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A year after DreamWorks released Madagascar, Disney released its own animated movie with a near-identical plot, The Wild. Released in 2005, Madagascar stars Chris Rock as Marty, an ambitious zebra at the Central Park Zoo who dreams of leaving behind his enclosure and exploring the outside world. The cast is rounded out by Ben Stiller as Alex the egocentric lion, Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria the confident hippo, and David Schwimmer as Melman the hypochondriac giraffe, who all escape with Marty and end up stranded on the titular island.

Madagascar was a big hit with audiences and ended up launching a blockbuster franchise. Madagascar was followed by two sequels and a spinoff, and ended up becoming a lucrative property for DreamWorks. Just one year later, Disney tried to replicate that success by releasing a movie so similar that it could’ve been a remake. Unfortunately for the Mouse House, their version...

Netflix's 2024 biopic Maria features a strong cast led by Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie. Jolie, best known for her roles in films such as Maleficent, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and Girl, Interrupted, returns in her first feature film since Marvel's 2021 action blockbuster Eternals. Jolie has also directed several films, such as First They Killed My Fathers (2017) and Unbroken (2014). Jolie took a break from acting from 2021's Eternals until 2024's Maria to focus on spending more time with her six kids, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.

Maria depicts the final days in the life of Maria Callas, who was once considered the greatest opera singer in the world. The film takes place in 1970s Paris as Maria's health declines. Maria sees the world through a near-hallucinogenic and fading lens with her butler, Ferruccio, and her maid, Bruna, who care deeply for her. Maria is directed by...

Spellbound is not to be confused with the 1945 Alfred Hitchcock film noir of the same name. Nor is it to be confused with the 2002 spelling bee documentary of the same name. Nor the 2011 South Korean film of the same name about a man whose girlfriend can see ghosts. This is, in fact, the second film from Skydance Animation, the new animation outfit headed by former Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter, who left his previous company after allegations of sexual misconduct. Skydance seems to have deep pockets and grand ambitions of making moves on its competitors: its first film, the 2022 fantasy Luck, seemed to be an attempt to ape Pixar’s formula. This sophomore effort is going for the big guns: it’s the studio’s take on Walt Disney Animation.

There is much here that feels plucked from the Mouse House. It’s a high-concept high-fantasy, awash with Hans Christian Andersen-ian tropes,...

Warning: Spoilers for Spellbound.Spellbound is a traditional-feeling animated film with a message that is anything but. The second release from Skydance Animation follows Ellian, a young princess who sets off to reverse a mysterious curse that has transformed her parents into monsters. Ellians journey with her monster parents across a whimsical landscape turns into something more serious as new reVellations threaten to alter her family dynamic forever. The movies star cast includes Rachel Zegler, Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman, Nathan Lane, Jenifer Lewis, and John Lithgow.

Spellbound was brought to the screen by veteran animation director Vicky Jenson, who also co-wrote the script. Jenson is well-known as the finishing director of the 2001 mega-hit Shrek, and also directed 2004s Shark Tale. On Spellbound, Jenson helmed her first movie musical, working with legendary songwriters Alan Menken and Glenn Slater on the soundtrack.

Related Spellbound Borrows One Genius Part Of Disney Musicals That's...

With all the behind-the-scenes makings of an animated classic, Spellbound features a talented voice cast and a can’t-miss creative team for a family movie with a whole lot of heart.

Directed by DreamWorks alum Vicky Jenson, Spellbound marks John Lasseter and Skydance Animation’s follow-up to Luck (2022), after he was ousted from Disney/Pixar following an impressive filmography that included Toy Story (1995), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), Tangled (2010) and many more. His latest feature, now streaming on Netflix, certainly lives up to that tenure.

In Spellbound, teen princess Ellian of Lumbria wants to spend her days flying griffins around the kingdom with her friends, but for the past year, she’s had to cover for the king (Javier Bardem) and queen (Nicole Kidman) after they were magically transformed into monsters in the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness. When the kingdom learns their secret, Ellian escapes with her...

There’s a scene midway through “Spellbound,” the new Netflix animated movie musical starring Rachel Zegler, where we briefly wander through an expansive forest captured in an oddly throwaway montage. Looking down at a group of characters venturing into the vast unknown, we glimpse a shot of butterflies all taking off into the sky.

At this moment, my mind immediately flew to this year’s beautiful “The Wild Robot,” where a similar scene plays out. However, though alike in the broad strokes, the execution of each could not be more different. Where the wondrous “The Wild Robot” patiently permits us to sit with its stunning and vibrant visuals, allowing us to fully take in the awe of the moment, “Spellbound” just lets this slip away. It is without any wonder or whimsy, the animation all looking rather flat to the eye rather than bursting with depth that takes the breath away.

Spellbound is a bold fairytale that reaches for a different vision of a happy ending. The movie stars Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) as the young Princess Ellian, who sets off in search of a solution to a curse that has turned her parents into literal monsters. It was directed and co-written by Vicky Jenson, whose past directorial credits include Shark Tale and the pop culture phenomenon Shrek.

Spellbound also marks the reunion of Jenson and Shrek star John Lithgow, who plays the Bolinar, the royal advisor to Ellian. While Spellbound is a rare appearance for Lithgow in a movie musical, the actor has a long history with music and musical theater including a leading role in the original Broadway production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Lithgow is also known for his work in films and TV series like 3rd Rock From the Sun, The Old Man, and The World According to Garp.

One never knows how critics are going to react to a project when it comes to Hollywood. Robert De Niro has been a part of the film industry for decades, having made a career in a similar role. Although all his characters are multifaceted in every way possible, some of them have one thing in common: they are Italian.

Robert De Niro in a still from The Good Shepherd | Credit: Universal Pictures

This has helped in many ways, be it financially or when it comes to accolades. However, the kind of characters he gained a reputation for seemed to have also led him down a dark path at one point. One that left him with a great deal of his Italian viewers disliking him.

Robert De Niro’s Italian Decent Was Certainly Dominant

Be it the Godfather series or A Bronx Tale, Robert De Niro has more than enough to...

Can Ellian save an entire kingdom? A young hero’s journey is at the heart of Netflix’s “Spellbound.” The animated project hails from director Vicky Jenson, whose previous work includes “Shrek” and “Shark Tale.” Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Julia Miranda are co-writers on the upcoming film.

Read More: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 Movies To Watch

Rachel Zegler stars as the strong-willed Ellian.

Continue reading ‘Spellbound’ Trailer: Rachel Zegler, Javier Bardem & Nicole Kidman Star In Netflix’s Animated Adventure at The Playlist.

"We have to break this spell!" Netflix & Skydance Animation have debuted the main official trailer for an animated adventure called Spellbound, made by filmmaker Vicky Jenson (who also co-directed Shrek and Shark Tale years ago). This big family movie musical featuring original songs will be streaming on Netflix in in November before Thanksgiving. Every kid has trouble getting along with their parents sometimes, but this is just ridiculous. Ha ha. In Spellbound, Ellian (voiced by Rachel Zegler) squares off with her mother and father, the king and queen of Lumbria. But this isn't any typical family drama — a mysterious spell has transformed her parents into massive, rampaging monsters. She goes on a quest to find out how to save her parents and maybe the entire kingdom. The main voice cast also includes John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, with Javier Bardem & Nicole Kidman. With songs written by musical legend Alan Menken & Glenn Slater.

For the past three decades, DreamWorks has been seen as the studio that challenged Disney and, in some cases, won. If you are still in business after so many years and are still making movies, then you are clearly doing something right. Originally founded on October 12th, 1994, by three innovators with different motivations, the studio has gone on to make some of the biggest franchises in film history.

Who founded Dreamworks?

Originally conceived by former Disney executive Jeffery Katzenberg, he sought the aid of fellow entertainment executives Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. The three would found DreamWorks Skg with the purpose of becoming a major force in the entertainment industry. The studio’s first release was The Peacemaker in 1997 with other films like Amistad and Mouse Trap releasing that same year.

Things really began to take off in 1998 with action films like Saving Private Ryan and Deep Impact, as well...

In 1994, Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg resigned from the company and teamed up with Steven Spielberg and music executive David Geffen to form DreamWorks Skg, which later was rechristened DreamWorks Animation. Its first feature film, released four years later, was “Antz,” a brash, adult-oriented CGI production about a worker ant struggling to stick out in the communal colony he slaves away in. The film was successful — it was the first non-Disney animated movie to gross $100 million worldwide — but it was also overshadowed by comparisons to “A Bug’s Life,” Pixar’s film released that year which also focused on a misfit ant trying to save his ant colony.

That beginning encapsulates the perception of DreamWorks Animation in a nutshell — as the decidedly less ambitious, less artful cousin to Pixar. And it’s hard to say that reputation is totally unearned. DreamWorks is responsible for many lazily constructed, irritating animated movies, from “Shark Tale...

Lionsgate has seen a run of bad box office luck: “Borderlands,” “The Crow,” “1992,” and the just-opened “The Killer’s Game” combined have only grossed $30 million among four new films opened in the past six weeks.

“Uglies” continues the recent string of Netflix original movie successes. From director McG, the YA novel adaptation about a society where standardized personal attractiveness is compulsory was an immediate #1 this weekend on the streamer’s top movie list.

In its Sunday spin on first weekend results, Lionsgate often says that, despite weak numbers, the company is in a position to end up making money — and due to financial positioning and post-theatrical platforms.

With “The Crow” debuting on PVOD last Friday, they may have an argument.

Despite only being out for three days, the reboot of the 1994 Brandon Lee-launched film series is #1 on Fandango’s top 10 VOD chart (which covers a full week). The at-home viewing platform calculates by revenue,...

The Wild Robot has broken a DreamWorks record with its Rotten Tomatoes debut. The new movie, which was written and directed by How to Train Your Dragon co-director Chris Sanders, is based on the Peter Brown book of the same name and follows a malfunctioning robot who lands on a desert island and begins to bond with a young gosling, accidentally reprogramming herself along the way. The Wild Robot movie is only the fourth non-franchise title released by DreamWorks in the 2020s after The Bad Guys, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, and Orion and the Dark.

Rotten Tomatoes has now compiled 25 different critics' reviews of The Wild Robot, including some early reviews out of the movie's Toronto International Film Festival premiere on September 8. At the time of writing, the movie's Tomatometer score is a perfect 100%. While the score will likely fluctuate as more reviews are added, for the moment it is...

Huge news, fellow "Shark Tale" fans: It's finally our time to shine. The animated 2004 movie starring Will Smith and Robert De Niro recently made the leap to Netflix, and according to streaming data numbers site Flix Patrol, it's currently topping the charts. Specifically, as of this writing, it's number one on the kids' movies viewership chart and number five on the overall movies viewership chart, having beat out more recent family-friendly hits like "Sonic the Hedgehog," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and "Trolls Band Together" on both lists.

On Netflix's own Top 10 site, "Shark Tale" sits in the number 7 position on the top movies list, mostly bested in viewership numbers by new Netflix original movies like Jeremy Saulnier's thriller "Rebel Ridge" and Lee Daniels' possession flick "The Deliverance." This week's top dog on the kids' film front, "Shark Tale" debuted on Netflix on September 1, 2024 and has been in the...

Dwayne Johnson's The Rundown has become a surprise hit on Netflix 21 years later. Released in 2003, director Peter Berg's The Rundown marks one of Johnson's first major movie roles. The film sees the former WWE wrestler starring as Beck, a bounty hunter who teams up with the son of a powerful loan shark to seek out a legendary lost treasure in the Amazon. The movie, which also stars Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson, and Christopher Walken, was a notable box office failure.

Now, new data from Netflix reveals that The Rundown was the eighth most popular movie on the service in the U.S. for the week of September 2 8. While exact viewership data isn't provided, the Johnson movie beats 3:10 to Yuma (2007) and Trolls Band Together (2023). The Rundown falls short of other titles like Shark Tale (2004), The Union (2024), Migration (2023), Aloha (2015), Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), The Deliverance (2024), and, in the number one spot,...

Maybe there’s hope for quality Netflix originals apart from its awards contenders. “Rebel Ridge,” a topical thriller about an ex-Marine confronting a corrupt small-town sheriff, is #1 at Netflix. It stars Aaron Pierre — who stepped into the role after John Boyega walked off the production in June 2021. A respected actor and ascendant star, Pierre is not a household name like Mark Wahlberg or Adam Sandler or Eddie Murphy, all of whom recently took Netflix originals to #1.

Nor is it a flashy drama, or a big-budget production. Its director, Jeremy Saulnier, most recently directed “Hold the Dark” for Netflix in 2018 (along with a couple of episodes of “True Detective”). IndieWire has watched his career for years, but directors like these also have wound up at Netflix making films that lack edginess or creativity. This seems like a happy exception. Its success suggests that well-crafted stories driven by substantial characters can be popular,...

A big-screen adaptation of Scott Westerfeld’s dystopian sci-fi novel Uglies; Emily in Paris becoming Emily in Rome; Jeremy Saulnier’s latest genre piece; the latest installment of Ryan Murphy’s grisly crime anthology series; Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen and Natasha Lyonne playing sisters in a critically acclaimed family drama; and rom-com series toplined by the charming coupling of Kristen Bell and Adam Brody are some of the highlights among the new films and series hitting Netflix in September.

Buzzy filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier releases his latest feature, Rebel Ridge, on Netflix on Sept. 6. The action film stars up-and-coming Brit actor Aaron Pierre as a man who comes to a small town to bail out his cousin, but has his money seized by a corrupt local police force led by Chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson). He is then forced to use his skills to retrieve the money and exact revenge. Saulnier...

Sometimes, trying to find movies that work for the whole family is difficult. They’re either too graphic or scary for the younger members of the family, or they’re too kiddy-ish for the teenagers. Netflix is bringing some great family movies throughout September 2024, though.

There is a mixture of animated and live action throughout the month. There are older and newer movies to check out, so there’s no need for kids to say “we’ve already watched this one” to get out of family movie night.

Here are the top picks of family movies throughout September 2024. And yes, some of the releases have happened today, Sunday, Sept. 1!

Sonic the Hedgehog

Yes, we start with the 2020 movie Sonic the Hedgehog. This is one that we weren’t sure what to think of going into it. Maybe having lower expectations helped it succeed so much.

Sonic finds himself in the human world,...

It's finally the last weekend of August, which means we're getting so close to fall. While the weather might not be totally cooperating just yet, Netflix has already announced its fall movie lineup and continued to announce which series will be back for new seasons throughout the rest of the year. But before we can get into all the good new releases to come very soon, we have to see off August.

This weekend brings not only the last day of August but the first day of September, and a new month always means a long list of new movies on Netflix! The streamer dropped two brand-new series that will have everyone talking, the Greek mythology dark comedy Kaos and the Spanish medical drama Breathless. The new anime series Terminator Zero also arrive this week along with Adam Sandler's latest comedy special, titled Adam Sandler: Love You.

Looking for...

Exclusive: Sk Global Entertainment, the independent entertainment studio behind hits like Anyone But You and Crazy Rich Asians, has appointed Jeannine Tang to serve as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel.

Tang joins after more than six years at the recently shuttered Participant, where most recently served as General Counsel, overseeing and advising on all aspects of the company’s business and legal affairs, including the content business, strategic investments and partnerships, social impact collaborations and general corporate matters. In her new role, she’ll be responsible for the integration and operationalization of Sk Global Entertainment and its subsidiary Critical Content, overseeing oversee company-wide strategy, business operations and dealmaking, as well as legal affairs and human resources.

In a statement on Tang’s appointment, Sk Global’s Chief Financial Officer Matt Aragachi said, “Jeannine is a dynamic leader and strategic dealmaker who brings unmatched expertise with her extensive background across business affairs and production.

The Netflix September 2024 originals, movies, and TV shows have been revealed. The streaming service has also announced which movies and TV series will leave next month.

The September lineup includes Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef, The Circle Season 7, Emily in Paris Season 4 Part 2, His Three Daughters, Hot Wheels Let’s Race Season 2, Live from The Other Side with Tyler Henry, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

The Netflix September 2024 slate also features Nobody Wants This, Outlast Season 2, The Perfect Couple, Rebel Ridge, Rez Ball, Selling Sunset Season 8, Twilight of the Gods, Uglies, Untold: Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer, and What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates.

The Perfect Couple Netflix September 2024 Schedule

September Tba

An Invisible Victim: The Eliza Samudio Case (Br) — Netflix Documentary

A star goalkeeper threatens a woman who is pregnant with his child. Her pleas for help go unanswered in the shadow of his fame — then tragedy strikes.

While many retrospective looks at cinematic years past find plenty dividing the current state of movies from all that came before, 2004, in many ways, still feels representative of our idea of the modern film industry. Superheroes, sequels, and superhero sequels dominated the box office, while the award shows favored an...

Will Smith has made many box-office hits during his long career. But there was one hit movie whose failure would’ve been personally devastating for the mega-star.

Will Smith felt ‘I Am Legend’ hinged on his performance Will Smith | Alfredo Estrella / Getty Images

I Am Legend was a project that had been circling around Smith for a long time. He was initially supposed to do the project with Michael Bay. But plans fell through, and he’d eventually develop the movie with filmmaker Francis Lawrence. Smith felt that I Am Legend was a unique take on a genre of film he was already familiar with. It wasn’t the traditional save-the-world blockbuster that helped Smith make a name for himself. Instead, the story would focus on a scientist who was seemingly the last and only human being on an apocalyptic Earth.

The Oscar winner found himself more focused on the...

Netflix has high hopes for its lavish new animated feature “Spellbound,” releasing the film’s rousing first trailer and assembling a powerhouse voice cast including Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, and Javier Bardem. Directed by veteran animator Vicky Jenson and featuring original music by eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken, “Spellbound” aims to mesmerize viewers with its blend of fantasy tropes, family drama, and showstopping musical numbers.

The film follows Princess Ellian (Zegler), a headstrong teenager who embarks on an epic quest to save her kingdom of Lumbria after a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters. Audiences are given a glimpse of Lumbria’s stunning animated world, vibrant with magic and adventure. Jenson makes her triumphant return to features with “Spellbound” almost 20 years after her work on 2004’s “Shark Tale.”

Menken, who has won Oscars for his Disney works like “Beauty and the Beast,” provides an original score with new lyrics by Glenn Slater.

Netflix have dropped the first look at their upcoming animated film. Watch the Spellbound trailer below.

Last year, Netflix vowed to focus on quality over quantity, and the streaming service is still on a mission to bring over plenty of talent to assure audiences Netflix is the number one place to watch your entertainment.

Spellbound is their latest animated film, and Netflix has just released the very first trailer for the Skydance Animation production. The film features the voice talents of half of Hollywood, making it a very appealing project for Netflix to release.

Watch the first Spellbound trailer below.

Spellbound is directed by Vicky Jenson, who is best known for co-directing Shrek and Shark Tale. Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Julia Miranda are in charge of the script.

The film also has a ridiculously stacked voice cast. Rachel Zegler provides the voice for the film’s protagonist Ellian, who...

"We're going to make it - together." Netflix & Skydance Animation have revealed the first official trailer for an animated adventure called Spellbound, made by filmmaker Vicky Jenson (who also co-directed Shrek and Shark Tale years ago). This big family movie musical is set to arrive in November before Thanksgiving. Every kid has trouble getting along with their parents sometimes, but this is ridiculous. Ha ha, funny. In Spellbound, Ellian (voiced by Rachel Zegler) squares off with her mother and father, the king and queen of Lumbria. But this isn't any typical family drama — a mysterious spell has transformed her parents into massive, rampaging monsters. She goes on a quest to find out how to save her parents and maybe the entire kingdom. The voice cast also includes John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, with Javier Bardem & Nicole Kidman. With songs written by musical legend Alan Menken & Glenn Slater.

The recent statements by Jon Voight criticizing his daughter Angelina Jolie’s support for Palestine have sparked controversy. Voight, in an interview with Variety, suggested that Jolie has been influenced by antisemitic individuals and has been exposed to propaganda, asserting that her involvement with the United Nations has skewed her perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Voight expressed concern over Jolie’s views, stating that she might be ignorant of the real stakes involved due to her connections with the U.N.

Jolie, who has a long history of humanitarian work, particularly with the U.N. Refugee Agency (Unhcr), shared her support for Palestinians on Instagram, calling for an end to genocide and emphasizing humanity. Voight’s comments reflect a significant disagreement with his daughter over this sensitive political issue.

Angelina Jolie’s next acting role is in Pablo Larraín’s biopic of Maria Callas, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival,...

Despicable Me 3Image: Illumination

With Run The Series, The A.V. Club examines film franchises, studying how they change and evolve with each new installment.

It was about time that DreamWorks got DreamWorks’d. That’s what some animation fans must have been thinking back in 2010, when Despicable Me, a...

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were one of the most heart-throbbing couples in Hollywood who were immensely loved by the fans. Many fans considered the couple to have it all— money, fame, and love. However, Jolie filed for a divorce in 2016 over irreconcilable differences, which followed a nasty legal battle, and the couple officially separated in 2019.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Credits: Georges Biard/ Wikimedia Commons.

The Original Sin actress’ mental health hit an all-time low. However, she has broken out of her insecurities, as she followed her daughter’s advice. As a result, she has now managed to match Pitt’s Egot status. However, the Maleficent actress dedicates her recent win to her daughter, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt.

Angelina Jolie Dedicates Her Latest Win To Her Daughter

Angelina Jolie is one of the most recognizable faces in the world and one of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry. Though Jolie...

Sean Paul says he usually writes songs for women, but when Will Smith called him to collaborate on a song for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, he needed him to turn up his inner bad boy.

“He sent me the song with him on it already and basically asked me to do a verse, and I went in. I usually don’t do badman lyrics, I’m more for the ladies, but the movie is called Bad Boys,” the Grammy-winning reggae-dancehall artist tells The Hollywood Reporter. “The track was dope and it’s definitely reflective of Run Dmc, [LL Cool J’s] ‘Rock the Bells,’ old-school hip-hop with that energy.”

Smith and Paul join forces on the beat laden track “Light Em Up,” one of the 10 songs on the soundtrack accompanying the film that opened to a victorious $56.5 million at the domestic box office.

Paul, 51, recalls meeting Smith earlier in his career: In the...

Universal and DreamWorks Animation have unveiled the latest trailer for The Wild Robot, a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown’s beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller.

The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot—Rozzum unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.

Check out the super cute trailer below and see the movie in theaters September 27.

I love this trailer… can’t wait to see this!

The film definitely looks to be among this year’s Oscar nominees for Best Animated Feature. DreamWorks has received 14 nomination for their previous films which include Shrek, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon,...

Will Ferrell and Bad Bunny are teaming up on new animated film 'Dropz'.The 56-year-old Hollywood star and Grammy Award winning musician, 30, are both involved in a new project for Paramount Animation, which is currently under development.As reported by Variety, studio president Ramsey Naito revealed the film is being produced by Ferrell, with Bad Bunny serving as an executive producer.She described the animated movie as "our E.T. about real kids in a super extraordinary situation".Rob Letterman - known for his work on the likes of 'Shark Tale', 'Monsters vs Aliens' and 'Pokemon Detective Pikachu' - is directing and co-writing the script with playwright Ike Holter.Naito revealed the story is "infused with fashion", and will serve as a "cultural statement" for both kids and families.The Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation chief also revealed other original films, including an adaptation of 'Swan Lake',...

Missy Elliot has joined the cast of Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry’s upcoming film project, Variety reports.

The rapper is an apt addition to the project, which has been described as a coming-of-age musical set during the summer of 1977 in Virginia Beach in a neighborhood like the one where Pharrell grew up. Missy was born and raised not far away in Portsmouth, and the two came up in a bustling Hampton Roads hip-hop scene that also produced artists like Timbaland, Clipse, and Magoo.

Missy joins an already stacked cast that also includes Halle Bailey,...

Bad Boys 4 is unlikely to surpass Will Smith's Disney hit Aladdin in box office earnings. The violent, R-rated Bad Boys series lacks the universal appeal of Smith's family-friendly movies. Bad Boys: Ride Or Die faces a tough challenge in surpassing Smith's highest-grossing franchises.

While Bad Boys 4 is likely to be a big hit for its star Will Smith, the long-awaited sequel almost certainly wont break two career records that the actor set years ago. Will Smith has one of the most impressive box office runs in cinematic history despite the actor weathering his fair share of high-profile flops. For every underperforming movie like Wild Wild West, Gemini Man, or Winters Tale, Smith has enjoyed a string of successes such as I Am Legend, Hancock, I, Robot, Hitch, and Shark Tale. This illustrious lineup doesnt even mention the Bad Boys movies, a highly profitable action-comedy franchise.

The Bad Boys series,...

The Willennium may have started nearly a quarter of a century ago, but Will Smith has been dominating on screen since the early 1990s. The Academy Award-winning star has been a blockbuster juggernaut with a commanding presence on screen, dabbling in anything and everything. Serious fare like "Concussion," edgy superhero stories like "Hancock" and "Suicide Squad," action-packed dramas like "Enemy of the State," sci-fi thrillers like "I, Robot," musicals like "Aladdin," and plenty of goofy nonsense like "Shark Tale" and "Wild Wild West" have all let Big Willy Style flex his acting muscles and show that he truly is a jack of all trades. From his humble beginnings in the ensemble piece "Where the Day Takes You" to the recently announced "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," Smith is one of Hollywood's most prolific and profitable performers. And fortunately, he's also one of the best. It's time to get jiggy wit'...

Jack Black's next animated video game role in Minecraft presents a new challenge as he transitions from his successful Bowser character. Minecraft marks Black's third video game movie appearance, requiring him to strike a balance between humor and sincerity in a protagonist role. While Black's new adaptations may not replicate the viral success of Bowser, his versatility as an actor will be put to the test in Minecraft.

Jack Black already has a Super Mario Bros. Movie replacement set for 2025, but the upcoming project presents a new challenge after the actor's Bowser success. Black has lent his voice to a number of animated movies over the years, from the Kung Fu Panda franchise to Ice Age and Shark Tale. 2023 saw him making his debut as the villain Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which gave Black the opportunity to embrace his sillier side — something that made his take...

A-list actors taking on vocal work for animated films has always been an uneven trend, with the results ranging from genuine greatness to utter tedium. But while many actors who lend their voices to Pixar or DreamWorks releases often seem to just be in it for the easy paycheck, the same can’t be said of Jack Black, who seems physically incapable of not giving 100 percent in any film. As the villainous Bowser, he was the saving grace of the otherwise forgettable “Super Mario Bros. Movie,” delivering hammy line readings that chewed up and spit out that computer-generated, Nintendo-focused-grouped scenery.

In his most famous voice-acting role, as Po in Dreamworks’ “Kung Fu Panda” movie series, Black’s charm and enthusiasm elevated an entire trilogy single-handedly. From its 2008 original film to the trilogy capper in 2016, the “Kung Fu Panda” movies — set in an animal-run, wuxia-inspired ancient China, and following nerdy...

The Kung Fu Panda franchise is awaiting the release of its fourth film, which has come a long way from its concept of an anthropomorphic animal learning kung fu. Starring Jack Black as Po, Kung Fu Panda 4 sees many familiar characters such as Master Shifu, Tai Lung, and Kai, while introducing new villains such as The Chameleon.

The first film was known for its bizarre concept of a Panda learning kung fu and was one of the most anticipated films of 2008. The film was one of the commercially successful films by DreamWorks Animation, earning over $631 million. While a simplistic comedy with action, the concept of Kung Fu Panda was reportedly inspired by the iconic film Kung Fu Hustle.

When Was Kung Fu Panda Developed? A still from Kung Fu Panda

The Jack Black starrer Kung Fu Panda was one of the most beloved animated franchises in the world. The...

The Kung Fu Panda universe has earned an unparalleled level of respect and commendation from fans ever since it was first launched on the big screens in 2008. And inevitably enough, a major credit for this skyrocketed fame goes to none other than Po’s voice actor, Jack Black. Thanks to his immaculate animated voice-acting skills, viewers got roped into the saga like wildfires in Savanna.

Kung Fu Panda

That being said, when Jack Black was initially offered this fan-favorite role, he wasn’t all too sure about taking it on. After all, jumping from the live-action genre to the animated one isn’t the easiest, especially when it is the lead character that you have to voice. But amazingly, DreamWorks actually used one of Black’s own masterpieces to convince him to voice the beloved Dragon Warrior!

SUGGESTEDThe $104M Chinese Action-Comedy DreamWorks Doesn’t Want You to Know Reportedly Inspired...

In terms of new original content coming to Hulu, March is a slight month, with the streamer’s highlight being the limited series premiere of We Were the Lucky Ones at the end of the month. The show, which is based on Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling novel, is inspired by the true story of a Jewish family who are separated at the start of WWII, and who then have to survive in order to eventually reunite. We Were the Lucky Ones stars Joey King from The Kissing Booth films alongside Percy Jackson‘s Logan Lerman, and debuts on March 28.

Here’s everything coming to Hulu (and leaving) in March…

Hulu New Releases – March 2024

March 1

Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Dubbed) Dark Side of the 90s: Complete Season 2 Dark Side of the 2000s: Complete Season 1 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | 2007 Ali | 2001 Bad Teacher | 2011 Batman Begins | 2005 Beasts of the Southern Wild...

Warner Bros. Pictures Animation is expanding its executive team under President Bill Damaschke, adding Kim Mackey and Jessie Carbonaro, as EVP of Production Talent and VP of Production Talent, respectively, and elevating Susan Akinbola to VP of Development.

Mackey was most recently head of recruiting for Netflix Animation. She will be overseeing the hiring across the film, series, and adult animation divisions, responsible for recruiting and talent development strategy as well as the artistic management and training for the feature film animation division. Prior to Netflix, she led recruiting for DreamWorks Animation, where she also worked in production and executives roles for Prince of Egypt, Spirit, Shark Tale, and Flushed Away. As a talent acquisition studio executive, she managed resource needs across the studio’s production slate including franchises Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon.

Carbonaro also joins from Netflix where she was director of talent acquisition for feature animation.

Filmmaker, Martin Scorsese is famous for his tough, sometimes violent portrayals of American life. Since the 1970s, he’s directed lots of movies that have made him a big deal in the film world.

His impressive body of work includes iconic movies such as Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), Gangs of New York (2002), The Departed (2006), Hugo (2011), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and more. In his recent film, Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorsese keeps up his trend of adapting interesting true stories into captivating movies.

Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro on the sets of Killers of the Flower Moon

The filmmaker is now stepping away from his usual role to act in a film with a cast that is as impressive as Oppenheimer‘s, which includes Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, and many more.

SUGGESTEDBoth Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese Have the Same...

Martin Scorsese is reviving an entertaining – if relatively short – acting career in Julian Schnabel’s new movie. More below:

In a moving interview with Deadline last year, director Martin Scorsese expressed that, at 80 years old, he was increasingly worried about running out of time.

Well, if 2024’s anything to go by, he’s certainly making the most of the time that he has. On top of announcing his upcoming (and untitled) film about a certain Jesus Christ and making a Squarespace advert with his daughter, Variety has revealed that Scorsese has been cast in the role of Dante’s mentor in Julian Schnabel’s upcoming crime mystery In The Hand Of Dante.

The veteran director/TikTok star apparently plays “a small but powerful role” in the film as “an elderly sage who influences Dante Alighieri while he is writing The Divine Comedy.”

In The Hand Of Dante is being produced independently,...

Acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese will soon be seen playing Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s mentor in Julian Schnabel’s upcoming film ‘In the Hand of Dante’. Martin has a small but an impactful role. He will be playing an elderly sage who influenced Alighieri while he is writing ‘The Divine Comedy’ in Julian Schnabel’s crime mystery ‘In the Hands of Dante’, reports variety.com.

Martin, who will be honoured with Berlin Film Festival‘s honorary Golden Bear, has made a special appearance in several films by him and has often performed in movies by other makers.

He essayed Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh in a segment of Akira Kurosawa’s 1990 film ‘Dreams’ and also performed as voice talent as the loan shark pufferfish in ‘Shark Tale’.

‘In The Hand of Dante’ also has British musician and actor Benjamin Clementine, who along with contributing to the film’s score will...

Martin Scorsese will soon be seen on the big screen, and he won’t be playing himself.

The master director, who is being feted with Berlin Film Festival’s honorary Golden Bear on Tuesday night, has a small but powerful role playing an elderly sage who influences Dante Alighieri while he is writing “The Divine Comedy” in Julian Schnabel’s upcoming crime mystery “In the Hands of Dante.”

Though Scorsese has cameoed in many of his movies and occasionally performed in films by other directors – he played Vincent van Gogh in a segment of Akira Kurosawa’s 1990 film “Dreams” and also performed as voice talent as the loan shark pufferfish in “Shark Tale” – this role is likely to be among his meatiest.

“He is extraordinary in the film,” Schnabel tells Variety, calling Scorsese’s part “a brilliant, important role” and adding: “You can’t take your eyes off him.”

Two...

Through tonight, you can get Hulu for just $0.99 a month (normally $7.99) for the next 12 months. With this special Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2023 promotion, you’ll save $84 on the streaming service over the next year.

How to Get Hulu Black Friday 2023 Deal Click here to activate Hulu Black Friday Deal Click Get This Deal on Hulu Complete sign-up and get Hulu for $0.99 per month for the next year Get The Deal $0.99 / mo. | normally $7.99 hulu.com Black Friday Deal Save $72 on the Hulu Limited Commercials Plan

But hurry up, for the 2023 Hulu Black Friday promo, you will have to subscribe by November 27th at 11:59pm to get the streaming service deal. The deal is month-to-month, so you can cancel at anytime.

Only new and returning subscribers (those who haven’t been a subscriber in the last year) — meaning that those who signed-up for the deal last year aren’t eligible.

This...

Guilty pleasure movies from the 2000s offer a boost in spirits regardless of critical acclaim or story quality, providing entertaining atmospheres. Films from the 2000s feature bold fashion, cringe-worthy dialogue, and incredible soundtracks, making them great options for movie nights. Despite mixed reviews, the nostalgic and entertaining nature of guilty pleasure movies like Shark Tale, Not Another Teen Movie, and She's the Man make them enjoyable experiences.

Whether it's for a good mood or a bad one, guilty pleasure movies are a great way to boost spirits regardless of the story's quality or critical admiration, with the 2000s bringing plenty of worthy additions to this genre. The 2000s saw a variety of different movies hit the silver screen, and some of the best are cheesy and feel-good releases that may not have been praised for their stories, scripts, or filmmaking approaches. Although some hemes and messages from these movies might...

Will Smith once shared that he isn’t above taking acting advice from his own family if he needs to. But one time he took his son’s advice so seriously that it motivated him to redo an entire movie.

Will Smith once shared the film that his son helped change Will Smith | Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Smith did the kind of film he wasn’t used to starring in when he was recruited for the animated feature Shark Tale. The film came Smith’s way after it was written with him in mind for the lead role. The fish was even intentionally designed to look like Smith to further his connection to the character.

“They brought it and Jeffrey Katzenberg from DreamWorks already – already had the picture of Oscar and the fish. And it looked like me and all of that. So it was – he said that it was – I was first choice,...

Prime Video has a fair amount in store for subscribers in November, as the uber-violent hit animated show Invincible returns for its highly anticipated second season. Based on the iconic comic book by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, season two will find super-powered protagonist Mark attempting to rebuild his life after finding out the truth about his father Nolan.

Elsewhere on the streamer, the producing team behind the James Bond movies are out to spin the franchise in a completely different direction by debuting their curious new globe-trotting adventure series, pitched somewhere between a quiz show and a treasure hunt. 007: Road To A Million features Brian Cox as the game’s “mastermind”, watching over the contestants as they try to win a million quid.

Here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video and Freevee this month. Amazon Originals are accompanied by an asterisk!

New on Amazon Prime...