News

With Janus possessing the much-needed restorations, Catherine Breillat is getting her biggest-ever spotlight in November’s Criterion Channel series spanning 1976’s A Real Young Girl to 2004’s Anatomy of Hell––just one of numerous retrospectives arriving next month. They’re also spotlighting Ida Lupino, directorial efforts of John Turturro (who also gets an “Adventures In Moviegoing”), the Coen brothers, and Jacques Audiard.

In a slightly more macroscopic view, Columbia Noir and a new edition of “Queersighting” ring in Noirvember. Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse trilogy and Miller’s Crossing get Criterion Editions, while restorations of David Bowie-starrer The Linguini Incident, Med Hondo’s West Indies, and Dennis Hopper’s Out of the Blue make streaming debuts; and Kevin Jerome Everson’s Tonsler Park arrives just in time for another grim election day.

See the full list of titles arriving in November below:

36 fillette, Catherine Breillat, 1988

Anatomy of Hell, Catherine Breillat,...

Exclusive: Logan Browning (Dear White People) has been cast in a series regular role in Ed Brubaker’s Prime Video series Criminal. She joins the previously announced cast of Charlie Hunnam, Adria Arjona, Richard Jenkins and Kadeem Hardison.

Criminal is an interlocking universe of crime stories based on the multi-Eisner Award-winning graphic novel series created by Brubaker and Sean Phillips.

Browning will play Jenny, an Internal Affairs detective with a dry sense of humor and an absurdly calm demeanor. She presents as an even-tempered woman who appears to be without a care in the world. Jenny is very smart; her father was a criminal and she loves her job — which gives her the right to question, harass, terrify and imprison cops all day long. Jenny was raised with Leo (Hunnam) as her playmate/buddy/blood brother for life.

As Deadline previously revealed exclusively, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden are confirmed...

Exclusive: Richard Shepard has signed with Tfc. The move reunites the Emmy and DGA Award-winning director-writer with former WME partner David Stone who founded the management company in 2020 with UTA’s Ben Jacobson.

“I’m super psyched to be back in business with David Stone,” said Shepard who was a client of Stone’s at WME years ago. “He’s one of the smartest guys in the business, and along with Zach Carlisle and the rest of the folks at Tfc I’m excited for this next chapter.”

Shepard has directed 10 television pilots that have gone to series — or the tone-setting pilot episodes of shows with straight-to-series orders — including Criminal Minds, Ugly Betty, for which he won an Emmy, Rosewood, Salem, Sweetbitter, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Acapulco, now in its third season on Apple. Shepard also directed 12 episodes of HBO’s Girls, several episodes of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale,...

Film Forum is turning back the clock to the ’80s and celebrating golden era cinemas with the New York premiere of Richard Shepard’s “Film Geek.”

Emmy winner Shepard writes and directs the cine-memoir feature centered on moviegoing in the ’70s and ’80s. “Film Geek” debuts as part of Film Forum’s “Out of the ’80s” programming, which includes over 50 films ranging from blockbusters to cult classics.

Films such as “Blue Velvet,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” and more will screen at the theater. Actors such as Griffin Dunne and Isaac Mizrahi will revisit their own ’80s features, while directors like Charlie Ahearn, Charles Lane, and Jerry Schatzberg discuss their filmmaking styles.

The series is programmed by Bruce Goldstein, Film Forum’s Repertory Artistic Director, and was inspired by Richard Shepard’s documentary “Film Geek.” The festival centers on the debut of “Film Geek,” which is...

It took Richard Shepard years to get out of “movie jail” after he made “The Linguini Incident,” the nearly-forgotten 1991 crime comedy starring David Bowie and Rosanna Arquette. But now the film is getting a second chance, with a series of screenings and an upcoming Blu-ray release.

Just about everything went wrong with the production that could go wrong, Shepard recalls. “I made this movie when I was 25 — and I was no genius at 25,” admits the director, who went on to helm features including “The Perfection” as well as TV series like Lena Dunham’s HBO comedy “Girls.”

Unlike Dunham, who was “in complete control of her artistic self” at that age, “I was not,” says Shepard.

But when his original co-producer, Sarah Jackson, suggested he try to rerelease a director’s cut of the scrappy indie caper about two restaurant employees who decide to rob their bosses, Shepard jumped at...

The Conference is a mystery horror film directed by Patrik Eklund, who also co-wrote the film with Thomas Moldestad and Mats Strandberg. The film revolves around a team-building conference for municipal employees, but things go batshit crazy when rumors of corruption plague everyone and a mysterious person starts killing the employees. So, if you loved the Netflix film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Halloween (Crackle & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Compass International Pictures

Synopsis: On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith’s Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims.

Scream (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Dimension Films

Synopsis: Starring Neve Campbell,...

On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.

First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.

Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.

The Pitch: How Many Lesbian Orchestra Nightmares Even Are There?

“The Perfection” is the only movie from 2019 still keeping me up at night.

That’s not because it features the single most forced amputations of any Netflix original I have ever witnessed; and it’s not because writer/director Richard Shepard manages to simultaneously tap into both my fears of vomiting and maggots via Logan Browning’s mouth at minute 27.

Rather, the singularly strange lezzie body horror gets under my skin because of how and where I watch it. The streaming age is unpredictable and perilous,...

First Look At Nicola Coughlan & Lydia West In ‘Big Mood’

UK network Channel 4 has released a first-look image of Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan and It’s a Sin‘s Lydia West in upcoming comedy series Big Mood (working title). The series is set to explore the nuances of female friendship when threatened by serious mental illness. Coughlan and West, whose previous Channel 4 shows have been among the network’s biggest hits of recent years, play best friends at a pivotal point in their lives. Niamh Cusack (The Virtues), Eamon Farren (The Witcher), Luke Fetherston (Flowers in the Attic: The Origin), Kate Fleetwood (Wheel of Time), Rob Gilbert (Big Boys), Rebecca Lowman (Prime Suspect), Sally Phillips (Veep), Ukweli Roach (Wolf) and Amalia Vitale (Willow) are also attached to the ensemble cast. Joanna Page will guest star as herself. Written by Camilla Whitehill, Big Mood is from Dancing Ledge Productions.

Tabitha!

It’s been another wild month on the podcast, ping-ponging between genres and time periods. After kicking off the year with Richard Shepard’s twisty The Perfection, Trace and I ventured back to the mid-90s for an AIDS-era dissection of Todd Haynes’ Safe. This week we revisited Guillermo del Toro‘s sumptuous period Gothic Romance film, Crimson Peak.

In the film, Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is the wealthy daughter of Buffalo businessman Carter Cushing (Jim Beaver). She’s courted by struggling entrepreneur Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), much to the chagrin of her long-time friend Dr. Alan McMichaels (Charlie Hunnam). After the murder of her father, Edith travels to Allerdale Hall with Thomas and his brooding, sexually queer sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain), but she is almost immediately confronted by crimson apparitions, poisoned tea and plenty of secrets in the cellar. Will Edith survive the Sharpes or will she become...

Moore Milk, Please.

After wrapping up 2022 with a discussion of Carter Smith’s Into the Dark entry “Midnight Kiss“, we kicked off 2023 with a re-do of one of our earliest episodes on Richard Shepard’s The Perfection. Now, we’re talking about what Wes Craven dubbed “the scariest film of 1995” in Todd Haynes‘ AIDS allegory Safe, which boasts an astonishing performance from Julianne Moore.

The 1987-set Safe follows Carol White (Moore) a suburban housewife in Los Angeles, whose monotonous life is abruptly changed when she becomes sick with a mysterious illness caused by the environment around her.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.

Episode 212: Safe (1995)

Why do you think you’re sick? Well you better find out because we’re discussing Todd...

Shit Your Pants

After ringing in the New Year with the gayest slasher ever made, Trace and I are doing something that Horror Queers has never done: we’re revisiting a film we’ve already covered!

The film in question is a favorite: Richard Shepard‘s The Perfection, which debuted at Fantastic Fest back in 2018 before premiering on Netflix in May 2019. We covered the film on our Patreon, but received criticism from a few folks about how we handled the discussion of sexual assault (which C/W: this is a secret rape/revenge film!)

In The Perfection, cello star Charlotte (Allison Williams) returns after a long sabbatical to reunite with her mentor Anton (Steven Webber) and court his new protégé, Lizzie (Logan Browning). But the pair’s vacation goes horribly awry when Lizzie becomes sick, ending with an act of mutilation. This, in turn, initiates a string of violent encounters...

Movie monsters are incredible. The greats of Rick Baker, Phil Tippett, and Greg Nicotero — among many others — have rendered screens both small and large as monstrous gateways to unabashed nightmare fuel. Whether culled from mythology or the classics of the genre, these creations are a tentpole of the enduring monster movie or creature feature. However conceptualized, movie monsters are as much a part of what movies innately are as anything else.

Every year brings new monsters to the table. Some are relegated to indie VOD offerings, some theatrical bows, and some in a weird space between. Here, we'll be taking a look at the 10 scariest movie monsters of 2022. These beasties proved frighteningly fun; some rendered with computer effects, some conceived practically, and all stupendously scary. They're destined to take a bite out of you.

Lion In Beast

"Beast" was the little creature feature that could. Released in August 2022 to little fanfare,...

New Queer’s Eve.

It’s been a pretty wild December, with us covering off-kilter films like the much-maligned Batman & Robin, the not-as-bad-as-you-think Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings and the Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins-penned murder mystery The Last of Sheila. Now we’re wrapping up the year with a discussion of Carter Smith‘s Into the Dark entry “Midnight Kiss“!

In the film, a group of friends gather at a beautiful desert resort on New Year’s Eve, and play a game called Midnight Kiss, as is their tradition. The purpose of the game is for each of them to find someone with whom to start the New Year. When a killer tries to join in, relationships that are already stressed are further tested, and life itself becomes the prize.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts,...

Back in October, we heard that Richard Shepard, writer/director of the Netflix-released horror film The Perfection (read our review Here) was teaming up with his co-writers on that film to develop a supernatural mystery called St. Donatus for the Peacock streaming service. Now Deadline has broken the news that Shepard has another interesting project in the works: he is set to write, direct, and executive produce a limited series based on Alex Marwood’s psychological thriller novel The Wicked Girls (pick up a copy at This Link).

The Wicked Girls limited series is coming to us from All Creatures Great and Small producer Playground. The project is not set up at a network yet. Colin Callender, Scott Huff, and David Stern are overseeing the development of the show for Playground and serve as executive producers with Shepard.

The novel has the following description:

One summer morning, three little...

Sky Studios Names UK Drama Commissioning Boss

Sky Studios has appointed Katherine Butler, former creative director at The Night Manager producer The Ink Factory, as director of drama commissioning in the UK and Ireland. Butler will take up the role in January, replacing Gabriel Silver, who left Sky Studios in September. She will be focused on commissioning third-party producers, adding to a slate of Sky Studios originals that includes Gangs of London. Butler has previously worked at Raw, where she produced American Animals, and Film4, where she was Deputy Head of Film. Sky Studios has also hired Adrian Sturges, producer of Netflix series The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, as a drama executive producer. Meghan Lyvers, director of original drama at Sky Studios, said: “Katherine and Adrian are each respected and seasoned executives in the creative community and, together with our wider team, we cannot wait to bring audiences...

Richard Shepard, writer/director of the Netflix-released horror film The Perfection (read our review Here), and his co-writers Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder are teaming up again to develop a supernatural mystery called St. Donatus for the Peacock streaming service, Deadline reports. Charmelo and Snyder have written the script for the St. Donatus pilot, and Shepard will be directing it. The story is set in a small town in Iowa… a small town that, of course, hides a dark secret.

An unwitting family, relocating from Brooklyn, moved into a newly-renovated farmhouse on the outskirts of town. When the family starts experiencing unsettling occurrences, it brings them closer to the town’s secret… and the very thing trapped in their cellar.

St. Donatus is coming to us from Universal TV. Shepard, Charmelo, and Snyder will be executive producing the show alongside Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills. Yes,...

From Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder (“Ringer”), Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner’s Hazy Mills and Universal TV, Peacock is in development on supernatural series “St. Donatus.”

Deadline reports that “Richard Shepard (The Perfection) will direct in his latest collaboration with Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder after Ringer and The Perfection.”

“Written by Charmelo and Snyder, St. Donatus is about a small town in Iowa with a dark secret. An unwitting family, relocating from Brooklyn, moved into a newly-renovated farmhouse on the outskirts of town. When the family starts experiencing unsettling occurrences, it brings them closer to the town’s secret… and the very thing trapped in their cellar.”

Charmelo and Snyder will executive produce “St. Donatus” with Hayes, Milliner and Shepard. Universal TV, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio behind this one.

The post “St. Donatus” – Peacock Announces Supernatural Mystery Series from ‘The Perfection’ Director appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!

Exclusive: Peacock is developing St. Donatus, a supernatural mystery drama from Ringer creators Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder, Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner’s Hazy Mills and Universal TV, where Hazy Mills is based. Richard Shepard will direct in his latest collaboration with Charmelo and Snyder after Ringer and The Perfection.

Written by Charmelo and Snyder, St. Donatus is about a small town in Iowa with a dark secret. An unwitting family, relocating from Brooklyn, moved into a newly-renovated farmhouse on the outskirts of town. When the family starts experiencing unsettling occurrences, it brings them closer to the town’s secret… and the very thing trapped in their cellar.

Charmelo and Snyder executive produce with Hayes, Milliner and Shepard. Universal TV, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

Charmelo and Snyder created and executive produced drama series Ringer for CBS/The CW starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. Shepard also...

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical version of The Phantom of the Opera is set to serve as the backdrop for the first season of a murder mystery anthology series that’s in the works at the Peacock streaming service. Created by Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist creator Austin Winsberg, the “darkly comedic” series is called The Show Must Go On – and if it lasts for more than one season, the plan is that “each season would take place in the days leading up to a big, live, televised event and would tackle a new murder with a refreshed cast.”

According to Deadline, the first season of The Show Must Go On is set

behind the scenes during the making of a fictitious version of Lloyd Webber’s worldwide mega-hit: The Phantom of The Opera Live! As if putting on a giant, live, beloved musical isn’t enough of a challenge, imagine...

Announced by Deadline this afternoon, Peacock is developing a murder-mystery series from Austin Winsberg (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”) titled “The Show Must Go On,” described in their report as “an hourlong murder mystery anthology, which would mark the first time Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera musical is used as part of a TV series.”

What does that mean, exactly? Deadline details…

“The Show Must Go On is a darkly comedic murder mystery anthology series. Each season would take place in the days leading up to a big, live, televised event and would tackle a new murder with a refreshed cast. Season 1 is set behind the scenes during the making of a fictitious version of Lloyd Webber’s worldwide mega-hit: The Phantom of The Opera Live!

“As if putting on a giant, live, beloved musical isn’t enough of a challenge, imagine how hard it will be with endless production problems,...

Exclusive: In a competitive situation, Peacock has landed for development, The Show Must Go On, an hourlong murder mystery anthology, which would mark the first time Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera musical is used as part of a TV series. The high-profile project comes from the Zoey’s Extraordinary Playbook creator Austin Winsberg, former top TV executive and award-winning producer Robert Greenblatt, Egot Lloyd Webber, as well as Zoey’s producer The Tannenbaum Company, pilot director Richard Shepard and studio Lionsgate Television.

Written by Winsberg, The Show Must Go On is a darkly comedic murder mystery anthology series. Each season would take place in the days leading up to a big, live, televised event and would tackle a new murder with a refreshed cast.

Season 1 is set behind the scenes during the making of a fictitious version of Lloyd Webber’s worldwide mega-hit: The Phantom of The Opera Live!

Exclusive: Samantha Mathis and Norm Lewis and are set as series regulars opposite Matt Passmore and Floriana Lima in Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

Created by Georgaris and Fox, written by Georgaris and to be directed by Richard Shepard, Blank Slate draws some parallels to Davis Entertainment’s long-running NBC series The Blacklist. In Blank Slate, Special Agent Alexander McCoy (Passmore) is a legend in law enforcement, the agent we all hope is out there, the agent we’d all like to be. The only issue is — he doesn’t actually exist. He’s a ghost, a phantom. So what happens when a man claiming to be Alexander McCoy walks through the door with all of his skills and knowledge but with an agenda nobody will see coming?

Mathis will play Dr. Sylvia Matthews, the team’s forensic psychologist.

Exclusive: Abhi Sinha is set as a series regular opposite Matt Passmore and Floriana Lima in Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

Created by Georgaris and Fox, written by Georgaris and to be directed by Richard Shepard, Blank Slate draws some parallels to Davis Entertainment’s long-running NBC series The Blacklist. In Blank Slate, Special Agent Alexander McCoy (Passmore) is a legend in law enforcement, the agent we all hope is out there, the agent we’d all like to be. The only issue is — he doesn’t actually exist. He’s a ghost, a phantom. So what happens when a man claiming to be Alexander McCoy walks through the door with all of his skills and knowledge but with an agenda nobody will see coming?

Sinha will play Cornelius Kepler, the tech specialist on Maya’s Homeland Security team...

Exclusive: Dave Annable is set as a lead opposite Matt Passmore and Floriana Lima in Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

Created by Georgaris and Fox, written by Georgaris and to be directed by Richard Shepard, Blank Slate draws some parallels to Davis Entertainment’s long-running NBC series The Blacklist. In Blank Slate, Special Agent Alexander McCoy (Passmore) is a legend in law enforcement, the agent we all hope is out there, the agent we’d all like to be. The only issue is — he doesn’t actually exist. He’s a ghost, a phantom. So what happens when a man claiming to be Alexander McCoy walks through the door with all of his skills and knowledge but with an agenda nobody will see coming?

2022 NBC Pilots & Series Orders

Annable will play Chris Logan, a congressional candidate and husband to Homeland Security Agent Maya Logan.

Exclusive: Matt Passmore (The Glades) and Floriana Lima (A Million Little Things) are set as the leads of Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

Created by Georgaris and Fox, written by Georgaris and to be directed by Richard Shepard, Blank Slate draws some parallels to Davis Entertainment’s long-running NBC series The Blacklist. In Blank Slate, Special Agent Alexander McCoy (Passmore) is a legend in law enforcement, the agent we all hope is out there, the agent we’d all like to be. The only issue is — he doesn’t actually exist. He’s a ghost, a phantom. So what happens when a man claiming to be Alexander McCoy walks through the door with all of his skills and knowledge but with an agenda nobody will see coming?

2022 NBC Pilots & Series Orders

Lima plays Maya Logan, the seasoned head of...

Exclusive: Dean Georgaris’ agent drama Blank Slate has found its pilot director.

Richard Shepard, who has directed pilots for series including Ugly Betty and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, will helm and exec produce the pilot episode of the NBC project.

Shepard has directed ten television pilots to pick-up including Criminal Minds and has also directed episodes of Acapulco for Apple and Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. He also directed 12 episodes of HBO’s Girls including the controversial American Bitch episode for which Matthew Rhys received an Emmy nomination.

On the feature side, he has helmed The Matador starring Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear, black comedy Dom Hemingway starring Jude Law and Richard E. Grant, Allison Williams’ The Perfection and HBO documentary I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale.

Written by The Brave creator Georgaris, Blank Slate is a high-concept procedural about a government agent who may not be what he seems.

Just a day after Halloween and Zoey and Mo of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist are ringing in the holidays over at their new home – Roku.

On Monday the Roku Channel unveiled a glimpse at Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, a holiday-themed film based on the Emmy-nominated musical series. On her first holiday without her father, Zoey (Jane Levy) attempts to create a magical Christmas for her family just like the ones Mitch used to do. The film is also set to pick up where Season 2 left off.

In the first look, Zoey and Mo (Alex Newell) hit the mall to get goodies for their loved ones. Of course, Mo bursts into an elaborate rendition of the Christmas classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” that displays her true love for the holiday season.

Set to debut on the Roku Channel on Dec. 1, Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas will see...

Lifetime announced a two-picture deal with Sarah Drew, who will star, write and executive produce “Reindeer Games” and star in “Stolen Hearts: The Lizbeth Meredith Story” for the channel’s “It’s A Wonderful Lifetime” holiday film slate.

“I’ve absolutely loved working with Lifetime over the past few years and couldn’t be more thrilled to continue my relationship with them as an actor and now as a writer and producer as well. I’m delighted to announce my screenwriting debut with ‘Reindeer Games,’ a romantic comedy about love, loss, and the importance of true community. I’m looking forward to working with Lifetime to bring more stories like this to life,” Drew said.

“Reindeer Games” is currently in development and follows a fading Hollywood star who returns to his small hometown following his breakup. He’s begrudgingly roped into the town’s titular holiday fundraising tradition, but when he...

After the success of its Celebration of Black Cinema events for the past three years, the Critics Choice Association said Tuesday it is expanding the series with the inaugural Celebration of Latino Cinema, which will honor icons Rita Moreno, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Demián Bichir along with a group of additional honorees, many associated with upcoming 2021 films, still to be announced.

The new Celebration, to be presented virtually, is set for Thursday December 9, 2021 and aims to put a spotlight on the contributions of great Oscar-winning and -nominated artists like that initial trio, but also Latino filmmaking in general, a facet of the motion picture industry that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves during awards season. Among other things, the Cca’s Celebration of Latino Cinema aims to change that.

“We are thrilled to be launching the first annual Celebration of Latino Cinema which recognizes the talented performers and skilled...

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, which was canceled as a series last spring by NBC, will sing on as a Christmas-themed feature film streaming on the Roku Channel this holiday season.

Production of Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas will start this month in Vancouver, with Lionsgate remaining onboard as the studio. Cast members Jane Levy, Skylar Astin, Alex Newell, John Clarence Stewart, Andrew Leeds, Alice Lee, Michael Thomas Grant, Kapil Talwalkar, David St. Louis, Mary Steenburgen, Peter Gallagher and Bernadette Peters are all returning. Story-wise, the film picks up where Season 2 left off, according to the official announcement.

The film will stream for free on the ad-supported Roku Channel in the U.S. Along with the film, all 25 episodes of the series will stream on the Roku Channel in the U.S. later this fall.

It is the first Roku Originals film and also the first scripted project outside of the pool...

Exclusive: Jason Statham and Miramax are partnering for a third time with The Bee Keeper, a spec script by Kurt Wimmer which the studio has shelled out seven figures for.

A September 2022 production start is being eyed in London and Atlanta.

The Bee Keeper is a lightning-paced thriller deeply steeped in the mythology of Bee Keeping. Miramax is currently searching for a director. Statham, Wimmer and Miramax CEO Bill Block are set to produce.

“The Bee Keeper explores universal themes with an unconventional story that will have fans sitting on the edge of their seats. We’re excited to bring another iconic and irresistible film to audiences around the globe,” said Block.

Statham recently shot Miramax’s Untitled Guy Ritchie Project aka Five Eyes and starred in Ritchie and Miramax’s Wrath of Man which has grossed close to $104M at the global box office. Miramax’s previous Ritchie movie,...

Warning: the Handmaid’s tale season 4 episode synopses below contain plot spoilers

The Handmaid’s Tale isn’t the kind of TV show that suits a binge-watch. Its heart-heavy dystopian story about a brutal theocracy that enslaves and rapes fertile women benefits from a little fresh air between episodes. On-screen torture and suffering are best delivered in small doses.

It’s good news then, that after its first three episodes are released on Hulu in one batch on Wednesday April 28th, the remaining seven episodes of season four will be released weekly each Wednesday until June 16th, giving US viewers all time to digest.

For UK viewers, season four is confirmed to be airing on Channel 4 as usual, but the broadcaster has yet to confirm a start date. As soon as one is announced, we’ll pass it on. The imported show traditionally airs weekly on the terrestrial channel. Seasons...

Exclusive: Jessica Collins, Chord Overstreet (Glee), Vanessa Bauche, Rafael Cebrián, Fernando Carsa and Regina Reynoso round out the ensemble cast, joining Eugenio Derbez in Acapulco, Apple TV+’s bilingual comedy series inspired by 3Pas Studios and Pantelion Films’ 2017 Derbez starrer How to Be a Latin Lover. Veteran Richard Shepard has been tapped to direct the pilot episode for Lionsgate Television.

Enrique Arrizon, Damian Alcázar, Camila Perez and Raphael Alejandro also star.

Created by Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist creator Austin Winsberg, Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman, Acapulco is a half-hour Spanish- and English-language comedy that centers on Maximo (Arrizon), a young Mexican man whose dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetime at the hottest resort in Acapulco. But soon he realizes...

Eugenio Derbez’s upcoming Apple comedy series “Acapulco” has added four new cast members, with Richard Shepard now onboard to direct the pilot.

Enrique Arrizon, Damian Alcázar, Camila Perez, and Raphael Alejandro will all star alongside Derbez in the half-hour series. It will be shot in both Spanish and English and is inspired by the film “How to Be a Latin Lover,” in which Derbez starred and produced.

In “Acapulco,” a young Mexican man’s dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetime at the hottest resort in Acapulco. But he soon realizes the job is far more complicated than he ever imagined as all of his beliefs and morals start to be questioned. The show takes place in 1984 with Derbez narrating and playing the present-day version of the main character, Maximo.

Arrizon will play Young Maximo, who’s dream comes true when he gets the job...

Enrique Arrizon (April’s Daughter), Damian Alcázar (Narcos), Camila Perez (Gotham) and Raphael Alejandro (How to Be a Latin Lover) are set to star opposite Eugenio Derbez in Acapulco, Apple TV+’s bilingual comedy series inspired by 3Pas Studios and Pantelion Films’ 2017 Derbez starrer How to Be a Latin Lover. Veteran Richard Shepard has been tapped to direct the pilot episode for Lionsgate Television.

Created by Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist creator Austin Winsberg, Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman, Acapulco is a half-hour Spanish- and English-language comedy that centers on Maximo (Arrizon), a young Mexican man whose dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetime at the hottest resort in Acapulco. But soon he realizes that the gig is far more complicated than he ever imagined as all of his beliefs and morals start to be questioned.

The show takes place in 1984, with Derbez narrating and playing the...

Edie Falco has been tapped to play Hillary Clinton in Impeachment: American Crime Story, Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX limited series about the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky sex scandal, sources close to the project have confirmed to Deadline.

The third season of American Crime Story will be based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President. Beanie Feldstein will star as Lewinsky, Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones and Billy Eichner as journalist Matt Drudge.

Richard Shepard will direct and executive produce. Sarah Burgess is writing and will serve as EP with Shepard, Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk, Larry Karaszewski, Scott Alexander, Alexis Martin Woodall, and Sarah Paulson. Lewinsky, Feldstein, Henrietta Conrad and Jemima Khan are producing.

Falco is best known for her roles on The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie, both...

Impeachment: American Crime Story is the latest high-profile TV series to hit pause on production as a result of Covid-19.

Deadline understands that production on the drama paused earlier this week after a confirmed positive case in Zone A that was discovered through a routine screening, in adherence with the show’s strict health and safety protocols.

It is now on hiatus for the holidays and will resume filming in January. A spokesman for the show declined comment.

Ryan Murphy’s limited series about the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky sex scandal stars Beanie Feldstein will star as Lewinsky, Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones, Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp and Billy Eichner as journalist Matt Drudge.

The series is produced by 20th Television, FX and Ryan Murphy Productions.

It was originally intended to shoot in early spring but was delayed due to the lockdown and...

After her turn in “Get Out,” Allison Williams is reuniting with Blumhouse to star and executive produce the upcoming tech horror thriller “M3GAN” for Universal, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

Screenwriter Akela Cooper wrote the screenplay that is based on a story by James Wan. Gerard Johnstone (“Housebound”) is set to direct “M3GAN.”

“M3GAN” centers on Gemma (Williams), a brilliant roboticist at a toy company who uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to be a kid’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. After unexpectedly gaining custody of her orphaned niece, Gemma enlists the help of the M3GAN prototype – a decision that has unimaginable consequences.

Jason Blum and James Wan are producing the thriller. Michael Clear, of Wan’s Atomic Monster banner, will executive produce the film with Judson Scott overseeing for the banner. Blumhouse...

Allison Williams will return to the world of horror in the Atomic Monster and Blumhouse doll/tech-centric horror thriller M3GAN, directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) and written by Akela Cooper (The Nun 2) from a story by James Wan:

"After her turn in Get Out, Allison Williams is reuniting with Blumhouse to star in the upcoming tech horror thriller M3GAN.

In the film, Williams plays Gemma, a brilliant roboticist at a toy company. She uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to be a kid’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. After unexpectedly gaining custody of her orphaned niece, Gemma enlists the help of the M3GAN prototype - a decision that has unimaginable consequences.

Akela Cooper wrote the script that is based on a story by James Wan, and Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) will direct the film.

Jason Blum and...

Exclusive: Allison Williams is reuniting with Blumhouse for the upcoming tech horror thriller M3GAN, in which she’ll star and executive produce. The Girls actress starred in Blumhouse’s Oscar-winning socially conscious blockbuster Get Out which grossed over $255M worldwide. M3GAN is also being produced by Atomic Monster for Universal.

In the film, Williams plays Gemma, a brilliant roboticist at a toy company. She uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to be a kid’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. After unexpectedly gaining custody of her orphaned niece, Gemma enlists the help of the M3GAN prototype – a decision that has unimaginable consequences.

Akela Cooper wrote the script that is based on a story by James Wan. Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) will direct the film. Jason Blum and Wan are producing the thriller. Michael Clear,...

Michael Uppendahl has stepped in as director and executive producer on American Crime Story: Impeachment, Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX limited series about the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. He replaces Richard Shepard, who recently exited the project.

Shepard signed on for the project in January, ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down all production and shifted all filming schedules, including Impeachment‘s. The show, a co-production of Touchstone Television, FX and Ryan Murphy Productions, was originally set to shoot in early spring. Delayed by the industry-wide shutdown, it is now slated to begin filming in early fall.

The pandemic and the scheduling bottleneck it has created, with shows slowly easing back into production with Covid safety protocols, has led to behind and in front of the camera changes on a number of projects. Another director previously booked for Impeachment also recently pulled out.

As with Shepard, Uppendahl is...

“American Crime Story: Impeachment” — which was supposed to begin filming in the spring, but didn’t because of the coronavirus pandemic — will now shoot in early fall, Variety has learned. Michael Uppendahl, who has directed other Ryan Murphy productions, such as “Ratched” and “Hollywood,” will take over for Richard Shepard as EP/Producing Director.

Uppendahl has directed multiple episodes of award-winning television, including FX’s “American Horror Story” and “Fargo,” AMC’s “Mad Men” and “The Walking Dead.” He was also co-executive producer/director on the first season of Marvel and FX’s “Legion.”

This third installment of FX on Hulu’s “American Crime Story” will examine President Bill Clinton’s illicit relationship with Monica Lewinsky, and his subsequent impeachment. Beanie Feldstein will portray Lewinsky, and Clive Owen will play Clinton. The cast has remained intact through the delay, with Sarah Paulson as Lewinsky’s betrayer, Linda Tripp; Annaleigh Ashford...

Exclusive: Miramax has named Wolfgang Hammer to become Head of Film, and executive vice president. Hammer most recently had been founder/CEO of Super Deluxe, the Time-Warner funded studio that produced short form video and TV for the millennial audience.

Hammer will oversee the company’s feature film development and production efforts under its new joint venture with Paramount. Hammer will report to Miramax CEO Bill Block.

“I’m excited to be working for Bill Block whom I’ve known for many years and whose style his unparalleled in Hollywood. Together, we aim to create a home to bold filmmakers making outstanding commercial films that not only succeed at the box office, but also stand the test of time,” said Hammer.

Said Block: “Whether it be building a creative business from scratch at Super Deluxe or shepherding unique and bold filmmakers at CBS Films, Wolfgang has proven to be an...

As new cases of coronavirus are declared on an hourly basis and the world reacts, production on multiple projects has already come to a halt. But many in the entertainment-industry trenches want to see the industry step up in the name of safety and do more — and suspend production across the industry.

Emmy-winning director Richard Shepard and executive producer Hannah Fidell are currently in prep on “American Crime Story: Impeachment,” scouting office locations — thus coming into frequent contact with surfaces and touching door handles. For location scouts and directors, travel is a big part of the job. “It’s not even safe in prep,” Fidell stresses.

Shepard describes film and TV productions as “a breeding ground” for viruses. “It’s hundreds of people working in close proximity,” Shepard says. “From makeup people touching faces to costume designers dressing people, everyone is breathing in this air.”

He points out that it...

If you’ve been hankering for a good ol’ scare, we may just have the blood-drenched ticket for you.

That’s right, a new horror film has landed on Netflix recently and is allegedly so scary that it’s been profoundly disturbing the majority of its viewers.

Specifically, the movie in question is Travis Stevens’ psychological haunted house chiller, Girl On The Third Floor, and while it’s resonated surprisingly well with critics – the pic currently sits at an impressive 80% critical rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing – many have been left somewhat distressed by the streaming giant’s latest terrifying offering.

Y’all I’m watching this movie called Girl On The Third Floor and this shit mad scary! Bruh

— (@QueenSleazyyEra) February 24, 2020

Clicked on this movie, thought it was going be good, this shit turned out to be the scariest shit I even seen I couldn’t even finish it!

Exclusive: Glow‘s Betty Gilpin has been tapped to play conservative media pundit Ann Coulter in Impeachment: American Crime Story, Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX limited series about the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky sex scandal.

The third season of American Crime Story will be based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President. Beanie Feldstein will star as Lewinsky, Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones and Billy Eichner as journalist Matt Drudge. It will premiere in late 2020 or early 2021.

Sarah Burgess is writing and will serve as Ep with Richard Shepard, who directs, Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk, Larry Karaszewski, Scott Alexander, Alexis Martin Woodall, and Sarah Paulson. Lewinsky, Feldstein, Henrietta Conrad and Jemima Khan are producing.

‘Impeachment: American Crime Story’: Billy Eichner To Play Matt Drudge

Coulter is...

Exclusive: Emmy-winning director Richard Shepard is set to direct and executive produce American Crime Story: Impeachment, Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX limited series about the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. He is expected to be one of several producing directors on the series, including Ep Murphy.

The third season of American Crime Story will be based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President. Beanie Feldstein will star as Lewinsky, Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones and Billy Eichner as journalist Matt Drudge. It will premiere in late 2020 or early 2021.

Sarah Burgess is writing and will serve as Ep with Shepard, Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk, Larry Karaszewski, Scott Alexander, Alexis Martin Woodall, and Sarah Paulson. Lewinsky, Feldstein, Henrietta Conrad and Jemima Khan are producing.

The veteran helmer has...

The stars of the groundbreaking dramedy “Ugly Betty” paid tribute to series creator Silvio Horta following his death Tuesday at age 45.

“I’m stunned and heartbroken to hear the devastating news of ‘Ugly Betty’ creator, Silvio Horta’s death,” America Ferrera, who played the title role, said in a statement on Instagram. “His talent and creativity brought me and so many others such joy & light. I’m thinking of his family and loved ones who must be in so much pain right now- and of the whole Ugly Betty family who feel this loss so deeply.”

“Still in shock after hearing the tragic news of our #uglybetty creator #silviohorta ??'”,” Vanessa Williams, who portrayed Wilhelmina Slater on all four seasons, wrote on Instagram. “His creativity and passion will be missed by so many of us that worked with him. May he Rest In Peace.”

Also Read: 'Ugly Betty'...

It’s punishment more than practice that makes “The Perfection,” which is less a horror film per se than a grisly yet upscale grand guignol melodrama. Richard Shepard’s very tricky suspense film, co-written with the TV writing-producing team of Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder, has been a success for Netflix. The streaming service released the film earlier this year, picking it up after it made a stir at Fantastic Fest 2018.

The tale of classical musicianship and elaborate revenge is easier to admire than actually like, given somewhat repellent content grounded in character psychology that does not bear close scrutiny after these terse 90 minutes are over. Still, the icily well-crafted gamesmanship Shepard and company have devised certainly makes that time pass quickly, if uncomfortably.

The director has turned mostly to small-screen work since his last theatrical feature, “Dom Hemingway” (2013), including a dozen episodes of “Girls,” whose Allison Williams plays the lead here.

Exclusive: Emmy and DGA Award-winning writer-director Richard Shepard has signed with CAA.

The veteran helmer has directed nine television pilots that have gone to series, including Criminal Minds, Ugly Betty, for which he won an Emmy, Rosewood, Salem, Sweetbitter, and the upcoming musical dramedy Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist starring Jane Levy, premiering on NBC in January. Shepard also directed 12 episodes of the Golden Globe Award-winning HBO series Girls, including the controversial “American Bitch” episode, for which Matthew Rhys received an Emmy nomination.

Shepard’s feature films as writer/director include the 2018 horror film The Perfection, starring Allison Williams and Logan Browning for Netflix; the black comedy Dom Hemingway, starring Jude Law and Richard E. Grant for Fox Searchlight; and the Golden Globe nominated The Matador, starring Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear.

Shepard’s short film Tokyo Project starring Elisabeth Moss premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival and was bought by HBO.