different World), and writers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood. They’ll all serve as executive producers on the project, along with Pride and Mandy Summers.

A Different World was a spinoff of The Cosby Show, following Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) to college at Hillman. Bill Cosby (who is not...

Exclusive: An A Different World sequel series chronicling Dwayne and Whitley’s daughter’s time at Hillman College, is in early development at Netflix, sources tell Deadline. The single-cam, half-hour comedy comes from writer/executive producer Felicia Pride and executive producers Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Bythewood.

Netflix declined to comment for this story.

Allen, Werner, Prince-Bythewood and Bythewood all worked on the original hit NBC series, a spinoff of The Cosby Show, which ran for six seasons. Allen was director-producer, Prince-Bythewood and Bythewood were writers, and Werner executive produced for The Carsey-Werner Company.

A Different World followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and her new classmates at Hillman College, a fictional historically Black college. Though Bonet exited after one season, the show continued with the leading cast of Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Darryl M. Bell, Sinbad, Charnele Brown, Cree Summer and Glynn Turman.

It's been just over four years since Gina Prince-Bythewood's action-packed film adaptation of Greg Rucka's "The Old Guard" comic was released on Netflix, and there have been rumblings about a potential sequel — and maybe even a third entry in the franchise — almost since the first movie debuted. That film, which was about a group of immortal warriors led by Charlize Theron, is one of the best Netflix original action movies the streamer has ever produced. That may sound like damning with faint praise, but I legitimately enjoyed the movie; it's a great showcase for Theron both physically and emotionally, Kiki Layne did a great job as the audience surrogate character, and the action is crisp and well-executed.

There was a flurry of updates about "The Old Guard 2" back in 2021 and 2022, but since then, there's been relative silence about the project, leading many to wonder if the sequel...

Dr. Curtis at your service.

Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis, who just snagged an Emmy nomination for her critically-acclaimed turn on The Bear, is poised to receive another accolade. The American Film Institute announced today that it will present a doctorate of fine arts degree honoris causa to Curtis in honor of “contributions of distinction to the art of the moving image.”

Curtis will receive the shine and the diploma during the AFI Conservatory’s commencement ceremony celebrating the class of 2024 at Hollywood’s Tcl Chinese Theatre on Aug. 10.

With the honor, Curtis joins a roster of past recipients that includes such notable names as Robert Altman, Angela Bassett, Kathryn Bigelow, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Clint Eastwood, Nora Ephron, James Earl Jones, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, Spike Lee, David Lynch, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Paul Schrader, Quentin Tarantino, Lily Tomlin, Robert Towne, Cicely Tyson and John Williams.

Silver & Black was quickly taking shape at Sony Pictures a few years ago, with the idea being to pair up Silver Sable and Black Cat on screen before having them assemble as part of an all-female team of superheroes. 

Scorpion, Tarantula, Chameleon, Tombstone, and Norman Osborn were all set to factor into Gina Prince-Bythewood's (The Woman King) movie. Alas, even after giving the green light to terrible movies such as Morbius and Madame Web, Sony reached a point where they decided this project simply wouldn't work.

Now, with Deadpool & Wolverine set to arrive in theaters, we're revisiting a plot leak for Silver & Black which takes us through what might have been beat-by-beat. 

It had potential and, while Spider-Man wasn't going to factor into the story, we'd have rather sat through this than Madame Web or even this December's Kraven the Hunter! Find out what you missed by clicking...

The future of the Bruin, a historic Los Angeles movie theater, is uncertain after Regency Theaters revealed that the company’s lease for the venue expires this month.

“The last day of operation for the Bruin & Village Theaters under Regency is Thursday, July 25,” Regency president Lyndon Golin confirmed to the Los Angeles Times in a story published Sunday.

Regency also operates Westwood’s Village Theater, the historic theater famed for its art deco tower, but that venue was saved back in February when a group of 35 filmmakers led by Jason Reitman clubbed together to rescue the 93-year-old cinema.

The coalition of filmmakers to save the Village Theater included J.J. Abrams, Judd Apatow, Damien Chazelle, Chris Columbus, Ryan Coogler, Bradley Cooper, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Dayton, Guillermo del Toro, Valerie Faris, Hannah Fidell, Alejandro González Iñárritu, James Gunn, Sian Heder, Rian Johnson, Gil Kenan, Karyn Kusama, Justin Lin, Phil Lord, David Lowery,...