Why prequels dont work

EXCLUSIVE : Fresh off a surprise “work in progress” screening at SXSW , Robert Rodriguez’s action-thriller Hypnotic , starring Ben Affleck , has been set for a May 12 U.S. release. As we revealed last month , Ketchup Entertainment will be launching the movie on more than 2,000 screens. The looming release for a movie that remains unfinished is yet another talking point in the project’s tumultuous journey to screen. Little has been straight-forward for Hypnotic but the warm reception it received on Sunday night was a welcome respite for its creatives and financiers. It’s unusual for a big budget film to get a public ‘work in progress’ screening at a festival but Austin was a smart choice given the home crowd’s reverence for Texas-native Rodriguez. The director said today: “I’ve been working on this film for many years now, and to see the reaction from my home town audience at SXSW was humbling and validating. I look forward to now sharing it with all movie … [Read more...] about Robert Rodriguez & Ben Affleck’s ‘Hypnotic’ Gets May Release Date Following Surprise SXSW “Work In Progress” Screening

A week ahead of John Wick : Chapter Four hitting theaters, star Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski are mourning the loss of their co-star Lance Reddick , who died today at 60 . “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick,” the pair said in a statement. “He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with. Our love and prayers are with his wife Stephanie, his children, family and friends. We dedicate the film to his loving memory. We will miss him dearly.” RELATED: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Lionsgate , the studio behind the action franchise, said in a statement today: “The world of Wick would not be what it is without Lance Reddick and the unparalleled depth he brought to Charon’s humanity and unflappable charisma. Lance leaves behind an indelible legacy and hugely impressive body of work, but we will remember him as our lovely, joyful … [Read more...] about ‘John Wick’s Keanu Reeves, Chad Stahelski & Lionsgate Mourn “Consummate Professional” Lance Reddick: “A Joy To Work With”

EXCLUSIVE : FX is getting back into espionage. Deadline understands that the network is developing drama series Drug Spies , from Noah Pink , who wrote the screenplay for the upcoming Tetris movie at Apple, author Kirk Wallace Johnson and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland . We hear that the original series, which is inspired by true events, tells the stories of spies who work on behalf of multinational drug companies. FX is understood to have beaten out a number of rivals to land the project, which is in the early stages of development, in a competitive bidding process. Sister , the company run by Liz Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Jane Featherstone, which was behind hit HBO series Chernobyl , is producing in association with Oil & Cattle. Sister is also behind Netflix’s upcoming six-parter Eric , starring Benedict Cumberbatch playing a puppeteer whose son goes missing in 1980s Manhattan from Abi Morgan, and Amazon’s … [Read more...] about ‘Drug Spies’ Drama Series From Noah Pink, Kirk Wallace Johnson, Kari Skogland & Sister In The Works At FX

The BBC is reviewing whether to ban TikTok and has told staff to delete the Chinese social media app from work phones unless they are using it for editorial or marketing reasons. The broadcaster issued fresh guidance for employees on Sunday after the UK government prohibited the use of TikTok on the phones of ministers and civil servants. The BBC’s guidance marks a significant change of tone from the broadcaster after it has vigorously embraced TikTok over the past year, even hiring specialists for its social media team. TikTok said it was “disappointed” by the BBC’s edict, adding that bans are “based on fundamental misconceptions” about the app’s security risk. In the guidance sent today, obtained by Deadline, the BBC said: “We don’t recommend installing TikTok on a BBC corporate device unless there is a justified business reason.” BBC employees were issued with the instruction after “concerns raised by government authorities worldwide regarding data privacy … [Read more...] about BBC Considers TikTok Ban As Staff Told To Delete App Unless They Are Using It For Work Purposes

Jurassic Park star Sam Neill has tried to calm alarmed fans via Instagram following revelations that he’s been battling stage 3 blood cancer. The struggle was detailed in his upcoming memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This?” The 75-year-old Neill was undergoing chemotherapy until he switched to a new drug, one he will need to take monthly for the rest of his life. “I am alive and well and I have been in remission for 8 months, which feels really good,” he said in a video shared on Instagram Friday. “And I’m alive and kicking and I’m going to work.” Neill is back working alongside Annette Bening in the limited series, “Apples Never Fall.” Neill first noticed he had swollen glands while promoting Jurassic World Dominion last March. After consulting a physician, the actor was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer . … [Read more...] about Sam Neill Is In Remission From Cancer And Is Back Working, He Tells Upset Fans

EXCLUSIVE : Acrophobia sufferers look away now, the makers of vertigo thriller Fall are plotting a sequel after the film became an unexpected hit on Netflix internationally. British producer Tea Shop Productions and director Scott Mann are discussing ideas for a second movie, which will look to unsettle audiences with another terrifying tale set at a great height. Fall premiered last August and stars Grace Caroline Currey ( Shazam! Fury of the Gods ) and Virginia Gardner ( Gaslit ) as friends who scale and get stuck up a 2,000-foot radio tower in the desert. The indie thriller grossed close to $22M after being made on a $5M budget and has enjoyed word-of-mouth success on streaming services including Netflix, where it has scored top-10 rankings in four territories. It is available on Starz in the U.S. Fall has been Netflix’s second most-watched movie in the UK for two consecutive weeks, with only Idris Elba’s Luther: The Fallen Sun performing … [Read more...] about ‘Fall’ Sequel In The Works After Vertigo-Inducing Thriller Becomes Surprise Netflix Hit

TMZ.com Jose Canseco 's daughter, Josie -- a Victoria's Secret model -- is firing away at her critics ... insisting she never received a leg up, at least monetarily, from her dad or anyone else in her family. Josie unleashed on her haters in a series of Instagram posts on Monday morning ... claiming to be entirely self-made. It's unknown what was exactly said to her or about her that set her off -- but she clearly wanted to let everyone know that despite her dad's huge MLB career, she grew up far from wealthy. Gallery Launch Gallery Instagram "Everyone claiming I came from all this rich money because I'm a 'canseco' do ur research," the 26-year-old said. "My 'family money' was blown by the time I was 6/7 w bankruptcy n I had to work my ass off to not only sustain my 'family name' but also pay my bills cause no one paid that s*** except me." Josie said there were times in her life when she was in debt, barely making $100 a week, and … [Read more...] about Jose Canseco’s Daughter, Josie, Says She’s Self-Made, ‘My Family Is Broke’

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the Season 5 premiere of Freeform ’s Good Trouble . Maia Mitchell has returned to The Coterie — but not under happy circumstances. The Season 5 premiere of Good Trouble ends with Mariana ( Cierra Ramirez ) and Callie reuniting in their old shared bedroom at the co-living space after Mariana spent the night at the hospital with her former flame (and boss) Evan Speck. The episode picked up right where Season 4 left off, with Mariana trying to escape from a cult while saving Joaquin’s sister, Jenna. Joaquin (Bryan Craig) was tipped off that Mariana was missing by a concerned Evan (T.J. Linnard), who tags along to rescue the women. In the opening minutes of the episode, someone fires a gun in an attempt to stop the group from escaping, and the bullet hits Evan in the chest. They rush him to the hospital, where Mariana spends the night with him. In the morning, she learns from Evan’s lawyer that he named her his … [Read more...] about ‘Good Trouble’ Boss Talks Maia Mitchell’s Return, Evan’s Fate & More From Season 5 Premiere

Matthew Antonucci , who played an instrumental role in restarting film and TV production after the early days of Hollywood’s Covid lockdown, has been promoted from VP to SVP Production Affairs & Safety at Contract Services . Contract Services is the entertainment industry trust fund that administers the safety, training and roster provisions of the collective bargaining agreements between the AMPTP and IATSE’s West Coast studio locals, Teamsters Local 399 and the Basic Crafts. Antonucci, who also serves as management’s co-chair of the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee, oversaw its special Task Force in the drafting the White Paper that got the industry back to work in early June of 2020. Presented to government and public health agencies across the country, the White Paper enabled the industry to secure approval to return to work and paved the way for the companies and the industries’ guilds and unions to negotiate their Return-to-Work Agreement. … [Read more...] about Matthew Antonucci, Who Helped Restart Production After Covid Lockdown, Promoted To SVP Safety At Contract Services

MindGeek , the parent of Pornhub , the world’s biggest porn site, and other adult entertainment platforms was acquired by a Canadian private equity firm called Ethical Capital Partners, or ECP, for an undisclosed amount. ECP launched in 2022 in Montreal. Its website says it’s good at dealing with problem companies, seeking out tech-focused investment and advisory opportunities “in industries that require principled ethical leadership…have legal and regulatory complexity and that put a value on transparency and accountability.” Pornhub, founded in 2007, changed the world of adult entertainment. It has over 76 million monthly active registered members and over 130 million adults visit the site daily for “the best selection of award-winning performers, the most extensive collection of high-quality videos, and a safe, user-friendly experience for viewers,” the deal announcement says. It’s been plagued by scandal and is the subject of the Netflix documentary Money Shot: The Pornhub … [Read more...] about Pornhub Acquired By Canadian Private Equity Firm Ethical Capital Partners As Netflix Doc Debuts