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While Liam Neeson remains a compelling big-screen presence, Neeson’s action-hero persona has become increasingly derivative over the past decade. The standard Neeson action vehicle has Neeson playing a reluctant avenger or hero who employs a specific set of skills to neutralize his enemies and protect the people whom he cares about. Neeson has now acted within this formula for approximately 15 years, ever since the box-office success of the first Taken film changed the trajectory of Neeson’s career.

This formula is embodied most clearly in the 2021 action film The Marksman, in which Neeson plays a widowed Arizona rancher and former United States Marine Corps sniper who agrees to help a young boy escape a Mexican drug cartel. While The Marksman is mediocre and predictable in virtually every respect, the film is most distinguished in terms of how clearly Neeson’s character’s military sniper training is visible in Neeson’s performance,...

Nicholas Hoult stars in what could be Clint Eastwood’s final movie.

We should all wish to be as productive as Clint Eastwood at his age. The man is 94 years old and still making movies! His latest directorial project (and perhaps his last?), “Juror #2” is making its streaming debut on Friday, Dec. 20. The film stars Nicholas Hoult as family man Justin Kemp with a serious problem on his hands. He’s a juror in a murder trial who realizes he may have caused the victim’s death. Does he try and manipulate the jury to save himself or turn himself in? You can find out when the film premieres only on Max.

How to watch ‘Juror #2’ When: Friday, Dec 20, 2024 at 3 a.m. Et TV: Max Stream: Watch with a subscription to Max. From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn. Sign Up $9.99+ / month max via prime video Everything you...

When your dad is Clint Eastwood, being a nepo baby can apparently only get you so far. Scott Eastwood may have made his on-screen debut in his father's film "Flags of Our Fathers," but the actor hasn't worked with the prolific elder Eastwood in a number of years. In interviews, Scott Eastwood has frequently admitted to auditioning for bigger parts in his father's films, but he's also admitted that he never tends to get those roles.

"I was 18 years old when I called him and wanted to audition for 'Flags of Our Fathers,'" the younger Eastwood told The Independent back in 2015. "I was a young actor trying to make something of myself, working two jobs and hustling and he said: 'Well, we'll see. I'll give you a shot to audition.'" Though he didn't disclose which part he tried out for, Scott Eastwood said he "auditioned for one...

Throughout his career in filmmaking, Clint Eastwood is best known for the image of masculinity. His roles were mostly strong male characters – cowboy, sports coach, police officer – and he has been stuck in this persona for a very long time.

Credits: Clint Eastwood in The Gauntlet / Warner Bros.

But, this isn’t entirely the truth, according to Amy Adams. She has worked with Eastwood in the past, and the actress claimed he’s anything but the stereotypical tough, macho guy. Well, in fact, many people who have worked with the director on set said he’s a pretty chill person.

Amy Adams Confirmed Clint Eastwood is Not the Rigid Image of a Macho Man

After starring in 2012’s Trouble With the Curve, Amy Adams realized how much the majority of people did not know Clint Eastwood. She played the daughter of his character in the movie, and the role enabled...

Matthew Lillard thought his career would take off after the success of 2002’s live-action Scooby-Doo, which made $275 million worldwide and launched a sequel. He signed on to play Shaggy again in 2004’s Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, scoring his biggest payday yet and believing his career was only going up from there.

“I thought I’d be the top choice for the next 10 years,” Lillard recently revealed. “But the opposite happened.”

When Scooby-Doo 2 flopped and didn’t reach the $200 million the original earned, Lillard’s career stalled, forcing him to rethink his goals. He admitted he’d been too focused on chasing fame and getting big roles.

At one point, he considered doing Dancing With the Stars but realized it might shift him further from his goal of becoming a respected actor. “I told my agent, ‘I just want to act. I want to be in movies. I need to reset my expectations.

Matthew Lillard had much, much higher expectations for the infamous 2004 box-office bomb “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.”

At the time, Lillard had secured the biggest salary of his career to reprise the role of Shaggy for the sequel film. The original live-action/CGI feature “Scooby-Doo” was a massive success in 2002, and the James Gunn-penned film franchise poised Lillard to become an A-list star…or so he thought.

“I thought I’d be No. 1 on the call sheet for the next 10 years of movies,” Lillard told Business Insider. “And the reality was the exact opposite happened.”

Instead, “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” forced Lillard to reexamine his career. After appearing in Wes Craven’s “Scream” prior to “Scooby,” Lillard had to decide whether he wanted to be famous or a “great actor,” in a binary sense.

“I was caught up in the success of what I was doing, I was caught up...

Matthew Lillard thought his career would explode when the success of 2002’s live-action “Scooby-Doo” (the film earned $275 million worldwide) launched a franchise. The actor signed up to reprise the role of Shaggy in 2004’s “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” and earned the biggest payday of his career. The only way forward for his career was up. Or so he thought.

“I thought I’d be No. 1 on the call sheet for the next 10 years of movies,” Lillard recently admitted to Business Insider. “And the reality was the exact opposite happened.”

“Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” was a critical dud and flopped at the box office, failing to cross the $200 million mark worldwide that the original easily cleared. The failure of the “Scooby-Doo” sequel resulted in Lillard’s career coming to a screeching halt and forced him to reprioritize his goals as an actor.

“I was caught up in the success of what I was doing,...

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is a popular manga and anime series that has captured many fans’ wildest imaginations, thanks to its uncanny actions, exaggerated drama, and weird fantasy elements. But you would be quite surprised to know where the author, Hirohiko Araki, actually got all this idea from.

The answer lies in his childhood fascination with Western movies, especially those starring the iconic Clint Eastwood.

Giorno Giovanna from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures | Credits: David Production

At the time, Araki was still a student at elementary school, when he watched the 1966 classic For a Few Dollars More along with his father in theatres.

Although he was not old enough at that time to comprehend the plot, he felt strong emotions towards Eastwood as he played the lone wolf character. This formative experience shaped Araki’s ideal hero archetype and influenced the making of his most famous work, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.

Hirohiko Araki...

Screen Rant presents a clip from the upcoming action thriller In the Land of Saints & Sinners. The movie showcases the blend of different generations of Irish actors, with Jack Gleeson and Kerry Condon joining industry veterans like Neeson and Hinds. Director Robert Lorenz assembles a top-tier cast to celebrate Ireland's rich history of talent, offering a thrilling action crime story for audiences worldwide.

In the Land of Saints & Sinners is an action thriller from director Robert Lorenz and writers Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane. The movie stars Liam Neeson as Finbar Murphy, a former assassin whose retirement is interrupted by the arrival of Ira members on the run. The movie also stars Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin), Ciarán Hinds (Belfast), Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones), and Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine).

Screen Rant is happy to present a clip from In the Land of Saints & Sinners...

It’s only been six months since the release of Liam Neeson’s last film, which means theaters are overdue for another thriller led by the prolific star. His latest vehicle, “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” arrives with an unusual distinction: Directed by Robert Lorenz, the film premiered in Venice a month before another Neeson movie, the maligned bomb-threat thriller “Retribution,” hit U.S. screens. Being selected by such a festival lends ”Saints and Sinners” a whiff of prestige, which it decidedly earns. In fact, the film practically resembles a “one for me” endeavor for the star, with its windswept Irish landscapes and thoughtful reserve, putting the actor among an ensemble of his fellow countrymen and providing the performances room to find poignancy.

The story opens with its most suspenseful action: a bombing by an Ira platoon in Belfast that accidentally kills a group of young children, setting...

In the Land of Saints and Sinners is very beautiful for a thriller. A lot of that is thanks to the gorgeous Irish coastland where the film is set, and the way director Robert Lorenz films it. Lorenz was most famous for producing Clint Eastwood's output over the past 25 years, but has come into his own as a director with films like Trouble with the Curve and The Marksman. That latter film starred Liam Neeson, who reunites with Lorenz in this new film about a hitman who becomes the target of a radical faction of the I.R.A. in Northern Ireland circa 1974.

Lorenz spoke with MovieWeb about making the film and the importance of its Irish cast and crew, and discussed the greatness of Kerry Condon and Liam Neeson.

Robert Lorenz: An American in Ireland

In the Land of Saints and Sinners ThrillerActionCrime 3.5/5 Release DateMarch 29, 2024DirectorRobert LorenzCastLiam Neeson,...

Ciarán Hinds and Liam Neeson in In The Land Of Saints And Sinners Image: Samuel Goldwyn Films It’s clear early on in In The Land Of Saints And Sinners that director Robert Lorenz was inspired by his frequent collaborator Clint Eastwood. Lorenz was Eastwood’s producer and second-unit director for many years,...

Ciarán Hinds and Liam Neeson in In The Land Of Saints And SinnersImage: Samuel Goldwyn Films

It’s clear early on in In The Land Of Saints And Sinners that director Robert Lorenz was inspired by his frequent collaborator Clint Eastwood. Lorenz was Eastwood’s producer and second-unit director for many years,...

Set in 1974 Northern Ireland, In the Land of Saints and Sinners explores ethical dilemmas during violent escalations in the fight for independence. Liam Neeson remembers those times. The film stars Neeson and Kerry Condon, offering a gripping portrayal of moral ambiguity within the human condition. Neeson praises Condon as a strong actress, highlighting their first-time collaboration in this visually stunning film.

It doesn't get much more Irish than In the Land of Saints and Sinners, a visually gorgeous and ethically ambiguous new film from director Robert Lorenz (Trouble with the Curve). The movie, set in Northern Ireland circa 1974, stars Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Jack Gleeson, Colm Meaney, Ciarán Hinds, Sarah Greene, Conor MacNeill, Niamh Cusack, and more, as people whose lives become deeply intertwined in Glencolmcille, a coastal town seemingly safe from the political violence involved in the fight for a free Ireland. Except Neeson's character, Finbar Murphy, has been...

Trolls Band Together features an all-star cast of musicians, including a boy band reunion and top pop stars. Branch embarks on a quest to reunite his former band, resembling Nsync's reunion and new song release. Justin Timberlake leads the cast, with Camila Cabello and Troye Sivan adding their musical talents to the film.

Trolls Band Together, the third installment in the animated franchise, has an all-star cast that includes several popular musicians. DreamWork's adventure comedy series has always been music-centric. Still, the third movie takes the musical element to the next level by including a much-awaited boy band reunion and some of the biggest names currently in pop. The film also includes actors like Anna Kendrick, Daveed Diggs, and Andrew Rannells who, while known primarily for acting, are talented singers on both the stage and screen. They contribute their voices to Trolls Band Together's songs, but so too do many professional musicians.

Matthew Lillard has signed With Verve for representation.

Lillard can currently be seen in the Universal/Blumhouse box office and streaming hit, Five Nights At Freddys’, which opened to an astounding $80 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend — even with a day-and-date release on Peacock.

His breakthrough came in Wes Craven’s horror classic, Scream along with memorable turns in Hacker’s, She’s All That and Summer Catch. In 2002 he portrayed Shaggy Rogers in the live-action adaptation of Scooby -Doo and reprised the role in the 2004 sequel, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. Other notable feature credits include Alexander Payne’s The Descendants opposite George Clooney, Trouble With The Curve with Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams and Stephen Belber’s Match opposite Carla Gugino.

In 2012, he directed his first feature film, Fat Kid Rules The World, a coming-of-age drama that received critical acclaim for its authentic portrayal of adolescence...

There are a ton of uplifting feel-good movies like The Blind Side for fans of the Oscar-winning sports drama to enjoy. Inspired by the heartwarming true story chronicled in Michael Lewis’ 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, the movie was written and directed by John Lee Hancock. The Blind Side stars Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher, an offensive lineman who – with the help of his adoptive parents, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw respectively – rose from humble beginnings to become a star football player in the NFL.

When it was released in 2009, The Blind Side was a huge box office hit that grossed more than $300 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). Bullock won the Academy Award for Best Actress and the film itself was nominated for Best Picture. The Blind Side touched audiences with its inspirational tale of parenthood, athleticism, and overcoming adversity.

Clint Eastwood considered acting retirement but one role convinced him otherwise. Eastwood made his name as an actor, but once he broke through with movies like the Dollars Trilogy, he quickly set his sights on becoming a director too. He made his directorial debut with 1971 psychological thriller Play Misty For Me, and decades later is just as well known for his work behind the camera. Beginning with the 2000s, Eastwood made the transition from performing onscreen to directing full-time, with some noticeably large gaps between his acting appearances.

That might be down to the fact he was aging out of the kind of thriller and action roles he made his name with. The '90s saw Eastwood make some acclaimed work like Unforgiven - which he also directed - and In The Line Of Fire, but finding roles that were both interesting and age-appropriate became more difficult. 2002's lethargic thriller...

James J. Murakami, an art director, production designer and set designer on numerous film and television projects, died Dec. 15 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 91 and suffered complications from a fall, according to his wife.

Murakami earned an Emmy for his work on HBO’s Deadwood and an Oscar nomination for the film Changeling, the latter one of many films he worked on with director Clint Eastwood.

Among his many credits: The Godfather Part II (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), One From the Heart (1981), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Unforgiven (1992), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) and Letters From Iwo Jima (2006). Also, he was the production designer on Eastwood’s Gran (2008), Changeling (2008), Invictus (2009), Hereafter (2010), J. Edgar (2011), Trouble With the Curve (2012), Jersey Boys (2014), American Sniper (2014) and Sully (2016).

Murakami received a pair of Emmy nominations for his work on HBO’s Deadwood, winning in 2005.

Murakami retired in 2016 and two...

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James J. Murakami, the admired art director, production designer and set designer who earned an Emmy for Deadwood and an Oscar nomination for Changeling, one of the dozen films he worked on for director Clint Eastwood, has died. He was 91.

Murakami died Dec. 15 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications from a fall, his wife of 34 years, Ginger, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Murakami served as an assistant art director for production designer Dean Tavoularis and director Francis Ford Coppola on The Godfather Part II (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), One From the Heart (1981) and Peggy Sue Got Married (1986).

He then partnered with production designer-art director Henry Bumstead on the Eastwood-helmed Unforgiven (1992), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) and Letters From Iwo Jima (2006).

After Bumstead’s death, Murakami handled production designer duties on Eastwood’s Gran Torino (2008), Changeling (2008), Invictus (2009), Hereafter (2010), J.

And just like that, winter has come again. HBO Max’s list of new releases for August 2022 is highlighted by the return of the king. Or more accurately: the return of the queen … of the Seven Kingdoms.

Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon is set to premiere on HBO and HBO Max on Aug. 21, just over three years after Game of Thrones concluded in controversial fashion with “The Iron Throne.” This new series is a prequel, depicting the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons from George R.R. Martin’s lore. When dragon fights dragon, the realm will be torn asunder. But the viewer will certainly delight in all the Targaryen action.

Read more TV How House of the Dragon Is Approaching the Game of Thrones Ending Backlash By David Crow TV House of the Dragon: What Rickard Stark Means for the Game of Thrones Spinoff...

Fate of the Furious alum Scott Eastwood will return to the Fast & Furious franchise, as part of the cast of Fast X, Deadline can confirm. He joins an ensemble that also includes Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson Jason Momoa, Charlize Theron, Brie Larson, Alan Ritchson, Nathalie Emmanuel, Michael Rooker, Daniela Melchior, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Ludacris and Cardi B, as previously announced.

Fast X is the latest film in a globe-trotting action franchise from Universal Pictures which has grossed over 6 billion worldwide. Details with regard to its plot are being kept under wraps. Eastwood will reprise his role as Little Nobody, the right-hand man of Kurt Russell’s Mr. Nobody, who helped Dominic Toretto (Diesel) track down cyberterrorist Cipher (Theron) in the franchise’s eighth film, Fate of the Furious, released in 2017. Whether Russell will also return to the franchise is not yet clear.

Louis Leterrier is directing...

Exclusive: Cop Out writer Robb Cullen is working on a dark comedy drama inspired by his own life for BET+.

The streamer has teamed with Cullen and McG on Average Joe.

The project, which has received a cast contingent script-to-series order, is a darkly comedic, one-hour ensemble set in The Hill district of Pittsburgh.

It follows blue-collar plumber, Joe Washington, who discovers his recently deceased father lived a secret, second life and stole millions of dollars from dangerous people just before he died. Now those people think Joe knows where it is. A bloody and violent confrontation triggers a chain of events that force Joe and his close-knit circle of family and friends out of their very average and mundane lives into a life or death race against time to find the truth and the millions.

Average Joe is written and created by Cullen, who has created series including ABC...

After Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings dominated the box office for two weeks in a row, it faces some competition this weekend from Cry Macho, which sees Clint Eastwood both back in the director’s chair and as leading man. However, the theatrical exclusive Shang-Chi has already shown itself to have solid legs, and there’s a good chance it will reign supreme once again this weekend. It dropped 54% in its second weekend, and a similar hold this weekend would bring in around $16 million. The latest Marvel superhero film hit $150 million on the 12th day of its release, beating Black Widow by four days. At the rate it is going, we may see Shang-Chi surpass Black Widow’s $183.2 million gross by next weekend, which would make it the best grossing film since Bad Boys For Life, released all the way back in January 2020.

Warner Bros.’ Cry Macho,...

Actor Matthew Lillard, best known as “Shaggy” from the Scooby Doo franchise and “Dean” in the NBC sitcom Good Girls, has signed with A3 Artists Agency. Lillard most recently starred on Good Girls opposite Christina Hendricks, Retta, and Mae Whitman.

Additional recent TV credits include Bosch, Barkskins, Halt & Catch Fire and The Good Wife.

On the feature side, Lillard has worked with directors Alexander Payne in The Descendants and Clint Eastwood in Trouble with the Curve.

Lillard will next be seen in the remake of He’s All That for Netflix, and he continues to voice the role of Shaggy in Scooby Doo.

He is managed by Silver Lining Entertainment.

Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to Black Label Media’s Reptile, setting Oscar nominee Justin Timberlake to star opposite Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro, whose casting had already been announced.

The film picks up following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, following a hardened detective (Del Toro) as he attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems. In doing so, he finds himself dismantling the illusions in his own life.

Prolific music video director Grant Singer is helming the pic in his feature directorial debut. He wrote the script with Benjamin Brewer.

Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill are producing for Black Label Media, with Black Label’s Seth Spector co-producing. Del Toro and Rachel Smith are exec producing.

Timberlake most recently played the title role in the Apple Original Film Palmer.

Jonathan Lee Smith, the CEO of two Hollywood production companies that specialize in producing reality TV shows, has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud to obtain a $2 million business loan through fabricated documents and misrepresenting his companies’ financial circumstances.

Smith, who managed or owned Hoplite Entertainment and Hoplite Inc., agreed to plead guilty to the felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

“To convince a private lender to fund a $2 million loan last year, Smith falsely represented that his two companies had accounts receivable of $3,348,000, and he submitted falsified license agreements and other forgeries to back up the claim,” the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles, which prosecuted the case, said Tuesday. “To convince the private lender to give him additional time to repay the loan, court documents state, Smith falsely represented that payment was imminent. He also emailed a fake record...

The most remarkable thing about The Marksman is how actively it insists on not setting itself apart. Almost willfully mediocre, Robert Lorenz’s neo-western features a greyed and leathery Liam Neeson in a role surprisingly grounded for his annual Q1 dad bait. Without a special set of skills or burning revenge to drive him, he slumps along as Jim, an Arizona rancher and Vietnam vet who finds himself widowed with a failing piece of property on the border. With naught but a loyal pup and his Border Patrol stepdaughter (Katheryn Winnick), Jim is caught between the bank and a hard place––until spotting Rosa and Miguel (Teresa Ruiz and Jacob Perez), a mother and son in flight from the cartels as they breach the border fence with a satchel of money in tow. After a bit of gunplay with some tragic consequences, Jim endeavors to take Miguel (and the money) to a relative in Chicago,...

Over the Borderline: Neeson Clashes with Customs and Cartels in Latest Thriller

By now a well-grooved subgenre unto itself, the Liam Neeson led cat-and-mouse carousel adds another stop with The Marksman, the sophomore effort from Robert Lorenz, last in the director’s chair for Trouble with the Curve (2012). The script from Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz seems designated more for Clint Eastwood’s background and age range than Neeson, here playing a Vietnam veteran widower languishing in socioeconomic despair on the Arizona/Mexico border.

But never mind the logic, for here is another Neeson vehicle wherein he plays a man with nothing left to lose while valiantly protecting the vulnerable in a narrative ill equipped with determining how exactly he’s supposed to exist beyond the end credits—it’s the kind of B-movie fodder which will likely be fondly remembered by the same aficionados who enjoy Charles Bronson’s 1980s output.

Liam Neeson returns in The Marksman, a simplistic but watchable low-key actioner. A struggling Arizona rancher defends a Mexican boy being hunted by ruthless drug cartel enforcers. The film focuses on the primary characters' burgeoning friendship as they escape on a long road trip. The chemistry between the leads carries the straightforward narrative. There are no surprises between the gunplay, which is not salacious or overly bloody. The Marksman is easily forgettable, but offers a welcome respite from the country's political turmoil.

Liam Neeson stars as Jim Hanson, a widowed Marine veteran on the verge of losing his Arizona border ranch. Jim protects his meager herd from predators with a hunting rifle near the security barrier. He's a crack sniper from two tours in Vietnam. Meanwhile in Mexico, Rosa (Teresa Ruiz) gets a terrifying call from her brother. He's being chased by the local drug cartel. Rosa grabs Miguel (Jacob Perez), her eleven-year-old son,...

Clint Eastwood’s shadow looms large over “The Marksman,” even if you don’t know that this quick and greasy Liam Neeson thriller is directed by “Mystic River” and “Million Dollar Baby” producer Robert Lorenz (“Trouble with the Curve”), or that it shares many of the same craftspeople who worked on those movies. The story of a grizzled old widower who reluctantly finds himself driving an orphaned Mexican boy from Arizona to Illinois with a bag full of drug money on the floor of his truck and a sociopathic cartel assassin in its rear-view mirror, “The Marksman” might be two three-ways short of “The Mule,” but

By the time Eastwood himself actually shows up for a minute in the second act, the star grinning at us from inside a motel TV that’s airing a fuzzy broadcast of the 1968 Western “Hang ‘Em High,” the nod seems almost as inevitable and...

As surely as the ball drops in Times Square, the beginning of every new year always yields a new movie in which Liam Neeson is armed and wronged, which brings us to 2021 and “The Marksman.”

Granted, Neeson’s reign as an action hero of a certain age has yielded at least one genuinely worthwhile film (“The Grey”) alongside some delightfully trashy collaborations with director Jaume Collet-Serra. “The Marksman,” alas, plods along without any sense of vitality or absurdity; director and co-writer Robert Lorenz (“Trouble With the Curve”) has spent much of his career working almost exclusively with Clint Eastwood, so it’s not a stretch to surmise that this vehicle was crafted to follow in the well-worn path of “Gran Torino” and “The Mule.”

Neeson certainly brings more warmth and empathy to the character, but the film itself plays like an amalgam of action-movie clichés (drink every time someone says “the cartel”), with some too-little,...

Open Road Films has another Liam Neeson movie in the chamber and is ready to take aim at action fans with a new trailer for The Marksman. In the Robert Lorenz-directed film (Trouble with the Curve), Neeson plays Jim, a hardened rancher in an Arizona border town who helps a young boy escape across America while being chased by the leaders of a Mexican drug cartel.…...

Josie Totah started her career as a child star on such series as “Jessie,” “Back in the Game,” “Glee” and “Champions,” as well as in films including “Other People.” Now the transgender actor has a starring role on a new version of a childhood favorite, “Saved by the Bell.” In the Peacock comedy, premiering Nov. 25, Totah plays a popular cheerleader named Lexi, and she also serves as a producer on the series.

What made you want to take on a behind-the-scenes position, in addition to acting, on “Saved by the Bell”?

When I was approached to do the show, I was obviously so shocked and pleased that someone would even come to me and offer me a job like this because that had never happened. So first and foremost, it was like, “Is this real? I’m so excited. Yes, yes, yes!” And then the more we got to talking...

Clint Eastwood has found his next film: He will direct, produce and star in “Cry Macho” for Warner Bros., an individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap.

N. Richard Nash wrote the script along with Nick Schenk. Al Ruddy and Jessica Meier are producing, alongside Tim Moore and Eastwood at Malpaso.

Based on the book of the same name by Nash, the film will star Eastwood as a one-time rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder who takes a job in 1978 to bring a son home and away from his alcoholic mother. Crossing rural Mexico, the duo face challenges and redemption.

Eastwood most recently directed “Richard Jewell” and “The Mule,” which were both released by Warner Bros. His other credits include “The 15:17 to Paris,” “Sully,” “American Sniper” and “Jersey Boys.” In the acting arena, he most recently starred in “Trouble with the Curve” and “The Mule.” His other famous credits include “Gran Torino,...

From 1989 to 1992, Saved by the Bell ran on NBC for four seasons (and one College Years season) and became a staple for Saturday mornings before it became a syndicated celebration of the delightfully corny and wholesome adventures of the Bayside High gang. Fast forward to 2020 and some of the gang is back on Peacock with a new class of Bayside High students and new adventures.

Actors Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, John Michael Higgins, Haskiri Velazquez, Alycia Pascual-Pena, Belmont Cameli, Dexter Darden, Mitchell Hoog and Josie Totah were joined by executive producers Tracey Wigfield and Franco Bario on the virtual stage at Ctam to talk about the new reimagining of the series and how it differs but still pays homage to the original. For starters, the news series is a lot more diverse when it comes to the students at Bayside.

Totah, who plays the sharp-tongued popular girl Lexi on the series,...

Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz-Morini’s Smac Entertainment has signed Total Bellas stars and exec producers Brie Bella and Nikki Bella.

The company will represent the pair, whose E! reality series was recently renewed for a sixth season.

This comes after the business signed Power alum Omari Hardwick to its client roster and launched in-house social media management and digital consulting division Smac Digital Management.

In addition to starring and exec producing Total Bellas, the pair wrestle in the WWE, run female apparel line Birdiebee and recently published memoir Incomparable.

Smac Entertainment was founded in 2011 and its roster includes Erin Andrews, Shante Broadus, October Gonzalez, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Griffin, Bryan Hynson, Wiz Khalifa, Curt Menefee, Brian Orakpo and Deion Sanders. Its current projects in production include Back in the Game (CNBC), and ABC’s hit primetime game show The $100,000 Pyramid. Projects in development include an untitled series based on the...

Exclusive: Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz-Morini’s Smac Entertainment has added Power alum Omari Hardwick to its client roster. Additionally, the multi-dimensional talent management, music, branding and production company is announcing the recent launch of Smac Digital Management, an in-house social media management and digital consulting division. Based on the success of their clients in the digital space, Smac said it identified a need for talent and brands to have access to social media management that is capable of understanding and representing their voice.

Hardwick starred for six seasons as James ‘Ghost’ St. Patrick in the critically acclaimed Starz series Power, earning him three consecutive NAACP Image Awards for leading actor in a drama series. In May 2019, he launched his own podcast Poetics, which features in-depth conversations between Hardwick and rap’s biggest stars including Method Man, 50 Cent, Draymond Green, Dave East, Casanova, Big Daddy Kane, among others.

Hardwick...

With all the other good fortune that’s fallen upon Clint Eastwood—great looks and talent, for starters—the one that calls out to be noted today is his extraordinary longevity. Sunday, May 31st marks the man’s 90th birthday, a landmark exceptional in itself—most of us would be thrilled to make it anywhere near that threshold of life, not to mention being in such good shape to enjoy it. Congratulations, and happy birthday, Clint!

Beyond simply making it to this enviable life landmark, remaining lucid and able to stand on one’s two feet, there’s the uncommon blessing of being able to do what one loves doing and still be good at it. Not many can claim this pleasure or distinction, so it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate and assess what Clint (as essentially everyone calls him whether they know him or not) has pulled off at this cherishable moment.

There was no stopping the recent awards juggernaut “Parasite” when Gold Derby users voted on winners our Decade Awards that hail best film achievements from 2010 to 2019. It swept up six out of its eight total nominations, including Best Picture of the Decade. In fact, it’s the only film that won more than once. And when combined with our yearly Gold Derby Awards, where it also won six times, “Parasite” now becomes our most awarded film of all time with 12 total awards. Scroll down to see our complete list of winners.

SEEOscar Best Picture Gallery: History of Every Academy Award-Winning Movie

A total of 1,695 registered Gold Derby users gave “Parasite” Best Picture, Best Director (Bong Joon Ho), Best Original Screenplay, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Film Editing and Best Foreign Language Film. Those are the exact same categories it won at our yearly awards. The only categories it lost were Best...

Justin Timberlake has signed to star in “Palmer,” Sk Global’s upcoming dramatic feature with shooting starting in the late fall.

Fisher Stevens is directing. “Green Book” producer Charles B. Wessler will produce alongside Sk Global co-CEOs John Penotti and Charlie Corwin. Sidney Kimmel and Daniel Nadler will also produce. Sk Global and Nadler will co-finance the film. Mr. Smith is handling international sales.

“Palmer,” written by Cheryl Guerriero, is about a former college football phenomenon who, after a stint in prison, returns to his hometown to get his life back on track. There, he faces not only lingering conflicts from his past but also a much more surprising challenge as he finds himself suddenly in charge of a unique young boy who has been abandoned by his wayward mother. The script was named to the 2016 Black List.

Penotti and Corwin said in a statement, “Justin and Fisher bring a...

Justin Timberlake is set to star in Fisher Stevens’ upcoming drama feature Palmer for Sk Global, which will begin production this fall.

Academy Award-winning producer Charles B. Wessler (Green Book) will produce alongside Sk Global co-CEOs John Penotti and Charlie Corwin. Sidney Kimmel and Daniel Nadler will also produce. Sk Global and Nadler will co-finance the film, the script of which appeared on the 2016 Blacklist.

Palmer, written by Cheryl Guerriero, follows a former college football phenomenon named Eddie Palmer (Timberlake) who, after a stint in prison, returns to his hometown to get his life back on track. There, he faces not only lingering conflicts from his past but also a much more surprising challenge as he finds himself suddenly in charge of a unique young boy who has been abandoned by his wayward mother.

Penotti and Corwin stated, “Justin and Fisher bring a resonant perspective to this emotional story. It...

Roland Emmerich’s action-packed disaster movie “Moonfall” has been acquired by the joint venture between KKR and Fred Kogel. The unnamed new company, which will emerge from Tele München Group (Tmg), Universum Film, I&U TV and Wiedemann & Berg Film, will handle the theatrical release of “Moonfall” in Germany.

“Moonfall,” which was written by Emmerich, Spenser Cohen (“Extinction”) and Harald Kloser, is one of the several titles picked up by the new German banner rolling off Cannes.

Other films acquired by the joint venture include Robert Lorenz (“Trouble with the Curve”)’s “Minuteman” with Liam Neeson (“Taken”); Philip John (“Outlander”)’s “Let There Be Rock;” Derrick Borte (“American Dreamer”)’s “Unhinged;” and Jon S. Baird’s (“Stan & Ollie”) “Rotchild.”

Written by Chris Charles (“The Small Assassin”) and Danny Kravitz (“Power of Attorney”), “Minuteman” is an adrenaline-charged action thriller in which Neeson (pictured) plays a Vietnam veteran who takes a...

Liam Neeson seems to be showing no signs of slowing down as an action star. It’s pretty incredible to see what his career has become. For the most part I love the action films that he’s made over the years. The actor has now signed on to a new action thriller called The Minuteman.

The movie is set to be directed by Robert Lorenz (Trouble With the Curve), who has also collaborated with Clint Eastwood as a producer on the three Oscar nominated films- American Sniper, Letters From Iwo Jima and Mystic River.

The Minuteman, “tells a fast-paced story of a retired Vietnam veteran who finds himself responsible for the life of a young boy who is being hunted by a cartel, shades of the protector character Neeson nailed in his threeTaken films.”

Voltage CEO Jonathan Deckter had this to say in a statement:

“Fans love to see...

Production set for September in New Mexico, Ohio.

Liam Neeson will star in Robert upcoming action-thriller The Minuteman and Voltage Pictures will introduce the hot package to buyers on the Croisette next week.

Production is scheduled to begin in September on location in New Mexico and Ohio. CAA and UTA Independent Film Group will jointly represent Us rights.

Lorenz directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz about a retired Vietnam veteran who finds himself responsible for the life of a young boy who is being hunted by the cartel.

The Minuteman is produced by Zero Gravity Management...

Liam Neeson has returned to the action-star realm after nabbing the lead role in director Robert Lorenz's The Minuteman, with Voltage Pictures to shop the action thriller in Cannes to international buyers.

The Minuteman follows a retired Vietnam veteran who finds himself responsible for the life of a young boy being hunted by a cartel. Lorenz, Clint Eastwood's longtime producing partner, will direct the film starting in September from a script he co-wrote with Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz.

The Minuteman is Lorenz' follow-up to his directorial debut Trouble with the Curve, starring Eastwood, Amy Adams and John Goodman.

The film also ...

Liam Neeson has returned to the action-star realm after nabbing the lead role in director Robert Lorenz's The Minuteman, with Voltage Pictures to shop the action thriller in Cannes to international buyers.

The Minuteman follows a retired Vietnam veteran who finds himself responsible for the life of a young boy being hunted by a cartel. Lorenz, Clint Eastwood's longtime producing partner, will direct the film starting in September from a script he co-wrote with Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz.

The Minuteman is Lorenz' follow-up to his directorial debut Trouble with the Curve, starring Eastwood, Amy Adams and John Goodman.

The film also ...

Liam Neeson has been set to star in The Minuteman, an action thriller to be directed by Robert Lorenz, the frequent Clint Eastwood collaborator who has three Oscar nominations as a producer for American Sniper, Letters From Iwo Jima and Mystic River. Production on the new pic is set to begin in September on location in New Mexico and Ohio.

Voltage Pictures will rep international rights to the film at the upcoming Cannes film market. CAA and UTA Independent Film Group will co-rep U.S. rights.

Zero Gravity Management’s Tai Duncan and Mark Williams will produce alongside Sculptor Media’s Warren Goz and Eric Gold. Raven Capital Management’s James Masciello will executive produce with Voltage CEO Nicolas Chartier and Jonathan Deckter.

The pic marks Lorenz’s follow-up directing effort after 2012’s Trouble With the Curve, which starred Eastwood and Amy Adams. He co-wrote with Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz...

Let’s get into the spirit of the World Series excitement with some of the biggest baseball movies that all hit a commercial home run. These are the highest grossing baseball movies of all time, ranked from lowest to highest.

20. “Mr. 3000” – $21.8 million

Bernie Mac plays a former baseball great who returns to the league at age 47 after learning he was just a few hits shy of 3000.

19. “Major League II” – $30.6 million

Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen and Tom Berenger all came back for the sequel to “Major League,” but Wesley Snipes had become a bigger star, and his role of Willie Mays Hayes was taken over by Omar Epps.

18. “The Sandlot” – $32.4 million

“The Sandlot” performed modestly at the box office in 1993, but it found a second life as a cult film on VHS and on DVD a decade after its release.

17. “Bad News Bears” (2005) – $32.8 million

Billy Bob Thornton starred in Richard Linklater...

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Michael Peña, Laurence Fishburne, Alison Eastwood, Dianne West, Manny Montana, Taissa Farmiga, Andy Garcia, Jill Flint, Clifton Collins Jr. | Written by Nick Schenk, Dave Holstein | Directed by Clint Eastwood

The Mule, directed by Clint Eastwood, is the actors first foray back into the world of acting since his supporting role in the release of Trouble with the Curve in 2012. The acting legends turn as 90-year-old Korean War veteran Earl Stone is a welcome return to the craft as an actor; and as a director as he puts forth a terrifically compelling picture full of tension, charisma and heart that feels as if it was plucked straight out of the directors 1970s filmography.

Gone is the excessive and highbrow level of narrative or production method often found in Eastwood’s latest directorial exploits in The 15:17 to Paris, Sully and American Sniper. In its wake, and terrifically executed for that matter,...