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Exclusive: Black Label Media has acquired film rights to The Strange, the 2023 sci-fi thriller novel by Nathan Ballingrud, enlisting Aisha Porter-Christie (Amazon MGM’s Citizen) to adapt the screenplay and J.D. Dillard (Devotion) to direct.

The project reunites Dillard with Black Label Media on the heels of Devotion, his historical war epic for Columbia Pictures, which the company produced.

The Strange is set in New Galveston, Mars in the year 1931. In the desolate frontier of a Martian colony, 14-year-old Anabelle Crisp embarks on a perilous quest through the desert, vowing revenge on the man who doomed her father to the gallows and stole her prized possession — the last known recording of her mother’s voice. The book is said to evoke the gritty, lawless atmosphere of True Grit combined with the raw intensity of Mad Max, following a young girl’s relentless search for justice as she battles ruthless outlaws...

Storm Reid will not be returning for “Euphoria” Season 3, the actor revealed.

“I’m very excited for Season 3,” Reid told Rotten Tomatoes on the Governors Awards red carpet. “Unfortunately, Gia’s not returning to the third season, but I am so so indebted to the cast and the crew of that show, to HBO. ‘Euphoria’s’ a really special thing and I’m so glad that that’s a part of my legacy and that I was a part of such a cultural phenomenon … I can’t wait to see what Season 3 has in store.”

HBO declined to comment.

Reid starred as Gia, the younger sister of Zendaya’s Rue, in the first two seasons of “Euphoria,” which premiered in June 2019 and finished airing Season 2 in February 2022.

Production on Season 3 of “Euphoria” is set to begin in January. “We are shooting the season. I have read the scripts. We’re happy.

Apple TV+ has ordered a series adaptation of the William Gibson novel “Neuromancer,” Variety has learned.

The 10-episode series hails from co-creators Graham Roland and Jd Dillard. Roland will also serve as showrunner, while Dillard will direct the pilot. Skydance Television will co-produce with Anonymous Content.

Per the official logline, the series “will follow a damaged, top-rung super-hacker named Case who is thrust into a web of digital espionage and high stakes crime with his partner Molly, a razor-girl assassin with mirrored eyes, aiming to pull a heist on a corporate dynasty with untold secrets.”

“We’re incredibly excited to be bringing this iconic property to Apple TV+,” said Roland and Dillard in a joint statement. “Since we became friends nearly ten years ago, we’ve looked for something to team up on, so this collaboration marks a dream come true. Neuromancer has inspired so much of the science fiction...

Apple TV+ is ready to expand its science-fiction content by decrypting an adaptation of William Gibson’s award-winning novel Neuromancer. The 10-episode series comes from creators Graham Roland and Jd Dillard, with Skydance Television and Anonymous Content co-producing, and production by Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment. The project’s showrunner is Graham Rolland, with Jd Dillard directing the pilot episode.

According to the project’s official synopsis, “The series will follow a damaged, top-rung super-hacker named Case who is thrust into a web of digital espionage and high stakes crime with his partner Molly, a razor-girl assassin with mirrored eyes, aiming to pull a heist on a corporate dynasty with untold secrets.”

For a more detailed description of the plot, here’s a synopsis of William Gibson’s award-winning novel:

Case was the sharpest data thief in the matrix—until he crossed the wrong people, and they crippled his nervous system,...

Highland Film Group has locked key territory deals for sci-fi thriller “The Astronaut” from “A Quiet Place” producer Brad Fuller Pic stars Kate Mara (“A Teacher”), Laurence Fishburne (“John Wick” films) and Gabriel Luna (“Terminator: Dark Fate”). The film wrapped shooting late last year in Ireland.

“The Astronaut” has sold to Signature Entertainment for the U.K., Capelight Pictures for Germany, Blue Swan Entertainment for Italy, Nos Lusomundo Audiovisuais for Portugal, DeAPlaneta for Spain, Spentzos Film for Greece, Cinemania Group for former Yugoslavia, Shoval Film Production for Israel, Falcon Films for the Middle East, Filmfinity for South Africa and Roadshow Films for Australia and New Zealand.

Jess Varley’s directorial debut, “The Astronaut” is produced by Fuller Media, the company behind Paramount’s “A Quiet Place” and “A Quiet Place Part II,” and Cameron Fuller, alongside Wonder Company’s Eric B. Fleischman (J.D. Dillard’s “Sleight”) and Chris Abernathy (“Barbarian”).

Highland Film Group,...

From producer Brad Fuller (A Quiet Place) comes the sci-fi thriller The Astronaut, and a first look image unveiled today of star Kate Mara indicates that the genre film is going to be intense.

The Astronaut also stars Laurence Fishburne and Gabriel Luna.

In the film, “When astronaut Sam Walker (Mara) returns from her first space mission, she’s found miraculously alive in a punctured capsule floating deep off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Expecting to be reunited with her husband (Luna), she finds herself placed under intense NASA surveillance in a high security house for rehabilitation and medical testing under the control of General William Harris (Fishburne). However, when disturbing occurrences begin happening around the property, she fears that something extraterrestrial has followed her back to Earth.”

The sci-fi thriller was written and directed by Jess Varley (Phobias), making her solo writing and directorial debut.

Producers include Fuller Media...

In a first look at the sci-fi thriller The Astronaut, star Kate Mara looks concerned as a recently Earth-bound NASA astronaut being held under surveillance.

Jess Varley wrote and directed the feature, which is currently in post-production and also stars Laurence Fishburne and Gabriel Luna.

It follows astronaut Sam Walker (Mara), who returns from her first space mission and is found miraculously alive in a punctured capsule floating deep off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The synopsis for the film reads: “Expecting to be reunited with her husband (Luna), she finds herself placed under intense NASA surveillance in a high-security house for rehabilitation and medical testing under the control of General William Harris (Fishburne). However, when disturbing occurrences begin happening around the property, she fears that something extraterrestrial has followed her back to Earth.”

Fuller Media’s Brad Fuller (A Quiet Place) and Cameron Fuller, alongside Wonder Company’s...

Exclusive: Primetime Emmy nominee Kate Mara has joined Laurence Fishburne in the sci-fi thriller, The Astronaut. Terminator: Dark Fate actor Gabriel Luna has also joined the cast.

Jess Varley (Phobias) makes her solo writing and directorial debut.

Cameras are set to roll this October in Ireland under an interim SAG-AFTRA agreement.

The Astronaut is produced by Fuller Media’s Brad Fuller and Cameron Fuller, alongside Wonder Company’s Eric B. Fleischman (J.D. Dillard’s Sleight) and Chris Abernathy (Barbarian).

Highland Film Group is repping foreign rights to the pic here at TIFF. CAA Media Finance and the UTA Independent Film Group are co-repping domestic rights.

Gabriel Luna

In the pic, astronaut Sam Walker (Mara) returns from her first space mission. She’s found miraculously alive in a punctured capsule floating deep off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Nun 2 cast sees the return of a few iconic actors who made their Conjuring Universe debut in the first movie, as well as some exciting new additions to the ensemble. Set four years after the events of the first movie, The Nun 2 sees unlucky Sister Irene once again encountering the sinister demon Valak, better known as “The Nun.” As the title suggests, The Nun 2 is the second installment in The Nun spin-off series, and it’s the ninth installment in the overall Conjuring Universe franchise. The Nun sequel is helmed by The Curse of La Llorona director Michael Chaves, with a story by M3GAN screenwriter Akela Cooper.

The Nun 2 is set to be released in theaters on September 8, 2023. The Nun sequel has an impressive legacy to live up to, since The Conjuring Universe’s worldwide gross of more than $2 billion (via Box Office Mojo) has made it one...

Signature Entertainment has acquired U.K. and Ireland rights to sci-fi thriller “The Astronaut,” starring Emma Roberts (“We’re the Millers”) and Laurence Fishburne (“The Matrix”), from Highland Film Group.

Written and directed by Jess Varley (“Phobias”) in her solo directorial and writing debut, the film follows astronaut Sam Walker (Roberts) who, upon returning from her first space mission, is found miraculously alive in a punctured capsule floating deep off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. General William Harris (Fishburne) arranges for her to be placed under intense NASA surveillance in a high security house for rehabilitation and medical testing. However, when disturbing occurrences begin happening around the property, Walker fears that something extraterrestrial has followed her back to Earth.

“The Astronaut is produced by Brad Fuller, Eric B. Fleischman (“Sleight”) and Cameron Fuller (“The Girl in the Woods”).

The deal was negotiated between Signature’s director of acquisitions and TV...

February 16 marked the fifth anniversary of Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole’s “Black Panther.” Marvel Studios’ first Black-led superhero flick, starring the late Chadwick Boseman as the king of Wakanda, was seen as a watershed moment for Hollywood representation. With all the chatter about Marvel and DC films prioritizing diversity and inclusivity as a step forward for the caped sub-genre, the success of “Black Panther” was less a step forward and more a return to what was once the status quo generations prior.

Comic book and/or superhero movies fronted by Black actors, like the “Blade” trilogy and “Men in Black” series, once kept comic book features alive, only for Hollywood to declare them essentially whites-only as “Spider-Man” turned the genre into A-level tentpole IP.

Will Smith in “Men in Black 3”

While Hollywood chased pulp-era nostalgia, smaller superhero films centered on Black heroes to relative success.

The industry...

Today we have a new trailer for "Devotion," based on the bestselling non-fiction book "Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice" by Adam Makos. The Sony Pictures film is directed by J.D. Dillard ("Sleight"). "Devotion" is the story of two US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War, who risked everything to save the day, and each other. 

The last trailer for the film got me in the heart, and revealed exactly how much I don't know about this particular war. In this trailer we meet pilots Jesse Brown, played by Jonathan Majors ("Loki"), and Tom Hudner, played by Glen Powell ("Top Gun: Maverick")....

The post Devotion Trailer: A Heroic Friendship Forms Between Two Fighter Pilots appeared first on /Film.

Jonathan Majors became “sick as a dog” while filming war drama “Devotion” because, well, Dramamine didn’t exist in the 1950s during the Korean War, when the film takes place.

Majors stars as real-life U.S. Navy aviator Jesse L. Brown in the 2022 TIFF-selected film “Devotion,” directed by Jd Dillard (“Sleight”) and based on true events. The film centers on the friendship between Brown (Majors) and fellow pilot Tom Hudner (Glen Powell) before entering the Korean War together.

“Top Gun: Maverick” breakout Powell began developing the film five years ago after reading Adam Makos’ 2014 nonfiction book “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice.” The film is written by Jake Crane and Jonathan A.H. Stewart, adapted from Makos’ book and will premiere in theaters November 23 from Sony.

“A couple of different people had mentioned the book,” Powell, who executive produces the film, told Entertainment Weekly. “I ended up going...

Disney had a lot to celebrate in April 2019, including the launch of its streaming service Disney+ and the latest iteration of its popular Star Wars Celebration (held in Chicago after recent events in London and Orlando), during which a starry panel prepped audiences for the final film in the second trilogy of Lucasfilm’s tentpole Skywalker Saga. But even with so much to enjoy — and so much of it centered around the jewel that is the “Star Wars” brand — fans didn’t have to look too far to realize that the very medium that had made George Lucas’ invention such a game-changer for Hollywood was in serious danger.

As then-Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger explained, the studio was looking for a little break from “Star Wars” cinema. “We will take a pause, some time, and reset, because the Skywalker Saga comes to an end with this ninth movie,” Iger said at the time.

There is no shortage of television shows set in a galaxy far, far away.

During Disney and Lucasfilm’s presentation at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, Calif., most of the time was devoted to introducing new series like “Skeleton Crew,” starring Jude Law, and “Andor,” featuring Diego Luna in a prequel to “Rogue One,” as well as long-in-the-works titles like “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” which premieres on May 27.

But in contrast to the robust slate of “Star Wars” TV series set for Disney+, the franchise’s feature film landscape has been as desolate as the sands of Tatooine in the wake of 2019’s “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” That’s surprising, since “Star Wars” is one of Hollywood’s biggest properties and the studio has a trio of untitled space opera movies set to hit theaters around Christmas every other year starting in 2023.

Even more eyebrow-raising, Disney didn’t completely ignore movies during its hour-and-a-half presentation.

If you love the relaxing, escapist vibes of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you’ll love Nintendo’s new camping game Cozy Grove.

“It was just over a year ago, right at the start of the global pandemic we’re all still living through, that our collective obsession with Animal Crossing: New Horizons consumed us… A year later, Cozy Grove feels like the natural spiritual successor to Acnh, based on where we are now vs. where we all were then.”

Read more at The Mary Sue.

NBC’s streaming service Peacock has reportedly acquired the broadcast rights for the Eurovision semifinals and finals.

“For the first 60 years of the Eurovision Song Contest, the most viable (and legal) way for U.S. residents to watch it live was to take a trip to a country that broadcast it. That changed in 2016, when Viacom aired the finals on its channel Logo. Logo remained the U.

Psych alum Dulé Hill is set as a lead opposite Elisha “Ej” Williams and Saycon Sengbloh in ABC’s The Wonder Years single-camera comedy reboot pilot. Additionally, newcomer Laura Kariuki (Black Lightning) is set as a series regular in the reboot from Dave exec producer Saladin Patterson, Fred Savage and Empire co-creator Lee Daniels.

Written by Patterson and directed by Savage, the reboot of the classic 1980s family comedy-drama is set in the same era as the original. It looks at how the Williamses, a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Al, in the turbulent late 1960s made sure it was the Wonder Years for them too.

Hill will play Bill Williams, Dean’s (Elisha Williams) dad. He’s a music professor by day and a funk musician by night – described by Adult Dean as “The baddest guy I knew.” Almost always calm and composed, his favorite words are “be cool.

When you hear about a Korean War movie, your first thought probably isn’t, “I wonder who they’re going to cast as Elizabeth Taylor?” But here we are! Devotion, a new movie from director J.D. Dillard (Sleight), is about a pair of U.S. Navy fighter pilots who “risk their lives during the Korean War and become some […]

The post ‘Devotion’, J.D. Dillard Movie Set During the Korean War, Casts Serinda Swan as Elizabeth Taylor appeared first on /Film.

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige’s highly anticipated “Star Wars” project just took a big step forward, with “Loki” executive producer and writer Michael Waldron signing on to write the screenplay, Variety has confirmed.

Waldron’s work on the “Star Wars” movie is part of a larger deal he’s signed with Disney, suggesting a long-term relationship with the company and its live-action divisions. Along with his duties on the Disney Plus series “Loki,” Waldron recently wrote the upcoming Marvel Studios feature “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”

Waldron first cut his teeth in the business working on various projects for Dan Harmon, including “Rick and Morty” and “Community.” He recently executive produced and co-wrote the Starz drama “Heels,” about a family of pro wrestlers starring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig.

Disney first confirmed that Feige was developing a “Star Wars” feature in Sept. 2019, but otherwise Lucasfilm and Feige...

Disney has confirmed Patty Jenkins is directing the next “Star Wars” movie, “Rogue Squadron,” for Christmas 2023. “Rogue Squadron” refers to the group of ace pilots — of X-Wings and snowspeeders, among other zippy ships — first introduced in “The Empire Strikes Back” who headlined a beloved book series for Ballantine and Del Rey Books in the late 1990s.

In Kathleen Kennedy’s announcement, she said that Jenkins’ film will explore a new, previously unexplored era of “Star Wars” lore set in the future beyond “The Rise of Skywalker.” In a statement on StarWars.com, Lucasfilm said “Rogue Squadron” will “introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride, and move the saga into the future era of the galaxy.”

“Rogue Squadron” should be a film without Force users, such as the Jedi and the Sith, and will center around starfighter action instead.

Spinoffs of “Star Wars” fan favorite character Ahsoka Tano, “Ahsoka,” and “Rangers of the New Republic” will be coming to Disney Plus in new series, Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy announced during Thursday’s Disney Investor Day conference.

Rosario Dawson will star in “Ahsoka,” having made her debut as the character in “The Mandalorian” recently. Both new series are set within the timeline of “The Mandalorian.”

Ahsoka Tano was the Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, but would go on to become something of a foil to him. She debuted in animated movie “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” and also appeared in the series “Star Wars Rebels,” voiced by Ashley Eckstein.

Dawson, though, was the first person to play Tano in live-action. In Season 2 of “The Mandalorian,” Pedro Pascal’s titular bounty hunter finds her in his search to deliver “the child” (now known to be named Grogu) to the Jedi. She ultimately,...

HBO Max is out with its list of everything new coming to the streaming service in October and everything leaving at the end of the month.

The list includes HBO Originals like the limited series “The Undoing” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, out Oct. 25, and David Byrne’s “American Utopia” special event about Byrne’s Broadway show that electrified audiences, out Oct. 17.

There is also Nathan Fielder’s comedic docuseries “How To With John Wilson,” out Oct. 23, and the first season finale of “Lovecraft Country” on Oct. 18.

Among the things leaving at the end of the month are “Amelie,” “Ocean’s 11,” “V For Vendetta,” “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.”

Read the full list here:

Oct. 1

A World of Calm, Documentary Series Premiere

Akeelah And The Bee, 2006 (HBO)

All-Star Superman, 2011

American Dynasties: The Kennedys, 2018

American Reunion, 2012 (HBO)

Analyze That,...

Sasheer Zamata has been seen in numerous TV series including Transparent, Robbie, Inside Amy Schumer and People of Earth as well as the big screen with roles in I Feel Pretty, Sleight, The Outdoorsman and Deidre and Laney Rob A Train. She also released her first perfectly titled comedy special Pizza Mind and co-hosts the podcast Best Friends with her real-life Bff Nicole Byer. Now, the actress and stand-up comedian is tackling the forever-timely topic of wokeness in Hulu’s Woke.

The term “woke” has been very much resonating through conversations surrounding social awareness and racial justice — and these days, those conversations are being had every 15 minutes. In the new comedy created by cartoonist Keith Knight, Lamorne Morris plays Keef who, like Knight, is a cartoonist. He is just living his life and his career is about to hit it big, but when a run-in with the police changes things,...

Ava DuVernay’s Array is presenting its fourth filmmaker tweet-a-thon, Array Film Fellowship. The annual daylong social media event is set to kick off on April 30 at 9 am Pt and will run for a staggering 10 hours and feature the voices of over 50 directors.

From Academy Award winners to veterans to legends to new voices the Twitter takeover will feature Guillermo Del Toro, Patty Jenkins, Jon M. Chu, Julie Dash, Jill Soloway, Patricia Cardoso, Mira Nair, George Tillman, Victoria Mahoney, Diane Paragas, Nisha Ganatra, Prentice Penny, Numa Perrier and many more.

More from DeadlineRusso Brothers To Celebrate One-Year Anniversary Of 'Avengers: Endgame' With Live Tweet RewatchSnap Surges 37%, Facebook Follows As Social Media Stocks Rally In Upbeat MarketTwitter Founder-ceo Jack Dorsey Made $1.40 In 2019, Even With Year Before

The filmmakers will wax poetic on the social media platform and share details about their craft, latest projects, take questions from film lovers...

Cinematographer Ed Wu was working on an independent film when he canceled plans for a shoot in Japan because of the growing threat of coronavirus. Now, Wu is contemplating weeks or months with no work, just one of Hollywood’s many below-the-line professionals working in a gig economy that is quickly disappearing. Wu, who has shot indie films like “Sleight” and this year’s Sundance drama “Blast Beat,” already has had $10,000 worth of work canceled, and he’s still waiting to hear word on a pair of projects meant to kick off in May and June. Even the short-term commercial or branded content work he takes on in between features is uncertain, as many businesses have ground to a halt in response to the pandemic. Also Read: A Summer With No New Movies? How the Studios Are Planning for Post-Coronavirus Era “I’m taking it day-by-day. It’s more of...

Hollywood is grappling with a new reality.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, movie and television productions have shut down, theaters and cinemas have closed, and red carpet premieres and concerts have been canceled or pushed back indefinitely. These abrupt moves have resulted in layoffs and a lot of workers staring at an uncertain future, one in which they won’t have a regular paycheck.

“Everyone is in a state of shock,” said Lia Towers, a key assistant location manager who was working on a television show in Atlanta that opted to end its season early. “We have no idea when things will start back up again.”

The entertainment industry conjures an image in the popular imagination as a playground for the rich and beautiful. The reality is that some people who make the business run, from the assistants fielding calls at agencies to the grip hanging lights on a soundstage,...

J.J. Abrams cut a lot of crucial information from the “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” theatrical cut (see all the backlash over Palpatine’s return and Rey’s father), but it turns out entire creatures that were handmade for the production were also left on the cutting room floor. “Star Wars” visual effects supervisor Neal Scanlan recently told Collider about a monster called The Eye of Webbish Bog that was built for “Rise of Skywalker.” The monster, which is included in Rae Carson’s upcoming novelization of the film, was to be featured in a scene in which Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) hunts for the Sith Wayfinder. The Eye is described as “a spidery Lovecraftian giant.”

“I think it maybe was too lengthy an explanation for something that [director J.J. Abrams] was able to explain in the movie much quicker,” Scanlan says about why the monster was cut from production. “J.J.

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” was a huge disappointment among film critics, but the negative critical reception to the movie is nothing compared to the reaction greeting “Star Wars” in the wake of the film’s novelization. The upcoming “Rise of Skywalker” novel from writer Rae Carson will be available to own starting March 17, but copies of the book showed up at Chicago’s C2E2 convention last week. The novel includes controversial new information that answers questions left by J.J. Abrams’ “Rise of Skywalker” theatrical cut. The book has made headlines this week for revealing how Palpatine returned (he transferred his consciousness into a clone of himself) and confirming Rey and Kylo’s climactic kiss was not romantic. A new report from ScreenRant might contain the book’s most jaw-dropping and head-scratching revelation: Rey’s father was a failed clone of Palpatine.

“The Rise of Skywalker” ends...

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” baffled moviegoers by bringing back Emperor Palpatine without explanation (the film begins and all the characters readily accept the Sith lord is alive), but the much-debated plot point of Palpatine’s resurrection gets an answer at long last in Rae Carson’s upcoming novelization, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Expanded Edition).” Copies of the book were available at Chicago’s C2E2 convention this weekend and a passage explaining Palpatine’s return went viral on social media (via ScreenRant). When Kylo Ren first visits Palpatine on Exegol at the start of the movie, he notices the device keeping Palpatine alive and makes the connection that this iteration of the Sith lord is a clone of the original.

“He’d seen this apparatus before, too, when he’d studied the Clone Wars as a boy,” the novel reads. “The liquid flowing into the living...

For fans eager to fill in the gaps in storytelling left by J.J. Abrams’ 2019 film “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” the wait is over. According to StarWars.com, by way of The Film Stage, a forthcoming comic-book adaptation of the film, which concluded the Skywalker Saga in December last year, will recreate the film through panel illustrations, but it will also include deleted and extended scenes left out of the hit movie.

“I think one of the great things about adaptations in other mediums is you do get the chance to build out elements of the story there may not have been time or a place for on the screen,” said the comic’s writer, Jody Houser. “Giving light to new scenes gives the creators in these other mediums a chance to add to the story, rather than just translating it for the page.”

Featuring art by Will...

While we still try to get over “The Rise of Skywalker” and wait for news on Rian Johnson’s movie trilogy, there seems to be a disturbance in the Force, which heralds the arrival of a new and exciting voice helming a new movie in the franchise far, far away. Turns out, “Sweetheart” and “Sleight” director, J.D. Dillard is set to develop a new “Star Wars” project, whatever that means.

Continue reading New ‘Star Wars’ Project Planned Helmed By J.D. Dillard And ‘Luke Cage’ Writer at The Playlist.

A New Star Wars Movie is in the works. This comes after the release of The Rise of Skywalker in December, which wrapped up the Skywalker saga. The plan has always been for Lucasfilm to continue the franchise beyond that, but precisely how they're going to do so remains a bit unclear. While we still have many questions, the picture just became a bit more clear, as filmmakers J.D. Dillard and Matt Owens have been tapped to develop a new entry in a galaxy far, far away.

According to multiple reports, the filmmakers will be penning a mysterious Star Wars movie, with few details available. One report says that the story may take place on the Sith planet of Exegol, which fans were introduced to in The Rise of Skywalker. However, that has also been refuted, so that should be taken with a grain of salt. Exegol is the planet...

More Star Wars is on the way ladies and gentlemen. Exactly what, about who and when are yet to be seen. According to The Hollywood Reporter J.D. Dillard, best known for writing and directing the sci-fi thriller Sleight, and Matt Owens, a writer on Marvel shows Luke Cage and Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D have been tapped by Lucasfilm to develop […]

The post More Star Wars Is Coming With A New Project From J.D. Dillard And Matt Owens appeared first on Cinelinx.

As Lucasfilm figures out what’s next for “Star Wars,” filmmaker J.D. Dillard and writer Matt Owens have reportedly been tapped to develop a new feature for the franchise. According to The Hollywood Reporter, details surrounding the upcoming project from Dillard (writer/director of indies “Sleight” and “Sweetheart”) and Owens (a writer on Marvel series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. from ABC and “Luke Cage” from Netflix) remain mysterious.

That includes whether or not the film will head for a theatrical premiere, or bow on Disney+, streaming home to Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian” and the upcoming Obi-Wan series spinoff with Ewan McGregor (production last month was shifted to 2021 amid rumored creative conflicts). The report of the new “Star Wars” project also has yet to reveal whether Dillard, also a writer, will actually direct should the movie advance.

This would mark Lucasfilm’s latest foray into a “Star Wars” feature since “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker...

Lucasfilm is developing a new “Star Wars” feature film with “Sleight” writer-director J.D. Dillard and “Luke Cage” writer Matt Owens, Variety has confirmed.

The project is still in its very early stages, and all further details — characters, location, time period within the “Star Wars” creative galaxy — remain a mystery. That includes whether Dillard would direct the film, or whether the project would premiere in theaters or on Disney Plus.

Should the project land a greenlight, however, it would be the first time a black filmmaker was a lead creative force behind a live-action “Star Wars” movie.

The murkiness of the project, especially its prospective distribution, only further clouds the future of “Star Wars” at Disney.

On the theatrical side, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” director Rian Johnston is still nominally developing a new suite of “Star Wars” movies for Lucasfilm, but this month he was also tapped by Lionsgate to...

“Sleight” filmmaker J.D. Dillard and “Luke Cage” writer Matt Owens have been tapped to develop a new “Star Wars” project, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

At press time, it is unclear whether this new “Star Wars” project is a theatrical or Disney+ release.

As always with all things “Star Wars” related, plot details are being kept under wraps by Jawas on the planet Tatooine. Should the new “Star Wars” project move forward, it is unclear if Dillard would direct. This new project is also unrelated to the other “Star Wars” projects being developed “The Last Jedi” director Rian Johnson and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.

Also Read: Does 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' Have a Post-Credits Scene?

As Disney plots the future of “Star Wars” following “Rise of Skywalker,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said the studio could look to Disney+ characters, which will...

According to a new report, Lucasfilm has hired Sleight and Sweetheart director J.D. Dillard and Luke Cage and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. writer Matt Owens to develop a new Star Wars movie. Here’s what we know so far. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that a new Star Wars movie is in the works from Dillard and […]

The post New ‘Star Wars’ Movie Coming From ‘Sleight’ Director and ‘Luke Cage’ Writer appeared first on /Film.

Alec Bojalad Feb 21, 2020

Lucasfilm has ordered a new Star Wars film to be written by Luke Cage writer Matt Owens but it's unclear what the project is about.

Looks like Lucasfilm and Disney's momentary Star Wars film freeze is starting to thaw.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a new Star Wars project is in the works with writer Matt Owens (Luke Cage) and director J.D. Dillard (Sleight) set to develop it. And that's about it in terms of facts known at the moment! It is unknown what the plot of said project would be, what era it would be set in, or what Star Wars characters it would include. Yes, sorry to get your hopes up with the C-3Po header image, we just like Threepio's shiny golden head.

It's also not even known yet whether the project is destined for a theatrical release or will be made available on Disney streaming service Disney+.

As Lucasfilm maps out the next phase of Star Wars movies, executives are grappling with this question as development moves ahead: Which characters and stories justify theatrical releases and which should arrive exclusively on the streaming platform Disney+?

The Hollywood Reporter learned Friday that a new Star Wars project is in the works: J.D. Dillard, best known for writing and directing the sci-fi thriller Sleight, and Matt Owens, a writer on the Marvel shows Luke Cage and Agents of Shield, have been tapped to develop it. But insiders say it is undecided whether the project will be for the big screen or for Disney'...

As Lucasfilm maps out the next phase of Star Wars movies, executives are grappling with this question as development moves ahead: Which characters and stories justify theatrical releases and which should arrive exclusively on the streaming platform Disney+?

The Hollywood Reporter learned Friday that a new Star Wars project is in the works: J.D. Dillard, best known for writing and directing the sci-fi thriller Sleight, and Matt Owens, a writer on the Marvel shows Luke Cage and Agents of Shield, have been tapped to develop it. But insiders say it is undecided whether the project will be for the big screen or for Disney'...

Twenty years before introducing the Star-Spangled Man With a Plan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s World War II period piece Captain America: The First Avenger, director Joe Johnston brought another 1930s-set comic book character to the big screen on behalf of Walt Disney Pictures with The Rocketeer.

Released in 1991, the film was originally intended to serve as the opening chapter of a trilogy, and while disappointing box office returns interrupted those plans, the movie has developed a dedicated cult following that’s been clamoring for a sequel ever since. Now, it seems they’ll finally get their wish, as The DisInsider has brought word that the follow-up is currently in active development and has snagged a new writer (Azia Squire), with the project headed to Disney Plus.

Of course, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as We Got This Covered already told you about the sequel...

Showtime has dropped the trailer for Season 3 of “The Chi,” and it features creator and executive producer Lena Waithe in a multi-episode arc as a Chicago mayoral candidate.

“This city wasn’t meant to be a jungle,” Waithe’s character says from a podium in the trailer. “There’s so much more than that. If you’re with me, let me get an amen.”

Watch the trailer above.

Also Read: Jason Mitchell Says Former 'The Chi' Showrunner Used #MeToo Movement as a 'Really Ugly Weapon' Against Him

Showtime’s president of entertainment Gary Levine also announced at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour on Monday that the new season will return on July 5.

Common also executive produces “The Chi” along with showrunner Justin Hillian (“Snowfall”). The series is described as “a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence, but bonded by...

With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and an archive of past round-ups here.

Before we get to our weekly streaming picks, check out our annual feature: Where to Stream the Best Films of 2019.

3 Faces (Jafar Panahi)

3 Faces is the fourth film Jafar Panahi has made in defiance of a 20-year filmmaking ban the Iranian government issued against him in 2010. The first three were all small-scale affairs, shot solo or with tiny crews, in which the camera never left the confines of a given space – Panahi’s apartment building in This Is Not a Film (2011), a holiday house in Closed Curtain (2013), and a taxi in Taxi (2015). His newest, which sees him working with a larger team, is almost...

Old-school monster action meets island survival thrills in Sweetheart, the standout new creature feature from Sleight director J.D. Dillard, which just dropped on Netflix. The Blumhouse film stars Kiersey Clemons as Jenn, a young woman who wakes up stranded on an island after an off-screen shipwreck and quickly discovers she's not alone -- she floated right to the home of a mysterious, monstrous sea creature. Sweetheart is a cleverly directed film that makes the most a modest budget with resourceful staging and one heck of a leading performance from Clemons, but it also features a stunning creature …...

A perhaps necessary reminder in the wake of “The Shape of Water” that sea creatures, as a rule, should probably not be looked at as romantic partners, “Sweetheart” complicates — and elevates — a survival story by pitting a desperate young woman against a primordial beast determined to make her its dinner.

Director and co-writer J.D. Dillard (“Sleight”) delivers a smart, streamlined thriller that skillfully integrates a careful whisper of social commentary into a story that also unfolds masterfully as a straightforward genre workout.

Kiersey Clemons (“Hearts Beat Loud”) plays Jenn, a young coed who washes up on the beach of a tiny, idyllic island alongside another ailing passenger from the boat she, her boyfriend Lucas (Emory Cohen), and a group of college kids took out for vacation. While she’s exploring the island for food, supplies and other survivors, her companion dies, and she buries his body in the sand on...

J.D. Dillard has signed on to helm Korean War epic “Devotion,” starring “Top Gun: Maverick” actor Glen Powell, sources tell Variety.

The film, from Black Label Media, is an aerial war epic that tells the harrowing true story of two elite U.S. Navy fighter pilots, Tom Hudner and Jesse L. Brown, during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen.

Powell will star as Hudner, whose life — along with Brown’s — was chronicled in Adam Makos’ book “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice,” upon which the movie is based. Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart wrote the screenplay. Blm’s Molly Smith, Rachel Smith, Thad Luckinbill and Trent Luckinbill will produce.

Dillard is best known for his debut feature film “Sleight,” which premiered at Sundance in 2016 and was acquired by WWE Studios and Blumhouse. His second film, “Sweetheart,” starring Kiersey Clemons,...

"Intense." Blumhouse has debuted an official trailer for the indie horror film Sweetheart, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year in the Midnight section. This also just premiered at Fantastic Fest, and will be arriving on VOD in October for those who want to watch. This is the next film from up-and-coming filmmaker J.D. Dillard, who broke out with his film Sleight a few years back before bringing this one again to Sundance earlier this year. Kiersey Clemons stars in this as a woman who washes up on a deserted island beach, not sure where she is. She things she's alone until some kind of creature shows up at night. I saw this at Sundance and really flipped for it, truly one of the best creature features in years - and I ended up quoted in this trailer (here's my full review). It's a very short 30-second...

After the success of the genre-bending, sci-fi, fantasy favorite “Sleight” at the 2016 Sundance awards, director Jd Dillard has regrouped with his co-writers and the Blumhouse team for this new film. “Sweetheart” is an adrenaline-filled thriller in which Kiersey Clemons struggles to survive on a deserted island, only to learn that there is a malevolent creature that emerges at night, looking for something to feed on.

Continue reading ‘Sweetheart’ Trailer: Director Jd Dillard Reunites With Blumhouse For New Survival Thriller Starring Kiersey Clemons at The Playlist.

The Walt Disney Company is soon to conclude its merger with Fox, the most attention-grabbing feature of which will be Marvel Studios being able to use the X-Men and Fantastic Four characters in the McU. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

On top of that, the company is also getting an enormous amount of rights to classic properties that sound like an odd fit for the House of Mouse. For instance, can you imagine Disney’s Alien? Donald Duck vs. Predator? Goofy teaming up with Mulder and Scully to investigate a seriously weird crime? Perhaps the strangest is that it seems that Disney will soon be releasing a remake of The Fly.

Though the story was first published in Playboy in 1957 and the first movie adaptation in 1958 was moderately successful, contemporary audiences are much more familiar with David Cronenberg’s absolutely astonishing take on the concept in 1986’s The Fly.

As I think we all known by this point in time, soon Disney will be buying up Twentieth Century Fox and all of its properties here in the near future. While there is no word on just which of Fox's intellectual properties Disney plans to keep moving forward, today we have word (a rumor) that Disney plans to bring George Langelaan's classic 1957 short story The Fly back to the big screen. You might remember that there is already another remake of The Fly in the works from Sleight filmmaker J.D. Dillard who co-wrote "a cool script" with his Sleight writing partner Alex Theurer. We're hearing that this is still the film Disney is interested in developing.

And this news (rumor) makes a whole lot of sense to this guy, considering The Fly is not only one of the best sci-fi horror tales out there, but it has proven...