News

Una esquiadora ignorada y un jugador de hockey caído en desgracia cruzan sus caminos en la Villa Olímpica. © Getty Images

De acuerdo con Deadline, Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) y Hailee Steinfeld (Los pecadores) protagonizarán la película olímpica Winter Games, dirigida por Paul Downs Colaizzo (Hacks) para Paramount Pictures.

La película, con un guion de Pat Cunnane (Sucesor designado) y el propio Colaizzo, se ambienta en los Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno. En ella, una esquiadora que siempre para desapercibida (Steinfeld) busca su ansiado momento de gloria y una leyenda del hockey (Teller) caído en desgracia se enfrenta a su última oportunidad de redención. Cuando sus caminos se cruzan en un momento crítico, se crea un vínculo imprevisto que pone en juego las esperanzas de medalla de ella y el regreso de él de volver a las pistas, mientras se enfrentan al amor, al fracaso y a las segundas oportunidades...

Hailee Steinfeld has joined the cast of Winter Games.The 28-year-old actress has signed up to star alongside Miles Teller in the movie set at the Olympic Games that is being directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo from a script he has written with Pat Cunnane.The movie will take place in the high-pressure arena of the Winter Olympics and follows a consistently overlooked skier (Steinfeld) and a self-sabotaging hockey icon (Teller) as they collide at their respective breaking points.The pair's unexpected connection puts her chance of a medal at risk and threatens his hopes of a comeback as they attempt to navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village.Tim and Trevor White are producing the film for Star Thrower alongside Teller.Hailee starred in the acclaimed movie Sinners earlier this year and explained that she will be "forever grateful" to the film as the role of Mary "pushed...

Hailee Steinfeld and Miles Teller are starring in a project together!

The 28-year-old Sinners star and the 38-year-old Top Gun: Maverick actor will star in Paramount’s Olympics movie, Winter Games, Deadline reports.

Paul Downs Colaizzo is directing the project.

The film “revolves around the high-stakes arena of the Winter Olympic Games, a perpetually overlooked skier and a self-sabotaging hockey legend who collide at their breaking points. Their unexpected connection threatens her chance for a medal and his shot at a comeback as they navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village,” per the report.

Further casting details, roles, as well as production and release dates, have yet to be revealed. Stay tuned!

At the same time, Miles Teller is in the middle of filming this project.

Hailee Steinfeld also recently stepped out for the first time as a newlywed!

Hailee Steinfeld will star opposite Miles Teller in Winter Games, a sporty romantic comedy from Paramount Pictures.

Paul Downs Colaizzo, who wrote and directed the sporty-themed Brittany Runs a Marathon, is helming the feature and co-wrote the script with Patrick Cunnane.

The story is set in the high-stakes arena of the Winter Olympic Games and, per the studio, centers on a perpetually overlooked skier and a self-sabotaging hockey legend that collide at their breaking points. Their unexpected connection threatens her chance for a medal and his shot at a comeback as they navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village.

Tim and Trevor White are producing on behalf of Star Thrower alongside Teller.

Steinfeld is coming off quite the eventful spring. Not only did she marry Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in May but she co-starred with Michael B. Jordan in Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s original supernatural horror movie. The feature,...

Exclusive: After battling vampirism in the box office smash Sinners, Hailee Steinfeld now has her sights set on a gold medal for her follow-up project as sources tell Deadline she is set to star opposite Miles Teller in Paramount’s Olympics film Winter Games. Paul Downs Colaizzo is directing. Pat Cunnane and Colaizzo penned the script.

Set in the high-stakes arena of the Winter Olympics, the film follows a perpetually overlooked skier (Steinfeld) and a self-sabotaging hockey legend (Teller) who collide at their breaking points. Their unexpected connection threatens her chance for a medal and his shot at a comeback as they navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village.

Tim and Trevor White are producing on behalf of Star Thrower alongside Teller.

Steinfeld is coming off one of the year’s biggest hits with the Warner Bros horror thriller Sinners, where she stars opposite Michael B. Jordan. The film...

Paper Tiger, the new film from writer-director James Gray, has just revealed two major casting announcements. Per Deadline, Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow)and Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick)have been added to the movie’s lineup that already includes Adam Driver (Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens).

Johansson has been rumored to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, though she has personally denied these claims. Even so, her new co-stars have connections to Marvel. Teller is also known in part for playing Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four reboot released in 2015. Driver was also rumored to be up for the McU's Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps before Pedro Pascal's casting.

Johansson and Teller are replacing Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, who were originally cast in Paper Tiger but had to drop out of the movie because of other commitments. The new film comes from Gray, who...

Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller are set to star opposite Adam Driver in James Gray’s next film, “Paper Tiger.”

Gray wrote and is directing the film, which will start production next month in New Jersey. Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong were previously cast in the roles, but exited the project due to other commitments. The casting reunites Johansson and Driver after 2019’s “Marriage Story,” for which they both earned Academy Award nominations.

“Paper Tiger” is described as a “tense and gritty” story, following two brothers as they American Dream, only to become “entangled in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true.” The film’s synopsis reads: “As they try to navigate their way through an ever-more dangerous world of corruption and violence, they find themselves and their family brutally terrorized by the Russian ‘Mafiya.’ Their bond begins to fray, and betrayal — once...

Exclusive: James Gray is assembling another A-list cast for his next feature film, Paper Tiger, as sources tell Deadline that Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller are set to co-star opposite Adam Driver in the upcoming pic.

Gray is writing and directing with production set to start next month in New Jersey. Johansson and Teller step in for Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, who had to drop out due to other commitments.

The film will be produced by Rodrigo Teixeira under his Rt Features banner and frequent collaborator Anthony Katagas under Ak Productions alongside Raffaella Leone, Gary Farkas, Marco Perego, Carlo Salem, and Andrea Bucko. Executive producers include Lee Broda, Jeff Rice, Riccardo Maddalosso and Emily Salveson.

Vincent Maraval and Kim Fox’s The Veterans is representing the international sales rights and CAA Media Finance is handling North American rights. Sales will continue at the Cannes market.

The film is described...

Miles Teller is to star in the comedy film 'Possum Song'.The 38-year-old actor is to lead 'Sing Sing' director Greg Kwedar's upcoming flick as a Nashville star who had secretly stolen the songs for his hit debut album.'Possum Song' will follow singer Eddie (Teller) as he faces mounting pressure to finish his follow-up solo album - or risk losing everything. With a new wife and a baby on the way and just as hope begins to fade, he encounters an unlikely source of inspiration: a magical possum with extraordinary musical talent. But their collaboration comes at a steep and potentially perilous price.As well as starring in the movie, Teller is to produce 'Possum Song' with Lee Stobby, while Kwedar and Clint Bentley also produce under their Ethos banner.Kwedar will be working from a script written by Isaac Adamson, while FilmNation Entertainment is to...

Miles Teller has been cast in Paul Downs Colaizzo’s Paramount Pictures Olympic sports picture ‘Winter Games.’

The project centres on the high-stakes arena of the Winter Olympic Games, a perpetually overlooked skier and a self-sabotaging hockey legend who collide at their breaking points. Their unexpected connection threatens her chance for a medal and his shot at a comeback as they navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village.

Also in news – Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan & more feature in first look images from ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

As well as taking on directing duties, Colaizzo has also penned the script alongside Pat Cunnane. Tim and Trevor White are producing on behalf of Star Thrower alongside Teller.

The ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ star recently finished up production on a couple of high-profile projects: Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’ and A24’s ‘Eternity,’ in which he stars opposite Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner.

Miles Teller is to star in Paramount Pictures' 'Winter Games'. Paul Downs Colaizzo is to direct the Winter Olympic Games movie, which is currently in development, from a script penned by himself and Pat Cunnane. Sources have told Deadline that 'Top Gun: Maverick' actor Teller is attached to the project, which he will also produce alongside Tim and Trevor White. The movie will tell the story of the huge pressure on Winter Olympic Games competitors, and it'll focus on two main characters - a "self-sabotaging hockey legend" and a "perpetually overlooked skier". The characters will "navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village" amid their quests to win Olympic gold.Teller is no stranger to working with Paramount Pictures, having done so in 2022's 'Top Gun: Maverick' alongside Tom Cruise, Glen Powell, Jennifer Connelly and the late Val Kilmer, who passed away this month aged 65. 'Winter...

Exclusive: Paramount Pictures is continuing its strong relationship with its Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller as sources tell Deadline that Teller is attached to star in Paramount Pictures’ Winter Games. Paul Downs Colaizzo is directing. Pat Cunnane and Colaizzo penned the script.

Film revolves around the high-stakes arena of the Winter Olympic Games, a perpetually overlooked skier and a self-sabotaging hockey legend who collide at their breaking points. Their unexpected connection threatens her chance for a medal and his shot at a comeback as they navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village.

Tim and Trevor White are producing on behalf of Star Thrower alongside Teller. The film is in development. The project continues the studio’s strong ties with Teller following the box-office smash hit Top Gun: Maverick. Teller is also attached to star in a remake of An Officer and a Gentleman.

This marks a reunion for...

Exclusive: Rising star talent rep Sam Masaru Sekoff has joined Entertainment 360 as a manager in the literary department.

He joins from Range Media Partners where he had been since 2021. Sekoff first got his start at The Gersh Agency where he rose to agent in the television department. His clients include Paul Downs Colaizzo, Sebastian Silva, Nick Lieberman, Takeshi Fukunaga, Rachel Lambert, Phillip Youmans, Ava Coleman, Elise Brown, Adel Kamal and Blaize Ali-Watkins.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Sam to 360,” said the 360 partners in a statement. “He has a sharp eye for talent and we respect his tenacious advocacy on behalf of clients. He’s hit the ground running and quickly become an essential member of the team.”...

The last cork has been popped and the final flute of Kirkland Signatures sparkling wine drained down to the last drop. Old Man 2023 has gathered his sash about his withered frame and slunk into the night, clearing the way for cherubic New Year 2024–giggly, chubby and brimming with promise.

Or something. In reality, years don’t flip on and off like a light switch. They smear into each other like paint, until everything is the same weird shade of brownish-purple. But still: we all strive to make each new chapter in the Gregorian filing system a fresh start–a chance to break bad habits and begin good ones.

The traditional way of kickstarting these self-improvement reboots is through the maddeningly self-deceptive ritual of setting New Year’s Resolutions–80% of which are inevitably abandoned by February 1, according to most studies. But hey! A sustainable 20% is still pretty good. And for cineastes,...

Taylor Swift knows how to deliver a toast

On Saturday night, the “Shake It Off” singer attended the wedding of friends Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley, where, according to Page Six, she delivered a 15-minute speech.

Read More: Taylor Swift Stuns In Blue Lace Dress At Jack Antonoff And Margaret Qualley’s Wedding

During the raucous speech, Swift reportedly “roasted” the newlyweds, celebrating their nuptials at the Long Beach Island, New Jersey ceremony.

Swift’s speech apparently included a joke about how she always thanks Antonoff at awards shows, but doesn’t get the same love back.

The pair have frequently collaborated, with Antonoff producing songs for Swift as far back at her 2014 album 1989.

Antonoff has taken home eight Grammys over the years, including Producer of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, while Swift has won 12.

Also at the wedding was singer Lana Del Rey, who serenaded the couple for their...

At Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch panel, held March 31 at the Sun Valley Film Festival, the first order of business was defining what it means to be a producer, a title — and a role — that encapsulates a number of responsibilities on a film.

“The way that I describe it is you’ve got to know a little bit about a lot of things in filmmaking,” said Rachael Fung, whose film “Fremont” later won best narrative film in the festival’s One in a Million category, recognizing features made for less than $1 million. “You’ve got to be able to understand and talk to every single person that touches the film at every single stage. And also it’s about finding those directors and filmmakers and understanding their vision and figuring out the best way to get that to screen.”

“There are practical things like getting money for the movie, casting,...

Paramount is developing a live-action film version of the Valiant superhero title "Harbinger", to be directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo:

"...mystified by his sudden, strange and extraordinary powers, Pittsburgh teenager 'Peter Stanchek' is contacted by the mysterious 'Harbinger Foundation' and discovers that he is not alone. 

"Confused by his awakening powers, Stanchek is happy to let the Harbinger Foundation help him master his abilities. 

"But when Pete's best friend, 'Joe', points out Pete is turning into an evil guy, Harbinger founder, 'Toyo Harada', has Joe killed. 

"This turns Pete against the Harbinger Foundation, so the order is given that Pete must die! 

"But the assassins learn the hard way that Pete's power is far beyond their imagining..."

Click the images to enlarge...

The Valiant Cinematic Universe (Vcu) is set to grow at Paramount, as female superhero project “Faith” has found a writer.

The live-action version of “Faith” is in early development.

“Harbinger,” a title that also is part of the Vcu, remains in development at Paramount. “Harbinger” is set to be directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo of “Brittany Runs a Marathon” and “Lfe,” and will also feature Faith as a protagonist.

Veteran writer Emily Carmichael will pen “Faith.” The writer’s portfolio includes “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” “Jurassic World: Dominion” and “The Adventures of Lido and Ix.” Carmichael received the jury award at the Philadelphia Film Festival for best short in “RPG Okc” (2013) and was nominated for best short filmmaking at Sundance for “The Hunter and the Swan Discuss Their Meeting” (2011).

Faith Hubert (with the super-name Zephyr) is a heroine with the ability to fly and bring others along. Her alter-ego “Summer Smith...

Exclusive: Micah Stock — a Tony Award-nominated actor known for his work across film, television and the stage — has signed with Gersh for representation.

Stock will soon be seen in a series regular role on FX’s drama series Kindred, adapted from the award-winning novel by Octavia E. Butler, which premieres on Hulu on December 13. The actor plays Kevin Franklin, who quickly becomes integral to the story of Dana James (Mallori Johnson), a young Black woman and aspiring writer who, while settling into her new home, finds herself being violently pulled back and forth in time, from contemporary Los Angeles to a 19th-century plantation, a place remarkably and intimately linked with Dana and her family.

Kindred has been adapted for the small screen by writer and showrunner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who exec produces alongside Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel of Protozoa Pictures, as well as Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields, Courtney Lee-Mitchell and Jules Jackson.

Actor and comedian Jillian Bell has signed with CAA for representation.

Bell is best known for comedic hits such as “Idiotsitter,” the Comedy Central series which she created and starred in for two seasons, and the critically-acclaimed movie “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo. She most recently starred in “The Drop,” which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, directed by Sarah Adina Smith.

Other highlights of Bell’s filmography include a standout role in “22 Jump Street” — for which she was nominated for two MTV movie awards as well as a Teen Choice Award. The actor also nabbed the lead role of Eleanor, an unskilled young fairy godmother, in the Disney+ movie “Godmothered,” starring opposite Isla Fisher. Her additional film credits include “Fist Fight,” “Office Christmas Party, “The Night Before,” “Inherent Vice” and “Rough Night,” among comedy and drama titles. On television, Bell has starred in series including “Room 104,...

Exclusive: Paul Downs Colaizzo is in talks to direct and rewrite Paramount Pictures’ Harbinger, stepping in for Wes Ball.

Ball was forced to step down to focus on the next Planet of the Apes pic, on which he is deep in pre-production.

Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe are producing Harbinger for Original Film. Dan Mintz is producing for Valiant Entertainment. The project is in development at Paramount.

Based on the Valiant comic book series, the story follows a group of teens with superpowers who go up against the corporation that tried to exploit their talents.

Downs Colaizzo is best known for writing and directing the Sundance darling Brittany Runs a Marathon starring Jillian Bell. The film was a critical hit at the 2019 festival and eventually was acquired by Amazon Prime Video. He is repped by CAA, Range Media Partners and attorney Steve Warren.

FX announced that the pilot based on Octavia Butler’s 1979 science fiction novel “Kindred” has cast Micah Stock, Ryan Kwanten, Gayle Rankin, Austin Smith, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy and David Alexander Kaplan as series regulars.

They join previously announced cast member Mallori Johnson, who will play the lead role of Dana, a young Black writer who finds herself transported back and forth between the present and a 19th century slave plantation.

Stock is primarily known for his stage work, including his Tony-nominated performance as Gus in Terrence McNally’s “It’s Only a Play.” He will also star in John Slattery’s upcoming film “Maggie Moore(s)” alongside Jon Hamm and Tina Fey. His other credits include Netflix’s “Bonding,” Disney Plus’ “The Right Stuff,” and Paul Downs Colaizzo’s film “Brittany Runs A Marathon.” Stock is repped by ICM, Anonymous Content and ID.

From 2008 to 2014, Kwanten starred as Jason Stackhouse in HBO’s True Blood.

Exclusive: Tony nominated stage actor Micah Stock has joined the John Slattery directed feature Maggie Moore(s) in a supporting role, starring opposite Jon Hamm and Tina Fey.

The black comedy takes place in a dusty desert town where nothing ever happens, as a police chief is suddenly faced with the back-to-back murders of two women with the same name.

Stock will play Jay Moore, described as a lifetime schemer with a personality as greasy as his hair. Additional details about the character are under wraps. Slattery produces with Cary Woods, Vincent Newman, Dan Reardon and Santosh Govindaraju.

Stock most recently starred in Netflix’s Emmy-nominated short form comedy series Bonding; as well as a series regular role on Disney+’s drama series The Right Stuff, portraying real-life NASA astronaut Deke Slayton. He also starred in the 2019 Sundance Audience Award winner Brittany Runs A Marathon, the directorial debut of Paul Downs Colaizzo,...

Exclusive: Legendary has closed a deal for Paul Downs Colaizzo to direct Crosby Selander’s debut spec script title Bring Me Back. The logline is being kept under wraps but is described as an epic love story.

Legendary beat out a number of buyers for Selander’s spec back in august with sources saying the deal closed in the seven-figure range.

Downs Colaizzo achieved early notoriety for his first play, Really Really, which debuted at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va to rave reviews and won the Helen Hayes Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play. It later played a sold-out, twice-extended run Off-Broadway at McC Theater starring Zosia Mamet. His first screenplay and directorial debut, Brittany Runs A Marathon, starring Jillian Bell, became a smash hit at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, winning the U.S Dramatic Audience Award, and, after a competitive bidding war, landed at Amazon Studios with a $14 million deal.

More than 200 theater writers – playwrights, composers, lyricists, librettists – have joined a nationwide letter writing campaign urging the incoming Biden-Harris Administration to prioritize its commitment to an arts community ravaged by Covid-19. Among other goals, many of the letters urge the administration to create a Department and Secretary of Arts & Culture.

Organized by the non-partisan grassroots coalition Be An #ArtsHero in partnership with The Dramatists Guild of America, the “Dear Mr. President and Madam Vice President” campaign asserts that “the Arts are vital to our nation’s soul and our collective humanity, as well as being an essential driver of the economy.”

Among those writing letters: Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play), Anaïs Mitchell (Hadestown), Heidi Schreck (What The Constitution Means To Me) as well as V (formerly Eve Ensler), Craig Lucas, Theresa Rebeck, Sarah Ruhl, Marsha Norman, Lynn Ahrens, Zakiyyah Alexander, Jaclyn Backhaus, Bekah Brunstetter, Carla Ching, Vichet Chum, Paul Downs Colaizzo,...

Brittany Runs a Marathon helmer Paul Downs Colaizzo is set to direct the Netflix movie Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, which purports to tell the true story behind controversial pharma bro Martin Shkreli's acquisition of the sole copy of Wu-Tang Clan's album of the same name. Ian Edelman (How to Make It in America) wrote the script, and Wu-Tang Clan's RZA is expected to produce alongside Plan B, the production company owned by Brad Pitt. The project itself was first revealed last week in an STX press release about Edelman writing the Pete Davidson-…...

Utkarsh Ambudkar (Brittany Runs a Marathon) has been tapped as the male lead opposite Rose McIver in Ghosts, CBS’ single-camera comedy pilot from Joe Port & Joe Wiseman, Lionsgate Television, BBC Studios and CBS Television Studios.

Written by Port and Wiseman based on the British series, Ghosts follows a young couple, Samantha (McIver) and Ryan (Ambudkar), whose dreams come true when they inherit a beautiful country house, only to find it’s both falling apart and inhabited by many of the deceased previous residents.

Ambudkar’s Ryan, Sam’s husband, is a thoroughly modern dude with a love of nerdom and a talented chef. In addition to McIver, he joins previously cast Rebecca Wisocky and Brandon Scott Jones.

Finding a male lead for Ghosts has been a priority for CBS over the last couple of months. As everyone has been at home and social distancing, the network employed Zoom chemistry reads with McIver among other tools.

Distrib Films has acquired U.S. rights to Lucie Borleteau’s “The Perfect Nanny” and Cédric Klapisch’s “Someone Somewhere,” both of which will screen at the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in New York, a festival organised by the Film Society of the Lincoln Center and UniFrance.

A psychological thriller, “The Perfect Nanny” is adapted from Leila Slimani’s bestselling novel “Chanson Douce” which was awarded France’s highest literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, in 2016.

Represented in international markets by Studiocanal, “The Perfect Nanny” follows Myriam (Leïla Bekhti), a lawyer who decides to return to work after having children. She and her husband (Antoine Reinartz) think they’ve found the perfect nanny for their son and daughter. The film’s U.S. remake rights have been acquired by Legendary and Paul Downs Colaizzo is on board to adapt and direct the English-language adaptation. “The Perfect Nanny” was produced by Pascal Caucheteux...

Leila Slimani’s critically acclaimed, international bestseller “The Perfect Nanny” — aka “Chanson Douce” — is coming to the big screen.

Legendary has closed a deal for Paul Downs Colaizzo to adapt and direct the English-language adaptation.

Legendary will produce the pic alongside Pascal Caucheteux of Why Not Productions and Philippe Godeau of Pan-Européenne.

The story follows Myriam, a lawyer who decides to return to work after having children. She and her husband think they’ve found the perfect nanny for their son and daughter. But as the couple and the nanny become more dependent on one another, jealousy, resentment and suspicions mount, shattering the idyllic tableau.

The novel was awarded France’s highest literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, in 2016, and translation rights sold in a bidding war in 40 territories. Its American edition is a national bestseller and made the New York Times Book Review’s 10 best books of the year list in 2018. In the U.

Finalists have been revealed for the 2020 Humanitas Prize, which honors film and television writers whose work inspires compassion, hope, and understanding in the human family. Titles include awards-season heavies Bombshell, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and The Farewell on the film side and When They See Us, Pose, This Is Us and The Handmaid’s Tale on the small-screen side.

It’s the 45th year for the honors that hands out awards in 10 categories — two new categories, Limited Series, TV Movie or Special and Short Film, are newcomers this year.

Winners will be announced at the 45th annual Humanitas Prize ceremony January 24, 2020 at the Beverly Hilton.

Here are this year’s finalists:

Drama Feature Film

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster; inspired by the article “Can You Say… Hero?” by Tom Junod

A Hidden Life

Written and directed by Terrence Malick...

‘Terminator: Dark Fate.’

The latest iterations of Maleficent, Godzilla, Men in Black, The Angry Birds and Rambo flopped or under-performed in cinemas this year and Terminator: Dark Fate is the latest victim of moviegoers’ sequel fatigue.

It might be an exaggeration to say the sixth edition of the franchise self-destructed but the opening figures in Australia, the Us and 38 other markets last weekend weren’t pretty.

James Cameron’s name in the credits as one of the five “story by” writers and the novelty of seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton together on screen for the first time since 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day counted for very little.

Speaking of sequels no one wanted or asked for, Roadshow’s 47 Meters Down: Uncaged sank without trace, mirroring its Us fate.

Meanwhile Transmission Films launched writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo’s Brittany Runs a Marathon on 20 screens three weeks before the dramedy starts streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Other new openers include Ken Loach’s ‘Sorry We Missed You’.

Stephen King adaptation Doctor Sleep becomes the latest title to try and end Joker’s run at the top of the UK box office this weekend (both are Warner Bros titles).

Directed by Mike Flanagan, Doctor Sleep is an adaptation of King’s 2013 novel, a sequel to 1977’s The Shining.

The narrative is set several decades after the events of The Shining, as an adult Dan Torrance meets a young girl with similar powers and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot.

There have...

‘Brittany Runs a Marathon.’

More cracks are appearing in the previously impregnable 90-day theatrical window, causing consternation among the major chains and some independent cinemas.

The Netflix productions The King, The Irishman, Marriage Story and The Two Popes are all defying the traditional window with an average gap of three weeks between theatrical launch and streaming.

The Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne, Peter Sourris’ New Farm Cinemas and The Elizabeth Picture Theatre in Brisbane and The Backlot in Perth have booked the Netflix releases, joining Dendy Cinemas and Eddie Tamir’s Classic, Lido and Cameo Cinemas in Victoria and Randwick Ritz.

David Michôd’s The King, which opened in those cinemas last Friday, will premiere on Netflix on November 1. The streaming giant requires all participating exhibitors to sign Nda agreements so the box office earnings will never be revealed.

Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman opens in cinemas on November...

[The following story contains spoilers from Brittany Runs a Marathon.]

When Brittany Runs a Marathon writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo first started working on his debut movie about a woman trying to turn her life around as she starts running, he didn't know if Brittany (Jillian Bell) would actually make it to the New York City Marathon.

He made this revelation to the film's real-life subject, his friend Brittany O'Neill, telling her, "I know at this point that she gets injured and can't finish the race as planned. The movie's really about distance traveled as opposed to finishing ...

[The following story contains spoilers from Brittany Runs a Marathon.]

When Brittany Runs a Marathon writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo first started working on his debut movie about a woman trying to turn her life around as she starts running, he didn't know if Brittany (Jillian Bell) would actually make it to the New York City Marathon.

He made this revelation to the film's real-life subject, his friend Brittany O'Neill, telling her, "I know at this point that she gets injured and can't finish the race as planned. The movie's really about distance traveled as opposed to finishing ...

Exclusive: Fledgling UK distribution company Republic Film Distribution has acquired all UK rights to the feature documentary Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, directed and produced by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

The Sundance debut is currently on release in the U.S. through Magnolia Pictures generating near $900K at the box office.

The doc charts the late writer’s journey from her childhood in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio, to ʼ70s-era book tours with Muhammad Ali, the front lines with Angela Davis, her own riverfront writing room and a Nobel Prize. The esteemed writer passed away in August after a short illness, aged 88.

Talking heads include Hilton Als, Angela Davis, Fran Lebowitz, Walter Mosley, Sonia Sanchez and Oprah Winfrey, who starred in the feature version of Morrison’s novel Beloved.

Republic, run by former Icon exec Zak Brilliant, plans to release the film in the UK in early 2020, working with...

The writer/director behind Amazon Studios’ Brittany Runs a Marathon, Paul Downs Colaizzo is a rare bird in this day and age. Bringing his first feature to the Sundance Film Festival this year, Colaizzo left Park City with a major prize (the Audience Award for Dramatic Features), and a $14 million deal to boot.

The cherry on top, of course, has been the pic’s box office draw. Opening last Friday in Los Angeles and New York, the indie topped the weekend’s list of new specialty releases, drawing sold-out crowds, at a time when many critically acclaimed independent films are struggling to make a box-office dent.

An esteemed playwright that made his entrée into the Hollywood sphere several years ago, Colaizzo started out in television, to mixed results. Writing medical drama Lfe for CBS, he subsequently signed a two-year overall deal with the network, and was tasked with shepherding its MacGyver reboot.

Writing and directing a Sundance darling that sells for $14 million to Amazon is no small feat. Playwright Paul Downs Colaizzo, who never seriously considered directing a movie until writing Brittany Runs a Marathon, is certainly off to a good start as a filmmaker. Making the success all the sweeter: the movie is a personal story for […]

The post ‘Brittany Runs a Marathon’ Director Paul Downs Colaizzo on Telling a Story of Self-Respect and Dignity [Interview] appeared first on /Film.

After “Late Night” failed to meet expectations despite a strong limited opening, Amazon Studios is trying again with another acclaimed Sundance comedy, “Brittany Runs a Marathon.” Released on five theaters in Los Angeles and New York this weekend, the film grossed $175,969 this weekend, averaging $35,194.

The film stars Jillian Bell, a party girl named Brittany, who takes up running after realizing that her late night escapades are taking a toll on her body. Paul Downs Colaizzo wrote and directed the film in his debut, earning a 88% Rotten Tomatoes score.

“Brittany Runs a Marathon” will expand to 25-50 screens in top 10 markets next weekend, a slower rollout than was given for “Late Night,” the Emma Thompson comedy written by Mindy Kaling. That film went wide a week after its NY/La opening and quickly fizzled out afterward, only grossing $15 million despite expanding to 2,220 screens.

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Paul Downs Colaizzo received rave reviews and awards attention for his 2013 off-Broadway play Really Really, which starred Zosia Mamet and Matt Lauria. But the playwright had never made a movie when he asked if he could direct the script he wrote, inspired by his real-life friend and roommate, about a woman trying to turn her life around as she starts running. So when he was told no, he understood but he didn't give up.

He flew out to L.A. and made a presentation selling himself as the best person to bring Brittany Runs a Marathon to the big screen.

"...

Paul Downs Colaizzo received rave reviews and awards attention for his 2013 off-Broadway play Really Really, which starred Zosia Mamet and Matt Lauria. But the playwright had never made a movie when he asked if he could direct the script he wrote, inspired by his real-life friend and roommate, about a woman trying to turn her life around as she starts running. So when he was told no, he understood but he didn't give up.

He flew out to L.A. and made a presentation selling himself as the best person to bring Brittany Runs a Marathon to the big screen.

"...

Amazon Studios’ Brittany Runs A Marathon sprinted to a robust start in its first weekend, topping a mid-sized slate of new specialty openers. The Sundance premiere written and directed by feature newcomer Paul Downs Colaizzo and starring Jillian Bell grossed an estimated $175,969 in the three-day, averaging $35,194.

Brittany’s opening was cheered on by Q&As in Los Angeles by producers Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe, whose Material Pictures financed the film, while Colaizzo and Bell were in New York for select post-showing chats. Amazon reported that Brittany Runs A Marathon was the “top performer for all opening theaters with sold-out showings, including AMC Lincoln Square, Arclight Hollywood and The Landmark.”

“This weekend is a great start and we are feeling very positive going into next weekend and the weeks to follow,” noted Julie Rapaport, co-head of Movies at Amazon Studios in a Sunday statement. “Audiences have laughed, cried and connected with...

“Angel Has Fallen,” the third chapter in Lionsgate and Millenium’s action franchise starring Gerard Butler, had a stronger opening weekend than expected, collecting $21.25 million during its first three days of release.

Those ticket sales were enough to top domestic box office charts, bumping last weekend’s champ, Universal’s comedy “Good Boys,” to second place. Starring Jacob Tremblay, “Good Boys” generated $11.75 million in its sophomore outing, boosting its domestic total to $41.4 million.

“Angel Has Fallen” nearly matched the $21.6 million debut of its predecessor, 2016’s “London Has Fallen.” The first film, 2013’s “Olympus Has Fallen,” kicked off with $30.4 million.

“We wanted to give enough distance from the big summer tentpole films,” Lionsgate’s president of domestic distribution David Spitz said of the movie’s late August release. “We had the opportunity, and the movie really delivered.”

Opening weekend crowds were virtually split across gender lines (51% male), while almost 60% of moviegoers...

Here are a bunch of little bites to satisfy your hunger for movie culture:   Director Commentary of the Day The Sundance Film Festival hit Brittany Runs a Marathon opens in theaters this weekend. For the New York Times, writer/director Paul Downs Colaizzo shares some memorable moments from the Jillian Bell-led indie comedy, breaking the scenes down through a voiceover commentary:   Actor in the Spotlight Andie MacDowell, who co-stars as the matriarch of a...

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“Brittany Runs a Marathon” director Paul Downs Colaizzo searched near and far for the perfect actress to take the lead role in his movie that is loosely based on his best friend, Brittany. When Jillian Bell came along, he first thought she might not have the dramatic chops to do so — but he was quickly proven wrong.

“I was meeting with actresses and I met up with Jillian Bell in Brooklyn and she was instantly protective over the character,” Colaizzo told TheWrap. “I knew Jillian as a comedic actress and I was a huge fan of ’22 Jump Street.’ When we met, it was a big question mark if she could pull it off just based on the work I’ve known from her. In sitting with her and discussing how I saw the character being played and how the tone needed to be involved, she was on the same page.

Brittany O’Neill has experienced two unique life changes in the last decade.

First, she decided to take charge of her health and trained for the New York marathon, shedding 60 pounds in the process and altering her career path. Second, her close friend and former roommate, writer/director Paul Downs Colaizzo, decided to write a movie about her experience.

That film, Brittany Runs a Marathon, is about to open in theaters.

O’Neill went from running zero miles to 26.2, and from a career in theater to one in human rights. She is still trying to wrap her head around the fact that the movie exists,...

For an inspirational comedy about the guts it takes to grind out 26.2 miles and turn a life around, “Brittany Runs A Marathon” spends much of its runtime contemplating the pitfalls of so-called “self-improvement,” including the money traps, obsessive counting, unhelpful judgments, the paranoia of backsliding.

It’s in those moments of darkness where first-time director Paul Downs Colaizzo faced his biggest challenges but also found his mandate in making the new film from Amazon Studios, out this Friday.

Continue reading ‘Brittany Runs A Marathon’: Director Paul Downs Colaizzo On The Issues Of Depicting Weight Loss In Film [Interview] at The Playlist.

It’s no surprise that the most interesting aspect of “Brittany Runs a Marathon” is right there in the title. But it’s a little disappointing to find that the least interesting element is, too. Had writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo focused purely on Brittany herself, he might have made a minor indie classic. But when he turns his attention to that marathon, he gets pulled too far off track.

If Brittany is the best thing about this movie, it’s because she’s played by Jillian Bell, who is swiftly becoming indispensable. After lots of eye-catching supporting or ensemble roles, she’s landed a showcase. And she’s more than ready to make the most of it.

When we first meet Brittany, she’s delightfully relatable. Which is to say: she’s a grumpy, broke, insecure, perennially hungover millennial, and so determined to score some Adderall that she’s scheduled...

Back at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, one of Amazon Studios’ biggest acquisitions to date was the dramedy Brittany Runs a Marathon. On the surface, it appears like the sort of movie that Sundance generates each year. A mixture of comedy and drama, with a comic actor or actress showing their range/finally being given a chance to shine. However, while all of that is true, the flick is so much more than just that. Not only is Jillian Bell absolutely aces in the film, every moment that could feel cliched here is handled in a fresh an unexpected way. This is one of the most satisfying works of the summer. The film follows Brittany Forgler (Bell), a 27 year old woman who would charitably be described as a hot mess by those who know her, and even by those who don’t. She’s all about having a good time, but largely seems to just exist,...

Three more contenders are joining what has lately been a hostile box office arena. Can anyone emerge from August victorious?

Fox Searchlight’s “Ready or Not,” a black comedy about a diabolical game of hide-and-seek, will debut in 2,244 North American theaters on Wednesday. The low-budget film is expected to earn upwards of $6.5 million over the weekend and $8 million to $12 million during its first five days of release. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, “Ready or Not” stars Samara Weaving as a newlywed who finds out her in-laws intend to stalk and kill her. Unlike the overtly political themes in Universal’s controversial “The Hunt,” “Ready or Not” takes a more fantasy-oriented approach to hunting humans for sport.

In a positive review, Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge called the film a “deranged and darkly comedic thriller [that] packs subversive pleasures aplenty.” Debruge is not alone in his praise. The...