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Netflix has greenlit French film Quasimodo, which is set to shoot this summer in France starring Vincent Cassel in the title role.

Set in Paris on the eve of the July Revolution of 1830, the film reimagines the life of the man said to have inspired Victor Hugo’s iconic character, Quasimodo. As the cholera epidemic spreads through the city, he’s caught between political turmoil and an impossible love.

The film is directed by Jean-Francois Richet, whose credits include the upcoming Jason Statham-starrer Mutiny and 2008’s Mesrine: Killer Instinct. The latter film also starred Cassel.

It is written by Eric Besnard,...

Netflix is sharing who will be playing the title role in their upcoming film Quasimodo.

On Wednesday (June 11), it was announced that Vincent Cassel has been cast as the lead role in the upcoming adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The 58-year-old French actor is best known for his work in other films like Black Swan and Ocean’s Twelve.

Keep reading to find out more…

According to Deadline, Netflix’s Quasimodo will be set in Paris in 1830 and focus on the man that inspired the classic Victor Hugo novel.

The description for Quasimodo reads: “Set in Paris on the eve of the July Revolution (1830), this film reimagines the life of the man said to have inspired Victor Hugo’s iconic character, Quasimodo. As the cholera epidemic spreads through the city, he’s caught between political turmoil and an impossible love.”

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Back in 1831, author Victor Hugo brought the world the novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, telling the 1482-set story of Quasimodo, a deformed fellow who served as the bell-ringer of at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Nearly two hundred years later, versions of Hugo’s story are still being told on a regular basis – with the most recent adaptation being a film that’s set up at the Netflix streaming service. Deadline reports that Vincent Cassel (Black Swan) is set to play the title character in Quasimodo, which has Jean-François Richet attached to direct.

Richet may be best known for his work on action films like Plane, Blood Father, and the Assault on Precinct 13 remake, but he has also directed multiple dramas, the crimes films Mesrine: Killer Instinct and Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1, the period adventure film The Emperor of Paris, and the comedy One Wild Moment, a version of...

Netflix's The Hunchback of Notre Dame movie, titled Quasimodo, has reportedly found its Quasimodo and will begin filming this summer. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is originally the 19th-century gothic novel by Victor Hugo (also the author of Les Misérables) about a bell-ringer at the famous at Paris’ famous Notre Dame cathedral who falls in love with the Roma dancer Emserelda. Today, the most well-known adaptation is arguably the animated version by Disney, which significantly changed the story from the source material to be presented to the typical family-inclusive audience.

While Disney previously had plans for its own Hunchback of Notre Dame live-action remake, which would presumably be based on the studio's own movie, Netflix is working on Quasimodo and has just announced that Vincent Cassel will be taking on the lead role (via Deadline). Cassel will thus be collaborating with Jean-Francois Richet as the director and Eric Besnard as the screenwriter.

Netflix has greenlit a feature retelling Quasimodo, the humpbacked man said to have inspired Victor Hugo’s French gothic novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The Shrouds and Irréversible star Vincent Cassel is set to play the lead, Deadline reports.

Jean-Francois Richet (Plane) is set to direct from a screenplay by Eric Besnard (Wrath of Man).

Quasimodo‘s logline reads, “Set in Paris on the eve of the July Revolution (1830), this film reimagines the life of the man said to have inspired Victor Hugo’s iconic character, Quasimodo. As the cholera epidemic spreads through the city, he’s caught between political turmoil and an impossible love.”

Cassel, who will play the bell-ringer in the biopic, is also known for genre roles in Underwater, Black Swan, Sheitan, and more. Quasimodo also marks a reunion between Richet and Cassel; the pair previously worked together on crime thriller Mesrine.

Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame...

Netflix is turning to a French icon for its latest feature film.

The streaming service has greenlit a retelling of the life of Quasimodo, the man said to have inspired Victor Hugo’s bell-ringer in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

Vincent Cassel (La Haine) has been cast in the titular role. Jean-Francois Richet (Plane) is set to direct a script penned by Eric Besnard (Wrath of Man). Mediawan’s Radar Films is housing the feature, with Clément Miserez and Matthieu Warter producing.

Here’s the Quasimodo logline: “Set in Paris on the eve of the July Revolution (1830), this film reimagines the life of the man said to have inspired Victor Hugo’s iconic character, Quasimodo. As the cholera epidemic spreads through the city, he’s caught between political turmoil and an impossible love.”

Cassel, who is no stranger to starring in screen adaptations of French classics after appearing in Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom,...

Studiocanal has scored a raft of international sales on its Cannes film market highlights, including “Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom,” “Les Miserables” and “Violette,” directed by “Amelie” filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

Aardman’s “Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom” follows the studio’s third stop-motion animated feature film in the “Shaun the Sheep” franchise, following the BAFTA and Oscar-nominated “Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” and “Shaun the Sheep Movie.” The latter turned out to be one of the highest-grossing animated films of 2015.”

Studiocanal has pre-sold “Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom” in major territories, including Japan (“Shochiku”), Hong Kong (Edko), Italy (Lucky Red), Scandinavia (Scanbox), Israel (Lev) and Middle East (Salim Ramia), among others. Other territories closed include Airlines (Echo Lake), Baltics (Acme), Czech Republic & Slovakia (Bohemia), Ex Yugoslavia (Blitz), Greece (Spentzos), Hungary (Mozinet), Middle East (Salim Ramia), Portugal ( Lusomundo), Romania (Bad Unicorn), Singapore...

It’s a pity that the English title of Cédric Klapisch’s pretty, lighthearted then-and-now drama does not have the same number of entendres as the French version. Not only does “La venue de l’avenir” (literally “the coming of the future”) trip more merrily off the tongue, it also has resonances lost in the comparatively one-note “Colours of Time” — specifically a pun on “La venue” and “L’avenue” which references a scene that is a survey of Paris from Montmartre hill at the moment the electric lights first go on along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. But then, perhaps it’s a suitable representation of a pleasant film that should land well with mainstream domestic viewers and French Impressionism fans abroad, who will see more colors in “Colours of Time” than other international audiences.

A few dozen strangers, all descendants of one Adèle Meunier, have been called to a meeting in...

Julian Assange returned to the international stage at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, first standing before the global press wearing a T-shirt with the names of children killed in Gaza before donning a tuxedo to walk the red carpet with the team behind “The Six Billion Dollar Man.”

Directed by Eugene Jarecki, the firebrand doc shares rarely-seen footage from inside the Ecuadorian embassy while building on eyebrow-raising revelations connecting Assange’s embassy surveillance to the late-billionaire and profligate Trump donor Sheldon Adelson. At the same time, the doc also shares a more up-close-and-personal – if not quite cuddly – side to a man Jarecki likens to “a sphinx.”

“There’s a Cheshire Cat quality to Julian,” Jarecki told TheWrap. “He’s always kept people guessing, and a lot of that was strategic. He had to, especially when taking on the U.S. government. So, if you’re going to make a film about him,...

Les Misérables, the iconic 1862 book by French author Victor Hugo, has been adapted many times. The most famous adaption is the 1980 musical version, which was made into an Oscar-winning movie in 2012. But now a new version is coming from a French director - and there won't be any songs.

Fred Cavayé is currently preparing to shoot his own take on the life and redemption of Jean Valjean. Vincent Lindon will play Jean Valjean, Tahar Rahim will play Inspector Javert, Camille Cottin will play Madame Thenardier (a character often overlooked in adaptions of the novel) and Noémie Merlant will play the tragic Fantine, the same role Anne Hathaway won an Oscar for.

This version is going to differ from previous adaptions in one key way: it's focused on the action. Cavayé started off directing action movies and he's keen to go back to his roots. "My point of departure is that...

Exclusive: Fred Cavayé is gearing up for the shoot this summer of his adaptation of Les Misérables.

Vincent Lindon is set to star as Jean Valjean opposite Tahar Rahim as his nemesis Inspector Javert, with the ensemble cast also including Camille Cottin, Noémie Merlant and Benjamin Lavernhe.

The literary costume drama marks a departure for Cavayé who broke out as a director with 2008 thriller Anything for Her (Pour Elle), starring Lindon as a man on a mission to free his wife (Diane Kruger) from jail after she is arrested for murder, and he is convinced of her innocence.

The movie was remade in English in 2010 as The Next Three Days with Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks in the starring roles.

Since then, Cavayé has also made his name as a comedy director on films such as Dany Boon-starrer Penny Pincher! (Radin!) and Nothing to Hide, the French version of Italian hit Perfect Strangers,...

"Andor" spoilers follow.

Tony Gilroy's "Andor" is a masterpiece not only of the "Star Wars" franchise, being the best title since "The Empire Strikes Back," but also just a masterpiece of television in general. Every element of the show, from its exquisite production design, to the casting and acting, to the impeccable storytelling that delivers a thrilling, poignant, and timely story about fighting fascism, work together seamlessly to deliver the best TV show of the year.

An underrated but no less brilliant aspect of "Andor" is the way it connects to the rest of the franchise. Ever since the prequel trilogy tried its best to give an origin story to every single character both major and minor, "Star Wars" has had a bit of an awkward approach to interconnectivity. We have had origin stories like how "The Bad Batch" shows the poignant turn from clones to stormtroopers, but also...

Exclusive: Tahar Rahim, Camille Cottin, Benjamin Lavernhe and Noémie Merlant have been confirmed for the cast of Fred Cavayé’s action-skewed adaptation of Les Misérables as Studiocanal gears up to launch sales in Cannes.

They join Vincent Lindon who was previously announced for the role of Jean Valjean, the hero of Victor Hugo’s 1862 classic novel who transforms from hardened ex-convict and parole breaker to benevolent industrialist.

Les Misérables marks a departure for Cavayé whose credits include World War Two drama Farewell, Mr. Haffman, comedy drama Nothing to Hide (the French version of Italian hit Perfect Strangers) and thrillers such as Anything for Her, which was remade in English with Russell Crowe as The Next Three Days.

Rahim will play Valjean’s nemesis Inspector Javert, who becomes obsessed with tracking him down. Benjamin Lavernhe, seen recently in the French hit The Marching Band, and Call My Agent! star Camille Cottin,...

Amanda Seyfried recalls her time on Les Misérables and says she was not quite ready for the challenging role.

The actress played Cosette in the epic period musical film directed by Tom Hooper. In it, she had to sing live, which she found “infuriating.”

“Les Mis was an incredible movie. I loved it. The costumes, the people… We were all really happy to be there, but I, unfortunately, was not technically ready or capable of the live singing in the way that I would’ve liked to be,” Seyfried reflected during an interview with GQ.

She continued, “The process was infuriating. I knew what I had to sing, but they were hard songs. And the acting part of it came naturally and I loved it.”

Seyfried also said she was “worried” about her accent, adding, “But that was the least of my worries.” She noted that having “to be very...

Quick LinksWhat Is The Hunchback of Notre Dame Based On?Disney Simplifies The Hunchback of Notre Dame but Keeps the Story's HeartThe Biggest Differences Between Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Original Book

Disney has been adapting famous fairy tales into beloved animated films for decades, but not all its movies are based on children's stories. One notable exception is 1996's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which follows the Gothic cathedral's fictional bellringer, Quasimodo. While not as highly praised as some of the studio's other films from this era, it was still applauded for its emotional music, beautiful animation and handling of mature themes within a family-friendly context. Nearly 30 years later, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is still considered one of Disney's darkest movies, but it pales in comparison to its source material.

Unlike other Disney animated movies that are based on children's stories, The Hunchback of Notre Dame...

Quick LinksDisney's Live-Action Remakes are Losing SteamThe Hunchback of Notre Dame Was Disney's Darkest Renaissance Era MovieA Live-Action Hunchback of Notre Dame Can Fix Some Animated Issues

Disney has become known for live-action remakes of its classic movies for over a decade, with more of these movies on the way. While the concept sounds ripe for (now proven) success at the box office, fans and moviegoers have grown somewhat tired of what are now seen increasingly as "cheap cash grabs." Before Disney possibly puts the idea to rest, however, there's one animated movie from the studio that's begging for a live-action incarnation.

The Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame was the darkest movie of the Disney Renaissance era, and perhaps one of the best. Its aesthetic and tone would actually fit perfectly in a live-action rendition, especially given its novel source material. Most ironically, this would be one...

Quick LinksHow Universal Secretly Remade Disney's Most Controversial MovieThis Bizarre Disney Knock Off Rings a BelleRoger Corman Takes a Page Out of a Disney ClassicA Finding Nemo Clone Tells a Familiar Fish StoryAn Off-Brand Disney Odyssey Left Audiences With Cold ComfortA Dark Cars Knockoff Presents Tailpipes From The CryptVideo Brinquedo Serve's Up Rataouille's LeftoversA Remake of a Classic Musical Tried to Steal Some of Disney's MagicHow a Sequel to Snow White Turned RottenHow a Mesozoic Meme Was Born From an Animated Cult ClassicSnow White Gets in The GameThis Animated Ballet Utilized Disney's ClichésThe Confounding Re-Cuts of The Thief and the CobblerA Cinderella Mockbuster Was Only a Tip of The IcebergHow an Imitator Became a Real Disney Princess

Disney has a long legacy of storytelling, producing some of the most beloved adaptations of classic tales, but it has also inspired some of the most infamous mockbusters that fans will never forget.

Roger Ebert was a film critic with the unique power to convey his passion for film to the masses. His enthusiasm was not blind, however, and he held the oft-maligned horror genre to an especially high standard. This list of the ten best films from Ebert's "Greatest Movies" collection illustrates his understanding of what makes a horror film a masterpiece.

Ebert believed that a horror film should "exorcise" something for the viewer — to help the audience process dark and traumatic feelings. Beginning with the German Expressionist revolution and reaching into the gory excesses of the 1970s and '80s, this wide-ranging list of films showcases the genre at its best. The critic's clear-eyed commentary on each picture will show fans why horror cinema will never die.

German Expressionism Helped Legitimize the Horror Genre The Cabinet of Dr. Caligary (1920), dir. Robert Wiene

Roger Ebert agreed with the common assertion that The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari...

French sales outfit Ginger & Fed has unveiled a first look at EFM market title Gregory Gadebois inLes Miserables: The Story of JeanValjean,Eric Besnard’s prequel to Victor Hugo’s legendary novel.

The film followsValjeanafter he is released from prison embittered, ostracised and considered a danger to society until he meets a kind bishop whose humanity inspires him to become a better man.

Shooting kicked off in France in January and features a starry local cast including Bernard Campan, Isabelle Carré and Alexandra Lamy. It is Besnard’s follow-up to 2024 historical dramaLouise Violetthat also stars Gadebois and Lamy.

Mediawan-owned Radar Films produces,...

With Demi Moore getting a new dose of fame, it’s time for her role in one of Disney’s more underappreciated movies to get some respect!

If there’s one thing Hollywood loves, it’s a comeback story. 2022 was a notable example as Brendan Fraser, the one-time box office star of the late 1990s, had been quiet for a long time due to personal issues. Fraser made a big splash with his transformative role in the drama The Whale.

That same year featured the remarkable tale of Ke Huy Quan, a former child star of the 1980s who dropped out of the business because he couldn’t find good roles. He landed one in the wild action drama Everything Everywhere All at Once, which won seven Oscars, including Best Picture.

Thus, on Oscar Night 2023, Fraser and Quan were sharing photos with their respective Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards.

Disney's adaptation of Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1997) is often considered the studio's most mature film, and for good reason. Along with dark themes of religion, prejudice, lust, and other adult concepts, it also re-envisioned several iconic Disney tropes.

Judge Claude Frollo fits the role of a classic Disney villain brilliantly but does it realistically to show young viewers that villains aren't always evil queens or wicked wizards but people in positions of power we're supposed to trust. However, one viewer made a recent observation that Frollo, like most true-to-life villains, didn't have to walk the path he chose.

Disney's divine intervention

Before Disney was doling out ice queens, Lin-Manuel Miranda soundtracks, and countless sequels and remakes, there was a time when experimentation and mature storytelling reigned supreme. While many are quick to praise The Lion King (1994), The Hunchback of Notre Dame could be considered a true Renaissance piece.

The Disney brand is usually associated with its most popular titles and creations. From Frozen to its numerous versions of classic fairy tales to memorable figures like Mickey Mouse, pop culture generally revolves solely around what's popular. Many memorable entries tend to get buried in history, though not due to a lack of greatness.

Sometimes, the lack of commercial success would stand in the way of a film's reception. The popularity of one IP also has the effect of overshadowing other films. From childhood favorites to hidden gems, there are many classic Disney titles that don't get talked about enough.

Oliver and Company Tells a Wonderful Tale

Despite being a lesser known film by Disney, the 1988 animated musical adventure Oliver and Company is many's childhood favorite. Perfect for throwback comfort, the film is loosely based on Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist, but instead of the protagonist being an orphaned boy,...

California wildfire news reveals that several daytime stars have been affected by the devastating wildfires currently burning out of control in southern California. Several wildfires broke out last week in the greater Los Angeles area, including Pacific Palisades and Pasadena.

As of this writing none of the three major wildfires are contained, and vicious winds are expected in the coming hours. Here is the latest news about actors from daytime dramas who have suffered tragedy.

California Wildfire News – Eric Braeden Lost His Home

B&b and One Life to Live veteran Joe Lando lost his home, as did Y&r’s Eric Braeden (Victor Newman). According to Braeden, Joshua Morrow, who plays his onscreen son Nick Newman, helped him learn the unfortunate news.

The actor was with Et when he first saw his burned-out house, and he teared up looking at the ruins of the place he called home for 45 years.

“I...

Jean Valjean is basically a superhero already (he lifts a whole cart off a guy by himself at one point), and now he's getting the requisite origin story to boot. Anyone who's ever so much as breathed near a theater kid knows that the Les Misérables protagonist steals a loaf...

The origin story of Jean Valjean, the iconic protagonist of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece “Les Misérables,” is being brought to the bigscreen by Éric Besnard, the French director of 18th-century set movie “Delicieux.”

The movie, which just started filming on Jan. 14 amid the lush landscapes of Southern France, has been boarded by Federations Studios’ sales label Ginger & Fed spearheaded by Sabine Chemaly. The project is being teased to buyers at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris which kicked off on Monday (Jan. 13).

“Valjean” reteams Besnard with French actor Gregory Gadebois who starred in his previous film, the 19th-century set movie “Louise Violet.” Gadebois stars as Valjean, opposite Bernard Campan, Isabelle Carré and Alexandra Lamy.

Clément Miserez and Matthieu Warter at Mediawan-owned banner Radar Films is producing. Warner Bros. France will release the film locally. France 3 Cinéma is a co-producer. “Valjean” is also backed by Ciné+, Ocs, HBO Max,...

The awful Los Angeles wildfire has unfortunately struck the homes of several soap stars. Among them was General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison who lost his family home to the terrible wildfire. Now comes word that while she and her family are safe, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Jennifer Gareis has also lost her home, as the tragedy continues to roll on unstopped.

It Came as a Shock

With a couple of photos of herself at the beach, and then what looks like a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Gareis (Donna) wrote on Instagram, “I had no idea this past weekend was my last beach walk and sunset in Malibu…at least until we can rebuild the community after this devastating fire.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jennifer Gareis – Donna Logan Bb (@jennifergareis)

She continued by expressing her gratitude and reassuring fans: “Thank you for your messages. Our home...

When "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" first hit AMC, my mom watched it before I did. At the time, I asked her how the crossbow-wielding fan favorite character managed to get from the East coast of America to France while living in a zombie-filled apocalyptic wasteland. "Some bad guys got him," she answered simply. On paper, it's a laughable explanation for a sudden, drastic change of scenery over a decade into a franchise that's typically only moved its characters around in ways that make sense. After I caught up with the show, though, it became clear that she was right: Daryl's big move boils down to the introduction of new villains whose misdeeds just so happen to take place in an area adjacent to one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Behind the scenes, Reedus and any returning cast and crew members from the flagship series also...

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of the best movies from Disney's Renaissance Era, and it is rumored to be Disney's next live-action remake. The movie is a musical-animated epic released on June 21, 1996, directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. Tom Hulce, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline, and Demi Moore all expertly lend their voice talents to the film, and it includes extremely catchy and memorable songs written by musical legends Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a marvel of its time; it is beautifully animated and has had a lasting impact on generations of viewers. However, even at a time when everything seems to be getting a reboot, Quasimodo the Hunchback has seemingly been left behind.

Disney seems less interested in moving forward with this project and instead continues to pursue other ideas. To name a few, a live-action portrayal of Lilo & Stitch is...

Although Disney is known for over 100 years of animated masterpieces, not every one of them is worthy of an Academy Award. That said, it's criminal to see just how many of Disney's best and brightest often go overlooked.

Fantasia 2000 (1999), Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), and Treasure Planet (2002) are just a small handful of Disney's underrated gems, but there's one that truly towers above the rest (in more ways than one).

Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame Scores Overdue Win

Per their social media post, RottenTomatoes recently announced that Disney's adaptation of the Victor Hugo gothic novel finally achieved a Fresh Rating, currently at 80%. While it's certainly unusual for a decades-old film to make the page with this change, those who know what all went into it know that it was bound to happen eventually.

Although the House of Mouse took several artistic liberties when retelling this tale of religion, lust, and acceptance,...

Rotten Tomatoes has updated its reviews of the film The Hunchback of Notre Dame to give the animated Disney classic a Certified Fresh approval rating from critics. This has resulted in the film earning a score of 80% on the website.

The score was tabulated after a slew of reviews from 1996 were officially added to the site, giving the film an updated score. Critics from the era were largely impressed by the movie with several giving The Hunchback of Notre Dame perfect scores. Much of the reviews were particularly complimentary of the movie's animation, with one critic (Jeffrey Westhoff of the Northwest Herald) calling it "Disney's most powerful animated film since Bambi," predicting that the film would "20 years from now... be considered an authentic masterpiece." Indeed, more than two decades later, the film is beloved by many fans of Disney movies, though a lot of its love was there from most critics at the very start.

It has been a busy time for Lesley Nicol as the Downton Abbey fan favorite joined Broadway star Michael Maliakel (Disney’s Aladdin) for Joy: Christmas with Tabernacle Choir. Filmed last year, the 90-minute special premieres on December 17 and runs through the holidays on PBS and BYUtv. The star of stage and screen served as the narrator for the program where she told the tale of Les Misérables author Victor Hugo’s selfless care for the impoverished children in his community. Her words were accompanied by actors presenting the powerful scene before the audience at Salt Lake City’s 21,000-seat Conference Center at Temple Square. Lesley Nicol and Jim Carter © Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2015 for Masterpiece Along with this opportunity, the accomplished actress also wrapped up shooting the third Downton Abbey movie with the beloved cast in the summer. The last in the trilogy is set to premiere...

France’s recently restored ‘Notre-Dame Cathedral’, features prominently in the 1831 gothic novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”, by Victor Hugo, adapted for a 1923 silent film starring Lon Chaney Sr,, a 1939 sound film with Charles Laughton and a 1956 feature starring Anthony Quinn:

“…the story follows the deformed church bell-ringer ‘Quasimodo’, the ‘Roma’ street dancer ‘Esmeralda’ …

“…and Quasimodo's guardian, the ‘Archdeacon Claude Frollo’, in 15th-century Paris.

“All its elements—the ‘Renaissance’ setting, impossible love affairs and marginalized characters…

“…make the work a model of the literary themes of ‘Romanticism’.

“The novel is considered a classic of French literature and adapted repeatedly for film, stage, television, graphic novels and toys.”

Click the images to enlarge…...

In 1996, Disney released its own rendition of Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Even though the original story is very dark, the Magic Kingdom planned to infuse the material with singing, dancing, and mesmerizing character designs. The plan almost worked, but not quite. The film ended up being the darkest film Disney ever made, attracting criticism and controversy for covering themes that were too dark for kids.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame's G rating may have a lot to do with the backlash. However, the studio's insistence on making The Hunchback of Notre Dame a family film that could be enjoyed by all ages turned out to be a failed attempt and only made it problematic. Despite having memorable characters, the classic film was simply not for kids and could've been an even greater film if it didn't try so hard to be something it's not. Many...

The relationship between Hayao Miyazaki and Yoshiyuki Tomino has always been a fascinating story of rivalry, professional envy, and mutual respect. While they are both legendary filmmaker coming from the same era, their careers, and creative philosophies could not be more different. Miyazaki is celebrated for his universally beloved films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, and Tomino’s Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam delves into the darker, grittier aspects of human nature and the horrors of war.

Yoshiyuki Tomino | Credit: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, Cc By 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This dichotomy extends to their personal opinions about each other’s work, stating that he only likes Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron. Apart from these opinions, Tomino also considers Miyazaki an “enemy”, however, the reasons behind it are not simply envy or animosity.

Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Opinion on Hayao Miyazaki Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron...

Russell Crowe is one of the most successful and recognizable movie stars of the 21st century, and certain films stand out as his best. Born in 1964, Crowe was actively performing for over a decade before his big break. Crowe began his career in New Zealand and Australia with stage performances and TV parts before landing his first film role in 1990. He began working in North America in the '90s before L.A. Confidential launched him into international fame, kicking off nearly a decade of critically acclaimed movies and performances.

While he hasn't had as much success in recent years, Crowe's movies have generated over $5 billion at the box office, making him a coveted star. His most remarkable stretch came between 1997 and 2001, when he rose to fame and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor three years in a row. For his iconic role as Maximus in Ridley Scott's historical epic Gladiator,...

Mother Mary gets a first-look image, showing Anne Hathaway's role as a glamorous pop star. Directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight), the upcoming A24 movie chronicles the relationship between a pop star and a fashion designer, with Alba Baptista, Hunter Schafer, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Michaela Coel set to costar. Mother Mary marks Hathaway's follow-up to Prime Video's The Idea of You, a romantic comedy that was released earlier this year.

Vanity Fair now shares a behind-the-scenes image from Mother Mary, showing Hathaway in character wearing a golden leotard with an accompanying golden cloak and a golden tiara, of sorts. Though the image doesn't reveal much, it does seemingly feature Hathaway posing in some kind of backstage area at a theater. Check out the image below:

Hathaway also provides a brief comment about her role in the movie, explaining that it was quite an adjustment for her to...

When it comes to animated movies, there is no name better known than Disney. Children and adults alike have been falling in love with Disney movies for generations, ranging all the way from classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to modern favorites like Encanto (2021). Audiences around the world love Disney's animated films for their family-friendly stories, fun songs, and lovable characters.

However, not every animated film by Disney falls within this mold. Every so often, the company releases a film that challenges the audience's preconceived notions of what a Disney movie can be. Whether this is done by depicting dark turns or covering mature topics, these films have often surprised their viewers. Of course, this is not to say that the movies that don't fall within the typical Disney mold are bad by any means. Rather, these animated features simply push the boundaries of what a Disney movie can be,...

The fights will take place in Abu Dhabi, so they will get underway early on Saturday in the United States.

Champion Ilia Topuria will put his featherweight title on the line against the second-ranked Max Holloway on Saturday, Oct. 26 at UFC 308. The event, which will take place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, will kick off earlier than most UFC events, so you will want to make sure that you’ve purchased the pay-per0view ahead of time, so you can enjoy your breakfast while watching the best Mma action in the world. UFC 308 will take place on ESPN+ with prelims beginning at 10 a.m. Et and the main card getting underway at 2 p.m. Et. You can watch the entirety of UFC 308 with a subscription to ESPN+ and by purchasing the PPV for $79.99.

How to Watch UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway When: Saturday, Oct. 26 | Prelims: 10 a.m. Et | Main Card: 2 p.

The 2012 version of Les Miserables was a big hit, and it deserved to be. It had an incredible cast Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as the doomed Fantine and Amanda Seyfried as her daughter Cosette. But its power is entirely down to the book it was based on, an 1862 tome by Victor Hugo.

Not everything in the book was included in the 2012 movie. The book is 1,462 pages long, so that would have been an impossible task. However, one small but fascinating subplot did, to some extent, make it in. This is the relationship between Enjolras and Grantaire, two of the student revolutionaries. Hardcore fans of the book were delighted to see this, but people viewing the musical for the first time might have completely missed it.

Victor Hugo Compared Enjolras and Grantaire to Famous Male Couples in Ancient Greece

It's impossible to know what...

With all due respect to Bozo and Pennywise, pop culture’s most popular clown is probably Joker, Batman’s archvillain who started making the Caped Crusader’s life hell back in 1940. That’s when the so-called Clown Prince of Crime first appeared in comic books, quickly becoming the Caped Crusader’s top nemesis — and, along the way, the most iconic of all superhero baddies. When Tim Burton hatched his Batman in 1989, the Joker was the villain. The most acclaimed and commercially successful of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy was The Dark Knight, which featured Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance as the Joker. Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad was universally loathed — as was the film — but even that movie made bank. And, of course, 2019’s Joker brought in more than a billion dollars worldwide, going on to win Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar. We as a society may be racked with a fear of clowns,...

On a recent episode of General Hospital, Sonny’s gun safe became the center of attention. Many viewers noted something special about the combination to Sonny’s safe, which pays homage to one of the series’ actors. Notably, this isn’t the first time the series used a code for a special in-joke.

Attention Is On Sonny’s Gun Safe Following John’s Death

At this point in the series, John “Jagger” Cates has just lost his life in a final confrontation with Sonny Corinthos in the rain. Cates’ death has impacted Port Charles. Sonny’s gun safe has become a point of interest, with the police searching his weapons. Dex even tells Anna he knew where his former employer keeps his gun.

Sonny Corinthos – YouTube

On the September 6, 2024 episode, as noted on Soap Hub, Sonny had noted he had a missing gun. However, he still worked with the police...

“The Legends of Paris: A Tale of the 19th century Artistic Scene” appears have taken buyers by storm even before its official launch at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous market in Le Havre, where it premiered on Tuesday.

Produced by Silex Films and Arte, the four-part series offers an intimate portrait of some of France’s most beloved artistic and literary figures. Taking viewers into the bustling heart of 19th-century Paris, it follows the colorful lives of such legendary artists as Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, George Sand, Louis-Hector Berlioz, Honoré de Balzac and Charles Baudelaire.

The international interest in the period and personalities is evident: Arte Distribution has already inked pre-sale deals for “The Legends of Paris” with TV Unam in Mexico; The Arts Channel in New Zealand; Swiss broadcaster Srf; Hrvatska radiotelevizija in Croatia; Radio and Television of Montenegro; Georgia’s Lepl Public Broadcaster; and Hellenic Parliament TV in Greece. Arte...

As Laura tries to find help for a dying Lulu on General Hospital, she went to her incarcerated son Nikolas to see if he could donate part of his liver to save her. He greeted his mother surprisingly in blue prison garb, not orange as we’ve seen. His prisoner identification number is emblazoned on his lapel, and it’s an obscure nod to a famous play.

An Easter Egg

Hidden references within a film or TV show are called “Easter Eggs,” a term created by former Atari manager Steve Wright, who “loved the idea of hidden surprises in games because they reminded him of ‘waking up on Easter morning and hunting for Easter eggs,’” according to Dictionary. One such Easter Egg was found when Laura (Genie Francis) visited Nikolas (Adam Huss) in jail on the August 27 Gh episode. (Find out how Nikolas landed in prison.)

The number on his...

Wonder Woman teams up with Plastic Man to retrieve her stolen Lasso of Truth. Plastic Man's backstory reveals he has powerful abilities, making him a valuable ally. The unlikely pairing highlights the importance of mutual respect and the potential in underrated heroes.

Part of DC's Trinity, Wonder Woman is strong, kind, and fights for truth and hope. One of her primary weapons in that fight is the Lasso of Truth, an Amazonian rope that prevents anyone who touches it from telling lies. In an upcoming comic, however, it gets stolen, and to catch a thief, she'll need one - Plastic Man.

While in her own book, Diana Prince has been fighting the secret American monarchy and discovering a new Amazonian child, this side story appears in the anthology Batman: The Brave and the Bold #19. In DC Comics' November solicitations, readers can get a teaser for Wonder Woman's next adventure and...

Hugh Jackman's best film, according to Rotten Tomatoes, is 2019's "Bad Education." Hugh Jackman's best film, according to Marvel fans, is 2017's "Logan." And Hugh Jackman's best film, according to me, is 2013's "Prisoners." But the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has a different opinion, as the prestigious organization has only ever paid attention to Jackman's 2012 turn in "Les Misérables."

Yes, the beloved Aussie scored an Oscar nomination for Best Actor at the 2013 Academy Awards, but lost out to Daniel Day-Lewis for his portrayal of the titular President in "Lincoln." Not that there's any shame in losing to Day-Lewis, but it's got to be a slight sore point for Jackman as it was the one and only time he earned an Academy Award nom, despite being one of the most versatile actors working in the industry.

Now, Jackman has once again reminded us of his talents with "Deadpool & Wolverine,...

Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino has defended fellow acclaimed director and animator Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli fame from claims that the latter is not an "artist," giving anime fans an insight into the pair's complicated rivalry.

Tomino sat down in an exciting new interview with Full Frontal where, among other topics, he spoke about the process of making Ideon, opening up about the influences on his works and notably, his decision to only direct robot series. Before comparing himself to Miyazaki, Tomino says he only directs robot series because "I basically dont have what it takes to be an auteur. Thats why the director Hayao Miyazaki has always been my enemy: being in the same era as someone Id never been able to surpass has become my incentive." Tomino has long been associated with the anime studio Sunrise -- a place for producers, not artists. He implied it...

While Hollywood has been exploiting comic books and YA novels as intellectual property for a long time, French cinema has only recently begun to feed its wealth of 19th century novels into the content machine, churning big-budget epics out of classic books in the public domain.

Last year, a two-part version of Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers hit local screens, raking in $45 million off a combined $80 million budget for both films. Directed by Martin Bourboulon and featuring a who’s who of Gallic stars, including Vincent Cassel, Eva Green, Romain Duris and Louis Garrel, the Musketeers movies were marked by nonstop action and relentless storytelling tailor-made for the streaming age.

Both films were written by the duo of Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, who previously helmed a series of hit comedies (Daddy or Mommy, Divorce French Style, What’s in a Name?) with a fast-paced Hollywood edge to them.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame was an iconic and jaw-dropping animated feature that encapsulated everything great about the Disney Renaissance. The movie's source material was far more mature than anything Disney had explored before. The Hunchback of Notre Dame proves Disney can make a classic without adhering to some darker subjects.

Although a lot of Disney films were inspired by classic novels, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is particularly unique. Even though Hugo's novel presents a ton of Gothic themes and perverse character arcs, Disney managed to take the original plot and transform it into an utterly magical kids' film. Thus, The Hunchback of Notre Dame transports audiences back to the wonders of 15th-century France but doesn't lose sight of the original purpose of the novel.

When the film premiered in 1996, it managed to accumulate $325 million at the worldwide box office and was labeled as the fifth-highest-grossing film that year.

Mentions of sexual assault, discrimination, manipulation, murder, and more.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame had dark themes, including discrimination and damnation, making it one of Disney's darkest movies. Victor Hugo's original novel was darker, depicting Frollo as obsessed and Quasimodo's tragic death, forcing Disney to make significant changes. The live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is facing challenges due to its dark themes, remaining in 'development hell' as of 2024.

Disney is known for changing the original stories its animated movies are based on, but the one of this 28-year-old movie poses a big problem for its live-action version. Disney continues to be a powerhouse in the world of animation, a reign that began in 1937 with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first animated feature film produced in the United States and the first cel-animated feature film. Since then, Disney has produced over 60 animated movies,...

Cold Blows The Wind: "Lion Heart Distribution is proud to be releasing Eric Williford' startling new indie thriller Cold Blows The Wind on VOD on July 2nd.

When a husband and wife (Victoria Vertuga and Danell Leyva) find their night blown wildly off-course, they're forced to band together in order to survive in the most extreme of circumstances."

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Tiger Stripes: "Zaffan (12) is a rebellious and carefree girl until she starts to experience horrifying physical changes to her body. Struggling to maintain being normal at school, Zaffan is in denial of her inevitable changes and tries to cover herself. Zaffan’s friends however attack her, when all hysteria breaks loose — one by one teenage girls drop to the floors in fits, turning it into a spread of mass hysteria across the school.

Rumors of a dark figure in the toilets have caused fear to take over the primary school,...