February 2021 – Page 17

Thomas Jane-Led Give ‘Em Hell, Malone Sequel In The Works

Thomas Jane-led Give ‘Em Hell, Malone sequel in the works

It’s been over a decade since the Thomas Jane-led neo-noir crime thriller Give ‘Em Hell, Malone made its premiere at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International and now the Golden Globe nominee is set to return to the character as a sequel is officially in the works, according to Variety.

The sequel, which will be penned by original screenwriter Mark Hosack, will center on the titular character as he re-emerges after a decade of hiding from his past and when a chance encounter exposes him to the world, he must race against the clock to find the man trying to kill him and who is behind a sinister attack that threatens his life.

“Malone has always been one of my favorite characters and we’re all thrilled that the original film found such a devoted fanbase,” Jane said in a statement. “I couldn’t stop thinking about where Malone would be now and where he is headed.”

Click here to purchase the original action thriller!

The untitled sequel will be produced by Renegade Entertainment, the banner co-founded by Courtney Lauren Penn and Jane, alongside Richard Rionda Del Castro’s Hannibal Media, with the latter label set to fully finance the film and handle worldwide sales for the project.

“Revisiting Malone is one of the highlights of my writing career,” Hosack said in a statement. “The idea was to inject Malone into a grounded, Hitchcockian-thriller this time — and put our anti-hero, not just through a physical grinder, but an emotional one as well. Sure, there’s all the action expected from a Malone movie, but as his story continues to unfold, you’ll get to see him journey to some pretty extreme places as a character. The idea is to keep it real and keep it dangerous. I can’t wait for everyone to check out what we’re cooking up.”

Directed by Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction), the original film centered on a tough as nails private investigator (Malone) as he squares off with gangsters and their thugs to protect a valuable secret. Malone goes through hell to protect the information but he dishes some hell as well. Alongside Jane, the cast for the film included Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible — Fallout), Elsa Pataky (The Fate of the Furious) and French Stewart (Deadly Class).

Shooting on the Malone sequel is currently slated to begin in the third quarter of this year.

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Wicked: Jon M. Chu to Helm Universal’s Musical Film Adaptation

Wicked: Jon M. Chu to Helm Universal's Musical Film Adaptation

Wicked: Jon M. Chu to helm Universal’s musical film adaptation

According to Deadline, Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu has officially signed on to helm Universal Pictures’ long-in-development film adaptation of Wicked, based on Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s acclaimed and popular Broadway musical of the same name. Chu will be replacing Oscar nominee Stephen Daldry (The Crown), who was forced to exit the project last year due to scheduling conflicts caused by the ongoing pandemic.

Chu is no stranger to the musical genre as he first directed the upcoming film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical In the Heights which is set to arrive in theaters and HBO Max on June 18, 2021. He is also set to direct the live-action adaptation of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch.

So much happened before Dorothy dropped in. Wicked, the feature-film adaptation of the musical phenomenon seen by more than 50 million fans around the world, arrives in theaters for the 2021 holiday season. The unforgettable characters and gravity-defying songs of the beloved hit come to the big screen as the untold story of the Witches of Oz becomes the movie event that will change audiences for good.

Prior to becoming a globally touring smash as well as one of the longest-running shows on Broadway, producer Marc Platt was originally developing Maguire’s novel for the big screen. An alternate retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of Oz, Wicked follows two opposing witches–Elphaba and Glinda the Good– from their first meeting in college to Elphaba’s ultimate downfall and transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West.

The film adaptation is currently set for a December 22, 2021 release.

The Wicked movie will be brought to the screen by Platt (Into the Woods, Bridge of Spies). The three-time Tony Award-winning stage musical was adapted from Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by book writer Winnie Holzman (My So-Called Life) and three-time Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin), who is also collaborating on the screenplay adaptation.

Wicked is produced on Broadway by Platt, Universal Stage Productions, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Arrow Video Unveils February 2021 Streaming Lineup!

Arrow Video unveils February 2021 streaming lineup!

Arrow Video, the acclaimed British indie film distributor, has unveiled the February 2021 lineup for its subscription-based ARROW platform full of cult classics, hidden gems and iconic horror films including the exclusive debut of haunted love story A Ghost Waits and the Slamdance Audience Award winner Dave Made a Maze!

February gets audiences in the mood for romance with Adam Stovall’s haunted love story A Ghost Waits. An ingeniously unique and unpredictable combo of horror, humor and heart, A Ghost Waits is a DIY labor of love years in the making from first-time writer/director Adam Stovall and producer/star MacLeod Andrews (They Look Like People, Doctor Sleep).

February will also see the ARROW bow of Dave Made A Maze, the Slamdance Audience Award winner starring Nick Thune (Mr. Roosevelt). Bill Watterson’s offbeat comedy centers on an artist who builds a fort in his living room out of pure frustration, only to wind up trapped by the fantastical pitfalls, booby traps, and creatures of his own creation.

A Ghost Waits and Dave Made a Maze join a lineup of available titles including the sleazy music documentary The El Duce Tapes and new genre standouts The Bloodhound and After Midnight. Upcoming months will see the exclusive premiere of Jill Gevargizian’s festival favorite The Stylist in March and Justin’s McConnell’s must-see indie filmmaking documentary Clapboard Jungle in April.

Stateside fans of ARROW will also enjoy new lineup standouts Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Landmine Goes Click and Meatball Machine. John DeBello’s Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, “hailed” by Variety in 1978 as not “even worthy of sarcasm”, features sentient tomatoes rising up against the human race and has become a cult classic, spawning three sequels and an active franchise, including an animated series for kids.

Landmine Goes Click is a diabolical thriller following a hapless American tourist trapped standing on an active landmine. Vacationing in a mountainous region of Europe, he steps on a landmine that threatens to go off if he moves, forced to watch as his girlfriend becomes a victim in a sadistic game of humiliation. In Meatball Machine, a young Japanese pair of lovers find their fresh feelings complicated when alien parasites invade the Earth turning people into cyborg fighters.

Later this month ARROW will drop the backwoods creature feature Jug Face, which premiered at Slamdance and was later lauded by Bloody Disgusting for its “strong performances” and Cropsey, a documentary about a New York City urban legend boogeyman.

ARROW is available in the US and Canada on all Android devices, all Amazon Fire devices, all Roku devices and on all web browsers, with the platform offering fans a free 30-day trial and subscriptions as low as $4.99 monthly or $49.99 annually, with a planned UK rollout in 2021.

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Comedian

This documentary follows Jerry Seinfeld returning to stand-up after his retirement from the hit sit-com Seinfeld. Along with stand-up newcomer Orny Adams and several stand-up veterans, we’re shown the method and misery behind this mad profession.

Sundance Now Unveils February 2021 TV & Movie Slate

Sundance Now unveils February 2021 TV & movie slate

Sundance Now has revealed their February 2021 slate, including more episodes of A Discovery of Witches Season 2, the premiere of the Canadian police procedural The Murders starring Jessica Lucas (Gotham, Gracepoint), the Season 2 premiere of the Australian murder mystery series Playing For Keeps, and more. You can check out the full February lineup below!

Monday, February 1st

José

19-year-old José (Enrique Salanic) lives with his mother (Ana Cecilia Mota) in Guatemala. His life is routine and aimless, until he finds passion, pain and self-reflection through a relationship with a Caribbean migrant, Luis (Manolo Herrera). (2018, Foreign Language)

16 Bars

Inmates at a Virginia jail collaborate with Speech—singer of the hip-hop group Arrested Development—to write music and record songs. (2018, Documentary)

Living on Soul

Filmed during a three-night, sold-out residency at the historic Apollo Theater, this hybrid docu-concert film features the late great Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, and the rest of the Grammy-nominated Daptone Records family. (2017, Documentary)

Tuesday, February 2nd

The Night Caller, Episode 3 (Sundance Now Original)

Eric Edgar Cooke’s role in the Australia Day shootings is exposed, but the true extent of his crimes and their long-lasting effects on the community are only now coming to light, while new evidence prompts John Button’s legal team to seek an exoneration.

Thursday, February 4th

The Murders

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE

After an incident of negligence in a fellow officer’s death, rookie homicide detective Kate Jameson (Jessica Lucas, Cloverfield, The Covenant) starts seeking redemption in her investigations. Will she find it? Dylan Bruce (Orphan Black, Arrow) and Terry Chen (Almost Famous, Jessica Jones) also star in this thrilling and three-time Leo-Award-winning Canadian drama.

Cleaning Up, Episode 6

SERIES FINALE

As Sam (Sheridan Smith, Cilla) risks losing everything, she faces the disastrous consequences of her actions. Running out of options, Sam must confront the network of inside traders.

Saturday, February 6th

A Discovery of Witches Season 2, Episode 5 (Sundance Now Original)

The second season sees Matthew and Diana hiding in time in the fascinating and treacherous world of Elizabethan London – here they must find a powerful witch to help Diana master her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life. In the present day however, their enemies have not forgotten them.

Monday, February 8th

Liyana

Executive produced by Emmy-winner Thandie Newton (Westworld, Line of Duty), and produced by Oscar-winner Daniel Junge (Being Evel, Saving Face), LIYANA is a genre-defying documentary that tells the story of five children in the Kingdom of Eswatini who turn past trauma into an original tale about a girl named Liyana who embarks on a perilous quest to save her young twin brothers. The film weaves her animated journey together with poetic documentary scenes to create an inspiring story of perseverance and hope. (2017, Documentary)

I Am The Blues

A tour of the juke joints and other venues of the legendary Chitlin Circuit in the Mississippi Delta, this documentary includes performances by aging blues musicians in their eighties who used to play the circuit. (2015, Documentary)

Shake The Dust

From executive producer and rapper Nasir “Nas” Jones and journalist/filmmaker Adam Sjöberg, Shake the Dust chronicles the influence of breakdancing. It’s an inspiring tribute to the uplifting power of music and movement by showing how breakdancing strikes a resonant chord in developing nations and far beyond. (2014, Documentary)

Tuesday, February 9th

The Night Caller, Episode 4 (Sundance Now Original)

SERIES FINALE

Now cleared of murder, John Button’s case exposes a corrupt police force, prompting a Royal Commission and yet another exoneration, Daryl Beamish for the murder of Jillian Brewer, as Cooke’s crimes continue to reverberate across a community that will never again be the same.

Thursday, February 11th

The Bridge Season 1

Two detectives work together to take down a serial killer operating on both sides of the Texas-Chihuahua border. Starring Diane Kruger (Inglorious Basterds, National Treasure) and Demián Bichir (The Hateful Eight, The Nun)

Saturday, February 13th

A Discovery of Witches, Season 2, Episode 6 (Sundance Now Original)

Monday, February 15th

In Between

Three Palestinian women living in an apartment in Tel Aviv try to find a balance between traditional and modern culture in this award-winning drama. (2016, Drama, Foreign Language)

Styx

A busy doctor (Susanne Wolff, The Three Musketeers) plans to spend her annual vacation fulfilling her long-held dream of sailing from Gibraltar to the small island of Ascension in the Atlantic. But everything changes when she sees a damaged, overloaded boat full of refugees nearby. Knowing that at least a hundred people could drown, she begins to organize to help them but slowly begins to fear that it will be impossible to do so. (2018, Drama)

The Third Wife

In 19th century rural Vietnam, May (Hong Chuong Nguyen, Between Shadow and Soul) is ready to become the third wife of a wealthy landowner. Little does she know that her hidden desires will force her to decide between living in safety and being free. (2019, Foreign Language)

Tuesday, February 16th

Who Killed Lt. Van Dorn?

Lt. Wes Van Dorn, a 29-year-old United States Naval Academy graduate and the married father of two young sons, died when the helicopter he was piloting crashed off the coast of Virginia during a 2014 training exercise. Motivated by her grief, his wife Nicole sought an explanation for the cause of the disaster. Her efforts spurred an investigation that uncovered a long history of negligence and institutional failings around the 53E helicopter—the model Van Dorn was piloting when he was killed, and the deadliest aircraft in the US military. Through incisive reporting and interviews with Van Dorn’s colleagues and family, Who Killed Lt. Van Dorn? is at once a poignant picture of one family’s tragedy, as well as a revelatory inquiry into the murky inner-workings of the American defense establishment. (2018, Documentary)

Thursday, February 18th

Playing For Keeps, Series 2, Episode 1

Exclusive Season Premiere

To be a footballer’s wife, it takes serious balls. Dive into the salacious world of Aussie Rules Football, unearthing secrets, lies, scandals, and murder. New episode every Thursday through April 8.

Saturday, February 20th

A Discovery of Witches Season 2, Episode 7 (Sundance Now Original)

Monday, February 22nd

Pigeon Kings

This documentary explores the subculture of men in South Central LA who train pigeons for the competitive sport of avian acrobatics. (2020, Documentary)

Tuesday, February 23rd

Jihad Jane

This documentary tells the tale of two American women who went looking for love online and became the “new face in the war on terror.” (2019, Documentary)

Thursday, February 25th

Playing For Keeps Series 2, Episode 2

The Returned Series 1

In a small French mountain town where everyone knows each other, the dead begin to inexplicably return as if their deaths never occurred. The townsfolk are forced to confront their difficult past as they seek to understand this phenomenon.

Saturday, February 27th

A Discovery of Witches Season 2, Episode 8 (Sundance Now Original)

The post Sundance Now Unveils February 2021 TV & Movie Slate appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

CS Soapbox: Why Daredevil in Spider-Man 3 is More Exciting Than Tobey

ALOT of hype surrounds the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s follow-up to Spider-Man Far From Home. However, none of that chatter is as exciting as the return of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. The upcoming film will piggyback off of a massive (mid-credits) cliffhanger that exposed Spider-Man’s secret identity and brought back J.K. Simmons as the inimitable J. Jonah Jameson. The latter’s inclusion hinted at the nature and implications of a Multiverse. For one, Simmons’ character in Far From Home wasn’t the same Daily Bugle Editor from Sam Raimi’s trilogy (despite the nostalgic utterance of “menace”). Secondly, when one familiar face appears, more are sure to follow. Case and point: the confirmed/reported return of Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus, Jamie Foxx’s Electro, and their respective Spider-Men, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.

Spectacular- Ranking the Spider-Man Live Action Films

Why? How? Ambiguity is exciting. We don’t know what any of this means for the MCU moving forward but we can assume that certain reprisals will be one and done (given contracts and careers). Seasoned comic book fans and moviegoers hope for a homage to superhero cinema of old—one step for Phase 4, one giant leap for cinematic universes. 2012’s The Avengers’ mainstreamed team-ups and Spider-Man 3 is set to make all previous adaptations/iterations fair game. That’s right, Warner Bros/DC’s small-screen tie-ins, The Flash, and “Michael Keaton back as Batman” twist is yet another desperate attempt to keep up with Marvel’s meticulously planned universe. That said, following recent reports of Cox on the set of Spider-Man 3, Marvel’s Netflix TV shows—that which was thought lost, but not forgotten—is also fair game…and that’s more exciting than more Spider-Men.

Daredevil" New York's Finest (TV Episode 2016) - IMDb

Why?

Long before WandaVision premiered on Disney+, the MCU’s “Street-Level Heroes” defended the small screen. Of those Defenders, Daredevil was king—the Captain America-esque leader of The Defenders. While Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, The Punisher were all well-received (let’s not talk about Ironfist), “The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen” was a dish best served super cool. With long-shot fight scenes that empowered even the most deplorable couch potato, Netflix’s Daredevil redeemed the superhero’s critically-panned outing from 2003. All 3 of its seasons (yes, even its second) were superb. This was thanks in large part to Cox’s committed and balanced portrayal of Matt Murdock/Daredevil, one that was even honored by the American Foundation for the Blind. In the years since Disney/Marvel ended their relationship with Netflix/ABC and canceled the Defenders, fans have been #ReleaseTheSynderCut-vocal about reviving Daredevil.

The ongoing #SaveDaredevil campaign pleading for a fourth season has more traction than ever, refusing to settle with a mere cameo in Spider-Man 3. Kingpin actor Vincent D’onofrio has even supported the cause. Netflix’s contract ended this past November and Disney/Marvel is now free to use Daredevil characters. Marvel Studios’ is historically determined to utilize every asset both at their disposal and within the realm of possibility—from Iron Man and assembling The Avengers to negotiations with Sony and introducing Tom Holland’s Spider-Man (despite rights to the character). There’s nothing to fear about using “The Man Without Fear.”

How?

Murdock’s return will benefit Spider-Man 3’s plot. His vocation, law, can play a role in Mysterio’s framing of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, helping him clear his name. As a solution to a major problem, his inclusion is the most organic. Irrespective of the Multiverse, Murdock lives in New York, just like Peter and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. This approach could work wonders for Peter’s role as an Avenger and Tony Stark’s public predecessor moving forward. Not to mention the fact that Murdock is an obvious mentor and friend to Peter.

In the comics, both superheroes fight villains such as Kingpin—which is why D’onofrio was been heavily rumored to appear in Spider-Man 3. As heroes of similar neighborhoods, their partnership is a fan favorite—seen in projects like Chip Zdarsky’s current Daredevil series. Timely and relevant, aligning itself with other MCU projects like Disney+’s Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye, seeing them together would be a dream come true for fans of contemporary comics. When mused about that way, Cox’s Daredevil was always going to appear in the MCU. Why would they go through the exhaustive process of recasting the character when Cox is proof of concept? They wouldn’t.

Cox excelled at playing an unsuspecting blind man one minute and a gritty (and extremely capable) rage monster the next. It’s a tightrope act most performers would muck up but Cox did it in a way that lent credibility to the idea that even the most unlikely of people can overcome the odds—the odds being an endless array of bikers. Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige has already spoken on a desire to make the MCU a paragon of representation, bringing Cox back as his disabled hero supports this direction. If they were to cast anyone else, and that person was to do a less-than-admirable job, Marvel Studios will have failed for the first time since Thor: The Dark World. However, this is a moot point. The confirmation of Fox and Molina in Spider-Man 3 already signals a willingness to bring back actors from disparate outings.

Similar to Simmons’ Jameson, Daredevil probably won’t be the same guy from Netflix. Daredevil had very loose connections to the larger MCU and, while it would be fun to throw caution to the wind, Feige and company generally aren’t a myopic bunch. A soft-reboot of the character would pave the way for future shows which ignore narrative inconsistencies like Bullseye’s teased return at the end of Daredevil’s third season. A reboot would see its core cast return (some of which needs jobs) and have them play parallel universe versions of their characters. Think Keaton’s Vulture in that Sony-owned Morbius trailer: was that the same villain from Spider-Man: Homecoming? Or silently different in that he’ll never mention Stark Industries. Regardless, the spirit remains without the complications of adhering to previous events.

Even if MCU Murdock is a tad different, his return rewards a very vocal of the fanbase ala Zack Synder’s Justice League. It doesn’t matter if the storyline or characters were thought to be a thing of the past, nothing is beyond resurrection. Having Murdock interact with other MCU characters and sparking a Daredevil revival lends credibility to induction of fellow Defenders Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, The Punisher, and Ironfist—the latter in desperate need of a re-write (all the more reason to run with the parallel universe idea, thanks Multiverse loophole). The Punisher is another character with iconic ties to Spider-Man and an already-established dynamic with Daredevil.

Before headlining his series, Jon Bernthal’s anti-hero was flawlessly introduced in Daredevil. Bernthal’s performance in season two’s “Penny and Dime” arguably should’ve earned him an Emmy nomination. Regardless, Bernthal has openly-talked about wanting to return. Maybe he’s already gotten a call. Given the mature nature of shows like The Punisher and Daredevil, series revivals would work best on Hulu—which Disney is a majority owner. During Disney’s recent investors’ meeting, it was said that Marvel’s more adult content (previously-Fox properties like Logan and Deadpool) would become available to stream on Hulu/Disney+ Star. The packages are bundled for a reason. The mature MCU is very much a thing, expanding its dominance across multiple platforms and allowing Ryan Reynolds to be censored on Disney + and explicit on Hulu/Star.

The inclusion of Cox’s Daredevil is more exciting than a brief Spiderverse storyline because of what it means for the future of the industry. It’s not 2008, Marvel Studios isn’t just kind of planning anymore. Everything is mapped out concerning fan enthusiasm, creative integrity, and profit. The more movies/shows Marvel Studios makes, the more Disney intimidates Warner Bros. and other competitors. The fact that every time Daredevil is mentioned, it trends on social media speaks volumes for capitalization. So, of course, Daredevil, once on Netflix, will make a comeback—an assertion of dominance 10 times more powerful than Peacock obtaining The Office. Marvel Studios’ mission statement is as follows: monetary purposes aside, it’s the right thing to do…best of luck to everyone else.

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New Coming 2 America Poster Features New and Familiar Characters

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New Coming 2 America poster features new and familiar characters

Amazon Prime Video has released a brand new Coming 2 America poster for the long-awaited comedy sequel to 1988’s Coming to America, featuring the return of the familiar characters led by Eddie Murphy as well as new characters including Wesley Snipes and Leslie Jones. The film will be available for streaming on Friday, March 5. Check out the full poster in the gallery below!

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, Coming 2 America continues to follow newly-crowned King Akeem and his trusted confidante Semmi embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.

The sequel will feature the return of original cast members Eddie Murphy as Akeem, Arsenio Hall as Semmi, James Earl Jones as King Jaffe Joffer, Shari Headley as Queen Lisa, John Amos as Cleo McDowell and Louie Anderson as Maurice, and the motley barbershop crew. Joining this star-studded ensemble are Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Jermaine Fowler, Bella Murphy, Rotimi, KiKi Layne, Nomzamo Mbatha, and Teyana Taylor.

Purchase the first Coming To America film here!

Coming 2 America is directed by Craig Brewer from a screenplay written by black-ish creator Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein, and David Sheffield, with story by Barry W. Blaustein, David Sheffield, and Justin Kanew, based on characters created by Eddie Murphy. It is a co-production by Paramount Pictures, New Republic Pictures, and Eddie Murphy Productions. The producers are Kevin Misher and Eddie Murphy, executive producers are Brian Oliver, Bradley Fischer, Valerii An, Kenya Barris, Charisse Hewitt-Webster, Michele Imperato Stabile, and Andy Berman.

The original film was directed by John Landis in 1988 and starred Murphy as a wealthy African prince who comes to Queens, New York posing as a poor man to search for a bride. It became a box-office hit with a worldwide gross of more than $280 million.

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CS Interview: Alan Ruck Talks Horror-Comedy Freaky, Plus Exclusive Clip!

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CS Interview: Alan Ruck talks horror-comedy Freaky, plus exclusive clip!

To celebrate the film’s forthcoming arrival on Blu-ray and DVD, ComingSoon.net got the opportunity to chat with star Alan Ruck to discuss his first proper exploration of big-screen horror with Christopher Landon’s Freaky, as well as given an exclusive clip exploring his character, which can be viewed in the player below!

ComingSoon.net: Freaky is such a fun ride from start to finish, I truly had a blast with it, but what about the project really drew you to want to be a part of it?

Alan Ruck: I truly want to try to do every genre before I take the dirt nap, I just want to do every sort of picture. I have done a Western many years ago. I would do that again maybe one more time. I’ve always wanted to do horror movies. I love them. When they’re great, they’re great. Another thing too is that this was offered to me and I tend to take offers very seriously. You know, when you don’t have to chase something down or jump through hoops to get it, it’s pretty sweet. So this just came my way and Mr. Landon just kind of reached out and said, “Would you like to do this?” I was like, “Vince Vaughn is going to play a 16 year old girl? Yeah, I’m in.” That was pretty much it. I mean, it didn’t take too much convincing, you know? But I really do sort of want to try to do every sort of genre of motion picture that there is before I hang up my spurs, you know?

CS: So then, what was it like then for you getting to finally dip your toes in the horror genre?

AR: I got sawed in half, man, it was great [laughs]. I mean, that was another selling point. It was like, you play this asshole shop teacher and you get sawed in half with a giant circular saw. I was like, I’m down. It was great fun. I think that Chris did a really impressive juggling act balancing the horror and the comedy. I really enjoyed it and I mean, Vince is so talented and everybody involve was just terrific. I was very pleased with the way it came out. I really enjoyed it.

CS: What was it also like for you, getting to the heart of your character, since he is really just a super unsympathetic character?

AR: Well, we all know people like that, don’t we? So it’s many, many years ago that I was in high school, but I had a certain high school teacher who was just, you know, he was a sphincter. He was a genuine – well, my late father would’ve called him a horse’s ass. That’s what he was. He was a horse’s ass. And he was this kind of guy, you know, who’s not very macho, but thinks he really is super macho and is just a fool. He’s just mean, a mean spirited person. So, I kind of drew on the memories of that guy and hopefully that worked out.

CS: Did you and Kathryn get to sort of practice some of your scenes together off camera before they started rolling?

AR: Not too much. I mean, really it depends on what I’m shooting, but unless I have like a huge monologue or something, and if that’s the case, then I know that thing backwards and forwards before I ever go to work. You know, I can do it in my sleep. But I actually don’t prefer to rehearse too much because I think if everybody knows their lines and then the director, you adjust the blocking and the director says, “What if you do this? What if you come over here?” And then you rehearse a little bit to just get the mechanics of it, I like to try to capture it when we’re shooting it because I personally feel that you can lose it pretty quickly if you do it too many times. I mean, I know there’s a lot of actors out there that love to do lots of takes and they kind of rehearse on film. I’m not one of them. So no, we didn’t rehearse, we just you know, rehearsed with Chris just right before we would shoot it and set up the lights and then you know, we’d go in about an hour later and knock it out.

CS: Did you get the chance to improvise little moments here and there at all?

AR: Not too much on this one, it was pretty clear cut. I’m working on Succession right now for HBO and we improvise a fair bit on that and I enjoy working that way, but working on Freaky was pretty clear. It was just like, this is what it is. Come in, be this guy, say these words, be mean to the poor girl and get cut in two. [Laughs]

CS: What was it like getting to see the practical effect done on set?

AR: I mean, you know, I had to go in for a face cast and the special effects guy and I are about the same size, so almost exactly, so he used a body cast of himself for my body and I mean, we’re like twins, really. I wasn’t there the night that they sawed the dummy in half, but I was sent some video, which I enjoyed very much. It’s great. I mean, you know, when somebody like that, when some horrible, sort of despicable person meets an unsavory end, everybody kind of rejoices a little bit, don’t they? I mean, every audience member is just kind of like, yes, another asshole has left the planet. You know, so it was pretty satisfying.

CS: What was it also like for you learning about it coming to Beyond Fest, where they were doing it at the drive-in up at the Mission Tiki here in LA?

AR: I actually didn’t know anything about that. I’ve been in New York here since October, so I don’t know when they did that. Maybe someone would say something about it once, but I’ve just been kind of off in my own little world here and I didn’t know. So they did it at the drive-in, right?

CS: Yeah, in October.

AR: Yeah, I mean, I think that happened right as I was getting to New Jersey here to work on Succession so that kind of fell under my radar. But I think it’s great, I mean, I love drive-in movies. I went to them when I was a teenager and in college and I kind of wish they’d make a comeback, and maybe they will because of COVID, I don’t know. But I think that must’ve been a really fun way to watch this movie.

CS: I was there for it and yeah, it was quite the awesome experience. What was it then like for you upon the film’s wide release to see all the praise coming from both critics and audiences for it?

AR: I was really pleased and I thought it was well deserved because again, I mean, I think that Jason Blum is a really smart guy, the way he makes movies, and I think Chris is a real talent. And like I said, he threaded the needle on this thing. He really pulled off quite the magic trick, I feel. So I just think, you know, we go to the movies for all different kinds of reasons and there’s all different kinds of movies that fit every particular need. And just sometimes, you need some escapist stuff and you need something that’s going to scare the crap out of you and hand you a real good laugh. And when you have somebody like Vince Vaughn, who has the ability to make you believe that he’s a 16-year-old girl trapped in this giant serial murderer’s body, that’s pretty special. So I think all the praise is well deserved and I’m always happy to see it.

CS: So now that you’ve sort of explored the horror genre with slashers, what subgenre would you like to explore next in the world of horror?

AR: I’ll go anywhere. I’ll be the guy that turns into a demon. I’ll be the guy that just gets brutally murdered. I don’t care. It’s just a lot of fun. I don’t really know off the top of my head where I would go, but if there was a vampire movie or a werewolf movie or anything, ghosts, I mean, my poor wife, she can’t handle this stuff at all. A few years ago I worked on a television version of The Exorcist and I came home and I said, “Honey, I got this job on the TV version of The Exorcist.” And she said, “You can’t do it. You are not allowed to bring that energy into this house.” I said, “Well, Geena Davis is going to star in it,” and she said, “Oh hell, you’ve got to do it now.” But my wife doesn’t handle the devil, ghosts, any of that stuff. She doesn’t do too well, but I would do any of that stuff in a heartbeat. I just really dig it. I mean, The Exorcist is one of my favorite movies, obviously. There’s a movie years and years ago with George C. Scott. It’s probably the late 70s called The Changeling, not to be confused with the Angelina Jolie movie Changeling, but it was George C. Scott and he lives in this house that’s haunted by the ghost of a little boy. I mean, that movie made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, you know? I love stuff like that. I’d really be thrilled to be involved in anything classy like that.

CS: Would you say that The Changeling is your favorite horror movie? Or would you give that to a different movie?

AR: I think The Exorcist and The Changeling together, those two, I mean, it’s apples and oranges for me. They’re both spectacular movies.

CS: Even though your character met his demise in this movie, there have been talks about possibly doing a sequel or continuing Millie’s story. What would you like to see, if the story were to continue on from this movie?

AR: Well, whatever they throw at her, I’m sure she’ll come out on top, you know? She’s our plucky heroine. I don’t know. I’m not a writer per se, so right off the top of my head, I couldn’t tell you which way they should go with it. But that’s interesting, that’d be fun for her, for Kathryn. That would be a fun thing to do, to revisit that character. And all her friends, like her best buddies, they were really funny and good. You just never doubted them for a minute, you know? You just believed that they were those kids. So I hope they do it. I hope they bring all those kids back.

Click here to digitally purchase Freaky today!

BONUS FEATURES on BLU-RAY, DVD and Digital:

Deleted Scenes
- The Butcher Lends a Hand
- Charlene Hears a Rumor
- Late for the Party
Split Personalities: Millie vs. The Butcher – Two opposing characters. One killer chemistry! Go behind-the-scenes to see how Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton worked together to bring these two very different characters to life and how they created distinct personal traits for both. This piece will focus on the magnetism between Vaughn and Newton, and how that chemistry raised the stakes for two characters stuck in such a strange situation.
Crafting the Kills – This feature will take viewers into the “Wood Shop” set to see how all of the various elements and departments come together to create an extraordinary kill that fans will talk about for years to come. We will also discuss the inspiration behind this bilateral bisection, what makes it both fun and horrifying, and how it is different from anything else you have seen in other horror films.
Christopher Landon’s Brand of Horror – Blending horror and comedy is a difficult task that not many can achieve, but Christopher Landon has proven time and time again that he is uniquely skilled at it. Freaky is no different. Learn how Christopher’s vision brought new energy to the concept and elevated the story, all while creating a fun and proficient working environment. This behind-the-scenes look at how he weaves humor and gore together will give fans an intimate understanding of why a Christopher Landon film is a genre of its own.
Final Girl Reframed – The concept of a “Final Girl” is nothing new in the horror genre. However, Millie isn’t your typical Final Girl. We take a closer look at all the ways Freaky takes your genre expectations and smashes them
Feature Commentary with Co-writer/Director Christopher Landon

From the deliciously debased mind of writer-director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, the Paranormal Activity franchise) comes a pitch-black horror-comedy about a slasher, a senior, and the brutal truth about high school.

In Freaky (formerly titled as Body Swap), Seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler is just trying to survive the bloodthirsty halls of Blissfield High and the cruelty of the popular crowd. But when she becomes the newest target of The Butcher, her town’s infamous serial killer, her senior year becomes the least of her worries. When The Butcher’s mystical ancient dagger causes him and Millie to wake up in each other’s bodies, Millie learns that she has just 24 hours to get her body back before the switch becomes permanent and she’s trapped in the form of a middle-aged maniac forever. The only problem is she now looks like a towering psychopath who’s the target of a city-wide manhunt while The Butcher looks like her and has brought his appetite for carnage to Homecoming. With some help from her friends—ultra-woke Nyla, ultra-fabulous Joshua and her crush Booker —Millie races against the clock to reverse the curse while The Butcher discovers that having a female teen body is the perfect cover for a little Homecoming killing spree.

Freaky is led by Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies, The Society, Blockers) and Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers, True Detective). It will also feature Celeste O’Connor (Selah and the Spades), Misha Osherovich (The Goldfinch), Uriah Shelton (Enter the Warriors Gate) Alan Ruck (Succession), Katie Finneran (Why Women Kill), and Dana Drori (High Fidelity series).

The film is directed by Christopher Landon, who co-wrote the script with Michael Kennedy. It is produced by Blumhouse’s Jason Blum with Couper Samuelson and Jeanette Volturno set as executive producers.

The horror-comedy is available on digital platforms now and hits shelves on Blu-ray and DVD on February 9!

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The Mother: Jennifer Lopez to Star in Netflix’s New Action Film

The Mother: Jennifer Lopez to Star in Netflix's New Action Film

The Mother: Jennifer Lopez to star in Netflix’s new action film

According to Deadline, Golden Globe nominee Jennifer Lopez has officially signed on for the leading role in Netflix’s upcoming action film titled The Mother. In addition, live-action Mulan director Niki Caro has entered negotiations to helm the project.

The Mother will follow the story of a deadly female assassin (Lopez) who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men. The project is being likened to Luc Besson’s 1994 film The Professional starring Jean Reno and Natalie Portman.

The film is written by Misha Green (Lovecraft Country) with revisions by Andrea Berloff (Straight Otta Compton). Lopez will also be serving as a producer along with Elaine Goldsmith Thomas through their Nuyorican Productions. Green and Benny Medina are also set as producers along with Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Miri Yoon. Catherine Hagedorn has also boarded the project as an executive producer and Courtney Baxter will serve as an associate producer.

This project marks Lopez’s latest collaboration with Netflix, which has been working on the film adaptation of The Cipher centering around Lopez as an FBI agent. The award-winning singer’s other film credits include: Anaconda, Main in Manhattan, Enough, Monster-in-Law, Selena, and Hustlers. The latter two earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

(Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

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HBO Max Launches “Black History Is Our History” Spotlight Page

HBO Max Launches "Black History Is Our History" Spotlight Page

HBO Max launches “Black History Is Our History” spotlight page

On February 1, HBO Max will launch its Black History Is Our History spotlight page, highlighting its diverse and expansive slate of content in honor of Black History Month. Continuing our rich history of amplifying Black stories and talent, this HBO Max collection celebrates the visionaries amongst us, and collectively promotes and supports the telling of stories from the Black perspective. Black History Is Our History will offer hours of curated programming, featuring compelling films, documentaries, biopics, original programming, and animation that focus on the Black experience.

The spotlight page will showcase a collection of thought-provoking documentaries and biopics that highlight civil rights icons including one of the next Warner Bros. Same Day Premieres, Judas and the Black Messiah, (available in theatres and on HBO Max. Streaming on HBO Max for 31-days from theatrical release), Black Art: In The Absence of Light, Between The World And Me, John Lewis: Good Trouble, Say Her Name: The Life And Death of Sandra Bland, and King of the Wilderness to original programming from black leads and content creators paving the way in Hollywood such as the HBO Max Original Charm City Kings, Lovecraft Country, Watchmen, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Euphoria. Family-friendly titles such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Teen Titans and animated series such as The Boondocks and Black Dynamite will also be featured.

The spotlight page will also include the 2020 finalists of HBO’s Short Film Competition in partnership with the American Black Film Festival (ABFF): Dolapo Is Fine, A Storybook Ending, Black Boy Joy, A Rodeo Film, and The Cypher.

Below is a list of programming available on HBO Max in February. As a reminder, HBO subscribers in the U.S. have free access to the HBO Max app as part of their HBO subscription through participating providers. For those who still need to sign-up, HBO Max is offering a limited-time savings of 20% when prepaying for 6 months, now available through March 1. Terms and conditions apply. Visit HBOMax.com for more details.

OUR PAST (Documentaries, Biopics, and Original Films)

4 Little Girls, 1997 (HBO)

40 Years a Prisoner, 2020 (HBO)

1968, 2018

Amistad, 1997 (HBO)

Being Serena (HBO)

Bessie, 2015 (HBO)

Between the World and Me, 2020 (HBO)

Black Art: In The Absence of Light, 2021 (HBO) (premieres 2/9)

Boycott, 2001 (HBO)

Confirmation, 2016 (HBO)

Ebony: The Last Years of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 2016

Equal, 2020

Fists of Freedom: The Story of the ’68 Summer Games, 1999 (HBO)

Harriet, 2019 (HBO)

John Lewis: Good Trouble, 2020

Just Mercy, 2019 (HBO)

Kareem: Minority of One, 2015 (HBO)

King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis, 1970

King in the Wilderness, 2018 (HBO)

Malcolm X, 1992

Mavis!, 2015 (HBO)

Miss Evers’ Boys, 1997 (HBO)

Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist, 1979

Ray, 2004 (HBO)

Red Tails, 2012 (HBO)

Roots, 1997

Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland, 2018 (HBO)

Sugar Ray Robinson: The Bright Lights & Dark Shadows of a Champion, 1998 (HBO)

The Apollo, 2019 (HBO)

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, 1974 (HBO)

The Hurricane, 1999 (HBO)

The Loving Story, 2011 (HBO)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, 2017 (HBO)

The Shop: Uninterrupted S3, E2 (HBO)

The Soul of America, 2020 (HBO)

The Tuskegee Airmen, 1995 (HBO)

TIGER, Parts 1 & 2 2021 (HBO)

True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality, 2019 (HBO)

Under the Grapefruit Tree: The CC Sabathia Story, 2020 (HBO)

We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest, 2020 (HBO)

We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World, 2016

What’s My Name | Muhammad Ali Parts 1 & 2, 2019 (HBO)

Women of Troy, 2020 (HBO)

OUR JOY (Classic Comedy Series, Films, and Stand-Up Specials)

Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin’, 2019 (HBO)

A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)

A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, 1996

Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker, 1999 (HBO)

Dave Chappelle: Killing Them Softly, 2000 (HBO)

Eve

Fifty Shades of Black, 2016 (HBO)

How to Be a Player, 1997 (HBO)

Insecure (HBO)

Key & Peele

Legendary

Life, 1999 (HBO)

Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw, 2019 (HBO)

Loiter Squad

Love and Basketball, 2000

Love Jones, 1997

Purple Rain, 1984

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (HBO)

The Photograph, 2020 (HBO)

The Wayans Bros

Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It!, 2020 (HBO)

OUR FUTURE (Groundbreaking Series and Films)

2 Dope Queens (HBO)

Above the Rim, 1994 (HBO)

Beasts of the Southern Wild, 2012 (HBO)

Betty (HBO)

Charm City Kings, 2020

Chewing Gum

David Makes Man

Euphoria (HBO)

Flight, 2012 (HBO)

Go Tell It on the Mountain, 1985 (HBO)

He Got Game, 1998 (HBO)

Home Videos (HBO)

Industry (HBO)

Insecure (HBO)

I May Destroy You (HBO)

Lean On Me, 1989

Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Malcolm X, 1992

Native Son, 2019 (HBO)

New Jack City, 1991

Nightingale, 2014 (HBO)

O.G., 2018 (HBO)

Queen and Slim, 2019 (HBO)

Random Acts of Flyness (HBO)

Rosewood, 1997

Sermon on the Mount (HBO)

Something the Lord Made, 2004 (HBO)

The Color Purple, 1985

The Last King of Scotland, 2006 (HBO)

The Little Things, 2021(Streaming for a limited time)

True Detective (HBO)

Us, 2019 (expires 2/22) (HBO)

Watchmen (HBO)

We Are Who We Are (HBO)

Yuli, 2018 (HBO)

OUR IMAGINATION (Animation)

Black Dynamite

Codename: Kids Next Door

Craig of the Creek

gen:LOCK

Laser Wolf

Static Shock

Steven Universe

Steven Universe Future

Teen Titans

The Boondocks

The Jellies

Todd McFarlane’s Spawn (HBO)

Vixen

Young Justice

Additionally, the select titles below will be available for free on HBO.com and HBOMax.com.

Titles available on HBO.com:

40 Years a Prisoner (HBO)

Being Serena (Season 1 Episode 1) (HBO)

Between the World and Me (HBO)

Bessie (HBO)

Black Art: In the Absence of Light (premieres 2/9) (HBO)

I May Destroy You (Season 1 Episode 1) (HBO)

Insecure (Season 1 Episode 1) (HBO)

King in the Wilderness (HBO)

Lovecraft Country (Episode 1) (HBO)

Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland (HBO)

The Apollo (HBO)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO)

The Loving Story (HBO)

The Shop: Uninterrupted (Season 3 Episode 2) (HBO)

We Are the Dream (HBO)

What’s My Name | Muhammad Ali (HBO)

Women of Troy (HBO)

Titles available on HBOMax.com

A Black Lady Sketch Show (Season 1 Episode 1)

Being Serena (Season 1 Episode 1)

Between the World and Me

Black Boy Joy (premieres 2/2)

Insecure (Season 1 Episode 1)

I May Destroy You (Season 1 Episode 1)

Lovecraft Country (Episode 1)

Watchmen (Episode 1)

The post HBO Max Launches “Black History Is Our History” Spotlight Page appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Month: February 2021