News

In today’s film news roundup, shooting has wrapped on Ryan Reynolds’ “6 Underground,” BAFTA La names new board members, and the WGA East honors longtime exec Randall Jasta.

Production

Michael Bay’s Ryan Reynolds-starrer “6 Underground” has wrapped production.

Netflix and Skydance Media completed principal photography in Abu Dhabi on the action-adventure, which reportedly carries a $125 million budget. The film also stars Mélanie Laurent, Corey Hawkins, Adria Arjona, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ben Hardy, Lior Raz, Payman Maadi, and Dave Franco.

The movie is being produced by Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger, along with Bay and Ian Bryce. It’s based on an original idea from “Deadpool” writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Details of the plot have been kept under wraps.

“Making this movie was an experience I will never forget,” Reynolds said on Tuesday. “I was impressed with the local crew and artisans we’ve met throughout our journey.

Part of the reason people love Star Trek is because it gives viewers hope for a better tomorrow. One where humanity has finally shed all the petty biases and prejudices* that hold us back, and then it reaches for the stars to teach others about tolerance. Hell, part of the Trek vs. Wars argument usually involves Trekkies saying it’s the superior series because it deals with hard science and socio-political issues. *Or at least society gives the appearance of utopia. Plenty of Trek episodes have dealt with the darker side of cultural bias bubbling just under the surface. Which is why the Internet finds itself scratching its head when Captain Kirk made a bold statement. Star Trek wasn't political. I'm not political; I can't even vote in the Us. So to put a geocentric label on interstellar characters is silly — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 23, 2015 This is confusing because science-fiction and politics are inextricably linked,...

Veteran TV writer Oliver Crawford, who penned episodes of classic shows including Star Trek and Kojak, has died aged 91.

Crawford was among those blacklisted by Hollywood in the 1950s "Red Scare" scandal, during which certain screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians, and other entertainers were denied employment because of their political beliefs.

He got back into the industry in 1957, and went on to become one of the most successful writers in television, penning episodes for iconic 60s and 70s shows including Rawhide, Perry Mason, Ironside, The Fugitive, and The Bionic Woman.

Crawford died in Los Angeles on 24 September. The cause of his death has not been released.

He is survived by a son, Kenny Crawford, daughters Jo and Vicki Crawford, sister Gladys Palast, and brother, Ernest Kaufman.