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They say nothing can come between a girl and her doll, and Brie Larson is living proof of that statement. The Academy Award-winning actress grew so tired of people mispronouncing her original French surname that she eventually adopted a new easier one.

But fans would be shocked to learn the inspiration behind her stage last name, her favorite American Girl doll. Several actors in Hollywood have opted for a memorable and easier-to-pronounce stage name, but none could have a cuter connection than the Elektra actress’s name.

Got a favorite doll? Adopt her surname Brie Larson in Captain Marvel | Credits: Walt Disney Studios

Brie Larson was weary of people mispronouncing her authentic French surname, the then-child star grew so frustrated that she adopted an entirely different one. Born as Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers, the actress became known with a much easier-to-pronounce stage name.

Related Brie Larson Ditches Captain Marvel Hairstyle, Turns...

After “The Good Place,” creator Mike Schur and star Ted Danson are back with another comedy to keep you laughing while tugging on the heartstrings with “A Man on the Inside.” The Netflix series stars Danson as Charles, a retired and widowed man bored with his daily routine who gets the opportunity to reinvent his life when he’s hired by a private investigator to infiltrate a retirement home.

Danson is joined by an ensemble full of familiar faces, from former Schur’s comedy regulars to seasoned character actors. Here’s your handy guide to the cast of “A Man on the Inside” and where you’ve seen them before.

(Netflix) Ted Danson as Charles

“The Good Place” star Ted Danson reunites with series creator Michael Schur for “A Man on the Inside.” Danson plays Charles, a retired professor who is thrilled for a new adventure when he gets the...

Don’t call “Terrifier 3” Cineverse’s breakout film. That moment actually came with the surprise success of its predecessor, 2022’s “Terrifier 2.” The original “Terrifier” from 2016 — not released by Cineverse — made only $421,000. Once the sequel landed at Cineverse — then still named Cinedigm — it exploded to an impressive $15.7 million on a shoestring budget, but only after Cineverse scrambled its marketing jets to react in real-time to a viral hit.

For the third “Terrifier” film, CEO Chris McGurk would not be caught off guard again. He and President Erick Opeka used the unusual asset mix of new media they’ve compiled over the last decade plus — everything from a podcast network, a Bob Ross Fast channel, an ad-tech platform, and the horror blog Bloody Disgusting — to create a hyper-targeted theatrical release strategy around “Terrifier 3.”

“We developed a blueprint where streaming and associated assets really supported and made a theatrical release work for an independent film,...

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will swing back into theaters on July 24, 2026.

The untitled Columbia Pictures project from director Destin Daniel Cretton will debut shortly after “Avengers: Doomsday,” which comes out on May 1, 2026. “Spider-Man: Far From Home” was similarly released just two months after “Avengers: Endgame,” and the third Spidey film grossed over $1 billion globally.

During an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday night, Holland confirmed that his fourth “Spider-Man” movie will begin production in mid-2025.

“Next summer, we start shooting. Everything’s good to go — we’re nearly there,” Holland said. “Super exciting. I can’t wait!”

During a recent interview on the “Rich Roll Podcast,” Holland revealed that he had read a draft of the script for his fourth “Spider-Man” movie and said “it needs work, but the writers are doing a great job.”

“One of the things is that, with Marvel, your film is...

As Smile 2 takes over the top spot at the box office this weekend, it is starting to sink in across the industry that defending champ Terrifier 3 has already racked up almost $30 million since its October 11 debut.

After dealing an embarrassing blow to exponentially pricier rival Joker: Folie à Deux, the threequel’s economic model has put it on course to deliver a level of profit that is, well, terrifying. Cineverse, the film’s distributor, says it put just $500,000 into marketing and promotion for the release. Additional costs to acquire rights were covered by a loan of up to $3.666 million, which was collateralized by the breakout success of Terrifier 2 and the outlook for the latest installment. The lender will receive 15% of royalties once they come in across the full waterfall, up to a cap of about $6.4 million.

As to the final production budget, writer-director Damien Leone and producer...

Sunday Am Final: In one of the year’s second-best triumphs for indie genre cinema after Neon’s Longlegs, Cineverse’s under $5M investment, Terrifier 3, is screaming to an estimated $18.3M+ 3-day after an $8.2M Friday, $5.9M Saturday and $4.2M Sunday. That Sunday hold -30% is on account of the Indigenous Peoples holiday. The threequel received a B CinemaScore, which is high praise from the moviegoer pollster as it doesn’t hand out a lot of As to horror titles.

The jaw dropping awe is how this movie, which was largely marketed to Cineverse’s sole Bloody Disgusting fanbase and 80M streaming subscribers across 30 channels for under $1M, broke out to bigger numbers. Unlike some of the other wide entries this weekend, iSpot doesn’t show any national spots for Terrifier 3.

Many studios have tried this low P&a spend, laser focused demo marketing approach and just seem...

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will keep swinging in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” director Destin Daniel Cretton in early talks to helm the film.

In addition to the Simu Liu-led “Shang-Chi,” Cretton’s other credits 2013’s “Short Term 12,” 2017’s “The Glass Castle” and 2019’s “Just Mercy.” He was previously set to direct the now-scrapped “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” but departed the project in November 2023. Cretton has stayed in the Marvel family and co-created the upcoming “Wonder Man” miniseries, starring Yahya Abdul Matteen II. Cretton has also been developing a sequel to “Shang-Chi,” but a source close to the production says that “Spider-Man 4” is currently the priority for the studio.

The ending to 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” saw Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange cast a spell that caused the entire world to forget that Peter Parker had been Spider-Man, which...

2013 indie darling Short Term 12 managed to collect a number of notable talents before their careers reached another level, and Agatha All Along executive producer Mary Livanos happens to have her own Marvel-related connection to it all.

Besides names like Rami Malek, Lakeith Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever, Short Term 12 marked the beginning of filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton’s four-time collaboration with Brie Larson, which includes her cameo as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in the former’s MCU debut, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Well, it turns out that Livanos was a Pa on Cretton’s Los Angeles-based Short Term 12 set in 2012, and she would eventually climb the ranks to become Larson’s EP on The Marvels (2023).

Prior to The Marvels, Livanos made a name for herself as co-executive producer on Marvel Studios’ most successful streaming series, WandaVision. And together with creator Jac Schaeffer, the duo were...

Poland’s American Film Festival is continuing to bet on U.S. independent films, ignoring the Hollywood blockbusters and bigger budget auteur films from the mini-majors.

“The fest selects a very precise type of project – they are real independent films, not in that Independent Spirit Award, less-than-$40 million sense,” says director and producer Rob Rice.

“The people that come with them have a kind of shorthand with each other. We are all up against the same things and we are all trying to trick the industry into mistaking our films for ‘real movies.’”

“There are always lots of interesting things happening in American independent cinema. It’s enough to mention three alumni of [fest’s industry sidebar] U.S. in Progress: Anu Valia (“We Strangers”), India Donaldson (“Good One”) and Sarah Friedland. These are great examples of new female voices speaking about female experiences, and keeping things intimate and personal,” says artistic director Ula Śniegowska.

We found out last month that Silver Linings Playbook Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and The Batman star Robert Pattinson have the lead roles in the thriller Die, My Love, which is coming our way from We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here director Lynne Ramsay. Now Deadline reports that Lakeith Stanfield – whose credits include The Book of Clarence, Atlanta, Sorry to Bother You, Judas and the Black Messiah, The Harder They Fall, Haunted Mansion, Short Term 12, Knives Out, Selma, Uncut Gems, Death Note, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, The Changeling, War Machine, Straight Outta Compton, and Get Out (pictured above) – is in final negotiations to join Lawrence and Pattinson in the cast.

Scripted by Ramsay and Enda Walsh, Die, My Love is said to be “set in a remote forgotten rural area,” with the story centering on a mother who struggles to maintain...

As festivals have increasingly endeavored to showcase more diverse talent, benchmarks of inclusivity occasionally run the risk of feeling like a dutiful checklist.

The Bentonville Film Festival, though, has celebrated — and elevated — underrepresented voices since its inception. Returning for its 10th edition from June 10-16, the northwest Arkansas festival has always taken as its mission statement the centering of work from not only LGBTQ+ and Bipoc creators but also other historically marginalized groups.

That focus shouldn’t be surprising, given that the festival’s roots stretch back to the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, a nonprofit research organization the actor founded after noticing the disparity in female characters while watching TV series and movies with her daughter.

While co-founder Davis remains Bentonville Film Festival’s chair, president Wendy Guerrero and artistic director Drea Clark, with a combined 19 years of experience with the festival, provide stability and steerage.

“The...

Most filmmakers only really get going when the pain of not making a movie finally boils over to the point where it exceeds the pain of making a movie. And once this pivotal point-of-no-return is reached, the accumulated velocity of ambition will not allow petty inconveniences to impede the ultimate realization of its goal. Not even a punishing lack of start-up capital–or even, it turns out, a torrential Southern California downpour choking the streets of LA to a frigid standstill.

So despite being rescheduled from February 6 due to an aggressive late-winter rainfall, Fi’s Filmmaker Tuesday session, The Evolution of Microbudget Filmmaking, finally happened last week on March 19, featuring a panel of four acclaimed indie producers and directors (not to mention Fi Fellows!) who have all managed to make big waves with their work despite microscopic production budgets. They were: Iram Parveen Bilal, Ron Najor, Gia Rigoli and Avril Speaks.

Mirren Gordon-Crozier has worked with Brie Larson on four projects in the past 10 years, beginning with the actress’ breakout role in the 2013 independent drama Short Term 12. Yet when the costume designer heard Larson’s next lead part was in a period TV series, “I almost fell to the ground,” she says.

What most excited Gordon-Crozier about coming on board was the span from 1949 to 1957 that’s covered in Lessons in Chemistry, the Apple TV+ adaptation of Bonnie Garmus’ novel of the same name in which Larson stars as Elizabeth Zott, a chemist turned cooking show star who’s navigating stifling gender norms amid love and loss. Gordon-Crozier talked with THR about the defining style of that period and the story Zott’s clothes tell in the series.

Were there real-life figures that inspired the series’ wardrobe direction?

Definitely, but it was their off-duty wardrobe rather than what we’ve seen on camera.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to welcome the Fantastic Four. The group, led by The Last of Us fame Pedro Pascal, will pit an older group of superheroes against Silver Surfer and Galactus, two well-known villains. After keeping us guessing for months, Marvel has finally revealed that Julia Garner—best known for starring in the Netflix series Ozark—is being cast as Silver Surfer.

Doug Jones as the Silver Surfer in a still from Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

It should be noted, however, that this version will be Shalla-Bal, Silver Surfer’s romantic interest in Marvel Comics. But it seems not everyone is happy with the latest Marvel update on the upcoming flick.

Lakeith Stanfield, best known for his dynamic acting range in films such as Sorry to Bother You and Judas and the Black Messiah, expressed disappointment when Garner was announced as the new Silver Surfer.

A few months ago, it was announced that the casting for the ‘Fantastic Four’ reboot had been finalized. Pedro Pascal will portray MCU’s new Reed Richards, with Vanessa Kirby cast as Sue Storm. Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn will play The Thing and the Human Torch, respectively.

Yesterday, it was confirmed that Julia Garner will play Shalla-Bal, a female version of Silver Surfer, in the movie. Shalla-Bal is primarily known as Norrin Radd’s love interest in the comics.

The fan reactions varied, with some expressing anger that Marvel Studios is changing another significant character’s gender from the comics. Others in the fanbase noted that the character was always female and welcomed the new interpretation. In response to these reactions, Lakeith Stanfield shared his opinion on his private Instagram account.

Thought it was going to be me but ig

Lakeith Stanfield reacts to Julia Garner’s casting as...

Several months ago news broke out that the casting process for the ‘Fantastic Four’ reboot has been completed Pedro Pascal will be MCU’s new Reed Richards, with Vanessa Kirby taking on the role of Sue Storm. The Thing and the Human Torch will be played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn respectively.

Yesterday, we got a confirmation that Julia Garner would be playing a female version of Silver Surfer for the movie, Shalla-Bal, which is mostly associated with being Norrin Radd’s love interest in the comics.

The reactions from the fans were mixed at best, with some infuriated that Marvel Studios is “genderbending” yet another notable character from the comics, and the rest of the fanbase pointing out that the character was always female and that it is a welcome spin on the character. In light of these reactions, Lakeith Stanfield voiced out his opinion via his private...

South by Southwest is a festival like none other. Spread across the bustling streets of Downtown Austin, the convergence event truly has something for everyone.

South by Southwest, better known as SxSw, is a tech conference meets music festival meets film festival. With hundreds of films, bands, startups, and established brands all over the city, the energy is unrivaled.

This year is no different as thousands prepare to arrive at the Texas capitol this week.

I will be lucky enough to attend this year’s festival for a whole week and the film lineup is one of the strongest in years. SxSw is a great combination of established, anticipated films mixed with independent films with massive potential to be the next big thing.

In the past some of the competition films that have premiered at the festival have been Short Term 12, Peanut Butter Falcon, Tiny Furniture. Krisha, and more.

The wave of Live-Action adaptations of popular anime is now awaiting the release of the highly anticipated Naruto live-action movie after the success of One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action adaptations. The movie is being developed by Lionsgate and has been in the talks for a long time.

Kakashi Hatake – Naruto

While the actors who would play the role of major characters from the series like Naruto and Sasuke have not yet been unveiled, fans have made some speculations regarding the perfect choice for the role of such characters. One such character that fans are most excited to see get cast is Kakashi Hatake, the sensei of the infamous team 7.

Although there are many strong contenders for the role of Kakashi, there is one South Korean Actor who fits perfectly for the portrayal of the super-strong teacher of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. The plus point is that he...

Destin Daniel Cretton is leaving the world of superheroes and comic books behind for a land of ninjas and manga. The “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” director will write a live-action adaptation of “Naruto,” one of the most popular manga series of all time, IndieWire has confirmed.

Created by mangaka Masashi Kishimoto, “Naruto” is set in an unnamed world where ninjas act as the primary warriors and political forces. In the Hidden Leaf Village, main character Naruto Uzumaki is a loudmouthed, hyperactive, and boisterous orphan who dreams of becoming the greatest ninja, or the Hokage. His attempts to grow are complicated by the fact that he unknowingly serves as the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox, a dangerous beast that grants him enormous power but makes him a target for rival ninja clans. The series follows Naruto as he joins a training squad consisting of friends Sasuke and...

Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) has been tapped to write and direct Lionsgate’s forthcoming live-action adaptation of the manga classic Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto.

Specifics as to Cretton’s take on the material are under wraps.

One of the world’s most popular IP, Naruto has sold over 250 million copies in more than 60 countries and territories. The manga follows the journey of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja with dreams of becoming leader of his village. He faces an uphill battle in this mission, given the fact that the Nine-Tailed Fox spirit sealed within him at birth once brought destruction upon the place. Previously, the source material has spawned an anime adaptation, as well as video games, numerous anime films, sequel series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and more.

Producers on the Naruto film include Avi Arad, Ari Arad, and Emmy Yu for Arad Productions,...

Masashi Kishimoto's "Naruto" is one of the most popular manga of all time, with 250 million books sold worldwide. Its anime adaptation is no less famous and, when airing on Cartoon Network in the 2000s, helped normalize the medium among American audiences. And yet, it's the only one of the "Big Three" series published in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump — alongside "One Piece" and "Bleach" — that hasn't made the transition to live-action. Until now.

Lionsgate is officially moving forward with a live-action "Naruto" film. The project had previously been reported on, but it currently has a writer/director: Destin Daniel Cretton, director of the Marvel Studios picture "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

In a Lionsgate press release, Cretton said of the project: "It was a true honor to meet Kishimoto-san in Tokyo and hear his expansive vision for his creation. We are very excited to collaborate and...

Naruto, one of the most popular mangas of all time, is headed to the big screen.

Destin Daniel Cretton, who co-wrote and directed the Marvel Studios movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has been tapped to pen and helm a live-action adaptation of the title for Lionsgate.

Cretton will also produce alongside Jeyun Munford through his company, Hisako. The duo join Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions, who are behind the studio’s upcoming video game adaptation Borderlands, and Jeremy Latcham (Dungeons & Dragons).

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto was a coming-of-age story focused on a young and enthusiastic ninja named Naruto Uzumaki who wants to grow up to be the leader of his ninja village but also happens to have the spirit of a nine-tailed demon fox inside him. The story was serialized in Japan’s popular Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014, tracking the character’s coming-of-age,...

According to the Max streaming service Twitter account, Kaitlyn Dever has officially been cast as Abby in the upcoming second season of HBO's hit post-apocalyptic drama "The Last of Us." Dever is one of Hollywood's best and brightest up-and-coming stars, having appeared in an excellent collection of TV shows and films since she was very young. Her resume includes "Short Term 12," "Justified," "Booksmart," "Unbelievable," and last year's "No One Will Save You," just to name a few.

Abby, who did not appear in the first game or the first season of "The Last of Us," may be the most significant character in the entire second game and will be equally crucial in the show. Variety describes Abby as "a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved," but frankly, that barely scratches the surface of this character.

"Our casting...

While many folks were busy being starstruck by Brie Larson at the 2024 Golden Globes on Sunday, the actress was fangirling over Jennifer Lopez.

As she was being interviewed on the red carpet, the Lessons in Chemistry star got emotional when she spotted the Hustlers actress — which is very relatable. “Oh my God, I’m gonna cry. I can’t deal with J.Lo. I can’t, no, I can’t. I’m gonna cry. I’m gonna cry,” she said as Lopez approached her.

When the singer-actress-dancer went to embrace Larson, telling her she’s also “such a huge fan,” The Marvels star expressed why Lopez is such an inspiration to her.

“I saw Selena and it made me want to be an actor,” Larson said. “You’ve always meant so much to me. … It’s been a dream of mine [to meet you] so thank you so much! Your work ethic is so important,...

Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” has dropped out of directing “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” an individual with knowledge told IndieWire.

Cretton remains attached to direct the sequel to “Shang-Chi” and is also at work as the co-creator of the Disney+ series “Wonder Man” also for Marvel Studios. He’s an executive producer on the show and directed the first two episodes.

The individual says Cretton’s exit is amicable. Cretton will resume shooting “Wonder Man” after Thanksgiving, and as Deadline first reported, he’s even said to be in talks to direct future Marvel movies.

It’s the latest in a multiverse worth of drama for Marvel, which had a box office worst with “The Marvels” and recently delayed all of its 2024 movies, most of them to 2025, as a result of the strikes. And it leaves “The Kang Dynasty,...

Destin Daniel Cretton is no longer directing “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” TheWrap has learned. While he will not helm the next big MCU team-up flick, he remains at work on the Disney+ series “Wonder Man.” And fear not, he’s also still developing a sequel to “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”

The move comes days after Marvel and the Walt Disney Company take stock of the poor performance of “The Marvels,” which earned just $110 million in its global debut amid mixed reviews and comparatively indifferent word-of-mouth.

The Brie Larson-fronted superhero sequel was not Marvel Studios’ first underperformer amid the 33-film, 15.5-year franchise. Heck, “The Incredible Hulk” earned $265 million on a $150 million budget a month after “Iron Man” launched the MCU in the summer of 2008. However, the release comes on the heels of comparatively underperforming titles like “Eternals” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” along with softer-than-usual...

Exclusive: Deadline hears that filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton has decided to step away as director of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Kang Dynasty to focus on his other Marvel projects. This is an amicable exit, I understand, as Cretton remains fully in the Marvel Studios family.

In fact, Cretton is in talks with Marvel Studios about directing future movies.

Note that Avengers: Kang Dynasty is far on the theatrical release schedule, dated to kick off summer on May 1, 2026. The movie will precede Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027 which will wrap up the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 6 features.

Cretton is currently busy on the Marvel Studios/Disney+ series Wonder Man, which he co-created with Andrew Guest, who serves as showrunner. Cretton EPs the series and also directed the first two episodes. The series resumes shooting after Thanksgiving. Wonder Man will be under the new Marvel Spotlight series banner, which are shows that...

In the years since "Avengers: Endgame" brought a close to the "Infinity Saga", the superhero studio quickly pivoted to replacing its original line-up with a host of new and relatively lesser-known figures. 2021's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" led the charge of fresh faces that also included the ensemble cast of "Eternals," Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova in "Black Widow," Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," and the team-up between Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) with Brie Larson's Carol Danvers in "The Marvels." Are these characters meant to ring in the next generation of Avengers (or, in Yelena's case, Thunderbolts)? That appears to be the plan, but with the next couple of major crossover movies already spoken for (hint: these include "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty" and "Avengers: Secret Wars"), Kevin Feige will be hard-pressed...

The new film No One Will Save You has quite a unique title and a captivating concept to back it up as well. Revolving around Brynn Adams, the quiet young adult in the movie, the film surprises us after turning into an alien invasion plot. The film, which at first seems to be about Brynn’s everyday life in a small town, shows us how she fares in her lonely existence when the others have cast her out. The reason behind her exiled existence isn’t quite clear, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that it is tied to an incident concerning her friend Maude Collins. Amidst her growing seclusion, the aliens arrive with a mission of their own. The movie focuses primarily on Brynn’s character, played skillfully by Kaitlyn Dever. She is a great actress in the making, having shown her talent with performances in films such as Booksmart,...

"No One Will Save You" arrives on Hulu this weekend, and it's a meticulously crafted, original sci-fi movie with plenty of twists and turns. The film comes from director/writer Brian Duffield, who may not be a household name, but he's written the script for some low-key great genre movies like "Underwater" with Kristen Stewart, "Love & Monsters" with Dylan O'Brien, and "The Babysitter" films on Netflix. Plus, he directed the acclaimed dark romantic comedy "Spontaneous," which you should seek out immediately if you haven't seen it.

With "No One Will Save You," Duffield delivers a suspenseful sci-fi thriller with Kaitlyn Dever playing a character who is suddenly caught in the middle of an alien invasion of her small town. What's even more impressive than the thrills and mysteries that drive the movie is the fact that it's executed with practically zero dialogue. Funnily enough, that kinda happened by accident.

This article discusses spoilers for Disney's "Haunted Mansion."

There are several reasons why Disney would attempt a new feature film adaptation of their spooky theme park attraction, "Haunted Mansion." The prospect of channeling "Pirates of the Caribbean" and turning another pop culture institution into a blockbuster hit surely crossed the minds of shareholders. After several failed attempts to get this remake off the ground over the years, the studio must have counted themselves lucky to finally cross paths with a director as obviously passionate about the material as Justin Simien. And, of course, the chance to bring together some of the finest comedic performers currently working -- from living legends like Danny DeVito and Jamie Lee Curtis to Tiffany Haddish and Owen Wilson -- certainly wasn't anything to sneeze at, either.

In all likelihood, however, few ever prioritized this production as an acting showcase that would allow any of its...

Exclusive: Deadline has learned that IFC Films’ longtime Head of PR Laura Sok will be departing the indie distribution company.

Sok has been Head of PR for the last five years in an overall seven-year career at IFC (she worked there from 2008-2010), and was first hired by Jonathan Sehring to run the department. She led public-relations efforts for IFC Films, IFC Midnight, Sundance Selects and streaming service IFC Films Unlimited. Last December, her oversight was expanded to include the labels Shudder and Rlje Films.

Sok led 20th anniversary efforts for IFC Films and was integral in constructing the 2020 drive-in release and promotion strategy during the pandemic. She also led publicity strategy and campaigns for all films during the most successful financial years in IFC Films history.

While Sok is one of many executives to recently leave IFC including distribution head Jasper Basch,...

Disney+ Hotstar revealed the official trailer for the upcoming Original series “American Born Chinese.” The genre-hopping action-comedy series premieres with all eight episodes on May 24, only on Disney+ Hotstar. The Disney Branded Television series is produced by 20th Television.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, “American Born Chinese” chronicles the trials and tribulations of a regular American teenager whose life is forever changed when he befriends the son of a mythological god. This is the story of a young man’s battle for his own identity, told through family, comedy, and action-packed Kung-Fu.

The coming-of-age adventure features an all-star international cast, including Academy® Award winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Ben Wang (“Chang Can Dunk”), International Emmy(R) Award Nominee Yeo Yann Yann (“Wet Season”), Chin Han (“Mortal Kombat”), Daniel Wu (“Reminiscence”), former Taekwondo champion Jimmy Liu...

Disney+ has dropped an exciting new trailer for one of its most highly anticipated new series, “American Born Chinese”.

Adapted from Gene Luen Yang’s acclaimed graphic novel, the genre-hopping action-comedy series “chronicles the trials and tribulations of a regular American teenager whose life is forever changed when he befriends the son of a mythological god,” notes the series’ synopsis. “This is the story of a young man’s battle for his own identity, told through family, comedy, and action-packed Kung-Fu.”

Heading the cast are Oscar-winning “Everything Everywhere All at Once” stars Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, in addition to Ben Wang (“Chang Can Dunk”), Yeo Yann Yann (“Wet Season”), Chin Han (“Mortal Kombat”), Daniel Wu (“Reminiscence”), Sydney Taylor (“Just Add Magic”) and former Taekwondo champion Jimmy Liu.

Read More: ‘American Born Chinese’ Reveals Action-Packed TV Spot And Release Date

In addition, an array of guest stars will portray...

Ever since its original publication in 2006, the acclaimed graphic novel "American Born Chinese" by author Gene Luen Yang has always felt ripe for a live-action adaptation. Divided up into three initially unconnected stories, the story manages to balance mythical and possibly supernatural tales involving Chinese deities with the otherwise grounded and all-too-relatable struggles of two Chinese students — one American-born, the other recently emigrated from China — attempting to assimilate and fit in among the daunting environment of high school. How these disparate threads manage to intersect in the end is well worth reading to find out.

The rights to a series-length adaptation ultimately found its way to Disney, with "Short Term 12" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton attached to direct several episodes and starring practically the entire core cast of "Everything Everywhere All At Once". From showrunner Kelvin Yu ("Bob's Burgers"), the first...

Since her breakthrough roles in the early 2010s, Brie Larson has proven her range. The Oscar-winning star of Room has appeared in films such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Short Term 12, Trainwreck, Kong: Skull Island, Captain Marvel, and Just Mercy. But now’s she set to return to television for the first time in more than a decade with Lessons in Chemistry.

‘Lessons in Chemistry’ is Brie Larson’s upcoming AppleTV+ show Brie Larson during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 10, 2023 | Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Nyfw: The Shows

Larson made her film debut in 2001, but before that, she was working on TV. Some of her first roles include guest appearances on Touched by an Angel and Popular. But Larson landed her first gig as a series regular on the short-lived sitcom Raising Dad, airing for less than a year beginning in 2001. Later, she had a main role...

Guess who's drunk — er, starring in his own animated show? More than a decade after hitting theaters in 2010, Edgar Wright's commercial failure turned cult classic "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" is getting an official continuation in the form of an anime series. The original movie, which adapts Bryan Lee O'Malley's "Scott Pilgrim" comic books, centers on the eponymous Mr. Pilgrim (Michael Cera), a 22-year-old under-achieving Toronto musician who falls head over heels for the enigmatic Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). The only catch? To date Ramona, Scott must first battle her seven "evil" exes, who range from egotistical film stars to bassists with vegan superpowers.

One could call "Scott Pilgrim" the "Short Term 12" of comic book films in that it features many actors who've gone on to become far bigger names since its release ... including, amusingly enough, the star of "Short Term 12" itself, Brie Larson. It's also...

Although the 2023 movie awards season has come to an end, the stars of the year’s most heavily feted film, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” already have an excuse to keep spending time together. The Disney Plus action comedy series “American Born Chinese,” which is set for a May 24 premiere, will serve as a full-blown Wang family reunion for main cast members (and Oscar champs) Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan and guest performers Stephanie Hsu and James Hong. The teaser trailer for the upcoming show, which aired during Sunday night’s Oscars telecast, is available to watch above.

“American Born Chinese” is based on Gene Luen Yang’s award-winning graphic novel of the same name, which has found its way onto many school reading lists since its 2006 publication. Relative newcomer Ben Wang (“MacGyver”; “Search Party”) stars as Jin Wang, whose experience as a second generation Chinese American high schooler...

Brie Larson went through a lot of preparation for her Oscar-winning role in Room. To deliver on one of her most critically acclaimed performances, she felt she might have drawn from her past failures in Hollywood.

How Brie Larson ended up in ‘Room’ Brie Larson | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Room was a 2015 feature directed by filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson and adapted from the novel of the same name. The film followed the life of a kidnapped young mother raising her child inside of a confined space. Larson would eventually end up in the role as the mother Ma, but she was initially the furthest thing from Abrahamson’s mind.

“Once we realized the movie was really going to happen, we started thinking in a concrete way about casting and drawing up a very short, short list of interesting actresses of the right age to play Ma,” Abrahamson once said in an interview with Kcet.

Warner Bros. Television is in talks to develop a limited series based on the life of silent film star Buster Keaton. The project would star Rami Malek as Keaton.

“The Batman” director Matt Reeves would direct the limited series and produce via his 6th and Idaho Productions banner, which is under an overall deal at Warner Bros. TV. Malek and David Weddle also produce, with Ted Cohen in talks to serve as executive producer and writer. James Curtis’ 2022 biography “Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker’s Life” may serve as source material for the series, as the studio is negotiating the rights for the book.

Keaton, who lived from 1895 to 1966, is thought of as one of the most prominent stars of the silent film era aside from Charlie Chaplin. He got his start as a child in vaudevile acts alongside his parents, who were traveling performers, before transitioning into film in the late 1910s.

The Sundance Institute has announced the jurors for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off next week in Park City, Utah. Per usual, the teams tasked with selecting winners in the Dramatic, Documentary, World Cinema, and Short Film Competitions contain an eclectic mix of prominent artists working in film, theatre, book publishing, and visual arts.

Notable jurors include comedian Jim Gaffigan, “Slave Play” and “Zola” writer Jeremy O. Harris, and “Short Term 12” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” director Destin Daniel Cretton.

“The jury plays a crucial role in the Festival by amplifying breakthrough works and providing the audience with further opportunities for discovery,” Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente said in a statement. “We thank them for their dedication to artistic excellence and their thoughtful lens on cinematic expression and all that independent film offers.”

“We are thrilled to welcome these esteemed and accomplished visionaries to the Festival as our jury,...

Ticket to Paradise is a romantic comedy, starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts. A selection of words that just fit when all in the same sentence. The results? Just as you’d hope and expect, and to mark the release of this charming production, we spoke to some of the talented individuals behind it.

Below you can watch our video interviews with two of the leading stars in Billie Lourd and Kaitlyn Dever, as well as French performer Lucas Bravo. Finishing up with the director Ol Parker. We of course speak about the experience shooting in such beautiful locations with Clooney and Roberts, and we delve into other topics, ranging from Dever looking back over indie sensation Short Term 12, Bravo speaking about Emily in Paris (and football) and we get Parker, who directed Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, talking about Abba. Enjoy!

Billie Lourd & Kaitlyn Dever

Lucas Bravo...

It was the kind of blunt answer you don’t really see from an A-lister. Press events for Disney films are, usually, all wooden smiles and tight-lipped platitudes; all the actors have to focus on is gently batting back softball questions without dropping any spoilers. And yet, when Brie Larson was thrown exactly this kind of innocuous inquiry last weekend at the Disney D23 fan expo, she seemed reluctant to play ball. The question was simple: how long will she keep playing Captain Marvel? “I don’t know,” she said. “Does anyone want me to do it again?” She smiled, but her delivery suggested this was no joke.

A bit of context. Larson joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – the world’s biggest superhero film franchise – back in 2019, with Captain Marvel. She played Carol Danvers, Aka Captain Marvel, a US air force pilot turned space-travelling amnesiac who becomes imbued with godly superpowers.

It was the kind of blunt answer you don’t really see from an A-lister. Press events for Disney films are, usually, all wooden smiles and tight-lipped platitudes; all the actors have to focus on is gently batting back softball questions without dropping any spoilers. And yet, when Brie Larson was thrown exactly this kind of innocuous inquiry last weekend at the Disney D23 fan expo, she seemed reluctant to play ball. The question was simple: How long will she keep playing Captain Marvel? “I don’t know,” she said. “Does anyone want me to do it again?” She smiled, but her delivery suggested this was no joke.

A bit of context. Larson joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – the world’s biggest superhero film franchise – back in 2019, with Captain Marvel. Larson played Carol Danvers, Aka Captain Marvel, a US air force pilot turned space-travelling amnesiac who becomes imbued with godly superpowers.

A version of this story about “Dopesick” star Kaitlyn Dever first appeared in the Down to the Wire: Drama issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.

It’s rare to experience a life-changing epiphany at any age, much less at 15. But that’s how old Kaitlyn Dever was when she played a self-harming young woman in the acclaimed 2013 indie “Short Term 12.” She’d already been acting for several years by then — she was a cast regular on the ABC sitcom “Last Man Standing” and had a recurring role on FX’s “Justified” — but the gritty drama about a group home for troubled teenagers made a lasting impression on her.

“I noticed the weight that a project can have on the audience and how you can really move the needle forward and start meaningful conversations,” Dever said during a recent Zoom interview. She liked the idea that she could help bring...

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” director Destin Daniel Cretton has been tapped to helm “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.”

A source at Disney confirmed to IndieWire that Cretton is attached to the fifth “Avengers” film that will debut in 2025, followed by “Avengers: Secret Wars” to close out Marvel’s Phase 6.

After directing “Shang-Chi,” Cretton inked an overall deal with Marvel and is additionally developing a live-action “Wonder Man” series with “Community” writer-producer Andrew Guest. Cretton is also set to direct the “Shang-Chi” sequel starring Simu Liu.

“Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” will premiere May 2, 2025, with “Avengers: Secret Wars” debuting November 7, 2025. While the plot for “The Kang Dynasty” remains under wraps, Marvel has confirmed that Jonathan Majors will play Kang after appearing in Disney+ series “Loki.” Yet Majors clarified at 2022 San Diego Comic Con that there are multiple Kangs.

Kang, or as THR notes, a “version of him,” will be...

The Kang Dynasty has its leader.

“Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings” director Destin Daniel Cretton will continue his tenure within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the director of “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” a rep for Marvel Studios confirmed.

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige announced “The Kang Dynasty” during the company’s wide-ranging presentation at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, as part one of the two-part conclusion to the Multiverse Saga — similar to how 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War” and 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” concluded the Infinity Saga.

Unlike those films — which were filmed and directed back-to-back by MCU veterans Anthony and Joe Russo — Cretton will only be directing “The Kang Dynasty,” which is set to debut on May 2, 2025. The follow-up, “Avengers: Secret Wars,” is due to open just six months later, on Nov. 7, 2025. No director has been announced for that film.

While there have been no screenwriter or casting announcements for “The Kang Dynasty” either,...

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Since the climactic wrap-up of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which closed a chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe known as the Infinity Saga and grossed almost 2.8 billion worldwide, Marvel Studios has focused on introducing new heroes and pushing ahead with sequels starring some of its top characters.

But as revealed by Kevin Feige at Marvel’s Saturday presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, the Avengers are assembling once again, with back-to-back movies set for 2025.

And while there are many other movies that will hit before that, the studio is already moving ahead creatively with at least one of the superteam tentpoles.

Destin Daniel Cretton, who helmed last year’s Marvel hit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has come aboard to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal.

Cretton is already well ensconced in the Marvel family. In addition to directing Shang-Chi,...

Child grooming is a tough subject to tackle, but Belgian director Emmanuelle Nicot takes a sensitive approach in her Critics Week feature Love According To Dalva. The key here is perspective: almost everything is shown from the point of view of a victim who has been taken into care, and who doesn’t realize she has been abused. Watching the truth slowly dawn upon her gives this film real tension, while also providing the possibility of recovery and enlightenment.

Dalva (Zelda Samson) is a 12-year-old girl who dresses like a grown woman, wears make up and does not expect to be treated like a child. She’s horrified when she’s taken from her father and into a temporary facility for teenagers with problems. She’s even more dismayed when she learns that her father has been arrested. Slowly, it transpires that Dalva believes that the “love” he has shown...

Top CAA media finance agent Maren Olson has joined 30West as executive vice president of film, it was announced Wednesday.

Olson will work alongside 30West’s Trevor Groth to manage the label’s slate. This includes the upcoming “The Trashers” starring David Harbour and directed by Sundance breakout Cooper Raiff, as well as the thriller “Day Drinker” from director Marc Webb.

Olson spent 7 years at CAA working alongside media finance chiefs Roeg Sutherland and Ben Kramer. Projects she recently helped assemble include Channing Tatum’s “Dog”; “The 355” directed by Simon Kinberg and starring Jessica Chastain and Penelope Cruz; the forthcoming “The Pale Blue Eye” from director Scott Cooper and star Christian Bale; and “Pussy Island,” directed by Zoë Kravitz and starring Tatum.

30West heads to Cannes with the Imperative Entertainment premiere “Triangle of Sadness” playing in competition, as well as “The Silent Twins,” which will premiere in Un Certain Regard.