News

Exclusive: Former NFL star Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski (The Roaring Game), Sistine Stallone (47 Meters Down: Uncaged), and Mischa Barton (The O.C.) are among new additions to Bad News on the Doorstep, the 1950s mafia crime thriller on which we were first to report a week ago.

As previously announced, Chazz Palminteri and Robert Davi lead the cast opposite their sons, Dante Palminteri and Nick Davi. Others newly set include Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager), Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever), Federico Castelluccio (The Sopranos), Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Ed Marinaro (Blue Mountain State), John Fiore (The Sopranos), Kea Ho (Junction), Rob Goon (The Roaring Game) and Godsmack lead singer Sully Erna (Bleed for This).

Recently wrapping production in Rhode Island, Bad News on the Doorstep unfolds as a poignant coming-of-age narrative chronicling the lives of Frank and Gino, two Italian-American high-school football prodigies amidst the gritty backdrop of late 1950s New Jersey.

One of the biggest double-acts in modern cinema is back at it again. Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are teaming up again, and this time they'll both be behind the scenes. The duo is producing Carthage Must Be Destroyed, a new action thriller from Ocean's 11 writer Ted Griffin. Deadline reports that Griffin will both write and direct the film, making it his feature directorial debut. It is set to begin production in October in Rhode Island. Carthage Must Be Destroyed will center around a drifter who comes to a crumbling Rust Belt town in the grip of a ruthless criminal syndicate. In shades of Yojimboand A Fistful of Dollars, the stranger sows the seeds of chaos amidst the town's corrupt power players, hoping to free the citizenry from their shackles.

It will be the first directorial feature for Griffin, who has previously helmed episodes of Terriers(which he created), Mad Dogs,...

Exclusive: Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chad A. Verdi, Lbi Entertainment’s Christopher Donelly and Gareth West have teamed to produce Carthage Must Be Destroyed, an action to be directed by Ocean’s Eleven scribe Ted Griffin.

In the action thriller, a stranger happens upon a rust-belt city in decline, ruled by its criminal underworld. Using brain and brawn, he sows distrust and creates chaos, in order to dismantle the corrupt power structure. Verdi Productions and Ketchup Entertainment are financing, and casting is underway for an October production start in Rhode Island.

Scorsese and DiCaprio are exec producing; Verdi, West, Donnelly, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, and Jennifer Davisson are producing. Lisa Frechette and Sera Verdi are also exec producing. The production companies are Sikelia Productions, Appian Way Productions, Verdi Productions, and Ketchup Entertainment.

Verdi Productions president Chad A. Verdi called the film “a dynamic project” and they all sparked...

Exclusive: Chazz Palminteri (A Bronx Tale) and Robert Davi (License to Kill) have signed on to star in the upcoming mafia crime thriller Bad News on the Doorstep. Their sons, Dante Palminteri (Rocky’s) and Nick Davi (Paper Empire) will play the lead roles in the pic. Principal photography recently wrapped in Rhode Island.

Produced by Verdi Productions (Bleed for This) and directed by Tom DeNucci (Vault), Bad News at the Doorstep is described as a poignant coming-of-age narrative chronicling the lives of Frank and Gino, two Italian-American high-school football prodigies amidst the gritty backdrop of late 1950s New Jersey. Beyond the gridiron, they confront a myriad of trials, from the complexities of post-football existence to the allure of delving into the underworld of organized crime. As they traverse this tumultuous landscape, they glean invaluable insights and grapple with profound life lessons, shaping their destinies in unexpected ways.

Chazz Palminteri and...

Oscar-winner and controversial Hollywood star Mel Gibson remains popular with audiences, as the Braveheart and Lethal Weapon actor’s severely panned 2022 action thriller dominates free streaming. Gibson, who remains a polarizing figure following issues with alcohol and a series of controversies, including well-publicized antisemitic tirades, homophobic comments, and a domestic violence-related restraining order, was recently appointed a "Special Ambassador" for Hollywood by President Donald Trump. And, clearly, audiences still find Gibson a magnetic screen presence...especially when it's free.

Directed and produced by James Cullen Bressack, and starring Kevin Dillon, Shannen Doherty, and Michael Welch alongside Gibson, the action thriller Hot Seat is now #1 on free streaming platform Freevee, with audiences loving this tale of an anonymous criminal who plants a bomb under the chair of an ex-hacker, forcing him to break into several high-level banking institutions. You can check out the official synopsis for Hot Seat below.

RelatedMel Gibson...

Exclusive: Here are your first looks at NFL star turned football analyst Rob Gronkowski, Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke, Fivel Stewart (The Recruit) and Justin Chatwin (Shameless) in curling sports comedy The Roaring Game. Scroll down for images.

As previously announced by Deadline, the cast also includes Darin Brooks (Blue Mountain State), Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie), William Forsythe (The Devil’s Rejects), Antwon Tanner (One Tree Hill), Vanessa Angel (Kingpin), Paul Johansson (One Tree Hill), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Brett Azar (Young Rock), Jonathan Stoddard (Til Death) and Rob Goon (A Day to Die).

In a screenplay penned by Tom DeNucci (Vault), the film follows Rickey, a high school custodian who loses everything when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games. Determined to win her back, he assembles a misfit curling team, leveraging his janitorial skills to compete for gold.

Mel Gibson's position in Hollywood is precarious to say the least, but that has not stopped his 2022 action thriller Hot Seat from jumping into the Freevee Top 10 after it was added to the platform earlier this month. Directed by James Cullen Bressack and starring Gibson alongside Kevin Dillon, the film was met with harsh reviews upon release, which makes its new-found success on streaming unexpected…but at the same time completely on trend for free streaming releases.

Hot Seat is a high-stakes hostage thriller, which centers on It expert Orlando Friar (Dillon) who becomes an unwitting pawn in a dangerous cyber-heist. Forced to hack into government servers while trapped in a booby-trapped office chair rigged to explode (of course he is), Friar must race against the clock to outsmart the anonymous mastermind holding his life—and the city—hostage. Gibson appears as Wallace Reed, a bomb squad veteran determined...

Last week, we learned that production has wrapped on a psychological thriller called Sleepwalker, starring Hayden Panettiere of Scream VI. Now, Deadline has revealed that the cast of the film also includes Justin Chatwin (Shameless), Beverly D’Angelo (Violent Night), Mischa Barton (The Oc), Lori Tan Chinn (Orange Is the New Black), Kea Ho (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Tom DeNucci (Junction), Rob Goon (The Roaring Game), and newcomers Laird Lacoste and Corinne Sweeney.

Written and directed by Brandon Auman, Sleepwalker follows a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As she battles a surreal descent into darkness, her sleepwalking episodes intensify. Plagued by haunting visions of her husband inside their home, she grapples with the blurred lines between reality and nightmare. This is Auman’s feature directorial debut.

Exclusive: Justin Chatwin (Shameless) has joined Hayden Panettiere in the psychological thriller Sleepwalker.

Also joining the cast are Beverly D’Angelo, Mischa Barton, and Lori Tan Chinn.

The film is being produced by Verdi Productions and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions.

Sleepwalker follows a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As she battles a surreal descent into darkness, her sleepwalking episodes intensify. Plagued by haunting visions of her husband inside their home, she grapples with the blurred lines between reality and nightmare.

The cast is rounded out by newcomers Laird Lacoste and Corinne Sweeney alongside Kea Ho (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Tom DeNucci...

Several new cast announcements have been made for the highly anticipated Scream 7. However, there's one actress, in particular, we've been eagerly waiting to hear will return. That actress is Hayden Panettiere, who played the role of Kirby Reed in Scream 4, Scream (2022) and Scream VI. While her involvement in the next installment remains unconfirmed, the good news is that this beloved Scream actress has just been revealed as the star of an exciting new project.

She will be starring in an upcoming psychological thriller titled Sleepwalker. Besides the Scream franchise, Panettiere is known for having roles in other movies, such as Bring It On: All or Nothing, I Love You, Beth Cooper and Amber Alert. You might've also watched her on the TV shows One Life to Live, Ally McBeal, Heroes and Nashville.

In Sleepwalker, Panettiere takes on the lead role of a grieving mother named Sarah. Sarah is...

Hayden Panettiere is making the rounds in a number of intense films. Firstly, she starred in the recent film Amber Alert, with Abbot Elementary‘s Tyler James Williams, and is about a game of cat and mouse with a car suspected to be involved in an Amber Alert. Next, Panettiere joined the killer dog film, A Breed Apart, which is directed by siblings Nathan and Griff Furst and produced through their company, Curmudgeon Films. Deadline now reports that the former Heroes star recently wrapped filming the psychological thriller Sleepwalker.

The new film comes from Verdi Productions and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions. The synopsis, per Deadline, reads, “Panettiere portrays Sarah, a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As she battles a surreal descent into darkness, her sleepwalking episodes intensify. Plagued by...

Exclusive: Golden Globe nominee Hayden Panettiere (Scream) is starring in psychological thriller Sleepwalker, which recently wrapped in Rhode Island.

Producing are Verdi Productions and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions.

Panettiere portrays Sarah, a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As she battles a surreal descent into darkness, her sleepwalking episodes intensify. Plagued by haunting visions of her husband inside their home, she grapples with the blurred lines between reality and nightmare.

Chad A. Verdi (Bleed For This) and Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson (Robin Hood) are producing, along with Phillip Watson, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr. and Paul Luba. Executive producers include Taylor Digilio, Sera Verdi and Anthony Gudas. Brandon Auman penned the screenplay and is directing.

“We are thrilled to team up with Appian Way and collaborate on another project together.

For about a decade, Leonardo DiCaprio was attached to produce a big screen reboot of the classic genre property The Twilight Zone through his company Appian Way. Multiple drafts of the script were written and Joseph Kosinski was set to direct the film… but it never made it into production. The Twilight Zone got a small screen reboot from producer Jordan Peele and his company Monkeypaw Productions instead. But DiCaprio isn’t leaving the Twilight Zone behind entirely, as IndieWire reports that he is now producing a documentary about the show’s creator, Rod Serling!

Appian Way is teaming up with Goodlight, Grub Street Films, and Verdi Productions to make this documentary happen. DiCaprio is producing alongside Chad A. Verdi, Jennifer Davisson, Phillip Watson, Taylor Digilio, Blake J. Harris, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, and Jonah Tulis. Tulis, who previously directed GameStop: Rise of the Players and Console Wars,...

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way is set to produce an authorized biographical documentary on the life of “The Twilight Zone“ creator Rod Serling, we’ve learned today from Indiewire.

The Serling doc, currently untitled, will be directed by GameStop: Rise of the Players filmmaker Jonah Tulis. Indiewire also reports that Serling’s daughters, Jodi Serling and Anne Serling, have given the project their full blessing and come aboard as executive producers.

The documentary will “explore how Serling’s writing helped change television forever. The film will look at Serling’s humble beginnings in television and how he later used his platform to affect change both on and off the screen, including his battles with censors and how he grappled with thought-provoking issues of racism, war, the dangers of technology, and morality via the genre-bending, sci-fi parables.”

Serling had a way with words, and the documentary is expected to lean into...

Leonardo DiCaprio has just crossed over into…the Twilight Zone — and the life of its creator, Rod Serling.

IndieWire can reveal exclusively that DiCaprio’s Appian Way is set to produce an authorized biographical documentary on the life of Serling, the host, creator, narrator, writer, and political activist best known for his series “The Twilight Zone.”

The untitled film will be directed by Jonah Tulis, who previously directed “GameStop: Rise of the Players” for Neon and “Console Wars” for Legendary Pictures and Paramount+. He and the producers have received the full blessing of Serling’s daughters Jodi Serling and Anne Serling, who are executive producing the project.

The Serling documentary will explore how Serling’s writing helped change television forever. The film will look at Serling’s humble beginnings in television and how he later used his platform to affect change both on and off the screen, including his battles...

Kevin Spacey Crime Pic ‘Peter Five Eight’ Added To Jinga AFM Lineup

Exclusive: UK genre specialist Jinga Films has added crime caper Peter Five Eight, starring Kevin Spacey, Jet Jandreau and Rebecca De Mornay, to its AFM line up. Written and directed by Michael Zaiko Hall and produced by Mad Honey Productions, Forever Safe Productions, Ascent Films and Ltd Films, the film sees a glamorous real estate agent in a small mountain community revealed to be an unhinged alcoholic with a dark secret. Invincible has theatrically released the movie in the U.S. and Phoenicia Pictures has acquired all rights for Middle East and Turkey. Invincible acquired the movie from Vmi, which previously handled sales on it.

Doc On Transgender Boxing Promoter Kellie Maloney Weighs In At Verdi

Exclusive: Verdi Productions has acquired domestic distribution rights to Knockout Blonde, the doc detailing the life of transgender boxing promoter Kellie Maloney.

Chad A. Verdi of Verdi Productions and Anthony Gudas and Aaron Kaufman of Public School Productions have partnered with producers John Scalise, Keanu Reeves and Fisher Stevens to produce “The Jet,” a documentary on the life story of Benny “The Jet” Urquidez.

The film is currently in production from director Jennifer Tiexiera. Verdi, Gudas, and Kaufman will join Reeves, Maura Anderson, Zak Kilberg and Scalise as producers.

Urquidez is known for his influence on martial arts in mainstream culture as an actor, fight coordinator, and trainer to the stars. He held a total of six world titles in five weight divisions and remained undefeated throughout his more than 20-year kickboxing career.

Urquidez is also known for his contributions to martial arts cinema, appearing in numerous action films during the 1980s and 1990s. Some of his film credits include “The Octagon,” “Road House” and “Grosse Pointe Blank.” Over the years, he...

Exclusive: Darin Brooks (Blue Mountain State), Fivel Stewart (The Recruit), Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie), Justin Chatwin (Shameless) and Antwon Tanner (One Tree Hill) will lead The Roaring Game, a sports comedy from Producer Chad A. Verdi and his East Coast production company Verdi Productions (Bleed For This).

The screenplay by Tom DeNucci (Vault) follows Rickey, a high school custodian whose world is rocked when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games, thus leaving him behind. Determined to win her back, he assembles a misfit curling team, leveraging his janitorial skills to compete for gold. Below is a first-look.

DeNucci is also directing. Chad A. Verdi (The Irishman) is producing, along with Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Anthony Gudas. Sera Verdi is serving as an executive producer and Ed Brady is serving as an associate producer. Filming...

Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke and former NFL star Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski have nabbed starring roles in writer/director Tom DeNucci’s sports comedy The Roaring Game.

Also joining the Verdi Productions pic, that just wrapped production, in key roles is William Forsythe (The Devil Rejects) and Vanessa Angel (Kingpin). The Roaring Game centers on Rickey, a high school janitor who loses everything when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games.

To win her back, Rickey creates a misfit curling team and uses his sweeping skills to compete for gold and complete a comic quest for redemption that captivates the nation.

Rourke is best known for his role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, which earned him Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. Former New England Patriots tight-end Gronkowski has acting credits that include The Clapper, Entourage, Boss Level and the buddy comedy The Instigators.

Brainstorm Media has acquired the North American distribution rights to Chosen Family, a romantic comedy written and directed by Heather Graham, and for which a trailer has now been released. Graham stars as the lead opposite 1990s movie icon Julia Stiles (The Bourne Identity) in a story about sibling rivalry and the family you choose as your own. Chosen Family tells the story of Ann (Graham), a yoga teacher on a path for inner peace amidst the chaos of her manic family and miserable dating life. Ann's journey is complicated by her inability to say no and her relentless desire to fix everyones problems. She struggles to save her sister Clio (Stiles) from addiction, leading to disastrous results. With a new love interest entering her life, played by John Brotherton (Fuller House), Ann must navigate the complexities of her relationships and learn to put herself first.

You can check out...

Heather Graham’s chosen family is growing.

The actress-turned-filmmaker’s latest big-screen effort, Chosen Family, has been acquired by Brainstorm Media for North America with a theatrical release set for Oct. 11.

Written, directed by and starring Graham, the Verdi Prods. film also stars John Brotherton, Ella Grace Helton, Andrea Savage, Michael Gross, Julie Halston, Thomas Lennon and Julia Stiles. Chosen Family follows a yoga teacher named Ann (Graham) who is on a path to find inner peace amidst the chaos of her manic family and miserable dating life. The situation is complicated by an inability to say no and her relentless desire to fix everyone’s problems. She also struggles to save her sister Clio (Stiles) from addiction, leading to disastrous results.

Graham said she can’t wait for audiences to see her film, which she describes as a labor of love. “I’m so excited that Brainstorm is releasing...

A documentary following the life of Hawaiian musician Don Ho is in production from Aaron Kaufman, who co-directed the Ukraine documentary “Superpower” alongside Sean Penn. Verdi Productions and Public School are producing the film, which follows Ho’s life as a pop artist who was one of the first Pacific Islanders to garner fame after Hawaii gained statehood.

Ho, known for his 1966 song “Tiny Bubbles” from his album of the same name, melded Hawaiian music with pop, and worked in the business for almost five decades. He also had his own variety show on ABC from 1976 through 1977, “The Don Ho Show.” The film will feature never-before-seen footage of the musician, along with interviews with his family, friends, associates and various celebrities, according to producer Chad Verdi. “Our goal is to honor the legacy of this important figure in pop culture and Hawaiian history – Don Ho,” says Rhode Island-based Verdi.

According to the film’s logline,...

Vmi Worldwide has acquired Heather Graham’s comedy “Chosen Family” and will shop the film to international buyers at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival market. Graham, who is best known for the “Hangover” movies, wrote, directed and stars in the film, about a yoga instructor navigating various relationship dramas.

The film will make its world premiere on the closing night of the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Feb. 17.

Graham plays Ann, a yoga teacher attempting to find inner peace despite her manic family and miserable dating life. Not knowing how to say no, she often ends up fixing everyone else’s problems. While trying to repair her relationship with her sister, Ann relies on her friends to guide her through life’s woes.

Rounding out the cast is Julia Stiles, playing Ann’s estranged sister Clio, alongside Thomas Lennon, Andrea Savage, John Brotherton and Michael Gross.

“Chosen Family” marks the latest film from Verdi Prods.

Chad Verdi’s Vmi Releasing has acquired the opioid crisis drama “Junction,” which is the directorial debut of “How to Make It in America” actor Bryan Greenberg. Greenberg stars in the film along with Josh Peck, Sophia Bush and his wife Jamie Chung.

Under Vmi releasing, “Junction” is slated for a theatrical and VOD release on Jan. 24. As per the press release, the film description reads: “[‘Junction’] chronicles the modern-day opioid crisis in America from three different points of view: the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, a doctor and a patient. Each character will have to come face to face with the decisions they have made and their role in the epidemic.” Also starring in the film are Griffin Dunne, Ashley Madekwe and Ryan Eggold.

“The cast of ‘Junction’ has been nothing short of spectacular,” Verdi previously said. “We’ve been very lucky to have such notable talent respond to Bryan’s amazing script.

Verdi Productions, run by Chad A. Verdi, Paul Luba, Chad Verdi, Jr.

and Michelle Verdi, plans to release three films in 2024 that were previously put on hold since actors were unable to promote work during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

“Workers in the film industry are getting financially destroyed by these strikes, whether it’s actors, writers, directors or crew. Most of these individuals were already working multiple jobs to get by,” Verdi said in a statement. “This widespread production shutdown didn’t hurt the top 1% in the industry but ruined many people who work week-to-week and paycheck-to-paycheck. It’s very unfortunate to see. Let’s get our union members a fair deal so that they can get back to doing what they love.”

In partnership with Vmi Worldwide, Verdi Productions will release “Junction” in January. The film follows the modern-day opioid crisis through three different viewpoints: the CEO of a pharmaceutical company,...

Vmi Worldwide to handle worldwide sales.

Vmi Releasing has acquired North American distribution rights to Verdi Productions’ Bryan Greenberg and Griffin Dunne opioid crisis thriller Junction out of the Cannes market.

Greenberg, whose acting credits include How to Make It In America, wrote and directed the story which tackles the crisis from the viewpoints of three people who must reckon with the consequences of their choices: the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, a doctor, and a patient.

The cast includes Sophia Bush, Ashley Madekwe, Ryan Eggold, Jamie Chung, Josh Peck, Michaela Conlin, Yara Martinez, Dascha Polanco, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Dash Mihok,...

Vmi Worldwide has boarded worldwide sales to Verdi Productions’ Chosen Family, which is written by, directed by and starring Heather Graham, and released a first-look image ahead of introducing the feature to buyers in Cannes.

Alongside Graham, the film also stars Julia Stiles, Thomas Lennon, Michael Gross, Andrea Savage and John Brotherton. It just wrapped production in Rhode Island.

Chosen Family sees Heather play Ann, a yoga teacher trying to find inner peace despite the fact her family is manic, and whose dating life is miserable. Ann doesn’t know how to say no and finds herself fixing everyone’s problems. Struggling to repair her estranged relationship with her sister Clio (Stiles) Ann relies on her friends Roz (Savage), Max (Lennon) and Frances (Odessa Rae) to be her rock and guide her through life’s troubling decisions.

“I’m so excited to be making my dream project with an amazing team,...

All manner of romance, violence, and heists are teased in this exclusive clip from the upcoming action/slasher/thriller/crime caper Johnny & Clyde. Starring Megan Fox as a twisted mob boss who commands a demonic slayer, Johnny & Clyde (as the title suggests) follows an enraptured couple of misfits as they plan and carry out a barbarous, bloodthirsty cavalcade of crime. Check out the clip from Johnny & Clyde below.

Johnny & Clyde follows the titular Johnny (Jogia) and Clyde (Russell), two serial killers madly in love and on an endless crime spree that sees the couple enact a merciless stream of bloody violence. They set their sights on robbing a casino owned by the crime boss Alana (Fox) and guarded by her demonic warrior.

Directed by Tom DeNucci, written by Tom DeNucci and Nick Principe, and produced by Chad A. Verdi, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Nick Koskoff, Johnny...

Vault director Tom DeNucci’s new film Johnny & Clyde is usually referred to as a “crime thriller”, but we’ve also heard that the story shifts gears to become a “balls-to-the-wall slasher/horror” flick. Since I have been a dedicated slasher fan since the 1980s, I’m looking forward to checking it out when it receives a theatrical and VOD release this Friday, May 5th. With the release just a few days away, a trailer for Johnny & Clyde has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

Scripted by DeNucci and Nick Principe, Johnny & Clyde follows the two eponymous serial killers who are madly in love and on an endless crime spree. They have their sights set on robbing a prosperous casino run by crime boss Alana and her head of security.

The film stars Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap), Ajani Russell (Betty), Tyson Ritter...

Directed by Tom DeNucci (Vault, Almost Mercy) Written by: Tom DeNucci and Nick Principe Produced by: Chad A. Verdi, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Nick Koskoff Starring: Megan Fox (Transformers, Jennifer’s Body) Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap, “Victorious”) Ajani Russell (Skate Kitchen, “Betty”) Tyson Ritter (“Preacher”, “Parenthood”) Bai Ling (Red Corner, The Crow) Vanessa Angel (Kingpin) Robert Lasardo (The Mule) Armen Garo (The Departed) Johnny (Avan Jogia) and Clyde …

The post Official Poster Premiere* Johnny & Clyde appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Johnny & Clyde | Starring Megan Fox, Avan Jogia, Ajani Russell & Directed by Tom DeNucci | In Theaters and On Demand May 5th Directed by Tom DeNucci (Vault, Almost Mercy) Written by: Tom DeNucci and Nick PrincipeProduced by: Chad A. Verdi, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Nick KoskoffStarring:Megan Fox (Transformers, Jennifer’s Body)Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap, “Victorious”)Ajani Russell (Skate Kitchen, “Betty”)Tyson Ritter (“Preacher”, “Parenthood”)Bai Ling (Red …

The post Johnny & Clyde | Starring Megan Fox, Avan Jogia, Ajani Russell & Directed by Tom DeNucci | In Theaters and On Demand May 5th appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Verdi Productions, the company behind “Bleed for This,” will back Hal Harley’s “Where to Land.” The film is scheduled to being shooting in the spring of 2023 in Rhode Island.

Hartley, a major force in American independent film, has been trying to get this off the ground for awhile. He launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money in 2020 just before the pandemic hit. He told potential donors that the script was “the best thing I’ve written.”

The film is a farce about a well-regarded 58-year-old director of romantic comedies who wants to become assistant groundskeeper at a local cemetery and work outdoors. Meanwhile, he thinks it’s important to have his last will and testament drawn up. But his actor girlfriend thinks he must be dying and that he is just too brave to tell anyone. The rumor of his impending demise spreads and soon everyone he knows crowd...

Exclusive: Here’s your first trailer for Verdi Productions and Vmi Worldwide’s My Father Muhammad Ali, the documentary highlighting the life of Muhammad Ali Jr., son of the world’s most iconic boxer.

The movie offers a unique insight into Muhammad Ali – aka “the greatest” – through the eyes of his biological son, Muhammad Ali Jr. Throughout his life, Ali Jr. struggled with bullying, abandonment and drug addiction. The film explores his relationship with his father and his complicated relationship with his own children.

Vmi Worldwide is selling the documentary at AFM.

The film was co-directed by Chad A. Verdi and Tom DeNucci. Verdi also produced the doc, along with Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Nick Koskoff and Matthew J. Weiss. Thomas Verdi served as an executive producer.

Verdi stated: “Two years ago, we were thrilled when Muhammad Jr. chose us to tell his life story. This documentary...

Last year’s Deadly Illusions was the fourth feature directed by Anna Elizabeth James, but her first thriller. When it was released through the Netflix streaming service, it was the #1 movie on the service worldwide for eight days straight. So it makes sense that James’ fifth feature is also a thriller. This one is called Blunt and stars Amy Smart (Mirrors), Billy Zane (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight), Matt Davis (Terror of Dracula), Greer Grammer (Awkward), and Ne-Yo (Red Tails).

Smart’s character is

a single mother who wakes up to find herself hogtied and held captive at her country vacation rental by an unknown assailant. In a race against time, she must piece together clues from the previous guests to find out who assaulted her, and hopefully survive the ordeal.

Deadline reports that Voltage Pictures is handling global sales on Blunt and will be presenting it to potential buyers immediately.

Exclusive: Amy Smart, Matt Davis, Ne-Yo, Billy Zane and Greer Grammer are set to star in writer/director Anna Elizabeth James’ Blunt.

Voltage Pictures is handling global sales on the mystery thriller and will introduce to buyers immediately.

In Blunt, a single mother (Smart) wakes up to find herself hogtied and held captive at her country vacation rental by an unknown assailant. In a race against time, she must piece together clues from the previous guests to find out who assaulted her, and hopefully survive the ordeal.

James produces under her Kiss and Tale Productions banner alongside Richard Switzer, Julie Gause, Paul Luba and Chad Verdi Jr. EPs are Larry Galluzzo and Tim Bien.

James previous film, the suspenseful thriller, Deadly Illusions, was No. 1 worldwide for eight days upon release on Netflix last year. Voltage also repped rights.

“Deadly Illusions deservedly earned cult status, becoming one of the biggest streaming...

Josh Peck and Kea Ho have joined the cast of “Junction,” an upcoming drama about the opioid crisis. The film is written and directed by Bryan Greenberg, who is best known for his work as an actor on “How to Make It in America” and “One Tree Hill.” “Junction” will be his feature directorial debut.

Peck and Ho join an ensemble that includes Griffin Dunne (“After Hours”), Sophia Bush (“Chicago P.D.”), Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”), Jamie Chung (“Dexter: New Blood”), Michaela Conlin (“Bones”), Hill Harper (“The Good Doctor”) Ashley Madekwe (“Country Lines”), Ryan Eggold (“The Blacklist”), Dascha Polanco (“Orange Is the New Black”), Dash Mihok (“I Am Legend”), Geoff Stults (“Wedding Crashers”), Eddie Kaye Thomas (“American Pie”) and Hannah Dunne (“Marriage Story”).

Peck, whose credits include “The Wackness” and “Mean Creek,” will soon appear in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Ho’s credits include “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.

Fremantle Boosts Revenue By 25% For Rtl Group

Hand of God outfit Fremantle increased its revenue by 25% last year to €1.9Bn ($2.1Bn) as owner Rtl Group, the European media conglomerate, recorded a 10% turnover rise to €6.6Bn ($7.3Bn) and a profit boost of 35% to €1.1Bn ($1.2Bn). Rtl this morning said it is making progress on Fremantle’s growth plan, following four acquisitions in the past year including, most recently, the purchase of 70% of respected Italian producer Lux Vide, along with 12 Nent Group production labels. Fremantle put 81 drama productions into production across the year and scored hits with the likes of Paolo Sorrentino’s Oscar-nominated Hand of God for Netflix. The previous year saw a big drop in returns due to the impact of the Coronavirus. The outfit, which has just struck a talent deal with Angelina Jolie, is targeting €3Bn returns by 2025. Overall, Rtl’s revenue was up 10.3% to €6.6Bn, with adjusted...

Exclusive: Redbox Entertainment has signed North American rights to Verdi Productions’ action-crime film Johnny & Clyde, starring Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap), Ajani Russell (Betty), Tyson Ritter (Preacher) and Megan Fox (The Expendables 4).

Directed by Tom DeNucci (Vault), the movie is due to get a theatrical launch later this year and be available day-and-date in Redbox kiosks and on demand. Above is a first look at Fox in the feature.

The spin on the iconic Bonnie and Clyde story follows two serial killers who are madly in love and on a shocking crime spree. They ultimately set their sights on robbing a prosperous casino run by a crime boss, Alana (Fox), and her head of security, Guy (Ritter).

Rounding out the cast is Vanessa Angel (Kingpin), Bai Ling (The Crow), Robert Lasardo (The Mule), Armen Garo (The Departed), Sean Ringgold (American Gangster), Nick Principe (Vault), Brett Azar...

Exclusive: Rising actors Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) and Ajani Russell (Betty) have been set for the title roles in crime feature Johnny & Clyde, also starring Megan Fox (Transformers) and Tyson Ritter (Preacher).

Currently in production, the movie is a spin on the iconic Bonnie and Clyde story and follows two serial killers who are madly in love and on a shocking crime spree. They ultimately set their sights on robbing a prosperous casino run by crime boss, Alana (Fox), and her head of security, Guy (Ritter).

As we previously revealed, also starring are Vanessa Angel (Kingpin), Bai Ling (The Crow), Robert Lasardo (The Mule), Armen Garo (The Departed), Sean Ringgold (American Gangster), Nick Principe (Vault), Brett Azar (Young Rock) and Sydney Jenkins (Don’t Look Up).

Written by Tom DeNucci and Nick Principe, DeNucci (Vault) will direct. Chad A. Verdi (Bleed For This) is producing along with Michelle Verdi, Chad A.

Exclusive: Here are your first production stills from comedy feature The Junkyard Dogs, starring Denise Richards (The Bold And The Beautiful) and Patrick Muldoon (Days Of Our Lives).

The film, penned by Jacob Cooney — who also directs — and Jamie Sykes, follows a dog named Houdini who is a master escape artist and must team up with his neighborhood puppy pals to prevent their block from being robbed by a duo of bumbling thieves. Richards plays Monica Sullivan, a single mother of two. Muldoon plays Shane DeSoto, Monica’s fun loving fiance. While focused on their upcoming wedding, they discover that both of Monica’s children and her precocious pup are devising a plan to stop the thieves before their neighborhood falls under siege.

Chad A. Verdi, Chelsea Vale, David Gere, Chad A. Verdi Jr. and Paul Luba are producing. Filming is underway in the U.S.

Verdi Productions is financing,...

Exclusive: Denise Richards (The Bold and the Beautiful) has signed on to star in The Junkyard Dogs, a family comedy from director Jacob Cooney.

The film follows a dog named Houdini who is a master escape artist, and must team up with his neighborhood puppy pals to prevent their block from being robbed by a duo of bumbling thieves.

Richards will play Monica Sullivan, a single mother of two who discovers, while focused on her upcoming wedding, that both her children and her precocious pup are devising a plan to stop the thieves before their neighborhood falls under siege.

Chad A. Verdi, Chelsea Vale, David Gere, Chad A. Verdi Jr. and Paul Luba are producing. Verdi Productions is financing the film, with Vmi Worldwide handling world sales. Pic is scheduled for a day and date theatrical release in mid 2022 through Vmi Releasing.

Richards is an actress, businesswoman, philanthropist and New...

Exclusive: Vanessa Angel (Kingpin), Bai Ling (The Crow), Armen Garo (The Departed), Sean Ringgold (American Gangster), Nick Principe (Vault), Brett Azar (Young Rock) and Sydney Jenkins (Jest Originals) have joined Megan Fox (Transformers) and Tyson Ritter (Preacher) in thriller Johnny and Clyde, which we revealed on Friday.

The film, produced by Chad A. Verdi’s (Bleed For This) Verdi Productions, is a new take on the famous Bonnie and Clyde story.

The movie will follow the two eponymous serial killers who are madly in love and on an endless crime spree. They have their sights set on robbing a prosperous casino run by crime boss Alana (Fox) and her head of security (Ritter).

Currently in production in Rhode Island, the roles of Johnny and Clyde are being cast imminently. Those actors will join the production in October.

Tom DeNucci (Vault) will direct with The Irishman exec-producer Chad A. Verdi. Verdi...

Exclusive: Fresh off her show-stopping VMAs appearance, Megan Fox (Transformers) has been set to star with Tyson Ritter (Preacher) in new feature thriller Johnny And Clyde, we can reveal.

The film, produced by Chad A. Verdi’s (Bleed For This) Verdi Productions, is a new take on the famous Bonnie and Clyde story.

The movie will follow the two eponymous serial killers who are madly in love and on an endless crime spree. They have their sights set on robbing a prosperous casino run by crime boss Alana (Fox) and her head of security (Ritter).

The movie is currently in production in Rhode Island with the roles of Johnny and Clyde being cast imminently. Those actors will join the production in October.

Tom DeNucci (Vault) will direct with The Irishman exec-producer Chad A. Verdi. Verdi is also a producer on the film, along with Michelle Verdi, Chad A. Verdi Jr,...

Vmi Distribution Adds Michael Madsen Pic

Exclusive: Vmi Releasing, the newly formed distribution arm of sales firm Vmi Worldwide, has acquired the North American rights to distribute Verdi Productions’ horror Burial Ground Massacre, starring Michael Madsen (The Hateful Eight), Chelsea Vale (Vault) and Travis Gordon (Ring Of Honor Wrestling). The film follows a group of college students who spend a night at an old, eerie manor, only to realize that a terrifying stalker is watching their every move. Directed by David Gere and Daniel Dahlstrom, the film is written by Eric Weinstock and David Gere, and is produced by Chad Verdi (The Irishman). Release date is slated for digital platforms on September 3, 2021. “Filming during Covid-19 was not an easy task, to say the least. We are very proud of the outcome of this film and happy to have teamed up with Vmi,” stated Verdi. Also producing were Chad A. Verdi Jr.,...