News

Exclusive: The Eastern Gate will open again on Max.

The Warner Bros. Discovery (Wbd) streamer has ordered a second season of the drama, which stars Lena Góra and Karol Pocheć, with a script already in development.

The news came during a wide-ranging interview with Dorota Eberhardt, VP Programming at Wbd in Poland, during which she discussed content spend for 2025 that we understand is in the eight figure range, addressed local competition and talked about the impact of shows such as Netflix’s Adolescence.

The Eastern Gate‘s recommission should come as no surprise, given its outsized impact for Wbd streamer Max, where it has set several records.

Tapping into concerns around the precarious political environment in Europe, the series is billed as “a modern espionage game amid brewing international conflict and rising tensions.” It is set in the spring of 2021 and follows the story of Polish spy Ewa Oginiec (Góra...

Horror master Álex de la Iglesia and Carolina Bang’s Pokeepsie Films (“30 Coins“) production company are joining forces with Atresmedia TV to adapt Sanctuary, a dystopian sci-fi podcast series, Variety reports today.

The eight-episode thriller series is directed by “30 Coins” directors Ruiz-Gallardón and Zoe Berriatúa.

In the dystopian thriller, “After a climate disaster, pregnant women live in the Sanctuary, a dome that protects them from pollution. Far from their families and society, they are cared for and at peace. Or so they believe. Pilar’s arrival will reveal the truth.”

Lucía Guerrero stars as Pilar, and Aura Garrido stars opposite as Valle, the engineer tasked with looking after the women.

Alba Ribas, Songa Park, Anna Canepa, Jaime Ordoñez, Melida Molina, Joan Sentís, Borja Luna, Manu Fullola, Juan Viadas, Blanca Velletbó, Melina Matthews, and Godeliv Van Den Brandt round out the cast.

The podcast series was created by Manuel Bartual and Carmen Pacheco.

Wide-eyed expectant mother Pilar takes up residence at an idyllic domed birthing retreat after a climate-fuelled crisis leads to a toxic atmosphere. She is introduced to Valle, the engineer tasked with looking after the women, and comes to senses the serene refuge holds a set of macabre secrets, nothing as it seems.

“Sanctuary” (“Santuario”), the first co-production between Spain’s internationally ambitious Atresmedia TV and Carolina Bang and Alex de la Iglesia at Madrid’s Banijay-backed Pokeepsie Films (“30 Coins”), merges a not-so-implausible, ominous backdrop with strong female leads to showcase the breadth of feminine resolve in the face of clear and present danger, all with a gripping tension.

“Four years ago, we loved the podcast. The story was so powerful and well-crafted that turning it into a series was something that happened very naturally,” Montse García, director of fiction at Atresmedia, told Variety. “We’ve collaborated with the creators...

Steve Matthews and Johannes Jensen have been handed new roles in Banijay Entertainment’s central scripted division.

Matthews has been named Head of Scripted, Creative, and Jensen Head of Scripted, Business. Together, they will work to support and partner with Banijay’s group of more than 60 scripted labels.

Frédéric Balmary will continue to oversee the overall direction of Banijay’s scripted effort as Chief Business Officer. “As we continue to grow, the refreshed roles for Steve and Johannes will strengthen our creative and business acumen, ensuring we continue to innovate and lead on the global stage,” he said.

Former HBO Europe exec Matthews has been with Banijay since 2023, working as a pivot for the France-based giant’s scripted producers and overseeing global initiatives. He has taken on an even more prominent role since the exit of Christian Wikander this time last year.

Jensen has to this point been Head of Scripted for Banijay Nordic.

This story was created in paid partnership with Pokeepsie Films

Pokeepsie Films has cause for celebration. The Madrid-based production outfit has three new premieres on three different streaming platforms this month, an enviable release schedule to be sure. Adding to the mix, the company – launched by real-life partners Álex De la Iglesia, the genre writer-director, and actress-producer Carolina Bang – is also celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

Over the course of the last decade, Pokeepsie has stealthily set itself apart as a unique home for Spanish talent, so much so that they drew backing from multinational Banijay in 2022 to support their ambitious slate of films and series.

“We are immensely proud to conclude our 10th anniversary year with the release of these three premieres,” says Bang, the company’s CEO. “While this was not initially planned, 2024 has provided us with a remarkable close to the year, showcasing our ongoing commitment to innovation...

Disney+ has released an international trailer for its upcoming original Spanish comedy series “Shared Custody,” directed by “Champions” creator Javier Fesser, which will debut globally on the platform on Jan. 24.

An accomplished filmmaker, Fesser, who makes his TV debut with “Shared Custody,” is best known for creating the Goya-winning and Oscar-submitted heartwarming comedy “Campeones” (“Champions”), adapted in 2023 as the Woody Harelson starrer “Champions.” In 2007, his short film “Binta y la gran idea” was nominated for the live-action short film Oscar. “Shared Custody” marks his series debut.

Over eight episodes, the series will examine the challenges faced by two parents, Cris and Diego, after their separation. The show delves into the complexities of modern co-parenting as the couple strives to maintain a mature, amicable relationship for the sake of their young daughter.

However, financial difficulties force them to move back in with their respective parents, setting the stage for awkward and often humorous family dynamics.

We're halfway through December, and Netflix has already released so many great shows this month. We're talking about series like The Ultimatum: Marry or Move on season 3, Black Doves, Queer Eye season 9, No Good Deed, etc.

Of course, some become instant hits with viewers, but others end up flying under the radar. This doesn't necessarily mean that they're bad. It's just that people either didn't know about them or they just didn't pull them in right away. These are called hidden gems, and they deserve some love and attention, just like the more popular shows.

In this article, we shared four underrated Netflix shows released this month that you should add to your watchlist. Don't you think it's time to broaden your horizons and watch something different from what you're used to watching? We think so!

Ali Wong as Jentry Chau in Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld | Netflix Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld...

Horror TV shows are extremely popular, and with as many releases that come out every year, fans of the genre are inevitably bound to miss a few series, especially those from other parts of the world. The best horror series in general are most appreciated when there are well-crafted scares and gradual amounts of suspension built throughout episodes. Bonus points are awarded by fans of twisted horror tales when shows are intense with their violence and gore.

Part of what makes horror such a beloved genre is the universal feeling of fear. This is why international horror shows are able to garner worldwide success, because no matter the language, all that matters is that audiences are effectively scared. Though horror TV shows can be enjoyed all year round, the approaching end of "spooky season" is the perfect time to binge a horror series from another part of the world, from Mexico to South Korea.

Superindie Banijay Entertainment, the France-headquartered international content production and distribution giant with more than 130 production companies across 23 territories, has a catalog of over 185,000 hours of original programming, including such hits as Survivor, Black Mirror, Marie Antoinette, Peaky Blinders, MasterChef, and Big Brother. And it has an executive role that is unlike most others.

In early 2023, the company hired HBO Europe veteran Steve Matthews as an addition to its central scripted department. The former executive of Octagon Films in Dublin (Love/Hate) and consulting producer on all three seasons of Showtime’s The Borgias, starring Jeremy Irons, has since then worked as content partnerships executive at Banijay. He is tasked with contributing to the production development process, “supporting in driving co-production opportunities across the Nordics, Spain and beyond, and generally building out the business’ pipeline and creative partnerships primarily across drama.”

Matthews will be speaking at MIPCOM 2024 on Tuesday during a “Drama...

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the Baltic region’s leading industry confab and sidebar to the Black Nights Film Festival, has unveiled the list of 17 films from 15 countries selected for its three Works in Progress sessions: the International Works in Progress, Baltic Event Works in Progress (from the Baltics and Finland) and Just Film Works in Progress (for kids and youth).

The projects – which are in production or post-production and are looking for sales, extra coin and festival platforms – will be pitched to more than 500 industry delegates from at least 45 countries on Nov. 21-22.

Buyers and programmers who first discovered in Tallinn little gems like Berlin winner “20,000 Species of Bees” from Spain, can look forward to this year’s WiP program. “It is exciting, strong, and so diverse!”, said Marge Liiske, head of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event. “From the Baltics, we have slightly fewer projects this year, as many international...

“It’s not TV,” HBO used to claim of itself. Watching the first 12 minutes made public of Enrique Urbizu’s crime thriller “When No One Sees Us,” Max’s first Spanish original sneak-peaked at San Sebastián Festival Monday morning, the legendary HBO slogan came to mind.

Rather than TV, the scenes are pure cinema of the highest order.

In them, a man, Antonio Jiménez, 38, dressed in a white ceremonial robe, kneels, draws a sword, carefully places it to his abdomen, and commits hari-kari.

Then a float of the local virgin edges down a street of whitewashed houses on the first day of Holy Week, in the village of Morón de la Frontera, Andalusia, southern Spain. When it stops, a young man emerges from the packed rows of penitents carrying it and, now out in the street, hallucinates that fellow black-hooded penitents and then the float itself levitate high in the sky.

Hostel is in the works for the small screen. Paul Giamatti is attached to star in a television series based on Eli Roth’s horror franchise, from Roth, Chris Briggs, Mike Fleiss, all of whom worked on the films, and Fifth Season, Deadline has confirmed.

The show is currently in development and does not yet have a network or streamer attached, but it’s described as an “elevated thriller with Roth’s trademark kills” and a modern reinvention of the horror franchise.

No details yet, but Giamatti is set to play a key role. Roth will direct and write with Briggs, and Roth, Briggs and Fleiss will executive produce.

The original film franchise, first released in 2006, followed three backpackers headed to a Slovak city that promised to meet their hedonistic expectations, with no idea of the hell that awaited them. The first two films were written and directed by Eli Roth and produced by Roth,...

Academy Award nominee and lifelong horror fan Paul Giamatti is set to star in a key role for new “Hostel” TV series with Eli Roth returning, THR reports today.

It’s not just Roth returning, but franchise producers Chris Briggs and Mike Fleiss as well.

No plot details as of yet as the series is still in development. But it’s described as a “modern adaptation” and an “elevated thriller” that’s also a “reinvention” of the horror franchise that launched in 2006 and spawned two sequels.

Roth and Briggs will write the script, with the former set to direct. Roth, Briggs and Fleiss will all executive produce the series.

Giamatti will star in a key role, though character details are under wraps.

The actor is a huge fan of the genre, having recently appeared as the villainous Christian Barbrow in season two of HBO Original Series “30 Coins.” Giamatti recently...

Update: A month after the Paul Giamatti / Hostel TV series rumor popped up, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that it’s actually happening! Giamatti is set to play “a key role” in the Hostel TV show, which is said to reinvent the franchise as an “elevated thriller.” The series is coming our way from Fifth Season, the studio behind Apple’s Severance, and has Eli Roth, Chris Briggs, and Mike Fleiss on board as executive producers. Roth and Briggs are also writing the project, which Roth will be directing.

In 2013, Giamatti revealed to Entertainment Weekly that he almost made a cameo in the original Hostel: “Eli was shooting Hostel in Prague and I was shooting The Illusionist and I met him. We talked about me actually killing somebody in that movie but it never panned out.” Now it looks like Giamatti and Roth are going to make up for lost time.

Barcelona-based sales company Film Factory has picked up global rights to Alberto Gastesi’s sci-fi thriller “Singular,” a former Sitges Pitchbox winner that will begin shooting this month.

“Singular” is the story of Diana, a university professor who works with artificial intelligence linguistic models. When Martín, Diana’s ex and the father of her late son Martín, invites her to spend a day at the lake, she’s shocked to meet a young man named Andrea, who undeniably resembles her deceased child. Given Martín’s expertise in robotics, Diana begins to suspect that the man has created an android version of their child. While every part of her wants to deny Andrea, she feels compelled to help free the boy from the prison-like grasp that Martín holds over him.

Spanish Academy Goya Award winners Patricia López Arnaiz (“20 000 Species of Bees”) and Javier Rey (“Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City...

Starring “3o Coins’” Miguel Angel Silvestre and “The Palace’s” Katia Fellin, “Weiss & Morales” has gone into production in the Canary Islands, boasting the credentials of a textbook procedural appealing to current market appetites.

As co-production ramps up between free-to-air players in Europe, led very often by its state-backed networks, “Weiss & Morales” links two of the continents’ most powerful public broadcasters, Germany’s Zdf and Spain’s Rtve, which produce with Zdf Studios. The latter is also handling worldwide sales outside Spanish-speaking territories.

Also producing are Galicia-based Portocabo, which in the space of 10 years has pioneered co-productions between Spain’s Galicia and Portugal (“Dry Water”) and Spain and France (“Hierro), and Nadcon whose head, Peter Nadermann co-produced iconic Nordic Noir titles “The Killing” and “The Bridge” when at Zdf.

“A series rooted in the most classic elements of the genre and reformulated to meet the current standards of premium television drama,...

Film Factory has picked up rights to Luis Gabriel Beristáin’s revenge action thriller “The Gentleman,” a Spain-Mexico co-production starring an international cast led by Golden Globe-winner Ron Pearlman.

Produced by Spanish company Esto También Pasará and Mexican outfit Sdb Films (“The Deal”), shooting on “The Gentleman” is already underway in San Sebastián, Spain, and will run for six weeks. The film is scheduled to be released by Universal in Spain in 2025.

Uruguay’s Juma Fodde penned the film’s screenplay, which is adapted from Carlos Augusto Casas’ Spanish novel “Ya no quedan junglas adodnde regresar.”

“The Gentleman” turns on an aging former U.S. soldier named Theo (Perlman), who spends his days dreaming about better times that are now years behind him. Each week, Theo meets with Olga, a prostitute he pays to talk with him about who he once was and what he might have been under different circumstances.

Eager to move into horror, Spanish director Miguel Martí is partnering with famed actress-producer Macarena Gómez and distributor Carlos Guerrero on an ambitious project to find their perfect hair-raising script.

The trio’s respective, Madrid-based companies, Wonder Ficción, Cilantro Films and 39 Escalones, have launched the We Are Looking for Your Horror Script initiative, putting the call out to screenwriters with a penchant for chills, thrills and the macabre to submit their works from March 2 to April 16 via the website buscamostuguiondeterror.com.

The winning script will be announced on July 13 at the Sotogrande Music Festival, one of the initiative’s many partners. The winner will initially receive €4,000 as a four-year option on the script in addition to €3,600 for three months of development work. The producers will seek to finance the production over the four-year period. A purchase of the script under previously agreed upon terms will be effective once financing is confirmed.

Quick Links Did Christian Survive the Interdimensional Trip? Did the Main Earth Die After Christian's Ritual? Why Didn't Christian's Army Betray Him? Do the Variants Have Memories of the Original Earth? Do the Variants Still Have Powers From the Original Earth? Does Lucifer Have Power in Both Realms? Where Are God's Agents?

The following contains spoilers for Season 2 of 30 Coins, now streaming on Max.

While HBO continues to churn out award-winning dramas such as Succession or epic fantasies like Game of Thrones, the network has a diverse array of other shows that shouldn't be ignored. Horror fans in particular have found an absurd, yet riveting gem in the form of 30 Coins. It has a Spanish telenovela vibe as well, which adds some comedy to the mix.

30 Coins Season 2 expands the show's lore in a big way. It goes beyond the likes of Paco and Elena trying to...

The season 2 finale of 30 Coins answers major questions and sets up a thrilling and shocking future for the series. Christian Barbrow successfully summons the Eye of God and takes his team to a new Earth, but only 30 followers can join him. Father Vergara is given a chance to save the world by Lucifer and must set aside old hatreds and loves to fulfill his mission.

The 30 Coins season 2 finale answered many major questions and set up where the series goes next in a thrilling and shocking episode. 30 Coins is a Spanish-language TV series available for streaming on Max that premiered its first season in November 2020. The supernatural mystery horror show follows Father Manuel Vergara (Eduard Fernández), an exorcist and ex-convict who begins experiencing paranormal phenomena in the small Spanish town of Pedraza. While Netflix seems to have a stranglehold on international horror, 30 Coins shows other streamers have life in the genre.

"The Holdovers" is a critically acclaimed film that has gained popularity since its release, even earning Oscar nominations. Paul Giamatti delivers a standout performance as the strict classics professor, Paul Hunham. Dominic Sessa makes his film debut as Angus Tully, a troubled student who forms an unlikely bond with Hunham and Mary Lamb, played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph.

The Holdovers is one of the most talked about movies of 2023, and here is a full cast and character guide for the hit film. Upon The Holdovers 2023 release, the film was a massive critical success, with its warmth, humor, and heart earning it the label of an instant Christmas classic. The Holdovers has only gotten more popular since its release, with the film even scoring several nominations at the Oscars. The Holdovers has a powerhouse cast filled with some immensely talented actors, and here is each one and what character they play in the film.

After landing his second Oscar nomination on Tuesday morning for his starring turn in Alexander Payne’s dramedy The Holdovers, Paul Giamatti spoke with Deadline about the reasons horror is currently at top of mind for him, the filmmakers active in that genre today that he’d most like to work with, his viral In-n-Out moment following the Golden Globes, a missed opportunity to work with David Lynch, and more.

Speaking to the genre filmmakers he admires, Giamatti named Hereditary‘s Ari Aster and Nope‘s Jordan Peele, though he gave particular focus to Zach Cregger, who caught his attention with his 2022 breakout feature, Barbarian. “I thought that movie was really, really well done, and that’s kind of one of my favorite horror movies I’ve seen recently,” the actor said. “That movie really struck a chord with me, and it stuck with me.”

While out on the awards circuit,...

Christian Wikander, the well-respected Swedish executive who joined Banijay nine months ago as global head of scripted, will be stepping down from his role on Feb. 2. Speaking to Variety shortly after news broke of his upcoming exit, Wikander said he was “sad to be leaving” the company, but sees as as a “reflection of these times in the business.”

“We see these types of changes happening in the business, because we’ve gone from a very high position across many territories and we’re going through a time of correction that affects buyers and everyone involved,” Wikander told Variety.

The executive, who joined Banijay from HBO Max Nordic where he was commissioning editor and VP of original programming, said he doesn’t expect his role at Banijay to be replaced. Commenting on factors behind his exit, he said the business was tougher due to “changes in commissions and production volumes,...

True Detective Season 4 hints at revenge against Carcosa and the Yellow King. True Detective Season 4 hints at vigilante justice, with toxic men being killed. True Detective Season 4 could stem from Rustin Cohle's hidden time in Alaska.

The following article contains spoilers for True Detective: Night Country Episode 1, "Part 1," which aired Jan.14 on HBO. It also includes a mention of sexual assault.

The season premiere of True Detective: Night Country feels like a return to form for the hit HBO series. The previous three seasons ended up being grounded in reality despite hints that Season 1 had a supernatural horror vibe going. This revolved around an ethereal entity in Louisiana, which soon became the driving force of the murder mystery. Or so it seemed.

In time, Season 1 would have Matthew McConaughey's Rust and Woody Harrelson's Marty learn that the mythical villains they were chasing -- the Yellow King in a...

Quick Links The Brothers Sun Season 2 Has to Address Frank Ma's Snitching The Brothers Sun Season 2 Can Rekindle Mama Sun's Past Romance The Brothers Sun Has to Address Charles and Alexis' Tortured Bond The Brothers Sun Can Revamp the Boxers and Bruce's Ultimate Purpose

The following contains spoilers for The Brothers Sun, now available on Netflix.

In The Brothers Sun Season 1, Ma Sun does just enough to pave a new path for herself and her family. With her tryannical husband, Big Sun, thrown into jail, Eileen heads back home to Taiwan to take over the Jade Dragons, the most elite Triad arm existing in the world.

In the process, Eileen hopes to rebuild the entire Triad network now that most of the older, vile mob bosses have been imprisoned. Furthermore, she finally has her son, Charles, by her side as an enforcer who's looking to redeem himself. Her younger son,...

“If you tell them I want to be a human, I’m gonna burn the agency.”

That was Paul Giamatti’s reaction when his agents took issue with his desire to be cast as an ape in Tim Burton’s 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes. In a recent THR roundtable, the actor, who’s considered an Oscar front-runner for his starring role in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, mentioned to the esteemed group, which consisted of Colman Domingo, Mark Ruffalo, Andrew Scott, and Robert Downey Jr, that to him one of the biggest highlights of his career was playing the orangutang “human-trader” Limbo, in that often-maligned film.

“If that had been it for me, I would have died happy. I couldn’t believe I would get to play a talking orangutang.” As cited above, he said his agents suggested he try to play a human instead, prompting his tongue-in-cheek threat.

Max Unveils Unscripted originals In Spain

Naked Attraction, Naked and Afraid and a revamped Peking Express will make up the first tranche of unscripted Max originals in Spain. The rebranded Warner Bros. Discovery streamer will launch in Spain in the spring replete with the trio of series. Peking Express has aired for multiple seasons in Spain over the past decade but not for a little while, and has been revamped for Max, with seven combined couples of famous and anonymous people who will have a backpack as their only luggage and will compete against each other in the race of their lives. Produced by Fremantle, dating show Naked Attraction showcases six singletons and their totally naked bodies inside colorful booths where details of their physiques are revealed little by little, while Naked and Afraid is a survival contest. Laura Carafoli, SVP TV Networks & Digital Local Production Italy & Iberia, said the...

Paul Giamatti is one of the most highly respected actors working in the industry today, and he’s also quite prolific, with over 115 screen credits to his name. Last night, he won a Golden Globe for his performance in the excellent comedy / drama film The Holdovers – and during a red carpet interview at the event, he revealed there’s one area where he feels his career is lacking: he hasn’t worked on enough horror projects.

Asked if there’s a genre he would love to work in, Giamatti answered, “Horror. I’d like to do more horror. I love horror.” When asked what his favorite horror movie is, he replied, “Oh, that’s a very tricky question. I like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre a lot. I love horror. Love it!” When the interviewer was a bit shocked and appalled that Giamatti is such a Chainsaw fan, Giamatti stood up for it: “Great movie!

Quick Links 30 Coins Season 2 Has Vergara Seeking to Save Two Earths 30 Coins Season 2 Has to Dissect Angelo's True Purpose 30 Coins Season 2 Has To Solve Elena's Love Quadrangle

The following contains spoilers for Season 2 of 30 Coins, now streaming on Max.

HBO's 30 Coins has been a very intriguing horror series, focusing on Judas Iscariot's supernatural coins after he betrayed Jesus Christ. In the modern era, the silver trinkets imbue wielders with godlike powers, pushing even members of the Catholic Church to turn against the Holy Bible and try to acquire them. Season 1 explored this in detail, with Father Vergara aiming to stop the sinister cult led by Angelo, who is actually Lucifer in disguise.

Amid a flurry of possessions inside the Vatican, akin to the demonic infiltration in The Pope's Exorcist, Vergara fought tooth and nail in the Spanish town of Pedraza to stop the coins from falling into the cult's hands.

Paul Giamatti joins the many actors eager to play villains in the James Bond franchise, and The Holdovers' star even has an idea of what his take on the role would look like.

The James Bond franchise succeeds as one of the most enduring IPs in movie history. The titular 007 agent has been played by seven actors to date, further propelling the careers of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. The Bond films are also defined by despicable villains with Blofeld arguably the most iconic. The character has been played by a handful of thespians since 1963's From Russia with Love, with Christopher Waltz the latest to play the part. In an interview with GQ, Paul Giamatti hints that he wants a shot at the role, and his description of his villain character is curiously familiar.

Related Forget Blofeld, Le Chiffre Is James Bond's Best...

Many actors would love to play the role of James Bond, but just as many would jump at the chance to play a villain in the iconic franchise. While speaking with GQ, Paul Giamatti said that he would love to play a James Bond villain but has a few requests.

“I’d want an accent of some kind. I’d definitely want an accent,” Giamatti said. “It’d be nice to have an animal with me of some kind. Not necessarily a cat, but something. Any animal, maybe. Not a parrot or something. Something real. I don’t know. An accent, though, of some kind I’d have to have. A guy who’s all in fur coats and stuff like that? Be great.“

Related The Holdovers: Paul Giamatti’s powerhouse comedic drama to stream on Peacock before the new year

When one of our greatest actors says he wants...

James Bond is currently in limbo. Following the end of the Daniel Craig era, no one is quite sure what long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have in store for the next 007 installment, and it might be some time before we find out.

In the meantime, several actors have been touted as frontrunners to don the tux. But what about the villain? Bond antagonists are almost as important as the man himself, and there's no shortage of actors who'd be willing to play one. Brian Cox, for example, mistakenly thought he was about to be the next Bond villain when he got the call for "007: Road to a Million." Speaking to Jimmy Fallon (via The Hollywood Reporter), Cox said, "For years I thought, 'Yeah, I'd love to be a James Bond villain. It'd be really interesting.' And I thought, 'This is my moment.' But it wasn't.

Paul Giamatti shines in Alexander Payne's The Holdovers, a comedy-drama with a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes and eight Critics Choice Awards nominations. The film, available on digital on Dec. 29 and on Blu-ray/DVD on Jan. 2, comes with bonus featurettes, interviews, and an alternate ending. Payne's previous work, including Sideways and The Descendants, has captivated audiences with memorable stories and endearing characters.

Paul Giamatti “has never been better” (Deadline) in acclaimed Academy Award-winning director Alexander Payne’s newest film, The Holdovers, available to own with all-new exclusive bonus featurettes on digital beginning Dec. 29, 2023, and on Blu-ray and DVD on Jan. 2, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 96% and nominated for eight Critics Choice Awards including Best Picture, The Holdovers delivers an expert balance of comedy and warmth. It's certain to garner lots of love this awards season. The release comes with a...

The Palm Springs Film Awards will honor Paul Giamatti with the Icon Award for his performance in “The Holdovers.” He will receive the award at the Jan. 4 event at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“In ‘The Holdovers,’ Paul Giamatti inhabits a complex character who is both challenging and rewarding, and ultimately reminds us of what it means to be connected as human beings,” festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a statement. “For his storied career of quintessential cinematic roles, it is our honor to present the Icon Award to Paul Giamatti for this career-best performance.”

In Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” Giamatti portrays a grumpy New England prep school teacher who forms a bond with a troubled student and the school’s head cook, who is grieving after the loss of her son. Giamatti currently stars in Season 2 of “30 Coins” and the final season of “Billions.” His other...

The Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Alongside exclusives like Secret Santa and Night of the Missing and such classics as Black Christmas and Silent Night, Deadly Night 2, here are five Christmas horror recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.

Christmas Evil

Not to be confused with the innumerable Santa slashers, Christmas Evil (also known as You Better Watch Out) is tonally more in line with Taxi Driver than Silent Night, Deadly Night. Writer-director Lewis Jackson clearly had no interest in making a body count flick; instead, he explores the psyche of a mentally unstable man who happens to dress up as Santa and kill people. The low-budget grit adds to the dark atmosphere.

The 1980 film chronicles one man’s...

Paul Giamatti talks about finding the heart in the protagonist of Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers.

He is rightly known for his versatility, but Paul Giamatti has a special knack for principled, witty curmudgeons. “It seems to come to me,” he says of the personality type, “and it is hard for me to know whether I manifest it for myself or it’s something people have seen me do. They are interesting characters to play for sure though.”

The latest in the US actor’s line of acerbic grumps is at the centre of The Holdovers, the awards-contending comedy-drama from...

This is it. The season two finale of the HBO Original Series “30 Coins” arrives on Monday, December 11, concluding a season long, high stakes battle between our heroes and ruthless enemies led by sycophant billionaire Christian Barbrow (Paul Giamatti).

Expect things to get wild as hell.

Directed and co-written by Álex de la Iglesia, along with co-writer Jorge Guerricaechevarría, Max’s “30 Coins” takes viewers into a world where nothing is as it seems, and nobody can be trusted. Bloody Disgusting spoke with de la Iglesia about Season 2 last month, where the horror filmmaker touched on his overarching plans for the series as well as casting acclaimed actor Paul Giamatti in the role of this season’s terrifying villain.

This week, Bloody Disgusting caught up with Giamatti to find out how he came to play Christian Barbrow, the inspiration behind the character, and his love of horror.

There were a...

Last Friday, the apocalyptic supernatural Spanish horror film Everyone Will Burn was given a theatrical release in select locations by Drafthouse Films. Now the film has made its way to VOD (it’s available on iTunes at This Link), and to help you decide whether or not this is one you’d like to check out, we have the trailer embedded above.

David Hebrero, who has racked up many credits as a cinematographer and a gaffer, directed Everyone Will Burn from a screenplay he wrote with Javier Kiran. The story centers on María José, an outlier in her small Spanish town, who is grieving after her young son’s suicide. As she teeters on the brink of suicide herself, she encounters a mysterious young girl caked in dirt. It is quickly revealed that the girl has telekinetic powers and might be the harbinger of the apocalyptic prophecy that exists within town legend.

This Monday at 10:00 Pm on HBO, “30 Coins” delves into the supernatural with Season 2 Episode 8, titled “The Eye of God.” The series follows Father Vergara, a multifaceted character with a history as an exorcist, boxer, and ex-convict, who finds himself in exile in a remote Spanish town. In this gripping episode, Father Vergara confronts a series of paranormal phenomena that grip the town in fear.

As the suspense unfolds, Father Vergara enlists the aid of the town’s mayor and a veterinarian, forming an unlikely alliance to combat the otherworldly forces at play. “The Eye of God” promises a thrilling mix of horror, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, with each character bringing their unique skills to the forefront.

Tune in at 10:00 Pm for an episode that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, exploring the uncharted territories of the supernatural. “30 Coins” on HBO continues to deliver a...

Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service Max will be getting a little mad this December, literally, as George Miller‘s Mad Max: Fury Road is coming to the streamer. The 2015 Oscar-winning action epic debuts on Max as part of the build-up to the fifth installment in the Mad Max franchise, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which is set to land in theaters on May 24, 2024. A new trailer for the Anya Taylor-Joy starring prequel was released Thursday, November 30. Other titles coming to Max this December include Originals Boom Boom Bruno, Elmo & Tango Holiday Helpers, Great Photo, Lovely Life, Trees and Other Entanglements, Daniel, Oprah and The Color Purple Journey, and Time Bomb Y2K. This December also brings the season finales of the Max Original comedy series Bookie, the Sarah Lancashire-starring Julia, and Rap Sh!t, about two estranged high school friends who reunite to form a rap group. Additionally, the...

Prepare for a spine-chilling episode of “30 Coins” as Season 2 Episode 7, titled “The Two Cores,” hits HBO screens at 10:00 Pm on Monday, December 4, 2023. The series follows Father Vergara, a unique character blending exorcist skills, boxing prowess, and a tumultuous past, exiled to a remote Spanish town. In this installment, the enigmatic priest seeks assistance from the town’s mayor and a veterinarian as a disturbing series of paranormal phenomena grips the community.

As the plot thickens, viewers can expect a riveting mix of supernatural suspense and collaborative efforts to unravel the mysteries haunting the town. Father Vergara’s multifaceted character adds layers to the narrative, blending elements of the supernatural with human drama. The alliance formed with the mayor and veterinarian hints at the diverse skills needed to confront the escalating paranormal threats.

“The Two Cores” promises an immersive experience, weaving together elements of horror, mystery, and human struggle.

In the upcoming episode, viewers are in for a supernatural treat as Father Vergara, the exorcist, boxer, and ex-convict with a mysterious past, takes center stage in “30 Coins” Season 2 Episode 6 titled “Reset the World.” Scheduled to air at 10:00 Pm on Monday, November 27, 2023, on HBO, the episode promises an engaging blend of horror and drama.

Exiled to a remote Spanish town, Father Vergara finds himself facing a series of paranormal phenomena that threaten the delicate balance between the supernatural and the human world. To combat these otherworldly challenges, he enlists the help of the town’s mayor and a veterinarian, leading to an intriguing alliance against the unknown.

For fans of the supernatural and those who enjoy a thrilling narrative with a touch of mystery, “30 Coins” continues to deliver. This episode is poised to captivate audiences as the characters navigate through the eerie and unexplained, making it a...

In the upcoming episode of “30 Coins,” titled “The Arcane Symbol,” viewers can anticipate the continued journey of Father Vergara, an exorcist, boxer, and ex-convict exiled to a remote town in Spain. This episode unfolds as Father Vergara encounters a series of paranormal phenomena in the town, prompting him to seek assistance from the mayor and a veterinarian. As the trio investigates, the plot thickens, delving into the mysterious occurrences that challenge both their beliefs and the fabric of reality.

Fans of the supernatural and suspenseful storytelling won’t want to miss the latest installment of “30 Coins,” airing at 10:00 Pm on Monday, November 20, 2023, on HBO. Tune in for an intriguing blend of exorcism, mystery, and the unexplained in this gripping Spanish horror series.

Release Date & Time: 10:00 Pm Monday 20 November 2023 on HBO

30 Coins The Arcane Symbol Cast – Season 2 Episode 5 Main Cast Eduard Fernández as Padre Manuel Vergara...

The second season of the HBO Original Series “30 Coins” is underway, plunging some of its central characters into the bowels of one ultra-cool depiction of Hell that could only come from the mind of acclaimed horror filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia (The Day of the Beast, Witching & Bitching, The Last Circus).

The eight-episode season of the acclaimed horror series kicked off on Max on October 23, 2023, and new episodes arrive every Monday.

Directed and co-written by Álex de la Iglesia, along with co-writer Jorge Guerricaechevarría, Max’s “30 Coins” takes viewers into a world where nothing is as it seems, and nobody can be trusted. Now, two episodes in, the characters are scattered and scrambling to pick up the pieces from last season. Worse, some of them are desperate to escape Hell itself.

Bloody Disgusting spoke with de la Iglesia about Season 2, particularly its depiction of Hell, and discovered...

Things are getting downright apocalyptic in the second season of HBO Original Series “30 Coins.” Bloody Disgusting has been provided with an exclusive clip from the upcoming episode “Hellish Creatures,” teasing an unholy alliance between Father Vergara (Eduard Fernández), his sworn enemy, and Lucifer (Cosimo Fusco).

Directed and co-written by acclaimed horror master Álex de la Iglesia (The Day of the Beast, Witching & Bitching, The Last Circus), Max‘s “30 Coins” takes viewers into a world where nothing is as it seems, and nobody can be trusted. De la Iglesia co-writes the series with Jorge Guerricaechevarria.

The second season of “30 Coins” follows the inhabitants of the remote Spanish town of Pedraza as they contend with recent inexplicable, demonic events tied to the biblical pieces of silver. For some, like Father Vergara, that means a trip to Hell.

In this week’s episode three, “Hellish Creatures,” Father Vergara reluctantly reunites with a former foe,...

In the upcoming episode titled “The Black Book of the Mad Arab” from Season 2 of “30 Coins,” set to air at 10:00 Pm on Monday, November 13, 2023, viewers can expect a thrilling continuation of the supernatural drama. The show follows Father Vergara, an exorcist, boxer, and former convict, who is now living in a remote Spanish town. As the town is plagued by a series of paranormal occurrences, Father Vergara reaches out to the mayor and a veterinarian for assistance.

This episode maintains the suspense and intrigue that “30 Coins” is known for, as it delves deeper into the mysteries and supernatural phenomena that have gripped the town. The collaboration between Father Vergara, the mayor, and the veterinarian promises to unravel the enigmatic events and offers viewers a look at their efforts to confront and understand the unexplained. “The Black Book of the Mad Arab” continues to build on the suspense...

On Monday, November 6, 2023, at 11:00 Pm on HBO, “30 Coins” continues with Season 2, Episode 3. The show follows Father Vergara, an exorcist, boxer, and ex-convict living in a remote town in Spain. In this episode, Father Vergara, along with the town’s mayor and a veterinarian, faces a series of paranormal events that are happening in their town.

These strange and unexplained occurrences lead them to work together to uncover the mysteries behind the supernatural phenomena. Father Vergara, with his unique background, becomes a central figure in confronting these strange happenings.

If you’re a fan of suspenseful and supernatural stories, “30 Coins” is a show that might pique your interest. It’s a mix of mystery, intrigue, and the supernatural, set in a small Spanish town.

Be sure to tune in on Monday at 11:00 Pm on HBO to catch Season 2, Episode 3 of “30 Coins” and find out what mysteries...

Spanish actor Carla Tous will take over the role from Zegler who dropped out due to the SAG-AFTRA strike

Studiocanal has confirmed that Spanish actor Carla Tous has replaced Rachel Zegler in Paddington In Peru as the UK release date for the third instalment is set for November 8, 2024.

Zegler had previously dropped out of the project due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Antonio Banderas has remained in the cast.

Production began on July 24 and location filming in London, Colombia and Peru has wrapped.

Tous’ previous roles include HBO’s Spanish-language series 30 Coins and Netflix romance drama Through My Window: Across The Sea...

Viewers, mark your calendars for the next thrilling episode of “30 Coins,” airing on HBO at 10:00 Pm on Monday, October 30, 2023. This series follows Father Vergara, a multifaceted character who’s not only an exorcist but also a boxer and ex-convict. He finds himself in a remote Spanish town where unusual and eerie events are unfolding.

In this episode, Father Vergara faces a fresh challenge. As paranormal phenomena grip the town, he decides to join forces with the mayor and a veterinarian. Together, they embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries behind these unexplained occurrences.

While the description doesn’t give away much, “30 Coins” has been a hit for those who love supernatural mysteries and suspense. This episode promises to deliver more of the same excitement and intrigue that fans have come to expect from the series.

So, if you’re a fan of the unexplained and enjoy a good mystery,...

Paul Giamatti is a new enemy in the upcoming second season of HBO’s 30 Coins!

The actor joins the cast for the horror show’s new eight episode season, which was produced by HBO Europe in Spain, and is set to air on HBO and stream on Max.

In addition to Paul, Najwa Nimri is also joining the cast!

Keep reading to find out more about the season and watch the trailer…

Here’s a season two synopsis: Most residents of Pedraza, a remote town in Spain plagued by inexplicable, demonic events, have lost their minds and are confined to a psychiatric hospital. Elena (Megan Montaner) lies comatose in a Madrid hospital bed; Paco (Miguel Ángel Silvestre), shattered by remorse, tries to take care of her. As horror intensifies around them, our group of heroes must face a mysterious new enemy (Giamatti) – someone so perverse that even the devil fears him.