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Exclusive: Former NFL star Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski (The Roaring Game), Sistine Stallone (47 Meters Down: Uncaged), and Mischa Barton (The O.C.) are among new additions to Bad News on the Doorstep, the 1950s mafia crime thriller on which we were first to report a week ago.

As previously announced, Chazz Palminteri and Robert Davi lead the cast opposite their sons, Dante Palminteri and Nick Davi. Others newly set include Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager), Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever), Federico Castelluccio (The Sopranos), Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Ed Marinaro (Blue Mountain State), John Fiore (The Sopranos), Kea Ho (Junction), Rob Goon (The Roaring Game) and Godsmack lead singer Sully Erna (Bleed for This).

Recently wrapping production in Rhode Island, Bad News on the Doorstep unfolds as a poignant coming-of-age narrative chronicling the lives of Frank and Gino, two Italian-American high-school football prodigies amidst the gritty backdrop of late 1950s New Jersey.

One of the biggest double-acts in modern cinema is back at it again. Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are teaming up again, and this time they'll both be behind the scenes. The duo is producing Carthage Must Be Destroyed, a new action thriller from Ocean's 11 writer Ted Griffin. Deadline reports that Griffin will both write and direct the film, making it his feature directorial debut. It is set to begin production in October in Rhode Island. Carthage Must Be Destroyed will center around a drifter who comes to a crumbling Rust Belt town in the grip of a ruthless criminal syndicate. In shades of Yojimboand A Fistful of Dollars, the stranger sows the seeds of chaos amidst the town's corrupt power players, hoping to free the citizenry from their shackles.

It will be the first directorial feature for Griffin, who has previously helmed episodes of Terriers(which he created), Mad Dogs,...

Exclusive: Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chad A. Verdi, Lbi Entertainment’s Christopher Donelly and Gareth West have teamed to produce Carthage Must Be Destroyed, an action to be directed by Ocean’s Eleven scribe Ted Griffin.

In the action thriller, a stranger happens upon a rust-belt city in decline, ruled by its criminal underworld. Using brain and brawn, he sows distrust and creates chaos, in order to dismantle the corrupt power structure. Verdi Productions and Ketchup Entertainment are financing, and casting is underway for an October production start in Rhode Island.

Scorsese and DiCaprio are exec producing; Verdi, West, Donnelly, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, and Jennifer Davisson are producing. Lisa Frechette and Sera Verdi are also exec producing. The production companies are Sikelia Productions, Appian Way Productions, Verdi Productions, and Ketchup Entertainment.

Verdi Productions president Chad A. Verdi called the film “a dynamic project” and they all sparked...

Exclusive: Chazz Palminteri (A Bronx Tale) and Robert Davi (License to Kill) have signed on to star in the upcoming mafia crime thriller Bad News on the Doorstep. Their sons, Dante Palminteri (Rocky’s) and Nick Davi (Paper Empire) will play the lead roles in the pic. Principal photography recently wrapped in Rhode Island.

Produced by Verdi Productions (Bleed for This) and directed by Tom DeNucci (Vault), Bad News at the Doorstep is described as a poignant coming-of-age narrative chronicling the lives of Frank and Gino, two Italian-American high-school football prodigies amidst the gritty backdrop of late 1950s New Jersey. Beyond the gridiron, they confront a myriad of trials, from the complexities of post-football existence to the allure of delving into the underworld of organized crime. As they traverse this tumultuous landscape, they glean invaluable insights and grapple with profound life lessons, shaping their destinies in unexpected ways.

Chazz Palminteri and...

Oscar-winner and controversial Hollywood star Mel Gibson remains popular with audiences, as the Braveheart and Lethal Weapon actor’s severely panned 2022 action thriller dominates free streaming. Gibson, who remains a polarizing figure following issues with alcohol and a series of controversies, including well-publicized antisemitic tirades, homophobic comments, and a domestic violence-related restraining order, was recently appointed a "Special Ambassador" for Hollywood by President Donald Trump. And, clearly, audiences still find Gibson a magnetic screen presence...especially when it's free.

Directed and produced by James Cullen Bressack, and starring Kevin Dillon, Shannen Doherty, and Michael Welch alongside Gibson, the action thriller Hot Seat is now #1 on free streaming platform Freevee, with audiences loving this tale of an anonymous criminal who plants a bomb under the chair of an ex-hacker, forcing him to break into several high-level banking institutions. You can check out the official synopsis for Hot Seat below.

RelatedMel Gibson...

Exclusive: Here are your first looks at NFL star turned football analyst Rob Gronkowski, Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke, Fivel Stewart (The Recruit) and Justin Chatwin (Shameless) in curling sports comedy The Roaring Game. Scroll down for images.

As previously announced by Deadline, the cast also includes Darin Brooks (Blue Mountain State), Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie), William Forsythe (The Devil’s Rejects), Antwon Tanner (One Tree Hill), Vanessa Angel (Kingpin), Paul Johansson (One Tree Hill), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Brett Azar (Young Rock), Jonathan Stoddard (Til Death) and Rob Goon (A Day to Die).

In a screenplay penned by Tom DeNucci (Vault), the film follows Rickey, a high school custodian who loses everything when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games. Determined to win her back, he assembles a misfit curling team, leveraging his janitorial skills to compete for gold.

Mel Gibson's position in Hollywood is precarious to say the least, but that has not stopped his 2022 action thriller Hot Seat from jumping into the Freevee Top 10 after it was added to the platform earlier this month. Directed by James Cullen Bressack and starring Gibson alongside Kevin Dillon, the film was met with harsh reviews upon release, which makes its new-found success on streaming unexpected…but at the same time completely on trend for free streaming releases.

Hot Seat is a high-stakes hostage thriller, which centers on It expert Orlando Friar (Dillon) who becomes an unwitting pawn in a dangerous cyber-heist. Forced to hack into government servers while trapped in a booby-trapped office chair rigged to explode (of course he is), Friar must race against the clock to outsmart the anonymous mastermind holding his life—and the city—hostage. Gibson appears as Wallace Reed, a bomb squad veteran determined...

Last week, we learned that production has wrapped on a psychological thriller called Sleepwalker, starring Hayden Panettiere of Scream VI. Now, Deadline has revealed that the cast of the film also includes Justin Chatwin (Shameless), Beverly D’Angelo (Violent Night), Mischa Barton (The Oc), Lori Tan Chinn (Orange Is the New Black), Kea Ho (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Tom DeNucci (Junction), Rob Goon (The Roaring Game), and newcomers Laird Lacoste and Corinne Sweeney.

Written and directed by Brandon Auman, Sleepwalker follows a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As she battles a surreal descent into darkness, her sleepwalking episodes intensify. Plagued by haunting visions of her husband inside their home, she grapples with the blurred lines between reality and nightmare. This is Auman’s feature directorial debut.

Exclusive: Justin Chatwin (Shameless) has joined Hayden Panettiere in the psychological thriller Sleepwalker.

Also joining the cast are Beverly D’Angelo, Mischa Barton, and Lori Tan Chinn.

The film is being produced by Verdi Productions and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions.

Sleepwalker follows a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As she battles a surreal descent into darkness, her sleepwalking episodes intensify. Plagued by haunting visions of her husband inside their home, she grapples with the blurred lines between reality and nightmare.

The cast is rounded out by newcomers Laird Lacoste and Corinne Sweeney alongside Kea Ho (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Tom DeNucci...

The lines between reality and nightmare will blur for Hayden Panettiere (Scream VI) in the upcoming thriller Sleepwalker, with Deadline announcing the project this morning.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions and Verdi Productions are producing Sleepwalker, written and directed by Brandon Auman. The feature adapts his same-titled short.

Deadline details, “Panettiere portrays Sarah, a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As she battles a surreal descent into darkness, her sleepwalking episodes intensify.”

“Plagued by haunting visions of her husband inside their home, she grapples with the blurred lines between reality and nightmare.”

“We are thrilled to team up with Appian Way and collaborate on another project together. Hayden is a natural talent and is the perfect actress to bring Brandon’s passion project to life,” said producer Chad A. Verdi. “This...

For about a decade, Leonardo DiCaprio was attached to produce a big screen reboot of the classic genre property The Twilight Zone through his company Appian Way. Multiple drafts of the script were written and Joseph Kosinski was set to direct the film… but it never made it into production. The Twilight Zone got a small screen reboot from producer Jordan Peele and his company Monkeypaw Productions instead. But DiCaprio isn’t leaving the Twilight Zone behind entirely, as IndieWire reports that he is now producing a documentary about the show’s creator, Rod Serling!

Appian Way is teaming up with Goodlight, Grub Street Films, and Verdi Productions to make this documentary happen. DiCaprio is producing alongside Chad A. Verdi, Jennifer Davisson, Phillip Watson, Taylor Digilio, Blake J. Harris, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, and Jonah Tulis. Tulis, who previously directed GameStop: Rise of the Players and Console Wars,...

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way is set to produce an authorized biographical documentary on the life of “The Twilight Zone“ creator Rod Serling, we’ve learned today from Indiewire.

The Serling doc, currently untitled, will be directed by GameStop: Rise of the Players filmmaker Jonah Tulis. Indiewire also reports that Serling’s daughters, Jodi Serling and Anne Serling, have given the project their full blessing and come aboard as executive producers.

The documentary will “explore how Serling’s writing helped change television forever. The film will look at Serling’s humble beginnings in television and how he later used his platform to affect change both on and off the screen, including his battles with censors and how he grappled with thought-provoking issues of racism, war, the dangers of technology, and morality via the genre-bending, sci-fi parables.”

Serling had a way with words, and the documentary is expected to lean into...

Leonardo DiCaprio has just crossed over into…the Twilight Zone — and the life of its creator, Rod Serling.

IndieWire can reveal exclusively that DiCaprio’s Appian Way is set to produce an authorized biographical documentary on the life of Serling, the host, creator, narrator, writer, and political activist best known for his series “The Twilight Zone.”

The untitled film will be directed by Jonah Tulis, who previously directed “GameStop: Rise of the Players” for Neon and “Console Wars” for Legendary Pictures and Paramount+. He and the producers have received the full blessing of Serling’s daughters Jodi Serling and Anne Serling, who are executive producing the project.

The Serling documentary will explore how Serling’s writing helped change television forever. The film will look at Serling’s humble beginnings in television and how he later used his platform to affect change both on and off the screen, including his battles...

Kevin Spacey Crime Pic ‘Peter Five Eight’ Added To Jinga AFM Lineup

Exclusive: UK genre specialist Jinga Films has added crime caper Peter Five Eight, starring Kevin Spacey, Jet Jandreau and Rebecca De Mornay, to its AFM line up. Written and directed by Michael Zaiko Hall and produced by Mad Honey Productions, Forever Safe Productions, Ascent Films and Ltd Films, the film sees a glamorous real estate agent in a small mountain community revealed to be an unhinged alcoholic with a dark secret. Invincible has theatrically released the movie in the U.S. and Phoenicia Pictures has acquired all rights for Middle East and Turkey. Invincible acquired the movie from Vmi, which previously handled sales on it.

Doc On Transgender Boxing Promoter Kellie Maloney Weighs In At Verdi

Exclusive: Verdi Productions has acquired domestic distribution rights to Knockout Blonde, the doc detailing the life of transgender boxing promoter Kellie Maloney.

Aaron Kaufman, the Emmy-nominated director behind Superpower, Sean Penn’s Paramount+ documentary about the Ukraine-Russia war, has died at the age of 51.

Deadline confirmed the news with Chad Verdi of Verdi Productions, who financed and executive produced some of Kaufman’s previous and upcoming projects, including Superpower. He died in Las Vegas of an apparent heart attack on Thursday.

Kaufman is perhaps best known for co-helming Superpower alongside Penn, and the effort translated into a News & Documentary Emmy nod in the Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary category. What began as an aim to track Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s rise from popular comedian-actor to a prominent political leader transitioned to a war doc in the aftermath of Russia’s campaign launched in 2022, when Kaufman was on the ground as a filmmaker.

Speaking to the one-year anniversary of the conflict’s beginning at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival, Kaufman said, “It seems...

Aaron Kaufman, who directed the documentary Superpower about the war in Ukraine alongside Sean Penn and was a longtime producing partner of Robert Rodriguez, has died. He was 51.

Kaufman died Thursday in Las Vegas, Verdi Productions President Chad Verdi told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday. Reports indicated that Kaufman died of an apparent heart attack.

“It’s a very sad time for everyone who loved Aaron,” Verdi wrote in an email to THR. “Aaron passed away Thursday night. He and I spoke by phone about 20 minutes prior to 911 being called. He was in great spirits and was headed to dinner. Life is short and family and friends are everything. I miss him a lot already.”

Kaufman may be best known for the Emmy-nominated documentary, but he also wrote, directed and produced several films, including Machete, Machete Kills, Urge and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. He also executive produced The Greatest,...

Aaron Kaufman, a writer, director and producer whose credits include “Superpower” and “Machete Kills,” died on Thursday evening in Las Vegas after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 51.

Kaufman’s death was confirmed by Chad Verdi, the film financier behind “The Irishman” as well as several of Kaufman’s past and upcoming projects.

The Long Island native, who was Robert Rodriguez’s longtime producing partner, is best known for co-directing with Sean Penn the Emmy-nominated documentary “Superpower,” which traced the political rise of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While Penn became the face of the 2023 documentary, it was Kaufman who had been on the ground in Ukraine in February 2022 when the ongoing war with Russia broke out. Kaufman had been in Kyiv in the weeks leading up to Russia’s invasion and had been in the bunker with the Ukrainian leader during the perilous first days of the conflict. (Penn...

Exclusive: Vantage Media, the domestic distribution arm of sales firm Vmi Worldwide, is partnering with Chad A. Verdi’s Verdi Productions (Bleed For This) on a fund to acquire and distribute independent films.

Vantage has grown its slate in recent months with titles including What Remains (pictured), the true crime-thriller starring Andrea Riseborough and Stellan Skarsgård, Fernando Trueba’s Haunted Heart starring Matt Dillon, and The Ballad of Davy Crockett, starring William Moseley.

Vantage and Verdi are planning on an annual slate of twelve cast-driven titles and the former will be attending the upcoming American Film Market in Las Vegas to meet with sales agents and filmmakers.

The deal was negotiated by Chad A. Verdi, CEO of Verdi Productions, and Andre Relis, CEO of Vantage Media and Vmi Worldwide.

“Verdi and Vmi have been long standing partners working on countless pictures for over a decade. I am looking forward to...

The Bold and the Beautiful alum Darin Brooks scored a new gig. This news just comes on the heels of his latest project. He’s staying busy and booked after his departure from the CBS soap.

From One Sports Comedy to Another

According to Deadline, Brooks will star in a new sports comedy called The Roaring Game. The cast also includes Antwon Tanner (One Tree Hill), Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie), Fivel Stewart (The Recruit), and Justin Chatwin (Shameless).

Chad A. Verdi and his Verdi Productions produced the project. Tom DeNucci penned the screenplay. The comedy centers around a custodian who works at a high school. His girlfriend plays for Team USA and the World Games.

She leaves him while her career is on the rise. The heartbroken custodian brings out his inner athlete. He starts a curling team, relying on his janitorial skills to help him out. The team...

Chad A. Verdi of Verdi Productions and Anthony Gudas and Aaron Kaufman of Public School Productions have partnered with producers John Scalise, Keanu Reeves and Fisher Stevens to produce “The Jet,” a documentary on the life story of Benny “The Jet” Urquidez.

The film is currently in production from director Jennifer Tiexiera. Verdi, Gudas, and Kaufman will join Reeves, Maura Anderson, Zak Kilberg and Scalise as producers.

Urquidez is known for his influence on martial arts in mainstream culture as an actor, fight coordinator, and trainer to the stars. He held a total of six world titles in five weight divisions and remained undefeated throughout his more than 20-year kickboxing career.

Urquidez is also known for his contributions to martial arts cinema, appearing in numerous action films during the 1980s and 1990s. Some of his film credits include “The Octagon,” “Road House” and “Grosse Pointe Blank.” Over the years, he...

Darin Brooks is set to star in The Roaring Game. A new sports comedy produced by Chad A. Verdi and his East Coast production company, Verdi Productions. Also leading the cast are Fivel Stewart, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Justin Chatwin, and Antwon Tanner. Additional cast members are John Fiore, […]

The post New Gig for Darin Brooks appeared first on Soap Opera News.

Exclusive: Darin Brooks (Blue Mountain State), Fivel Stewart (The Recruit), Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie), Justin Chatwin (Shameless) and Antwon Tanner (One Tree Hill) will lead The Roaring Game, a sports comedy from Producer Chad A. Verdi and his East Coast production company Verdi Productions (Bleed For This).

The screenplay by Tom DeNucci (Vault) follows Rickey, a high school custodian whose world is rocked when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games, thus leaving him behind. Determined to win her back, he assembles a misfit curling team, leveraging his janitorial skills to compete for gold. Below is a first-look.

DeNucci is also directing. Chad A. Verdi (The Irishman) is producing, along with Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Anthony Gudas. Sera Verdi is serving as an executive producer and Ed Brady is serving as an associate producer. Filming...

Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke and former NFL star Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski have nabbed starring roles in writer/director Tom DeNucci’s sports comedy The Roaring Game.

Also joining the Verdi Productions pic, that just wrapped production, in key roles is William Forsythe (The Devil Rejects) and Vanessa Angel (Kingpin). The Roaring Game centers on Rickey, a high school janitor who loses everything when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games.

To win her back, Rickey creates a misfit curling team and uses his sweeping skills to compete for gold and complete a comic quest for redemption that captivates the nation.

Rourke is best known for his role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, which earned him Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. Former New England Patriots tight-end Gronkowski has acting credits that include The Clapper, Entourage, Boss Level and the buddy comedy The Instigators.

Brainstorm Media has acquired the North American distribution rights to Chosen Family, a romantic comedy written and directed by Heather Graham, and for which a trailer has now been released. Graham stars as the lead opposite 1990s movie icon Julia Stiles (The Bourne Identity) in a story about sibling rivalry and the family you choose as your own. Chosen Family tells the story of Ann (Graham), a yoga teacher on a path for inner peace amidst the chaos of her manic family and miserable dating life. Ann's journey is complicated by her inability to say no and her relentless desire to fix everyones problems. She struggles to save her sister Clio (Stiles) from addiction, leading to disastrous results. With a new love interest entering her life, played by John Brotherton (Fuller House), Ann must navigate the complexities of her relationships and learn to put herself first.

You can check out...

Heather Graham’s chosen family is growing.

The actress-turned-filmmaker’s latest big-screen effort, Chosen Family, has been acquired by Brainstorm Media for North America with a theatrical release set for Oct. 11.

Written, directed by and starring Graham, the Verdi Prods. film also stars John Brotherton, Ella Grace Helton, Andrea Savage, Michael Gross, Julie Halston, Thomas Lennon and Julia Stiles. Chosen Family follows a yoga teacher named Ann (Graham) who is on a path to find inner peace amidst the chaos of her manic family and miserable dating life. The situation is complicated by an inability to say no and her relentless desire to fix everyone’s problems. She also struggles to save her sister Clio (Stiles) from addiction, leading to disastrous results.

Graham said she can’t wait for audiences to see her film, which she describes as a labor of love. “I’m so excited that Brainstorm is releasing...

A documentary following the life of Hawaiian musician Don Ho is in production from Aaron Kaufman, who co-directed the Ukraine documentary “Superpower” alongside Sean Penn. Verdi Productions and Public School are producing the film, which follows Ho’s life as a pop artist who was one of the first Pacific Islanders to garner fame after Hawaii gained statehood.

Ho, known for his 1966 song “Tiny Bubbles” from his album of the same name, melded Hawaiian music with pop, and worked in the business for almost five decades. He also had his own variety show on ABC from 1976 through 1977, “The Don Ho Show.” The film will feature never-before-seen footage of the musician, along with interviews with his family, friends, associates and various celebrities, according to producer Chad Verdi. “Our goal is to honor the legacy of this important figure in pop culture and Hawaiian history – Don Ho,” says Rhode Island-based Verdi.

According to the film’s logline,...

The Paramount+ original documentary “Superpower,” co-directed by Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman, is available to stream for free on the official Paramount+ YouTube channel. The documentary will be available in the United States and its territories, including Bermuda, free of charge for a year on the platform.

The documentary is centered on Ukraine’s fight to maintain freedom from Russia after Russia invaded and attacked Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2022. The film spans seven trips over a nearly two-year time frame, in which Penn conducted a series of interviews with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and others.

The project, which started filming in late 2021, originally began as a piece on Zelensky and his rise from comedic actor to president. But, once the buildup of Russian troops on the border began, the documentary shifted tone. The film became a look at a wartime president and his country’s defense of freedom against the threat of invasion.

The Paramount+ original documentary Superpower, the once launched last year on Paramount + by co-directors Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman, today begins airing on YouTube. All you’ve got to pay is attention. The deal allows audiences across YouTube’s massive footprint to watch the moving story centered on Ukraine’s fight to maintain freedom from Russia.

Superpower is a heart-wrenching glimpse into a country fighting for its freedom, featuring a series of intimate interviews done by Penn with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and others from seven trips over nearly a two-year period.

“Rarely do you get to be an eyewitness to history as (Sean) Penn did with President Zelensky in his bunker as Russian bombs exploded over Kyiv,” says Susan Zirinsky, President of See it Now Studios. “The film is so powerful and immersive because of Penn’s journey meeting families who have lost everything, bombed out apartments, schools...

Martin Scorsese is set to shoot a documentary in Sicily about ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea that will bring the Oscar-winning director back to Polizzi Generosa, the small town where his paternal grandparents were born.

The untitled project is based on research by U.S. archaeologist Lisa Briggs, who is a professor and researcher at Cranfield University in England. Briggs is specialised in terrestrial and underwater archaeology, specifically in the use of scientific tools including DNA analysis on artifacts recovered from ancient shipwreck sites, to reconstruct stories of ships, sailors, cargoes, and maritime trade in the ancient world.

“We’ve welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm,” Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, who is Sicily’s councillor for cultural heritage, told Italian news agency Ansa. He added that the island’s authorities are “making all pertinent sites and archaeological parks available, considering the relevance of the project.”

Several other sources have confirmed that...

Vmi Worldwide has acquired Heather Graham’s comedy “Chosen Family” and will shop the film to international buyers at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival market. Graham, who is best known for the “Hangover” movies, wrote, directed and stars in the film, about a yoga instructor navigating various relationship dramas.

The film will make its world premiere on the closing night of the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Feb. 17.

Graham plays Ann, a yoga teacher attempting to find inner peace despite her manic family and miserable dating life. Not knowing how to say no, she often ends up fixing everyone else’s problems. While trying to repair her relationship with her sister, Ann relies on her friends to guide her through life’s woes.

Rounding out the cast is Julia Stiles, playing Ann’s estranged sister Clio, alongside Thomas Lennon, Andrea Savage, John Brotherton and Michael Gross.

“Chosen Family” marks the latest film from Verdi Prods.

Chad Verdi’s Vmi Releasing has acquired the opioid crisis drama “Junction,” which is the directorial debut of “How to Make It in America” actor Bryan Greenberg. Greenberg stars in the film along with Josh Peck, Sophia Bush and his wife Jamie Chung.

Under Vmi releasing, “Junction” is slated for a theatrical and VOD release on Jan. 24. As per the press release, the film description reads: “[‘Junction’] chronicles the modern-day opioid crisis in America from three different points of view: the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, a doctor and a patient. Each character will have to come face to face with the decisions they have made and their role in the epidemic.” Also starring in the film are Griffin Dunne, Ashley Madekwe and Ryan Eggold.

“The cast of ‘Junction’ has been nothing short of spectacular,” Verdi previously said. “We’ve been very lucky to have such notable talent respond to Bryan’s amazing script.

Verdi Productions, run by Chad A. Verdi, Paul Luba, Chad Verdi, Jr.

and Michelle Verdi, plans to release three films in 2024 that were previously put on hold since actors were unable to promote work during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

“Workers in the film industry are getting financially destroyed by these strikes, whether it’s actors, writers, directors or crew. Most of these individuals were already working multiple jobs to get by,” Verdi said in a statement. “This widespread production shutdown didn’t hurt the top 1% in the industry but ruined many people who work week-to-week and paycheck-to-paycheck. It’s very unfortunate to see. Let’s get our union members a fair deal so that they can get back to doing what they love.”

In partnership with Vmi Worldwide, Verdi Productions will release “Junction” in January. The film follows the modern-day opioid crisis through three different viewpoints: the CEO of a pharmaceutical company,...

Sean Penn’s documentary Superpower, which follows an embattled Ukraine’s fight against an invading Russia and interviews president Volodymyr Zelensky, will debut on Ukrainian TV today.

The Fifth Season film will premiere the same day on Ukrainian broadcaster Inter as the feature documentary starts streaming in the U.S. on Paramount+. The day-and-date release will include other Ukrainian airdates on major channels Ntn, Mega and Sonce.

The documentary, co-financed with Vice Studios, chronicles Ukraine’s fight for freedom from invading Russian military forces and is directed by Hollywood actor and activist Penn and Aaron Kaufman. Superpower includes Penn conducing intimate interviews with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and others during seven trips to Ukraine over a two-year period.

Besides centering Zelensky as a wartime president, the documentary also explains how the conflict started, the stakes as it continues into a second year for the war and who remain the key players.

Superpower, Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman’s doc about Ukraine’s fight for freedom, is getting a launch in the war-torn Eastern European country today.

Fifth Season, which shops the film, has coordinated a day-and-date release for the doc in Ukraine alongside its launch on Paramount+ in the U.S. today.

The film will screen on leading Ukrainian net Inter, before running on other channels including Ntn, Mega, and Sonce, as part of a plan to support the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russia’s invasion.

Superpower is billed as “a heart-wrenching glimpse into a country fighting for its freedom, featuring a series of intimate interviews done by Penn with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others from seven trips over nearly a two-year period.” Penn and Kaufman are co-directors.

It began as a light-hearted project about Zelenskyy’s unusual rise from comic actor to President. However, when Russian troops...

Sean Penn’s “Superpower,” the actor’s upcoming documentary about Ukraine’s fight to maintain its freedom from Russia, is set to premiere on September 18. The film will be available to watch exclusively on Paramount+.

Co-directed by Penn and Aaron Kaufman, the documentary features several interviews between Penn and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the production’s seven trips to the country over the past two years. The film chronicles the months before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the hours leading up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch rockets into Kyiv and the devastating aftermath.

“Superpower” has followed an unconventional road. Filming started in 2021, and at the time, the documentary was intended to be a deep dive into Zelensky, an actor and comedian who played a president on TV before becoming Ukraine’s actual president. But while Penn was filming in Kyiv, Russia’s army attacked the capital,...

Exclusive: Rhode Island-based production company Verdi Productions has halted pre-production on the next feature film on the company’s slate, a biopic of Muhammad Ali Jr., due to the impending SAG strike.

According to producer Chad A. Verdi (Bleed For This), the indie movie was due to enter principal photography on September 1 in Rhode Island with cast attached, but will now be pushed to late 2024. Tom DeNucci directs.

The movie will chart the story of Ali Jr. who has struggled to live in his legendary father’s shadow, dealing with bullying, abandonment, drug addiction and family issues. More recently, Ali Jr. has found greater peace with himself, his former relationship, his father and his own children.

Verdi recently produced a documentary on the same subject.

Chad A. Verdi stated: “With the WGA already on strike and a possible SAG strike looming, pushing this film was the right thing to do.

Vmi Worldwide to handle worldwide sales.

Vmi Releasing has acquired North American distribution rights to Verdi Productions’ Bryan Greenberg and Griffin Dunne opioid crisis thriller Junction out of the Cannes market.

Greenberg, whose acting credits include How to Make It In America, wrote and directed the story which tackles the crisis from the viewpoints of three people who must reckon with the consequences of their choices: the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, a doctor, and a patient.

The cast includes Sophia Bush, Ashley Madekwe, Ryan Eggold, Jamie Chung, Josh Peck, Michaela Conlin, Yara Martinez, Dascha Polanco, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Dash Mihok,...

Vmi Worldwide has boarded worldwide sales to Verdi Productions’ Chosen Family, which is written by, directed by and starring Heather Graham, and released a first-look image ahead of introducing the feature to buyers in Cannes.

Alongside Graham, the film also stars Julia Stiles, Thomas Lennon, Michael Gross, Andrea Savage and John Brotherton. It just wrapped production in Rhode Island.

Chosen Family sees Heather play Ann, a yoga teacher trying to find inner peace despite the fact her family is manic, and whose dating life is miserable. Ann doesn’t know how to say no and finds herself fixing everyone’s problems. Struggling to repair her estranged relationship with her sister Clio (Stiles) Ann relies on her friends Roz (Savage), Max (Lennon) and Frances (Odessa Rae) to be her rock and guide her through life’s troubling decisions.

“I’m so excited to be making my dream project with an amazing team,...

All manner of romance, violence, and heists are teased in this exclusive clip from the upcoming action/slasher/thriller/crime caper Johnny & Clyde. Starring Megan Fox as a twisted mob boss who commands a demonic slayer, Johnny & Clyde (as the title suggests) follows an enraptured couple of misfits as they plan and carry out a barbarous, bloodthirsty cavalcade of crime. Check out the clip from Johnny & Clyde below.

Johnny & Clyde follows the titular Johnny (Jogia) and Clyde (Russell), two serial killers madly in love and on an endless crime spree that sees the couple enact a merciless stream of bloody violence. They set their sights on robbing a casino owned by the crime boss Alana (Fox) and guarded by her demonic warrior.

Directed by Tom DeNucci, written by Tom DeNucci and Nick Principe, and produced by Chad A. Verdi, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Nick Koskoff, Johnny...

Vault director Tom DeNucci’s new film Johnny & Clyde is usually referred to as a “crime thriller”, but we’ve also heard that the story shifts gears to become a “balls-to-the-wall slasher/horror” flick. Since I have been a dedicated slasher fan since the 1980s, I’m looking forward to checking it out when it receives a theatrical and VOD release this Friday, May 5th. With the release just a few days away, a trailer for Johnny & Clyde has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

Scripted by DeNucci and Nick Principe, Johnny & Clyde follows the two eponymous serial killers who are madly in love and on an endless crime spree. They have their sights set on robbing a prosperous casino run by crime boss Alana and her head of security.

The film stars Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap), Ajani Russell (Betty), Tyson Ritter...

Directed by Tom DeNucci (Vault, Almost Mercy) Written by: Tom DeNucci and Nick Principe Produced by: Chad A. Verdi, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Nick Koskoff Starring: Megan Fox (Transformers, Jennifer’s Body) Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap, “Victorious”) Ajani Russell (Skate Kitchen, “Betty”) Tyson Ritter (“Preacher”, “Parenthood”) Bai Ling (Red Corner, The Crow) Vanessa Angel (Kingpin) Robert Lasardo (The Mule) Armen Garo (The Departed) Johnny (Avan Jogia) and Clyde …

The post Official Poster Premiere* Johnny & Clyde appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Johnny & Clyde | Starring Megan Fox, Avan Jogia, Ajani Russell & Directed by Tom DeNucci | In Theaters and On Demand May 5th Directed by Tom DeNucci (Vault, Almost Mercy) Written by: Tom DeNucci and Nick PrincipeProduced by: Chad A. Verdi, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Nick KoskoffStarring:Megan Fox (Transformers, Jennifer’s Body)Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap, “Victorious”)Ajani Russell (Skate Kitchen, “Betty”)Tyson Ritter (“Preacher”, “Parenthood”)Bai Ling (Red …

The post Johnny & Clyde | Starring Megan Fox, Avan Jogia, Ajani Russell & Directed by Tom DeNucci | In Theaters and On Demand May 5th appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Shudder and IFC Midnight are launching microbudget Skinamarink on a not-so-micro 629 screens, giving the viral horror pic a major push after a well-received premiere back at Fantasia-fest that just kept snowballing with strong reviews and social media love.

“I was over the moon. For a horror filmmaker in Canada, [Fantasia] is like getting a Cannes screening,” says first-time filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball about the leadup to this weekend’s buzzy specialty opening. He shot the 15k feature at his parents’ home in Edmonton, Canada.

In it, two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. “I’d had a nightmare when I was little. I was in my parents’ house, my parents were missing, and there was a monster. And lots of people have shared this exact same dream,” Ball tells Deadline.

Screen Rant is proud to present an exclusive clip from the upcoming documentary My Father Muhammad Ali. Living in the shadow of Muhammad Ali is a difficult life, and it is one that his children, especially Muhammad Ali Jr., still seem to struggle with. My Father Muhammad Ali tells the story of this sports icon from a new perspective, that of his only biological son Ali Jr. as he looks back at his childhood, the effect growing up as the child of an icon had on him, and how he continues his father's long-lasting legacy, but in a way that honors his own path as well.

Ali has had an indelible impact on the world, becoming one of the most recognizable sports icons, an inspiration for truly great characters including Apollo Creed, and coining the still widely used phrase "Greatest Of All Time." But his legacy is more than what...

Verdi Productions, the company behind “Bleed for This,” will back Hal Harley’s “Where to Land.” The film is scheduled to being shooting in the spring of 2023 in Rhode Island.

Hartley, a major force in American independent film, has been trying to get this off the ground for awhile. He launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money in 2020 just before the pandemic hit. He told potential donors that the script was “the best thing I’ve written.”

The film is a farce about a well-regarded 58-year-old director of romantic comedies who wants to become assistant groundskeeper at a local cemetery and work outdoors. Meanwhile, he thinks it’s important to have his last will and testament drawn up. But his actor girlfriend thinks he must be dying and that he is just too brave to tell anyone. The rumor of his impending demise spreads and soon everyone he knows crowd...

Exclusive: Here’s your first trailer for Verdi Productions and Vmi Worldwide’s My Father Muhammad Ali, the documentary highlighting the life of Muhammad Ali Jr., son of the world’s most iconic boxer.

The movie offers a unique insight into Muhammad Ali – aka “the greatest” – through the eyes of his biological son, Muhammad Ali Jr. Throughout his life, Ali Jr. struggled with bullying, abandonment and drug addiction. The film explores his relationship with his father and his complicated relationship with his own children.

Vmi Worldwide is selling the documentary at AFM.

The film was co-directed by Chad A. Verdi and Tom DeNucci. Verdi also produced the doc, along with Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Nick Koskoff and Matthew J. Weiss. Thomas Verdi served as an executive producer.

Verdi stated: “Two years ago, we were thrilled when Muhammad Jr. chose us to tell his life story. This documentary...

Josh Peck and Kea Ho have joined the cast of “Junction,” an upcoming drama about the opioid crisis. The film is written and directed by Bryan Greenberg, who is best known for his work as an actor on “How to Make It in America” and “One Tree Hill.” “Junction” will be his feature directorial debut.

Peck and Ho join an ensemble that includes Griffin Dunne (“After Hours”), Sophia Bush (“Chicago P.D.”), Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”), Jamie Chung (“Dexter: New Blood”), Michaela Conlin (“Bones”), Hill Harper (“The Good Doctor”) Ashley Madekwe (“Country Lines”), Ryan Eggold (“The Blacklist”), Dascha Polanco (“Orange Is the New Black”), Dash Mihok (“I Am Legend”), Geoff Stults (“Wedding Crashers”), Eddie Kaye Thomas (“American Pie”) and Hannah Dunne (“Marriage Story”).

Peck, whose credits include “The Wackness” and “Mean Creek,” will soon appear in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Ho’s credits include “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.

Exclusive: Redbox Entertainment has signed North American rights to Verdi Productions’ action-crime film Johnny & Clyde, starring Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap), Ajani Russell (Betty), Tyson Ritter (Preacher) and Megan Fox (The Expendables 4).

Directed by Tom DeNucci (Vault), the movie is due to get a theatrical launch later this year and be available day-and-date in Redbox kiosks and on demand. Above is a first look at Fox in the feature.

The spin on the iconic Bonnie and Clyde story follows two serial killers who are madly in love and on a shocking crime spree. They ultimately set their sights on robbing a prosperous casino run by a crime boss, Alana (Fox), and her head of security, Guy (Ritter).

Rounding out the cast is Vanessa Angel (Kingpin), Bai Ling (The Crow), Robert Lasardo (The Mule), Armen Garo (The Departed), Sean Ringgold (American Gangster), Nick Principe (Vault), Brett Azar...

Exclusive: Here are your first production stills from comedy feature The Junkyard Dogs, starring Denise Richards (The Bold And The Beautiful) and Patrick Muldoon (Days Of Our Lives).

The film, penned by Jacob Cooney — who also directs — and Jamie Sykes, follows a dog named Houdini who is a master escape artist and must team up with his neighborhood puppy pals to prevent their block from being robbed by a duo of bumbling thieves. Richards plays Monica Sullivan, a single mother of two. Muldoon plays Shane DeSoto, Monica’s fun loving fiance. While focused on their upcoming wedding, they discover that both of Monica’s children and her precocious pup are devising a plan to stop the thieves before their neighborhood falls under siege.

Chad A. Verdi, Chelsea Vale, David Gere, Chad A. Verdi Jr. and Paul Luba are producing. Filming is underway in the U.S.

Verdi Productions is financing,...

Exclusive: Denise Richards (The Bold and the Beautiful) has signed on to star in The Junkyard Dogs, a family comedy from director Jacob Cooney.

The film follows a dog named Houdini who is a master escape artist, and must team up with his neighborhood puppy pals to prevent their block from being robbed by a duo of bumbling thieves.

Richards will play Monica Sullivan, a single mother of two who discovers, while focused on her upcoming wedding, that both her children and her precocious pup are devising a plan to stop the thieves before their neighborhood falls under siege.

Chad A. Verdi, Chelsea Vale, David Gere, Chad A. Verdi Jr. and Paul Luba are producing. Verdi Productions is financing the film, with Vmi Worldwide handling world sales. Pic is scheduled for a day and date theatrical release in mid 2022 through Vmi Releasing.

Richards is an actress, businesswoman, philanthropist and New...