Nasa robot on mars

EXCLUSIVE: Mattel is putting gas in the tank of its Warner Bros - Bad Robot movie Hot Wheels with writers Dalton Leeb and Nicholas Jacobson-Larson boarding to pen the live-action adaptation of the 54-year old racecar toys. Robbie Brenner, EP for Mattel Films, will lead the project alongside VP Kevin McKeon, VP and creative executive Andrew Scannell. Hannah Minghella and Jon Cohen are overseeing for Bad Robot. Nick and Dalton sold their original sci-fi spec, Endurance, to Netflix with Simon Kinberg producing in a multi-studio bidding war. The script follows a group of AI robots that have been marooned on Mars and begin to turn on one another while setting up a colony for humans. Additionally, they’re writing The Fall for Amblin and Blackmaled Productions. The duo also wrote Strongman , a darkly comedic reimagining of the making of the original Star Wars trilogy through the eyes of David Prowse, the English bodybuilder behind Darth Vader’s mask. Strongman’s … [Read more...] about ‘Hot Wheels’: Mattel-Warner Bros-Bad Robot Pic Revving Up With Scribes Dalton Leeb & Nicholas Jacobson-Larson

Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson is joining the Sundance documentary Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project as executive producer and voice of Giovanni’s poems throughout the film. Going to Mars , directed by Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, premieres Friday at the festival in U.S. Documentary Competition. It examines the life and work of Giovanni, who emerged in the 1960s as one of the nation’s foremost poets and a leader of the Black Arts Movement. She has won seven NAACP Image Awards and has been named one of Oprah’s 25 “Living Legends.” “I’m thrilled to join Michèle and Joe in bringing Nikki’s remarkable work to life on screen,” Henson said in a statement. “Interpreting and giving voice to her powerful words was a revelatory and emotional process, and moved me completely. This film reflects Nikki’s vibrance and legacy in all its complexity, and I am honored to be a part of it.” The filmmakers noted, “Taraji’s grace, generosity, and creative … [Read more...] about Taraji P. Henson Boards Sundance Doc ‘Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project’ As EP And Voice Of Legendary Poet’s Work

EXCLUSIVE : Jason Bateman is set to direct The Pinkerton , a supernatural revenge-western hybrid that Warner Bros . and JJ Abrams ’ Bad Robot acquired two years ago. Pic was sold as a spec by F9’s Daniel Casey . It was the first original film project for Bad Robot since Warner Bros signed a big deal with the producer. Bateman and Michael Costigan will be exec producers. Bad Robot’s Abrams and Hannah Minghella are the producers. The Pinkertons were a private security guard and detective agency established in the U.S. by Scotsman Allan Pinkerton in 1850. Pinkerton became famous when he claimed to have foiled a plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln, who later hired Pinkerton agents for his personal security during the Civil War. Bateman made his feature directing debut on Bad Words and followed with The Family Fang , and won an Emmy and two SAG Awards for directing episodes of Ozark, to go with the two Emmys he won for Best Actor on that … [Read more...] about Jason Bateman On The Case To Direct ‘The Pinkerton’ For Warner Bros & Bad Robot

EXCLUSIVE : Multi-hyphenate filmmaker, producer and financier Tommy Oliver has signed with CAA for representation of Confluential Films , his award-winning, Black-owned and -founded film, television, and docu production company and financier. CAA will also represent Oliver personally, as a writer-director, outside of Confluential. Oliver is the Founder & CEO, and he and his wife, Codie Elaine Oliver, are co-chairs of the creator-driven company devoted to championing inclusive, authentic and culturally specific projects, which only finances works from creators of color. News of the CAA signing comes just ahead of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival , where Oliver will be unveiling four projects. Features produced by Oliver and Confluential that are heading to the Utah festival include Erica Tremblay’s Fancy Dance , starring Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson and Shea Whigham; the Thembi Banks-directed drama Young. Wild. Free. , starring Algee Smith, Sanaa Lathan and … [Read more...] about Tommy Oliver & His Confluential Films Banner Sign With CAA Ahead Of Busy Sundance

Legal docudrama Saint Omer was voted Best Picture at the 34 th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, which announced this year’s juried award winners today. Saint Omer wins for its ability “to expertly interrogate issues of society, culture, race, and gender,” the festival release stated. “Alice Diop, as screenwriter and director, delivers a film that explores different dynamics of Black women in contemporary France, drawing empathetic lead performances from Kayije Kagame and Guslagie Malanga (whose characters never interact, save for one momentous glance). By harnessing the skills of her technical team, Diop turns Saint Omer into a shrewd, cogent, ambitious, and overwhelming film which teases a metafictional awareness while remaining clear-eyed and unsentimental.” The Palm Springs festival took place from January 5-16 and screened 134 films from 64 countries, including 27 premieres. The lineup includes 35 of the International Feature Film Oscar … [Read more...] about ‘Saint Omer’ Takes Top Honors At 34th Palm Springs Film Festival

Suffice it to say that Avatar: The Way of Water commanded the Visual Effects Society ’s attention. James Cameron box office-smash sequel scored a record 14 nominations for the 2023 VES Awards , which were announced today. Helped by three noms in the Emerging Technology category, Disney’s The Way of Water topped the single-year noms haul by Disney+’s The Mandalorian in 2021. It also shattered the old high-water mark for films, set by — no big surprise here — the original Avatar, which amassed 11 noms in 2010. The hardware will be doled out at the 21st annual VES Awards on Wednesday, February 15, at The Beverly Hilton. Avatar: The Way of Water will vie for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature — the category that hews closest to the Visual Effects Oscar — against Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Jurassic World: Dominion, The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick , the film right behind the Avatar sequel on the 2022 list of top … [Read more...] about VES Awards Nominations: ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’ Smashes Records With 14 Noms From Visual Effects Society

Two very different stop-motion animated films lead the way as nominations for the 50th anniversary Annie Awards were revealed today. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio from Netflix and A24’s Marcel the Shell with Shoes On drew up nine and eight noms, respectively, with Disney/Pixar’s Turning Red next with seven. See the full list of nominees in all 32 categories below. It’s another big year for Netflix as its Pinocchio, The Sea Beast and Wendell & Wild will face off for the Best Feature prize against Turning Red DreamWorks Animation’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish . Disney’s 2022 box office misses — Pixar’s Lightyear and Disney Animation Studios’ Strange World — managed only two nominations apiece. Meanwhile, Marcel the Shell will step up in the Annies’ Indie Feature race against Charlotte; Inu-Oh; Little Nicholas, Happy As Can Be; and My Father’s Dragon . Netflix’s The Mitchells vs. the Machines led the 2022 Annies with eight wins … [Read more...] about Annie Awards Nominations: ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ & ‘Marcel The Shell’ Lead Field

Walt Disney , Stanley Kubrick and Stan Lee are the 2019 inductees into the Visual Effects Society Hall of Fame for their towering contributions to screen spectacle and the pursuit of wondrous, effects-enhanced storytelling. The VES Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of “a select group of professionals and pioneers who have played a significant role in advancing the field of visual effects by invention, science, contribution or avocation of the art, science, technology and/or communications.” Few individuals qualify for induction as much as this year’s three inductees, who are led by Disney (1901-1966), the visionary entrepreneur and pioneering force in American entertainment and popular culture. The 26-time Oscar winner also gave the world Disneyland and launched one of television’s first great franchises, The Wonderful World of Disney , which aired weekly for more than four decades. Kubrick (1928-1999) remains a revered figure of fascination two … [Read more...] about VES Awards: Walt Disney, Stanley Kubrick & Stan Lee Tapped For Visual Effects Society Hall Of Fame

Sherri The Navy isn't gonna be happy with this. Stephen A. Smith had a BOLD take this week, but it wasn't about whether Dak Prescott is elite ... it was his reaction to Rihanna performing the Super Bowl halftime show -- simply saying, "she ain't Beyoncé ." The ESPN personality made the comment during his appearance on "The Sherri Show" Wednesday ... claiming it's no shade to RiRi, but will most certainly come across that way with the singer's diehard fanbase. "Rihanna's music is fantastic," SAS said during the interview. "She's great. She's a sister. I love her dearly, I listen to her music, I'm gonna support her 'til the cows come home." "I'm just telling you, for me, there's Beyoncé and there's everybody else. Just like there's Michael Jackson and there's everybody else." Smith says he isn't NOT excited to see Rihanna do her thing ... but makes it clear there's only room for one at the top. Waiting for your permission to load … [Read more...] about Stephen A. Smith On Rihanna Super Bowl Halftime Show, ‘She Ain’t Beyoncé’

Veteran Warner Bros. Television casting executive Findley Davidson has departed the studio after 15 years, most recently as head of New York casting. She has launched her own, New York-based independent casting office, Findley Davidson Casting, which will offer casting services for film, television, and theatre. Davidson, who joined WBTV in 2008, was made VP and head of the studio’s New York casting office in 2019, following the retirement of VP Meg Simon after a 40-year career. I hear WBTV will maintain some casting presence in New York though it is not expected to be at the level of the past. The studio’s parent Warner Bros. Discovery has been in a cost-cutting mode post-merger, and casting is one of the areas where the company has scaled back, including the elimination of the HBO Max casting department in favor of adopting HBO’s model that involves using casting directors on individual shows. In her most recent role, Davidson has been focused on discovering New … [Read more...] about Findley Davidson Exits As Warner Bros. TV New York Head Of Casting, Launches Her Own Company