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Zero Day is a political techno-thriller drama series created by Eric Newman. The Netflix series follows Former President George Mullen, who is appointed as the head of the Zero Day Commission to investigate a devastating cyberattack on the people of the United States. Zero Day stars Robert De Niro, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Bill Camp, Dan Stevens, Angela Bassett, Matthew Modine, and McKinley Belcher III. So, if you loved the conspiracy thriller story, nail-biting drama, and compelling characters in Zero Day, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Designated Survivor (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Netflix

Designated Survivor is a political conspiracy thriller drama series created by David Guggenheim. The ABC and later Netflix series follows Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Thomas Kirkman, who suddenly becomes the President of...

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Paradise is a sci-fi political conspiracy thriller series created by Dan Fogelman. The Hulu series is set in an idyllic community housing some of the most important people in the world, and it follows Special Agent Xavier Collins after the President of the United States is murdered. Paradise stars Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin, Percy Daggs IV, and James Marsden. So, if you loved the political intrigue, genre-blending plot, and compelling characters in Paradise, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Salvation (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – CBS

Salvation is a sci-fi mystery thriller drama series created by Liz Kruger, Craig Shapiro, and Matt Wheeler. The CBS series follows a group of people as they discover that an asteroid will hit the Earth in six months and destroy the planet.

Netflix is, by no means, a stranger to the action and thriller genre. With the streamer being home to a plethora of films falling within the action category, one would expect another action-centered movie to simply be an addition to the streamer's already wide repertoire. However, director Julian Farino's latest project, The Union, has made waves on the streaming platform. Since its release on August 16, 2024, the film claimed the coveted number one spot on Netflix's Global Top 10 for two weeks straight, accumulating an astounding 73.8 million viewing hours.

With a story penned by David Guggenheim, The Union's central plot revolves around a secret agent who requires the help of her high school boyfriend to take down a team that is intent on compromising national security. On paper, the film sounds similar to any other work in the genre. A secret spy working for a shadowy organization that no one knows about,...

Despite featuring a star-studded duo in Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg, The Union continues to divide critics and audiences. The new Netflix spy film's negative reaction unfortunately prompted a new low mark for Wahlberg's career.

Via Rotten Tomatoes, The Union boasts rotten critic and audience scores less than a week after its Netflix debut. The film currently has a 36% critical rating and 26% audience score on the popular review aggregator platform, making it one of the worst-rated movies on Berry and Wahlberg's extensive CVs. For Wahlberg, The Union's audience score is the second-lowest ever for a movie featuring the veteran actor, with 2008's The Happening (24%) being the lowest of the bunch. The critics' score also ranks among the bottom 10 all-time for Wahlberg movies.

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If you combine stars of Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry's caliber and put them in a high-profile Netflix release, it's bound to be successful on the streamer, and that point has been proven with the release of the action thrillerThe Union. All the ingredients were in place for this film to hit on the platform, so it's not exactly surprising that it shot its way to the top of Netflix's Top Ten Films.

Per Netflix's Global Top Ten Chart, The Union is currently at number one with over 33 million views tallied. In addition to this, 60.1 million hours of the film have been viewed, and it has ranked in the Top 10 in 93 countries on Netflix, including number-one showings in Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Bolivia, and many more. The movie comes out ahead of other established fan-favorites on the chart, including Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and The Emoji Movie.

The Union's audience score sets a new record for Mark Wahlberg, as it is now his second-lowest rated film on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics and viewers alike criticize The Union for lack of action, unbelievable plot, and character development. Despite bad reviews, The Union peaked at no. 1 on Netflix's charts, garnering 33.1 million views globally.

The Rotten Tomatoes audience score for the Netflix movie The Union has set a new record for actor Mark Wahlberg. In The Union, Wahlberg plays Mike, a working-class man whose surprise run-in with his ex-girlfriend Roxanne leads to him being wrapped up in an unexpected international spy mission. In addition to Berry and Wahlberg, The Union features a leading cast including J.K. Simmons, Mike Colter, Alice Lee, Jessica De Gouw, Lucy Cork, and Jackie Earle-Haley. The film is directed by Julian Farino and written by David Guggenheim and Joe Barton.

The updated Rotten Tomatoes audience...

Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg's newly-released spy action comedy thriller, The Union, continues to divide critics days after its release. Despite the mixed reviews, the film finds instant success on Netflix as audiences tune in to see its acclaimed lead stars.

Per Collider, The Union is at the top of Netflix's Top 10 movie chart following its Aug. 16 premiere. The espionage film outdueled two Kingsman films and the animated movie, Ferdinand, to take the top spot on the streamer.

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The Union sees Wahlberg's construction worker character, Mike McKenna, living normally until it's turned upside down when his former high school sweetheart, Roxanne Hall (Berry), re-appears in his life after 20 years.

Mark Wahlberg is booked and busy. The actor, who can currently be seen opposite Halle Berry in Netflix's The Union, has opened up about one of his next movies, Play Dirty, which was co-written and directed by Shane Black.

Speaking with Collider, Wahlberg expressed how excited he was for audiences to see Play Dirty, hyping the upcoming movie as a cross between The Italian Job and Heat. "For me, it's like The Italian Job meets Heat. It's got the action, it's got the high stakes, it's got the humor, it's got these great characters, the best Shane Black dialogue," hyped Wahlberg, adding that he has been waiting "a long time to get a script like that."

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The actor continued, "Any time we talked about,...

Exclusive: Vice President Kamala Harris has turned to an old friend and Hollywood veteran to help reintroduce her to the nation and the world at the Democratic National Convention this week.

Reginald Hudlin has directed the short film on Harris that will precede the VP taking to the stage on Thursday for her acceptance speech as the party’s historic presidential candidate. Tracing Harris from her childhood in Oakland, CA to the corridors of power in Sacramento and Washington D.C., the August 22-debuting biopic is about 10 minutes long, we’ve learned.

“Reggie is the perfect person to do this,” an insider at the convention in Chicago says. “He knows her (Harris) well, they’re friends, and he clearly has the chops.”

Related: Democratic National Convention Lineup For Monday: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Karen Bass And Aoc Among Speakers

The acclaimed CAA-repped filmmaker’s spouse Chrisette Hudlin was the...

The following contains major spoilers for The Union, now streaming on Netflix.

Although The Union officially hit Netflix on Aug. 16, cast members Jackie Earle Haley, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Mike Colter are still doing press for the film. The duo recently shared their thoughts about the titular underground organization that helps the CIA with jobs it can't handle.

"I thought it was kind of clever," Haley, who plays Foreman in the film, told ComicBook. "So you've got normally like the CIA and the Nsa and the Mi-6 and all of these things. And here's J.K. [Simmons] and he's like, 'Well, I'm going to create this secret spy agency, and I'm just going to go get that foreman from that factory there. I'm going to get this fighter from...' You know what I mean? It's just all these people and he kind of puts them together."

Related Its Just Fun:...

The Union falls short compared to other spy genre films, despite Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry's excellent chemistry. The plot is preposterous, and the action lacks intensity, making the film feel mediocre. Despite a strong cast, the movie's simple story, underwhelming action, and lack of surprises disappoint.

Though typically a launchpad for action sequences and globe-trotting adventures, the spy genre can sometimes be used for comedic or even romantic stories. Some of the more notable examples include the Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz-led Knight and Day, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy and Reese Witherspoon's This Means War and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Unfortunately for The Union, it never quite reaches the same height as some of its genre counterparts, despite some stellar chemistry between its leads.

The Union (2024)

Director Julian FarinoRelease Date August 16, 2024Studio(s) Closest to the Hole Productions, Municipal Pictures,...

The Union is a spy action comedy-thriller film directed by Julian Farino from a screenplay co-written by Joe Barton and David Guggenheim. The Netflix film follows the story of Mike McKenna, a simple construction who gets roped into the world of espionage by his ex-girlfriend from high school. The Union stars Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry in the lead roles with Mike Colter, Jessica De Gouw, Alice Lee, J.K. Simmons, and Lorraine Bracco starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the action, comedy, the world of spies, and the romance between the leading duo in The Union, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Ghosted (Apple TV+) Credit – Apple TV+

Ghosted is a romantic comedy and action-adventure film directed by Dexter Fletcher from a screenplay co-written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers. The 2023 film follows the story of Cole, a simple farmer...

Much like fast-food chains make sure their menu items have just the right amount of sugar, salt and fat to make their products addictive, Netflix delivers action movies that feel as if they were created in a lab.

That doesn’t make them any less enjoyable as long as you recognize their artificiality and don’t mind signing on for it. The latest example is The Union, featuring a terrific cast led by Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry, exotic locations, high-energy action sequences and sufficient doses of light-hearted humor to assure us that no one involved is taking the proceedings too seriously. It’s a pleasant enough diversion that you’ll likely instantly forget until the inevitable sequel comes along.

Wahlberg plays to his (shirtless) strengths as Mike, who only deviates from the actor’s usual working-class persona in that he’s a Jersey boy rather than a Southie. A...

The Union may be another one of those globe-hopping, star-driven popcorn action movies Netflix has specialized in of late, but because of a fortuitous star teaming of Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry — two vets of the genre working together for the first time — it really is a cut above and just pure entertainment. Nothing wrong with that, though if this were made by Lionsgate, where both stars have a history, it would be a major late-summer theatrical, rather that being tossed into the streaming pool.

Nevertheless, it should find a global audience ready to buy into a premise as old as The Dirty Dozen and The A-Team and one that also just seems like the perfect TV series pilot if it were not for the glittering filmography of the principals involved.

The Union is a kind of underground group that comes in and does the dirty work for the CIA and FBI.

Plot: Mike is happy living a simple life as a construction worker in his native New Jersey – until his long-lost high school sweetheart, Roxanne, shows up with more on her mind than romance. Knowing he’s the right man for the job, she recruits Mike on a dangerous intelligence mission in Europe that thrusts them back together into a world of spies and high-speed car chases, with sparks flying along the way.

Review: Spy franchises work when the main characters are augmented like Jason Bourne or elite veterans like James Bond and Ethan Hunt. When starting a new franchise, it is tricky to balance it and make it believable that an average nobody can quickly become a hero. The Union represents Mark Wahlberg’s second attempt in three years to play a seemingly average guy who has hidden skills that make him a vital resource to save the world. In 2021’s Infinite,...

The Mission: Impossible franchise is the pinnacle of action cinema in Hollywood. There’s nobody in the North American film industry who’s doing it like Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise, and everyone that’s ready to put their lives on the line for these two maniacs. That said, there are many who want to copy them without really putting in the effort that’s necessary to create memorable action sequences that feel tangible and realistic as hell. Recently, we got Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, which lifted scenes from the M:i franchise via the cheapest-looking visual effects available to mankind. Prime Video products such as Jack Ryan, Role Play, and Citadel have tried to do the same and failed every time. Netflix has been throwing millions of dollars at anyone and everyone so that they can have their very own spy franchise. As a result, we have some of the...

Netflix’s The Union sees Mark Wahlberg team up once again with director Julian Farino. Farino directed 23 episodes of HBO’s Entourage, which was loosely based on Wahlberg’s early days in Hollywood and on which the actor was also an executive producer (and occasional guest star). Farino has never directed an action-comedy like this before, while Wahlberg has become extremely comfortable in this arena over the last several years. How does the rekindled partnership fare?

Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg in The Union (2024)/Netflix

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The Union Plot

Construction worker Mike (Wahlberg) lives a simple, yet happy life in his native New Jersey. He still lives with his mother, hangs out with his friends from high school, frequents the same spots around town. It may not be an exciting life, but it’s his. But – and...

Old friends and high school flames turn into a dynamic duo of international spies in The Union, an all-new spy action-comedy film from Netflix. The streamer original hails from British film and television director-producer Julian Farino (Entourage) and is written by Joe Barton and David Guggenheim. The Union follows Mike, a regular construction worker from New Jersey who happens to bump into his high-school sweetheart, Roxanne, after 25 years. What appears to be a chance encounter turns into a life-changing event for Mike when he is whisked out of his ordinary working-class life and thrown into the perilous world of spies and secret agents. As he trains to be an agent and partners with Roxanne for a high-stakes US intelligence mission, it also rekindles Mike and Roxannes teenage romance.

Netflix is all set for an entertainment-packed August this year. As we have already told you about all the entertaining AMC shows coming to Netflix in August, but there is more because Netflix being Netflix, makes a ton of original content and some of that is coming out this month. From the final season of Netflix’s hit superhero series The Umbrella Academy to a series that is being described as a “darkly comedic and contemporary reimagining of Greek gods” starring Jeff Goldblum. So, we also picked out the 10 best Netflix originals that will be coming out on Netflix this August.

Unstable Season 2 (August 1)

Unstable returns for more mayhem, more parental drama, more hilarious antics, and even more father-son bonding in its second season. Created by Rob Lowe, John Owen Lowe, and Victor Fresco, the Netflix workplace comedy series will see Jackson trying to prepare for an eventual takeover of his father’s company,...

Halle Berry exits Ryan Murphy's legal drama due to scheduling conflicts. Her departure comes just one week after the casting was announced. Berry stars in two upcoming movies, The Union and Never Let Go.

Halle Berry exits the Ryan Murphy legal drama All's Fair days after being announced as part of the cast. First announced in December 2023, and coming off the resurgence of Suits on streaming, All's Fair is set for Hulu. Although exact plots are being kept under wraps, the story will focus on an all-women law firm in Los Angeles. But now, only a short time after two top stars were announced as joining lead and executive producer Kim Kardashian, there's been a change to the ensemble.

Variety confirms that Berry is leaving All's Fair due to scheduling conflicts. The departure was announced just a week after the Oscar winner was revealed as part of the Hulu series,...

De obrero a superespía. © Netflix

Netflix ha publicado el primer tráiler y póster de su nueva película de comedia de acción, “The Union” (“El Sindicato”).

En “The Union”, Mike (Mark Wahlberg), un sensato obrero de la construcción de Jersey, se ve arrojado al mundo de los superespías y los agentes secretos cuando su amor del instituto, Roxanne (Halle Berry), lo recluta para una arriesgada peligrosa misión de inteligencia estadounidense.

La película, dirigida por Julian Farino (“Ballers”) a partir de un guion de Joe Barton (“The Lazarus Project”) y David Guggenheim, está protagonizada por Mark Wahlberg (“Plan en Familia”) y Halle Berry (“Catwoman”) junto a Mike Colter (“Luke Cage”), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (“Farming”), Jessica De Gouw (“Underground”), Alice Lee (“La Extraordinaria Playlist de Zoey”), Jackie Earle Haley (“Watchmen”) y J.K. Simmons (“Spider-Man: Cruzando el Multiverso”).

“The Union” se estrena en Netflix el 16 de agosto.

¡Os dejamos con el tráiler y póster de la película!

We spy with our little eyes something that has our curiosity and our attention — the first trailer for Netflix's new spy rom-com The Union. Hailing from Giri/Haji writer-director duo Joe Barton and Julian Farino, alongside Designated Survivor creator David Guggenheim, this one sees Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry star as Mike and Roxanne, one-time high school sweethearts brought back together when Roxanne — now a super spy — reunites with Mike, spikes him, and recruits him for a high-stakes mission. As you do! Check out the trailer below;

From its meet-cute opening to its high-octane, car-chasing, rooftop-skipping big finish, The Union's trailer tees up a tantalising genre hybrid driven by Wahlberg and Berry's palpable on-screen chemistry. There's a flirtatious frisson to the duo's dive bar banter — "You can handle your liquor now?" chides Wahlberg's Mike; "I could always handle my liquor" Berry's Roxanne claps back — that looks to carry...

The first official trailer for The Union has dropped online, offering a first look at an upcoming spy action comedy-thriller starring 2x Academy Award-nominee Mark Wahlberg and Academy Award-winner Halle Berry (X-Men: Days of Future Past; John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum; Monster's Ball) in the lead roles as a pair of high school sweethearts that reconnect decades later when the world is at threat.

As per the synopsis, "Mike (Wahlberg) is happy living a simple life as a construction worker in his native New Jersey – until his long-lost high school sweetheart, Roxanne (Berry), shows up with more on her mind than romance. Knowing he’s the right man for the job, she recruits Mike on a dangerous intelligence mission in Europe that thrusts them back together into a world of spies and high-speed car chases, with sparks flying along the way."

In addition to Wahlberg and Berry, the supporting cast features Mike Colter,...

The first official trailer for The Union has dropped online, offering a first look at an upcoming spy action comedy-thriller starring 2x Academy Award-nominee Mark Wahlberg and Academy Award-winner Halle Berry (X-Men: Days of Future Past; John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum; Monster's Ball) in the lead roles as a pair of high school sweethearts that reconnect decades later when the world is at threat.

As per the synopsis, "Mike (Wahlberg) is happy living a simple life as a construction worker in his native New Jersey – until his long-lost high school sweetheart, Roxanne (Berry), shows up with more on her mind than romance. Knowing he’s the right man for the job, she recruits Mike on a dangerous intelligence mission in Europe that thrusts them back together into a world of spies and high-speed car chases, with sparks flying along the way."

In addition to Wahlberg and Berry, the supporting cast features Mike Colter,...

Back at the start of May, the Netflix streaming service unveiled their 2024 Summer Movie slate, and in the process they revealed that an action comedy called The Union, which stars Mark Wahlberg (The Family Plan) and Halle Berry (The Call), has a release date of August 16th. With that date just seven weeks away, a trailer for the film has arrived online, and you can check it out in the embed above.

Directed by prolific television director Julian Farino, who was also at the helm of the 2011 dramedy The Oranges, The Union has the following synopsis: Mike (Mark Wahlberg) is happy living a simple life as a construction worker in his native New Jersey – until his long-lost high school sweetheart, Roxanne (Halle Berry), shows up with more on her mind than romance. Knowing he’s the right man for the job, she recruits Mike on a dangerous intelligence mission in...

High school sweethearts become super spies in the action comedy “The Union,” starring Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry and premiering on Netflix Aug. 16.

The film follows Roxanne (Berry), who reunites with her ex-boyfriend Mike (Wahlberg) at a bar and sweeps him off his feet, only to tranquilize him and transport him from New Jersey to London.

After a list containing the identities of every U.S. spy was stolen, Roxanne recruits Mike, “a nobody,” to retrieve it. When Mike asks Roxanne and her boss (J.K. Simmons) if they work for the FBI, she responds, “We work for The Union.”

Soon, Mike is being trained by his ex-flame, sprinting atop London buildings, shooting at targets and protecting a briefcase while he’s chased across Europe.

“Piece of cake,” Simmons says in the trailer. “I mean, unless, you know, it isn’t.”

As Mike and Roxanne work together on this high-stakes mission,...

Kiefer Sutherland, Maggie Q, and Adan Canto’s Designated Survivor family came together to say goodbye to the late actor.

Canto died after a private battle with appendiceal cancer and was memorialized by his former co-stars. The photo shared on social media also included Lamonica Garrett, Italia Ricci, custome designer Nancy Gould, and series creator David Guggenheim.

“We all came to say goodbye. Love you forever friend, till we meet again,” Maggie Q captioned an Instagram post with the Designated Survivor family.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maggie Q (@maggieq)

Sutherland had dedicated a post to Canto following news of his death.

“It seems lately I have had to make too many posts like this one, but I am heartbroken by the loss of Adan Canto,” Sutherland shared at the time. “He was such a wonderful spirit. As an actor his desire to do well, to be great,...

Adan Canto’s Designated Survivor castmates gathered recently to remember the actor, who died on Jan. 8 at age 42.

“We all came to say goodbye...

IndieWire’s longtime commitment to highlighting boundary-pushing documentary filmmaking reached new heights this fall during the inaugural Art of the Doc screening series. Presented in partnership with National Geographic, Art of the Doc showcased six of the best nonfiction films of 2023 at the Landmark Westwood in Los Angeles. Each screening featured in-person conversations with filmmakers and documentary subjects moderated by IndieWire editors.

“Our editors gave careful consideration in selecting these films for our inaugural screening series, Art of the Doc,” IndieWire senior VP and editor in chief Dana Harris-Bridson said in a statement announcing the series. “We’re excited to have the in-person opportunity to share IndieWire’s perspective with the work of great filmmakers.”

“We’re thrilled to be launching our first documentary screening series with our partner National Geographic,” said IndieWire senior VP and publisher James Israel. “Nat Geo’s support of the art of current documentary filmmaking...

Mark Wahlberg stars as an ex-assassin who must protect his family in the action-comedy film "The Family Plan," set to premiere on Apple TV+ on December 15. The film follows Wahlberg's character, Dan Morgan, as he embarks on a cross-country road trip to keep his loved ones safe after his past catches up with him. In addition to "The Family Plan," Wahlberg has other action-packed projects in the pipeline, including the thriller "The Union" with Halle Berry and the film "Flight Risk" directed by Mel Gibson.

Mark Wahlberg is a master assassin-turned-family man in the newly released trailer for The Family Plan. Coming courtesy of Apple TV+, The Family Plan finds Wahlberg using his particular set of skills to keep his family safe after his dark past catches up with him in this action-comedy that’s set to land on the streaming platform on December 15. Check out the trailer for The Family Plan...

Exclusive: The book-to-movie market that has been spotty with two strikes hobbling the business is seeing an uptick that will lead to a few strong deals before the holiday. It could presage a boom market if the optimism from the latest labor talks lead to a deal and resumption of business.

One big deal just closed at Universal, for an action thriller based on the unpublished 43-page short story Run For Your Life. The story is about a groom marked for death on his wedding day, and the studio is at the altar with a pre-emptive purchase that has Safe House scribe and Designated Survivor creator David Guggenheim attached to write and Sam Hargrave in talks to direct. Latter helmed the Chris Hemsworth action films Extraction and its sequel for Netflix and Agbo; Hargrave will next direct another high-action thriller, Stay Frosty, for Warner Bros with Dark Horse Entertainment.

(L-r...

In 2012, Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington teamed up for a commercially successful action/thriller in the form of "Safe House." While the film was met with mixed reviews from critics in its day, it was a sizable financial hit, taking in $208 million at the global box office, including more than $126 million domestically. The film has also remained a staple on cable TV and streaming in the years since its release. Perhaps not surprisingly, Universal Pictures was, at one point, developing a sequel.

The follow-up was originally announced in late 2012 shortly after the film's successful theatrical run. At the time, it was reported that writer David Guggenheim would return to pen the screenplay. Now, here we are more than a decade later and next to nothing has been said officially regarding "Safe House 2." So, is the movie still happening? Would Washington or Reynolds return? We're here to break down everything we know.

CBS’ “The Talk” is set to head back into production amid Hollywood’s dual strikes, per media reports. “The Jennifer Hudson Show” will also return to filming, TheWrap has confirmed.

The news comes after Drew Barrymore’s talks show returned to production despite the ongoing actors’ and writers’ strikes. The show’s decisions to go back to production has sparked outcry online.

Back on May 2, “The Talk” shared that it would be going on hiatus due to the WGA strike, mentioning that pre-recorded episodes of the daytime talk show would air in the meantime. However, per reports, “The Talk” will make its way back onto TV screens on Sept. 18.

The talk-centered show features hosts Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and Natalie Morales. TheWrap has reached out to CBS for request for comment.

As for “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” TheWrap has learned that Jennifer Hudson will return to host the talk series,...

Michael J. Fox had to look back to the future to decide on his own retirement.

The “Back to the Future” icon explained to Empire magazine (via Screen Rant) that Quentin Tarantino’s 1960s set “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” inspired him to seriously consider stepping away from acting. Fox detailed that on “The Good Wife” spinoff “The Good Fight,” he had trouble remembering his lines due to his Parkinson’s disease.

“I thought of ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.’ There’s a scene where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character can’t remember his lines anymore. He goes back to his dressing room and he’s screaming at himself in the mirror. Just freaking insane,” Fox said. “I had this moment where I was looking in the mirror and thought, ‘I cannot remember it anymore. Well, let’s move on.’ It was peaceful.”

Fox is set to receive the...

Despite erratic nationwide weather pattern, May Day 2023 has nevertheless brought with it a palpable sense of Spring reverie and renewal—not least of all in movie theaters and on streaming platforms. The freshly-launched Writers Strike (necessary and overdue) will no doubt result in some crinkling of the garden hose of fresh content, but that’s for future content consumers to worry about. In the meantime, enjoy this month’s Don’t-Miss Indies!

A Small Light

When You Can Watch: Now

Where You Can Watch: Disney+, Hulu, NatGeo, ABC

Creators: Joan Rater, Tony Phelan

Cast: Bel Powley, Liev Schreiber, Joe Cole, Amira Casar, Billie Boullet, Ashley Brooke

Why We’re Excited: Shot in Prague and Amsterdam in the summer of 2022, this eight-part National Geographic limited series brings us the true story that transpired during the Nazi occupation of both nations in WWII. Austrian-born Dutch woman Miep Gies works for Otto Frank at a spice company.

Netflix’s “Our Man From Jersey,” starring Halle Berry, Mark Wahlberg and J.K. Simmons, is coming close to wrapping its shoot in Croatia and Slovenia, according to Film New Europe.

The film, based on a screenplay by David Guggenheim and Joe Barton, has been described as a “blue-collar James Bond.” Wahlberg plays a down-to-earth construction worker from Jersey, who is thrust into the world of super spies and secret agents when his high-school ex-girlfriend Roxanne (Berry) recruits him on a high-stakes U.S. intelligence mission.

It is directed by Julian Farino, and produced by the U.S.’s Closest to the Hole Productions, owned by Wahlberg. The producers are Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Jeff Waxman.

The producers have applied for Croatia’s 25 cash rebate under the working title “The Union,” so the Croatian Audiovisual Center could only confirm a project of such a name was filmed in the country during September.

The Brady organization against gun violence is calling on Hollywood writers, directors and producers to examine onscreen gun violence and depictions of gun safety, asking the creative community to sign a pledge that’s already garnered more than 200 signatures of such names as Judd Apatow, Shonda Rhimes, Damon Lindelof and Jimmy Kimmel and the writers of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The pledge, while noting that the “responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives,” acknowledges that “America’s storytellers” have the power to “effect change.”

“Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety,” the Brady pledge states, and goes on to ask writers, directors and producers to, whenever possible, to:

Use creativity “to model responsible gun ownership and...

Exclusive: J.K. Simmons (Being the Ricardos), Jackie Earle Haley (The First Lady), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Suicide Squad), Jessica De Gouw (The Secrets She Keeps) and Alice Lee (Brittany Runs a Marathon) have signed on to star alongside Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry in the Netflix thriller Our Man from Jersey, from director Julian Farino (Ballers).

The film centers on Mike (Wahlberg), a down-to-earth construction worker from Jersey, who is quickly thrust into the world of super spies and secret agents when his high school ex-girlfriend Roxanne (Berry) recruits him on a high-stakes U.S. intelligence mission. Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Jeff Waxman will produce the pic written by David Guggenheim and Joe Barton.

Simmons won his first Oscar back in 2015 for his portrayal of cut-throat jazz instructor Fletcher in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, notching his second nom this year for his supporting turn in Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos. The...

Warning: This podcast contains spoilers about the season one finale of Apple TV+’s Invasion.

“It’s especially hard to launch original things on the big screen,” exclaims multi-hyphenate Simon Kinberg on the latest episode of Crew Call.

“It’s harder to get movies made, and harder to get people to come to the movie theater, unless you catch fire culturally or you’re a bulletproof title that’s too big to fail,” he says.

Still the odds for original fare theatrically hasn’t stopped Kinberg from creating unique ideas again in the wake of his success with writing, producing and even directing on 20th Century Fox/Marvel’s X-Men franchise. Other IP he’s taken to higher levels as a writer or producer are Deadpool, Cinderella and the animated TV series he co-created Star Wars Rebels. He’s already quickly prepping a second season of Invasion for Apple TV...

Memorial services will be announced at later date.

Updated With Academy Statement: Diane Weyermann, Participant chief content officer and a longtime champion of documentaries who was a driving force behind An Inconvenient Truth and American Factory, has died. She was 66.

Weyermann passed away from cancer on Thursday (October 14) in New York. Participant said she had “long been the engine behind the company’s documentary film and television slate”, adding that her work “defined the company” since it was founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll.

“In the very earliest days of Participant, I was incredibly lucky to have Diane agree to run our newfound documentary department,...

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By Tim McGlynn

Mill Creek Entertainment has released a Blu-ray edition of Universal Pictures’ Safe House from 2012. This spy thriller features a first-rate cast including Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Ruben Blades and Sam Shepard.

Directed by Sweden’s Daniel Espinoza, the story concerns the capture and escape of a former CIA operative who possesses damning evidence that his superiors are spilling secrets to anyone with a large bank account. The script is by David Guggenheim and may remind viewers of Matt Damon’s Bourne films.

Ryan Reynolds plays Matt Weston, a young CIA agent stuck on housekeeping duty at an empty safe house in Capetown, South Africa. He's restless and eager for a more important post in a less isolated location. The house doesn't see much action, nor does Weston apart from conjugal visits from his gorgeous girlfriend played by Nora Arnezeder.

Halle Berry is staying in business with Netflix. The streamer landed the rights to her directorial debut that made waves at the Toronto Film Festival and now the actress has signed on to star opposite Mark Wahlberg in their thriller Our Man From Jersey. Written by David Guggenheim and produced by Wahlberg and his partner Stephen Levinson, the plot is being…...

Halle Berry is set to take on “Our Man from New Jersey,” starring opposite Mark Wahlberg in the upcoming spy movie for Netflix.

Wahlberg will also produce the film, working alongside Stephen Levinson, following last year’s successful launch of “Spenser Confidential” at the streamer. The film’s script comes from screenwriter David Guggenheim, based on an idea from Levinson.

Details of the plot and Berry’s role are being kept under wraps, but the film is described as “a blue collar James Bond.”

The film’s premise sounds like familiar territory for Berry, after she memorably starred as Jinx opposite Pierce Brosnan’s Bond in 2002’s “Die Another Day.”

Since then, Berry has racked up an impressive action movie resume (and body count). After playing Storm in the “X-Men” franchise, Berry most recently starred in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and just completed filming on Roland Emmerich’s “Moonfall.”

The...

After landing rights to her directorial debut, Netflix is looking to get back into business with Halle Berry. The streamer has set her to star opposite Mark Wahlberg in the thriller Our Man From Jersey. David Guggenheim penned the script, with Wahlberg and his partner Stephen Levinson producing.

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the film is described as a blue-collar James Bond. Insiders say the plan is to shoot the film early next year in London.

The Oscar-winning actress added the title of director to her extensive filmography when her directorial debut Bruised premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, earning rave reviews for how impressive her work was for a first-time director and for her performance that impressed the festival circuit, especially Netflix. The streamer would end up paying eight figures for the rights, one of the largest at the 2020 festival.

Besides Bruised, Berry was also recently...

Halle Berry will join Mark Wahlberg in the Netflix action-thriller Our Man From Jersey.

The project — described as a “blue-collar James Bond” — was written by David Guggenheim (Safe House, Designated Survivor). A director has yet to be attached.

Wahlberg, who worked with the streamer on action-thriller Spenser Confidential, will produce with Stephen Levinson.

Netflix will also work with Berry on her directorial debut Bruised, having acquired the movie out of TIFF. The Oscar winner, repped by WME, was most recently seen in the third John Wick film and will next be seen in Roland Emmerich’s Moonfall.

Halle Berry will join Mark Wahlberg in the Netflix action-thriller Our Man From Jersey.

The project — described as a “blue-collar James Bond” — was written by David Guggenheim (Safe House, Designated Survivor). A director has yet to be attached.

Wahlberg, who worked with the streamer on action-thriller Spenser Confidential, will produce with Stephen Levinson.

Netflix will also work with Berry on her directorial debut Bruised, having acquired the movie out of TIFF. The Oscar winner, repped by WME, was most recently seen in the third John Wick film and will next be seen in Roland Emmerich’s Moonfall.

Exclusive: In the first major spec script deal of the new year, Sony Pictures has acquired an untitled action spec by Safe House scribe David Guggenheim. The writer developed it with Simon Kinberg, who’ll produce in a reteam from their work on the series Designated Survivor. I’m hearing the deal is high six figures.

They are keeping the plot line under wraps, but it has a big action concept with franchise potential, a supernatural element, and a big lead role for an actress.

Guggenheim last year sold Our Man From Jersey to Netflix in a seven-figure deal and is writing it as a star vehicle for Mark Wahlberg to play a blue-collar 007 protagonist. Kinberg last year made a seven-figure deal for his first spec since Mr. And Mrs Smith on Here Comes the Flood, which Jason Bateman will direct for Netflix. He also made an Apple TV+, deal...

Exclusive: The market for new material and big spec script vehicles proved strong last year despite the pandemic. First up to test if specs and packages pick right up will be Safe House scribe David Guggenheim and producer Simon Kinberg, the duo that previously teamed on the series Designated Survivor.

Sources said that Guggenheim has written a script he developed with Kinberg, who is producing. The result will be brought to market this morning by Verve, which reps Guggenheim. The untitled script has a big action concept with franchise potential, a supernatural element, and a big lead role for an actress.

Guggenheim last year sold Our Man From Jersey to Netflix in a sven-figure deal and is writing it as a star vehicle for Mark Wahlberg to play a blue-collar 007 protagonist, with Wahlberg producing with Stephen Levinson, who hatched the idea.

Kinberg last year made a seven-figure deal for his first spec since Mr.

Over 100 actors, directors, writers, and more have signed an open letter protesting tonight’s NBC town hall with Donald Trump. The event is scheduled to begin at 8pm Et and air in direct conflict with ABC’s town hall with Joe Biden. The Trump town hall is set to run for 60 minutes and will cut into the first hour of Biden’s 90 minute town hall. The petition letter is signed by the likes of Seth Rogen, J.J. Abrams, Ava DuVernay, Sarah Silverman, Adam McKay, Kumail Nanjiani, Aaron Sorkin, and more.

“We have been devastated to learn that [NBCUniversal] has chosen to air President Trump’s town hall this Thursday night at 8 p.m., directly opposite Vice President Biden’s town hall,” the petition states. “This is not a partisan issue. This is about the political health of our democracy.

Trump and Biden were originally scheduled to take part in an in-person debate tonight,...

Exclusive: Netflix in a competitive situation has bought the comedy spec It’s Wednesday Night based on an original by Safe House scribe David Guggenheim.

Jenna Milly and Ann Marie Allison wrote the screenplay, which is billed as a cross between Bridesmaids and Game Night, but involving a group of single parents. With their exes watching the kids, the singles gather together to revel in their freedom and celebrate. But when a newly divorced mom disappears after partying too hard, it’s up to her best friend to track her down before she misses a court hearing that could jeopardize her custody agreement and lose her kids. Alexa Faigen and Guggenheim are producing.

When it comes to original comedy features, it feels like the only place you can find them nowadays is on Netflix. During the pandemic, the streamer snapped up Media Rights Capital/Paramount’s romantic comedy Lovebirds starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani,...