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New casting information has been revealed for the third season of The Wheel of Time. The news comes months ahead of the show's return to Prime Video on March 13, 2025.

It has been officially announced that Shohreh Aghdashloo has joined the cast of The Wheel of Time, set to appear in the show's upcoming third season. It's the next big role for Aghdashloo following her recent appearance in the hit HBO series The Penguin, the spinoff of The Batman. In the series, Aghdashloo played Nadia Maroni, the wife of mob boss Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) who met a fiery end courtesy of Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell).

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Guy Ritchie's next movie, Wife & Dog, adds two MCU veterans and one of the leading stars of the Prime Video series The Wheel of Time to its cast.

Aside with her role in The Penguin, Aghdashloo has garnered acclaim for her other on-screen work.

Exclusive: Zachary Levi (Hotel Tehran) and Naya Desir-Johnson (The Equalizer) are toplining Sarah’s Oil, a new theatrical drama from Amazon MGM Studios that has wrapped production.

Others in the cast include Sonequa Martin-Green (Star Trek: Discovery), Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope), Bridget Regan (Jane the Virgin), Kenric Green (The Walking Dead), Adyan Copes (Who Is Christmas Eve?), Stelio Savante (The Cleaning Lady) and Mel Rodriguez (The Last Man on Earth).

Inspired by Tonya Bolden’s book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America, Sarah’s Oil tells the true story of Sarah Rector, an African American born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to her family, friends and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming one...

Exclusive: Mozhan Navabi (The Blacklist) has been cast in the Netflix limited series Zero Day in a recurring role portraying Melissa Kornblau.

From creators and executive producers Eric Newman (Narcos), Noah Oppenheim (Jackie) and Michael Schmidt, Zero Day asks the question: How do we find truth in a world in crisis, one seemingly being torn apart by forces outside our control? And in an era rife with conspiracy theory and subterfuge, how much of those forces are products of our own doing, perhaps even of our imagining?

At the center of the narrative is Mullen (Robert De Niro), a popular but complicated figure who is yanked back from retirement to head up a commission investigating a global cyberattack.

The show also stars Angela Bassett, Dan Stevens, Matthew Modine, Bill Camp, McKinley Belcher III, Gaby Hoffman, Clark Gregg, Mark Ivanir, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen and Connie Britton.

In addition to Newman,...

Leading Hollywood screenwriters Bruce McKenna and John Fusco have been tapped by U.S-based Inspire Studios to write two Asian-themed war features. One will go into production this year, the other in 2023, Variety has learned.

McKenna, who co-wrote and co-produced the Emmy-winning mini-series “The Pacific,” and wrote part of “Band of Brothers,” is attached to the company’s debut release, Filipino-Hollywood feature “Angel Warrior” as scriptwriter. Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Stoning of Soraya M”) is already attached a writer.

The picture is being produced by Inspire Studios’ founder and CEO Francis Lara Ho and executive produced by John Shepherd (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”), Thailand’s Buranasompod Pongrapee and Manny Pacquiao, the renowned Filipino boxing champion, politician and media personality.

Based on a real WWII story, “Angel Warrior” stars Philippines actor Bea Alonzo as Tala, a pre-war era Filipina whose near-death experience transforms her into an underground fighter, described as a “she devil.

Vachik Mangassarian, a character actor with dozens of credits including Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Curb Your Enthusiasm and feature The Stoning of Soraya M., has died. He was 78.

His reps at McCaffrey Talent Management told Deadline that he died Saturday of Covid complications.

Born in Iran of Armenian descent in 1943, Mangassarian came to the U.S. in the mid-1960s, working in theater and occasionally returning to Iran, where he had roles in films including some by Iranian director Samuel Khachikian. He eventually landed his first Hollywood role in The South’s Shark (1978).

By the mid-’80s, he began scoring guest shots on such popular series as The Fall Guy, The A-Team, Sledge Hammer! and Murder, She Wrote. Mangassarian would work steadily through the 2010s, guesting on shows including Murphy Brown, Falcon Crest, Jake and the Fatman, NYPD Blue and Jag, along with some telefilms.

Mangassarian landed a key...

Philippines actor Bea Alonzo will play a “she-devil” female lead in upcoming Filipino-Hollywood feature “Angel Warrior” by Inspire Studios. Principle photography will commence in mid-2022 and the film is slated for a U.S. and worldwide release in late 2022, Variety has learned.

Based on a fact-based WWII story, “Angel Warrior” will be produced by Inspire Studios’ founder and CEO Francis Lara Ho and executive produced by John Shepherd (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”) and Manny Pacquiao, the renowned Filipino boxing champion, politician and media personality. The screenplay is penned by Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”).

A previous recipient of the Asian Stars: Up Next prize from the International Film Festival & Awards Macao and Variety, Alonzo will portray Tala, a pre-war era Filipina whose near-death experience transforms her into an underground fighter aiding the poorly-equipped Filipino and American guerillas on the island of Panay that was part of the...

As theaters regain their footing, they’re making baby steps. The good news: for the first time since March, 10 first-run films played in theaters in the U.S. and Canada, grossing $100,000 or more. And most drops from the past week were under 30%, which is above average: Warner Bros.’ “Tenet” dropped 26%, with few new theaters. Such small drops suggest an uptick in interest in going to theaters.

The bad news: there is little new to be seen. And disturbingly, on the specialty side, even though they played hundreds of theaters, Bleecker Street’s “The Secrets We Keep” and IFC’s “The Nest” failed to pull even minimal adult audiences.

This weekend last year, all films grossed $123 million. Led by three new openers, the lowest total for a Top Ten title was just under $1.5 million. This year, with something over 3,000 locations open (exact number unknown), a tiny increase over last week, total...

In “Infidel,” Jim Caviezel plays Christian blogger Doug Rawlins, who travels to Cairo to participate in a televised conference on religion. The Muslim host seeks commonalities between the two faiths. “We love Jesus Christ,” the man says, after which Doug pauses for a moment, weighing his words, before rejecting the figurative olive branch. “He is God,” Doug says. “And He wants to be your God.” The audience is stunned at Doug’s audacity. Less surprising to all parties, Doug is kidnapped from his hotel room by angry Muslims a few hours later.

The latest film from controversial writer-director Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Path to 9/11”) actually opens with a forward glimpse of Doug facing a firing squad on a Tehran rooftop, so we know from the jump that his Cairo visit didn’t go well. On the surface, “Infidel” appears to be a straightforward Middle East-set thriller — the kind that reaffirms Americans’ xenophobic impulses,...

After premiering at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, “The Persian Connection” is finally headed to a theater near you. The debut feature of director Daniel Y-Li Grove, the film is a neon-noir film set in the Persian underbelly of L.A.

Read More: Film Acquisition Rundown: The Orchard Picks Up ‘Thelma,’ Samuel Goldwyn Films Buys ‘Gook’ and More

“The Persian Connection” follows Behrouz, a former child soldier who, after surviving the Iran-Iraq War, was smuggled away to the streets of Los Angeles to be monitored by the Iranian mobster Cirrus Golshiri. Wanting to escape from the life of organized crime and under the table dealings, Behrouz dreams of becoming the “American Real Estate Man.”

Twenty years later, a high stakes poker game brings Behrouz and Cirrus face to face. Accused of stealing from his boss, events from Behrouz’s past and present begin to collide and he and his girlfriend,...

Focus Features has released the first poster for their Christian based film, The Young Messiah.

Check out the trailer for the movie due in theaters on March 11, 2016.

The inspiring and unique story of seven-year-old Jesus Christ and His family as they come to a fuller understanding of His divine nature and purpose.

From director Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”), The Young Messiah is opens in theaters prior to Palm Sunday and Easter.

Follow the film:

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#theyoungmessiah

The post The Young Messiah Poster Released appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.

"Baba Joon," winner of five Ophir Awards from the Israeli Academy of Film and Television and Israel's 2016 Oscar submission, stars Navid Negahban ("Homeland") as Yitzhak, an Iranian immigrant in Israel who hopes his teenage son, Moti (Asher Avrahami), will take an interest in the family turkey farm. When Moti refuses, preferring instead to fix up junked cars, the ensuing conflict exposes the generation gap, as a son's demands for independence come up against his father's determination to honor tradition. The film is directed by Yuval Delshad and costars David Diaan ("The Stoning of Soraya M.") as Moti's uncle, Darius. The poster, following the film's appearance in Toronto, offers a glimpse of Ofer Inov's Ophir Award-winning cinematography, with a striking image of Yitzhak and Moti, eyes downcast, amid a sea of turkeys—and the trailer features a similar sense of inter-generational drama. "I want to do what I love," Moti tells his father.

Following in the success of recent faith-based films such as War Room and 90 Minutes in Heaven at the box office, Focus Features has released the first trailer for The Young Messiah. While there has been no shortage of Biblical fare as of late, this adaptation of Anne Rice's beloved novel will offer a new perspective on Jesus Christ's childhood. The film is set for release on March 11, 2016, just in time for Easter Sunday a few weeks later.

The Young Messiah follows the inspiring and unique story of seven-year-old Jesus Christ and His family as they come to a fuller understanding of His divine nature and purpose. The story is told from his childhood perspective, as he and his family depart Egypt to return home to Nazareth. The plot follows young Jesus as he grows into his religious identity.

Sean Bean stars as Severus, alongside David Bradley as the Old Rabbi,...

Christian-oriented films opening in theaters and video-on-demand continue to be popular among moviegoers looking for family, faith based movies.

90 Minutes In Heaven and War Room are the latest examples performing strongly in theaters. After opening at number one over the Labor Day holiday, War Room was number 3 at the U.S. box office this past weekend and now stands at $40.5 million worldwide. 90 Minutes In Heaven debuted at number nine with a strong $2.2 million in ticket sales. With everyone trying for another Passion Of The Christ, this demographic of ticket buyers is one the studios can no longer afford to ignore.

Now comes the inspiring and unique story of seven-year-old Jesus Christ and his family as they come to a fuller understanding of His divine nature and purpose in the upcoming film, The Young Messiah.

Set for a March 11, 2016 and with millions of Christians worldwide celebrating Palm Sunday on March 20, 2016, followed...

Focus Features will be releasing the upcoming film, The Young Messiah, in theaters nationwide on March 11, 2016.

Ahead of the trailer debut on Thursday, September 17, here’s a first look at the film with this special featurette:

The inspiring and unique story of seven-year-old Jesus Christ and his family as they come to a fuller understanding of His divine nature and purpose.

Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”) with a screenplay by Cyrus Nowrasteh and Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh.

Follow the film:

Twitter I Facebook I Instagram

#theyoungmessiah

The post First Look At The Young Messiah appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.

Hailed as one of the best new cinematic discoveries in 2014 is director Ana Lily Amirpour with her debut A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, a moody vampire noir that premiered in the Next section at the Sundance Film Festival. Scooping up the Gotham Award’s Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award and picking up a pair of Indie Spirit Award nominations (including Best First Feature) and wins at international film fests such as Deauville and Sitges, the film opened theatrically in the fall of 2014 to a barrage of critical acclaim. Credited as the first Iranian Vampire Western, Amirpour is operating with a mash-up of vintage tropes, creating an inspired concoction.

With all its characters speaking Farsi, yet filmed in California and set in the fictional locale of Bad City, there is an enigmatic, surreal aura to Amirpour’s exciting debut. An exploration of loneliness utilizing a set of nighttime creatures...

Walking After Midnight: Amirpour’s Expressive, Moody Debut

Described as an Iranian vampire film with all its characters speaking Farsi, yet filmed in California and set in the fictional locale of Bad City, there is an enigmatic, surreal aura to Ana Lily Amirpour’s exciting debut, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. An exploration of loneliness utilizing a set of nighttime creatures while evoking nostalgic cinematic traditions of the film noir and the adolescent rebel, Amirpour’s ambient film is startling in its rendering of expressive black and white cinematography in a film whose themes and sound designs recall the alternate universes of David Lynch.

Living at home with his junkie father (Marshall Manesh), Arash (Arash Marandi) is forced to give up the car he’s finally paid off to Saeed (Dominic Rains), the dealer and pimp to whom Arash’s father owes a large sum of money. Saeed...

To mark the release of Homeland Season 3 on 8th September, we’ve been given 2 copies to give away on Blu-ray.

Homeland, one of the most thrilling TV dramas to date, follows CIA intelligence officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes; Romeo + Juliet, My So Called Life), her boss and mentor Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin; Chicago Hope, Criminal Minds) and former American prisoner of war Nicolas Brody (Damien Lewis; Band of Brothers, Life) in a gripping third season.

Season Two of Homeland ended explosively with Brody (Lewis) being framed by terrorist Abu Nazir (Navid Negahban; Brothers, The Stoning of Soraya M.) in connection to a bombing that left 200 dead, including the Secretary of Defence and the Secretary of Homeland Security. Carrie, trusting that Brody is innocent, helped him flee to Canada and promised to clear his name. Season Three starts in the aftermath of this terrorist attack – Saul is now Acting Director of...

The adaptation of Anne Rice‘s best-seller is set to hit theaters March 23, 2016, the Wednesday before Easter. Christ The Lord is a fictional account of young Jesus as he comes to discover his real identity and the truth surrounding his birth. It was greenlighted during Cannes in May and is set to begin production September 15 in Italy. No cast is in place, but Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning Of Soraya M.) will direct from a script he wrote with his wife Betsy. Enzo Sisti (Passion Of The Christ) is executive producing. The wide-release pic will arrive two days ahead […]...

Ocean Blue Entertainment, Cj Entertainment, Echo Lake and Ingenious Media are moving ahead with a film adaptation of Anne Rice's novel "Christ the Lord Out of Egypt".

Cyrus Nowrasteh ("The Stoning of Soraya M.") helms the film and wrote the adapted screenplay with his wife Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh.

The fictional story follows a young Jesus Christ who learns the truth about his real identity and his birth as he travels from Egypt to Nazareth.

No cast members have been secured for the adaptation at this time. Shooting begins September 15th at Cinecitta Studios in Rome and on location in Matera, Italy.

Focus Features will distribute the film within the United States

Source: Cj Entertainment...

Christ the Lord Out of Egypt, an adaptation of Anne Rice' novel of the same name, has been given the green light to start production by financiers Ocean Blue Entertainment, Cj Entertainment, Echo Lake and Ingenious Media.

Shooting will begin on September 15 in Italy, under the direction of Cyrus Nowrasteh, who was personally selected by author Anne Rice in 2011, after she saw his film The Stoning of Soraya M. The filmmaker wrote the adapted screenplay with his wife Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh, which tells the fictional story of a young Jesus Christ, who learns the truth about his real identity and his birth as he travels from Egypt to Nazareth.

Enzo Sisti (The Passion of the Christ) is serving as executive producer, with shooting to take place at Cinecitta Studios in Rome and on location in Matera, Italy. No cast members have been secured for the adaptation at this time.

Exclusive: Ocean Blue Entertainment, in conjunction with Cj Entertainment, Echo Lake and Ingenious Media, have set the financing for Christ The Lord, a feature adaptation of the Anne Rice bestselling novel Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt. A September 15 start date has been set in Italy. Focus Features, which obtained U.S. distribution rights from the movie’s original domestic distributor FilmDistrict when Peter Schlessel took over the former, is planning a wide U.S. release and Hyde Park International is handling the sale of foreign rights. 1492 Pictures will produce with Ocean Blue, Cj Entertainment, Hyde Park and Ingenious. Cyrus Nowrasteh, who helmed The Stoning Of Soraya M., will direct the script he wrote with his wife Betsy. This fictional story follows young Jesus as he comes to discover his real identity and the truth surrounding his birth. Enzo Sisti (Passion Of The Christ) is executive producing. Shooting will take...

Navid Negahban, the Iranian-American actor who played "Homeland" villain Abu Nazir, stars in a bitterly entertaining new Funny or Die video below that takes the form of an informercial entitled "How to Be a Terrorist... In Hollywood!" "As Arab actors, we all know how hard it can be to live up to Hollywood's stereotypes," Negahban explains. "Being completely one-dimensional isn't easy." Negahban, who like many actors of Middle Eastern descent has been frequently cast in a certain type of role over a busy career that includes roles in "24," "Brothers" and "The Stoning of Soraya M.," offers up tips of the trade for playing a terrorist, like suggesting his students pick more "terroristy" names: "Kathryn Bigelow isn't going to torture a Carl." Read More: Navid Negahban Talks Playing 'Homeland' Boogieman Abu Nazir and Moral Gray Areas...

Primeridian Entertainment announced today that it will be producing and financing a new television series about the post-World War II space race between the United States and the Ussr. The project will purportedly span the time between the collapse of Nazi Germany through the 1960s, covering the contentious competition between the two superpowers and their technological successes and failures.  The newly launched company, who at Cannes announced a feature about Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn to be written and directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh ("The Stoning of Soraya M."), have hired Nicholas Meyer to write the pilot. Meyer, who was nominated for an Academy Award for adapting his own novel to screen for 1976 Sherlock Holmes film "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution," directed "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country," though he only received screenplay credit for the latter. The yet untitled TV project has several expert advisors on board.

FilmDistrict has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the upcoming film adaptation of novelist Anne Rice's "Christ the Lord".

Rice's book tells the story of a seven-year-old Jesus, who departs Egypt with his family to return home to Nazareth and discovers the truth about his birth, who he is, and his purpose in life.

Cyrus Nowrasteh ("The Stoning of Soraya M.") will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Betsy Nowrasteh. Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, Mark Radcliffe, Sean Lee, Patricia Chun and Keo Lee will produce.

A March 2015 release is planned.

Source: FilmDistrict...

Shohreh Aghdashloo is the beautiful Iranian American actress who I fell in love with in House of Sand and Fog and The Stoning of Soraya M. Now the actress is all set to shake things up on the set of NBC’s Grimm. This isn’t a guest spot.

That’s right, Aghdashloo has signed on for a recurring role on the supernatural series. When it comes to casting royalty, I’d say the execs did a mighty fine job.

TV Line reported that Aghdashloo would play Stefania Vaduva Popescu. Now that’s a mouthful. Stefania is a very powerful lady and Claire Coffee’s Adalind will be turning to Stefania in a time of need for an alliance of sorts. Stefania is known as the “Zigeunersprache,” or, in other words, words I understand, the Queen of the Schwarzwald Gypsies, who hail from the rich woods of Austria. Interesting, no?...

Like Someone in Love: Filmmaker Kiarostami has created a 'lovely' drama The 73-year-old, Iranian-born filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami is among the freshest and most energetic directors working today. His ideas always intrigue without wandering aimlessly; his screenwriting is sparse, but always rings true; his execution is stylistic and beautiful. Kiarostami has worked on shorts, documentaries, and narrative features that deal with a wide range of topics, from students' homework (in Homework) to Iran's sociopolitical landscape. (Pictured above: Actress Rin Takanashi in the Tokyo-set Like Someone in Love, written and directed by Kiarostami.) His new effort opens in New York and L.A. on Friday; the film can be considered a solid addition to his canon. Like Someone in Love leaves audiences with the sense of having watched a story deliberately unfinished. The film tackles a similar topic to the one found in the director's Tuscany-set movie Certified Copy, starring Juliette Binoche...

After playing Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's notorious torture porn take on the man in "The Passion Of Christ," it seemed the career of Jim Caviezel needed a prayer. The actor mostly flitted around in a bunch of movies you didn't see like "Bobby Jones: Stroke Of Genius," "Unknown" (not the one with Liam Neeson) and "The Stoning Of Soraya M." He seems to be have a new lifeline thanks to the series "Person Of Interest" and now he's lined up what is easily his biggest role since he got up on the cross. Producer Mark Canton recently visited The Matthew Aaron Show (via JoBlo) where he revealed that the actor has lined up a pretty juice gig in the upcoming Sly/Arnie action vehicle "The Tomb": "[Jim] Caviezel will be playing the role of the Warden of the prison in which Schwarzenegger & Stallone attempt to escape from." In case you forgot,...

Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) is developing a new Jesus Chris movie, based on "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt," a novel by Anne Rice (Interview with the Vampire). Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M.) will direct from a screenplay he penned with Betsy Nowrasteh. The story revolves around a seven-year-old Jesus, who departs Egypt with his family to return home to Nazareth and discovers the truth about his birth, who he is, and his purpose in life. "This film has the potential to be a cinematic classic, a picture that will appeal to all ages, all around the world," said Columbus. "I am proud to be part of this incredible production."...

[1] Odds are, when you hear the name "Anne Rice," you think "vampires," thanks to her extensive catalog of tales about the beautiful bloodsuckers. So it seems a bit ironic that in these Twilight-frenzied times, the Rice book that's on its way to the big screen isn't any of her Vampire Chronicles volumes, but Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, which follows Jesus Christ through ages 7 and 8. Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) has signed on to produce the project, which has Cyrus Nowrasteh attached to direct. More details after the jump. In addition to directing, Nowrasteh is also set to pen the adaptation with his wife, screenwriter Betsy Nowrasteh. Rice first approached Nowrasteh about adapting the project after watching Nowrasteh's The Stoning of Soraya M., about an Iranian teenager trapped in an abusive marriage. Nowrasteh agreed to write and direct, and then brought the project to Columbus and producer Michael Barnathan at 1492 Pictures.

1492 Pictures and Cj Entertainment have acquired the film rights to Anne Rice's book "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt" reports Variety.

Rice's book tells the story of a seven-year-old Jesus, who departs Egypt with his family to return home to Nazareth and discovers the truth about his birth, who he is, and his purpose in life.

Cyrus Nowrasteh ("The Stoning of Soraya M.") will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Betsy Nowrasteh. Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, Mark Radcliffe, Sean Lee, Patricia Chun and Keo Lee will produce.

The director of the first Harry Potter film Chris Columbus is looking to bring a movie about Jesus Christ as a kid to the big screen. The first thing to pop in my head as a concept when I first heard about this was Home Alone meets Jesus. But that is not what the movie will be at all.

Columbus' 1492 Pictures and Cj Entertainment have picked up the rights to the Anne Rice novel Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, and it tells the story of "a seven-year-old Jesus, who departs Egypt with his family to return home to Nazareth and discovers the truth about his birth, who he is, and his purpose in life."

Columbus is producing the project, and the movie will be directed Cyrus Nowrasteh who also co-wrote the screenplay with Betsy Nowrasteh.

According to Variety, "Rice actually came to Cyrus Nowrasteh first and asked if he...

Chris Columbus continued to stay busy as a producer via his shingle 1492 Pictures. Columbus recently acquired film rights to the sci-fi novel How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu and signed on to produce Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters. Variety reported today that the veteran producer and director bought rights to Anne Rice’s book Christ The Lord: Out Of Egypt, the story of seven-year-old Jesus heading to Nazareth with his parents and discovering his divine identity. Betsy Nowrasteh, who co-wrote the drama The Stoning of Soraya M. with her husband Cyrus Nowrasteh, joined Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt as screenwriter with Cyrus boarding as director.

Chris Columbus continued to stay busy as a producer via his shingle 1492 Pictures. Columbus recently acquired film rights to the sci-fi novel How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu and signed on to produce Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters. Variety reported today that the veteran producer and director bought rights to Anne Rice’s book Christ The Lord: Out Of Egypt, the story of seven-year-old Jesus heading to Nazareth with his parents and discovering his divine identity. Betsy Nowrasteh, who co-wrote the drama The Stoning of Soraya M. with her husband Cyrus Nowrasteh, joined Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt as screenwriter with Cyrus boarding as director.

Chris Columbus continued to stay busy as a producer via his shingle 1492 Pictures. Columbus recently acquired film rights to the sci-fi novel How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu and signed on to produce Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters. Variety reported today that the veteran producer and director bought rights to Anne Rice’s book Christ The Lord: Out Of Egypt, the story of seven-year-old Jesus heading to Nazareth with his parents and discovering his divine identity. Betsy Nowrasteh, who co-wrote the drama The Stoning of Soraya M. with her husband Cyrus Nowrasteh, joined Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt as screenwriter with Cyrus boarding as director.

It's a long way from Bon Temps, La, to Rwanda, ma chère, but that isn't stopping "True Blood" star Rutina Wesley.

Wesley, who stars in "True Blood" as Sookie's tough-as-nails best friend Tara Thornton, has landed the starring role in "Left to Tell," based on Immaculée Ilibagiza's memoir.

Wesley has starred in two films, the MTV/Paramount dance-off film "How She Move" and the indie "California Winter." This is sure to be a meaty part for the young actress; combined with the attention that the new season of "True Blood" will bring (starting on June 26, not that we're keeping track or anything), this could be a breakthrough move for Wesley.

Ilibagiza survived 91 days hiding in a bathroom with seven other women during 1994's Rwandan genocide.She returned home nearly starved to death, only to find that many of her family members and friends had been killed during the brutal massacres that swept the African republic.

James Caviezel, Frequency James Caviezel's Jesus Backlash: "Rejected in My Own Industry" Below is the domestic box-office take of James Caviezel's films, whether in leads or supporting roles, released from 2004 to the present (via Box Office Mojo). Could that be one important reason producers have shied away from him? Highway Men (2004), $371k The Passion of the Christ (2004), $370.78m Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004), $2.69m The Final Cut (2004), $551k I Am David (2004), $288k Madison (2005), $517k Unknown (2006), $26k Deja Vu (2006), starring Denzel Washington, $64.03m Outland (2009), $166k The Stoning of Soraya M. (2009), $637k Caviezel's pre-2004 films — including supporting roles — generally performed much better perhaps because he was usually partnered with bigger names, including Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Dennis Quaid. Even so, none of his movies could be called a blockbuster. Titles from 1998 to 2002 are listed [...]...

Actor Jim Caviezel is claiming that, after playing Jesus in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, he has become somewhat of an outcast in Hollywood. Judging by movies like Outlander and The Stoning of Soraya M., he may not be exaggerating. Caviezel was in Florida over the weekend, promoting his new audio book of the Bible, Words of Promise, and told the 14,000-capacity First Baptist Church of Orlando that director Mel Gibson had warned him, "You'll never work in this town again," referring to Caviezel taking on the role. And his apparent rejoinder was, "We all have to embrace our crosses." Caviezel was gaining a reputation as an emerging talent after appearing in movies like The Thin Red Line, Frequency, and The Count of Monte Cristo. Then he teamed up with Gibson for The Passion, and though the film ended up making [...]...

The man who played Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's much criticized "Passion of the Christ," says the role has been his "cross to bear," and that Hollywood has shunned him ever since making the film.

Jim Caviezel, who, before taking the role of Jesus, was a rising Hollywood star with strong reviews for his work in "Frequency," and "The Thin Red Line," told an audience at First Baptist Church of Orlando on Saturday that Gibson begged him to reconsider taking the gig.

"He said, 'You'll never work in this town again,'" Caviezel remembered. "I told him, 'We all have to embrace our crosses.'"

Caviezel recounted a similar story in 2004, when he spoke of the encounter in an interview with the 700 Club.

"The next day, he said, 'I want you to be aware of what you are going to go through. You may never work again.' He said that several times publicly.

Another week, another list of DVDs and Blu-rays out to buy from today – and what a selection of titles: action, drama, award-winners and even some complete drivel. I’ll let you decide which is which!

Red (DVD & Blu-ray) – Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA’s top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history. Review.

The Social Network (DVD & Blu-ray) – David Fincher’s The Social Network is the tale of a new...

Just so you know right off the bat, The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008) is not an Iranian version of Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (1978), but if you occasionally enjoy the taste of a herbal cigarette and you are thinking of buying or renting this film, I recommend you procure yourself some "relief", because it will be sorely needed.

French reporter Friedoune (James Caviezel) breaks down on the outskirts of an unidentified dust bowl village in the depths of modern Iran. Whilst he is sipping tea and waiting for his car to be fixed he is approached by Zahra (Shohreh Aghdashloo) who is determined to tell him the tale of what happened to her niece Soraya (Mozhan Marno).

What follows is a flashback of the events leading up to the stoning. Soraya's husband, Ali (Navid Negahban), is a violent pig of a man who wants to divorce her so he...

This is an exclusive interview with Cyrus Nowrasteh about, his latest film, The Stoning of Soraya M. Choosing a film can be a baffling business these days - the choice appears endless, and with ever more inventive ways of bringing stories to the big screen it can all become somewhat bewildering. Whether it’s 3D experiences, IMAX screens, A-Lister stars that you’ve read about having affairs during filming, next instalments of never-ending franchises, there are innumerable ways beyond mere posters and trailers that we are tempted off our sofas and into the cinema these days. And yet, when it comes down to it, what do we really want from our films? “I want the audience to respond on an emotional level.” I couldn’t agree more.

Being first out of the gate often matters a lot in the Oscar derby. "Frozen River" and "Little Miss Sunshine" reaped top nominations in 2008 and 2006, respectively, after being the first DVDs shipped to academy members. This year, that distinction goes to two releases shipped by Sony Pictures Classics late last week: "Animal Kingdom" and "Mother and Child."

In his L.A. Times review, Kenneth Turan praised "Animal Kingdom," which won the world cinema jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival: "Faultlessly acted by top Australian talent, including Guy Pearce, Ben Mendelsohn and Jacki Weaver, 'Animal Kingdom' marries heightened emotionality with cool contemporary style to illustrate one of the oldest of genre truths: 'Crooks always come undone, always, one way or another.'"

Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert cheered "Mother and Child," which stars Annette Bening, Kerry Washington and Naomi Watts: "All have rarely been better .... Three mothers in need of a child.

Jim Caviezel and James Frain have been cast in the After Dark Films thriller Transit. They join Elisabeth Rohm, Harold Perrineau and Diora Baird in the Antonio Negret-directed project according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the story line, thieves on the run from a bank robbery come across a suburban family on its way to a camping trip. When the criminals stash their stolen money in the family’s SUV at a rest stop, the road trippers, with Caviezel as the protective father, unwittingly draw the murderous band of outlaws on their trail. Courtney Solomon is producing the project, and Joel Silver is an executive producer. Michael Gilvary (“According to Greta”) wrote the screenplay.

Caviezel of AMC’s series The Prisoner has starred in The Stoning Of Soraya M., Frequency, The Count Of Monte Cristo and The Passion Of The Christ. James Frain played vampire Franklin Mott in 7 episodes...

Jim Caviezel ("Angel Eyes") is the latest to join Antonio Negret's upcoming thriller "Transit," which also stars Elisabeth Rohm, James Frain, Harold Perrineau and Diora Baird. Michael Gilvary wrote the script.

In the film, bank robbers clash with a family on their way to a camping site. When they stash their money in the family's car, the latter unwittingly draw the criminals on their trail. Caviezel plays the dad.

Joel Silver is listed as executive producer on the project. Caviezel, the dude from "The Passion of Christ," also starred in "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius," "Deja Vu" and "The Stoning of Soraya M." (THR)...

Jim Caviezel has been cast in the After Dark Films thriller "Transit." He joins Elisabeth Rohm, Harold Perrineau and Diora Baird in the Antonio Negret-directed project, which also has cast James Frain.

In the story line, thieves on the run from a bank robbery come across a suburban family on its way to a camping trip. When the criminals stash their stolen money in the family's SUV at a rest stop, the road trippers, with Caviezel as the protective father, unwittingly draw the murderous band of outlaws on their trail.

Courtney Solomon is producing the project, and Joel Silver is an executive producer. Michael Gilvary ("According to Greta") wrote the screenplay.

The Icm-repped Caviezel has starred in "The Stoning of Soraya M.," "Frequency," "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Passion of the Christ." He also recently had the title role in AMC's miniseries "The Prisoner."

Repped by Affirmative Entertainment,...

Now that The Chronicles of Narnia is a bona fide billion-dollar cinematic franchise, producers are exploring the rest of author C.S. Lewis’ bibliography for adaptable works. Variety reports that Mpower Pictures will team up with Beloved Pictures to bring Lewis’ 1945 religious allegory The Great Divorce to the big screen. The rights have been secured at Beloved for awhile, but fresh off The Stoning of Soraya M., Mpower is new to the project. Children’s book author N.D. Wilson (the 100 Cupboards trilogy) is attached to write the screenplay.

The fantasy novel revolves around a resident of Hell who boards a bus en route to Heaven. Hit the jump for a full synopsis.

Here’s the synopsis for The Great Divorce via Amazon:

What if anyone in Hell could take a bus trip to Heaven and stay there forever if they wanted to?

In The Great Divorce C. S. Lewis again...

Mpower Pictures ("The Stoning of Soraya M.") and Beloved Pictures will co-produce an adaptation of C.S. Lewis' fantasy novel "The Great Divorce." The production team will be lead by Mpower CEO Steve McEveety. N.D. Wilson, childrens' book author of titles "Leepike Ridge" and "100 Cupboards," is attached to write. The book was published in 1945 and tells of a man who learns that the metropolis where he's been living is actually Hell. He then jumps on a bus headed for the outskirts of Elsewhere where learns that the one place worse than Hell, for a self-absorbed ad executive, may very well be Heaven.

DVD Playhouse: March 2010

By

Allen Gardner

Precious: Based On The Novel “Push” By Sapphire (Lionsgate) In-your-face, but undeniably powerful film that follows the plight of an overweight inner-city teen (Gabourey Sidbe, a real find) who must deal with an abusive mother (Mo’Nique, in a career-making turn for which she won a most-deserved Best Supporting Actress Oscar), a baby born of her abusive, and absent, father, and trying to survive day-to-day with few people to offer her help, save for a sympathetic teacher (Paula Patton) in a special ed program. Director/producer Lee Daniels, a former personal manager/producer-turned-filmmaker, brings a kitchen sink authenticity to the proceedings, along with a cast of famous powerhouse performers, who manage to disappear into their roles. Tough stuff, but not to be missed. Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay (Geoffrey Fletcher). Bonuses: Commentary by Daniels; Featurettes; Interviews with Sapphire and Daniels; Deleted scene. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.

In 1994, an Iranian-born, French journalist named Freidoune Sahebjam released a book entitled The Stoning of Soraya M., detailing the accounts of a woman who witnessed the tragic and barbaric death of her niece at the hands of an entire village.

I don't have to tell you who the person is, or how she died, because it's all in the title. One can imagine that there are both feelings of nausea and a lack of suspense while watching, because we know what's coming up. We see what the title is, and on the film's cover is a woman buried waist-deep with bloody rocks strewn on the ground around her. I remember feeling the same way when I saw The Passion of the Christ, whose producers are behind Soraya M.'s creation. The stories of both movies are pretty similar, too: a person is betrayed, accused and sentenced to death in an unbelievably brutal and torturous manner.

Chicago – Who in the world would want to see this film? It’s as excruciating and appalling as the title promises, complete with simplistic depictions of good and evil. Like the bestselling novel from which it’s based, the film aims to raise global awareness about the Islamic practice of stoning women to death, a fundamentalist tradition that still occurs today. Yet are the filmmakers harboring deeper intentions?

It’s impossible to see “The Stoning of Soraya M.” without thinking of the film that it resembles down to its very title: “The Passion of the Christ.” Both films were produced by Steve McEveety, whose company Mpower Pictures markets films to a decidedly right-wing Christian audience. His rollicking patriotic comedy “An American Carol” reduced suicide bombers to sight gags, while “Stoning” reduces the vast majority of its Islamic characters to a bloodthirsty mob indiscernible from the Jews in “Passion.” Does McEveety...