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Exclusive: Writer/director Tamika Miller has kicked off production on her latest feature, Honor Student.

The indie centers on Jeremy Chue who is a picture-perfect teenager. He is talented, has the perfect grades, a well-off family, and attends a prestigious Washington, D.C. private school. At least that is how he appears. After losing his twin brother in a mass shooting, Jeremy takes matters into his own hands, holding a teacher hostage and looking to teach America a lesson it will never forget.

The film co-written by Joe Rechtman also stars Kelly Jenrette, Chase Liefeld (Sunnyside Up), Tariq Brown (Zoe Valentine), Olivia Simmons (I’m Not Here) and more.

Miller is producing under her Mikamil Entertainment banner, along with Wondros, Sophia Solomon, and Joanna Shaw via Unicorns & Unicorns.

The up-and-comer is perhaps best known at present for directing...

Exclusive: Jalyn Hall (All American) has signed on to play Emmett Till in Chinonye Chukwu’s Till, MGM’s Orion Pictures announced today.

The 14-year-old actor will appear in the film alongside previously announced cast members Danielle Deadwyler and Whoopi Goldberg.

Till tells the story of Mamie Till-Mobley (Deadwyler), whose pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son Emmett Louis Till became a galvanizing moment that helped lead to the creation of the civil rights movement. Mamie’s decision to have an open casket at Emmett’s funeral, and to have Jet magazine publish David Jackson’s funeral photos, was driven by her motivation to ensure people everywhere knew what had happened to her son.

The feature is based in part on the original research of Keith Beauchamp for his award-winning 2005 doc The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till.

Chukwu wrote the screenplay, based on a previous draft by Keith Beauchamp and Michael J P Reilly.

Jayln Hall (All American) and Amir O’Neil (Marlon) have been tapped to star in The Crossover, a drama pilot based on the bestselling Newbery Award-winning novel-in-verse by author, poet and educator Kwame Alexander. Alexander revealed the casting news just now on social media. You can see his Twitter post below.

Written by Alexander and Damani Johnson (All Rise) with Dee Johnson supervising and to be directed by George Tillman Jr., The Crossover tells the story of 14-year-old basketball phenom brothers, Josh.

Hall is series regular on the hit CW series All American, playing “Dillon James”; and starred in Joe Robert Cole’s feature All Day and a Night for Netflix, playing a young Ashton Sanders. Hall is represented by Pantheon, Luber Roklin, J Pervis Talent Agency and attorney Chris Abramson.

O’Neil started acting at the early age of seven, when he was cast in the leading role of Michael in TV One’s original movie White Water. Since then, he’s landed series regular roles on two television shows including Bounce TV’s Mann And Wife as Darren, NBC’s Marlon as Zack and currently the voice of Marty the Zebra in the hit animated series Madagascar: A Little Wild streaming on Hulu and Peacock. O’Neil is represented by A3 Artists Agency and Managed by Gem Entertainment Group.

So, yeah we're making a TV show…and we're filming in #Nawlins…and it's on #DisneyPlus…and these are our Stars!

Introducing…the stars of #TheCrossoverOnDisneyPlus … Jalyn Hall and Amir O'Neil @disneyplus pic.twitter.com/Ann9Z2f8Dt

— Kwame Alexander (@kwamealexander) May 21, 2021...

Exclusive: Midori Francis (Dash & Lily), Gavin Leatherwood (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Christopher Meyer (Tell Me A Story), Ilia Isorelýs Paulino (Queenpins), Lauren “Lolo” Spencer (Give Me Liberty) and Renika Williams (Modern Love) are set as series regulars in The Sex Lives of College Girls, Mindy Kaling’s upcoming comedy series at HBO Max. They join previously announced Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Reneé Rapp, and Alyah Chanelle Scott who star as four roommates and students at the prestigious New England Essex College.

Francis plays “Alicia,” Leatherwood portrays “Nico,” Meyer is “Canaan,” Paulino plays “Lila,” Spencer portrays “Jocelyn,” and Willams plays “Willow,” all students at Essex College.

Kaling and showrunner Justin Noble co-wrote the first episode and executive produce with Howard Klein. The series is produced by Kaling International in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Midori will next be seen starring in the Netflix feature Afterlife of the Party opposite...

The casting branch of the academy is only seven years old and doesn’t have an Oscar category of its own. However, the Casting Society of America has been handing out the Artios Awards for 35 years (“Artios” is from the ancient Greek meaning “perfectly fitted.”). Nominees for feature films were announced on February 19 and many of the leading 2021 Oscar contenders reaped bids across the various categories according to production cost.

Winners will be revealed a virtual ceremony on April 15. In addition, The Actors Fund will be honored with the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award while casting directors Robi Reed and Tara Rubin will receive the Hoyt Bowers Award.

Last year’s big budget winners were the comedy “Knives Out” and the drama “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” while “Jojo Rabbit” and “Marriage Story” took the equivalent prizes in the independent division. “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” won the...

The Casting Society of America has made its final callbacks for 2020, unveiling the film nominees for its 36th annual Artios Awards. The winners will be announced during the virtual ceremony April 15.

The casting crews for Da 5 Bloods, Hillbilly Elegy, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mulan and The Trial of the Chicago 7 will vie in the marquee Big Budget – Drama category. In the running for Big Budget – Comedy are Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Enola Holmes, The King of Staten Island, The Prom and On the Rocks.

The folks who cast the voices for The Croods: A New Age, Onward, Soul and Trolls World Tour will battle it out for the Animation trophy. See the film list of nominees below.

The CSA announced last month that the Actors Fund will receive its Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award, and the Hoyt Bowers Award will go to Robi Reed and Tara Rubin, the first...

This year, the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor sparked a racial reckoning not seen in America in decades. Of course — likely not wanting to find themselves on the wrong side of history — each major studio immediately issued statements of support for the movement for Black lives. Despite this unanimous display, it wasn’t quite clear just how sincere these gestures were, and to which degree each Hollywood heavy-hitter would be willing to put their words into action with dollars in order to create a more inclusive and diverse environment.

It certainly would be to their benefit to do so. A new study published in October from the UCLA-based Center for Scholars and Storytellers included key information on the single factor that could result in a $130 million loss per film for movie studios: a lack of diversity. The study is titled “Beyond Checking A Box: A Lack...

At 2020’s remote edition of the Primetime Emmy Awards, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II won his first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, for his potent turn in HBO’s Watchmen.

“Oh, man. Thank you so much to the Academy. I’m so excited right now. I want to say thank you first off to my mama and my daddy. Man, I’m surprised,” said the actor, as he accepted his statuette Sunday. “Thank you so much to HBO, to Damon Lindelof, for your words, for your creativity.”

Also offering praise to his co-stars, the actor went on to discuss his takeaways from the HBO miniseries. “Watchmen was a story about trauma. It was a story about the lasting scars of white domestic terrorism. It was a story about police corruption and brutality, but in the midst of all that, it was also a story about a...

“It’s so easy to fall back on generalisations when projects don’t work.”

Steaming platforms can dismantle pre-existing industry biases against under-represented groups, a virtual TIFF panel of three top Hollywood producers heard on Thursday (September 10).

Speaking on a session entitled ‘Killer Instincts: Powerhouse producers propelling commercial success’ where inclusion dominated the talking points, Dear White People producer Stephanie Allain said working with Netflix helped disprove an oft-repeated mantra in the US film business.

“What’s so fantastic is this this untrue adage that black films don’t travel is just completely out of the window with streaming,” said Allain.

“It’s so easy to fall back on generalisations when projects don’t work.”

Steaming platforms can dismantle pre-existing industry biases against under-represented groups, a virtual TIFF panel of three top female Hollywood producers heard on Thursday (September 10).

Speaking on a session entitled ‘Killer Instincts: Powerhouse producers propelling commercial success’ where inclusion dominated the talking points, Dear White People producer Stephanie Allain said working with Netflix helped disprove an oft-repeated mantra in the US film business.

“What’s so fantastic is this this untrue adage that black films don’t travel is just completely out of the window with streaming,...

Most people may remember Ashton Sanders from his pivotal role as high school-aged Chiron in the Oscar-winning film Moonlight.

That moment he shared a kiss with his crush, Kevin (Jharrel Jerome), we knew he’d cemented his acting career with one of the most indelible moments in contemporary cinema. Since then, he’s appeared in Equalizer 2 opposite Denzel Washington and was cast as RZA in the Wu-Tang: An American Saga TV series.

For our latest episode of The First Time video interview series, Sanders answered questions about the first time he felt successful,...

A handful of indoor theaters opened up to customers this weekend, mostly in Texas. But under these unusual pandemic conditions, the box-office numbers don’t shed much light on what will happen when more theaters reopen with brand new titles.

With stringent safety controls including social distancing, the indoor theaters are grossing far less than the drive-ins that have remained open. And curiously, in several multiplexes, Sony’s VOD title “Bloodshot,” the Vin Diesel actioner that originally opened March 13 (the weekend before theaters closed) sold more tickets than Universal’s much-trumpeted Pvod smash “Trolls World Tour.” This suggests that the male action demo might be more willing to brave theaters than parents and children. It’s tempting to over-analyze these results.

“Trolls” remains #1 on two key charts: Amazon, which ranks by numbers of rentals (without regard to the film’s $19.99 price), as well as FandangoNOW, which lists by money taken in.

Acclaimed actor Jeffrey Wright chatted over video with Rolling Stone for an at-home installment of “The First Time.”

In addition to reminiscing about getting to meet his childhood heroes and working his first summer job, Wright, who released his most recent film All Day and a Night last week, also discusses some of the highlights of his career, including the moment he got to experience Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work for the first time while preparing for the role in artist-director Julian Schnabel 1996 biopic Basquiat.

“I would go to [director] Julian Schnabel...

For many of us (though we New Englanders have had to suffer a bit longer) it’s officially Spring, which typically means more time to spend outdoors and less time to spend catching up on films. Considering the state of things though, we won’t jump to that conclusion too quickly. May isn’t rich with new releases, but there are plenty of gems among them including a film that’s already debuted on Netflix to positive reviews, a re-scheduled Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani comedy and a final return of the “The Trip” duo Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.

Continue reading 11 Films To Watch In May: ‘The Vast of Night,’ ‘All Day and a Night’ & More at The Playlist.

Looking for what’s coming to Netflix UK this month? Click here instead!

While much of the entertainment world is in lockdown and in danger of drying up their respective content pipelines soon, Netflix has claimed that they have more than enough finished projects and business will continue as usual. While that may seem to be an outlandish boast, it’s hard to look at Netflix’s new releases for May 2020 and not think “man, they’re really just not stopping.”

Netflix’s new releases for May 2020 are positively loaded with new Netflix originals, intriguing recent films, and even some fun new stock TV shows. Office creator Greg Daniels latest project, Space Force, premieres on May 29 and will likely be Netflix’s big blockbuster this month. Having access to Daniels, Steve Carell, John Malkovich, Lisa Kudrow, and more will do that for a project.

Elsewhere on the Netflix original front,...

While drive-in theaters remain virtually the only theaters still open in the U.S. (and a good place to see a new release like haunted-tree horror “The Wretched”), distributors are getting creative about how to release indie and foreign films.

“Jackie” director Pablo Larraín’s latest, “Ema,” debuts for free on Mubi for one day, teasing a future fall theatrical release planned by Music Box. And Oscilloscope uses the emerging virtual cinema model to debut fiction-doc hybrid “The Infiltrators,” in which undocumented activists find a way to liberate deportation-bound detainees from inside a detention center. Plus, Netflix subscribers get (at least) six original features to justify the subscription.

Here are all the new releases, with excerpts from reviews and links to where you can watch them.

Independent films, directly on demand:

The Assistant (Kitty Green)

Distributor: Bleecker Street

Where to Find It: Rent on Amazon and iTunes

It’s a...

In All Day and a Night, the new Netflix crime film from writer/director Joe Robert Cole, Ashton Sanders (Moonlight) plays Jahkor Abraham Lincoln, a young Oakland man whose life in one of that city’s most underserved communities has come to an all-too-familiar crossroads: does he follow in the path of his currently jailed father J.D. (Jeffrey Wright) and plunge full-on into a life of crime and gang culture, or does he pursue a different path — he wants to be a rapper and has started making his own mixtapes — and try to break the cycle for the sake of his newborn son?

Actually, as the film begins, that decision seems to be all but moot. Like way too many films these days, All Day and a Night begins near the end: we meet Jahkor as he commits a brutal, heartless crime and then watch as the movie retraces...

Netflix has confirmed that 50 new original series, movies and specials will be debuting on the streaming service in May. Leading off the lineup are Ryan Murphy‘s limited series “Hollywood” and the debut of the comedy series “Space Force,” which reunites “The Office” star and creator Steve Carell and Greg Daniels. Also look for the sophomore season of the comedy noir “Dead to Me,” with Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini.

In these trying times, we can take comfort in the slew of stand-up specials, including new sets by Jerry Seinfeld, Patton Oswalt and Hannah Gadsby. On the reality side, we can’t wait to gobble up season 2 of “Restaurants on the Edge” and season 3 of “Someone Feed Phil.”

Below is the full schedule of everything that is coming and leaving Netflix in May 2020.

Available May 1

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

All Day and a Night – Netflix Film

Almost Happy – Netflix Original...

It’s the first day of May, and Netflix is already knocking it out of the park with a big content drop to keep you busy while you’re stuck inside. Tons of great new movies and shows have landed on the service today, including plenty of wonderful classics you’re going to want to check out.

Perhaps most notable is the inclusion of Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part II, which will be joining the third film to round out the trilogy. This time-traveling classic would make for excellent weekend family viewing alongside Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and its more modern adaptation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

While those films are suitable for families, you can rest assured that Netflix has you covered on children-specific content, too. Your little ones will be happy to see multiple Thomas & Friends titles and the animated sequel Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,...

There has never – not once – been an occasion where Netflix has asked us if we’re still watching and we haven’t been, but it still feels nice to be checked on! Every month, when it’s not making sure we’re still alive, the streaming service brings us loads of original content to feast our eyes on, and here at Den of Geek we like to give you a pretty comprehensive list of what’s being added in the weeks to come.

In May 2020, Netflix UK is offering Modern Family and New Girl binging opportunities, as well as old favourites like Labyrinth and The Blues Brothers. Alongside these are new seasons of Dead to Me and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, which is wrapping up on the platform after delivering a glorious run of animated perfection. If you haven’t yet given the rebooted series a shot, now...

Moonlight’s Ashton Sanders gives a compelling lead performance as a young man trying to escape his father’s shadow

It’s an unusually stacked week for new films on Netflix (one they might regret when pre-pandemic content starts to dry up) with a teen comedy, a B-thriller and a romantic documentary all launching before the weekend, a feast for viewers at home but a glut that could overshadow one of their finer offerings quietly releasing alongside. All Day and a Night, a tough-minded drama from Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole, might not be quite worthy enough for their awards slate (although it’s a damn sight more compelling than The Two Popes …) but it’s a step up from what one might expect of an unhyped May movie from the streamer. Think of it as a classier boutique release, deserving of a higher shelf placement.

Related: The Half...

The filmmakers behind “All Day and a Night” dig a big hole for their main character right off the bat. No sooner have we met aspiring Oakland rapper Jahkor (Ashton Sanders) than we see him gun down a man and his wife in front of their 10-year-old daughter — quietly, coldly and without a moment’s hesitation.

Under normal circumstances, audiences are accustomed to feeling some empathy for the leading character in the movies they see; it’s part of the moviegoing contract that the people we spend the most time watching are going to be people we can feel for, and often even like. But “All Day and a Night” reveals our leading man as a cold-blooded killer in the first five minutes, essentially daring us to feel anything for the guy for the next two hours.

It’s a bold move, particularly when Jahkor steadfastly refuses to explain himself...

There’s a scene in “All Day and a Night” that cuts you to the quick. Jahkor Lincoln (Ashton Sanders), a freelance thug and aspiring rapper in Oakland, CA., who wears a permanent hot glare of suspicion, is seated in the living room of a gang leader named Big Stunna (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). Jahkor is trying to play up to the local-hood-turned-celebrity-rapper, Thug’ish Trex (James Earl), who in his long gold chain and Legend track suit carries himself like a roly-poly king. He holds the power of someone who can hook a brother up, so when he says “put that shit on,” it’s a rare opportunity.

They cue up one of Jahkor’s home-made recordings, and as it starts to play, Jahkor, though hardly a specialist in displaying emotion, closes his eyes and bobs his head up and down, sinking into the groove. He’s not a bad rapper,...

Joe Robert Cole’s “All Day and a Night” never shies away from the fact that it’s singing a familiar tune. “Same fuckin’ story on repeat” the narration sighs from the top, as if the film is already looking to scapegoat its own predictability on that of the prison-industrial complex.

But the most vital thing about this gristly piece of fiction is that it neither succumbs to miserablism nor gives in to magical thinking; Cole’s movie neither resigns to the reality of a hard-knock life, nor softens into some kind of feel-good salve about one good kid who manages to beat a game that’s rigged against him (as if the ones who don’t only have themselves to blame). There’s a fine line between resilience and false hope, and “All Day and a Night” walks it with purpose even when it’s tripping over itself.

Cole,...

It’s true that there’s nothing new under the sun, and that everybody’s paying tribute to somebody. But Netflix’s latest original movie, All Day And A Night, is uniquely disadvantaged in this department, as it’s the latest in a series of films about the young, Black male experience in Oakland, California to come out…...

The new Netflix drama All Day and a Night follows the journey of Jahkor Lincoln, a young man who dreams of a career in rap yet is drawn into a life of crime and gang culture in the underprivileged Oakland community in which he lives. Jahkor’s trajectory ultimately lands him in prison — right next to his father J.D., whose path Jahkor never wanted to follow but whose tutelage proved both wise and dangerous. Can Jahkor learn to break the cycle for his newborn son?

All Day and a Night is written and directed by Joe Robert Cole, who co-wrote Black Panther with Ryan Coogler and produced American Crime Story: The People Vs. Oj Simpson for FX. Cole began his career in 2011 with Amber Lake, an experimental film he directed and wrote, before entering Marvel’s famed writers’ program, in which the studio guided and developed talented scribes like...

Oakland, California, in recent years has been the setting of a number of bold, stylistically distinctive takes on race, African American identity and social conditioning, from the searing tragedy of Fruitvale Station through the hip-hop swagger of Blindspotting to the gonzo satire of Sorry to Bother You. That makes Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole's reflection on the vicious cycle of gang culture and its toll on families an earnest but unrewarding disappointment. Saddled with an excess of voiceover and a shuffled flashback structure that keep the characters at an emotional distance, All Day and a Night feels familiar in both its bleakness and ...

April showers bring both May flowers and new additions to Netflix. The streaming service has announced a number of titles that will be added during the upcoming month.

Original movies include All Day and a Night, Get In, The Half of It, Mrs. Serial Killer, The Wrong Missy, La corazonada and I Love You, Stupid. The Lovebirds will also be added to the streamer after Paramount pulled the Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani comedy from its theatrical release amid the coronavirus pandemic.

New Netflix original series include Space Force, Hollywood, Almost Happy, Into the Night, The Eddy, Inhuman Resources, White Lines, The Big Flower ...

WaterTower Music has announced the release of the soundtrack to the HBO film Bad Education, with music by Michael Abels (Get Out, Us).

Inspired by true events, the film stars Academy Award nominee Hugh Jackman and Academy Award winner Allison Janney. The story follows Frank Tassone (Jackman) and Pam Gluckin (Janney) who reign over a popular Long Island school district on the verge of the nation’s top spot, spurring record college admissions and soaring property values. But when an embezzlement scheme surfaces that threatens to destroy all they’ve built, Frank is forced to maintain order and secrecy — by whatever means necessary.The Bad Education score, by composer Michael Abels, is a vital part of the film’s fabric; a brilliant and intense telling the story through his music. https://www.hbo.com/movies/bad-education

“The score is an homage to great classical concert music, evoking the rigorous world of competitive academia,...

You’re probably stuck inside right now with not a whole lot to do. Thankfully, Netflix has been helping us all out by adding tons of great movies and TV shows, a trend that looks set to continue this week.

Yes, once again, the streaming giant is coming to the rescue and in regards to films, in particular, there’s a lot of exciting stuff on the way. For one, Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part II will be joining the series’ third entry on the platform, while those seeking something funny can watch Jim Carrey-led comedies Fun with Dick and Jane and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

Meanwhile, several films in the Underworld series are set to arrive, and those looking for some family-friendly entertainment will be pleased to know that both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory...

It goes without saying that the pandemic is keeping everyone stuck inside with little to do besides watch television, play video games, and read. Here’s some great news, though: There’s plenty coming to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime in May, so put away the books and the games, and get ready to binge some excellent shows and films.

On Netflix, you can catch some notable comedy entries next month like the Jim Carrey-led Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Fun with Dick and Jane, while action-horror fans may be delighted to hear that multiple Underworld films will be dropping on the service. The lesser-known Jarhead trilogy will be available on the 1st, and the first two pics in the Back to the Future trilogy will join the third film for streaming. Dozens more movies and shows will join these as well to ensure that Netflix reigns as...

A trailer has been released for all of the wonderful delights that Netflix has in store for us next month, and with the global pandemic lockdown not looking like it’ll be lifted any time soon (regardless of the demands of selfish idiots), streaming services seem like they’ll continue to be essential.

In these trying times, a great deal of comedy is always welcome, and the available titles offer just that…

Space Force is a satirical workplace comedy riffing on Trump’s ludicrous desire to militarize space.

Season 2 of Dead to Me continues the black comedy about two women who meet in a group grief counseling session, one of whom was responsible for the death of the other’s husband.

The Lovebirds is a romcom about a couple who become embroiled in a murder mystery and endure a series of surreal encounters to clear their names.

A special interactive episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,...

Netflix is out with its list of everything coming and going in May.

Highlights include “Back to the Future” and “Back to the Future II,” the series premiere of Ryan Murphy’s “Hollywood,”

Jerry Seinfeld’s new comedy special “23 Hours to Kill,” and season two of “Dead to Me.”

Leaving throughout the month are “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” and “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” “Limitless” and “The Place Beyond the Pines.”

Also Read: AT&T Q1 Earnings Decline, WarnerMedia Parent Blames Coronavirus

Here’s everything coming and going:

May 1

All Day and a Night — Netflix Film

Almost Happy — Netflix Original

Get In — Netflix Film

Go! Go! Cory Carson: The Chrissy — Netflix Family

The Half Of It — Netflix Film

Hollywood — Netflix Original

Into the Night — Netflix Original

Medici: The Magnificent: Part 2 — Netflix Original

Mrs. Serial Killer — Netflix Film

Reckoning...

You’re probably stuck inside right now during the pandemic and pining for the days when you had a social life. Thankfully, Netflix is coming to the rescue in May with a really exciting lineup of hit movies and new shows.

It’ll be a great month for films, specifically. The incredibly popular 80s time-traveling pics Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part II will be joining the already-included third entry in the franchise, while those seeking some good laughs can check out the Jim Carrey-led comedies Fun with Dick and Jane and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

Meanwhile, multiple entries in the Underworld series are dropping on the service for action-horror fans, whereas kids will be happy to hear that both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory will be available right out of the gate.

Also, if you...

Ryan Coogler rightfully earned loads of praise for directing and co-writing Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, but his co-writer on that film, Joe Robert Cole, sort of fell by the wayside in a lot of the discussions about that movie. Now Cole is putting a new film entirely on his own shoulders: he’s written and directed […]

The post ‘All Day and a Night’ Trailer: Jeffrey Wright and ‘Moonlight’ Star Ashton Sanders Are in a Cycle of Violence appeared first on /Film.

"What did you do, Jahkor?" Netflix has debuted an official trailer for an indie drama titled All Day and a Night, the second feature film directed by Joe Robert Cole (Amber Lake), also known as one of the co-writers on the Black Panther script. His latest is about a young rapper from Oakland who struggles to deal with the repercussions of his actions. Landing in prison beside his father, Jahkor embarks on an unlikely journey of self-discovery, exploring the events that unite them, in hopes of helping his newborn son break a cycle that feels unavoidable. Ashton Sanders (from Moonlight) co-stars with Jeffrey Wright, and a cast including Regina Taylor, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Isaiah John, Kelly Jenrette, & Shakira Ja'Nai Paye. This looks damn good! A brutally honest tale about family and the choices we make that set us apart. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Joe Robert Cole's All Day and a Night,...

Joe Robert Cole landed on many people’s radar in 2018 after the billion-dollar theatrical run of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” which he co-wrote alongside Ryan Coogler. Now, the writer makes the leap into directing with his first feature film, “All Day and a Night.”

Read More: ‘Murder To Mercy’ Trailer: Cyntoia Brown’s Story Gets The Spotlight In Netflix’s New True-Crime Doc

As seen in the trailer for the upcoming Netflix crime drama, “All Day and a Night” tells the story of a kid that witnesses his father, who is a well-known criminal, murder a guy.

Continue reading ‘All Day And A Night’ Trailer: ‘Black Panther’ Co-Writer Makes His Directorial Debut With The Netflix Crime Drama at The Playlist.

With much of the world’s population currently advised to remain at home due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Netflix (and other streaming services) are more popular than ever. The company is reporting record audience numbers, which isn’t exactly surprising given that they almost literally have a captive audience, and over the last few weeks, Netflix has become so popular that in Europe they’ve had to decrease their video quality as so many people are streaming that they were in danger of slowing down the whole internet.

With cinemas now closed, folks want something to look forward to in the weeks to come and thankfully, we know what to expect. Below you’ll find what’s on May’s menu for the United States, with this being just the first batch of announced titles and more to follow soon.

“May 1st:

All Day and a Night (2020) N – Drama featuring...

Exclusive: Christopher Meyer (Mad About You) and Zayne Emory (The Rookie) are set as series regulars opposite Reina Hardesty in the CW drama pilot drama Maverick, from writer Merigan Mulhern, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage’s Fake Empire and CBS TV Studios.

The premise of Maverick is likely to draw real-life parallels: In a present day America that finds itself under authoritarian rule, the President’s daughter, Kit (Hardesty) –- raised to believe her father is moral and benevolent -– has her worldview rocked on her first day at Georgetown. Challenged by her fellow students, and under the watchful eye of Secret Service agents, she’ll have to decide if her loyalties lie with her family or with a growing resistance as she navigates her freshman year.

Meyer will play Chase. A handsome and effortlessly cool freshman at the school, Chase connects quickly with Kit as they are in all of the same classes.

Exclusive: Ian Gomez, Collette Wolfe, James Earl and Joe Massingill are set to co-star opposite Shanola Hampton in NBC’s multi-camera comedy pilot Night School, based on the hit 2018 Universal movie. The project hails from Marlon co-creator Christopher Moynihan and the film’s star-producer Kevin Hart, producer Will Packer and director Malcolm D. Lee.

Penned by Moynihan, NBC’s Night School revolves around a unique mix of adults at a night school Ged prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping one another both inside and outside of the classroom.

Gomez plays Luis Flores, a somewhat cynical guy with a chip on his shoulder. The role was played in the movie by Al Madrigal.

Wolfe plays Theresa Perkins, a sweet and timid mother of three. The role was played in the movie my Mary Lynn Rajskub.

Earl plays Jaylen Watkins, a very cool, confident guy...

“Aquaman” star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has landed one of the lead roles in the latest installment in the “Matrix” franchise.

Sources tell Variety that director Lana Wachowski had been meeting with actors for the secret role over the last week and in recent days, Abdul-Mateen emerged as the frontrunner to join Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, who will be reprising their roles in the film.

Warner Bros. announced in August that a fourth “Matrix” film is officially in the works, with Reeves and Moss returning and Wachowski on board to write and direct. Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures will produce and globally distribute the film.

In addition to Wachowski, the script was also written by Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell. Wachowski is also producing with Grant Hill. Sources say the film is eyed to begin production at the top of 2020.

Warner Bros. has been trying for the last...

“Aquaman” actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is in final negotiations to join Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” sources tell Variety.

His casting in the historical drama follows the news that the long-awaited film is finally moving forward with Paramount Pictures on board for domestic distribution and Cross Creek signing on to finance and co-produce alongside Amblin Partners.

The movie is based on the infamous 1969 trial of seven men charged by the federal government with conspiracy and inciting to riot, a result of the counterculture protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The trial transfixed the nation and sparked a conversation intended to undermine the U.S. government.

Abdul-Mateen will play Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale, who was one of the original eight that were charged. Seale’s case was eventually severed from the other defendants, leading to the “Chicago Seven” moniker. He was bound and gagged...

Activision Blizzard Studios is already getting the gears turning on a sequel to Call of Duty, tapping Black Panther scribe Joe Robert Cole to pen the upcoming second installment.

The studio hired Sicario 2 director Stefano Sollima earlier this year to helm the first film, which is an adaptation of the popular video game, and even though a cast hasn’t been assembled, the studio wants a sequel script ready to go as soon as the first pic goes into production next year.

Exclusive: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is set to star opposite Dakota Fanning in the Zeresenay Berhane Mehari-directed Sweetness In The Belly based on the bestselling novel by Camilla Gibb.

Adapted for the screen by Laura Phillips, the film is a powerful love story that explores an immigrant’s life from a unique perspective. In a story that is relevant to today’s cultural landscape, Fanning stars Lilly Abdal (a role which Saoirse Ronan was originally attached), who was orphaned in Africa as a child and escaped to England as a refugee, fleeing civil war. Lost in this cold new world, Lilly embraces the immigrant community in London, attempting to reunite people with their scattered families. However, Lilly’s mission isn’t purely selfless: A passionate lost love affair is revealed between Lilly and Aziz (Abdul-Mateen II), an idealistic doctor. But can Lilly let go of the past?...

Producer Brad Simpson says it’s been an “extraordinary” year for he and producing partner Nina Jacobson but what he means is extraordinarily diverse. Through the Emmy winning duo’s Color Force, they’ve produced the historic transgender series Pose and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, both for FX, and the romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians for Warner Bros., which features an all-Asian and -Asian-American cast. There’s more: They are currently shooting All Day and a Night, directed by Joe Robert Cole and featuring an all-black cast including Jeffrey Wright and Ashton Sanders.

Simpson didn’t address their slate ...

Producer Brad Simpson says it’s been an “extraordinary” year for he and producing partner Nina Jacobson but what he means is extraordinarily diverse. Through the Emmy winning duo’s Color Force, they’ve produced the historic transgender series Pose and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, both for FX, and the romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians for Warner Bros., which features an all-Asian and -Asian-American cast. There’s more: They are currently shooting All Day and a Night, directed by Joe Robert Cole and featuring an all-black cast including Jeffrey Wright and Ashton Sanders.

Simpson didn’t address their slate ...

The Fosters actor Christopher Meyer and Jalyn Hall, who stars in CW’s new series All American, have been cast in the Netflix drama All Day and a Night, written and directed by Black Panther scribe Joe Robert Cole. The pic stars Moonlight breakout Ashton Sanders as Jah, a young man who committed a homicide and is facing just that. The drama is seen through his Pov as he deals with the repercussions of his actions. Hall will play the younger version of Jah, and Meyer is Lamark, Jah’s best friend. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force and Jared Ian Goldman are producing. Meyer is currently appearing on the fourth season of Showtime’s The Affair, while Hall can next be seen in Universal’s The House With a Clock in Its Walls. Meyer is repped by Pantheon, Stride Management, and attorney Chris Abramson. Hall is also...

In today’s casting roundup, join the upcoming Netflix film “All Day and a Night,” a feature told from three parallel narratives about a young man looking back on the days preceding his arrest and arrival in prison. Plus, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is continuing its casting search, a “Trolls”-themed interactive show is casting character performers, and get wrapped in plastic for a music video. “All Day And A Night”Join the cast of the Netflix feature film “All Day and a Night,” starring Ashton Sanders, Regina Taylor, Kelly Jenrette, and Jeffrey Wright. Talent, aged 18 and older, is wanted to play nurses, doctors, correctional officers, and more in background roles. The production is also seeking a newborn baby and kids, aged 10 and older. Shooting will take place through Sept. 13 in Oakland, Berkley, and Stockton, California. Pay is $170 per eight hours of work. Apply here! “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”Background...

Kelly Jenrette has joined Jeffrey Wright in Netflix’s drama “All Day and a Night” to portray the wife of Wright’s character, Variety has learned exclusively.

She’ll also be playing the mother to Ashton Sanders’ character. Jenrette received her debut Emmy nomination this month in the outstanding guest actress in a drama category for her work on the “Other Women” episode of Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” pitting her against Viola Davis, Diana Rigg, and Cicely Tyson.

“Black Panther” co-writer Joe Robert Cole will make his directorial debut on “All Day and a Night,” which he also wrote. Principle photography is set to get underway next week in Oakland, Ca.

“All Day and a Night” is told in three parallel narratives, following a young criminal (Sanders) after his arrival in prison as he looks back on the days preceding his arrest and the circumstances of his childhood...

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who will play Black Manta in the upcoming Aquaman movie, will join Ashton Sanders and Jeffery Wright in the Netflix drama All Day and a Night.

Golden Globe winner Regina Taylor and Kelly Jenrette, who recently picked up an Emmy nom for her role in the second season of The Handmaid's Tale, are also joining the feature, with Isaiah John, Shakira Ja-nai Paye and Andrea Lynn Ellsworth rounding out the cast.

Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole wrote and will make his directorial debut with the movie that is told in three parallel narratives, following a young criminal after ...