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With all due respect, costume designers aren't often amongst the filmmakers who get a lot of name recognition outside of the industry. Actors, a number of directors, and even certain screenwriters are afforded that luxury, but it (sadly) doesn't often extend to other roles on a set. In spite of this, two-time Oscar-winner Ruth E. Carter of "Black Panther" fame has become one of the biggest name in the business when it comes to costuming. She's been at it for going on four decades and has been doing some of the best work of her career in recent years. Indeed, on top of her film work, Carter is also a major part of the biggest show on cable right now: "Yellowstone."

As Taylor Sheridan was putting together his now-wildly popular Western series for Paramount Network, Carter was coming off of...

The office of the President of the United States is way more famous than any specific president. Compared to, say, the king and queen of England, a new person gets to be the head of state every four or eight years via election rather than inheritance. This means you can...

Home invasion films are a dime a dozen nowadays, with this year alone seeing the wide releases of The Strangers: Chapter One and Abigail. But surplus can often breed creativity, with filmmakers forced to seek innovative ways to make their films stand out from the pack. That’s just what Jason Krawczyk (He Never Died) does with Don’t Mess With Grandma, a gleefully violent comedy that has fun subverting various home invasion tropes.

While working for his company Trusted Trays, a meal delivery service that caters to the elderly, mild-mannered Jasper (Michael Jai White) also drives two hours outside of his hometown every night to do chores for his cantankerous grandmother Granna (Jackie Richardson). While fixing her bathroom sink one evening, Granna’s house falls victim to a home invasion by a ragtag group of bumbling thieves led by Stan (a nearly unrecognizable Billy Zane). Little do these masked burglars...

Cobra Kai Season 6 is finally here and it’s even better than the last one, which no one thought was possible. The Netflix series follows the story of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who has kind of left bullying and turned into a karate instructor. The series continues the story of the 1984 film The Karate Kid, in which Johnny lost the “All Valley Karate Tournament” to his enemy Daniel (Ralph Macchio). In the series, Johnny inspires weak kids to learn karate so that they can stand up to their bullies and fight to protect themselves. Still, everything goes wrong in a very entertaining way and many iconic characters from the Karate Kid movies appear in the series. So, if you love the teen drama, action comedy, and martial arts in Cobra Kai here are some similar shows you could watch while waiting for Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 2.

Kung Fu (Max & Rent...

Oi there, listen up! Amazon Prime Video’s list of new releases for June 2024 includes another season of its biggest, bloodiest hit.

The Boys season 4 premieres its first three episodes on Thursday, June 13. Based on the trailers, The Boys is really leaning into the political side of its social satire with a presidential election underway and Homelander on trial for the small matter of killing a guy last season. The season will continue to air on Thursdays, culminating with the finale on July 18.

Amazon is really leaning into its sports offerings this month as well. Fans will get to watch the New York Yankees, the WNBA, and the Nwsl several times throughout June. That’s in addition to a couple of sports docs: Power of the Dream on June 18 and Federer: Twelve Final Days on June 20.

But if you’re looking for something even more explosive than Homelander and Roger Federer,...

Coming up in June, Amazon’s collective streaming services Prime Video and Freevee are delivering series, films, and documentaries about all sorts of heroes. From the evil, increasingly fascist superheroes of “The Boys” to the record-setting tennis icon Roger Federer to the journey back to the spotlight for one of the greatest performers of all time, Celine Dion, there are a multitude of inspiring and entertaining stories arriving on the platforms in June.

In addition to Season 3 of “The Boys” premiering with three episodes on June 13, Prime Video has a host of documentaries that shine a new light on some of our most beloved performers and athletes. On June 18, “Power of the Dream” debuts and highlights the struggles of WNBA team the Atlanta Dream who were fighting off-court battles on two fronts in 2020. Then, “Federer: Twelve Final Days” premieres on June 20 looking at the tennis legend as he ended his...

Exclusive: Veteran actor and comedian Eddie Griffin has signed with Independent Artist Group across the board, Deadline has learned.

Appearing in over 50 films and TV shows over more than three decades, Griffin won an NAACP Image Award from multiple nominations for his starring role in Malcolm & Eddie, a sitcom that aired on Upn for four seasons.

Appearing alongside Dave Chappelle, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the latter’s Academy Award winner A Star Is Born, he’s also been seen over the years in titles like the Denzel Washington thriller John Q, blaxploitation pic Undercover Brother, Armageddon, the Deuce Bigalow comedy franchise, Eddie Murphy starrer Norbit, Date Movie, Scary Movie 3, and My Baby’s Daddy, which he wrote, exec produced and starred in for Miramax.

Previously, Griffin also voiced the role of Richard Pryor on Adult Swim’s animated series Black Dynamite and starred on BET’s The Comedy Get Down.

Michael Jai White has nabbed the lead role in the action thriller with the working title Hostile Takeover as production gets underway at a facility in Saskatchewan launched by Los Angeles-based pop up virtual production company Volume Global.

Action stunt director Markos Rounthwaite (The Bourne Ultimatum, Casino Royale) is leading the indie where White plays Pete, a workaholic hitman in New York City. He faces a barrage of assassins out to get Pete after the head of a local crime syndicate suspects he may be disloyal after attending Workaholics Anonymous meetings.

Aimee Stolte plays Pete’s on-again/off-again girlfriend Mora. There’s no additional word on casting.

White is known for his starring role in the 2009 film Black Dynamite and playing the Gotham City mobster Gambol in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Hostile Takeover is produced by Dovetale Media and Karma Films and Rounthwaite is also executive producing.

Hostile...

The Mortal Kombat star plays an LA cop returning home to avenge his brother’s murder in this charming piece of grindhouse schlock

On an unnamed island in the Caribbean, a cartel boss named Manuel (Edoardo Costa) kills bartender Akeem (Tristan Duncan) merely because he spills a drink on Nora (Cami Storm), a young singer Manuel was planning to lock up in his villa and force to sing only for himself, like a canary. The murder is not only grisly and bad management practice, but also consequential because it brings down the wrath of Akeem’s brother Mark, an LA policeman. It turns out Mark grew up on the island where he left behind an ex-wife, Akilah, his mother and lots of old friends. Swearing to find out how Akeem really died, he moves back and a series of fisticuff face-offs ensue as he works through the chain of command,...

Exclusive: Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite) has wrapped production on Trouble Man!, an action comedy that he directed and stars in for Samuel Goldwyn Films. Those starring alongside him are Method Man (Power Book II: Ghost), Gillian White (Take Back), Mike Epps (The Upshaws), Orlando Jones (Drumline) and La La Anthony (Power).

Filmed under the Georgia Production Program, the film stars White as Jaxen, a former cop turned private detective living in Atlanta. When famed R&b singer Jahari goes missing, Jaxen is hired to find and save her. As he investigates, he realizes her disappearance is tied to a much larger conspiracy of lies and deceit, which makes him question everyone around him and confront his own past.

White and Michael Stratford penned the script, with Craig Baumgarten producing. Samuel Goldwyn Films financed the pic and will release it next year, following past collaborations with White on the actioner...

Outlaw Johnny Black is a western action-comedy film co-written and directed by Michael Jai White. The Western film follows the story of Johnny Black, a man who has sworn to gun down Brett Clayton in order to get revenge for his father’s death. In the process of getting his revenge, he becomes a wanted man while posing as a preacher in a small mining town that’s been taken over by a notorious Land Baron. So, if you love the western comedy film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Black Dynamite (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Ars Nova

Synopsis: An all-star cast led by Michael Jai White is featured in this 1970’s-style blaxploitation action film about the legendary super crime fighter “Black Dynamite.” The Man killed his brother, pumped heroin into local orphanages, and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black Dynamite was the one...

Tipping their Stetsons to a passel of 1960s Spaghetti Westerns — everything from “A Fistful of Dollars” to “They Call Me Trinity” — and the sort of 1970s Blaxploitation oaters that once provided steady employment for Fred Williamson, director-star Michael Jai White and co-star (and co-writer) Byron Keith Minns have cobbled together “Outlaw Johnny Black,” a fitfully funny but uncomfortably overlong entertainment best appreciated by movie buffs who share the pair’s affection for the genre tropes and stereotypes they seriocomically recycle.

Not nearly as free-wheeling and fleet-footed as “Black Dynamite,” the 2009 satirical comedy that cast White as a Shaft-like action hero, the new film nonetheless provides more than a few good laughs, even when it seems to be taking horse opera clichés a tad too respectfully, and showcases a fine cast of actors dedicated to both the silliness and the seriousness of the enterprise.

White plays the title character, a notorious...

In January 2009, during a midnight screening at Sundance, Michael Jai White knew he had something special in Black Dynamite. Nine months later, the Blaxploitation spoof’s limited theatrical release and minimal box office gross didn’t stop its immediate fate as a cult classic. Demand for a sequel soon followed, and so White, as co-writer of the film, penned a direct sequel that struggled to get off the ground due to creative differences with a producer.

Consequently, White went back to the drawing board and pursued an idea he had at the same time as Black Dynamite’s conception. If that action-comedy paid homage to Blaxploitation films through parody, then it would only make sense to take a similar approach with other genres. So, White revisited his earlier ideas for three other genre exercises including a horror movie, a kung fu movie and a Western. That Western is now known as Outlaw Johnny Black,...

What would Hollywood be without a good ole Blaxploitation film? And now that “They Cloned Tyrone” has hit Netflix screens, conversations about the Blaxploitation movies that crawled so that “They Cloned Tyrone” could pimp walk have come to the forefront.

Juel Taylor’s film welcomes watchers to The Glen, a normal, everyday neighborhood where its predominately Black residents live out their lives shopping, going to church and enjoying the fruits of their labor. However, beneath the surface, but right in front of their eyes, the government is executing a plot to keep the community in an endless cycle of unhealthy behavior that ultimately blocks them from mental and financial wellness.

Like many Blaxploitation films, “They Cloned Tyrone” creatively calls out and highlights the systemic issues Black community faces while also celebrating Black culture and Black people’s perseverance.

When “They Cloned Tyrone” hit Netflix, people online began discussing the films that influenced it,...

Amazon originals like season two of The Summer I Turned Pretty and Good Omens, as well as The Horror of Dolores Roach, are just some of the titles hitting Prime Video this July.

Blockbusters like Fast X, 80 for Brady, Till, Knock at the Cabin, Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Men in Black 1-3, Saving Private Ryan, Scarface and more will also be coming to the streamer this month.

The fourth and final season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan sees the titular character, played by John Krasinski, on his most dangerous mission yet, against a foreign and domestic enemy. Two new episodes of the thriller drop on the streamer every Friday until July 14.

Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty returns with its second season on July 14 and picks up where season one left off at Cousins Beach. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future...

If you’re wondering what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in June, the answer is a lot. The streamer has a solid slate of movies heading into summer 2023. From the first two “Creed” films to “Love, Rosie,” “Yours, Mine & Ours” and other clever romantic comedies, the streamer has a range of options for viewers with different tastes. Newer theatrical releases arriving on the streamer in June include “TÁR,” “Armageddon Time,” and “M3GAN.”

TV premieres to look forward to include Boots Riley’s “I’m A Virgo” and the fourth and final season of John Krasinski’s “Jack Ryan.” “Crazy Rich Asians” arrives early in June, followed by “Interstellar” for all Christopher Nolan and Matthew McConaughey lovers. Even though “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” doesn’t release in theaters until November, all four “Hunger Games” films land on Prime Video this June. Perfect timing — maybe even with a reread...

With its list of new releases for June 2023, Prime is bringing a handful of Amazon Originals and many recent movie hits to the fold.

It’s actually quite a busy month for non-American programming in Amazon Originals department. Shows and movies like Deadloch, My Fault, and Medellín all originate from outside the U.S. and U.K. For the American and British crowd, however, the streamer is debuting two big tentpoles.

The first is I’m a Virgo on June 23. Acclaimed director Boots Riley’s TV followup to Sorry to Bother You will tale the surreal and satirical tale of a giant in Oakland. That will be followed by the more conventional (assumedly) fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on June 30.

The real fireworks this month come from a ludicrously deep bench of library TV and movie titles. Give them a look for yourself below but if we were to highlight just a few,...

Four-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Erykah Badu (What Men Want) has been set to make a cameo appearance with musical performances in Netflix‘s film The Piano Lesson, based on the play by August Wilson.

Leading the pic, as previously announced, are John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson, who starred in a Broadway revival of the play at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, which has just recently landed Tony noms for Best Revival of a Play and Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Jackson).

Part of Wilson’s famed 10-play “American Century Cycle,” also encompassing such titles as Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson is set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression. The film centers on the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor.

The fourth and final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” arrives on Prime Video on June 30. It finds Ryan — now the new acting CIA director — unearthing internal corruption and suspicious black ops that leaves the United States vulnerable to attack. John Krasinski stars as the tough-as-nails Ryan.

Watch the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” trailer:

“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” is a new docuseries that reveals the truth behind the myth of the wholesome religious family and their involvement with the predatory Bill Gothard and The Institute in Basic Life Principles. The organization’s abusive practices — and the insidious long political game it plays — is revealed on June 2. The Duggars and their 19 “happy” kids are exposed as frauds, while also being manipulated by Gothard and enduring the scandal of Josh, their sexually abusive son.

Check out the “Shiny Happy People” trailer:

When a body is found on the beach in the Tasmanian town of Deadloch,...

Stars: Manon Pages, Austin Naulty, Carter Simoneaux | Written by Austin Frosch | Directed by Austin Frosch, Paul Dale

Tommy Wiseau has a lot to answer for. While he did not create the “bad movie” with 2003’s The Room, his misguided attempt to deliver “the passion of Tennessee Williams” resulted in a cult film which has regular theatre showings across the world. Many films followed to try and create a similar success story, but such a thing cannot be manufactured, and that is sadly evident in this work by co-directors Austin Frosch and Paul Dale.

After her grandma dies, Abby (Manon Pages) inherits a mysterious kite which she gives to her brother. After his mysterious death, the kite disappears and the body count rises, leaving Abby to search for the truth amidst a strange supernatural plot. From the historical photos with kites superimposed on them, complete with the hint at who assassinated JFK,...

"From the brothers who brought you Black Dynamite, comes a brand new movie that's sure outta sight... We've been gone for a while, but now we're back, with a western adventure – The Outlaw Johnny Black" Goldwyn Films has unveiled an outstanding teaser trailer for The Outlaw Johnny Black, directed by and starring Michael Jai White. Lands in theaters in September! Hell bent on avenging the death of his father, Johnny Black vows to gun down Brett Clayton and becomes a wanted man in the process. So he goes into hiding, posing as a preacher in a small mining town that's been taken over by a notorious Land Baron. The film stars Mjw with Anika Noni Rose, Erica Ash, Byron Minns, Kym Whitley, Eme Ikwuakor, and Tony Baker. This is a fun first look, with a perfect voiceover introduction to this "western adventure." Looks like it should be as entertaining as Black Dynamite,...

With its list of new releases for May 2023, Hulu is relying on an acclaimed original and a whole lotta FX.

The acclaimed original in question in The Great season 3. Premiering on May 12, this historical black comedy with continue the story of Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) and her pal Peter III (Nicholas Hoult). The other Hulu original series of note this month is The Clearing on May 24. Based on the best-selling crime novel In the Clearing this story will follow a story inspired by the real life events behind Australian cult “The Family.”

For its other TV options in May, Hulu is turning to its cable partner FX. Class of ’09, an FBI thriller starring Kate Mara and Brian Tyree Henry, premieres on May 10. That will be followed by The Secrets of Hillsong, a docuseries investigating the controversial church on May 20.

Hulu’s list of original movies this month is...

“The Great” returns to Hulu for Season 3 on May 12. Elle Fanning portrays Catherine the Great, desperate to turn Russia into an enlightened nation, while Nicholas Hoult plays Peter III, her libertine husband. Despite marital problems, including Catherine’s attempt to murder him, Peter now claims to be in love with his wife. The show, loosely based on history, takes a snarky, sexy, and irreverent ride through 18th-century Russia. Catherine was the longest-running female ruler in the nation’s history.

Check out “The Great” Season 3 trailer:

FX’s suspense thriller “Class of ’09” streams May 10 on Hulu. A class of FBI agents at three points in time face changes in the U.S. criminal justice system, which has been altered by AI. The series takes a deep dive into the nature of justice and the choices we make.

Watch the trailer for “Class of ‘09”:

Also returning to the Disney-owned...

Clockwise from top left: Black Dynamite (Screenshot); A Hard Day’s Night (Screenshot); The Suicide Squad (Warner Bros.); Little Shop Of Horrors (Screenshot) Image: A.V. Club If you’re looking for laughs and our overall list of the best HBO Max movies has too many dramas for your taste, The A.

One of the supplemental materials on the "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" DVD back in the day was a deleted scene featuring a street fight between Michael Jai White and Bill himself, David Carradine. In 1997, White played one of the first Black movie superheroes when he starred in "Spawn," a full year before Wesley Snipes showed up onscreen as Blade. Over a decade later, on the heels of his appearance as the gangster Gambol in another comic book movie, "The Dark Knight," the blaxploitation-style action-comedy "Black Dynamite" allowed White to show off his skills as a third-degree black belt in Shōtōkan karate. That's just one of the martial arts styles that he's studied in real life, so pitting him against Carradine -- star of the '70s TV series "Kung Fu" and its '90s sequel "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" -- led to a legit martial-arts match-up where you can...

Comedian Jonah Ray discusses his favorite year in cinema (1994) with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Airport (1970)

Airport 1975 (1975)

Airport ’77 (1977)

Airplane! (1980)

Basket Case (1982)

Destroy All Neighbors (Tbd)

Satanic Hispanics (2022)

Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022)

Black Christmas (1974) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s franchise power rankings

Tales From The Crypt (1972)

Donnie Darko (2001)

Pooka! (2018)

Pooka Lives! (2020)

Harvey (1950) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

Ed Wood (1994)

Black Dynamite (2009)

Bride Of The Monster (1955) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s review

Glen Or Glenda (1953)

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Frankenweenie (2012)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Dumb And Dumber (1994)

Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997)

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

The Mask (1994)

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Scream (1996)

Evil Laugh (1986)

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Forrest Gump (1994)

Clerks (1994)

The Search For One-Eye Jimmy (1994)

Cabin Boy (1994)

Scary Movie 2 (2001)

Scary Movie 4...

It’s not uncommon to find many animated series in U.S pop culture that focuses on Greek and Roman mythology, like “Blood of Zeus” or “Hercules.” However, there are a few animated series whose creators choose to tell distinct stories like “DC’s Titans,” “Teen Titans Go,” “Gravity Falls,” and of course “Victor and Valentino.”

According to show creator Diego Molano, “Victor and Valentino” is a supernatural adventure comedy that seeks to put a spotlight on the mythologies of the Aztec, Olmec, and Mayan people — Latin-Americans generally.

The show is currently on its third season. In this article, we’ll tell you all that there is to know about the latest season of “Victor and Valentino” and a little about its characters.

What’s “Victor and Valentino” About?

“Victor and Valentino” is an animated television series that made its debut on March 30, 2019 — “Folk Art Foes.” The series follows the adventure of two half-brothers,...

Exclusive: Ne-Yo (Step Up: High Water) has signed on to star alongside his real-life aunt Kym Whitley (Twenties) and niece Tyler Kay Whitley (The Game) in the indie romantic comedy The Pact, from writer-director Robert Mychal Patrick Butler (Life Ain’t Like The Movies).

The film follows best friends Jessie (Tyler Kay Whitley) and Brandon, who made a pact in college to get married on their 30th birthday, should they both be single at the time. After Brandon gets dumped by his longtime girlfriend Amanda (Grace Aubry) on the eve of his 30th, he heads to Vegas with Jessie, marrying her after a night of drunken shenanigans. Back home, confronted with the fallout of their decision, Jessie has to deal with a new relationship and her upset Aunt Porsha (Kym Whitley), who found out her favorite niece has gotten married on social media. She’s at the same time tasked by her manager,...

Exclusive: Comedian and actor Bill Burr (F Is for Family) is writing, directing and starring alongside Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire) and Emmy nominee Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo) in the original comedy Old Dads, which Miramax has come aboard to produce in conjunction with Burr’s All Things Comedy.

Burr’s feature directorial debut centers on a middle-aged father (Burr) and his two best friends (Cannavale and Woodbine) who after selling their company to a millennial, find themselves out of step and behind the times as they hilariously struggle to navigate a changing world of culture, career and fatherhood. Burr and Ben Tishler penned the script and are producing with Bill Block, Monica Levinson and Mike Bertolina. Production kicked off in Los Angeles yesterday.

“I’m very excited to start shooting Old Dads,” said Burr. “This comedy is based on my own and my co-writer,...

HBO and HBO Max will be home to new original films, highly anticipated streaming debuts of new releases, and the finales of three popular series throughout February. Below, we’ve assembled a complete list of everything new on HBO and HBO Max in February 2022, and it includes a new thriller from director Steven Soderbergh and starring Zoe Kravitz called “Kimi.” The original feature takes place in a Covid-19 pandemic Seattle and follows an agoraphobic tech worker who discovers violent crimes have occurred in a data stream. The Max Original film premieres on Feb. 10.

Also coming in February is the “Raised by Wolves” Season 2 premiere on Feb. 3, with new episodes released weekly, as well as the season premiere of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” on Feb. 20. And coming to a close in February are the original series “Euphoria,” “And Just Like That…” and “Peacemaker,” which all air finales this month.

For its list of new releases of February 2022, HBO Max is bringing back one of its biggest original series.

The Ridley Scott-directed sci-fi epic Raised by Wolves helped launch HBO Max back in 2020 and now it’s finally back for another season. Raised by Wolves season 2 premieres with three episodes on Feb. 3. This season will continue the conflict between future atheists and theists on a remote planet, while two androids raise some kids.

February 2022 also sees the end of another, more recent HBO Max hit. Peacemaker airs its finale on Feb. 17. Thankfully that same day sees the premiere of another exciting original. Dream Raider is a Mandarin-language sci-fi thriller that carries some big Inception vibes.

There aren’t many original movies of note this month, but there are a lot of recent hits coming to HBO Max as library titles. Nightmare Alley arrives on Feb. 1, followed by The Many Saints of Newark on Feb.

Exclusive: Tommy Davidson, the actor, writer, producer, stand-up comic and author currently reprising his role as patriarch Oscar Proud in Disney+’s Proud Family reboot The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, has signed with APA for representation in all areas.

Davidson starred in Disney Channel’s beloved animated series The Proud Family throughout its run between 2001-2005. His recent credits also include an upcoming guest-starring role in CBS comedy series The Neighborhood; featured roles in the Nick Cannon-directed TV movie Miracles Across 125th Street and Michael J. White’s comedic feature The Outlaw Johnny Black; as well as guest appearances in BET+’s The Ms. Pat Show, the Netflix special Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine, and Showtime’s comedy series I’m Dying Up Here.

The multihyphenate is perhaps best known for starring in the groundbreaking sketch comedy series In Living Color, there becoming a standout with his impressions of Sammy Davis Jr.,...

Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter is partnering with Black and woman-owned, online vintage marketplace Thrilling on a Vintage Studio Services program, aimed at connecting stylists, designers and production companies with vintage and secondhand items for film and TV projects.

Nearly 1,000 shops across the U.S. will be accessible through the initiative, which is looking to help bolster small businesses, while encouraging eco-friendly and sustainable practices within entertainment.

As Thrilling’s first-ever brand ambassador, Carter has pledged to utilize the company and its new program in her upcoming projects for 2022. In celebration of the program’s launch, Thrilling has also unveiled a campaign comprised of styles inspired by Ruth’s work across 40+ film and television projects, which illustrates the role fashion plays in setting the stage for some of cinema’s most memorable scenes.

Naturally, Carter describes her partnership with the marketplace as “thrilling.

“I really want...

As the Hollywood blockbuster machine continues to dust itself off and release some early winter hits, Hulu is going in a bit of a different direction with its list of new releases for November 2021.

There are no big Hulu original films of note this month. Instead there’s a whole host of original series. The TV parade starts on Nov. 5 with the release of Animaniacs season 2. Also getting a second season this month is monarchal comedy The Great on Nov. 19. The most intriguing series, however, is animated Marvel comedy Marvel’s Hit Monkey. As its name so graciously implies, this is a show about a hit monkey…as in monkey assassin. Naturally the hit monkey is haunted by the ghost of Jason Sudeikis because it’s important that everything make sense.

Though Hulu doesn’t have any original movies in November, its list of library movie titles is quite vast.

November is gearing up to be a solid slate of streaming content for Hulu subscribers as the platform unveiled its lineup of what’s coming and going from the library. Among the must-see originals arriving in November are Season 2 of The Great, a special holiday edition of Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, and Animaniacs. The month also brings with it several films ranging from The Matrix series to Inception, I, Tonya, and Fargo along with holiday titles. Below, we’re rounding up everything happening at Hulu in November. Check out the rundown here: Animaniacs (Credit: Hulu) Here’s what’s coming to Hulu in November: November 1 The Informant: Fear and Faith in the Heartland: Original Documentary Film (Hulu Original) 10,000 BC (2008) A Christmas Wedding Tail (2011) A Nanny For Christmas (2010) All the Right Moves (1983) Apache Uprising (1965) The Babysitter (1995) The Beach (2000) Beatriz at Dinner (2017) Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011) Black Dynamite...

The comedian and former The Daily Show correspondent talks about his favorite Blaxploitation movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Casablanca (1942) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

The Castle (1997)

The Spook Who Sat By The Door (1973) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary

Pressure (1976)

Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary

Boss (1975)

Django Unchained (2012) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

The Thing With Two Heads (1972) – Stuart Gordon’s trailer commentary

The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971)

The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970)

Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970)

Black Samurai (1977)

Truck Turner (1974)

Schindler’s List (1993)

Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary

Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary

Judas And The Black Messiah (2021)

Friday Foster (1975)

That Man Bolt (1973)

Blacula (1972)

Foxy Brown (1974) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976)

Willie Dynamite (1973) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Billy Jack (1971)

John Wick (2014)

The Matrix (1999)

Cleopatra Jones...

As Gordon Parks’ blaxploitation classic “Shaft,” released nationwide on July 2, 1971, celebrates its 50th anniversary, a proper revision of its ethos is overdue. An anachronistic “Shaft” that promotes an outmoded 007 brand of masculine toxicity — an obsession with shiny possessions including cars, clothing, guns, and of course, women, while relishing violence as the most innate means to an end — may not quite cut it anymore.

That doesn’t mean the character should be neutered; but a post-Trump, post-George Floyd “Shaft” should intrigue executives in an industry that loves to exploit known IP, especially as it contends with an uncertain, rapidly evolving environment. The world does not need a Black James Bond right now; it needs a “Shaft,” updated to clash head-on with a backdrop that isn’t all that different from the era that led to a proliferation of movies like it.

For years, Idris Elba has had to react to...

Michael Jai White, whose work as an an actor, director and writer includes “Arrow,” “The Dark Knight,” “Spawn” and “Mortal Kombat: Legacy,” announced the launch of Jaigantic Studios, which will be Connecticut’s first mini-major studio.

White has long wanted to return to his home state to expand the industry with a studio that will provide jobs, professional training and apprenticeships for the local community. Jaigantic will open Studio One in July, which will be operational during construction of the purpose-built studios in New Haven, Conn. It will be used for Jaigantic Studio’s slate of productions that span film, television and other commercial projects.

Located at the midway point between New York City and Boston, Jaigantic Studios will serve as an accessible industry hub for students of Yale University’s drama school. The New Haven facility will house several soundstages, production offices, post-production and support facilities and motion capture stages,...

Kym Whitley and Danny Garcia have been cast in recurring roles in the Amazon YA pilot “Hot Pink,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The pair joins previously announced stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nina Bloomgarden, David Iacono, Mimi Davila, Dana Donnelly, and Myra Molloy, as well as fellow recurring star David Arquette.

The show is loosely inspired by Elana K. Arnold’s book “What Girls Are Made Of.” In the book, Nina Faye was raised to believe that there is no such thing as unconditional love, meaning she will do anything for her boyfriend to prove her worthiness. But when he breaks up with her, Nina is lost and sets out to find out what the conditions of love really are.

Whitley is a comedian and actress. She is known for her roles in films like “Next Friday,” “Deliver Us from Eva,” “Black Dynamite,” and “Along Came Polly” as well as shows such as “The Boondocks,...

[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Yasuke”]

“Yasuke” is purportedly a show about history’s first Black samurai. When the Netflix adult animated series sticks to that idea, it’s pretty good. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for the six-episode series to lose sight of its compelling protagonist in favor of increasingly outlandish fantasy elements.

The series, which hails from animation veteran LeSean Thomas (whose credits range from “The Legend of Korra” and “Black Dynamite” to “The Boondocks”) is very loosely based on Yasuke, who served Oda Nobunaga, the “Great Unifier” of Japan, as a samurai in the 16th century. “Yasuke” begins near the end of the real samurai’s recorded history: Records state that Yasuke was captured shortly after the defeat of Nobunaga’s forces and his ultimate fate is unclear; in the Netflix show, Yasuke (voiced by Lakeith Stanfield) eventually escapes and spends the later part of his life as a peaceful boatman...

"We are close to achieving real power." Netflix has revealed the full official trailer for their anime series titled Yasuke, from artist / creator LeSean Thomas. After posting the first teaser, we have to follow-up with this full trailer because hell yes this looks very cool. The story is about a samurai warrior who must return to his life of violence in order to protect a mysterious girl. When a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport the child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords. The story of Yasuke, the first African samurai who actually served with the legendary Oda Nobunaga. Featuring the voice of Lakeith Stanfield as "Yasuke", and he is joined by Takehiro Hira, Maya Tanida, Ming-Na Wen, Paul Nakauchi, Darren Criss, and Julie Marcus. This looks like it's going to be a...

"A true warrior, above all else, prays for peace... But today we fight for the future of Japan!" Netflix has unveiled a teaser trailer for a new anime series titled Yasuke, from artist / creator Lesean Thomas. Yasuke is a six-episode series set in alternate fantastical Japan during the feudal era. The story is about a samurai warrior who must return to his life of violence in order to protect a mysterious girl. When a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport the child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords. The story of Yasuke, the first African samurai who actually served with the legendary Oda Nobunaga, will be released to the world. Featuring the voice of Lakeith Stanfield as "Yasuke". This is a first look teaser but it's awesome introduction to this new creation, and...

Fresh off the long-awaited arrival of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (a.k.a. the fabled Snyder Cut), HBO Max has no need to appease fandom culture in April 2021. But the streaming service is gonna do it anyway!

The most notable new release for HBO Max this month is the HBO series The Nevers. This show, created by Joss Whedon, is set in a 19th century steampunk London and finds a sizable portion of the population (predominantly women) having been “Touched” by mysterious paranormal powers. There’s an interesting bit of irony at play here, as HBO Max is following up the Snyder Cut with a show created by his original Justice League replacement. Or at least there could have been an interesting bit of irony here, if Whedon had not bowed out from the show and been enthusiastically left out of the marketing material by HBO.

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As the year winds down, streaming services appear to be taking a step back, licking their wounds from this strange pandemic production season, and looking to a hopefully brighter future. This is all to say that Hulu‘s list of new releases for December 2020 isn’t quite its most inspiring batch yet…and that’s Ok.

Hulu’s biggest original title this month is undoubtedly The Hardy Boys. This adaptation of the classic boy detective novels is aimed at younger audiences and will premiere on Dec. 4. Then, near the end of the month, Hulu is bringing a new season of a show that is decidedly not for younger audiences. Season 9 of the very funny and very Canadian Letterkenny arrives on Dec. 26.

Hulu also has some recent movies of note coming in December including Amy Seimetz’s diabolical She Dies Tomorrow on Dec. 4 and children’s movie The Secret Garden on Dec.

We’ve now got just a few days left of November, so it’s time to take a look ahead at everything that’s headed to the major streaming networks in December. As it’s Christmas, Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video have extra special hauls ready to gift to their subscribers this holiday season, with literally hundreds of new movies and TV shows dropping over the course of the month.

All the various sites – excepting Disney Plus – are serving up a ton of newly licensed films on December 1st. Netflix, for instance, is adding such classics as E.T., Little Nicky and the first three Jurassic Parks. Meanwhile, HBO Max is offering up The Shawshank Redemption, Shaun of the Dead and a bunch of Final Destinations, while Hulu and Prime Video, which share a lot of the same movies, are treating users to a host of iconic...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as the various streaming services are stocking their libraries with some great new titles this December to keep us going through the festive period. When it comes to Hulu, the Disney-owned platform is adding a few holiday-related movies and TV shows, but is mostly taking the track of stuffing itself full of classic films that the whole family can enjoy.

This includes a bunch of the best James Bond pics ever made, like GoldenEye, The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldfinger and, the one that kicked it all off, Dr. No. That would be a perfect watch to honor Sean Connery, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Other action movies you might want to check out this December, meanwhile, include The Hurt Locker, The Fifth Element, 2003’s Hulk and the two “Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon” flicks, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.

Exclusive: The Spawn and Dark Knight actor has landed the lead role of James Baker, the DEA agent who faces off with Mickey Rourke’s villain in Asif Akbar’s The Commando.

Baker has Ptsd and returns home after a botched mission. He’s faced with protecting his family from a newly released prison criminal, played by Rourke, and his henchmen who’ve come after a stash of millions inside the agent’s house.

Koji Steven Sakai wrote the original screenplay from a story by Al Bravo, Akbar and Sakai as well. Elias Axume of Premiere Entertainment Group will be handling all world-wide sales and serving as producer. The Commando is a co-production with Al Bravo Films, Little Nalu Pictures and Avail Entertainment. Kimberly Hines will serve as EP. The movie shoots in New Mexico this month. Michael Jai White’s feature credits also include Black Dynamite, Why Did I Get Married Too?,...

Netflix has given a 10-episode, straight-to-series order to a new animated take on Norman Lear’s classic sitcom “Good Times.” Lear and his Act III Prods. shingle is partnering with basketball star Steph Curry and his production company, Unanimous Media, as well as Seth MacFarlane and his shingle Fuzzy Door, to develop the show.

Both Act III and Unanimous are based at Sony Pictures TV, which is behind the animated “Good Times.” Carl Jones, whose credits include animated series “The Boondocks” and “Black Dynamite,” as well as TBS’ Tracy Morgan starrer “The Last O.G.,” will create, showrun and executive produce the project. Per the logline, the new animated series will follow “the Evans family as they navigate today’s world and contemporary social issues. Just as the original did years ago, ‘Good Times’ strives to remind us that with the love of our family, we can keep our heads above water.

Netflix has given a formal series green light to Dad Stop Embarrassing Me, a father-daughter comedy starring and executive produced by Oscar winner Jamie Foxx. The series is inspired by Foxx’s relationship with his daughter, Corinne Foxx, who produces alongside Alex Avant.

Kyla-Drew will play Foxx’s daughter, with David Alan Grier also starring on the multi-camera comedy.

Dad Stop Embarrassing Me was casting and gearing up for production in February before the coronavirus pandemic paused most production activities. Ahead of the official series order, the original showrunner Jim Patterson, co-creator of Netflix’s The Ranch, recently stepped down. He was replaced by Bentley Kyle Evans. Initially hired as consultant, Evans (Martin), who previously co-created/exec produced with Foxx The Jamie Foxx Show in addition to serving as showrunner, was named executive producer/showrunner on the new sitcom. Evans hinted...

As August winds down, it’s time to look ahead to everything that’s hitting the major streaming services in September. As always, there’s an enormous haul of originals and newly licensed titles going up across Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video over the month, including content from every genre out there.

The first day of September brings the usual lengthy list of movies arriving on most of the sites. Just a few of the highlights include all three Back to the Future films returning to Netflix, every entry in the Twilight saga arriving on Hulu and countless iconic movies going up on HBO Max, including Grease, Miss Congeniality and V for Vendetta. Also, Doctor Who fans will want to take note, as the most recent season of the show lands on HBO Max the same day.

Feel free to inspect the full list of everything...