New Republic Pictures acquires forthcoming UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY for franchise development
PORTLAND, Ore. — The most anticipated comic book series launch of the year—Undiscovered Country by New York Times bestselling writers Scott Snyder (Wytches, AD: After Death) and Charles Soule (Curse Words, The Oracle Year, Anyone) and acclaimed artist Giuseppe Camuncoli (The Amazing Spider-Man, Darth Vader, Hellblazer)—has been acquired by New Republic Pictures, after a competitive bidding situation, for potential franchise development.
According to ScreenDaily.com's exclusive scoop: "Snyder and Soule are attached to adapt the screenplay and serve as executive producers alongside Camuncoli. John Hilary Shepherd will oversee development for New Republic.
The project joins a New Republic development slate that includes The Creed Of Violence for Todd Field to write and direct; urban drama Green Rush produced with Will Packer; a remake of The Wild Geese based on a screenplay by William Monahan; and Zelda to star Jennifer Lawrence."
In Undiscovered Country, readers will journey into an unknown region that was once the United States of America—a land that’s become shrouded in mystery and literally walled-off from the rest of the world for decades. A small expedition enters the former US in search of a cure to a humanity-ending pandemic. They travel inward and learn the secrets of what America has become; each member seeking their own form of truth in the undiscovered country.
Undiscovered Country #1 (Diamond Code SEP190027) will be available on Wednesday, November 6, 2019. It can be pre-ordered now with your local comic shop.
The digital edition of Undiscovered Country #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including the official Image Comics iOS app, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.
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Monday, September 23, 2019
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 15th to 21st, 2019 - Update #24
Support Leroy on Patreon:
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik, who played nerd couple, "Sheldon & Amy" on CBS' recently ended "The Big Bang Theory," are reportedly reunited for a new sitcom on Fox. "Entitled "Carla," it is a based on the BBC series, "Miranda."
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SPORTS - From Deadline: "The Immaculate Reception" has been named the greatest play in the history of the National Football League (NFL) by a nationwide panel of 68 media members. This article has video of the deflected pass that Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Franco Harris, caught ran for a touchdown in the Steelers first playoff win.
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BOX OFFICE - From Deadline: The "Downton Abbey" movie looks like it will squash "Rambo Last Blood" and Brad Pitt's "Ad Astra" to win the weekend box office.
----------
MOVIES - From YahooMoviesUK: Samara Weaving, who is starring in "Bill & Ted 3," says that Keanu Reeves is unaware of his huge online fanbase.
----------
ECO - From Time: Angelina Jolie writes for "Time Magazine": Climate Change Is Already Displacing Millions of People. It's Our Responsibility to Help Them
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MOVIES - From Deadline: Joe and Anthony Russo ("Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame") will receive will receive the 2019 Publicists Motion Picture Showman of the Year Award from the International Cinematographers Guild.
----------
STREAMING - From USAToday: Amazon's "Lord of the Rings" TV series will film in New Zealand (and it already is) as Peter Jackson's film trilogy did.
----------
DISNEY - From Deadline: "Vanity Fair" has an advanced excerpt from Disney CEO Bob Iger's memoir, "The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company." Iger says that if Apple CEO Steve Jobs had lived, Disney and Apple would have merged.
----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline: "Hogan's Heroes" is coming back. Albert Ruddy, co-creator of the original 1960s comedy TV series, is joining Village Roadshow and Rough Pictures, to produce a sequel that focuses on the descendants of the original TV show who are now treasure hunters.
----------
STREAMING - From Deadline: NBCUniversal has named its new streaming service "Peacock." A number of Peacock's series will be reboots of old NBC and Universal properties, like "Saved by the Bell."
From TVLine: One of the series that NBCUniversal is reviving for its streaming service, "Peacock," is "Saved by the Bell." Is anyone from the original cast coming back?
----------
STREAMING - From Deadline: There will be a second reboot of the old ABC TV series, "Battlestar Galactica." Fans remember Syfy's 2003-09 series. Now, NBCUniversal, which owns the property, has ordered a reboot from "Mr. Robot" creator, Sam Esmail. The new series will debut on NBCU's new streaming service, which was recently named, "Peacock."
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MOVIES - From CBR: Original "Ghostbusters" star, Dan Aykroyd, will return for the upcoming "Ghostbusters 2020."
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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 9/13 to 9/15/2019 weekend box office is "It: Chapter Two" with an estimated take of 40.7 million dollars.
TELEVISION - From Variety: Emmy-winning actress Jane Lynch has revealed that she has joined Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer-songwriter, Cyndi Lauper, and former "Seinfeld" writer, Carol Leifer, in developing a new comedy similar to NBC's long-running hit, "The Golden Girls." They hope to sell the series to Netflix.
----------
MOVIES - From TheGuardian: In its "100 best films of the 21st century" list, the site goes with Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" (2007) as the top film. And they stupidly start with the year 2000.
From TheGuardian: Paul Thomas Anderson talks about his film being #1.
----------
EMMYS - From IndieWire: Here is the winners' list from the second night of the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
From Variety: Last night, Saturday, September 14, 2019 was "Night 1" of the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards." This article has a full list of winners.
From TheWrap: Last night at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys, legendary TV producer, Norman Lear, became the oldest Emmy Award winner at the age of 97 years and 49 days old. He beat a record that had been set half and hour earlier when David Attenborough won an Emmy at the age of 93 years old.
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CULTURE - From THR: "Who decides who is allowed to say the "N-word?" Kareem Abdul-Jabbar supports writer Walter Mosley's decision to quit the writing staff of "Star Trek: Discovery" after Mosley was admonished for telling a story that involved him using the word "nigger."
From TheNewYorkTimes: Novelist and screenwriter Walter Mosley explains why he quit "Star Trek: Discover."
OBITS:
From ABC: Groundbreaking female journalist and political commentator, Cokie Roberts, has died at the age of 75, Tuesday, September 17, 2019. A three-time Emmy winner, Roberts may be best known for her association with National Public Radio (NPR) and ABC News. Roberts was a longtime panelist on ABC's Sunday morning news show, "The Week" and ABC's evening news show, "World News Tonight."
From YahooEntertainment: Actor Brian Turk died at the age of 49, Friday, September 13, 2019. He was best known for his role as "Gabriel" in HBO's "Carnivale" (2003-2005). He was a football player at the University of Southern Califonia, and began his acting career in 1993.
From RollingStone: Singer-songwriter, producer, and recording artist, Ric Ocasek, has died at the age of 75, Sunday, September 15, 2019. Ocasek is best remembered as the lead singer, primary songwriter, and rhythm guitarist of "the Cars," a band known for fusing pop and new wave music. Ocasek was also a prolific music producer for other acts including Weezer, No Doubt, and Bad Brains, to name a few.
From YahooEntertainment: Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the 1970s-80s New Wave rock band, died of cardiovascular disease according to an autopsy report released today, Monday, September 16, 2019, by the New York City medical examiner’s office. Ocasek passed away Sunday.
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik, who played nerd couple, "Sheldon & Amy" on CBS' recently ended "The Big Bang Theory," are reportedly reunited for a new sitcom on Fox. "Entitled "Carla," it is a based on the BBC series, "Miranda."
----------
SPORTS - From Deadline: "The Immaculate Reception" has been named the greatest play in the history of the National Football League (NFL) by a nationwide panel of 68 media members. This article has video of the deflected pass that Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Franco Harris, caught ran for a touchdown in the Steelers first playoff win.
---------
BOX OFFICE - From Deadline: The "Downton Abbey" movie looks like it will squash "Rambo Last Blood" and Brad Pitt's "Ad Astra" to win the weekend box office.
----------
MOVIES - From YahooMoviesUK: Samara Weaving, who is starring in "Bill & Ted 3," says that Keanu Reeves is unaware of his huge online fanbase.
----------
ECO - From Time: Angelina Jolie writes for "Time Magazine": Climate Change Is Already Displacing Millions of People. It's Our Responsibility to Help Them
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Joe and Anthony Russo ("Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame") will receive will receive the 2019 Publicists Motion Picture Showman of the Year Award from the International Cinematographers Guild.
----------
STREAMING - From USAToday: Amazon's "Lord of the Rings" TV series will film in New Zealand (and it already is) as Peter Jackson's film trilogy did.
----------
DISNEY - From Deadline: "Vanity Fair" has an advanced excerpt from Disney CEO Bob Iger's memoir, "The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company." Iger says that if Apple CEO Steve Jobs had lived, Disney and Apple would have merged.
----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline: "Hogan's Heroes" is coming back. Albert Ruddy, co-creator of the original 1960s comedy TV series, is joining Village Roadshow and Rough Pictures, to produce a sequel that focuses on the descendants of the original TV show who are now treasure hunters.
----------
STREAMING - From Deadline: NBCUniversal has named its new streaming service "Peacock." A number of Peacock's series will be reboots of old NBC and Universal properties, like "Saved by the Bell."
From TVLine: One of the series that NBCUniversal is reviving for its streaming service, "Peacock," is "Saved by the Bell." Is anyone from the original cast coming back?
----------
STREAMING - From Deadline: There will be a second reboot of the old ABC TV series, "Battlestar Galactica." Fans remember Syfy's 2003-09 series. Now, NBCUniversal, which owns the property, has ordered a reboot from "Mr. Robot" creator, Sam Esmail. The new series will debut on NBCU's new streaming service, which was recently named, "Peacock."
----------
MOVIES - From CBR: Original "Ghostbusters" star, Dan Aykroyd, will return for the upcoming "Ghostbusters 2020."
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 9/13 to 9/15/2019 weekend box office is "It: Chapter Two" with an estimated take of 40.7 million dollars.
TELEVISION - From Variety: Emmy-winning actress Jane Lynch has revealed that she has joined Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer-songwriter, Cyndi Lauper, and former "Seinfeld" writer, Carol Leifer, in developing a new comedy similar to NBC's long-running hit, "The Golden Girls." They hope to sell the series to Netflix.
----------
MOVIES - From TheGuardian: In its "100 best films of the 21st century" list, the site goes with Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" (2007) as the top film. And they stupidly start with the year 2000.
From TheGuardian: Paul Thomas Anderson talks about his film being #1.
----------
EMMYS - From IndieWire: Here is the winners' list from the second night of the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
From Variety: Last night, Saturday, September 14, 2019 was "Night 1" of the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards." This article has a full list of winners.
From TheWrap: Last night at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys, legendary TV producer, Norman Lear, became the oldest Emmy Award winner at the age of 97 years and 49 days old. He beat a record that had been set half and hour earlier when David Attenborough won an Emmy at the age of 93 years old.
----------
CULTURE - From THR: "Who decides who is allowed to say the "N-word?" Kareem Abdul-Jabbar supports writer Walter Mosley's decision to quit the writing staff of "Star Trek: Discovery" after Mosley was admonished for telling a story that involved him using the word "nigger."
From TheNewYorkTimes: Novelist and screenwriter Walter Mosley explains why he quit "Star Trek: Discover."
OBITS:
From ABC: Groundbreaking female journalist and political commentator, Cokie Roberts, has died at the age of 75, Tuesday, September 17, 2019. A three-time Emmy winner, Roberts may be best known for her association with National Public Radio (NPR) and ABC News. Roberts was a longtime panelist on ABC's Sunday morning news show, "The Week" and ABC's evening news show, "World News Tonight."
From YahooEntertainment: Actor Brian Turk died at the age of 49, Friday, September 13, 2019. He was best known for his role as "Gabriel" in HBO's "Carnivale" (2003-2005). He was a football player at the University of Southern Califonia, and began his acting career in 1993.
From RollingStone: Singer-songwriter, producer, and recording artist, Ric Ocasek, has died at the age of 75, Sunday, September 15, 2019. Ocasek is best remembered as the lead singer, primary songwriter, and rhythm guitarist of "the Cars," a band known for fusing pop and new wave music. Ocasek was also a prolific music producer for other acts including Weezer, No Doubt, and Bad Brains, to name a few.
From YahooEntertainment: Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the 1970s-80s New Wave rock band, died of cardiovascular disease according to an autopsy report released today, Monday, September 16, 2019, by the New York City medical examiner’s office. Ocasek passed away Sunday.
Sony Acquires All Rights to the Film, "The Burnt Orange Heresy"
Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Guiseppe Capotondi's The Burnt Orange Heresy
NEW YORK – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all rights in all media, excluding airlines, in North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Latin America, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Thailand to Guiseppe Capotondi’s THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY. Based on the novel by Charles Willeford, the film stars Claes Bang, Elizabeth Debicki, Mick Jagger and Donald Sutherland. It premiered as the closing night film at the Venice Film Festival, where Capotondi, Jagger and Sutherland won the Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award. The film also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Charming and ambitious art critic James Figueras (Claes Bang) has fallen from grace. He spends his days in Milan lecturing witless tourists about art history. His only glimmer of hope is a new-found love interest, the enigmatic American, Berenice (Elizabeth Debicki). An opportunity strikes when he is contacted by wealthy art dealer Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger), who summons James to his villa on Lake Como and asks him to steal a painting from the legendary reclusive artist Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland). Soon, James’ greed and ambition get the better of him, and he finds himself caught in a web of his own making.
Written by Scott B. Smith, the film is produced by David Zander, William Horberg, David Lancaster and and executive produced by Sienna Aquilini, Aeysha Walsh, Dante Ariola, August Zander, Charlie Dombek, Sherborne Media, Rumble Films, Indiana Production Company, The Ingenious Group, and Hanway Films.
The deal was co-repped by CAA Media Finance and UTA.
This acquisition rounds out the successful showing Sony Pictures Classics had at the Toronto International Film Festival this year where they also acquired the previously announced LYREBIRD and had strong showings of their titles THE CLIMB, FRANKIE, THE SONG OF NAMES, THE TRAITOR, WHERE'S MY ROY COHN, GREED, and PAIN AND GLORY.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world. Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 39 Academy Awards® (35 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 173 Academy Award® nominations (147 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com
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NEW YORK – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all rights in all media, excluding airlines, in North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Latin America, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Thailand to Guiseppe Capotondi’s THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY. Based on the novel by Charles Willeford, the film stars Claes Bang, Elizabeth Debicki, Mick Jagger and Donald Sutherland. It premiered as the closing night film at the Venice Film Festival, where Capotondi, Jagger and Sutherland won the Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award. The film also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Charming and ambitious art critic James Figueras (Claes Bang) has fallen from grace. He spends his days in Milan lecturing witless tourists about art history. His only glimmer of hope is a new-found love interest, the enigmatic American, Berenice (Elizabeth Debicki). An opportunity strikes when he is contacted by wealthy art dealer Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger), who summons James to his villa on Lake Como and asks him to steal a painting from the legendary reclusive artist Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland). Soon, James’ greed and ambition get the better of him, and he finds himself caught in a web of his own making.
Written by Scott B. Smith, the film is produced by David Zander, William Horberg, David Lancaster and and executive produced by Sienna Aquilini, Aeysha Walsh, Dante Ariola, August Zander, Charlie Dombek, Sherborne Media, Rumble Films, Indiana Production Company, The Ingenious Group, and Hanway Films.
The deal was co-repped by CAA Media Finance and UTA.
This acquisition rounds out the successful showing Sony Pictures Classics had at the Toronto International Film Festival this year where they also acquired the previously announced LYREBIRD and had strong showings of their titles THE CLIMB, FRANKIE, THE SONG OF NAMES, THE TRAITOR, WHERE'S MY ROY COHN, GREED, and PAIN AND GLORY.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world. Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 39 Academy Awards® (35 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 173 Academy Award® nominations (147 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com
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Thursday, September 19, 2019
"The Lord of the Rings" Returns to New Zealand for Amazon Series
Amazon Studios Announces New Zealand as Location for Its Upcoming Series Based on The Lord of the Rings
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon Studios announced that its series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy novels The Lord of the Rings will shoot in New Zealand. Pre-production has started, and production on the series will begin in Auckland in the coming months.
“As we searched for the location in which we could bring to life the primordial beauty of the Second Age of Middle-earth, we knew we needed to find somewhere majestic, with pristine coasts, forests, and mountains, that also is a home to world-class sets, studios, and highly skilled and experienced craftspeople and other staff. And we’re happy that we are now able to officially confirm New Zealand as our home for our series based on stories from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings,” said showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. “We are grateful to the people and the government of New Zealand and especially Auckland for supporting us during this pre-production phase. The abundant measure of Kiwi hospitality with which they have welcomed us has already made us feel right at home, and we are looking forward to deepening our partnership in the years to come.”
Set in Middle-earth, the television adaptation will explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. A world-renowned literary work, and winner of the International Fantasy Award and Prometheus Hall of Fame Award, The Lord of the Rings novels were named Amazon customers’ favorite book of the millennium in 1999 and Britain’s best-loved novel of all time in BBC’s The Big Read in 2003. Its theatrical adaptations, from New Line Cinema and Director Peter Jackson, earned a combined gross of nearly $6 billion worldwide and garnered a combined 17 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
The executive producers and showrunners for the series are J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage, Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom) will direct the first two episodes and also serve as executive producer, alongside his partner Belén Atienza. Executive Producers are Lindsey Weber (10 Cloverfield Lane), Bruce Richmond (Game of Thrones), Gene Kelly (Boardwalk Empire), Sharon Tal Yguado, Gennifer Hutchison (Breaking Bad), Jason Cahill (The Sopranos), and Justin Doble (Stranger Things).
About Prime Video
Prime Video is a premium streaming service that offers customers a vast collection of digital videos—all with the ease of finding what they love to watch in one place.
In addition to access to movies and TV shows included with Prime, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalogue with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: amazon.com/prime.
--------------------------
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon Studios announced that its series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy novels The Lord of the Rings will shoot in New Zealand. Pre-production has started, and production on the series will begin in Auckland in the coming months.
“As we searched for the location in which we could bring to life the primordial beauty of the Second Age of Middle-earth, we knew we needed to find somewhere majestic, with pristine coasts, forests, and mountains, that also is a home to world-class sets, studios, and highly skilled and experienced craftspeople and other staff. And we’re happy that we are now able to officially confirm New Zealand as our home for our series based on stories from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings,” said showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. “We are grateful to the people and the government of New Zealand and especially Auckland for supporting us during this pre-production phase. The abundant measure of Kiwi hospitality with which they have welcomed us has already made us feel right at home, and we are looking forward to deepening our partnership in the years to come.”
Set in Middle-earth, the television adaptation will explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. A world-renowned literary work, and winner of the International Fantasy Award and Prometheus Hall of Fame Award, The Lord of the Rings novels were named Amazon customers’ favorite book of the millennium in 1999 and Britain’s best-loved novel of all time in BBC’s The Big Read in 2003. Its theatrical adaptations, from New Line Cinema and Director Peter Jackson, earned a combined gross of nearly $6 billion worldwide and garnered a combined 17 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
The executive producers and showrunners for the series are J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage, Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom) will direct the first two episodes and also serve as executive producer, alongside his partner Belén Atienza. Executive Producers are Lindsey Weber (10 Cloverfield Lane), Bruce Richmond (Game of Thrones), Gene Kelly (Boardwalk Empire), Sharon Tal Yguado, Gennifer Hutchison (Breaking Bad), Jason Cahill (The Sopranos), and Justin Doble (Stranger Things).
About Prime Video
Prime Video is a premium streaming service that offers customers a vast collection of digital videos—all with the ease of finding what they love to watch in one place.
- Included with Prime: Watch thousands of popular movies and TV shows, including our critically-acclaimed Amazon Originals including the Emmy Award-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Boys, Homecoming, Hanna, Fleabag, Good Omens, Donald Glover’s Guava Island, the Academy Award-winning Manchester by the Sea and The Salesman, Academy Award-nominated The Big Sick and Cold War, and the critically-acclaimed Beautiful Boy, exclusives, live sports including Thursday Night Football and licensed and self-published content available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
- Watch more with Prime Video Channels: Prime members can add 150+ channels in the US like HBO, Cinemax, STARZ, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, NBA League Pass and MLB.tv—no extra apps to download, and no cable required. Only pay for the ones you want, and cancel anytime. View the full list of channels available at amazon.com/channels.
- Rent or Buy: Enjoy hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and entire seasons of current TV episodes, available for all Amazon customers to rent or buy.
- Instant access: Watch where and when you want with the Prime Video app on your smart TV, mobile device, Fire TV, Fire tablet, Apple TV, Chromecast, game consoles, Comcast X1 or from the web. For a complete list of compatible devices, visit amazon.com/howtostream.
- Enhanced experiences: Make the most of every viewing with 4K Ultra HD- and High Dynamic Range (HDR)-compatible content. Go behind the scenes of your favorite movies and TV shows with exclusive X-Ray access, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with select mobile downloads for offline viewing.
In addition to access to movies and TV shows included with Prime, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalogue with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: amazon.com/prime.
--------------------------
Sony Pictures Obtains WWII Drama, "Lyrebird"
Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Dan Friedkin’s Lyrebird
NEW YORK – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all rights in all media in North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia to Dan Friedkin’s LYREBIRD. The film stars Vicky Krieps, Guy Pearce, Roland Moller and Claes Bang. It premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and will screen this evening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Claes Bang (The Square) stars as Joseph Piller in this captivating dramatic thriller set just after WWII - an all but forgotten true story - about a soldier investigating renowned Dutch artist Han van Meegeren, played by Guy Pearce (LA Confidential), who is accused of conspiring with the Nazis. Despite mounting evidence, Piller becomes increasingly convinced of Han's innocence and finds himself in the unlikely position of fighting to save the life of the colorful man with a mysterious past. The film also features Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread).
Written by James McGee and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, LYREBIRD marks Friedkin’s directorial debut. Ryan Friedkin, Danny Friedkin, and Bradley Thomas are producing and Gino Falsetto, Peter Heslop and Ridley Scott are executive producing.
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NEW YORK – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all rights in all media in North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia to Dan Friedkin’s LYREBIRD. The film stars Vicky Krieps, Guy Pearce, Roland Moller and Claes Bang. It premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and will screen this evening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Claes Bang (The Square) stars as Joseph Piller in this captivating dramatic thriller set just after WWII - an all but forgotten true story - about a soldier investigating renowned Dutch artist Han van Meegeren, played by Guy Pearce (LA Confidential), who is accused of conspiring with the Nazis. Despite mounting evidence, Piller becomes increasingly convinced of Han's innocence and finds himself in the unlikely position of fighting to save the life of the colorful man with a mysterious past. The film also features Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread).
Written by James McGee and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, LYREBIRD marks Friedkin’s directorial debut. Ryan Friedkin, Danny Friedkin, and Bradley Thomas are producing and Gino Falsetto, Peter Heslop and Ridley Scott are executive producing.
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Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Review: "Spider-Man: Far From Home" Right at Home
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Running time: 134 minutes (2 hours, 14 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments
DIRECTOR: Jon Watts
WRITERS: Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (based upon the Marvel comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
PRODUCERS: Amy Pascal and Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Matthew J. Lloyd
EDITORS: Dan Lebental and Leigh Folsom Boyd
COMPOSER: Michael Giacchino
SUPERHERO/DRAMA/ACTION/ROMANCE
Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Angourie Rice, Martin Starr, J.B. Smoove, Cobie Smulders, Numan Acar, J.K. Simmons, Peter Billingsley, and Dawn Michelle King (voice)
Spider-Man: Far From Home is a 2019 superhero film and drama from director Jon Watts. It is the seventh film in Columbia Picture's Spider-Man film franchise, but it is the second in a new film trilogy that began with 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming. Like Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home is also a co-production between Columbia and Marvel Studios, making it the 23rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Far From Home finds Spider-Man forced to take on new responsibilities and threats in a world that has changed forever.
Spider-Man: Far From Home opens after the events depicted in Avengers: Endgame. In Mexico, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Maria Hill (Colbie Smulders), a former high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who works closely with Fury, arrive to investigate an unnatural storm caused by a creature called an “Elemental.” There, they meet a super-powered man, Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), who arrives to fight the creature.
In New York City, Peter Parker, who is also the Avenger known as Spider-Man (Tom Holland), is about to take a two-week summer trip to Europe with fellow students from Midtown High (the Midtown School of Science and Technology). Peter Parker, who is still distraught over the death of fellow Avenger, Tony Stark/Iron Man, plans to use the trip to confess to his classmate MJ (Zendaya) his growing romantic feelings for her. Peter also plans to avoid heroics and leaves his Spider-Man suits at his home in Queens. However, Fury forcefully interrupts Peter's vacation and tells him that he is the heir to Iron Man's legacy. Fury also demands that he help Quentin Beck, now known as “Mysterio,” fight an invasion of alien Elemental monsters. But not all is as it appears.
I really enjoyed 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, but I thought this reboot/restart of the Spider-Man film franchise was a fluke. Thus, as much as I wanted to see the new film, Spider-Man: Far From Home, I thought that it would probably be mediocre. I am happy to report, dear readers, that it is not only not mediocre, but that it is also as good as Homecoming.
Sam Jackson is almost in top-form as Nick Fury (almost because there is a catch here). J.B. Smoove and Martin Starr make the most of their scenes as the two teachers chaperoning Midtown High's European vacation. Marisa Tomei as May Parker, and Jon Favreau as “Happy” Hogan are strong in their respective roles. Jake Gyllenhaal does a good crazy turn as Mysterio, good because that character is one of the few aspects of the screenplay that is not well done.
Zendaya, who was quite good as MJ in the first film, does even better work in Far From Home. Every time the film moved away from her, I wanted her back. Jacob Batalon does scene-stealing in his supporting role as Peter Parker's friend, Ned Leeds, much as he did in the prior film.
But the star here is Tom Holland, now my favorite actor to play Spider-Man. Holland makes Peter's grief over Tony Stark's death (in Avengers: Endgame) seem real and poignant. At the same time, he plays the lovelorn and lovesick puppy pursuing MJ with a flair that rivals the best male romantic leads in classic teen movies. I guess that Tom Holland's ability to play a lovesick boy finally gives Sony Pictures the YA (young adult) angle it wanted when The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) was the reboot of the franchise.
What Holland does best is portray the heroic arc and the heroic journey. Holland's Peter Parker/Spider-Man believes that he is both not ready and not the right person to take Iron Man's place as the key Earth superhero. As Peter Parks strives to become the hero he wants to be and is meant to be, Holland performance yield superb drama.
Spider-Man: Far From Home has a strong screenplay and expert directing. The visual effects are fantastic, especially as seen in the final battle scene which finds Spider-Man spinning, swinging, ducking, dodging, bobbing, weaving, and being the hero, all with death-defying grace and cinematic magical prowess.
In my review of Spider-Man: Homecoming two years ago, I said that the film captured the magic, the sense of wonder, the imagination, and the freshness of Spider-Man's first appearance, which was a 12-page story included in the comic book, Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962). Spider-Man: Far From Home stays true to the spirit of fun, adventure, mystery, and thrills that the comic book, The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963), promised readers over five and a half decades ago.
9 of 10
A+
Thursday, July 4, 2019
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Tuesday, September 17, 2019
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