Letitia Wright Rallies The Mangrove 9 In Trailer For Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ Anthology

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August 7, 2020

After a five year wait, Steve McQueen followed his Best Picture-winning 12 Years a Slave with 2018’s Widows. While I had some issues with the film, nobody could’ve expected it to be as overlooked as it was during awards season. Perhaps that motivated him to quickly rebound with a more ambitious project, the Amazon-BBC anthology Small Axe, a collection of mini-films focused on racism and black activism. Mangrove is one of the movies in McQueen’s anthology, and it stars Black Panther breakout, Letitia Wright, as member of a little-known activist group in West London.

Mangrove centers on the Mangrove Nine, a group of black activists charged with inciting a riot against Notting Hill police in 1970. The cast is led by Wright, who looks to give a fiery portrayal in this trailer, hopefully one that gets her into more leading roles. She’s joined by Shaun Parkes, Malachi Kirby, Rochenda Sandall, Jack Lowden, Sam Spruell, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Nathaniel Martello-White, Richie Campbell, Jumayn Hunter, and Gary Beadle.

BBC and Amazon will debut the Small Axe films later this year. Another, titled Lover’s Rock, will have its world premiere at New York Film Festival.

SYNOPSIS: Mangrove is the true story of the Mangrove 9, a group of Black activists who clashed with London police during a protest march in 1970, and the highly publicized trial that followed. The trial was the first judicial acknowledgment of behavior motivated by racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police.

Mangrove is one of five films from Small Axe, a drama anthology which comprises five original films by Academy Award, Bafta, and Golden Globe-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen (Hunger, 12 Years A Slave). Set from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, the films each tell a different story involving London’s West Indian community, whose lives have been shaped by their own force of will despite rampant racism and discrimination. The title is derived from an African proverb, which has resonance throughout the Caribbean, “if you are the big tree, we are the small axe”. This was made popular by Bob Marley in The Wailers song Small Axe from the album Burnin’ (1973).

‘Judas And The Black Messiah’ Trailer Reveals Daniel Kaluuya As Betrayed Black Panther Party Leader Fred Hampton

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Travis Hopson

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August 7, 2020

The Black Panther Party is a shell of what they used to be (Although some would like to scare you into thinking otherwise) back in the 1960s. Then they were a real force in the fight for equal rights, even though their violent tactics ran them afoul of more peaceful civil rights leaders. But another part of the group’s legacy is aiding the community, quelling gang violence, and more, much of those plans instituted by Fred Hampton, the charismatic lead of the Chicago chapter. The story of his rise and fall at the hands of a betrayer is told in Judas and the Black Messiah, a film you may recall from a different title.

Originally announced as Jesus Was My Homeboy, this is that other Black Panther movie from Ryan Coogler, who is aboard as a producer. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton, a leader in the Chicago branch of the Black Panther Party and founder of the Rainbow Coalition. He was instrumental in helping to unite the many street gangs and turning them towards community activism. Unfortunately, that also put him on the FBI’s radar, setting in motion a plot that would lead to Hampton’s early demise in a hail of bullets.

Kaluuya reunites with his Get Out co-star Lakeith Stanfield, who plays Hampton’s friend and betrayer, William O’Neal. The cast also includes Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Martin Sheen, Ashton Sanders, Algee Smith, Lil Rel Howery, and Jermaine Fowler.

Behind the camera is Newlyweeds director Shaka King, having also co-written the script with Will Berson and The Lucas Brothers (22 Jump Street). Cinematography is by 12 Years a Slave and Widows DP Sean Bobbitt.

Judas and the Black Messiah opens next year.

‘John Wick 5’ Confirmed And Might Shoot Back-To-Back With Chapter 4

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Travis Hopson

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August 7, 2020

Remember when nobody thought John Wick was going to be anything? Yeah, well, we were all very wrong. Now it’s a gigantic franchise that has relit Keanu Reeves as a megastar and made a crap ton of money for Lionsgate. With three movies already in the bank, and a fourth on the way, the company’s CEO is already guaranteeing a fifth helping of the Baba Yaga.

Lionsgate CEO John Feltheimer says the next two John Wick movies will likely shoot back-to-back, depending on Keanu Reeves’ schedule…

“We’re also busy preparing scripts for the next two installments of our John Wick action franchise, with ‘John Wick 4’ slated to hit theatres Memorial Day weekend 2022. We hope to shoot both John Wick 4 & 5 back to back when Keanu becomes available early next year.”

John Wick 4, which will have Chad Stahelski back as director, had been planned for May 21st 2021, but was moved to May 27th 2022 due to the coronavirus slowing everything down. Stahelski has also been busy working on The Matrix 4 with director Lana Wachowski.

No date has been officially set for John Wick 5 and given the continued craziness going on it would be premature to do so.

Three John Wick films have combined for nearly $600M worldwide and have launched an entire universe centered on the world-renowned hitman. A TV spinoff, The Continental, is in the works, along with a feature film Ballerina that may star Chloe Grace Moretz.

‘Dirty Dancing’ Sequel Confirmed With Jennifer Grey Returning

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Travis Hopson

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August 7, 2020

It’s official: Baby is out of the corner! Just weeks ago rumors began to spread that a new Dirty Dancing film was in the works, and that Jennifer Grey, who starred opposite Patrick Swayze in the 1987 classic, would return. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed what he called “one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood’ during an earnings call yesterday. Grey will not only reprise the role but exec-produce the sequel.

Feltheimer said, “It will be exactly the kind of romantic, nostalgic movie that the franchise’s fans have been waiting for and that have made it the biggest-selling library title in the company’s history.”

Grey starred as Frances “Baby” Houseman in the dance classic, a timid young woman who falls in love with fearless dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze), while staying at a Catskills resort with her parents in the 1960s

The new film will be directed by Jonathan Levine, known for directing a wide array of films including 50/50, Long Shot, and Warm Bodies. The script is by the duo Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis, who wrote last year’s illness drama Five Feet Apart and ‘Conjuring’ spinoff The Curse of La Llorona.

It’s unclear how Baby fits into this next chapter. Maybe she became a dance instructor herself?

Dirty Dancing was a gigantic hit, winning an Oscar for Best Original Song and earning $214M worldwide. It’s made a lot more than that in home release and licensing, I assure you. A 2004 sequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, turned out to be a dud, and a 2017 TV remake was met with negative reviews, as well. [Deadline]

KITT Rides Again! James Wan To Adapt ‘Knight Rider’ For Film

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John Nolan

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August 6, 2020

2020 DOES have some silver linings! News dropped today that James Wan (Saw, Aquaman) and Micheal Clear have been contracted by Spyglass Media to bring a modern Knight Rider to the big screen, or at least to film form…no word on whether this will be streaming or theatrical. Look, I don’t think anyone’s surprised. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the failed TV reboot we probably would have been reading this news long ago. There’s simply no car cooler then K.I.T.T. and while, at the time, a car with advanced AI was far-off science fiction, these days it’s alot more possible which can make for a film that’s just as exciting and alot more grounded. James Wan hasn’t giving us any reason to doubt his ability to make awesome films out of existing property, sure the groundwork was laid for Aquaman before he was brought on but the film solidified a once garbage character as a bonafide A-lister in the superhero world.

While nothing is really known at this point, and the release is sure to be at least 2-3 years away I can’t wait to see what they do with the property. This is absolutely one of those things that can either be the rebirth of a classic or an absolute trainwreck, either way it’ll be hard to look away.

Final ‘Antebellum’ Trailer Confirms Premium VOD Release In September

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Travis Hopson

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August 6, 2020

Well, it didn’t take long to make a decision after pulling Antebellum from the release schedule just days ago. The Janelle Monae-led thriller has been getting bumped all over the place due to the pandemic, but now it has a new home that will do away with that. The film will follow in the footsteps of Mulan and go straight to Premium VOD this September.

Lionsgate has announced Antebellum will be made available as a Premium VOD release on September 18th. Select international markets will continue to get it theatrically, but here in the U.S. that won’t be an option.

Antebellum stars Monae as an author who is somehow transported back to the antebellum south, and must find her way to freedom. The film is directed by Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, who are happy to be able to get their movie out there in the face of unprecedented circumstances. The duo said in a statement…

“While we designed Antebellum to be consumed as a communal experience in the theater, we are thrilled by the unique opportunity we have to pivot to a different kind of communal moment in our culture. As we face the realities of systemic racism in our country, which have crescendoed to this current inflection point in 2020, we understand how imperative it is to bring Antebellum to the broadest audience possible, while also prioritizing health and safety. It is our ardent hope that by sharing our film widely, both nationally and internationally, we will transform the moviegoing experience from home into a true event.”

Check out the latest, and final, Antebellum trailer below. They’ve shown so much of this movie already I just hope there are still a few surprises left.

‘The Undoing’ Teaser: Secrets Threaten The Privileged In HBO Series Starring Nicole Kidman And Hugh Grant

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Travis Hopson

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August 6, 2020

In HBO’s upcoming series The Undoing, Nicole Kidman plays a wealthy woman who seemingly has everything. But all of her wealth and status can’t stand up to terrible secrets that threaten to topple it all. It may sound like a similar formula to her Emmy-winning turn in Big Little Lies, and if it reaps similar accolades the network will be extremely happy.

Kidman stars alongside Hugh Grant, which should be reason enough to watch, in the series from Big Little Lies writer David E. Kelley and director Susanne Bier, best-known for directing Bird Box and Emmy-winning series The Night Manager. Edgar Ramirez, Noah Jupe, Lily Rabe, Noma Dumezweni, Sofie Gråbøl, Matilda De Angelis, Ismael Cruz Córdova, and Donald Sutherland are also in the cast, so this thing has a full supply of star power.

SYNOPSIS: The limited series The Undoing, premiering October 25th , stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant as Grace and Jonathan Fraser, who are living the only lives they ever wanted for themselves. Overnight a chasm opens in their lives: a violent death and a chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster and horrified by the ways in which she has failed to heed her own advice, Grace must dismantle one life and create another for her child (Noah Jupe) and her family.

The Undoing hits HBO and HBO Max on October 25th, lasting for six episodes.

Emma Stone Strikes Production Deal With A24, Brings Along Jesse Eisenberg’s Directorial Debut

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Travis Hopson

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August 6, 2020

Every A-list star has one. They help keep their acting careers thriving and moving forward. What are they? Production companies. Over the last few years we’ve seen many big names establish their own labels to develop the stories they want to tell, and Emma Stone is next, having struck a new deal with A24.

Stone and her fiance, Brigsby Bear director Dave McCary, have established production banner Fruit Tree, and have signed an exclusive deal with A24 to develop future film and TV projects. And guess what? The partnership is already bearing fruit. *whomp whomp*

The first project produced by Stone’s company is her longtime Zombieland pal Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World. The mother/son story was also written by Eisenberg, and is led by Oscar winner Julianne Moore and Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard.

Stone’s label is also behind a TV adaptation of Stacy Willingham’s thriller novel, The Shadows, although it’s unclear where that will land.

Next up for Stone on-screen is next year’s Cruella, in which she plays the iconic Disney villainess. [Deadline]

‘Zola’ Teaser Reveals A24’s Sundance Hit Based On An Infamous Twitter Thread

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Travis Hopson

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August 6, 2020

A24’s Zola had the crowds at Sundance buzzing before anybody had seen even a single moment. The movie’s unusual origin springs from a series of tweets by Detroit waitress Aziah “Zola” Wells, nearly 150 of them, about a wild road trip to Florida that she took with another young woman and a pimp. Guns, murder, prostitution, suicide…all of it was part of an insane tale that became the stuff of viral legend. Before you know it, a bunch of tweets were being made into a movie.

While James Franco was initially attached to direct (Dave Franco is a producer), the actual job went to Janicza Bravo, whose feature debut Lemon is still one of the most bizarre things I ever saw at Sundance. Zola stars Riley Keough and Taylour Paige as the two women who embarked on this unhinged journey, joined by Nicholas Bruan, Jason Mitchell, Ari’el Stachel, and Colman Domingo.

In the newly-released teaser, we see the two women getting all dolled up, with captions hyping the legendary tweet-feud that sparked this mostly-true story. For such an unconventional film, a traditional release doesn’t appear to be on the menu, either, but for now A24 has not set any concrete plans.

Would anyone be shocked if Zola was released via Twitter or some other social media platform?

Florida? murder? u have the wrong number! @_zolarmoon @taylourpaige @rileykeough pic.twitter.com/GE4quzZp6n

— A24 (@A24) August 6, 2020

‘Critical Thinking’ Trailer: Inspirational Chess Drama Marks John Leguizamo’s Directorial Debut

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Travis Hopson

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August 6, 2020

Are you ready for another inspirational high school drama about underprivileged teens? No? Seen ’em to death, right? Well, what if I told you Critical Thinking marks the directorial debut of John Leguizamo, and the story actually centers around competitive chess? Interested now?

Based on a true story, Critical Thinking finds Leguizamo pulling double duty. He both directs the film and stars as coach Mario Martinez, who led the Miami Jackson High School chess team to the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship. This despite the challenge of an administration with no interest in supporting chess, or the inner-city students whose lives were changed by it.

Joining Leguizamo in the cast are Rachel Bay Jones (Modern Family), Michael K. Williams, Corwin C. Tuggles (Detachment), Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Spider-Man: Far from Home) and Angel Bismark Curiel (Pose). The script is by Dito Montiel, best known for his films A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Fighting, and Empire State.

Critical Thinking hits virtual cinemas, VOD, and digital on September 4th.

SYNOPSIS: Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.