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Greta Lee (“Past Lives”) has joined the cast of Kent Jones’ “Late Fame,” and will star opposite Willem Dafoe (“Poor Things”), taking over from Sandra Huller. The project “May December” co-screenwriter Samy Burch and producer Killer Films.

Hüller has exited the project due to a scheduling conflict, according to MK2 Films which represent worldwide sales outside of North America. WME Independent, UTA Independent Film Group and Cinetic Media co-represent North American rights.

Lee will play Gloria, a mercurial theater actress whose magnetic personality and unpredictable allure upend the life of Dafoe’s Ed Saxberger, a former poet rediscovered by a group of young artists. The film explores the “illusory effect of praise on the soul, and the lingering ghostly presence of the past, whether it’s imagined or vividly remembered,” reads the synopsis.

Produced by Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon of Killer Films, “Late Fame” had a buzzy launch at...

“The Rainmaker” series adaptation at USA Network has added Wade Briggs in a series regular role, Variety has learned exclusively.

Based on the John Grisham novel of the same name, the show was picked up at the basic cabler back in June. Briggs will appear alongside previously announced cast member Milo Callaghan, John Slattery, Madison Iseman, Lana Parrilla, P.J. Byrne, Robyn Cara, and Dan Fogler.

The official logline for the series states, “Fresh out of law school, Rudy Baylor (Callaghan) goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond (Slattery) as well as his law school girlfriend (Iseman). Rudy, along with his boss and her disheveled paralegal, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.”

Briggs will play Brad Noonan, described as “a high-powered attorney at the Tinley Britt Law Firm and enforcer to the firm’s managing partner, Leo Drummond.”

Briggs’ recent TV credits include “Foundation...

Milo Callaghan has been cast as the series lead in “The Rainmaker” at USA Network.

The show was originally picked up at the cabler back in June and is based on the iconic John Grisham novel of the same name. He joins previously announced cast members John Slattery and Madison Iseman in the series.

The official logline for the series states, “Fresh out of law school, Rudy Baylor (Callaghan) goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond (Slattery) as well as his law school girlfriend (Iseman). Rudy, along with his boss and her disheveled paralegal, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.”

Callaghan’s past credits include “FBI: International,” “Doctor Who,” and “The Spanish Princess,” as well as the feature “The Strangers: Chapter 1.” He was recently cast in the BBC Three series “Video Nasty” and the Disney+ series “Rivals.”

He is repped by Hamilton Hodell...

USA Network has announced the first casting for its upcoming TV adaptation of The Rainmaker: John Slattery (Mad Men) has been tapped as a series regular in the drama based on the bestselling John Grisham novel, TVLine has learned.

In The Rainmaker, Rudy Baylor, fresh out of law school, “goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond,” as well as his law school girlfriend. Along the way, Rudy, his boss and a disheveled paralegal uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.

More from TVLineTVLine Items: Gh Exit Confirmed, Neighborhood Promotion and MoreMatthew Fox to...

John Slattery has been cast in a lead role of “The Rainmaker” series at USA Network.

The show was originally picked up at the cabler back in June and is based on the iconic John Grisham novel of the same name. Slattery will portray Leo F. Drummond. The character is described as “a legendary lion of the courtroom and senior partner at Tinley Britt, the powerful firm that Rudy Baylor is up against.”

The official logline for the series states, “Fresh out of law school, Rudy Baylor goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond as well as his law school girlfriend. Rudy, along with his boss and her disheveled paralegal, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.”

The role of Rudy Baylor has yet to be cast.

Slattery is best known for his role in the AMC series “Mad Men,” for which he received...

On Sunday 11 August 2024, Channel 5 broadcasts Mums on Strike!

Season 2 Episode 4 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Mums on Strike,” airing on Channel 5, promises to be both entertaining and relatable. Titled “Karate and Chaos,” this episode focuses on a couple who share a love for karate but find themselves in a heated battle over household responsibilities.

Chrissy, a 55-year-old woman, is feeling overwhelmed. Not only does she take care of her family, but she also looks after her father. With so much on her plate, Chrissy has reached her breaking point. Viewers will see how her frustrations lead to a showdown between her and her partner, as they both argue about who truly handles more of the housework.

This episode explores the challenges many families face when it comes to balancing responsibilities. It highlights Chrissy’s struggle and determination to be heard. As the karate-loving couple tries to settle their differences,...

On Sunday 4 August 2024, Channel 5 broadcasts Mums on Strike!

Season 2 Episode 3 Episode Summary

In this episode of “Mums on Strike,” the story takes an interesting turn as Sam believes it’s time for Gary to step up. She thinks he should learn how to manage the household better and help their teenagers understand the importance of taking responsibility. This new challenge could change the dynamics in their home.

Meanwhile, Sam faces another dilemma with her partner Michael. His messy habits are starting to wear her down, making her think about the possibility of moving into a granny annexe. This idea brings up questions about their relationship and how they can find a balance between their lives.

Viewers can expect a mix of humor and heartfelt moments as Sam navigates these challenges. The episode promises to explore the ups and downs of family life, highlighting the struggles and triumphs that come...

USA Network is returning to the legal drama arena with The Rainmaker, based on the bestselling John Grisham novel and its film adaptation. The project, from writer Michael Seitzman (Code Black), Lionsgate Television and Blumhouse Television, has received a series order by the NBCUniversal cable network, capping a six-year journey by Seitzman to bring the book to television.

This marks USA Network’s first new scripted series in awhile as part of a planned relaunch as a destination for scripted originals. The network currently shares Chucky with Syfy, which is on the bubble for a Season 4 renewal. It also is in advanced negotiations to pick up Syfy’s Resident Alien, which, as Deadline reported exclusively, is poised to become a USA original.

The Rainmaker is believed to be part of the “Blue Sky” brand USA Network has been looking to revive with new shows. That programming initiative, revealed exclusively by Deadline last fall,...

Yes, you read that headline right — USA Network has ordered to series a scripted drama. (We had to double-check it ourselves. USA Network!)

TVLine has learned that the basic cabler once regarded as the home to “blue sky” television has given a straight-to-series order to an adaptation of the 1995 John Grisham novel The Rainmaker and the 1997 film of the same name.

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A new series based on John Grisham’s 1995 novel “The Rainmaker” and the 1997 film adaptation has been greenlit at the USA Network. Grisham serves as executive producer on the series alongside Jason Blum, while Blumhouse Television and Lionsgate Television serve as the studios.

The official logline reads, “Fresh out of law school, Rudy Baylor goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond as well as his law school girlfriend. Rudy, along with his boss and her disheveled paralegal, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.”

Michael Seitzman will write “The Rainmaker,” having co-written the pilot with Jason Richman. Along with Grisham and Blum, executive producers include Seitzman, Richman and David Gernert.

“The Rainmaker” greenlight comes as concluded USA Network titles “Suits” and “White Collar” resurge in popularity following their additions to Netflix. The NBCUniversal-owned cabler currently only airs one scripted series, “Chucky,” which also airs on Syfy.

Mother of the Bride is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mark Waters from a screenplay by Robin Bernheim. The Netflix film follows the story of Lana Winslow as she is surprised, to say the least by her daughter Emma’s bombshell wedding at a resort in Phuket, Thailand. But the surprises don’t stop there as when she gets to the wedding she finds out that the groom’s father is the man who broke her heart years ago. Mother of the Bride stars Brooke Shields in the lead role with Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Chad Michael Murray, Sean Teale, Rachel Harris, Wilson Cruz, and Michael McDonald starring in supporting roles. If you loved all the feels and situational comedy in Mother of the Bride here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Ticket to Paradise (Peacock & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Working Title Films

Ticket to Paradise...

Sandra Hüller, the Oscar-nominated actor of “Anatomy of a Fall,” and four-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe (“At Eternity’s Gate”) are set to co-star in Kent Jones’ “Late Fame,” reteaming “May December” co-screenwriter Samy Burch and producer Killer Films.

One of the hottest packages set for a Cannes Launch, “Late Fame” has been boarded by MK2 Films which is hot off an Oscar win for “Anatomy of a Fall” and will represent worldwide sales outside of North America. WME Independent, UTA Independent Film Group and Cinetic Media will co-represent North American rights. Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon will serve as producers for Killer Films (“Past Lives,” “May December”). The film will start shooting in NYC in the fall.

“Late Fame” “tells the story of Ed Saxberger (Dafoe), who wrote a book of poetry a long time ago that no one ever cared about. When a group of young artists rediscover his work,...

Over its 11-season run, "M*A*S*H" earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of the sitcom format. Amazingly, mainstream audiences generally rolled with this conceptual adventurousness. Indeed, one of the series' most famously experimental episodes, "The Interview", is both a critical and fan favorite. As long as the writers stayed true to the characters, viewers were down for just about anything.

This boldness inspired the show's actors to get in on the fun and conjure up unconventional stories that dug deep into their characters' psyches. Cast members Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Mary Kay Place, and McLean Stevenson all wrote episodes, many of which were excellent.

But not everyone got their scripts into production and on the air. Gary Burghoff, who played the 4077th's boyish company clerk Corporal "Radar" O'Reilly, had a fascinatingly fanciful idea for an episode that impressed series creator Larry Gelbart. He was hopeful his script would go before cameras,...

The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) is celebrating the cinematic contributions of Oscar winner Alexander Payne, including his latest film, “The Holdovers.”

The Queens-based MoMI is curating a special Payne retrospective, culminating in a screening of “The Holdovers” with Payne in attendance on January 10. The exhibit kicks off January 5 with Payne’s feature debut “Citizen Ruth,” which was released in 1996. The independent dark comedy stars Laura Dern as a pregnant woman being used on opposing ends of the abortion debate.

“Alexander Payne has always put this country’s cultural, political, and emotional realities under a microscope — while never forgetting to also make viewers laugh,” the official MoMI press statement reads. “This rare talent, coupled with an enormous skill directing actors, many of whom give career performances under his watchful eye, has carried him through all his films, psychologically acute and often poignant inquiries into the lives of taciturn American...

Celebrity acting coach Sandra Seacat, whose students included Jessica Lange, Andrew Garfield and Laura Dern, died of natural causes Tuesday in Santa Monica, Calif. She was 86.

Seacat’s unique coaching style made her the acting teacher of a generation and helped actors create honest naturalist performances. Aside from Lange, Garfield and Dern, Seacat taught actors such as Harvey Keitel, Marlo Thomas, Aaron Eckhart, Meg Ryan, Misha Baryshnikov, Isabella Rossellini, Melanie Griffith, Don Johnson, Mary Kay Place, Peter Falk, Shia Labeouf, Martin Henderson, Mickey Rourke and Michelle Williams.

“Sandra lived by seeing magic and possibility in everything. She met the discovery of character and story with equal protectiveness, irreverence, humility and grace,” recalled Dern in a statement. “She taught us the practice of investigating healing through acting. But more than that. She invited us to know ourselves as artists and humans in ways I could’ve never begun to explore without her.

Sandra Seacat, the actress and influential acting coach who as a Lee Strasberg disciple taught the craft to the likes of Laura Dern, Mickey Rourke, Harvey Keitel, Common, Andrew Garfield, Michelle Williams and many others, has died. She was 86.

Seacat died Tuesday of natural causes in Santa Monica, family friend and publicist Stan Rosenfield announced.

Seacat’s students said her innovative techniques were able to extract out of them their most truthful, powerful and naturalistic performances.

“Sandra lived by seeing magic and possibility in everything,” Dern said in a statement. “She met the discovery of character and story with equal protectiveness, irreverence, humility and grace. She taught us the practice of investigating healing through acting.

“But more than that, she invited us to know ourselves as artists and humans in ways I could’ve never begun to explore without her. She’s been my teacher since age 17, and I had...

Sandra Seacat, a longtime New York and Hollywood acting teacher whose students would become or already were some of the biggest names in the business – Andrew Garfield, Jessica Lange, Laura Dern, Harvey Keitel, Michelle Williams and Common, to choose just a sampling, died of natural causes Wednesday surrounded by loved ones in Santa Monica. She was 87.

Her death was announced by a rep for her family.

Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story Michael Lehrer Dies: Second City Alum Was 44 Related Story Edward R. Pressman Dies: Prolific 'Wall Street', 'American Psycho' & 'Badlands' Producer Was 79

“She was a revolutionary, a culture changing teacher of acting and storytelling,” said actor Andrew Garfield, calling her a “beacon for all of us of what a life of deep meaning and beauty can look like. And she was irreverent and forever playing like a joyful unbridled child.

The films of Cartoon Saloon have an inherently folkloric quality, often feeling like tales that have been passed down through centuries—even if they are boldly original stories only loosely inspired by ancient accounts of the magical and mystical. It’s why an adaptation of My Father’s Dragon, the 1948 children’s book by author Ruth Stiles Gannett, is such a perfect fit for the studio, thanks to a narrator (Mary Kay Place) who presents the story as the real-life experience of her own father a generation earlier. It has the innate achievement of feeling like an urban legend, a tall tale given to new storytellers over the years and growing all the more fantastical with each person that claims authorship.

Much like the source material, My Father’s Dragon could have taken place at any point over the last hundred years or the next; a film happy to feel...

Children’s literature loves few things as much as a mighty monster who remains, against all outward appearances, defiantly benign — one who sets out to soothe young nightmares after initially stoking them, ultimately proving that fears and anxieties aren’t limited to little folk. Boris, the cheerfully dorky title character in Ruth Stiles Gannett’s 1948 book “My Father’s Dragon,” is cut from the same soft felt as Frank L. Baum’s Cowardly Lion, Roald Dahl’s Big Friendly Giant or Jill Murphy’s Worst Witch. A would-be flying fire-breather who hasn’t yet found his wings or his flames, he has even more growing up to do than fearful 10-year-old hero Elmer, and their mutual guilelessness sets the tone for Irish animator Nora Twomey’s winningly sweet-natured, visually transporting adaptation.

The overriding gentleness of “My Father’s Dragon” is a trademark virtue for Cartoon Saloon, the Ireland-based animation studio...

A beloved children’s novel is turned into a charming animation in My Father’s Dragon, which is world premiering at the BFI London Film Festival. Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner) helms a story of childhood friendship based on the 1948 novel by Ruth Stiles Gannett, with animation from Cartoon Saloon and a screenplay by Meg LeFauve (Inside Out). It’s a sweet adventure with appeal for young kids and a starry voice cast including Jacob Tremblay as hero Elmer, and – in one of the film’s more amusing moments – Whoopi Goldberg as a cat.

In the opening scenes, a narrator (Mary Kay Place) introduces her father, Elmer, who had a magical experience some time ago. We meet Elmer when his mother (Golshifteh Farahani) is running a modest but successful retail business, involving her son in the day-to-day workings of the store.

Click here to read the full article.

Ruth Stiles Gannett’s 1948 Newbery Honor children’s fantasy novel, My Father’s Dragon, gets Cartoon Saloon treatment in Nora Twomey’s lovingly hand-crafted feature adaptation. Brought to life by a starry voice cast headed by Jacob Tremblay and Gaten Matarazzo as a 10-year-old boy named Elmer and Boris, the dragon with whom he discovers the rewards of friendship and bravery, respectively, the film takes its visual inspiration directly from the original illustrations by the author’s stepmother, Ruth Chrisman Gannett. It lacks the cultural specificity of the Irish animation boutique’s best work, like Wolfwalkers and Song of the Sea, but its retro 2D beauty and lively storytelling should please junior audiences.

World-premiering at the London Film Festival ahead of its Nov. 11 Netflix bow, this is the second feature based on Gannett’s beloved book, following Masami Hata’s 1997 Japanese version. It represents...

Netflix has debuted the trailer for the upcoming animation ‘My Father’s Dragon’ which premiere’s at the BFI London Film Festival on October 8th.

From five-time Academy Award®-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon and Academy Award®-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), comes an exquisite film inspired by the Newbery-honored children’s book from author Ruth Stiles Gannett. Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.

The film features the vocal talent of Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith, Whoopi Goldberg,...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Private Benjamin" (1980)

Where You Can Stream It: Showtime

The Pitch: Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn) has dreamed of one thing since she was eight years old, according to the film's opening title card: essentially, to be a wife. Specifically, "All I want [...] is a big house ... nice clothes, two closets, a live-in maid, and a professional man for a husband." "Private Benjamin" starts by giving Judy everything she's ever wanted, starting with a huge wedding to a professional man named Yale Goodman (played perfunctorily by Albert Brooks), who promptly dies while consummating their marriage later that same night.

Judy was a divorcée (she was previously married at 20) and widow by the age of 28. Her family didn't know what to do with her,...

Jamie Farr hosts “M*A*S*H: The Best by Farr” A Weeklong Presentation of His Favorite Episodes’ to help celebrate the MeTV Network commemorate M*A*S*H’s 50th anniversary.

The special weeklong presentation includes Jamie Farr’s favorite episodes, hosted commentary, memories, and stories from his time as co-star of one of television’s greatest all-time favorites.

“M*A*S*H: The Best by Farr” airs September 12-16, 2022, from 7-8 pm Et/Pt on MeTV, with two of Farr’s hand-picked “best of” episodes airing nightly.

M*A*S*H is part of MeTV’s memorable and entertaining weeknight lineup, airing two back-to-back episodes starting at 7 pm Et/Pt every Monday-Friday and Sunday night.

“M*A*S*H has been a staple of the MeTV weeknight schedule since the network began, and it’s a show with lasting relevancy and audience appeal,” said Neal Sabin, Vice Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting Co....

“Ted Lasso’s” Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple could join an elite club if they both manage to repeat getting nominated for Best Comedy Supporting Actress this year. The Apple TV Plus featured players would become the 13th duo to score multiple Emmy nominations in that category at the same time. Waddingham, the category’s reigning Emmy champ, plays AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Welton, while Temple, who earned a bid last year, takes on the role of marketing manager Keeley Jones.

The first show to give us this kind of combination was “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and it gave us two different pairs. From 1971 to 1974, both Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman were nominated. Harper claimed the award the first three times while Leachman got hers in 1974. Later in the show’s run, Betty White and Georgia Engel both scored back-to-back noms in 1976 and 1977. White won in 1976 but both would...

In celebration of World Book Day this Saturday, Netflix unveiled the first look and cast of five-time Oscar® nominated Cartoon Saloon co-founder Nora Twomey’s upcoming animated feature ‘My Father’s Dragon.’

Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith with Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane will all feature in the animation.

Directed by Twomey, the film is inspired by the Newbery honoured book of the same title by Ruth Stiles Gannett. Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.

Also in news...

Netflix has unveiled the voice cast for its upcoming animated film “My Father’s Dragon,” which is the next feature from the award-winning studio behind “Wolfwalkers” and “The Secret of Kells” Cartoon Saloon.

Jacob Tremblay will lead a voice cast that also includes Gaten Matarazzo, Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith with Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane.

Nora Twomey (“The Breadwinner”) is directing “My Father’s Dragon” based on Ruth Stiles Gannett’s Newbery Award winning book of the same name. Meg LeFauve (“Inside Out”) wrote the screenplay based on a screen story by LeFauve and John Morgan. “My Father’s Dragon” is the fifth animated feature for the animation studio based out of Kilkenny, Ireland.

“My Father’s Dragon” is the story of a boy who,...

Nora Twomey directs the animation, with Netflix releasing.

Room star Jacob Tremblay and Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo are to voice Cartoon Saloon co-founder Nora Twomey’s upcoming animated feature My Father’s Dragon.

Further English-language voice cast includes Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith with Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane.

It is Twomey’s first outing as director since 2017 animation The Breadwinner, with a screenplay by Inside Out writer Meg LeFauve.

Bonnie Curtis and...

Netflix has unveiled a first-look image (below) from upcoming animated feature “My Father’s Dragon,” which features Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo and a host of bold-face names.

Based on the book of the same name by Ruth Stiles Gannett, “My Father’s Dragon” tells the story of Elmer, a young boy who struggles to cope after moving to the city with his mother. One day he runs away to try and find Wild Island, home to a young dragon awaiting rescue. Elmer must navigate ferocious beasts and a mysterious island as he embarks on the friendship of a lifetime.

Tremblay will play Elmer while Matarazzo voices the dragon.

Joining Tremblay and Matarazzo in the film are an all-star cast including Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack...

Netflix has confirmed the full cast for its upcoming animation pic My Father’s Dragon.

Voicing the film will be: Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith with Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane.

The feature is inspired by the book of the same title by Ruth Stiles Gannett and the screenplay has been written by Inside Out scribe Meg LeFauve from a story co-written with John Mogran. Directing is Nora Twomey, who previously helmed the Oscar-nominated The Breadwinner, which was produced by Irish company Cartoon Saloon.

My Father’s Dragon is produced by Cartoon Saloon’s Paul Young, with Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn of Mockingbird Pictures.

The story is as follows: Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother,...

A new month means new movies on your favorite streaming service, and HBO Max has plenty of new titles to thumb through in April. While there’s a lot to dig into, we’ve singled out seven newly added films we think are absolutely worth your time, across a wide range of genres so there’s a little something for everyone. They include ghoulish dark comedies, prestige Oscar-winning dramas, hidden gem indies and even a unique William Shakespeare adaptation.

Check out our list of the best new movies to watch on HBO Max in April below.

Beetlejuice Warner Bros.

Tim Burton’s comedy classic is a great watch pretty much anytime. “Beetlejuice” revolves around a couple who die in a car accident (played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) and become ghosts trapped inside their home, where they’re forced to witness its sale and renovation by a gauche family from the city.

It’s a very happy birthday for TV legend Norman Lear, who gets to celebrate with a bonus present: The new take on Lear’s syndicated 1970s series “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” has landed in script development at TBS.

As reported in February, “Schitt’s Creek” star Emily Hampshire is developing a fresh version of “Mary Hartman,” along with Jacob Tierney (“Letterkenny”). After being shopped by Sony Pictures TV to buyers this spring, the project has landed at TBS. The news comes as Lear, who was born in 1922, celebrates his 99th birthday.

“The kick of kicks as I turn 99 today is learning that TBS is developing ‘Mhmh’ and will allow us to make a new version of it starring Emily Hampshire,” Lear said in a statement. “As someone who believes his 99 years on this planet is owed to the amount of laughter he enjoyed through the years, here’s to the next 99. Bless you all!

One of Joe Dante’s finest pictures speaks heart-to-heart to gee-whiz space fans — transporting us from our backyard to the far reaches of the galaxy. With a boost from aliens unknown, Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix and Jason Presson are the intrepid space cadets that construct a fantastic vehicle from mysterious dream-signals, no Interociter required. Their dreams hint at the secret desires in their adolescent imaginations, even without an it’s-all-a-dream sandpit. They dare fly where no man has flown before, a genuine escape from the petty pressures of Junior High. New and old input on the Blu-ray finally tells the full story of the making of an underrated wonder movie.

Explorers

Blu-ray

1985 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 109, 106 min. / Street Date May 25, 2021

Starring: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, Amanda Peterson, Dick Miller, Dana Ivey, James Cromwell, Brooke Bundy, Robert Picardo, Leslie Rickert, Mary Kay Place.

Cinematography: John Hora

Film Editor: Tina Hirsch

Production Design: Robert S.

Stars: Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr, Maddie Ziegler, Mary Kay Place, Hector Elizondo, Ben Schwartz, Beto Calvillo | Written by Sia, Dallas Clayton | Directed by Sia

Let me stop you for one quick second before we get into this… If you have clicked on this review to see another critic tear Sia apart for her ill-advised casting choices, then you may as well jog on because that discussion has no place here. I completely understand the argument and why people are having a go; I have my opinions on the matter but, unlike 90% of the internet, I don’t have much interest in expressing them here. This right here is a review of the movie and the performances therein.

With that little bit of housekeeping out of the way we can get into the directorial debut of Sia with Music, a movie I knew very little about until the trailer dropped.

Go back and watch the music video for Sia’s “Chandelier” if you haven’t seen it in a while. The Australian singer-songwriter’s hit about using the word “party” as a verb to feel momentarily free (“One two three/One two three/Drink”), followed by the next-day comedown (“Here comes the shame, here comes the shame”), is a complicated tune if you know her history. The clip, however, is simple, really: 11-year-old Maddie Ziegler dances in a spare apartment. That’s it, but it’s a lot. She’s wearing a blond-bob wig,...

By Abe Friedtanzer

Surely the biggest shock from any awards announcement last week was the inclusion of Music at the Golden Globes. I hadn’t heard of it at that point, and its unexpected appearance will definitely lead to far more people seeking it out than otherwise would have when it arrives on VOD this Friday after a one-night-only IMAX release today. What to make of Sia’s directorial debut? Well, that’s a complicated question.

Music (Maddie Ziegler) is the name of a teenage girl on the autism spectrum who is mostly nonverbal. The steady routines she has established are upended by the death of her caring grandmother (Mary Kay Place), which brings Music’s half-sister, Zu (Kate Hudson), back into the picture after considerable struggles with the law and addiction. Her kindly neighbor Ebo (Leslie Odom Jr.) and building super George (Hector Elizondo) look after Music as well as they can,...

“Schitt’s Creek” star Emily Hampshire has signed on to star as the title character in a new, updated version of Norman Lear’s 1970s syndicated hit “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.”

Hampshire will also be an executive producer on the project, and co-write the script with Jacob Tierney (“Letterkenny”), who will serve as showrunner. Sony Pictures TV is planning to shop the show to buyers in the coming weeks.

It’s the latest series remake to come out of the Lear cannon, following the recent critically acclaimed reimagining of “One Day at a Time,” and an animated take on “Good Times” that is currently in the works. Lear and Brent Miller’s Act III Prods. is developing the new “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” with Sony, with Lear and Miller as executive producers alongside Hampshire and Tierney.

“Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” reunites Hampshire with Tierney, as Hampshire previously starred in Tierney’s film “The Trotsky.

Music Trailer 2 — Studio Canal has released the second movie trailer for Music (2021). View here the first Music movie trailer. Cast and crew Music stars Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr, Maddie Ziegler, Hector Elizondo, Mary Kay Place, Tig Notaro, Ben Schwartz, Juliette Lewis, Tig Notaro, Brandon Soo Hoo, Parvesh Cheena, [...]

Continue reading: Music (2021) Movie Trailer 2: Sia’s Magical Musical Journey Directorial Debut stars Kate Hudson...

Jessica Campbell, the former actress who appeared in Freaks and Geeks, The Safety of Objects and, in her best known role as a vengeful student body candidate in the hit 1999 comedy Election, died unexpectedly Dec. 29 at the home of a relative in Portland, Oregon. She was 38.

Her death was announced by her cousin Sarah Wessling. A cause has not been disclosed, but Campbell reportedly had experienced flu-like symptoms the morning of her death.

Campbell, who had retired from acting to become a practitioner of naturopathic, or holistic, alternative medicine, began her acting career with a role in the 1992 TV movie In the Best Interest of the Children starring Sarah Jessica Parker.

Her next project became her signature role: As Election‘s Tammy Metzler, Campbell played the sister of campus jock Paul (Chris Klein) who decides to run against her brother for student council after he starts dating her girlfriend. The...

The Gotham Awards for the best in independent film kicked off this unusual awards season on Monday night, January 11. Presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project, these kudos are usually handed out in early December but were pushed back (as were many awards events) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So who won? Scroll down for the complete list of winners, updated live as they were announced.

SEEGotham nominee John Magaro (‘First Cow’) on how Cookie and King-Lu are ‘almost soulmates’ [Exclusive Video Interview]

These awards are limited to American films (apart from Best International Feature ) made with an economy of means, which means no budgets higher than $35 million. Nominees and winners were decided by juries of film experts and insiders. And for the first time in the awards’ history, all five of the nominees for Best Feature were directed by women: “The Assistant” by Kitty Green, “First Cow” by Kelly Reichardt, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” by Eliza Hittman,...

Music Trailer — Sia‘s Music (2021) movie trailer has been released by Studio Canal and stars Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr, Maddie Ziegler, Hector Elizondo, Mary Kay Place, Tig Notaro, Ben Schwartz, Juliette Lewis, Tig Notaro, Brandon Soo Hoo, Parvesh Cheena, Angelina Capozzoli, Christina Veronica, Chris Silcox, and Julia Sanford. Crew Sia and Dallas [...]

Continue reading: Music (2021) Movie Trailer: Sia directs Kate Hudson & Maddie Ziegler on a Magical Musical Journey...

The voting for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s (Lafca) best films and best performances of 2020 took place virtually on Sunday. The awards were announced via the group’s Twitter account. The top prizes went to Steve McQueen’s Amazon Prime Video anthology film series “Small Axe” for Best Picture, plus Best Director Chloé Zhao, Best Actor Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), and Best Actress Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”). See the full list below.

The Lafca vote arrives on the heels of Friday’s New York Film Critics Circle announcements, which crowned Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow” as the best film of the year, and Chloé Zhao as the best director of the year for “Nomadland.”

These awards are a chance for voters to shine a light on under-appreciated gems, or throw support behind films already gaining steam in a long awards season ahead. With the Oscars...

The Prom (Netflix)

Starring: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana DeBose, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Kerry Washington, Jo Ellen Pellman.

Directed by Ryan Murphy

I’d wade through waist-deep slush to see a dream cast like this. Luckily I had to do no such thing, as The Prom , with all its glorious pomp and surrender, arrived at my doorstep. A full-blown musical where everyone speaks in shrill excitement and every frame is punctuated by an exclamation, this is an old-fashioned musical with a new-age twist.

And the cast helmed by the one-and-only Meryl Streep digs its high heels deep into the funscape about bunch of on-the-skids Broadway stars who look for a ‘cause’ to ignite their flickering career. The ‘cause they choose is Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman) a fresh-faced dewy-eyes highschool ingenue in a small town who is not allowed to participate...

Meryl Streep was always on Ryan Murphy’s bucket list of people he wanted to work with, but the prolific producer and director didn’t have a role for her until he went to a Broadway performance of the musical “The Prom” in January of 2019. But when he saw the show by Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, Murphy immediately wanted to turn it into a film, and to cast Streep in the lead role of Dee Dee Allen, a fading Broadway star who cynically tries to revive her career by heading to Indiana to lobby for a teenage girl who was barred from taking her girlfriend to the high school prom.

“I went to see it as a fan and walked out of there saying, ‘Wow, I really want to make this,'” Murphy told TheWrap. “So I came up with a murderer’s row of people I...

As we recover from whatever Thanksgiving celebration we were able to safely put together in these strange times, there is something reassuring about the fact that December is here and 2020–a challenging year on every level–is almost over.

While December is normally packed with theatrical releases that range from buzzy awards contenders to end-of-the-year blockbusters and holiday-themed comfort films, this year is not business as usual. Sure, Oscar hopefuls abound, such as Mank, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Nomadland, but two of those three will be on Netflix. As for the tentpole contingent, well, only Wonder Woman 1984 is still opening in theaters–and you can also watch that on HBO Max right after opening your presents on Christmas morning.

In other words, there are plenty of new movies coming out this month, and more than one way to watch them. That’s not the worst thing in...

Netflix has debuted the full trailer for Ryan Murphy’s film adaptation of ‘The Prom’ starring Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.

Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (James Corden) are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop that has suddenly flatlined their careers.

Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman) is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose).

When Dee Dee and Barry decide that Emma’s predicament is the perfect cause to help resurrect their public images, they hit the road with Angie (Nicole Kidman) and Trent (Andrew Rannells), another pair of cynical actors looking for a professional lift.

"We're not monsters... We're cultural disruptors!" Netflix has unveiled the full-length trailer for the movie musical The Prom, directed by Ryan Murphy, based on the hit Broadway musical. This debuts on Netflix in December in just a few weeks. A troupe of hilariously self-obsessed theater stars (after their latest show has flopped) swarm into a small conservative Indiana town in support of a high school girl who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom. The extravagant ensemble cast includes Jo Ellen Pellman, Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana Debose, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Nathaniel J. Potvin, Logan Riley, Nico Greetham, Sofia Deler, & Kerry Washington. The original show premiered in 2016, and opened on Broadway in NYC in 2018. A "spectacular, big-hearted film adaptation of Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin and Matthew Sklar's award-winning, Tony-nominated Broadway musical." And it looks amazing!! With this cast of course it does.

Exactly two years after the cast of Broadway’s The Prom performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Ryan Murphy has released the extended trailer for his Netflix adaptation of the beloved musical.

Debuting on Friday, Dec. 11, The Prom follows Dee Dee Allen (Streep) and Barry Glickman (James Corden), a pair of New York-based actors in a pickle; their costly new Broadway show has flopped, threatening to flatline both of their careers. Meanwhile, an Indiana high school student named Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman) is heartbroken to learn that she isn’t allowed to attend prom with her girlfriend Alyssa (Ariana DeBose...

Netflix has debuted a number of character posters for Ryan Murphy’s film adaptation of ‘The Prom’ starring Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.

Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (James Corden) are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop that has suddenly flatlined their careers.

Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman) is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose).

Also in news- Glenn Close, Naomie Harris and Awkwafina board sci-fi drama ‘Swan Song’

When Dee Dee and Barry decide that Emma’s predicament is the perfect cause to help resurrect their public images, they hit the road with Angie...

A project that took its sweet time to arrive will finally be unveiled next February and could technically nab a Sundance slot as a sort of we need some vitamins in Covid burnout times. The Australian singer-songwriter Sia began filming Music in 2018 on what was a considerable budget north of 10M. Featuring Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom, Jr. and our “Chandelier” fave in Maddie Ziegler – we can look for appearances by Juliette Lewis, Ben Schwartz, Hector Elizondo and Mary Kay Place as well. Originally this was not set as a musical, but now includes tons of original songs and musical sequences.…...