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Sharon Stone, star of the original Basic Instinct, gave a brutally honest answer when asked for her thoughts about plans to mount some sort of remake or reboot of the hit film. In July 2025, Amazon MGM's United Artists banner announced its plans to "reboot" Basic Instinct, bringing back the film's original screenwriter, Joe Eszterhas, to pen the script. Basic Instinct was released in 1992 and, in part because it attracted a great deal of controversy upon its release, it became a cultural sensation, ranking as the fourth highest-grossing film of the year with $352.9 million worldwide. Many imitators followed, but it was unquestionably the quintessential erotic thriller of the decade.

Sharon Stone,...

Assuring they are not involved in the project, a star of the original Basic Instinct says “good f—ing luck” on the thriller movie’s planned reboot.

The original was a huge hit back in 1992, grossing $117 million domestically ($318 million adjusted for inflation), but 2006’s Basic Instinct 2 was a dud, making just $5.9 million domestically on a budget of $70 million.

19 years after the sequel flopped at the box office, someone else is taking a swing at bringing back Basic Instinct. Amazon MGM Studios’ United Artists imprint has reportedly shelled out $2 million for the rights to the reboot, with the original movie’s screenwriter, Joe Ezsterhas, returning to pen the script.

Not returning for Amazon’s Basic Instinct reboot is Sharon Stone, who told the Today Showshe has no involvement in the movie, while mocking the notion of bringing back her character Catherine Tramell (via The Guardian):

If it goes the...

Sharon Stone is giving her take on the Basic Instinct reboot in the works and sounds weary about it.

During a recent interview, Stone was asked about the reboot writer Joe Eszterhas is working on and recalled the 2006 follow-up that underperformed at the box office.

“If it goes the way the one that I was in, I would just say, I don’t know why you’d do it. I mean, go ahead,” she said during an interview on the NBC morning show Today. “Good f***ing luck.”

Stone became a superstar starring opposite Michael Douglas in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct, which Paul Verhoeven directed and was released in 1992. The film developed by Eszterhas had a sequel in 2006, but didn’t involve the writer, director, or Stone’s co-star, Douglas. Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction turned out to be a flop at the box office and was critically panned.

When news broke last month that “Basic Instinct” was being rebooted by Amazon MGM Studios’ United Artists and the original movie’s screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, it was unclear whether or not Sharon Stone would return to her iconic role of Catherine Tramell. Don’t count on it. In a new interview with “Today,” Stone said “good fucking luck” to the reboot.

“If it goes the way the one I was in went, then I would just say I do not know why you would do it,” Stone said, referring to the first time she returned as Catherine in 2006’s “Basic Instinct 2,” a box office flop that was universally panned by film critics. “Go ahead. Good fucking luck!”

When “Today” host Craig Melvin marveled at Stone’s candor, the Oscar nominee said she no longer cares what anybody thinks of her and added: “I’m at that stage in my...

As Hollywood continues its incessant blood-sucking reliance on draining old intellectual property in lieu of supporting fresh ideas and stories, Sharon Stone is taking a righteous stand against the recently announced Basic Instinct reboot.

“I mean, go ahead, but good fucking luck,” Stone said with a laugh on Today when asked about the project, which Amazon MGM Studios announced earlier this summer.

The studio has put some serious backing behind the Basic Instinct reboot, enlisting original screenwriter Joe Eszterhas to pen the script for $2 million (against a possible $4 million if the film is made,...

Sharon Stone isn’t impressed by Amazon MGM Studios’ plan to reboot her 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct.

The actress was asked by the Today show about the deal, which has original screenwriter Joe Eszterhas returning to pen an updated version of the hit film.

Sounding not entirely unlike her acerbic Basic Instinct character, Catherine Tramell, Stone pointed to previous attempt to re-capture the original movie’s success in 2006’s widely panned (and oft-forgotten) sequel, Basic Instinct 2, and seemed to shoot down any speculation that she’ll return as her iconic character.

“It goes the way the one that I was in,” the 67-year-old said (video below). “I would just say, ‘Why do you do it?’ Go ahead, but good fucking luck.” Stone then laughed.

Today co-anchor Craig Melvin pointed out that Stone’s candor is rather refreshing, to which Stone explained she simply doesn’t worry about what anybody thinks anymore.

Sharon Stone’s Net Worth Explored. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Sharon Stone has long been open about the unpredictable nature of fame and fortune. While she stands among Hollywood’s most celebrated stars with an impressive net worth, her financial journey has been far from smooth.

The Basic Instinct actress has faced staggering expenses tied to the demands of stardom — from high-end security and management teams to the constant social expectations of picking up extravagant dinner tabs. Over the years, these pressures, coupled with personal and professional challenges, have seen her wealth rise and fall in dramatic fashion, making her story as compelling off-screen as it is on film.

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What Is Sharon Stone’s Net Worth?...

Sharon Stone revealed in a recent interview with Business Insider that a blowout fight she had with Michael Douglas at the Cannes Film Festival allegedly made him refuse to screen test with her during the development of “Basic Instinct,” Paul Verhoeven’s 1992 erotic thriller.

“Michael Douglas did not want to put his bare ass out on the screen with an unknown,” Stone said. “And I understood that. He wouldn’t even test with me. But that was also for a different reason; we had an argument prior to that.”

“This was at Cannes. A bunch of us were all sitting, and he was talking about someone and their kids,” she continued. “I really, really knew this person he was talking about. So I said something and he responded to me, saying, ‘What the fuck do you know?’ It was in regard to a father-child relationship. Clearly, it triggered him. So...

During the back half of the 1980s, there was this glamorous, extravagantly talented actor who kept turning up in exploitation movies and pumping them full of an erotic verve they generally didn't deserve. There were any number of beautiful, desirable ladies who could provide the va-va-voom films like "King Solomon's Mines," "Above the Law," and "Action Jackson" required, but the path to stardom has always been different for women, so here was Sharon Stone blowing everyone else who shared a frame with her straight off the screen.

It took no less a cinematic genius than Paul Verhoeven to realize that Stone had supernova star power. After a test run in "Total Recall," he unleashed her on filmgoers the world over with the most stylishly sleazy studio movie ever made in "Basic Instinct." Stone's portrayal of Catherine Tramell is a femme fatale dynamo who belongs in the pantheon alongside Barbara Stanwyck's Phyllis Dietrichson,...

It looks like Sharon Stone could be returning to the role that turned her into a Hollywood star and became the original “pause challenge” long before TikTok existed. In a surprising turn of events, Basic Instinct screenwriter Joe Eszterhas is reportedly reviving the erotic thriller franchise for United Artists and Amazon MGM Studio after closing a $4 million deal.

In what is said to be the biggest spec script sale of 2025 (as per The Wrap), Stone could reprise her role as Catherine Tramell for a third time, and according to the source discussing the deal, the film would be an “anti-woke” reboot of the franchise. Although there have been no further details revealed about what the plot could look like or how Stone’s Tramell could figure in a movie where she originally played a post-feminist icon that didn’t mind which gender she dabbled with while running rings around police.

Thirty-three years after “Basic Instinct” sent shockwaves through American culture with its explicit depictions of sex and violence, The Wrap has reported Amazon MGM Studios’ United Artists and producer Scott Stuber has acquired the rights to a reboot straight from the film’s screenwriter Joe Eszterhas. The movie doesn’t have a title yet, nor are any details yet available of whether it is more of a sequel or a remake — other than it is reportedly going to be “anti-woke.” Upon its original release, the film did receive backlash from the LGBTQ+ community and feminists. Nick Nesbitt and Craig Baumgarten are also on board as producers of the reboot, with Adam Griffin serving as executive producer.

It’s a high-price deal, with up to $4 million going to Eszterhas if the movie makes it to completion, including $2 million guaranteed. Eszterhas made similar bank on the original film with a then-record $3 million for his script.

Sharon Stone is considered to be one of the most iconic and talented actresses in Hollywood. From her sultry femme fatale roles to the ones that are dramatic and hard-hitting, she has proven herself to be deserving of her place in the industry. However, behind all the glitz and glamour, Stone had to struggle in her earlier days, mainly when it came to getting fair compensation for her work.

Sharon Stone on Conan on TBS | Team Coco/YouTube

But the actress was adamant and did ultimately make a place for herself in the entertainment world. So, let’s take a closer look at Stone’s journey and how it fits into the larger conversation of pay disparity.

Sharon Stone’s Defining Role in Basic Instinct Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct | Canal+

Basic Instinct was released in 1992 and is widely remembered for being provocative, at least for the 90s, and that...

Paramount’s free streaming service, Pluto TV, has revealed its March highlights. The Pluto TV March 2025 lineup celebrates Women’s History Month with powerhouse performances, legendary directors, and female-led stories in every genre. Pluto TV is also spotlighting its On-Demand section, where you can find sections specially curated by programmers.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live, linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience. The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with hundreds of international media companies.

On-demand

Pluto TV offers hundreds of free live channels, but there’s even more to love with its growing on-demand section. With an expanding selection of films and TV series, audiences can dive into their favorite content anytime, in addition to tuning in live. This month, dive into new special collections:

A24 Spotlight – Stream acclaimed films like Red Rocket,...

Sharon Stone brought her femme fatale demeanor out in the open and quickly became one of the most recognized actresses of the 1990s. She started her career as a model but soon transitioned to the big screen, thanks to her acting talent. Stone’s movie debut was as an extra in Woody Allen’s Stardust Memories in 1980, after which she appeared in some other projects as well.

But it was 1992’s Basic Instinct that skyrocketed her career and solidified her place in the industry as a versatile actress. While she ruled the screens in the 1990s, she had to take a step back from acting due to a major health issue.

Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct | Credits: Ugc/TriStar Pictures

This was also the same time when instead of helping her cope with her condition, her family and friends took advantage of the situation, and she was left with no money.

Many iconic movies of the last 50 years have spawned at least one forgettable sequel. Grease 2, Speed 2: Cruise Control, and Basic Instinct 2 are just some examples of sequels that were missing the key elements necessary to be strong continuations. While 1983s Staying Alive had John Travolta reprising his superstar-making role from 1977s Saturday Night Fever, everything else that made the original movie special was lost thanks to its unlikely director: Sylvester Stallone.

Prime Video is the place to be in August with an incredible month of new releases. The month kicks off with the premiere of the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader on Aug. 1. The series was produced by J.J. Abrams and The Batman‘s Matt Reeves. We also return to Middle Earth this month with the premiere of The Rings of Power season 2 on Aug. 29.

As far as movies go, the Amazon original Jackpot! arrives on Aug. 15 starring Awkwafina and John Cena. This comedy is set in a world where Lottery winners have to survive until sundown in order to claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot – anyone who kills them before that gets to claim their prize.

The Hobbit trilogy also joins the Prime Video library this month, as do 21 and 22 Jump Street, Superman I-iv, Superman Returns, Night Swim, Drive Away Dolls, and 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Here’s everything coming...

Sharon Stone will receive Taormina Film Festival’s Golden Cariddi for Lifetime Achievement on the Italian event’s closing night this month.

Stone joins a prestigious lineup of actors who have been honored with the award, including Jessica Lange, Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Richard Gere, Colin Firth and Isabelle Huppert.

The 66-year-old actor will be present at the Taormina Film Fest, which runs July 12 to 19, to hold a conversation on how “she redefined what it meant to be a woman on screen,” according to a press release. This will be Stone’s first appearance at the festival, which hosted the Italian premiere of her 1992 film “Basic Instinct.”

Stone first appeared on screen when she cameoed in Woody Allen’s “Stardust Memories” in 1980, and went on to become a full-blown movie star in the ’90s with roles in “Total Recall” alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, “The Quick and the Dead...

A judge has ruled that “Top Gun: Maverick” did not infringe on an article about Navy fighter pilots that inspired the original 1986 film.

Paramount bought the rights to the article, “Top Guns,” from author Ehud Yonay in May 1983. But the studio did not re-acquire the rights, which had reverted to Yonay’s widow and son, before releasing the sequel in 2022. “Top Gun: Maverick” grossed $1.5 billion at the box office.

The heirs sued, alleging that the sequel infringed on the copyright in Yonay’s original work. But in a ruling on Friday, Judge Percy Anderson found that any similarities are not protected creative expression under copyright law.

“To the extent Plaintiffs contend that the Works are similar because they depict or describe fighter pilots landing on an aircraft carrier, being shot down while flying, and carousing at a bar, those are unprotected facts, familiar stock scenes, or scènes à faire,” the judge wrote.

The murder of Hannibal star Hugh Dancy’s great-grandmother is the subject of the true crime podcast Ghost Story, which is set to launch on October 23rd and will be available on Wondery+ and Amazon Music. Dancy takes part in the podcast, along with family members, ghost hunters, psychic mediums, and homicide detectives.

According to Variety, Ghost Story will tell us all about Dr. Naomi Dancy, who was found dead in 1937 after being shot twice in the face as she slept. A synopsis describes the show as a jaw-dropping tale of a haunting, which becomes a murder investigation, which leads to a family drama.

In addition to playing Will Graham on three seasons of Hannibal, Hugh Dancy has had roles in films and TV shows like David Copperfield, Black Hawk Down, King Arthur, Basic Instinct 2, Blood and Chocolate, The Jane Austen Book Club, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Our Idiot Brother,...

Clockwise from top left: Grease 2 (Paramount), Jaws: The Revenge (Universal), Exorcist II: The Heretic (Warner Bros.), Batman & Robin (Warner Bros.) Image: The A.V. Club In 1997’s Scream 2, self-proclaimed film geek Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy) rants about sequels in his college film class. “Sequels suck! By definition alone they’re inferior films,...

Clockwise from top left: Grease 2 (Paramount), Jaws: The Revenge (Universal), Exorcist II: The Heretic (Warner Bros.), Batman & Robin (Warner Bros.)Image: The A.V. Club

In 1997’s Scream 2, self-proclaimed film geek Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy) rants about sequels in his college film class. “Sequels suck! By definition alone they’re inferior films,...

Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we usually talk about movie stars and not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones they made in between.

Today is a very special episode with a very special guest. Karina Longworth of the incredible You Must Remember This podcast joins us––ahead of the release of her new season “Erotic 90s”––to discuss Erotic 90s B-Sides like Sliver, Boxing Helena, and Jade.

We discuss the era of Joe Eszterhas, the appeal of Sliver, the failure of Jade, and the fractured ambition of Boxing Helena. We also discuss the famous Kim Basinger lawsuit that goes along with the film. Basic Instinct and its ignored sequel (Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction) are also discussed, and this line read gets a lot of time. Oh and, just for fun, enjoy this clip of Jim Carrey impersonating David Caruso on CSI: Miami.

December is here, and some holly jolly cheer along with some spooks and scares will come to Amazon Prime Video in the form of newly added shows and movies.

Prime Video Original Christmas rom-coms on the way include “Something From Tiffany’s” — out Dec. 9 — starring Zoey Deutch and Kendrick Smith Sampson about strangers who cross paths unintentionally, discovering they might be meant for each other instead of their significant others as well as “Your Christmas or Mine?” — out Dec. 2 — starring Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk, Alex Jennings, David Bradley, Harriet Walters, Daniel Mays, Angela Griffin, Natalie Gumede, Lucien Laviscount and Ram John Holder.

For those still nursing a Halloween hangover, Nikyatu Jusu’s horror film “Nanny” starring Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan and Sinqua Walls arrives Dec. 16, and suspense thriller “Three Pines,” adapted from Louise Penny’s best-selling series, arrives Dec. 2, starring Alfred Molina. There’s also the finale of “The Peripheral” starring...

It’s been a big year for Prime Video. From The Boys season 3 to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to even the terrible games presented on Thursday Night Football, there were many hits to satisfy Jeff Bezos’ bottom line. How is the Amazon streamer planning on closing out 2022? Why, with another potential hit, of course!

Amazon Prime Video’s list of new releases for December 2022 is highlighted by the return of an old favorite. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan season 3 premieres all eight episodes on Dec. 21. This time around John Krasinki’s CIA analyst will be dealing with a potentially nuclear conflict with Russia. The only other original TV series of note this month is Three Pines on Dec. 2. The mystery series stars Alfred Molina as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.

Over on the movie side of things, Prime Video is bringing forward a major holiday tile on Dec.

‘Tis the season at Prime Video and Amazon Freevee as the streamers prepare for their December releases. Whether you’re looking forward to the latest season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan or ready for a holiday movie binge, there’s something for everyone in their winter lineup. Below, we’re rounding up everything coming to the platforms this final month of 2022. Scroll down for a peek into the future. Available for Streaming on Prime Video: December Tba *Coach Prime (Prime Video Original) December 1 Breaking News Season 2 NYPD Blue S1-S12 2 Days in New York Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls All Dogs Go To Heaven 2 Basic Instinct Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction Capote Case 39 Cloverfield Dead Again Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Eat Pray Love Eight Men Out Elizabethtown Escape from L.A. Head of State Heist Letters to Juliet (Credit: ©Summit Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection) Hotel Transylvania I Wish Igby Goes...

Magna Cum Laude Pussy.

We’re still recovering from the fact that we got to talk to Chucky creator Don Mancini for 90 minutes last week, so between that, The Lure, the Og Hellraiser and Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria remake, this Halloween season has been pretty wild!

So where are the Horror Queers headed next? Just in time for Spooky Season, we’re checking out a quintessential Erotic Thriller of the 90s: Paul Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhas‘ sexy, sultry, sleazy Basic Instinct (1992).

In the film, Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) – a recovering addict and womanizer – is tasked with investigating a grisly ice pick murder. What he doesn’t realize is that he’s entered into a deadly game of cat and mouse with provocative bisexual crime author Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone in a career defining role).

Despite the warnings of his therapist and on-again, off-again lover Dr. Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and possibly queer partner,...

"Basic Instinct" star Sharon Stone poses for "Harper's Bazaar" (Spain) magazine, photographed by Juankr, wearing Oscar de la Renta, Gucci and Stella McCartney:

After modelling in television commercials and print advertisements, Stone made her film debut as an extra in "Stardust Memories" (1980), followed by a speaking part in the horror feature "Deadly Blessing" (1981)...

..."Irreconcilable Differences" (1984), "King Solomon's Mines" (1985), "Cold Steel" (1987), "Action Jackson" (1988), "Above the Law" (1988) and "Total Recall" (1990).

Her breakout role as 'Catherine Tramell" in director Paul Verhoeven's "Basic Instinct" (1992), earned Stone a 'Golden Globe Award' nomination for 'Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama'.

She received further critical acclaim in director Martin Scorsese's "Casino (1995), garnering an 'Academy Award' nomination for 'Best Actress', receiving two more 'Golden Globe Award' nominations for her roles in "The Mighty" (1998) and "The Muse" (1999).

Other notable film roles include "Sliver" (1993), "The Specialist" (1994), "The Quick and the Dead" (1995), "Last Dance" (1996), "Sphere" (1998), "Catwoman" (2004), "Broken...

Exclusive: Sharon Stone has optioned the rights to Lisa Barr’s upcoming novel Woman on Fire, inking a deal to produce and star in a film adaptation.

In the novel set for release via HarperCollins on March 1, a savvy, young journalist gets embroiled in a major international art scandal centered around a Nazi-looted masterpiece, and must contemplate whether finding the painting and exposing its dark history is worth her life. The thriller laced with sex, art and history forces readers to question where the line should be drawn between the pursuit of justice and the hunt for revenge.

Stone is a Golden Globe and Emmy winner, and an Oscar nominee known for turns in films including The Laundromat, The Disaster Artist, Bobby, Basic Instinct and Basic Instinct 2, Alpha Dog, Broken Flowers, Catwoman, Cold Creek Manor, Casino, Last Action Hero and Total Recall, among others. Her TV credits include Murderville,...

Netflix announced a new first look deal with Magic Quill Productions, the new writers’ collective formed by writers and executive producers Joe Henderson, Georgia Lee and Matt Owens.

As a production company, Magic Quill will prioritize writers while centering high concept genre stories. The company aims to empower writers and train future showrunners with a focus on platforming diverse, underrepresented voices.

Henderson recently served as showrunner and executive producer on “Lucifer,” which Netflix picked up from Fox after three seasons to run another three seasons. In the series, Lucifer Morningstar, the Devil (Tom Ellis), gets tired of living in Hell and instead opens a nightclub in Los Angeles. Lee currently showruns and executive produces “Partner Track,” Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Helen Wan’s novel of the same name. Owens is a writer and executive producer on “One Piece,” Netflix’s live action adaptation of the longest-running manga series in Japanese history.

Further new openers include ‘Our Ladies’, ‘The Nest’.

Universal’s franchise title Candyman leads this weekend’s new openers at the UK-Ireland box office, looking to join the list of horror films to have made strong debuts since cinemas reopened.

Candyman is directed by Nia DaCosta and written by DaCosta, Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld. It is a direct sequel to the 1992 film of the same name, and the fourth film in the Candyman series, based on Clive Barker’s 1985 short story The Forbidden.

The film has been delayed several times due to the pandemic, having been first scheduled for June,...

Further new openers include ‘Our Ladies’, ‘The Nest’.

Universal’s franchise title Candyman leads this weekend’s new openers at the UK-Ireland box office, looking to join the list of horror films to have made strong debuts since cinemas reopened.

Candyman is directed by Nia DaCosta and written by DaCosta, Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld. It is a direct sequel to the 1992 film of the same name, and the fourth film in the Candyman series, based on Clive Barker’s 1985 short story The Forbidden.

The film has been delayed several times due to the pandemic, having been first scheduled for June,...

Back when WarnerMedia (which technically no longer exists in the same form) announced that it would be premiering its entire slate of 2021 films on HBO Max, this is the kind of month they likely had in mind. For HBO Max’s list of new releases in August 2021 is highlighted by an honest-to-goodness blockbuster.

The Suicide Squad is set to premiere Aug. 5 on HBO Max. This film featuring some of DC Comics’ most curious villains borrows its name, format, and many of its characters from the David Ayers-directed 2016 film Suicide Squad. This time around, the rogues gallery is directing by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and his colorful disposition. In addition to The Suicide Squad, August sees the arrival of the Hugh Jackman-starring Reminiscence on Aug. 20.

Read more Movies The Suicide Squad First Reactions Are In By John Saavedra Movies How The Suicide Squad is Different from Guardians of the Galaxy...

HBO Max will arguably debut its biggest Warner Bros. release yet on August 5, when James Gunn’s take on “The Suicide Squad” makes its day-and-date premiere on the streaming platform (the comic book blockbuster is also coming out in theaters nationwide).

But beyond “The Suicide Squad,” film fans will find a copious amount of features on HBO Max in August 2021, including a new Hugh Jackman movie, plus classic ‘90s favorites like “Basic Instinct,” “The Birdcage,” “The Fugitive,” “Deep Cover,” “Malcolm X,” and “The Shawshank Redemption.”

Ahead, every new movie and series coming to HBO Max in August 2021, plus the top titles leaving the service before September 1.

New on HBO Max in August 2021

August 1

2 Days in the Valley, 1996 (HBO)

9/11: Fifteen Years Later, 2016

A Mighty Wind, 2003 (HBO)

A Walk Among the Tombstones, 2014 (HBO)

The Accidental Spy, 2002 (HBO)

The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, 2005 (HBO)

Americano, 2017 (HBO)

Anna to the Infinite Power,...

Whether it’s because of endless delays, fan demands, a director’s passion project or a cash grab reboot that seemingly no one ever actually wanted, Hollywood has produced an enormous amount of sequels to beloved films full decades after they originally hit theaters. Some of them have been wildly successful with critics and audiences, and others we’re just pretending never existed. Here are some of the sequels that took forever to hit the screen.

“Bad Boys For Life” (2020)

There had been talk for years about getting the boys back together, and the reunion finally happened this year, with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence teaming up for one last ride. This time however Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are taking over directing duties from Michael Bay.

George Miller took nearly 30 years to follow up “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” with the Tom Hardy-Charlize Theron thriller “Mad Max: Fury Road.

"Basic Instinct" star Sharon Stone poses for the November 2019 issue of "Harper's Bazaar" (Spain) magazine, photographed by Juankr, wearing Oscar de la Renta, Gucci and Stella McCartney:

After modelling in television commercials and print advertisements, Stone made her film debut as an extra in "Stardust Memories" (1980), followed by a speaking part in the horror feature "Deadly Blessing" (1981)...

..."Irreconcilable Differences" (1984), "King Solomon's Mines" (1985), "Cold Steel" (1987), "Action Jackson" (1988), "Above the Law" (1988) and "Total Recall" (1990).

Her breakout role as 'Catherine Tramell" in director Paul Verhoeven's "Basic Instinct" (1992), earned Stone a 'Golden Globe Award' nomination for 'Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama'.

She received further critical acclaim in director Martin Scorsese's "Casino (1995), garnering an 'Academy Award' nomination for 'Best Actress', receiving two more 'Golden Globe Award' nominations for her roles in "The Mighty" (1998) and "The Muse" (1999).

Other notable film roles include "Sliver" (1993), "The Specialist" (1994), "The Quick and the Dead" (1995), "Last Dance...

Now that “Game of Thrones” has finally reached its conclusion, releasing its gifted international ensemble into the casting wilds, will Hollywood remember just what it has in Carice van Houten? It’s not that the statuesque Dutch thesp hasn’t been consistently employed since her startling 2006 breakout in Paul Verhoeven’s “Black Book,” or even that she’s been underappreciated. But few filmmakers have tested her emotional breadth and technical control the way Verhoeven did — and for anyone who’s forgotten the extent of van Houten’s skill set, actress-turned-filmmaker Halina Reijn’s impressive, icily disciplined debut feature “Instinct” provides a fearsome reminder.

Perhaps van Houten just responds best to the care of a confident provocateur. It’s apt that her strongest big-screen showcase since “Black Book” is the kind of hot, confrontational psychodrama you can imagine Verhoeven himself dreaming up, albeit with a frank view of gendered desire and...

Though there’s no sign he plans to retire soon — he has several further projects in the can — producer-star Ron Perlman’s vehicle “Asher” is the kind of movie that often serves as an actor’s onscreen bow-out these days. Like recent “The Old Man and the Gun” or imminent “The Mule,” it provides “Hellboy” star Perlman a way to both stay in the game and acknowledge “aging out” as a veteran criminal whose next job may be his last.

That blend of action genre content and character study is a comfortable mix for Perlman, even if “Asher” doesn’t quite have the stuff to be truly memorable on either count. This leisurely neo-noir, directed by Michael Caton-Jones from a first produced script by Jay Zaretsky, opens today on 10 U.S. screens simultaneous with digital-formats release.

Asher (Perlman) is a dignified silver-haired gent living a quiet, solitary existence in his New York loft apartment.

Those holding out hope that Ron Perlman would finally return as the Right Hand of Doom in Guillermo Del Toro's Hellboy 3 were dealt a deathblow when it was decided that Lionsgate would reboot the franchise instead, bringing in Stranger Things star David Harbour to play Big Red. Well, now fans are being offered a little bit of relief with the news that Ron Perlman is returning to the big screen as a badass hitman for hire who's about to retire in Asher.

Momentum Pictures has released a trailer and first look poster for Asher, which shows off Ron Perlman's very special skills as a trained killer. The thriller hits theaters on December 7 of this year. And for those agoraphobics out there that dread stepping foot in the local cinema, the action drama will also be getting a simultaneous release on VOD and Digital HD.

Michael Caton-Jones is directing Asher...

1980 original starred George C. Scott.

UK sales outfit Cornerstone Films, German producer X Filme and Us producer Joel Michaels (Basic Instinct 2) are teaming on The Changeling, a remake of the 1980 supernatural thriller.

Michaels was a producer on the original film starring George C. Scott. The story follows Joe Carmichael, who, after the death of his young daughter, returns to his childhood home in Venice, Italy. After a series of terrifying events, Joe begins to unlock the mystery of the dead child that haunts the home.

The project is the first production announced since German outfit Beta Cinema, which owns a stake in X Filme,...

Crudup will play Oscar, the husband of Moore’s character Theresa.

Billy Crudup has joined the cast of After The Wedding, the remake of Suanne Bier’s Oscar-nominated drama that Cornerstone Films is selling in Cannes.

Crudup will line up alongside Julianne Moore (The Kids Are Alright) and Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine), with the trio to be directed by Bart Freundlich.

The film depicts the meeting between a Calcutta orphanage worker called Isabel (Williams) and a wealthy New York media professional called Theresa (Moore), just as Theresa’s daughter is getting married.

Crudup will play Oscar, the husband of Moore’s character.

Michelle Williams has joined Julianne Moore in the remake of Susanne Bier's Oscar-nominated Danish drama After the Wedding, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Williams will play an orphanage owner in the reimagining from writer and director Bart Freundlich (Wolves, The Rebound, The Myth of Fingerprints), while Moore plays a wealthy businesswoman. After the Wedding will be produced by Joel Michaels (Terminator Salvation, Basic Instinct 2, Lolita) and Silvio Muraglia (Black Butterfly, All Roads Lead to Rome) through Paradox Studios. Production will begin this spring.

Paradox Studios is also financing. Cornerstone Films is handling international sales and distribution, while CAA will oversee the U.S. rights.

Williams, a ...

Michelle Williams has joined Julianne Moore in the remake of Susanne Bier's Oscar-nominated Danish drama After the Wedding, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Williams will play an orphanage owner in the reimagining from writer and director Bart Freundlich (Wolves, The Rebound, The Myth of Fingerprints), while Moore plays a wealthy businesswoman. After the Wedding will be produced by Joel Michaels (Terminator Salvation, Basic Instinct 2, Lolita) and Silvio Muraglia (Black Butterfly, All Roads Lead to Rome) through Paradox Studios. Production will begin this spring.

Paradox Studios is also financing. Cornerstone Films is handling international sales and distribution, while CAA will oversee the U.S. rights.

Williams, a ...

Oscar-winner Julianne Moore has joined the remake of Susanne Bier's Academy-nominated Danish drama After the Wedding. 

Coming from writer and director Bart Freundlich (Wolves, The Rebound, The Myth of Fingerprints), the reimagining will cast the two lead roles as women, creating a story of motherhood and family, while setting the story in and around New York.

Cornerstone Films has come on board to handle international sales and distribution and will commence sales at the European Film Market in Berlin later this month. CAA will oversee the Us rights.

After the Wedding will be produced by Joel Michaels (Terminator Salvation, Basic Instinct 2, Lolita) ...

Basic Instinct turns 25 this year, which helps explain why Sharon Stone was feeling nostalgic for her time wielding the ice pick. This also means that a several years from now, we'll be celebrating the anniversary of 2006's ill-fated Basic Instinct 2. That's less sexy.

Last year HitFix threw down a 21-question quiz for Oscar fanatics, and this year we're at it again. Join us for an ultimate Oscar test featuring three tiers of difficulty: hard, harder, and hardest. Get out a notepad! The answers are on the next page. (Please note that the term "actor" can mean a man or a woman, and that any listed year refers to the time of the movie's release, not the year of the ceremony.) Hard 1. What's the highest-grossing of this year's eight Best Picture nominees? 2. Jennifer Jason Leigh just received her first Oscar nomination for Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight. Only two performances in Quentin Tarantino's filmography have earned Academy Awards. Who performed those roles? 3. Which of this year's Best Picture nominees stars a character named Joy? 4. Who's the only person in history to win both an acting Oscar and a songwriting Oscar? 5. Name one...

Film fests such as the Toronto Int. Film Festival afford us the best of opportunities to get instantly familiar with new faces in the world of cinema. With last week’s The Conversation, I gave you a rundown of the talent behind the camera with the 2015 Tiff Top Ten New Voices. Today, we look back at the best performances from fresh and relatively new crop of actors and actresses. Almost evenly split genderwise, we’ll surely look back on these early performances from these youthful players as the moment where they received their big break and if they’re not familiar now, they surely will be in the coming years. In deliberating this top ten list, I focused on offerings either unique to the festival or near concurrent premieres in Locarno and Venice.

#10. Karelle Tremblay – Les Etres Chers

After Podz’s Miraculum (2013) Stefan Miljevic’s Amsterdam (2013) and Mathieu Denis’ Corbo...

Sometimes a movie rumour is so ridiculous you have to admire it. A tip of the cap, then, to the fine folks suggesting that Cristiano Ronaldo might appear in a Martin Scorsese movie.

Reportedly called The Manipulator, details on the project are - surprise, surprise! - thin on the ground, but Spanish paper Marca is reporting that it's down to the prolific goalscorer's taste in property.

The film is rumoured to be based on the life of Italian millionaire Alessandro Proto (who many think inspired the character Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey), and as Ronaldo owns Proto's old apartment in New York's Trump Tower, Scorsese wants to borrow it for the shoot.

As part of the favour / deal / devil's pact, Ronaldo has reportedly been granted a small role, in the process putting him up there with David Beckham (creepy Russian projector guy in The Man from Uncle) and...

Can a Song Save Your Life?: Caton-Jones’ Modest Return to Filmmaking

Scottish film director Michael Caton-Jones had a very prolific filmography in the 1990s thanks to films like Memphis Belle (1990), Rob Roy (1995), and The Jackal (1997). It’s been nearly a decade since he’s tackled a feature film, following the dismally received Basic Instinct 2 in 2006. He’s returned to the UK for Urban Hymn, a modest character study set against the 2011 North London riots. Emotionally effective and featuring a trio of genuinely unfussy performances, the familiar trajectory too often settles for superficial examinations of its characters, hobbling them of the necessary interiority to make them more than one-dimensional archetypes. Despite this, those appreciative of feel-good narratives should take note considering the effortless dynamic of its leading actors.

Jamie (Laetitia Wright) and Leanne (Isabelle Laughland) are two disenfranchised young women in their late teens, orphans with violent histories...

Rob Roy director Michael Caton-Jones is poised to return to the big screen once again, this time telling a story set against the 2011 England riots.

Titled Urban Hymn, the film marks the first feature from Caton-Jones since 2006’s Basic Instinct 2. The film, which has now released a festival trailer, sees Caton-Jones direct from a screenplay by St. Trinian’s co-writer Nick Moorcroft, with a cast that includes Shirley Henderson, Letitia Wright, and Isabella Laughland.

The film’s synopsis is as follows:

The North London riots of 2011 serve as the backdrop for director Michael Caton-Jones’ gritty and moving portrait of a pair of disenfranchised teenage girls struggling to survive.

The film marks Shirley Henderson’s third feature this year, following appearances in The Caravan and Mateo Garrone’s Tale of Tales. The trailer itself veers away from the riots, instead focusing on the central relationship between the main characters.

The...

Does Hollywood try to remake/sequelize/franchise-extend every single one of its successful movies? Sometimes it feels that way, but there’s a little more nuance to studio practices than that. If you’re looking for meaning in this summer’s blockbuster season – not always easy – you could call it Dr. JurassicMax or How Hollywood Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Reboot. Rebooting franchises isn’t as common, well-received, or lucrative as you might think. Today let’s look briefly at the history of the reboot – and how this summer changed it.

First, what technically counts as a reboot? One school would say that anytime the cast shuffles, it’s a reboot, meaning we’re now on the second reboot (and third iteration) of Spider-Man films. That’s pretty rare; far more often, duration between films is the deciding factor, and it just doesn’t feel right to slap...