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“The Bad Guys 2”, is the new animated comedy feature, directed by Pierre Perifel and Jp Sans, starring Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, Alex Borstein, Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne as ‘anthropomorphic animals’, releasing August 1, 2025 in theaters:

“…one year after the events of the first film….

“…‘The Bad Guys’ are struggling to find trust and acceptance…

“…in their newly minted lives as ‘Good Guys’…

‘…when they are pulled out of retirement…

“…and forced to do ‘one last job’ by an all-female squad of criminals…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

On Aug. 1, The Bad Guys 2 will be hitting movie theaters, arriving on the big screen about three years after the original. Ahead of the movie's release, Cbr can exclusively unveil the official poster for the ScreenX release of The Bad Guys 2.

Check out the poster below.

From DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, The Bad Guys 2 brings back the now-reformed Bad Guys, now trying their best to stay good. Things change when they are then thrust into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist with some new blood. This time, the heist is orchestrated by a new group called The Bad Girls.

The Stars of The Bad Guys Return for the Sequel

The new sequel brings back the original cast members, including Oscar winner Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf, SAG nominee Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, SAG nominee Craig Robinson as master of disguise Mr. Shark, Grammy winner Anthony Ramos as Mr.

“The Bad Guys 2”, is the upcoming animated comedy sequel, based on the book series by Aaron Blabey, directed by Pierre Perifel and Jp Sans, starring Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, Alex Borstein, Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne as ‘anthropomorphic animal’ characters, releasing August 1, 2025 in theaters:

“…one year after the events of the first film….

“…‘The Bad Guys’ are struggling to find trust and acceptance…

“…in their newly minted lives as ‘Good Guys’…

‘…when they are pulled out of retirement…

“…and forced to do ‘one last job’ by an all-female squad of criminals…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

“The Bad Guys 2”, is the upcoming animated comedy sequel, based on the book series by Aaron Blabey, directed by Pierre Perifel and Jp Sans, starring Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, Alex Borstein, Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne as ‘anthropomorphic animal’ characters, releasing August 1, 2025 in theaters:

“…one year after the events of the first film….

“…‘The Bad Guys’ are struggling to find trust and acceptance…

“…in their newly minted lives as ‘Good Guys’…

‘…when they are pulled out of retirement…

“…and forced to do ‘one last job’ by an all-female squad of criminals…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

If you talk, text, or otherwise mess around during The Bad Guys 2, Kitty Kat will find you — and she will not be impressed. Ahead of the animated sequel's release on August 1, DreamWorks Animation has teamed up with Alamo Drafthouse to deliver a “Don’t Talk” PSA that is equal parts intimidating and hilarious, featuring none other than the trio of new criminal masterminds introduced in The Bad Guys 2. Collider is exclusively debuting the PSA, which stars Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, and Maria Bakalova as Kitty Kat, Doom, and Pigtail — a.k.a. The Bad Girls. Their message? Keep your mouths shut and your phones off… or face the consequences.

While Mr. Wolf and his gang are trying to go legit in The Bad Guys 2, these new additions to the franchise are ready to throw it all into chaos. And based on the PSA, they’re not above...

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Rachel Sennott is the funniest young woman working in Hollywood right now. (And I don't just say that out of Irish Catholic Connecticuter solidarity.) Sennott has the "sardonic Zillennial girl" market cornered, but she's just as capable of loud, ridiculous, hyperactive comedy as she is at Daria-esque, bitter observational snark. No matter what comedy set Sennott is performing, she's hilarious.

First breaking out as a stand-up and Twitter comedian, Sennott has used her fame to build an acting career, from web series to television to movies. Some of her more high-profile projects, such as the short-lived HBO series "The Idol" and the 2024 film "Saturday Night," use her only as a supporting player. But the most memorable films she's appeared in typically have her in a leading part; that's not a coincidence. I curse that the 2023 live script reading of...

Anthony Ramos was offered starring roles in Hollywood right off the bat after he proved his acting chops in his Broadway debut, Hamilton. He played Usnavi de la Vega in both the theater and movie versions of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. He had appeared in several memorable roles in big-budget films, including A Star Is Born, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and Twisters.

After playing the good guy in his movies and TV shows, Ramos is embracing villainhood in the new Disney+ series from Marvel Studios, Ironheart. In the show, he plays Parker Robbins/The Hood, who hires Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams for a series of heists. Following his Marvel debut, Ramos has several projects lined up, including a sequel to one of his earlier voice roles.

1. The Bad Guys 2 Anthony Ramos’ Mr. Piranha at the center in a still from The Bad Guys...

Will James Gunn make a bold move with Barry Allen, aka the Flash? Gunn would love to bring more female superheroes into his DC Universe, and the Flash is one of the central characters who could potentially be gender-swapped in the new Dcu.

There’s no doubt that such a decision would invite a whole lot more trouble for Gunn, possibly even more than the backlash DC faced over Ezra Miller’s The Flash in 2023.

Still, there’s a small chance Gunn could make this work with the right approach. A few actresses come to mind who could step into the role and replace Ezra Miller—or Grant Gustin—as the new Flash in the Dcu. Here are five actresses who could convincingly take on the mantle of “Barbara” Allen.

5. Katherine McNamara Katherine McNamara as Clary Fairchild in Shadowhunters | Credits: Freeform

Arrowverse actress Katherine McNamara is one of the few...

Everyone loves Sean Bean. Passionately beloved for his portrayal of Ned Stark in the first season of Game of Thrones, Boromir in J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and most recently, as one part of the brilliant Prime Video comedy, Deep Cover, Bean's legions of fans will always celebrate his many projects in a career that spans over 40 years. In light of the release of Deep Cover, one of Bean's more forgotten action flicks has found its way onto streaming charts, officially joining the ranks of Starz's top 10 most-streamed movies in the US as of June 17, 2025.

Titled Cleanskin, the movie, written, directed, and produced by Hadi Hajaig, follows Bean's Ewan as he "works for the secret service and is assigned the task of tracking down and eliminating a suicide bomber and his terrorist cell." A classic, stylish British crime flick, Cleanskin earned a respectable...

James Gunn set a bold and exciting precedent for the new DC Universe (Dcu) even before he was appointed as the Co-Chairman of DC Studios alongside his producing partner Peter Safran. The opening scene of his 2021 film The Suicide Squad massacred several villains who were part of Task Force X, including even the fan-favorite Captain Boomerang, played by Jai Courtney. The opening scene made it feel as though no one was safe, and the same principle would carry over into projects like Peacemaker and Creature Commandos. Now, the writer/director took to social media to explain how he wants the death of characters to work in the new Dcu.

A fan asked the director if the Creature Commandos character, Princess Ilana Rostovic of Pokolistan (Maria Bakalova) would be making a return of some kind. In the season 1 finale of the series, Ilana is shot in the head by The Bride...

The Bad Guys 2 director Pierre Perifel and co-director Jp Sans touched down at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Wednesday to unveil 35 high-octane minutes of the animated heist comedy movie ahead of its theatrical launch in July.

The sequel opens with former heist maestro Mr Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell) living in L.A. on his uppers following his decision to abandon a life of crime, alongside Bad Guy collaborators Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina).

They are forced out of retirement, however, by the arrival female gang, the Bad Girls, led by snow leopard Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), raven Doom (Natasha Lyonne) and wild boar Pigtail (Maria Bakalova), who draw them into a scheme targeting the interests of a space obsessed billionaire called Mr. MoonX.

Governor Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz), the red fox with a secret past as the Crimson Paw,...

DreamWorks Animation has treated the audience to the very first presentation of “The Bad Guys 2” at Annecy. It’s “bigger, better and badder.” Certainly, the exclusive preview proved oe of the best received of sneak-peeks to date at the French animation mega-fest, reactions at which are often echoed in box office worldwide. The film will be released on Aug. 1.

“We’ve been incredibly happy with what we’ve been cooking,” said director Pierre Perifel at the presentation.

“We’ll elevate the heist genre to action comedy,” added his co-director – “Robin to his Batman, Dumb to his Dumber” – Jp Sans, recalling his love for the original book that felt like “Reservoir Dogs,’ with animals, for kids.”

“It was a little hard to adapt for kids. There’s a lot of blood and a lot of fuck-yous, so we went more for an ‘Ocean’s Eleven,’ ‘Snatch,’ ‘Baby Driver’ type of adaptation.

“The Bad Guys” are back.

The sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s 2022 hit, based on the popular book series by Aaron Blabey, arrives on Aug. 1. And ahead of the movie’s release, DreamWorks showed off around 30 minutes of footage at the Annecy International Animation Festival, which gave a real sense of where the franchise is headed.

Director Pierre Perifel, co-director Jp Sans (who served as head of story on the first movie) and producer Damon Ross were on hand to introduce the footage. They said that they had started working on ideas for the sequel a few weeks before finishing the first movie. They had been haunted by an audience member in a test screening for the original film, who said he didn’t know “how they’re going to top this one.” That comment stuck in the back of the filmmakers’ minds as they were creating the new movie – they...

Ryan Reynolds' upcoming R-rated live-action and CGI hybrid movie is delayed. The Deadpool actor was most recently seen in the R-rated action comedy Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide and became the second highest-grossing film in 2024. Last year, he also teamed up with John Krasinski for the family comedy If, in which he starred and produced.

Looking ahead, Reynolds has several titles in various stages of development. He is working with directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley on the action-adventure movie Mayday for Apple TV+. While details are under wraps, Reynolds is joined by Kenneth Branagh, Maria Bakalova, Marcin Dorociński, Lovell Adams-Gray, Clark Johnson, and Alex Mallari Jr. in the cast. He's also expected to star in Paul King's Everyday Parenting Tips, Rawson Marshall Thurber's Netflix films Netflix movies Red Notice 2 and 3, and Shawn Levy's Boy Band.

Ryan Reynolds' Animal Friends Has...

Warner Bros. is delaying the release of its live-action hybrid movie Animal Friends.

The road trip adventure feature is now set to hit theaters May 1, 2026, after previously having been scheduled for Oct. 10, 2025. Peter Atencio directs the film from a script by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider.

Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Addison Rae, Dan Levy, Lil Rel Howery and Ellie Bamber round out the cast. The project hails from Legendary, Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios.

Disney’s sequel film The Devil Wears Prada 2 is also scheduled for release on May 1, 2026. Disney’s Avengers: Doomsday recently moved its release date from that weekend to later in 2026.

Animal Friends was originally set up at Sony Pictures and shifted to Warner Bros. last year through the studio’s deal with Legendary.

Atencio previously directed the comedy features Keanu (2016) and The Machine (2023) and worked on the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty.

Exclusive: Creditors of indie outfit Yale Entertainment are out more than $50 million following a failed attempt at restructuring the company in the lead-up to its collapse, according to multiple sources.

The company’s co-founders, Jordan Beckerman and Jordan Yale Levine, copped to the losses over the course of a nearly three-hour private Zoom meeting for investors held January 14, the footage of which has been reviewed by Deadline. The total number of creditors defaulted on is between 100 and 199, per Yale Entertainment’s May 14 bankruptcy filing in the Southern District of New York. Many loans to Yale were put forth under the understanding that they were backed by corporate guarantees from the company, according to multiple sources familiar with Yale’s operations.

Clay Pecorin, an investor and self-described friend of the duo colloquially referred to “the Jordans,” served as a liaison of sorts to investors on the Zoom, given his experience in financial restructuring.

Pete Davidson is primarily known for his work in the comedy genre, especially as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and his stand-up shows. However, the actor has expanded his resume with different genres, and now he stars in a terrifying horror.

One of his upcoming projects is The Home. The film comes from the creator of The Purge horror series, James DeMonaco, and Halloween producer Bill Block. Ahead of the film's release on July 25, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions officially unveiled a tension-filled trailer.

The trailer starts with Pete Davidson's Max as he gets a job at a retirement home. He gets a warning to keep the place clean, and stay out of the fourth floor, as the patients need special attention. However, things get increasingly stranger as he discovers the patients seem to have dark secrets.

"There is something wrong with this place," one of the residents warns him.

“The Bad Guys 2”, is the upcoming animated comedy sequel, based on the book series by Aaron Blabey, directed by Pierre Perifel and Jp Sans, starring Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, Alex Borstein, Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne as ‘anthropomorphic animal’ characters, releasing August 1, 2025 in theaters:

“…one year after the events of the first film….

“…‘The Bad Guys’ are struggling to find trust and acceptance…

“…in their newly minted lives as ‘Good Guys’…

‘…when they are pulled out of retirement…

“…and forced to do ‘one last job’ by an all-female squad of criminals…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

A couple of months ago, the Marvel Studios social media accounts started live-streaming a video they labeled as an all-caps Announcement. The video showed a soundstage where, one by one, chairs reserved for actors were revealed, with a new chair coming into view every 10 minutes or so. As it turns out, this was a very long and slow way of revealing (a large chunk of) the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, which is now in production and aiming for a December 18, 2026 release date (having moved back from its previously announced May release date). The names of twenty-seven cast members were shown that day, with Marvel teasing, “There’s always room for more…” And we have reason to expect there are a whole lot more, because a large number of characters we would expect to see in the movie were not in the mix that day. Not only that, but the movie...

More hilarious heists and wild camaraderie are in store! In The Bad Guys 2, DreamWorks Animation is bringing back everyone’s favorite reformed criminals; this time, things are about to get even more fascinating. In this fast-paced new chapter, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, Mr. Piranha, and Ms. Tarantula are negotiating the difficult waters of being “good.” However, their efforts are comically thrown off when they find themselves unwillingly drafted into a high-stakes, globe-trotting robbery. The brains behind this scheme? The Bad Girls, a totally new group of offenders they never expected coming! Based on the enormously bestselling New York Times book series by Aaron Blabey, which has seen its readership soar from 8 million to over 30 million copies since the first film’s release, The Bad Guys 2 reunites the stellar original voice cast. Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell will once again be the delightful Mr. Wolf, SAG Award...

Earlier this week, we got a first look at what appeared to be a downed Sentinel on the set of Avengers: Doomsday. Now, we have a birds-eye view offering a clearer shot at the mutant-hunting robot's legs (in what's believed to be the X-Mansion's grounds).

We also have reason to believe that we'll see the remains of more than one Sentinel, as you can see below.

Unfortunately, the legs are still covered up, but the photographer who took these shots has confirmed that the footprints they've seen elsewhere on set match the Sentinel design from the comics.

Sentinels attacking the X-Men's home is par for the course in the comics, so this could be part of a major battle we'll see in the movie or the fallout from a previous battle. We also wouldn't discount the possibility of this being a Danger Room training exercise meant to show us what...

DreamWorks and Universal Pictures have debuted the trailer for the animated sequel ‘The Bad Guys 2.’

In the new action-packed chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed comedy smash about a crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, our now-reformed Bad Guys are trying to be good, but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals they never saw coming: The Bad Girls.

Based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Aaron Blabey, which has soared from 8 million to over 30 million copies sold since the first film’s release in 2022, The Bad Guys 2 stars the stellar original cast, led by Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf, SAG award nominee Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, SAG award nominee Craig Robinson as master-of disguise Mr. Shark, Grammy winner Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha and Emmy winner Awkwafina as hacker Ms. Tarantula, aka “Webs.

"We need The Bad Guys for the biggest heist in history!" The Bad Guys... in space? DreamWorks Animation has revealed a second trailer for The Bad Guys 2, the next exciting animated sequel from Dwa. Set to hit theaters everywhere in August later this summer. The Bad Guys are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do "one last job" by an all-female squad of criminals - known as The Bad Girls. Everyone's favorite felons are back, and this time, they've got company. Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Shark & Mr. Piranha return and they find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by other criminals. The Bad Guys 2 features the stellar original cast: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Awkwafina. And newcomers for this one include...

Exclusive: Yale Entertainment, the independent production company of Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, has filed for bankruptcy, Deadline has learned.

“Unfortunately, that is true – Yale Entertainment has filed for bankruptcy,” the founders said in a statement to Deadline. “The climate for making independent films has become increasingly difficult – with the pandemic, the industry-wide strikes, and a major shift in the independent film marketplace. We’ve been very fortunate to have collaborated with some extremely talented creatives, and we’re grateful to everyone that has been a part of Yale’s journey.”

No word yet on what Levine and Beckerman will do next.

Levine founded Yale Entertainment in 2010, with an eye toward producing high-quality, filmmaker-driven features at conservative budgets, maximizing the possibility for creative and commercial success. Beckerman joined as a full-time partner and producer in 2017. The company is best known for its work on the cult hit action thriller Becky,...

What’s the point of turning over a new leaf if no one believes you’ve gone legit? Getting right with your inner demons is enough, but honestly, you want others to know you’ve changed. Plus, how are you supposed to build a new life and reputation for yourself if others doubt your sincerity and transformation into someone willing and able to do the right thing? In the latest trailer for The Bad Guys 2, Mr. Wolf and his crew of criminals turned do-gooders discover how difficult it is to rewrite the past while remaining on the straight and narrow.

In the new action-packed chapter from DreamWorks Animation‘s acclaimed comedy smash about a crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, our now-reformed Bad Guys are trying to be good but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals they never saw coming: The Bad Girls.

Universal Pictures has revealed the new trailer and poster for The Bad Guys 2, which will open in theaters on August 1, 2025. Everyone’s favorite felons are back, and this time, they’ve got company.

In the new action-packed chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed comedy smash about a crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, our now-reformed Bad Guys are trying to be good, but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals they never saw coming: The Bad Girls.

The franchise is based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Aaron Blabey, which has soared from 8 million to over 30 million copies sold since the first film’s release in 2022.

The Bad Guys 2 stars the stellar original cast, led by Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf, SAG award nominee Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, SAG award nominee Craig Robinson as master-of disguise Mr.

“The Bad Guys 2”, is the upcoming animated comedy sequel, based on the book series by Aaron Blabey, directed by Pierre Perifel and Jp Sans, starring Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, Alex Borstein, Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne as ‘anthropomorphic animal’ characters, releasing August 1, 2025 in theaters:

“…one year after the events of the first film….

“…‘The Bad Guys’ are struggling to find trust and acceptance…

“…in their newly minted lives as ‘Good Guys’…

‘…when they are pulled out of retirement…

“…and forced to do ‘one last job’ by an all-female squad of criminals…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Exclusive: Innovative Artists Entertainment has signed actress Abigail Cowen for talent representation.

Currently, Cowen can be seen starring opposite Maria Bakalova in the thriller Electra, which tells the story of a journalist and his female companion who travel to interview a famous musician in Rome where a generous invite to a country estate becomes something much more than anyone expected.

Next up, she’ll be seen starring opposite Al Pacino and Dan Stevens in The Ritual, from XYZ Films, which examines the harrowing true story of the 1928 exorcism of Milwaukee native Emma Schmidt (Cowen).

Cowen first gained recognition for her breakout role as Dorcas in Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She then led the cast of the Netflix young adult series Fate: The Winx Saga, which garnered 57 million household views in its debut season, with Season 2 spending over two months in the Top 10, reigning in over 140 million viewing hours.

This article is part of ScreenRant's Exclusive 2025 Summer Movie Preview. Keep an eye out for the full feature next week!

A first-look image has offered a closer look at The Bad Guys 2. The upcoming DreamWorks movie is a sequel to their 2022 hit The Bad Guys, which was based on the children's graphic novel series of the same name by Aaron Blabey and grossed $250.4 million worldwide against a reported budget of roughly $80 million. The sequel will feature the return of the newly reformed gang of anthropomorphic animal criminals, including Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), and Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), who will be forced into one last heist.

ScreenRant can now share an exclusive first-look image from The Bad Guys 2ahead of the movie's official theatrical premiere on August 1. The still frame shows a determined-looking Mr. Wolf gritting his teeth...

As exciting as it was to see Marvel Studios reveal the cast of Avengers: Doomsday at the end of March, even more intriguing for fans was who didn't get a mention.

There was no Hugh Jackman, Tom Holland, Ryan Reynolds, or Elizabeth Olsen (to name just a handful of absentees), prompting speculation about whether they're being kept under wraps or perhaps saved for Avengers: Secret Wars.

Comic Con Liverpool has announced that Captain Marvel star Brie Larson is the headline guest at its November show, leaving many to wonder whether the Oscar-winner will be in the UK at the time to shoot Avengers: Doomsday.

Adding further fuel to the fire is the fact that pretty much the entire Ahsoka cast attended last weekend's Comic Con Liverpool event, and they're all currently in the UK working on season 2.

While it may be a coincidence, it does seem likely that Larson will...

Thriller | Drama | Mystery | Independent | En | 86 Min | Nr TV-14 Directed by Hala Matar Written by Hala Matar, Daryl Wein, Paul Sado Produced by Daryl Wein, Hala Matar, Jordan Beckerman, Jordan Yale Levine, Tommaso Bertani, Luca Cottafavi Starring Maria Bakalova, Abigail Cowen, Jack Farthing, Daryl Wein Synopsis: An American couple …

The post Electra starring Academy Award® nominee Maria Bakalova, Abigail Cowen, Jack Farthing & Daryl Wein in Select Theatres and On Demand 5/2 from Level 33 Entertainment! appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

The British Film Institute has announced the eight feature films selected for this year’s “Great 8” initiative at the Cannes Marché du Film, featuring a new generation of UK directors making their first or second films. The initiative, now in its eighth year, pairs rising talent with international buyers and programmers through curated screenings and digital showcases.

One of the high-profile selections is Animol, the debut feature from Top Boy actor Ashley Walters. Written by Nick Love and produced by Walters alongside Sky, Film4, the BFI, and Joi Productions, the film stars Tut Nyuot and Stephen Graham. It follows 15-year-old Troy, who is incarcerated for a murder he didn’t commit. Inside a notorious Young Offenders’ Institution, he forms a bond with another inmate, Krystiyan, as the pressure of survival escalates. Walters, known for his music career with So Solid Crew and his breakout role in Bullet Boy, brings his...

Ashley Walters’ feature directorial debut Animol and Celyn Jones’ second feature, Madfabulous, are among the eight projects taking part in the 2025 Cannes Great 8 online showcase of UK feature films from first-and second-time UK filmmakers.

Animol is written by Nick Love, with Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor among the producers. It is a BFI, Film4 and Sky-backed coming-of-age story that takes place within the confines of a young offenders’ institution. Stephen Graham, with whom Walters’ co-starred in Netflix seriesAdolescence,is among the cast.

Madfabulous is Jones’ second film followingThe Almond And The Seahorse.Set in the 19th century, it isinspired by the flamboyant life...

The British Council and British Film Institute have unveiled the crop of films that will make up its annual Great 8 lineup of projects to be showcased in Cannes.

The features — from either first-time or early career filmmakers — will be introduced and screened to buyers and festival programmers in Cannes, where all eight will be available to distributors at the market.

This year marks the eighth year of the Great 8 initiative, funded and produced by the BFI and British Council with thanks to BBC Film and Film 4. Previous films to have been selected include Charlotte Wells’ “Aftersun,” Rungano Nyoni’s “I Am Not A Witch” and Rose Glass’s “Saint Maud.”

“The 8th edition of Great 8 shows once again that UK film is in rude health with an upcoming slate that we can be proud of,” said Briony Hanson, the British Council’s Director of Film. “Again, this shows off...

As has become annual tradition, the British Film Institute (BFI) has unveiled its 2025 crop of “Great 8” movies, eight features from the “most exciting first-time and early career filmmakers” that it will showcase to international distributors and festival programmers in the run-up to and during the Marché du Film market taking place during the Cannes Film Festival.

They include a movie directed by actor and creative Ashley Walters (Netflix hit Adolescence, Top Boy, Missing You) with Stephen Graham, a drama thriller starring George MacKay and Rosy McEwen, a drama featuring Rory Kinnear and Maria Bakalova, a thriller set in an isolated deaf community, and a Welsh alternative period drama with Rupert Everett.

“Now in its eighth year, the 2025 Great 8 showcase is funded and produced by the BFI and the British Council, with thanks to BBC Film and Film4,” the BFI said. “In preparation for the Marché, unseen footage from all of...

Marvel Studios delivered plenty of exciting surprises during the Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, including the return of some familiar faces from 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise. There were some huge omissions, though, and even with production underway, it feels like this ensemble is far from complete.

While Kevin Feige has confirmed it wasn't the full cast, one of the most disappointing omissions was Daredevil: Born Again star Charlie Cox.

Talking to Collider, the actor was asked about not getting a chair and replied, "It’s not there, is it? [Laughs] Listen, the way that information gets to us is the same way that it gets to everyone else normally. At least historically, that's been the case. Someone sent me the link. I looked for my name. It's not there. So, maybe one day [Laughs]."

It's a real shame that Cox won't be given the chance to assemble alongside the rest of Earth's Mightiest Heroes,...

While hardly the first entry in that tried-and-true subset of film revolving around someone lured to any manner of nondescript palatial estate by an individual possessing more than a hint of mystery, only for things to soon spiral rapidly out of control, Emerald Fennell’s 2023 escapade “Saltburn” might be the most recent, or at least the most noteworthy. Though Fennell’s thriller would see the luree, as opposed to the lurer, reveal himself as the one to be feared, it nonetheless checked off the remaining boxes while inadvertently leaving the door open for followers like “Electra,” where the old saying of how something walked so its descendent could run finds itself applied here.

Continue reading ‘Electra’ ‘Review: Maria Bakalova, Daryl Wein Star In A Genre-Confused Romp With Little To Say at The Playlist.

Avengers: Doomsday started shooting in the UK earlier this week, and the cast just assembled for a screening of Thunderbolts*.

Shang-Chi actor Simu Liu was the first to share a photo on social media, and fans were quick to point out that he's likely revealed Robert Downey Jr.'s look for his role as the McU's Victor Von Doom.

The actor—thankfully—isn't rocking Tony Stark's trademark goatee and instead has short grey hair and no beard whatsoever. Of course, if the Russo Brothers are doing it right, we either won't see Doctor Doom's face or, if we do, it will be hideously scarred.

However, if Doom wins the day, then he may heal his face and unmask in Avengers: Secret Wars. That would differ from the comics where, even as "God" on Battleworld, he was unable to fix his scars, with Mister Fantastic doing so when he put the Multiverse back together.

Back in March, Marvel Studios released a video which gradually revealed the sprawling cast of Avengers: Doomsday. Several names were notable by their absence, but we were told that another announcement was imminent.

Officially returning for the next major MCU event movie will be:

Paul Rudd as Ant-Man; Simu Liu as Shang-Chi; Tom Hiddleston as Loki; Lewis Pullman as Sentry; Florence Pugh as Yelena; Danny Ramirez as Falcon; Ian McKellen as Magneto; Sebastian Stan as Bucky; Winston Duke as M’Baku; Chris Hemsworth as Thor; Kelsey Grammer as Beast; James Marsden as Cyclops; Channing Tatum as Gambit; Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent; Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm; Rebecca Romijn as Mystique; Patrick Stewart as Professor X; Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler; Letitia Wright as Black Panther; Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor; Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards; Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost; Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm; David Harbour as Red Guardian...

Last month, the Marvel Studios social media accounts started live-streaming a video they labeled as an all-caps Announcement. The video showed a soundstage where, one by one, chairs reserved for actors were revealed, with a new chair coming into view every 10 minutes or so. As it turns out, this was a very long and slow way of revealing (a large chunk of) the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, which is now in production and aiming for a May 1, 2026 theatrical release. The names of twenty-seven cast members were shown that day, with Marvel teasing, “There’s always room for more…” With cameras now rolling, we’ve been waiting to see if they’ll announce the rest of the cast list with more chair backs, or they’ll find a different way to do it. And while we wait, industry journalist Jeff Sneider of The InSneider has been sent a list that his...

Exclusive: Doc Society and the BFI have selected six emerging producers for the second edition of the Rise Producer Programme.

The six producers are: Andy Wilkinson (Northern Ireland); Arij Al-Soltan (Midlands); Dermot O’Dempsey (North East); Ilinca Calugareanu (Scotland); Toby Cameron (Wales); Yemi Adegbulu (London). All are working towards their first documentary feature.

The six-month programme consists of tailored group sessions and individual consultations from BFI Doc Society and industry leaders, plus an intensive market introduction at Sheffield DocFest. The programme will produce future planning consultations to better equip the selected producers.

“Taking the leap to producing a first feature-length documentary...

After a successful theatrical run, Dog Man is heading to streaming. The latest animated hit from DreamWorks Animation will be one of several 2025 movies to hit Peacock in May.

Per Deadline, Dog Man is set to begin streaming exclusively on Peacock on May 30, about four months after it premiered in theaters in late January. This marks the third 2025 release that Peacock subscribers will be able to stream next month, after the forthcoming streaming debuts of Steven Soderbergh's acclaimed spy thriller Black Bag and the Ke Huy Quan-led action comedy Love Hurts on May 2 and May 9, respectively. Additionally, Universal's latest monster movie Wolf Man was recently added to Peacock on April 18.

Peter Hastings wrote and directed Dog Man, which is based on the best-selling graphic novel series of the same name by Dav Pilkey, loosely adapting the first, third, and seventh books. The movie sees "a faithful police...

DreamWorks is back with The Bad Guys 2! If you loved the first movie, get ready for more laughs and mayhem. The Bad Guys is based on a series of graphic novels by Australian author Aaron Blabey, featuring a world where humans and talking animals coexist.

The first movie, released in 2022, introduced us to a team of mischievous animal criminals: Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, Mr. Piranha, and Ms. Tarantula.

A scene from The Bad Guys (Credits: Universal Pictures)

After getting caught, the gang is given a chance to be good. Turns out, they enjoy it—especially when they get to save the city from an evil villain! Looks like being the hero suits them just fine.

At the end of the first film, the gang gets out of jail, ready to start fresh. But of course, The Bad Guys 2 throws them right back into chaos. This time,...

Award-winning director Hala Matar makes a provocative entrance into the feature film world with Electra, a sun-drenched, slow-burn thriller set against the backdrop of the Italian countryside. Released by Level 33 Entertainment, the film is set to debut in select US theatres and across digital platforms on May 2.

Marking a significant cultural milestone, Matar becomes the first Bahraini woman to release a feature film. Known for her visually arresting work with high-end fashion houses like Louis Vuitton and Chanel, her transition into feature filmmaking brings a stylised visual flair to a taut psychological thriller steeped in sensuality, secrecy and emotional decay.

Maria Bakalova, Oscar-nominated for her breakout role in Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, leads the cast as one half of an American journalist couple who arrive at the palatial Italian estate of a reclusive rock musician and his enigmatic partner, played by Abigail Cowen (Fate: The Winx Saga). Jack Farthing (Spencer...

Will Poulter made his debut in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as an initially ruthless and somewhat childlike take on Adam Warlock, who causes the team a lot of trouble before ultimately seeing the error of his ways and saving Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) towards the end of the movie.

In one of the post-credits scenes, we see that Warlock has officially become a member of the new Guardians along with Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Phyla and Blurp.

Concept artist Constantine Sekeris has now unveiled some of his early designs for Warlock, and it seems quite a few alternate looks were considered for the character.

"Hello,All…….been a min since last posted anything….taking a break from the wolfman sketches and posting some very early Adam Warlock designs for Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 working at Marvel studios in Vis Dev lead by Andy Park…...

Hello,All…….been a min since last posted anything….taking a break from the wolfman sketches and posting some very early Adam Warlock designs for Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 working at Marvel studios in Vis Dev lead by Andy Park….this designs is more of a space suit that would have a helmet….he would have a basic uniform of the sovereign fleet suits underneath and would form a spacesuit ontop when flying in space……really fun character to bring to life….it was early and we spit ball ideas to see what is liked or not…more to come…..humbly thanks #marvel #guardiansofthegalaxyvokune3 #adamwarlock #conceptart

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James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now available to purchase on Digital platforms, and another deleted scene has been shared online.

This sequence focuses on Sovereign...

Although they've tried to stay on the straight and narrow, The Bad Guys are about to be forced back into their old ways this summer. DreamWorks is releasing The Bad Guys 2 on August 1, picking up with Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell) and the gang as they prepare for a much bigger job that is taking things from Ocean's Eleven to Mission: Impossible. Before they embark on this globe-trotting, high-flying heist, we're excited to spotlight the animated sequel as part of Collider's Exclusive Preview event for summer movies with a new image giving the crew an unlikely ally. Additionally, Collider's Maggie Lovitt sat down with director Pierre Perifel to discuss what has changed since the last time viewers saw the crack team of cons.

In our exclusive still from the film, the team of felons is joined by now police commissioner Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein). It's an unusual sight,...

"Stop thinking! Breathe!" What the funk is this?! Level 33 Ent. has revealed an official trailer for a strange indie thriller tilted Electra, made by Bahraini filmmaker Hala Matar. Not to be confused with the Marvel movie Elektra from 2005. This Electra follows two journalists who travel to the lush Italian villa of a famous musician and his partner for an interview, but all is not as it seems — the trip spirals into deceit & deadly betrayals. Hala Matar teases: "Electra is a film about lies and deceit, where characters wear metaphorical masks to impress or manipulate others. The unicorn, representing the mask of innocence, is drawn from a painting central to the film's plot — something I'd rather keep a mystery for now." The cast features Maria Bakalova, Abigail Cowen, Jack Farthing, and Daryl Wein. This looks very kooky and peculiar, more experimental & conceptual than clever, borrowing from The Talented Mr. Ripley. It's worth a look anyway.

Exclusive: After launching a literary department at the end of last year and appointing Rachel Mathias to run it, the UK-based Insight Management & Production has brought on industry veteran Luke Speed as a partner.

Speed comes to the company with 25 years of experience brokering global film and TV rights deals. He established his own firm, Speed Literary and Talent Management, in 2022, prior to that running the Media Rights Division at Curtis Brown Group.

With an extensive background in representing bestselling authors, as well as international screenwriters, directors and producers, Speed is also well-known for handling high-level investigative journalists and true-life stories. Clients set to join him at Insight include Nikita Lalwani, Louise Candlish, Slutty Cheff, Graham Norton, Tade Thompson, Shari Lapena, Helen Fitzgerald, Damien Lewis, Simon Hatt, Andrew Michael Hurley, Nicola Larder, Richard Kerbaj, Chris Salmanpour, Alex Perry, Henry Hemming, and Brooke Robinson, among others.

In recent years, the...

A lush Italian villa becomes the backdrop for sex, deception, and betrayal in the new thriller Electra. The Apprentice's Maria Bakalova stars in the film, which is the debut feature from Hala Matar. An intriguing premise deserves an equally intriguing poster, and Electra certainly has that. Collider can exclusively reveal the first poster for the film, which will hit theaters on May 2, 2025.

The film centers around two journalists who travel to an isolated Italian villa to interview a famous musician and his partner. However, everything is not as it seems, and all four of them soon become ensnared in a web of deceit. Matar is the first Bahraini woman to make a feature film in history, and her film is an exploration of "the dangers of leaving wounds unhealed and the masks we wear to belong—how avoiding the hard work of self-confrontation only deepens the fracture."

She collaborated...