News

Black Mirror may have popularized the karmic “be careful what you ask for” angle in modern dark fantasy, but it’s far from the only show in its niche. Long before the BBC sci-fi show’s 2011 premiere, back in the 1970s, there was a drama called Fantasy Island. Like Black Mirror, the series showcased the dangers of wishful thinking. Of course, being the ‘70s, it usually lacked the same technological themes and political overtones. Now, fast-forward almost half a decade. In 2021, Fox rebooted the classic show. Now starring Roselyn Sánchez, this revived Fantasy Island tackles updated moral and ethical quandaries. It integrates modern technology into the narrative and brings its classic predecessor to life for a new audience.

It’s the perfect match for Black Mirror fans, so why does it seem so obscure? Unfortunately, the network canceled the show after two seasons. The reboot series aired its last episode on May 8, 2023. Nonetheless,...

"Fantasy Island," Gene Levitt's ABC series that ran from 1977 to 1984, had a simple enough premise for it to be contained entirely within the show's title. An island where people come to live out their fantasies was enough of an idea to spawn two made-for-tv movies and seven seasons of fantasy drama, anchored by the great Ricardo Montalbán, who played the mysterious and distinguished Mr. Roarke. Roarke hosted the island's many guests and oversaw their fantasies coming to life, accompanied initially by his assistant Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize).

"Fantasy Island" became popular during its seven years on the air, and Tattoo's catchphrase "The plane, the plane," which he delivered at the top of every episode, was absorbed into the cultural lexicon. The show's popularity hasn't endured quite as well as some other series from the era, though, which is probably partly why Blumhouse's terrible horror getaway version of "Fantasy Island" failed...

When 1980’s Airplane! proved to be a massive hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year – up there with The Empire Strikes Back and Best Picture winner Kramer vs. Kramer – it was inevitable that it would get a sequel. But how often are comedy sequels good anyway? When have they ever really recaptured the magic and the laughter of the original? Well, Airplane II: The Sequel gave it a go…by basically being the same movie. Except this time around, Zaz wisely opted out, leaving the production without the strong leaders who reinvented the spoof genre. Instead, they got the guy who wrote Grease 2, one of the most notoriously awful sequels ever! So, strap in – no, not to an airplane but a space shuttle – as we find out: Wtf Happened to This Movie?!…The Sequel!

1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...

Reader, you have been lied to! Film history is littered with unfairly maligned classics, whether critics were too eager to review the making of rather than the finished product, or they suffered from underwhelming ad campaigns or general disinterest. Let’s revise our takes on some of these films from the wrongheaded to the correct opinion.

Earlier this year, the Criterion Channel launched a series devoted to films that have won Golden Raspberry Awards, or “Razzies,” prizes ostensibly created to recognize the worst that cinema has to offer. The idea of streaming’s most respected curator of film art showcasing a selection of Razzie winners was one whose time was long overdue, given the Razzies’ astonishingly reliable tendency to be on the wrong side of history; the list of nominations from any given year is typically more useful as a guide for suggested viewing than as an indication of what to avoid.

In 1971, just six years after Frank Herbert published his groundbreaking science-fiction novel "Dune," Arthur P. Jacobs' Apjac International obtained the rights to the story for a film adaptation. The producer behind "Planet of the Apes" was ready to craft another world set in a distant future, but with the sequel film "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" on its way, "Dune" was delayed.

Jacobs went through a handful of different directors and screenwriters in early development, but he tragically passed away in 1973. David Lynch would eventually bring "Dune" to the big screen in 1984, but there were multiple failed attempts that paved the way for his film and a remake in his wake that led to Denis Villeneuve's recent adaptations. The messy histories of failed "Dune" adaptations could justify their own feature-length documentaries but allow this to be a crash course on the bizarre "Dune" movies that never came to be.

James Bond movies have iconic henchmen who often steal the spotlight from the main villains. The henchmen in Bond movies contribute to the franchise's sense of fun and often have memorable interactions with Bond. Some of the most beloved Bond henchmen include Jaws, Oddjob, and Xenia Onatopp, who have distinctive traits and notable on-screen moments.

James Bond movies always have a main villain, but sometimes the henchman at their side is more iconic and ends up overshadowing them. The eccentric villains faced by 007 are one of the reasons for the franchise’s popularity. Seeing an iconic actor put their own stamp on the well-worn archetype of the megalomaniacal Bond villain is part of what makes it so much fun to watch a new Bond movie. But sometimes, the films’ secondary villains seize the spotlight.

From Auric Goldfinger to Alec Trevelyan to Ernst Stavro Blofeld, there are a ton of unforgettable...

Dashing, magnetic superstar Ricardo Montalbán got his start in the 1940s, appearing in numerous notable hit films in his native Mexico, playing a variety of roles in romantic dramas, historical comedies, and other swashbuckling adventures. His natural dazzle and ineffable "it" qualities caught the eye of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1947, and he shot the English-language film "Fiesta" with Esther Williams, Cyd Charisse, and Mary Astor. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Montalbán became incredibly busy, starring in romances, dramas, and an enormous amount of American TV, including one-shot TV movies and multiple notable hit shows. He was in "Dr. Kildare," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Gunsmoke," "Hawaii Five-o," and, of course, "Star Trek," playing the charismatic tyrant Khan Noonien Singh. 

A new generation of Montalbán fans was born with the debut of "Fantasy Island" in 1978. On "Fantasy Island," Montalbán played the mysterious Mr. Roarke, the manager of Devil's Island, a remote, hard-to-get-to tropical paradise...

Ronnie Milsap will play his final Nashville concert Tuesday night, a guest-heavy salute to the piano player featuring Kelly Clarkson, Little Big Town, Sara Evans, Parker McCollum, Breland, Ricky Skaggs, and more. Milsap is 80 now and regarded as a pillar of country music — the Country Music Hall of Fame inducted him in 2014 — but at heart, he remains an unapologetic pop vocalist.

Listen to “Pure Love,” his 1974 Number One hit, written by Eddie Rabbitt. Only an expert in pop could successfully sell those lyrics about “milk and honey and Cap’n...

To clarify right away, James Bond, Jr. (Corey Burton), the title character from a barely-remembered 007-adjacent 1991 animated series, is not the son of James Bond. More confusingly, James Bond, Jr. is actually the nephew of James Bond. "He learned the game from his uncle James," the theme song makes very clear. This means that James Bond did indeed have a brother, but also that his brother was named James as well ...?

As of this writing, "James Bond Jr." is the only TV adaptation to date of Ian Fleming's ultra-popular James Bond book series. It came at a fascinating time in the history of the James Bond franchise, as Timothy Dalton's two-film run had come to an end, and a messy rights dispute behind the scenes kept Bond off the big screen for years. It also likely didn't help that the Berlin Wall fell in November of 1989, calling...

No more tropical island escapes for Fox: the network is not renewing Fantasy Island for a third season.

Fox greenlit the contemporary version of the classic drama series in 2021. The series, which takes place at a luxury resort, starred Roselyn Sanchez stars as Elena Roarke, a descendant of the original series’ enigmatic Mr. Roarke.

The series was done under a low-cost business model, so its threshold for success was lower. But Fox still decided to have the sun set on its summer series.

Related: 2023 Fox Pilots & Series Orders

“We were very pleased with Fantasy Island’s fun and escapist creative, which we had hoped would gain strong traction among viewers,” according to a network statement. “Sony Pictures Television is an important partner of ours, and we look forward to continuing to work with them on Accused, Alert: Missing Persons Unit, Doc and the upcoming animated series Universal Basic Guys/Hoagie Bros.

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Forbidden Zone"

Where You Can Stream It: Tubi, Kanopy, Night Flight, Plex, Flixfling

The Pitch: Back in 1972, one Richard Elfman, then only a lad of 23, founded a musical theater troupe on the streets of Los Angeles called the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. This was after performing music in Paris and being involved in numerous theater projects throughout his youth. The Mystic Knights were a massive band, consisting of 15 members, and dedicated to performing old songs from the 1920s through the 1940s. For an early glimpse of what kind of act the Mystic Knights performed, check out their appearance on "The Gong Show" in 1976. Richard is the one in the miniature rocket ship playing the train whistle.

Believe it or not, there once was a time when James Bond movies were fun. And more than fun, Bond himself had fun in them! As difficult as it is to sometimes imagine after Daniel Craig, James Bond was previously a character of high camp and sheepish boarding school humor. And no actor ever better personified that side of Bond than Roger Moore.

Moore was the third actor to portray Bond in Eon Productions’ 007 series, although for many (particularly those who came of age in the ‘70s and ‘80s) he remains the definitive portrayal. With the naturally debonair demeanor, the ease with which he delivers a pun, and ever the boyish twinkle in his eye, Moore was the first Bond who seemed naturally at home in his elite lifestyle. Whereas Sean Connery and George Lazenby could be rough around the edges, suggesting they had to claim their refined place in polite society,...

Click here to read the full article.

In summer 2021, as a surge in Covid-19 cases linked to the delta variant quickly scuttled vacation plans, the satirical HBO series The White Lotus transported viewers to an idyllic Hawaiian setting.

The Emmy contender is the latest in a line of series — from Gilligan’s Island to Baywatch to Lost — taking fans from the couch to the beach, but the show’s exploration of privilege and mystery particularly hearken back to 1970s escapist gem Fantasy Island. Created by Gene Levitt and produced by Aaron Spelling, it premiered 45 years ago, first as a pair of TV movies and then as an episodic series that focused on a mysterious island that made visitors’ wishes come true for a hefty price. Ricardo Montalbán played the suave and enigmatic Mr. Roarke, who ran the resort with sidekick Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize), known for excitedly greeting arriving guests by shouting,...

Exclusive: British-American filmmaker Sacha Gervasi (My Dinner with Hervé) has signed with Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment for management.

Gervasi’s latest film, the semi-autobiographical My Dinner with Hervé, took a look at the life of French actor Hervé Villechaize (Peter Dinklage), who came to fame on Fantasy Island before taking his life in 1993, at the age of 50. Steve Zaillian produced the drama, also starring Jamie Dornan and David Strathairn, for HBO Films. In addition to an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie, the film was nominated for WGA, PGA, and Critics’ Choice awards.

Gervasi previously directed the 2010 documentary Anvil about the Canadian heavy metal band of the same name, which won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary and the News & Documentary Emmy for Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming, among other accolades. His first narrative feature was the Oscar-nominated Hitchcock, starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson, which told the story of...

Fox is hot on Fantasy Island.

The network is considering a second season of the summer drama series, which is a reboot of the 1977 original.

Fox Entertainment President Michael Thorn told Deadline that as its “first real, recent attempt at a cost effective” drama series, the network and producers Sony Pictures Television are “really proud of it”.

Thorn said that the series, which premiered to a 0.4 in 18-49 and 1.97M viewers, “held its own this summer”. “We’re really high on it and it’s been exciting for us to cross pollinate some of the stars that we have in other series and do other exciting turns on Fantasy Island. We definitely see a potential second season and it’s something that we’re talking about now. We’re very pleased with the show and Liz [Craft] and Sarah [Fain] did a very good job,” he said,

Roselyn Sanchez stars as Elena Roarke,...

There’s an obvious grabbiness to the premise of “Fantasy Island” — the 1977-84 ABC drama now revived as a Fox summer soap. In the show’s first run, Ricardo Montalbán and Hervé Villechaize were hoteliers able to alter reality per guests’ cravings, often in frightening ways. The appeal is as old as King Midas, whose request for the golden touch, once fulfilled, ruined his life — a reminder to be happy with one’s own lot. Little wonder that there have been several attempts to bring the isle back, including a horror-film adaptation last year.

This new “Fantasy Island” lacks the 2020 Blumhouse film’s savage imagination, but has its pleasures. Roselyn Sanchez plays a descendant of Montalbán’s Mr. Roarke; her frosty mien helps create oddity and remove. Aided by Ruby (Kiara Barnes), who journeys to the island in the pilot, Sanchez’s Elena Roarke improves her guests by giving them what they need,...

Fox’s reboot of “Fantasy Island” centers around Roselyn Sánchez’s Elena Roarke, a descendant of the iconic Mr. Roarke (Ricardo Montalbán) from the original series. While this Roarke has many things in common with her great uncle who ran the luxury resort before her one clear distinction between the two — and between this reimagined show and its ancestor — is Elena doesn’t have a sidekick named Tattoo (played by beloved actor Hervé Villechaize).

In fact, she doesn’t really have an assistant at all when we first meet her. And the show’s shoutout to Tattoo’s iconic “Fantasy Island” catchphrase, “The plane! The plane!”, is actually delivered by Elena herself in the premiere episode, as viewers will see when it airs Tuesday at 9/8c on Fox.

So why did this modern take on “Fantasy Island” pay homage to Villechaize’s character rather than try to re-create him in some form?...

“Devious Maids” star will play a descendant of Ricardo Montalbán’s character from the original series

“Devious Maids” and “Grand Hotel” alum Roselyn Sanchez has been tapped to star in Fox’s reboot of “Fantasy Island,” TheWrap has learned.

The actress will star as Elena Roarke, a descendant of Ricardo Montalbán’s character Mr. Roarke from the original series. The character is described as “sophisticated, insightful and always charming,” with a “calm exterior [that] masks the challenges of the responsibilities she has assumed as steward of this mysterious island.”

She joins previously announced cast members Kiara Barnes (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), who plays Ruby Okoro, a young woman with an old soul who arrives on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness and is given a new lease on life; and John Gabriel Rodriquez as Javier, the island’s pilot and head of transportation.

According to Fox’s description, “The reboot...

Roselyn Sanchez has been tapped as the lead in Fantasy Island, Fox’s contemporary version of the classic drama series that has a straight-to-series order to debut Aug. 10. Sanchez will play Elena Roarke, a descendant of the original series’ enigmatic Mr. Roarke, in the project, from writer-producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain as well as Sony Pictures TV and its Gemstone Studios label, which co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

Fantasy Island is set at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected. The resort is run by Elena Roarke (Sanchez) who set aside her own ambitions, and even the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy. Sophisticated, insightful and always charming, Elena’s calm exterior masks the challenges of the responsibilities she has assumed as steward of this mysterious island.

Sanchez joins previously...

The upcoming “Fantasy Island” reboot at Fox has added its first two cast members, Variety has learned.

Kiara Barnes and John Gabriel Rodriguez will both star in the series, which was ordered straight-to-series at Fox back in December.

The new series is described as a modern semi-anthology series that delves into the “what if” questions, both big and small, that keep us awake at night. Each episode will tell stories about people who walk in with a desire, but end up reborn to themselves through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.

Barnes will play Ruby Okoro. Described as warm and wise, Ruby is a young woman with an old soul. She arrives on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness, but Roarke and the island give her a new lease on life.

Rodriguez will play Javier. Said to be rugged, handsome and charismatic, Javier is Fantasy Island’s head of transport – a pilot,...

The Bold and the Beautiful star Kiara Barnes has been cast as a series regular and John Gabriel Rodriquez (If Loving You Is Wrong) as heavily recurring in Fantasy Island, Fox’s contemporary version of the classic drama series that has a straight-to-series order to air this summer. The project hails from writer-producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain as well as Sony Pictures TV and its Gemstone Studios label, which co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

Actress-singer Barnes has been tapped for Fantasy Island as she is finishing her last year on CBS’ long-running daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful, Deadline has learned. Barnes, who has played Zoe Buckingham since 2018, will be wrapping production on the soap soon.

The reboot is keeping the semi-anthological format of the original Fantasy Island with three main characters, two played by Barnes and Rodriquez, who live/work on the island and new guests arriving in every episode.

"Welcome, to Fantasy Island" -- again. Fox has ordered a new version of the Fantasy Island TV series for Summer 2021. From Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, each episode of this incarnation "will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who walk in with a desire, but end up reborn to themselves through the magical realism of Fantasy Island".

Starring Ricardo Montalbán and Hervé Villechaize, the original Fantasy Island ran for seven seasons, 152 episodes and two TV movies on ABC, from 1977 until 1984. The show was rebooted in 1998 for a one-season run with Malcolm McDowell as Mr. Roarke, the island's host. Early this year, a feature film version was released which leans toward the horror genre.

Here's more information about the upcoming Fox reboot:

Fox Gives Straight-to-series Order To Contemporary Version Of...

Fox has booked a trip to Fantasy Island.

The network has handed a straight-to-series order to a contemporary reboot of the late-’70s/early ’80s ABC drama, to hail from executive producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain (The 100) and air in summer 2021.

More from TVLineFox and Pepsi Team for Cherries Wild Game Show, Hosted by Jason Biggs9-1-1 Season 4: Is Maddie Ready for Motherhood? -- 2021 First LOOKEmpire Spinoff Starring Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Not Moving Forward at Fox

The reimagined Fantasy Island is being billed as a “semi-anthology” series “that delves into the ‘what if’ questions, both big and small,...

A reboot of the iconic TV show “Fantasy Island” has been ordered straight to series at Fox, the broadcast network said Tuesday.

The show comes from Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, who co-created the short-lived ABC drama “The Fix,” and is set to premiere in summer 2021. According to Fox’s description, “The reboot is a modern semi-anthology series that delves into the ‘what if’ questions, both big and small, that keep us awake at night. Each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who walk in with a desire, but end up reborn to themselves through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.”

The “Fantasy Island” reboot shares co-production between Sony Pictures Television, which produced the original series, Sony’s Gemstone Studios and Fox Entertainment.

Created by Gene Levitt, the original “Fantasy Island” ran from 1977 to 1984 on ABC. The show starred Ricardo Montalbán as Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant Tattoo,...

Fox has given a straight-to-series order to a reboot of “Fantasy Island,” Variety has learned.

The rebooted version of the classic series hails from writers and executive producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, with the series being a co-production between Sony Pictures Television, Gemstone Studios, and Fox Entertainment. It is slated to debut in summer 2021.

“In continuing to develop outside of the traditional broadcast cycle, we’ve been particularly focused on providing viewers with summer series that offer a true escape from everyday life – to be sure, now so more than ever,” said Michael Thorn, president of entertainment for Fox Entertainment. “’Fantasy Island’ is a beloved program, and the world Liz and Sarah have created for this contemporary adaptation is signature Fox and a perfect show for today’s times. After all, who among us wouldn’t take a (safe) trip to Fantasy Island right now?”

The new series is...

Fox is heading to Fantasy Island for the summer. The network has given a straight-to-series order to a contemporary version of the classic drama series. The project, from writer-producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain (The 100), Sony Pictures TV and Gemstone Studios, will air next summer.

This marks the first green light for Gemstone Studios, Sony TV’s boutique label dedicated to premium independent production in a creative and efficient way. Gemstone and Sony TV will co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

Keeping the semi-anthological format of the original with a handful of main characters living on the island and new guests arriving in every episode, the new Fantasy Island, written and executive produced by Craft and Fain, delves into the “what if” questions that keep us awake at night. Each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who walk in with a desire, but end up reborn to themselves through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.

Stars: Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Jimmy O. Yang, Portia Doubleday, Ryan Hansen, Michael Rooker | Written by Jeff Wadlow, Jillian Jacobs, Christopher Roach | Directed by Jeff Wadlow

The latest venture from genre specialists Blumhouse Productions is this horror adaptation of the popular 1977 TV series that starred Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize. However, while that sounds like a good idea in theory, it leaves a little to be desired in practice.

The set-up is almost identical to the TV show. A plane full of good-looking competition winners arrives at a remote island and their mysterious, white-suited host Mr Roarke (Michael Peña) informs them that the island will fulfil their every fantasy. The only catches are that it’s one fantasy per person and they have to see it out till the end, come what may.

The separate fantasies kick in almost immediately: high-fiving dude bros Jd (Ryan Hansen...

The iconic Drive-In Movie critic makes his second visit to the podcast for a very special mini-episode.

Be sure to watch Season 2 of The Last Drive-In, hosted by Joe Bob Briggs on Shudder.

Show Notes:

Movies Referenced In This Episode

Infested (2002)

Blood Sucking Freaks (1976)

Career Bed (1969)

All About Eve (1950)

The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

Fantasex Island (1983)

The G.I. Executioner a.k.a. Wit’s End (1975)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Goldstein (1964)

Other Notable Items

The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs Shudder TV series (2018- )

The Mission Tiki Drive-In Theater

Joel Reed

Vincent Price

Hervé Villechaize

Luis De Jesus

Fantasy Island TV series (1977-1984)

Tfh Guru Lloyd Kaufman

Troma Entertainment

Chris Jericho

Catherine Deneuve

Maria Schneider

Yvonne Craig

Batman TV series (1966-1968)

Jennifer Welles

Georgina Spellvin

P.J. Soles

Philip Kaufman

Tfh Guru Roger Corman

William Peter Blatty

The Cannes Film Festival

This list is also available on Letterboxd.

The post Joe Bob Briggs Rides Again!

Stars: Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Jimmy O. Yang, Portia Doubleday, Ryan Hansen, Michael Rooker | Written by Jeff Wadlow, Jillian Jacobs, Christopher Roach | Directed by Jeff Wadlow

The latest venture from genre specialists Blumhouse Productions is this horror adaptation of the popular 1977 TV series that starred Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize. However, while that sounds like a good idea in theory, it leaves a little to be desired in practice.

The set-up is almost identical to the TV show. A plane full of good-looking competition winners arrives at a remote island and their mysterious, white-suited host Mr Roarke (Michael Peña) informs them that the island will fulfil their every fantasy. The only catches are that it’s one fantasy per person and they have to see it out till the end, come what may.

The separate fantasies kick in almost immediately: high-fiving dude bros Jd (Ryan Hansen...

Another day, another reboot. While some remakes earn wide acclaim — the American version of “The Office,” “A Star is Born” — “Fantasy Island” did not. The Jeff Wadlow-directed movie is a 2 1/2-hour-long horror take on the 1970s ABC fantasy series, and it’s currently rocking a 9% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

When a movie this awful comes around, film writers often find themselves inspired to respond in kind. And here, the film did not disappoint.

Guys, Fantasy Island might just be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Oh my fucking god. I’m actually in shock.

— 30SecondReviews (@30Reviews) February 14, 2020

Reviews point to a vibe of sheer desperation for viable IP that permeates the dull reboot and an inability for the movie to find its tone: Is it horror? Drama? Comedy?

Funnier than anything in Fantasy Island: The critic who turned to me immediately afterward and asked, “Are...

If crimes against cinema merited prosecution, Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island would go directly to death row. It defies common sense why Blumhouse, the company that boasts Get Out, The Purge, and Paranormal Activity on its horror roster, would put its stamp on this pathetic imitation of scare cinema. The idea was to jam horror jolts into the old Fantasy Island TV series, which dabbled in the supernatural when it wasn’t ripping off The Love Boat by stranding D-list guest stars in clichéd stories. ABC’s Fantasy franchise, which ran from 1977 to 1984 (B.

Let’s be honest, most of you have probably never watched a single episode of the classic television series “Fantasy Island” correct? Perhaps you’ve heard of the iconic Mr. Roarke played with charm by Ricardo Montalban? Or maybe you’ve heard the famous line, “De plane! De Plane!” This particular bit of dialogue is beyond iconic, and helped introduce audiences to Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo. Well, Blumhouse and filmmaker…...

On TV’s “Fantasy Island” (1977-1984; 1998-1999), guests flew in for what they imagined would be fun and fulfillment but were subjected to what turned out to be hard-won life lessons. Audiences turning up for the new feature film version in the hopes of either fun or fulfillment will similarly go home empty-handed.

If this new movie — referred to in some circles as “Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island” — were a pilot for a TV reboot, it would come off as overwrought and underwritten but still possibly on the right track for a revived anthology series. As a movie, those flaws are magnified to the size of the silver screen, and its contrivances and coincidences come off as even less convincing.

Michael Peña slips into Ricardo Montalban’s white suit (and his silky overpronunciation of “Fahn-tah-see”) as the enigmatic Mr. Roarke, the host of the titular resort where people go to make their deepest wishes come true.

Somewhere, someone has been desperately hoping that Hollywood would get around to making a movie adaptation of the late-’70s TV show “Fantasy Island.” Meanwhile, it would seem that the rest of us — that is, the filmgoing public — are just extras in an elaborate cautionary tale designed to teach that person a lesson. The point being: Be careful what you wish for; such corny old TV series are better suited for reruns than for reboots. As suave yet sinister host Mr. Roarke warns the half-dozen expendable douchebags — er, guests — who’ve traveled to this enchanted retreat to live out their wildest dreams, “Fantasies rarely play out as you would expect.”

This one at least packs the novelty of having been reconfigured into a Blumhouse horror movie. That means a chance to explore the shadowy corners of a property originally designed to accommodate a parade of flashy guest stars, à la...

When people hear the name Fantasy Island, people of a certain generation will think of Hervé Villechaize shouting, “Da plane! Da plane!” Another generation might think of the short-lived 1998 TV revival. Now, Fantasy Island is back as a movie, but with a twist — instead of the island making dreams come true, it’s making [...]

The post ‘Fantasy Island’ Movie Gives Series A New Spin, But Maggie Q Thinks It Stays True appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

A new twist on Gene Levitt's TV series that starred Ricardo Montalbán and Hervé Villechaize and originally ran on ABC from 1977–1984, Blumhouse's Fantasy Island (which reteams Truth or Dare director Jeff Wadlow with star Lucy Hale) will arrive in theaters on Valentine's Day, and ahead of its release, a new trailer has been revealed, warning you to "be careful what you wish for."

"In Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island, the enigmatic Mr. Roarke makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives.

Directed by Jeff Wadlow, Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island is written by Jeff Wadlow & Chris Roach & Jillian Jacobs and is produced by Jason Blum, Marc Toberoff and Jeff Wadlow."

Columbia Pictures will release Blumhouse's Fantasy Island in theaters on Friday,...

A new twist on Gene Levitt's TV series that starred Ricardo Montalbán and Hervé Villechaize and originally ran on ABC from 1977–1984, Blumhouse's Fantasy Island (which reteams Truth or Dare director Jeff Wadlow with star Lucy Hale) will arrive in theaters on Valentine's Day, and ahead of its release, a new set of photos have been revealed, featuring the characters ensnared in the sinister secrets of paradise.

"In Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island, the enigmatic Mr. Roarke makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives.

Directed by Jeff Wadlow, Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island is written by Jeff Wadlow & Chris Roach & Jillian Jacobs and is produced by Jason Blum, Marc Toberoff and Jeff Wadlow."

Columbia Pictures will release Blumhouse's Fantasy Island in theaters on Friday,...

"The plane... it's here." A new twist on the ABC TV series that starred Ricardo Montalbán and Hervé Villechaize and originally ran from 1977–1984, Blumhouse's Fantasy Island (which reteams Truth or Dare director Jeff Wadlow with star Lucy Hale) will arrive in theaters on Valentine's Day, and ahead of its release, Sony has unveiled the film's official trailer that shows how quickly paradise can become a living hell.

Directed by Wadlow from a screenplay he wrote with Chris Roach & Jillian Jacobs (based on the TV series created by Gene Levitt), Fantasy Island stars Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Portia Doubleday, Jimmy O. Yang, Ryan Hansen, and Michael Rooker. The film is produced by Jason Blum and Marc Toberoff, with Jeff Wadlow, Couper Samuelson, and Jeanette Volturno executive producing.

Sony will release Fantasy Island in theaters on Friday, February 14th, aka Valentine's Day. You can check out the official trailer and poster below,...

Blumhouse Productions has unveiled a trailer for Fantasy Island, a horror-tinged reboot of the 1970s TV show starring Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize. In the upcoming reboot, a group of strangers find themselves transported to a mysterious island where anything seems possible. However, as each of their fantasies are brought to life, a terrible toll must be paid in return. Before…...

Your wildest dreams are about to come true, but with a twist. “Fantasy Island” is a horror film where your deepest fantasies become a horrifying reality.

If that premise sounds familiar that’s because it’s inspired by the classic ’70s and ’80s adventure and comedy show “Fantasy Island,” which was created by Gene Levitt. Blumhouse and Sony Pictures are teaming up for the film that casts Michael Peña in the Ricardo Montalban role as Mr. Roarke.

In the original show, which also starred Hervé Villechaize alongside a cavalcade of rotating guest stars, visitors to Fantasy Island via “ze plane” would find their greatest fantasy realized, but things rarely played out as expected. The twist for Blumhouse’s “Fantasy Island” is that those same fantasies get morphed in gruesome ways.

Also Read: Michelle Monaghan Joins 'The Craft' Remake for Columbia and Blumhouse

“We weren’t brought here to have our own fantasies,...

Fantasy Island, the 1970s TV series that starred Ricardo Montalbán and Hervé Villechaize, is headed to the big screen – with a twist. The folks at Blumhouse are behind the movie, and their involvement should give you a hint as to what type of adaptation this is going to be. Yes, that’s right: it’s a Fantasy […]

The post ‘Fantasy Island’ Trailer: Blumhouse Offers a Dark Twist on the TV Series appeared first on /Film.

At one time this was one of Emmy’s most sought after and prestigious prizes, but as the Limited Series format became more attractive, and a magnet for top talent, the TV Movie category is just a shell of what it used to be. The numbers say it all. Only one of the five nominees received more than two nominations overall, and three of the nominees find their only Emmy mention right here—not a great indication of widespread support for this form in the Academy, to say the least. Netflix has actually won here a couple of times by plucking episodes from their popular anthology series, Black Mirror, and labeling them ‘movies’. A new rule instituted this year requires an entry to run at least 75 minutes long, which would have disqualified two of the past three winners here.

Bandersnatch (Black Mirror)

Netflix

The only anthology entry this year, and...

As a journalist, there are certain interviews that are a capital E, experience, and make an indelible impact on you long after they’re done. Such was the case for a young, pre-filmmaking Sacha Gervasi with renowned diminutive actor Hervé Villechaize of “The Man with the Golden Gun” and “Fantasy Island” fame who conducted an epic, days-long interview with a very candid Villechaize in the later years of his life.

Continue reading Sacha Gervasi On Recreating Hervé Villechaize’s Final Interview In ‘My Dinner With Hervé’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

At this year’s Emmys, some contenders in a few series categories could see their odds of winning affected by the fact that their leading men are not nominated as well. However, it should not be assumed that their odds will be affected negatively.

“It’s like a rally cry,” awards strategist Michele Robertson says of the chatter around performers who didn’t earn noms. “It makes people take notice, and it certainly brings the awareness. The trick has always been to ensure that people watch your show, so they can have a point of view on it when they’re voting.”

Among shows nominated sans their lead actors are Netflix’s “Bodyguard” and HBO’s “Succession,” both on the drama series ballot. “Bodyguard’s” titular leading man, Richard Madden, had been considered a frontrunner by many, in part because of the intensity of the role, which earned him a Golden Globe in January.

The limited series race at this year’s Emmys may be the most cutthroat, high-stakes battle of any category. Though featuring only a fraction of the hundreds of submissions featured in comedy and drama, the unusually strong crop of limited series means that multiple big-name, big budget projects are on a crash course to duking it out in September. Assuming, of course, that voters can determine which shows are worthy of nominations.

IndieWire is here to help. As we did with both drama and comedy, TV Awards Editor Libby Hill and TV Critic Ben Travers have selected an ideal ballot of more-than-worthy contenders from the 35 limited series, 21 TV movies, and 300-some performers submitted.

While there’s no way to represent all the excellent would-be Emmy nominees out there, the list below highlights critical voices in the TV industry and cuts out the riffraff so you have a clear picture of the best options.

French actor Hervé Villechaize spent his final days participating in a series of unusual interviews with then-journalist Sacha Gervasi for Britain’s Mail on Sunday magazine. My Dinner With Hervé, written and directed by now-filmmaker Gervasi, recaptures this bizarre experience and fulfills a request made by the actor: Tell the real story.

The film documents their meeting in a restaurant where Gervasi's character, Danny Tate (Jamie Dornan), is skeptical of the Fantasy Island actor (Peter Dinklage) and unprepared for what an intense character his subject turned out to be. Over their next several meetings, which take place in unconventional interview settings ...

French actor Hervé Villechaize spent his final days participating in a series of unusual interviews with then-journalist Sacha Gervasi for Britain’s Mail on Sunday magazine. My Dinner With Hervé, written and directed by now-filmmaker Gervasi, recaptures this bizarre experience and fulfills a request made by the actor: Tell the real story.

The film documents their meeting in a restaurant where Gervasi's character, Danny Tate (Jamie Dornan), is skeptical of the Fantasy Island actor (Peter Dinklage) and unprepared for what an intense character his subject turned out to be. Over their next several meetings, which take place in unconventional interview settings ...

Joseph Baxter May 29, 2019

The classic rock biopic craze continues with MGM, which is producing a film based on Culture Club frontman Boy George.

Boy George, one of the most recognizable faces from the 1980s, is the next music icon to get swept up in the film industry’s classic rock biopic wave. Indeed, in the spirit of the Oscars-dominating Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, and the buzz-generating Elton John biopic, Rocketman (which hits theaters this weekend), the ostentatiously gender-bending frontman of Culture Club is getting a big screen portrayal of his own from a major studio.

The Boy George biopic, currently untitled, is in the works at MGM, which will produce the film, reports Deadline. The studio has already found its creative fulcrum in Sacha Gervasi, who will serve as director and writer, joined by producers Kevin King Templeton (Creed) and Paul Kemsley, as well as executive producers George and Jessica de Rothschild.

Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage will star in “Brothers,” a comedy package won by Legendary in a bidding situation, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

“Tropic Thunder” and “Get Hard” writer Etan Cohen will pen the script. “American Sniper” producer Andrew Lazar will produce via his Mad Chance banner. Brolin is also producing via his Brolin Productions banner and Dinklage is producing as well via his Estuary Films banner. David Ginsberg is also producing for Estuary.

Details about the project are being kept under wraps but it is in the vein of Ivan Reitman’s 1988 “Twins” comedy which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. “Brothers” centers on both Brolin and Dinklage who are playing a pair of unlikely brothers.

Also Read: Welcome to the New WrapPRO - We Love Our Members!

Brolin, who recently booked the role of Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptation of “Dune,...

Eighth Grade

Stars: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson, Jake Ryan, Daniel Zolghadri, Fred Hechinger, Imani Lewis, Luke Prael, Catherine Oliviere | Written and Directed by Bo Burnham

Eighth Grade is the directorial debut of comedian and online sensation Bo Burnham. In his first foray behind the camera, he chooses a rather strange and unique subject with thirteen-year-old Kayla Day, played by the fantastic Elsie Fisher, and her awkward journey from middle school to the nightmarish and anxiety of high school.

First things first, I can’t praise the lead performance from Elsie Fisher enough. The intuition and layers showcased in such a raw and emotional arc is profound. Way beyond her years, yet perfectly balanced in beautifully effective melancholy of an era everyone went through but would most undoubtedly want to forget. Fisher is the heart and embodiment of the picture. Without her performance, Eighth Grade falls into predictable entertainment territory.