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The Disney+ chart is being dominated by R-rated movies. The streaming service, which launched in late 2019, contains content owned and produced by Disney and its various brands, including 20th Century Studios, Marvel Studios, Pixar, National Geographic, and Lucasfilm. However, when it initially debuted, no R-rated content was available on the platform. This policy eventually changed due to a variety of factors, including the streamer's acquisition of the Marvel series that were originally developed for Netflix, including Daredevil and The Punisher.

The presence of these shows caused Disney+ to launch a system of parental controls that separated children's profiles from adult profiles, limiting their library on the former. While recent Disney+ original shows and movies, which include the show Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and the musical Descendants: The Rise of Red are still focused on the family audience, adult profiles have access to a broader variety of material, including R-rated and...

Hugh Grant's casting as an Oompa Loompa in the upcoming Wonka film has sparked controversy, with some arguing it takes away opportunities from actors with dwarfism. Others believe Grant's casting is a refreshing departure from typecasting and challenges stereotypes, but this may limit opportunities for actors with dwarfism in other roles. The debate surrounding the casting decision highlights the need for Hollywood to create more diverse and inclusive opportunities for actors with dwarfism.

Wonka director Paul King sent Hugh Grant a naked image of an Oompa Loompa which had his children "a little alarmed," the actor shares. Starring Timothée Chalamet in the titular role, the upcoming prequel film provides an origin story for Willy Wonka focusing on his early days as an eccentric chocolatier. The Wonka cast also includes Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa named Lofty, which reunites the actor with his Paddington 2 director Paul King, though the...

Disney's acquisitions of Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Marvel have transformed the company, with Star Wars and the MCU becoming its most important franchises. The Star Wars sequel trilogy had a strong start but lacked an overarching vision, leading to controversies and declining popularity. The Star Wars anthology movies had mixed results, with Rogue One succeeding and Solo failing, leading to the discontinuation of the anthology project. However, Disney's streaming service, Disney+, has provided a new home for Star Wars content and has been successful so far.

11 years ago today, Disney bought Lucasfilm - including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Willow. Under CEO Bob Iger, Disney became known for a series of dramatic purchases. Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, Marvel in 2010, and on to Lucasfilm in 2012. Each one of these acquisitions proved transformative for the House of Mouse, albeit in very different ways. The MCU and Star Wars have gradually become Disney's two most important franchises.

The first look images of “William Tell,” the epic story of the crossbow-wielding warrior, have been released. The feature film is in its last week of principal photography in Italy. Beta Cinema is representing international sales rights with WME Independent handling North American rights.

Nick Hamm directs, based on his screenplay, adapted from Friedrich Schiller’s play. Hamm’s credits include “Driven,” which was selected as the closing film at the Venice Film Festival 2018 and released by Universal; “Gigi & Nate” (2022); the Netflix series “White Lines” (2020); and “The Journey,” which premiered at Venice and Toronto in 2016.

The film stars Claes Bang, Connor Swindells, Ellie Bamber, Golshifteh Farahani, Jonah Hauer-King, Rafe Spall, Emily Beecham, Academy-Award nominee Jonathan Pryce and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley.

The story unfolds in the 14th century amid the waning days of the Holy Roman Empire, when Europe’s nations fiercely vie for supremacy and the ambitious Austrians,...

Taylor Swift has joined elite company by achieving her 10th No. 1 single, and it’s all thanks to a song originally released four years ago.

“Cruel Summer” tops this week’s Billboard Hot 100. The song was originally released way back in 2019 on her album Lover, but was promoted as a proper single during “The Eras Tour.” Last week, she further bolstered the song’s streaming numbers by unveiling a live version of the track as well as a new remix from by Giobbi.

“Cruel Summer” marks Swift’s 10th No. 1 single to date, following “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood” featuring Kendrick Lamar, “Look What You Made Me Do,” “Cardigan,” “Willow,” “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” and “Anti-Hero.”

As a result, Swift becomes only the 12th artist ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles. The Beatles currently hold the all-time record with 20 chart-toppers,...

There’s a moment early on in Taylor Swift Era’s Tour concert film before she launches into her nearly dozen studio albums, but after she points to parts of the crowd to see how loud they’ll scream, when she looks into the audience. “This is getting dangerous, it’s about to start going to my head,” she says, absorbing the energy around her. “It makes me feel so powerful.”

This was the Taylor Swift I was here to observe in a Midtown AMC on a Saturday morning. Working for Rolling Stone for 13 years,...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer's famous lines can be cringeworthy when viewed through a modern lens, raising questions about a potential revival or reboot. Some of the show's language and moments are reflective of the time it was released, resulting in glaringly obvious uncomfortable moments. While intentional comedy can sometimes excuse cringeworthy moments, certain lines from characters like Angel, Willow, and Buffy can feel out of place or poorly developed.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a staple in noughties television, but many of its famous lines wouldn't fly nowadays. Despite ending in 2003, the hit supernatural teen drama is still frequently referenced and watched by many. However, several key moments in the show can leave audiences cringing, raising the question of whether a Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival or reboot could work.

A cringeworthy moment can come from an awkward situation, or a character attempting to sound cool. It's worth noting...

It’s no secret that Rick Riordan, who wrote the Percy Jackson book series and executive-produces the upcoming Disney+ live-action series, took major issue with the 2010 film Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and its sequel Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.

In his notes to movie producers in 2009, he called the Lightning Thief script “terrible” as a whole and maligned the age-inappropriate swearing as a “lazy attempt to make the script seem hip to teens.” Responding to a fan in 2020 who said he hated the films more than they did, Riordan shared that it was “my life’s...

Ahead of the premiere of Martin Scorsese’s highly anticipated Killers of the Flower Moon in theaters around the world, including IMAX® theaters, this Friday, October 20, Apple Original Films today unveiled the final trailer for the upcoming feature film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone.

Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal. Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), Killers of the Flower Moon tracks the suspicious murders of members of the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight after oil was discovered underneath their land. Killers of the Flower Moon also stars Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons, and is directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese,...

Continuing to build anticipation for the new Martin Scorsese-directed feature “Killers of the Flower Moon” that’s being released in theaters via Paramount Pictures this Friday, Apple Original Films dropped a trailer (its third) today that gives a quick overview of the $200 million Western epic. The film focuses on the murders of a number of wealthy Osage Nation members for their oil money in 1920s Oklahoma. It reunites Scorsese with his longtime acting collaborators Leonardo DiCaprio – who plays Ernest Buckhart, the charmingly conniving husband of Osage oil heiress Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone) – and Robert De Niro, who portrays the villainous business magnate William Hale. Watch the new trailer above.

The film earned rave notices out of its Cannes Film Festival world premiere in May. It’s been at or near the top of the combined Oscar handicap odds at Gold Derby since it premiered and finds itself in second...

What is a collectible? What separates something from just the average piece of pop culture memorabilia? Gene Cook (eBay), Ming Chen (Comic Book Men), and Brian Volk-Weiss (CEO – Nacelle), joined Aaron Sagers in the Den of Geek studio at New York Comic Con to dive into the well of collecting!

Lego is jumping on the spooky season bandwagon with specialized posters themed around classic horror stories.

“A collection of six horror-themed posters are available from the Insiders Rewards Centre, each costing 1750 points. Each poster is limited to 5400 copies, measures 30cm by 40cm and features glow-in-the-dark ink.”

Read more at Brickset

Apple announced a new Apple Pencil, and it’s shockingly one of their most affordable products yet.

“Apple’s Newsroom announced the new Apple Pencil on Tuesday. It’s more affordable than its predecessors and offers some new features. According to Apple, it offers the same ‘pixel-perfect accuracy, low latency,...

Warwick Davis is the face of the “Willow” franchise, which kicked off in 1988 with Ron Howard’s fantasy film and continued with the short-lived Disney+ sequel series in 2022. Disney canceled the television series after only one eight-episode season, and then it pulled the show off of Disney+ entirely for cost-cutting measures. Davis is now calling out Disney on X (formerly Twitter), asking the studio in a recent post to answer the many fans wondering why they can no longer watch the show via streaming.

“I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of ‘Willow,’ who are the reason the Disney+ series was made,” Davis posted. “Please tell me [Walt Disney Company], what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing.”

“Willow” was one of nearly 50 titles that Disney+ pulled from its streaming library in May. Other...

Willow actor and silver screen legend Warwick Davis is not holding back about Disney’s removal of the Willow series. Davis recently took to social media to break his silence about the House of Mouse pulling its Willow series from the streaming platform as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative under Disney CEO Bob Iger.

“I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus series was made,” Davis wrote on X (formally known as Twitter). “Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing”

I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus Series was made. Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more?...

Willow star Warwick Davis is not happy about the removal of the Disney+ fantasy-adventure series from the streaming platform, calling it “#embarrassing”.

“I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus series was made,” Davis wrote on X (fka Twitter). “Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing”

The streamer announced in March that there would be no second season of the original series, based on the 1988 fantasy film directed by Ron Howard. However, series creator Jon Kasdan later categorized Willow‘s status as more of a pause than cancellation, noting that Season 2 has been written and he is hopeful that it will eventually be made, but not for at least the next 12 months, leading to a decision to release the cast.

Disney removed...

Willow star Warwick Davis is still mourning the cancellation and removal of his 2022 fantasy/adventure series from the Disney+ platform.

In a recent post on X (fka Twitter), Davis wrote: “I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus series was made. Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing”

More from TVLineLive-Action Gargoyles Series in Development at Disney+ (Report)Goosebumps Premiere Recap: Stay Out of the Basement! - A Group of Teens Awakens...

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" remains one of the great TV shows, at least in part because of its supporting characters. The series boasted a supporting cast that became as popular and beloved as the titular slayer herself. Whether it's the Scoobies, David Boreanez's Angel, or the hugely-popular character that was originally supposed to be killed off early, Spike (James Marsters), one of the series' great strengths was the fact that its central character was, at least by the series' end, essentially one of many protagonists.

"Buffy" debuted on the WB back in 1997, but by 1999 Angel had proven popular enough to get his own spin-off, with "Angel" airing on the same network that year. In that first season of the spin-off show, Buffy's former beau is joined by Eliza Dushku's Faith, another slayer who was "called" following the death of Kendra, yet another slayer "called" after Buffy temporarily died in season one.

Warwick Davis, star of Willow, has criticized Disney for removing the show from Disney+, leaving fans unable to watch it and asking what he should tell them. The removal of Willow highlights the need for physical media in the entertainment industry, as streaming services prioritize cost-cutting measures and remove shows from their libraries. While it remains uncertain if there will ever be a Willow season 2, a physical media release would allow fans to continue accessing beloved shows like it, even after they are taken down online.

Warwick Davis, star of the original Willow movie and its 2022 sequel show, has called out Disney for its “embarrassing” decision to remove the show from Disney+. Picking up more than 20 years after the events of the original 1988 movie, the show premiered on November 2022 to favorable reviews and strong viewership numbers. Nonetheless, after only six months on the streaming platform, the show was removed from...

Warwick Davis has a question for Disney, and they probably aren’t going to like it.

On Saturday, the “Willow” star tweeted, “I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus Series was made. Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series anymore? #embarrassing.”

Disney removed the original series from its streaming service Disney+ in May, only six months after the show began airing. The decision left the sequel to the 1988 movie effectively homeless, and a legion of subscribers disappointed.

I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus Series was made. Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing pic.

The Season Eight comics of Buffy the Vampire Slayer continue the show's storyline and introduce shocking new storylines and villains, including the resurrection of one of the show's biggest foes. Warren Mears, previously killed by Willow, is magically resurrected by a former friend and becomes even more horrifying in his appearance. He tortures and tries to lobotomize Willow, causing her to question her control over her powers. The return of Warren is a narrative surprise for fans who had animosity towards his character, showing that no one is guaranteed to stay dead in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics.

One of the most notorious villains from Buffy the Vampire Slayer was resurrected with an outward appearance almost as horrifying as his personality. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight comics continued the show's continuity, and unleashed storylines that shocked and satisfied fans. One of the biggest surprises is a group...

The first of many great moments in Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie: Right as the lights went down, the girl in Row H spoke up. “Oh my God, I should have asked permission before now, but we’re all gonna sing, right?” she pleaded in the dark. “Because I wanna sing!” A woman seated a few rows in front replied, “Sing loud and proud, sister.” And that’s all the discussion anyone needed about that. Because this was opening night of the Eras concert film, and nothing could have...

Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” concert film premiered Wednesday night to an enthusiastic crowd of celebrities, fans and of course Taylor’s team, with the star of the film in attendance. As one of the first to see the film, TheWrap has the scoop on which songs from the wildly popular tour made the film, and which songs were cut.

After making speeches in multiple auditoriums for separate audiences, Swift, clad in a sky blue floral-patterned dress (probably in theme for “1989 (Taylor’s Version) with her hair pinned up like the signature bob she had when that album first came out), sat back to enjoy the experience in one of the IMAX screening rooms with her background vocalists and publicist Tree Paine.

The documentary runs 2 hours and 48 minutes, slightly shorter than Swift’s three-hour setlist and performance, which she has brought to 17 of the United States so far in addition to Mexico.

The premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour was the kind of glimmery spectacle only a superstar like Swift can create. From Swifties exchanging friendship bracelets with Taylor’s mom Andrea (by “Swifties,” we mean the writer typing this) to Beyoncé, yes, Beyoncé, posing for photos with Taylor on the red carpet, Thursday’s event proved to be nearly as magical as any of the Swift’s tour stops.

Outside of the venue, helicopters roamed, streets closed, and fans without tickets surrounded The Grove, the outdoor shopping mall in L.

Try telling viewers of a certain age about the immense popularity of "The Andy Griffith Show" back in the day and you're likely to be met by blank stares, quite a number of follow-up questions, or both. Looking back, it may be surprising to realize that neither Andy Griffith nor the show itself garnered any major awards love throughout the eight seasons it was on the air, never resulted in much of any real merchandising profits during its run (which was a rarity at the time), and even met a somewhat ignominious end when Griffith was written out of the sitcom series and the entire production became rebranded as "Mayberry R.F.D."

In between those extremes, however, "The Andy Griffith Show" maintained its status as a consistent ratings juggernaut throughout each and every year and vaulted its cast to stardom. Buoyed by Griffith's "Aw shucks" small-town and square-jawed heroic appeal, an all-time classic opening theme song,...

Multiple Disney+ movies, including Artemis Fowl, have found new homes on PVOD platforms after being removed from the streaming service earlier this year. The removal of movies and shows from Disney+ was motivated by profit, with Disney receiving a $1.5 billion write-off for the content they removed. While most of the removed movies are now available through PVOD, the fate of the still-missing TV series is uncertain, leaving viewers unable to find these shows.

Multiple Disney+ movies have found new homes on PVOD platforms, including the streaming service's failed Harry Potter competitor Artemis Fowl. The movie was one of many removed from Disney's streaming platform earlier this year, alongside popular TV shows like Willow. However, in late September, six removed films - including notable titles such as Crater and The One and Only Ivan - were added to premium video-on-demand services like Amazon and Vudu.

Now, TheWrap reports even more removed...

One may consider themselves lucky if they've managed to snag a ticket to Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras Tour, so there's no doubt fans will be documenting every moment of their experience on social media.

The best part about The Eras Tour is that Swift is revisiting songs from every last one of her 10 albums through the years. Whether you're a day-one fan whose favorite song is still one of her country classics like "Tim McGraw" or "Our Song," someone who has a soft spot for her pop anthems like "22" and "Blank Space," or you've grown fond of her folk lyricism in songs like "Cardigan" and "Willow," there's something for everyone on the Eras Tour.

If you're getting ready to post your photo dump from your spectacular night at Swift's tour stop in your city and need some lyrics as inspiration, check out this list of Taylor Swift lyrics for...

One streaming service's trash is another's treasure. To that end, Roku has announced that it has nabbed the rights to "The Spiderwick Chronicles" TV series, which had previously been in the works at Disney+. And when we say in the works, we mean that the entire eight-episode series had already been filmed. Yet, Disney decided not to release it anyhow, as we learned back in August. But the show will see the light of day after all.

The adaptation of the acclaimed book series by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black will now be a Roku Original series that will debut on The Roku Channel in early 2024. No specific release date has been announced yet but expect more information, including a trailer, sooner rather than later. It's easy to see why Disney would have pursued this in the first place as the YA fantasy adventure novels are quite popular, with 20 million copies sold.

It's always difficult hearing a show that's been completed isn't airing at its original home.

There was a lot of excitement about The Spiderwick Chronicles when Disney+ ordered the series.

You can only imagine our surprise when it emerged that the streaming service had scrapped the project after shooting an entire season.

The decision to nix the show came as Disney+, like many other streaming services, examined its content slate with the eye of cutting costs.

That led to several shows that had already premiered, including Willow, being banished from the service entirely.

While many projects haven't found new homes, we're happy to report that there is a future for The Spiderwick Chronicles.

Roku has stepped in to pick up the completed episodes to air in the U.S. at some point in 2024.

Deadline first reported the news.

"It is an honor to bring The Spiderwick Chronicles, a spectacular adventure-filled...

Labyrinth holds a special place in fans' hearts due to its premise, world-building, and themes of navigating adolescence and incorporating imagination into adulthood. A sequel risks jeopardizing the original's heartfelt messaging by prioritizing style over substance, potentially damaging its legacy and coming across as a cash grab. The setbacks faced by Labyrinth 2, such as script, budget, and creative differences, highlight why a sequel was a bad idea in the first place, as it would be nearly impossible to recreate the magical world and charm of the original film.

A recent news update for Labyrinth 2 has indicated that the sequel to the beloved '80s classic Labyrinth is facing a huge setback, and that's actually good for both the original movie and its fans. Labyrinth wasn't a huge success when it premiered in 1986, but the fantasy quest movie, starring music icon David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, and Jennifer Connolly as Sarah,...

The Icc Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is contested October 5-November 19 in India, as 10 national teams compete in the world’s premier cricket tournament. Games will be televised in the U.S. on Willow, a channel devoted to cricket and available from cable and satellite TV providers. Matches will stream on ESPN+ and are presented with separate feeds in English and Hindi. Icc Cricket World Cup India 2023 TV & Streaming Schedule All Times Eastern/Central. Thursday, October 5 3a/2a c, Match 1: England vs. New Zealand Friday, October 6 4:30a/3:30a c, Match 2: Netherlands vs. Pakistan Saturday, October 7 1am/midnight c, Match 3: Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh 4:30a/3:30a c, Match 4: South Africa vs. Sri Lanka Sunday, October 8 4:30a/3:30a c, Match 5: India vs. Australia Monday, October 9 4:30a/3:30a c, Match 6: Netherlands vs. New Zealand Tuesday, October 10 1am/midnight c, Match 7: Bangladesh vs.

Meegosh, an endearing character from the original Willow film, was sadly absent from the sequel series due to the death of actor David Steinberg. The decision to not recast Meegosh was made out of respect for Steinberg and his legacy, as Willow is a passion project for creator Jonathan Kasdan. The void left by Meegosh's absence was filled by a new character named Silas, who shares many similarities with Meegosh and serves as a close friend and loyal companion to Willow.

Meegosh from Willow was one of the underrated fantasy film's most endearing characters, but he was conspicuously absent from the TV series. Released in 1988, Willow follows the titular halfling (Warwick Davis) as he reluctantly embarks on an epic quest to protect a baby from the clutches of the evil queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). With George Lucas and Ron Howard behind the project, Willow was stuffed with plenty of high-fantasy...

Six original films that were previously removed from Disney+ and Hulu are now available to rent on demand, including Rosaline and The One and Only Ivan. These films were pulled from Hulu and Disney+ as a cost-cutting measure, but now viewers can enjoy them again through VOD. The previously unavailable films include Rosaline, Better Nate Than Ever, The One and Only Ivan, Crater, Cheaper By The Dozen, and Flora & Ulysses.

Six original films from Disney+ and Hulu that were removed earlier this year are now available on VOD. Disney+ and Hulu have removed dozens of originals - both TV shows and movies - this year as a cost-cutting measure for the streaming services. This includes some noteworthy content like the Willow TV series, as well as the Bryan Cranston-led film The One and Only Ivan.

Now, LifeIsAFilmFest has confirmed that six original movies that were previously removed from...

It's another historic first for Disney+ as seven movies that were abandoned from the streamer are now available on major digital platforms.

As part of a surprising move to cut down costs, Disney decided to remove several TV shows from Disney+, which included notable titles like Willow, Big Shot, and The Mysterious Benedict Society.

A good chunk of Disney+ original movies was also not safe from the content purge as the streamer removed the likes of the Cheaper By The Dozen reboot, Artemis Fowl, and Better Nate Than Never.

Read full article on The Direct.

Exclusive: Here’s your first look at Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Invisible Man) and Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) in UK action-thriller Jackdaw, which gets its world premiere at Fantastic Fest tomorrow.

Jackson-Cohen and Coleman are currently starring opposite each other in Amazon series Wilderness.

Jackdaw marks the debut feature of writer-director Jamie Childs, whose TV credits include Disney+’s Willow, Netflix’s The Sandman and BBC/HBO adaptation His Dark Materials.

The film is set over the course of a single night and follows a broke former motocross champion and army veteran who agrees to pick-up a mysterious package in the North Sea, with disastrous consequences for himself and his brother.

Pic is produced by Sebastian Raybaud (Greenland) and Callum Grant for Anton, Kate Glover (47 Meters Down) and Jamie Childs. Childs directs alongside his regular Dop Will Baldy (The Sandman).

Cast also includes Thomas Turgoose, Allan Mustafa, Rory McCann,...

Pete Kozachik, the Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor behind “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Corpse Bride,” “James and the Giant Peach” and others, has died. He was 72 years old.

Kvoa News Tucson first reported the news, commemorating Kozachik and sending condolences to his family, including brother Steve, the Arizona city’s councilman and vice mayor. Pete died Sept. 12 after suffering complications due to aphasia and primary progressive aphasia.

Kozachik received an Oscar nomination for his work on Tim Burton’s stop-motion holiday classic, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Besides the Henry Selick-directed 1993 animated film that combines Halloween and Christmas, he also worked on films like “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” and “The Matrix.”

“Dreamscape” (1984) starring Dennis Quaid launched the visual artist’s film career. He worked as visual effects camera operator on “Howard the Duck” (1986), and he went on to contribute to “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,” “Innerspace,” “Willow,” “Ghostbusters II,...

Pete Kozachik, a visual effects and stop-motion artist whose work on acclaimed animated films by Tim Burton, Henry Selick and others brought recognition and an Oscar nomination, died Sept. 12 at his California home in the Bay Area following a years-long battle with aphasia and primary progressive aphasia. He was 72.

His death was first announced on Tucson’s NBC affiliate station Kvoa. Kozachik attended high school and college in Tucson, and his brother Steve Kozachik is vice mayor of the city.

While best known for his Oscar-nominated work on 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, directed by Selick and produced by Burton, Kozachik launched his career in 1984 on the sci-fi film Dreamscape starring Dennis Quad. In ’86 he was the visual effects camera operator on the notorious Howard the Duck, going on to build a solid roster of credits in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,...

Pete Kozachik, the Oscar-nominated visual effects artist who contributed his stop-motion expertise to such films as The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Corpse Bride and Coraline, has died. He was 72.

Kozachik died peacefully Tuesday in hospice care in his Northern California home of complications from primary progressive aphasia, a rare form of Alzheimer’s, his wife, Katy Moore-Kozachik, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Kozachik also operated a stop-motion camera on Ghostbusters II (1989) and served as director of miniature photography on Starship Troopers (1997) and as a visual effects cameraman on Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (2002).

At Industrial Light & Magic, he worked on films including Howard the Duck (1986), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Innerspace (1987) and Willow (1988) before rejoining frequent collaborator Phil Tippett on the RoboCop sequels released in 1990 and ’93.

For director Henry Selick, Kozachik was director of photography on The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), James and the Giant Peach...

Val Kilmer's role as Iceman in the Top Gun franchise shot him into fame and mainstream movies, despite his reported lower pay compared to Tom Cruise. Kilmer's pay for Top Gun: Maverick is disputed, with reports ranging from $400,000 to $2 million, but his return as Iceman was a small cameo and a role he was eager to take on. Kilmer's net worth is estimated at $25 million, thanks to his successful filmography and other ventures like writing a bestselling memoir.

Val Kilmer’s iconic role as Iceman in the Top Gun franchise has earned him some serious paycheck — here is how much Val Kilmer earned for each Top Gun movie. The 1986 Top Gun became a classic action movie and was a huge success, even still it took 36 years for its sequel, Top Gun: Maverick to be made. Within that time, Tom Cruise went from an up-and-comer to a full-blown movie...

The cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is joining forces once again for a new story centered around James Marsters’ beloved villain-turned-sorta-Scooby, Spike, TVLine has learned.

Slayers: A Buffyverse Story will be set 20 years after the series finale with Marsters reprising his role alongside Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), Anthony Head (Giles), Juliet Landau (Drusilla), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Amber Benson (Tara), James Charles Leary (Clem) and Danny Strong (Jonathan), as well as Buffyverse newcomer Laya DeLeon Hayes (from CBS’ The Equalizer). The audio-only story premieres Oct. 12 on Audible and will consist of nine episodes.

More from TVLineEmma Caulfield Teases Buffy Return: 'Anya...

If there's one thing to be said for the Disney Studios Showcase at Destination D23 this year, it's that it gave those of us on the weekend news shift a nice quiet start to Sunday. 

First, to give some perspective, here's a quick recap of the headlines from last year's D23 Expo. The 2022 event featured the announcement of two new Pixar movies and Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Wish," the first footage from "Elemental," the first footage from the live-action "Little Mermaid" remake, Rachel Zegler presenting the first teaser for "Snow White," Jude Law presenting a first look at Disney's "Peter Pan & Wendy," and the entire original cast of "Enchanted" showing up to introduce the trailer for "Disenchanted." On the Marvel Studios front, the showcase included a first look at "The Marvels," footage from "Loki" season 2, a preview of "Werewolf By Night," and a teaser for "Secret Invasion," among other treats.

Disney is facing a lawsuit from investors who accuse the company of lying about its losses related to Disney+ streaming service. The investors claim that Disney concealed the true extent of Disney+'s losses and falsely stated that the platform would turn profitable by the end of 2024. The lawsuit also alleges that Disney's former CEO, Bob Chapek, used tactics like airing Disney+ originals on the Disney Channel to create a false impression of success.

Disney is being sued by some of their investors, who allege the company lied about its losses pertaining to their streaming service, Disney+. The platform, owned entirely by Disney, includes most movies and TV series made by the company, including massive blockbuster brands, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. However, the service has seen some recent hardships this year, starting with Disney+ losing four million subscribers in the first three months of 2023.

Now,...

Disney+ has decided not to pick up a completed TV series adaptation of the imaginative The Spiderwick Chronicles book series, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The six-episode series from Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television, a division of Disney, is being shopped to other possible buyers.

Disney touted the adaptation of the books of the same name by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black as “a modern coming-of-age story combined with fantasy adventure” when the project was first unveiled in Nov. 2021, with Jack Dylan Grazer, Joy Bryant, Mychala Lee, Christian Slater, Lyon Daniels and Noah Cottrell set for the ensemble cast and Kat Coiro to direct two episodes.

The popular children’s book series The Spiderwick Chronicles — which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 32 languages — was adapted into a 2008 Paramount movie.

Shelving the Spiderwick Chronicles adaptation is seen as the latest cancellation for Disney after...

The House of Mouse has shut its door in the face of two upcoming Disney+ series, as both Nautilus and The Spiderwick Chronicles have removed from their upcoming slate of programming. Both series, which had already concluded filming, are now being shopped to other studios.

As reported by Deadline, the move to ax both Nautilus and The Spiderwick Chronicles comes as Disney+ is looking to cut some serious costs. As previously stated by CFO Christine McCarthy, “We are in the process of reviewing the content on our Dtc services to align with the strategic changes in our approach to content curation…As a result, we will be removing certain content from our streaming platforms, and currently expect to take an impairment charge of approximately $1.5 to $1.8 billion.” This aligns with the studio removing such titles as Willow, Y: The Last Man and dozens of others from Disney+.

The British Nautilus depicts...

Disney+ cancels The Spiderwick Chronicles as part of its cost-cutting measures, signaling a shift in its live-action strategy. The adaptation, a co-production with Paramount, will be shopped to other potential buyers. Disney+ will focus more on its own properties, like the upcoming Percy Jackson series, but exceptions will still be made.

Disney+ is cancelling the high-profile young adult adaptation The Spiderwick Chronicles in the latest example of its cost-cutting and content-removal measures. Based on the bestselling books by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, The Spiderwick Chronicles is described as a contemporary American gothic coming-of-age story. After leaving New York for Michigan and their run-down ancestral home, The Spiderwick Estate, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace and their sister Grace get caught up in a hidden, fantastical world. Aron Eli Coleite served as showrunner for the adaptation, starred Shazam! and It actor Jack Dylan Grazer, in addition to Christian Slater as the villain.

The spend-spend-spend era of the streaming wars is over, and we've now landed squarely in the cut-cut-cut era. From Warner Bros. Discovery scrapping "Batgirl" after filming was already completed to Disney removing "Willow" from Disney+ less than six months after its release, entertainment giants are scrambling to trim costs and write down assets anywhere they can.

The latest casualty of this trend is "The Spiderwick Chronicles," an eight-episode TV adaptation of the fantasy novel series by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, which was previously adapted into a 2008 movie starring Freddie Highmore (seen above). The TV series stars "It" and "Shazam!" breakout Jack Dylan Grazer as a brownie called Thimbletack, alongside Lyon Daniels, Noah Cottrell, Joy Bryant, and Mychala Lee. Christian Slater plays the villain, an ogre called Mulgarath, and Aron Eli Coleite ("Locke and Key") is the showrunner. The series began filming in September 2022 and wrapped in early 2023, so it's...

Well, this is a bummer.

Disney+ has pulled the plug on its TV adaptation of the Spiderwick Chronicles.

Deadline shared the unfortunate news over the weekend, revealing that all eight episodes had been completed prior to the decision.

That means the show will become like the countless projects scrapped by streaming networks this year, including the Batgirl movie.

The move comes as Disney+ reevaluates its streaming strategy, and Deadline revealed that the series is part of the content write-off announced in May.

Disney+ recently purged countless original series and movies from its platform, including the Willow sequel series.

“We are in the process of reviewing the content on our Dtc services to align with the strategic changes in our approach to content curation,” Disney CFO Christine McCarthy said at the time.

“As a result, we will be removing certain content from our streaming platforms, and currently expect to take an...

Disney+ is not moving forward with its live-action series adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles, TVLine has confirmed.

The streamer has decided to scrap the six-episode series after announcing its original order in November 2021. The episodes have already been completed and are being shopped by Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television, according to our sister site Deadline.

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Exclusive: Amid a focus on content curation and Disney-owned IP, Disney+ is not proceeding with The Spiderwick Chronicles, its live-action series adaptation of the popular children’s fantasy books, Deadline has learned.

The eight-episode series, from Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television, has been completed. It is currently being shopped by Paramount to other potential buyers.

The decision comes as Disney — along with other media companies — have been reevaluating their streaming strategies by cutting programming costs with a renewed focus on profitability. It is part of the major content write-off announced by Disney in May, I hear.

Related: Disney Removes Dozens Of Series From Disney+ & Hulu, Including ‘Big Shot’, ‘Willow’, ‘Y’ & ‘Dollface’

“We are in the process of reviewing the content on our Dtc services to align with the strategic changes in our approach to content curation,” Disney CFO Christine McCarthy at the time. “As a result, we will be...

Warning! Spoilers for Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #1!Classic 1990s show Buffy the Vampire Slayer is currently enjoying a comic book renaissance courtesy of Boom! Studios, whose Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer miniseries showcases new characters and news takes on Buffyverse lore, while utilizing iconic characters and dangling plot threads from the TV series in exciting new ways. For example: Watcher Anya.

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #1 – written by Casey Gilly, with art by Oriol Roig, and lettering by Boom! Studios mainstay Ed Dukeshire – follows 2021's Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer miniseries, depicting Willow and Tara's daughter Thessaly as the new Slayer, guided by original Buffy characters. The issue features Anya as Thessaly's "temporary" Watcher, even letting her vent about how Buffy really makes her feel.

Related: Willow's Daughter Unlocks New Powers as the Last Vampire Slayer

Anya And Buffy Still Aren't Exactly Besties In The Last Vampire Slayer...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2023 Emmy Predictions:

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Weekly Commentary: Supporting drama actor is one of three categories, HBO is guaranteed a trophy walking into the ceremony after nabbing all eight slots with “Succession” and “The White Lotus.”

Last year’s winner Matthew Macfadyen is the favorite to...

Some very, very good news for Marvel and "Star Wars" fans who also enjoy physical media. Disney has announced that "Loki" season 1, "WandaVision," and "The Mandalorian" seasons 1 and 2 are being made available in limited edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbooks later this year. Rejoice!

The Collector's Edition Steelbooks will begin hitting shelves next month, which is a big deal as these shows were previously only available on Disney+. And, given what's happened with shows like "Willow" as of late, we know that a streaming service is anything but a permanent home. "Marvel Studios' Loki: The Complete First Season" arrives first on September 26, 2023, in anticipation of "Loki" season 2. Next up will be "Marvel Studios' WandaVision: The Complete Series" on November 28, 2023, with "Star Wars The Mandalorian: The Complete First Season" and "The Complete Second Season" both arriving on December 12, 2023.

All of the releases will come with concept art cards and some never-before-seen bonus features,...