Faith-based Pinnacle Peak Pictures, previously Pure Flix Entertainment, is adding two new theatrical films to its international sales slate for AFM 2024, The Last Supper and Between Borders.

There’s been no lagging of interest in faith-based films, which have the potential to hit big. (Angel Studios Sound Of Freedom grossed $120 million globally.) The Last Supper is set in the days leading to betrayal, where a gathering of disciples unravels into a web of secrets and hidden motives. Starring Robert Knepper, James Ward(Verona’s Romeo & Juliet, His Dark Materials), James Oliver Wheatley, Nathalie Rapti Gomez, and Daniel Fathers.

The film was directed by Mauro Borrelli, who co-wrote it with John Collins. It was produced by Shawn Boskie, Ivan Cohen, Manu Gargi, Ken Halsband,...

Although we likely won't see it for a while, HBO's new Harry Potter TV show is one of the biggest series on the horizon. How could it not be? The Harry Potter books and movies remain incredibly popular and influential, and the controversies surrounding author and executive producer J.K. Rowling add some spice to the proceedings.

HBO is moving ahead with the show; Francesca Gardiner will serve as showrunner while Mark Mylod will direct several episodes. Meanwhile, casting directors are on the hunt for new actors to play Harry, Ron and Hermione, the iconic characters at the center of the story. Speaking at the television industry trade show Mipcom, Warner Bros. Discovery executive Channing Dungey said that “writing staff was in place and they’re doing what they need to do, and casting calls have opened up in the U.K. and Ireland, so the process is moving along,” per Variety.

Descubre en noviembre el origen de las Bene Gesserit. © Max

Max ha desvelado el nuevo tráiler y la fecha de estreno de la serie Dune: La profecía, inspirada en la novela Sisterhood of Dune, escrita por Brian Herbert y Kevin J. Anderson.

Ambientada en el extenso universo Dune, creado por el aclamado autor Frank Herbert, y 10.000 años antes del ascenso de Paul Atreides, la serie de seis episodios, Dune: La profecía, sigue a dos hermanas Harkonnen en su lucha contra las fuerzas que amenazan el futuro de la humanidad y establecen la legendaria secta que se conocerá como las Bene Gesserit.

El reparto está formado por Emily Watson (Gosford Park), Olivia Williams (El señor de los anillos: Los anillos de poder), Travis Fimmel (Vikingos), Jodhi May (El último mohicano), Mark Strong (1917), Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (The Colony), Josh Heuston (Los rompecorazones), Chloe Lea (Fundación), Jade Anouka (La materia oscura), Faoileann Cunningham (El hombre del norte...

Cast members from House of the Dragon showed up this week past weekend at New York Comic Con, with Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon Targaryen) and Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole) all participating in a panel discussion about HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series. We'll get the obvious question out of the way: they didn't reveal anything specific about the upcoming third season. "I've not heard hide nor hare," Smith said, confirming that he hasn't scripts for the third season yet.

Fabien Frankel, on the other hand, said that he'd "heard some things," but didn't elaborate on what they are. All we know is that showrunner Ryan Condal has said that filming on season 3 will likely start in "earlyish 2025." Whether the writing team will address any of Fire & Blood author George R.R. Martin's concerns about the direction of the show remains to be seen; obviously, that topic didn't come up on the panel.

After seven and a half years at the helm, Tony Vinciquerra will leave a significant handprint on the 100-year history of the studio now known as Sony Pictures Entertainment when he steps down as CEO on Jan. 2. His legacy will be measured as much by what he didn’t do during his time as the top as it will by the initiatives he took to restructure and reimagine the company for its second century.

The seasoned executive, who orchestrated a much-needed turnaround of the studio, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Variety Vanguard Award recognizing individuals who have made a significant contribution to the global business of television. The kudo will be presented to Vinciquerra on Oct. 21 at the Mipcom global content market and conference in Cannes.

In shoring up one of Hollywood’s foundational studios, Vinciquerra restored the health of a key industry employer. For...

A new drama series will tell the personal story of a man’s decades-long search for answers following the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. Premiering in January 2025 on Peacock, “Lockerbie: A Search for Truth” stars Colin Firth as Dr. Jim Swire. The series will follow Dr. Swire in the aftermath of Pan Am Flight 103’s downing over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. The terrorist attack killed all 259 people aboard the plane and 11 more on the ground.

After his daughter died in the bombing, Dr. Swire dedicated himself to learning the full truth about what happened. The limited series explores Swire’s relentless pursuit of answers from government officials. In a trailer, Firth portrays Swire confronting authorities while asking “How far would you go to search for justice after your daughter was killed?” Over time, Swire became a spokesperson for UK families of the Lockerbie victims.

The show spans decades as it tracks Swire’s emotional journey across continents.

“Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” just wrapped up Season 2 and the wait for next season could be a long one.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of incredible TV floating around. While everyone waits likely years for their next chance to step foot in the Second Age of Middle-earth, there are plenty of fantastical shows to keep up with in the meantime. On top of that there’s currently no shortage of prequel series out there.

From obvious picks like “House of the Dragon” to lesser-seen gems like “Black Sails,” these are seven shows to dive into for a binge while we wait for news on the next season of “Rings of Power.”

Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy in the “House of the Dragon” Season 2 Finale (HBO) House of the Dragon

Bit of a no-brainer here. During both “House of the Dragon” and “Rings of Power’s” first seasons,...

The upcoming “Peaky Blinders” movie has revealed more original series stars who are returning for the crime drama’s next chapter.

Stephen Graham; Sophie Rundle; Ned Dennehy; Packy Lee (“Blue Lights”); and Ian Peck are all set to reprise their roles alongside Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby. Jay Lycurgo has also joined the film in an undisclosed role.

In the final season of the original series, Graham portrays Hayden Stagg, the union leader for the Liverpool dock workers. Rundle was a mainstay throughout all six seasons as Tommy Shelby’s sister Ada, as was Dennehy as Charlie Strong, a sort of uncle to the Shelby siblings. Lee plays Johnny Dogs, a friend of Tommy’s, while Ian Peck is Curly, Charlie’s assistant.

Production on the film started last week and a first look at Murphy back in character was revealed. The plot of the film remains tightly under wraps,...

Alicia Silverstone to star in ‘Irish Blood’ (Photo Courtesy of Acorn TV)

Alicia Silverstone (Reptile) is confirmed to star in and executive produce Irish Blood, a new drama just greenlit by Acorn TV. Wendy Crewson (Tracker), Jason O’Mara (The Man In The High Castle), Dearbhla Molloy (Wild Mountain Thyme), Simone Kirby (His Dark Materials), Ruth Codd (The Fall of the House of Usher), and Leonardo Taiwo (Wheel of Time) are on board as series regulars.

“Irish Blood, a six-part murder mystery, focuses on Fiona (Silverstone), whose path in life is earmarked by her father, Declan, who seemingly abandoned her and her mother on her tenth birthday. After years of channeling anger toward him to the benefit of her litigious clients, a message from her father sends her to Ireland,” reads Acorn TV’s synopsis. “There she learns key truths about her father as well as a family that doesn’t know she exists,...

Alicia Silverstone is looking for clues overseas: The Clueless star will headline Irish Blood, a new Ireland-set murder mystery on Acorn TV, TVLine has learned.

Silverstone will play Fiona Sharp, an L.A. divorce lawyer “who receives a letter from her estranged father and sets out to uncover the mystery of his disappearance,” per the official description. She heads to Ireland, where “she learns key truths about her father as well as a family that doesn’t know she exists.”

Joining Silverstone in the cast are Jason O’Mara (The Man in the High Castle), Wendy Crewson (Tracker), Dearbhla Molloy (Scandal), Simone Kirby (His Dark Materials), Ruth Codd (The Fall of the House of Usher) and Leonardo Taiwo (Andor).

“Irish Blood is the story of a woman discovering herself and confronting her past after traveling abroad unexpectedly,” Silverstone said in a statement. “I love how unpredictable the storytelling feels and the combination of drama, humor and suspense my character experiences.”

Silverstone is still best known for her iconic role as privileged teen Cher in the ’90s classic Clueless. Since then, she’s appeared on the small screen in The Baby-Sitters Club, American Woman and Suburgatory.

Will you tune in to see Silverstone lead a cozy mystery set on the Emerald Isle? Hit the comments to give us your take on the news.

The upcoming premiere of the film “Rust” at the Camerimage Film Festival in Poland has sparked debate. The festival plans to debut the movie as a tribute to late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. She died during the filming of “Rust” in October 2021. While meant to honor Hutchins, many in the film industry question if the screening is appropriate.

The festival, dedicated to cinematography, wants the premiere to remember Hutchins’ legacy. However, other cinematographers disagree. Rachel Morrison, nominated for an Oscar for her work on “Black Panther,” said showcasing the film that killed Hutchins fails to truly honor her. Suzie Lavelle, known for “Normal People” and “His Dark Materials,” shared similar concerns.

Many cinematographers scheduled to attend the festival also questioned the decision. In online chats, they called screening “Rust” “distasteful” and “tone deaf.” Some suggested highlighting Hutchins’ earlier work instead. Yet others note Hutchins’ family supports the screening, seeing it as...

In November Poland’s Camerimage Film Festival will host what it has described as a tribute debut screening of Rust to honor the late Ukrainian cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Hutchins, a native of neighboring Ukraine, was a regular at the cinematography-focused event. The screening, however, has proved controversial with many of Hutchins’ former peers, who are questioning whether it is appropriate for Camerimage to serve as a launchpad for the controversial Alec Baldwin western.

“I’m all for memorializing Halyna and her beautiful work but not by screening and thereby promoting the film that killed her,” Oscar-nominated Black Panther DoP Rachel Morrison posted on Instagram under the festival’s official post announcing the screening.

Morrison’s comment was liked and supported by other prominent cinematographers in the comments section like Normal People and His Dark Materials DoP Suzie Lavelle who posted: “Promoting a film that shot with unsafe practices — leading to...

“The Rainmaker” series adaptation at USA Network has added Wade Briggs in a series regular role, Variety has learned exclusively.

Based on the John Grisham novel of the same name, the show was picked up at the basic cabler back in June. Briggs will appear alongside previously announced cast member Milo Callaghan, John Slattery, Madison Iseman, Lana Parrilla, P.J. Byrne, Robyn Cara, and Dan Fogler.

The official logline for the series states, “Fresh out of law school, Rudy Baylor (Callaghan) goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond (Slattery) as well as his law school girlfriend (Iseman). Rudy, along with his boss and her disheveled paralegal, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.”

Briggs will play Brad Noonan, described as “a high-powered attorney at the Tinley Britt Law Firm and enforcer to the firm’s managing partner, Leo Drummond.”

Briggs’ recent TV credits include “Foundation...

Jared Harris, son of original Dumbledore actor Richard Harris, has taken his name out of the running to play the legendary “Harry Potter” wizard in HBO and Max’s upcoming television series based on J.K. Rowling’s book series. The “Mad Men” and “Chernobyl” actor was asked about playing Dumbledore during an interview on the The Independent series “Go to Bat,” to which he responded: “No, thank you.”

“Also, I mean, why do it? I don’t understand,” Jared added. “The films were fantastic – leave them alone.”

Jared is not interested in taking on his father’s beloved role, although he admitted to the publication that “a lot of storytelling” was left out of the original “Harry Potter” film franchise and will now be able to be filmed due to the expanded runtime of the HBO series. Each season of the show will cover one of Rowling’s books. Francesca Gardiner,...

Five years ago, it was announced that Ben Wheatley would be writing, directing, and executive producing Generation Z, a “hilarious, frightening, and political” series that would consist of six hour-long episodes that would “mix flesh-eating zombies into a story that satirizes how Brexit has divided the UK.” That project didn’t make it into production when it was originally supposed to because of the pandemic shutdown… but after making Meg 2: The Trench (you can read our review at This Link and check out our interview with the filmmaker Here), Wheatley circled back around to Generation Z. The show is now ready to start airing on Channel 4 in October, and in anticipation of the premiere, Empire has unveiled two new images. One can be seen above, and the other can be found at the bottom of this article.

The show is described as “a coming-of-age parable for our very...

For reasons unknown, young adult fantasy narratives seem to have an abundance of MacGuffins, as seen in some of the classics like Harry Potter, Hunger Games, His Dark Materials, etc. More often than not, these narrative devices function to move the plot forward or provide deeper significance in the context of the narrative, similar to the role played by the White Tiger Orchid in both the original novel and Netflix’s cinematic adaptation of Uglies. Throughout the movie, this miraculous MacGuffin appears only twice, but the thematic, symbolic meaning it carries is crucial to the understanding of the narrative itself.

Spoilers Ahead

The Myth and Reality Regarding the White Tiger Orchid

The ecological collapse and total depletion of fossil fuel sources had effectively brought the world in Uglies to its knees. In the books, the crisis is delineated further as a unique species of bacteria turning all fossil fuel extremely...

Once known as Dune: The Sisterhood, the TV series Dune: Prophecy, which serves as a prequel to the Dune feature films directed by Denis Villeneuve, started filming in November of 2022, then underwent quite a shake-up in 2023 when the director of the first two episodes, Johan Renck (who executive produced and directed all five episodes of the HBO limited series Chernobyl) decided to leave the project over creative issues, then Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) – who had been cast as one of the show’s lead characters – followed him out the door. Everything has been worked out since then, with Dune: Prophecy on track for a November premiere on both HBO and the Max streaming service… and now we’ve learned that the promotions will begin at New York Comic Con, where attendees will get to experience both a panel and a fan experience.

Here’s the info:

Thursday,...

The search for the next Harry, Ron and Hermione has begun.

HBO has opened a casting call for the three stars of its upcoming “Harry Potter” TV series. Fans spotted the announcement circulating online Monday, and HBO confirmed its authenticity to Variety.

The casting call is looking for children who will be between the ages of 9-11 in April 2025 and who are residents of the U.K. and Ireland. The notice also says that casting will be inclusive to all races, ethnicities and gender identities.

“We are committed to inclusive, diverse casting,” it reads. “For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.”

The application requires the actors to submit two short self-tapes, including a short poem or story — but nothing from “Harry Potter.”

“Please prepare a short poem or story of your choosing.

This is either going to be a rousing success or...something very different. HBO is officially casting the three main roles for its upcoming Harry Potter TV show, a from-the-ground-up adaptation of J.K. Rowling's iconic book series about a boy wizard and his friends being whisked off to a magical boarding school and battling the forces of darkness. Of course, eight movies adapting Rowling's seven books already exist. The pitch for the new TV series is that it will include things that the movies had to cut for time.

Harry Potter remains a gargantuan piece of intellectual property, so this is a big undertaking and a big deal. There's something eerie about learning it's really happening: Cast It Talent has posted information about an open casting call where they're looking to cast the three main roles: Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, played in the movies by Daniel Radcliffe,...

“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is back for Season 2, and this time around there are a number of new characters to keep straight. With Sauron revealed to be Halbrand at the end of Season 1, the chess pieces are now fully in the open and the Dark Lord is masquerading as yet another new character this season in order to try and forge the titular rings. We’ve also got drama with the dwarves, in-fighting amongst the elves and that guy who most definitely is Gandalf is wandering the desert with a harfoot.

Absent in Season 2 is Nazanin Boniadi who played Bronwyn, who exited the show. But new to the cast are Ciaran Hinds, Rory Kinnear and plenty more filling out this prequel series that tackles J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age. Check out our complete “Rings of Power” Season 2 cast and character guide below.

Morfydd Clark as...

Bill Nighy starrer “Joy” is set to world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.

Written by Jack Thorne (“His Dark Materials”) and directed by Ben Taylor (“Sex Education”), the film sees Nighy play surgeon Patrick Steptoe as he joins forces with scientist Robert Edwards (played by James Norton) and nurse and embryologist Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie), to create the world’s first IVF baby in 1978.

“The beautifully crafted period drama celebrates the power of perseverance and the wonders of science as it follows this maverick trio of visionaries who overcame tremendous odds and opposition to realise their dream, and in doing so allowed millions of people to dream with them,” reads the synopsis.

The film will premiere on Oct. 15 at this year’s Cunard Gala, with Nighy, Norton and McKenzie all set to attend. It will premiere on Netflix on Nov. 22.

“I am truly honoured that my debut film,...

In celebration of its 10th anniversary in 2025, Jane Tranter‘s production firm Bad Wolf (Doctor Who, His Dark Materials) is launching the Blaidd Writers Program, a “rolling six-month paid development and training initiative to find and nurture the next generation of Welsh drama writers, in association with Screen Alliance Wales.” Participants will be mentored by screenwriters Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, National Treasure), Russell T. Davies (Doctor Who, It’s A Sin) and Marnie Dickens (Gold Digger, Wilderness)

The scheme, unveiled Tuesday, will see three writers develop, with Bad Wolf, an original, contemporary Wales-set returning drama. They will also take part in master classes with industry professionals, including the co-creators of HBO and BBC’s hit drama Industry, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, and screenwriter and In My Skin creator Kayleigh Llewellyn.

Writers will start their placements in January at Bad Wolf’s Cardiff headquarters, Wolf Studios Wales. They will be...

While HBO execs aren't tied to the ratings like regular commercial channels, they have to air programs that will keep viewers subscribed. Which of their shows will be cancelled or renewed? We'll have to wait and see.

Scripted HBO shows listed: Animals, Avenue 5, The Baby, Ballers, Betty, Big Little Lies, Boardwalk Empire, The Brink, Camping, The Comeback, Crashing, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Deuce, Divorce, Eastbound & Down, Euphoria, Game of Thrones, Gentleman Jack, Getting On, Girls, The Gilded Age, Hello Ladies, Here and Now, High Maintenance, His Dark Materials, House of the Dragon, I May Destroy You, I Know This Much Is True, The Idol, In Treatment, Industry, Insecure, Irma Vep, Jonah from Tonga, The Last of Us, The Leftovers, Looking, Lovecraft Country, Mare of Easttown, Mosaic, Mrs. Fletcher, The Nevers, The New Pope, The Newsroom, The Night Of, The Outsider, Perry Mason,...

Philip Barantini’s four-part drama series Adolescence (working title) starring and co-created by Stephen Graham, with Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, has begun filming in the UK for Netflix.

The series is about a family dealing with the aftermath after their 13-year-old son is charged with murdering a teenage girl. Each episode is filmed in one continuous shot and unfolds in real time.

Adolescence is produced by Warp Films, Graham’s Matriarch Productions and Plan B. Graham wrote and created the show alongside Bafta-winning writer Jack Thorne best known for The Swimmers, His Dark Materials and Enola Holmes.

Other cast...

While the dramatic movements of projects at Warner Bros. seemed to have calmed down and despite some big decisions being made on gambles like Kevin Costner’s Horizon series, the studio is still working on some re-arrangement of their properties. It was reported earlier that upcoming series that were meant to be exclusive to the Max streaming app are now becoming HBO originals. Previously, all shows that were based on Warner Bros. IP fell under the Max umbrella, which felt like the most obvious way to separate the label from HBO. “We felt like we had to delineate between an HBO show and a Max show,” HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys said. “The idea of using Warner Bros. IP as a delineation for Max felt right. At least that gives you a clear lane. But as we started producing those shows, we were using the same methods, the same kind of thinking,...

¡La magia regresa! © Warner Bros

La serie de “Harry Potter” de HBO ya tiene guionista y director. Francesca Gardiner ejercerá como showrunner y productora ejecutiva y Mark Mylod será productor ejecutivo y director de varios episodios.

La nueva serie, actualmente en desarrollo, será una adaptación fiel de los libros de J.K. Rowling y contará con un nuevo reparto. HBO planea estrenar la nueva serie de “Harry Potter” a lo largo de una década, con cada temporada basada en uno de los libros de la saga.

Casey Bloys, director general de HBO y Max Content ha dicho: «Estamos encantados de ofrecer al público la oportunidad de descubrir Hogwarts de una forma totalmente nueva. Harry Potter es un fenómeno cultural y está claro que existe un amor y una sed perdurables por el Wizarding World.»

La serie de “Harry Potter” se estrena en Max en 2026.

¡SÍGUENOS!

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Harry Potter is a timeless franchise that will be savored for decades to come. Whether you’re 5, 15, or 50, the books are enough to impress just about anyone, and that’s the magic of Harry Potter. On top of that, the movies are some of the best live-action adaptations out there. All in all, the Wizarding World has made a special place in the fans’ hearts, and no one would like to have that ruined.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]However, thirteen years after the release of the last Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part Two, it was announced that the characters would be coming to the small screen soon. Fans who have grown up with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the gang, were initially concerned about the television reboot, fearing it might not live up to the success of the original films and books.

It was in April 2023 that we first learned of plans to reboot Harry Potter for streaming and Warner Bros. Discovery has since embarked on a lengthy quest to find a creative team for the decade-long series.

Yesterday, the news broke that the show has moved from Max to the HBO cable network and we now have a confirmed showrunner, producers, and director (via SFFGazette.com).

HBO, in association with Warner Bros. Television, has named Francesca Gardiner as showrunner and executive producer, and Mark Mylod as executive producer and director of multiple episodes of the upcoming original series.

A brief logline has also been released which reads, "The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved 'Harry Potter' book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters 'Harry...

The upcoming Harry Potter series for HBO’s Max has finally found a director and showrunner. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Francesca Gardinier has been hired as the project’s writer and showrunner. Mark Mylod has been hired to direct “multiple episodes.”

Gardinier and Mylod have experience working with HBO on “Succession.” Gardiner also worked on HBO’s “His Dark Materials.” Mylod worked on HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and “The Last of Us,” all high-profile shows.

Many Harry Potter fans are excited about the new series being promoted as a “faithful adaptation” of the books by author J.K. Rowling. While the films were good, they often cut a lot of content out for time or budget constraints. This show aims to be more faithful to the source material.

(Image Credit: Jk Rowling Library)

According to THR, Rowling will also be an executive producer on the show, although she will...

The upcoming “Harry Potter” HBO series has already cast a spell on “Succession” fans.

IndieWire can confirm that the “Harry Potter” show will be executive produced and directed by Mark Mylod, with “Succession,” “His Dark Materials,” and “Killing Eve” scribe Francesca Gardiner serving as showrunner and executive producer.

Mylod, whose TV credits also include “Game of Thrones” and “The Last of Us” as well as the feature film “The Menu,” will helm “multiple episodes” of the series, per a press release. The show is currently in development and will be available on Max’s expanding global footprint.

Controversial “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling is also executive producing.

The official series description promises that the show will be a “faithful adaptation of the beloved ‘Harry Potter’ book series,” featuring a new cast to lead a “new generation” of fans.

Per the synopsis, “each season will bring ‘Harry Potter’ and these incredible...

The Harry Potter television series is starting to take shape.

Succession duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod have signed up as its writer and director, respectively.

This comes four months after Deadline revealed that Gardiner was one of three finalists to win the prize to reboot the classic kids franchise for the small screen. Gardiner beat Tom Moran and Kathleen Jordan to win the gig.

Gardiner, who was a consulting producer on Season 3 and Season 4 of the Brian Cox-led family drama, will serve as showrunner and exec producer, while Mylod, who directed over a dozen episodes of the show, will direct multiple episodes and also exec produce.

It comes after it emerged that Harry Potter was moving from a Max original to an HBO original as part of a strategy rethink at the Warner Bros Discovery business. The series is slated for a 2026 bow.

The series, which is remains in development,...

Spoiler Alert!This article contains Spoilers for The Acolyte episode 5.

The Acolyte has proven to be the most divisive entry in the Star Wars franchise, with fans almost entirely turning their back on the High Republic series. Created by Leslye Headland, the series stars actress Dafne Keen in the role of Jedi Padawan Jecki Lon. The actress is primarily known for playing X-23 in 2017’s Logan.

Logan star Dafne Keen plays a Jedi in The Acolyte (Credit: Lucasfilm).

Despite the criticisms aimed at Headland’s show, she deserves credit for putting the spotlight back on Keen. Following the show’s most recent fifth episode, fans took to social media to praise Keen’s performance in the series. At the same time, they also demanded the actress return to Marvel movies. Here is why Leslye Headland deserves credit for making Dafne Keen shine in The Acolyte.

Fans React to Logan Star...

When Jamie Kenna got off the phone with his agent following an audition for season two of House of the Dragon, he was devastated. He hadn’t booked the role.

Ser Alfred Broome, who serves as a knight on Queen Rhaenyra’s black council – and, as the British actor describes, is a “Targaryen by employment” – had escaped him. “I was absolutely gutted because I really, desperately wanted it. I thought the audition had gone well,” Kenna tells The Hollywood Reporter.

But three weeks later, casting directors for HBO’s hit Game of Thrones prequel changed their minds. A week after that, Kenna was in costume and on set, surrounded by fellow castmembers Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith and Eve Best. Having initially lost out, he came to understand that this was the role of a lifetime.

“I knew it was the biggest, it was the next level that I’d always wanted,...

Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out movie is continuing to expand its cast.

Andrew Scott joins the growing list of performers for the latest film in the crime franchise, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Last week, director Johnson announced the movie’s title as Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

Scott joins previously confirmed castmembers Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor and Cailee Spaeny in the project that counts Johnson and Ram Bergman as producers.

Netflix announced last week that the third film will follow a new murder mystery in a yet-to-be-disclosed setting and will feature another colorful array of suspects catching the attention of returning detective Benoit Blanc (Craig).

Scott recently starred in the Netflix series Ripley, with the adaptation of author Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley debuting last month. Scott was seen in last year’s drama feature All of Us Strangers and is also...

UK-based production, financing and sales outfit Anton has secured over €100m in financing through a group of institutional investors, led by funds and accounts managed by US investment company BlackRock.

The financing allows Anton to expand its feature film and television series development and production slate.

The feature film development team plans to produce 10 features per year, focusing on European English-language projects aimed at a global audience, specifically genre titles, including action, thriller, elevated horror and sci-fi.

Greenland 2 starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, who reprise their roles in this sequel to Greenland: Migration, is in production.

Anton was established...

Anton, the European production, financing and sales group behind “Greenland,” is set to ramp up its output following a significant injection of funds.

The company — which was the first to bring institutional slate funding to European production — has secured more than Euros100 million ($109 million) in new financing through a group of institutional investors, led by funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. The new financing will allow Anton to expand its feature film and television series development and production slate as it embarks on a significant phase of growth.

Led by founder and CEO Sébastien Raybaud, Anton now plans to produce 10 features per year, focussing on large-scale commercial European English-language projects in the genre space for a global audience. The company is currently in production on “Greenland 2,” starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin and the sequel to 2020 survival thriller hit.

“We have an amazing development and production team in place focused on creating high quality,...

Anton, a European studio that has backed titles including Paddington and His Dark Materials, has raised €100M ($108M) in financing through investors led by funds and accounts managed by BlackRock.

UK-based Anton unveiled the raise during the Cannes Film Festival and said it would enable the company to support “large-scale commercial European English-language projects.”

Anton pointed to genre projects, including action, horror, and sci-fi, as areas of interest. The studio is currently backing Greenland 2, starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin.

Anton CEO Sébastien Raybaud said: “Partnering and working with the very best A-list cast and top-tier filmmakers, our goal is to produce films and series across all commercial genres on a global scale.”

Anton will remain under the control of management following the deal with BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset managers.

Established in 2011, Anton’s current slate includes Claude Barras’ animated feature Savages, which will premiere in Cannes,...

Exclusive: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to new musical franchise Verona’s Romeo & Juliet, in partnership with Hero Entertainment and Rainmaker Films. A modern reimagining of one of the most beloved love stories of all time, the first of the films will unspool wide on Valentine’s Day 2025, in one of Briarcliff’s biggest releases to date.

Set in 1301 at the end of Medieval times, Verona’s Romeo & Juliet finds our most famous star-crossed lovers turning the tides on the history Shakespeare based his own story on, as they reveal the truth to the very future of the Empire. But the biggest twist in this most beloved of tales is leaving the poetry of Iambic Pentameter in the past to tell the story with the help of original pop music.

With Clara Rugaard (Love Gets a Room) and Jamie Ward (His Dark Materials) in the lead as Romeo & Juliet,...

The renaissance of “Doctor Who,” which started its latest season this week, is a 20-year journey that is entwined with the establishment of a thriving TV production scene in South Wales, where it shoots, and the meteoritic rise of the production company Bad Wolf.

This dates back to 2003 when writer Russell T Davies was asked by the BBC’s then head of drama, Jane Tranter, to revive the show and to base the production in South Wales, an area hitherto known for coal mining and heavy industry. It was produced in 2004, overseen by BBC Wales head of drama, Julie Gardner.

When Tranter and Gardner relocated to Los Angeles to lead BBC Worldwide Productions and Adjacent Productions, they produced “Da Vinci’s Demons” for Starz, and again located the production in South Wales.

In 2015, Tranter and Gardner set up Bad Wolf, which takes its name from an episode of “Doctor Who,” and...

Rings of Power Season 2 Cast: Who is Joining the Lord of the Rings Series? - Main Image

Prime is set to release The Rings of Power season 2 in the latter part of this year, so let's take a quick recap about who we can expect to join the series soon. Meet The Rings of Power season 2 cast here.

Sam Hazeldine Replaces Joseph Mawle as Adar

Initially played by Joseph Mawle, Adar will be played by Sam Hazeldine in The Rings of Power season 2, instead.

Although Mawle had not explained his departure from the show, he did write, "Best to cast and crew for S2, I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines X."

Sam Hazeldine is best known for playing recurring roles in Peaky Blinders as George Sewell, Rain Dogs as Paul, Slow Horses as Moe, and most recently, in Masters of the Air as Lt. Col. Albert 'Bub' Clark.

Jay Hernandez, known for his roles in films including Hostel and Suicide Squad, will make his feature directorial debut with the horror movie Night Comes, we’ve learned today.

Impossible Dream Entertainment and Canada-based production and financing outfit Big Picture Cinema Group are teaming to produce the new feature horror thriller, which will star Dafne Keen and Samantha Lorraine.

Jay Hernandez also wrote the screenplay with Jason Bourque and Nancy Isaak.

Night Comes unfolds against the backdrop of a cataclysmic event that threatens to engulf humanity. Two sisters manage to escape the horror only find themselves thrust into a perilous struggle for survival, tasked with a mission that holds the fate of mankind in the balance.

The press release promises, “Night Comes promises to deliver a spine-chilling, edge-of-your-seat experience that will leave audiences breathless.”

Jay Hernandez said, “With Night Comes we have a chance to do two unique things simultaneously.

Ian Gelder, the British actor who played Kevan Lannister on HBO’s Game of Thrones and the villain Zellin on Doctor Who, has died. He was 74.

“It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that I’m leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder,” the actor Ben Daniels announced on Instagram. Daniels revealed that Gelder had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer five months ago and that “neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast.”

“He was my absolute rock and we’d been partners for more than 30 years. If we weren’t together we spoke to each other everyday,” Daniels wrote. “He was the kindest, most generous spirited and loving human being. He was a wonderful wonderful actor, and everyone who worked with him was touched by his heart and light.

Ian Gelder, a British actor known for his role as Kevan Lannister in “Game of Thrones,” died Monday of complications from bile duct cancer. He was 74.

Gelder’s partner, Ben Daniels, confirmed his death in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

“It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that I’m leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder,” Daniels wrote. “Ian was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December and yesterday he passed at 13.07. I’d stopped all work to be his carer but neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast.”

Gelder played the younger brother of Lord Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) in 12 episodes of the HBO series “Game of Thrones.” He appeared in multiple television series, including “Doctor Who,” “Snatch,” “Fifteen-Love,” “Casualty,” “Father Brown,” “The Bill,” “Edward the King,...

The Disney+ era of "Star Wars" has by all accounts been a mixed bag, but upcoming murder mystery series "The Acolyte" seems like a promising addition to the universe's canon for a few key reasons. Among them is its dynamic and ambitious action, which has been hyped in pre-release press and is briefly on display in the show's first trailer. In it, warriors draw their lightsabers against an unseen force in the forest, two fighters face off in a wuxia-inspired showdown, and at one point a character even pulls a knife -- a rarity in this world of Force and saber-driven violence.

The "Acolyte" cast has admitted that one of the saga's most famous fights, the showdown between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul in the imperfect yet vital prequel "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," was both a reference point during production and a bar they...

Apple TV+ has ordered a series adaptation of Mick Herron’s “Down Cemetery Road” with Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson attached to star, Variety has learned.

This is now the second adaptation of Herron’s books to get the series treatment at Apple, with the other being the popular spy series “Slow Horses” starring Gary Oldman. Morwenna Banks, who is a writer on “Slow Horses,” will serve as lead writer on “Down Cemetery Road.”

The official logline of the new series states, “When a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Tucker (Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson). Zoë and Sarah suddenly find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals that people long believed dead are still among the living, while the living are fast joining the dead.”

Banks and Thompson...

Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson (Luther) have been tapped to star in Down Cemetery Road, a thriller series for Apple TV+ based on the book from Gold Dagger Award-winning author Mick Herron.

The project comes to Apple following the streamer’s work with Herron on Slow Horses, its hugely popular espionage drama based on his Slough House novels. Thus far airing three seasons, the show starring Gary Oldman has garnered multiple BAFTA nominations and has been renewed through Season 5.

A writer on that series, Morwenna Banks, will serve as lead writer and exec producer of Down Cemetery Road. The show centers on Sarah Tucker (Wilson), who becomes obsessed with finding a neighbor girl who disappeared in the aftermath of a house explosion in a quiet Oxford suburb. After enlisting the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson) in her quest, the pair find themselves...

Nicole Scherzinger, Succession star Sarah Snook, Game of Thrones and Sherlock actor Mark Gatiss, a revival of the musical Sunset Boulevard and the play Stranger Things: The First Shadow were among the winners at the 2024 Olivier Awards, which celebrate achievements in London theater. The ceremony at Royal Albert Hall in the British capital was hosted by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham.

The revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s Sunset Boulevard, which has starred Scherzinger as Norma Desmond and is set to come to Broadway this year, won the best musical revival award, the best actress honor for the former Pussycat Dolls singer and five other honors after also leading the nominations with 11.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel to the Netflix hit series, which has hinted at its Broadway ambitions, won the best new entertainment or comedy play award, as well as the Olivier for best set design.

Dear England,...

Get ready to play a very different kind of Easter egg hunt with the new "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte" (watch the trailer here).  Leslye Headland's upcoming series takes place 100 years before "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," which should come as a soothing balm to those who've been waiting for the franchise to move far (far) away from the Skywalker Saga and explore other periods of "Star Wars" history in live-action. That being the case, the real test here won't be seeing how many references or nods to other "Star Wars" projects you can spot; it will be figuring out where you've previously seen the show's crackerjack actors.

With the exceptions of "The Matrix" icon Carrie-Anne Moss and up-and-coming whipper-snappers Amandla Stenberg ("Bodies Bodies Bodies") and Dafne Keen ("His Dark Materials"), much of the "Acolyte" cast is composed of "Hey, I know them!" type character actors.

Exclusive: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s Warfare feature rounds out its lead cast with Kit Connor, Cosmo Jarvis (Shōgun), Will Poulter (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) and Finn Bennett (True Detective: Night Country). The film’s focus and the roles the newly added actors will play remain under wraps.

They join previously announced D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai, Charles Melton and Joseph Quinn.

Warfare is the second collaboration for Garland and Mendoza, who served as the military supervisor for Garland’s latest film Civil War set for release on April 12. The pair wrote and will co-direct the film. Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich of DNA and Peter Rice will produce. A24 will handle the global release of the film.

Connor most recently played Nick Nelson in the Netflix coming-of-age story Heartstopper alongside Joe Locke. Before that, he recurred in the HBO/BBC fantasy drama series His Dark Materials based...

HBO was built on the back of showrunners such as David Chase, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and Jesse Armstrong but is now facing a new dilemma involving directors.

Drama boss Francesca Orsi lifted the lid on the “consistent tussle” over who is charge of a series as more and more “esteemed” directors move into television.

Orsi, speaking at the Series Mania event in France alongside Jane Tranter, boss of Doctor Who producer Bad Wolf, said that high-profile directing talent want to be the “final arbiter” on the network’s originals.

“One point that’s been very tricky for us is esteemed directors coming in and wanting to be showrunners and the final arbiter of a project, when HBO has been built on the backs of writers and our showrunners,” she said.

She added that film directors are used to complete control.

“These days we need to ensure what we are getting into,...