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LuckyChap and Wattpad Webtoon Studios are teaming up to produce a live-action adaptation of the Webtoon sensation Stagtown. The film will be written and directed by Benjamin Brewer, who previously worked as a VFX artist on Everything Everywhere All At Once. Brewer’s experience also includes directing the film Arcadian, which premiered at SXSW 2024, and co-writing projects like Reptile and The Trust.

Based on Punko’s webcomic, Stagtown has racked up over 18 million views and gained popularity for its haunting story and eerie illustrations.

The plot follows Frankie, Jeremy, and Felix as they uncover the unsettling secrets of Stagtown, a place where residents seem determined to ignore the horrors around them.

Jason Goldberg, head of global film at Wattpad Webtoon Studios, expressed excitement about the project, saying, “Punko’s Stagtown has captured the obsession of the internet with its imaginative horrors and addictive mystery.

Related: 30 Best Horror Comedy Anime of...

LuckyChap and Wattpad Webtoon Studios Inc. are producing a live-action film adaptation of the Webtoon hit “Stagtown.” Filmmaker and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” VFX artist Benjamin Brewer is on board to write and direct the project.

The film will be adapted from creator Punko’s Webtoon webcomic, “Stagtown,” which has over 18 million views online. Beloved by fans for its nightmare-inducing plot and eerie artwork, the film will follow Frankie, Jeremy, and Felix as they discover something is terribly wrong in the town of Stagtown and attempt to escape the horrors that the residents spend every day ignoring.

Aron Levitz, David Madden and Jason Goldberg will produce for Wattpad Webtoon Studios alongside the team at LuckyChap.

Brewer has directed award-winning music videos for artists such as Alt-j, The War on Drugs and Justin Bieber. Brewer most recently directed the film “Arcadian,” which premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival to critical acclaim.

On Tuesday January 14 2025, CBS broadcasts The Late Show With Stephen Colbert!

Josh Gad; Betty Gilpin Season 10 Episode 60 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” promises an exciting lineup with guest appearances from actor Josh Gad and actress Betty Gilpin. This episode is set to air on CBS and is sure to bring plenty of laughs and engaging conversations.

Josh Gad, known for his roles in popular films and television shows, will be sharing his latest projects and experiences in the entertainment industry. Fans can expect Gad to bring his signature humor and charm to the stage, as he interacts with Stephen Colbert and discusses his work.

Betty Gilpin, a talented actress known for her roles in both television and film, will also be joining the show. Her dynamic presence and insightful commentary are likely to make for an entertaining segment. Gilpin may share stories from...

According to creator Gary Larson, The Far Side was a success as long as it got a reaction out of readers – even if that was a perplexed "What the?" or an indignant "My God!" Screen Rant has extensively covered Larson's most confusing comics, and now, it is time to explore his "edgier" jokes in more depth.

Just as with laughter, or confusion, different Far Side comics prompted outrage from different types of readers; it is likely safe to say that it is easier to come to a consensus on the funniest Far Side comics than it is to agree on Gary Larson's most controversial punchlines.

There is also the matter of time. It has been thirty years since The Far Side ended its run, and its peak came in the mid-1980s. Some Far Side comics may strike newer readers as more off-color, while some panels that were hotly...

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Lil Dicky is truly an artist for the internet age. The rapper made a name for himself with hilariously clever videos for songs like "$ave Dat Money," not to mention his incredible freestyle performances. The rapper, whose real name is Dave Burd, also proved himself as a pretty great storyteller in his Fxx comedy series, aptly titled "Dave." Premiering in 2020, the show presented a fictionalized version of the artist known as Lil Dicky, loosely inspired by his real life. It was an instant critical and fan favorite.

Unfortunately, the series met a somewhat unceremonious demise as the cross country tour that was "Dave" season 3 proved to be the show's last -- at least for now. In February 2024, FX confirmed that a fourth season wasn't in the cards. This announcement came a full nine months after the show's season 3 finale. As for why?...

Mortal Kombat 1 is unleashing new holiday themed in-game events starting today, and continuing until the end of December. Five new Towers of Time mode events will be available as free content updates for all Mortal Kombat 1 owners, including Bloody Snow (Dec. 19-25), Naughty List (Dec. 21-26), A Christmas Krampus (Dec. 23-30), ‘Twas the Night (Dec. 25-30), and Final Present (Dec. 26-30). Completing the holiday events will net you new holiday-themed character palettes.

Speaking of which, here’s the breakdown:

Bloody Snow Tower – Yuletide Necromancer & Christmas Evil character palettes for Quan Chi Naughty List Tower – Souls of Winter & Holiday Collection character palettes for Ermac A Christmas Krampus Tower – Holiday Hero & Winter Wonderman character palettes for Takeda ‘Twas the Night Tower – Angel on High & Holidazzle character palettes for Cyrax Final Present Tower – Eat, Drink and Be Lethal & Bah, Humbug character palettes for Sektor

In addition, players can also purchase new holiday character...

Plot: A washed-up boxer (Michael Pitt) prepares for the biggest match of his career – his first in ten years – while trying to patch up the various frayed relationships in his life.

Review: Day of the Fight marks actor Michael Pitt’s (billed here as Michael C. Pitt) first leading role in many years. A former heartthrob best known for The Dreamers, the American remake of Funny Games, and his role on Boardwalk Empire, he recently turned up in the underrated Benicio del Toro film Reptile but otherwise has been out of the spotlight for years. If you google his name, you can see that he had to deal with some personal issues we’re not going to dredge up here, but suffice it to say that Day of the Fight offers him a strong star vehicle that could help him make a comeback if the right people see it.

The...

Exclusive: Black Label Media has acquired film rights to The Strange, the 2023 sci-fi thriller novel by Nathan Ballingrud, enlisting Aisha Porter-Christie (Amazon MGM’s Citizen) to adapt the screenplay and J.D. Dillard (Devotion) to direct.

The project reunites Dillard with Black Label Media on the heels of Devotion, his historical war epic for Columbia Pictures, which the company produced.

The Strange is set in New Galveston, Mars in the year 1931. In the desolate frontier of a Martian colony, 14-year-old Anabelle Crisp embarks on a perilous quest through the desert, vowing revenge on the man who doomed her father to the gallows and stole her prized possession — the last known recording of her mother’s voice. The book is said to evoke the gritty, lawless atmosphere of True Grit combined with the raw intensity of Mad Max, following a young girl’s relentless search for justice as she battles ruthless outlaws...

After spending years combing the desert with a literal comb for any bleeps, sweeps, or creeps that could clue us into what's happening with Spaceballs 2, Josh Gad has delivered some news: People who've read his script for the film think it's good. Speaking to Forbes, Gad, who co-wrote, is producing,...

Showtime's Escape at Dannemora utilizes an exceptional cast to tell its true-crime story. The 2018 limited series is based on the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape, which saw two men, Richard Matt and David Sweat, successfully break out thanks to the help of their shared prison-employee girlfriend, Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell. Showtime needed actors like Benicio del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, and more to bring these and other real-world characters to life.

Escape at Dannemora originally premiered on Showtime in 2018, but it has since come to Netflix, claiming a spot on the Top 10 In October 2024. The series, which was created by Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin, was directed by actor Ben Stiller and explores the true events leading up to, during, and after the infamous 2015 prison break. Of course, any "based on reality" TV series requires some creative liberties, but with such an exceptional cast in Escape at Dannemora, it's...

Yorgos Lanthimos has added Alicia Silverstone to the star-studded cast of “Bugonia,” his upcoming sci-fi conspiracy movie led by Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.

Best known for her iconic role as Cher in “Clueless” (which she reprised last year during the Super Bowl), Silverstone memorably appeared in Lanthimos’ 2017 psychological thriller “The Killing of a Sacred Deer.”

The Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s latest movie follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. The script is from Emmy winner Will Tracy, based on the 2003 South Korean comedy “Save the Green Planet.” Details of Silverstone’s role are being kept under wraps.

“Bugonia” was developed by “Parasite” producer Cj Enm with Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen at Square Peg. Lanthomis, Aster and Knudson are producing the project with Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe (Element Pictures), alongside Stone...

With just a few weeks to go before the U.S. presidential election, Benicio del Toro has spoken out against the way that hot-button issues like immigration are used by candidates to rally support in the lead-up to the election.

The Oscar-winning star of “Traffic” and “Sicario” is guest of honor at the 16th edition of the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, where he was hosting a masterclass.

Del Toro is part of a roster of stars attending the fest, which is organized by Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux. Other high profile talent on the ground in Lyon includes Xavier Dolan, Isabelle Huppert, Tim Burton and Monica Bellucci.

“You can’t group people and say they are all bad people…most people who are trying to get to America are trying to improve their lives because there are problems in their hometowns, wherever they come from. They’re trying to better their lives,...

Acorn TV has announced the commissioning of ‘Irish Blood,’ a new murder mystery drama series headlined by Alicia Silverstone. Multi-award winner Silverstone, known for her roles in ‘Clueless,’ ‘Bugonia,’ and ‘Reptile,’ will lead the cast and serve as an executive producer. She will play Fiona Sharpe, a Los Angeles divorce lawyer who embarks on a […]

Acorn TV Greenlights New Murder Mystery ‘Irish Blood’ Starring Alicia Silverstone...

Alicia Silverstone is heading to the Emerald Isle for her next TV role.

Silverstone will star in and serve as an executive producer of Irish Blood, a murder-mystery drama from AMC Networks’ streamer Acorn TV. She’ll play Fiona Sharpe, a Los Angeles divorce lawyer who receives a letter from her estranged father and travels to Ireland to uncover the mystery of his disappearance.

Filming on the six-episode series has begun in Dublin. Irish Blood’s cast also features Wendy Crewson, Jason O’Mara, Dearbhla Molloy, Simone Kirby, Ruth Codd and Leonardo Taiwo.

“Irish Blood is the story of a woman discovering herself and confronting her past after traveling abroad unexpectedly,” Silverstone said in a statement. “I love how unpredictable the storytelling feels and the combination of drama, humor and suspense my character experiences.”

The series comes from writers Aaron Martin (Being Erica), Christina Ray (Murdoch Mysteries), Mike O’Leary (Bodkin) and...

Alicia Silverstone is to play a hot-shot Los Angeles divorce lawyer searching for her father in a new murder mystery series for streamer Acorn TV.

The Clueless star is leading Irish Blood, a six-part drama series for the AMC Networks-owned streamer. The series is filming in Dublin, Ireland.

The series follows Fiona Sharpe (Silverstone), whose path in life is earmarked by her father, Declan, who seemingly abandoned her and her mother on her tenth birthday. After years of channeling anger toward him, to the benefit of her litigious clients, a message from her father sends her to Ireland. There she learns key truths about her father as well as a family that doesn’t know she exists, and, moreover, that the story of abandonment that has shaped her entire life – was a lie. A lie intended to protect her and her mother from her father’s shady business dealings.

Netflix is conjuring up an entire haunted house’s worth of ways for fans to celebrate Halloween, with a screening series, “Stranger Things” merch tie-ins including new Squishmallows, live experiences and costume suggestions. The push to keep viewers engaging with spooky content throughout the month, both in-person and on streaming, includes the new Netflix & Chills Halloween hub, headlined by videos that guide viewers through themed rows such as “Killer Costume Ideas” and “Halloween Party Playlist.”

On the merchandising front, Squishmallows is collaborating with the series to launch four new “Stranger Things”-inspired Squishmallow plush toys including Max Mayfield and Vecna exclusively on Walmart.com in November. Other merchandise inspired by the show includes a a life-sized 7-foot-tall inflatable Demogorgon, “Stranger Things” pumpkin decorating and carving kits and a Hellfire Club party bundle.

The streamer is also celebrating “Stranger Things” with a Halloween screening event featuring the Season 2 Halloween episode “Trick or Treat,...

On Wednesday October 9 2024, CBS broadcasts The Drew Barrymore Show!

Josh Gad Season 5 Episode 45 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show” features the talented Josh Gad. This episode promises to be an enjoyable one as Gad sits down with Drew Barrymore to discuss his new children’s book. Known for his charming personality and engaging storytelling, Gad is sure to bring excitement to the conversation.

Viewers can expect to hear about the inspiration behind the book and what motivated him to write for children. Gad’s passion for storytelling shines through in his work, and he often shares heartfelt messages that resonate with both kids and adults. This episode will likely highlight his journey in creating the book and the themes that it explores.

In addition to discussing the book, Gad may also share some personal stories and experiences that shaped his writing. Drew Barrymore is known for...

Sherwood Schwartz's "Gilligan's Island" was something of a cultural fulcrum for multiple generations. It was panned by critics when it first aired in 1964, but it was also a massive success, raking in money for CBS, hand over fist. Thanks to a plum syndication deal, reruns of the series stayed on the air for decades after its cancelation in 1967, allowing kids of the '70s, '80s, and '90s to grow up watching it.

Over the years, "Gilligan's Island" also enjoyed multiple TV movie sequels and a few animated spinoffs, seeing as the series never quite left the public consciousness. One might have seen "Rescue from Gilligan's Island" in 1978, "The Castaways of Gilligan's Island" in 1979, or "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island" in 1981. Saturday morning kiddos may have also caught Filmation's "The New Adventures of Gilligan" in 1974, or the bonkers 1982 spinoff "Gilligan's Planet."?

It's curious, however, that no one...

Paramount+’s limited series JonBenét Ramsey (w/t), from MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, has tapped Emily Mitchell (The Apprentice) for its title role, also bringing aboard Garrett Hedlund (Tulsa King), Alison Pill (Trap) and Owen Teague (The Friend) for parts.

Mitchell’s JonBenét is a girl from an affluent family and child beauty queen, whose murder is at the heart of the story. Hedlund plays Detective Steve Thomas, a seasoned detective who is brought onto the JonBenét case, with Pill as Boulder, Colorado police detective Linda Arndt, who along with partner Detective Trujillo, is first on the scene after JonBenét Ramsey is reported missing/kidnapped. Teague plays Jeff Shapiro, a cocky, risk-taking reporter for the Globe tabloid.

As previously announced, Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen lead the cast as JonBenét’s parents, Patsy and John. Others aboard include Shea Whigham, who plays District Attorney Alex Hunter, an acquaintance of the Ramsey family,...

At Tower Bar, everything old is new again.

After six years of holding court at Jeff Klein’s tony San Vicente Bungalows, Dimitri Dimitrov is departing this week to become the major domo of Tower Bar, the star-packed Hollywood eatery at Klein’s Sunset Tower Hotel where the legendary 75-year-old ma?tre d’ first started working 20 years ago.

“Dimitri played an instrumental role in making Tower Bar what it is, and the guests missed him terribly,” said Klein. “Our regulars will be thrilled that he’s back.”

Those regulars include everyone from Jennifer Aniston to Tom Ford to Elon Musk. (Charmed by the dapper, Macedonian-born host, Musk talked him into buying a pile of Tesla stock way back in 2010, a prescient move that eventually turned Dimitri into L.A.’s first millionaire ma?tre d’.)

“It’s not about the money for me, obviously,” said Dimitrov, who’s stepping in for departing Tower Bar host Geshie Wilmot.

Grant Singer's 2023 thriller Reptile weaves a web of deception as Benicio Del Toro's Detective Nichols tracks down the killer of a young real estate agent named Summer (Matilda Lutz), and in the process uncovers department-wide corruption within the ranks of the Scarborough police force. After going through several suspects, including Summer's lover and fellow real estate agent Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), ex-husband Sam (Karl Glusman), and disgruntled neighbor Eli Phillips (Michael Pitt), he finally discovers the identity of the killer among the characters in Reptile along with their motivation for Summer's demise. Unfortunately, his revelations put him in the crosshairs of powerful players in a convoluted game of cat-and-mouse.

When he brings evidence against the killer and corrupt members of his department to the chief of police, the pair pay a visit to Captain Allen (Eric Bogosian) whose been concealing the identity of the murderer the entire time.

Leading indie distributor Well Go USA has picked up North American rights to “Death March,” an upcoming WWII action film starring and conceived by action star Scott Adkins.

In Adkins’ story, scripted by Marc Clebanoff, a British airman washes ashore after being ejected from his plane and becomes a prisoner in a Japanese-run Pow camp. While waiting to join the infamous Bataan death march, the airman is tortured by the camp commander and is forced to fight for his life against an array of skilled Japanese warriors. Adkins portrays the airman. Veteran actor Peter Shinkoda plays the camp commander.

Under the direction of Louis Mandylor, the film has recently wrapped production in the Subic Bay and Bataan region of the Philippines. Release plans have not yet been finalized.

Additional cast members include: Michael Copon, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (“The Equalizer 2”), Michael Rene Walton (“Reptile”), Gary Cairns, Shane Kosugi (“Nine Deaths of the Ninja...

Luis Ortega’s “Kill the Jockey” gallops onscreen with a surreal drama of mob hit men, romance, and spiraling self-destruction.

The feature, which premiered at Venice and will screen at TIFF, is directed by Ortega from a script he co-wrote with Rodolfo Palacios and Fabián Casas. Nahuel Pérez Biscayart leads the film as a wayward jockey caught up in a mob-run racing syndicate while suffering from substance abuse. Oh, and he’s trying to outrun someone they’ve sent to kill him.

The official synopsis reads: “Remo Manfredini (Biscayart) is a legendary jockey, but his self-destructive behaviour is beginning to outshine his talent and threaten his relationship with his girlfriend Abril (?rsula Corberó). On the day of the most important race of his career that will clear him of his debts from his mobster boss Sirena (Daniel Giménez Cacho), he has a severe accident, disappears from the hospital and wanders the streets of Buenos Aires.

Fans of the Trolls franchise are waiting expectantly for Trolls 4, the next installment in the magical, musical hit children's series. Jumping on the lucrative bandwagon of movies based on toy brands, Trolls premiered in 2016, starring Justin Timberlake as Branch and Anna Kendrick as Princess Poppy. It's no coincidence that those two leads are talented singers as the Trolls franchise is also a musical, sing-a-long series that features kidified versions of popular songs. The soundtracks of Trolls Band Together, Trolls World Tour, and Trolls are reason enough to see the movies.

Just about every four years, a new Trolls movie has come out with Trolls World Tour premiering on April 10, 2020, and Trolls Band Together on November 17, 2023. The series has been critically successful, with the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score being 63% for Trolls Band Together. The first and third Trolls films earned over $200 million each and Trolls World Tour's lower earnings can be...

Is Jack Huston about to give Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky a run for its money? What is this blasphemy upon which I speak? I’m talking about Jack Huston’s Day of the Fight, an upcoming underdog film packing a lot of heart that Falling Forward Films recently picked up for distribution. Today’s Day of the Fight trailer introduces Jack Huston’s directorial debut and what looks like a powerhouse performance from Michael Pitt.

Today’s Day of the Fight trailer presents Huston’s black-and-white indie film about a once-renowned boxer on a redemptive journey through his past and present. The film chronicles the boxer’s arc from his first fight to his release from prison and beyond. Judges are already eyeing Day of the Fight for awards consideration. Joining Michael Pitt in the film are Nicolette Robinson, Ron Perlman, John Magaro, Anatol Yuse, and Steve Buscemi as primary cast members.

Mortal Kombat 1 is the latest entry in arguably the most popular fighting video game series ever. The game recently received new content, which is usually good news for fans, but fans seem a little apprehensive this time.

The game’s creative director was present at Sdcc 2024, and a content creator interviewed him. Fans are responding to the director’s comments in the interview, and the reactions are somewhat unpleasant.

Ed Boon on the Future of Mortal Kombat 1 and the Video Game Series

There were early leaks and rumors that a content creator posted a post called ‘thethiny’ on Twitter. The rumors and leaks stated that 2024’s Sdcc would hold some exciting news for the game.

Suggested“You fight like a b**ch”: Mortal Kombat 1 Fans Agree 1 Kameo is Used By Only the Cheapest Players

Then, as rumored, new content for Mortal Kombat 1 was announced at Sdcc. The game...

After the alleged references indicating that Ghostface would be coming to Mortal Kombat 1, the same dataminer who discovered the sound files has found more indicating that not only is Ghostface planned for MK1, but also Conan the Barbarian and the T-1000!

Per IGN, Dataminer Interloko (who also posted a video showing their findings) has uncovered files in the game that detail six upcoming characters, five new announcers, and two new arenas. Alongside Cyrax, Sektor and Noob Saibot, evidence points to Ghostface, Conan and the T-1000 as guest fighters.

The addition of T-1000 actually falls in line with a leak last year where Reptile’s actor Andrew Morgado dropped news that Robert Patrick was recording lines for the T-1000.

Once again, the addition of Ghostface for Mortal Kombat 1 would fall in line with Ed Boon‘s tease last October. And Conan the Barbarian and T-1000 would follow the Terminator and Rambo...

With Tyler having the clarity, gumption, and downright insight to throw the first live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie at us as a gateway horror movie, it got me thinking about other movies that aren’t really horror movies but maybe got us thinking about dipping our toes into that now beloved genre. It got me thinking past things like A House with a Clock in its Walls, The Monster Squad, or other kids’ movies that are actually horror movies for kids. It got me thinking of late summer in 1995 and the old Charter Center theater off of Beach Blvd in Huntington Beach, California. It got me thinking of the first time I saw Mortal Kombat (watch it Here) and what that meant to both me and the state of video games as movies. Turn on your Techno Syndrome from the soundtrack and let’s revisit one of the...

Young and the Restless (Y&r) spoilers note it’s been a hot minute since fans have seen Jt Hellstrom in the land of Genoa City. While Victoria Newman’s (Amelia Heinle) ex has been known to pop in now and again, the actor who plays the character has been a busy bee, working on another project, the drama series, Lioness.

The Young And The Restless Spoilers- Alum Thad Luckinbill Bumped Up To Series Regular On “Lioness”

According to Deadline, Luckinbill has moved up to a series regular on the show, Lioness, for Season 2. He plays Kyle, a CIA officer on the series that streams on Paramount+.

The drama centers around a real-life CIA program and highlights Cruz Manuelos (Laysa De Oliveira), a hard-nosed but passionate Marine who was enlisted for a special division of the CIA known as, “Lioness Engagement Team” … no surprise as to why the series is called what it’s called,...

Thad Luckinbill's CIA character Kyle McManus will have an expanded role in Lioness season 2. All main characters, including Zoe Saldaa, Laysla De Oliveira, and Michael Kelly, will be back for the new season. The Special Ops: Lioness season 1 finale sets the stage for further exploration of key characters like Joe, Cruz, and Kaitlyn.

The latest cast update for Lioness season 2 confirms an expanded role for a CIA character. A spy thriller created by Yellowstone's Taylor Sheridan and formerly titled Special Ops: Lioness, the show premiered on Paramount+ in July 2023. Based on a real-life CIA program, the story follows Cruz Manuelos, a young Marine who's recruited to join the CIAs Lioness Engagement Team to bring down a terrorist organization from within. The show features a star-studded cast, including Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy star Zoe Saldaa, and was renewed earlier in May.

Deadline confirms that Thad Luckinbill, who plays CIA Officer Kyle McManus,...

Exclusive: Thad Luckinbill is roaring into Season 2 of Lioness as a newly minted series regular. He will continue to play Kyle, a CIA Officer.

The Taylor Sheridan drama starring Zoe Salda?a and Laysla De Oliveira was renewed for a second season by Paramount+ earlier this month. Season 1 is available to stream in its entirety via P+.

Lioness is based on a real-life CIA program and follows Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira), a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Salda?a plays Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives.

The series also stars Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, Lamonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton and Hannah Love Lanier.

Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Zoe Salda?a, Nicole Kidman, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Jill Wagner,...

Wes Ball's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is driven by exceptional performances from its exciting and talented cast. Continuing the universe that was set out in Matt Reeves reboot trilogy, the new Planet of the Apes installment acts as a sequel to those films, even though its story will follow a new central ape. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is directed by Wes Ball (The Maze Runner trilogy) and written by Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Patrick Aison. Kingdom's Rotten Tomatoes score indicates the movie has already been embraced by critics and moviegoers alike.

Reeves original Planet of the Apes trilogy chronicled the ongoing battle between humans and apes over control of the planet. It followed the apes leader Caesar as he fought the oppressive humans to protect his species and their homes. Though Balls upcoming sequel tells a different story, the...

Exclusive: Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee’s Thunder Road (John Wick) is partnering with longtime Screen Gems executive Scott Strauss to launch Badlands.

Backed by Andrew Schwartzberg and Jon Shiffman’s Renegade Capital, the independent genre label will feature development and co-fi funds and plans to make two to three films per year.

First up for the new venture will be Arachnid, starring Matilda Lutz. Written by Jayson Rothwell (Underworld: Blood Wars) and directed by ?ngel Gómez (Voces), the spider thriller is due to begin filming this July in Madrid. Altitude Film Sales will introduce the film to buyers in Cannes next week, with CAA Media Finance handling domestic rights.

Rothwell, Schwartzberg, Shiffman, Peter Welter, Alexandra Milchan, and Josh Weinstock are part of the Arachnid producing team.

Lutz is best known for genre projects including Revenge, Reptile and the upcoming films Magpie and Red Sonja, in which she has the title role.

Exclusive: Netflix and the Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground prevailed in a mid-six-figure spec deal for Dyersville, a fact-based Chicago-set crime thriller. Will Hettinger wrote the script, and Grant Singer is near a deal to direct, so this is all moving on a fast track.

Dyersville became a hot spec that had five buyers circling. They asked to keep the plot under wraps, but I can report it is set in the Obamas’ old stomping grounds, in Chicago. Higher Ground’s Vinnie Malhotra and Mark Write will be the producers.

Hettinger has been a staff writer on the Netflix series Painkiller and the Starz series Hunting Wives. His script The Final Score made The Black List, but this is his first feature sale.

Higher Ground is coming off Leave the World Behind and Rustin.

Singer made his feature debut on Reptile, the crime drama that starred Benicio Del Toro...

Sky Ferreira made a surprise cameo at Coachella Saturday when the singer appeared onstage before Kevin Abstract’s set to deliver a cover of Lady A’s “Need You Now.”

Without any official announcement, the leather jacket and sunglasses-clad Ferreira sauntered out onstage to the shock of fans, and promptly debuted her synth-laden (and unfortunately abridged) rendition of the smash single by the country band formerly known as Lady Antebellum.

Just as mysteriously as she emerged, Ferreira departed, leaving the former Brockhampton rapper Abstract to begin has set as planned.

In Benjamin Brewer’s Arcadian, the Earth’s soundscape is full of signs. The rustling leaves and frenetic bird calls are the noises of daylight’s safety, whereas the stillness of the night warns of threats. Brewer’s film harnesses the uneasy tension of a post-apocalyptic reality where no one knows what happened at the end of the world.

Premiering at SXSW, Arcadian observes Paul (Nicolas Cage) and his two sons, Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins) and Joseph (Jaeden Martell), navigating life in a recognizable but quieter version of Earth. Their routines rarely vary. In the morning, they forage around the forest for wood; salvage scrapes from ruined ships in abandoned ports; and run other errands around the house. At night, they say a prayer over dinner and check the locks. A cracked window or a door left ajar is an invitation for the monsters — impressively designed creatures with black veiny flesh...

Exclusive: Karl Glusman (Civil War) has been set as the male lead opposite Samara Weaving in 20th Century Studios’ heist thriller Eenie Meanie, from writer-director Shawn Simmons (Wayne).

Produced by the Deadpool franchise’s Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the film follows Edie (Weaving), a former teenage getaway driver who is dragged back into her unsavory past when a former employer offers her a chance to save the life of her chronically unreliable ex-boyfriend.

Glusman plays Edie’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, John. Sources tell Deadline the project is likely to premiere on Hulu.

Best known for roles in films including Gaspar Noé’s Love, Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon, and Chloe Okuno’s breakout horror Watcher, as well as Alex Garland’s FX series Devs, Glusman has more recently been seen in Netflix’s #1-debuting crime pic Reptile, Nick Cassavetes’ God Is a Bullet, and HBO’s The Idol from creators Sam Levinson,...

Exclusive: Felix Solis (Ozark) and Owen Teague (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) have been tapped for supporting roles in The Friend, the New York dramedy starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray, which adapts Sigrid Nunez’s New York Times bestseller.

No word on the roles they’ll be playing.

Winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction, The Friend follows a New York writer in the aftermath of her lifelong friend and mentor’s unexpected death. Thereafter, she’s left to deal with his complicated literary legacy, three eccentric ex-wives — and a massive, brokenhearted Great Dane named Apollo.

Scott McGehee and David Siegel (Montana Story) are directing from their own script, also producing through their new company Big Creek Projects, with Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd, and Noma Dumezweni rounding out the cast.

Also producing under her 3dot Productions banner is Liza Chasin.

Justin Timberlake will return to “Saturday Night Live” in the wake of backlash following ex-girlfriend Britney Spears’ shocking memoir “The Woman in Me.”

In the memoir, Spears alleged Timberlake encouraged her to have an abortion, among other revelations about their relationship. Spears also recounted a cringe encounter between Timberlake and Ginuwine; the audiobook narration of the exchange went viral thanks to Oscar winner Michelle Williams’ accent impersonating Timberlake. (Smart money is on Timberlake appearing in a sketch about this in some form.)

The Emmy and Grammy-winning musician will appear in the January 27 episode of “Saturday Night Live” with Dakota Johnson hosting. Johnson will be promoting her upcoming superhero film “Madame Web.”

In 2023, Timberlake reunited with *Nsync band members for animated film “Trolls Band Together.” Timberlake also recently appeared in Benicio Del Toro’s “Reptile.”

The “Social Network” star will take the “SNL” stage for his fifth solo musical guest appearance.

Pictures via Netflix

2023 has come to a close, and it is time to take a look at the winners and losers of the year among Netflix’s Original titles.

For this review, we used our very own Cve metric after 14 days to have more titles to compare on a more equal foot, and we also used IMDb to get a sense of the most liked titles of the year.

Editor’s note: This first appeared on Netflix n Chiffres, a Substack newsletter that covers streaming SVOD viewership in detail. Any views marked with an asterisk indicate that they’re an estimated figure.

Let’s embark!

Table of Contents 1. English Language Films 2. International films. 3. Debut English-speaking series 4. Returning English-speaking series 5. International Debut Series 6. Returning International Netflix Series 7. Animated series 8. Documentaries 9. Documentary series 10. Reality TV 11. The flops of 2023. 1. English Language Films

Let’s begin with one category with some heavy hitters – Netflix’s lineup of English-language movies.

A strange thing happens to me at the end of each year. Tasked with compiling a list of cultural favorites, I find myself drawing a blank. It’s as if I haven’t spent the past 365 days watching films, binging various TV shows, listening to albums or attending theater productions to prepare for this very moment.

On the heel of a deadline, I usually fire off some texts to friends — some desperate, all pleading. Is there anything you’ve watched this year that deserves more attention, I ask. What’s the best song you’ve heard? The best movie you watched? The best series?

Other than outsourcing a bit of my job, the questions end up being a good exercise in perspective. They reorient my attitude toward the compilation process. I begin to recognize the importance of reflecting, even casually, on a year’s worth of culture. I get excited about what’s to come,...

Things were going so well for "Leave the World Behind." Netflix's latest psychological thriller/disaster film hit the service on December 8, 2023, and promptly dominated the most-watched charts, claiming the top spot in 85 countries around the world as of December 11 (according to streaming data aggregator FlixPatrol). Directed by "Mr. Robot" creator Sam Esmail, the film also managed to impress critics, succeeding where other Netflix thrillers such as the disappointingly muddled "Reptile" failed.

The movie holds a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing, with critics praising Email's direction and the film's overall tone, which manages to establish a creeping sense of dread throughout. The performances were also singled out as a highlight, which is hardly surprising considering "Leave the World Behind" features one of the best casts yet assembled by Netflix. With Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, and Kevin Bacon, even if the script and direction were complete rubbish,...

Well would you look at that, there's actually a good movie at the top of the Netflix charts. I kid, of course ... kind of. The biggest streaming platform in the world is notorious for the sheer volume of "content" it produces, and for the most part, that means a heck of a lot of, shall we say, forgettable films and shows — most of which you could swear you've seen but probably can't recall a single scene.

For instance, there was the time a truly abject Spanish slasher climbed the Netflix most-watched charts despite decidedly bland reviews. Or the time everyone watched the disappointing Michael Fassbender thriller "The Snowman" and seemingly proved that Netflix users will watch anything. Recently, we had a film that looked like it could actually be the real deal in the form of the Benicio Del Toro-led thriller "Reptile." Indeed, the movie had the Netflix charts...

Based on Google search data, No One Will Save You is the most confusing release of 2023 due to its ambiguous ending and twist surrounding the protagonist's dark past. The Menu and White Noise, released in 2022, still made the list, indicating their lasting impact and confusion among viewers. The fact that No One Will Save You made it to the top trending searches list is a testament to its success and ability to generate discussion, considering its budget as an original horror film.

New Google search data reveals what are the most confusing movies and TV shows of 2023. This year brought several notable film and TV releases, including Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Five Nights at Freddy’s on the film side of things and The Fall of the House of Usher, Gen V season 1, and The Last of Us season 1. As 2023 comes to a close, there are still several major releases to come,...

The Motion Picture Sound Editors said today that Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer Dane A. Davis will receive its 2024 Career Achievement Award during its 71st annual Golden Reel Awards in March.

Davis is known for his Oscar winning work on The Matrix, and for his creative contributions to that film’s sequels and scores of other films and television shows.

“With his work on The Matrix, Dane Davis set a new standard for how to use sound to create worlds, add impact to stories, and arouse the emotions of the audience,” said Mpse President Mark Lanza. “Since then, he has continued to innovate across features, animation, television, and other mediums. We are excited to recognize his unique accomplishments with our annual Career Achievement Award.”

Davis has been a sound designer and sound editor for more than 40 years with over 180 film, television, and game credits. Along with his Oscar for The Matrix,...

So, Mortal Kombat took the fighting game by storm, and made it a worthy opponent to Capcom’s Street Fighter II. The obvious question after that is: How do you follow up that success? The obvious answer came in November 1993 with Mortal Kombat II. Was it more of the same? Not quite. Building upon the framework of the original game, Mkii honed what made the original game so great, added more Kombatants, more Fatalities, more secrets, and in general just gave fans more of what they craved in pixelated blood.

Mortal Kombat II picks up after the events of the previous tournament, where Shaolin warrior Liu Kang had defeated both the reigning Mortal Kombat champion Goro and the shapeshifting sorcerer Shang Tsung. Shang is brought before his master, Shao Kahn, the supreme ruler of Outworld, begging Kahn to spare his life. Shao Kahn relents after hearing Shang Tsung’s new...

Clueless, a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, continues to be remembered for its enjoyable characters and amusing satirical take on young adults and teen film tropes. The Clueless cast, including Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, and Paul Rudd, defined a generation and went on to have successful careers in the entertainment industry. The characters in Clueless, such as Cher Horowitz, Dionne Davenport, and Tai Frasier, resonate with audiences due to their relatable coming-of-age storylines and memorable performances.

A modern adaptation of the Jane Austen literary classic Emma and directed by Amy Heckerling, 1995's Clueless is a movie that continues to be remembered for its enjoyable characters. Centered around Cher Horowitz, a privileged Beverly Hills teenager who meddles in the personal lives of her friends, family, and even teachers, the movie reinterprets Austen’s novel as an amusing satire of not just young adults but also teen film tropes.

Clueless...

The run-up to Halloween proved to be a good time to release a new version of Goosebumps.

The series based on R.L. Stine’s beloved books broke into the top 10 overall for the week of Oct. 16-22. The show, which streams on both Disney+ and Hulu, racked up 594 million minutes of viewing for its second week of release, marking a rare non-Marvel or Star Wars original series entry for Disney+ in Nielsen’s rankings (being available on two platforms helped, as well).

Nielsen, incidentally, classified Goosebumps as an acquired show the previous week, apparently because of it being shared across the two platforms, before switching it to the originals column going forward.

The Fall of the House of Usher kept the No. 1 overall spot for the second straight week, growing by 19 percent over its opening to 1.47 billion minutes of viewing. Suits remained strong, recording its 18th straight week above a...

David Fincher's The Killer has earned an impressive Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 87%, making it the fourth-highest rated movie of his career. The score also makes it one of the highest for Netflix original movies in 2023, with only movies like They Cloned Tyrone (95%), Nimona (94%), and You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah (91%) beating it. Critics praise The Killer as a stylish and taut thriller, highlighting Fincher's meticulous direction and Michael Fassbender's performance as a cold and calculating protagonist as major high points.

The Killer, David Fincher's new thriller movie starring Michael Fassbender, has debuted to a Rotten Tomatoes score that handily beats most 2023 Netflix films. Telling the story of an assassin who sets out to take revenge against his employers after a job gone wrong, The Killer continues Fincher's partnership with Netflix after 2020's Mank. The film, which reunites Fincher with Se7en screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker,...

For only the second time since mid-June, Suits is not the No. 1 title in Nielsen’s streaming rankings.

That honor belongs to Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher, which snagged the top spot for the week of Oct. 9-15. Writer-director Mike Flanagan’s spin on the titular Edgar Allan Poe story (and several others by the author) drew 1.23 billion minutes of viewing, edging out the 1.13 billion for Suits.

The latter series continued its months-long run above the billion-minute mark, however, and has now compiled almost 44.4 billion minutes (about 739.8 million hours) of viewing on Netflix and Peacock since it first hit the rankings in June. Nielsen notes that viewing of Suits’ ninth and final season, which is only available on Peacock, accounted for 6 percent of the weekly tally (about 67.6 million minutes) — the highest percentage for those episodes since the other eight seasons debuted on Netflix.

Netflix’s Love Is Blind...