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Jason Isaacs has become a prominent actor known for The White Lotus and, of course, Harry Potter. One film that came out during his Harry Potter years nearly destroyed his career: Peter Pan (2003).

Isaacs played the dual roles of Captain Hook and George Darling in the film, as is traditional for adaptions of the beloved book by J.M. Barrie. Joining him were a pair of newcomers: Rachel Hurd-Wood as Wendy Darling and Jeremy Sumpter as Peter Pan. The stage was set for a triumph, but unfortunately the film flopped. Isaacs remembered that difficult time while appearing on Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Dinner With Me podcast (via Yahoo!) recently.

"It's a beautiful film. And it destroyed everybody's career. It took home five and a half cents and a bubblegum wrapper," Isaacs said. It was all over for everybody. I couldn't get a walk-on on CSI: Hendon. I was thinking, 'I need plastic surgery.

Despite starring in 2006's The Omen, Julia Stiles still has not seen The First Omen (2024). Stiles was the leading female star of the 2006 remake, which attempted to share Damien Thorn's story with a more modern audience. It was a financial success, earning $120 million on a $25 million budget, though it earned divisive responses from critics. Its prequel, The First Omen, earned far more love from critics, though it still struggled at the box office. Stiles did not appear in the prequel, as Rachel Hurd-Wood instead took the role of Katherine.

In an interview with Screen Rant's Grant Hermanns, Stiles explained that she has little interest in the prequel. While she was partly delayed by the production of her upcoming romance, Wish You Were Here (2025), she also generally dislikes watching horror movies. She might have been willing to star in a horror remake, but watching it is something else entirely.

While children's fantasy movies are usually characterized by their happy endings and light themes, revisiting these projects as an adult can provide new insight into the deeper messages. More often than not, the nostalgic aspects of kids' movies hit harder for older viewers since these narratives are reminiscent of a time gone by. The ephemeral nature of childhood and the unexpected difficulties of adulthood are brought into sharp perspective through the lens of a story meant to entice and enchant young audiences. Occasionally, Easter eggs meant for adults provide a fun hidden layer of meaning for returning viewers to enjoy.

These films come from many different eras and niches, with some fantasy movie box office flops developing into cult classics over time, especially with adults rewatching these projects. Understanding the context and setting of these films is a large part of what makes them special for adults, as these parts...

On April 5th, 20th Century Studios gave a theatrical release to The First Omen, which serves as a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen (watch it Here) – and the movie was surprisingly well-received, with JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray giving it an 8/10 review and Tyler Nichols writing an article about why it works so well. The movie hasn’t been burning up the box office charts; made on a budget of $30 million, it has only pulled in $36 million so far. But if a sequel were to get the greenlight, director Arkasha Stevenson knows one subject she would want to cover in the follow-up: the mystery of the jackal.

In the original The Omen, we were told that the Antichrist was born of a jackal. The First Omen digs deeper into his parentage, letting us know that it wasn’t quite as simple (although very strange) as it appeared to be in the original movie,...

September has arrived, and with it comes a whole host of new movies to watch on streaming. Whether you’re looking to kick Spooky Season off early with a fun horror movie, hoping to catch up on a new release you missed in theaters or just want to curl up with a cozy rom-com, there is a litany of choices below. We’ve got picks for Netflix, Max, Hulu, Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+ and Disney+, curating the very best newly streaming films on each service this month.

Check out our picks for the best new movies to stream in September 2023 below.

“The Monster Squad” TriStar Pictures

Paramount+ – Sept. 1

Kick off Spooky Season early with an 80s cult classic that should be as popular as “The Goonies.” The 1987 film “The Monster Squad” follows a group of kids whose monster knowledge comes in handy when an ancient curse brings iconic Universal Monsters to life in Los Angeles.

Hopefully, those May flowers will start blooming soon after the many April (and previous months’) showers. But whatever the weather, Netflix has a solid selection of new movies to watch this month.

Netflix’s May lineup has several bright and joyful animated films as well as more serious stories with light at the end of the tunnel. Tom Hanks’ latest theatrical release “A Man Called Otto” arrives on the streaming service, adapted from Frederick Backman’s book “A Man Called Ove” and following the story of a grumpy old man who struggles to find purpose in life after the death of his wife.

Animated adventures for the whole family include “The Croods” and “The Tale of Desperaux” which teach lessons of bravery in their own ways. For those in the mood for slightly quirkier stories, Jason Moore’s “Pitch Perfect” and “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” should do the trick.

Yara Shadidi thought she was going to get to fly all over the place to bring Tinkerball to life in the new movie "Peter Pan & Wendy," streaming now on Disney+. "I thought I was going to be doing some crazy wire work," she tells Popsugar. That was not the case.

"It was the ultimate collaboration between me and the visual effects team," she explains. "If they were to ever release the behind the scenes footage, it'd be me on my tiptoes flying around this studio, pretending to fly."

So when Alexander Molony and Ever Anderson, who play Peter and Wendy, respectively, filmed scenes "with Tinkerbell," they had to stretch their imagination. "We just had a a glowing ball," Molony tells Popsugar.

Anderson explains, "It was a blue stick so that you could edit it out and a tiny little light bulb on the tip. So that was how we...

Summer movie season is upon us and with it, the biggest movies of the year are about to compete for your hard-earned money. Will you go see the latest superhero movie? The latest installment in a big franchise like "Fast and Furious" or "Mission: Impossible?" Or perhaps you're more excited about Pixar finally making a return to theaters with a wholly original movie like their ambitious romantic comedy "Elemental."

Granted, not everyone is comfortable going to theaters while there's still a global pandemic, but the world of streaming is not being left behind; there are just as many big shows and movies available at the click of a button as there are movies in theaters. Netflix is entering the month of May prepared, following the release of the second season hit "Sweet Tooth," and right before the return of "The Witcher." Nevertheless, they are betting big on comedy this month,...

April showers bring May flowers, but Amazon Prime Video’s April slate of new movies contains some bright watches for any leftover rain. The “Judy Blume Forever” documentary arrives toward the end of the month, telling the author’s life story and highlighting the impact her writing made on literature and the world. The doc will precede “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” which releases in theaters at the end of the month.

George Clooney returns to a tropical setting alongside Julia Roberts in the 2022 romantic comedy “Ticket to Paradise,” and his earlier Hawaiian-set film “The Descendants” will be available too. “Bros” provides another rom-com option that landed on the streamer on April 4. And we’ve even got a pick for the whole family.

Here are our picks for seven of the best new movies to watch on Amazon Prime Video in April 2023:

“Judy Blume Forever” Prime Video...

Disney's latest live-action riff on a classic is "Peter Pan & Wendy," a new adaptation of the classic "Peter Pan" story. Ever since first taking center stage in J.M. Barrie's 1904 stage play, Peter Pan and the magical land of Neverland have captured imaginations all over the world. The whimsical story with a hint of darkness has inspired plenty of movies, plays, and books over the years, each with a slightly different take on the Boy Who Never Grew Up. Here's a brief look back at all of the notable movie adaptations and how they each made the Neverland mythos their own.

"Peter Pan" (1924)

The first authorized movie adaptation of "Peter Pan" was this silent film version, starring Betty Bronson as Peter Pan, Ernest Torrence as Captain Hook, Mary Brian as Wendy Darling, and Virginia Brown Faire as Tinker Bell. J.M. Barrie personally worked on a screenplay for this one,...

Vulture Watch

Are Georgia and Holly still in with the in-crowd? Has the Clique TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on Pop? The television vulture is watching all the latest TV cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Clique season two. 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 Pop TV drama, Clique stars Synnøve Karlsen, Aisling Franciosi, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Emma Appleton, Ella-Rae Smith, Sophia Brown, and Louise Brealey. The British thriller centers on childhood friends Georgia Cunningham (Franciosi) and Holly McStay (Karlsen) who head off to university together, only to be drawn into a demanding social life with a seedy side. They soon become part of a co-ed cabal made up of young women...

Is the first season of the Clique TV show on Pop heating up or leaving you cold? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether the TV show Clique is cancelled or renewed for season two. 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'd like to offer you the chance to rate all of the Clique season one episodes below.

A Pop TV drama, Clique stars Synnøve Karlsen, Aisling Franciosi, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Emma Appleton, Ella-Rae Smith, Sophia Brown, and Louise Brealey. The British thriller centers on childhood friends Georgia Cunningham (Franciosi) and Holly McStay (Karlsen) who head off to university together, only to be drawn into a demanding social life with a seedy side. They soon become part of a co-ed...

Network: Pop TV.

Episodes: Ongoing (hour).

Seasons: Ongoing.

TV show dates: November 7, 2018 — present.

Series status: Has not been cancelled.

Performers include: Synnøve Karlsen, Aisling Franciosi, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Emma Appleton, Ella-Rae Smith, Sophia Brown, and Louise Brealey.

TV show description:

From creator Jess Brittain, the Clique TV show is a British drama series that originally ran online on BBC Three and later aired on BBC One. The thriller centers Georgia Cunningham (Franciosi) and Holly McStay (Karlsen).

Best friends since childhood, Georgia and Holly head off together to university, looking forward to the time of their lives. The duo soon finds itself attending posh parties, and part of cabal of co-eds who all intern at economics professor Jude...

Fixture of independent film world had been planning to attend Cannes with Mrs Lowry & Son.

May 6 Update: Industry tributes are pouring in for Robbie Little, the British producer, co-president of The Little Film Company and stalwart of the independent world, who died unexpectedly in London en route to Cannes .

Little, who served alongside his wife Ellen, was a widely admired, deeply experienced and beloved figure whom many regarded as a ‘godfather’ to the independent sector.

At the time of his death he was working with producer Debbie Gray on the Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave drama Mrs Lowry & Son and The More You Ignore Me,...

Fixture of independent film world had been planning to attend Cannes with Mrs Lowry & Son.

Robbie Little, the British producer, co-president of The Little Film Company and stalwart of the independent world, has died unexpectedly in London en route to Cannes.

Little, who served alongside his wife Ellen, was a widely admired, deeply experienced and beloved figure in the film industry. At the time of his death he was working with producer Debbie Gray on the Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave drama Mrs Lowry & Son and The More You Ignore Me, and was planning to continue talks with international buyers on the Croisette.

Fixture of independent film world had been planning to attend Cannes.

Robbie Little, the British producer, co-president of The Little Film Company and stalwart of the independent world, has died unexpectedly in London en route to Cannes.

Little, who served alongside his wife Ellen, was a widely admired, deeply experienced and beloved figure in the film industry. At the time of his death he was working with producer Debbie Gray on the Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave drama Mrs Lowry & Son and The More You Ignore Me, and was planning to continue talks with international buyers on the Croisette.

Little...

Victoria star Leo Suter, Outlander’s Stuart Harris and Darkest Hour’s Imogen King have joined the cast of the second season of Clique after U.S. network Pop boarded the show.

As Deadline revealed earlier this year, the show was handed a second season by BBC Three and Pop. Filming has now begun on the drama, created by Skins’ Jess Brittain, in Edinburgh, with a number of new faces joining the cast.

While the first season, which saw Holly, played by Synnove Karlsen, drawn to a group of alluring, confident but troubled young women, the second will see her encounter a radically different clique, this time a band of brothers.

Suter, who also starred in Jack Whitehall’s Bad Education, will be joined by The Hollow Crown’s Barney Harris, Outlander’s Stuart Campbell alongside King, Mary, Queen of Scots’ Izuka Hoyle and newcomers Jyuddah Jaymes and Nicholas Nunn.

Cast features Robert Jazinsy, Rachel Hurd-Wood.

Myriad Pictures handles international sales at the Efm this week on British comedy For Love Or Money starring Robert Kazinsky, Samantha Barks and Ed Speleers.

Mark Murphy wrote and direct the film about a business man who sets a trap for his ex and her friend after he suspects them of plotting o to relieve him of a small fortune.

The cast includes Tony Way, Rachel Hurd-Wood, and Anna Chancellor. For Love Or Money shot in the UK last year and is in post.

Myriad’s President Kirk D’Amico said, “we are delighted to be handling sales on this hilarious comedy. The filmmakers and cast have done a terrific job of setting up and paying off on the premise of a couple courting each other for reasons other than love”.

Goldfinch Studios and Solar Productions produced with Mark Murphy, and Eric Woollard-White and Alan Latham served as producers. Myriad’s Kirk D...

Clique is coming back. Deadline reports BBC Three has renewed the TV show for a second season.The drama, which airs on Pop in the U.S., examines "the power of friendship between intensely smart, complicated and ambitious young people on the cusp of an ever-enticing but dangerous adult world." The cast includes Synnøve Karlsen, Aisling Franciosi, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Emma Appleton, and Louise Brealey.Read More…...

Author: Stefan Pape

It’s always a pleasure to be invited onto a film set, and even more so when you step into one where everybody seems to get on so well, which was the case on Mark Murphy’s The Revenger: An Unromantic Comedy.

And it’s a atmosphere which has infused the finished product too, as HeyUGuys were fortunate enough to be the very first UK outlet to watch the movie since its completion, and needless to say we’re big fans, as this congenial, very funny piece of cinema is all but set to be one of the stand-out British rom-coms of 2018.

Billed as ‘a fairy tale romance takes an unexpected turn when Mark discovers his beautiful bride-to-be, Connie, has actually been plotting against him’ – during our visit we saw a very early scene being shot, and around us were extras donning their smart, black attire – for...

Anna Chancellor, Ivan Kaye join comedy now shooting in London.

Screen can reveal the first image from The Revenger: An Unromantic Comedy, the Samantha Barks (Les Misérables) and Robert Kazinsky (Pacific Rim) starring comedy now shooting in London.

Anna Chancellor (The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy) and Ivan Kaye (Dark Shadows) have also joined the cast of the project, alongside Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan), Edward Speleers (Alice Through The Looking Glass) and Tony Way (Edge Of Tomorrow).

The film is from writer-director Mark Murphy, who is also producing for his company Solar Productions, alongside Alan Latham for Gsp Studios and Eric Woollard-White.

Gsp jointly financing with Birdbox Finance, Goldfinch Entertainment and Premier Pictures.

Kazinsky stars as a tech entrepreneur who discovers that his dream girl only wants him for his money. In return, he enacts a series of pranks on his fiancé (Barks) to see how far she will go to get her hands on his...

Variety is reporting that Green Room's Mark Webber, Rachel Hurd-Wood from An American Haunting and French actor Lorant Deutsch will lead the cast of Joe Dante's upcoming chiller Labirinthus. “Labirintus” tells the story of a paranormal investigator (Webber), psychiatric researcher (Hurd-Wood) and engineer (Deutsch) who join forces to explore an abandoned subterranean Soviet research facility, hidden within the dark twisting catacombs beneath Buda Castle. When supernatural forces confound and torment the group they begin to question their own sanity. To escape they must quash their fears and lead their team to find and destroy the dark heart of the maze. Dante said: “Mark, Rachel and Lorant are phenomenal actors and I am delighted to be working with them in what I anticipate will...

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

Newish on DVD/BluRay

• The 33 Antonio Banderas / Chilean miner rescue story

• 99 Homes the other acclaimed housing crisis movie

• Black Mass the gangster movie with Johnny Depp, buried under alien makeup, plays a gangster. Watch out for great performances on the periphery from Peter Sarsgaard and Julianne Nicholson

• Crimson Peak from Guillermo Del Toro. Critics were divided or had many reservations but those who loved it really loved it. Here's a rabidly pro piece nicely titled "Ghosts are Movies".

Lunchtime Poll:

Would you rather...

- Be seduced by Tom Hiddleston?

- Gain access to all of Mia Wasikowska's money?

- Marry into Jessica Chastain's family?

• Girls S4 -I've definitely lost track of this show. Weirdly I quit with an episode I couldn't have loved more (S3E7 "Beach House")

• Grandma - Lily Tomlin gets her own well deserved star vehicle and drives it superbly

• Love the Coopers -...

Screen International has revealed its Stars of Tomorrow, spotlighting the hottest up-and-coming actors and filmmakers.

Click here to access the Screen Stars of Tomorrow microsite, including full profiles, picture gallery and digital edition

Now in its 12th year, the annual showcase spotlights up-and-coming actors, writers, directors and producers who will be making waves in the years to come.

Scroll down for the full list

Past Stars of Tomorrow selected by Screen include Benedict Cumberbatch (2004), Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne (2005), Suffragette star Carey Mulligan, Star Wars: The Force Awakens actor John Boyega (2011) and last year’s cover stars Taron Egerton, Olivia Cooke and Sam Keeley.

Stars of Tomorrow editor Fionnuala Halligan curates the stars after considering hundreds of candidates and consulting with industry experts including casting agents, talent agents, managers, producers and directors.

This year marks a partnership with the BFI London Film Festival (Oct 7-18), which will present the Stars as part of its programme of events.

Halligan...

Screen International has revealed its Stars of Tomorrow, spotlighting the hottest up-and-coming actors and filmmakers.

Click here to access the Screen Stars of Tomorrow microsite, including full profiles, picture gallery and digital edition

Now in its 12th year, the annual showcase spotlights up-and-coming actors, writers, directors and producers who will be making waves in the years to come.

Scroll down for the full list

Past Stars of Tomorrow selected by Screen include Benedict Cumberbatch (2004), Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne (2005), Suffragette star Carey Mulligan, Star Wars: The Force Awakens actor John Boyega (2011) and last year’s cover stars Taron Egerton, Olivia Cooke and Sam Keeley.

Stars of Tomorrow editor Fionnuala Halligan curates the stars after considering hundreds of candidates and consulting with industry experts including casting agents, talent agents, managers, producers and directors.

This year marks a partnership with the BFI London Film Festival (Oct 7-18), which will present the Stars as part of its programme of events.

Halligan...

Iain Glen cast in a modern take on Othello, set in the world of the music business.

Principal photography has begun in east London psychological thriller Beautiful Devils and will shoot until July 5.

The modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello is set in the world of the contemporary music business, with a cast that includes Iain Glen, seen most recently in Game of Thrones but also known for his roles in Resident Evil and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

The cast also includes Osy Ikhile (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation), Elliot James Langridge (Northern Soul), Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan) and Danny Horn (Emmerdale) as well as comedian Rufus Hound in his debut feature and Steve Waddington (The Imitation Game).

Produced by London-based Ascension Productions, Beautiful Devils is directed by James Marquand and produced by Ascension’s Craig Tuohy alongside Carnaby International’s Andrew Loveday, Mike Loveday and Terry Loveday.

Carnaby International has worldwide sales and distribution rights.

A theatrical...

We last reported on the post-apocalyptic film Second Origin back in 2009. Wow. The film is based upon the second best-selling novel in Catalan literature, "Mecanoscrit del Segon Origen" by Manuel de Pedrolo and stars Rachel Hurd-Wood and Ibrahim Mane.

Now, over five years later, we finally have new official stills from the film which looks fairly provocative. Really looking forward to this one.

Synopsis:

After a massive destruction on Earth Alba and Didac are the only survivors. There is no one left... At least, that's what it seems.

A science-fiction movie about love and adventure. Two heroes of our time, struggling to survive in a world left [Continued ...]...

It takes a certain degree of hubris to sign on to a "Peter Pan" movie at this point. J.M. Barrie's play/book/beloved cultural icons are enormously malleable as a story, and there are plenty of fans of the Walt Disney animated version as well as Steven Spielberg's "Hook" and even P.J. Hogan's "Peter Pan." All of those films tackle different parts of the iconography in different ways, and there have been some heavy hitters involved. The Disney film is one of their best features, especially if you're just considering the old school Disney films, and I think it's one of the moments where the Disney animators got everything right. They'd made enough movies in a row by that point to have developed a shorthand, and a style, and a confidence. "Peter Pan" may have some unfortunate moments in terms of cultural sensitivity, but I would argue...

Full of wonderment, energy and moments of behind-the-sofa tension, this live-action adaptation of Jm Barrie's timeless fantasy offers a whirlwind tour of Neverland. Jeremy Sumpter toplines as the boy who refuses to grow up, but the show belongs to Jason Isaacs (who would later Potter with villainy as Lucius Malfoy) as the despicable Captain Hook and Rachel Hurd-Wood, making a luminous debut as the object of Peter's affections, Wendy Darling. Tick-tock!

It's the biggest news of the day. Probably the week. Possibly the month. And maybe even the whole year thus far. Director J.J. Abrams has announced the cast for Star Wars: Episode VII. Returning from the original trilogy are Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker. Joining them are newcomers John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow.

What we haven't gotten are any new story details or character breakdowns. Who are these new guys playing? And where is Billy Dee Williams? We've been able to piece together all the information we've had in the past two years to explain who we might see on screen next December, and in what capacity. None of this has been confirmed by Disney or Lucasfilm.

1John Boyega

John Boyega's name was first rumored just this past March, where...

Peter Pan found himself back in the headlines this week with the news that Warner Bros is launching a nationwide casting search to find a new boy who'll never grow up. The Joe Wright-directed film will explore the origins of Jm Barrie's character with Hugh Jackman as pirate Blackbeard and Garrett Hedlund playing a young James Hook.

Digital Spy takes a look at five other movies that have used Barrie as inspiration to create some movie magic.

Peter Pan (1953)

There had been a Pan movie before (a silent film released in 1924), but this Disney-produced offering proved to be a big hit in the early '50s. Turning Barrie's acclaimed play into an animated musical, the Disney version even spawned a sequel (2002's Return to Neverland) and a spinoff series revolving around pixie Tinker Bell (more on that later).

Hook (1991)

A continuation of Barrie's story, Steven Spielberg took the helm...

Cake

Jennifer Aniston is set to star in Daniel Barnz's "Cake" for Cinelou Films. Patrick Tobin penned the script.

Aniston plays a woman who becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group. [Source: THR]

Second Origin

Rachel Hurd-Wood is set to star in Carles Porta's sci-fi romance "Second Origin". A seven week shoot begins in Spain on February 17th.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows two young people struggling to survive in a world left in ruins. [Source: Screen]

The Hero

Famke Janssen is set to star in the Dutch thriller "The Hero". Janssen's sister Antoinette Beumer directs while her other sister Marjolein Beumer penned the script.

Based on the novel by Jessica Durlacher, the story follows a Holocaust survivor who seeks revenge after masked men break into her house and shoot her husband and she is assaulted in the woods. [Source: Screen]

NCIS: New Orleans...

Sci-fi romance was originally slated to be directed by the late Spanish director Bigas Luna.

Rising British actress Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan, Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer) is to star in Second Origin, the new film that maverick Spanish director Bigas Luna was originally slated to direct.

Here at the Efm, Manifest Film Sales today announced the imminent start of production on the project.

Bigas Luna who sadly died during the pre-production, is still being billed as co-director. His friend, co-writer and director Carles Porta is now helming.

A science-fiction romance about love and adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world, Second Origin tells the story of Alba and Dídac two young people struggling to survive in a world left in ruins.

Based on the bestselling Catalan novel Mecanoscrit del Segon Origen by Manuel de Pedrolo, which has sold over 2m copies worldwide, Second Origin is a Spanish/UK co-production, produced by [link...

Top Dog directed by Martin Kemp [pictured], Reign of the General and Red Billabong join growing slate.

Manifest Film Sales, a division of Intandem Media Group, are introducing three new films to international buyers at the Efm.

First up is Martin Kemp’s Top Dog, starring Leo Gregory and Ricci Harnett, which is currently in post-production. Universal has UK rights and will release in June.

Top Dog star Harnett’s Reign of the General (which he also wrote and stars in) is currently in pre-production and will commence principal photography at the start of March. Universal also holds the UK rights to the film that tells the story of underworld boss Carlton Leach.

Scheduled for a five-week shoot from late March on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Luke Sparke’s thriller Red Billabong stars Josh Helman and Lincoln Lewis and will feature the ‘bunyip’, a creature of legend that is said to hunt the Australian outback.

The three productions...

Top Dog directed by Martin Kemp [pictured], Reign of the General and Red Billabong join growing slate.

Manifest Film Sales, a division of Intandem Media Group, are introducing three new films to international buyers at the Efm.

First up is Martin Kemp’s Top Dog, starring Leo Gregory and Ricci Harnett, which is currently in post-production. Universal has UK rights and will release in June.

Top Dog star Harnett’s Reign of the General (which he also wrote and stars in) is currently in pre-production and will commence principal photography at the start of March. Universal also holds the UK rights to the film that tells the story of underworld boss Carlton Leach.

Scheduled for a five-week shoot from late March on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Luke Sparke’s thriller Red Billabong stars Josh Helman and Lincoln Lewis and will feature the ‘bunyip’, a creature of legend that is said to hunt the Australian outback.

The three productions...

‘I, Frankenstein’ box office: Frankenstein reboot is second domestic box office bomb of 2014 (photo: buffed up, shirtless Aaron Eckhart in ‘I, Frankenstein’) Made for a reported $65 million (not including marketing and distribution expenses), the Lionsgate-distributed I, Frankenstein is surely not about to become a movie franchise. Directed by Stuart Beattie and starring Aaron Eckhart as the "I" of the title, I, Frankenstein collected a dismal $8.3 million from 2,753 North American theaters this weekend, January 24-26, 2014, according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. The weekend’s only new wide release in the United States and Canada, I, Frankenstein landed in sixth place on the domestic box office chart. I, Frankenstein, in fact, is the second major 2014 domestic box office bomb, following the $70 million-budgeted Renny Harlin-Kellan Lutz effort The Legend of Hercules, which debuted with $8.86 million at 2,104 locations a couple of weeks ago. To date, The Legend of Hercules...

Production is scheduled to begin next month on Star Wars: Episode VII. With casting still in full swing, no one has been confirmed for this highly-anticipated sequel yet. Until that day comes, we only have the many casting rumors, the latest being that British actor Jack O'Connell is up for an unspecified role.

The actor has reportedly already met with director J.J. Abrams, and it is believed that the meeting went very well. It's also worth noting that the actors who have been previously rumored to be up for roles in the sequel all hail from England, including Saoirse Ronan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Matt Smith, Rachel Hurd-Wood and Jason Flemyng.

It isn't known if the part Jack O'Connell read for is the same role that Matt Smith is vying for.

J.J. Abrams is directing from a screenplay he co-wrote with Lawrence Kasdan, based on an original draft by Michael Arndt.

How would you describe the tone of the Star Wars franchisec I'd argue with A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back it was largely an adult drama, with Luke Skywalker's naivete, Princess Leia's strong will and Han Solo's machismo and sarcasm driving the train. By the time Return of the Jedi rolled around and the Ewoks entered the conversation things took a turn toward the children in the audience, though Jedi still has its fair share of darkness, especially in the final showdown between Luke, Darth and the Emperor. The prequels, of course, were a joke, filled with kooky CG characters stepping in poop and Hayden Christensen. So what will J.J. Abrams' vision for Star Wars: Episode VII look likec What will the tonal approach bec Speaking with The Times, Abrams (whom we recently learned is co-writing with Lawrence Kasdan) didn't comment on tone, but does say he wants...

This is surely going to result in a phone call to Saoirse Ronan's agent as she was previously rumored to have gone in to audition for a role in director J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode VII and has now admitted as much as well as given some details on her audition that suggest the role of her potential character in the film. Speaking with Empire Ronan cautions she's one of many that have gone in for the same role saying, "Yeah, I did audition... I mean, everyone did. Everyone has auditioned for it. So many people I know have gone in for the part I've gone in for, and guys who've gone in for a particular part, so I'd imagine J.J. is probably just scanning the earth to find the people that he needs." She got a little loose-lipped after that adding, "But nobody has a clue what it's about,...

While the buzz continues to surround J.J. Abrams adaptation of "Star Wars," Saoirse Ronan revealed she auditioned for one of the roles.

During an interview with Sky News, "The Host" beauty confirmed she made an appearance at the auditions, and while remaining quiet on specifics she said that “everyone” auditioned for a spot in the film.

The latest rumor is Miss Ronan would star as Han Solo and Princess Leia's daughter.

When pressed about the role, Saoirse stated that J.J. would "chop off her head with a light-saber" if she were to share any more details about the project.

The rumored cast includes big names including Alex Pettyfer, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ryan Gosling, Leonardo DiCaprio, Florence Welch, Michael B. Jordan and Chloë Moretz.

The film is slated to hit theaters in 2015.

Stay linked with GossipCenter for more info on Star Wars: Episode VII!

2015 is shaping up to be one hell of a year for geeks. We’ve got 20th Century Fox’s Josh Trank-helmed Fantastic Four reboot, the highly anticipated Avengers: Age of Ultron, new entries in the Terminator, Jurassic Park and James Bond franchises, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Batman vs. Superman, a live-action Assassin’s Creed film, and, of course, the grand-daddy of all sequels: the J.J. Abrams-helmed Star Wars: Episode VII.

Though information about the plot of Abrams’ Star Wars sequel, which boasts a screenplay by Michael Ardnt (Toy Story 3), has been incredibly scarce, the audition process is currently in full swing. We reported earlier today that Sullivan Stapleton, of Cinemax’s Strike Back and the upcoming 300: Rise of an Empire, has been rumored to have read for a part, and now we have word that Academy Award-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) has also auditioned,...

J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII promises to be one of the biggest (if not the biggest) blockbusters arriving during the approaching storm that is 2015. As a result, there’s been an endless supply of rumors in recent months, with regard to who in Hollywood has auditioned for a role in the film.

That’s all the more true when it concerns which actresses have thrown their hats in the ring to play one of the two central female characters - one of whom may end up being the Luke Skywalker-esque protagonist featured in the third Star Wars live-action movie trilogy. So far, the actresses who’re reported to have read for one of those roles include Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan ...

Click to continue reading Saoirse Ronan Confirms ‘Star Wars: Episode 7′ Role Audition [Updated]...

We're quickly coming up on the one-year anniversary of the announcement that Disney bought LucasFilm, with the intent to have Star Wars: Episode VII in theaters by 2015. In that year, we've heard nothing but rumors about the cast, with the studio remaining silent for twelve long months.

Yesterday brought news that Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan had taken a personal meeting with director J.J. Abrams, though his role wasn't disclosed. Maybe he is testing for Lando Calrissian's son as a potential love interest for Han Solo's daughter? Maybe he is playing a Jedi? Maybe he's just a star pilot. We don't know. David Oyelowo is up for the same role.

But they're not the only actors hurrying into read "directly from the screenplay", if we're to believe Spartacus star Liam McIntyre, who has tested as an unnamed Jedi. Also heading in for auditions are Saoirse Ronan as a possible female villain,...

So far, we know that Saoirse Ronan has tested for a role in Star Wars: Episode VII, and could possibly be a female villain. Insiders have confirmed Benedict Cumberbatch is a Sith Lord, though everyone at the studio, along with the actor's reps, have denied it. Others testing for a role include Spartacus star Liam McIntyre, who has read as a Jedi. And Ksenia Solo, playing, what else? Han Solo's daughter. Rachel Hurd-Wood has reportedly auditioned for the same part, with Alex Pettyfer presumably up for the role of Luke Skywalker's son. That's a lot of speculation and rumor, and we have to believe some of it is quite true. Though, no one has been cast just yet, as far as Disney and Lucasfilm are concerned.

That means other actors are continuing to read and test for roles in what might just be the movie of the century, or a gargantuan disappointment.

Michael B Jordan and David Oyelowo are rumoured to have read for roles in Star Wars Episode 7.

The Chronicle and Butler actors are under consideration for Jj Abrams's Disney sequel, reports Latino Review.

The trade has been responsible for various rumours surrounding the highly-anticipated film, including that Alex Pettyfer and Rachel Hurd-Wood are up for roles.

No new castings have been officially confirmed for the 2015 film.

Friday Night Lights star Jordan was most recently seen in Fruitvale Station. Oyelowo will be part of the cast of Christopher Nolan's Interstellar.

Actor Robert Englund has claimed that his friend Mark Hamill has been getting into shape for his return to the role of Luke Skywalker.

Abrams has said that he plans to make Star Wars Episode 7 "emotional", "authentic" and "exciting".

Gallery - 'Star Wars' stars then and now:...

The planned Star Wars spinoffs will serve as "origin story film[s]", a Disney exec has revealed.

Chief financial officer Jay Rasulo reiterated to Variety that a trilogy film or spinoff will be released on a yearly schedule, kicking off with Jj Abrams's Star Wars Episode 7 in 2015.

Although he did not elaborate, it is assumed that the spinoff films will serve to introduce the young versions of some of the franchise's most popular characters.

The 2016 movie has been rumoured to star either Han Solo or Yoda, although none of the releases following Episode 7 have been announced.

There have been no casting confirmations for the new film, although Alex Pettyfer and Rachel Hurd-Wood are rumoured to be under consideration.

Benedict Cumberbatch has denied being offered the role of a villain in the new film.

Gallery - 'Star Wars' actors then and now:...

Benedict Cumberbatch has addressed reports claiming that he will appear in Star Wars Episode 7.

The actor has been linked to reuniting with Star Trek Into Darkness director Jj Abrams as a villain in the next Star Wars movie.

Cumberbatch's publicist swiftly denied those rumours, and now the star himself has insisted that no "offer" has been made for Star Wars Episode 7.

"This is the simple truth. Jj and I have worked together before. I would love to work with him again," he told Access Hollywood.

He went on to stress: "No offer has been made. That is that. And that is that!"

Original Star Wars actors Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher are all expected to appear in Abrams's sequel.

Alex Pettyfer and Rachel Hurd-Wood have also reportedly had auditions for Star Wars Episode 7.

The movie is expected to be released in December 2015.

Gallery - 'Star Wars'...

By Ryan Rigley

Looks like "Star Wars VII" is finally starting to pick up some steam. Last week, two more actors were revealed to be in the running for key roles in the upcoming "Star Wars" trilogy: Ksenia Solo and Liam McIntyre. Allegedly, Solo is up for the role of Han and Leia's daughter while McIntyre is in talks to play an as-of-yet unnamed Jedi.

This, of course, means that Ksenia Solo and Rachel Hurd-Wood may or may not be directly competing for the role of Leia's daughter, who has been said to potentially be the main protagonist of the film. While this is all well and good, we can't help but wonder what mysterious Jedi McIntyre will be portraying. After all, there are several key Jedi in the Star Wars Expanded Universe ripe for the picking. Take Kyp Durron for example, a Jedi who was at one point possessed...

We've been waiting patiently for a glimpse behind the scenes of Star Wars: Episode VII, but we admit, we didn't quite expect it to happen like this. Latino Review's El Mayimbe has dug up a post from a different Star Wars fan site, Obi Wants To Know Me, where a Lucasfilm employee appears to be looking for fan reactions to a a recent rumor-- one that started at Latino Review, it's worth noting-- that Alex Pettyfer and Rachel Hurd-Wood were in the running for roles. Here's a screenshot of the post below: Here's why this carries more weight than your average fan forum post. Obi Wants To Know Me is a site actually founded by Lucasfilm, and with the express purpose of getting feedback from hardcore Star Wars fans. According to this post, from another fan site, Spencer-- the guy who wrote this post-- was also the one seeking out...

Two more names to add to the rumored cast list for J.J. Abrams' sci-fi epic "Star Wars: Episode VII" today.

Former "Spartacus" star Liam McIntyre has reportedly read for a Jedi role, while Ksenia Solo ("Black Swan") is apparently in contention for the role of Leia and Han Solo's daughter.

They join other rumored actors for the project including Rachel Hurd-Wood, Alex Pettyfer and Benedict Cumberbatch - though reps for the latter have since shot down the talk.

Sources: Jedi News & The Force.Net...