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Exclusive: Wayfarer Studios is adapting for the big screen, the 2020 inspirational memoir by Sanford “Sandy” D. Greenberg, Hello Darkness My Old Friend: How Daring Dreams and Unyielding Friendship Turned One Man’s Blindness Into an Extraordinary Vision for Life.

The project reteams the studio with scribe and producer, Tony Spiridakis, who wrote the recent indie feature Ezra starring Robert De Niro and Bobby Cannavale. Spiridakis will adapt and serve as EP.

The news comes just as Wayfarer Studios is about to open the Aug. 9 Justin Baldoni-Blake Lively romance drama, It Ends With Us, based on the Colleen Hoover novel, via Sony.

The film focuses on Greenberg’s early life growing up in an impoverished Jewish household in Buffalo, NY, his formative years at Columbia University and the incredible challenges that made up his extraordinary life. While at school, he strikes up an instant friendship with Art Garfunkel, and the two...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Aggro DR1FT (Harmony Korine)

Is it possible to leave your enfance without losing your terrible? The one-and-only Harmony Korine, now 50 years young, returns with Aggro Dr1ft, a premiere out-of-competition at the Venice Film Festival this week and, by my count, the only so far to have triggered mass walkouts and a ten-minute standing ovation. Shot entirely in infrared and using augmented reality effects and AI imaging tools, Aggro Dr1ft appears like the fever dream of a day spent drinking lean, watching music videos, and playing God of War and Grand Theft Auto. At times it’s funny, dazzling, almost beautiful; at others ugly, misogynistic, numbingly dull. Only he could have made it. – Rory O. (full review)

Where to Stream: Edglrd.

Exclusive: Aaron Tveit (Schmigadoon!) is one of several new additions to Earth Abides, the fresh take on George R. Stewart’s classic sci-fi novel of the same name for MGM+.

Written by showrunner Todd Komarnicki (Sully), the limited series starring Alexander Ludwig and Jessica Frances Dukes comes from MGM+ Studios and executive producers Kearie Peak and Lighthouse Productions’ Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio.

Earth Abides will debut on MGM+ in late 2024.

Tveit will play Charlie, the handsome leader of a new group of travelers. A natural charmer, he hides a threatening nature that only Ish (Ludwig) seems to be able to see. In Earth Abides, when a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction.

Other...

A decade ago, I was asked to do a TedX Talk about being the father of an autistic son, and another who is neurodivergent. That talk helped me decide to write a film that would focus on a father and a son who is autistic. Ezra, in theaters now, was inspired by many of my experiences with my sons Nikos and Dimitri, and was made by artists who had children or relatives or friends who were neurodivergent, and it shows. The film is an authentic portrayal of the challenges that fathers, and mothers, must face when raising a neurodivergent 11-year-old boy. The fact that the title character of the boy, Ezra, is played by a child actor, William Fitzgerald, who is himself neurodivergent, only added to the level of truth that was found telling this story about fathers and sons.

When my boys were first diagnosed — one was 4 and the...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for House of the Dragon, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Clipped and The Watchers.

The Watchers premiere

Writer/director Ishana Night Shyamalan premiered her directorial debut in NYC on Sunday, alongside father M. Night Shyamalan and stars Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré and Oliver Finnegan.

M. Night Shyamalan, Alistair Brammer, Olwen Fouéré, Dakota Fanning, Ishana Night Shyamalan, Georgina Campbell and Oliver Finnegan

House of the Dragon premiere

Showrunner Ryan Condal and stars Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Tom Glynn-Carney and Ewan Mitchell debuted season 2 of the Game of Thrones prequel in NYC on Monday.

Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy and showrunner Ryan Condal Fabien Frankel

Clipped premiere

FX celebrated the premiere of Clipped in downtown Los Angeles on Monday,...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Tony Goldwyn returns to directing after 14 years with the powerful family drama, Ezra, inspired by writer Tony Spiridakis' own experience raising his autistic son. The star-studded cast, led by Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro, brings to life the emotional journey of Max and his autistic son, Ezra. Goldwyn shares insights on the casting process and excitement for Channing Tatum's remake of his iconic film, Ghost.

Tony Goldwyn returns to the director's chair after 14 years with Ezra. Goldwyn has found widespread acclaim for his work both in front of and behind the camera over the better part of 40 years, starring in everything from the Patrick Swayze-led Ghost to voicing Tarzan in Disney's 1999 animated classic movie, as well as portraying President Fitzgerald Grant III on ABC's Scandal. Goldwyn has also helmed a variety of movies over the years, including his acclaimed debut,...

“Ezra” celebrated its premiere in New York City on Thursday night with stars Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, and Tony Goldwyn all in attendance.

The film is a Bleeker Street Media release that follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), who is a stand-up comedy writer (with scenes filmed at Comedy Cellar) who lives with his dad (De Niro). The comedian faces challenges when it comes to co-parenting their autistic son (William A. Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Byrne).

“Ezra” was inspired by the film writer Tony Spiridakis’s personal life, as he has a child who is on the spectrum. “I realized I didn’t know anything about autism, I thought I gotta write this down. Because of the lack of understanding that I had, I kept thinking, every day was a surprise,” Spiridakis told Variety at the film’s premiere.

“I made so many mistakes as a father, I wanted...

The heartfelt road trip movie tackles autism with emotional depth, highlighting the struggles and achievements of a father and son duo. Starring Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro, the film explores complex father-son relationships with raw authenticity and strong performances. Despite its heartwarming moments, Ezra falls short in addressing moral stances on autism issues, lacking the nuance needed for a deeper impact.

Theres some important messaging at the center of Ezra, Tony Goldwyns well-meaning but muddled story about a man doing what he believes is right by his autistic 11-year-old son. With a star-studded cast including Bobby Cannavale as Max Brandel, a struggling stand-up comedian and recently divorced father, and Robert De Niro as his hot-headed, difficult dad Stan there are hints that Ezra's difficulty in appropriately traversing social situations may go back generations. As a road trip movie addressing sensitive issues, Ezra never manages to be as insightful as it wants,...

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Talking with Bobby Cannavale, you immediately sense a passionate mix of excitement and seriousness emanating from the man. You see, the two-time Emmy winner wants us to understand his acting process, but more so, why his latest project, Ezra, is such a rare gem. The uplifting new comedy-drama, directed by Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), tracks a struggling stand-up comic co-parenting his neurodivergent son, played by newcomer William Fitzgerald. Cannavale's character, Max, is pushed to the edge and, in a desperate attempt to protect him, he abducts his son and the two embark on a cross-country road trip.

From the get-go, Cannavale deeply immersed himself in the script written by Tony Spiridakis, whose own experiences with his autistic son inspired Ezra. Bobby prepares a lot, Cannavales costar in the film and real-life partner, Rose Byrne, told MovieWeb. He's really about prep. He and [director] Tony...

Plot: A combative stand-up comedian (Bobby Cannavale) in a messy custody battle kidnaps his autistic son to keep him from being heavily medicated and placed in a special school.

Review: Tony Goldwyn’s Ezra is a warm-hearted father-son tale that tries to depict the challenges of raising an autistic child in an authentic way. The film was written by Tony Spiridakis, who has an autistic son of his own, while William Fitzgerald, who plays the title role, is on the spectrum. It’s realistic with some terrific performances from the ensemble cast, including Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Goldwyn himself, and Robert DeNiro (in a meatier role than usual).

The film is a great showcase for Cannavale, who’s pretty convincing as a somewhat confrontational comic who mines his own fractured personal life for material. In it, his character, Max, is reeling from a bitter divorce from his wife, Jenna (Rose...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on Wbgr-fm on May 30th, reviewing “Ezra,” featuring Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro as a son and father, struggling to help raise an autistic boy. In theaters on May 31st.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

William Fitzgerald portrays the title character, an autistic boy in New York City who is being co-raised by his divorced parents Max (Bobby Cannavale) and Jenna (Rose Byrne). Max is an at-the-brink stand up comedian who lives with his father Stan (Robert De Niro). When Max attacks one of Ezra’s doctors, he is forced into a restraining order, but decides to take matters into his own hands and kidnaps his son, and takes a road trip while learning that he’s landed a gig on the Jimmy Kimmel show. As law enforcement, his ex-wife and Stan pursue Max and Ezra, the whole situation comes into focus.

Robert De Niro believes justice was served in the guilty verdict of Donald Trump related to Stormy Daniels hush-money case. De Niro warns of the dangers of another Trump presidency, calling him sick. Despite worrying about his personal safety, De Niro reaffirms that people are fed up and will fight back against intimidation.

Academy Award winner and Hollywood icon Robert De Niro has reacted to the news that the star of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and The Little Rascals (and former Potus) Donald Trump has been found guilty in the hush-money case involving Stormy Daniels. The news dropped yesterday, with De Niro discussing the verdict with Variety while attending the premiere of his new movie, Ezra.

I think justice was served. This is just one part of the whole picture, so I want to be very careful.

While he aimed to be very careful, De Niro, who...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Quick Links What Rose Byrne Brought to the Role Praise for Bobby Cannavale Why the World Needs a Film Like Ezra

One out of every 36 children in the U.S. are reportedly estimated to be on the autistic spectrum. This may have been a fine reason to make Ezra, a sweet comedy-drama about a rouge road trip with a frazzled father and his 11-year-old autistic son, but it was more personal for screenwriter Tony Spiridakis, whose popular Ted Talk about his own experiences with his autistic son touched a nerve.

The subject was primed for a twist of fate. Fortunately, Spiridakis was buddies with Tony Goldwyn, who, in turn, knew Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale, and, well, flash forward several years and here we are: Ezra hits theaters May 31. The film finds troubled stand-up comic Max (Cannavale) acting on impulse, taking his 11-year-old autistic son,...

A sweet and gracious and often painfully labored dramedy about a stand-up comic who struggles to connect with his autistic 11-year-old son, Tony Goldwyn’s “Ezra” rides an emotional honesty that’s almost completely undone by the sweaty contrivances of its plotting. But this modest little movie’s refusal to be limited by its “problem” — its insistence that stories involving neurodiverse characters can, should, and must touch on a wider range of human experience if they hope to ring true — feels like a step in the right direction for how such people are depicted on screen and seen in the world. It’s an approach that’s sure to resonate with anyone whose kid is on the spectrum, their autism just one ingredient in the endlessly complex soup of who they are and how they’re raised.

It’s also an approach, “Ezra” suggests, that requires a hard-won degree of finesse.

Let’s start here: watching Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro argue on a New York City street while cars angrily beep their horns is electric. Truly exhilarating to watch. Likewise, watching the great Rose Byrne manage multiple emotions on her face is tantamount to listening to Yo-Yo Ma play cello. Ezra, written by Tony Spiridakis and directed by Tony Goldwyn, tells the story of a separated couple’s attempt to raise their autistic son. Max (Cannavale) is a struggling stand-up comedian; his ex, Jenna (Rose Byrne), is trying to keep it all together and not doing well. Their son, Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald), is causing disturbances at his school. Soon he’s forced to go to a specialized school with other “special” kids. Max cannot allow this; neither can his temper. It’s all for Jenna and her lawyer boyfriend (Goldwyn) to do to keep Max from beating up the whole world.

Sometimes, one of the shrewdest things a movie can do is to have its hero act in a way that’s not heroic or admirable or even very likable. In “Ezra,” Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian with a chip on his shoulder (he used to write for late night; now he performs edgy sets in places like the Comedy Cellar), is in a state of confused fury over what to do about his son, Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald), an owlish 11-year-old who’s autistic. Ezra attends public school in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he acts out, gets bullied, and responds to people on his own brainy but disconnected wavelength. His autistic behaviors aren’t particularly severe. He speaks in arcane pop-culture quotes, he’s scared that metal silverware will hurt his mouth, and he refuses to look you in the eye or allow himself to be hugged.

More and more,...

Robert De Niro. Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, and William A. Fitzgerald in Ezra Photo: Bleecker Street Ezra isn’t your average kid, and Ezra isn’t your average movie to throw on when you need a good cry. The Tony Goldwyn-directed film, which follows a neurodivergent 11-year-old who gets...

Robert De Niro. Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, and William A. Fitzgerald in EzraPhoto: Bleecker Street

Ezra isn’t your average kid, and Ezraisn’t your average movie to throw on when you need a good cry. The Tony Goldwyn-directed film, which follows a neurodivergent 11-year-old who gets caught in...

Tony Goldwyn might be more known for his work as an actor, but he’s also prolific as a director, having helmed a few feature films and several TV episodes. Although his latest effort in the director’s chair, the family dramedy Ezra, does suffer from some of its more conventional and melodramatic elements, it’s successful enough in its approach to be a likable, if forgettable, crowd-pleaser.

The movie follows a comedian who sets out on a life-changing road trip with his autistic son after facing decisions that could change both of their futures forever. It doesn’t reinvent the road movie subgenre, but it sets out to deliver a heartwarming and funny family dramedy, and it mostly succeeds in doing so.

Ezra deserves praise for acknowledging that autism is a spectrum, unlike many cinematic portrayals of the disorder. The characters often discuss how not every solution may be...

Over the last few years, there have been some major shifts in the way those on the autism spectrum are understood. Conditions like autism have been reframed as an asset rather than a disability, due largely to conversations happening in spaces like TikTok. There has even been a vernacular reconfiguration, with the terms neurotypical and neurodivergent coming into wider acceptance as the more inclusive and less historically loaded categorizations.

As with basically all discourse, these positive developments have occasionally fueled actions with bad intent—like neurotypical people self-diagnosing as neurodivergent, essentially for purposes of clout. Enter Tony Goldwyn’s Ezra, which sees itself as a kind of rebuke to films like Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close for at least nominally wrestling with the notion of whether we should raise children to be as normative as possible or fully embrace their divergences.

The film’s plot concerns a New York comedian,...

Tony Goldwyn and Bobby Cannavale are stepping out to promote their new movie!

The two actors posed for photos together at a special screening of their new movie Ezra hosted by Tribeca and Bleeker Street on Monday evening (April 29) held at the Sva Theater in New York City.

Also in attendance at the screening was newcomer William A. Fitzgerald, who plays Bobby‘s son in the movie.

Keep reading to find out more…Ezra “follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father (Robert De Niro), while struggling to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives.”

Tony directed by movie from a screenplay by Tony Spiridakis. Whoopi Goldberg, Vera Farmiga, and Rainn Wilson also appear in the movie.

Screenwriter Tony Spiridakis wasn’t familiar with the Museum of the Moving Image’s Marvels of Media Festival — which celebrates the work of mediamakers with autism — before penning his star-studded film Ezra, about parenting a child on the spectrum. But he quickly became a supporter after MoM founder and former AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan reached out.

“[The festival] understands the power of empathy and the undeniable beauty of diversity,” says Spiridakis, who now sits on its advisory board alongside Ezra director Tony Goldwyn. “It shows the unfiltered, authentic expression that comes from the unique perspectives of autistic mediamakers, something Hollywood and all artists can benefit from.”

Marvels of Media, taking place until tomorrow in Queens, joins the ReelAbilities Film Festival, which runs April 3 through 10, and is hosting Ezra’s New York premiere on opening night. Both of the film festivals are dedicated to disabled filmmakers and narratives showcasing characters with a disability.

Premium linear channel and streaming service MGM+ announced today a six-episode limited series order for Earth Abides, an adaptation of George R. Stewart’s classic sci-fi novel of the same name. The series will star Alexander Ludwig as “Ish” and begin production in Vancouver on April 8.

Showrunner Todd Komarnicki (Sully) created the series, which comes from MGM+ Studios and executive producers Kearie Peak and Lighthouse Productions’ Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio. Earth Abides is slated to premiere on MGM+ in late 2024.

When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction.

The leading character of “Ish,” played by Ludwig, is a brilliant but solitary young geologist living a semi-isolated life who awakens from a coma only...

MGM+ has ordered a limited series adaptation of the George R. Stewart sci-fi novel “Earth Abides” with Alexander Ludwig set to star.

The streamer has ordered six episodes of the series, with Ludwig set to play the role of Ish. Production will begin in Vancover in April with the show slated for a late 2024 debut.

The official logline for the series states, “When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction.”

The character of Ish is further described as “a brilliant but solitary young geologist living a semi-isolated life who awakens from a coma only to find that there is no one left alive but him. A plague of unprecedented virulence has swept the globe,...

No one ever said loving people is easy. Each person comes with their own set of challenges and unpredictabilities. Patience, tolerance, and understanding are crucial for a meaningful and beneficial bond. If you’re willing to go the distance for someone you love, the rewards can be worth every moment of frustration, heartache, and pain. Today, Bleecker Street debuted a trailer for the studio’s comedic family drama, Ezra, a touching story about fathers and sons going above and beyond the call of duty to find balance in a world designed to judge and persecute.

Ezra follows Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father (Robert De Niro) while struggling to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (introducing William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a...

Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro and Rose Byrne lead a starry ensemble drama focused on caring for a neurodivergent child in the trailer for Ezra.

Director Tony Goldwyn’s family-focused feature is set to hit theaters May 31 from Bleecker Street after debuting at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, Rainn Wilson and Goldwyn round out the film’s cast.

Ezra follows Max, a stand-up comic who lives with his father (De Niro) and decides to take his autistic son, Ezra (newcomer William Fitzgerald), on a road trip amid questions about the boy’s future.

“You’re fighting for something,” De Niro says in the trailer. “You might have to suffer consequences, but it’s worth it because you did it.”

Later in the footage, Cannavale says, “A dad’s job is to take his son down the field. If he gets tackled, all that dad...

Bobby Cannavale has been passed over at the Comedy Cellar, but if he doesn’t get his act together — and we don’t mean his stand-up act — life itself will pass him by.

Bleecker Street released the trailer for its upcoming feature film “Ezra” on Wednesday, March 13, which in addition to Cannavale stars Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, Rainn Wilson, Tony Goldwyn, and newcomer William A. Fitzgerald, and Robert De Niro. Pretty good cast there.

“Ezra” follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father (De Niro) while struggling to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (Fitzgerald) with ex-wife (Rose Byrne). Cannavale is broke — the living with dad part probably gave that away — and “still not over” Byrne.

Max gets his potential big break when invited to do a late-night set for Jimmy Kimmel. (Unclear if it’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in the “Ezra” Cinematic Universe.) One problem:...

Family dramedy to get 2024 theatrical release.

Bleecker Street has acquired US rights to TIFF premiere Ezra starring Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, and Robert De Niro.

Tony Goldwyn directed from a screenplay by Tony Spiridakis about Brandel (Cannavale), a once successful late-night comedy writer turned less-successful stand-up comic who struggles through the failure of his career and marriage.

After moving in with his father Stan (De Niro), Max and his ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) remain at odds on how to best raise their autistic son Ezra (Fitzgerald).

The cast includes newcomer William A. Fitzgerald, Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Bleecker...

Bleecker Street has taken U.S. rights to Ezra, the starry family dramedy from actor-turned-director Tony Goldwyn, which is coming off its world premiere in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto Film Festival. Starring Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Robert De Niro, and newcomer William A. Fitzgerald, the film is slated for release in theaters in 2024.

Ezra is Bleecker’s second acquisition title out of TIFF 2023 on the heels of the James Hawes-helmed One Life, a biopic starring Anthony Hopkins as the humanitarian Nicholas Winton, which also debuted in Special Presentations. The company has been active on the acquisitions front of late, also securing U.S. rights to the Brit comedy Fackham Hall, as well as UK rights to Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, alongside Elysian Film Group and Anonymous Content.

Also starring Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson, and Whoopi Goldberg, Ezra follows Max Brandel (Cannavale), a...

Bleecker Street has nabbed Tony Goldwyn’s Ezra, which stars Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Robert De Niro and newcomer William A. Fitzgerald in a drama about the challenges of parenthood and autism.

Ezra, which bowed at the Toronto Film Festival, also has Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg in its ensemble cast. Bleecker Street plans a 2024 theatrical release.

Ezra stars Cannavale as Max Brandel, a once successful late-night comedy writer turned less successful stand-up comedian struggling through the failure of his career and marriage. After moving in with his uncommunicative father, played by De Niro, Max and his ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) remain at odds on how to best raise their autistic son, Ezra, played by Fitzgerald.

Max often includes his challenging relationship with his son, Ezra, in his comedy material, but not always with the best results. Nonetheless, the family remains determined to push through hardship to care for the ones they love most.

Because the fall festivals had fewer actors and writers on hand due to the strikes, more independent movies came into the season looking for buyers. And even with AMPTP buyers getting cold feet on some with interim agreements, many titles have already found homes, making it one of the busiest fall festival seasons across Venice, Toronto, and Telluride in recent memory.

Below is the running list of movies that have found buyers.

Movies Acquired After the Festivals

“Ezra”

Section: TIFF Gala Presentations

Distributor: Bleecker Street

Date Acquired: Nov. 6

Bleecker Street’s second TIFF acquisition is “Ezra,” the family dramedy from director Tony Goldwyn that stars Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, and Robert De Niro. The distributor is planning a 2024 theatrical release.

“Ezra” follows a once successful late-night comedy writer turned less-successful stand-up comic also struggling through the failure of his career and marriage. After moving in with his father, Stan (De Niro...

Director Tony Goldwyn writes about the experience of working with his longtime friend, writer Tony Spiridakis, on the movie “Ezra,” which screened at TIFF and won the Audience Award at the Woodstock Film Festival. Bobby Cannavale stars as the father of an 11-year-old autistic son who sets off on a road trip with his son, without the permission of his son’s mother or his father, played by Robert De Niro, whose car he has “borrowed.”

The friendship began before I could shut the door of my blue ’77 Chevy Nova. I had made the two and a half hour drive from college in Boston through the heart of the Berkshire mountains to Williamstown, Mass. — ready to start my first professional job at the mecca of summer theaters, the Williamstown Theater Festival. Unsure of where to report for duty, I pulled into the driveway alongside the white, neo-Roman portico of Williamstown’s Adams Memorial Theater.

Exclusive: Tony Goldwyn called them “thoughtful human movies” — the ones, he said, “that don’t have the big marketing hook or are not genre pictures or horror or action movies have become increasingly difficult to get made.”

We were discussing Ezra, his new film as director. It’s about how Max (Bobby Cannavale), an erratic stand-up comic and divorced father, dives head first into outlawing himself against, among others, his ex-wife (Rose Byrne), education officials and the FBI because he believes that only he knows what’s best for his son Ezra, who is on the autism spectrum.

The film recently won the Audience Award for Narrative Films at the Woodstock Film Festival.

There’s a huge gulf between the heavy duty tentpoles and other gargantuan studio fare, leaving little room for the smaller, more meaningful — and often more satisfying — movie where maybe you might learn something about how others live their lives.

Movies containing portrayals of autism haven’t always treated the subject with sensitivity and conviction. Some breakout successes like “Rain Man” have conflated it with the savant syndrome, which isn’t representative of the full spectrum of people with autism. Writer Tony Spiridakis, who has raised an autistic child, and his friend, director Tony Goldwyn, approach the subject with the benefit of first-hand experience. They even have an autistic child actor in the title role (William Fitzgerald).

Continue reading ‘Ezra’ Review: Bobby Cannavale’s Formulaic Autism Dramedy Devolves Into A Pile Of Platitudes [TIFF] at The Playlist.

Tony Goldwyn is best known as an actor who has starred in films like Ghost (1990) and on TV programs including Scandal (2012-2018). But he has also quietly and consistently built an impressive résumé as a director, with A Walk on the Moon (1999), The Last Kiss (2006), Conviction (2010) and, most recently, Ezra. The dramedy just had its world premiere as a sales title at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it had audiences laughing and crying and has generated raves, especially for the performance of its lead actor, Bobby Cannavale.

Ezra centers on a single father, stand-up comedian Max (Cannavale), who is fiercely protective of his autistic son, Ezra (William Fitzgerald), and winds up taking him on the run rather than allowing him to be sent to a special school and medicated. The film also stars Rose Byrne as the boy’s mother; Goldwyn as her new boyfriend; Robert De Niro as...

It may possess all the telltale markings of standard-issue fall film fest audience awards fodder, but Ezra, about an 11-year-old who’s unmistakably on the spectrum, earns its crowd-hugging stripes legitimately thanks to its superb ensemble and sensitive direction that never gets in the way of its knowing script.

Bobby Cannavale puts it all on the screen as a New Jersey stand-up comic who constantly butts heads with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne) over the best way of raising their autistic son (impressive newcomer William A. Fitzgerald), while also butting heads with his uncommunicative dad (Robert De Niro).

But even a charismatic cast could only carry this kind of scenario so far if it hadn’t been for a tender screenplay by Tony Spiridakis, informed by the challenges of rearing his own, now 24-year-old, neurodivergent son, and an assured yet restrained guiding hand from actor-director Goldwyn. Whether or not it emerges as a festival prize contender,...

In a world that prioritizes perfection, Tony Goldwyn’s Ezra stands out as a touching testament to the power of love, acceptance, and the challenges of parenthood. Weaving together familial dynamics with the understanding of Asd (Autism Spectrum Disorder), the film offers a raw, emotional exploration of the lengths to which a parent will go to protect their child. Written by Tony Spiridakis, the film stars Bobby Cannavale. William A. Fitzgerald, Rose Byrne, Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn. and Rainn Wilson.

The film begins with Max (Cannavale), a former writer turned stand up comedian, in the middle of a set talking about his autistic son, Ezra. The audience learns the child didn’t speak until very late in his childhood and became difficult to control after that. Max and ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) are called to their son’s school to talk with faculty who are fed up with...

Zhang Xin, the renowned Chinese entrepreneur who used her love of architecture and brilliant business acumen to reshape Beijing and Shanghai’s skyline, has turned her attention to a new challenge: film producer. In September 2022, the billionaire businesswoman — who spent her teenage years working in Hong Kong garment and electronics factories — resigned as CEO of Soho China, one of the world’s preeminent real estate companies she built with her husband, and took up permanent residence in New York City.

Zhang will celebrate the one-year anniversary of leaving Soho at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival, where the Manhattan-based Closer Media, the startup indie production and financing venture she runs with veteran indie producer William Horberg, has no fewer than three films screening. Horberg’s numerous credits include The Queen’s Gambit and The Kite Runner.

Their Toronto lineup includes the Tony Goldwyn-directed Ezra, a dramedy about an autistic 11-year-old who embarks...

Production is underway on the comedy Inappropriate Behavior, and now we've got the first look at Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale, and newcomer William Fitzgerald together on set via Deadline. Hailing from actor/director Tony Goldwyn with a screenplay from Tony Spiridakis drawing from his own experiences as the father of a child on the spectrum, the film is set up as a road trip movie where a comedian takes his son on the journey of a lifetime.

Exclusive: Here’s your first look at screen icon Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale and newcomer William Fitzgerald in new comedy Inappropriate Behaviour, which is in production.

Pic follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a once-successful late-night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, who moves in with his father (De Niro), having recently blown up his career and marriage. When he and his ex-wife Jenna find themselves at odds with how to address the needs of their 11-year-old autistic son Ezra (Fitzgerald), Max decides to kidnap his child and take him on a cross-country odyssey.

The film also stars Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring), Rainn Wilson (The Office) and Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost), and is directed by Tony Goldwyn (The Last Kiss).

Mister Smith Entertainment has sold the film around the world, concluding deals with Snd for France, Tobis Film for Germany, Wild Bunch companies Bim Distribuzione...

Exclusive: Signature Entertainment has acquired UK and Irish rights to Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne and Robert De Niro road-trip comedy Inappropriate Behavior from Mister Smith Entertainment.

The film also stars Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost) and William Fitzgerald.

Inappropriate Behavior, which is currently in production, follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a once-successful late-night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, who moves in with his father (De Niro), having recently blown up his career and marriage. When he and his ex-wife Jenna find themselves at odds with how to address the needs of their 11-year-old autistic son Ezra (Fitzgerald), Max decides to kidnap his child and take him on a cross-country odyssey.

The comedy is directed by Tony Goldwyn (The Last Kiss) from a Tony Spiridakis (Queens Logic) screenplay. Goldwyn and Spiridakis also serve as producers along with Jon Kilik...

Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale have been set to star in the upcoming road-trip comedy ‘Inappropriate Behavior.’

De Niro, Byrne and Cannavale join Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg and newcomer William Fitzgerald on the cast.

The movie follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a once-successful late-night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, who moves in with his father (De Niro), having recently blown up his career and marriage. When he and his ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) find themselves at odds with how to address the needs of their 11-year-old autistic son Ezra (Fitzgerald), Max decides to kidnap his child and take him on a cross-country odyssey … with comically disastrous results.

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Tony Goldwyn is directing the film from an original script written by Tony Spiridakis. Goldwyn and Spiridakis will also serve as producers on the film,...

Tony Goldwyn has set an all-star cast for his newest feature Inappropriate Behavior, with two-time Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (Blonde), two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro (The Comeback Trail), two-time Emmy nom Rose Byrne (Physical), Oscar nom Vera Farmiga (Five Days at Memorial), three-time Emmy nominee Rainn Wilson (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), Egot winner Whoopi Goldberg (Till) and William Fitzgerald signing on for roles.

The film, in which Goldwyn also appears, follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a formerly successful late-night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, and his brilliant, complicated 11-year-old son Ezra (Fitzgerald), who is autistic. Having recently blown up both his career and his marriage, Max is now living with his father, Stan (De Niro). Max, profoundly at odds with his ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) about how to address their son’s needs, decides to kidnap Ezra and take him on a cross-country odyssey, with hilariously disastrous results.

Tony Spiridakis scripted the film,...

Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro and Rose Byrne will share the screen in the upcoming road-trip comedy “Inappropriate Behavior.”

Tony Goldwyn is directing the film, which also stars Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg and newcomer William Fitzgerald.

“Inappropriate Behavior” follows Max Bernal (Cannavale), a once-successful late-night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, who moves in with his father (De Niro), having recently blown up his career and marriage. When he and his ex-wife Jenna find themselves at odds with how to address the needs of their 11-year-old autistic son Ezra (Fitzgerald), Max decides to kidnap his child and take him on a cross-country odyssey … with comically disastrous results.

Goldwyn is directing the film from an original script written by Tony Spiridakis. Production is expected to begin later this month.

Closer Media, a New York-based production company and financier, and Wayfarer Studios, an independent production studio, will co-finance and produce.

Whoopi Goldberg, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson and William Fitzgerald have signed on to join the comedic drama “Inappropriate Behavior.” Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro were previously announced as the star and major supporting character, respectively.

Cannavale plays Max Bernal, a late-night comedy writer who tries and fails to parlay his success into a second act as a stand-up comic. After moving in with his father Stan (De Niro), he clashes with his ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) about parenting their young son Ezra (Fitzgerald), who is on the autism spectrum. Tensions reach a boiling point when Max kidnaps Ezra to take him on a cross-country trip, to hilarious and disastrous results.

Tony Goldwyn (“Conviction”) will direct from a script by Tony Spiridakis (“Ash Tuesday”). Spiridakis was inspired by his own son who is on the spectrum, and previously wrote the 2015 short “Inappropriate Behaviors” about an autistic teen traveling across Iowa.

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Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne and Vera Farmiga have jumped on board Inappropriate Behavior, with Tony Goldwyn directing.

The ensemble cast also includes Rainn Wilson, newcomer William Fitzgerald and Whoopi Goldberg reuniting with Ghost star Goldwyn. The film follows Max Bernal, played by Cannavale, as a formerly successful late night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, and his brilliant, complicated 11-year-old son Ezra (Fitzgerald), who is autistic.

Having recently blown up both his career and his marriage, Max is now living with his father, Stan, played by De Niro. Max, profoundly at odds with his ex-wife, Jenna (Byrne), about how to address their son’s needs, decides to kidnap Ezra and take him on a cross-country odyssey, with hilariously disastrous results.

Tony Spiridakis penned the screenplay, while Closer Media and Wayfarer Studios are joinly financing and producing the project. “After hearing the initial idea,...

Bobby Cannavale is set to star in a comedy and drama called “Inappropriate Behavior” from “Conviction” director Tony Goldwyn, and Robert De Niro will also feature in the film in a major supporting role.

“Inappropriate Behavior” is a comic drama about the relationship between Max Brandel (Cannavale), a formerly successful late-night comedy writer turned not-so-successful stand-up comic, and his brilliant but complicated 9-year-old son Ezra, who struggles with Asperger’s.

Having recently blown up both his career and his marriage, Max now lives with his father Stan (De Niro), a gifted chef whose eccentricities caused him to lose his restaurant and become a doorman. Max, profoundly at odds with his ex-wife and her new boyfriend about how to address their son’s needs, decides to kidnap Ezra and take him on a cross-country odyssey, with hilariously disastrous results.

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Bobby Cannavale is set to star in comedy drama “Inappropriate Behavior” from “Conviction” director Tony Goldwyn. Robert De Niro has also joined the cast in a major supporting role.

The feature is set to shoot in the U.S. this August. Mister Smith Entertainment will launch international sales this week while CAA Media Finance is handling North American sales.

“Inappropriate Behavior,” which was written by Tony Spiridakis, will see Cannavale play an erstwhile late-night comedy writer called Max Brandel who blows up his successful career — and marriage — to become a somewhat less successful stand-up comic. Moving in with his father Stan (De Niro), a gifted but eccentric chef turned doorman, and at loggerheads with his ex-wife and her new partner over how to deal with their 9-year-old son Ezra’s Asperger’s, Brandel decides the solution is to kidnap Ezra and take him on a trek across the country. The result is honest,...

Exceptional Minds, a not-for-profit professional training academy and studio designed to prepare individuals on the autism spectrum for careers in the digital art is among the inaugural winners of the Marvels of Media Awards presented by the Museum of the Moving Image.

The awards will be presented on March 31. The country’s very first media awards ceremony, film festival and exhibition celebrating media-makers on the autism spectrum. The open call for the first edition of this annual program received 3,071 nominations from 117 countries, from which 20 media works were chosen for awards in 12 categories including animated short, collaborative innovation, digital art, documentary, experimental film, mockumentary, narrative feature, narrative short, series, video game, student animated short and student video game.

“Through the Marvels of Media Awards, the Museum is further affirming our commitment to supporting the creative endeavors and pursuits of neurodiverse media-makers of all ages and backgrounds, and to help forge pathways...

SeriesFest, the international television festival dedicated to showcasing the best and boldest emerging voices in television, revealed the winners of this year’s international pilot competition at a closing reception today in Denver. Chief among the winners was “Halfway There,” which took home the prize for best independent dramatic pilot a well as the audience award. Created by Nick Morton and Rick Roesnthal, “Halfway There” stars Matthew Lillard as a sober addict running a rehabilitation facility, and Blythe Danner as his alcoholic mother whom he is forced to treat.

“The quality of content selected for this year’s International Pilot Competition was simply unmatched. We are encouraged by the diverse perspectives represented, and in awe of each and every creator who took part in our festival,” said SeriesFest co-founders Randi Kleiner and Kaily Smith-Westbrook in a statement.

Many independent projects that debuted at SeriesFest have gone on to score production deals,...