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The Americans is a period spy thriller drama series created by Joe Weisberg. The FX series is set during the Cold War and it follows the story of Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet Kgb intelligence officers who are sent to Washington D.C. to pose as an American couple to gather information on the American government. The Americans stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in the lead roles with Maximiliano Hernández, Holly Taylor, Keidrich Sellati, Noah Emmerich, Annet Mahendru, Susan Misner, and Alison Wright starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the intensely thrilling story, nail-biting drama, and compelling characters in The Americans here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Spy (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

The Spy is a French English-language spy thriller drama series created by Gideon Raff. Based on the life...

Dark Asset is an action spy-thriller film directed by Michael Winnick, he also co-wrote the script with Terri Farley-Teruel. The action film follows the story of a guy, who is being hunted by spies, because of a microchip that was implanted in him. Starring Bryon Mann, Robert Patrick, and Helena Mattsson. So, if you loved Dark Asset here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Trigger Point (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Screen Media Films

Synopsis: A disgraced U.S. operative who suffered memory loss at the hand of captors is dragged back into the deadly spy world when a colleague goes missing. He needs all of his skills to find her but to uncover the truth he must remember the past.

The Bourne Identity (Prime Video) Credit – Universal Pictures

Synopsis: “A new action hero is Bourne!” (Access Hollywood) Get ready for the explosive, action-packed hit with incredible...

First-person storytelling has existed since the very dawn of cinema, but it’s only with the rise of video games that it became commonplace. Sure, there were first-person thrillers before the digital age, such as 1947’s Lady in the Lake, but the visceral thrills of looking through someone else’s eyes are much easier to accomplish when you aren’t hindered by bulky camera equipment and spatial limitations.

That’s why it makes sense that a self-professed “son of rock ‘n roll” who grew up on a steady diet of American action flicks and videogames would see the advent of tiny portable cameras as an opportunity to explore first-person filmmaking. This is what led to the Fps-inspired music videos for the Biting Elbow’s The Stampede and Bad Motherfucker, which were both directed by the Russian-born Illya Naishuller (also the band’s lead vocalist).

These hyper-violent music videos didn’t take long to go viral,...

Major Russian distributor Central Partnership wraps up European Film Market (EFM) with a bunch of global sales. “Chernobyl”, a high-budget actioner directed by Danila Kozlovsky, goes to China to air on iQIYI, and will also travel to Taiwan and European territories.

“Chernobyl” is the first major Russian film dedicated to the disaster and its aftermath. The story follows fireman Alexey, accompanied by an engineer and a military diver, on a perilous mission to drain water from a reservoir under the burning reactor. They descend into the depths of the reactor building, prepared to sacrifice their own lives to prevent an even greater catastrophe. “Chernobyl” stars actor-turned-director Danila Kozlovsky (“Vikings”), Oksana Akinshina, Philipp Avdeev and others.

“We tried to tell a powerful story of love between particular people, in a particular family, that happened in the times of a horrifying global-scale disaster. We are not trying to appoint who’s guilty or give a verdict,...

Central Partnership clinched several new deals on the project during the EFM.

Following last week’s EFM, leading Russian distributor Central Partnership has announced several new deals on its big budget action/disaster feature Chernobyl, directed by Danila Kozlovsky.

The film has gone to platform iQIYI for China in what Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin described as “a big step towards promoting Russian cinema to international markets and [improving] our strategic partnership with China.”

Further deals clinched during the EFM include French-speaking Europe (Kinovista), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Joj). These follow on from already announced sales to the US (MPI Media Group), South Korea,...

While the coronavirus pandemic briefly shut down local production last year and sent the exhibition industry into a tailspin, Artem Vasilyev, of Metrafilms, is among the many Russian producers who did not sit idly by in quarantine.

“We had a very, very fruitful autumn in the industry,” says Vasilyev, who shot four features between August and November, including “30 Days and 30 Nights,” the new film from Venice Silver Lion winner Alexey German, Jr. (“Paper Soldier”), and “Jetlag,” a feature film and episodic series from Michael Idov (“The Humorist”).

Despite the financial and logistical challenges, cameras continued to roll in Russia throughout most of 2020. Coupled with optimism over the rollout of a locally produced coronavirus vaccine, Vasilyev says industry players are hopeful that the growing Russian biz can come roaring back in 2021. “I really see things on the bright side at the moment,” he says.

Alexander Rodnyansky shares that optimism. The two-time...

Rising Russian director Kirill Sokolov (“Why Don’t You Just Die!”) and “Vikings” star Danila Kozlovsky have boarded “Alone in the Ocean,” a big-budget survival drama based on the true story of a Soviet man who spent three days lost at sea.

Pic is produced by Artem Vasilyev of Metrafilms, Roman Borisevich of Plan 9 and Konstantin Buslov of Rb Production, and co-produced by André Logie of Belgium’s Panache Prods. It’s being prepped to go into production in 2022.

Set in the 1970s and based on the book of the same name, “Alone in the Ocean” tells the story of Slava Kurilov, an oceanographer aboard a Soviet vessel plying the Philippine Sea who decides to leap overboard, only to learn that after a grave miscalculation he’s more than a hundred miles offshore. Kurilov spends the next three days at sea fighting for survival, determined to live his passion for the ocean,...

Russian heartthrob Danila Kozlovsky (“Vikings”) admits he “never wanted or thought to make a movie about Chernobyl.” But that changed the moment the actor-turned-director laid eyes on a script, written by Aleksey Kazakov and Elena Ivanova, for a big-budget action film about the aftermath of the nuclear power plant meltdown.

“When the synopsis came to me, I read one very strong scene and immediately saw how I could tell this story,” Kozlovsky says. “Just one scene influenced my decision. And it didn’t let me go anymore. With every book I read and every movie I watched, I wanted more and more to make this movie. This has already become…my artistic dream.”

Following on the heels of HBO’s Emmy-winning series, “Chernobyl” is being dubbed as the first major Russian feature film to depict the fallout of the explosion that rocked the nation and sent shockwaves across the globe.

Soaring local box office has pushed the Russian film industry to new heights in recent years, even despite a downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of leading production and distribution company Central Partnership, says introducing fresh Russian talent to the world remains his outfit’s top priority.

“For us, it’s business as usual—boosting that potential,” Vereshchagin tells Variety. “We’re getting more experience on which titles we should be making. Right now, every big-budget title we make, we’re thinking about the international market as well.” The challenge, he says, “is to get the right stories being made which would be appealing to general international audiences.”

With a library that includes films from top U.S. and European studios, as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial Russian movies, Central Partnership has been a leading distributor for nearly two decades. After ramping up production in recent years,...

How will the story end in the sixth and final season of the Vikings TV show on History? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Vikings is cancelled or renewed for season seven. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustration when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the sixth season episodes of Vikings here. *Status update below.

A History channel action-adventure series, the sixth season of Vikings stars Alexander Ludwig, Alex Høgh Andersen, Peter Franzén, Katheryn Winnick, Jordan Patrick Smith, and Marco Ilsø. Danila Kozlovsky, Georgia Hirst, Adam Copeland, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Ragga Ragnars, Steven Berkoff, and Eric Johnson have recurring...

There's no need to worry about the Vikings TV show being cancelled this time around. History has already announced that that the series ends with season six. While there won't be a seventh season, work is underway on a Netflix sequel series. Will Vikings go out with strong ratings or has it burned out? Stay tuned.  *Status update below.

A History channel action-adventure series, the sixth season of Vikings stars Alexander Ludwig, Alex Høgh Andersen, Peter Franzén, Katheryn Winnick, Jordan Patrick Smith, and Marco Ilsø. Danila Kozlovsky, Georgia Hirst, Adam Copeland, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Ragga Ragnars, Steven Berkoff, and Eric Johnson have recurring roles. The period drama delves into the Viking warriors and their strange, ruthless world. Season six picks up after the battle which has left Bjorn (Ludwig) victorious and a hero to the people...

Vikings Season 6B Trailer — History and Amazon Prime Video‘s Vikings: Season 6B TV show trailer has been released. Available to view here is the Vikings: Season 6B TV show clip. Cast and crew Vikings: Season 6 stars Oran Glynn O’Donovan, John Kavanagh, Eric Johnson, Eve Connolly, Danila Kozlovsky, [...]

Continue reading: Vikings: Season 6B TV Show Trailer: The Final Battle Between the Lothbrok Brothers Begins [Amazon, History]...

Vikings‘ very end will arrive this winter — and in a strange, different place.

Amazon Prime Video will premiere the History series’ final 10 episodes on Wednesday, Dec. 30, in the U.S., UK, Germany, Austria and Ireland. (Watch a new trailer above.)

More from TVLineExtended Vikings Scene Reveals Lagertha's Bittersweet Final WishVikings Final Episodes Kick Off With a Shocking EncounterUtopia Cancelled at Amazon

The first half of Vikings‘ supersized farewell run launched almost a year ago, and ended back on Feb. 5. There is no word yet on when the History channel itself will host the final episodes. (I put that in bold,...

Russian production and distribution company Central Partnership is hoping for a scorching run at the box office with the upcoming release of “Fire,” a big-budget, high-octane actioner about heroic smokejumpers racing against disaster. Variety has been given exclusive access to the first trailer for a film slated to hit Russian theaters on Christmas Eve.

Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin says the production of “Fire,” which was filmed in the spring and summer of 2019, is all but unprecedented in terms of its scope and technical complexity. “Nothing has ever been done in Russia of that scale,” he says, adding that Central Partnership expects to close deals on all international territories during AFM.

In order to recreate a raging forest fire without damaging any living trees, the production team constructed a sprawling woodland set in the Siberian wilds, using cut trees and crafty stage design. Adding to the film’s authenticity, the...

Catch up on all ten episodes of the sixth season of Vikings along with new bonus features when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Vikings: Season 6 Vol. 1 on Blu-ray and DVD on October 19, 2020. In its sixth season, Vikings garnered an average of 34 million Total Viewers per episode, garnering an average approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. To mark the release, we’ve been given 2 copies to give away on Blu-ray.

Season six returns following the battle between brothers, which has left Bjorn victorious and a hero to the people who have been under the tyrannical rule of Ivar for so long. As the new leader of Kattegat, Bjorn struggles to fill his late father’s shoes as king, while facing several dilemmas and wrestling with the idea that power overshadows morals. Meanwhile, Ivar, searching for a new path to separate him from his past, is seen traveling along The Silk Road,...

Fans of History’s Nordic drama Vikings are used to waiting patiently for the series to return for its next installment, but with Covid-19 raging globally, any news of a return for the final ten episodes is certainly welcome. And while creator, writer, and showrunner Michael Hirst didn’t reveal anything concrete about the conclusion of season six, his appearance on a Comic-Con@Home 2020 panel gave the show’s followers a chance to reminisce along with past and present cast members Travis Fimmel (Ragnar), Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha), Alex Ludwig (Bjorn), Jordan Patrick Smith (Ubbe), and Clive Standen (Rollo).

Senior writer with TV Guide magazine Kate Hahn moderated the Vikings panel looked back on the first five and a half seasons of the Lothbrok clan’s rise and fall from power. “The characters will all have their fates decided,” Hirst explained. “Whether they live or die is in the hands of the gods and me.

History’s Vikings has released a sneak peek from the back half of Season 6 — aka the epic drama’s very final 10 episodes.

Released as part of Vikings‘ virtual presentation at this summer’s Comic-Con @ Home fan event, the clip above shows Oleg (played by Danila Kozlovsky) receiving Holy Communion and then readying for battle alongside Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen) — though given how things left off, their vast army is quite surprised by whom they eventually see approach from over yonder. Press play above to watch the unexpected encounter.

More from TVLineHiroshima: 75 Years Later Documentary Sets August Premiere at HistoryProject Blue...

Exclusive: Chernobyl the big-budget Russian action drama about the titular nuclear disaster, has been acquired by Capelight Pictures for North America and German-speaking territories, with the company partnering with Mpi Media Group on the U.S. release.

Moscow-based sales agent Central Partnership continued sales efforts on the title during the Cannes online market last week, as well as the Russian Virtual Content Market earlier last month. The pic has now also sold to South Korea (PoongKyung), Latin America (Bf Distribution), Japan (Twin), Israel (Shoval Film), Spain (Mediaset) and Baltics (Latvian Theatrical Distribution).

“Chernobyl does a terrific job of educating audiences on such an important time in history. We are thrilled to be able to bring this film to North American screens,” said Hamza Ali, Executive Vice President, Mpi Media Group.

Billed as the first major Russian feature about the aftermath of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, when...

While international audiences have gotten used to Russian auteurs on red carpets from the Croisette to the Dolby Theatre, where directors such as Andrey Zvyagintsev and Kantemir Balagov (“Beanpole”) have scooped up prestigious awards and Oscar nods, more and more Russian filmmakers are focused on making a splash in the global market.

Buoyed by high-octane actioners and genre titles with slick special effects, international sales for Russian films have been rising roughly 20% per year, according to film promotion body Roskino. During the Cannes virtual market, many foreign buyers may be tempted to give the country’s commercial fare a second look. “It’s the perception that needs to change,” says Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin. “Our productions are at the same level as the European productions right now.”

Central Partnership has a strong Cannes slate that includes “Chernobyl,” a big-budget actioner about the aftermath of the nuclear power plant meltdown,...

The Chernobyl disaster gets the dramatic disaster film treatment from the motherland this year. Danila Kozlovsky directs himself and an all-star cast in his sophomore feature film Chernobyl: Abyss. The trailer came out today, which you will find below. It gives you a sense of the scale of the project but also it's laser focus on the human cost the disaster dealt.     When the station exploded, it was necessary to flush the water from under the reactor. The main character-firefighter Alexey, at first glance, does not look like a Hero at all. Engineer Valery and military diver Boris volunteered to go with him on a dangerous sortie. There is almost no time to develop a detailed plan. Due to the approach of the melting...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

In the weeks following the inaugural edition of the Key Buyers Event, a showcase for new Russian productions held in Moscow last fall, Roskino CEO Evgenia Markova reached out to scores of international guests who had made the trip to the Russian capital. After what was largely perceived as a successful event, in which dozens of Russian titles sold to foreign buyers, Markova wanted to understand what else the film promotion body could do to support the continued growth of the Russian industry.

One piece of advice stood out. “Not many Russian names are known abroad,” says Markova. The consensus among many of the buyers in attendance was that “this is definitely what [Roskino] should work on: you should promote your actors, your producers, your directors. You should show the world you exist.”

For the Key Buyers Event: Digital Edition, an online platform to showcase and promote Russian content that takes...

Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of leading Russian production and distribution company Central Partnership, says it’s time for the world to give a second look to Russian cinema—particularly the slick commercial titles that are racking up boffo box office back home.

“The key thing for us right now is to explain to the foreign buyers primarily, ‘Look, we’ve got great films. We’re not asking the same amount of money as Hollywood independent studios would. But you get the same [quality],’” he says.

Central Partnership began in the 1990s as a television production outfit, before branching out into distribution of mostly arthouse fare. In the early 2000s, it began moving toward mainstream titles, and since 2009 has been the exclusive distributor for Paramount Pictures in Russia. Its library includes films from top U.S. and European studios, as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial Russian movies.

The company’s current slate,...

Get ready to dive into the abyss! While this trailer isn't brand new (it first debuted a few months ago), it's still worth featuring anyway - because there's no dialogue and it's all visuals. And because people may still be catching up with the remarkable HBO series "Chernobyl" (like me! holy shit it's good!), and wondering if there's a Russian version. Well, here it is! Sort of. Chernobyl: Abyss is the "first large-scale Russian film" about the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in 1986. It has a few major power producers behind it and is directed by Russian actor Danila Kozlovsky. The focus seems to be on the three men recruited for one of the most dangerous missions - to don diving suits and go inside the plant to open a water release valve so that the entire thing doesn't explode (again). The movie stars Danila Kozlovsky, ...

Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you have not yet watched “The Best Laid Plans,” the midseason finale of the sixth season of “Vikings.”

The Rus have officially invaded Vikings territory. On Wednesday night’s midseason finale of the History series, Ivar (Alex Hogh Andersen) and Oleg (Danila Kozlovsky) landed at King Harald Finehair’s (Peter Franzén) doorstep, where he, Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and the rest of the remaining Vikings waited to do battle. Unfortunately for them the remining territories refused to answer their call for help, and they were easily outnumbered by the Rus.

By the end of the bloody episode Bjorn had fallen to his brother’s sword and Finehair was down for the count, but according to creator Michael Hirst viewers shouldn’t assume anything. “You don’t know whether Bjorn is dead or not,” he tells Variety.

When the show returns later this year for the final 10 episodes of the series,...

Making mistakes is part of the game, and Bjorn would be wise to get a handle on that quickly. 

Vikings Season 6 Episode 3 threw more wild cards into the mix, while also leaving fans with a lot to chew on after a fiery final scene. 

Helping Harald was a controversial move and something Bjorn should have thought more about before charging full speed ahead. 

On Vikings Season 6 Episode 1, Bjorn vowed to make decisions that would benefit the people of Kattegat, so a loss of soldiers is not going to go down well with everyone. 

Bjorn was wrong to think he would be able to use the element of surprise against King Olaf. It felt necessary for King Olaf to get the upper hand on this one because it will push Bjorn in a different direction. 

The fire in the water was a perfectly executed plan because Bjorn and his men were...

Vulture Watch

Will the warriors have a fitting end? Has the Vikings TV show been cancelled or renewed for a seventh season on History? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Vikings, season seven. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

A History channel action-adventure series, the sixth season of Vikings stars Alexander Ludwig, Alex Høgh Andersen, Peter Franzén, Katheryn Winnick, Jordan Patrick Smith, and Marco Ilsø. Danila Kozlovsky, Georgia Hirst, Adam Copeland, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Ragga Ragnars, Steven Berkoff, and Eric Johnson have recurring roles. The period drama delves into the Viking warriors and their strange, ruthless world. Season six picks up after the battle which has...

When “Vikings” kicks off its sixth and final season on History, it does so in a blaze of glory. Not only has the series grown to include roughly 900 extras in its renowned battle scenes and given new voice to long-forgotten languages, but production has scaled several continents while also reaching more than 30 million total viewers as one of the top 10 cable dramas among all key demos.

Saying farewell to such a legacy — the legacy of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons that creator Michael Hirst always set out to tell — has been an “incredibly emotional” journey to say the least, Hirst notes. When the series picks up it’s with Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) on the throne in Kattegat, Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen) in Russia where he meets his match in a new character named Prince Oleg (Danila Kozlovsky), and with Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) ready to hang up her shield after years of battle,...

This year, 831 Loews is home to the “Created in Moscow” brand, which allies 17 Russian companies. The branding is supported by the Moscow Export Center, which recognizes the contribution made by the creative industries to the Russian economy. The “Created in Moscow” lineup will be featured in a presentation on the Venice stage at the Loews building on Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.

Although Russia has many fine arthouse auteurs, at Afm buyers can find a strong selection of commercial, mainstream titles from Russia, including many genre pics and CG animated features.

Eugenia Markova, director of industry relations at Russia’s Expocontent, says: “Russia is facing year-on-year 20% sales growth on the global market. The local film industry is not only about art-house and animation – although these two are traditionally strong. Russia is producing more and more original content of all types and genres, targeting wider audiences.”

Art Pictures Studio is selling helmer Fedor Bondarchuk’s “Invasion,...

Central Partnership has picked up international sales rights to “Chernobyl. Abyss,” directed by Danila Kozlovsky, and produced by Alexander Rodnyansky and Sergey Melkumov, who were both Oscar-nominated for Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Leviathan” and “Loveless.”

The drama is the first major Russian feature film to focus on the aftermath of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, the topic of HBO’s Emmy-winning miniseries “Chernobyl.”

As well as directing, Kozlovsky, one of Russia’s best-known actors, seen in History’s “Vikings,” AMC’s “McMafia” and Berlin competition title “Dovlatov,” also stars in the film, alongside Oksana Akinshina (“Lilya 4-Ever”) and Filipp Avdeev (“Corrections Class”).

Rodnyansky and Melkumov’s Non-Stop Production will produce alongside Kozlovsky’s Dk Entertainment. The film is set to be released on Oct. 8, 2020.

In today’s TV news roundup, “Rick and Morty” Season 4 gets a premiere date and Showtime renews “Couples Therapy.”

Casting

Nat Faxon (“Disenchantment”) and Nicole Byer (“Tuca & Bertie”) have been cast in the upcoming HBO Max pilot “Delilah.” The comedy follows Tom Childs, Sr. (Michael McKean), a man grieving the recent death of his wife, whose life is interrupted by the titular Delilah (Jessica Rothe) arrival of a young woman claiming to be his daughter. Faxon plays Brian, Tom’s oldest and angriest son, while Byer plays Cassie, the only person to welcome Delilah to town.

Renewals

Showtime has picked up a second season of “Couples Therapy.” Created by Sundance Award-winning filmmakers Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg and Eli Despres, the docuseries follows the weekly therapy sessions of four different couples. The second season will feature world-class therapist Dr. Orna Guralnik. Episodes currently air Fridays at 10 p.m.

Dates

Adult Swim...

It's almost time to say goodbye to Vikings!

History has revealed that the sixth and final season of the hit drama series will get underway Wednesday, December 4, at 9/8c. 

Even more exciting is that History is giving fans a two-hour premiere, making the long wait between seasons more worthwhile. 

"For the past five seasons the Vikings have explored and conquered the known world, from early raids in England and the fierce battles of the Great Heathen Army to the heart-stopping death of Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), now the epic saga sails to monumental lengths throughout 20 compelling, definitive episodes," reads the logline from the cable network. 

The 20-episode sixth season will air in two parts, meaning the first ten will kick off later this year, while the remaining ten episodes will air in 2020.

Additionally, series regular Katheryn Winnick is set to direct one episode in the final season, marking her directorial debut.

The beginning of Vikings‘ end will arrive in December.

History has announced that the sixth and final season of its first scripted series will have a two-hour premiere on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 9/8c. Eight more episodes will follow, airing Wednesdays at 10 pm. The remaining 10 episodes of Season 6 will then air later in 2020.

More from TVLineVikings' Alexander Ludwig to Join Stephen Amell in Starz's HeelsCable TV Renewal Scorecard: What's Returning? What's Cancelled?Evel Live 2 Daredevil Special Revamped After Headliner's Training Crash

A Season 6 trailer was released in tandem with the premiere date, as seen above.

“I always knew how Vikings would end and,...

History Channel debuted the first trailer for the final season of its Scandinavian epic “Vikings” on Monday, setting a December premiere date for its final 20 episodes.

The sixth season and final season of the series, which stars Alex Høgh Andersen and Alexander Ludwig as warring brothers, is set to air in two parts, with the first half debuting with a two-hour premiere on History on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

The network announced in January that the season would be the show’s last, wrapping its run sometime in 2020 with a total of 89 episodes. When “Vikings” first debuted in 2013, it was History’s first foray into scripted programming.

Also Read: 'Vikings' to End After Season 6, History and MGM Working on Spinoff

“I always knew how ‘Vikings’ would end and, after 89 episodes, I truly believe the saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons has been told and we are leaving our beloved...

Pyramide International handling sales on film produced by France’s Les Film Pelléas and Versus Productions.

Renowned Russian dancer and actor Sergei Polunin and French actress Laetitia Dosch have joined the cast of Danielle Arbid’s upcoming feature Passion Simple, which began shooting in and around Paris last week.

The film is being shot in 16mm and the shoot will also travel to Moscow and Florence in February.

Dosch co-stars as a French academic who embarks on a passionate affair with a dashing, married Russian diplomat, played by Polunin, knowing that the relationship will not last. The storyline revolves around...

The maturing Russian market was boosted by basketball drama Three Seconds this year.

At the end of every year, Russia’s box office is given a sizeable boost by the release of the biggest local film of that year in the late December holiday period. This happened to spectacular effect at the end of 2017 when Three Seconds (also known as Going Vertical) appeared in Russian cinemas on December 28.

The film, which celebrates Russia’s triumph against the Us basketball team at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, stayed on screens well into 2018 and turned into one of the biggest local successes of all time,...

Principal photography is scheduled to start in Alabama this summer.

Guy Pearce will star as a small-town marshal in the action thriller Disturbing The Peace, which Voltage Pictures is introducing to buyers in Cannes.

Principal photography is scheduled to start in Alabama this summer on the story of a law officer and former Texas Ranger haunted by a tragic shooting who must pick up a gun again when a biker gang invades his small town. Kelly Greyson co-stars.

York Shackleton directs from an original script by Chuck Hustmyre. Daniel Grodnik and Mary Aloe are producing for Grodnik/Aloe Productions along with Cindy Bond and Simon Swart.

‘Phantom Thread’ actress Krieps will play an academic who falls in love with a married diplomat.

Paris-based Pyramide International has boarded sales on Danielle Arbid’s new film Passion Simple, starring Vicky Krieps as a French academic who falls passionately in love with a married Russian diplomat.

Russian stage and screen star Danila Kozlovsky, recently seen in Aleksey German’s drama Dovlatov and BBC series McMafia, co-stars as the elusive Russian lover.

Multilingual Luxembourgish actress Krieps, who shot to stardom internationally on the back of her performance opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread, plays a 42-year-old lecturer and researcher who...

Russian films at Cannes this year illustrate bravery, past glories and increasing success in genres that show off the country’s forte in FX and animation work.

As Ilya Stewart of Hype Production sees it, the most successful Russian output these days in terms of critical and fest appreciation is outside the state film funding system, which shepherds most of the country’s films from development to distribution.

Hype’s rocker biopic “Leto” (“Summer”), a warts-and-all look at a seminal Russian music figure from the ’80s who was inspired by Iggy Pop and Lou Reed, has utilized independent financing and co-production resources from outside Russia, says Stewart, noting that the director remains under house arrest — a punishment recently extended so that he will not be able to attend the Cannes premiere of the main competition film.

“Our director, Kirill Serebrennikov, is truly a global citizen, who is extremely sensitive to...

Three Seconds grossed approximately $50m.

Central Partnership has confirmed a Chinese deal on Russian basketball film Three Seconds with Beijing Airmita Culture Development Co. and licensed Spain to Mediaset amid a boom in sports films at the Russian box office.

Three Seconds has grossed approximately $50m through Central Partnership in Russia to rank second at the local all-time box office behind Avatar. The film celebrates the unlikely last-minute victory of the Russian team over their previously all-conquering American rivals at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

It has already also been released successfully in the Baltics through Garsu, and in Germany through Kartina.

The success of Three Seconds follows on from that enjoyed by ice hockey filmLegend No. 17, a runaway box office winner in 2013, and from the record-breaking opening last week for Art Pictures Studio’s new feature, Ice.

Now, the country has its own very football film, which is being presented to buyers in Berlin for the first time. Central...

The Berlinale has revealed the first films within its Competition and Berlinale Special lineups.

Source: Amazon

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot

The Berlin Film Festival (15 - 25 Feb) has revealed the first films within its Competition and Berlinale Special lineups.

Directors including Benoit Jacquot, Gus Van Sant, Alexey German Jr., Małgorzata Szumowska, Philip Gröning, Thomas Stuber and Laura Bispuri will compete in this year’s Competition while Isabel Coixet and Lars Kraume feature in the Berlinale Special strand.

Alongside the previously announced opening film, Isle of Dogs by Wes Anderson, seven productions and co-productions from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Serbia, the Russian Federation, and the USA are announced for the Competition.

Gus Van Sant’s drama Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far, which will debut at Sundance, is the only film announced today which is not a world premiere. Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill,...

The Berlinale has revealed the first films within its Competition and Berlinale Special lineups.

Source: Amazon

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot

The Berlin Film Festival (15 - 25 Feb) has revealed the first films within its Competition and Berlinale Special lineups.

Directors including Benoit Jacquot, Gus Van Sant, Alexey German Jr., Małgorzata Szumowska, Philip Gröning, Thomas Stuber and Laura Bispuri will compete in this year’s Competition while Isabel Coixet and Lars Kraume feature in the Berlinale Special strand.

Alongside the previously announced opening film, Isle of Dogs by Wes Anderson, seven productions and co-productions from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Serbia, the Russian Federation, and the USA are announced for the Competition.

Gus Van Sant’s drama Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far, which will debut at Sundance, is the only film announced today which is not a world premiere. Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and [link...

Vikings has tapped popular Russian movie actor Danila Kozlovsky as a major new cast addition for the just-picked up 20-episode sixth season. On the hit History drama series, Kozlovsky will play the leading role of Oleg The Prophet. Oleg the Prophet, or Oleg Novgorod, was a 10th century Varangian prince who ruled the Rus’ people. Coincidentally (or not), Kozlovsky headlined the big-budget 2016 Russian feature Viking, playing one of Oleg’s successors, Vladimir the…...

Mubi is exclusively showing Alexander Zeldovich's Target (2011) from December 16 - January 14, 2017 in the United States.The natural terrain so revered in the past of Russian art is a largely digital entity in the future of Alexander Zeldovich’s Target, overlaid with megacities and serpentine highways and casually picked at by supercilious characters. (One of the protagonists contemplates a rare volcanic nugget and sticks it in his breast pocket, as if filching a novelty pen.) The year is 2020, and Moscow is a sleek network of glass compartments, robotic chimes, and Chinese billboards. Describing himself as “the King of the Mountain,” the Minister of Natural Resources (Maksim Sukhanov) has luxury and power and a gorgeous wife (Justine Waddell) purchased at the “bridal fair,” but that’s not enough—youth is the ultimate grail, finally available in a deserted excavation near the Mongolian border, where celestial radiation has a mysterious anti-aging effect on visitors.

Title: Hardcore Henry Universal Director: Ilya Naishuller Writers: Ilya Naishuller & Will Stewart Cast: Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth, Haley Bennett, Danila Kozlovsky Running Time: 1 hr 37 min Rated: R (Violence, Gore, Language) Special Features: Four Deleted Scenes; Fan Chat with Ilya Naishuller and Sharlto Copley; 2 Feature commentaries with Ilya Naishuller and Sharlto Copley Released on Blu-ray, DVD, On Demand July 26 You wake up looking into the face of a beautiful woman in a lab coat named Estelle (Haley Bennett; Marley & Me) who says she’s your wife. Your left arm and leg are gone and you are getting some nifty bionic limbs. Just as you are about [ Read More ]

The post Hardcore Henry Blu Ray Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Stx Entertainment have announced the July home media release dates and details for the first-person Pov action thriller Hardcore Henry:

Press Release: Universal City, CA, May 26, 2016 – Brace yourself for one of the most unflinchingly original wild rides when the adrenaline-fueled action hit Hardcore Henry arrives on Digital HD on July 12, 2016 and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on July 26, 2016 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Stx Entertainment. Filled with non-stop action and thrilling adventure, Hardcore Henry is the first film shot completely in first-person shooter perspective. The Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD feature even more explosive thrills with deleted scenes and commentary with the director and actor/producer. Be the first to own Hardcore Henry, starring Sharlto Copley (Chappie, District 9, Elysium), and immerse yourself in an exciting new world as you become the title hero!

You remember nothing. Mainly because you’ve just...

Stars: Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth, Haley Bennett, Danila Kozlovsky, Andrei Dementiev, Svetlana Ustinova, Darya Charusha, Oleg Poddubnyy | Written by Ilya Naishuller, Will Stewart | Directed by Ilya Naishuller

For years video games have clamuored to make the gaming experience more cinematic. Which is now the reason we have games like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, The Last of Us, and Until Dawn – games that edge more towards the “interactive adventures” we were promised back in the full-motion video era of gaming (remember that?). But what if it was the other way round? What if films looked to video games for inspiration? Undoubtedly we’d have more movies like Hardcore Henry.

Shot completely from the hero’s perspective, a la Fps video games, Hardcore Henry stars you – the audience. You remember nothing. Mainly because you’ve just been brought back from the dead by your wife (Haley Bennett). She tells you that your name is Henry.

Title: Hardcore Henry Director: Ilya Naishuller Starring: Sharlto Copley, Danila Kozlovsky, Haley Bennett. ‘Hardcore Henry’ begins with Henry recalling how he was bullied as a child, before waking up in a tank of water inside a laboratory on an airship missing his left arm and left leg. A scientist, Estelle (Haley Bennett), replaces his missing limbs with cybernetic ones and reminds Henry that she is his wife and that he has amnesia after waking up from a horrible accident. Just as Henry begins to find his bearings, a group of mercenaries led by the telekinetic Akan (Danila Kozlovsky) arrive and kill the other scientists, intending to abduct Henry. Thus begins [ Read More ]

The post Hardcore Henry Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Good morning, Daily Deaders, today’s Horror Highlights starts off with a new video from Greg McLean’s The Darkness. In this new clip, Radha Mitchell discovers “what’s in the attic.” Also: a clip and music video for Hardcore Henry and clips as well as a Mondo poster for Darling.

The Darkness: “From the director of the cult classic, Wolf Creek, Greg McLean, comes the supernatural thriller The Darkness, opening nationwide May 13th, 2016. As a family returns home from vacation at the Grand Canyon, they innocently bring home a supernatural force that preys off their own fears and vulnerabilities, threatening to destroy them from within, while consuming their lives with terrifying consequences.

The Darkness stars Kevin Bacon, Radha Mitchell, David Mazouz, Lucy Fry, Matt Walsh and Jennifer Morrison. Directed by Greg McLean and written by McLean, Shayne Armstrong, and S.P. Krause, the film was produced by Jason Blum, Bianca Martino,...

Ilya Naishuller’s “Hardcore Henry” storms into theaters this weekend courtesy of Stx Entertainment with an inventive gimmick: It’s shot entirely from the first-person point of view of its unseen title character, who goes to violent lengths to rescue his wife (Haley Bennett) from a telekinetic albino warlord (Danila Kozlovsky) with the help of a human chameleon played by Sharlto Copley. The buzzy new film has an unseen force of its own, Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”), who produced “Hardcore Henry” after watching Naishuller’s innovative “Bad Motherfucker.” Here, Behmambetov shares his thoughts about the new film,...

Hardcore Henry is in theaters right now, and if you've seen the film, I'm guessing there were a handful of times where you probably wondered "how the heck did they pull that off?" (Read our review here.) Stx Entertainment has released a music video for writer/director Ilya Naishuller's band (called Biting Elbows) that doubles as an awesome behind-the-scenes featurette showing off the wirework and crazy choreography that went into capturing the movie's insane first person Pov perspective. Check out that GoPro rig! Very cool.

They also put out an extended clip of a motorcycle chase from the movie. Both clips should be considered Nsfw. Let us know what you think below:

Strap in. Hardcore Henry is one of the most unflinchingly original wild-rides to hit the big screen in a long time:  You remember nothing. Mainly because you've just been brought back from the dead by your wife...