News

Gold Derby's top news stories for June 23, 2025.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon gets Season 3 premiere date

New episodes of the Walking Dead spin-off starring Norman Reedus will premiere on AMC and AMC+ on Sept. 7. The Spanish-set third season also stars Melissa McBride as Carol, as well as new cast members Eduardo Noriega, Óscar Jaenada, and Alexandra Masangkay. Watch a teaser for the new season below.

Cardi B announces release date for new album

The rapper's sophomore, Am I the Drama?, will finally be released on September 17. It will be Cardi B's first album since 2018's Invasion of Privacy, which won the Grammy for Best Rap Album.

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Washington Black looks like a fantastic voyage

The first trailer for Hulu's adaptation of Esi Edugyan's acclaimed novel starring Sterling K. Brown has just dropped, offering a look at the whimsical adventure.

Director Haifaa al-Mansour, producer Effie T. Brown and technology executive Annie Chang are joining the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors as the three new governors-at-large, the Academy announced on Monday.

With the new additions to the board that was created by recent elections in each Academy branch, the makeup of the 55-person board will become 30 women and 25 men, and 17 governors from underrepresented communities.

Al-Mansour is a Saudi Arabian director whose films “Wadjda” and “The Perfect Candidate” represented Saudi Arabia in the Oscars Best International Feature Film category; the first of those was the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first made by a female Saudi director. Brown is a producer whose work includes “Real Woman Have Curves,” “Rocket Science” and “Dear White People.” Chang is the vice president of creative technologies at Universal and serves as chair of the Academy’s Science and Technology council.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has named three new governors-at-large to its Board of Governors: Haifaa Al-Mansour (directors branch), Effie T. Brown (producers branch) and Annie Chang. Each will begin a three-year term with the start of the Academy’s 2025–2026 fiscal year.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Haifaa, Effie and Annie to the Academy’s Board of Governors,” said Academy President Janet Yang in a statement. “Their wealth of experiences, perspectives and dedication will be vital to our ongoing global and industry outreach efforts.”

Yang also thanked outgoing governors-at-large DeVon Franklin and Rodrigo García for their six years of service.

Governors-at-large, like their branch-elected counterparts, may serve up to two three-year terms — either consecutively or non-consecutively — followed by a two-year hiatus. After the hiatus, they may serve up to two additional terms, with a lifetime cap of 12 years.

The Board of Governors is responsible for setting the Academy’s strategic vision,...

Saudi Arabian director Haifaa al-Mansour, indie producer Effie T. Brown and Universal Pictures VP creative technologies and Academy Science & Technology Council Chair Annie Chang will be joining the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 55-seat board of governors as governors-at-large next month, the Academy announced on Monday.

The trio were appointed by outgoing president Janet Yang — who is herself, along with Devon Franklin and Rodrigo García, one of the three current governors-at-large who are about to finish their second consecutive three-year term, and therefore are mandated by Academy rules to step away from the board for at least two years — and were then confirmed by the full board to three-year terms.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Haifaa, Effie and Annie to the Academy’s board of governors,” Yang said in a statement. “Their wealth of experiences, perspectives and dedication will be vital to our ongoing global and industry outreach efforts.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially announced its newly elected Board of Governors for 2025-2026. The group — which sets the Academy’s strategic vision, preserves the organization’s financial health, and assures the fulfillment of its mission — will take office at the first scheduled board meeting of the new term.

First-time board members include Focus Features chairperson Peter Kujawski and three-time Oscar-nominated composer Carter Burwell. The incumbent governors reelected to the board include Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, Oscar-nominated producer Jason Blum, and Oscar-nominated director Jason Reitman (who was also recently elected to The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Board of Trustees.) The list of governors returning to the board after a hiatus includes Emmy-winning screenwriter Larry Karaszewski.

Additionally, the Board of Governors elected three new governors-at-large: Haifaa al-Mansour (Directors Branch), Effie T. Brown (Producers Branch) and Annie Chang that will each serve a three-year term beginning...

Updated, 11 Am: The Movie Academy said today that it has elected three new governors-at-large: Haifaa al-Mansour (Directors branch), Effie T. Brown (Producers) and Annie Chang (Production and Technology, Science And Technology Council Chair). Each will serve a three-year term beginning upon the first meeting of the 2025-26 fiscal year. See below for the results of AMPAS’ 2025-26 Board of Governors elections.

Previously, June 18: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has elected its 2025-26 Board of Governors. The envelope, please…

Ten incumbents were re-elected to continue representing their respective constituencies, including Marlee Matlin (Actors branch), Jason Reitman (Directors) and Jason Blum (Producers). Among the first-time governors are Peter Kujawski (Executives) and Gigi Williams (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists), with Larry Karaszewski (Writers) and Isis Mussenden (Costume Designers) among those returning to the board after a hiatus. See the full list below.

Each of the 19 branches is represented by three governors except Animation,...

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Janet Yang said the media and entertainment community needs to preserve “human authorship” as AI use evolves in Hollywood, Monday during a session at the Nab Show. “We need the human behind the AI,” she said. “I feel cautiously optimistic that we will find a path for what will be a big part of our lives.”

In attendance at the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas for the first time, Yang participated in a panel during which she provided an overview of the Academy and thoughts on AI to the engineering-heavy audience.

Noting that the Academy has 19 branches, representing those in front of and behind the camera, as well as one of the newest, aimed at those who work in production technology, she said, “as one can imagine there are a lot of different points of view [on AI]. One thing we...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences used the occasion of the annual Nab Show in Las Vegas to announce the availability of its Academy Color Encoding System (Aces) 2.0, a new version of the open-source color and digital image file management system.

Aces was created with an eye toward ensuring color consistency throughout production, post, exhibition, archiving and remastering. It was developed by hundreds of scientists, engineers and end users, working under the auspices of the Academy.

The new version features enhancements in areas such as color rendering, transform invertibility, and support for custom output devices.

Aces 2.0 will be supported in new releases from software developers Sgo and Pomfort. That includes the last versions of filmmaking tools Mistika Ultima, Mistika Boutique and Mistika VR from Sgo; and Silverstack and Livegrade from Pomfort. Additionally, the Academy Software Foundation’s OpenColorIO (Ocio v2.4.2) open source color management system has implemented Aces 2.0 features,...

The arrival of Peacemaker season 2 is getting closer for the DC Universe audience as James Gunn announces a big update for John Cena's TV show. Gunn's DC Universe is set to kick off in December 2024 with the Creature Commandos premiere on Max, and more 2025 projects are also getting ready for their debuts next year, including Peacemaker season 2. While plot details on Peacemaker season 2 have been limited, a new status report is boding well for the show's return next year.

After shooting for more than half a year, Gunn announced on social media that Peacemaker season 2 has officially wrapped filming, with the DC Studios co-ceo having pulled double-duty throughout 2024 by directing episodes of the new season while also working on Superman. Check out Gunn's full statement below:

And that is a Wrap on #Peacemaker season 2, including our last remaining actors Steve Agee, Tim Meadows, Sol Rodriguez & Brandon Stanley (& our...

According to DC Studios' James Gunn, two of Peacemaker's biggest stars have concluded filming their scenes for the series' second season. In a post on Threads, Gunn wrote: "And thats a Peacemaker Season Two wrap on [John Cena and Jennifer Holland], who both turned in wonderful performances this season as Christopher Smith and Emilia Harcourt."

The Peacemaker showrunner then added: "To top it off, shooting yesterday was one of the most fun days of shooting I have Ever had! Thanks to the incredible people of Savannah, Georgia for making the Peacemaker crews stay here so special. One Day Left!"

Post by @jamesgunn View on Threads

Peacemaker 7/10

John Cena stars as Christopher Smith, Aka the titular Peacemaker in James Gunn's spin-off/sequel TV series to The Suicide Squad. Set after the film's events, Peacemaker follows the misguided hero with a vanity complex but believes in peace, no matter how large...

The Peacemaker season 2 release window has finally been revealed. Though it isn't clear how the show will fit into James Gunn's DC Universe, the John Cena-led series is moving forward with a new season.

During a preview event for Max and HBO (via IGN), CEO and Chairman Casey Bloys revealed that Peacemaker season 2 will premiere in August 2025. An exact premiere date will be revealed at a later time.

Source: IGN

Peacemaker 7/10

John Cena stars as Christopher Smith, Aka the titular Peacemaker in James Gunn's spin-off/sequel TV series to The Suicide Squad. Set after the film's events, Peacemaker follows the misguided hero with a vanity complex but believes in peace, no matter how large the body count he has to rack up to get it. Having survived his mission in the Suicide Squad (Aka Task Force X), he's been enlisted again to join a new team and save the world.

Rick Flag Jr. actor Joel Kinnaman addresses whether his DC character will return for James Gunn's Peacemaker season 2.

ScreenRant recently interviewed Kinnaman for his new movie, The Silent Hour, while also chatting a little bit about his DC movie role. It emerged that Rick Flag Jr. would be back for Peacemaker season 2 when director Peter Sollett had tagged him in a wrap post, though it was quickly deleted. Now, Kinnaman was asked if there was any truth, and he said:

I don't know what to say. That's ridiculous. I would never. I would never be on a show like that. It's not what I do. It's not what I do.

The Silent Hour is now playing in theaters.

Peacemaker

John Cena stars as Christopher Smith, Aka the titular Peacemaker in James Gunn's spin-off/sequel TV series to The Suicide Squad. Set after the film's events, Peacemaker follows the misguided...

James Gunn confirms the release window for the second season of Peacemaker. Season 2 of the critically acclaimed spinoff to The Suicide Squad was greenlit in February 2022, but development was put on hold after Gunn became co-ceo of DC Studios and began work on the new DC Universe, which will begin with the animated series Creature Commandos later this year. Work on the season resumed after the conclusion of the writers strike, and filming began in March 2024, with Gunn working simultaneously on that project and the upcoming Superman.

In response to a fan's question on Threads, Gunn confirmed that Peacemaker season 2 will be released in 2025, but only after Superman bows in cinemas on July 11. No specific date was revealed. However, this has likely confirmed that the events of Superman will have an impact on the latest season of Peacemaker, which will now fully be integrated into the Dcu.

Peacemaker Season 2 Will...

John Cena's new DC Universe costume gets teased by James Gunn in a new Peacemaker season 2 photo.

With Peacemaker season 2 still in production, James Gunn shared a new look at the upcoming season while celebrating Christopher Smith's first comic book appearance. The new photo also includes a tease of Cena's upgraded costume for Peacemaker season 2. Check it out below:

On this day, #Peacemaker aka Christopher Smith made his first comic appearance in Fightin 5 #40, in 1966, created by Joe Gill and Pat Boyette. Its the role @JohnCena was born to play, and I cant wait to show you all what were cooking up now for @Peacemaker Season 2! pic.twitter.com/LRkiIlHpER James Gunn (@JamesGunn) September 2, 2024

At the time of this story's publication, Peacemaker season 2 has not received an official premiere date, but it is expected to debut sometime in 2025. Gunn is only directing a handful of episodes in Peacemaker season...

John Cena returns as Christopher Smith in Peacemaker season 2, now as part of James Gunn's DC Universe. Filming in Dallas, Georgia, features Cena in civilian clothing, hinting at action. The first-look photos suggest an exciting action sequence.

John Cena returns as Christopher Smith in James Gunn's DC Universe through new set photos for Peacemaker season 2. DC Studios is rebooting the superhero brand for the world of film and TV, but there are still some elements from the Dceu timeline. After a successful first season, Peacemaker season 2 is on its way and will now take place in the DC Universe.

With Peacemaker season 2 filming underway, Jim Zorn shared the first look at Cena again playing his Dceu character, but now operating within the rebooted franchise. Filming is currently taking place in Dallas, Georgia, with the Peacemaker season 2 set images featuring Cena out of his costume and in his civilian clothing.

The second season of Peacemaker is back on track, James Gunn has revealed.

Created by Gunn and based on the DC Comics character of the same name, Peacemaker premiered on Max (which was HBO Max at the time) in January 2022. The series drew high viewership and critical acclaim, which led to a second season getting announced the following month. Progress on the series has been fairly slow since, thanks in part to the WGA strike. However, Gunn revealed in an Instagram comment to a fan asking for Season 2 that he's actively "[w]riting it now."

Related: 15 Best Shows To Watch While You Wait For The Boys Season 4

James Gunn on S2 of 'Peacemaker' "Writing it now." pic.twitter.com/wQFCLIPMef — Complex Pop Culture (@ComplexPop) October 2, 2023

Gunn had nothing else to say regarding Peacemaker Season 2, but the update should nevertheless come as good news for the fans who've been eagerly awaiting a second season.

Industry-wide collaboration is key to a successful rollout of high dynamic range imagery on all types of cinema display technologies, asserted Universal’s vp of creative technologies Annie Chang during a Future of Cinema Summit, held Saturday during the opening day of the 100th Nab Show in Las Vegas.

Presented by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the program featured an update on work that’s being done behind the scenes by individual companies and Hollywood-backed organizations, not just to roll out Hdr in theaters, but to maximize its creative potential with features such as higher brightness, deeper blacks and a wider range of colors.

Hdr isn’t a new concept, but for cinemas, today it’s accomplished with laser projectors. Barco exec Tom Bert estimated that of the roughly 200,000 cinema screens worldwide, roughly 50,000-60,000 auditoriums now offer laser projectors, rather than earlier lamp-based systems. Barco’s head...

Click here to read the full article.

Four new members have joined the Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy said Wednesday.

They include cinematographer and cinematography branch governor Paul Cameron, whose credits include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Collateral and Man on Fire; production designer Tom Duffield, a governor in the production design branch whose credits include Patriots Day, Hell or High Water and Ed Wood; and short films and feature animation branch governor Marlon West, who is head of effects animation and a VFX supervisor at Walt Disney Feature Animation Studios. His credits include Encanto, Frozen and Hercules.

The council is also welcoming back former co-chair Paul Debevec, a computer graphics and virtual production innovator and VFX branch governor who serves as a director of research for product innovation at Netflix and is an adjunct research...

The 2022 edition of InFocus: Latinx & Hispanic Cinema Film Festival from NewFilmmakers LA (Nfmla) will be held from Sept. 23-24 in association with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

For the first time since 2019, the festival will be held in-person at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. The lineup consists of three short film programs showcasing a variety of genres. The festival, which is co-presented by The Mbs Group, includes screenings, filmmaker Q&a sessions, industry development programs and educational panels.

The festival features independent films from emerging talent hailing from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela and the United States. Two world premieres will be held at the festival, and one film will see its North American premiere.

“This program is incredibly special to the Nfmla community and to Los Angelenos,” Bojana Sandic, Nfmla programming director, and Larry Laboe, executive director and co-founder,...

The bad news: Peacemaker‘s super-fun opening credits are due for a Season 2 redo. The good news? One can only wonder — and in the meantime, speculate! — what series creator James Gunn might do for an encore.

Purposely created to be “un-skippable” (meaning, you’d never reach for the Skip Intro button), Peacemaker‘s Season 1 credits quickly amassed many a fan and critical rave. Barging into each episode with the first shouts of Wig Wam’s “Do Ya Wanna Taste It,” the 90-second song-and-dance number — choreographed by Charissa-Lee Barton, directed by Gunn and filmed over one day in a high school...

“Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber” starts with a simple question: “Are you an asshole?” Then-ceo of Uber Travis Kalanick (played with apt exuberance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) poses the question to a prospective hire, mid job interview. The young man is a bit thrown, but he’s given a temporary reprieve when two of Travis’ top staffers storm in with an emergency: There’s a growing perception that Uber doesn’t care about passenger safety. Drivers are making passengers uncomfortable. Some are breaking the law. Still, Travis doesn’t see why it’s a problem, and it’s certainly not his problem, but the point of the impromptu meeting isn’t to solve a problem. It’s to make more money.

“Tk, you’re gonna love my nuts,” says Quentin (Noah Weisberg), before pitching the Safe Rides Fee: a surcharge added to each trip to cover added costs of ensuring safety…...

The Performer | Steve Agee

The Show | HBO Max’s Peacemaker

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The Episode | “It’s Cow or Never” (Feb. 17, 2022)

The Performance | Several cast members had “moments” during the Suicide Squad spinoff’s freshman finale — Annie Chang as a suddenly soulful Goff, Danielle Brooks’ Leota realizing she is “made for this s–t,” Jennifer Holland during Harcourt’s (near-)death scene and later at the hospital, and of course recent Potw honorable mention John Cena.

But...

Warning: The following interview contains spoilers from The Peacemaker season one finale “It’s Cow or Never”, now available to watch on HBO Max.

So, Peacemaker wins and the world is safe from alien butterflies. For a moment there, it seemed that the possessed Detective Sophie (Annie Chang) made a persuasive argument to Christopher Smith to keep her species alive, that they were good for the betterment of the world.

The butterflies were looking to survive on Earth after their planet was uninhabitable, however, they couldn’t survive, which is why they brought the cow.

“The cow would help the last of our people survive for another hundred years,” says a possessed Sophie, “But not long after we arrived we realized that people of Earth were on the exact same trajectory as our people had been: Ignoring science in favor of populist leaders who tell you that the floods and...

Spoiler Warning: This story discusses major spoilers for the Season 1 finale of “Peacemaker,” currently streaming on HBO Max.

Throughout the first season of “Peacemaker,” the titular costume vigilante, a.k.a. Christopher Smith (John Cena), has been working with a ragtag team of secret operatives in an attempt to stop an invasion by a horde of insect-like aliens called Butterflies. Peacemaker and his teammates — Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), John Economos (Steve Agee) and team leader Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) — track the Butterflies to the underground lair of the gargantuan “cow” that is the aliens’ only source of sustenance.

After most of his team is crushed while fighting off the Butterflies — who can burrow into human’s brains and control their bodies — Peacemaker is confronted by their leader, Goff (Annie Chang), with the aliens’ true motivation. They were forced to leave their planet after ruining its environment, and...

Everyone and anyone is now gunning for Peacemaker and his Argus pals, as the HBO Max series heads into its final two episodes.

But on top of those numerous external threats, there is also imminent turmoil within the team, as Adebayo’s role as a covert doer of Amanda Waller’s bidding comes to light.

More from TVLineWest Side Story Set for Streaming Debut on Both Disney+ and HBO MaxAnd Just Like That Writers Answer Our Burning Question: Why Didn't We See Miranda Go to Cleveland to Meet Che?Performer of the Week: Sam Elliott

TVLine spoke with The Suicide Squad alum Jennifer Holland,...

Peacemaker explores the continuing story of the character that John Cena reprises in the aftermath of Gunn’s 2021 film “The Suicide Squad” – a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it. The first three episodes of the DC spin-off series premiered Thursday, January 13 and runs through February 17.

While Gunn wrote all eight episodes of Peacemaker and directed five, including the first, it’s the 5th episode titled “Monkey Dory” that has become the standout story of the first season.

Here’s a look at the five reasons why we loved it.

The Group Finally Becomes Team “11th Street Kids”

The Fab 5, which includes Economos (Steve Agee), Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), and Peacemaker (John Cena), finally became a true Team. Even though they go up against the horde of monsters they come...

The following details an opening credits sequence that is best first enjoyed with your eyes and ears over on HBO Max; you can then read this after.

HBO Max’s Peacemaker has a secret weapon, and it is the cast’s incredibly rewatchable, hilariously stilted dance moves in the opening credits.

More from TVLineReview: Peacemaker Comes Out (James) Gunn a-BlazingPeacemaker EP: There 's No Line James Gunn Didn't CrossPeacemaker: Grade the First Episode of HBO Max's The Suicide Squad Offshoot

Barging into each episode with the first yelps of Wig Wam’s “Do Ya Wanna Taste It,” the 90-second song-and-awkward...

"This task force doesn't officially exist." HBO has unveiled another new red band the Peacemaker series, streaming on HBO Max in a few weeks. While finishing The Suicide Squad movie last year, James Gunn began writing a spin-off TV series centered on the origins of "Peacemaker", portrayed by John Cena. This picks up exactly where that leaves him, and continues when he returns home as a disgraced "hero" of sorts. The origin of the DC superhero so dedicated to world peace that he is prepared to use any and all force of arms to achieve it. The series cast includes Cena returning, with Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, and Chukwudi Iwuji, plus Lochlyn Munro, Annie Chang, Christopher Heyerdahl, Elizabeth Ludlow, Rizwan Manji, and Nhut Le as "Judomaster". I really enjoyed what Gunn did with The Suicide Squad movie, which makes me more than excited to...

Academy’s Science and Technology Council Adds New Members

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences have appointed David Pierce, Andy Serkis and Jeffrey White to it’s Science and Technology Council 2021-2022 membership, bringing its roster to 25 individuals.

Pierce’s previous roles include working as an assistant chief and chief operations officer at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center at the Library of Congress — where he was responsible for the acquisition, conservation, documentation and digitization of the public archives of motion pictures, TV and radio sound. Pierce has been an Academy Member-at-Large since 2019.

Serkis is an award-winning actor with performances including “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “King Kong,” “The Planet of the Apes” trilogy, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and will next appear in “The Batman.” He has been a member of the Academy’s Actors Branch since 2012.

White, who is currently an executive producer consulting with Drafthouse Films,...

"The mind is a den of scorpions better left running from, not towards." HBO has revealed the full official trailer for The Suicide Squad spin-off series called Peacemaker, hitting streaming on HBO Max starting in January. While completing work on The Suicide Squad movie last year, James Gunn began writing a spin-off TV series centered on the origins of Peacemaker, portrayed by John Cena. "[He is] not an evil person, he's just a bad guy. He seems sort of irredeemable in the film. But I think that there's more to him. We didn't get a chance to know him in the way we get to know some of the other characters. And so that's what the whole show is about." The cast includes Cena returning, with Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, and Chukwudi Iwuji, plus Lochlyn Munro, Annie Chang, Christopher Heyerdahl, Elizabeth Ludlow, Rizwan Manji, and Nhut Le...

Time to meet your friendly neighborhood Peacemaker! HBO has unveiled the teaser trailer for The Suicide Squad spin-off series about Peacemaker, first shown during the DC FanDome online event this weekend. While completing work on The Suicide Squad movie in August of last year, during a pandemic lockdown, writer and director James Gunn began writing a spin-off TV series centered on the origins of Peacemaker, portrayed by John Cena. "[He is] not an evil person, he's just a bad guy. He seems sort of irredeemable in the film. But I think that there's more to him. We didn't get a chance to know him [in The Suicide Squad] in the way we get to know some of the other characters. And so that's what the whole show is about." The cast includes Cena returning, along with Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, & Chukwudi Iwuji, plus Lochlyn Munro, Annie Chang,...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be joined by Darren Pettie (“Mad Men”), Noah Weisberg (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”), Mark Gessner (“Power”) and Joel Kelley Dauten (“Feud: Bette and Joan”) in the upcoming Showtime anthology series “Super Pumped.” The four cast members will recur in the first season of the show, which will tell the story about the ride-sharing app and Silicon Valley unicorn Uber.

The series, which is executive produced by Brian Koppelman, David Levien and Beth Schacter (who also serve as writers and showrunners), is based on Mike Isaac’s bestseller of the same name, “Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber.” Paul Schiff, Allyce Ozarski and Stephen Schiff also executive produce. Isaac will co-executive produce the project. The show will depict the roller-coaster highs and lows of the upstart transportation company’s journey and the internal and external battles that ripple with unpredictable consequences. Gordon-Levitt will portray co-founder and former CEO of Uber,...

Exclusive: The first installment of Super Pumped, Showtime’s anthology series from Billions co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien, has rounded out its cast.

The series, which is based on Mike Isaac’s bestselling book Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, has added five actors to recur: Virginia Kull (The Looming Tower), Amanda Brooks (Aquarius), Annie Chang (Shades of Blue), Erinn Ruth (Billions) and Mishka Thébaud (The Boys).

They join Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kyle Chandler, Elisabeth Shue, Kerry Bishé, Babak Tafti, Mousa Hussein Kraish, Jon Bass and and Bridget Gao-Hollitt.

The series tells the story of the ride-sharing company that stands out as both a marvel and a cautionary tale, featuring internal and external battles that ripple with unpredictable consequences.

Brian Koppelman, David Levien and Beth Schacter executive produce, write and serve as showrunners on the series.

Kull will play Hazelbaker, a former political operative and the other half of Uber...

It's almost time for James Gunn's The Suicide Squad to hit cinemas and the final trailer recently landed, building up what is already a pretty hyped return of the anti-hero misfits. With the movie bringing back fan-favorites like Harley Quinn and Captain Boomerang, there are a whole host of new and crazy characters arriving in the huge cast, including Peacemaker, played by John Cena. Of all the new characters, we know that we will be getting to know the former wrestler's new alter-ego a lot better as he is already getting his own spin off show on HBO Max.

Already underway filming, the series will focus on John Cena's Peacemaker character, but other than that, we know very little else about how the spin-off will look. While answering fan questions on his Twitter account, director, James Gunn, who is also working on the series, was asked about the upcoming...

A leaked Peacemaker audition tape featured a Nsfw Aquaman diss. The tape has since been made private. James Gunn is currently working on the post-production process of The Suicide Squad while developing and casting the Peacemaker series, which will star John Cena. In addition to Cena, the series will also star Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick, Jennifer Holland, and Chris Conrad, along with Lochlyn Munro, Chukwudi Iwuji, Annie Chang, and Christopher Heyerdahl.

Actor Tony Sancho was seen in the leaked audition tape testing for what is believed to be Peacemaker sidekick Tank Man or Gangbuster. It has not been confirmed what the exact role was that Sancho was testing for at this time. The clip is humorous and features some pretty Nsfw accusations about Aquaman and his love life. Sancho's mystery character is having a conversation with Miracle Man when Miracle Man declares, "F*** Aquaman. He f***s woman, fine. He f***s dudes,...

James Gunn’s Suicide Squad spinoff HBO Max series Peacemaker has added Chukwudi Iwuji, as Clemson Murn in a series regular role, and three recurring guest stars, those being Lochlyn Munro as Larry Fitzgibbon, Annie Chang as Detective Sophie Song and Christopher Heyerdahl as Captain Locke.

Peacemaker will explore the origins of John Cena’s character from the upcoming Aug. 6, 2021 Warner Bros. release, which is also being planned to hit HBO Max at the same time. Peacemaker is a guy who believes in peace at any cost — no matter how many people he has to kill to get it.

Of the four characters announced, Fitzgibbon is the head doctor at Belle Reve penitentiary in DC Comics lore and he’s an aide to government official Amanda Waller who assembles the Suicide Squad (played by Viola Davis in the movie).

Today’s quad joins previously announced series regulars Cena, Danielle Brooks,...

“Peacemaker,” the HBO Max “Suicide Squad” spinoff series, continues to grow.

The show has added four new faces to its cast, namely Chukwudi Iwuji (“When They See Us”) as a series regular, and Lochlyn Munro (“Riverdale”), Annie Chang (“Shades of Blue”) and Christopher Heyerdahl (“Togo”) as recurring guest stars.

They join previously announced cast members John Cena (playing the titular role), Danielle Brooks, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, Jennifer Holland, and Chris Conrad in the series which is a spinoff from James Gunn’s forthcoming “The Suicide Squad” pic.

Few details about the exact roles these new additions will play are being made available, other than their names. Iwuji is playing a character named Clemson Murn, Munro is playing Larry Fitzgibbon, Chang is joining as Detective Sophie Song, and Heyerdahl will play Captain Locke.

Munro’s character Fitzgibbon is described as a wry and kind character who is Detective Song’s partner and friend.

Lochlyn Munro, who played Betty Cooper’s father on Riverdale, has joined the cast of Peacemaker, HBO Max’s series spinoff of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.

Stage actor Chukwudi Iwuji, who will be seen in Barry Jenkins’ upcoming limited series Underground Railroad, has also joined the case of the series as have Annie Chang and Christopher Heyerdahl.

Gunn is writing the series and directing several of the episodes, with John Cena reprising his Squad role of Peacemaker, a DC character named Christopher Smith. Smith is a man who “believes in peace at any cost — no matter how many people he has to kill to ...

Lochlyn Munro, who played Betty Cooper’s father on Riverdale, has joined the cast of Peacemaker, HBO Max’s series spinoff of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.

Stage actor Chukwudi Iwuji, who will be seen in Barry Jenkins’ upcoming limited series Underground Railroad, has also joined the case of the series as have Annie Chang and Christopher Heyerdahl.

Gunn is writing the series and directing several of the episodes, with John Cena reprising his Squad role of Peacemaker, a DC character named Christopher Smith. Smith is a man who “believes in peace at any cost — no matter how many people he has to kill to ...

Life goes on this summer for Academy internships, in a virtual way. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is plowing forward with the fourth year of Academy Gold, its entertainment industry internship enhancement and mentorship program for students and young professionals from underrepresented communities. During the summer, as the pandemic continues, the program will be virtual, with an extension program in the fall for those students who delayed their summer internships.

“In the face of a pandemic and our continued efforts to drive equity in our industry, the decision on whether or not to proceed with the Academy Gold program this summer was very clear,” said Academy COO Christine Simmons. “Our pipeline program is even more critical at a time when underrepresented communities are being disproportionately affected by Covid-19. The needs are heightened, and we are dedicated to delivering an educational, fun and rewarding virtual experience for these...

Life goes on this summer for Academy internships, in a virtual way. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is plowing forward with the fourth year of Academy Gold, its entertainment industry internship enhancement and mentorship program for students and young professionals from underrepresented communities. During the summer, as the pandemic continues, the program will be virtual, with an extension program in the fall for those students who delayed their summer internships.

“In the face of a pandemic and our continued efforts to drive equity in our industry, the decision on whether or not to proceed with the Academy Gold program this summer was very clear,” said Academy COO Christine Simmons. “Our pipeline program is even more critical at a time when underrepresented communities are being disproportionately affected by Covid-19. The needs are heightened, and we are dedicated to delivering an educational, fun and rewarding virtual experience for these...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences launched its fourth Academy Gold internship program.

The program, which is being held virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic, offers mentorship for 74 students and young professionals from underrepresented communities.

“We are so thankful for our industry partners, who share the Academy’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities that move the needle on inclusion in our community,” said Academy governor and education and outreach committee chair Nancy Utley of Searchlight Pictures, said in a statement. “Their support is integral to the success of Academy Gold, and we commend them on finding innovative ways to continue their internship programs during this challenging and uncertain time.”

Participating partners include AMC Networks, Bron Studios, Circle of Confusion, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Walt Disney Company, Dolby Laboratories, DTS (part of Xperi Corporation), FotoKem, HBO, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Evolve Entertainment Fund, Moving Picture Institute,...

The blue that a cinematographer sees when filming the ocean can look different from the blue that a viewer at home sees when watching those waves crash in a movie. Annie Chang aims to change that.

The co-chair of the Motion Picture Academy's Science and Technology Council is leading one of its most vital initiatives, the rollout and continued development of the Academy Color Encoding System, a standardized tool to manage color across production and postproduction.

"Color is not just what it looks like, but it's also a means to impart a storytelling point," she explains....

The blue that a cinematographer sees when filming the ocean can look different from the blue that a viewer at home sees when watching those waves crash in a movie. Annie Chang aims to change that.

The co-chair of the Motion Picture Academy's Science and Technology Council is leading one of its most vital initiatives, the rollout and continued development of the Academy Color Encoding System, a standardized tool to manage color across production and postproduction.

"Color is not just what it looks like, but it's also a means to impart a storytelling point," she explains....

Showtime has decided not to proceed with its U.S. remake of The Wrong Mans, the comedy created by James Corden and Matthew Baynton.

The U.S. version was a half-hour single camera action comedy from The Late Late Show host Corden, Baynton, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Prods., Warner Bros. TV and BBC Studios.

The pilot starred House of Lies’ Ben Schwartz, 22 Jump Street’s Jillian Bell and Shades of Blue’s Annie Chang. Written by Corden, Bayton and Veep and Man Seeking Woman writer Ian Maxtone-Graham, it was directed by the original series’ director Jim Field Smith.

The Wrong Mans follows two ordinary office workers who have their menial existence turned upside-down by a chance phone call and a case of mistaken identity: “If you are not here by 5 o’clock, we will kill your wife.” As the only people who can help, these two unlikely characters must...

The boutique agency Buchwald has expanded its New York and Los Angeles offices with five key hires made by president Julia Buchwald. In the New York office, Cassandra Tay and Katie Britton have been brought on as theatrical agents, as well as Liz Orr as a literary agent.

In Los Angeles, Jason Hyman joins as a talent agent, while George Carmona has been hired as Buchwald’s West Coast voice-over agent. In addition to building out the voice-over booth in Buchwald’s L.A. office, Carmona will work with a number of the agency’s east coast commercial agents including newly promoted Director of Animation, Pamela Goldman.

Buchwald said the new agents “will play significant roles in our growth.” .

Tay joins the theatrical department of Buchwald after five years as an agent at Kmr. Her clients include Mackenzie Lintz, Angelic Zambrana (Precious), Stacey Raymond (New Amsterdam), and Rey Lucas...

Annie Chang (Shades of Blue) is set as a series regular opposite Ben Schwartz and Jillian Bell in The Wrong Mans, Showtime’s remake of the UK comedy that was created by and starred James Corden & Matthew Baynton. The U.S. version hails from The Late Late Show host Corden, Baynton, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Prods., Warner Bros. TV and BBC Studios.

Written by Corden, Baynton and U.S. TV writer Ian Maxtone-Graham (The Simpsons) and directed by the original series’ director Jim Field Smith, The Wrongs Mans is an action-comedy about two ordinary office workers (one played by Schwartz) who have their menial existence turned upside-down by a chance phone call and a case of mistaken identity: “If you are not here by 5 o’clock, we will kill your wife.” As the only people who can help, these two unlikely characters must find their inner hero in their quest to save not just themselves,...

The distributor has picked up North American and select international rights to Sarah Adina Smith’s recent Toronto premiere.

Rami Malek of TV hit Mr. Robot stars in the story of a troubled man on the run from fate seeking solace from his past and future.

DJ Qualls, Kate Lyn Sheil, Toby Huss and Lin Shaye also star. Well Go plans a theatrical release in early 2017 followed by digital roll-out.

Andrew Herwitz of The Film Sales Company brokered the deal behalf of the filmmakers with Dylan Marchetti for Well Go USA Entertainment.

Lin Oeding is confirmed to direct genre title Office Uprising starring Brenton Thwaites, Jane Levy and Ian Harding, which The Exchange will continue to discuss with buyers at the Afm next week. CEO Brian O’Shea made the announcement on Wednesday. Production is set to commence in Alabama at the end of November.The Academy has announced the shortlist of ten films competing for the...

Here’s your daily dose of an indie film, web series, TV pilot, what-have-you in progress — at the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite.

In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.

Karate Tortoise

Logline: A silly series about an unimpressive tortoise and his Damsel friend who battle a medley of unlikely superheroes for pizza. This live action cartoon will be created through prosthetics, puppetry, stop motion animation, and miniature models.

Elevator Pitch:

Ever watch Disney’s “Aladdin?” “SNL?” “Problem Child?” What do they have in common? Comedic legend Gilbert Gottfried – and he’s signed on to play a villain in our series, the “Karate Tortoise.” Let’s just say there will be glitter and tap shoes. Spinoffs of your favorite ’90s characters – Ninja Turtles, Mario, Spiderman! It’s Old Greg from “The Mighty Boosh...

Dayo Okeniyi's first big audition was for a little project called The Hunger Games. And ever since he landed the role of strong but silent tribute Thresh, his career hasn't stopped soaring, skyrocketing him out of Panem and straight into the sci-fi future of Terminator Genisys. Between blockbusters, Okeniyi, 27, landed a part as a by-the-book rookie cop pulled into a law enforcement scandal in Shades of Blue, NBC's new Jennifer Lopez drama. "It was amazing, because to be honest, I was nervous about it initially, just getting on a show with her," he tells People of Lopez, who also developed and produces the series.