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Exclusive: Nia Long has inked with Artists First for representation.

Long is next up portraying Katherine Jackson, matriarch to the Jackson musical family, in Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael. The movie, directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by John Logan and starring Jaafar Jackson and Colman Domingo comes out October 3.

Most recently Long starred opposite Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the comedy You People from Kenya Barris, which debuted at No. 1 on Netflix.

She also reprised her role as Jordan Armstrong for the Peacock limited series The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which premiered to record ratings and reunited the original cast. The series earned her a 2023 NAACP Image Award. Long also starred in Sony’s Missing, the follow-up to the cult hit Searching from Aneesh Chaganty.

Long previously produced and starred in the Netflix thriller Fatal Affair which premiered at No. 1 on the streamer. She also...

Exclusive: Filmmaker George Tillman Jr has signed with Kaplan/Perrone for management. Tillman’s feature directing credits include The Hate U Give, Men of Honor, Notorious, Faster and Soul Food. Tilman is currently percolating The Prince of New York, based on the New York Times article and bestselling book My Name isTani. It tells the remarkable true story of a young Nigerian boy’s journey from refugee to chess champion. The script was adapted by Steve Conrad and Michael Starrbury.

With longtime State Street partner Bob Teitel, Tillman Jr also produced Bob Marley: One Love and Barbershop, and they were executive producers on the Dee Rees-directed Mudbound. In addition to directing features, Tillman has directed television projects including ABC’s For Life, Starz’ Power, Netflix/Marvel’s Luke Cage, NBC’s This Is Us, and Disney’s Emmy winning show The Crossover. State Street currently has an overall feature deal with Paramount.

Exclusive: Paramount Pictures has renewed its first-look feature film deal with George L. Tillman Jr. and Robert Teitel’s State Street Pictures.

The Bob Marley: One Love production company first inked a production pact with the studio in 2020. Tillman and Teitel’s film credits include The Hate U Give, the Barbershop franchise, Men of Honor, Soul Food and Notorious among others.

State Street Pictures’ executive suite also includes Robert Prinz, Head of Television, and Lawrence Mott, Head of Film.

Said Michael Ireland, co-president, Paramount Pictures, Motion Picture Group, “George and Bob are two Chicago guys that have been telling inspiring, dynamic stories for audiences around the world for almost thirty years. We’re lucky to continue to have them on the lot and we look forward to building on the success of Bob Marley: One Love with a slate of movies that will hopefully last thirty more.”

Said Tillman Jr.

Photo: Italia Ricci, Michael Xavier

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Courtesy Cineflix Media

Trading Up Christmas comes to Hallmark Mystery as the last in the feel-good network’s Miracles of Christmas 2024.

The movie tells the heartwarming story of Michelle, who helps her sister find a new home for Christmas by trading items for those of greater value. Read on to learn more about the movie and its cast and enjoy a trailer for Trading Up Christmas.

Trading Up Christmas on Hallmark Mystery Photo: Michael Xavier

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Courtesy Cineflix Media

Starring Italia Ricci and Michael Xavier, Trading Up Christmas is the last of Hallmark Mystery’s Miracles of Christmas. TV Insider revealed the plot of this heartwarming movie as follows.

Michelle (Ricci) has always had great ideas and big dreams and is one of those people who views the world as a wondrous place. However, her family doesn’t always support her imaginative dreams,...

Christmas has come early for daytime soap fans, with CBS’ release of a first peek Beyond the Gates of the medium’s first new series in a quarter-century (seen below).

Premiering Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 at 2 pm Et, Beyond the Gates takes place “in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, D.C., in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States,” according to the official logline. “At the center of this community are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty. But behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured...

Writer, showrunner, and director Felicia D. Henderson has signed with Independent Artist Group (Iag), Variety has learned exclusively. She continues to be repped by Yorn Levine Barnes.

Henderson was most recently showrunner and executive producer on the Netflix series “First Kill,” which followed the budding romantic relationship between two teen girls — one a vampire and the other a vampire hunter.

Henderson began her entertainment career in the NBC management training program. Her desire to be part of the creative side of the industry led to her applying to and being accepted into the Warner Bros. Writers’ Workshop. From there, she landed jobs on shows like “Family Matters,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” “Sister Sister,” and “Moesha.”

Henderson then went on to develop the Showtime series “Soul Food,” which was based on George Tillman Jr.’s film of the same name. The show ran for four seasons and won multiple NAACP Image Awards.

On Thursday October 17 2024, aspireTV broadcasts Twisted Dish!

Soul Food inspired Take Out Season 2 Episode 25 Episode Summary

In the upcoming episode of “Twisted Dish” titled “Soul Food Inspired Take Out,” viewers can look forward to a delightful culinary experience. The show, which airs on aspireTV, is known for its creative approach to remaking popular dishes and cocktails. This episode promises to celebrate the rich flavors of soul food while adding a unique twist.

The chef will guide the audience through the process of transforming classic soul food recipes into modern take-out favorites. By using local ingredients, the chef emphasizes the importance of supporting community farms and markets. This approach not only enhances the flavors but also promotes sustainability.

Throughout the episode, viewers will learn tips and tricks for recreating these dishes at home. From savory main courses to refreshing cocktails, the chef will share insights that make cooking accessible and enjoyable.

Ed Wheeler, a veteran actor who appeared in Law & Order, Blue Bloods, Broadcast News, Mickey Blue Eyes and many other films, TV shows, stage productions and commercials, has died. He was 88.

His wife, Messeret Stroman Wheeler, told Deadline that he died August 21 at Englewood (NJ) Hospital of respiratory failure due to pneumonia complications.

Born on February 18, 1936, in Brooklyn, Wheeler got his start in showbiz doing TV commercials, including national ads for the likes of Luvs diapers, Reynolds Wrap, Sudafed, Pepcid AC, Computer Associates and many others.

He trained under Gene Frankel and Vin Diesel’s stepfather Irving Vincent and earned his first screen credits on such TV series as Watch Your Mouth, 3-2-1 Contact and The Core of the Apple. Wheeler’s first film role was opposite William Hurt, Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter in James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News (1987).

He went on to appear in such films as Presumed Innocent,...

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“Summer of Violence“, Nicki Micheaux‘s well-received, award-winning directorial debut from Quiver Distribution, hits theaters in select cities throughout the US this coming Friday, September 27th. Tickets for showings in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, DC, are now available for purchase at the following link on Fandango.

The digital release is set to follow later this year.

Credit – Summer Of Violence, LLC

Summer Of Violence stars Kasey Inez, Jahking Guillory, Pedro Correa, Madhulika Krishnan and Damon Gupton in the lead ensemble cast. Micheaux also produced Summer Of Violence with Efuru Flowers, Sean Riggs, Maureen Mottley, Brian Mitchell, and Stelio Savante. Executive Producers are Johnny Wimbrey, Brian Mitchell, Sonya Marchand, Crystal Wimbrey, Psalms Wimbrey, Hannah Wimbrey and Nicki Micheaux.

The poignant story of self discovery follows a young college grad and talented poet, Naomi (Kasey Inez), who turns...

American character actor Bill Cobbs, known for his appearances in The Color Of Money, The Bodyguard, Night At The Museum and many other films and TV shows, has died. He was 90.

According to a statement released by his family, Cobbs died on Tuesday (June 25) at his home in California.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Cobbs did not become a professional actor until he moved to New York in his thirties. He made his feature film debut in 1974 thriller The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three and went on to appear in numerous films through the eighties and nineties, including The Cotton Club,...

On Friday, June 21, 2024, Access Daily With Mario & Kit New welcomes model and actress Molly Sims, who will discuss her skincare line Yse Beauty. The show will also feature an interview with actress Nicole Ari Parker, known for her roles in “Soul Food” and “Empire,” who will talk about her new business venture, […]

Access Daily With Mario & Kit New: Molly Sims, Nicole Ari Parker...

Spoiler Alert: This interview contains spoilers from “With So Little to Be Sure Of,” the sixth episode of the final season of ABC’s “Station 19.”

Boris Kodjoe is ready to start his next chapter. Since wrapping production last month on the final season of ABC’s venerable firefighter drama “Station 19,” the 51-year-old actor — who rose to fame in the early aughts in the Showtime drama “Soul Food” — has set his sights on broadening his horizons.

Chief among them is working more behind the camera. After directing his wife (and former “Soul Food” costar) Nicole Ari Parker in the Lifetime movie “Safe Room,” Kodjoe expressed an interest in helming an episode of “Station 19,” and his wish was granted midway through the show’s final 10-episode run. It was the ideal training ground for Kodjoe, whose exacting nature earned him a special nickname on set.

“They called me ‘Germanator,...

Vivica A. Fox is set to turn 60 this year, and she doesn’t want to celebrate that milestone alone. The popular actress is single and ready to mingle, during a recent interview Fox announced she’s taking boyfriend applications.

Over the decades Vivica A Fox has become a household name. She started her acting career in the early 1990’s on soap operas like Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. Then she went on to star in major feature films like Independence Day, Set It Off, Kill Bill, and Soul Food.

Is Vivica A. Fox Dating

Everyone knows who Vivica A. Fox is, the actress’ name rings bells in Hollywood. But, how often do you see her with a man on her arm on the red carpet?

Other than her hooking up with 50 Cent back in the day, Vivica is rarely romantically linked to anyone. She was...

O.J. Simpson's death hasn't changed anyone's mind about his perceived guilt despite being acquitted of murder. That is, except for a movie called The Juice. Filmmaker Joshua Newton struggled with casting for the film, initially targeting Owen Wilson for the lead role. Newton has overcome numerous hurdles in his filmmaking career, including technical and legal challenges in his previous work, Beautiful Blue Eyes.

Disgraced NFL athlete, actor, and celebrity O.J. Simpson passed away on April 11, and in the two weeks since then, people have hardly eulogized the man rhapsodically. Most people agree that Simpson seemed guilty of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, despite being acquitted 30 years ago. Simpson has even morbidly teased his guilt, whether it's in footage where he pretends to stab someone to death or it's his book If I Did It, where the word 'if' is practically hidden in the title formatting.

Sheryl Lee Ralph fronts Disney Entertainment Television’s new Black History Month campaign.

Variety has the exclusive first look at the launch of the Giving Flowers initiative, a video spot featuring Ralph, Chandra Wilson, Glynn Turman, Emayatzy Corinealdi and Prentice Penny.

“Flowers never truly die,” Ralph says in the video. “They are as strong as the stories we tell. You may clip them but they will grow again. We are forever in bloom.”

The tag at the end of the video reads, “Celebrate Black Stories.” An expanded 30-second spot will debut later this month.

The campaign is intended to highlight Disney’s Black History Month television programming, which includes “Abbott Elementary” Season 3, premiering Feb. 7 on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu. The two-episode premiere of the Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X series, “Genius: MLK/X,” takes place on National Geographic on Feb. 1 along with a special simulcast on ABC.

It’s a fairly packed month on Hulu this February thanks to the addition of some interesting TV shows from FX and ABC. While the streamer’s own original content is somewhat limited – Life + Beth is returning for season 2 – you can also catch the new series of Feud this month. The new installment in Ryan Murphy’s juicy anthology show is based on the bestseller Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer, and tells the story of Truman Capote’s betrayal and fall-out with New York’s most glamorous socialites. The cast is absolutely stacked, with Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny and Calista Flockhart all swearing delicious revenge on Tom Hollander’s Capote.

Also via Hulu in February comes the third season of Abbott Elementary, along with new episodes of The Connors, The Good Doctor, Will Trent,...

Nia Long will play Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson, in director Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biographical drama about the King of Pop.

It’s been previously announced that Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson will play the eponymous musician while Colman Domingo will portray the family’s patriarch, Joe Jackson.

“Nia has delivered iconic performances throughout her career,” Fuqua said in a statement. “I’ve been a fan for a long time because her characters stay with you. I’m excited to now work alongside her as she pours all of that into Katherine Jackson: a woman who was the glue, the rock, and the heart of the Jackson family during its best and its most turbulent times.”

“Michael” is expected to chronicle the singer’s complicated legacy. According to the logline, the story will portray a “brilliant yet complicated man” who became known as one of the greatest performers of all time.

Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael has cast Nia Long as Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson. The Antoine Fuqua-directed movie is now shooting for an April 18, 2025 global theatrical release.

“Beyond Nia’s incredible talent, I was deeply moved by her connection to the material and her commitment to honoring Katherine and the love she had for her son,” said Michael producer Graham King.

Fuqua added, “Nia has delivered iconic performances throughout her career. I’ve been a fan for a long time because her characters stay with you. I’m excited to now work alongside her as she pours all of that into Katherine Jackson: a woman who was the glue, the rock, and the heart of the Jackson family during its best and its most turbulent times.”

Long said, “Katherine Jackson is an incredible pillar of strength and grace for the entire Jackson family. As a mother,...

Richard Roundtree, famous for his role as John Shaft, passed away at 81 after battling pancreatic cancer. He leaves behind an enduring legacy. Before his iconic role, Roundtree started as a model and participated in theater. He continued to star in various Shaft movies and other notable shows and movies. Roundtree's passing is a big loss to the entertainment industry. Tributes have poured in, highlighting his importance and influence.

Shaft actor Richard Roundtree has passed away at the age of 81. The award-winning actor who starred in numerous television and movie roles across his illustrious career that spanned about five decades, was born on July 9, 1942. His professional acting career kicked off around 1963, but he didn’t rise to prominence until 1971 when he took on the titular role of detective John Shaft in Gordon Park’s blaxploitation crime thriller.

According to Deadline, Roundtree reportedly passed away on the afternoon of Oct. 24, after a...

Richard Roundtree, known for his role as Shaft in the series of films, died at the age of 81. The actor has left a legacy in both film and television for generations to come.

Roundtree made his debut in film as John Shaft in Shaft about a private detective who is hired by a mobster to help rescue his daughter who was kidnapped by Italian mobsters. The actor would go on to reprise his role of Shaft in the sequels Shaft’s Big Score (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973). A reboot of Shaft starring Samuel L. Jackson was released in 2000 with Roundtree appearing as “Uncle” Shaft. Roundtree also played the role in the short-lived CBS series.

Other films in which Roundtree appeared in include Embassy (1972), Earthquake (1974), Man Friday (1975), Diamonds (1975), Escape to Athena (1979), City Heat (1984), George of the Jungle (1997), What Men Want (2019) and The Haunting of the Mary Celeste (2020), just to name a few.

Richard Roundtree, who broke ground with his signature role in the Shaft movie franchise, died October 24 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer with his family at his bedside. He was 81.

Roundtree’s career spanned five decades and included everything from his most popular blaxploitation role to a very early appearance on As the World Turns in 1956 to being a Season 2 main cast member on Ava DuVernay’s OWN series Cherish the Day last year.

He is best known for playing detective John Shaft in the 1971 action thriller and its sequels, Shaft’s Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973) as well as the short-lived 1973 Shaft TV series.

For his performance in the original film, Roundtree was nominated for a New Star of the Year Golden Globe and hailed as the first Black action hero. More importantly, the films made Shaft a cultural hero, a symbol of Black power onscreen, at the box office and beyond.

Hallmark Media today announced it will join the scripted podcast space with all–new original podcast series Crimson Hearts Collide, a soulful romance-mystery story spun from the company’s Mahogany content initiative. The podcast series produced by Ayr Media debuted its inaugural trailer today Here, and will premiere episodes 1-2 on August 24 followed by new episodes every Thursday, available wherever listeners find their favorite podcasts.

An eight-part series, Crimson Hearts Collide marks the first-ever scripted podcasting venture for the company, and a milestone in the continued extension of Hallmark’s legacy brand Mahogany, an iconic 30+ year-old card line brought to life as a Hallmark Media entertainment initiative last year. Mahogany content offerings spotlight storytelling that exemplifies family, community, connection, positivity, and the power of love – all through the unique lens of Black culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_RngRARdQ

“I’m thrilled for fans to experience the heart...

Hallmark has been a dominant force with its feel-good movies and series for several years.

Today, Hallmark Media dropped some exciting news that's sure to resonate with the fans of its projects.

Hallmark will join the scripted podcast space with the–new original podcast series Crimson Hearts Collide, "a soulful romance-mystery story spun from the company's Mahogany content initiative."

The podcast series produced by Ayr Media debuted its inaugural trailer today. It will premiere the first two episodes on August 24, followed by new episodes every Thursday, available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

"An eight-part series, Crimson Hearts Collide marks the first-ever scripted podcasting venture for the company, and a milestone in the continued extension of Hallmark's legacy brand Mahogany, an iconic 30+ year-old card line brought to life as a Hallmark Media entertainment initiative last year," the company said in a press release.

"Mahogany content offerings spotlight storytelling that exemplifies family,...

Hallmark Media is making a foray into the scripted podcast space with Crimson Hearts Collide, an original romance-mystery story spun from the company’s Mahogany content initiative.

The podcast series, produced by Ayr Media, will premiere the first two episodes on August 24 followed by new episodes every Thursday, available on all major podcast platforms.

The company’s podcasting venture marks a milestone in the extension of Hallmark’s legacy brand Mahogany, its 30+ year-old card line which morphed into a Hallmark Media entertainment initiative last year. Mahogany content spotlights storytelling about family, community, connection, positivity, and the power of love through the lens of Black culture.

“I’m thrilled for fans to experience the heart of our powerful Hallmark storytelling in this new, accessible and rapidly growing medium,” said Hallmark Media’s SVP, Programming Development, Toni Judkins. “Listeners will fall in love with the enchanting story of Crimson Hearts Collide, which...

Michael Beach was in his late twenties and primed for a breakout performance when he landed the role of Pluto in Carl Franklin's "One False Move." This was not supposed to be that performance. It was a low-budget crime flick from a couple of unknown screenwriters named Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson that was intended to go straight to video. But when L.A. Weekly journo Anne Thompson caught an early screening, she spread the word to her critic colleagues. Once the Los Angeles Times' Sheila Benson and the Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert began raving about the film, the distributor, I.R.S. Releasing, opted for a small theatrical release. The movie wound up on multiple year-end top 10 lists and earned five Independent Spirit Award nominations (with Franklin beating out newcomer Quentin Tarantino for Best Director).

Strangely, only Cynda Williams managed to score an acting nomination for her portrayal of a...

As Pam Grier waxes over her groundbreaking career — touching on everything from Foxy Brown and Coffy to Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 love letter to Grier and the genre she built, Jackie Brown — she takes a moment to take stock of what it all represents.

“I hope I’ve given you a slice of what it’s like to be a woman in film,” says the gilded icon of Blaxploitation films during a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter. “From age 19 to me today, I’m in such gratitude and honor of all the people who taught me so much.”

While a library could be built around what’s been written about the Blaxploitation era and her role in it — the recent Netflix documentary Is that Black Enough for You?!? in part chronicles how the genre made her one of the highest-grossing film stars in the 1970s — these days, Grier is focused on...

Chef Alisa Reynolds was on the brink of losing her prized My 2 Cents restaurant when she was struck with an idea that would take her career worldwide.

On her eight-episode unscripted Hulu series “Searching for Soul Food,” which dropped on June 2, the Los Angeles-based Reynolds travels the world, shining a light on marginalized cultures as she dines on native cuisines. Hailing from Onyx Collective, the series pushes Reynolds — whose food has been enjoyed by renowned figures such as Barack Obama, Lena Waithe, A$AP Rocky, among others — into the TV space as one of the few Black women to host their own show in the travel and food genres.

Her international journey takes Reynolds through Mississippi, Oklahoma, Appalachia, South Africa, Italy, Jamaica, Peru and Los Angeles, as she connects people from all walks of life and varied backgrounds through one commonality: good meals.

As viewers gather from its first episode,...

If you’re wondering what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in June, the answer is a lot. The streamer has a solid slate of movies heading into summer 2023. From the first two “Creed” films to “Love, Rosie,” “Yours, Mine & Ours” and other clever romantic comedies, the streamer has a range of options for viewers with different tastes. Newer theatrical releases arriving on the streamer in June include “TÁR,” “Armageddon Time,” and “M3GAN.”

TV premieres to look forward to include Boots Riley’s “I’m A Virgo” and the fourth and final season of John Krasinski’s “Jack Ryan.” “Crazy Rich Asians” arrives early in June, followed by “Interstellar” for all Christopher Nolan and Matthew McConaughey lovers. Even though “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” doesn’t release in theaters until November, all four “Hunger Games” films land on Prime Video this June. Perfect timing — maybe even with a reread...

With its list of new releases for June 2023, Prime is bringing a handful of Amazon Originals and many recent movie hits to the fold.

It’s actually quite a busy month for non-American programming in Amazon Originals department. Shows and movies like Deadloch, My Fault, and Medellín all originate from outside the U.S. and U.K. For the American and British crowd, however, the streamer is debuting two big tentpoles.

The first is I’m a Virgo on June 23. Acclaimed director Boots Riley’s TV followup to Sorry to Bother You will tale the surreal and satirical tale of a giant in Oakland. That will be followed by the more conventional (assumedly) fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on June 30.

The real fireworks this month come from a ludicrously deep bench of library TV and movie titles. Give them a look for yourself below but if we were to highlight just a few,...

Tubi opens June with an intense WWII drama “Inglourious Basterds.” Allied officer Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) assembles a team of five tough Jewish soldiers to spread fear throughout the Third Reich. They have one assignment: assassinate Nazi leaders. Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed the unconventional war drama. Eli Roth, Melanie Laurent, and Christopher Walz co-star.

Watch the trailer of “Inglourious Basterds”:

The network is also streaming the original documentary “Mystery Unsolved: The Adnan Syed Story” on June 7. The murder of teenager Hae Min Lee was the focal point of a “Serial” podcast, which questioned if boyfriend Syed was her killer. After serving 22 years in prison, Syed was released, still proclaiming his innocence. Now, he may return.

Another streamer original, “Magic Carpet Rides,” arrives June 14. It centers on a social influencer torn between sharing her budding romance or honoring her boyfriend’s request to keep their life private.

Check...

The fourth and final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” arrives on Prime Video on June 30. It finds Ryan — now the new acting CIA director — unearthing internal corruption and suspicious black ops that leaves the United States vulnerable to attack. John Krasinski stars as the tough-as-nails Ryan.

Watch the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” trailer:

“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” is a new docuseries that reveals the truth behind the myth of the wholesome religious family and their involvement with the predatory Bill Gothard and The Institute in Basic Life Principles. The organization’s abusive practices — and the insidious long political game it plays — is revealed on June 2. The Duggars and their 19 “happy” kids are exposed as frauds, while also being manipulated by Gothard and enduring the scandal of Josh, their sexually abusive son.

Check out the “Shiny Happy People” trailer:

When a body is found on the beach in the Tasmanian town of Deadloch,...

Oliver (Martin Short), Charles (Steve Martin) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 2 (Photo by: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu)

New seasons of Only Murders in the Building, The Kardashians, and This Fool will premiere this summer on Hulu. The streaming service released premiere dates and plot descriptions for its summer 2023 programming lineup, which includes the return – after a decade-long break – of the popular animated comedy Futurama.

Hulu’s roster of new films joining the streaming service this summer includes White Men Can’t Jump (the remake) and Flamin’ Hot, the directorial debut of Eva Longoria. Hulu’s also set summer premiere dates for the documentaries Queenmaker: The Making of An It Girl, The Jewel Thief, Anthem, The Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump, and Jelly Roll: Save Me.

Hulu’S Summer 2023 Series:

How I Met Your Father

Premiere Date: May 23, 2023 (One episode weekly)

Finale date: July 11, 2023 (Two episode...

NFL legend Jim Brown, who is widely considered to be the greatest football player of all time, died Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 87.

In a statement to TMZ, Brown’s wife, Monique Brown, said, “It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my husband, Jim Brown. He passed away peacefully last night at our LA home. To the world he was an activist, actor and football star. To our family, he was a loving and wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”

More from TVLineWWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk Dead at 79 - Ric Flair...

Big George Foreman is a film directed by George Tillman Jr. starring Khris Davis.

Some movies simply wait for a great story to do all the work.

Foreman’s life was quite a story.

We can’t say the same for the film.

Movie Review

Some said the voiceover was anti-cinematic, and it was Scorsese (among others) who denied it film after film. This Big George Foreman wants to have a lot of Scorsese without achieving his pace, effectiveness and, above all, grace, and narrative freshness.

Big George Foreman is a film that resorts, at all times, to the obvious, to direct compassion, to that piece of American History a thousand times told in a thousand better ways and with more elaborate plots and less flat characters and, in the end, with more to say.

It is well executed technically, it knows how to behave, but the script’s compassionate...

John Djahanshah Refoua, an Oscar-nominated film editor who worked on Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water, has died. He was 58.

Refoua had been diagnosed with a rare bile cancer called cholangiocarcinoma, his wife Serena Refoua confirmed.

“Dear friends, my brilliant, sweet, creative husband John Djahanshah Refoua passed away last night May 14 surrounded by family and friends who loved him,” Serena shared in a Facebook post. “He was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer, 15 months ago.”

She continued, “Despite the pain and complexities of this aggressive disease, he faced it with courage and grit. He continued to work and edit on James Cameron’s Avatar 3 right up to his final weeks. His life’s trajectory was quite unique and anything he touched, he made better. He loved music, movies, politics, traveling, vintage cars, science fiction, and his 4-year-old granddaughter Avery Sophia. We will miss his generosity and wisdom.

Nia Long is set to be honored by Reel Works during the non-profit’s 22nd annual ChangeMakers Gala, taking place in New York later this month.

The four-time NAACP Award winner and You People star will be recognized as a 2023 ChangeMaker honoree for her iconic work and legendary film and television roles spanning nearly four decades during the May 24 event at Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Ballroom. The evening will feature a fireside chat with the actress, moderated by Saturday Night Live‘s Ego Nwodim, previously announced as the host of this year’s gala.

“To be recognized by an organization like Reel Works that works to empower the next generation of creatives is the highest of honors,” Nia Long said. “I am incredibly grateful to the team there for including me in this special evening and inviting me to share in their students’ compelling storytelling.”

The actress and producer is best...

The full title of the George Foreman biopic provides a not-so-subtle clue as to the film’s prosaicness. The movie about Jake Lamotta vividly signaled the personality of its lead character with Raging Bull. The one about Rocky Graziano jauntily indicated its upbeat nature with Somebody Up There Likes Me. So what does Foreman merit? Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World. It sounds like the title of a biography for young readers, and that’s pretty much how the by-the-numbers film plays.

It’s not surprising that Affirm Films is one of the film’s producers, since Foreman famously underwent a religious epiphany and became a born-again Christian. He retired from boxing for many years and became a minister, preaching first on street corners before becoming working at a Houston church. He also opened a youth community center, and, as the film portrays it,...

So often thought of primarily as the big lug who was so dramatically dispatched by Muhammad Ali in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire in 1974, George Foreman is the main event in Big George Foreman. While there is plenty of boxing here to satisfy sports fans, the film is mild-mannered and genial to a fault as it charts the life of a dirt-poor Texas kid with a devastating punch whose public image transformed over the years from hulking bogeyman to that of a good-natured businessman and man of God.

Ali was such a commanding, entertaining and (mostly) adored worldwide figure, from his emergence as the self-anointed “greatest” to his ultimate status as one of the most beloved and admired men on the planet, that it isn’t easy to watch him take a back seat here to a younger but less charismatic figure onscreen. Eventually, if you like...

It’s been six months since Chris McCarthy added Showtime to his portfolio, and he knows what a healthy swath of Hollywood has said. He’s read the network eulogies and seen the variations on “Rip Showtime” tweets. He’s even sat with folks who have bemoaned his stated plan to lean into franchises, be it more Billions or Dexter. And it would all probably irk him more if it weren’t exactly what he needed.

“People not thinking it’s going to work is the motivation. Like, great, perfect,” he says as he dives into a rotisserie chicken salad.

It’s a rainy March afternoon, and The Terrace at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, which McCarthy has selected for lunch (and lodging), lacks its usual bustle yet still has a smattering of soggy stars like Halle Berry, Jerrod Carmichael and Justin Bieber. The executive, who floats through anonymously, has been...

The eighth annual Icon Mann Honors dinner will salute “The Woman King” filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood, “Sidney” director Reginald Hudlin and Uzodinma Iweala, CEO of the Africa Center NYC and author of the New York Times bestseller “Beasts of No Nation.”

Icon Mann partnered with Sony Pictures for the event, which has a “Reimagining African Diasporic Narratives” theme and will take place on Wednesday, March 8 at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The dinner is part of a series of awards week events for Icon Mann, which is a media, production and management consultancy representing African Diasporic heritage. The company is a leading strategic broker for investments and enterprise within creative industries for Hollywood and media-driven African nations, cultivating a global network of creators and leaders focused on “positive narrative representation.”

Filmmaker George Tillman will also be honored on Tuesday, Feb. 28 with a fireside chat and film retrospective in advance...

Horror delights, rom-coms and a new sci-fi series starring Christoph Waltz are just a few of the highlights arriving on Amazon Prime Video in February. This month sees the debut of the second and final season of “Carnival Row” on Feb. 17, while Feb. 24 is when “The Consultant” – a “Severance”-like thriller series starring Waltz and directed by “WandaVision’s” Matt Shakman – drops.

In terms of new original Prime Video movies, on Feb. 10 there’s “Somebody I Used to Know,” a romantic comedy starring Alison Brie who co-wrote the script with her husband Dave Franco (who serves as director).

And you’ll find last year’s buzzy horror hit “Smile” on the streaming service on Feb. 21, while “Mad Max: Fury Road” filmmaker George Miller’s “Three Thousand Years of Longing” arrives on Feb. 17.

That’s not to mention noteworthy library additions like “A.I.,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Almost Famous.

Exclusive: Uncoupled, has been saved. I hear Showtime is picking up Season 2 (and potentially beyond) of the comedy series, from Emily in Paris creator Darren Star and Modern Family veteran Jeffrey Richman, a couple weeks after the MTV Entertainment Studios-produced show was canceled by Netflix. At the premium network, soon to be renamed Paramount+ with Showtime, Uncoupled is designed to fit into one the three main content lanes recently outlined by new Showtime boss Chris McCarthy, “Metro Cultures”, which spans “culturally diverse takes” like The L Word and The Chi.

As Deadline reported at the time of the cancellation, speculation that the series starring Neil Patrick Harris would not be continuing at Netflix started in late 2022 when sources indicated that there was an effort by Uncoupled producer MTV Entertainment Studios to find a new home for the series at Paramount Global sibling Showtime. At the time, those conversations did not result in a pickup,...

Sony has offered up the first wave of marketing for their upcoming George Foreman biopic, namely a trailer, a poster and a release date.

“Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World” will debut theatrically on April 28, 2023, occupying the pre-summer slot that in previous years was home to “He Got Game,” “Obsessed” and “Keanu.” In 2023, that any studio is slotting anything resembling a big movie is a sign of a return to sanity within the theatrical ecosystem.

Directed by George Tillman Jr. and starring Khris Davis as Foreman, “Big George Foreman” stems from a story by Dan Gordon and Frank Baldwin and Goerge Tillman Jr. And a screenplay from Baldwin and Tillman.

The trailer, which you can watch at the top of this file, features the rags-to-riches true-life story of a young man who channeled his anger into Olympic glory and eventual...

February is the shortest month of the year but Prime Video is paying that no mind with its jam-packed list of new releases for February 2023.

This really is an uncommonly stuffed month on the Amazon streamer and it all starts with a handful of Amazon Originals. Amazon’s original offerings kick off with the release of Dave Franco-directed romcom Somebody I Used to Know on Feb. 10. That is followed by Carnival Row season 2 – a gritty fantasy crime drama is set in a world of steampunky fairies. The show stars Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne and this batch of episodes will be its swan song. Meanwhile The Consultant on Feb. 24 is a dark comedy workplace thriller starring Christoph Waltz.

The biggest hits this month, however, might just be some recent cinema faves. If February is for lovers, Amazon didn’t get the memo as there are quite a few horror movies of note here.

Kenya Barris' directorial debut, You People, explores modern-day obstacles in a romantic comedy. In You People, Ezra is searching for love and a way for his podcast to take off but has nearly given up hope. However, a chance meeting with Amari changes everything, and the young couple quickly falls in love. After becoming engaged, a new set of problems arises when Ezra and Amari realize they need to introduce their parents.

Ezra and Amira must contend with not only disapproving parents but also different cultures, religions, races, societal expectations, and generational perceptions in You People. The new Netflix romantic comedy is co-written by director Bariss and Jonah Hill, who also stars in it. You People also boasts a stellar cast in Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Duchovny, and more.

Related: Netflix: Every Movie & TV Show Releasing In January 2023

Screen Rant spoke with Barris and star Nia Long about their new movie,...

Well, this bites.

Excuse the pun, but it really does.

Netflix has canceled the buzzy vampire drama First Kill after one season.

Deadline reported the news on Tuesday night, but the streamer has yet to confirm the cancellation.

The series launched on May 5.

"When it's time for teenage vampire Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook) to make her first kill so she can take her place among a powerful vampire family, she sets her sights on a new girl in town named Calliope (Imani Lewis)," the logline reads.

"But much to Juliette's surprise, Calliope is a vampire hunter from a family of celebrated slayers. Both find that the other won't be so easy to kill and, unfortunately, way too easy to fall for."

Felicia D. Henderson serves as showrunner, executive producer, and writer of First Kill, which is based on the short story by New York Times best-selling author Victoria “V. E.

Mary Alice, an Emmy-winning actor for I’ll Fly Away and a Tony winner for her performance in 1987’s Broadway production of August Wilson’s Fences, died yesterday in New York City.

Her age has been variously reported as 80, 84 and 86. Her death was confirmed to Deadline by the New York Police Department. No additional details were immediately available.

Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

“A shoulder we all stood on,” tweeted actor Colman Domingo today.

A prolific character actor on screen and stage, and a pioneer in the representation of Black actors on the Off Broadway and Broadway scenes, Alice is perhaps most widely known to TV audiences for her two-season run as a main character on NBC’s Cosby Show spin-off A Different World, in which she played dorm director Leticia “Lettie” Bostic. In 2003, she featured prominently in The Matrix Revolutions, portraying The Oracle, who imparts words of wisdom to Keanu Reeves’ Neo.

If you’ve been putting off watching the terrifically adventurous Brendan Fraser-led “The Mummy” again, now’s the time to prioritize it. The 1999 film is one of a bevy of movies leaving HBO Max in June, the full list of which you can read below.

Also leaving HBO and HBO Max this month is a bevy of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies, “Rounders,” “She’s All That” and “Real Steel.”

If you’re looking to prioritize some selections, “Presumed Innocent” is one of Harrison Ford’s most underrated films (featuring one of his best performances) and the Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman comedy “Identity Thief” is good for some solid laughs.

Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max below.

Also Read:

Here’s What’s New on HBO and HBO Max in June 2022

June 9:

12 Strong, 2018

June 30:

2 Guns, 2013

20 Feet From Stardom, 2013 (HBO)

All Dogs Go To Heaven,...

A vampire and a slayer enter a forbidden romance in the full trailer for Netflix’s First Kill, which dropped on Thursday.

The series, which is based on a short story from New York Times bestselling author Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, will premiere all eight episodes on Friday, June 10.

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When it’s time for teenage vampire Juliette (played by Sarah Catherine Hook) to make her first kill so she...

Kenneth Welsh, a Canadian actor best known as villainous FBI agent Windom Earle in the original Twin Peaks, has died. His death was confirmed by Actra, the Canadian film and television union. No cause of death was given.

Welsh had more than 200 screen credits during his long career.

“Ken was one of Canada’s all-time great performers, with hundreds of memorable roles spanning decades,” Actra wrote in a statement. “He will be greatly missed. Our condolences to his loved ones.”

Welsh portrayed several historical figures on the screen, including Harry S. Truman, Thomas E. Dewey, Colin Thatcher, and Thomas Edison, among others.

Born in 1942 in Edmonton, Alta., Welsh studied at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. His early work was with the Stratford Festival, which specialized in Shakespeare.

Welsh’s first screen credit was in “Shoestring Theatre,” a 1963 CBC anthology series. He went on to several more CBC television appearances.