Hal Dresner , a veteran writer for film and television who is credited for the memorable line, “What we have here is a failure to communicate” in the film Cool Hand Luke, died Friday in Medford, Oregon of cancer. He was 85 and his death was confirmed by his family. Dresner had a long career as a writer and producer, working on The Harvey Korman Show, The Eiger Sanction, CBS Summer Playhouse, MASH, and more. Born in June 1937 in New York City, he graduated from the University of Florida and moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting . He was also the author of The Man Who Wrote Dirty Books, a comic novel. He was a mentor to Garry Shandling and Richard Lewis, according to a family friend. Survivors include his daughter, Amy Paloma Dresner and his sister, Rea Dresner of Pennsylvania. No memorial has been planned. … [Read more...] about Hal Dresner Dies: Writer For ‘Cool Hand Luke’ And ‘Zorro The Gay Blade’ Was 85
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‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power’ Adds Ciarán Hinds, Rory Kinnear & Tanya Moodie To Season 2 Cast
Ciarán Hinds , Rory Kinnear and Tanya Moodie have joined the Season 2 cast of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in recurring roles. Developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, The Lord of the Rings series, which is currently in production in the UK, is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth — thousands of years before the events of the Lord of the Rings films and the novels by JRR Tolkien. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. No character descriptions have been revealed. Hinds, Kinnear and Moodie join previously announced Season 2 recurring cast additions Sam Hazeldine, who takes on the role of Orc leader Adar, replacing Joseph Mawle, who portrayed the character in Season 1; as well as Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen ‘Zates’ Atour, Ben Daniels, newcomer Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, Nicholas … [Read more...] about ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power’ Adds Ciarán Hinds, Rory Kinnear & Tanya Moodie To Season 2 Cast
Damon Lindelof & Justin Britt-Gibson Depart As Scribes For Secret ‘Star Wars’ Pic; Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Still Aboard As Director
Lucasfilm’s top-secret Star Wars movie to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has lost its screenwriters, Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson , Deadline can confirm. Details as to the film’s plot are still under wraps, though we understand that Obaid-Chinoy remains at the helm, with further details on the project to be unveiled at next month’s Star Wars Celebration. Sources suggest that the film is still in a solid position to be one of the first out of the gate for the franchise — if not the first — on the heels of 2019’s Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker . Disney has, in the interim, prioritized building out the Star Wars universe on the TV side, with hit shows like The Mandalorian . While the specific reasoning behind the departure of Lindelof and Britt-Gibson hasn’t been disclosed, the former hinted at the possibility in an i nterview with SlashFilm unveiled earlier this month. “I will just say, that for reasons that I can’t get into on … [Read more...] about Damon Lindelof & Justin Britt-Gibson Depart As Scribes For Secret ‘Star Wars’ Pic; Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Still Aboard As Director
BAFTA TV Awards Nominations: ‘This Is Going To Hurt’ & ‘The Responder’ Lead Chase For Prizes
BAFTA has pulled the curtain back on its Television Awards nominations, and This Is Going To Hurt and The Responder are leading the chase for a famous bronze mask. The BBC dramas each have six nominations across the BAFTA Television Awards and BAFTA Television Craft Awards, including Leading Actor for Ben Whishaw and Martin Freeman. Whishaw plays junior doctor Adam Kay in This Is Going To Hurt , which was co-produced by AMC. Freeman features as an urgent response police officer in The Responder . This Is Going To Hurt is nominated for Mini Series, while The Responder will compete in the Drama Series race. Adam Kay and Tony Schumacher will both do battle in the Writer: Drama category at the BAFTA Television Craft Awards. The BBC has a total of 81 nominations, putting it comfortably ahead of its nearest rival Channel 4, which has 33 nominations. Netflix scooped 24 nominations, while Apple TV+ was behind with 15. Bad Sisters and Slow Horses both … [Read more...] about BAFTA TV Awards Nominations: ‘This Is Going To Hurt’ & ‘The Responder’ Lead Chase For Prizes
Steven Knight Set As New Scribe For Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s ‘Star Wars’ Movie
Academy Award nominee Steven Knight ( Peaky Blinders ) has taken over as the screenwriter for Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Star Wars movie following the recently announced departure of scribes Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson, Deadline can confirm. Little is known about the film, though new details should be unveiled at next month’s Star Wars Celebration in London. Sources tell us that the film will likely be one of the first out of the gate for the storied Lucasfilm franchise since 2019’s Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker , if not the first. It’s not clear what led to the departure of from the project of Lindelof and Britt-Gibson, though the former alluded to the move in a recent interview with SlashFilm . “I will just say, that for reasons that I can’t get into on this Sunday morning, on this day, the degree of difficulty is extremely, extremely, extremely high. If [the film] can’t be great, it shouldn’t exist,” said Lindelof. “That’s all I’ll … [Read more...] about Steven Knight Set As New Scribe For Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s ‘Star Wars’ Movie
‘Outlander’ Sets Premiere Date For Two-Part Extended Season 7, Drops First-Look Photos
Droughtlander is nearly over as Starz has set the premiere date for Outlander ‘s seventh season for Friday, June 16, at midnight ET via streaming and internationally on the Lionsgate+ premium streaming platform in the UK. For linear viewers, the show premieres on the same day, at 8 p.m. ET/PT in the U.S. New episodes will be released weekly Fridays. The extended 16-episode season will be split into two parts of eight episodes each, with the second half of the series inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s international bestsellers premiering in 2024. See the first-look photos above and below. Outlander was renewed for an eighth and final season in January, with the prequel Outlander: Blood of My Blood , focusing on Jamie Fraser’s parents, also officially ordered to series. Returning favorites include Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser, Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser, Sophie Skelton as Brianna MacKenzie, Richard Rankin as Roger MacKenzie, John Bell as Young Ian, David Berry … [Read more...] about ‘Outlander’ Sets Premiere Date For Two-Part Extended Season 7, Drops First-Look Photos
Blackhawks Reportedly Won’t Wear Pride Warm-Ups Over Security Concerns For Players
Getty UPDATE 10:44 AM PT -- The Blackhawks said the NHL made the decision to prevent the org. from wearing Pride-themed warm-up jerseys ... after discussions with security officials. UPDATE Chicago coach Luke Richardson called the move "an unfortunate situation" -- adding, "that’s just what we have to deal with." UPDATE "I don’t think we can control the world issues, so that takes it out of our hands," Richardson said. "We’re just making decisions as best we can as an organization and for everybody.” The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warm-up jerseys for Pride Night on Sunday, according to a report ... citing security concerns for their Russian players after the country passed an anti-LGBTQ law making it illegal to promote "gay propaganda" in Russia. According to the Associated Press , the Blackhawks -- who've worn Pride warmup jerseys before -- ultimately decided against wearing the jerseys this season for the April 12 … [Read more...] about Blackhawks Reportedly Won’t Wear Pride Warm-Ups Over Security Concerns For Players
Rose Byrne-Seth Rogen Apple TV+ Comedy Series ‘Platonic’ Sets Premiere Date, Unveils First Look
Apple TV+ has set the premiere date and offered a first look at Platonic , the upcoming 10-episode comedy series starring and executive produced by Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen . Co-created, directed, and co-written by Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco, the half-hour comedy is set to make its global debut with the first three episodes Wednesday, May 24, 2023 on Apple TV+, followed by new episodes weekly every Wednesday. Platonic follows a pair of former best friends (Rogen and Byrne) approaching midlife who reconnect after a long rift. The duo’s friendship becomes all-consuming — and destabilizes their lives. The ensemble cast includes Luke Macfarlane, Tre Hale, Carla Gallo and Andrew Lopez. Platonic is produced by Sony Pictures Television, where Stoller and Stoller’s Global Solutions has an overall deal. Byrne, Rogen, Stoller, Delbanco and Conor Welch executive produce. The series marks the latest collaboration for Apple TV+ and Byrne, who also stars in the … [Read more...] about Rose Byrne-Seth Rogen Apple TV+ Comedy Series ‘Platonic’ Sets Premiere Date, Unveils First Look
Searchlight Sets December Release For Jonathan Majors Sundance Title ‘Magazine Dreams’
After snapping up the critically acclaimed Jonathan Majors movie Magazine Dreams out of Sundance, Searchlight has set a Dec. 8 theatrical release for the Elijah Bynum directed title; a date that’s right in line with the classics’ label previous awards season launches. Searchlight beat out Neon, Sony Pictures Classics and HBO for this fierce drama in which Majors portrays a disturbed amateur bodybuilder. The pic, which Bynum also scripted, follows Killian Maddox (Majors), who struggles to find human connection in this exploration of celebrity and violence. Nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of superstardom in the bodybuilding world, not even the doctors who warn him of the permanent damage he causes to himself with his quest. Taylour Paige and Haley Bennett also star in the movie along with Mike O’Hearn, Harrison Page and Harriet Sansom Harris. Jennifer Fox, Dan Gilroy, Jeffrey Soros and Simon Horsman produced. EPs are Majors, under his production banner … [Read more...] about Searchlight Sets December Release For Jonathan Majors Sundance Title ‘Magazine Dreams’
Neon Acquires Domestic Rights To Anne Hathaway Sundance Movie ‘Eileen’
Neon has taken the North American rights to the Anne Hathaway -starring Sundance Film Festival premiere Eileen , from director William Oldroyd ( Lady Macbeth ). The distributor is eyeing a fall theatrical release. Oldroyd’s connection to Sundance began in 2013 when his short film Best won the Short Film Competition. Eilee has already notched 87% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with critics since its Park City debut in January. The pic, based on the 2015 debut novel by Otessa Moshfegh, is set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, when young secretary Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) becomes enchanted by the glamorous new counselor Rebecca (Hathaway) at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path. Shea Whigham, Marin Ireland and Owen Teague also star in the pic, which was adapted for the screen by Moshfegh with Luke Goebel. The pic was produced by Fifth Season, … [Read more...] about Neon Acquires Domestic Rights To Anne Hathaway Sundance Movie ‘Eileen’