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Dark Castle Entertainment has come on board to produce and finance Zealot, Variety reports, and it’s set to star Djimon Hounsou and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

WestEnd Films announced the claustrophobic thriller at Cannes and continues sales this week at AFM.

Zealot is, “a film about privilege, paranoia, and the assumptions we make about one another. The film follows Hassan, a Somali-American airport shuttle driver in Minneapolis, who is struggling to make ends meet. When Lloyd, a stranded twenty something at the airport, offers to pay Hassan to take him overland to Chicago, it seems worth the risk. But as the realization grows that his passenger is not what he seems, Hassan finds he is trapped in a terrifying ride which he can’t escape from, knowing that to save himself might put countless others in danger.”

The thriller is directed by Vadim Perelman and written by playwright Bennett Fisher. Zealot...

On Tuesday June 11, GMA3: What You Need to Know welcomes Jennifer Connelly, an award-winning actress known for her roles in “A Beautiful Mind,” “Requiem for a Dream,” and “House of Sand and Fog.” Connelly has received critical acclaim for her performances, earning a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for her role […]

GMA3: What You Need to Know: Jennifer Connelly, Alice Englert...

June 4, 2024 – Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley, beloved James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and Star Wars universe luminary Mark Hamill form the ultimate vocal rogues’ gallery in Mofac Animation’s upcoming The King of Kings, an animated family film inspired by a little-known short story by Charles Dickens depicting the life and times of Jesus Christ.

Kingsley voices High Priest Caiaphas, who presided over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus. Hamill takes on the role of King Herod, who, according to the Gospel of Matthew, ordered the Massacre of the Innocents in an attempt to kill Jesus as an infant. And Brosnan gives animated life to Pontius Pilate, who ultimately ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. The triumvirate of villainous voices further enhances the A-list cast behind the faith-based animated film, which also includes Academy Award & Emmy Award winners Kenneth Branagh (Belfast) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Golden Globe...

Oscar nominees Kodi Smit-McPhee and Djimon Hounsou are set to star in claustrophobic thriller “The Zealot.”

The two-hander, being introduced to buyers in Cannes by WestEnd Films, comes from director Vadim Perelman working from a screenplay by Bennett Fisher, and touches on themes involving privilege, paranoia, and the assumptions we make about one another.

“The Zealot” follows Hassan, a Somali-American airport shuttle driver in Minneapolis, who is struggling to make ends meet. When Lloyd, a stranded twentysomething at the airport, offers to pay Hassan to take him overland to Chicago, it seems worth the risk. But as the realization grows that his passenger is not what he seems, Hassan finds he is trapped in a terrifying ride which he can’t escape from, knowing that to save himself might put countless others in danger.

Jib Polhemus (“Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” “The Mechanic”) produces alongside Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo (“The Green Hornet and Kato,...

Since we’re talking about the short films, I’ll accordingly keep this brief. Here are five reasons why “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” will win the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film.

1. It’s the clear standout in the category.

All five nominees are exceptional — the others being “The After,” “Red, White and Blue,” “Invincible” and “Knight of Fortune.” In a less competitive year, any one of them could easily walk away with the prize. But it’s simply too hard for anything to top “Henry Sugar.” Based on the short story of the same name by celebrated children’s author Roald Dahl, the film is seamlessly adapted to the screen with the same charm, wit and magic of the original tale. “Henry Sugar” features superb acting, exquisite costume and production design, beautiful cinematography and sharp editing. It holds an outstanding 95% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes,...

“There are many stories of chivalry where the heroic knight saves the damsel in distress,” a voice informs us before a single image appears on the screen. “This is not one of them.” It probably isn’t necessary to prep and/or warn viewers that Damsel, Netflix’s expensive-looking throw of the cinematic D&d dice, isn’t your typical sword-and-sorcery fantasy before it’s even started, but thanks for the heads up. For one thing, there’s no sorcery in it unless you count the magic that certain performers...

It’s been two decades since an epic fantasy film made history at the Oscars, winning every category in which it was nominated, and three women set new records. There weren’t many surprises at the 76th Academy Awards, but there were some memorable moments. Billy Crystal hosted for his eighth time on February 29, 2004. Read on for Gold Derby’s Oscars flashback 20 years ago to 2004.

It was finally Peter Jackson‘s time as the third installment of his “Lord of the Rings” trilogy earned him a trio of awards. Despite numerous nominations, the first two films failed to make big showings; however, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” not only claimed Best Picture, but won all 11 categories in which it was nominated. It tied with “Ben-Hur” (1960) and “Titanic” (1998) for most wins in one ceremony, and holds the record for biggest sweep. It was the 10th film...

Let’s travel back in time and check out Jennifer Connelly’s role in Career Opportunities. These pictures give us a peek into the past, bringing back memories of the ’90s. The 53-year-old really nailed it in the movie, and people were hooked back then, and we’re still feeling the magic now.

Jennifer Connelly in Top Gun-Maverick

Each picture takes us on a trip down memory lane, reminding us of a time when life seemed simpler and anything was possible. It’s like stepping into a time machine, reliving those moments of excitement all over again. Get ready for a nostalgic ride with Connelly’s unforgettable performance!

SUGGESTEDLisa Kudrow Was Jealous of Jennifer Aniston After Her Son Became Obsessed With the Friends Star Experience Jennifer Connelly’s Career Opportunities Role For Nostalgic Journey

Let’s step back into the ’90s and reminisce about Jennifer Connelly’s role in Career Opportunities.

Arclight Films has announced that Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley star in Renny Harlin’s survival thriller Deep Water, which is in post. Arclight continues worldwide sales at EFM this week.

The first feature greenlit by the stand-alone label Simmons/Hamilton Productions wrapped at the end of last year in New Zealand and Spain.

The lead cast includes Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s upcoming The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms).

Harlin, whose credits include Die Hard 2,...

I recently recapped the fascinating Best Actor race of 2003, in which saw Sean Penn in “Mystic River” win the first of his two Best Actor Oscars. (He would prevail again five years later for “Milk.”)

Regarding Penn’s first victory, he faced stiff competition not only from Bill Murray in “Lost in Translation” but also Johnny Depp in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” Depp hadn’t initially been considered much of a threat — until he pulled off a huge upset at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

A dedicated Gold Derby reader has since asked me how Depp managed to surprise at SAG. Figuring that others might be wondering the same thing, I thought that I would offer everyone in awards land my Top 5 reasons why. And here they are.

1. He had the most theatrical performance of the bunch.

And that’s an understatement. In addition to Depp,...

As Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”), Penélope Cruz (“Parallel Mothers”), and Lakeith Stanfield (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) have proven in recent years, there is ample precedent for performers to earn Oscar nominations despite snubs at the BAFTA, Critics Choice, Golden Globe, and SAG Awards. Indeed, 18 such instances have occurred since 2002, the first year that all four precursor prizes were preceded by official nominations.

Over the last 22 years, each of the four acting Oscar categories has produced at least three out-of-the-blue bids. However, none of the performers who overcame their four earlier snubs managed to clinch the gold and instead had to settle for being Oscar finalists.

It’s worth noting that Marcia Gay Harden won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Pollock” without any precursor bids, albeit in 2001 when there were no Critics Choice nominations. The four precursor trophies were evenly distributed among her Oscar competitors: Judi Dench, Kate Hudson,...

There is plenty of precedent for performers to still earn Oscar nominations after snubs by the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes and SAG Awards. Last year, Andrea Riseborough became the latest Oscar contender to come out of nowhere when she reaped a Best Actress bid for “To Leslie.”

She joined a roster of 23 other performers who heard their names on Oscar nominations morning despite being repeatedly overlooked earlier in awards season. However, for all of those who overcame these earlier snubs the nomination had to be reward enough as none took home the Oscar.

(Note: Marcia Gay Harden won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Pollock” without any precursor bids. However, that was in 2001, the year before the Critics Choice introduced nominations. Frances McDormand won with that group for both “Almost Famous” and “Wonder Boys,” Kate Hudson took home the Globe for “Almost Famous” and Judi Dench prevailed at SAG for “Chocolat.

Ever since “The Holdovers” premiered at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival, 21-year-old Dominic Sessa has steadily attracted heaps of praise for his debut performance as one of its central characters. Despite earning recognition from some critics groups, he now unfortunately sits as a BAFTA longlist contender with no other key industry precursor bids. However, there is plenty of precedent for performers to still earn Oscar nominations after snubs by the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes and SAG Awards.

Below, we list the 24 performers who pulled off Oscar nominations surprises after being overlooked earlier in awards season. However, for all of those who overcame these earlier snubs the nomination had to be reward enough as none took home the Oscar. Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”) is the latest addition to this list for her Best Actress bid last year.

(Note: Marcia Gay Harden won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Pollock” without any precursor bids.

Two decades ago at this time, the Oscar race for Best Actor was shaping up to be a rather competitive one. We had no idea what we were in for. Allow me to backtrack just a bit.

Three-time previous nominee Sean Penn had taken an early lead for his role as a troubled ex-convict and grieving father in Clint Eastwood’s crime drama “Mystic River.” Then Bill Murray began to generate major buzz for his portrayal of an aging movie star in Sofia Coppola’s acclaimed Tokyo-set comedy “Lost in Translation.”

The Golden Globes did little to clarify things. Penn prevailed in the drama category while Murray picked up the comedy/musical award. The latter did arguably get a bit of a boost with his charming acceptance speech.

All eyes were then on the Screen Actors Guild Award, which many thought would serve as a tie-breaker. But in the ultimate awards twist,...

Exclusive: Award-winning House of Sand & Fog filmmaker Vadim Perelman has been attached to direct the movie Marinus, we hear, about the heroic rescue of 14K Korean evacuees by sea toward the end of the Korean War.

Adapted by J. Craig Stiles (Miranda’s Victim) off the book Ship of Miracles, Marinus follows a merchant marine captain, who along with a Korean doctor, commanded a ship that was rated to carry 65 passengers and ended up saving thousands – all while being pursued by enemy subs, fighter planes and contending with a Communist spy on board.

Despite the odds, not one soul perished. In fact, five babies were born during the journey, and they arrived safely at a South Korean harbor on Christmas Day. The captain was so touched by the experience that he later became a Benedictine monk. He has passed on, but is currently up for sainthood with the Catholic Church.

Fandoms everywhere can now rejoice, for in October Our Flag Means Death finally returns to our screens for its second season. Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi will be romancing the high seas once more thanks to an enormous outpouring of love and support from the show’s fans. The safety of the cult favorite is not yet known beyond season two, but if this one is as good as the first, it certainly won’t be for lack of trying.

Talking of little shows that could, Doom Patrol is back for its last ever block of episodes, having long outlasted the many of the other ill-fated DC streaming series. Season two of The Gilded Age is also streaming this month, with Bertha challenging both Mrs. Astor and the old system in this new run.

And if none of that is up your street, there’s always Jason Statham punching sharks in the face,...

Rhys Darby in ‘Our Flag Means Death’ season 2 (Photograph by Nicola Dove/Max)

Max’s 2023 October lineup of series includes new seasons of Our Flag Means Death, The Gilded Age, and 30 Coins, as well as the second half of Doom Patrol season four (the final season). A documentary focusing on the notorious Bling Ring premieres on October 1st, along with all five Final Destination films.

In addition to a batch of horror films joining the network’s lineup, Max is celebrating Halloween with new seasons of Ghost Adventures and The Haunted Museum.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In October 2023:

October 1

3 Godfathers (1948)

The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)

All About the Benjamins (2002)

The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995)

Angels in the Outfield (1951)

The Answer Man (2009)

Anthropoid (2016)

Appaloosa (2008)

The Apparition (2012)

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Badlands (1973)

Be Cool (2005)

Bee Season (2005)

Beetlejuice (1988)

The Benchwarmers (2006)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Blindspotting (2018)

Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)

Cesar Chavez (2014)

Charlie Wilson’s War...

A new trailer starring Sir Ben Kingsley has been released for ‘Daliland.’ Coming from the director of ‘American Psycho,’ delving into a crucial period during the later years of legendary artist Salvador Dalí.

Amongst the decadence of 1970s New York, the great surrealist artist, Salvador Dali, enjoys the latter stage of his career with a lifestyle filled with luxury and extravagant parties. Surrounded by his decadence, and his band of eccentric followers who worship his charismatic persona, he is content with avoiding a fast-approaching art show and the demands of his formidable wife, Gala.

The story is told through the eyes of James Linton, a young gallery assistant, keen to make his name in the art world. After quickly becoming enraptured by the provocative world of Dali, the façade begins to fade when he uncovers that behind the glitz and glamour lies a fragile genius, haunted by the past and...

With longer days and—at some more progressive places of employment—Summer Fridays in full effect, daily agendas are now suddenly awash with temporal real estate. Should you use these extra hours to reconnect with family, go to museums or explore the natural world in all its holy wonders? No! You should be watching movies, and lots of ’em! Luckily, June is a rock-solid month with plenty of great Don’t-Miss Indies titles to enjoy.

Padre Pio

When You Can Watch: Now

Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited)

Director: Abel Ferrara

Cast: Shia Labeouf, Cristina Chiriac, Marco Leonardi

Why We’re Excited: A two-time Film Independent Spirit Award nominee for Bad Lieutenant (1992) and The Funeral (1996), indie veteran Abel Ferrara’s new biographical drama is based on the Irl story of Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar and priest Francesco Forgione, who was venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1999. It...

Universal’s horror-comedy Renfield is headed to physical media with a “Dracula Sucks Edition” Blu-ray, and we’ve learned today that it’s being unleashed on June 6, 2023.

The film comes to Digital, DVD and Blu-ray from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Soaked with bloody fun and overflowing with toxic relationships, Renfield comes home in a Dracula Sucks Edition with 60 minutes of darkly humorous and captivating never-before-seen bonus content, including deleted scenes and featurettes that dives deeper into the cutting-edge comedy and the secrets behind turning a classic tale into a modern monster movie.

“Super fun from start to finish” (Buzzfeed), Renfield features an immortal cast alongside Cage including Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Adrian Martinez, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Brandon Scott Jones.

Directed by Chris McKay and written by Ryan Ridley from a story by Robert Kirkman, the edgy horror comedy is produced by Skybound Entertainment and Giant Wildcat.

Exclusive Bonus Features On Digital,...

If you've listened to recent episodes of Corpse Club, then you know that we're big fans of the blood-spattered humor and clever scares of Renfield, and if you're looking to add the horror comedy to your physical media collection, Universal will release Renfield on Blu-ray / DVD (including a Digital code) on June 6th with an impressive roster of bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes look at the deleted musical number featuring Renfield's fantasy dance!

Press Release: Universal City, California, May 30, 2023 – Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage stars as Dracula in the side-splitting,

action-packed new cult classic, Renfield, available to own on Digital, Blu-rayTM and DVD June 6, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Soaked with bloody fun and overflowing with toxic relationships, Renfield comes home in a Dracula Sucks Edition with 60 minutes of darkly humorous and captivating never-before-seen bonus content, including deleted scenes and featurettes that dives deeper into the cutting-edge comedy and the secrets...

In Bpm (Beats Per Minute), Robin Campillo found in Nahuel Pérez Biscayart a face and voice to communicate the by turns ecstatic and wrenching role of being an activist for Act Up Paris during the early 1990s. Now, in House of Sand and Fog director Vadim Perelman’s latest, Persian Lessons, the Argentine actor, who exudes an unwavering and mournful certainty whenever he’s on screen, has found another project worthy of his talent.

Persian Lessons concerns a young Belgian Jew named Gilles (Biscayart) who’s arrested in occupied France in 1942 by SS soldiers. On the way to a concentration camp in Germany, he avoids execution by swearing that he’s Persian. Subsequently, he’s tasked with teaching Farsi to the head of Camp Koch, Klaus Koch (Lars Eidinger), who dreams of opening a restaurant in Iran after the war. What results is an intense game for survival, as Gilles pretends to know Farsi,...

One of the biggest blockbuster hits of 2003 was the Pixar animated feature “Finding Nemo,” featuring the voice talents of Albert Brooks and Ellen Degeneres, and directed by Andrew Stanton. It was Pixar’s fifth feature following “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2” and “Monsters, Inc.” Released two decades ago on May 30, 2003, “Finding Nemo” was a box office smash, making $70 million its opening weekend in the United States and eventually reaching $380 million nationwide and $941 million worldwide. Read on for our celebration of the “Finding Nemo” 20th anniversary.

Most of the nation’s critics loved the film, including Moira MacDonald in Seattle Times, who said it’s “enchanting; written with an effortless blend of sweetness and silliness, and animated with such rainbow-hued beauty, you may find yourself wanting to freeze-frame it.” And Lou Lemenick in New York Post called it “a dazzling, computer-animated fish tale with a funny, touching script...

If you've been waiting to see Renfield, it's now available to rent and own on digital services. Here's the official announcement:

"Continuing its nationwide run in theaters, the modern monster tale starring Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage as Dracula, Renfield is now available to buy or rent at home on digital platforms nationwide from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Packed with dark humor, toxic relationships, and lots of blood, Renfield showcases an all-star cast alongside Cage including Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Adrian Martinez, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Brandon Scott Jones. Directed by Chris McKay and written by Ryan Ridley from a story by Robert Kirkman, the edgy horror comedy is produced by Skybound Entertainment and Giant Wildcat.

Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss: Dracula (Nicolas Cage). For centuries, Renfield has slavishly served Dracula by procuring his master’s prey and doing his every bidding,...

“House of Sand and Fog” director Vadim Perelman has signed on to direct “The House with No Walls,” a docu-series examining the mystery surrounding the 2010 death of eccentric millionaire John Bender in Costa Rica.

The four-part series hails from Former Prodigy Media, the production company headed by “Brady Bunch” alumnus Christopher Knight and producer Phil Viardo. “House with No Walls” is based on an upcoming podcast about the Bender story, “Hell in Heaven,” from Blanchard House. The project has been developed with Selectors, a London-based IP incubator run by journalist William Ralston with backing from financier Goldfinch.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that our collab with Selectors and Blanchard House on this documentary will now be masterfully led by such a talented and accomplished director as Vadim Perelman,” said Viardo.

“When we found this story, we were instantly hooked and began to explore the best possible way to tell it,...

Photo Credit: Michele K. Short / Universal Pictures (from left) Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) and Dracula (Nicolas Cage) in Renfield

Universal Pictures has released the brilliant red-band trailer for the upcoming Renfield. Who knew Halloween was in April?

And check out this behind the scenes look at director Chris McKay’s latest film.

Evil doesn’t span eternity without a little help.

In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Emmy nominee Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.

Photo Credit: Michele K. Short / Universal Pictures.

Evil doesn’t span eternity without a little help. In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency. Renfield is directed by Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War, The Lego Batman Movie) from a screenplay by Ryan Ridley, based on an original idea by The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman. The film co-stars Awkwafina (The Farewell, Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings), Ben Schwartz (Sonic, The Afterparty) and Adrian Martinez (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,...

Universal Pictures’ final trailer for the horror comedy Renfield shows the titular character meeting his new boss, and then offers a look at what life’s like nearly 100 years after being in Dracula’s service. Needless to say, it sucks.

Nicholas Hoult (The Menu) stars as Renfield and Oscar winner Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas) is Dracula. The cast also includes Awkwafina (Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings), Ben Schwartz (The Afterparty), Adrian Martinez (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Brandon Scott Jones (Ghosts), and Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog).

Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie) directs from a screenplay by Ryan Ridley (Rick & Morty), based on an original idea by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. McKay, Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst, and Sean Furst serve as producers, with Samantha Nisenboim executive producing.

Renfield opens in theaters on April 14, 2023.

Dracula (Nicolas Cage...

In theaters on April 14th, and making its premiere next week at the Overlook Film Festival, the new trailer for Renfield has just been released. Be on the lookout for my early reactions on social media on March 31st!

"Evil doesn’t span eternity without a little help.

In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.

Renfield is directed by Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War, The Lego Batman Movie) from a screenplay by Ryan Ridley, based...

Exclusive: Hot on the heels of longtime client Michelle Yeoh becoming the first Best Actress Oscar winner of Asian descent for Everything, Everywhere All At Once, Artist International Group is expanding. Aig has named Kimberly Hines as partner, and Ian Stack as manager. They join Aig’s international talent and producing divisions. They will be based in New York and Rome.

The two will be focused on representing international actors, directors and writers as well as producing film and television.

Hines, who most recently was at Framework Entertainment, brings decades of experience working as a producer, talent agent, and talent manager. She will bring her clients to Aig. Her list includes Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Til Schweiger (Inglorious Bastards), Oliver Masucci (The Swarm), Balthazar Getty (Megalopolis), Jacqueline Bisset and others.

Stack had also been a manager and producer at Framework. Prior to Framework, he was an Associate Producer at Weta...

When Shohreh Aghdashloo received her invitation to attend the 2023 Oscars, she quickly realized this high-wattage moment could be an opportunity to highlight an issue close to her heart. “I was so happy to be invited, but what crossed my mind is that this was a chance to take the case of the Iranian freedom fighters to the ultimate platform of arts and sciences,” the actress, who was nominated in 2004 for her supporting role in House of Sand and Fog, tells The Hollywood Reporter exclusively before walking the carpet at the ceremony. “I knew I wanted to wear something that would include the slogan of Iran’s freedom fighters — ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ — as they continue what’s one of the biggest human-rights efforts in history.”

But with only three weeks between being invited and Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony at L.A.’s Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, who might agree...

‘The Penguin’ continues to expand its ensemble, as the DC limited series has added Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Deirdre O’Connell to its cast. Details of the three actors remain under wraps, reports Variety.

Kelly is best known for his roles in Netflix’s ‘House of Cards’ and Amazon’s ‘Jack Ryan’. Aghdashloo earned critical acclaim for her performance in 2003’s ‘House of Sand and Fog’ and starred in the Syfy series ‘The Expanse’.

O’Connell won a Tony award last year for her performance in ‘Dana H.’ and has appeared in numerous films and series since her first credits in the 1980s.

The eight-episode limited series stars Colin Farrell, reprising his role as the eponymous comic book villain after first appearing in last year’s DC Studios feature ‘The Batman.’

Production on ‘The Penguin’ is set to begin this month in New York.

“The Penguin” continues to expand its ensemble, as the DC limited series has added Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Deirdre O’Connell to its cast. Character details for the three actors remain under wraps.

Kelly is best known for his roles in Netflix’s “House of Cards” and Amazon’s “Jack Ryan.” Aghdashloo earned critical acclaim for her performance in 2003’s “House of Sand and Fog” and starred in the Syfy series “The Expanse.” O’Connell won a Tony award last year for her performance in “Dana H.” and has appeared in numerous films and series since her first credits in the 1980s.

The eight-episode limited series stars Colin Farrell, reprising his role as the eponymous comic book villain after first appearing in last year’s DC Studios feature “The Batman.” Variety exclusively reported that Farrell had signed on to star in a Penguin series in December 2021, with HBO Max officially ordering...

Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Deirdre O’Connell have been added to the HBO Max original series The Penguin (working title), from Warner Bros Television and DC Studios. They join previously cast Colin Farrell, who plays the title character, Cristin Milioti, who plays female lead Sofia Falcone, and Rhenzy Feliz, who is believed to be playing a teen whom The Penguin befriends and makes his driver.

The eight-episode drama continues the Batman crime saga Matt Reeves began with Warner Bros Pictures’ The Batman and centers on the character played by Farrell in the film.

The series is executive produced by Reeves; Dylan Clark; Farrell; Lauren LeFranc, who writes and serves as showrunner; Craig Zobel, who directs the first three episodes; and Bill Carraro. Based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger,...

Exclusive: Artist International Group (Aig) has signed an exclusive representation deal with Selectors, a UK based incubator of IP and producer of fact-based stories across audio, non-scripted, and scripted Film & TV productions.

Founded by William Ralston, a journalist based in London, and entertainment producer and financier Goldfinch, Selectors sources and develops ambitious stories for a worldwide audience in partnership with some of the leading journalists in the industry. In the 12 months since its launch, the company has set up multiple properties with top-tier partners in London, New York, and Los Angeles.

Partnering with Vertigo Films and Palomar Pictures, Selectors is producing a documentary about Iceland’s largest bitcoin heist; and with Cineflix they’re producing a documentary about a secret CIA mission to the top of Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in India, involving a lost nuclear device and mystery that burns strong today.

In collaboration with Blanchard House,...

There may be hope for Andrea Riseborough to keep her Oscar nomination for “To Leslie,” considering a similar case that didn’t disqualify another surprise nominee from the past, Shohreh Aghdashloo.

In 2004, the Academy was riding a new voting schedule. It had come off implementing new rules for studio marketers that would take some of the negativity and vitriol out of the awards season. However, on Feb. 20, 2004, four days before the final Oscar voting deadline, a print ad in an issue of Daily Variety centered on Shohreh Aghdashloo’s powerful turn in “House of Sand and Fog” (2003).

The ad utilized four excerpts from print and TV news stories praising the supporting actress. Three of them referenced Renee Zellweger as the “will win” and Aghdashloo as the “should win.”

Bruce Davis, the Academy executive director at the time, called it an “attack ad.”

Jeffrey Katzenberg, then head of DreamWorks, and Terry Press,...

The 2023 Oscar nominations were a mixed bag in terms of diversity — with no Black actors nominated in the lead acting categories and women shut out for best director — but there was one particular milestone worth applauding. With nods for Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu (all for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Hong Chau (“The Whale”), the number of Asian acting nominees reached the most recognized in a single year ever at four nominations.

This figure surpasses the lineup from 2004, which included Indian and Iranian actors Ben Kingsley and Shohreh Aghdashloo (both for “House of Sand and Fog”) and Japanese star Ken Watanabe (“The Last Samurai”).

“Everything Everywhere All At Once,” written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, was the top film with 11 nominations, many of which held historical significance. The Daniels are the fifth duo nominated for directing, with Kwan’s nominations for directing and...

Of all the remarkable roles in Ben Kingsley’s career that could have inspired his performance as surrealist Salvador Dalí in “Dalíland,” from “Gandhi” to “Sexy Beast” to “House of Sand and Fog,” it was his role as “Trevor Slattery” — better known as “The Mandarin” — in “Iron Man 3” that made the director and writer realize he could pull it off.

Speaking with TheWrap at the Toronto International Film Festival on behalf of “Dalíland,” the festival’s closing night film, director Mary Harron (“American Psycho”) and writer John Walsh said that the real Dalí was something of a “tremendous coward.” And though Kingsley had always played strong, fearless roles, they were worried about whether or not Kingsley could flash a more eccentric, fearful side.

“And then we watched…’Iron Man 3,'” Harron and Walsh said. “He was brilliant. But we hadn’t seen that aspect of his range. And we said,...

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British actor Sir Ben Kingsley will be honored with this year’s Golden Icon award for lifetime achievement at the 2022 Zurich International Film Festival (Zff).

Kingsley will attend Zurich and present his latest film, Dalíland, in which he stars as the Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. He will also speak about his career in a Zff Masters class.

Kingsley’s performance as Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s 1982 period epic won him the Best Actor Oscar, and he has picked up three more Academy Award nominations: for Bugsy (1991), Sexy Beast (2000) and House of Sand and Fog (2003). His range and versatility as an actor have seen him play roles as varied as Itzhak Stern, Oskar Schindler’s bookkeeper in Schindler’s List (1993), to evil hacker Cosmo in 1992 thriller Sneakers, to fake baddie the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 (2013).

“Sir Ben Kingsley is an outstanding and highly...

Hollywood star Ben Kingsley is poised to reprise the role of Trevor Slattery in the upcoming ‘Wonder Man’ series from Marvel Studios at Disney+. The show was first revealed to be in the works back in June. It will focus on the Marvel character Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man, reports Variety.

In the comics, Williams is the son of a wealthy industrialist whose company falls on hard times due to competition from Tony Stark’s Stark Industries. Williams then accepts an offer from villain Baron Zemo that gives him ionic superpowers including super strength and durability. After fighting the Avengers several times, Wonder Man ultimately joined their ranks.

Kingsley returning as Slattery lends credence to reports that the show is intended to be a Hollywood satire, as it has been established that Slattery is a failed actor and Wonder Man has been an actor and a stuntman in the comics.

Ben Kingsley is poised to reprise the role of Trevor Slattery in the upcoming Wonder Man series from Marvel Studios at Disney+, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.

The show was first revealed to be in the works back in June. It will focus on the Marvel character Simon Williams, a.k.a. Wonder Man. In the comics, Williams is the son of a wealthy industrialist whose company falls on hard times due to competition from Tony Stark’s Stark Industries. Williams then accepts an offer from villain Baron Zemo that gives him ionic superpowers including super strength and durability. After fighting the Avengers several times, Wonder Man ultimately joined their ranks.

Kingsley returning as Slattery lends credence to reports that the show is intended to be a Hollywood satire, as it has been established that Slattery is a failed actor and Wonder Man has been an actor and a stuntman in the comics.

Actress Jennifer Connelly is set to star opposite Joel Edgerton in the series adaptation of the Blake Crouch novel ‘Dark Matter’. The nine-episode series was ordered at Apple in March. It will follow Jason Dessen (Edgerton), a physicist, professor, and family man who – one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago – is abducted into an alternate version of his life.

Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the multiverse of lives he could have lived.

In this labyrinth of mind-bending realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.

Connelly will star as Daniela, Jason’s wife.

This marks one of few television roles Connelly has held throughout her career. She currently stars in the TNT series ‘Snowpiercer’, which is set to end with its upcoming fourth season.

Jennifer Connelly is set to star opposite Joel Edgerton in the Apple series adaptation of the Blake Crouch novel “Dark Matter,” Variety has learned.

The nine-episode series was ordered at Apple in March. It will follow Jason Dessen (Edgerton), a physicist, professor, and family man who – one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago – is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the multiverse of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of mind-bending realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.

Connelly will star as Daniela, Jason’s wife.

This marks one of few television roles Connelly has held throughout her career. She currently stars in the TNT series “Snowpiercer,” which is set to...

With an Oscar and a Tony under her belt, Marcia Gay Harden only needs an Emmy in order to accomplish the Triple Crown of Acting. Along with Judi Dench, Mercedes Ruehl, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, she is one of four living actresses who needs an Emmy to complete the hat trick, and she has now been given her third shot at nabbing the top TV prize. If she succeeds on her 2022 Best Drama Guest Actress nomination for “The Morning Show,” she will be the 16th woman to collect all three major acting awards and the eighth to do so in under 25 years.

SEEReese Witherspoon (‘The Morning Show’): Emmys 2022 episode submission revealed

To date, Harden has played reporter Maggie Brener in nine episodes of “The Morning Show” across its two seasons. This nomination came for her latest appearance in “Testimony,” which centers on the release of Brener’s tell-all book about...

Six top TV costume designers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022 Emmy Awards contenders. They will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Wednesday, May 25, at 4:00 p.m. Pt; 6:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Daniel Montgomery and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.

RSVP today to our entire ongoing Emmy contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 contenders:

Black-ish (ABC)

Synopsis: A couple struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.

Bio: Michelle R. Cole was an eight-time Emmy nominee for “Black-ish” and “In Living Color.” Other projects have included “Martin,...

Exclusive: Ukrainian-Canadian-American filmmaker Vadim Perelman has inked with Artist International Group for management.

Perelman made his directorial debut in 2003 with House Of Sand And Fog, which went on to be nominated for three Oscars including Best Actor Ben Kingsley, Best Supporting Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo and Best Original Score James Horner.

The pic, which also starred Jennifer Connelly, repped Perlman’s first screenplay credit. Drawn to the story, having been shaped by his own immigrant experience, Perelman adapted the screenplay alongside Shawn Otto from Andre Dubus III’s international bestseller of the same name. DreamWorks acquired domestic distribution rights and released the film to great critical acclaim.

Perelman’s second feature film, The Life Before Her Eyes, starred Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood. Also an adaptation, the pic followed a woman whose survivor’s guilt from a Columbine-like event twenty years ago causes her present-day idyllic life to fall apart.

Exclusive: Robin Wright, Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Brooke Carter and Shohreh Aghdashloo have joined previously announced star and EP Millie Bobby Brown and star Angela Bassett in the Netflix fantasy film Damsel, we can tell you first.

In the movie from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, a dutiful damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. Thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, she must rely on her wits and will to survive.

Wrath of the Titans scribe Dan Mazeau is writing with Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Chris Castaldi producing and Emily Wolfe co-producing. EPs are Brown and Robert Brown for Pcma Productions, Mazeau, Zack Roth, Sue Baden-Powell. Nick Nesbitt is the creative lead from Netflix.

Wright is an 8x Emmy nominated actress and producer of Netflix’s House of Cards. She made...

When it comes to the Best Actor Oscar category, voters tend to go for lengthier performances. The majority of lead male winners, including eight of the last 10, have had at least 70 minutes of screen time in their respective films. Just two years ago, Joaquin Phoenix’s 103-minute performance in “Joker” became the fifth longest to ever win the award. It was, however, immediately followed by one nearly 40 minutes shorter, and there is a strong chance that an even smaller performance will be chosen this year.

Anthony Hopkins took the 2021 Best Actor trophy for his one hour, five minutes, and 14 seconds of work in “The Father,” which amounts to 67.29% of the film. The performance, though nearly three times as long as his first lead winning one in “The Silence of the Lambs” (1992), is still one of the five shortest to be honored in this category since the turn of the century.

Every time there's a new piece of news released regarding the new "Renfield" movie from Chris McKay, I can feel it hop up a position on the running list of most anticipated films I keep in my brain. First there was Nicolas Cage confessing that his inspiration to play Count Dracula is rooted in Gabriel in "Malignant," and now we've learned that the Oscar-nominated and Emmy winning Shohreh Aghdashloo has joined the cast. Aghdashloo will star longside Cage's Dracula, Nicholas Hoult's Renfield, Awkwafina, Adrian Martinez,...

The post Dracula Movie Renfield Adds The Expanse's Shohreh Aghdashloo Alongside Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult appeared first on /Film.

Exclusive: Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Shohreh Aghdashloo is the latest addition to the cast of Renfield, the monster movie that Chris McKay is directing for Universal Pictures.

She’ll star alongside previously announced cast members including Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Adrian Martinez and Ben Schwartz.

The film based on an original story outline from The Walking Dead and Invincible’s Robert Kirkman centers on Renfield (Hoult), who has grown sick and tired of his centuries as Dracula’s (Cage) lackey. The henchman finds a new lease on life and maybe even redemption when he falls for feisty, perennially angry traffic cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina).

Aghdashloo will play Ella, a bold woman who is one of the most feared crime lords in the city.

Ryan Ridley wrote the script. McKay is...