News

According to a new report, Disney is in the process of developing a sequel to one of the studio's worst movies ever, Wild Hogs. 

Released over 17 years ago, the 2007 comedy, starring the likes of John Travolta, William H. Macy, Martin Lawerence, and Tim Allen (of The Santa Clause fame), has become a black mark on the face of the Hollywood mainstay.

The film earned a solid $253.6 million at the global box office but was critically maligned upon release.

Read full article on The Direct.

William H. Macy has joined the ever-growing cast of The Running Man, Paramount’s adaptation of the Stephen King story from director Edgar Wright.

Glen Powell tops the call sheet that also includes names such as Josh Brolin, Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy), Michael Cera and Coda star Emilia Jones.

King’s Running Man, published in 1982 and written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses.

The novel centered on a desperate man named Ben Richards, needing money for his sick daughter, who joins the most popular show, The Running Man, in which teams of killers hunt down contestants. The longer a contestant survives, the more money that person makes. But as the game show’s producers and killers will find out, this desperate man will break...

Lauded journalist, host, and moderator Josh Horowitz is a staple among the Hollywood circuit in part thanks to his popular podcast “Happy Sad Confused.” Horowitz, who began his career as a producer and talent booker, parlayed his expertise and ease with filmmakers into his own standalone podcast back in 2014. Its format pivoted during the pandemic to include a video component on YouTube (where he has amassed more than 111K subscribers), and once again took another shape as Horowitz began hosting live podcast recordings with a partnership at the 92nd St Y in New York City.

Horowitz has interviewed notoriously private, or rather, anti-podcast stars such as Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, and Vin Diesel, with Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, and Henry Cavill appearing on multiple episodes. Some of Horowitz’s personal heroes like George Miller, Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo del Toro, Steven Soderbergh, Denis Villeneuve, and...

November 2024 brings a diverse array of movies and shows to Hulu, catering to a wide range of tastes and interests. From classic holiday films to gripping dramas and entertaining reality series, there’s something for everyone. Viewers can dive into beloved titles like A Christmas Carol (1984) and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. For fans of action and adventure, the month features iconic films such as Aliens, Ghost Rider, and the Chronicles of Narnia series. Those seeking laughter can enjoy comedies like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Grown Ups, while romantic and family-friendly options like La La Land and Elf add a touch of warmth. Additionally, Hulu is expanding its lineup with complete seasons of popular reality shows like Are You The One?, Hoarders, and Marriage Boot Camp. The month also includes special premieres, such as the 58th Annual CMA Awards and a series on The Stanford Prison Experiment,...

In the 1990s, Tim Allen was one of the biggest family comedy stars in the game. Beginning his career as a stand-up comic at the Comedy Store, his brand of family-friendly, relatable comedy made him stand out from his contemporaries. This led to ABC building a sitcom around him, Home Improvement. The show, where he played Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor, became one of the biggest shows of the nineties, regularly ranking near the top of the Nielsen ratings. It wasn’t a critical darling, but families loved it, with Allen becoming a household name.

However, his career hit a turning point in 1994 when he signed on to star in Disney’s The Santa Clause, where he played an everyday businessman who becomes the heir apparent to Santa’s mantle. The film was a total smash, making him a movie star overnight. The following year, he voiced Buzz Lightyear in the first Pixar movie,...

“Wild Hogs” is set to rev up your Saturday night on July 13, 2024, at 8:00 Pm on Outd. In this thrilling adventure, a group of frustrated suburbanites decides to break free from their mundane lives and embrace the call of the open road. Little do they know, their journey will take an unexpected turn when they encounter a gang of rough-and-tumble bikers.

As the suburbanites navigate through unknown territories on their motorcycles, they find themselves in hilarious and heart-pounding situations. From facing off with the intimidating biker gang to discovering the true meaning of friendship and freedom, “Wild Hogs” promises a rollercoaster of emotions and laughter for viewers of all ages.

Join the ride as these unlikely heroes embark on a journey of self-discovery, camaraderie, and adrenaline-fueled escapades. Will they conquer the challenges that come their way, or will they crash and burn in the face of danger? Tune in to...

Wild Hogs 2: Bachelor Ride was canceled due to Disney's focus on big-budget movies like Tron: Legacy, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and John Carter. The poor performance of Old Dogs, starring John Travolta, and other comedies like College Road Trip, likely influenced Disney's decision to cancel the sequel. Wild Hogs' negative critical reception may have also contributed to the cancellation of the sequel.

While the original 2007 biker comedy proved to be a surprise smash hit, Wild Hogs 2: Bachelor Ride was eventually canceled, leaving some fans wondering what happened to the planned sequel. Wild Hogs starred John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, and Tim Allen as four middle-aged friends who set off on a road trip adventure before finding themselves in trouble with an infamous biker gang, led by the late Ray Liotta. While Wild Hogs received almost universally negative reviews, the film would gross over...

Have you ever wondered about the intricate behind-the-scenes dynamics that can influence the trajectory of a TV show and the careers of those involved? Such is the tale of how Marisa Tomei—known to many as the heartwarming Aunt May in the MCU—faced a fork in her path to stardom after a brief but impactful stint on NBC’s A Different World.

As a vibrant Hillman College student, Maggie Lauton, Tomei made a brief appearance in the debut season before a provocative storyline led to her unceremonious exit. Debbie Allen, who assumed the producer’s mantle from season two onward, had ambitious plans for exploring Tomei’s character.

Marisa Tomei as Aunt May | Marvel Studios

A planned storyline intended to highlight the complex realities of interracial relationships at the time was met with executive pushback, ultimately leading to Tomei’s firing from the show.

The Untold Story Behind Marisa...

Martin Lawrence Bad Boys Interview Sparks Concern Online(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Martin Lawrence triggered widespread Concern online after fans noticed the actor appeared to take long pauses and slur his words as he sat down with Will Smith to discuss “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” with ExtraTV. On May 19, 2024, Martin Larence, 60, sat down for an interview alongside Will Smith with ExtraTV to promote their movie “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”

The interview published on YouTube triggered a volley of comments expressing Concern for Martin Lawrence’s well-being, who appeared slightly bereft and slower throughout the interview.

The “Wild Hogs actor” also appeared to stare into space and, at times, slur his words during the interview. Lawrence’s behavior sparked Concern online, with fans wondering if he was okay. “What’s Wrong With Martin?” a social media user wondered before another noted, “Martin seems a little slow and off! Like he...

Tubi’s upcoming titles for April include five new Tubi Originals:

YA comedy Crushed, starring Bebe Wood Two titles timed to the 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking – a documentary, Mysteries From The Grave: The Titanic, and a horror film, Titanic 666, starring AnnaLynne McCord (“90210”), Keesha Sharp (“Empire”) and Jamie Bamber (“Battlestar Galactica”) Action movie Lord Of The Streets, featuring

Mma stars Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Anderson Silva.

The action sci-fi film Corrective Measures, starring Michael Rooker (“The Walking Dead”), Bruce Willis (“The Sixth Sense”) and Tom Cavanaugh (“The Flash”)

Unless otherwise noted, all titles below will begin streaming on April 1.

Tubi Originals

Crushed – 4/1 – After the hottest guy in school likes her Instagram photo, a high-achieving, high-strung high school girl carries out totally crazy schemes to hook up with him before the senior class trip ends. But things spiral when her obsession gets out of control.

Mysteries From...

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith play two Miami narcotics detectives, Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowery, in the Bad Boys franchise. The first film in the franchise was made in 1995 when Smith was still the young star from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. However, Lawrence was a major star at the time and it will surprise many fans to learn that he commanded a higher paycheck than Smith.

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in Bad Boys

While Bad Boys received mixed reviews, Bad Boys II was a critical disappointment. However, audiences liked the third film, Bad Boys for Life, which resulted in Sony greenlighting a fourth film, set to be released in 2024 and titled Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

Will Smith’s Paycheck Was A Few Million Short Compared To That Of Martin Lawrence Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in Bad Boys for Life

Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, the producers of Bad Boys,...

Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of April titles. The April 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals as well as numerous action, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.

As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, Tubi engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library, which includes over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.

You can watch the Tubi April 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.

You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the web at Tubi.tv.

Tubi Originals

Documentary

Behind...

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...

"Maybe I'm not cut out for this... but I'd do anything for my kid." Netflix has revealed an official trailer for a comedy called Old Dads, marking the feature directorial debut of comedian / actor Bill Burr. Burr co-writes, directs, produces and stars in this film for Netflix. Thankfully it doesn't seem to have anything to do with Wild Hogs or anything else like that. Burr co-stars with Bobby Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine, who play the titular "old dads". Three best friends become fathers later in life and find themselves battling preschool principals, millennial CEOs and anything created after 1987. The comedy cast also includes Katie Aselton, Reign Edwards, Rachael Harris, Miles Robbins, and Jackie Tohn. This doesn't seem like it's going to reinvent comedy, but it also doesn't look as bad as it very easily could look. There's a few solid jokes in here, and some super cringe humor – which is actually kind of amusing.

Hulu remains one of the best value-for-money streamers out there in September, 2023, with a massive list of movie and TV additions coming to the service this month.

The big Hulu Original show this month is The Other Black Girl, and you’ll be able to binge the complete series when it arrives on September 13! The Other Black Girl is based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, and focuses on Nella, who is an editorial assistant and the only Black girl at Wagner Books. When the company brings new girl Hazel aboard, Nella is delighted to finally see the staff hires at Wagner becoming more diverse, but everything is not as it seems, and things soon take a sinister turn. We will be watching!

Elsewhere on Hulu, the award-winning movie The Banshees of Inisherin lands on September 4, while the season two premieres of Welcome to Wrexham...

Long before every conceivable comic book character received a film adaptation in the hopes of becoming the next blockbuster, there was Superman. While box office returns diminished over the course of four movies, the Man of Steel’s big-screen success heralded a crop of other superhero movies. Producers Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan swooped in to acquire the film rights to DC Comics’ other most well-known character, Batman (and they remain executive producers on every Batman movie), along with a more obscure title, Swamp Thing.

Not unlike a common trajectory in the modern comic book movie boom – in which filmmakers who have proven themselves in the genre space are given the keys to superhero properties – Wes Craven was enlisted to write and direct 1982’s Swamp Thing despite his unfamiliarity with the source material. While he would go on to make a name for himself with A Nightmare on Elm Street next,...

If you’re a fan of Mel Gibson’s classic action flicks, be sure to stream them before they leave Max at the end of August.

All four “Lethal Weapon” movies and “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” starring the late, great Tina Turner, will be leaving the streaming service. Luckily, you’ll have all month to watch them.

Watching the new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” animated movie in theaters? Max has several films featuring the radical reptilians: the live-action “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze” (1991)

and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III” (1993), as well as the animated “Tmnt” (2007).

Kaiju fans will want to check out “Godzilla” (2014), “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019), “King Kong” (1933) and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” (2012).

Finally, if horror is your thing, six “Hellraiser” films and “The Ring Two” make great summer scares.

Here’s everything leaving Max in August 2023

August 5

Hard Knocks:...

Actor Sean Lampkin, best known for his role as bar owner Nipsey on the 1990s sitcom “Martin,” has died. He was 54.

Marsel Watts, a friend of Lampkin, made the announcement in a Facebook post on March 8.

“My friend, my last roommate for 10 years, a father and family man, my brother, skate buddy, business partner, and trainer passed away this morning. Rip Sean Lampkin,” Watts wrote.

According to Essence, writer Memnar Grayton confirmed that Lampkin died in his sleep. However, no cause of death has been released.

Also Read:

Davood Roostaei, Famed Iranian-American Painter, Dies at 63

“Sean gave us every morning the shining sun to lead his loved ones and friends down paths that are bright and clear of any danger. He gave us streams of love every day when we’re not feeling good, or we don’t seem to not want to do anything,” Grayton said.

Grayton added, “But...

Stars: Martin Lawrence, Melissa Roxburgh, John Malkovich, Chris Mullinax, Nellie Sciutto | Written by Reggie Keyohara III | Directed by Mauro Borrelli

Martin Lawrence is known for his comedic roles, but in Mindcage he plays it straight as Detective Jake Doyle who along with his partner Mary Kelly is tracking down a serial killer whose handiwork we see in the opening scene, a woman’s body turned into a statue in a church.

The killing looks like it was inspired by the work of a previous serial killer Arnaud Lefeure, better known as The Artist. Jake put him away years ago though and he’s scheduled to be executed in two weeks. After another victim is found, transformed into an angel, and attached to a locomotive the decision is made to try to get help from Lefeure.

If this makes you think of Silence of the Lambs you’re not alone. Writer...

Exclusive: Amazon Studios has locked down film rights to the #1 New York Times bestseller The Beatryce Prophecy from two-time Newbery Medalist Kate Dicamillo, tapping two-time Emmy nominee Brad Copeland (Arrested Development) to script an adaptation.

Gil Netter will produce the fantasy pic for Netter Films, with the company’s VP of Development & Production Jennie Lee serving as exec producer.

Published by Candlewick in September of 2021 and featuring illustrations by Sophie Blackall, The Beatryce Prophecy is billed as a fantastical meditation on fate, love and the power of words to spell the world.

The book’s official synopsis goes as follows: In a time of war, a mysterious child appears at the monastery of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing. Gentle Brother Edik finds the girl, Beatryce, curled in a stall, wracked with fever, coated in dirt and blood, and holding fast to the ear of Answelica the goat. As...

Warner Bros. Discovery has had a rough go of it recently. The newly-formed mega corporation’s decision to callously prune HBO Max’s servers of hours of content has led to mountains of bad PR and billions of dollars in market cap losses. Suffice it to say, a jam-packed list of new HBO Max releases for September 2022 would provide some welcome relief for the “House of the House of the Dragon.”

Unfortunately, HBO Max’s new releases this month are uncommonly light. It’s impossible to say whether this is the result of more Wbd meddling or simply some bad scheduling luck but either way it’s not going to make any executives’ seats less warm. There are only a handful of notable originals this month, led by season 2 of the Spanish language comedy Los Espookys on Sept. 16. That is joined by a pair of documentaries, Escape from Kabul on Sept.

On-set still photographer Lorey Sebastian, who worked on such movies as Crash, Twilight, Wild Hogs, Blow, St. Elmo’s Fire, I Am Sam, In the Valley of Elah and A Million Ways to Die in the West died May 9 in New Mexico after a brief illness. She was 78.

Sebastian was born in 1944 in New York City where she lived until she moved to Los Angeles. She started her career in 1977 when she was the still photographer on the set of Joan Micklin Silver’s film Between The Lines. With over 100 credits to her name, she worked with the likes of Sam Mendes, Joel and Ethan Coen, and Taylor Sheridan–the latter is documented as her last known photography job.

Sebastian was briefly married to John Sebastian of the Loving Spoonful and spent her last years in Truchas, Nm where she moved for retirement.

We're still reeling days after the loss of Hollywood legend Ray Liotta, the man who gave us a bevy of incredible performances across just about every genre. While known by most as Henry Hill in the Martin Scorsese masterpiece "Goodfellas," Liotta has truly done it all. He's played threatening gangsters, hilarious con men, and even had two different appearances in "Muppets" movies. 

There's something indefinably remarkable about Ray Liotta, who could deliver a performance in a film like "Narc" with the same intensity and dedication as "Wild Hogs." Liotta never half-assed it, and whether he was playing a certifiable criminal badass or the goofiest dad in...

The post Let's Talk About Ray Liotta's Most Underrated Performance appeared first on /Film.

Ray Liotta, who played both cops in criminals in scores of films and series, has died at 67. Getting his start on the soap opera “Another World” in 1978, he made a name for himself in film with a Golden Globe nod for 1986’s “Something Wild,” and a few years later became a marquee name thanks to a dynamic lead performance in Martin Scorsese’s sprawling mob epic “Goodfellas” in 1990. Liotta spent his career making interesting choices: While there were many crime films on his resume, he also appeared in comedies, worked with auteur directors and co-starred with everyone from Jennifer Lopez to The Muppets. Revisit some of Liotta’s best roles through the photos below.

Exclusive: Jill Hennessy is set to star opposite Michael Chiklis in Fox’s straight-to-series crime anthology drama, Accused, executive-produced by Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa and David Shore.

Accused, directed by Michael Cuesta and co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, is based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning crime anthology. It opens in a courtroom on the accused, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial. Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, Accused depicts how an ordinary person gets caught up in an extraordinary situation, ultimately revealing how one wrong turn leads to another, until it’s too late to turn back.

2021 Fox Pilots & Series Orders

Chiklis plays Dr. Scott Corbett, a successful brain surgeon with a seemingly perfect family. He faces the limits of unconditional love when he discovers his teenage son may be planning a violent attack at school.

Chris Licht, the executive producer of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert who also helped launch Morning Joe on MSNBC, is poised to take over the reins of CNN after the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger closes, a source confirmed.

An announcement is planned as early as next week.

Puck News first reported on Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s plans to select Licht for the job.

Licht will succeed Jeff Zucker as president of CNN, but will not be overseeing sports. Before his resignation on February 2, Zucker also had been chairman of WarnerMedia News and Sports. WarnerMedia is the parent company of CNN.

Licht had been executive producer of CBS This Morning when the network tapped him to take over Colbert’s late-night show in 2016. Less than a year later, the show, with a focus on the 2016 election and Donald Trump’s ascension to the presidency, was drawing more total viewers...

“The Santa Clause” franchise is being continued as a limited series at Disney Plus with Tim Allen returning to star as Scott Calvin, Variety has learned.

In the series, Scott Calvin is on the brink of his 65th birthday and realizing that he can’t be Santa forever. He’s starting to lose a step in his Santa duties, and more importantly, he’s got a family who could benefit from a life in the normal world, especially his two kids who have grown up at the Pole. With a lot of elves, children, and family to please, Scott sets out to find a suitable replacement Santa while preparing his family for a new adventure in a life south of the pole.

This will now be the fourth time Allen has taken up the role of Calvin/Santa. He first starred in the film “The Santa Clause” in 1994, which was...

Amazon Prime Video’s epic The Lord of the Rings series won’t arrive until 2022. Thankfully, with its list of new releases for November 2021, Amazon has a pretty major fantasy adaptation to hold us over.

The Wheel of Time is set to premiere on Nov. 19 and will bring Robert Jordan’s massive fantasy universe to life. Rosamund Pike stars as Moiraine, a powerful magic-user who guides five young people on a perilous journey around the world. One of them just might be the reincarnation of the Dragon, a powerful entity who could save the world…or destroy it.

Read more TV The Wheel of Time: Who Are the Aes Sedai? By Michael Ahr TV How The Wheel of Time Adapts a Sprawling Epic Fantasy By Michael Ahr

In addition to that bit of fantasy fun, Amazon Prime also has some other TV options this month. Lesbian dating show Tampa Baes (Nov.

After delaying its initial release, Paramount Pictures announced that the live-action “Clifford the Big Red Dog” will open both in theaters and on Paramount Plus on Nov. 10.

Based on the children’s book series written by Norman Bridwell, the film will follow middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) who meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) and is given a little, red puppy only to wake up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily and her uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure for audiences to behold.

The film was originally set to release on Sept. 17 but was pushed back due to concerns surrounding the delta variant like several other films were this past year, including Tom Cruise’s latest installment of “Top Gun.” Now premiering in both theaters and on Paramount’s streaming service,...

Paramount+ has another exciting project in the works, and it features two award-winning actors!

The streamer on Monday announced the latest addition to its growing slate of Paramount+ original films, new comedyJ erry and Marge Go Large, with Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening set to star.

The flick is inspired by the true story of a retired Michigan couple who help revitalize their community by playing the Massachusetts lottery.

The film will be directed by Academy Award winner David Frankel, and principal production starts this July in Georgia.

It is written by Emmy nominee Brad Copeland.

The film is produced by Academy Award nominee Gil Netter, Levantine Films (Hidden Figures), and executive produced by Kevin Halloran (Ford v Ferrari).

Amy Baer is also attached to produce via MRC Film’s Landline Pictures, the film is the label’s first production.

Netter, Tory Metzger, and Renee Witt from Levantine Films developed...

Paramount Plus is betting the house on “Jerry and Marge Go Large,” the true story of a lotto-scamming couple to be played by Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening.

Director David Frankel will direct the tale of a retired Michigan couple who helps revitalize their community by deftly gaming the Massachusetts lottery.

Emmy nominee Brad Copeland penned the script for the project, one of several straight-to-service titles in the works at the ViacomCBS streamer. Gil Netter, the Oscar nominee behind “The Blind Side” and “Life of Pi,” is producing alongside Levantine Films (“Hidden Figures”). Kevin Halloran (“Ford v Ferrari”) is executive producing.

Landline Pictures, a division of MRC Films, and its leader Amy Baer will also produce. Netter, Tory Metzger and Renee Witt from Levantine developed and packaged the film based on an original article by Jason Fagone for The Huffington Post.

Cranston will play Jerry Selbee, a retiree who discovers...

Oysterhead, the eclectic musical collective of Trey Anastasio, Les Claypool, and Stewart Copeland, will headline the 2021 Peach Music Festival. After the pandemic canceled the 2020 fest, the Peach, founded by members of the Allman Brothers Band in 2012, returns to Scranton, Pennsylvania, over Independence Day weekend.

This year’s festival dovetails with the 50th anniversary of the Allmans’ seminal live document At Fillmore East, released July 1st, 1971. The Peach will celebrate the album with a tribute set featuring various special guests.

The legacy of the Allman Brothers is well represented on the Peach lineup,...

The first thing you should know about Tran Quoc Bao’s “The Paper Tigers” is that his low-budget kung fu comedy — the heartfelt tale of three arthritic middle-aged Seattle men reuniting to avenge the murdered sifu who mentored them as teenagers — is often just as winning and delightful as you would hope from its premise. Unfolding like , Tran’s debut feature delivers a ton of charm for a kung fu throwback, and kicks a lot of ass for a broad comedy about some old guys relearning how to honor each other and fight for themselves.

If “The Paper Tigers” sags around the middle and loses its focus as it limps towards a finale that doesn’t hit with the force that it should, well, perhaps that’s to be expected from a martial arts movie whose heroes can’t throw a punch without pulling a muscle.

Tran establishes his old-school...

MRC Film has launched Landline Pictures, a new label targeting audiences over 50. Veteran producer Amy Baer has been tapped to lead the new venture.

According to a release announcing the news, Landline Pictures “will focus on uplifting and entertaining stories that are about and targeting the over 50 demographic, yet commercial and conceptual enough to cross over to a broader audience.”

Baer, who will report to MRC Film Co-Presidents Brye Adler and Jonathan Golfman, will oversee Landline Pictures’ creative and strategic agenda and serve in a producer capacity on all the label’s projects, with the goal to generate multiple films per year for both theatrical and streaming distribution.

“Amy is a total pro’s pro and we are proud to be partnered with her on this venture. There is a huge opportunity to make humorous and thoughtful movies for this underserved audience,” Adler and Golfman said, announcing the new venture and Baer’s appointment.

Is there any career more unfairly represented in children’s movies than that of the animal control officer? In the rowdy new Disney Plus original, “Flora & Ulysses,” Flora (Matilda Lawler) is a 10-year-old comic-book savant; Ulysses is her unusually gifted CG squirrel; and overzealous officer Miller (Danny Pudi) is the only thing that stands between this beautiful friendship and a macabre fate for this cutie-patootie super-pet.

Technically, the title duo is only slightly less destructive than your average tornado. Nearly all the movie’s set pieces involve breaking, spilling or otherwise upsetting tidy spaces, which is no doubt fun to watch if you are Flora’s age or younger, and the type of child who likes to play Godzilla with your Lego sets. It’s also somewhat impressive, if you pause to contemplate the task demanded of director Lena Khan, who had to orchestrate such pandemonium (involving lots of...

All streaming services go through a down period after the excitement of Spooky Season, it’s only natural. Thankfully with its list of new releases for November 2020, Hulu is making the best out of a barren pop culture landscape.

For starters, Hulu is premiering one of its major 2020 reboots this month as Animaniacs arrives on Nov. 20. Yakko, Wakko, Dot, and the rest of the Warner gang are set to return for this long-awaited revival of the animated classic. That’s about it as far as original series go but Hulu is also premiering original movies Greta, about climate activist Greta Thunberg on Nov. 13; and Run, a horror film starring Sarah Paulson, on Nov. 20.

Still, despite all the Animaniacs, Gretas, and Sarah Paulsons, the biggest hits this month might just be on the library content side of things. November 1 sees the arrival of some major TV properties. For starters, racy British...

Now that we’re just over halfway through October, it’s time to look ahead to what’s arriving on Hulu across November. And the penultimate month of the year is set to deliver a humungous haul of new movies and TV shows. In particular, fresh off their Huluween celebrations, the streaming service is celebrating Christmas early with a load of holiday-related titles dropping on November 1st.

Various films with Christmas in the name land that day – including Christmas in Compton, The Dog Who Saved Christmas and Once Upon a Time at Christmas – as well as a bunch of festive Food Network shows. A few more arrive on the 15th as well. But even if you’re not in the mood for holiday cheer until December, there’s still plenty to enjoy from what’s coming to Hulu in November.

Check out the full list below:

Released November 1

Skins: Complete...

Pleased to Meet Me was the sound of the Replacements trying for once. The band’s previous five LPs were snarky slacker masterpieces full of chintzy songs about hating music ’cause it’s got too many notes, ironic Kiss covers, and the occasional tender ballad, and their concerts were more like drunken hootenannies — all of this sloppiness was what won them their legend. But sometime after recording their beloved Tim album, Paul Westerberg decided they ought to grow up a little, the group parted ways with founding guitarist Bob Stinson,...

Chernin Entertainment has named Sharla Sumpter Bridgett as senior vice president of film and television, Chernin Entertainment’s President of Film and Television Jenno Topping announced on Tuesday.

Sumpter Bridgett has produced film and TV projects over the past 15 years across all formats and genres. Most recently, she worked as Tim Story’s producing partner running The Story Company where current projects in development are Kevin Hart’s “Monopoly” and Universal Pictures’ musical comedy film “Praise This” directed by Tina Gordon.

Before The Story Company, she produced TV and film projects through her Sb&Co shingle, and she also consulted for multiple companies. She also served as Partner and President of Production at Varsity Pictures where she produced films and TV projects like “The To Do List,” “Blue Mountain State” and “Sonny with a Chance.” She also served as president of film at Tollin/Robbins Productions where she executive produced “Coach Carter” and “Wild Hogs.

Chernin Entertainment has brought on Sharla Sumpter Bridgett in the role of Senior Vice President of Film and Television, where she’ll produce projects for the company’s slate.

Sumpter Bridgett, who has over 15 years of experience in development and production, was previously Tim Story’s producing partner running The Story Company where projects in development include Lionsgate and Hasbro’s live-action feature Monopoly starring Kevin Hart, Universal Pictures’ musical comedy Praise This directed by Tina Gordon, and the STX Entertainment superhero comedy Night Wolf led by Hart.

Before this, Sumpter Bridgett produced television and film through her Sb&Co shingle, consulted for multiple companies, and cultivated a writer’s program. She’s also served as Partner and President of Production at Varsity Pictures, where she produced titles like The To-Do List, Blue Mountain State and Sonny with a Chance, as well as President of Film at Tollin/Robbins Productions where...

As we wade deeper into the uncertain waters of isolated living, the list of movies and TV shows you haven’t seen already may be starting to dwindle. But fear not, quarantine content consumers — HBO is out with its list of everything new coming to the streaming service in May, and there are lots of fresh options to keep you entertained this month.

Popular movies like “BlacKkKlansman,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Jaws” and “School of Rock” are all arriving Friday, May 1. Plus, the director’s cut of “Little Shop of Horrors,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “The Art of Getting By,” to name a few.

TV shows arriving throughout the month include the premiere of limited series “I Know This Much Is True” starring Mark Ruffalo, out May 10, and the season finale of HBO’s dark comedy “Run” starring Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson, out May 24.

Also Read: 17 Movie and...

May isn’t quite summer yet but it is usually time that the networks start wrapping up their newest shows and preparing for a relatively fallow summer period. Since HBO isn’t a network, it has no such business model. But May sees the winding down of some HBO blockbusters all the same.

While there are some notable new releases for HBO in May 2020, the bigger story might be the things that are ending. Westworld concludes its third season on May 3 while new series Run wraps up on May 24. Thankfully the film losses in May aren’t too bad for HBO, unless the Agent Cody Banks saga drives a lot of traffic.

The most notable TV premiere in May is I Know This Much is True, a book adaptation starring Mark Ruffalo. This is a very bleak story coming along at a bleak time in history but perhaps those two things will cancel out.

HBO is out with its list of everything new coming to HBO in January, and everything leaving.

Highlights include “The New Pope,” out Jan. 13. Starring Jude Law, it’s a continuation of the 2016 series “The Young Pope.”

There’s also “The Outsider,” out Jan. 12. Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, it stars Jason Bateman, Cynthia Erivo and Ben Mendelsohn.

“Avenue 5,” about a luxury space-traveling company, is out Jan. 19, along with season 10 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Here’s the full list for January:

Jan. 1

American Animals

Casi famoso (Almost Famous) (2019)

Vaca (2018)

Another Stakeout (1993)

Arthur (1981)

Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988)

Cat People (1982)

College (2008)

Fast Five (Extended Version) (2011)

Filly Brown (2013)

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Head Office (1986)

The Hitcher (1986)

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011)

Les Misérables (2012)

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012)

Mr. Holland’s Opus (1996)

Odd Jobs (1986)

The Odd Couple II (1998)

Rock the Kasbah (1991)

The Russia House (1990)

Scary Movie 3 (2003)

Seventh Son (3015)

The Shooting...

Exclusive: Two-time Oscar nominee John Travolta has inked with ICM Partners.

Travolta has amassed more than $3.8 billion at the global box office throughout his career from a huge cinematic résumé that includes Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Face/Off, The Taking of Pelham 123, Savages, Hairspray, Michael, Wild Hogs, Urban Cowboy, Swordfish, Ladder 49, A Civil Action, Staying Alive and Pulp Fiction.

The Englewood, NJ, native scored his first screen role in California as a fall victim in a 1972 episode of Emergency! He landed the star-making role of Vinnie Barbarino in the ABC sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, with big-screen breaks during his run on the show in Brian De Palma’s Carrie and the disco-drenched Saturday Night Fever soon after. While the latter movie showed off his dancing skills (along with the Staying Alive and Pulp Fiction), Grease rose the profile on Travolta’s singing. His duets with Olivia Newton-John from the musical included the No.

CBS is in development with “UNprofessionals,” a new single-camera comedy series about the United Nations from Seth Rogen and Lionsgate Television, TheWrap has learned.

The show offers a behind the scenes look at a group of the least important people working at one of the world’s most important places: The United Nations.

Andy Schwartz (“Scrubs”), and the Sklar Brothers (Randy and Jason Sklar) will write and Jay Chandrasekhar will direct. Chandrasekhar, Schwartz, and the Sklars will executive produce, with Rogen, Goldberg, Weaver and Alex McAtee for Point Grey Pictures. The project was developed alongside Point Grey’s vice president and head of television Loreli Alanis.

Also Read: Ratings: 'Instinct' Falls With Series Finale, CBS Slips to 3rd in Key Demo

Lionsgate TV is the studio — the project falls under its multi-platform partnership with Point Grey, which was signed in April of this year.

Rogen also has a documentary in...

Captain America has died. Not the spandex-clad Marvel superhero, but counterculture poster boy Peter Fonda, who shook up Hollywood and revolutionized the country’s sense of itself by co-writing, producing and starring in “Easy Rider” 50 years ago this summer — the same summer depicted in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.”

Culture was changing fast in 1969. Though Tarantino was hard on the hippies, “Easy Rider” — an existential biker picture in which Fonda’s Wyatt, with Dennis Hopper as wingman Billy, motors coast to coast with the Stars and Stripes on his back and drug money stashed in his shiny red, white and blue gas tank — was the first film to represent the younger generation’s anti-establishment attitudes, and its success pointed the way for the independent cinema movement that followed. The actors rejected mainstream values, struck out on their own and smoked actual pot on camera; rather than judging them for it,...

Peter Fonda, younger brother of two-time Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda, son of actor Henry Fonda and father of actress Bridget Fonda, is dead at age 79 on Friday after losing his fight with lung cancer. He would introduce Hollywood to the counter-culture of the ’60s with his take on a biker film, 1969’s “Easy Rider.” The influential film made with pal, co-star, co-writer and director Dennis Hopper helped make Hollywood atuned to what was happening during the decade of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’roll while kick-starting the New Hollywood movement of the late ’60s and ’70s.

Fonda was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for “Easy Rider” along with Hopper and Terry Southern. Meanwhile, Jack Nicholson found his breakout role and was nominated for a supporting actor Oscar as an Aclu lawyer, who wears a football helmet as he decides to travel with Fonda and Hopper’s biker characters.

Jane Fonda, sister of Peter Fonda, has released a statement following his death today at the age of 79.

“I am very sad. He was my sweet-hearted baby brother,” Fonda said in the statement provided to Deadline. “The talker of the family. I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days. He went out laughing.”

The two-time Oscar nominee for Easy Rider, which he also produced and co-wrote, and Ulee’s Gold, died Friday morning of respiratory failure due to lung cancer. The son of legendary actor Henry Fonda and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda, was a part of the counterculture of the 1960s.

Following Easy Rider, Fonda starred in and directed The Hired Hand (1971), a feminist Western that his Pando Company made for Universal. Roger Ebert described it as “a languorously spiritual Western about a young man who grows up into responsibility.” He went on to direct...

Peter Fonda, the Oscar-nominated actor whose roles in Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider and Roger Corman’s The Trip made him a counterculture hero in the late 1960s, died Friday at the age of 79. The cause of death was respiratory failure due to lung cancer, his family confirmed to People.

“It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that Peter Fonda has passed away,” the family said. “[Peter] passed away peacefully on Friday morning, August 16 at 11:05am at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family,” they continued.

Two-time Oscar nominee Peter Fonda, who became a counterculture icon when he co-wrote, produced and starred in seminal 1969 road movie “Easy Rider,” then showed Hollywood he could act about three decades later in “Ulee’s Gold,” died on Friday from lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles. He was 79.

His sister Jane Fonda said in a statement, “I am very sad. He was my sweet-hearted baby brother. The talker of the family. I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days. He went out laughing.”

His wife Parky released a statement on behalf of the family, saying “In one of the saddest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our hearts…And, while we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life.