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A24 has set Max premiere dates for its recent films On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Opus, and Death of a Unicorn.

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl will hit streaming on Friday, July 4, making its linear debut on HBO on Monday, July 7 at 8:00 p.m. Et. Opus streams Friday, July 11 and debuts on linear on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m. Et. Death of a Unicorn, meanwhile, makes its way to Max on Friday, July 25 and hits HBO on Saturday, July 26 at 8:00 p.m. Et.

Written and directed by Rungano Nyoni, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl takes us to an empty road in the middle of the night, where Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family. Opening in the Un Certain Regard section of last year’s Cannes Film Festival,...

Lionsgate has acquired “She Rides Shotgun,” an upcoming action crime thriller starring Taron Egerton, from Fifth Season, TheWrap has learned.

The studio will release the film as a limited theatrical release on Aug. 1.

In the film, Egerton stars as newly released ex-con Nate. Marked for death by unrelenting enemies, Nate must now protect his estranged 11-year-old daughter Polly (Ana Sophia Heger) at all costs.

Shy, precocious and wary of her father, Polly is swept up in Nate’s dangerous plight as they flee to evade the corrupt sheriff and brutal leader of a gang who will stop at nothing to protect his criminal interests. With scant resources and no one to trust, Nate and Polly form a bond forged under fire as he shows her how to fight and survive — and she teaches him what unconditional love truly means in this intense story about loyalty, strength and redemption.

“I cannot...

Following the release of last year’s festive action movie hit, Carry-On, star Taron Egerton continues to prove his action hero capabilities in a new action thriller. Egerton, who is, of course, no stranger to explosions and gunfire thanks to his role as Eggsy in the Kingsman franchise, will leave the more zany thrills of the comic book outings and Carry-On behind for something far more intense in She Rides Shotgun, and we now have our first look and details, which you can check out below.

Directed by Nick Rowland from a screenplay by Jordan Harper and Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, and based on the book by Jordan Harper, She Rides Shotgun stars Ana Sophia Heger, Rob Yang and John Carroll Lynch alongside Egerton, and follows a father who, after being released from prison, finds himself protecting both his daughter and himself from an onslaught of enemies out for his blood.

Lionsgate has acquired “She Rides Shotgun,” an upcoming action crime thriller starring Taron Egerton, from Fifth Season. The studio will give the film a limited theatrical release on Aug. 1.

Ana Sophia Heger, Rob Yang and John Carroll Lynch also star. The film is directed by Nick Rowland from a screenplay written by Jordan Harper, Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, based on Harper’s novel “She Rides Shotgun.”

The gritty, explosive action-thriller stars Egerton as newly released ex-con Nate. Marked for death by unrelenting enemies, Nate must now protect his estranged 11-year-old daughter, Polly (Heger) at all costs. Shy, precocious and wary of her father, Polly is swept up in Nate’s dangerous plight as they flee to evade the corrupt sheriff and brutal leader of a gang who will stop at nothing to protect his criminal interests. With scant resources and no one to trust, Nate and Polly form a...

Last month, A24 sent the horror film Opus, starring Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and John Malkovich (Billions), out into the world – and they didn’t get a very enthusiastic response. For example, JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray gave the film a 6/10 review and the film has only managed to scrape together $2 million at the global box office. Maybe Opus will have more success now that people can watch it in their own homes, as it has already been given a Premium VOD release. The film is available to rent on Amazon for the price of $19.99, or it can be purchased for $24.99.

The feature debut of writer/director Mark Anthony Green, Opus was being kept shrouded in secrecy in the build-up to its theatrical release. Deadline did let us know that the story centers on an iconic pop star’s return following his decades-long disappearance. USA Today elaborated, The horror film...

The star-studded cast of Ben Affleck’s Netflix thriller “Animals” is bolstering its ranks. Ray Fisher, Mark Kassen and Christopher Woodley have joined the film alongside Affleck, Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez and Adriana Paz.

Golden Globe and Emmy nominated filmmaker, playwright and actor Mark Kassen is the founder of Like Minded Entertainment and co-founder of the civic engagement platform A Starting Point. Mark’s feature film directing and producing credits include “Puncture” starring Chris Evans, “Bernard and Doris” starring Ralph Fiennes and Susan Sarandon for HBO, and Chris Evans’ ‘Before We Go”.

Kassen has produced and been showrunner of multiple scripted, reality and documentary series across networks such as Fox, MTV, IFC, AMC and Sundance Channel. He also starred in the Tony Award winning Broadway production of “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” and as wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway, multimedia play “Little Willy.

Exclusive: Luis Gerardo Méndez and Adriana Paz are the latest to join the cast of the Netflix crime thriller Animals. Ben Affleck will star and direct with Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun and Gillian Anderson also on board. The plan is for the film to shoot in Los Angeles from a script by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray.

Plot details are being kept under wraps other than the film revolving around a kidnapping.

Affleck, Matt Damon and Dani Bernfeld will produce through their Artists Equity banner, the artist-led studio founded by Affleck, Damon and Gerry Cardinale/RedBird Capital Partners. Brad Weston and Collin Creighton are also producing for Makeready, which developed the project in partnership with Fifth Season. Artists Equity’s Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran and Lucy Damon will serve as executive producers alongside Fifth Season.

For Mendez, the role is a huge get for one of Mexico’s biggest stars.

THR reports that Kerry Washington and Steven Yeun have joined the cast of Animals, the kidnapping thriller which Ben Affleck is directing for Netflix.

In addition to directing, Affleck will also star in the film alongside Gillian Anderson. Animals “concerns a mayoral candidate and his wife whose son is kidnapped. Surrounded by plenty of enemies, political and otherwise, the husband and wife have no choice but to get their hands dirty in order to save their son.” Affleck plays the mayoral candidate, Washington plays his wife, Anderson is a fixer, and Yeun is Affleck’s campaign manager. The script was written by Connor McIntyre with revisions by Billy Ray.

Animals will be shot in Los Angeles. Affleck will produce alongside Matt Damon and Dani Bernfeld for Artists Equity and Brad Weston and Collin Creighton for Makeready.

Related Animals: Ben Affleck to direct Matt Damon in a kidnapping thriller at Netflix

Originally,...

Kerry Washington and Steven Yeun have joined Ben Affleck and Gillian Anderson in Animals, the kidnapping thriller Affleck is directing for Netflix.

The castings underscore the heat the project is generating now that it is back on track after being sidelined for a year. Animals is heading towards an April start in Los Angeles. The producers pushed for the L.A. shoot, with a desire to keep jobs within the community, and reinforce the city as a hub for filmmaking.

Written by Connor McIntyre with revisions by Billy Ray, the crime thriller concerns a mayoral candidate and his wife whose son is kidnapped. Surrounded by plenty of enemies, political and otherwise, the husband and wife have no choice but to get their hands dirty in order to save their son.

Affleck plays the candidate, while Washington plays his wife. Anderson is a fixer while Yeun is the candidate’s campaign manager.

Ben Affleck has replaced his lifelong friend, Matt Damon, in the upcoming Netflix thriller ‘Animals.’

Affleck was set to remain behind the camera, serving as director, Damon was originally set to lead the film but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic ‘The Odyssey.’

Gillian Anderson has also joined the cast.

Also in news – Mark Strong set for series adaptation of ‘Neuromancer’

Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray have penned the script. Affleck and Damon are producing the project with Dani Bernfeld through their company Artists Equity.

Brad Weston and Collin Creighton are producing ‘Animals’ with Fifth Season. Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran from Artists Equity are executive producing.

The post Ben Affleck replaces Matt Damon for Netflix thriller ‘Animals’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Actor and filmmaker has set up his next big project. Falling upon his talents he has on both sides of the camera, Affleck will be doing double duty on the film.

Per Deadline, it's been revealed that Affleck is set to direct Animals, a kidnapping thriller in the works at Netflix. He is also reportedly on board to star, with Gillian Anderson attached to the movie as well. Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray wrote the script. Additionally, Affleck will produce alongside Matt Damon and Dani Bernfeld of Artists Equity, as well as Brad Weston and Collin Creighton for Makeready. Artists Equity's Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, and Lucy Damon will executive produce.

RelatedThe Accountant 2 First Look Reunites Jon Bernthal and Ben Affleck

A new look at the upcoming sequel to The Accountant, gives a first peek at Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal as they join forces in the upcoming film.

Filming...

Ben Affleck and Gillian Anderson are set to star in kidnapping thriller “Animals” for Netflix, according to an insider with knowledge of the project.

Affleck is also set to direct. Matt Damon was originally attached to star in the film but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.”

The film follows a mayoral candidate and his wife who must get their hands dirty to save their son after he is kidnapped. Connor McIntyre wrote the screenplay with Billy Ray revising.

“Animals” will be produced by Affleck, Damon, and Dani Bernfeld of Artists Equity, the artist-led studio founded by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Gerry Cardinale/RedBird Capital Partners — and Brad Weston and Collin Creighton of Makeready, who developed the project in partnership with Fifth Season.

Artists Equity’s Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, and Lucy Damon will serve as executive producers alongside Fifth Season.

Affleck and...

Ben Affleck’s crime thriller Animals is coming back together, this time with a new star very familiar to the filmmaker. Himself.

Matt Damon was originally on board to star in Animals, with Affleck in the director’s chair, when Netflix and Artists Equity were producing the movie a year ago. The project fell apart due to script issues, but those have since been resolved. In the meantime, however, Damon went on to sign on to star in a small movie titled The Odyssey that is being directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Christopher Nolan. Odyssey is due to begin principal photography later this month and shoot in locales around the world.

The project has been revived with Affleck still in the director’s chair. But he will now star in it as well. Gillian Anderson, the X-Files star who in recent years appeared as Margaret Thatcher in Netflix’s The Crown,...

Exclusive: Ben Affleck is ramping things up on his upcoming Netflix thriller Animals. He not only will direct the pic but star as well, sources now say. Insiders add that Gillian Anderson also is aboard. The plan is for the film to shoot in Los Angeles from a script by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray.

Plot details are being kept under wraps other then the film revolving around a kidnapping.

Affleck, Matt Damon and Dani Bernfeld will produce through their Artists Equity banner, the artist-led studio founded by Affleck, Damon and Gerry Cardinale/RedBird Capital Partners. Brad Weston and Collin Creighton are also producing for Makeready, which developed the project in partnership with Fifth Season. Artists Equity’s Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran and Lucy Damon will serve as executive producers alongside Fifth Season.

Affleck was eyeing this film as his next directing outing last year but was only planning to direct,...

Following his career as a GQ fashion columnist, writer-director Mark Anthony Green makes his feature debut with a chillingly relevant dark comedic horror that gives Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich some of their meatiest performances yet.

In Opus, Edebiri stars as Ariel, a young journalist inexplicably invited to the compound of pop legend Moretti (Malkovich), who stopped making music after retreating from the public eye 30 years before. During her time embedded within the community known as the Levelists, Ariel grows suspicious of the group’s alarming behavior.

“Teach them young and the world will be yours,” reads one piece of cultist literature upon Ariel’s arrival.

Edebiri seamlessly switches from comedic brilliance to utter terror in a visceral performance as a new kind of final girl, one who gets the laughs along with the screams. And while Ariel’s gift of perception ultimately helps her navigate the red flags of her surroundings,...

In this edition of Horror Highlights, we have the one-night-only theatrical release details for Alejandro G. Alegre's I Heart Willie, trailers for Elric Kane's The Dead Thing and Mark Anthony Green's Opus, and the cover art and release info for John Harrison's new novel Residue: Paramentals Rising.

I Heart Willie Theatrical Release Date: "Hewes Pictures is excited to announce the special One Night Only®, release of I Heart Willie, a Steamboat Willie-inspired horror/slasher, coming exclusively to theaters across North America for One Night Only®, February 26th, 2025. Directed by Alejandro G. Alegre, this chilling origin story presents genre fans with a sinister reimagining of one of the most iconic cartoon characters in history, along with one of the most horrifying love stories of the year.

Synopsis: Popular YouTubers Daniel and Nico are invited to investigate a haunted property drawn by rumors of a malevolent force. The legend...

After leaving its mark on the genre in 2024, A24 has revealed its first horror movie of 2025. The official trailer for Opus, starring The Bear's Ayo Edebiri, has been released.

Edebiri stars as Ariel Ecton in Opus, a young writer who is invited to the remote compound of legendary pop star, Alfred Moretti (Emmy winner John Molkovich), who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago, for an "exclusive listening experience" he's putting on. "Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan," reads the synopsis. Produced and financed by A24, Opus marks the debut feature of writer-director Mark Anthony Green. Check out the official Opus trailer below.

Related A24 Period Drama With 93% Rt Score Wins Several Major Awards at Golden Globes

Star Adrien Brody winning for his acting is among several major Golden Globe Awards won after the recent release of the A24 film.

“Is this not alarming to you?”

A24 has finally released some footage from writer-director Mark Anthony Green’s feature debut, Opus, which is set to hit theaters on March 14 following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27.

The movie boasts a very impressive cast, including John Malkovich, Rosario Dawson, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Young Mazino, Stephanie Suganami, and Tony Hale. Ayo Edebiri - who was set to join the cast of Thunderbolts* in a mysterious supporting role before being forced to drop out due to a scheduling conflict - plays the lead.

The story focuses on Ariel (Edebiri), a young writer who receives an invitation to meet a reclusive pop star named Alfred Moretti (Malkovich), who has resurfaced after inexplicably vanishing from the public eye for 30 years. Ariel, along with a number of other guests, arrives to a lavish villa for a "once in a lifetime gathering,...

A24 has shared the official trailer for Opus, a “pop thriller” from writer and director Mark Anthony Green that features original music by Nile Rodgers.

In the film, a young writer (Ayo Edebiri) is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star (John Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.

Opus will premiere in the Midnight section at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 27 and will be released on March 14, 2025.

The movie stars Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis (Yellowjackets), Murray Bartlett (The Last of Us), Amber Midthunder (Prey), Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means.

Mark Anthony Green is a writer and director whose short Trapeze, U.S.A. won awards at several festivals. He began writing for GQ when he was 19 and joined the publication...

A24 has just dropped the trailer for its latest horror film, Opus. The movie follows a young writer, portrayed by Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri, known for The Bear. Her character is invited to the secluded home of a mysterious pop star played by John Malkovich.

Once there, she becomes trapped in a terrifying situation surrounded by the pop star’s cult-like fans, as sinister events start to unfold.

The cast is packed with talent. Alongside Edebiri and Malkovich, we’ll see Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, and Tony Hale. Other cast members include Tatanka Means, Young Mazino, Tamera Tomakili, and Stephanie Suganami.

Opus marks the feature debut of writer-director Mark Anthony Green. Green, who previously made the short film Trapeze, U.S.A and has a background at GQ magazine, takes the helm for this chilling story. The film will make its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Earlier this month, an image dropped online to give us our first look at Opus, a mysterious horror project that’s set up at A24 and stars Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and John Malkovich (Billions). Now, a trailer for the film has been unveiled, and you can check it out in the embed above! A24 is planning is release Opus on March 14th.

The feature debut of writer/director Mark Anthony Green, Opus was being kept shrouded in secrecy, but Deadline did previously hear that the story centers on an iconic pop star’s return following his decades-long disappearance. USA Today recently elaborated, The horror film centers on an ambitious young writer (Ayo Edebiri) invited to the isolated compound of an iconic pop star (John Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared and hasn’t been seen in three decades. There she discovers, surrounded by the musician’s cult of followers, the twisted machinations behind his grand return.

A24 has released the trailer for its latest horror “Opus,” which follows a young writer played by “The Bear” Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri who is invited to the remote compound of a reclusive pop star (John Malkovich). Surrounded by his cult of diehard fans, the writer finds her herself increasingly panicked as a twisted plan unfolds around her.

Edebiri and Malkovich star inn “Opus” alongside Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder and Tony Hale. The cast also includes Tatanka Means, Young Mazino, Tamera Tomakili and Stephanie Suganami. The movie is set to world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Mark Anthony Green wrote and directed the film, which is his feature directorial debut. He previously made the short “Trapeze, U.S.A” and worked at GQ magazine. The film’s producers include Josh Bachove, Collin Creighton and Brad Weston through Makeready, and Jelani Johnson and Poppy Hanks through MacRo Film Studios.

Ayo Edebiri discovers that John Malkovich’s life as a pop music sensation is not all it seems in the trailer for the A24 horror movie Opus.

Writer-director Mark Anthony Green’s feature hits theaters March 14 following its forthcoming premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27. Rounding out the cast are Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino and Tatanka Means.

Opus centers on Ariel, a young writer sent to visit pop star Alfred Moretti (Malkovich), who has resurfaced after disappearing for 30 years. When she arrives, Ariel realizes that Moretti is a figure of obsession for those around him, which aids his nefarious plans.

“What is it that you guys do?” Edebiri asks Malkovich in the trailer. This leads him to respond, “Would you like to see?”

Later, a distressed Edebiri asks someone, “Is this not alarming to you?”

Green marks his feature directorial debut with this film,...

A24 has unveiled the first look at Opus, an upcoming horror film starring John Malkovich and Ayo Edebiri. The movie, written and directed by Mark Anthony Green, is set to hit theaters on March 14, 2025, marking A24’s first horror release of the year.

Opus follows Ariel Ecton, a young journalist portrayed by Ayo Edebiri, as she seeks the perfect story. Ariel is invited to the secluded compound of Alfred Moretti, a legendary pop star played by John Malkovich.

Moretti mysteriously vanished from the public eye three decades ago. Upon his dramatic reappearance, Ariel finds herself surrounded by a cult-like group of followers and intoxicated journalists, only to uncover the dark secrets fueling his return.

Described as a “psychosocial game of cat and mouse,” the film blends horror with flashy pop elements and even includes musical numbers. Sundance has already teased Opus as one of the must-watch films of 2025, further building excitement for this eerie tale.

More than a year has gone by since we last heard anything about Opus, a mysterious horror project that’s set up at A24, and at that time, the project was assembling its cast. Now, USA Today has unveiled an image from the film that gives a glimpse of the characters played by Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and John Malkovich (Billions), and you can check it out in this article.

The feature debut of writer/director Mark Anthony Green, Opus was being kept shrouded in secrecy, but Deadline did previously hear that the story centers on an iconic pop star’s return following his decades-long disappearance. USA Today elaborates, The horror film centers on an ambitious young writer (Ayo Edebiri) invited to the isolated compound of an iconic pop star (John Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared and hasn’t been seen in three decades. There she discovers, surrounded by the musician’s cult of followers,...

As he celebrates the re-release of his 1995 classic, David Fincher recalls how studios were baffled by one of his true-crime-based movies not being like Se7en. The movie, which put the filmmaker on the map after Alien 3's disappointment, starred Brad Pitt as newly transferred homicide detective David Mills, who is partnered with Morgan Freeman's near-retirement detective William Somerset for one final case, tracking down a serial killer modeling himself after the seven deadly sins. Nearly 30 years after its hit release, Fincher has crafted a restored, 4K version of Se7en, which hit theaters on January 3.

In the wake of Se7en's success, Fincher would become well-known for his work in the thriller genre, ranging from the Michael Douglas-led The Game to the American remake/adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Netflix adaptation of The Killer. He's also frequently adapted true stories for the screen,...

Exclusive: Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn (Proof) has been tapped to write a new draft of Another Round, the English-language remake of Thomas Vinterberg’s Oscar-winning Danish drama from 2020, which has Chris Rock on board to direct.

Rock joined the project in January, as we were first to report. At the time, he had a draft in hand from Stuart Blumberg but was looking for another writer with which to partner. We’re told Auburn landed the job after a long search, beating out maybe 200 scribes in the process.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions secured the remake rights to Another Round shortly after the film landed the Best International Feature prize at the Academy Awards. We’re told that the project is picking up steam now that Auburn is involved, though Rock did just sign on to direct and star in Misty Green, a Hollywood drama for which he wrote the script,...

Just ahead of the new year, the Sundance Film Festival has unveiled its 2025 slate of programming that’s packed with exciting and buzzworthy new horror.

Today the fest announced their comprehensive slate of films selected from the fest that will take place January 23 –February 2, 2025, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online starting January 30. Packages and passes are available now at Sundance’s site.

We’ve combed through the entire slate today to find all the genre titles, with first-look images and information where available. Highlights from the upcoming slate of programming includes Alison Brie and Dave Franco‘s co-dependency horror movie Together, SpectreVision’s Celtic Faerie horror Rabbit Trap starring Dev Patel, and more.

What are you most excited to see at Sundance next year? Read on for all the horror heading to Sundance Film Festival 2025:...

Exclusive: Fifth Season has picked up rights to Some Part of Her, the debut fiction novel from New York Times bestselling author, showrunner, and journalist Amy Chozick. Fifth Season will finance the feature take of the novel.

Brad Weston and Collin Creighton Makeready will produce the film for Makeready, with Chozick serving as an executive producer and penning the script.

The novel follows a lonely new mother living in Manhattan who becomes obsessed with finding her college roommate-turned-high-end-escort, only to find that the truth of where she’s been is beyond what she’d ever imagined. Some Part of Her is slated to be published by Penguin Random House in 2026.

Chozick’s career as a journalist counts over a decade with the New York Times and eight years with The Wall Street Journal. She is the author of the New York Times Bestseller Chasing Hillary, a memoir about her time...

Exclusive: Robert Alonzo, a two-time SAG Award winner known as one of the top action design professionals in Hollywood, is getting into producing at the action-focused production company Tremor House. His partner in the endeavor is longtime friend and collaborator Jonathan Spano, an entrepreneur and philanthropist whose film technology and stunt work have also earned him a SAG Award.

Tremor House will develop, produce, and/or finance mid-range budget action films. As its first deal, Tremor House has entered into a joint venture to co-finance and co-produce commercial action projects with CAT5, the burgeoning action label from Alexis Garcia.

“Tremor House provides us an opportunity to combine our talents, experience, relationships and resources to create projects with maximum entertainment impact,” said Alonzo and Spano in a joint statement to Deadline. “Using the precision and perspective that comes with understanding how to run a business and putting the right people in the right jobs,...

Exclusive: The novel Next to Heaven hit the market this week. Written by Anonymous, it’s a social satire that is being shopped by WME simultaneously for both a publishing deal and a TV deal. The TV deal has just closed, and the publishing deal will be next.

The rights to turn the book into a TV series were snapped up by former Agbo and Chernin executive Mike Larocca and Michael Schaefer for their as yet-unnamed production venture. They will produce with Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady (Game of Thrones). Schaefer most recently ran New Regency and produced The Martian.

So, who is Anonymous?

Deadline sniffed out that it is James Frey, known for A Million Little Pieces and many other literary works. Actually, this was not like cracking the case of the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping. Lit scouts who read the novel quickly deciphered the mystery. Frey has a way...

Ben Affleck’s done a lot in Hollywood, you know? He’s been in all sorts of movies, from those big action flicks to the tear-jerker dramas. But when the 51-year-old dipped his toes into horror with Phantoms back in ’98, it didn’t quite hit the mark.

Ben Affleck in Justice League

The movie just couldn’t grab people’s attention, making less than 10 million bucks at the box office. Even though it had a cool idea and Affleck’s star power, Phantoms just didn’t live up to the hype, ending up as one of those forgettable horror flicks. It’s kinda curious why folks didn’t vibe with it and what it says about the actor’s career in movies.

Ben Affleck’s Sole Horror Movie Outing Was a Complete Flop

Ben Affleck tried his hand at horror, and let’s just say it didn’t end well.

The final month of the year has arrived, and with it an early Festivus bounty of news (very exciting!) about the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which are happening once again on February 25, back on the beach in Santa Monica. Last week brought tell of our incomparable new Spirit Awards host: SNL funnywoman and Emmy-nominated streaming series auteur Aidy Bryant. Now, the nondenominational secular-humanist Holiday Gnomes have brought us something potentially even more exciting… the nominees!

For the third consecutive year, the Spirit Awards will recognize outstanding achievement in uniqueness of vision, innovation and boldness in TV and streaming in addition to feature film. And for the second year, all acting categories are gender-neutral.

Noms were revealed in a livestream earlier today on Film Independent’s YouTube channel (like and subscribe!) by special guest presenters Joel Kim Booster and Natalie Morales:

Spirit Awards winners are voted on exclusively by Film Independent Members.

Ayo Edebiri and Murray Bartlett, both Primetime Emmy nominees, will star in the A24 horror film Opus alongside other talented actors. Opus, directed by Mark Anthony Green, tells the story of a pop star's return after a long disappearance, but plot details are still unknown. The cast of Opus, combining rising stars and seasoned actors, hints at a strong ensemble performance that could make it A24's next horror hit.

The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri and The Last of Us’s Murray Bartlett, among others, team up for a new A24 horror film titled Opus. Both Bartlett and Edebiri were recently nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for their roles in their respective shows. Bartlett was also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role in Welcome to Chippendales.

Related: The Last Of Us Season 2 Knows It Can't Beat Bill & Frank's Episode (& That's Ok)

Now,...

Amber Midthunder battled the iconic Predator in the film Prey last year, and now Deadline reports that she is set to star in a mysterious horror project called Opus for A24. Also in the cast are Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), John Malkovich (Billions), Stephanie Suganami (Power Book II: Ghost), Young Mazino (Beef), Tatanka Means (Killers of the Flower Moon), and The White Lotus Emmy winner Murray Bartlett. Juliette Lewis (Yellowjackets) is also in talks to join the cast.

The feature debut of writer/director Mark Anthony Green, Opus is being kept shrouded in secrecy, but Deadline did hear the story centers on an iconic pop star’s return following his decades-long disappearance.

A24 is producing and financing the film, and will be handling its global distribution. Opus is being produced by Collin Creighton and Brad Weston of Makeready, Poppy Hanks and Jelani Johnson of Macro Film Studios, and Josh Bachove.

Exclusive: Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and John Malkovich (Billions) are set to star in Opus, a horror pic marking the first feature of writer-director Mark Anthony Green, which will be financed and produced by A24.

Additional cast set for the film, which has received an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA to continue production, includes The White Lotus Emmy winner Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder (Prey), Stephanie Suganami (Power Book II: Ghost), Emmy nominee Young Mazino (Beef), and Tatanka Means (Killers of the Flower Moon). Then, there’s Juliette Lewis, the Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner currently starring on Showtime’s Yellowjackets, who is in talks for a role, as well.

While specifics as to its plot are under wraps, the film to be released globally by A24 is said to center on an iconic pop star’s return following his decades-long disappearance. Producers will include Collin Creighton and Brad Weston for Makeready,...

Ahead of the AFM, Black Bear is launching sales on Fifth Season crime-thriller She Rides Shotgun, which is set to star Golden Globe winner Taron Egerton (Rocketman) in the lead role.

Nick Rowland (Calm With Horses) will direct the screenplay written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (The Night House) based on the work of crime author Jordan Harper, adapted from his novel of the same name, which received the 2018 Edgar Award for Best Debut Novel, with revisions by Rowland.

Fifth Season will fully finance and produce alongside Brad Weston (Queen & Slim) and Collin Creighton (Okja) for Makeready, and Hiro Murai and Nate Matteson (The Bear) for Superfrog. Egerton is also set to serve as executive producer.

Principal photography is eyed for early 2024. The movie has an interim agreement through SAG-AFTRA. Additional casting is underway.

The official synopsis reads: “After years in prison, Nate (Egerton) has made some dangerous enemies,...

Peacock announced on Monday that the Focus Features sequel Book Club: The Next Chapter, taking Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen to Italy, will begin streaming exclusively on the platform on June 30th, there appearing alongside such other recent theatrical titles as Focus Features’ action comedy Polite Society, and the horror comedies Renfield and Cocaine Bear from Universal Pictures.

Also starring Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, Craig T. Nelson and more, the film follows up Book Club, a 2018 comedy following four lifelong friends whose lives were forever changed after reading 50 Shades of Grey in their monthly book club. The new installment from Endeavor Content and Makeready watches as our four best friends take their book club to Italy for the fun girls trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.

Nick Rowland – the British filmmaker who broke big at TIFF with the Barry Keoghan and Cosmo Jarvis starring Calm with Horses (the alternative title for North America became The Shadow of Violence) is set to direct Taron Egerton in the book to film adaptation of She Rides Shotgun. The Jordan Harper novel that was adapted by The Night House and Hellraiser writing tandem of Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. Producers on the project include Brad Weston, Collin Creighton, Oscar Montemayor and Nate Matteson. Production looks to be set for August in Los Angeles. Look for the next major piece of this puzzle to be the hiring of the pre-teen female co-lead.…...

After every Sundance Film Festival, movie lovers everywhere are treated to a torrent of buzz about the premieres and come away with one overriding question — "when can I watch these movies?" Well, we now have at least one answer.

"A Thousand And One" will get a wide release in U.S. theaters on March 31, 2023, distributed by Focus Features. Directed by A.V. Rockwell, the film won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival following its January 22 festival debut there.

The film focuses on a black single mother named Inez (Teyana Taylor), living in 1993 New York City. Barely making ends meet as a hairdresser after a stint in Rikers Island, her son Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola), is in foster care. When she asks Terry if he'd be happier with her and he answers yes, she kidnaps her own son, taking him back to Harlem. Since they're now fugitives, Terry gets the new name "Darryl,...

Disney+ has unveiled the trailer for “Chang Can Dunk” from filmmaker Jingyi Shao, one of Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” for 2023.

The coming-of-age sports film — which begins streaming March 10 — follows Chang (Bloom Li), an unpopular high schooler who loves basketball and Pokémon. Chang finds himself wagering a bet with the school’s all-star player, Matt (Chase Liefeld), that he will be able to make a slam dunk — in 12 weeks time.

The film also stars Zoe Renee, Ben Wang, Dexter Darden, Anthony Lopez, Nile Bullock, Mardy Ma and Angel Oquendo.

“I was really inspired by early ’90s coming-of-age films, but specifically sports-coming-of-age films like ‘Mighty Ducks,’” Shao tells Variety of his feature directorial debut.

The film examines teenage social hierarchies and family dynamics from the perspective of people of color living in communities where they’re a minority population.

“In a town where there aren’t a lot of other Asian American families,...

While our Sundance Film Festival 2023 coverage continues to roll in, the respective juries at Park City have doled out their winners, with Grand Jury Prizes awarded to A Thousand and One (U.S. Dramatic), Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (U.S. Documentary), Scrapper (World Cinema Dramatic), and The Eternal Memory (World Cinema Documentary), and the Next Innovator Award presented by Adobe was awarded to Kokomo City.

Check out the full list of winners below, with our coverage where available.

Grand Jury Prizes

The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to A.V. Rockwell for A Thousand and One / U.S.A. — Convinced it’s one last, necessary crime on the path to redemption, unapologetic and free-spirited Inez kidnaps 6-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding on to their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in New York City.

Teyana Taylor and Aaron Kingsley in ‘A Thousand and One’ (Photo Courtesy of Sundance Institute / Photo by Focus Features)

The Sundance Film Festival named A Thousand and One from writer/director A.V. Rockwell the winner of the prestigious U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic. Directors Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson’s The Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary at the 2023 festival which hosted in-person screenings as well as access online.

“This year’s Festival has been an extraordinary experience,” said Joana Vicente, Sundance Institute CEO. “The artists that comprise the 2023 Sundance Film Festival have demonstrated a sense of urgency and dedication to excellence in independent film. Today’s award winners highlight our programs’ most impressive achievements in the current moment of cinematic arts. I hope you will join me in congratulating our winners, as well as thanking all artists across sections...

Exclusive: Alibi Media has snapped up film rights to Juan Gabriel Vásquez’s acclaimed 2014 novel The Sound of Things Falling, tapping House of Gucci screenwriter Roberto Bentivegna to direct the project as his first feature, from his own script.

The novel published by Penguin Group imprint Riverhead Books follows Antonio Yammara, who after being injured in a shootout and witnessing the murder of the mysterious Ricardo Laverde, decides to find out who his friend really was, beginning a journey into the dark heart of Colombia’s drug trade. What follows is an investigation into a dead man’s past, and a pilgrimage to unlock that most elusive thing: the truth.

Widely considered one of the most important Latin American novels of the century, The Sound of Things Falling won Spain’s prestigious Premio Alfaguara in 2011 before going on to win prizes including Italy’s Premio Gregor von Rezzori-Città di Firenze...

Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen embark on the Italian bachelorette party of your dreams in the first trailer for “Book Club: The Next Chapter.”

The sequel, in which the gals appear to be reading “The Alchemist,” take their book club to Europe after Fonda’s character Vivian reveals she’s getting married. Cue the strippers and champagne. But, according to the film’s logline, “when things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.”

It doesn’t take long for Italy to work its charm on the fabulous foursome. “I love this city,” Steenburgen’s character Carole says in the trailer. Bergen’s Sharon responds, “I love anything that’s falling apart more than I am.”

“Book Club” became a surprise success at the box office, earning 104 million globally on a 14 million budget. The story followed four...

It’s time to commit Fifth Season to memory. The production and distribution company working across film, scripted TV and nonfiction spent five years building a brand as Endeavor Content. After the WGA victory over talent agency packaging fees and ownership, however, Endeavor Content was stripped of its sales department and sold a majority stake to Cj Enm (the producer of “Parasite”).

Despite Hollywood’s ever-shifting business landscape, the team at Fifth Season is emerging from its corporate transition with its DNA intact – as a creator of premium, provocative indie films – and scaling its ambitions up to mid-budget features made for theatrical and streaming TV.

In 2022, the company’s film unit made 10 projects with an approximate production spend of 152 million (their highest to date). They’ve got buzzy, female-led titles on deck for the first half of 2023, including Emma Roberts’ and Diane Keaton’s “Maybe I Do,” the Focus Features...

Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content) has promoted Noah Greenshner in its TV division from senior vice president to executive vice presdient of development and production. In addition, Jill Arthur has also been hired in the same role. Joe Hipps, Fifth Season’s president of TV development and production, announced the news on Monday.

Both executives will work closely with Hipps and the TV team on managing the company’s growing series slate, and will manage the portfolio of writer and producer deals, which includes partnerships with Amy Adams/Bond Group Entertainment, Bill Dubuque, Oscar Isaac and Elvira Lind/Mad Gene Media, Kristen Campo/Campout Prods., Layne Eskridge/Pov Entertainment, Alan Poul/Boku, Liza Chasin/3dot Productions, Brad Weston/MakeReady, and Bruna Papandrea/Made Up Stories.

“Noah has been an invaluable member of the Fifth Season family since the TV Studio began in 2018 (as Endeavor Content) and his leadership in this...

Exclusive: Fifth Season is gearing up for its first full year with new owners and a new name.

The company formerly known as Endeavor Content has new owners in Korea’s Cj Enm after a 785M deal and on the television side has moved from a business that scored a number of buzzy orders from streamers to one that is starting to get renewals and move into new areas.

Series such as Apple’s Severance, HBO Max’s Tokyo Vice, Peacock’s Wolf Like Me and even Hulu’s Nicole Kidman-fronted Nine Perfect Strangers, which was originally designed as a limited series, are coming back for second seasons.

Fifth Season is also now looking at new fronts including a growing international business, with the opportunity for global co-productions, and moving into new genres such as romance with the likes of Amy Adams, and searching for its own version of...

Newly crowned Warner Bros Film Group Co-Chairpersons and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will receive The Producers Guild of America’s 2023 Milestone Award.

The honor is bestowed on those executives and creatives known for their countless contributions to the film industry, both as individual producers and as a collaborative executive team.

The duo will accept the prize at the 34th Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 at The Beverly Hilton.

Recent Milestone Award honorees include George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy while previous recipients include Hollywood legends Louis B. Mayer, Walt Disney, and Alfred Hitchcock, as well as contemporary innovators Steven Spielberg, Bob Iger, Sherry Lansing, Clint Eastwood, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, James Cameron, Ted Sarandos, Donna Langley, and more.

“Michael and Pam are an incredible team, excelling as both trusted creative producers and successful studio heads,” said Producers Guild of America Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line...

Click here to read the full article.

A.V. Rockwell’s feature directorial debut A Thousand and One will be released in theaters on March 31, 2023. The drama stars multi-hyphenate Teyana Taylor.

Focus is handling the film domestically in partnership with Sight Unseen, Makeready and Hillman Grad Productions.

Universal Pictures will release the movie overseas.

The story follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez (Taylor), who kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability, in a rapidly changing New York City.

Rockwell, an alumni of the Sundance Writers and Directors Lab, is represented by WME, 2Am, and Granderson Des Rochers.

Producers include Sight Unseen’s Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev, Hillman Grad’s Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani and Makeready’s Brad Weston. Sight Unseen’s Oren Moverman is executive producing alongside Rachel Jacobs.