A covered wagon’s worth of ink has been spilled in recent weeks on “Horizon: An American Saga,” the potentially ruinous three-hour dice roll that writer, producer, director and star Kevin Costner makes this weekend when the first of four planned films about the American West opens in theaters.
You’ve probably heard that the films — long-gestating passion projects from a movie icon who in recent years reclaimed his cultural relevance with the hit series “Yellowstone” – are pricey. The first cost $100 million to produce and will be followed only weeks later by its sequel. You’ve also likely seen headlines where Costner bluntly revealed he spent $38 million of his own cash to get the movies made, an unusually candid disclosure from an A-lister who has been forced to bet on himself. Maybe you’ve seen the box office projections, predicting that the film will take home a troubling $10 to $15 million in its opening weekend,...
You’ve probably heard that the films — long-gestating passion projects from a movie icon who in recent years reclaimed his cultural relevance with the hit series “Yellowstone” – are pricey. The first cost $100 million to produce and will be followed only weeks later by its sequel. You’ve also likely seen headlines where Costner bluntly revealed he spent $38 million of his own cash to get the movies made, an unusually candid disclosure from an A-lister who has been forced to bet on himself. Maybe you’ve seen the box office projections, predicting that the film will take home a troubling $10 to $15 million in its opening weekend,...
- 6/28/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Ice Cube recently appeared on Flavor Flav’s SiriusXM show “Flavor of the Week” and had a promising updates for fans of the “Friday” franchise. A long-discussed fourth movie is currently being worked on, according to Ice Cube, who starred in and wrote the original three movies: “Friday” (1995), “Next Friday” (2000) and “Friday After Next” (2002).
“We’re working on it. We finally got some traction with Warner Bros.,” Ice Cube said. “They have new leadership, my man Mike De Luca, who used to be at New Line when I first started, when I first did the first ‘Friday’ and ‘Players Club’ and ‘All About the Benjamins.’ Mike De Luca was there…So, now he’s running Warner Bros. And him and my man Michael Gruber was like, ‘Yo, what the fuck is going on with “Friday”? Man, let’s get this shit back online.'”
Variety reached out to Warner Bros.
“We’re working on it. We finally got some traction with Warner Bros.,” Ice Cube said. “They have new leadership, my man Mike De Luca, who used to be at New Line when I first started, when I first did the first ‘Friday’ and ‘Players Club’ and ‘All About the Benjamins.’ Mike De Luca was there…So, now he’s running Warner Bros. And him and my man Michael Gruber was like, ‘Yo, what the fuck is going on with “Friday”? Man, let’s get this shit back online.'”
Variety reached out to Warner Bros.
- 6/24/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
While many viewers wish their favorite show would last forever, that's not always the best case scenario. If anything, the longer the show goes on, the more likely it is that the writers will turn against the beloved characters and ruin their development.
While this is a disturbing thought, there are enough cases to prove this to be true. One of the worst cases of characters suddenly forgetting everything they've learned is How I Met Your Mother's Barney Stinson, another is Grey's Anatomy's Alex Karev.
What Happened Between Karev and Deluca?
As one of the 5 original interns who started their career in the very first season, Alex Karev has had a 16-year journey right in front of the camera. Starting out as one of the least likable characters on the show, he ended up as the fan-favorite doctor by the final season he appeared in.
After the actor who portrayed Alex,...
While this is a disturbing thought, there are enough cases to prove this to be true. One of the worst cases of characters suddenly forgetting everything they've learned is How I Met Your Mother's Barney Stinson, another is Grey's Anatomy's Alex Karev.
What Happened Between Karev and Deluca?
As one of the 5 original interns who started their career in the very first season, Alex Karev has had a 16-year journey right in front of the camera. Starting out as one of the least likable characters on the show, he ended up as the fan-favorite doctor by the final season he appeared in.
After the actor who portrayed Alex,...
- 6/16/2024
- by virginia-singh@startefacts.com (Virginia Singh)
- STartefacts.com
Station 19 knows how to bring the pain, the laughter, and, yeah, even some frustration.
We got a healthy dose of all of the above with Station 19 Season 7 Episode 7, which was the epitome of a rollercoaster ride because they'd have you chuckling one minute and sniffling the next.
No one will ever accuse this series of not bringing all the emotions.
While they balanced out a couple of different things, Carina and Maya were at the forefront for the most part.
With Carina, they revisited the lawsuit that Wendy filed against her for the health issues her child faced, and with only a couple of installments of the series remaining, we needed that follow-up.
When they introduced that plot during Station 19 Season 7 Episode 2 , I wondered how they could address it again and wrap things up when the season has visibly shown signs of scrambling to land because of this unexpected cancelation.
We got a healthy dose of all of the above with Station 19 Season 7 Episode 7, which was the epitome of a rollercoaster ride because they'd have you chuckling one minute and sniffling the next.
No one will ever accuse this series of not bringing all the emotions.
While they balanced out a couple of different things, Carina and Maya were at the forefront for the most part.
With Carina, they revisited the lawsuit that Wendy filed against her for the health issues her child faced, and with only a couple of installments of the series remaining, we needed that follow-up.
When they introduced that plot during Station 19 Season 7 Episode 2 , I wondered how they could address it again and wrap things up when the season has visibly shown signs of scrambling to land because of this unexpected cancelation.
- 5/10/2024
- by Jasmine Blu
- TVfanatic
Updated with working title, film details: The first of two new Lotr films at Warner — working title Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — will be directed by and star Andy Serkis, with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens set to write the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). The film will be executive produced by Ken Kamins, with Serkis and The Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish.
Peter Jackson will produce along with Walsh and Boyens, Wbd said in a release that fleshed out comments on the project by Wbd CEO David Zaslav earlier today.
Said Warner Bros. Motion Pictures heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, “For over two-decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have...
Peter Jackson will produce along with Walsh and Boyens, Wbd said in a release that fleshed out comments on the project by Wbd CEO David Zaslav earlier today.
Said Warner Bros. Motion Pictures heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, “For over two-decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have...
- 5/9/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Warner Bros is negotiating to close a seven-figure film-rights deal for Avengelyne — Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld’s signature comic book creation about an angel who fights the forces of evil.
Most of the deals are closed. Deadline hears Margot Robbie is eyeing to star as the title character (subject to script), Olivia Wilde will direct, and Poor Things scribe Tony McNamara will write the screenplay. Aboard to produce is LuckyChap, the shingle Robbie runs with Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, and Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon through their Genre banner.
This one came to Warner Bros, and the studio pre-empted it. It is the second big deal for the studio in a week. Warner Bros has closed a 7-figure deal to secure a rights package for a movie about Chris Farley that Paul Walter Hauser will star in, with Josh Gad directing. The Avengelyne deal is even bigger.
LuckyChap is coming off Barbie,...
Most of the deals are closed. Deadline hears Margot Robbie is eyeing to star as the title character (subject to script), Olivia Wilde will direct, and Poor Things scribe Tony McNamara will write the screenplay. Aboard to produce is LuckyChap, the shingle Robbie runs with Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, and Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon through their Genre banner.
This one came to Warner Bros, and the studio pre-empted it. It is the second big deal for the studio in a week. Warner Bros has closed a 7-figure deal to secure a rights package for a movie about Chris Farley that Paul Walter Hauser will star in, with Josh Gad directing. The Avengelyne deal is even bigger.
LuckyChap is coming off Barbie,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
A 2021 Homeland Security investigation called ‘Swipe Left‘ has resulted in the arrest of a Walt Disney World employee. 27-year-old Austin Larmour has been charged with receipt of child pornography.
Lamour, according to Audacy, was part of a Telegram chat group called ‘Hoes,’ where he and other perverts were viewing material involving the sexual abuse of minors. In the chat, a man named Michael Spatz had uploaded child pornography he had produced. It showed Spatz “sexually assaulting his infant nephew,” according to Homeland Security Special Agent Joseph DeLuca.
The former Disneyland employee discussed his desire to see more content like this, saying, “I wanna see more stuff like this” and “Send some more.” Larmour’s involvement in the chat also included him talking about abusing children and making requests for other members to take pictures of teens in locker rooms.
Larmour left his position at Disneyland and started working at Walt...
Lamour, according to Audacy, was part of a Telegram chat group called ‘Hoes,’ where he and other perverts were viewing material involving the sexual abuse of minors. In the chat, a man named Michael Spatz had uploaded child pornography he had produced. It showed Spatz “sexually assaulting his infant nephew,” according to Homeland Security Special Agent Joseph DeLuca.
The former Disneyland employee discussed his desire to see more content like this, saying, “I wanna see more stuff like this” and “Send some more.” Larmour’s involvement in the chat also included him talking about abusing children and making requests for other members to take pictures of teens in locker rooms.
Larmour left his position at Disneyland and started working at Walt...
- 4/26/2024
- by Mike Phalin
- Pirates & Princesses
The upcoming horror Western A Town Called Purgatory, the latest film from Ken Arnold and Dan De Luca, the creators and stars of the award-winning festival hit The Night Watchmen (2017) is set to hit festivals beginning with a screening at Creature Feature Weekend. After the filmmakers took home the Best Horror Feature Award at the recent Garden State Film Festival, A Town Called Purgatory will be screening April 19-21 2024 at Creature Feature Weekend https://creaturefeatureweekend.com/ in Gettysburg, Pa. Arnold and De Luca will be both attending and screening their film at a local theater as part of the event. Directed by Matt Servitto A Town Called Purgatory stars Matt Servitto, Ken Arnold, Dan De Luca and Kevin Jiggetts. Synopsis: In the haunting aftermath of the Civil War, principled Yankee Lawman Beau Riffen (Arnold) joins forces with Cody Parnum (De Luca), a tormented ex-Confederate tracker. Their quest to apprehend notorious...
- 4/18/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Warner Bros. Lands ‘Black Samurai’ Movie From ‘The Color Purple’ Director Blitz Bazawule (Exclusive)
In a competitive situation, Warner Bros. has landed “The Color Purple” director Blitz Bazawule’s next project, which takes on the legendary Yasuke, an African warrior who became the first Black samurai.
Sources tell Variety that Warner Bros. beat out three other studios and streamers’ bids on the script, tentatively titled “Black Samurai,” which Bazawule wrote on spec and will direct and produce under his Inward Gaze banner.
After impressing the industry with his 2018 debut “The Burial of Kojo,” helming episodes of Ava DuVernay’s “Cherish the Day” and working with Beyoncé on her feature-length visual album “Black Is King,” Bazawule made his major studio debut with 2023’s “The Color Purple.”
The Ghanaian filmmaker, who brought his unique visual language to the Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg-produced musical movie, is said to have done the same with his take on Yasuke, an African warrior who served under Japanese daimyo...
Sources tell Variety that Warner Bros. beat out three other studios and streamers’ bids on the script, tentatively titled “Black Samurai,” which Bazawule wrote on spec and will direct and produce under his Inward Gaze banner.
After impressing the industry with his 2018 debut “The Burial of Kojo,” helming episodes of Ava DuVernay’s “Cherish the Day” and working with Beyoncé on her feature-length visual album “Black Is King,” Bazawule made his major studio debut with 2023’s “The Color Purple.”
The Ghanaian filmmaker, who brought his unique visual language to the Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg-produced musical movie, is said to have done the same with his take on Yasuke, an African warrior who served under Japanese daimyo...
- 4/10/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros hosted a star-studded CinemaCon session on Tuesday in which the studio brought stars and showed footage from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Mickey 17, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Horizon: An American Saga, Joker: Folie a Deux, and Trap, among others.
Michael Keaton, Tim Burton, Robert Pattinson, Bong Joon Ho, Kevin Costner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and M Night Shyamalan were among the celebrities who took to The Colosseum stage in Caesars Palace to promote the upcoming slate in the first studio presentation at CinemaCon 2024.
Bong and Pattinson promoted Mickey 17 from Plan B, which Bong described as a “tale of...
Michael Keaton, Tim Burton, Robert Pattinson, Bong Joon Ho, Kevin Costner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and M Night Shyamalan were among the celebrities who took to The Colosseum stage in Caesars Palace to promote the upcoming slate in the first studio presentation at CinemaCon 2024.
Bong and Pattinson promoted Mickey 17 from Plan B, which Bong described as a “tale of...
- 4/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
Warner Bros hosted a star-studded CinemaCon session on Tuesday in which the studio brought stars and showed footage from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Mikey 17, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Horizon: An American Saga, Joker: Folie a Deux, and Trap, among others.
Michael Keaton, Tim Burton, Robert Pattinson, Bong Joon Ho, Kevin Costner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and M Night Shyamalan were among the celebrities who took to The Colosseum stage in Caesars Palace to promote the upcoming slate in the first studio presentation at CinemaCon 2024.
Bong and Pattinson promoted Mickey 17 from Plan B, which Bong described as a “tale of...
Michael Keaton, Tim Burton, Robert Pattinson, Bong Joon Ho, Kevin Costner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and M Night Shyamalan were among the celebrities who took to The Colosseum stage in Caesars Palace to promote the upcoming slate in the first studio presentation at CinemaCon 2024.
Bong and Pattinson promoted Mickey 17 from Plan B, which Bong described as a “tale of...
- 4/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
Warner Bros hosted a star-studded CinemaCon session on Tuesday in which the studio brought stars and showed clips from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Mikey 17, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Horizon: An American Saga, Joker: Folie a Deux, and Trap, among others.
Michael Keaton, Tim Burton, Robert Pattinson, Bong Joon Ho, Kevin Costner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and M Night Shyamalan were among the celebrities who took to The Colosseum stage in Caesars Palace to promote the upcoming slate in the first studio presentation at CinemaCon 2024.
Bong and Pattinson promoted Mickey 17 from Plan B, which Bong described as a “tale of a...
Michael Keaton, Tim Burton, Robert Pattinson, Bong Joon Ho, Kevin Costner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and M Night Shyamalan were among the celebrities who took to The Colosseum stage in Caesars Palace to promote the upcoming slate in the first studio presentation at CinemaCon 2024.
Bong and Pattinson promoted Mickey 17 from Plan B, which Bong described as a “tale of a...
- 4/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
When your last film won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Film, what in the heck could you possibly do for an encore? When you're Bong Joon-ho, a one-of-a-kind cinematic visionary who's yet to make a less-than-great movie, you go to Warner Bros and you go epic.
Bong's follow-up to his 2019 triumph "Parasite" is "Mickey 17," an adaptation of Edward Ashton's critically acclaimed science fiction novel about an expendable space explorer (Robert Pattinson) sent on a perilous mission to colonize the ice planet Niflheim. When the first Mickey dies, a human print is generated with most of the deceased's memories intact. In Ashton's book, the human printing process is set to continue indefinitely after the newest iteration of Mickey dies. But when one Mickey survives after being presumed dead, there are now two Mickeys on Niflheim – which would result in both being eliminated.
Bong's follow-up to his 2019 triumph "Parasite" is "Mickey 17," an adaptation of Edward Ashton's critically acclaimed science fiction novel about an expendable space explorer (Robert Pattinson) sent on a perilous mission to colonize the ice planet Niflheim. When the first Mickey dies, a human print is generated with most of the deceased's memories intact. In Ashton's book, the human printing process is set to continue indefinitely after the newest iteration of Mickey dies. But when one Mickey survives after being presumed dead, there are now two Mickeys on Niflheim – which would result in both being eliminated.
- 4/10/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Warner Bros’ first big splash at its 2024 CinemaCon presentation today was George Miller’s Furiosa.
Taking the stage were Miller and stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, who were interviewed by Warner Bros co-bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy.
“To tell the story of Mad Max, we had to know where every vehicle, every character, every prop, every gesture came from,” Miller said. “We wrote backstories of Furiosa overall these years and Mad Max the year before. When Fury Road had enough traction, we figured we had to do Furiosa.”
The trio showed off an extended first look today. We see Hemswroth’s Dementus, who’s something of white linen-clad prophet. He’s brought a young Furiosa. They live in, natch, a radical world where we see Furiosa’s mother crucified. “I remember your face and your memory,” says Taylor-Joy’s Furiosa in what is a revenge tale. Lots of fire,...
Taking the stage were Miller and stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, who were interviewed by Warner Bros co-bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy.
“To tell the story of Mad Max, we had to know where every vehicle, every character, every prop, every gesture came from,” Miller said. “We wrote backstories of Furiosa overall these years and Mad Max the year before. When Fury Road had enough traction, we figured we had to do Furiosa.”
The trio showed off an extended first look today. We see Hemswroth’s Dementus, who’s something of white linen-clad prophet. He’s brought a young Furiosa. They live in, natch, a radical world where we see Furiosa’s mother crucified. “I remember your face and your memory,” says Taylor-Joy’s Furiosa in what is a revenge tale. Lots of fire,...
- 4/9/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group is staying in the Timothée Chalamet business.
The movie company has signed the star of its back-to-back box office hits Wonka and Dune: Part Two to a multiyear first-look feature deal.
Details were not disclosed, but the company said it would collaborate with the star on projects he would both act in and produce.
“Over the last few years, we have admired not only Timothée’s commitment to his craft, which is evident in the range and depth of his varied roles, but also his unwavering dedication to give 100 percent of his time and attention to every project he has made here at Warner Bros. and elsewhere,” said motion picture group co-chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy in a statement.
“His collaboration on the campaigns for Dune and Wonka is something we all enjoyed immensely, and the results speak for themselves,” the statement added.
The movie company has signed the star of its back-to-back box office hits Wonka and Dune: Part Two to a multiyear first-look feature deal.
Details were not disclosed, but the company said it would collaborate with the star on projects he would both act in and produce.
“Over the last few years, we have admired not only Timothée’s commitment to his craft, which is evident in the range and depth of his varied roles, but also his unwavering dedication to give 100 percent of his time and attention to every project he has made here at Warner Bros. and elsewhere,” said motion picture group co-chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy in a statement.
“His collaboration on the campaigns for Dune and Wonka is something we all enjoyed immensely, and the results speak for themselves,” the statement added.
- 3/26/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In what is no surprise, Warner Bros Motion Picture Group is getting into business with its Dune and Wonka star Timothée Chalamet, and has hammered a multi-year first look feature film deal with the Oscar nominee as actor and producer.
Between the Dune movies and Wonka, Chalamet’s recent pics with the Burbank, CA lot have delivered $1.6 billion to studio coffers. Chalamet became the first actor in over four decades to star in the top two domestic-grossing films released in an 8-month period.
The latest talent deal is one of many hammered out by Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-Chairs and CEOs, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, as they set their future slate at the studio. Since being announced for the top studio job at Warner Bros back in June 2022, the duo have made deals with Tom Cruise, Jon M. Chu, and T Street’s Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman.
Between the Dune movies and Wonka, Chalamet’s recent pics with the Burbank, CA lot have delivered $1.6 billion to studio coffers. Chalamet became the first actor in over four decades to star in the top two domestic-grossing films released in an 8-month period.
The latest talent deal is one of many hammered out by Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-Chairs and CEOs, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, as they set their future slate at the studio. Since being announced for the top studio job at Warner Bros back in June 2022, the duo have made deals with Tom Cruise, Jon M. Chu, and T Street’s Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman.
- 3/26/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Timothée Chalamet has proven twice within just the last three months that he is a true movie star. He’s one of the few young actors right now who can open a movie, whether it’s a family-friendly romp like “Wonka” or a sci-fi epic like “Dune: Part Two.”
That both of those were released by Warner Bros. is motivation for the studio to lock his services down as best they can. And so they have.
On Tuesday, WB film group heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy announced they’ve signed a multi-year, first-look feature film deal with Chalamet in which he will collaborate with the studio on future projects as both an actor and a producer. No specific projects were announced today.
Chalamet, 28, is still new to the producing game — but no longer a rookie. He produced Luca Guadagnino’s “Bones and All,” which was greenlit by MGM...
That both of those were released by Warner Bros. is motivation for the studio to lock his services down as best they can. And so they have.
On Tuesday, WB film group heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy announced they’ve signed a multi-year, first-look feature film deal with Chalamet in which he will collaborate with the studio on future projects as both an actor and a producer. No specific projects were announced today.
Chalamet, 28, is still new to the producing game — but no longer a rookie. He produced Luca Guadagnino’s “Bones and All,” which was greenlit by MGM...
- 3/26/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Conservative social media influencer Isabella Maria DeLuca was charged with breaching the U.S. Capitol building and helping pass a stolen table out of a broken window.
DeLuca’s charges were confirmed in court records made public last week after she was arrested in Irvine, California.
The native of Setauket, New York, interned for former Rep. Lee Zeldin, who represented part of Long Island, and right-wing Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona).
She was employed as a media associate for the Gold Institute for International Strategy until they cut ties with her on March 18. Her profile on the institute’s website mentions she served as an ambassador for the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA.
A spokesperson for the Gold Institute for International Strategy stated that it learned on March 18 that DeLuca, who had an unpaid position to update the organization’s social media presence, was facing criminal charges and said that after “further internal investigation,...
DeLuca’s charges were confirmed in court records made public last week after she was arrested in Irvine, California.
The native of Setauket, New York, interned for former Rep. Lee Zeldin, who represented part of Long Island, and right-wing Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona).
She was employed as a media associate for the Gold Institute for International Strategy until they cut ties with her on March 18. Her profile on the institute’s website mentions she served as an ambassador for the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA.
A spokesperson for the Gold Institute for International Strategy stated that it learned on March 18 that DeLuca, who had an unpaid position to update the organization’s social media presence, was facing criminal charges and said that after “further internal investigation,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
Paul Thomas Anderson’s next film doesn’t yet have a title, but it does have a release date, and it will even open in IMAX theaters.
Warner Bros. has dated the untitled PTA movie for a release on August 8, 2025. The movie officially stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, and Chase Infiniti.
Anderson is writing, directing, and producing the film, now his 10th narrative feature, with Sara Murphy and Adam Somner also producing.
Warner Bros. is calling PTA’s next movie an “event film,” and its release plans on IMAX are a coup for the director and the studio. Little else is known about it, as Anderson loves working in secrecy, but the film is said to be contemporary in its setting, and it’s felt to be his most “commercial” project to date. The film is currently in production in California.
The...
Warner Bros. has dated the untitled PTA movie for a release on August 8, 2025. The movie officially stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, and Chase Infiniti.
Anderson is writing, directing, and producing the film, now his 10th narrative feature, with Sara Murphy and Adam Somner also producing.
Warner Bros. is calling PTA’s next movie an “event film,” and its release plans on IMAX are a coup for the director and the studio. Little else is known about it, as Anderson loves working in secrecy, but the film is said to be contemporary in its setting, and it’s felt to be his most “commercial” project to date. The film is currently in production in California.
The...
- 3/12/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
If you’ve been keeping up with The Test of Time, you have probably learned what the rules are in terms of what we tackle. Those rules, of course, are that there are no rules whatsoever and we cover whatever sounds good or we think would be an interesting topic. In the Mouth of Madness (watch it Here) came out in Italy in late 1994 and that means, gulp, that movie is now 30 years old. It came during an interesting time in the master of horrors career when he was running flop after flop and being disappointed by studios interference and stars that weren’t willing to be true collaborators. It’s the ending of a loose trilogy and in some people’s estimation his last great film. Is In the Mouth of Madness a tale that stands the Test of Time, or should it be put in the bargain bin...
- 2/28/2024
- by Andrew Hatfield
- JoBlo.com
The upcoming Road House remake looks to be one of Amazon’s biggest movies of the year, but according to Variety, there has been some major drama brewing behind the scenes for several years, all to do with whether to release the movie theatrically or on streaming.
Road House will debut on Prime Video next month, but the lack of a theatrical release has caused some acrimony. When director Doug Liman first signed on to direct the movie, Michael de Luca and Pam Abdy were in charge of MGM at the time, and the intention was that Road House would be developed for the big screen, but that all changed when Amazon acquired MGM for a cool $8.5 billion. De Luca and Abdy left for Warner Bros., but Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke took charge of Road House and was set to give it the green light… but there was one important choice to be made.
Road House will debut on Prime Video next month, but the lack of a theatrical release has caused some acrimony. When director Doug Liman first signed on to direct the movie, Michael de Luca and Pam Abdy were in charge of MGM at the time, and the intention was that Road House would be developed for the big screen, but that all changed when Amazon acquired MGM for a cool $8.5 billion. De Luca and Abdy left for Warner Bros., but Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke took charge of Road House and was set to give it the green light… but there was one important choice to be made.
- 2/14/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Hollywood loves a bare-knuckle brawl. And the town got a battle royal with “Road House.”
The reboot of the 1989 cult favorite, which launches on Amazon Prime on March 21, sparked a fierce fight behind the scenes over its release. While studio-filmmaker standoffs are not uncommon, this one featured such subplots as the involvement of a notorious private investigator, a producer given the heave-ho, a cameo from Ari Emanuel and a director going scorched-earth. Even more shocking, some of the embarrassing details began to publicly spill out in recent months, culminating with director Doug Liman promising to boycott the film’s premiere at SXSW on March 8.
Despite the drama, the movie is expected to be one of Amazon Prime’s most-watched films this year. So how did things go wrong?
In November 2021, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy were running MGM and began negotiating with Liman to direct and Jake Gyllenhaal to star as the tough-guy bouncer,...
The reboot of the 1989 cult favorite, which launches on Amazon Prime on March 21, sparked a fierce fight behind the scenes over its release. While studio-filmmaker standoffs are not uncommon, this one featured such subplots as the involvement of a notorious private investigator, a producer given the heave-ho, a cameo from Ari Emanuel and a director going scorched-earth. Even more shocking, some of the embarrassing details began to publicly spill out in recent months, culminating with director Doug Liman promising to boycott the film’s premiere at SXSW on March 8.
Despite the drama, the movie is expected to be one of Amazon Prime’s most-watched films this year. So how did things go wrong?
In November 2021, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy were running MGM and began negotiating with Liman to direct and Jake Gyllenhaal to star as the tough-guy bouncer,...
- 2/14/2024
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Variety Film + TV
How does one repay a team of producers for launching its highest grossing film of all time? Give them the key to the studio — literally.
On Monday, “Barbie” producers, LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara inked a first-look deal at Warner Bros., which distributed the $1.4 billion-grossing movie. So, to celebrate, Warner Bros. Pictures Group Co-Chairs and CEO Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca decided to resurrect an old tradition, started by WB co-founder Jack Warner.
“Every once in a while, when a significant piece of talent signed a deal with the studio, he presented that company, that talent, with a key to the studio,” De Luca said as he and Abdy raised a toast to the trio. “We are so delighted to have our first key to our studio be given to LuckyChap.”
This historical artifact, De Luca noted, was particularly special, as the LuckyChap team received...
On Monday, “Barbie” producers, LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara inked a first-look deal at Warner Bros., which distributed the $1.4 billion-grossing movie. So, to celebrate, Warner Bros. Pictures Group Co-Chairs and CEO Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca decided to resurrect an old tradition, started by WB co-founder Jack Warner.
“Every once in a while, when a significant piece of talent signed a deal with the studio, he presented that company, that talent, with a key to the studio,” De Luca said as he and Abdy raised a toast to the trio. “We are so delighted to have our first key to our studio be given to LuckyChap.”
This historical artifact, De Luca noted, was particularly special, as the LuckyChap team received...
- 2/13/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros. really likes being in the Margot Robbie business. Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has signed a multi-year first look feature film deal with Robbie’s production company LuckyChap Entertainment. It will make WB the first stop for any film projects Robbie wishes to produce through her production arm, which she runs alongside Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara.
It’s no big question as to why. Robbie and Ackerley together produced WB and Mattel’s “Barbie,” which grossed $1.45 billion as the highest-grossing film of 2023, and went on to earn eight Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture.
But, not so fast, “Barbie” fans. That doesn’t a sequel is incoming. The announcement made on February 12 by WB film chief heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy doesn’t mention any specific projects just yet, nor does it stipulate whether Robbie would star in the films.
Still, Warner Bros. loves tying...
It’s no big question as to why. Robbie and Ackerley together produced WB and Mattel’s “Barbie,” which grossed $1.45 billion as the highest-grossing film of 2023, and went on to earn eight Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture.
But, not so fast, “Barbie” fans. That doesn’t a sequel is incoming. The announcement made on February 12 by WB film chief heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy doesn’t mention any specific projects just yet, nor does it stipulate whether Robbie would star in the films.
Still, Warner Bros. loves tying...
- 2/12/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Warner Bros. is staying in business with Margot Robbie, the star and producer of 2023 box office champion Barbie. The studio has set a first look film deal with LuckyChap, the banner Robbie runs with Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara.
Barbie stands as Warners’ highest grossing film of all time with $1.45 billion. It became a cultural phenomenon and landed eight Oscar nominations, including for best picture.
The deal is another feather in the cap for Warner Bros. film bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, who have focused on courting top talent, signing Tom Cruise to a much ballyhooed (but non-exclusive) deal, and bringing Ryan Coogler’s next movie to the studio (wooing him with a deal in which the rights revert to him after a period of time).
These public facing moves have helped counter negative sentiment parent company Warner Bros. Discovery and CEO David Zaslav have earned in creative...
Barbie stands as Warners’ highest grossing film of all time with $1.45 billion. It became a cultural phenomenon and landed eight Oscar nominations, including for best picture.
The deal is another feather in the cap for Warner Bros. film bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, who have focused on courting top talent, signing Tom Cruise to a much ballyhooed (but non-exclusive) deal, and bringing Ryan Coogler’s next movie to the studio (wooing him with a deal in which the rights revert to him after a period of time).
These public facing moves have helped counter negative sentiment parent company Warner Bros. Discovery and CEO David Zaslav have earned in creative...
- 2/12/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Margot Robbie’s production company is making it official with the studio that backed the Oscar-nominated blockbuster “Barbie.”
LuckyChap signed a multi-year, first-look feature film deal with Warner Bros. to collaborate on future projects. The pact follows the smash success of “Barbie,” which was distributed by Warner Bros. and produced by Robbie and her LuckyChap co-founders, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara. With $1.45 billion globally, “Barbie” was the highest-grossing movie of 2023 as well as the biggest film in the studio’s 100-year history. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including best picture.
As Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chairs and CEO Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy build out the studio’s film slate, they said they’re on a mission to “invest and commit to working with the greatest partners in front of and behind the camera.”
“Margot, Tom and Josey have built a unique home for storytellers at LuckyChap,...
LuckyChap signed a multi-year, first-look feature film deal with Warner Bros. to collaborate on future projects. The pact follows the smash success of “Barbie,” which was distributed by Warner Bros. and produced by Robbie and her LuckyChap co-founders, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara. With $1.45 billion globally, “Barbie” was the highest-grossing movie of 2023 as well as the biggest film in the studio’s 100-year history. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including best picture.
As Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chairs and CEO Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy build out the studio’s film slate, they said they’re on a mission to “invest and commit to working with the greatest partners in front of and behind the camera.”
“Margot, Tom and Josey have built a unique home for storytellers at LuckyChap,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros Motion Picture Group is making sure the producer of the studio’s highest-grossing movie of all time, Barbie, isn’t going anywhere.
Studio bosses Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy have closed a multiyear first-look feature film deal with LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara on future projects. The news follows the $1.45 billion global-grossing Barbie notching eight Oscar nominations, as well as Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media Grammy wins for Billie Eilish and Finneas’ single “What Was I Made For?” in addition to two Golden Globe wins.
“Margot, Tom and Josey have built a unique home for storytellers at LuckyChap, where filmmakers are doing incredible work in a supportive and creatively freeing environment,” said De Luca and Abdy, co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group. “As we build our theatrical film slate, Warner Bros Discovery continues to...
Studio bosses Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy have closed a multiyear first-look feature film deal with LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara on future projects. The news follows the $1.45 billion global-grossing Barbie notching eight Oscar nominations, as well as Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media Grammy wins for Billie Eilish and Finneas’ single “What Was I Made For?” in addition to two Golden Globe wins.
“Margot, Tom and Josey have built a unique home for storytellers at LuckyChap, where filmmakers are doing incredible work in a supportive and creatively freeing environment,” said De Luca and Abdy, co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group. “As we build our theatrical film slate, Warner Bros Discovery continues to...
- 2/12/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The annual AFI Awards lunch at the Four Seasons was the same as it ever was: time, station, place in the awards calendar. This celebration of the top 10 jury-voted lists for film and television is always a big draw for talent and their studio chiefs: no one has to make a speech, and mingling freely are the likes of Apple CEO Tim Cook, Disney’s Bob Iger, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Warner Bros.’ David Zaslav, Universal’s Donna Langley, MGM/Amazon’s Jennifer Salke, and Sony’s Tom Rothman (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”).
During the annual benediction, Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn (“Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”) said, “I’m very happy to be here, because of this idea of honoring 10 movies and 10 television shows, and just leaving it at that, not having five people nominated, invited to a big gala event, one person wins and four losers: I’ve been at...
During the annual benediction, Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn (“Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”) said, “I’m very happy to be here, because of this idea of honoring 10 movies and 10 television shows, and just leaving it at that, not having five people nominated, invited to a big gala event, one person wins and four losers: I’ve been at...
- 1/14/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
After nearly a decade, it seems "Edge of Tomorrow 2" finally has a real shot at coming to fruition. Don't get too excited just yet, but Warner Bros., the studio behind the 2014 sci-fi blockbuster, recently locked down a deal with Tom Cruise, who starred in the film. The actor is now set to develop, produce, and star in projects for the studio. And wouldn't you know it, the sequel in question is on WB's wishlist.
The Hollywood Reporter recently broke down the blockbuster deal between Warner Bros. and Cruise. The outlet's article states that the studio's heads of film Michael DeLuca and Pam Abdy are eager to see Cruise return to the role of William Cage, noting, "DeLuca and Abdy have also hoped to lure Cruise back for a follow-up to the 2014 film 'Edge of Tomorrow.'" The article goes on to explain that the project was already...
The Hollywood Reporter recently broke down the blockbuster deal between Warner Bros. and Cruise. The outlet's article states that the studio's heads of film Michael DeLuca and Pam Abdy are eager to see Cruise return to the role of William Cage, noting, "DeLuca and Abdy have also hoped to lure Cruise back for a follow-up to the 2014 film 'Edge of Tomorrow.'" The article goes on to explain that the project was already...
- 1/11/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
The 2023 film Outrage is short, simple, but not sweet. A revenge story at its core, it mixes the themes of nationalist politics and the innocent (sometimes not so innocent) lives that are lost in the aftermath of such political movements. The story revolves around a group of individuals who gather in a chateau in France to shape the future of French politics, but they don’t realize that they may have to pay the price for the death of a student named Max Moreau, who had been killed by the police. Max had been indoctrinated by the neo-nazi ideology being purveyed in the media, and the group of individuals gathered were the main players behind the spread of the ideology. Directed by Mathieu Bonzon, Outrage aims to entertain with an engaging plot, but at the end of it, it seems a bit too silly, trying to get its serious message across through the thriller genre.
- 12/9/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
In honor of the late Robbie Robertson, whose “Killers of the Flower Moon” score was his final work, Martin Scorsese hosted a private tribute concert Wednesday in Los Angeles that had guests including Joni Mitchell, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone watching Jackson Browne and other musicians perform Robertson’s songs as well as score excerpts.
The tribute to Robertson — who died on Aug. 9 at age 80 — took place before 200 invited guests at the composer’s longtime recording-studio home, the Village Studios in West L.A. Among those joining Browne as performers were Rocco DeLuca, Citizen Cope, Angela McCluskey, Blake Mills, Jim Keltner and, briefly, Jason Isbell, who has a small role in “Killers.”
Jackson Browne and Jason Isbell at the Robbie Robertson Memorial Concert at The Village Studios on November 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Robertson was being doubly celebrated Wednesday night. Simultaneous with the tribute concert, he was being posthumously awarded...
The tribute to Robertson — who died on Aug. 9 at age 80 — took place before 200 invited guests at the composer’s longtime recording-studio home, the Village Studios in West L.A. Among those joining Browne as performers were Rocco DeLuca, Citizen Cope, Angela McCluskey, Blake Mills, Jim Keltner and, briefly, Jason Isbell, who has a small role in “Killers.”
Jackson Browne and Jason Isbell at the Robbie Robertson Memorial Concert at The Village Studios on November 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Robertson was being doubly celebrated Wednesday night. Simultaneous with the tribute concert, he was being posthumously awarded...
- 11/16/2023
- by Pamela Chelin
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Article updated at 2:54Pm Screenings are being set up this week for streamers Amazon Prime Video, Apple and Netflix to check out and potentially acquire Warner Bros’ axed Looney Tunes movie Coyote vs. Acme after the studio’s phone ran off the hook the entire weekend from angry filmmakers and talent reps over their third feature film kill after Batgirl and Scoob Holiday Haunt!
The more egregious Hollywood sin with Coyote vs. Acme is that it’s a finished film was intended for a theatrical release, while the other two movies were still in the works.
Of those kicking the tires, even though no deals have been drafted, I hear Amazon is a leading contender given the fact that Courtenay Valenti, the Head of Film, Streaming and Theatrical for Amazon Studios and MGM, was a big champion and linchpin for the movie while she was President of Production...
The more egregious Hollywood sin with Coyote vs. Acme is that it’s a finished film was intended for a theatrical release, while the other two movies were still in the works.
Of those kicking the tires, even though no deals have been drafted, I hear Amazon is a leading contender given the fact that Courtenay Valenti, the Head of Film, Streaming and Theatrical for Amazon Studios and MGM, was a big champion and linchpin for the movie while she was President of Production...
- 11/13/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Aaron Ryder was in a hurry. He knew other producers were chasing the GameStop story that was flooding headlines in 2021, as day traders ran up the stock for the brick-mortar store that had been shorted by several hedge funds. One single investor, Keith Gill (Paul Dano) believed the stock was undervalued and plowed his life savings into it. “You don’t even own a house!” a frustrated friend tells him in “Dumb Money” the movie adapted by former investigative reporters Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo from Ben Mezrich’s book “The Antisocial Network: The GameStop Short Squeeze and the Ragtag Group of Amateur Traders That Brought Wall Street to Its Knees,” with Craig Gillespie at the helm.
It all started during the pandemic in January 2021 when Ryder, who had built the film production division of FilmNation before new MGM chief Mike DeLuca offered him a first-look deal, was under...
It all started during the pandemic in January 2021 when Ryder, who had built the film production division of FilmNation before new MGM chief Mike DeLuca offered him a first-look deal, was under...
- 9/9/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
When people transform into their superhero personas in comic-book movies, the change is rarely as disturbing as it appears to be in Blue Beetle. While speaking with Variety, Blue Beetle director Angel Manuel Soto discussed his cinematic inspirations, including looking to David Cronenberg for the main character’s transformation.
Angel Manuel Soto is a die-hard cinephile who isn’t afraid to show his influences in his work, and when it came time to show Jaime’s first transformation into Blue Beetle, he wanted to make it a more visceral experience, just like the king of body horror. “How can we do [David] Cronenberg for kids?” Soto said. “I wanted the energy to be fun but also tell the story about the movies that made me love movies.“
Related Blue Beetle tickets are now available for pre-order on Fandango
Given the underperformance of recent DC movies, there are fears among the Latino...
Angel Manuel Soto is a die-hard cinephile who isn’t afraid to show his influences in his work, and when it came time to show Jaime’s first transformation into Blue Beetle, he wanted to make it a more visceral experience, just like the king of body horror. “How can we do [David] Cronenberg for kids?” Soto said. “I wanted the energy to be fun but also tell the story about the movies that made me love movies.“
Related Blue Beetle tickets are now available for pre-order on Fandango
Given the underperformance of recent DC movies, there are fears among the Latino...
- 8/2/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
After nearly a year of box office misfires, Warner Bros. has ended its losing streak in the biggest way imaginable with “Barbie,” which scored a $162 million opening and become one of the studio’s top five highest-opening weekends in history.
It is also the first major theatrical victory for the new Warner leadership under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who called on his team early this year to build an all-in marketing campaign internally called “Operation Barbie Summer” to promote to the world writer-director Greta Gerwig’s unique vision of the most famous doll ever made across the media portfolio created by the company’s merger last year.
The results speak for themselves. Along with this strong opening, “Barbie” has an A on CinemaScore and scores of 4.5/5 from general audiences on PostTrak and a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. With no films expected to open over $40 million for the rest of the summer,...
It is also the first major theatrical victory for the new Warner leadership under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who called on his team early this year to build an all-in marketing campaign internally called “Operation Barbie Summer” to promote to the world writer-director Greta Gerwig’s unique vision of the most famous doll ever made across the media portfolio created by the company’s merger last year.
The results speak for themselves. Along with this strong opening, “Barbie” has an A on CinemaScore and scores of 4.5/5 from general audiences on PostTrak and a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. With no films expected to open over $40 million for the rest of the summer,...
- 7/24/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Few Disney villains are as delightfully wicked as Ursula, the sea witch in "The Little Mermaid." That goes for the animated version voiced by Pat Carroll in the 1989 film as well as the less impressive live-action version with Melissa McCarthy. She just loves being evil and milks every second of enjoyment out of her dastardly plan to take Ariel's voice (Halle Bailey) to get back at her brother Titan (Javier Bardem).
McCarthy was born for this role and made it her own, including her big number "Poor Unfortunate Souls," which was a lot to live up to. She did, however, have one issue with a bit of advice she got from director Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca. So many kids beloved the original film, and this advice/stage direction might have gotten this version of the film pushed out of the PG slot it ended up in, as she recently told Entertainment Weekly.
McCarthy was born for this role and made it her own, including her big number "Poor Unfortunate Souls," which was a lot to live up to. She did, however, have one issue with a bit of advice she got from director Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca. So many kids beloved the original film, and this advice/stage direction might have gotten this version of the film pushed out of the PG slot it ended up in, as she recently told Entertainment Weekly.
- 7/23/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
According to reports, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is sailing through rough seas on its way to cinemas. A new article from The Hollywood Reporter says the sequel to 2018’s Aquaman is doggy paddling to shore after a stint of reshoots in New Zealand in mid-June, with stars Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson attending. Multiple sources say this is the film’s third round of reshoots, a number unheard of in most Hollywood circles.
Warner Bros greenlighted Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom under the leadership of former film boss Toby Emmerich and DC Films head Walter Hamada. 2018’s Aquaman earned $1.148B worldwide, becoming DC’s most successful superhero film. Even with the sequel suffering several setbacks, it’s easy to see why WB doesn’t want to let Aquaman and the Lost City drown.
After wrapping principal photography in January 2022, management ordered two reshoots. Unfortunately, test audiences were unimpressed with the results.
Warner Bros greenlighted Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom under the leadership of former film boss Toby Emmerich and DC Films head Walter Hamada. 2018’s Aquaman earned $1.148B worldwide, becoming DC’s most successful superhero film. Even with the sequel suffering several setbacks, it’s easy to see why WB doesn’t want to let Aquaman and the Lost City drown.
After wrapping principal photography in January 2022, management ordered two reshoots. Unfortunately, test audiences were unimpressed with the results.
- 7/19/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is in uncharted waters, with the next several weeks potentially setting its course, for good or for ill.
The sequel to Warner Bros.’ 2018 DC movie is coming off a round of reshoots that occurred in New Zealand in mid-June and involved stars including Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson, according to multiple sources.
This is the third round of reshoots for the movie, directed by James Wan. That is almost an unprecedented number, even for a movie of this scale.
Lost Kingdom has faced several headwinds as it swims toward a Dec. 20 release date. It was postponed several times (it originally was due to bow in December 2022), and like its DC movie brother The Flash, its making has now spanned three regimes at Warners.
The movie was greenlit under the Warners regime led by former film boss Toby Emmerich and his lieutenant, DC Films head Walter Hamada,...
The sequel to Warner Bros.’ 2018 DC movie is coming off a round of reshoots that occurred in New Zealand in mid-June and involved stars including Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson, according to multiple sources.
This is the third round of reshoots for the movie, directed by James Wan. That is almost an unprecedented number, even for a movie of this scale.
Lost Kingdom has faced several headwinds as it swims toward a Dec. 20 release date. It was postponed several times (it originally was due to bow in December 2022), and like its DC movie brother The Flash, its making has now spanned three regimes at Warners.
The movie was greenlit under the Warners regime led by former film boss Toby Emmerich and his lieutenant, DC Films head Walter Hamada,...
- 7/19/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Katie Martin Kelley has been named as executive VP of communications for Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, where she will lead media relations and corporate communications for the film group, including Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and newly rebranded Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, the studio said Wednesday.
Martin Kelley will report to Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.
Martin Kelley comes to Wbd from MGM, where she served as chief communications officer supporting the company’s strategic global communications efforts across all divisions of the studio, and previously worked closely with DeLuca and Abdy on a deep bench of films including “Women Talking,” the 25th film in the James Bond series “No Time To Die,” “Licorice Pizza” and “House of Gucci.”
Also Read:
DC Studios Names Candice McDonough EVP of Publicity and Communications
De Luca and Abdy said: “Katie is...
Martin Kelley will report to Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.
Martin Kelley comes to Wbd from MGM, where she served as chief communications officer supporting the company’s strategic global communications efforts across all divisions of the studio, and previously worked closely with DeLuca and Abdy on a deep bench of films including “Women Talking,” the 25th film in the James Bond series “No Time To Die,” “Licorice Pizza” and “House of Gucci.”
Also Read:
DC Studios Names Candice McDonough EVP of Publicity and Communications
De Luca and Abdy said: “Katie is...
- 7/12/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has appointed Katie Martin Kelley as executive VP of communications.
Martin Kelley, who joins from MGM, will lead media relations and corporate communications for the film group, including Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and the newly rebranded Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. DC Studios will fall under the purview of Candice McDonough, who previously led communications for Warner Bros. Film Group and has been newly hired to oversee publicity efforts for the company’s comic book division.
Martin Kelley will report to Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.
“Katie is highly regarded as one of Hollywood’s top communications executives and a true master of her craft,” De Luca and Abdy said in a statement. “We are delighted to work with Katie again and warmly welcome her to Warner Bros. during this exciting time as we...
Martin Kelley, who joins from MGM, will lead media relations and corporate communications for the film group, including Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and the newly rebranded Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. DC Studios will fall under the purview of Candice McDonough, who previously led communications for Warner Bros. Film Group and has been newly hired to oversee publicity efforts for the company’s comic book division.
Martin Kelley will report to Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.
“Katie is highly regarded as one of Hollywood’s top communications executives and a true master of her craft,” De Luca and Abdy said in a statement. “We are delighted to work with Katie again and warmly welcome her to Warner Bros. during this exciting time as we...
- 7/12/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Trio to work alongside Warner Bros. picture group co-heads Mike De Luca, Pamela Abdy.
The imbroglio at Turner Classic Movies (TCM) appears to have been resolved as it emerged on Wednesday that Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson will help curate films under the creative oversight of Warner Bros picture group co-heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy.
Senior vice-president of programming and content strategy Charles Tabesh, who had been at TCM for more than 25 years and was among several senior executives laid off earlier this month, will now return to the channel.
In a heartening development the new roles for Spielberg,...
The imbroglio at Turner Classic Movies (TCM) appears to have been resolved as it emerged on Wednesday that Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson will help curate films under the creative oversight of Warner Bros picture group co-heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy.
Senior vice-president of programming and content strategy Charles Tabesh, who had been at TCM for more than 25 years and was among several senior executives laid off earlier this month, will now return to the channel.
In a heartening development the new roles for Spielberg,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Update: The ongoing saga of Turner Classic Movies continues with more positive developments. After their emergency meeting with David Zaslav, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson will now take on an active creative role at TCM, working alongside Warner Bros. Film Group CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy.
“We have already begun working on ideas with Mike and Pam, both true film enthusiasts who share a passion and reverence for classic cinema that is the hallmark of the TCM community,” Spielberg, Scorsese, and Anderson said in a statement to THR. “This unique arrangement, initiated by David Zaslav, reflects his commitment to honoring the TCM legacy while also involving us on curation and programming.” De Luca and Abdy added, “TCM is a cultural treasure, and we are honored to help steer the future direction of this beloved brand with the partnership of three of the most iconic filmmakers of our time.
“We have already begun working on ideas with Mike and Pam, both true film enthusiasts who share a passion and reverence for classic cinema that is the hallmark of the TCM community,” Spielberg, Scorsese, and Anderson said in a statement to THR. “This unique arrangement, initiated by David Zaslav, reflects his commitment to honoring the TCM legacy while also involving us on curation and programming.” De Luca and Abdy added, “TCM is a cultural treasure, and we are honored to help steer the future direction of this beloved brand with the partnership of three of the most iconic filmmakers of our time.
- 6/28/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Warner Bros Discovery has finalized the creative-side structure at Turner Classic Movies, a week after directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson called an emergency meeting with Wbd chief David Zaslav about restructuring plans at the channel.
A new plan is now being implemented that will see Spielberg, Scorsese and Anderson actively work alongside Warner Bros Motion Picture Group toppers Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who were handed creative control of TCM late last week amid word of the director trio’s concerns.
Those concerns came after Wbd revealed layoffs earlier last week that included network EVP and General Manager Pola Changnon, SVP of Programming and Content Strategy Charles Tabesh, VP of Brand Creative and Marketing Dexter Fedor, VP of Enterprises and Strategic Partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy, and VP of Studio Production Anne Wilson.
Under the new structure, Tabesh will remain at TCM. On the business side, the...
A new plan is now being implemented that will see Spielberg, Scorsese and Anderson actively work alongside Warner Bros Motion Picture Group toppers Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who were handed creative control of TCM late last week amid word of the director trio’s concerns.
Those concerns came after Wbd revealed layoffs earlier last week that included network EVP and General Manager Pola Changnon, SVP of Programming and Content Strategy Charles Tabesh, VP of Brand Creative and Marketing Dexter Fedor, VP of Enterprises and Strategic Partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy, and VP of Studio Production Anne Wilson.
Under the new structure, Tabesh will remain at TCM. On the business side, the...
- 6/28/2023
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
TCM Reborn: Steven Spielberg, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Martin Scorsese to Guide Channel Programming
Filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson will help guide programming decisions and curation at Turner Classic Movies (TCM) as advisors after IndieWire first reported that the trio called Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav about their concerns at the network after a string of recent layoffs.
The guidance of TCM will be a collaboration between the three titan filmmakers, and they’ll also provide guidance on the interstitial programming, such as the host intros and outros in between the films. A source also says Scorsese, Spielberg, and Anderson have a formal arrangement as volunteers with the company but will not be taking a salary.
TCM vet Charles “Charlie” Tabesh will remain at the network and will report to Warner Bros. executives Michael de Luca and Pamela Abdy, who were previously reported to be overseeing programming and creative content at TCM. The two film chiefs are filmmaker-friendly and...
The guidance of TCM will be a collaboration between the three titan filmmakers, and they’ll also provide guidance on the interstitial programming, such as the host intros and outros in between the films. A source also says Scorsese, Spielberg, and Anderson have a formal arrangement as volunteers with the company but will not be taking a salary.
TCM vet Charles “Charlie” Tabesh will remain at the network and will report to Warner Bros. executives Michael de Luca and Pamela Abdy, who were previously reported to be overseeing programming and creative content at TCM. The two film chiefs are filmmaker-friendly and...
- 6/28/2023
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
In a cinematic twist, Turner Classic Movies programming executive Charles Tabesh will remain in his post following Warner Bros. Discovery’s public relations black eye over layoffs and dramatic cost-cutting changes at the beloved cable network. Additionally, Wbd has set a partnership with filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson to help curate content for TCM.
Tabesh, a 25-year TCM executive who had been slated to leave as part of the downsizing of the network’s staff, will now stay in his post and report to Warner Bros. film chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, who Variety previously reported were slated to take oversight of the operations at the network. Now, they will have an enviable brain trust of some of the most storied names in movies to tap — a group whose credits include “Jaws,” “Raging Bull” and “Boogie Nights.”
“We have already begun working on ideas with Mike and Pam,...
Tabesh, a 25-year TCM executive who had been slated to leave as part of the downsizing of the network’s staff, will now stay in his post and report to Warner Bros. film chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, who Variety previously reported were slated to take oversight of the operations at the network. Now, they will have an enviable brain trust of some of the most storied names in movies to tap — a group whose credits include “Jaws,” “Raging Bull” and “Boogie Nights.”
“We have already begun working on ideas with Mike and Pam,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Film executives Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will oversee programming and creative content for TCM while directors Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese will provide guidance on curation and programming scheduling, Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Wednesday.
“TCM is a cultural treasure, and we are honored to help steer the future direction of this beloved brand with the partnership of three of the most iconic filmmakers of our time, Steven, Marty, and Paul. David Zaslav led the charge, driven by our shared love of storytelling, to bring us together for a project about which we are so passionate. Over the last year, we have meaningfully increased our content investment in TCM, and intend to further enhance TCM’s on-air programming and engagement with fans,” De Luca and Abdy said in a statement.
In a reversal, TCM’s long-time senior vice president of programming and content strategy, Charles Tabesh,...
“TCM is a cultural treasure, and we are honored to help steer the future direction of this beloved brand with the partnership of three of the most iconic filmmakers of our time, Steven, Marty, and Paul. David Zaslav led the charge, driven by our shared love of storytelling, to bring us together for a project about which we are so passionate. Over the last year, we have meaningfully increased our content investment in TCM, and intend to further enhance TCM’s on-air programming and engagement with fans,” De Luca and Abdy said in a statement.
In a reversal, TCM’s long-time senior vice president of programming and content strategy, Charles Tabesh,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
It wasn’t that David Zaslav wasn’t cautioned. He was, explicitly, in a December 2022 conversation with CAA’s Bryan Lourd, who said that damaging the relatively small but beloved Turner Classic Movies would lead to backlash from “a lot of important people” — people whom Zaslav most admired and wanted to be admired by, such as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson.
But while Zaslav repeatedly declared and continues to declare his love for TCM, by the time that conversation took place, the channel had been undergoing months of layoffs and budget reductions that ultimately led top executives to depart on June 20. Among them: Charles Tabesh, the longtime programmer considered by many to be the heart of the network.
In the aftermath of the predicted backlash, Wbd is announcing today that creative oversight of the channel will move from the division that imposed those cuts, headed by Wbd...
But while Zaslav repeatedly declared and continues to declare his love for TCM, by the time that conversation took place, the channel had been undergoing months of layoffs and budget reductions that ultimately led top executives to depart on June 20. Among them: Charles Tabesh, the longtime programmer considered by many to be the heart of the network.
In the aftermath of the predicted backlash, Wbd is announcing today that creative oversight of the channel will move from the division that imposed those cuts, headed by Wbd...
- 6/28/2023
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kohn’s Corner is a weekly column about the challenges and opportunities of sustaining American film culture.
Shame was never high on Warner Media Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s priority list: Over the past 12 months, he buried “Batgirl,” yanked close to 100 titles from its streaming service, and threw a lavish party at Cannes in the middle of the WGA strike.
Yet in January, when I devoted this column to questions about the prospects for Turner Classic Movies at Wbd, the company did its best to project a bright future. Zaslav loved TCM, the company’s general manager Pola Changnon told me. “We feel fortunate that in this new world, at the top, someone cares about us,” Changnon said.
That affection has its limits. After a handful of layoffs earlier this year, TCM lost its five senior executives this week, including Changnon and VP of programing and strategy Charles “Charlie” Tabesh,...
Shame was never high on Warner Media Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s priority list: Over the past 12 months, he buried “Batgirl,” yanked close to 100 titles from its streaming service, and threw a lavish party at Cannes in the middle of the WGA strike.
Yet in January, when I devoted this column to questions about the prospects for Turner Classic Movies at Wbd, the company did its best to project a bright future. Zaslav loved TCM, the company’s general manager Pola Changnon told me. “We feel fortunate that in this new world, at the top, someone cares about us,” Changnon said.
That affection has its limits. After a handful of layoffs earlier this year, TCM lost its five senior executives this week, including Changnon and VP of programing and strategy Charles “Charlie” Tabesh,...
- 6/24/2023
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Turner Classic Movies Has New Leaders in Warner Bros. Pictures Heads Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy
A day after a series of high-profile layoffs at Turner Classic Movies sparked outrage among the film community, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has installed new leadership at the beloved cable network.
IndieWire has confirmed that Warner Bros. Film Group co-CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will add oversight of TCM to their portfolio of responsibilities. De Luca and Adby are expected to oversee programming at TCM, taking over for longtime general manager Pola Changnon programming head Charles Tabesh, who were both laid off on Wednesday.
In addition to Changnon and Tabesh, the layoffs included VP of brand creative and marketing Dexter Fedor; VP of enterprises and strategic partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy, who also served as the director of the annual TCM Film Festival; and VP of studio production Anne Wilson. Among their responsibilities were curating lineups, shooting intros and outros, and creating original shows, documentaries, and video essays.
IndieWire has confirmed that Warner Bros. Film Group co-CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will add oversight of TCM to their portfolio of responsibilities. De Luca and Adby are expected to oversee programming at TCM, taking over for longtime general manager Pola Changnon programming head Charles Tabesh, who were both laid off on Wednesday.
In addition to Changnon and Tabesh, the layoffs included VP of brand creative and marketing Dexter Fedor; VP of enterprises and strategic partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy, who also served as the director of the annual TCM Film Festival; and VP of studio production Anne Wilson. Among their responsibilities were curating lineups, shooting intros and outros, and creating original shows, documentaries, and video essays.
- 6/24/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Turner Classic Movies will lean on Warner Bros. film chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy for library curation and editorial vision, sources told Variety, in wake of the exit of network head Pola Changnon this week.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav had been considering bringing in De Luca and Abdy for some time, insiders said, to rely on their cinephile instincts and shape the best possible programming slate for the channel — one beloved by Hollywood titans and film fans for showcasing of film history.
TCM will still exist with the U.S. Networks Group run by Kathleen Finch. While De Luca and Abdy will advise, a senior executive in charge of operations is expected to be named in the future. Warner Bros. Discovery had no comment on the matter.
The exit of Changnon, along with other key TCM employees, caused an outcry from the film community — including top directors Steven Spielberg,...
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav had been considering bringing in De Luca and Abdy for some time, insiders said, to rely on their cinephile instincts and shape the best possible programming slate for the channel — one beloved by Hollywood titans and film fans for showcasing of film history.
TCM will still exist with the U.S. Networks Group run by Kathleen Finch. While De Luca and Abdy will advise, a senior executive in charge of operations is expected to be named in the future. Warner Bros. Discovery had no comment on the matter.
The exit of Changnon, along with other key TCM employees, caused an outcry from the film community — including top directors Steven Spielberg,...
- 6/23/2023
- by Matt Donnelly and Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
imdb.1eye.us, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.