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It took comedian and actress Gina Yashere’s house burning down in the L.A. fires to make her decide to leave, at least for now, the America she longed to get to as a child growing up in the East End of London.

“I’ve left. The universe gave me a good kick, ‘you need to get out of America,’ by burning down my house in Altadena,” the Bob Hearts Abishola co-creator and star tells The Hollywood Reporter at the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal.

Yashere’s home in a Black community in Altadena, just west of downtown Los Angeles, was destroyed in the Eaton fire that started on Jan. 7. She recalls getting the tragic news while in Costa Rica, where she has a second home.

“I had a list of things to save if there’s a fire encroaching, what to grab. And I wasn’t...

Updated, 1:23 Pm: The Writers Guild of America West has penciled in the full list of candidates for its 2025 board of directors and officer election. The only changes from last month’s announcement are that Malcolm Spellman is new to the list of board hopefuls and incumbent Dante W. Harper withdrew his candidacy for the board on Tuesday. See the rest of the names below.

The deadline for submitting signed petitions to the Wgaw was at noon Pt today.

Previously, June 23: The Writers Guild of America West has announced the candidates for its upcoming 2025 Officers and Board of Directors election.

Michele Mulroney, the guild’s current Vice President, has emerged as the sole nominee for President. If approved, she will take over from current President Meredith Stiehm.

The candidates for Vice President are Jeffrey Thompson and Travis Donnelly. For Secretary-Treasurer, the nominees are Peter Murrieta and Van Robichaux.

Additionally,...

Michele Mulroney is running for president of the Writers Guild of America West — unopposed, at least for now — after current president Meredith Stiehm termed out after nearly four years at the helm.

The union announced the news alongside the names of other initial candidates running for officer and board positions in its 2025 elections on Monday. Crucially, the election will determine the leaders that will guide the WGA West through its 2026 contract negotiations, its first with major film and television studios since the 148-day strike in 2023.

Though Mulroney is at present running without a challenger, that situation could change. Other union members can throw their hats in the ring for both officer and board positions by obtaining a minimum number of member signatures on a petition. Members have until July 23 to submit petitions.

Beyond Mulroney, the initial candidate list shows Jeffrey Thompson and Travis Donnelly are both running for vice president,...

The Netflix startup screen appears on a laptop computer.

Streamers in Europe are growing more comfortable watching Netflix shows and movies with advertisements, according to a new report released this week.

The data, from Digital i, found streamers in five European countries have increased the amount of time spent with ad-supported content on Netflix since the streamer revamped its plans a few years ago.

In Germany, Netflix saw a 44 percent increase in streamers watching content on Netflix with Ads, the name of its ad-supported tier. The collective amount of time spent with Netflix’s ad-supported plan jumped to 116.9 million minutes in April, up from 81.3 million minutes logged in November 2024.

Spain saw the second-largest increase at 34 percent, with streamers there spending 80.2 million minutes with ad-supported content on Netflix in April, up from 59.9 million last November.

The United Kingdom saw a similar increase to Spain, but streamers there watched more content with...

Deadline is reporting that Jeremy Allen White and Austin Butler will be going head-to-head in an upcoming crime drama from A24. White, who is a two-time Emmy-winner for his series The Bear, is set to star in Enemies opposite Academy Award-nominee Austin Butler. Enemies is the new film from Henry Dunham, who previously directed another crime thriller with 2018’s The Standoff at Sparrow Creek, which follows a former cop-turned-militia man who investigates a shooting at a police funeral.

Per Deadline, Enemies is about a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer who collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Dunham directs from a script that he also wrote, and was able to secure a $25 million budget for the film. The production is scheduled to commence sometime this summer on location in Chicago. The movie will be an A24 production with Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen of Square Peg producing alongside Alejandro De Leon.

Exclusive: Author Don Winslow might not be the retiring type, after all.

The prolific bestselling crime novelist “paused” his retirement to write a new collection of short novels titled The Final Score. The deal was made quietly a few months ago, and it is now up for pre-orders on Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble. Harper Collins/William Morrow will release the book on September 16.

“I don’t know if I am back for one more book or more,” Winslow told Deadline. “One day I just started writing again and I couldn’t stop. I wrote all of these stories in secret and for the first time in decades without a deadline. It felt good and I feel that two of these stories, Collision and The Final Score, are among the best work I’ve ever done.” Those will be the ones shopped for film and TV deals.

Harper Collins,...

Austin Butler has been attached to star in an adaptation of Don Winslow’s City on Fire for the last two years, but the project is finally moving forward as it now has a director. Deadline reports that Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic) has been tapped to direct City on Fire for Sony’s 3000 Pictures.

The novel is the first installment of a trilogy that “focuses on two criminal empires — one Irish, the other Italian — that control all of New England, until a modern-day Helen of Troy tears them apart and starts a brutal war. The main character, Danny Ryan, is forced to grow from a street soldier into a ruthlessly efficient leader to protect his friends, his family and the home he loves. Fighting the Mafia, the local cops, the feds – everyone – Danny builds a dynasty or will die trying.” Should the film be successful, I’d imagine that the other two novels,...

Exclusive: Sony’s 3000 Pictures adaptation of Don Winslow’s best-selling crime novel City On Fire is gaining some steam as sources tell Deadline Captain Fantastic director Matt Ross is coming on to helm the pic starring Austin Butler. Butler will also produce along with David Heyman of Heyday Films and Shane Salerno and The Story Factory. Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes adapted the script.

The trilogy focuses on two criminal empires — one Irish, the other Italian — that control all of New England, until a modern-day Helen of Troy tears them apart and starts a brutal war. The main character, Danny Ryan, is forced to grow from a street soldier into a ruthlessly efficient leader to protect his friends, his family and the home he loves. Fighting the Mafia, the local cops, the feds – everyone – Danny is out to build a dynasty or will die trying.

A modern retelling of the Iliad,...

As Hollywood patiently awaits a new Patrick Bateman, one American Psycho (2000) alum wants to reprise their role.

Chloë Sevigny, who can next be seen in Luca Guadagnino‘s thriller After the Hunt, revealed she pitched the director on revisiting the character of Patrick’s secretary Jean in his upcoming adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 book.

“When I heard that [Guadagnino] was maybe doing it … I pitched to him that I should play Jean again, and that they do that reverse-aging on me,” she told IndieWire. “I thought that would be something that he would be into, conceptually having the same actress play the same part.”

Sevigny added, “But I don’t know. He said he was going to think of something else for me.”

American Psycho was a groundbreaking and controversial work when it was published in 1991, not only for its iconic Manhattan investment banker-turned-serial killer but also for its incredible...

American Psycho's Chloë Sevigny is ready to reprise her role in Luca Guadagnino's new adaptation. She's already talked with him about having a part in the new picture.

Sevigny originally starred opposite Christian Bale in the 2000 American Psycho film as Jean, Patrick Bateman's (Bale) secretary. It's a role that Sevigny seems eager to reprise in a new adaptation of the controversial Bret Easton Ellis novel. "When I heard that [Luca Guadagnino] was maybe doing it, I don’t know if he is for sure. I thought he was doing a World War II picture," Sevigny told IndieWire. "I pitched to him that I should play Jean again, and that they do that reverse-aging on me."

It appears that Guadgnino wasn't quite as enthusiastic about the idea. "I thought that would be something that he would be into, conceptually having the same actress play the same part. But I don’t know.

Austin Butler was a front-runner for the lead role in the upcoming American Psycho remake since 2024. However, the original casting director believes the actor is all wrong for the role.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Kerry Barden said Butler is too good-looking to play Patrick Bateman. "I would cast Austin in [Jared Leto's] role because he's that beautiful, and that's why we cast Jared, is because he’s that beautiful," Barden explained. "Jared is certainly a great actor as well, and obviously, Austin has a lot of depth as an actor, too. But not every person has that kind of beauty."

Based on Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 novel of the same name, American Psycho was directed by Mary Harron, who co-wrote the film with Guinevere Turner.American Psycho starred Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a high-power investment banker in New York City who spends the vast majority of his time obsessing over his appearance,...

Christian Bale's American Psycho movie has earned itself a cult-like following, and now the film's original creative team have shared their thoughts about the recent news of a planned remake. Lionsgate and Luca Guadagnino are leading the new project.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, some of the original American Psycho's cast and creatives talked about how big of a challenge the remake will face in living up to the original. "On one hand, I am always sad about remakes," actor Matt Ross, who played one of Patrick Bateman's (Bale) co-workers in the film, said. Lionsgate has already said that Guadagnino's project will "offer a new vision" of the book's source material, rather than being a remake.

"That still feels like a business venture more than anything else, but being that it’s based on a book, there can be multiple interpretations, so why not?" Ross added. "I think...

With director Mary Harron’s American Psycho recently celebrating its 25th anniversary, the team behind the cult-favorite film tells The Hollywood Reporter their initial impressions of Luca Guadagnino’s plan to take a stab at a new feature.

Hitting theaters from Lionsgate on April 14, 2000, American Psycho stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a banker with murderous fantasies, in the adaptation of author Bret Easton Ellis’ best-selling novel satirizing 1980s yuppie culture. Lionsgate has recently announced that Guadagnino is attached to helm a new take on the book with a script from Scott Z. Burns, and the director himself appeared via video at CinemaCon earlier this month to tease the project.

“On one hand, I am always sad about remakes,” says actor Matt Ross, who plays a co-worker of Bateman’s in the 2000 feature and also works as a filmmaker. “I personally have been offered them in the past as a director,...

Earlier this week we brought news that South Korean content is now second only to the U.S. on Netflix, but it appears Korean audiences are opting for YouTube over the streamer.

According to new research from Digital-i, which examined YouTube viewing for the first time, South Korean people with active YouTube accounts spent a whopping 210 minutes (3 hours 30 minutes) per day watching the platform in the final quarter of last year, which was second only to Japan (214 minutes) in the countries measured.

Koreans who subscribe to Netflix spent less than half that time (96 minutes) watching the streamer, which airs Korean hits like Squid Game, Love Next Door and Queen of Tears.

Digital-i found by far and away the biggest gap between YouTube and Netflix viewing in Japan and South Korea, with other nations much more equal. In the U.S., active Netflix subs watched 117 minutes of Netflix per day in...

“Succession” star Matthew Macfadyen may have found his next TV project. According to early reports, the Emmy-winning actor is attached to star as the lead in The Ink Factory’s new show, “Legacy of Spies,” which is based on author John le Carré’s series of George Smiley novels.

If the project finds a home and is greenlit, Macfadyen will play Smiley, the legendary intelligence officer at the center of multiple le Carré novels. The rights to the author’s work are owned by The Ink Factory, which is producing “Legacy of Spies.” Fifth Season is set to distribute the project, which has reportedly been shopped around and has already caught the attention of multiple potential buyers.

“Legacy of Spies” will draw inspiration from all of le Carré’s Smiley novels, as well as some of the author’s unpublished work. Ink Factory co-founder Stephen Cornwell and Clarissa Ingram have...

Executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are turning their attention to a different type of political power play.

The 3 Body Problem duo is joining forces with creator Mike Makowsky (Bad Education), director Matt Ross, and executive producer Bernie Caulfield to adapt Candice Millard’s 2011 novel, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President, based on the extraordinary life and death of 20th US president James Garfield, into a series for Netflix.

“It’s been the thrill of a lifetime seeing this crack team come together to bring James Garfield and his cohort back from the annals of long-forgotten history,” Makowsky tells Tudum. “Six years into working on this project, it’s a story I still can’t believe is true — in all its wild, tragic glory — and it...

Since the end of Game of Thrones, creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss have focused much of their energy on 3 Body Problem, an ambitious, challenging sci-fi series on Netflix. But while we wait for the second season of that show, they're serving as executive producers on a couple others. That includes Death By Lightning, based on the 2011 novel Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Miller.

Death by Lightning (a much shorter but still punchy title) is about the 20th president of the United States, James Garfield. He was inaugurated as president in 1881, a time when the country was still healing from the wounds of the Civil War. He was considered effective, but was assassinated just nine months into his term.

When you think of presidential assassinations, the first to come to mind are probably Lincoln and Kennedy; I...

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Mythic Quest is one of the best Apple TV+ original series and a brilliant comedy series with genius performances by the ensemble cast. Created by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia famed creator Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz, the series follows the team behind the biggest multiplayer video game of all time as they are tasked with building new worlds and creating new heroes and legends. McElhenney and Charlotte Nicado lead the series’ cast into some brilliantly funny storylines. So, if you loved the outrageous storylines, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in Mythic Quest, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – FX

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is a dark comedy series created by Rob McElhenney. The FX series revolves around a group...

Netflix debuted its first look Friday for “Death by Lightning,” a new drama about the true story of the 20th president of the United States, James Garfield, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him.

The limited series, which is based on the Candice Millard novel “Destiny of the Republic,” will premiere on the streamer later this year and stars Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon.

Other cast members include Betty Gilpin, Nick Offerman, , Laura Marcus, Bradley Whitford, Shea Whigham, Paula Malcomson, Tuppence Middleton, Archie Fisher, Barry Shabaka Henley, Željko Ivanek, Kyle Soller, Ben Miles, Vondie Curtis Hall, Shaun Parkes and Alistair Petrie.

“Death by Lightning” is created and written by Mike Makowsky, who executive produces alongside David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Bernie Caulfield and director Matt Ross.

The project marks the third series to come from Benioff and Weiss following their overall deal with Netflix.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese have been developing a movie adaptation of Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City for the past decade. During that time, the project transformed from a movie into a TV series, with various actors and directors attached. It seems that the project has come full circle as Deadline reports that 20th Century Studios has snagged the project, with DiCaprio in talks to star and Scorsese in talks to direct.

The Devil in the White City tells the story of Daniel H. Burnham, “a visionary architect who sets out to mark history with the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and Dr. H. Holmes, America’s first modern serial killer and the man behind the notorious ‘Murder Castle’ that was built in the shadow of the Fair.” DiCaprio and Scorsese, along with Stacey Sher, Rick Yorn, and Jennifer Davisson, would also produce the project.

Related Martin...

Exclusive: In a week that controversy surrounding Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was generating headlines aplenty for Netflix, an old British show quietly slipped into the streamer’s UK top 10, neatly demonstrating something of a 2024 viewing trend.

The Toby Jones-starring drama series Capital premiered on the BBC in 2015 and yet here it was sitting sixth in Netflix’s most-watched list after being acquired by the streamer almost a decade later.

The show made a bit of a splash when it launched on the BBC years ago, but didn’t exactly go gangbusters. Yet in the past few weeks, the internet has been awash with article headlines such as “Netflix has just quietly added a forgotten BBC masterpiece” in relation to the rather parochial Capital, which starred Jones as one of the residents of a road in South London who starts receiving unsettling postcards.

Capital’s success is...

An acclaimed actor who starred in Netflix's Daredevil series headlines the new additions to the cast for an upcoming Netflix series from the creators of HBO's Game of Thrones.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Vondie Curtis Hall, Archie Fisher, Barry Shabaka Henley and eljko Ivane, Kyle Soller, Ben Miles, Shaun Parkes and Alistair Petrie have all joined the cast for the upcoming Netflix series, Death by Lightning, which centers around the 20th president of the United States, James Garfield. Hall is perhaps best known for portraying Ben Urich in Netflix's Daredevil series, and will portray Frederick Douglass in Death by Lightning. The latest additions join a stacked cast for Death by Lightning which includes Michael Shannon as President James Garfield, Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau, Nick Offerman as Chester Arthur, Betty Gilpin as Crete Garfield, and Bradley Whitford as Secretary of State James Blaine.

Related 'There's a Trump in All...

Death By Lightning (Photo by Larry Horricks/Netflix © 2024)

Netflix’s Death by Lightning limited series about the assassination U.S President James Garfield has revealed the final list of cast and characters. The streamer also announced filming has finished up in Hungary.

Created by Mike Makowsky (Bad Education) and based on Candice Millard’s Destiny Of The Republic, the series “brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him.” Makowsky serves as writer and executive produces along with Game of Thrones‘ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Bernie Caulfield and Matt Ross also executive produce, with Ross directing all episodes.

Death by Lightning New Cast and Characters:

o Archie Fisher (Last Days of John Allen Chau) as ‘Joe Brown’

o Barry Shabaka Henley (Bob Hearts Abishola) as ‘Senator Blanche Bruce,...

Netflix has added to the cast for its limited series Death By Lightning, from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Joining Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin in the series about U.S. President James Garfield is Vondie Curtis Hall, Archie Fisher, Barry Shabaka Henley and Željko Ivanek. The latest additions to the series that has completed production in Budapest, Hungary also include Kyle Soller, Ben Miles, Shaun Parkes and Alistair Petrie.

The historical series from director Matt Ross will see Fisher play Joe Brown, Shabaka Henley as Senator Blanche Bruce (replacing Stephen Mckinley Henderson due to scheduling conflict), Walking Dead: Dead City actor Ivanek playing Dr. Doctor Bliss, and Soller as Robert Todd Lincoln. Elsewhere, Miles is ‘George Scoville, Curtis Hall as Frederick Douglass, Parkes is Dr. Charles Purvis and Petrie has the role of John Sherman.

The Netflix series based on the...

Another Netflix original from “Game of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss is planned to debut in 2025. The political drama “Death by Lightning” has wrapped production in Budapest, Hungary and added eight new cast members, Netflix announced on Friday.

“Death by Lightning” comes from creator, writer and executive producer Mike Makowsky, who is best known for directing the HBO Hugh Jackman film “Bad Education.” The upcoming series tells the story of James Garfield, the reluctant 20th president of the United States. It chronicles how he comes to be assassinated by his greatest admirer, Charles Guiteau. The limited series is produced by Benioff and Weiss.

“Death by Lightning” has added Archie Fisher (“Last Days of John Allen Chau”) as Joe Brown, Barry Shabaka Henley (“Bob Hearts Abishola”) as Senator Blanche Bruce, Željko Ivanek (“Walking Dead: Dead City”) as Dr. Doctor Bliss, Kyle Soller (“Andor”) as Robert Todd Lincoln, Ben Miles (“The Crown”) as George Scoville,...

Željko Ivanek (Damages), Barry Shabaka Henley (Bob Hearts Abishola) and Vonde Curtis Hall (Justified: City Primeval) are among newly revealed cast for Death by Lightning, Netflix’s limited series about President James Garfield and his admirer/eventual assassin, Charles Guiteau.

Based on Candace Millard’s 2011 book Destiny of the Republic, the Netflix series “brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield (played by George & Tammy‘s Michael Shannon), reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau (Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen) — the man who would come to kill him.”

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Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo teases the ending for his character, Dustin Henderson, and whether there could be a potential spinoff. Matarazzo has played Dustin since the character debuted in season 1, with Dustin quickly becoming a fan-favorite member of the series. With Stranger Things season 5's story being the end of the hit Netflix show, Dustin's fate and whether he could have a future beyond the series finale remains uncertain.

While speaking with RadioTimes.com, Matarazzo revealed that Stranger Things season 5 will be a proper bookend to Dustin's story, but is open to the possibility of a spinoff. He hinted at how Dustin's journey will reach a satisfying conclusion while also discussing potential avenues he would like to see further explored in a spinoff featuring Dustin. The star also emphasized the necessary conditions needed for such a continuation to happen. Check out his comments below:

It definitely will be a bookend.

An adaptation of Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City has been in the works for years (more on that later), but last we heard, Hulu had scrapped the limited series, which was slated to be executive-produced by Martin Scorsese. However, producer Stacey Sher told Deadline that the project is still in the works.

“I’m still involved,” Sher said. “I never give up.” When asked if audiences could expect to see it sometime soon, Sher responded, “I mean, I hope so. It’s not imminent, but it is never ever far from my mind.” She also confirmed that Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, and Jennifer Davisson are “still involved” in the project.

Related Hulu drops The Devil in the White City series

The Devil in the White City tells the story of Daniel H. Burnham, “a visionary architect who sets out to mark history with the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair,...

A new survey found that viewing of British TV shows in the United States grew by a shocking 40% between Q2 of 2023 and Q1 of 2024 on select platforms.

The United Kingdom may be an ocean away from the United States, but video content moves back and forth between the two with ease. An exclusive report from Deadline shows that audiences in the U.S. have registered a new level of interest in British television after strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA in 2023 put a halt to new productions stateside for months. I’ll get into how much viewership for British content rose during the strikes, and which streamers offer the best British TV at the best value below.

Key Details: British series accounted for three of the top five most-watched programs between January and May 2024. Streamers like Netflix and Prime Video have boosted their commissioning of shows outside the United States.

Exclusive: New research shines a spotlight on how American viewers have flocked to UK streaming content since the strikes.

Viewing to British shows and movies on Netflix and Prime Video in the States skyrocketed by 40% between Q2 2023 and Q1 of this year, representing an additional 400 million hours watched, according to Digital i research shared exclusively with Deadline. The Q1 2024 figure was the highest since Digital-i started counting three years ago. At the same time, viewing to all content on these platforms rose by the smaller figure of 9%.

British shows to have hit the heights in the States included Fool Me Once, Bridgerton and Baby Reindeer, which made up three of the five most-watched series in the U.S. between January and May of this year. Other titles to have performed well included The Gentleman, 3 Body Problem, and Prime Video double Clarkson’s Farm and The Grand Tour.

Digital-i counted any...

Exclusive: Netflix has found the actor set to play President Garfield’s daughter in upcoming biographical series Death By Lightning produced by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

British up-and-comer Laura Marcus (The Serpent Queen) will portray Mollie Garfield opposite Michael Shannon, who leads as the 20th Potus.

The series from Mike Makowsky (Bad Education), which is being EP’d by Game of Thrones and 3 Body Problem‘s Benioff and Weiss via their overall deal with Netflix, tells the stranger-than-fiction true story of Garfield’s assassination by Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen).

Garfield was President in 1881 and was assassinated later that year, having previously served nine terms as a Congressman. He was elected as a Senator but declined this when he became President, despite having not sought the office. He was shot by Guiteau, who felt he had played a major role in Garfield’s election. The...

Legendary writer/director Robert Towne, whose screenplays include Chinatown and Shampoo and films include Personal Best and Tequila Sunrise, died yesterday in Los Angeles at the age of 89. On this sad occasion we’re reposting Matt Ross’s print edition interview with Towne from our Spring, 2006 issue. Below, the two discuss Towne’s adaptation of John Fante’s Ask the Dust, the financing difference between studio and independent films, and why Towne keeps returning to cinematic L.A. R.I.P. Robert Towne. — Editor Every city has its quintessential storyteller. And when it comes to Los Angeles, a city whose primary business is itself the […]

The post “It’s People Struggling To Be Something Other Than What They Are”: Writer/Director Robert Towne on Making L.A. Movies first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Legendary writer/director Robert Towne, whose screenplays include Chinatown and Shampoo and films include Personal Best and Tequila Sunrise, died yesterday in Los Angeles at the age of 89. On this sad occasion we’re reposting Matt Ross’s print edition interview with Towne from our Spring, 2006 issue. Below, the two discuss Towne’s adaptation of John Fante’s Ask the Dust, the financing difference between studio and independent films, and why Towne keeps returning to cinematic L.A. R.I.P. Robert Towne. — Editor Every city has its quintessential storyteller. And when it comes to Los Angeles, a city whose primary business is itself the […]

The post “It’s People Struggling To Be Something Other Than What They Are”: Writer/Director Robert Towne on Making L.A. Movies first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Christian Bale's Method acting in American Psycho surprised his co-stars, who initially found his intensity intimidating yet brilliant. Chlo Sevigny and Josh Lucas praise Bale's commitment to his craft, contrasting him with other Method actors who are distracting on set. Jared Leto, also featured in the film, exhibits a less desirable form of Method acting, potentially inspired by Bale but missing the mark.

American Psycho stars Josh Lucas and Chlo Sevigny discuss Christian Bales performance in the film. Bale plays Patrick Bateman, an investment banker plagued with hyper-violent visions that drive him down a psychopathic path. American Psycho was released back in 2000 and is directed by Mary Haron. In addition to Bale, Sevigny, and Lucas, the film featured Justin Theroux, Bill Sage, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe, and Matt Ross.

Speaking with Vanity Fair, Lucas and Sevigny speak about Bales performance in American Psycho. Lucas recalled...

Directed by Mary Harron, who also wrote the screenplay with Guinevere Turner, the 2000 Bret Easton Ellis adaptation American Psycho (watch it Here) has come to be known as a cult classic, carried by the incredible performance delivered by lead actor Christian Bale – but during a new interview published by Vanity Fair, Bale’s co-stars Josh Lucas and Chloë Sevigny have admitted that they weren’t blown away by Bale on set. In fact, Lucas thought he was doing some terrible acting, while Sevigny found his process difficult to deal with.

During the interview, Lucas said he didn’t realize exactly what American Psycho was while he was working on it. “I didn’t realize what a subversive comedy it was. I didn’t realize the way that Mary was going to turn it on its head. I don’t know if you felt this way, but I actually truly remember...

Chloë Sevigny is recalling her time filming American Psycho and recently revealed she found Christian Bale’s acting process “very intimidating.”

In a new interview with her other American Psycho co-star, Josh Lucas, the pair reminisced about working with Bale.

“I was trying to respect his process, which I found challenging because I’m very gregarious and silly and goofy, unbeknownst to the general public,” she told Vanity Fair. “When people take themselves so seriously, I kind of shut down, even though I take my work very seriously and I love acting and whatnot.”

Sevigny found it difficult to cope with Bale’s “Method acting,” saying she “was really intimidated by his process and intimidated by him.”

“I wanted a little more generosity to make myself feel more at ease, which is my own ego. It was a really challenging dynamic for me, but I don’t think that I thought he was bad,...

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creative minds behind the hit fantasy show Game of Thrones and the recent Netflix sci-fi series 3 Body Problem, have a different project in the works. Their new series, called Death by Lightning, just got an exciting update.

Death by Lightning comes from 2019's Bad Education writer Mike Makowsky and director Matt Ross, with David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Bernie Caulfield serving as executive producers. The series was officially announced in February this year. ProductionList.com just revealed Death by Lightning will begin production very shortly, with the filming date set for July 1, 2024, in Budapest, Hungary.

Related Stephen King Shares High Praise for 'Extraordinary' Netflix Sci-Fi Series

Stephen King shared his thoughts about Netflix's new sci-fi adaptation, calling it "extraordinary."

Netflix previously revealed that Death by Lightnight will be led by Michael Shannon (George & Tammy), who plays James Garfield, with Matthew Macfayden (Succession) playing Charles Guiteau.

New Netflix Series by Game of Thrones Creators to Start Filming this Summer - Main Image

After dabbling in political and science fiction fantasy, Game of Thrones and 3 Body Problem creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are back with another drama, drawing from American history.

Death by Lightning will chronicle the brief presidency of James Garfield, to be played by Michael Shannon, cut short by his assassin Charles Guiteau, played by Matthew Macfadyen.

While the Netflix series has no release date yet, ProductionList.com marks the beginning of filming on July 1, 2024, in Budapest, Hungary. Betty Gilpin (Glow) will join Shannon and Macfadyen as First Lady Crete Garfield, Nick Offerman (The Last of Us) as Vice President Chester Arthur, and Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Secretary of State James Blaine.

Unlike in Game of Thrones and 3 Body Problem, where the two had more direct involvement as writers and showrunners...

“Death by Lighting,” Netflix’s upcoming series about the rise and eventual assassination of U.S. President James Garfield, is adding to its cast.

Variety has learned that Bradley Whitford and Shea Whigham have joined the show as series regulars. In addition, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Paula Malcomson, and Tuppence Middleton have also joined the series.

They will appear alongside previously announced leads Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen, as well as cast members Betty Gilpin and Nick Offerman.

“Death by Lightning” is based on the book “Destiny Of The Republic” by Candice Millard. The official logline states that it “brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield (Shannon), reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau (Macfadyen) — the man who would come to kill him.”

Whitford will appear in the series as Secretary of State James Blaine. Whigham will play Senator Roscoe Conkling.

Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Shea Whigham (Joker) have been tapped as series regulars on Netflix’s new drama series Death by Lightning, joining previously cast Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin and Nick Offerman. Additionally, Stephen McKinley Henderson (Civil War), Paula Malcomson (Parish) and Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey) are set as recurring on the series, executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Stephen McKinley Henderson, Paula Malcomson and Tuppence Middleton

Created, written and executive produced by Mike Makowsky based on the book Destiny Of The Republic by Candice Millard, Death by Lightning tells the stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield (Shannon), reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau (Macfadyen) — the man who would come to kill him.

Whitford will play Secretary of State James Blaine. Whigham will portray Senator Roscoe Conkling. McKinley Henderson will play Senator Blanche Bruce, Malcomson will portray Franny Scoville,...

Spoiler Alert! This story contains details from the series finale of Bob ❤️ Abishola on CBS.

The multi-camera comedy about an American businessman who falls in love with a Nigerian nurse wrapped May 6 in much the same way it kicked off in 2019 — with lots of charm and affection served up by its affable stars Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku.

Here, co-creator/EP/co-star Gina Yashere and EP Matt Ross talk about what went into crafting their sentimental Bob ❤️ Abishola finale, the show’s legacy and whether they regret using a heart emoji in the title.

Deadline: Talk about the decision to employ a time jump in the finale. Why did you do it?

Gina Yashere: There were certain stories that we started in previous seasons, like in Season 4 we’d ended on a cliffhanger. Is Abishola going to go to Johns Hopkins? And then throughout Season 4, we never really touched on the subject again.

Maria Menounos’ new show “Maria: Discover More” is set to launch on ReachTV. The magazine style talk series will play daily at 2,400 gates at 90 airports and 500 thousand hotel rooms. It will cover travel, wellness, beauty, cooking, fashion, finance and entertainment.

In addition to “Maria: Discover More,” Menounos will also host and produce “Maria At the Airport Trivia” for ReachTV. The new game show is designed for families to play along while waiting for flights.

“My passion today is to work on content that is either of service or fun and with ReachTV and the shows Keven [Undergaro] created, I get to do both,” said Menounos.

In other TV roundup news:

Programming

Comedy series “Bob Hearts Abishola,” from creator, executive producer and writer Chuck Lorre, will launch nationwide in syndication beginning in the fall. The series was sold by Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, joining fellow Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre...

Death by Lightning adds Nick Offerman & Betty Gilpin to its star-studded cast, led by Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon. The upcoming Netflix series revolves around President James Garfield's assassination by Charles Guiteau. Death by Lightning is based on Candice Millard's novel Destiny of the Republic.

Two new cast members are announced to be joining the cast of Death by Lightning. Death by Lightning is an upcoming Netflix show produced by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. The series follows the story of U.S. president James Garfield’s assassination by Charles Guiteau. Death by Lightning’s story will be based on the novel Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard.

As per Variety, Death by Lightning has found two new members to join its cast. These cast members will be Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin. Gilpin will play President Garfield’s wife, First Lady Crete Garfield.

Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin have joined the upcoming Netflix historical drama series “Death by Lightning,” Variety has learned.

The duo join previously announced series leads Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon in the show, which will tell the story of U.S. President James Garfield (Shannon) and his assassination by Charles Guiteau (Macfadyen). It is based on the novel “Destiny Of The Republic” by Candice Millard.

Gilpin will star as Crete Garfield, the First Lady and President Garfield’s wife. Offerman will play Chester A. Arthur, Garfield’s vice president and eventual successor.

Offerman recently won the Emmy Award and Independent Spirt Award for his guest role in the hit HBO series “The Last of Us.” He is primarily known for his staring roles in shows like “Parks and Recreation,” “Pam & Tommy,” and “Devs” as well as for films like “The Founder” and “The Kings of Summer.”

He is...

Nick Offerman (The Last Of Us) and Betty Gilpin (Glow) have joined Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon in Netflix’s President Garfield assassination series Death By Lightning.

Death By Lightning comes from Bad Education screenwriter Mike Makowsky, who created the series, and directed by Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic) with Game of Thrones duo David Benioff and D.B. Weiss exec producing via their overall deal with Netflix.

It is based on the book Destiny Of The Republic by Candice Millard.

The series will bring to life the stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him.

Gilpin will play Crete Garfield and Offerman will portray Chester Arthur.

Garfield was President in 1881 and was assassinated later that year, having previously served nine terms as a Congressman. He was elected as a Senator but declined this when he became President,...

A candid Gina Yashere was quick to explain who made the decision to end Bob ❤ Abishola after only five seasons – it was CBS, she exclaimed. But she also admitted the budget cuts made her treat the show’s supporting characters with even more respect in its final year.

As part of the cost-cutting move to secure a renewal for the Warner Bros comedy, the sitcom’s supporting cast was offered to continue as recurring with a five-episode guarantee. Only stars Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku had their series-regular options exercised to remain on the multi-camera comedy full time.

The comedy from executive producers Yashere, Chuck Lorre, Al Higgins and Matt Ross will still produce 13 episodes in its final season.

“The industry is in flux right now. The money that was there 10 years ago is here anymore,” Yashere told reporters Tuesday on the Warner Bros lot. “We made sure when we work with the characters,...

Bob Hearts Abishola’s final season premiere pit mother against son and forced Abishola to see the error of her ways.

In the first of 13 new episodes, Dele revealed to Abishola that he never submitted his application to Harvard. Instead, he applied to Juilliard and intends to pursue a dance career in New York. This resulted in a blow-up that saw Dele pack his bag, and Abishola tell her teenage son that he was no longer welcomed in her home.

More from TVLine<em>The Neighborhood’</em>s Marcel Spears Shares Real-Life Story That Inspired Season 6 Pregnancy TwistChuck Lorre Weighs In on...

Bob Hearts Abishola Season 5 Episode 1 “The Dead Eyes of a Respectful Son” – When Abishola finds out Dele cancelled his plans to go to Harvard behind her back, Bob steps in to keep her from going ballistic, on the season premiere of Bob Hearts Abishola, Monday, Feb. 12 (8:30-9:00 Pm, Et/Pt) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+*. s015e01 5×01 5.01 s5e1 Story By: Gina Yashere and Marla DuMont Teleplay By: Matt Ross and Ibet Inyang Beneche ... Read more...

Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D. B Weiss are set to create a second show for Netflix following their sci-fi series 3 Body Problem.

The upcoming series is titled Death by Lightning and will be a dramatic retelling of the rise of 20th U.S. President James Garfield (Micheal Shannon) and his subsequent assassination after less than a year in office by Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen). Per THR, Netflix's official description for the show reads: “Death by Lightning is a drama series that brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th President of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him."

Related 3 Body Problem Star Says Game of Thrones Showrunners Are Perfect for the Netflix Adaptation Liam Cunningham praises Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for their exceptional writing on Netflix's 3 Body Problem series.

Waitress composer Sara Bareilles and Pulitzer finalist playwright Sarah Ruhl are teaming up on a stage musical adaptation of Meg Wolitzer’s bestselling 2013 novel The Interestings.

Bareilles is composing the music and lyrics, while Ruhl writes the book. Matt Ross is producing.

Wolitzer’s novel, as the official synopsis states, tells the story of six teenagers who meet at summer camp in the 1970s and form a lifelong bond over their shared dream of leading creative and inspiring lives. Decades later in New York City, that bond remains powerful, but so much else has changed. The Interestings traces their lives as they grow together and apart to explore friendship, love, envy, class, art, money, and power; and how all of it can shift and tilt precipitously over the course of a friendship and a life.

“I wrote the first song for The Interestings before I even finished the book,...