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Exclusive: Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to The Assessment, a sci-fi thriller starring Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), Elizabeth Olsen (His Three Daughters) and Himesh Patel (Station Eleven), which will be released in theaters on March 21, after world premiering at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.

Marking the feature directorial debut of veteran music video helmer Fleur Fortuné, the film follows Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Patel), a successful couple who hope to become parents in a near future where resources are extremely limited and the government keeps firm control over reproduction. In looking to do so, the pair are assigned an assessor named Virginia (Vikander), who moves into their home for seven days to evaluate whether they deserve to move forward in their parenting journey. What Mia and Aaryan are hoping is a routine test quickly unravels into a psychological nightmare, forcing them to question the very foundations of...

“Half Man,” the upcoming six-episode HBO and BBC drama from Richard Gadd that reps the follow-up to his wildly successful Emmy winner “Baby Reindeer” (which ran on Netflix), has rounded out its cast. Joining Gadd and co-star Jamie Bell will be Mitchell Robertson, Stuart Campbell, Neve McIntosh and Marianne McIvor, among others.

Gadd and Bell play estranged “brothers” Ruben and Niall, respectively, in the series, which has now started filming on location in Scotland. Robertson (“Curfew”) will play a young Niall, while Campbell (“Rogue Heroes”) plays a young Ruben. McIntosh (“Doctor Who”) will play Lori, Niall’s mother, while McIvor (“Lady Chatterley’s Lover”) will play Maura, Ruben’s mother.

Others joining the cast include Charlie De Melo (“The Interceptor”), Bilal Hasna (“The Agency”), Julie Cullen (“Traces”) and Philippine Velge (“Station Eleven”).

Also added to the cast: Stuart McQuarrie (“28 Days Later”), Piers Ewart (“The Primrose Railway Children”), Scot Greenan (“T2 Trainspotting...

Years after The Office wrapped up, it’s still as popular as ever. Whether it’s streaming on Netflix, inside jokes between friends, or viral clips on social media, the iconic series never really went away. It’s the kind of show people just keep coming back to. Of course, having it easily available on streaming has helped, but Steve Carell aka the legendary Michael Scott thinks there’s more to it than that.

Steve Carell in a still from The Office | Credits: NBC

Whether it’s the characters, the humor, or something less obvious, The Office has found a way to connect with generation after generation. According to Carell, that’s why it continues to stand the test of time.

Steve Carell on the timeless appeal of The Office Steve Carell in a still from The Office | Credits: NBC

More than a decade after The Office ended in 2013, it...

Danielle Deadwyler has joined the upcoming college comedy series at HBO starring Steve Carell, Variety has learned.

The untitled show was originally picked up in May 2024 at the premium cabler. Along with Carell, “Ted Lasso” alum Phil Dunster and Charly Clive also star. HBO has commissioned 10 half-hour episodes. The official logline for the show describes it as “a single-camera comedy set on a college campus, centering on an author’s (Carell) complicated relationship with his daughter (Clive).”

Details on Deadwyler’s character are currently being kept under wraps.

Deadwyler’s recent TV credits include fellow Wbd shows “Watchmen” and “Station Eleven,” as well as shows like “P-Valley” at Starz and “From Scratch” at Netflix. She is primarily known for her film work, having exhibited breakout performances in features such as “Till,” “The Harder They Fall,” and “The Piano Lesson.”

She is repped by Paradigm, Play Management, and Ziffren Brittenham.

Bill Lawrence...

Exclusive: Hiro Murai, the Emmy-nominated filmmaker known for his work on hit series like Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Atlanta and The Bear, on Wednesday announced the launch of Chum Films, a production company that will focus on developing and producing original films and television series, supporting the vision of new filmmakers and creators.

Carver Karaszewski has been named as the company’s President of Development. Meanwhile, Claudia Shin, Murai’s longtime collaborator on projects like The Bear and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, has been elevated to the role of Senior Vice President of Film & Television.

Under Chum, Murai currently has a first-look deal with FX Productions. At present, projects on the company’s slate include the Apple horror comedy series Widow’s Bay, starring Matthew Rhys, and the A24 samurai film Bushido, among others. We were first to report on the latter, which marks Murai’s anticipated feature directorial debut.

A...

When Malcolm Washington was working his first movie job — as a camera production assistant on Jon Favreau’s 2014 Chef — he struck up a friendship with Roy Choi, the film’s food consultant. As a lifelong Angeleno, Washington, 33, was a huge fan of Choi’s restaurants, and the two bonded over their shared experience of being new to a movie set (apart, of course, from Malcolm visiting his dad, Denzel Washington, at work as a kid).

“We didn’t stay in touch, because I was just a P.A.,” says Washington. But a decade later, he was celebrating picture lock on his directorial debut and decided to treat himself to dinner at a sushi bar. When he sat down at the only open seat, he found himself next to Choi: “I told him, ‘I just finished my first movie as a director 20 minutes ago,’ and he said, ‘I always knew you’d do something.

Exclusive: Shuchi Talati, the filmmaker behind the award-winning coming-of-age drama Girls Will Be Girls, has signed with Curate for management.

Marking Talati’s debut feature, Girls Will Be Girls revolves around Mira (Panigrahi), a 16-year-old coming of age in the Himalayan foothills whose rebellious awakening is intertwined with her mother’s (Kani Kusruti) unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences.

The film world premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award in World Cinema Dramatic and the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting, with the latter prize going to Panigrahi. Talati was the writer, director and producer of the project — a 2024 Gotham nominee, which is up for the John Cassavetes Award and Best Supporting Performance for Kusruti at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards.

Previously, Talati served as Story Producer for the Emmy-nominated Being Mary Tyler Moore, as well as Netflix’s vérité series We Are: The Brooklyn Saints...

Matthew Rhys is moving to New England and becoming a mayor — on television, of course. The Perry Masonand The Americans star is set to lead AppleTV+'s new, supernatural series Widow's Bay, from accomplished and prolific writer Katie Dippold, who's penned such films as The Heat and Ghostbusters, and also wrote 31 episodes of the iconic sitcom Parks and Recreation. Also involved in the stellar team? Director Hiro Murai, whom many know from his breathtaking work on Atlanta, Station Eleven, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Anyone else allowing themselves to get a little bit excited about this one?

According to Deadline, the new series has a decidedly supernatural bent — appropriate given Dippold's last feature script was Disney's The Haunted Mansion. The show takes place on a mysterious and perhaps cursed New England island with aspirations of Nantucket-level tourism grandeur. However, its superstitious citizens — led by a mayor (Rhys) who doesn't exactly...

Actor Matthew Rhys has been set to lead the upcoming Apple TV+ series “Widow’s Bay“ from creator Katie Dippold, Variety reports today.

Apple gave the series order for 10 episodes in September 2024.

The series will follow “a mysteriously cursed New England island and its superstitious citizens, led by a mayor (Rhys) who refuses to believe their warnings.”

Dippold will also serve as showrunner and executive producer. “Station Eleven” and “The Bear” producer Hiro Murai is attached to direct the pilot of the 10-episode series in addition to executive producing. Rhys will executive produce in addition to starring.

Matthew Rhys recently starred in HBO’s “Perry Mason“ and appeared in opening sequence of the comedy-horror movie Cocaine Bear. The actor also stars in the upcoming psychological thriller Hallow Road from Under the Shadow director Babak Anvari, set to make its premiere next month at SXSW.

The post Matthew Rhys to Star in...

We’re a couple weeks away from the BAFTAs awards ceremony and one category at the show will celebrate rising stars.

Nominees Mikey Madison, David Jonsson, Marisa Abela, and Nabhaan Rizwan celebrated their nominations at the Vanity Fair Ee BAFTA 2025 Rising Star Party on Wednesday (February 5) at Pavyllon in London, England.

The event featured a who’s who of British talent, including many fan fave actors and plenty of newcomers who probably have a shot at a nomination in the future.

The winner of the Ee Rising Star Award will be announced at the BAFTAs on February 16. Also nominated in the category is Unstoppable actor Jharrel Jerome.

Mikey stars in the new movie Anora and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. David had his breakout in the sci-fi thriller film Alien: Romulus this past year. Marisa stars in the HBO series Industry and led the film Back to Black in 2024.

Severance has become one of the most critically acclaimed series of the 2020s, and fans adore its mixture of complex themes. The story involves Mark Scout, an employee of a fictional tech company called Lumon. Along with his other co-workers, he agrees to go through a procedure that separates his work-life memories and his personal memories. But when Scout discovers a mysterious employee outside of his workplace, he begins to question everything about his job.

Although this show has managed to win a wide selection of prestigious awards, it only has two seasons. Thus, fans are trying to savor every episode until the third season is inevitably announced. As such, a lot of audiences are seeking out a few new shows that handle the same sort of themes as Severance.

A Man Struggles to Get Back to His Ordinary Life Dark Matter

Dark Matter introduces fans to Jason Dessen, a physicist living in Chicago.

Exclusive: Peacock’s espionage thriller series Ponies has added five new cast members to its series regular cast: Adrian Lester, Artjom Gilz, Nicholas Podany, Petro Ninovskyi and Vic Michaelis.

They join previously announced Emilia Clarke, who also executive produces, and Haley Lu Richardson.

Set in Moscow in 1977, the series follows two Ponies (“persons of no interest” in intelligence speak) who work anonymously as secretaries in the American Embassy. That is until their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances in the Ussr, and the pair become CIA operatives. Bea (Clarke) is an over-educated, Russian-speaking child of Soviet immigrants. Alongside her cohort, Twila, they work to uncover a vast Cold War conspiracy and solve the mystery that made them widows in the first place.

Lester will play “Dane” – Precise and impossible to read, Dane is...

There’s a new entry in the Jurassic Park / Jurassic World franchise heading our way, with Jurassic World Rebirth set to reach theatres on July 2, 2025 – and with the first teaser trailer expected to drop online tomorrow (February 5th), Vanity Fair has unveiled a batch of new images, while also sharing some new story and character details! The images can be seen at the bottom of this article.

News of the new Jurassic World movie first hit back in January of 2024, when it was revealed that the screenplay had already been written by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp, returning to the franchise for the first time since The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The project was assembled in a mad scramble after that, with Godzilla and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards ending up at the helm. This new Jurassic World movie won’t be featuring any returning...

In Evan Twohy’s twee debut feature Bubble & Squeak, a couple gets detained by police while honeymooning in an unnamed country. We meet Declan (Himesh Patel) and Delores (Sarah Goldberg) in an ascetic holding area, anxiously awaiting their interrogation. When Bkofl, an attending officer played by Steven Yeun (also a producer on the film), walks into the room, he, with humorous solemnity, asks the couple if they are smuggling cabbages into this vaguely Slavic-coded province.

It’s a strange but grave accusation. This tiny country has a charged relationship with cabbages, which were forced upon its people during a long, abstract war. The vegetable is now illegal and most of the population abhors it. Declan and Delores deny the claim. These American honeymooners know better than to sneak in contraband. Odd, then, that the room smells like cabbage and even more curious that the couple, the moment they are left unattended,...

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has added four more names to its cast, including three stars the “Oppenheimer” filmmaker has worked with previously.

The Wrap has learned that Himesh Patel (“Station Eleven”), Elliot Page (“The Umbrella Academy”), Bill Irwin (“Legion”), and Samantha Morton (“Minority Report”) have all joined the cast of Nolan’s forthcoming adaptation of Homer’s epic Ancient Greek poem. The film’s latest additions join an ensemble that already includes Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, and Jon Bernthal.

Earlier this week, Benny Safdie also signed on to star in “The Odyssey,” following his turn as Edward Teller in “Oppenheimer.” The new film marks a reunion, though, between not just Safdie and Nolan, but also the filmmaker and multiple past collaborators, including Damon, Pattinson, and Hathaway. Patel previously worked with Nolan on his 2020 sci-fi thriller “Tenet” as well,...

Christopher Nolan has is taking four more actors on his hero’s journey — and most are familiar faces to his world.

Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin and Samantha Morton round out the supporting cast of The Odyssey, Nolan’s adaptation of the epic poem by Homer that he is making for Universal.

Page is a Nolan veteran, having the memorable role of architecture grad student Ariadne in 2010’s Inception. Patel too is a Nolan alum, with a role in 2020’s Tenet, while Irwin had the memorable voice role of Tars the robot in Interstellar.

Universal had no comment on the castings. The quartet of actors join a cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal and Benny Safdie.

The studio describes the project as a “mythic action epic shot across the world across the world using brand new Imax film technology.

Christopher Nolan’s next big epic at Universal, The Odyssey, has added Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin and Samantha Morton.

For Patel, Page and Irwin, it’s a reteam with the 2x Oscar-winning filmmaker. Patel starred in Nolan’s 2020 Tenet, Page in 2010’s Inception, and Irwin in 2014’s Interstellar. For 2x Oscar nominee Morton, it’s her first time working with Nolan.

The foursome join a booming ensemble that counts Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie and Charlize Theron.

Nolan’s mythic action epic, shot with new Imax cameras, is based on the ancient Greek poem by Homer which follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. The classic explores themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning and the struggle against divine will. The tale includes iconic stories like Odysseus’ encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens and the witch-goddess Circe,...

Gold Derby’s top news stories for Jan. 31, 2025 Reality Smash Married at First Sight heads to Peacock

The hit long-running wedding-themed reality series Married at First Sight has been snapped up by the NBCU streamer Peacock and will begin running there with its 19th season later this year. No terms were announced in the deal for the show that’s produced by Kinetic Content and Chris Coelen that originally launched in July 2014 and has run for more than 200 episodes on the A&e Networks channels. Deadline reports that there was a bidding war for the series among multiple companies interested in the format, which is one of the most popular reality formats around the world. It casts stranger couples who meet for the first time at the alter.

The 18th season of Married at First Sight, featuring couples from Chicago, premiered on Lifetime in October – the show’s home since its fifth season.

The streaming wars remain a struggle in juggling quantity and quality. However, there's one service that's struck a finely tuned balance, since one can say the best TV shows on Max can also be considered among the greatest TV series of all time, according to IMDb. Now, if only someone could convince Max's parent company to stop removing original series and movies for tax break purposes, that would be terrific. Don't let Zaslavamania run wild, brother!

Whether it's the selection of HBO classics, such as "The Sopranos" and "The Wire," or the highly-rated Max originals like "Peacemaker" and "Hacks," this streaming platform suffers from no shortage of good content. Be that as it may, this makes it even tougher to choose the best shows here. So, the criteria for inclusion on this list needed to be narrowed down to the following: The series received mostly critical and audience acclaim, while...

Suspending your disbelief is a requirement for viewing “Bubble & Squeak,” writer-director Evan Twohy’s directorial debut. A couple honeymooning in a country that bans cabbage doesn’t exactly scream romance — and there is none here. Because before Declan and Delores can even begin celebrating their nuptials — the culmination of a long courtship where they felt more compelled to buy a house together than to say “I do”— they are detained in customs.

When an agent informs them of their crime of smuggling contraband cabbage into the country, Declan is flabbergasted; he cannot fathom why anyone would put cabbage in their pants to go on vacation. The problem, however, is that Delores has done just that.

Cabbage, it turns out, is banned in this unnamed Slavic country because of its critical role in the nation’s collective trauma. Smuggling it carries a hefty price: large sums of money, dismemberment and maybe even death.

“Paradise,” Hulu’s latest thriller series, isn’t quite heaven on earth. You may want to tune in for powerhouse performances from the likes of Sterling K. Brown, or to see what emotional devastation “This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman has up his sleeves this time. But the show suffers from trying to be a bunch of other things oversaturated in our television landscape: A murder mystery, a conspiracy thriller and a high concept sci-fi twist critics have been asked not to spoil.

In the seven of eight episodes provided to critics, we primarily follow Agent Xavier Collins as head of the Secret Service when he stumbles upon the dead body of President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) at his residence in a suspiciously picture-perfect neighborhood. The pilot is propulsive as we flash between Collins’s attempt to gather as much evidence as he can before reporting the incident and their...

The Walking Dead has been one of the most pivotal TV shows of the past 15 years, but there are a lot more shows for fans of that series to enjoy!

It's been a few years since The Walking Dead went off the air but it's never truly gone away. That's mostly due to the various spin-off series and how it's inspired other shows about people surviving a zombie apocalypse and/or the fall of civilization. That means a lot of copycat series, some better than others. 

Some shows are pure zombie thrillers while others use a different type of threat. Yet they're great at showcasing tales of people trying to survive these sorts of supernatural affairs and the collapse of order. These are 15 TV shows fans of The Walking Dead should enjoy as a fun ride for people who want to see the end of the world in a great style.

Watch some of the best science fiction out there with this awesome bundle for only $25 per month.

Science fiction is one of the coolest genres on TV, especially because of the wide range of stories that are told. Some sci-fi titles are elaborate morality plays, while others are intently focused on entertaining with brightly-colored lasers and ships that zoom across the stars.

Whichever your favorite flavor of sci-fi is, you’re probably wondering how you can stream all the top franchises out there without breaking your entertainment budget to do so. I’ve assembled a package of five streaming services that will allow you to watch great science fiction titles for a price of just $25 per month.

What’s the best sci-fi streaming bundle for less than $25 per month?

Paramount+

Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle

Bonus streamer: Tubi

Paramount+

Paramount+ is where this bundle starts, and with good reason. This...

Netflix is bringing the holiday cheer with a twist this year, diving into “Die Hard” territory with their action-packed Christmas thriller, Carry-On. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, known for The Shallows and Non-Stop, the film follows a Tsa agent who gets caught in a high-stakes game when he’s blackmailed into smuggling a dangerous package through airport security. With a stellar cast of familiar faces, here’s your guide to the characters and the actors that bring Carry-On to life.

‘Carry-On’: Complete Cast & Characters Guide of the Netflix Original Movie Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek

Taron Egerton stars as Ethan Kopek, a Tsa agent aspiring to become a police officer. His life takes a sharp turn when he’s coerced into helping a criminal sneak a mysterious bag onto a plane. Egerton is best known for his roles as Eggsy in the Kingsman films, Elton John in Rocketman, and Johnny in the animated Sing franchise.

Following the rollout of their more traditional holiday fare, Netflix is heading into “Die Hard” territory with the release of their Christmas-set action movie “Carry-On” — and it’s got a cast full of familiar faces.

Directed by “The Shallows” and “Non-Stop” filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra, the film follows a Tsa agent and wannabe cop who gets his chance to bring down the bad guys when a mysterious traveler blackmails him to get a dangerous package through airport security.

Here’s a handy guide to the “Carry-On” cast and where you might have seen them before.

Carry-On. Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek in Carry-On. Cr. Netflix © 2024. Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek

Taron Egerton plays Tsa agent Ethan Kopek, who gets blackmailed into helping a criminal sneak a mystery bag onto a plane. Egerton’s best-known roles include Eggsy in the “Kingsman” films, Elton John in “Rocketman” and the voice of Johnny in the animated “Sing” movies.

Three years ago, Max released a limited series adaptation of a well-regarded novel that blended magic realism and an all-too-real snapshot of a global pandemic. Dreamy and uncomfortably familiar, bleak and yet bursting with hope, Patrick Somerville’s translation of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven has settled into a reputation as a modern classic — THR placed it at No. 42 on our list of the 50 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century So Far — but owing to the timing of its premiere, the show was initially a little lost. It missed deadlines for many critics’ Top 10 lists and didn’t attract the awards attention you might expect based on its subsequent acclaim. It had to take a long path to adoration.

We’ll have to see if a similar fate awaits Netflix’s adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, a novel with one of...

Science fiction has been one of the most popular TV genres in recent years, with shows that take full advantage of the complexities and possibilities that the format allows. The genre's main strength is often combining these futuristic or alternate realities with main characters that humanize and anchor the out-of-this-world narratives. Many underrated sci-fi shows have been released in recent years, as well as some older classics that capture the essence of the genre.

The dynamic world-building and 'anything is possible' defining traits of sci-fi works make them so easy to watch and hard to press stop, with episodes and seasons passing in what feels like the blink of an eye. From longer-running pop culture phenomenons like Stranger Things or single-season explosions like Scavengers Reign, these shows are incredibly entertaining and showcase sci-fi's immense versatility. From major actors in the cinematic world to big-budget streaming giants, it seems like everybody is getting involved in high-quality,...

Exclusive: Woman of the Hour‘s Daniel Zovatto and Independence Day star Bill Pullman are boarding the Black Bear, Esmail Corp, Caviar production Famous which A24 is releasing stateside theatrically.

They join Zac Efron, Bridgerton‘s Phoebe Dynevor, Nicholas Braun, Stephanie Koenig, Debby Ryan, Mekki Lepper and Cory Michael Smith. Cameras are rolling in LA on the Jody Hill directed movie.

Famous explores the dark side of celebrity and the lengths people will go to attain it. Efron plays dual roles: Overzealous fan, Lance Dunkquist and Hollywood heartthrob, James Jansen. Lance has the spitting image of James, and will do whatever it takes to be famous. Pic is based on the novel by New York Times bestselling author Blake Crouch. Chad Hodge adapted for the screen, the scribe also adapted Crouch’s Wayward Pines trilogy into a series.

Famous is being produced by Sam Esmail and...

Adam Scott and Danielle Deadwyler will star in “The Saviors,” a darkly comedic thriller about a suburban couple whose life spirals out of control when they rent their garage to mysterious tenants. The film is currently in production in Los Angeles. Kevin Hamedani is directing from a script he co-wrote with Travis Betz, which was featured on the 2018 Blacklist.

Matt Smith and Dan Gedman of Highway 10 are financing and will produce. “The Saviors” marks the first film produced under their new shingle. In addition, Adam Scott and Naomi Scott will produce on behalf of Great Scott Productions, Nicholas Weinstock and Divya D’Souza will produce for Invention Studios, and Bradley Gallo and Michael Helfant will produce for Amasia Entertainment. Deadwyler, Alyssa Roehrenbeck and Josh Sathre will executive produce.

Scott will next be seen in the second season of Apple TV+’s “Severance,” which he executive produces. That performance earned Scott nominations for an Emmy Award,...

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Earth Abides is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama series created by Tom Komarnicki. Based on the 1949 novel of the same name by George R. Stewart, the MGM+ series follows Isherwood “Ish” Williams, a young man who comes out of months of isolation and learns that most of the world’s population has been wiped out because of a mysterious illness. While at first, his instinct is to go back into isolation, he decides to build back the civilization with a few other survivors. Earth Abides stars Alexander Ludwig, Jessica Frances Dukes, Aaron Tveit, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Elyse Levesque, and Luisa D’Oliveira. So, if you loved the post-apocalyptic world, thrilling drama, and compelling characters in Earth Abides, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Station Eleven (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – HBO Max

Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic...

Netflix's new spirited drama film The Piano Lesson is 2024's most surprising ghost story. Directed by Malcolm Washington, The Piano Lesson is a film adaptation of the play of the same name written by August Wilson, who also wrote the original play that inspired the Academy Award-winning film Fences. The Piano Lesson's ensemble cast is led by John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, and Ray Fisher.

While the film and play are both deeply rooted in American history, The Piano Lesson is not based on a true story or true people. The Piano Lesson has opened up to strong reviews, earning an impressive Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 90%. The Piano Lesson marks the feature film directorial debut of Malcolm Washington, the youngest son of Denzel Washington who directs his older brother John David Washington in the film. Denzel Washington, who has generated his own Oscar buzz...

Plot: When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction. The series is based on George R. Stewart’s classic sci-fi novel of the same name.

Review: Most post-apocalyptic stories tend to skew towards horrific and dystopian narratives. From The Walking Dead to Mad Max, the future usually looks pretty grim after the fall of civilization. Zombies, plagues, aliens, or even nuclear war have served to pave the way for cautionary tales brimming with violence through a microcosm of society seen through the survivors. Post-covid, these stories have continued to thrive even as we have experienced a real pandemic. Still, it has also afforded refreshed opportunities to tell hopeful and aspirational tales of the world to come.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Piano Lesson.

Netflix's new historical drama The Piano Lesson makes references to the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog and reveals the ghost of Sutter. Directed by Malcolm Washington, The Piano Lesson is a film adaptation of the play of the same name written by August Wilson, who also wrote the original play that inspired the Academy Award-winning film Fences. The Piano Lesson's ensemble cast is led by John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, and Ray Fisher.

While the film and play are both deeply rooted in American history, The Piano Lesson is not based on a true story or true people. The Piano Lesson has opened up to strong reviews, earning an impressive Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 90%. The Piano Lesson marks the feature film directorial debut of Malcolm Washington, the youngest son of Denzel Washington who directs his older brother...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Piano Lesson.

Netflix's new historical drama The Piano Lesson features a significant character named Crawley (Matrell Smith) who puts a wedge in the relationship between Bernice and Boy Willie. Directed by Malcolm Washington, The Piano Lesson is a film adaptation of the play of the same name written by August Wilson, who also wrote the original play that inspired the Academy Award-winning film Fences. The Piano Lesson's ensemble cast is led by John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, and Ray Fisher.

While the film and play are both deeply rooted in American history, The Piano Lesson is not based on a true story or true people. The Piano Lesson has opened up to strong reviews, earning an impressive Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 90%. The Piano Lesson marks the feature film directorial debut of Malcolm Washington, the youngest son of Denzel Washington...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Piano Lesson.

The ending of Netflix's new historical drama The Piano Lesson features musical and supernatural elements centering around the vengeful ghost of Sutter. Directed by Malcolm Washington, The Piano Lesson is a film adaptation of the play of the same name written by August Wilson, who also wrote the original play that inspired the Academy Award-winning film Fences. The Piano Lesson's ensemble cast is led by John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, and Ray Fisher.

While the film and play are both deeply rooted in American history, The Piano Lesson is not based on a true story or true people. The Piano Lesson has opened up to strong reviews, earning an impressive Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 90%. The Piano Lesson marks the feature film directorial debut of Malcolm Washington, the youngest son of Denzel Washington who directs his older brother...

Danielle Deadwyler almost reached the Oscar circle in 2023 with her extraordinary performance as a grieving mother in “Till.” But it was one of those tough-sit dramas that just wasn’t seen by enough people. This time, Netflix is behind her next likely awards contender, “The Piano Lesson”. The film is the third Denzel Washington-produced August Wilson adaptation after “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” — and arguably the best so far.

Directed by Malcolm Washington in his debut, the movie is set in Pittsburgh (per usual) and co-stars John David Washington as the brother who urgently tries to persuade his sister Berniece (Deadwyler) to sell their family inheritance, a giant piano engraved with the faces of their ancestors, and Samuel L. Jackson as their bemused uncle, watching and commenting on the proceedings.

All are superb, but Deadwyler stands out, not only for her powerful female energy among all the men in the house,...

As a writer who often focuses on horror films, I'm sometimes asked by people outside the industry how I process the terrible things I see onscreen. My answer is always the same: horror has become my personal staging site for fear and anxiety. It represents an isolated environment where I can conjure up feelings of deep unease and unhappiness, process them, and then step back in the real world a little more sure on my feet.

But these artistic catharses are not limited to the negative. I also find that there are times when I need art that speaks to the euphoria of being human -- stories that find meaning in the darkness and allow me to cling to someone else's optimism for a short while. These are the films and television shows that I return to when I want meaning; not when I'm searching for divine intervention, but when...

Prime Video's "Tomb Raider" series has seemingly found its Lara Croft in "Game of Thrones" veteran Sophie Turner, according to a report from Deadline.

At the end of October, the same outlet released an initial exclusive saying that Turner was a top choice to play the titular tomb raider alongside Lucy Boynton, with Emma Corrin ("The Crown") and Mackenzie Davis ("Station Eleven") also potentially in the running. Now, it seems as if the show, which is being spearheaded by "Fleabag" creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, may have settled on its lead actor.

If this comes to fruition, Turner certainly has big shoes to fill — she would join Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander as the only other two performers to play Lara Croft in live-action. It's important to make this abundantly clear: the report says that Turner is "in negotiations," so this bit of casting still isn't official just yet. I...

Peacock’s upcoming espionage thriller, Ponies, has cast Haley Lu Richardson (The White Lotus) opposite Emilia Clarke in a series regular role. She will portray Twila, a small-town girl who is as abrasive as she is fearless.

Set in Moscow in 1977, the series follows two Ponies (“persons of no interest” in intelligence speak) who work anonymously as secretaries in the American Embassy. That is until their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances in the Ussr, and the pair become CIA operatives. Bea (Clarke) is an over-educated, Russian-speaking child of Soviet immigrants. Alongside her cohort, Twila, they work to uncover a vast Cold War conspiracy and solve the mystery that made them widows in the first place.

Susanna Fogel serves as executive producer, director, and co-writer alongside executive producer and co-writer David Iserson and executive producer Mike Daniels.

Ponies was co-created by Fogel and Iserson. Iserson and Daniels will serve as showrunners. Executive producers are Emilia Clarke and Jessica Rhoades via her Pacesetter Productions. Pacesetter EVP Alison Mo Massey will co-ep alongside Katherine Bridle. The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Richardson is represented by Gersh and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

Sophie Turner is closing in on the highly coveted role of British archeologist Lara Croft in Amazon MGM Studios and Crystal Dynamics’ adaptation of adventure video game Tomb Raider.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is writing and exec producing the live-action series, which received a series order in the spring and will stream on Amazon’s Prime Video. Turner, best known for playing Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, is in talks to play the lead role, previously portrayed by Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander in feature film adaptations of the video game series.

Tests for the role took place in October with several British actresses in the mix, including Turner. Mackenzie Davis (Station Eleven) was the lone American to make the shortlist. Emma Mackey (Sex Education) and Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody) are also said to have tested for the role, according to sources.

Amazon declined to comment.

Waller-Bridge is executive producing the...

The appeal of sci-fi shows like Black Mirror, Dark, and Station Eleven, some of the best dystopian sci-fi TV shows, is that they explore human truths using the context of technological advancement. From body modifications to time travel, sci-fi presents the dream of breaking boundaries that physics and biology impose on us, and uses that context to confront viewers with questions about the nature of humanity. While some shows like Star Trek have such a legacy that they're not only always remembered but consistently rebooted, some equally great shows have a more unfortunate fate.

The problem of relying on viewership per season led to recent sci-fi shows getting canceled that didn't deserve it. Shows like The 100 which have aired for years provide a rich collection of compelling storylines and complex conundrums, but with rampant cancelations, shows rarely have the prospect of doing that anymore. It's a high-risk, high-reward gamble these days.

The beloved Natasha Lyonne comedy Poker Face will be playing with even more of a stacked deck in its second season.

Peacock announced today that Method Man, Awkwafina, Simon Rex, and Corey Hawkins will be joining the cast for the show’s sophomore outing.

In other words, the series will continue to rival Elsbeth and SNL in terms of big-name guest stars.

(Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

Though best known for his work with the Wu-Tang Clan, Method Man is no stranger to the world of acting.

In addition to his performances in films like How High and Garden State, he also appeared in 13 episodes of HBO’s The Wire, considered by many to be the finest show in recent TV history.

The legendary rapper is currently a regular on Power Book II: Ghost.

As for Awkwafina, in addition to her signature series,...

It looks like a nearly two-year hiatus hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of Yellowstone fans.

According to a new report from Variety, the Paramount Network juggernaut just delivered its biggest ratings to date.

Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 9 pulled in a whopping 16.4 million viewers across CBS and cable.

(Courtesy of Paramount)

And streaming audiences are sure to add to that number now that the episode is available on Hulu and other platforms.

As Deadline reports, Paramount is still locked in a contract dispute with Nielsen. Thus, this data comes to us courtesy of the analytics outfit VideoAmp.

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But while the numbers weren...

Deadline reports that Hiro Murai will make his feature directorial debut with Bushido. The samurai movie will be financed by A24, who will produce alongside Square Peg and 2Am.

Not much is known about Bushido yet, only that it will be a “high-stakes action film set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.” I’m always down for more samurai movies, so I’m certainly not complaining. Murai will direct from a script by Henry Dunham (The Standoff at Sparrow Creek). The pair will also produce alongside Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen for Square Peg, and Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza, and David Hinojosa for 2Am.

Murai is best known for directing and executive producing Donald Glover’s Atlanta. He helmed more than half the series’ episodes. He’s also directed episodes of Legion, Snowfall, Barry, Station Eleven, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Murai has worked with Glover frequently; in addition to Atlanta and Mr.

Doomer TV is an odd sort of fictional proof that in the land of the free and the home of the brave, things can still go south quickly.

Most people in America have never experienced the hardship of third-world nations, their economies, or totalitarian despotism.

Seneca, a philosopher and satirist in ancient Rome, put it simply: “I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent — no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.”

(HBO)

The exceptions, of course, are migrants and U.S. Service members, but Doomer TV likely hits closer to home for them than it does for most.

The Covid-19 pandemic is as close to the fictional universes of The Last of Us and Station Eleven that modern generations in America will get… hopefully.

15 Ways Outer Banks Season 4 Lost the Plot (and Pissed...

Hiro Murai is making the leap to the big screen.

A24 is set to finance and produce “Bushido,” described as an “original samurai film,” which marks the feature debut for the director.

Murai has famously helmed episodes of “Atlanta,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Station Eleven” and “Barry.” He is also an executive producer on “The Bear.”

In addition, Murai will produce “Bushido,” with Henry Dunham serving as a writer and producer.

Also producing are Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen, under their Square Peg banner, alongside Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb and David Hinojosa for 2Am.

While details on the movie’s storyline are being kept out of sight, it is being described as a high-stakes action film set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.

In 2019, “Guava Island,” a 56-minute film that Murai directed for constant collaborator Donald Glover, arrived on Prime Video. Murai has also directed episodes of “Legion” and “Snowfall.

The producer and director behind many classic episodes of “Atlanta,” “The Bear,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Station Eleven,” and more is finally making a movie.

Hiro Murai, the Emmy-winning producer and director, is set to make his feature directorial debut on “Bushido,” a samurai film and epic that will be set up at A24, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire. A24 is financing and producing.

“Bushido” is said to be an action film set during Feudal Japan, but specific plot details are being kept under wraps.

Murai is directing the film from a script by Henry Dunham (“The Standoff at Sparrow Creek”), and he and Dunham will also produce along with Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen for their Square Peg banner and Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb, and David Hinojosa for their 2Am banner.

While it’s unclear about the budget on the film, a period film...

Exclusive: Hiro Murai, one of today’s most influential and in demand directors of television and music videos, has found his long-awaited first feature project in Bushido, an original samurai film to be financed by A24, which will produce alongside Square Peg and 2Am.

While plot details are being kept under wraps, Bushido is said to be a high-stakes action film set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.

Murai will direct from a script by Henry Dunham (The Standoff at Sparrow Creek), with the duo to produce alongside Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen for Square Peg, and the 2Am trio of Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb and David Hinojosa.

The project comes at a time when the samurai story has significant cultural cachet, given the outsized breakout success of FX’s Shōgun, an hour-long drama delving deep into samurai culture and the feudal politics of early 17th-century Japan. The winner of 18 Emmys,...

Over the past few years, Hiro Murai has quietly become one of the most prolific creators of modern pop culture. The director and executive producer has worked extensively with Donald Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino) on Atlanta and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, as well as music videos like "This Is America,...

Dystopian Sci-Fi television series are quite different from your normal sci-fi fare, with the best of the best taking these exciting fictional societies and corrupting them to the point of dysfunction. Dystopian fiction does this in a variety of ways, often using the premise of its story to make a point about modern society. However, sometimes these dystopias simply feature memorable characters, using them to make their point as opposed to the state of its fictional society.

With this in mind, it is important to note the popularity of dystopian science fiction. These series constitute some of the most shocking sci-fi TV twists, standing as a testament to the impact of their writing. However, like many similar shows, many sci-fi shows are canceled before their time, showing just how important it is to support these series while they are still running, to ensure these iconic sci-fi shows stay around for longer.