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Did Idris Elba almost plunge to his death while shooting? (Photo Credit – Facebook)

The Luther star found himself inches from a 90-foot drop when he slipped behind a waterfall in Ghana. One wrong move could have ended everything.

Recounting the terrifying moment on The Jonathan Ross Show, Idris Elba admitted, “I nearly died.” He explained that the scene involved child soldiers walking behind a massive waterfall.

Director Cary Fukunaga wanted the shot to be as real as possible, so the team filmed at an actual waterfall. The setup was already dangerous, and the stunt coordinator warned everyone about the slippery conditions and the deadly drop below.

But Elba, in a moment of downtime, made a near-fatal mistake. “I put my foot on this rock just to hang out and chill while they were setting up,” he recalled (via The Guardian). “As I’m doing that, it’s slippery, obviously. I slip…...

Netflix produced its first non-documentary feature in 2015. It was called Beasts of No Nation, and it was fine. However, the film did not get nominated for an Academy Award. Lots has changed in the last decade.

Your favorite streamer often gets nominated for major awards each year. 2025 is no different. Emilia Pérez has 13 nominations alone, including one for Best Picture. So far, Netflix has yet to get a win in that category, and Emilia Pérez is not the favorite this year, either.

In fact, Netflix has also almost been entirely shut out of wins in the acting categories. Only Laura Dern won, and that was for Best Supporting Actress in 2020. But the streamer does do well in some other categories. Those might not be part of the Big 6, but when it comes to documentaries, Netflix knows what it is doing. Just see below, and you'll know.

The 2025 Oscars will be held on Sunday,...

Huge Oscar favorite Kieran Culkin won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor on Sunday for his performance as the spirited but tortured Benji Kaplan in Jesse Eisenberg's seriocomic buddy pic A Real Pain. Far less predictable was the fact Culkin showed up to accept the honor, unlike at BAFTA, Critics Choice, and the Independent Spirit Awards (which took place the day before the SAG Awards).

When he claimed his statuette in person recently, Culkin tended to be a bit on the free-associative side. For example, at the Golden Globes in January, his speech included the following: "My wife and I did this shot of tequila with Mario Lopez. ... Definitely feelin' that. Whole speech is gone. Rip it, Kieran" and "Couple quick thank-yous and then I'll piss off."

At the National Board of Review gala where the perpetually offbeat actor again won in January, he began his...

New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation’s The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will make its global streaming debut on Friday, February 28 exclusively on Max. The film will debut on HBO linear on Saturday, March 1 at 8:00 p.m. Et.

Rated PG-13 for strong violence, the film opened in theaters on December 13, 2024. It grossed $20.5 million worldwide, with $9.2 million coming from North American theaters and $11.3 million from international markets.

Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan.

A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg— a mighty fortress that...

Idris Elba’s portrayal of Stringer Bell in The Wire became one of the show’s most memorable and influential roles. As a key member of Avon Barksdale’s drug organization, Bell was complex and at times, deeply conflicted. Elba’s performance earned him widespread recognition and helped cement his place as a rising star.

However, despite the character’s popularity, creator David Simon had always envisioned Stringer’s story ending as it did, with his tragic downfall.

Idris Elba in The Wire | Credits: HBO

While Elba acknowledges that this decision launched his film career, he has admitted that if he had the chance, he would’ve preferred a different fate for his character.

What made Idris Elba leave The Wire and how It changed his career?

Idris Elba’s role as Stringer Bell in The Wire is unforgettable. The show, which became one of the best Television series ever,...

Netflix – Red Crown Productions – Participant Media

Inspired by ComicBook’s various retrospectives, we thought we’d look back at some notable Netflix Original titles that will celebrate their tenth anniversary in 2025. By 2015, Netflix had been in the original business for only a couple of years. Still, it was slowly exploring different formats, including its first-ever distributed movies and continued investment in dramas and comedy. Here are six notable Netflix movies and series turning 10 years old this year.

As a reminder, you can find the complete list of the over 4,000 Netflix Originals available in the US (and around the world) through our library page.

Beasts of No Nation

Every film distributor had to start somewhere, and with Netflix, their first-ever released Netflix Original movie was Beasts of No Nation. Starring Idris Elba and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the harrowing movie remains one of Netflix’s best movies in its library...

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” races back into theaters with a slew of familiar faces and a couple new ones.

The big addition for the threequel is Keanu Reeves voicing Shadow the Hedgehog – a fan favorite character from the franchise. Jim Carrey is also back and this time pulling double duty playing both Ivo and Gerald Robotnik. Ben Schwartz also returns once again to voice the titular speedster.

Here are all the big names in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and where else you have seen them.

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” (Credit: Paramount Pictures) Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog

Ben Schwartz once again voices Sonic in the sequel.

Schwartz has a number of credits to his name but is most recognized for playing Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on “Parks and Recreation” from 2010-2015. He also appeared in Apple TV+’s “The Afterparty,” voicing a number of characters in “Invincible” and appearing in “Renfield.

Idris Elba has been acting for nearly three decades and has been a part of both large franchises and independent dramas, making him one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. Elba was born in London, England and began acting in the mid 1990s, beginning with small roles in British television shows. Idris Elba first gained greater fame with his role as Russell "Stringer" Bell in the acclaimed series The Wire. Since then, he has become even more well-known, from his role as John Luther in the detective series Luther to his recent voice acting as Knuckles in the Sonic the Hedgehog series.

Through all of his popular roles in movies and prestige TV series, Idris Elba has become a household name and is one of the top grossing stars in the movie industry. Elba has also been nominated for numerous awards and won many of them, including a Golden...

Sometimes books are mega hits and get turned into movies that take off. There’s just something that captures the zeitgeist and it’s destined to be. Harry Potter came out of nowhere and then turned into a franchise of books, video games, Lego sets, and of course movies. Other times, authors release something that will undoubtedly get picked up as the track record for success is already there. This is the Stephen King special or even Michael Crichton when he was still active. Adaptations can come from cases of re-adaptations like Dracula, Frankenstein, and other classics that get recycled over and over again, especially of they fall into the public domain. There’s the rare case, though, that an unknown author has a manuscript pop and movie studios jump at the chance to create something new. The journey and strange tale of the author of Bird Box falls under that last category.

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series highlighting the scripts behind this year’s awards-season movies continues with A Real Pain, Searchlight’s buzzy Sundance dramedy marking the sophomore feature directing effort of actor-filmmaker Jesse Eisenberg.

The The Social Network star also penned the script about a pair of cousins who reunite for a tour of Poland to honor their grandmother, but see older tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family’s history.

The movie also stars Kieran Culkin in his first post-Succession film role. He plays Benji opposite Eisenberg’s David (Eisenberg); together their goal is to end up at the house their grandmother left behind after the Nazis swept through and rounded up the Jews. Fun fact: the house they discover was one that was already in Eisenberg’s family. It belonged to his great aunt.

Searchlight snapped up the pic up for $10 million in the first major...

The tales of Helm Hammerhand are true. Before you return to Middle-earth, Warner Bros. Pictures has brought online an extended preview of New Line Cinema’s The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

The New Line Cinema anime feature returns audiences to the epic world brought to life in The Lord of the Rings trilogy based on the revered books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Rated PG-13 for strong violence, the film will open in theaters on December 13.

Under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (the Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series), the voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer) as Wulf.

Miranda Otto, who delivered an unforgettable, award-winning performance in The Lord of the Rings trilogy,...

Yesterday, Sony Pictures was mocked by many for releasing the opening 8 minutes of Kraven the Hunter. It was deemed a "desperate" move to increase interest in the studio's latest Marvel movie which shares a release date - December 13 - with The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

Warner Bros. Discovery has today responded by releasing the first 8 minutes of its animated prequel (via SFFGazette.com), offering fans a better idea of what to expect from this adventure.

In The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an original anime feature being released in theaters by New Line Cinema, we'll return to Middle-earth, the iconic world previously brought to life in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, based on the revered books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The impressive voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods...

The holiday season is a magical time for moviegoers as studios rush to bring their most prominent titles to cinemas, vying for those after-meal entertainment dollars. This year, there’s some stiff competition as films like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Kraven the Hunter, and Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu enter the battle. Still, one film is ready to present fans with a new story for a time-honored franchise, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Today, tickets are available on Fandango for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, premiering in theaters on Friday, December 13.

According to Fandango’s 2024 Most Anticipated Movies Survey, The War of the Rohirrim was voted the #5 Most Anticipated Holiday Movie and the #2 Most Anticipated Movie of December. Legendary anime director Kenji Kamiyama directs The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated dark fantasy epic set in the...

HBO’s The Wire is widely celebrated as one of the best TV shows ever made. Spanning five seasons, the show, created by David Simon, offered a deep dive into Baltimore’s complexities. It explored themes like the drug trade, labor unions, political corruption, public schools, and the media, all while showing the intertwined systems within the city.

The Wire | Credit: HBO

When The Wire premiered on June 2, 2002, critics praised it, but it didn’t immediately gain a large audience. Over time, however, the show found its footing, eventually becoming a beloved favorite and even launching the careers of several prominent actors.

At the start of the series, the cast featured well-known names like Dominic West, Sonja Sohn, and Lance Reddick. As the show progressed, it introduced rising talents who would later become Hollywood stars. Michael B. Jordan, Idris Elba, and Tristan Wilds are now recognized as some of the...

The 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower had a star-studded cast to bring Roland Deschain's quest for the Tower to life. The Dark Tower follows Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) as he takes Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) on a quest to stop Walter (Matthew McConaughey) from destroying the titular Tower that holds the universe together. Unfortunately, The Dark Tower is one of the few adaptations that Stephen King criticized himself, but it's certainly not because of its cast.

While Mike Flanagan's upcoming The Dark Tower series will redefine the characters King created in live-action, the 2017 movie still had an important role in bringing them to the screen. Even though The Dark Tower is often criticized for being one of the least faithful and worst Stephen King movies, its cast is one of the few things that most fans agree was worthy of praise. It's clear to see why,...

Warner Bros. Animation has released the first official clip from next month's The Lord of the Rings prequel film, The War of the Rohirrim, and it teases what looks like it might be the one of the movie's climactic battles.

In the clip, we see the king's daughter, Hera, challenge the villainous Wulf to single combat. Despite being urged to take caution, Wulf accepts, and Hera charges to meet her foe.

We also have a first look at the film's tie-in popcorn bucket, which takes the form of a war-hammer. Let's hope audiences don't get too excited while watching the movie and start re-enacting scenes in the theater.

Check out the clip below, along with the popcorn holder and a recently-released teaser.

First clip from The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim ⚔️#WaroftheRohirrim pic.twitter.com/xRbpeIFmhh

— The Mellon Heads - Lotr Podcast (@mellon_heads) November 28, 2024

War...

From a multi-Oscar-winning drama to an acclaimed musical adaptation, we’ve picked the top Netflix original movies available on the platform.

While Netflix has gained its popularity from its hit series like “Stranger Things,” “Squid Game,” and many others, the streamer has since its first original movie in 2015 been changing the game on how movies can be made and seen, producing high-quality projects and giving awards nominators and voters much to consider.

From Martin Scorsese’s three-and-a-half-hour gangster epic “The Irishman” to the just-released adaptation of the recent Broadway revival of “The Piano Lesson,” starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, and more, there are plenty of Netflix Originals for your next movie night. Ready to watch? Continue below for the best of what the streamer has to offer!

Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com Top 7 Original Movies Streaming Right Now on Netflix:

No. 7: Dolemite Is My Name

No.

Netflix has been offering high-quality original movies on its streaming site for almost ten years now. Back in 2015, the streaming site started strong with the captivating drama, Beasts of No Nation. Now, Netflix originals have won 23 Academy Awards and some have even earned cult status, such as 2023's excellent sci-fi thriller, They Cloned Tyrone.

Of course, not all Netflix original movies are received with such a warm welcome. There are plenty of films offered exclusively on the streaming site that have earned the dreaded "rotten" status on Rotten Tomatoes. Arguably, the reviews of these movies aren't entirely accurate. Each of these movies may be a little better than their Rotten Tomatoes splat status makes them seem.

Like Father Is a Sweet Dramedy With Lovable Moments Rotten Tomatoes Score: 48%

Director: Lauren Miller Rogen Genre: Dramedy Runtime: 98 minutes

Rachel (Kristen Bell) is doubly surprised at her wedding in the dramedy, Like Father.

Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Searchlight Pictures presents A Real Pain, directed and written by Academy Award® nominee Jesse Eisenberg. The film stars Eisenberg alongside Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Kieran Culkin, with a cast rounded out by BAFTA winner and Emmy® nominee Will Sharpe (“The White Lotus”), Golden Globe® nominee Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing), Kurt Egyiawan (Beasts of No Nation), Liza Sadovy (“A Small Light”), and Daniel Oreskes. Producers are Dave McCary, Ali Herting, p.g.a.,, Emma Stone, Eisenberg, Jennifer Semler (Theater Camp), and Ewa Puszczyńska.

A Real Pain opens exclusively in St. Louis movie theaters on November 15, 2024.

https://www.searchlightpictures.com/a-real-pain

The St. Louis screening is at 7pm on Wednesday, November 6th at Marcus Des Peres Cine.

The actor plans to relocate to help make African films that are not framed by colonialism but ‘own those stories of our tradition, of our culture, of our languages’

Idris Elba has said he is planning to move to Africa as part of his plans to bolster the sub-Saharan film industry, saying “it’s going to happen”.

Elba, star of hit TV shows Luther and The Wire as well as films including Beasts of No Nation and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, spoke to the BBC while attending the Africa Cinema Summit in Accra, Ghana.

New Line Cinema is marching into New York City Comic-Con with a special presentation for the upcoming original anime feature The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The panel places Lotr fans at the heart of the world, which J. R. R. Tolkien created, giving them a front-row seat for an animated event film arranged by the award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series). Today’s BTS video for The War of the Rohirrim brings us behind the magic of Kamiyama’s film, highlighting the painstaking process of creating a high-concept fantasy adventure from scribbles and scratches.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim BTS video begins with rough pencil sketches of characters and mythical locales before showcasing charcoal drawings and the storyboarding process. After completing the look of the world and its characters,...

The New York-based distributor Bleecker Street is ten years old – and affirmed its ongoing commitment to films for “grown-ups”.

At ten years old, and with more than 70 films under its belt, the American distributor Bleecker Street has backed a whole host of films that others may not have put the same heft and care behind.

In its first few years, it was involved with the likes of Eye In The Sky, Captain Fantastic, The Lost City Of Z and Beasts Of No Nation. And in more recent times, it’s brought films such as Mass, The Assistant and Breaking to the screen. On the surface, it’s looking tougher and tougher to get the films it’s backing to break through at the box office, but thankfully, that’s not stopping the Bleecker Street team from trying.

In a new interview at Variety, Kent Sanderson (president of the company), Andrew Karpen...

Idris Elba, the London-born actor famous for starring in The Wire and Luther, is set to star in the next TV venture coming from A24, Things Fall Apart. The project is being helmed by the indie studio alongside Elba himself, who will executive produce with Gina Carter through their studio, 22Summers. Yoruba Saxon, a production company led by David Oyelowo and Amanda NDuka will also participate in the show. Ben Forkner and Dayo Ogunyemi will team up with Achebe Masterworks in order to give life to the project based on the 1958 book that's widely considered one of the best books ever written.

As reported by Variety, there's still no writer or director attached to the project and the streaming service or network where it will be available is still to be confirmed. Previous A24 TV shows like Euphoria, Beef, The Curse and The Sympathizer have run on HBO, Netflix and Showtime,...

A TV series adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” is in development at A24 with Idris Elba attached to star and executive produce, Variety has learned exclusively.

No writer is currently attached to the project, nor is it currently set up at a streaming service or network. Elba will executive produce along with Gina Carter under their recently-launched 22Summers production banner. David Oyelowo and Amanda N’Duka will executive produce via Yoruba Saxon. Ben Forkner, Dayo Ogunyemi and Achebe Masterworks also serve as executive producers. A24 is the studio.

The official description of “Things Fall Apart” states it is the “story of Okonkwo (Elba), one of literature’s most iconic characters—a fearless African warrior and leader who is resolute about preserving his people and culture. As British colonizers disrupt his world, Okonkwo’s struggle to maintain power and tradition spirals into a heart-wrenching confrontation. His fierce resolve, a...

Searchlight Pictures has released a new trailer for the Sundance Film Festival award-winning ‘A Real Pain’ starring Academy Award® nominee Jesse Eisenberg and Golden Globe® winner Kieran Culkin.

The story follows mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honour their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Written and directed by Eisenberg, the film also stars Will Sharpe (The White Lots), Golden Globe® nominee Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing), Kurt Egyiawan (Beasts of No Nation), Liza Sadovy (A Small Light), and Daniel Oreskes.

Also in trailers – “I’m learning from her…” New trailer lands for Pedro Almodóvar’s ‘The Room Next Door’

The film will be in UK and Irish cinemas from 10th January 2025.

The post “We used to be joined at the hip…” Trailer drops for...

Searchlight Pictures has released the official trailer for A Real Pain, which has been rated R for language throughout and some drug use.

Opening in theaters on November 1, 2024, the heartfelt comedy was written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, who drew the film from his own personal history.

A Real Pain, which premiered to standing ovations at the Sundance Film Festival, follows mismatched cousins David and Benji, who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the pair’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

“We are blown away by Jesse’s vision and craft in telling this hilarious and profound film,” said Searchlight Presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum when the film was acquired. “He tells a deeply personal story and makes it universal. We can’t wait to bring it to audiences around the world.”

Jesse...

Roman Roy may have pre-grieved, but not Benji Kaplan.

On Wednesday, Searchlight Pictures dropped the full trailer for Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain.” Written and directed by and starring the Oscar nominee, the dramedy follows mismatched cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) as they tour Poland to honor their late grandmother. The pair try to navigate each other, their family history, long-simmering tensions, and their grief. As you can imagine, it does not go smoothly.

“I’ve just been in a real funk, I guess, since she died. Just haven’t, um…” Benji tells their tour group in the clip, trailing off.

The cast includes Will Sharpe (“The White Lotus”), Jennifer Grey (“Dirty Dancing”), Kurt Egyiawan (“Beasts of No Nation”), Liza Sadovy (“A Small Light”), and Daniel Oreskes (“Only Murders in the Building”). Eisenberg also serves as a producer, alongside Jennifer Semler, Ewa Puszczynska, and Fruit Tree trio Dave McCary,...

The first official poster for Warner Bros.' animated The Lord of the Rings prequel film, The War of the Rohirrim, has been released.

The artwork features the king's daughter, Hera, standing ready to defend her home from ruthless invaders, with her father, King Helm Hammerhand, and the villainous Wulf in the background.

The Middle Earth adventure, which is set almost 200 years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic trilogy, follows the mighty first King of Rohan as he mounts a defence of the fortress of Hornburg (which came to be known as Helm's Deep) from a relentless siege.

“This is the story of the most powerful king in Rohan's history, someone who defeated his enemies with his bare fists,” director Kenji Kamiyama said in a recent interview. “Why did his lineage have to end with him? I think there is a lesson in hubris there and also for...

Since its premiere on Netflix on September 6, Rebel Ridge has been at the top of the streamer's charts, and for good reason. Its an explosive thriller that blends sociopolitical commentary with enough tense drama and action that its certain to be regarded as a classic in the years to come, akin to Rambo or Walking Tall. This gripping portrait of a Marine veteran dealing with small-town corruption could have been ripped from todays headlines which raises the question: Is Rebel Ridge based on a true story?

Sitting down to speak with Netflixs Tudum on the day Rebel Ridge premiered, director Jeremy Saulnier explained how much of his latest movie is based on real life. While some of the events depicted in the film are grounded in reality, such as the civil asset forfeiture that Aaron Pierres character Terry Richmond experiences at the start of the movie, the overall plot for...

Exclusive: Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Bullet Train), Tom Hardy (Venom) and director Cary Fukunaga (No Time To Die) are teaming for Jo Nesbo crime-thriller adaptation, Blood On Snow, which will likely be the biggest pre-sales title at TIFF for WME Independent and Range.

Nesbø is scripting the project (with revisions by Ben Power), based on his own best-selling novel of the same name.

The buzzy story unfolds in 1970’s Oslo, where two rival gang leaders—Hoffman and the Fisherman (Hardy) —vie for control.

It marks a rare feature screenwriting outing for the acclaimed Norwegian novelist whose books have been adapted into multiple hit movies and TV series. Filming is due to take place later this year.

The synopsis reads: “Hoffman’s trusted hitman, Olav (Johnson), is a cold, efficient killer, perfect for the job. But beneath his ruthless exterior lies an unexpected intelligence and an unwavering moral code shaped by a complicated childhood…...

New Line Cinema has revealed the official trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an anime feature that returns audiences to the epic world brought to life in The Lord of the Rings trilogy based on the revered books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The studio has also announced that The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be presented at the New York Comic Con in October. Warner Bros. Pictures will release the film in domestic theaters on December 13, 2024, and internationally beginning December 11.

Under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (the Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series), the talented voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer) as Wulf.

Miranda Otto,...

This Christmas, The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson presents a groundbreaking journey back to Middle-earth through the eyes of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama.

In The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an original anime feature being released in theaters by New Line Cinema, we'll return to Middle-earth, the iconic world previously brought to life in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, based on the revered books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Under the direction of Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus), it's been confirmed today that the impressive voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer) as Wulf.

Miranda Otto, who delivered an unforgettable, award-winning performance in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, reprises her role as Éowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, who serves as the tale’s narrator.

One of Japanese animation’s premiere filmmakers, Kenji Kamiyama, is about to march into Middle-earth for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated fantasy epic set 183 years before the War of the Ring. With unforgettable animated projects like Napping Princess, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, East of Eden, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex under his belt, today’s The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim trailer demonstrates Kenji Kamiyama’s eye for adventure, emotion, and jaw-dropping fantasy action.

Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for his father’s death, forces Helm and his people to make...

Warner Bros. Discovery and New Line Cinema are kicking off their return to Middle-Earth with the upcoming animated theatrical release of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim on Dec. 13, 2024. The brand-new trailer reveals how the fantasy world, shaped by author J. R. R. Tolkien and filmmaker Peter Jackson, is being transformed into an anime epic worthy of Studio Ghibli.

Per a press release, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is an animated prequel set 183 years before the original film trilogy. It expands upon the tale of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan, from what was briefly written by Tolkien in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings. The film follows Helm and his people as they fight back against the forces of Wulf, a "clever and ruthless Dunlending lord" obsessed with making Helm pay for killing his father. Hra, the tomboy-ish daughter of Helm,...

Everybody wants their piece of the Lord Of The Rings pie. We've discussed the complicated rights to J.R.R. Tolkien's work in the past; Amazon Prime Video has access to a very particular era of Middle-earth for its series The Rings Of Power, while Warner Bros. Pictures has its own Middle-earth empire,...

Exclusive: Stars Collective has optioned the film rights to Fortunate Sons: The 120 Chinese Boys Who Came to America, Went to School, and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization, the critically acclaimed work of non-fiction from Liel Leibovitz and Matthew Miller.

The company plans to develop, fully finance and produce a feature adaptation alongside Academy Award winner Donna Gigliotti. Yilong Liu will adapt the screenplay for the historical drama, with Stars Collective founder Peter Luo and Gigliotti to oversee the entire development and production process.

Published by W.W. Norton & Company in 2012, the book takes readers back to the twilight of the 19th century, when China — ravaged by poverty, population growth, and aggressive European armies — sent 120 young men to America to learn the secrets of Western innovation. Chosen by the Qing Dynasty, the boys attended some of New England’s finest schools, including Yale University, and were driven...

New Line Cinema’s original anime feature The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim returns audiences to the epic world brought to life in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on the revered books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (the Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series), the talented voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer) as Wulf.

Miranda Otto, who delivered an unforgettable, award-winning performance in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, reprises her role as Éowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, who serves as the tale’s narrator.

The voice ensemble also includes Lorraine Ashbourne (Bridgerton), Yazdan Qafouri (I Came By), Benjamin Wainwright (World on Fire), Laurence Ubong Williams...

By Abe Friedtanzer

It’s always intriguing to see what projects actors choose when they step behind the camera to direct for the first time. Nnamdi Asomugha has been working behind-the-scenes as an executive producer and producer since Beasts of No Nation, helping bring to life films he’s starring in like Crown Heights and Sylvie’s Love, the latter of which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding TV Movie in 2021. For his debut venture as director, Asomugha has chosen a tense story of crime and policing in America, written by him in conjunction with Mark Duplass…...

"The Horn of Helm Hammerhand will sound in the deep, one last time!"

King Theoden channelled his mighty ancestor before leading the Rohirrim into battle in The Two Towers, and New Line and Warner Bros.' upcoming animated prequel film will explain how the first king of Rohan became such a revered - and feared - warrior.

20 minutes of footage from The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim was screened during the Annecy Animation Festival on Tuesday, and while that preview has not been released online, the response on social media was very postive indeed.

A trailer will likely be released fairly soon, but for now, we have a first official look at the anime-style feature film thanks to some promo images.

The stills come via EW and People, and reveal the character designs for Helm Hammerhand, Héra, Haleth, Hama, and the villainous Wulf.

The Middle Earth adventure,...

Exclusive: Wonderstreet, the company behind such award-winning and socially impactful features as Beasts of No Nation and The Mauritanian, has enlisted Jenna Mirza Mattison to script a feature adaptation of Dying to Be Me, the international and New York Times bestselling memoir from Anita Moorjani.

Published by Hay House Inc. in September 2014, the memoir recounts how Moorjani was miraculously cured of terminal cancer, just days after a near-death experience. After fighting cancer for years, the author’s body began shutting down — overwhelmed by the malignant cells spreading throughout her system. As her organs failed, she entered into an extraordinary near-death experience where she realized the actual cause of her disease. Upon regaining consciousness, Moorjani found that her condition improved so rapidly that she was released from the hospital without a trace of cancer in her body.

Within the pages of the memoir, the author also recounts stories of her childhood,...

Idris Elba said this week that inhabiting “completely socially unacceptable” characters feels like therapy, but that great villains are perhaps more indebted to their writer than the actor who brought them to life.

“These people get to say things that we only think in the deepest, darkest recesses of our brains,” Elba told the Wall Street Journal of “bad guy” roles. “They say horrible things and scream horrible things and get to be completely socially unacceptable. As an actor, that’s sometimes a gift, sometimes a bit of therapy.”

Elba has played several notoriously terrible characters over the years, including the villains in Beasts of No Nation (2015), Hobbs & Shaw (2019) and The Harder They Fall (2021).

Of course, part of the effectiveness of a characters’ most villainous qualities, Elba said, is that they “tend to be well-written.”

“When you see a really interesting bad guy, you’re going to think about the actor,...

Civil War is a fictional war drama film written and directed by Alex Garland. The A24 film is set in the near future in a dystopian future suffering from a civil war. We follow the story of a group of journalists racing against time to get to Washington D.C. so that they can interview the President before the rebel factions take over the White House and kill the President. Civil War stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nick Offernman, Sonoya Mizuno, Jefferson White, Nelson Lee, Evan Lai, Jesse Plemmons, Karl Glusman, Jin Ha, and Juani Feliz starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the war drama and a story about journalists in Civil War here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Madras Cafe (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Viacom 18 Motion Pictures

Madras Cafe is a political action thriller film directed by Shoojit Sircar.

The war genre in cinema has always maintained its own kind of cult following. History buffs flock to the genre to consume as much historical content as possible, even though war films notoriously distort the truth in favor of entertainment. Action aficionados also seek out the war genre, hoping to witness epic battle set pieces and recreations of history's most infamous armed conflicts. The war genre has served many purposes over the years, working as both a prominent genre for propaganda and, on the other end of the spectrum, offering filmmakers an opportunity to examine political and social issues.

Currently, Netflix has a wide variety of war films that span multiple conflicts, including World War II, the Vietnam War, and the African Civil War. The war films available to view on Netflix cover a vast range of cinematic lineage, from classics such as The Guns of Navarone and Born on the Fourth of July...

Fans of crime thrillers can rejoice as a potential hit has been announced to be presented to buyers at the Cannes 2024 market. 77 Blackout is a crime thriller set in 1977 New York City that will be presented to potential buyers in Cannes this year, and based on the cast and crew behind the project, we are looking at a potentially brilliant movie. The movie doesn’t have a release date yet, but we might know more after the Cannes Film Festival when the fate of the project will probably be resolved properly, and we will have more precise information.

But, this doesn’t mean that we don’t have anything to report about, as a lot of behind-the-scenes participants have been revealed, and we are quite excited because there are some major names attached to the project.

On the acting side, we have two really major names. One of them is...

Mahershala Ali and Tom Hardy team up in the crime thriller "77 Blackout," set during the chaotic 1977 NYC blackout. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga to helm the film. Both Ali and Hardy are powerhouse actors, with Ali set to play Blade in the MCU and Hardy starring in "The Bikeriders" and "Venom: The Last Dance."

Get ready to jot down another upcoming movie on your Must Watch list, as two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali will join Academy Award nominee and Mad Max: Fury Road star Tom Hardy in the thriller 77 Blackout. Described as a crime thriller, the project will be set during the New York City blackout of 1977, with the hugely talented pair finding themselves amid the chaos.

You can check out the synopsis for 77 Blackout below (via Deadline).

In 1977, five rogue police officers formulate a plan to rob three criminal strongholds the Hong Kong Triads, the Italian Mafia, and the...

The beloved Hollywood stars Tom Hardy and Mahershala Ali are set to share the screen in Cary Joji Fukunaga’s new crime thriller film 77 Blackout. Both Hardy and Ali are renowned for their prolific careers and notable roles, including their involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Tom Hardy | Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore

As both the stars gear up for their respective Marvel projects, Venom 3 and Blade, fans are also excited about the opportunity to witness these two remarkable Marvel talents uniting on screen in the new crime thriller.

Tom Hardy And Mahershala Ali to Illuminate in Crime Thriller 77 Blackout

Hollywood stars Tom Hardy and Mahershala Ali are set to share the screen in 77 Blackout, a gripping crime thriller helmed by director Cary Joji Fukunaga. The film unfolds amid a power loss in the ‘city that never sleeps,’ as it plunges into darkness, giving rise to chaos and lawlessness.

Tom...

Mahershala Ali is set to star alongside action-heavyweight Tom Hardy in the upcoming NYC crime thriller 77 Blackout. According to Deadline, American filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga is directing. Fukunaga is known for directing Daniel Craigs final 007 appearance in 2021s No Time to Die, alongside True Detectives first season, and 2015s Beasts of No Nation. 77 Blackouts script was written by Frank John Hughes, with revisions by director Fukunaga.

Exclusive: Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is set to star with Tom Hardy in 77 Blackout, a crime thriller set on the night when the city that never sleeps lost power and plunged into chaos and lawlessness. Cary Joji Fukunaga is directing. Fresh from the Oppenheimer Best Picture Oscar, Charles Roven is producing along with Madison Weireter for Atlas Entertainment, and William Green and Aaron Ginsburg for The Cut.

(L-r) Charles Roven and Cary Fukunaga

Black Bear will introduce the film to international buyers at the Cannes market, with WME repping U.S. rights. Script was written by Frank John Hughes with revisions by Fukunaga.

In 1977, five rogue police officers formulate a plan to rob three criminal strongholds – the Hong Kong Triads, the Italian Mafia, and the Harlem Mob – all in one night. When a blackout sweeps the city the night of the robbery, the crew is forced to navigate a...

The shocking news that Participant, a leading producer of specialized/independent features with a socially relevant interest as well many top documentaries, is shutting down immediately hit the industry hard Tuesday. With a profile of co-produced films over the last 20 years that rivals any other company’s slate, this was devastating news.

Founder and owner Jeff Skoll’s decision to shut down his company will impact the production of a certain kind of specialized film, particularly in the documentary field. Never a distributor, and most often collaborating with other production companies, Participant was still a significant force for most of its two decades.

But what’s the real impact of this move? Jonathan Dana, a veteran distribution executive and producer, commented, “It didn’t fail. It just ran its course.” That typifies much of the insider reaction, which relates to the specific purpose and goals of the company.

‘Spotlight’ © Open...

Screen Rant debuts the trailer for National Geographic's Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color series and the premiere date for the network's The Real Red Tails special. Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color delves into the overlooked legacies of soldiers in major battles, shedding light on their sacrifices and heroism. The Real Red Tails explores the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, focusing on the discovery of a lost plane and the pilot's tragic fate.

National Geographic celebrates the too-often overlooked contributions of Allied soldiers of color in World War 2 with the specials Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color and The Real Red Tails, and Screen Rant has new info about both specials. Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color is a four-part series executive produced and narrated by Idris Elba, and The Real Red Tails is a one-hour special narrated by Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Screen Rant...