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I hope Jamie Campbell Bower and Eddie Marsan have enough room in their bellies for a second-breakfast because they’re joining the cast of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3. Bower, who plays the Freddy Krueger-like villain Henry Creel/Vecna in Netflix’s Stranger Things, boards the show as a series regular, while Marsan will recur in new episodes of the big-budget fantasy series.

Details about their respective roles are scarce. However, the scoopers at Deadline hear that Bower plays a significant role in upcoming events as a “handsome high-born knight (code name Arlen). He may play a new love interest for Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), who, after the events of Season 2, continues to grapple with the fact that her previous love, Hallbrand (Charlie Vickers), is Sauron. Woof.

Speaking about his Stranger Things role, Bower said he’s looking to give villainy a...

What We Do in the Shadows actor Harvey Guillén and The Orville’s Adrianne Palicki are set to lead the cast of the pickleball mockumentary film Pickleheads.

According to Deadline, Josh Flanagan and Pej Vahdat will co-direct the original comedy mockumentary Pickleheads, starring Harvey Guillén and Adrianne Palicki. Vahdat, who also acts in the film, will make his feature-length directorial debut with Pickleheads after appearing in featured roles on hit shows such as Jeff Bridges' The Old Man, Empire, and Bones. Other cast members include Kristine Froseth, Eric Nelsen, Ryan Cooper, Lindsey Morgan, Sam Humphrey, and Jared Bonner.

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Pickleheads is written by Bonner, who most recently penned Cottonmouth, starring The Magnificent Seven’s Martin Sensmeier and Hellboy’s Ron Perlman.

Exclusive: MGM+ has set cast for Belgravia: The Next Chapter, Julian Fellowes’ sequel series to the hit historical drama. Harriet Slater, Ben Wainwright, Edward Bluemel, Claude Perron and Elaine Cassidy are set as series regulars in the drama series executive produced by Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant. Additionally, Toby Regbo, Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson and Sophie Winkleman will recur in the eight-part series. Filming is underway in the UK with premiere set for winter 2023.

The Next Chapter is a continuation of Belgravia, named for and set in the affluent London district that became synonymous with the upper echelons of London society in the 19th century.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter picks up in 1871, three decades after the events depicted in the 2020 limited series, which was written by Fellowes and based on his novel of the same name. Developed and written by playwright and screenwriter Helen Edmundson, the series tells the love story of Frederick Trenchard (Wainwright), who has grown up as the third Lord Trenchard, and his new love interest, Clara Dunn (Slater), who is a newcomer to London society. Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother Susan and the scoundrel John Bellasis, a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure, which challenges his courtship of and marriage to Clara.

Slater’s Clara Trenchard (née Dunn) is a young, smart, and striking woman, and a fresh face amongst the society of Belgravia, Clara is thrilled by her marriage to the enigmatic Frederick … but as she comes to learn more of her husband and the trauma he carries, Clara finds her marriage will not be as smooth as she first thought and is something she must fight for.

Wainwright’s Frederick Trenchard, the young and handsome third Lord Trenchard, Frederick takes after his grandfather with a ferocious work ethic, having built a large business empire. Immediately smitten with Clara, he marries her after a whirlwind romance, but brings with him traumas from his past that threatens his newfound happiness.

Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson, Sophie Winkleman and Toby Regbo

Bluemel plays Dr. Stephen Ellerby. An idealistic, charming, and attractive young doctor, Stephen is brought into the society of Belgravia as he cares for Peter, son of the Duke of Rochester—a far cry from his life amongst the bohemians of Bloomsbury. He is quickly captivated by Clara after meeting her and starts to gain her trust as their lives interweave.

Regbo plays Rev. James Trenchard, Frederick’s estranged brother. A gentle, kind and religious man, James is haunted by both the separation from his brother and a private battle he is determined to keep hidden.

Onslow portrays Emily Dunn, Clara’s older sister. Emily responds to her sister’s swift marriage with a hint of jealousy as she is desperate to make her own match. But when she throws herself into charity work at her new church, she is instantly attracted to the Reverend James Trenchard.

Thompson plays Mrs. Dunn, Emily and Clara’s devoted mother. Mrs Dunn is a nervous, giddy, and chatty widow who has moved to Belgravia with her daughters and is thrilled by Clara’s new marriage and the security in social standing it brings.

Perron plays The Marquise D’Étagnac, a glamorous and highly unconventional French businesswoman, who is introduced to Belgravia by the Duke and Duchess of Rochester. Offering a wealth of business opportunities, Frederick sees a chance to expand into new areas of industry.

Winkleman portrays Duchess of Rochester. The queen of Belgravia, the Duchess and her husband stand at the top of Belgravia’s social hierarchy – but privately, she struggles to reconcile the Duke’s feelings towards their unwell, eldest son Peter with her own wishes for his care.

Cassidy plays Davison. Clara’s newly appointed lady’s maid, Davison grows to protect her mistress with a fierce devotion, recognizing Clara’s youth and need for love. Davison has experienced hard times in her own past and is intent on supporting Clara through her struggles.

Led by Neame, the series reunites Carnival’s award-winning creative team behind the original series. Neame and Marchant will serve as executive producers with Fellowes and Joanna Strevens. Helen Edmundson serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series will be directed by John Alexander, Paul Wilmshurst and Marisol Adler. Colin Wratten (Killing Eve) who produced the original series, will return as producer.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter is a Carnival Films co-production with MGMPlus Studios and will be distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution. Carnival Films is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Slater, best known as Sandra Onslow in the HBO Max DC origin series Pennyworth, she recently wrapped filming the lead role in Sony Screen Gems’ Horrorscope as well as True Haunting, alongside Jamie Campbell Bower and Erin Moriarty. Slater is repped by The Artists Partnership in the UK and Untitled Entertainment in the U.S.

Wainwright’s recent credits include great roles on Sky Atlantic’s Gangs of London, and a guest lead on BBC One’s The Split. He also has a multi-episode arc on the BBC One series World on Fire, starring opposite Sean Bean and Lesley Manville. Wainwright is represented by Insight Management & Production.

Bluemel is currently filming a leading role in Amazon’s My Lady Jane, starring Emily Bader. He’ll next be seen in Hulu miniseries Washington Black, set for premiere this year. Bluemel is repped by Epilogue.

Regbo is known for his leading roles in CW’s Reign and The Last Kingdom. He also starred in Netflix’s Medici and his film work includes Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and One Day. Regbo can most recently be seen in Series Three of A Discovery of Witches and Channel 4’s Chivalry. Regbo is repped by Independent Talent Group and Authentic Talent and Literary Management.

Onslow recently finished shooting Sally El Hosaini’s feature film Unicorn and The Doll Factory for Paramount+. Her other credits include Ridley Road for Red Productions, Sister/BBC’s in This Is Going To Hurt and director Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light. She’s repped by Gordon and French.

A six-time Olivier Award nominee and winner of the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Thompson most recently starred in Present Laughter at The Old Vic. Her television credits include Everything I Know About Love, Sandylands and a recurring role in BBC’s The Detectorists. Thompson is represented by Independent Talent Group.

Perron was most recently seen in the play Tartuffe at the Royal Haymarket of London. She’ll next appear in the anticipated Spanish Balenciaga series biopic produced by Disney+. She’ll also be seen on screen in a French comedy that will be released in Christmas 2023. Perron is represented by As Talents.

Winkleman’s TV credits include regular roles in Peep Show and Two and a Half Men; her most recent work includes leading roles in ITV’s Sanditon and Strike for the BBC. For film, Sophie’s credits include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Suzie Gold and the leading role in Mike Figgis’s Love Live Long. She’ll next be seen on the big screen in Wonka, directed by Paul King. Winkleman is repped by Hamilton Hodell.

Cassidy stars in the new Sebastián Lelio film The Wonder, which premiered at Telluride Film Festival in September. Her television work includes CBS’ Harper’s Island, BBC miniseries Fingersmith, BAFTA-nominated police procedural No Offence and BBC’s Emmy nominated The Paradise and A Room with A View, adapted by Andrew Davies. She’s repped by Arg.

Malcolm D. Lee’s Blackmaled Productions has bolstered its executive ranks by naming Emmy-nominated producer Dominique Telson as executive VP of film and television and announcing three new key hires and promotions within the company.

Blackmaled’s new hires include Michael Scott Allen as the VP of television and Giselle Johnson as director of film. Chigo Menakaya, who has worked for the company since 2020, has been promoted to creative executive and leads Blackmaled’s unscripted content department. All three team members report to Telson and are based out of the company’s West Coast office on the Universal lot in Los Angeles.

The executive moves come hot off the success of “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” which launched on Peacock in December and rates as the streamer’s biggest debut ever. Telson served as an executive producer on the project, which concluded the franchise following 1999’s “The Best Man...

Earlier this year, it was announced that Erin Moriarty (best known for playing Starlight on The Boys) and Jamie Campbell Bower (now best known for playing Vecna on Stranger Things) had signed on to star in director Gary Fleder‘s film True Haunting, based on a novel by Edwin F. Becker (pick up a copy Here) – a novel that was based on the story of an actual haunting and exorcism, “the first ever filmed and televised by NBC in 1971.” True Haunting may not end up being released under that title (the project is now known as the “untitled True Haunting movie”), but Deadline reports that Sony is planning to get it into theatres on January 6, 2023.

As of right now, True Haunting is the only studio movie scheduled to open on January 6th, but Paramount will be expanding its release of Damien Chazelle’s film Babylon on that date. Deadline notes...

A new “Karate Kid” movie is in the works and has been dated for a release by Sony’s Columbia Pictures for June 7, 2024.

No new details were shared about the film currently in development other than that it is a return of the original “Karate Kid” franchise.

The original “Karate Kid” from 1984 starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita and spawned two sequels with Macchio, a fourth film in 1994 “The Next Karate Kid” with Morita and Hilary Swank, and a remake in 2010 with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. But the franchise has had a major resurgence thanks to the series “Cobra Kai” looking at the villainous dojo from the original film. Sony Television also produces “Cobra Kai,” and the show not only includes many of the same actors and characters reprising their original roles, but the latest fifth season ended on a cliffhanger that could point the way to a new feature.

Sony added three news movies to their 2023-2024 theatrical release sked while shifting some others due to the post-production jam which continues to plague a number of big pics. The good news is that nothing is moving out of 2022.

A big plus here is the announcement of a brand new Karate Kid movie for June 7, 2024 which doesn’t have any talent attached in regards to stars or a director.

There’s an untitled True Haunting movie from Screen Gems that is actually going on Jan. 6, 2023; that first weekend of the year has been a rich one for Sony and genre films; it’s where they launched the first Escape Room in 2019 to an 18.2M opening and 57M+ stateside, 155M+ WW. True Haunting is the only new wide release on Jan. 6 in addition to Paramount’s expansion of Damien Chazelle’s Babylon.

Also new for next year is the next installment of the Searching franchise,...

On a recent visit to Serbia, actor John Malkovich announced plans to team up with fellow leading men D.W. Moffett and Matt Dillon to build a state-of-the-art film, music and media production facility in neighboring North Macedonia, a small, mountainous country of just two million inhabitants.

It might seem a risky gambit for a country with a modest domestic film industry that services few foreign shoots. But Malkovich – a self-described “son of the Balkans” whose father is of Croatian descent – insisted that the studios have the potential to transform film and television production in the region. Dubbed Stonebridge Studios, the project now awaits approval from the government of the ex-Yugoslavian republic, which according to the studio’s backers stands to gain €1.6 billion (1.6 billion) in Gdp as international productions flock to the country.

While the backing of an A-list celeb ensured the announcement would raise hopes – and eyebrows – across the region,...

Exclusive: Erin Moriarty (The Boys), Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), Dina Shihabi (Archive 81) and Ryan Corr (House of the Dragon) have signed on to star in Catching Dust—an upcoming Texas noir marking the feature debut of writer-director Stuart Gatt, which will enter production in the Canary Islands this month.

The drama is set in the isolation of Texas’ Big Bend, where a lone trailer on an abandoned commune has become the reluctant hideout for Geena (Moriarty), at the behest of her criminal husband, Clyde (Courtney). Geena’s lust for life and desire for interaction with the outside world are quashed by Clyde’s insistence they remain hidden from the law and his former cohorts looking to settle old scores. Exhausted by Clyde’s controlling ways, Geena decides to leave. But then a trailer arrives carrying Amaya (Shihabi) and Andy (Corr), a couple from New York seeking a respite from the city.