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Alright, just hear me out. Will Ferrell hit it big with SNL and has made some true classics such as Elf, Stranger Than Fiction, and Anchorman. While that phase of his career was all great and polished, the style of his sometimes crass and all-time dumb humor hit its pinnacle in the mid and late 2000s and 2010s with films like Step Brothers and Talladega Nights.

Taking characters who were fringe personality types was a masterstroke from Ferrell. He did the same, but on a much larger and disastrous scale, with the adventure comedy Land of the Lost. It was a box office bomb and received only negative reviews from critics but I feel it is still hilarious when you look at it through the right lens.

I still love Will Ferrell’s Land of the Lost despite what the critics say A still from Land of the Lost | Credits:...

The Twilight Zone is one of the most influential television series of all time. Its anthology format and clever updates of campfire tales struck a chord with audiences in the early 1960s, as creator Rod Serling and his colleagues combined sci-fi with a strong social conscience. The series' signature ironic twists have never lost their sting, and the moral lessons beneath the chills give it an evergreen quality that helped it endure over the years.

In the process, it has influenced countless sci-fi and horror filmmakers who were inspired by it at an early age. Some of them went on to direct movies with a close resemblance to Serling's tales, and there are plenty of feature-length movies which bear the distinctive stamp of a specific episode. Each one tells its own story, while carrying the core of an idea that effectively started with The Twilight Zone.

A Nightmare on Elm...

On Tuesday January 21 2025, PBS broadcasts Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.!

Stranger Than Fiction Season 11 Episode 3 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” is titled “Stranger Than Fiction.” This episode promises to take viewers on an intriguing journey as it explores the family histories of two celebrated literary figures: novelist Amy Tan and poet Rita Dove.

In this episode, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will travel across China and the American South. He will uncover the rich and diverse ancestries of both Tan and Dove. The exploration will highlight how their backgrounds have shaped their writing and artistic expressions. As Gates delves into their family stories, he will reveal connections to history that may surprise and inspire.

“Stranger Than Fiction” aims to shed light on the personal narratives that often influence creative work. By connecting the past with the present, this episode...

In the upcoming episode of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. titled “Stranger Than Fiction,” airing on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 8:00 Pm on PBS, viewers are in for a fascinating journey into the personal histories of two influential women: novelist Amy Tan and poet Rita Dove.

Throughout the episode, Gates travels across China and the American South, uncovering the rich and diverse ancestry of Tan and Dove. As Gates unravels their family histories, he reveals compelling stories that bring their legacies into sharper focus, highlighting the unexpected connections between the past and present.

For fans of Finding Your Roots, this episode will be particularly special as it delves into the lives of two women who have shaped modern literature and poetry. Their unique backgrounds and stories of perseverance and talent make for an inspiring and deeply moving hour. Viewers can expect to be captivated by these emotional and revealing ancestral journeys.

By now, General Hospital fans are used to the fact that Nicholas Alexander Chavez’s character, Spencer Cassadine, may not be returning for quite some time. The actor has been busy with his other projects. There’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story for Netflix, as well as FX’s Grotesquerie. For the latter show, where he plays the buff Father Charlie, he had a unique way of preparing for the offbeat character.

Stranger Than Fiction

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Chavez discussed the incredible year he’s had. After all, he appeared in two hit shows which were his life’s dream come true. But acting is more than a passion or a hobby for him. It’s his calling. “My life feels whole and complete between the words ‘action’ and ‘cut.’ I live for those moments. I think that is the purpose of my entire existence.

Will Ferrell is one of the funniest actors of his generation, with a list of hit comedy movies that have aged brilliantly. Will Ferrell first rose to prominence as a cast member on Saturday Night Live in the 1990s. He had a few minor movie roles during this time, like his memorable cameos in two Austin Powers movies and his flamboyant villain role in Zoolander, but he didn't make his best movies until he left SNL.

Will Ferrell's best comedy movies often see him playing ignorant manchild characters, like in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Step Brothers. Ferrell can go for crude comedy, slapstick and broad humor, but he's also intelligent and reserved when he needs to be. This subtle range means that Ferrell's greatest hits are more varied than they might first appear, with animated movies, sports comedies and more showing that he has endless ways of making his audience laugh.

The Simpsons and celebrity guest stars seem to go hand-in-hand. Throughout the show's 36-year run, it has welcomed a ton of Hollywood stars, including Anne Hathaway, Seth Rogen, and Donald Sutherland. In fact, The Simpsons was awarded the Guinness World Record for "Most Guest Stars Featured in a TV Series" back in 2010.

Although a few stars have refused to take part in the show, such as Tom Cruise and Prince, most celebrities are happy to lend their voices to this iconic show. But, during the earlier seasons, a few guest stars were concerned about how this quirky yellow sitcom would impact their reputation. For example, Dustin Hoffman appeared in a fan-favorite episode of The Simpsons but used a fake name.

Dustin Hoffman Was Worried That Lisa’s Substitute Would Impact His Reputation

Season 2, Episode 19, "Lisa's Substitute," is highly praised among fans because it introduces them to the ever-dashing Mr. Bergstrom.

On a cop show, no one is supposed to be more compelling than the cops themselves. One rung below them is the crime victim, whose backstory has to be interesting enough for us to care that our heroes are trying to bring them justice, even posthumously. Still lower on the ladder are all the bit players, whose contributions to the cops’ investigation might seem insignificant, but collectively fill out the picture: the retail clerk who digs out a receipt that helps to establish a timeline; the barmaid who remembers the victim was harassed by a regular; the neighbor who heard upsetting sounds through the wall.

Comfortable though we may be with the rhythms of a detective procedural — which, after all, conform to an endlessly repeatable format — Interior Chinatown has questions. Which crime victims’ stories are selected to be told, and why? Who should tell them? And what happens when one...

Exclusive: Amazon MGM Studios has moved to preemptively acquire The Killing Kind, a psychosexual thriller pitch from screenwriter Zach Helm (Stranger Than Fiction), which Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort is attached to produce, sources tell Deadline.

Amazon MGM declined comment. Specifics as to the plot of the film are under wraps for the moment.

Helm comes to The Killing Kind after working in the same vein as the co-writer of Deep Water, the erotic thriller, starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, from Fatal Attraction‘s Adrian Lyne. Well acquainted with various genres, he’s perhaps best known for writing Stranger Than Fiction, the beloved Columbia Pictures dramedy starring Will Ferrell, which brought him nominations at both the WGA Awards and the Critics Choice Awards. A celebrated playwright whose play Good Canary was most recently directed by John Malkovich in London, Helm also wrote and directed 20th Century Fox’s family film Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,...

White Bird has earned a solid Rotten Tomatoes score. The movie is both a sequel and prequel to 2017's Wonder, which starred Julia Roberts and was adapted from the R. J. Palacio novel of the same name and grossed $315 million against its $20 million budget. The new movie follows expelled bully Julian learning about his grandmother's (Helen Mirren) youth in France during World War II. The White Bird cast also includes Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Gillian Anderson, Patsy Ferran, Ishai Golan, Jem Matthews, Stuart McQuarrie, Olivia Ross, and Jo Stone-Fewings.

Rotten Tomatoes has now calculated an official Tomatometer score for White Bird. Compiled from 37 different critics' reviews, the movie has earned a solidly Fresh score of 73%. This is just 13 points shy of the original movie, which is Certified Fresh at 86%. This score could fluctuate as more reviews are added, but at the time of writing it is the best score for...

Get ready for another batch of your very favorite Hollywood-ites turning to television to trace their ancestries to some strange and surprising new places when Finding Your Roots returns for Season 11 on PBS. In the first trailer for the new season, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. interacts with a host of new notable figures, who all experience some sort of jaw-dropping revelation about their family histories. The new season premieres at the start of the year with the first of 10 episodes, and the entire cast list and schedule have been revealed by the network as follows: January 7 “Larger Than Life” – actors Lea Salonga and Amanda Seyfried January 14 “La Famiglia” – talk show host Joy Behar and actor Michael Imperioli January 21 “Stranger Than Fiction” – novelist Amy Tan and poet Rita Dove January 28 “Dreamers One and All” – actor Sharon Stone and model Chrissy Teigen February 4 “Family Recipes” – celebrity chefs José Andrés and Sean Sherman...

Will Ferrell is coming to Netflix. Ferrell and Ramy Youssef are co-creating Golf, a comedy series which Ferrell will lead. Josh Rabinowitz also serves a co-creator. The series will be the comedy actor’s first TV comedy series. The 10-episode series will follow Ferrell as a fictional golf legend. Youssef will also play a role. Ferrell is best known for his iconic characters in films such as Anchorman: The Legend of Run Burgundy, Elf, Step Brothers, and Stranger Than Fiction. Along with producing partner Jessica Elbaum, Ferrell is a co-founder of Gloria Sanchez Productions, with is credited with critically acclaimed films Hustlers, Booksmart, Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar, Theater Camp, and Quiz Lady. Coming soon, Ferrell will star in Amazon Studio’s comedy You’re Cordially Invited alongside Reese Witherspoon. He is repped by UTA, Mosaic, The Lede Company and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Youssef is best known for...

Will Ferrell is making a rare foray into scripted television in a big way.

The former SNL star, whose acting credits have mainly focused on films, is co-creating the new Netflix comedy series Golf alongside Ramy Youssef (Ramy) and Josh Rabinowitz (The Carmichael Show). Ferrell and Youssef are set to star.

In his first leading role in a comedy series, Ferrell will star as a fictional golf legend. Details regarding Youssef’s role are under wraps.

Ferrell was previously developing a series following a professional golfer who becomes the face of a controversial new league competing with the PGA, as Deadline reported exclusively back in 2023. “It also evokes one of Ferrell’s signature movies, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. The series is in a similar tone, I hear, bringing Ferrell back to the sports arena he also explored in Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro,...

“Shayda,” a breakout indie movie from Noora Niasari, and Kitty Green’s high-temperature drama “The Royal Hotel” were named best film winners at the annual Spa Awards, presented by the Screen Producers Australia association.

The ceremony took place Thursday at Queensland’s Gold Coast, during the annual Screen Forever conference. The event was hosted by actor and comedian Matt Okine.

Production company Werner Film, which this week announced its acquisition by the BBC, took three awards including the coveted Media Super Production Business of the year prize.

“It’s clear that our production community continues to thrive in the face of a rapidly changing landscape. Each winner exemplifies the creativity, innovation, and dedication that define our industry and showcase the vital role producers and production businesses play in sharing our unique stories and culture with audiences worldwide,” said Spa CEO Matthew Deaner.

The awards ceremony also saw Amy Parry named...

Wayne Kramer, the cofounder and guitarist-vocalist of the iconic Detroit punk band MC5, has died at age 75. The news was shared on Kramer and MC5’s official social media pages today, but a cause of death was not disclosed.

Born Wayne Kambes on April 30, 1948, the guitarist formed the MC5 (for Motor City 5) as a teenager with his friend, Fred “Sonic” Smith. They played locally, eventually becoming the house band at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit.

John Sinclair, a left-wing activist, became the band’s manager, and they soon were a staple of the late-’60s political movements, aligning with the White Panther Party, the anti-racist group that Sinclair cofounded.

The group’s sound was hard to define, but it was defiant, and was widely credited with sparking what was to come in punk. The group performed at the protests outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention and at other rallies before signing...

Fusion Entertainment has signed Keith Kupferer, the veteran stage and screen actor whose new film “Ghostlight” premieres this week at the Sundance Film Festival. Kupferer has also recently been cast in a recurring role in the new MGM+ series “Emperor of Ocean Park” from John Wells, which is currently in production in Chicago. The thriller series is based on the best selling novel by Stephen L. Carter.

“Ghostlight” centers on Dan (Kupferer), a melancholic middle-aged construction worker, who is grieving a family tragedy. Cut off from his devoted wife, Sharon (Tara Mallen), and talented but troubled daughter, Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), Dan finds comfort a local theater production of “Romeo & Juliet” featuring a company of amateur actors. “Ghostlight” is directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, who are also clients of Fusion Entertainment.)

Kupferer will also continue to be repped by the Grey Talent Group.

A seasoned stage performer,...

Will Ferrell has never starred in a trilogy of films, despite his success in many standalone movies and sequels. The closest Ferrell has come to appearing in a trilogy is his role in the Austin Powers movie franchise. The possibility of a third Anchorman movie or another Lego Movie sequel could break Ferrell's "trilogy curse" and fulfill his desire to star in a movie trilogy.

Despite being one of the most iconic comedy actors of his generation, Will Ferrell is missing a particular accolade that a possible sequel could supply him with. Coming to prominence in the early 2000s, Ferrell became known for his signature brand of silliness in movies such as Elf, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and Step Brothers. The success of many of Ferrell's movies has resulted in sequels being produced, although many have remained as standalone stories.

While Ferrell has led movies, such as 2006's Stranger Than Fiction,...

The 2023 International Emmys awarded its winners and the comedy Derry Girls, the stand-up special Vir Das: Landing and the drama series The Empress landed the top awards.

Derry Girls from the U.K. and Vir Das: Landing from India tied in the Comedy category taking the prize. Germany’s The Empress won in the Drama series category. Karla Souza took the award in the Best Performance by an Actress category for her work in La Caída, while The Responder’s Martin Freeman took the award in the Best Performance by an Actor category.

The special Founders Emmy® was presented to Jesse Armstrong, creator of the hit HBO show “Succession” by Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and Max Content.

“In a tumultuous time, television again proves to be a common denominator for people around the world,” said International Academy President & CEO Bruce L. Paisner. “The International Academy is proud...

The comedic landscape of Hollywood has been significantly shaped by the talents and contributions of one man: John William Ferrell, more popularly known as Will Ferrell. Over the years, he has demonstrated his undeniable prowess in acting, producing, and writing, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

Will Ferrell. Depositphotos

John William Ferrell, born on July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California, was brought into a world of creativity and art. His mother, Betty Kay Overman, was an elementary school teacher, and his father, Roy Lee Ferrell Jr., was a talented musician, who once played with The Righteous Brothers. Both his parents hailed from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, but moved to California in 1964. He has a mixed ancestry of English, German, and Irish.

Ferrell’s childhood was marked by a pivotal moment when his parents divorced when he was just eight. Despite the divorce, both parents remained committed to their children. Ferrell...

Fight Club gained a cult following despite its initial box office failure, and has recently become popular among far-right groups. David Fincher, the director, acknowledges the film's popularity within these groups but is confused by their idolization of the negative influence character, Tyler Durden. Chuck Palahniuk, the author of the novel, finds it fascinating that these groups identify with Fight Club.

David Fincher's Fight Club has had quite the ride. The satirical drama follows two men who form an underground fight club for men that evolves into much more. When the film premiered in 1999, it failed to meet expectations at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics. Despite that, the film gained a cult following, with many publications still analyzing the film's cultural impacts and themes. In recent years, the film has become a favorite among far-right groups and incels (member of an online community of young men...

A genius South Korean lawyer with very poor social skills, Wonder Woman star Connie Nielsen as Danish writer Karen Blixen, Martin Freeman as a cop on the edge, and those foul-mouthed Derry Girls are among the nominees for this year’s International Emmy awards, which were announced today by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The 56 nominees span 20 countries and six continents.

Best drama contenders include South Korea’s Extraordinary Attorney Woo, featuring Park Eun-bin as an autistic rookie female lawyer with a genius Iq; the German period drama The Empress, British thriller The Devil’s Hour starring Peter Capaldi; and Yosi, the Regretful Spy, a historic thriller from Argentina, another Amazon production. On the comedy side, Netflix’s Northern Irish hit Derry Girls is up against Argentine series The Boss from Star+, season 2 of the French reality show send-up Le Flambeau, and Vir Das: Landing, a Netflix stand-up special from the Indian comedy star.

Many actors are often typecast in Hollywood, but some have managed to break free and showcase their versatility in surprising roles. Jim Carrey, Helen Mirren, Will Ferrell, and other actors have defied expectations and delivered exceptional performances outside of their usual comedic characters. From dramatic roles to action films, these actors have proven that they are capable of exploring different genres and portraying nuanced characters.

Sometimes a performance in a movie can defy audiences' expectations of the actor, offering a new-found appreciation for them. It's easy for Hollywood movie stars to find themselves being type-cast, sticking to what works for them film after film. The industry often doesn't take risks and seeks a formula for success, which is why many actors are not given the chance to go beyond their comfort zone. Fortunately, there are still great films that challenge their stars.

Type-casting is common for character actors, but many...

Three years into its local production effort in Australia and New Zealand, Netflix has greenlighted two new series, one feature film and one full-length documentary from Australia.

These are in addition to previously announced renewals of teen series “Heartbreak High” and “Surviving Summer” and the go-ahead for prestige book-to-series adaptation “Boy Swallows Universe” and kids animation “Eddie’s Lil Homies.”

Set in the Australian Outback, epic succession tale “Desert King” revolves around billionaire miners, traditional owners, cowboys and desert gangsters fighting over the world’s biggest cattle station the size of Wales. It’s a hot, dusty, sexy Outback Western with guns and helicopters.

It is directed by Greg McLean and created by Tim Lee and Ben Davies, with production by Paul Ranford. The series is a co-production between Easy Tiger and Ronde.

“We’re thrilled to have assembled an incredible creative team, on and off screen, to do justice to the rarely-seen world,...

Will Ferrell is eyeing another role from the sports world after the Winning Time fallout with director David O. Russell's John Madden biopic. Madden was an NFL coach who never had a losing season while working as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, during which time he secured the franchise's first Super Bowl title. After stepping away from coaching, he became a prominent broadcaster and video game star with his series of Madden games, which are still being made today.

According to Deadline, Russell, the five-time Oscar nominee known for Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, is set to direct a biopic based on Madden's life for Amazon and MGM. Ferrell, who has several sports-related films under his belt, is said to be circling the lead role, with the film focusing on Madden's life after he stepped away from coaching. The biopic is from a Black...

John Madden may be known more for his video games and commentating these days, but the former Raiders coach led his Oakland team to an impressive winning percentage in the 70s and became the youngest coach to reach 100 career regular-season victories and a Super Bowl win. Deadline is now reporting that David O. Russell is helming a project about the man’s post-coaching career as he headlined one of the most revolutionary sports video games in history.

It is reported that Will Ferrell is in talks to play the prolific sports figure in Madden, which is set to be produced by Amazon/MGM studios with David O. Russell in the director’s chair. The project detailed by Deadline is said to be “based on a script by Cambron Clark, which was named to The Black List last year, Madden picks up with the legendarily fiery coach after his exit from the NFL,...

The start of any month brings with it batches of movies added to streaming services’ libraries. As of this week, Netflix has “Girl, Interrupted,” “Steel Magnolias” and “Traffic,” HBO Max has “Blue Valentine,” “Hustle & Flow” and “Parasite,” and Hulu has “Atonement” and “Boogie Nights.” A handful of newer titles are also premiering digitally. First up is a spellbinding thriller featuring some of Hollywood’s hottest young actors.

The contender to watch this week: “How to Blow Up a Pipeline”

Neon picked up this eco-thriller out of last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, after which it won raves for its gripping portrait of young DIY environmental activists who band together to destroy oil pipes in West Texas. Based on Andreas Malm‘s nonfiction book of the same name, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” stars Ariela Barer (“Runaways”), Sasha Lane (“American Honey”), Lukas Gage (“The White Lotus”), Marcus Scribner...

In the end, I will end up becoming annoying, but I have to say once more that documentaries prove that “Truth is stranger than fiction” repeatedly in the most pointed way. “Under the Sky of Damascus” a movie focusing on a group of young Syrian women who decide to produce a play using anonymous statements of women that have suffered in the hands of men, while also making the particular documentary about their efforts, is definitely one of those films, as the result is as meta as it is shocking.

While the consequences of war in Syria are known throughout the world, the misogyny and overall violence against women, both domestically and in the workplaces, is not something that is exactly discussed. Five young women, Farah, Eliana, Inana, Souhir, and Grace come together to highlight the issue through a stage play, despite the fact that they realize the problems this...

Six full-length albums by Elliott Smith dating back to his teenage years circa 1985 have surfaced online.

As Pitchfork notes, the recently unveiled archive of then-16-year-old Portland, Oregon teenager Steven Paul Smith was painstakingly discovered and distributed by a young Texas fan deep in a years-long pursuit.

Cameron McCrary emailed local Portland record stores and posted entries on Discogs as part of his treasure hunt. Tony Lash, who played drums on several of the records, sold the surviving copies to an Elliott Smith completist. Other recordings trickled out over the course of two years.

All told, the repertoire spans six albums recorded between 1985 and 1989 by Smith and his high school buddies under various band names, including 1985’s Any Kind of Mudhen, 1986’s Still Waters More or Less and 1987’s Menagerie by Stranger Than Fiction; 1988’s The Greenhouse by A Murder of Crows; and 1989’s Trick of Paris Season by Harum Scarum.

Funnyman Will Ferrell has become one of Hollywood's most popular comedic minds, and his best films showcase his natural sidesplitting talents. Making his debut as a cast member on Saturday Night Live in 1995, Ferrell quickly established his over-the-top comedic style that would become his trademark in the movies. As dependable as he is hilarious, Ferrell has starred in a mixture of box office smashes and critical successes without losing the essence of his humor that made fans fall in love with him in the past. Even securing a few prestigious award nominations, Ferrell has shown that his talents stretched far beyond simple humor.

The actor's eight years on SNL allowed him to hone his humorous skills, and Ferrell's uncanny ability to create iconic characters has been the secret ingredient to his cinematic success. Though he has yet to make a full transition to dramatic performance, his performances in dramedy films...

Dame Emma Thompson (born 15 April 1959) is a British actress and screenwriter. Described as one of the best actresses of her generation, she portrays reticent women in period dramas and literary adaptations. She has received various accolades throughout her career spanning four decades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a British Academy Television Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Emma Thompson at the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ Governors Awards, Ray Dolby Ballroom, Hollywood, CA 11-16-13. Depositphotos

Born in London to English actor Eric Thompson and Scottish actress Phyllida Law, Thompson was educated at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, where she became a member of the Footlights troupe, and appeared in the comedy sketch series Alfresco (1983–1984). In 1985, she starred in the West End revival of the musical Me and My Girl, which was a breakthrough in her career. In 1987, she came...

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Emma Thompson, the guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, is a British actress and screenwriter who is the only person who has ever won Academy Awards for both acting and writing.

In addition to those two Oscars, the former for 1992’s Howards End and the latter for 1995’s Sense and Sensibility, she has also won three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, one Emmy Award and one Critics Choice Award, with other credits including 1993’s The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father, 1998’s Primary Colors, 2003’s Love Actually and the miniseries Angels in America, 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 2006’s Stranger Than Fiction, 2007’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2009’s An Education, 2013’s Saving Mr. Banks, 2017’s The Meyerowitz Stories, 2019’s Late Night and this year’s Good Luck to You,...

When the 2003 Christmas classic Love Actually entered the world, it was like a stuffed stocking, filled to the brim with some of Britain’s greatest actors.

From Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson to Alan Rickman, it attracted some of the best performers of the era.

The film also launched the careers of Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Olivia Olson, who were children when they starred in the romcom.

It’s been almost 20 years since Richard Curtis’s film was released, and they’ve all been very busy since then.

Some of the stars of the movie have gone on to work with Curtis again, while others have had huge franchise roles or become synonymous with certain characters, like Martin Freeman’s Dr John Watson in Sherlock.

Here’s a rundown on the Love Actually cast’s varied careers, from 2003 to now…

Bill Nighy

After playing rock and roll legend Billy Mack in Love Actually,...

John Candy may no longer be with us, but he's still Canada's national treasure. Amongst his raunchy '80s peers, the Second City comedy alumnus had a gift. His warmth never failed to give us a smile when he appeared on-screen. His best films built on that endlessly loving part of Candy, turning him into an honorary family member, a silly babysitter for our darker days.

Despite his comedy prowess, his dramatic roles made us look at him in a new light. When he died in 1994 at 43, we lost decades of potential work where we could have deepened his craft. As a Canadian whose vibrant attitude borrows from the best in Candy, Ryan Reynolds understands what Candy means to all of us. Reynolds' production company is working on a documentary on Candy's life and legacy. For now, we have Candy's movies to remember him by when we miss his infectious laugh.

The Fabelmans is currently playing in theaters and offers an inspiring look into Steven Spielberg's life. The legendary director retells his turbulent childhood marked by his parent's divorce and how he found comfort in cinema to lead a good life.

The magic of movies is tied in with the emotions it expects to invoke in the audience and some stories instantly make people want to be kinder and enjoy life at ease. Redditors share the picks that resonated with them and inspired them to pursue a better way of living.

Harold & Maude (1971)

fergi20020 suggests, "Harold & Maude". The film is a quirky story about friendship and love that truly feels like a Wes Anderson movie. The narrative revolves around a rich young boy obsessed with death who begins to see things from a different perspective after he meets the peculiar Maude, an 80-year-old woman living life to the fullest.

We all know "The Sopranos" was one of the best shows in history, but we don't talk enough about how it also had some of the best cameos in TV history. Many of the great ones involved famous figures playing themselves, like when Christopher (Michael Imperioli) pitches a project to Sir Ben Kingsley or when Frank Sinatra Jr. and David Lee Roth attend poker games alongside Tony (James Gandolfini). But there were also some noteworthy cameos from actors who hadn't made it big yet when they appeared on David Chase's crime opus, including a pre-"Arrested Development" Tony Hale.

At this point, Hale has had a varied and lengthy comedy career, appearing in shows like the hilarious political satire "Veep" and "Harley Quinn," and films like "Stranger Than Fiction" and "Hocus Pocus 2." The actor is best known, though, for his turn as Buster Bluth on the cult favorite sitcom "Arrested Development.

Exclusive: Filmmaker David E. Talbert and his wife and producing partner Lyn Sisson-Talbert have appointed veteran entertainment exec Jim Miller as Head of Film at their production company Golden Alchemy Entertainment, at the same time bringing on Tessie Goodrich as Vice President of Development.

Golden Alchemy’s new hirings follow the Talberts’ signing of a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix for Talbert to write and direct and for the company to produce event films for the streamer. The Talberts closed the deal last year following the success of their Netflix film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, which marked the streamer’s first-ever original live-action musical. The duo produced the movie, with David also directing from his own script.

“Through our partnership with Netflix and with the help of Jim and Tessie, we’re thankful for the opportunity to continue to put fantasy and feel-good entertainment into the world,” said the Talberts in a joint statement.

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TV writer-producer Zack Estrin, whose credits include Prison Break and Lost in Space, died Friday in Hermosa Beach, Calif., of an unknown cause. He was 51.

Estrin had a successful career in TV, starting with credits on Charmed, Dawson’s Creek and Tru Calling, before rising through the ranks to serve as co-executive producer of Fox’s Prison Break.

Estrin was showrunner and executive producer of two ABC paranormal thrillers, The River and The Whispers, as well as co-creator and executive producer of ABC’s Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.

He also was showrunner and executive producer of Netflix’s reimagining of Lost in Space.

Born in Woodland, California, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Estrin attended USC before starting his entertainment career in film. He was a producer on Stranger Than Fiction and O, a contemporary adaptation of Shakespearian ‘s Othello.

In a statement,...

Zack Estrin, the respected writer-producer and showrunner known for his work on Fox’s “Prison Break” and Netflix’s recent revival of “Lost in Space,” died Sept. 23 in Hermosa Beach, Calif. He was 51.

Estrin’s death was confirmed Sunday by his longtime talent agency, WME. Estrin was remembered by friends and family as a versatile writer and producer who was a generous mentor to others.

“Zack Estrin was our everything,” Estrin’s family said in a statement. “The best husband, father, son and friend. He loved to make everyone happy. He loved to make everyone laugh. He loved being a writer/producer and being a part of creating these shows that people enjoyed. But above all, he loved his family and friends. Thank you all for being a part of his life and ours.”

WME president Ari Greenburg added, “Zack was our client for nearly 25 years. He had a tremendously...

Top television writer-producer Zack Estrin, known for his work as executive producer/showrunner of Lost In Space and co-executive producer on Prison Break, passed away suddenly Sept. 23 in Hermosa Beach. He was 51. Estrin, who was in good health, died of suspected cardiac arrest after collapsing while jogging on the beach. The exact cause of death is unknown pending autopsy.

“Zack Estrin was our everything,” his family said in a statement. “The best husband, father, son and friend. He loved to make everyone happy. He loved to make everyone laugh. He loved being a writer/producer and being a part of creating these shows that people enjoyed. But above all, he loved his family and friends. Thank you all for being a part of his life and ours.”

Born in Woodland, California, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Estrin graduated from USC and began his entertainment career in features as a...

Zack Estrin, a screenwriter and producer best known for serving as showrunner and executive producer for Netflix’s “Lost in Space” reboot, died Friday, a representative for the family said Sunday. He was 51.

“Zack Estrin was our everything,” the screenwriter’s family said in a statement. “The best husband, father, son and friend. He loved to make everyone happy. He loved to make everyone laugh. He loved being a writer/producer and being a part of creating these shows that people enjoyed. But above all, he loved his family and friends. Thank you all for being a part of his life and ours.”

The California native rose through the ranks of Hollywood as a producer and writer, eventually becoming an executive producer and showrunner on shows like “The River” and “The Whispers.”

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Estrin was born in Woodland,...

Sophie Hyde’s “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande” had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January, receiving critical acclaim — particularly for its star Emma Thompson — with many calling her a potential Oscars best actress contender. But the British sex comedy, which was acquired by Searchlight Pictures and later released on Hulu June 17, became ineligible when the Academy reverted to its pre-pandemic requirements that a film must have a theatrical release of seven days before debuting on a streaming platform.

However, Variety has now confirmed that Searchlight Pictures formally submitted an appeal to deem the film eligible, and the Academy has approved it for awards consideration. In addition to AMPAS, the film has also been cleared for awards submission by BAFTA (which was already given due to Lionsgate distributing the film in the U.K.), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Producers Guild of America (PGA) and Critics Choice...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "The Imposter"

Where You Can Stream It: Peacock, Tubi, Kanopy

The Pitch: Bart Layton's gripping, endlessly twisty documentary tells the story of a family reunited, then unraveled. A Texas family whose son, Nicholas, had been missing for three years gets word that he's been found in Spain. Overjoyed, they bring him home, and he resumes his previous life. Only, Nicholas seems different -- not just subdued by whatever trauma he's endured,...

The post The Daily Stream: The Imposter Tests the Limits of the Phrase 'Stranger Than Fiction' appeared first on /Film.

In 1972, the ads for the late Peter Bogdanovich’s hilarious throwback “What’s Up, Doc?” promised, “It’s a screwball comedy. Remember those?” If Disney weren’t consigning “Deep Water” to its Hulu streaming service — the fate for most upcoming titles from the 20th Century and Searchlight shingles — they might well have posters that tease, “It’s an erotic thriller. Remember them?”

And who better to save Hollywood cinema from chaste franchises, stolid superheroes, and a general lack of horniness than director Adrian Lyne, returned from a two-decade hiatus to bring heavy breathing back to mainstream movies.

“Deep Water,” a Patricia Highsmith adaptation starring couple-at-the-time Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, doesn’t invoke the beads of sweat that the genre’s best can manage, but it’s a pleasurably trashy reminder of the flashy fun that Lyne and his many imitators once regularly brought to the screen.

Adapted by the...

The official trailer for the new psychological thriller “Deep Water” has arrived, in which Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas play a married couple with some serious troubles.

The 20th Century Studios film is based on the novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith and hails from “Indecent Proposal,” “Fatal Attraction” and “9 1/2 Weeks” director Adrian Lyne. Affleck plays Vic, a husband who is becoming increasingly perturbed by his wife’s open philandering, while de Armas plays Vic’s flirtatious and cunning wife Melinda. Things take a bloody turn at a party when a body turns up in the pool.

The film boasts a screenplay by Zach Helm (“Stranger Than Fiction”) and “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson.

“Deep Water” was a bit in limbo after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, as the film was shot back in 2019 and its seriously R-rated nature is not exactly befitting a streaming service like Disney+.

Thirteenth edition of festival set for November 9-17 in New York.

Doc NYC is to launch a search for a new artistic director as founding artistic director Thom Powers shifts to a new role as director of special projects.

The organisation will seek to serve its growing year-round activities as it enters its 13th year. Doc NYC’s core leadership team of executive director Raphaela Neihausen, director of industry and education Malikkah Rollins, and director of filmmaker development Caitlin Boyle remain in place.

“The scope and reach of Doc NYC have dramatically expanded since our first festival in 2010, and it...

Hallelujah has sold to France, Germany and Austria.

UK documentary specialist Dogwoof has reported sales on Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song and River following this year’s European Film Market (EFM).

Venice premiere Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song has sold to The Jokers for France and Prokino for Germany and Austria. As previously announced, the documentary feature was taken for the world by Sony Picture Classics, excluding the aforementioned territories.

The title takes inspiration from the book The Holy Or The Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley & The Unlikely Ascent Of Hallelujah by Alan Light. It is...

Yes, that headline sounds like the plot of a surprisingly mundane dream you once had and, yes, it's completely true. Allison Baver, former Olympic speed skater and the founder of Allison Baver Entertainment (shocker), fraudulently applied for $10 million of Covid relief funds and funneled some of those funds into Elijah Wood's production company for his 2021 film "No Man of God." As the 2006 off-kilter romantic comedy starring Will Ferrell "Stranger Than Fiction" once posited, sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And in this particular case, not only is it stranger, it also boils...

The post Olympic Speed Skater Allegedly Ripped Off Covid Relief Funds to Bankroll Elijah Wood Movie, We Swear We're Not Making This Up appeared first on /Film.

It looks like the erotic thriller blockbuster won't be making a comeback as soon as we'd hoped. The Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas-led film "Deep Water" was pulled from theatrical release calendars last week. Deadline now reports that the 20th Century Studios/New Regency movie will not be rescheduled theatrically. Instead, it will go directly to streaming on Hulu, with Amazon handling streaming outside the United States.

"Deep Water" is director Adrian Lyne's first project since 2002's "Unfaithful" (above). "Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson and "Stranger Than Fiction" writer Zach Helm penned the script, which is based on a Patricia Highsmith novel. The...

The post Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas' Thriller Deep Water Going Straight to Streaming appeared first on /Film.

Exclusive: New Line has picked up the original pitch The Naughty One from writer Zach Helm for HBO Max in a competitive situation.

The movie, which Helm will write, is an action comedy set around Christmas. The storyline is being kept under wraps.

Berlanti/Schechter Films‘ Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter will produce and Michael McGrath will serve as EP.

Helm is known for writing several movies including Stranger Than Fiction and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, which he also directed.

He also co-wrote the upcoming 20th Century Studios/New Regency movie Deep Water based on Patricia Highsmith’s eponymous novel starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas. The movie reps Oscar nominated filmmaker Adrian Lyne’s first directorial since 2002’s Unfaithful.

Helm is represented by UTA, Lindsay Williams at Gotham Group, and attorney David Matlof at Hirsch, Wallerstein, Hayum, Matlof & Fishman.

Stephanie Phillips, who most recently served as Warner Bros. SVP Global Publicity, is heading over to Focus Features as its new EVP Publicity.

Industry vet Dani Weinstein, who was formerly in this role, will be departing Universal’s classic label after a near five-year run.

Phillips counts more than two decades of experience overseeing multi-faceted global publicity campaigns. She will be based in Los Angeles and report to Focus Features Vice Chairman Jason Cassidy.

Phillips will oversee all publicity for Focus Features’ theatrical slate while working closely on awards campaigns and strategic branding. She will team with Universal Pictures’ global publicity team on Focus’ overseas campaigns on titles distributed via Universal Pictures International.

Weinstein worked on many Oscar campaigns for the label including most recently Promising Young Woman and 2017’s Darkest Hour from Joe Wright. She already has teed up Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast for Focus this awards season; the...