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In many walks of life, a combination of recency bias and genuine progress makes it easy to think that the latest thing is also the greatest thing. However, this thought process doesn't apply to the martial arts movie genre, where a man who died in 1973 continues to be the yardstick all other stars are measured with -- and generally fall short.

Bruce Lee's death at the age of 32 cut short his life but not his legend. It can be easy to forget that his "Bruce Lee era" was just the final, star-making phase of his career. Before breaking through with his English name on "Green Hornet," Lee appeared in 20 Hong Kong movies, often using his Chinese name Lee Jun Fan and stage names like Lee Siu Lung ("Lee Little Dragon"). This means that a true Lee aficionado has plenty of comparatively obscure material to wade through -- from the 1941 film "Golden Gate Girl,...

Spoilers for Skeleton Crew episode 7, "We're Gonna Be In So Much Trouble."

After every new episode of anything Star Wars, I like to check in with my friends over at the Dark Side Divas and their Discord channel. Episode 7 of Skeleton Crew, "We're Gonna Be In So Much Trouble," was no exception. The penultimate episode had us all screaming. Then, I saw a take that really made something click about Jude Law's character, Jod Na Nawood. User Salladhor Hoole in the Discord channel shared:

"Like 80% sure Jod is a former Inquisitor. It would explain his weirdly paradoxical knowledge of the Jedi and his power-oriented ideology." He then added, "Big crackpot hours: that helmet he wears was his inquisitor mask."

And I Adore this theory.

Jod was scary in this episode, truly the most threatening he's ever been. He cold-bloodedly kills Captain Brutus without a second thought to the horror of the kids looking on.

It’s that time of year again. While some directors annually share their favorite films of the year, Steven Soderbergh lists everything he consumed, media-wise. For 2024––another year in which he not only premiered a new film, but shot another and is prepping another to begin production shortly––he still got plenty of watching in.

Along with catching up on 2024’s new releases, he took in plenty of classics, including Opening Night, Jaws, Casablanca, All About Eve, The Conversation, Alien, and nine viewings of various Star Wars films. He also got an early look at Andrew Patterson’s The Rivals of Amziah King and after beginning production on Black Bag on May 7, he had a first cut on June 23.

See the list below via his official site.

01/02 Blaming, Elizabeth Taylor

01/04 The Conversation

01/05 Predators, American Greed

01/06 The Curse

01/09 The Curse

01/10 Break Point (3)

01/11 Break Point (3), Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone,...

Lance Oppenheim, who recently directed the buzzy HBO documentary series “Ren Faire,” is working with A24 and Robert Pattinson to develop his first narrative feature film.

A24 is set to finance and produce “Primetime,” which follows a journalist who takes on an underworld of crime and ends up changing television forever. Additional details are under wraps but the project is said to be inspired by “To Catch a Predator,” the 2000s-era reality show in which host Chris Hansen aimed to expose alleged sexual predators. Hansen would use hidden cameras while orchestrating sting operations that lured culprits to homes under the pretense of having sex with a minor, only to have the suspect arrested.

Oppenheim, whose documentary credits also include “Some Kind of Heaven,” a look at the world’s largest retirement community, and “Spermworld,” following the story of sperm donors, recipients, and all that connects them, is directing from a screenplay by Ajon Singh.

One of the most important moments of Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives when Rey Skywalker touches Anakin Skywalker's old lightsaber and experiences a Force vision that ends with the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi speaking to her - but why is it Obi-Wan, and not Anakin himself or someone like Yoda? As the first movie in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, The Force Awakens was picked apart for theories unlike any other Star Wars project before. Rey's Force vision was the basis of many, if not most, of these theories, glimpsing into Rey's past and foretelling her future.

After a series of shots that include a young Rey on Jakku watching her parents leave, the corridor on Cloud City where Luke Skywalker fought Darth Vader, and Kylo Ren with the Knights of Ren, Rey breaks away from the Skywalker lightsaber and hears the voice of Obi-Wan tell her, "Rey,...

Kevin Bacon is one of Hollywood's most prolific actors, so much so that there's even a popular game named after him, and all those credits have given the star a high net worth. Bacon had a memorable film debut in 1978's Animal House, and from there, the actor's career exploded, and he would go on to deliver acclaimed performances in films like Footloose, A Few Good Men and Mystic River. With a four-decade-spanning career, Bacons ability to take on a wide range of characters has made him one of the most enduring and versatile actors in the industry.

The youngest of six siblings, Bacon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Ruth Hilda, an elementary school teacher and activist, and Edmund Bacon, an urban planner (via Biography). Growing up, Bacon's family was incredibly close, and the actor would go on to have create a thriving family life of his own. He...

This week's episode of The Acolyte may have essentially just retold the events of the third episode from the Jedi's perspective, but new comments from showrunner Leslye Headland suggest it sets the stage for the finale in a more significant way than first expected.

Fans were quick to point out that we didn't see Mother Koril die in "Choice" but does that mean she's in cahoots with The Stranger and potentially even his secret Sith Master?

"No body, no death. That’s what I’ll say about that one," Headland told Nerdist (via SFFGazette.com). "[Koril and Qimir] do not know each other. But what I will say, as a tease, if we are able to explore this story more, her species will tell you a little bit about where she ends up."

That appears to be confirmation Koril returns to Dathomir, the home of the Nightsisters. With Grand Admiral Thrawn seemingly...

This article was originally published on SFFGazette.com. Head there now for more on Star Wars and The Acolyte.

In the fifth episode of The Acolyte, The Stranger approached a downed Osha as Kylo Ren's familiar theme could be heard playing subtly in the background. Then, if you waited through the credits last week, the familiar musical cue was impossible to miss.

It's back in "Choice" (you can read our recap of the episode here), this time when the mind-controlled Kelnacca attacks Padawan Torbin. It's an odd place to include it, albeit one which makes us wonder whether the coven has ties to the Dark Side group - the Knights of Ren - that Ben Solo joins and takes charge of upon becoming Kylo Ren.

If The Acolyte is an origin story for the Knights of Ren rather than the story of how the Sith returned - leading to...

The Acolyte: 10 Ways Qimir Is A Lot Like Darth Maul & Kylo Ren - Main Image

Star Wars: The Acolyte finally revealed the mysterious identity of Mae’s mysterious Sith Master in Episode 5, Night. The smuggler-turned-trader Qimir is the Sith Lord behind the smiling helmet, who trains Mae as an assassin and goes by The Stranger.

But despite the big reveal, the origins of this new dark-side user remain a mystery. Sure, there are theories that he could be the first of the Knights of Ren, but that remains to be seen.

By the looks of it, there’s more to Qimir than meets the eye, and he seems to be no ordinary Dark Lord of the Sith.

But though Qimir’s Sith connection is yet to be revealed, he has been showing similarities with two of the biggest villains in Star Wars history: Darth Maul and Kylo Ren.

Qimir’s...

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

The Acolyte presented viewers with a big revelation when it finally introduced the supposed Sith Lord, who had been pulling the strings all along. While the fifth episode revealed that the former smuggler Qimir was behind the mask, his true motivations and identity remain a mystery that will hopefully be revealed in the remaining episodes.

Manny Jacinto’s Qimir was revealed as the Sith Lord in The Acolyte (Credit: Lucasfilm).

During an interview, creator Leslye Headland spoke about the character’s true nature and dropped a major hint regarding Qimir’s true identity and place within the franchise’s lore. In the process, Headland seemingly confirmed that a popular fan theory might come true. Here is what Headland has teased about Qimir in The Acolyte.

Leslye Headland Drops a Major Hint About Qimir’s True Identity in The Acolyte

The...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers from The Acolyte episode 5

The Acolyte's dark side user, Qimir, may not be a Sith but is instead connected to Kylo Ren. Qimir's helmet and unique lightsaber resemble Kylo Ren's, hinting at a possible connection with "The Stranger" being an early member of the Knights of Ren. The Acolyte could reveal the origins of the Knights of Ren by revealing Qimir was the founder and First Ren, turning Kylo Ren into a true dark side legacy character.

A new Star Wars theory suggests The Acolyte's new dark side user has a major connection to the sequel trilogy's Kylo Ren. Having debuted and been unmasked in The Acolyte episode 5, the identity of Mae Aniseya's master is now known. However, some key clues have suggested that this new dark side user is not actually a Dark Lord of the Sith.

In The Acolyte episode 5, it was revealed...

This article was originally published on SFFGazette.com. Head there now for more on Star Wars and The Acolyte.

In yesterday's episode of The Acolyte, The Master was unmasked and revealed to be the mild-mannered Qimir. That was all just an act, of course, and it quickly became apparent the Jedi assembled on Khofar were no match for him.

Claiming to have no name, the villain told Master Sol he's what the Jedi "might" call a Sith. The fact he's searching for an Acolyte rather than an apprentice could be telling and it's entirely possible Qimir has no ties to the Sith lineage that eventually leads to Emperor Palpatine.

After all, The Acolyte has already made it clear more than just the Jedi use the Force, so he may be just a powerful Dark Side Force user.

Today, we have a theory which could tie The Master to the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Spoilers are the path to the dark side, so beware: this article discusses major events from the latest episode of "Star Wars: The Acolyte."

What a difference a week makes. After last week's episode of "Star Wars: The Acolyte" left fans hanging over the edge of a serious cliffhanger (though not before inspiring a wave of online controversy stemming from a harmless cameo), episode 5 made good on that implicit promise and delivered all the action and mayhem we'd been waiting for. Deep-cut lore references were made, multiple heroes tragically sacrificed their lives, and villains were finally unmasked ... namely, the mysterious dark side master whom viewers have taken to calling "Darth Teeth." The twist that Manny Jacinto's Qimir had actually been Mae's (Amandla Stenberg) Sith master all along may not have been the biggest shocker in the franchise's history -- many had guessed as much when Qimir went missing...

Here's Why Kylo Ren's Theme Makes Sense in The Acolyte Episode 5 - Main Image

Ever since the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it seemed as if Disney wanted to brush the Sequel Trilogy under the carpet, with new material constantly overlapping during the Prequel or Original Trilogy era.

Interestingly, however, the recent episode of The Acolyte, Night, brought back a familiar and poignant motif from the Sequels—specifically one connected to Kylo Ren.

Is That Kylo Ren’s Theme in The Acolyte?

The Acolyte episode 5, titled Night, mostly consists of Qimir a.k.a. Darth Teeth taking out Sol’s entire squad of Jedi, but by the end of the episode he finds an injured Osha and decides to heal her wounds using the Force. Interestingly, while he does this, Kylo Ren’s theme plays for a few seconds, and this completely threw fans off.

As a refresher,...

There were several parts of Kylo Ren's story in the sequel trilogy of Star Wars movies that made no sense. Kylo Ren could have had a few major advantages in combat and his mission to kill Rey, but he didn't make use of them. Other people in Kylo Ren's life, like Anakin and Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, had a confusing role in his story.

The main antagonist of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Kylo Ren, was an interesting villain, but there were several parts of his story that didn't make any sense. Kylo Ren was a very interesting and complex villain. He became the Supreme Leader of the First Order, the villainous successors to the Galactic Empire. Kylo Ren was also a fierce enemy of Rey Skywalker, but he was also the other half of the Force Dyad with her. Kylo Ren was a hugely important part of...

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the Max streaming service in June. The Max June 2024 lineup includes House of the Dragon Season 2, the HBO original comedy series Fantasmas, and HBO original documentaries Ren Faire and Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple.

The June schedule also includes the Max original comedy special Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go and the World of Westeros collection, which takes you behind the scenes and features essential episodes.

Featured Programming

Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse (Magnolia Network)

Debuts on June 2 with two episodes, followed by two episodes weekly through June 16.

Chip and Joanna celebrate ten years of Fixer Upper with a brand-new challenge: the overhaul of a severely outdated 1960s lakehouse. Surprising interior design choices and unique outdoor features highlight the property’s dramatic cliffside views. Produced by Chip and Joanna Gaines’s production company Blind Nil.

Ren Faire...

Bore Worms are the new threat in the Star Wars universe, immune to lightsabers, unlike Krayt Dragons. Mace Windu and Azita Cruz face off against these lightsaber-resistant creatures while on a crucial mission. The introduction of Bore Worms could potentially change Star Wars canon forever, leaving a lasting impact.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Wars: Mace Windu #2! Krayt Dragons are monstrous creatures that should absolutely be feared in the Star Wars universe, but Mace Windu just faced another ‘sand worm-esque’ monster that puts the Krayt Dragon to shame for one very important reason in particular: they’re immune to lightsabers. Krayts may be strong, but there’s no evidence to suggest that a lightsaber wouldn’t injure one, which is something a Bore Worm cannot relate to.

In a preview for Star Wars: Mace Windu #2 by Marc Bernardin and Georges Jeanty, Mace Windu is on a mission to extract a...

Lynne Marta, the actress who appeared in films including Joe Kidd and Footloose, as a regular on Love, American Style and as a guest star on dozens of other TV shows, has died. She was 78.

Marta died Thursday in her Los Angeles home after a battle with cancer, her friend Chris Saint-Hilaire told The Hollywood Reporter.

The New Jersey native also showed up on episodes of such Aaron Spelling-produced series as The Mod Squad, The Rookies, Starsky & Hutch, Charlie’s Angels, Vega$ and Matt Houston and on Quinn Martin productions like The F.B.I., Dan August, Cannon, The Streets of San Francisco, Barnaby Jones, The Manhunter and Caribe.

As the companion of a wealthy landowner (Robert Duvall), Marta caught the eye of a bounty hunter (Clint Eastwood) in John Sturges’ Joe Kidd (1972), and she portrayed Lulu Warnicker, the aunt of Kevin Bacon’s Ren, in the Herbert Ross-directed Footloose (1984).

The younger of two daughters,...

Shin Hati's character arc in Ahsoka sets up a more interesting ending than Kylo Ren's story in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Shin mirrors significant Kylo Ren moments, suggesting she won't find redemption like Ben Solo. Shin Hati's lack of redemption fits with Ahsoka and Sabine's story, emphasizing the importance of sticking together.

Shin Hati's character arc in Ahsoka is setting up a better ending to her story than Kylo Ren's story in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Despite being a secondary with very little screen time or dialogue, her story is shaping up to be one of the most interesting aspects of Ahsoka, particularly in the season finale.

On the surface, Shin Hati and Kylo Ren don't seem to have much in common other than both being dark Force users, but Ahsoka, intentionally or not, created several parallels between Baylan Skoll's apprentice and Ben Solo. Now that...

The Jedi who were fortunate enough to survive Palpatine's Order 66 went to ground and survived as best they could, and according to one Star Wars fan theory, that even meant potentially working with dark side users like the Knights of Ren.

In an interesting theory forwarded by self-proclaimed "sci-fi nerd" and Twitter user Dan (@DJohnBrown), the High Republic era Jedi Master Barash Silvain escaped Order 66 and survived capture. She then continued what the Jedi Order had been doing since time immemorial, namely taking the fight directly to the Sith where and when they could. According to the theory, Silvain accomplished this in a truly unique manner - she served as a senior member of the dark Force survivalist group the Knights of Ren. According to the theory, the Mirinda, who appears as a member of the Knights of Ren in Charles Soule and Steen Cummings' Star Wars: Crimson Reign series,...

The hit Starz series Outlander returns for its penultimate season, with a host of new and returning characters joining the season 7 cast. The series follows the trials of Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) after she time travels from post-World War 2 Britain to the 18th century, forced to navigate the brutal era alongside her love, the Scottish laird Jamie (Sam Heughan), and daughter Bree (Sophie Skelton). Based on the best-selling book series by Diana Gabaldon, the epic series follows the Frasers across countries and allegiances as they fend off ruthlessness and treachery in their bid to keep their ever-growing family safe.

While the Fraser-MacKenzie clan will be at the heart of all the drama, viewers may also be surprised to learn that Outlander season 7 will see several familiar faces return from the dead (including some major villains who will cause mischief and mayhem for everyone's fan favorite family). Given that...

Star Wars' failure with the Knights of Ren has become even bigger than once thought. Having been introduced as an enclave of dark side warriors under the command of Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), the Knights were terribly underutilized throughout the entire sequel trilogy. Likewise, a reveal about Ben Solo and his corruption into Kylo has made the missteps with the Knights of Ren even worse.

Making their first appearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Knights of Ren were teased in a Force vision and flashback sequence experienced by Rey (Daisy Ridley) when she first touched the legendary lightsaber owned by Anakin and Luke Skywalker. However, the Knights weren't seen or referenced in the entirety of The Last Jedi. Likewise, the Knights of Ren did extremely little in The Rise of Skywalker, though what they did do should have mattered far more for Ben Solo's Kylo Ren on an emotional level.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker differed significantly from Colin Trevorrow's original Duel of the Fates script, but 10 of his ideas should've been kept in the final version of Episode IX. After the polarized reaction to Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the unfortunate passing of Carrie Fisher, much of Trevorrow's Duel of the Fates script had to be reworked in later drafts. This eventually lead to Trevorrow departing the project entirely, with J.J. Abrams returning to direct and completely re-write Episode IX's script. While some elements from Duel of the Fates remained in the final movie, overall The Rise of Skywalker took a completely different approach.

Related: Star Wars Episode IX: 10 Ways J.J. Abrams Deviated From Colin Trevorrow's Original Plans

However, the similarities that do remain demonstrate how some of Trevorrow's ideas could've been worked into The Rise of Skywalker. Many discarded elements would've been easy to...

Warning: contains spoilers for Star Wars: Hidden Empire #5!Marvel's tie-in comics have added a lot of context to Star Wars' Knights of Ren, some of the most mysterious and intriguing figures of the Sequel Trilogy. Now, as Lady Qi'ra's campaign against the Empire winds to a close, Star Wars: Hidden Empire #5 reveals the Knights of Ren's most integral (and devastating) role as servants of the Sith.

Charles Soule and Steven Cummings' Star Wars: Hidden Empire #5 shows the end of Lady Qi'ra's gambit against the Sith as she finally reveals her plan to defeat Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Qi'ra lures the Sith duo to the Axamine Station, where she has the Fermata Cage, an ancient artifact believed to contain a trapped Sith Lord. When Vader and Palpatine come upon the Cage, Qi'ra uses the artifact to suspend the pair in time, nearly completing her quest to rid the galaxy of the Sith.

The Singaporean entry for this year’s Cartoons Underground International Competition does not fail to please with Zhuang brothers’ Annecy-premiere entry, “Ju Ren (Giant).” On the onset, the Zhuang Brothers seem to pose as an Eastern alternative to the London-based Brothers Quay; the two after all are twins, and further experiment with stop motion. The similarities may well stop there, however: instead of dressing their work in the undead uncanny, the two experiment with liveliness.

“Ju Ren 巨人” is Screening at Cartoons Underground

“Ju Ren” follows Tan Swie Hian’s 1968 poem and takes the living poet-artist’s directions into consideration. Made exclusively of paper cutouts, “Ju Ren” follows the journey of a fish out of water. The film poetically interweaves this newsprint microcosm between the fish protagonist’s point of view and the world in which it swims, playing with shifting points-of-view in this poignantly eco-friendly universe. The lines between...

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There are a number of reasons as to why Hasbro is such a powerhouse in the world of toys, but ultimately the main factor behind why their products are so beloved is simple—they are fun. Since its original formation in 1923, the Rhode Island-based company has dedicated itself to releasing toys that are rich with creative potential and stand the test of time.

Along with beloved original creations, Hasbro is also home to some of the industry’s best licensed products, including Star Wars, Transformers, Marvel, and Power Rangers. We’ve put together this gift guide of a diverse array of Hasbro deals available on eBay now to help make your holiday shopping a breeze. Shop confidently knowing that the following items are not only enjoyable but well made, making them fantastic gift ideas!

Star Wars: Galactic Heroes: 2-in-1 Millennium Falcon

Geared towards young Star Wars fans, this...

Nine months after it hit theaters, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker looks set to go down in history as a major anticlimax. There were still a couple of cool moments, the best being the all-too-brief flashback to Luke instructing Leia to become a Jedi soon after Return of the Jedi, but damn near everything else felt inconsequential and half-baked.

One aspect that was particularly disappointing were the much-hyped Knights of Ren. Teased by Disney and Lucasfilm since The Force Awakens, we finally got to see them throw down against Kylo Ren near the finale of The Rise of Skywalker. Sadly, however, it proved to be an unmemorable battle that lasted about thirty seconds. It feels uncharitable to suggest they were merely there to bulk out the Star Wars action figure line but… well, they obviously were.

Fortunately, these characters have been fleshed out a little more in material outside the movies.

The Knights of Ren have always been one of the bigger mysteries of Star Wars in Disney’s Sequel Trilogy, but thanks to the last installment in the Skywalker Saga and its companion books and comics, we now know their full story.

The group of legendary dark side warriors were first introduced in The Force Awakens, but Rian Johnson decided against using them in the sequel, which is why they were mysteriously absent from The Last Jedi. In The Rise of Skywalker, J.J. Abrams brought the Knights of Ren back and established them early on as absolute badasses. But here’s the catch; since Episode IX already didn’t have much time to spare explaining all the different aspects of the Sequel Trilogy and the world Disney created, the Knights had as little screentime as all the other disposable characters that filled the background of the last movie in the saga.

Redeeming Kylo Ren is something of a communal effort in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, as Leia reaching out to him through the Force with her final breath, Rey showing him mercy by Force-healing his wound and the memory of Han Solo all conspire to bring back Ben Solo. However, the movie’s novelization reveals that another character also played a key role in Ben’s return to the light. Namely, his “uncle” Chewbacca.

We don’t see Kylo encounter Chewie once he’s captured by the Knights of Ren in the film, but the novel – penned by author Rae Carson – includes a new scene in which the First Order’s Supreme Leader reads the Wookiee’s mind in order to learn info on Rey and the Resistance. Instead, however, he witnesses some heart-warming memories of times he and Chewie shared in his youth.

“He saw flashes of the...

The new Star Wars comic series that focuses on Ben Solo’s journey reveals how the last Skywalker came to embrace his Kylo Ren persona through the brutality of the Knights of Ren.

In many ways, Ben’s journey mirrors that of his grandfather’s; the Jedi Knight who fell from grace but ultimately found redemption through a loved one. But the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa had a much more humble beginning. In fact, when The Force Awakens officially began a new era of a galaxy far, far away, Kylo Ren seemed more like an angsty teen who was looking for attention than a menacing Sith Lord. By the end of the Sequel Trilogy, though, the Dark Side warrior became the Supreme Leader of the First Order and the Master of the Knights of Ren, not to mention the story’s most compelling character.

Now, the...

Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar, with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors. They also shoot the breeze about their new films, The Dare, World of Darkness,...

The following contains spoilers from both The Mandalorian Episode 7 (which Disney+ released on Dec. 18) and the newly released motion picture Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Some who watched The Mandalorian‘s penultimate Season 1 episode this week may have raised an eyebrow when the Child (aka “Baby Yoda”) employed the Force in a new and exciting way — “new,” at least, for those who have only consumed live-action Star Wars fare.

More from TVLineThe Mandalorian's Very Best Episode Left Us Gasping Until the FinaleEwan McGregor Set for Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ SeriesPerformer of the Week: Jennifer Aniston

And interestingly, the same use...

“Tell her about our father.”

Swedish directors André and Vito Gogola cannot deny the roots of their short film “Ren”. In fact, they are quite vocal about the inspirations for their film as the tagline on YouTube speaks of an “80’s Hong Kong Style Short Film”. Since this evokes the works from directors such as John Woo and Ringo Lam, the stakes are set quite high for their production in terms of visual storytelling, the insistence on pathos as well as the obligatory gun battles which have become the trademarks for the cinema of that time.

In the film, a young girl named Ava (Jamie Yun) enjoys a quiet evening with some of her friends when suddenly a few unwelcome visitors enter her apartment. Three men who introduce themselves as members of the Kongbu mafia, an infamous crime family from China, and state their former boss was the true father of Ava.

Brothers André & Vito Gogola from Sweden have completed production on their recent short film “Ren”. The film is inspired by ’80s aesthetic with East-Asian influences, particularly Hong Kong action movies. The film, which takes place in La, boasts a diverse cast with actors from China, Sweden, and America.

The short film will be made available on the Gogola Brothers youtube channel on May 9th. In anticipation of the short film release a trailer has been made available and can be viewed below.

Synopsis

Armed men tell Ava that her estranged biological father from China was a crime boss who has recently passed away. His dying wish was for her to take over, so they have come to bring her whether she wants it or not. (imdb)...

Exclusive: ICM Partners has signed British actress Sophie Skelton. She plays the prolific role of Brianna Randall Fraser on Starz’s Outlander which is in its fourth season.

Skelton trained at the Royal Ballet, her first professional TV role being in the Series two of the British crime drama Dci Banks. Her debut feature film role was in Ian Vernon’s 2014 pic The War I Knew, about a WWII paratrooper lost behind enemy lines. Skelton played the role of Margaret.

Skelton had the title role in the British fantasy adventure series Ren, about a girl who is marked by a powerful ancient spirit, of which she tries to discover the real meaning behind it.

On the film side, Skelton starred in the remake of the George Romero zombie pic Day of the Dead: Bloodline and the Nicolas Cage action crime drama 211.

Skelton continues to be represented by Industry Entertainment and Independent in the UK.

This year’s festival will include an inaugural virtual reality strand and a co-production forum focused on UK-Ibero-American relations.Scroll down for line-up

The 24th Raindance Film Festival has revealed its line-up, with 90 feature films set to be screened in London September 21 – October 2.

This year’s jury will be comprised of Stephen Fry (V For Vendetta), Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous), Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), Jack Davenport (Pirates Of The Caribbean), Nicholas Pinnock (Top Boy) and American artist David Datuna.

They will preside over awards for a competition line-up that features the international premiere of Stephen Elliott’s After Adderall, a semi-autobiographical story about the production of the film adaptation of Elliott’s memoirs. Receiving its European premiere will be Japanese director Yoshiyuki Kishi’s A Double Life, about a young woman who is assigned to follow a stranger.

Among the seven UK premieres playing in competition are Indian drama [link=tt...