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Greatness demands sacrifice, and sometimes we make Faustian pacts with the devil. That’s the premise of “Him,” a unique sports-focused horror film from producer and Oscar-winner Jordan Peele, comedian/actor Marlon Wayans, and Peele’s Monkeypaw production company that focuses on films that terrify audiences.

Continue reading ‘Him’ Trailer: Marlon Wayans Stars In A Sports Horror For Producer Jordan Peele & Director Of Breakout Indie ‘Kicks’ at The Playlist.

Floodlights spark to life, illuminating a stadium filled with thousands of screaming fans ready for some football. But only one sound, a voice, permeates the noise: “Do you want this?”

So begins the teaser trailer for Him, one of the year’s most anticipated horror films.

The voice belongs to Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie), who stars as legendary quarterback Isaiah White. He’s speaking to his new protégé, Cameron Cade, played by former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers (who can next be seen in I Know What You Did Last Summer).

Although Cameron is a promising young athlete, recovering from his potentially career-ending brain trauma at Isaiah’s isolated compound proves to be more than he bargained for. “‘I’m never good enough.’ That’s how great people think,” the mentor explains.

Jordan Peele, a trusted name who can put butts in seats, rightfully receives a big title card. But let...

"What would you sacrifice to become the greatest of all time?" Universal has unveiled the first teaser trailer for a new horror movie called Him, a totally bonkers original horror concept involving an ambitious football player. This is produced by Jordan Peele for Monkeypaw, made by filmmaker Justin Tipping as his second feature after Kicks previously. A promising young football player joins an isolated compound to train under a dynasty team's aging quarterback – but there's something else sinister going on in this place. "A chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry and the pursuit of excellence at any cost, featuring an electrifying dramatic performance from Marlon Wayans." Him is an original horror movie set for release in September at the end of the summer. Starring former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers as Cameron Cade, with Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies, and Marlon Wayans. What?! There's so many "Wtf?...

Back in 2022, Get Out, Us, and Nope writer/director Jordan Peele‘s production company Monkeypaw Productions acquired the genre film pitch Goat from writers Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the plan being that Peele would be producing Goat as part of Monkeypaw’s overall deal with Universal Pictures. The sports-related horror project made its way through production under the title Him last year, and now a teaser trailer has dropped online! You can check it out in the embed above. Him is set to reach theatres on September 19, 2025.

Justin Tipping – who made his feature directorial debut with the 2016 drama Kicks – directed the film and did some work on the script, with lead roles going to Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie), Tyriq Withers (The Game), and Julia Fox (Uncut Gems).

Him has the following synopsis: Cameron Cade, a rising-star quarterback, has devoted his life, and identity, to football. On the eve of...

Genre filmmakers Eli Roth and Jordan Peele both have new horror productions coming our way. Earlier this month, Roth launched a new media company called The Horror Section (which is open to genre fans joining in as investors), with plans to produce movies, TV shows, games, podcasts, and more. Back in 2022, Get Out, Us, and Nope writer/director Peele‘s production company Monkeypaw Productions acquired the genre film pitch Goat from writers Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the plan being that Peele would be producing Goat as part of Monkeypaw’s overall deal with Universal Pictures. The sports-related horror project made its way through production under the title Him last this year, aiming for a September 19, 2025 release date. Now, JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray has spotted posters for Roth’s Horror Section slate and the Peele-produced Him at the CinemaCon event, and those posters can be seen below!

The Horror...

Valorant is a fantastic game, but it is not without its shortcomings. Riot Games’ 5v5 PvP first person shooter has a competitive edge to it, which pushes players to hone and further refine their skills in combat – which might make one want to review their gameplay footage at times.

A ‘replay system’ has been curiously absent from Valorant, with the devs working on multiple iterations to enable it in-game. However, a recent datamine shows evidence that a replay system might soon make its way to the game.

A recent leak hints at Replay mode being added to Valorant soon Recent datamines suggest an important feature being added to Valorant | Image Credit: Riot Games

A post from the X account ‘Valorant Leaks & News’ has recently emerged online, detailing a curious set of icons added to the recent update. In particular, patch 10.02 brought with it System Replay specific icons which were found...

The Floor fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 3 Episode 1 episode titled Season 3 Kicks Off!

Find out everything you need to know about the Season 3 Kicks Off episode of The Floor, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

The Floor Season 3 Kicks Off Season 3 Episode 1 Preview

The excitement is building as “The Floor” returns for its highly anticipated third season, kicking off with an episode titled “Season 3 Kicks Off.” Fans can tune in to Fox at 10:30 Pm on February 9, 2025, for a night filled with fun and challenging trivia. This episode promises to engage contestants with a variety of topics, including pets, gardening, ice cream flavors, and ancient history.

The cast of “The Floor” continues to impress with its dynamic mix of personalities. Host Jamie Lee brings her signature charm and wit, guiding contestants through the various rounds of trivia.

The excitement is building as “The Floor” returns for its highly anticipated Season 3, kicking off with an engaging episode titled “Season 3 Kicks Off.” This fresh installment promises to deliver the same fun and competitive spirit that fans have come to love. Set to air at 10:30 Pm on Sunday, February 9, 2025, on Fox, this episode is sure to capture the attention of many.

In this season opener, contestants will dive into a variety of intriguing topics. From testing their knowledge of pets and gardening to ice cream flavors and ancient history, the challenges are diverse and entertaining. Each question will push the contestants to think quickly and showcase their expertise in unexpected areas. The mix of subjects adds an exciting twist, ensuring that viewers will be on the edge of their seats.

As the contestants battle it out on the floor, the atmosphere will be filled with laughter, tension, and plenty of surprises.

Taylor Dearden, Patrick Marron Ball, and Noah Wyle in ‘The Pitt’ (Photograph by Max/Warrick Page)

Max is kicking off the new year with the series premiere of The Pitt, a medical drama that puts ER star Noah Wyle back in scrubs and playing the chief attendant in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. Max’s January 2025 lineup also includes the season five premiere of the critically acclaimed, comic book-inspired animated series Harley Quinn, and the series debut of Isadora Moon, based on the bestselling book series.

Season 23 of Real Time with Bill Maher and the premieres of A24’s The Front Room, Look Into My Eyes, and A Different Man stream on Max in January.

Max January 2025 Lineup

January 1

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Act of Valor (2012)

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In an article called “Meet the Movies of 2025,” Vanity Fair has just unveiled a batch of images that go behind the scenes of several upcoming films – including genre movies like the sci-fi thriller sequel M3GAN 2.0, the Jordan Peele-produced sports horror film Him, director Scott Derrickson’s The Gorge (that’s an image from The Gorge above), and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Let’s take a look at them:

From M3GAN 2.0, we see an image of the killer doll M3GAN, reunited with returning M3GAN star Violet McGraw. Allison Williams is also back for the sequel, as are Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps. This time, they’re joined in the cast by Ivanna Sakhno (Ahsoka), who is said to have landed a major part in the sequel, Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows), Timm Sharp (Blunt Talk), and Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live). Gerard Johnstone...

Back in 2022, Get Out, Us, and Nope writer/director Jordan Peele‘s production company Monkeypaw Productions acquired the genre film pitch Goat from writers Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the plan being that Peele would be producing Goat as part of Monkeypaw’s overall deal with Universal Pictures. The sports-related horror project made its way through production under the title Him earlier this year, and now – even though the movie won’t be reaching theatres until September 19, 2025 – the finished product has been given its rating from the Motion Picture Association ratings board. Him has been rated R for strong/bloody violence, language throughout, sexual material, nudity and some drug use.

Justin Tipping – who made his feature directorial debut with the 2016 drama Kicks – directed the film, with lead roles going to Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie), Tyriq Withers (The Game), and Julia Fox (Uncut Gems).

Akers and Bronkie’s script centers on...

Exclusive: CAA has signed actor Tyriq Withers for representation.

Most recently, Withers wrapped as the lead opposite Marlon Wayons in Him (formerly Goat), Universal Pictures’ psychological horror film from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. The project centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star. Wayans plays the legendary quarterback, with former college athlete Withers as his protégé.

Justin Tipping (Kicks) directed the pic from a Black List script by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie. Others in the cast include Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, comedian Jim Jefferies, and musical artists Guapdad 4000 and Tierra Whack. The film is slated for a wide theatrical release on September 19, 2025.

Prior to Him, Withers was perhaps best known for his role on FX’s Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning comedy series Atlanta, created by and starring Donald Glover. His performance as Aaron, a biracial high school student...

Oscar winner Jordan Peele is the mastermind behind the smash hit horror films Get Out, Us and Nope. If you enjoyed those films, you'll be glad to know that Peele isn't done exploring the horror genre. He has a new horror flick slated to come out in the fall of next year, and it's called Him. More on this film below.

Previously titled Goat, Him is produced by Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions. Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, and Jamal Watson also produce the film under the Monkeypaw Productions banner. David Kern and Monkeypaw’s Kate Oh are signed on as executive producers, while American television director and screenwriter Justin Tipping is helming the movie from a screenplay that was written by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie.

Tipping is best known for writing and directing the adventure film Kicks, and helming episodes of the TV shows The Chi, Twenties, Flatbush Misdemeanors and Joe vs. Carole.

Jordan Peele is undoubtedly one of the most talented and important filmmakers of today. Although he was initially known as a comedian because of his Key & Peele series, he has since evolved into a complex and versatile filmmaker who is able to blend horror with strong social commentary. Get Out, Us, and Nope are the movies he directed, but he also produced several other major hits and also worked on the short-lived revival of The Twilight Zone. Now, while we do know that Peele himself is working on a new movie, while we’re waiting for more updates on that movie, we have more information about his next project, a movie he is producing!

The movie we are talking about is going to be directed by Justin Tipping, who has some experience with movies and television, with his most important works being Kicks (2016), Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021), and Joe vs. Carole...

Three years after the theatrical release of Nia DaCostas Candyman remake, Jordan Peele is producing another horror movie for Universal Pictures through his Monkeypaw Productions. The studio finally announced the newest title and 2025 release date for Peeles Marlon Wayans-led project, which was originally titled Goat.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures upcoming psychological horror thriller will now officially be titled as Him. The film has been scheduled to arrive in theaters next year on Sept. 19, 2025. This marks Wayans first solo leading project in a long while, after nearly five years since starring in the Netflix comedy Sextuplets, which he also co-wrote and produced. His most recent acting credit was last years sports drama film Air, in which he played the role of Michael Jordans former coach George Raveling.

Related Monkey Man Almost Died at Netflix Before Jordan Peele Stepped In Monkey Man producer Jordan Peele explains why Dev Patels...

A year and a half ago, Get Out, Us, and Nope writer/director Jordan Peele‘s production company Monkeypaw Productions acquired the genre film pitch Goat from writers Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the plan being that Peele would be producing Goat as part of Monkeypaw’s overall deal with Universal Pictures. Now the sports-related horror project is finally making its way toward production, and in recent weeks we’ve learned that Justin Tipping – who made his feature directorial debut with the 2016 drama Kicks – will be directing the film, with lead roles going to Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie) and Tyriq Withers (The Game). Now Deadline reports that the female lead role has gone to Julia Fox.

Deadline also says that Fox is “best known for her New York Times best-selling book Down the Drain“, while the description for that book (you can pick up a copy Here) says, “Julia Fox...

A year and a half ago, Get Out, Us, and Nope writer/director Jordan Peele‘s production company Monkeypaw Productions acquired the genre film pitch Goat from writers Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the plan being that Peele would be producing Goat as part of Monkeypaw’s overall deal with Universal Pictures. Earlier this month, we learned that Goat is finally moving forward, with Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie) signing on to star in the sports-related horror film as the titular greatest-of-all-time athlete. Now Deadline reports that Wayans is being joined in the cast by Tyriq Withers, whose previous credits include Horror Noire, Senior Year, Tell Me Lies, The Game, and an episode of Atlanta.

Justin Tipping – who made his feature directorial debut with the 2016 drama Kicks – will be directing the film.

Akers and Bronkie’s script centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.

A year and a half ago, Get Out, Us, and Nope writer/director Jordan Peele‘s production company Monkeypaw Productions acquired the genre film pitch Goat from writers Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the plan being that Peele would be producing Goat as part of Monkeypaw’s overall deal with Universal Pictures. Now Goat is finally moving forward. Deadline reports that Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie) has signed on to star in the sports-related horror film as the titular greatest-of-all-time athlete, while Justin Tipping – who made his feature directorial debut with the 2016 drama Kicks – is on board to direct the film.

Akers and Bronkie’s script centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star. How exactly horror enters the picture is being kept under wraps. ComicBook.com has heard that the script centers on a rookie Qb who goes to train with a...

Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions is producing the psychological horror Goat, with Marlon Wayans in the lead.

This isn’t an unveiling of Jordan Peele’s next directorial outing for Universal, but here’s a story about an intriguing new project that will be produced under the filmmaker’s Monkeypaw banner.

Goat is set to star Marlon Wayans (who you can see pictured in the TV show Marlon) while Justin Tipping will direct. Tipping co-wrote and directed Kicks, another film (like last year’s Air) focused on the mythical status attached to basketball shoes.

In their upcoming project, the focus will be on a mythical athlete rather than their shoes, as ‘the film centres on an up-and-coming young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star, who will be played by Wayans.’

It hasn’t been announced yet who will play the rookie, but according to Deadline,...

Marlon Wayan is cast in the upcoming psychological hororr film Goat. Goat will be produced by Monkeypaw Productions, the studio founded by Jordan Peele. Goat will be directed by Justin Tipping and co-written by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie.

Marlon Wayans is cast in the lead role of the upcoming film Goat, which is set to be produced by Monkeypaw Productions. Wayans is an actor and comedian known for his roles in White Chicks, Little Man, and Air. Monkeypaw Productions is a film production company founded by visionary producer and director Jordan Peele.

Monkeypaw is also working on an untitled film directed by Peele himself.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Wayans has just been cast in the upcoming Monkeypaw horror film Goat. The film will center around a rising star athlete who is invited to train with his team’s retiring star. Wayans will play the all-star athlete lead role.

Exclusive: For their sports horror pic Goat, Universal Pictures and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw banner looked to have found the actor to play their greatest of all time athlete as Deadline is hearing Marlon Wayans is set to star in in the pic. Justin Tipping is on board to direct the pic which is produced by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Jamal Watson. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh.

The project, based on a pitch by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.

While execs have taken the screen testing route for finding the young athlete character, sources say Wayans was always top of the studio’s list for its titular character. Exec Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the Studio.

The old song says it never rains in California. The same isn’t true for New York.

SAG-AFTRA said today that it has canceled all NYC pickets as a state of emergency was declared in the city amid heavy downpours that caused serious flooding and canceled some local events.

“Due to the heavy rain and possible flooding there will be no SAG-AFTRA pickets in New York City today, Friday, Sept. 29,” the union said on social media. “Stay safe and see you on the picket lines next week.”

Some local movie theaters are closed amid flooding, but the New York Film Festival is planning to go ahead with Friday’s opening-night schedule.

Related: New York Film Festival Seeing Record Ticket Sales As 61st Edition Kicks Off Amid Rain And Floods

CNN reports that the borough of Brooklyn got a full month’s worth of rain in just three hours today, and...

Cynthia Weil, a Grammy-winning lyricist of notable range and endurance who enjoyed a decades-long partnership with husband Barry Mann and helped write “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”, “On Broadway”, “Walking in the Rain” and dozens of other hits, has died at age 82.

Weil’s daughter, Dr. Jenn Mann, said that the songwriter died Thursday at her home in Beverly Hills, California, “surrounded by her family.” Mann, the couple’s only child, declined to cite a specific cause of death.

Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, married in 1961, were one of popular music’s most successful teams, part of a remarkable ensemble recruited by impresarios Don Kirshner and Al Nevins and based in Manhattan’s Brill Building neighborhood, a few blocks from Times Square. With such hit-making combinations as Carole King and Gerry Goffin and Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, the Brill Building song factory turned out many of the biggest...

Cynthia Weil, the celebrated songwriter who helped craft timeless hits like the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” the Animals’ “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” and Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire,” died Thursday, June 1. She was 82.

Weil’s daughter, Jenn Mann, confirmed her death, though no cause was given. “My mother, Cynthia Weil, was the greatest mother, grandmother and wife our family could ever ask for,” Mann said. “She was my best friend, confidant, and my partner in crime and an idol and trailblazer for women in music.

Cynthia Weil, who teamed with husband Barry Mann to write such pop classics as “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “On Broadway,” “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” and dozens of other hits for the likes of the Drifters, the Ronettes, Dolly Parton and B.J. Thomas, died Thursday. She was 82.

Weil’s daughter, Dr. Jenn Mann, said via publicist Sarah Schlief: “My mother, Cynthia Weil, was the greatest mother, grandmother and wife our family could ever ask for. She was my best friend, confidante and my partner in crime and an idol and trailblazer for women in music.”

Weil and Mann, who were married for 62 years, were among the most important songwriters in the early days of rock ‘n’ roll. They won a pair of Grammys and were Oscar-nominated for Best Song for “Somewhere Out There,” the Linda Ronstadt-James Ingram duet from An American Tail. The couple would share...

Cynthia Weil, a Brill Building songwriter, who along with her husband Barry Mann, wrote some of music’s most enduring works, has died at the age of 82.

Weil’s daughter, Jenn Mann, told TMZ that her mother passed away on Thursday, June 1st. “My mother, Cynthia Weil, was the greatest mother, grandmother and wife our family could ever ask for. She was my best friend, confidant, and my partner in crime and an idol and trailblazer for women in music,” Mann said in a statement.

Weil is an inductee of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, as well as a recipient of multiple Grammy Awards. Her writing credits include such classics as “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” which was made famous by The Righteous Brothers and ranks as among the most-played songs in the history of radio; “Make Your Own Kind of Music,...

So far, fans are not entertained by Darcey & Stacey season 4, calling the storylines fake and cringey. Darcey Silva debuted in the 90 Day Fiancé franchise during 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days season 1 in 2017, and got a spinoff show with her sister Stacey Silva. The show follows Darcey's continued search for love, Stacey's life with her husband Florian Sukaj, and other storylines with the twins' family and fashion brand, House of Eleven.

While fans previously looked forward to Darcey & Stacey season 4, they found themselves uninterested in the storylines featured. Darcey is looking for love again through a matchmaker, but consistently brings up her ex, Georgi Rusev. Fans are interested in Darcey's love life since it appears she is making some major changes, but are uninterested in Stacey's wedding planning drama. Furthermore, fans are unimpressed with the twin's fashion brand, House of Eleven, which they are trying to expand in Miami.

Dane Morck, the co-creator of the CW series All American, has signed with Zero Gravity. He will serve as the Executive Consultant going into Season 3 of the sports drama.

Prior to All American Morck worked in the unscripted space under Vin di Bona on America’s Funniest Home Videos and was a development exec at di Bona’s production banner Fishbowl Worldwide Media. While at Fishbowl, he worked on Bravo’s Toned Up, Animal Planet’s Insane Pools: Off the Deep End as well as projects for Travel, HGTV, Nat Geo Wild, and NFL Network.

Morck and his producing partner/ex NFL player, Spencer Paysinger established Moore Street Productions in 2019. The company worked on many projects including an original sports and entertainment podcast with Lebron James’ Uninterrupted.

Morck continues to be repped by Gochman Law Group.

Producer and Black List screenwriter Evan Mirzai has signed with Innovative Artists across all departments.

Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley embarks on a wild intergalactic adventure in the new animated video for his cover of Deep Purple’s “Space Truckin’.” The track will appear on Frehley’s new album of covers, Origins Vol. 2, out September 18th.

Frehley delivers a faithful take on “Space Truckin’,” cranking up the guitars a bit to give Deep Purple’s pioneering hard rock sound some of the arena rock punch that their successors (like Kiss) would popularize in the late-Seventies/early-Eighties. Frehley recorded the song with drummer Matt Star and keyboard player Rob Sabino.

The coronavirus outbreak has already wreaked havoc on the global box office, with Asia suffering a $1.91 billion loss in two months, and further impacts rippling across Europe. The U.S. market is next: Within a week, studios canceled every wide release on the schedule for the month of March. The specialty market faces a dicier challenge. While many movies may see the bulk of their business on VOD — especially in the months ahead — proven crowdpleasers have been banking on the word-of-mouth potential of a platform release. “The Climb,” which premiered last year at Cannes, sits at the center of that conundrum.

The boisterous and innovative buddy comedy from director Michael Angelo Covino and co-writer Kyle Marvin was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics after its festival launch, and the company still plans to release it on March 20 in New York and Los Angeles, with additional showtimes already booked in Atlanta and Knoxville,...

Fans got a closer look at Marvel Studios’ “Black Widow” Monday night, courtesy of a new trailer in which Natasha Romanoff squared off against the villain Taskmaster — and a small army of other Black Widows. Watch the clip above.

The new trailer begins similarly to the one that came out in December. We see Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) reuniting for her former comrades in the Soviet Union-era assassin training program that made her who she is. That includes lovable Red Guardian (David Harbour), who might be out of shape but, at least in one quick glimpse, appears to still have quite a kick left in him.

After that, more scenes of general action and mayhem as Natasha fights her way through “new enemies” — which includes the aforementioned squad of other Black Widows. We also get a slightly closer look at Taskmaster, who gives off a serious Winter Soldier vibe while also...

Topic Studios has signed a first look deal with Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin, the writing and acting team behind the comedy film “The Climb” that made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year, the studio announced Wednesday.

Under the two-year deal, Covino and Marvin will develop and produce with an eye to direct feature films for Topic under the pair’s Watch This Ready banner. “The Climb” was Covino’s feature directorial debut, which he and Marvin wrote, produced and starred in. The project was developed, financed and produced on a fast track by Topic after it acquired the original short film of the same name at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

“The Climb” premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year where it won the Jury’s “Coup de Coeur” award and was acquired for release by Sony Pictures Classics.

Exclusive: Michael Covino, whose movie The Climb is making its North American premiere at Telluride today, is boarding the cast of Paul Greengrass’ Tom Hanks pre-Civil War drama News of the World based on the bestselling Paulette Jiles novel.

Covino wrote, directed, produced and starred in The Climb which made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Coup de Coeur Award. The pic, which follows the long-term friendship between two guys, is an adaptation of his acclaimed short film of the same name which premiered at Sundance 2018. The Climb will continue on to play at the Toronto Film Festival on September 5.

Greengrass wrote the latest version of News of the World, which reteams him with Hanks following Captain Phillips. Luke Davies (Lion) wrote an earlier draft of the project. The pic jumped from Fox 2000 soon after the Disney/Fox merger to Universal. Hanks and Gary Goetzman...

Anyone who has followed Quentin Tarantino‘s film career as a writer-director know that he is as much about music selection as he is about searing profanity-laced monologues. Can anyone hear “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel without thinking of Michael Madsen‘s Mr. Blonde as he cuts the ear off of a cop who’s tied up in a chair in “Resevoir Dogs”? Or who among us can’t help but to flashback to the sight of John Travolta‘s Vincent Vega and Uma Thurman‘s Mia Wallace dancing if they hear Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.”

As usual, Tarantino’s latest opus, the just-opened “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” has several memorable music-related scenes. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, together for the first time ever on the big screen while acting as a kind of middle-age male dynamite, is an event to celebrate in and of itself.

It’s been 20 years since David Fincher’s ultra-stylized “Fight Club” invited audiences to join its cult of shallow, stifled, macho insecurity, but times have changed. “Fight Club” was a warning shot, offering a vision of the near future in which toxic masculinity eventually formed a cult of personality and become indistinguishable from a terrorist organization. And it’s that world in which Riley Stearns’ similar but fiercely satisfying “The Art of Self-Defense” resides.

“The Art of Self-Defense” abandons the superficial artifice of pop brainwashing and instead portrays the world as it too often feels: lonely, muted, and completely devoid of purpose. Jesse Eisenberg’s protagonist, Casey, isn’t lured into a cult of psychological and physical violence because it has a sexy, MTV allure. He’s attracted to dangerous, disturbing people because they’re just ever so slightly more confident than he is. Or rather, they’re better at...

American Un Certain Regard entry The Climb has fast become one of the hits of this year’s Cannes, generating a raft of reviews so good it’s like they’d been written by the filmmakers themselves. No need for that, though, because Michael Angelo Covino’s directorial debut feature, which he co-wrote with his co-lead Kyle Marvin, lives up to the praise. A hilarious and—surprisingly—heartwarming comedy about the toxic friendship between two men over the course of several years, The Climb assembles a patchwork of one-take vignettes as a pair of old friends butt heads but can never seem to bring themselves to quit one another.

Covino and Marvin, who first worked on commercials together and have produced features including Kicks and Hunter Gatherer, developed the script off the back of their short of the same name, which premiered at Sundance in 2018. There, the title referred to a bike ride,...

Exclusive: Here’s a fun first clip for Cannes buddy comedy The Climb, which has been among the best-reviewed movies in the Un Certain Regard strand so far.

U.S. writer-director Michael Angelo Covino’s feature debut, sold by Memento and Endeavor Content on the Croisette, takes a look at the turbulent friendship between two guys over many years. The film’s debut here was greeted with sustained applause and interest is understood to be strong from U.S. and international suitors.

Covino stars alongside his co-writer and co-producer Kyle Marvin. It’s adapted from their Sundance short inspired by their real-life friendship. Gayle Rankin, Talia Balsam, George Wendt and Judith Godréche also star. The Topic Studios production is also produced by Noah Lang.

Covino previously produced Hunter Gather, which won a Special Jury Prize at SXSW and was nominated for the Cassavetes Award in 2017. He also produced Kicks, which...

“Dear White People” is returning for its third season later this year with a slate of directors that pays homage to its indie film roots. Ranging from the returning Kimberly Peirce to relative TV newcomers like Justin Tipping, the show continues to give gifted filmmakers a platform to shine.

“I’m so proud of how many female directors we have this season. It’s amazing,” said cast member Ashley Blaine Featherson during a Television Critics Association set visit. Series creator Justin Simien added, “I don’t need the mandate. It’s in the way I live my life. It’s a given to me that black women need to be telling these stories because black women make up the majority of our audience. “

Simien was excited to swoop in on two directors that some people may not have heard of. “Tiffany Johnson, who is amazing — you will be very aware of her.

Lena Waithe is following up her historic Emmy win with an ambitious new venture: After winning a trophy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, Waithe is tackling a drama series set in her sweet home, Chicago.

“The Chi,” created and produced by Waithe, “explores the humanity behind the headlines sensationalizing the South Side of Chicago.” The first season was shot entirely in the Windy City and will track the lives of children growing up in the city, teens looking for love, and adults dealing with very adult issues, including police corruption, excessive force, and gang violence.

Read More:‘The Chi’ Trailer: Lena Waithe Explores the South Side of Chicago With the Help of a ‘Moonlight’ Star — Watch

As indicated in the first full trailer below, the series isn’t all doom and gloom. Despite the prominent stories coming out of Chicago, like the much-publicized homicide level, characters inhabited by the likes of Jason Mitchell,...

Author: Zehra Phelan

Mahershala Ali’s career is going from strength to strength it would seem as news is trickling through that the Moonlight and Luke Cage actor is well on the way to closing a deal to star in the third series of True Detective.

Related: Mahershala Ali Interview on Moonlight.

Although the popular HBO show hasn’t been given the go ahead for season from executives, casting movement is well under way in preparation in order to get started as soon as the expected green light is given. As of right now, the character of which Ali would be playing is yet to be confirmed along with any plot details.

Season 1 of True Detective had a rapturous response from audiences, mostly due to the thrilling story and the casting of the brilliant Matthew McConaughey as Rustin Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Martin Hart as Louisana State Police homicide...

Author: Scott Davis

In amongst all of the big summer blockbusters being released in the next few weeks (Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge, Baywatch, Wonder Woman, The Mummy), there are a few hidden gems that deserve your attention outside of the whizz-bang of the summer season and one such film is Kicks.

Co-written and directed by Justin Tipping, Kicks tells the story of Brandon (Jahking Guillory), a teenager who dreams of owning a new pair of Air Jordans trainers. However, whilst walking through a rough neighbourhood, he is mugged for his trainers leading to him and his two friends (Christopher Jordan Wallace and Christopher Meyer) on a dangerous mission through the streets of Oakland to reclaim them.

The genesis of the idea came from a very sad but powerful moment in Tipping’s own adolescence when he was mugged. but Tipping says it’s an event he wanted...

The Billboard Music Awards took over Las Vegas on Sunday night, which also marked what would have been Notorious B.I.G.'s 45th birthday. The iconic rapper, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was gunned down in a still-unsolved murder in March 1997. He was 24 years old when he died, leaving behind his wife, R&B singer Faith Evans; his son, Christopher "C.J." Wallace Jr.; and his daughter, T'yanna, from a previous relationship. At the time of Biggie's passing, C.J. was just 4 months old. RelatedFaith Evans on Being Part of Hip-Hop's Most Notorious Couple Now a 20-year-old actor and rapper, C.J. took the stage at Sunday night's show along with Sean "Diddy" Combs to pay tribute to his late father, saying, "I bet my father's looking down on all of us tonight," and, "My sister and I will continue to carry on his name with tremendous pride and live my life by his words.

The “Jumpman” might not mean much to you if you aren’t a fan of Michael Jordan. The greatest to ever do it on a basketball court, G.O.A.T. for short. He played for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, picking up six NBA championship rings, and has a phone book-like list of other sporting achievements, including two olympic gold medals. But perhaps, maybe his most iconic sporting moment came when he laced up in the early eighties in a pair of Nike basketball shoes; created especially for him, branded with his surname in a red and black colourway: The Air Jordan 1. They heralded in the era of the sneakerhead, which still continues to this day, spanning generations young and old.

So, we meet Jordan-obsessed teen, Brandon (Jahking Guillory) and his knockabout buddies, Albert (Christopher Jordan Wallace), and Rico (Christopher Meyer), kicking it in the East Bay, Richmond,...

Author: Zehra Phelan

The Tribeca Film Festival Official selection Kicks, which stars Moonlight’s very own Mahershala Ali, has a trailer ahead of its digital-only release on May 22, it’s unique that’s for sure.

Related: Mahersala Ali Moonlight Interview

The production which is inspired by a real-life incident is fused with hip-hop influences on the streets of an angry United States. A coming of age story with a gritty edge, the trailer quite surprisingly features absolutely no dialogue accept the lone lyrics of a track towards the end. Accompanied by a gentle yet menacing musical tone throughout as the events of the young Brandon’s troubled life unfold and his fight back begins despite the danger it places himself and his friends in.

Kicks is the feature debut of director Justin Tipping and Featuring stellar performances from breakout and rising stars including Jahking Guillory, Christopher Jordan Wallace (Notorious) and...

Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali is adjusting to life as a father.

“We have a baby, so it’s a different kind of crazy,” he told People while at The Most Powerful Stylists in Hollywood Dinner Hosted by The Hollywood Reporter and Jimmy Choo on Tuesday night. “All in all, fortunately, she sleeps pretty well through the night. It’s just during the day she’s hands on.”

Ali, 43, and his wife, Amatus Sami-Karim welcomed their first child, daughter Bari Najma, in February.

The Moonlight actor shared his favorite moment of parenting with People, describing his 3-week-old daughter’s peaceful moments during sleep.

Though many won’t be done obsessing over exactly what happened last night for quite some time, life must go on after the Academy Awards. That applies to the winners as much as anyone else, of course, and all of the big prizewinners have high-profile projects in the works. See below for a look at what they’re up to.

Read More: 2017 Oscars: Full Winners List

Adele Romanski (Best Picture, “Moonlight”): Romanski, whose previous credits as producer include last year’s “Morris from America” and “Kicks,” will collaborate with “The Myth of the American Sleepover” writer/director David Robert Mitchell once again on “Under the Silver Lake,” his follow-up to “It Follows.”

Dede Gardner (Best Picture, “Moonlight”): Last night marked Gardner’s second big win at the Academy Awards, following “12 Years a Slave” likewise winning Best Picture three years ago. She also produced James Gray’s “The Lost City of Z,...

The 89th Annual Academy Awards aired Sunday, with Jimmy Kimmel at the helm, and the star-studded show was filled with some incredibly close races and a few genuinely surprising upsets -- not to mention a slew of emotionally charged acceptance speeches.

Oh, and it was also the year that they made the most embarrassing mistake in the history of the Oscars when they announced the wrong Best Picture winner!

In honor of Hollywood's biggest night, here are a look at some of the best, worst and absolutely weirdest moments from this year's Oscars.

Photos: Oscars 2017: See the Stars at All the Parties!

The Best

Justin Timberlake Kicks Things Off on a Happy Note

Instead of starting the show with a traditional pre-taped comedy montage, the Oscars decided to let the endlessly charismatic Timberlake open the ceremony with a live, energetic performance of his Oscar-nominated song, "Can't Stop the Feeling," and it set...

The Independent Spirit Awards are largely known as the ceremony that takes place the day before the Oscars, and sometimes it looks a little too similar. At their worst, the Spirits play like a series of rehearsal speeches for Sunday. The 2017 edition was mercifully different — with the budget of “La La Land” exceeding the $20 million cap for Spirits nominees, it was mostly an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments “Moonlight” over and over again. More than a socially relevant portrait of alienation, the movie also permeated the cultural landscape. Judging by the conversations swirling around the tent in Santa Monica, it also represented a tipping point for a community of artists on the verge of fresh inspiration.

No matter who won or how quickly the show moves along, the Spirits serve as an opportunity for a meeting of the minds. For the first time in the months following the election, hundreds of filmmakers,...

As the A24 logo appears on screen the sound of ocean waves and Boris Gardiner’s soulful 1973 “Every N***r is a Star” comes on the soundtrack. The film then cuts to Juan (Mahershala Ali) pulling onto a quiet, brightly colored residential street in the hot mid-day sun. In a continuous shot, Juan gets out of his car to survey the drug corner he controls. As he converses with one of his dealers and an addict looking to score, the camera swirls around the three men, who fall in and out of frame.

From a narrative standpoint, we are grounded in Juan’s power and control over this patch of Miami, while seeing glimpses of his compassion that will make him the father figure to the film’s protagonist, Chiron. However, that use of sound, movement, light, and color also introduces us to the world of “Moonlight.” Sound and character ground us in the familiar,...

Steve Bannon’s role in the White House has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks, with Nancy Pelosi referring to Donald Trump’s chief strategist as a “white supremacist” and “Saturday Night Live” featuring him on last night’s episode (dressed as the Grim Reaper, no less). Bannon has produced a number of independent films in the past, and now the Washington Post reports that, in 2007, he pitched one in which Muslims turn America into the “Islamic States of America.”

Read More: Stephen K. Bannon’s Indie Film Career Contradicts His Alt-Right Vision

WaPo describes the proposal as “a three-part movie that would trace ‘the culture of intolerance’ behind sharia law, examine the ‘‘Fifth Column’ made up of ‘Islamic front groups’ and identify the American enablers paving ‘the road to this unique hell on earth.'” Along with Stephen Miller, Bannon is credited with coming up with last week...