Exclusive: Paris-based Nour Films has acquired French rights to Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi’s first feature Norah ahead of its world premiere in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard.
The film will make history as the first ever Saudi feature to play in Cannes’ Official Selection just six years after Saudi Arabia announced the end of its 35-year cinema ban.
“Norah is an elegant film that combines age-old traditions with a desire for emancipation. This emancipation is achieved through art, learning and a desire greater than oneself. Tawfik Akzaidi has beautifully crafted a film that is both powerful and delicate,” said Nour Films’s co-founding director Patrick Sibourd.
The deal was brokered by Sebastien Chesneau under his Cercamon banner which clinched the international sales mandate for the film last week.
Cercamon and Nour previously collaborated on Vietnamese drama Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight...
The film will make history as the first ever Saudi feature to play in Cannes’ Official Selection just six years after Saudi Arabia announced the end of its 35-year cinema ban.
“Norah is an elegant film that combines age-old traditions with a desire for emancipation. This emancipation is achieved through art, learning and a desire greater than oneself. Tawfik Akzaidi has beautifully crafted a film that is both powerful and delicate,” said Nour Films’s co-founding director Patrick Sibourd.
The deal was brokered by Sebastien Chesneau under his Cercamon banner which clinched the international sales mandate for the film last week.
Cercamon and Nour previously collaborated on Vietnamese drama Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight...
- 5/13/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Alien artist Hr Giger was involved in a number of film projects in the 1980s and 90s. We talk to filmmaker William Malone about some amazing films that never happened.
Given just how genre-defining 1979’s Alien was, it’s perhaps surprising that Hr Giger, the Swiss artist who designed the title monster, wasn’t involved in more films. His creations appeared in the likes of Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), Species (1995), plus a little-seen German indie comedy horror called Killer Condoms (1996), but none were as high-profile or influential as Alien.
In the wake of that genre-defining space horror, other artists and designers tinkered with Giger’s unforgettable xenomorph in its sequels. Giger wasn’t involved in the making of Aliens, Alien Resurrection or subsequent prequels or spin-offs, and his work for Alien 3 was barely used. Instead, Giger had the curious habit of coming up with concepts and artwork for...
Given just how genre-defining 1979’s Alien was, it’s perhaps surprising that Hr Giger, the Swiss artist who designed the title monster, wasn’t involved in more films. His creations appeared in the likes of Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), Species (1995), plus a little-seen German indie comedy horror called Killer Condoms (1996), but none were as high-profile or influential as Alien.
In the wake of that genre-defining space horror, other artists and designers tinkered with Giger’s unforgettable xenomorph in its sequels. Giger wasn’t involved in the making of Aliens, Alien Resurrection or subsequent prequels or spin-offs, and his work for Alien 3 was barely used. Instead, Giger had the curious habit of coming up with concepts and artwork for...
- 4/29/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
To mark Alien Day, we head back to the late 1970s to see how Hr Giger designed the Space Jockey – and its strange fate after the film’s premiere…
In the early hours of Tuesday, the 29th May 1979, someone killed the Space Jockey. Burned it alive, perhaps with a blowtorch even something more mundane like a match or a cigarette. The crime occurred four days after the premiere of Alien at Hollywood’s Grauman’s Egyptian Theater, and was reported on by at least one outlet at the time: sci-fi magazine, Starlog.
“The Los Angeles opening of Alien was marked by misfortune when a miniature version of the film’s ‘starpilot’ was destroyed with fire,” the news story ran, garbling the Space Jockey’s name somewhat. “It was set ablaze by vandals just hours after being placed on display in the forecourt of Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre. Additional objects on display in the lobby,...
In the early hours of Tuesday, the 29th May 1979, someone killed the Space Jockey. Burned it alive, perhaps with a blowtorch even something more mundane like a match or a cigarette. The crime occurred four days after the premiere of Alien at Hollywood’s Grauman’s Egyptian Theater, and was reported on by at least one outlet at the time: sci-fi magazine, Starlog.
“The Los Angeles opening of Alien was marked by misfortune when a miniature version of the film’s ‘starpilot’ was destroyed with fire,” the news story ran, garbling the Space Jockey’s name somewhat. “It was set ablaze by vandals just hours after being placed on display in the forecourt of Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre. Additional objects on display in the lobby,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
‘A deeply twisted shocker… You will never, ever, ever find a psychotic she-monster more blood-chilling than Susan Tyrrell’
Coming Soon
‘An excellent shocker… queasy and wildly ahead of its time… Susan Tyrrell delivers a character unlike any other in horror history’
Mondo Digital
‘Tyrrell steals the show… the sight of her… clutching a machete and chasing a poor unfortunate through a stormy night is once seen, never forgotten!… I heartedly recommend you seek out’
Hysteria Lives
One of the notorious 1980s video nasties Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker has been lauded as ‘Brilliantly insane’ (Cool Ass Cinema) and a ‘horror gem, well-crafted, ripe for analysis… should not go overlooked (Bloody Disgusting) and now, thanks to Severin Films, you can witness the film like never before. The company announces a brand-new Special Edition Dual 4K Uhd and Blu-ray is set for its UK release on 13th May 2024.
In a surprising change of direction,...
Coming Soon
‘An excellent shocker… queasy and wildly ahead of its time… Susan Tyrrell delivers a character unlike any other in horror history’
Mondo Digital
‘Tyrrell steals the show… the sight of her… clutching a machete and chasing a poor unfortunate through a stormy night is once seen, never forgotten!… I heartedly recommend you seek out’
Hysteria Lives
One of the notorious 1980s video nasties Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker has been lauded as ‘Brilliantly insane’ (Cool Ass Cinema) and a ‘horror gem, well-crafted, ripe for analysis… should not go overlooked (Bloody Disgusting) and now, thanks to Severin Films, you can witness the film like never before. The company announces a brand-new Special Edition Dual 4K Uhd and Blu-ray is set for its UK release on 13th May 2024.
In a surprising change of direction,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Making a place for himself among critically acclaimed directors like Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese, Denis Villeneuve has turned himself into an extraordinary icon following his take on Dune. While previously the novels were considered “unadaptable” following David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s failed attempts, Villeneuve proved his capabilities with his sequels.
Acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve | image: Film at Lincoln Center
Apart from Dune, Denis Villeneuve also has other acclaimed projects like Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and more under his belt. But much like most filmmakers, even Villeneuve’s proficiency comes from his appreciation for cinematic brilliance. Naming a few of his favorite films of all time during an interview with BBC Radio 1, the filmmaker held one movie in high regard that he even paid homage to in Dune.
Denis Villeneuve’s Appreciation for Cinematic Gems
Following the release of Dune sequels, starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, French-Canadian director...
Acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve | image: Film at Lincoln Center
Apart from Dune, Denis Villeneuve also has other acclaimed projects like Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and more under his belt. But much like most filmmakers, even Villeneuve’s proficiency comes from his appreciation for cinematic brilliance. Naming a few of his favorite films of all time during an interview with BBC Radio 1, the filmmaker held one movie in high regard that he even paid homage to in Dune.
Denis Villeneuve’s Appreciation for Cinematic Gems
Following the release of Dune sequels, starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, French-Canadian director...
- 3/25/2024
- by Krittika Mukherjee
- FandomWire
James McAvoy has been in the entertainment industry since he was a teenager. When he made his debut as an actor in The Near Room in 1995, he was not much interested in becoming an actor. However, that changed soon and he ended up going to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He graduated from the academy in 2000.
James McAvoy in X-Men: Apocalypse
Since then, he has worked with numerous great directors such as Steven Spielberg and Matthew Vaughn. Long before he gained recognition with his roles in the X-Men film series and The Chronicles of Narnia, McAvoy appeared in the miniseries Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune. However, he refused to give any advice to Timothee Chalamet when his movie Dune was about to be released in 2021.
James McAvoy Refused to Give Advice to Timothee Chalamet
James McAvoy in Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune
One has to...
James McAvoy in X-Men: Apocalypse
Since then, he has worked with numerous great directors such as Steven Spielberg and Matthew Vaughn. Long before he gained recognition with his roles in the X-Men film series and The Chronicles of Narnia, McAvoy appeared in the miniseries Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune. However, he refused to give any advice to Timothee Chalamet when his movie Dune was about to be released in 2021.
James McAvoy Refused to Give Advice to Timothee Chalamet
James McAvoy in Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune
One has to...
- 3/16/2024
- by Ankita
- FandomWire
Adapting Frank Herbert's "Dune" novel series to the big screen is no small feat. The scale of Herbert's world-building and the complex optics of the thematic threads that run through the story are fairly tricky to translate to the visual medium. A quick look at the history of adapting "Dune" would lead you to several efforts: David Lynch's 1984 film is delightfully weird but fails as an adaptation, while Alejandro Jodorowsky's unmade film ran into a ton of problems despite inching towards a workable script. Enter Denis Villeneuve's "Dune," and his recently released "Dune: Part Two," which managed to accomplish what was long thought to be impossible by birthing a saga that is both faithful to the books and imbued with the director's creative liberties.
Adaptations are bound to be flawed, as it is often tough to reconcile a beloved novel franchise's context-specific shortcomings with evolving perspectives,...
Adaptations are bound to be flawed, as it is often tough to reconcile a beloved novel franchise's context-specific shortcomings with evolving perspectives,...
- 3/16/2024
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
‘An underrated northern artist whose impact could have been greater given the right breaks. Cliff Twemlow’s story should provide encouragement to the current crop of British indie filmmakers. An essential watch’
*****
Starburst
‘Hugely entertaining documentary about a truly unique character… Jake West paints an affectionate portrait of a genuine one-off, whose work you’ll want to dive into once credits roll’
Dexerto
‘A fascinating man… Cliff absolutely deserves a place in the pantheon of low-budget, guerrilla-style filmmakers and hopefully this documentary will introduce him to an entirely new audience’
*****
Set the Tape
Following its successful festival run and ahead of its digital release in June 2024, Severin Films announces a UK theatrical tour of the acclaimed film Mancunian Man the Legendary Life of Cliff Twemlow.
Tour dates:
3 March – Nottingham Broadway + Q&a with Jake West & David Gregory
13 March – Birmingham – Mockingbird Cinema + Q&a with Jake West
23 March – Exeter – Exeter Phoenix...
*****
Starburst
‘Hugely entertaining documentary about a truly unique character… Jake West paints an affectionate portrait of a genuine one-off, whose work you’ll want to dive into once credits roll’
Dexerto
‘A fascinating man… Cliff absolutely deserves a place in the pantheon of low-budget, guerrilla-style filmmakers and hopefully this documentary will introduce him to an entirely new audience’
*****
Set the Tape
Following its successful festival run and ahead of its digital release in June 2024, Severin Films announces a UK theatrical tour of the acclaimed film Mancunian Man the Legendary Life of Cliff Twemlow.
Tour dates:
3 March – Nottingham Broadway + Q&a with Jake West & David Gregory
13 March – Birmingham – Mockingbird Cinema + Q&a with Jake West
23 March – Exeter – Exeter Phoenix...
- 3/13/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is almost everyone’s current obsession thanks to the brilliant execution of the source material by the cast and crew. It goes without saying that the sequel has surpassed its predecessor in more ways than one. Whether it’s the acting, the soundtrack, the cinematography, or the direction, Dune: Part Two was able to blow the audience’s minds through its two-hour seventeen-minute runtime.
A still from Dune: Part Two (2024)
However, Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novels wasn’t the first go Hollywood had at the story. Back in 1984, director David Lynch released another adaptation titled Dune starring Kyle MacLachlan and Francesca Annis. Unfortunately, the film was met with an overwhelming amount of negative feedback which led people to wonder what Ridley Scott would’ve turned the film into, should things have gone according to plan.
Suggested“We have different...
A still from Dune: Part Two (2024)
However, Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novels wasn’t the first go Hollywood had at the story. Back in 1984, director David Lynch released another adaptation titled Dune starring Kyle MacLachlan and Francesca Annis. Unfortunately, the film was met with an overwhelming amount of negative feedback which led people to wonder what Ridley Scott would’ve turned the film into, should things have gone according to plan.
Suggested“We have different...
- 3/5/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
This article contains Star Wars and Dune spoilers.
When Frank Herbert published “Dune World,” the first part of what would become the novel Dune in Analog Science Fiction and Fact in 1963, it was a moment that would reverberate through science fiction for decades to come, especially on the big screen, where the story’s influence can still be felt to this day. In fact, you can easily track how Herbert’s creation led to some of the biggest blockbuster franchises of all time.
If you’ve watched the excellent documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune, you know how the story goes. Alejandro Jodorowsky, the avant-garde filmmaker behind El Topo and The Holy Mountain, tried to adapt Herbert’s book in the ’70s, and while that movie never got made, many of its ideas and designs would later make their way into other sci-fi films through the legendary storyboard the filmmaker sent to Hollywood studios while pitching his movie.
When Frank Herbert published “Dune World,” the first part of what would become the novel Dune in Analog Science Fiction and Fact in 1963, it was a moment that would reverberate through science fiction for decades to come, especially on the big screen, where the story’s influence can still be felt to this day. In fact, you can easily track how Herbert’s creation led to some of the biggest blockbuster franchises of all time.
If you’ve watched the excellent documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune, you know how the story goes. Alejandro Jodorowsky, the avant-garde filmmaker behind El Topo and The Holy Mountain, tried to adapt Herbert’s book in the ’70s, and while that movie never got made, many of its ideas and designs would later make their way into other sci-fi films through the legendary storyboard the filmmaker sent to Hollywood studios while pitching his movie.
- 3/4/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
In 1971, just six years after Frank Herbert published his groundbreaking science-fiction novel "Dune," Arthur P. Jacobs' Apjac International obtained the rights to the story for a film adaptation. The producer behind "Planet of the Apes" was ready to craft another world set in a distant future, but with the sequel film "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" on its way, "Dune" was delayed.
Jacobs went through a handful of different directors and screenwriters in early development, but he tragically passed away in 1973. David Lynch would eventually bring "Dune" to the big screen in 1984, but there were multiple failed attempts that paved the way for his film and a remake in his wake that led to Denis Villeneuve's recent adaptations. The messy histories of failed "Dune" adaptations could justify their own feature-length documentaries but allow this to be a crash course on the bizarre "Dune" movies that never came to be.
Jacobs went through a handful of different directors and screenwriters in early development, but he tragically passed away in 1973. David Lynch would eventually bring "Dune" to the big screen in 1984, but there were multiple failed attempts that paved the way for his film and a remake in his wake that led to Denis Villeneuve's recent adaptations. The messy histories of failed "Dune" adaptations could justify their own feature-length documentaries but allow this to be a crash course on the bizarre "Dune" movies that never came to be.
- 3/4/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Timothée Chalamet returns to the desert as Denis Villeneuve triumphs again in filming the unfilmable with a colour-saturated blockbuster contemplating zealotry and religious war
If there’s another blockbuster this year that matches the visual impact of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, I’ll eat my desert boots. The second Dune instalment is jaw-on-the-floor spectacular. It elegantly weaves together top-tier special effects and arresting cinematography; it layers muscle, sinew and savagery on to the bones of Part One. It’s an inhospitable, brutal kind of beauty that Villeneuve has created – there’s not enough lip balm in the universe to make a visit to the sandblasted wilderness planet of Arrakis look appealing. But this epic action picture, which follows the journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) from a cheeky whippersnapper who’s a bit handy with a sword, to a feared warrior, to the prophesied leader of the Fremen tribe of Arrakis,...
If there’s another blockbuster this year that matches the visual impact of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, I’ll eat my desert boots. The second Dune instalment is jaw-on-the-floor spectacular. It elegantly weaves together top-tier special effects and arresting cinematography; it layers muscle, sinew and savagery on to the bones of Part One. It’s an inhospitable, brutal kind of beauty that Villeneuve has created – there’s not enough lip balm in the universe to make a visit to the sandblasted wilderness planet of Arrakis look appealing. But this epic action picture, which follows the journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) from a cheeky whippersnapper who’s a bit handy with a sword, to a feared warrior, to the prophesied leader of the Fremen tribe of Arrakis,...
- 3/3/2024
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
"When I finished the novel. I was just knocked out." Those are the words of filmmaker David Lynch, of "Twin Peaks" and "Eraserhead" fame. The director said this in 2021 reflecting on reading Frank Herbert's "Dune" for the first time. That is, in no small part, why he decided to sign on to direct an adaptation of the novel that had been kicking around Hollywood for years. Unfortunately, for various reasons, Lynch's version was doomed to fail.
"I'd seen 'Star Wars,' of course; but to be honest, I wasn't all that crazy about it," Lynch, who had been eyed to potentially direct "Return of the Jedi," said in that same interview. "Dune was different; it had believable characterizations and depth.
"When I finished the novel. I was just knocked out." Those are the words of filmmaker David Lynch, of "Twin Peaks" and "Eraserhead" fame. The director said this in 2021 reflecting on reading Frank Herbert's "Dune" for the first time. That is, in no small part, why he decided to sign on to direct an adaptation of the novel that had been kicking around Hollywood for years. Unfortunately, for various reasons, Lynch's version was doomed to fail.
"I'd seen 'Star Wars,' of course; but to be honest, I wasn't all that crazy about it," Lynch, who had been eyed to potentially direct "Return of the Jedi," said in that same interview. "Dune was different; it had believable characterizations and depth.
- 3/2/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
So, where were we? Oh, right.
House Atreides, the noble family that oversaw the rule of the spice-rich planet Arrakis, is no more. Its patriarch, Duke Leto, is dead. His heir Paul Atreides, and the young man’s mother Lady Jessica, are both presumed to have been killed as well. House Harkonnen, led by the corpulent and cybernetically enhanced Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, will once again take control of Arrakis and mine its deserts for its prized — and extremely hallucinogenic — resource. Unbeknownst to the Baron, his hulking nephew Beast Rabban (who...
House Atreides, the noble family that oversaw the rule of the spice-rich planet Arrakis, is no more. Its patriarch, Duke Leto, is dead. His heir Paul Atreides, and the young man’s mother Lady Jessica, are both presumed to have been killed as well. House Harkonnen, led by the corpulent and cybernetically enhanced Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, will once again take control of Arrakis and mine its deserts for its prized — and extremely hallucinogenic — resource. Unbeknownst to the Baron, his hulking nephew Beast Rabban (who...
- 2/21/2024
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
The Beatles gave us cult classic movies like Yellow Submarine and Help! It’s only fitting that John Lennon’s favorite movie was a cult classic Western. The movie in question is one of the most bizarre Westerns ever made. Fascinatingly, the director of the film said multiple rock stars connected with his work.
John Lennon loved a cult classic Western movie with a heavy dose of mysticism
Alejandro Jodorowsky is a surrealist filmmaker whose movies are like Salvador Dalí paintings come to life. According to Wired, John’s favorite movie was Jodorowsky’s mystical Western El Topo. The film is about an outlaw called El Topo (Spanish for “The Mole”) who becomes a holy man in a landscape filled with Judeo-Christian and occult imagery.
During a 2011 interview with Interviews with Icons, Jodorowsky discussed John’s relationship with the film. “I was lucky because of rock ‘n’ roll,” explained Jodorowsky.
John Lennon loved a cult classic Western movie with a heavy dose of mysticism
Alejandro Jodorowsky is a surrealist filmmaker whose movies are like Salvador Dalí paintings come to life. According to Wired, John’s favorite movie was Jodorowsky’s mystical Western El Topo. The film is about an outlaw called El Topo (Spanish for “The Mole”) who becomes a holy man in a landscape filled with Judeo-Christian and occult imagery.
During a 2011 interview with Interviews with Icons, Jodorowsky discussed John’s relationship with the film. “I was lucky because of rock ‘n’ roll,” explained Jodorowsky.
- 12/9/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Taika Waititi has revealed that he has no plans to return to Marvel’s Thor franchise anytime soon.
A fifth film hasn’t been confirmed by the studio but rumors have made their rounds on social media in recent months. The director recently told Business Insider that he “wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” but he knows “that I won’t be involved.”
“I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for,” he added.
Waititi helmed 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, which took in more than $855 million worldwide, and 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder, which earned over $760 million.
As for the next few years, the Jojo Rabbit director wants to focus on the film adaptations of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s novel The Incal, as well as continue to develop his highly anticipated Star Wars movie, which he said is “still marinating.
A fifth film hasn’t been confirmed by the studio but rumors have made their rounds on social media in recent months. The director recently told Business Insider that he “wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” but he knows “that I won’t be involved.”
“I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for,” he added.
Waititi helmed 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, which took in more than $855 million worldwide, and 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder, which earned over $760 million.
As for the next few years, the Jojo Rabbit director wants to focus on the film adaptations of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s novel The Incal, as well as continue to develop his highly anticipated Star Wars movie, which he said is “still marinating.
- 11/17/2023
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Taika Waititi won't be involved in 'Thor 5'.The 48-year-old filmmaker - who directed 'Thor: Ragnarok' and 'Thor: Love and Thunder', while also co-writing the latter - has confirmed he isn't returning for a potential next instalment in the Marvel franchise as he looks to focus on other projects.Asked about reports a fifth film is being developed, Waititi - who helmed the last two movies in the series - told Business Insider: "I wouldn't know if that's accurate. I know that I won't be involved."Instead, he explained he will focus on other projects he's already got in the pipeline.He added: "I'm going to concentrate on these other films that I've signed on for."As well as a movie adaptation of Alejandro Jodorowsky's graphic novel 'The Incal', his own 'Star Wars' movie is "still marinating" as he continues to develop the project.
- 11/15/2023
- by Alistair McGeorge
- Bang Showbiz
Even if Marvel decides to produce a fifth “Thor” movie, Taika Waititi is unlikely to return to the director’s chair. The filmmaker spoke to Business Insider while promoting his underdog soccer crowdpleaser “Next Goal Wins.” During that chat, he was asked the extent of his involvement with the reportedly in-development “Thor 5.”
“I wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” Waititi responded. “I know that I won’t be involved.” He further stated that he was “going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for.”
Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarök turned him into a household name at least among the film nerd crowd. The pulpy, colorful and fantastical action comedy earned strong reviews along with a franchise-high rave reviews for the along with a franchise-high $854 million in late 2017. The film helped rejuvenate the “Thor” series after the successful ($644 million in 2013) but indifferently received “Thor: The Dark World.
“I wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” Waititi responded. “I know that I won’t be involved.” He further stated that he was “going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for.”
Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarök turned him into a household name at least among the film nerd crowd. The pulpy, colorful and fantastical action comedy earned strong reviews along with a franchise-high rave reviews for the along with a franchise-high $854 million in late 2017. The film helped rejuvenate the “Thor” series after the successful ($644 million in 2013) but indifferently received “Thor: The Dark World.
- 11/14/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
When credits for Thor: Love and Thunder ended, Marvel Studios promised the God of Thunder would return to the MCU for another adventure of epic proportions. While the studio’s been quiet about Thor’s return, that hasn’t kept fans from speculating about the hero’s future and press outlets from needling Taika Waititi about returning to direct another film in the franchise after helming the last two chapters, Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder. Catching up with Waititi while promoting his new sports drama Next Goal Wins, Business Insider asked if he’s involved with Thor 5.
“I wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” Waititi explained to Business Insider. “I know that I won’t be involved.” Before putting a pin in the conversation, Waititi added, “I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for.”
Waititi has several projects in development,...
“I wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” Waititi explained to Business Insider. “I know that I won’t be involved.” Before putting a pin in the conversation, Waititi added, “I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for.”
Waititi has several projects in development,...
- 11/14/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Taika Waititi told Business Insider while promoting his new sports comedy “Next Goal Wins” that he “won’t be involved” in a fifth “Thor” movie, at least if it’s happening anytime in the next six years or so. The Oscar winner directed Chris Hemsworth in the beloved “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017) and the hugely divisive “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022). A fifth “Thor” film is currently not on Marvel’s upcoming slate, although the character is still very much alive within the MCU and the door is presumably open for his return.
“I wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” Waititi said when asked about the social media rumors claiming “Thor 5” is in development but not with him as director. “I know that I won’t be involved…I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for.”
Waititi has a slew of non-Marvel projects that he’s currently in development on,...
“I wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” Waititi said when asked about the social media rumors claiming “Thor 5” is in development but not with him as director. “I know that I won’t be involved…I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for.”
Waititi has a slew of non-Marvel projects that he’s currently in development on,...
- 11/14/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Denis Villeneuve’s film, Dune was one of the most successful films of 2021. Villeneuve was able to accurately bring Frank Herbert’s book to life, a feat that had been previously attempted but was not as successful. The success of this epic science fiction film can be credited to the brilliance of each part of the film coming together to create what is now one of the best science fiction films. The first attempt at making Dune was Alejandro Jodorowsky’s in 1974; however, the film could not be made at the time due to a number of reasons. The second time...
- 8/31/2023
- by Nkem
- TVovermind.com
Film writer Max Evry goes behind the erratic ride of David Lynch’s Dune like never before, with a years-in-the-making oral history culled from a lineup of new interviews with the film’s stars, creatives, film executives, and insiders – not to mention Lynch himself.
Following his underground hit Eraserhead and critically acclaimed The Elephant Man, visionary filmmaker David Lynch set his sights on bringing Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi novel Dune to the screen. The project had already vexed directors such as Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo) and Ridley Scott (Alien). But by the early ‘80s Universal Pictures was prepared to give Lynch the keys to the kingdom &nda...
Following his underground hit Eraserhead and critically acclaimed The Elephant Man, visionary filmmaker David Lynch set his sights on bringing Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi novel Dune to the screen. The project had already vexed directors such as Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo) and Ridley Scott (Alien). But by the early ‘80s Universal Pictures was prepared to give Lynch the keys to the kingdom &nda...
- 8/13/2023
- QuietEarth.us
The Denis Villeneuve adaptation of Dune is not the first adaptation of the books; interestingly, there was a 1984 film that failed both commercially and critically. The film was so bad that its director David Lynch refused to be associated with the film. However, the 1984 failure, was not the first adaptation attempt of Dune. In 1974, work had begun to create the film with Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky, but it quickly came to light that Jodorowsky had very wild plans for what would be the first ever Dune movie. Jodorowsky’s film was set to be released nearly 10 years...
- 7/5/2023
- by Nkem
- TVovermind.com
Before David Lynch‘s 1984 adaptation of Dune, there was a fascinating and bizarre attempt only a decade before to bring Frank Herbert‘s sci-fi epic to the big screen. This ambitious project was going to be taken on by Alejandro Jodorowsky. His aim was to create a genuinely visionary and unconventional adaptation of the novel. The story of this adaptation is filled with unexpected twists, turns, and a genuinely wild cast. Jodorowsky’s Dune was set to be a star-studded extravaganza featuring some of the biggest names in film and music at the time. The director’s vision was to create a psychedelic...
- 7/3/2023
- by Nkem
- TVovermind.com
Clockwise from top left: Dune (Universal Pictures), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Tri-Star Pictures), The Ring (DreamWorks Pictures), Spider-Man 2 (Sony Pictures)Image: The A.V. Club
June marks a big moment for Netflix: it’s the first full month with the streaming platform’s new draconian rules on password sharing...
June marks a big moment for Netflix: it’s the first full month with the streaming platform’s new draconian rules on password sharing...
- 5/29/2023
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
While many fans of Frank Herbert‘s Dune praised the 2021 movie from director Denis Villeneuve as an improvement over David Lynch‘s 1984 take, there was still one aspect that drew criticism: the omission of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. In Herbert’s 1965 novel, Feyd-Rautha serves as a more direct antagonist for hero Paul Atreides, matching his wit and fighting prowess. But while Villeneuve’s movie did feature Stellan Skarsgård‘s manipulative mastermind Baron Harkonnen and, briefly, Feyd’s dimwitted and brutal brother Beast Rabban, played by Dave Bautista, Feyd was a no-show.
But with Dune: Part Two now just months away from hitting cinemas, we’re finally about to get a trailer for the highly-anticipated sequel. In fact, Warner Bros. has released a teaser for the trailer ahead of a full debut on May 3. Check it out:
Trailer Tomorrow. #DunePartTwo pic.twitter.com/1XlacqAukz
— Dune (@dunemovie) May 2, 2023
The teaser includes a short scene...
But with Dune: Part Two now just months away from hitting cinemas, we’re finally about to get a trailer for the highly-anticipated sequel. In fact, Warner Bros. has released a teaser for the trailer ahead of a full debut on May 3. Check it out:
Trailer Tomorrow. #DunePartTwo pic.twitter.com/1XlacqAukz
— Dune (@dunemovie) May 2, 2023
The teaser includes a short scene...
- 5/2/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
The spice must keep flowing, and Denis Villeneuve intends to do the same with his highly-anticipated "Dune: Part Two," which will continue the saga of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his reluctant rise to the mantle of messiah. New characters are expected to enter the game, including Florence Pugh's Princess Irulan, who has her own stakes in the events that unravel, and Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha, a ruthless assassin who might end up shouldering the future of House Harkonnen. While "Dune" set the stage for its characters and functioned as an entryway into the complex, futuristic world, "Part Two" will pick up immediately after the ending of the first movie and raise the stakes for everyone involved.
Speaking to Vanity Fair for the film's exclusive first look, Villeneuve clarifies that "Part Two" is the second part in the "Dune" saga and not a sequel, and says that it is...
Speaking to Vanity Fair for the film's exclusive first look, Villeneuve clarifies that "Part Two" is the second part in the "Dune" saga and not a sequel, and says that it is...
- 4/27/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Every month brings a new slate of entertainment to streaming services everywhere, but each turn of the calendar also brings the tragic removal of a list of movies and television shows. While Netflix is debuting a bevy of releases in May 2023, the streaming service is losing some treasured titles. Good thing you have this guide to make sure you catch everything that may have been sitting in your Netflix queue before they mysteriously disappear.
Unfortunately, juggling distribution rights in the ongoing proliferation of streaming services makes it a headache to keep up with who owns what. HBO Max is the biggest offender of losing its own original content, as the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery and the induction of CEO David Zaslav has wiped a chunk of HBO Max exclusives from the platform. Netflix has a better grasp on its properties, but even the longest-running streaming service has lost some of its licensing,...
Unfortunately, juggling distribution rights in the ongoing proliferation of streaming services makes it a headache to keep up with who owns what. HBO Max is the biggest offender of losing its own original content, as the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery and the induction of CEO David Zaslav has wiped a chunk of HBO Max exclusives from the platform. Netflix has a better grasp on its properties, but even the longest-running streaming service has lost some of its licensing,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Andrew Housman
- Slash Film
Magical realism is a subgenre that can be interpreted in a very broad manner. After all, its core appeal is in how it depicts fantastical ideas in boringly real settings. However, the subgenre is often synonymous with Latin American art thanks to writers like Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende, being brought to the screen by the likes of Guillermo Del Toro and Alejandro Jodorowsky.
While not quite at the esoteric level as those pioneers, comedian and "Los Espookys" co-creator Julio Torres is certainly on his way there. If you thought his genre-bending HBO series was proof of this potential, then his directorial debut, "Problemista," only solidifies this. Alejandro (Torres), an aspiring creator of bizarre toys, is suddenly fired from his job, and he only has one month to find a new sponsor for his U.S. work visa. He believes he has found a potential savior in washed-up art...
While not quite at the esoteric level as those pioneers, comedian and "Los Espookys" co-creator Julio Torres is certainly on his way there. If you thought his genre-bending HBO series was proof of this potential, then his directorial debut, "Problemista," only solidifies this. Alejandro (Torres), an aspiring creator of bizarre toys, is suddenly fired from his job, and he only has one month to find a new sponsor for his U.S. work visa. He believes he has found a potential savior in washed-up art...
- 3/14/2023
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
Charlotte Rampling self-identifies as a “prickly” person. “Like a hedgehog or porcupine, you don’t necessarily get too close,” she told IndieWire.
You’d know that from any number of her roles. The 77-year-old, English-born, Paris-living actress has worked in the European arthouse for more than half a century, turning out kinky roles in divisive, sensuous period pieces like Liliana Cavani’s S&m concentration camp psychodrama “The Night Porter” and Luchino Visconti’s depraved Weimar tableau “The Damned.” But she’s also brought hard-shelled wit to character studies like François Ozon’s “Under the Sand” and “Swimming Pool,” Andrew Haigh’s “45 Years,” and Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia.”
In that film, Rampling played one of her prickliest characters, a callous and ambivalent mother who prefers to blithely take a bath during her daughter’s (Kirsten Dunst) wedding reception rather than make small talk or give toasts with the guests downstairs.
You’d know that from any number of her roles. The 77-year-old, English-born, Paris-living actress has worked in the European arthouse for more than half a century, turning out kinky roles in divisive, sensuous period pieces like Liliana Cavani’s S&m concentration camp psychodrama “The Night Porter” and Luchino Visconti’s depraved Weimar tableau “The Damned.” But she’s also brought hard-shelled wit to character studies like François Ozon’s “Under the Sand” and “Swimming Pool,” Andrew Haigh’s “45 Years,” and Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia.”
In that film, Rampling played one of her prickliest characters, a callous and ambivalent mother who prefers to blithely take a bath during her daughter’s (Kirsten Dunst) wedding reception rather than make small talk or give toasts with the guests downstairs.
- 2/23/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
When Alejandro Jodorowsky was developing his unmade adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel Dune, he planned to cast Mick Jagger as the character Feyd-Rautha. When David Lynch brought his version of Dune to the screen in 1984, Feyd-Rautha was played by Sting. And in Dune: Part Two, the second half of director Denis Villeneuve‘s two-part adaptation of Dune (which is set to reach theatres on November 3, 2023), the character is played by Elvis star Austin Butler, who just received an Oscar nomination for his performance as Elvis Presley. Filmmakers really like to link Feyd-Rautha with famous musicians, either directly or with a small degree of separation. Butler has previously said that he trained with a Navy Seal to prepare for the role in Dune: Part Two, and in a new interview he has said that he “had a blast” working on the film.
Speaking with Deadline, Butler said he was “a...
Speaking with Deadline, Butler said he was “a...
- 1/24/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
According to Kevin Feige, Ant-Man has earned the right to jump-start the newest phase from Marvel Studios. Phase five is looking to take the superhero-shared universe into more psychedelic territory as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania takes place primarily in the Quantum Realm. The Quantum Realm is a microscopic universe, and the film’s writer, Jeff Loveness, is comparing the world to Jodorowsky’s Dune in a new story from Empire, with a new exclusive photo of the movie, featured above with Michelle Pfeiffer being featured in the realm, where her character was once stuck.
“It’s a fun place,” Loveness proclaims. “It’s a limitless place of creation and diversity and alien life. It’s Jodorowsky’s Dune within Marvel,” he adds. He is referring to the infamously ambitious attempt to adapt the novel Dune from Frank Herbert by French-Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, which was so insane in concepts...
“It’s a fun place,” Loveness proclaims. “It’s a limitless place of creation and diversity and alien life. It’s Jodorowsky’s Dune within Marvel,” he adds. He is referring to the infamously ambitious attempt to adapt the novel Dune from Frank Herbert by French-Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, which was so insane in concepts...
- 1/17/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Writer Says The Quantum Realm Is 'Jodorowsky's Dune Within Marvel'
After 15 years, more than two dozen feature-length films, eight Disney+ series, and a partridge in a pear tree, the powers that be at the House of Ideas have really nailed down the art of hyping their latest project as "[Insert type of genre movie or TV show] set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe." By that same token, fans ought to know better by now than to take Marvel Studios' marketing lines at face value. Rarely are the MCU offerings quite as weird or inventive as they're hyped, and only a handful feel like they're guided by a unique directorial vision -- and when they are, the results can vary from generally beloved to deeply polarizing.
Take the first two "Ant-Man" movies. The adventures of Scott Lang and his extended fam have many of the same ingredients as breezy caper flicks in the vein of "Ocean's Eleven," yet there's never a point where they truly feel more like heist...
Take the first two "Ant-Man" movies. The adventures of Scott Lang and his extended fam have many of the same ingredients as breezy caper flicks in the vein of "Ocean's Eleven," yet there's never a point where they truly feel more like heist...
- 1/16/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
As Elvis, Austin Butler got a lot of experience being ordered around by Colonel Tom Parker. Now, for his role in 2023’s Dune: Part Two, Austin Butler has detailed his encounters working under someone far more intimidating: a Navy Seal.
“For Dune, there were different challenges; there were certain physical things from the first meeting with Denis [Villeneuve], [knowing] what his vision was,” he said. “I worked with this…Navy Seal [guy] who trained me for months beforehand just to get my body into a place where it was available to not only be an imposing physical presence but do whatever was asked of me.” Butler will portray Feyd-Rautha, a role most famously played by Sting. No official word yet if Dune: Part Two will see Austin Butler in a futuristic speedo.
Other than having been previously played by Sting in David Lynch’s 1984 version of Dune (original director Alejandro Jodorowsky wanted Mick Jagger...
“For Dune, there were different challenges; there were certain physical things from the first meeting with Denis [Villeneuve], [knowing] what his vision was,” he said. “I worked with this…Navy Seal [guy] who trained me for months beforehand just to get my body into a place where it was available to not only be an imposing physical presence but do whatever was asked of me.” Butler will portray Feyd-Rautha, a role most famously played by Sting. No official word yet if Dune: Part Two will see Austin Butler in a futuristic speedo.
Other than having been previously played by Sting in David Lynch’s 1984 version of Dune (original director Alejandro Jodorowsky wanted Mick Jagger...
- 12/30/2022
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
I've never been much of a superhero movie fan, but one I'd have gladly queued up for back in the 1990s would have been Tim Burton directing Nicolas Cage in "Superman Lives." Along with Alejandro Jodorowsky's wildly ambitious non-starter "Dune," it must go down as one of the greatest what-ifs in cinema history, especially during that period of their respective careers.
"Mars Attacks!" aside, Burton was still regularly making great movies back then, with his unmistakable visual style and penchant for weirdos and outsiders like himself. Cage, on the other hand, was the maverick who made good with his Oscar-winning performance in "Leaving Las Vegas" before transforming himself into one of the decade's biggest action stars.
As for Superman, the time was right for a reinvention after the huge success of Burton's two "Batman" movies. The original "Superman" franchise, which had made audiences believe a man could fly since...
"Mars Attacks!" aside, Burton was still regularly making great movies back then, with his unmistakable visual style and penchant for weirdos and outsiders like himself. Cage, on the other hand, was the maverick who made good with his Oscar-winning performance in "Leaving Las Vegas" before transforming himself into one of the decade's biggest action stars.
As for Superman, the time was right for a reinvention after the huge success of Burton's two "Batman" movies. The original "Superman" franchise, which had made audiences believe a man could fly since...
- 12/25/2022
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
Alucarda is the trailblazing cult classic of Mexican horror cinema, directed by Juan López Moctezuma, is celebrating its 45th anniversary.
Set in 1865, Alucarda follows two teenage girls, Alucarda (Tina Romero) and Justine (Susana Kamini), in a Catholic orphanage that quickly creates an intense bond. As their bond rapidly becomes an obsessive romantic relationship, they are thrown into a whirlwind of bloodshed, demonic possession, satanic worship, and vampirism.
Drawing heavily from the Avant-garde movement Alucarda is a visually distinct film experience. Its themes explore the social clashes between modernity vs tradition and myth vs reason.
In celebration of Alucarda’s 45th anniversary, author, professor of Film Studies at George Washington University, and the foremost American authority of Mexican horror Dr. David Wilt shares with us who López Moctezuma was, the creation of this innovative horror movie, and its legacy.
Bonilla: Who was Juan López Moctezuma?
Dr. Wilt: López Moctezuma was...
Set in 1865, Alucarda follows two teenage girls, Alucarda (Tina Romero) and Justine (Susana Kamini), in a Catholic orphanage that quickly creates an intense bond. As their bond rapidly becomes an obsessive romantic relationship, they are thrown into a whirlwind of bloodshed, demonic possession, satanic worship, and vampirism.
Drawing heavily from the Avant-garde movement Alucarda is a visually distinct film experience. Its themes explore the social clashes between modernity vs tradition and myth vs reason.
In celebration of Alucarda’s 45th anniversary, author, professor of Film Studies at George Washington University, and the foremost American authority of Mexican horror Dr. David Wilt shares with us who López Moctezuma was, the creation of this innovative horror movie, and its legacy.
Bonilla: Who was Juan López Moctezuma?
Dr. Wilt: López Moctezuma was...
- 12/22/2022
- by Justina Bonilla
- DailyDead
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Movie: "A Wounded Fawn"
Where You Can Stream It: Shudder
The Pitch: Rod Serling's opening narration for "The Twilight Zone" teased "a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind." It's in this realm that filmmaker Travis Stevens is most comfortable, and the one he presents in "A Wounded Fawn." Stevens' third directed feature is his gnarliest thus far, and bodes well for the kind of original horror movie that fans have clamored for since the first jump scare.
The whole bloody affair of "A Wounded Fawn" concerns jaded museum curator Meredith Tanning (Sarah Lind) who lives out this writer's personal nightmare of jumping back into the dating pool only to find herself in a serial killer's living room.
The Movie: "A Wounded Fawn"
Where You Can Stream It: Shudder
The Pitch: Rod Serling's opening narration for "The Twilight Zone" teased "a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind." It's in this realm that filmmaker Travis Stevens is most comfortable, and the one he presents in "A Wounded Fawn." Stevens' third directed feature is his gnarliest thus far, and bodes well for the kind of original horror movie that fans have clamored for since the first jump scare.
The whole bloody affair of "A Wounded Fawn" concerns jaded museum curator Meredith Tanning (Sarah Lind) who lives out this writer's personal nightmare of jumping back into the dating pool only to find herself in a serial killer's living room.
- 12/15/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
Good news, spice-lovers! The much-anticipated sequel to 2021's reboot/remake/just-all-around-awesome-adaptation of "Dune" has just wrapped production, according to its very own Paul Atreides, Mr. Timothée Chalamet. That means the movie is one step closer to actually coming out next November! Hooray!
Chalamet made the big announcement via an Instagram post which is little more than a shirtless selfie in the desert with the short but sweet proclamation that "Dune 2 Wrapped".
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Timothée Chalamet (@tchalamet)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the 2021 franchise starter was something of a miracle, both critically and financially speaking. Adapting Frank Herbert's dense source material hadn't been done on this level before, even with such notable filmmakers attempting it as David Lynch, who got his movie made (barely), and Alejandro Jodorowsky (who famously didn't get his insane vision off the ground).
"Dune" was also one of...
Chalamet made the big announcement via an Instagram post which is little more than a shirtless selfie in the desert with the short but sweet proclamation that "Dune 2 Wrapped".
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Timothée Chalamet (@tchalamet)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the 2021 franchise starter was something of a miracle, both critically and financially speaking. Adapting Frank Herbert's dense source material hadn't been done on this level before, even with such notable filmmakers attempting it as David Lynch, who got his movie made (barely), and Alejandro Jodorowsky (who famously didn't get his insane vision off the ground).
"Dune" was also one of...
- 12/12/2022
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
IFFKSix of the legendary filmmaker’s films, known for their philosophical approach towards humanity’s problems, will be screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala (Iffk).Tnm StaffImage credit/ BollywoodirectLegendary Hungarian auteur Béla Tarr, often referred to as one of the greatest innovators in world cinema, will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 27th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (Iffk) this year. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a sculpture, Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister Vn Vasavan said at a press conference on Tuesday, November 29. Six of the auteur’s films, generally known for their philosophical approach towards humanity’s problems, will be screened at the festival. Some of Tarr’s best films including The Turin Horse (2011) and Werckmeister Harmonies (2000) are among the films set to be screened, the minister said. The 27th Iffk, organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy,...
- 11/29/2022
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
Film fans love to speculate on what canceled movie productions would have become. What would it have been like to see Steven Spielberg's science fiction epic "Robopocalypse," Quentin Tarantino's Vega Brothers movie, Stanley Kubrick's ambitious "Napoleon" biopic, or Alejandro Jodorowsky's "Dune" adaptation? Would they be everything fans imagined them to be? Or crushing disappointments? While it's fun to speculate, we can't put our faith into something that doesn't exist. Likely, these films wouldn't have lived up to fans' massive expectations.
Intriguing projects often never see the light of day in today's world of blockbuster-focused cinema. If a project becomes stuck in "development hell" for too long, its participants may lose interest. Major franchises like "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" and the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Universe have so many upcoming projects it can be hard to keep track of releases and cancellations. (We're thankful...
Intriguing projects often never see the light of day in today's world of blockbuster-focused cinema. If a project becomes stuck in "development hell" for too long, its participants may lose interest. Major franchises like "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" and the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Universe have so many upcoming projects it can be hard to keep track of releases and cancellations. (We're thankful...
- 11/17/2022
- by Liam Gaughan
- Slash Film
In 1970, a scruffy repertory theater—led by the visionary Ben Barenholtz—quietly placed a print ad in the Village Voice, advertising midnight screenings of a Spanish-language Western they claimed was "too heavy to be shown any other way." The movie was Alejandro Jodorowsky's El Topo, and it'd kick off the "Midnite Movie" craze that changed moviegoing.Hear the history of the Elgin Theater and its legendary, weed-soaked screenings of El Topo, featuring commentary from ex-Voice critic J. Hoberman, Amy Nicholson of the podcast "Unspooled," ex-Elgin programmers Chuck Zlatkin and Steve Gould...and Jodorowsky himself.The second season of the Mubi Podcast titled “Only in Theaters” tells surprising stories of individual cinemas that had huge impacts on film history, and in some cases, history in general.Listen to episode 2 below or wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsStitcherSpotifyGoogle PodcastsMore...
- 7/20/2022
- MUBI
Distributor and streaming platform Mubi’s award-winning audio-documentary series “Mubi Podcast” kicks off Season 2 today.
IndieWire can exclusively announce that the “Mubi Podcast,” hosted by Wall Street Journal journalist Rico Gagliano, returns today, Thursday, June 30 with its first episode of the second season, “Only in Theaters.” The podcast will focus on the surprising stories of individual cinemas that had a huge impact on film history, ranging from the Cinémathèque Française to the Westgate in Minneapolis.
Guests for Season 2 include filmmakers Mary Harron (“American Psycho”), Barbet Schroeder, Peter Strickland (“The Duke of Burgundy”), Nick Broomfield (“Kurt & Courtney”), and Alejandro Jodorowsky. Film writers J. Hoberman, Amy Nicholson, Louis Menand, Danny Leigh and more also add insights and commentary. Episodes are released every Thursday.
The first episode, available now on all major podcast platforms and via Mubi’s Notebook, centers on the Cinémathèque Française and the public uproar for the brief firing of...
IndieWire can exclusively announce that the “Mubi Podcast,” hosted by Wall Street Journal journalist Rico Gagliano, returns today, Thursday, June 30 with its first episode of the second season, “Only in Theaters.” The podcast will focus on the surprising stories of individual cinemas that had a huge impact on film history, ranging from the Cinémathèque Française to the Westgate in Minneapolis.
Guests for Season 2 include filmmakers Mary Harron (“American Psycho”), Barbet Schroeder, Peter Strickland (“The Duke of Burgundy”), Nick Broomfield (“Kurt & Courtney”), and Alejandro Jodorowsky. Film writers J. Hoberman, Amy Nicholson, Louis Menand, Danny Leigh and more also add insights and commentary. Episodes are released every Thursday.
The first episode, available now on all major podcast platforms and via Mubi’s Notebook, centers on the Cinémathèque Française and the public uproar for the brief firing of...
- 6/30/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: A sister company to The Incal Universe owner Humanoids named Sparkling has launched to create European drama, with Patrick Nebout at the helm, Deadline can reveal.
Cannes Confidential and Midnight Sun producer and European co-production specialist Nebout is exiting Beta-owned producer Dramacorp to lead the Paris-based producer as President and Chief Content Officer.
Sparkling will sit adjacent to LA-based Humanoids, which is the owner of science fiction comic book franchise The Incal, created by writer and filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky and French artist Mœbius in the 1980s. It will focus on original European drama projects and series and financing, producing and co-producing series and movies based on the Humanoids catalogue.
“We’ll be identifying and adapting the most unique and scalable IP from Humanoids’ vast catalogue of iconic graphic novels but we’ll also develop and produce original series and movies,” Nebout told Deadline. “All will be premium projects, resonating...
Cannes Confidential and Midnight Sun producer and European co-production specialist Nebout is exiting Beta-owned producer Dramacorp to lead the Paris-based producer as President and Chief Content Officer.
Sparkling will sit adjacent to LA-based Humanoids, which is the owner of science fiction comic book franchise The Incal, created by writer and filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky and French artist Mœbius in the 1980s. It will focus on original European drama projects and series and financing, producing and co-producing series and movies based on the Humanoids catalogue.
“We’ll be identifying and adapting the most unique and scalable IP from Humanoids’ vast catalogue of iconic graphic novels but we’ll also develop and produce original series and movies,” Nebout told Deadline. “All will be premium projects, resonating...
- 5/12/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Re Styles, who recorded and sang with The Tubes and contributed to their unique stage attire, has died. She was 72 and passed on April 17, according to multiple news accounts.
Born Shirley Macleod in the Netherlands in 1950, she modeled in Penthouse and Playboy, then moved on to appear in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s film The Holy Mountain and Sun Ra’s science fiction film Space is the Place.
She met The Tubes at an art school show, and quickly fell in with the troupe. By 1975, she was coordinating their clothes and stage maneuvers, while appearing onstage herself. In one memorable take, she appeared as heiress Patty Hearst. She would also dress in leather outfits and dance with lead singer Fee Waybill during the song “Mondo Bondage.” In 1979, she married Tubes drummer Prairie Prince.
Styles performed the female lead vocal on the Tubes hit “Prime Time” from the 1979 album Remote Control. She appeared...
Born Shirley Macleod in the Netherlands in 1950, she modeled in Penthouse and Playboy, then moved on to appear in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s film The Holy Mountain and Sun Ra’s science fiction film Space is the Place.
She met The Tubes at an art school show, and quickly fell in with the troupe. By 1975, she was coordinating their clothes and stage maneuvers, while appearing onstage herself. In one memorable take, she appeared as heiress Patty Hearst. She would also dress in leather outfits and dance with lead singer Fee Waybill during the song “Mondo Bondage.” In 1979, she married Tubes drummer Prairie Prince.
Styles performed the female lead vocal on the Tubes hit “Prime Time” from the 1979 album Remote Control. She appeared...
- 4/23/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
"Soon the night will be so dark that no one will see anything." The US trailer is out for an experimental indie film from Colombia called Los Conductos, which just translates to The Pipelines (or The Ducts) from Spanish. This hallucinatory work of cinema reminds me of Alejandro Jodorowsky, not only in its visual style but with its poetic exploration of life. A man comes to terms with his past after satiating his greatest desire: assassinating the leader of the sect of which he was a part for years. "A cryptic portrait of a man attempting to make sense of his own past, Los Conductos offers a challenging but politically astute interrogation of violence & mysticism in Latin America that reflects similarly psychedelic quests taken [from filmmakers in] the 1970s, but with bold and novel innovations to the form." Starring Luis Felipe Lozano as Pinky. This premiered at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival, and it...
- 4/10/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
John Waters mixed do-it-yourself moviemaking with don’t-try-this-at-home mayhem to produce the ultimate and most fiercely independent film. Made for $12,000, Pink Flamingos premiered at the Baltimore Film Festival 50 years ago. The cult masterwork replaced Alejandro Jodorowsky’s El Topo as the midnight movie in residence at Elgin Theater in Manhattan and set high and low standards for no-budget motion picture filmmaking.
While the extremely low-budget Plan 9 from Outer Space is renowned as the worst film ever made, Pink Flamingos has a street rep as the raunchiest. Ed Wood’s sci-fi horror mashup cost $60,000 to make, which by 1956 standards is still five times the budget Waters spent. And this from an NYU film school reject who stole textbooks and sold them back to the college bookstore, and went to sleazy exploitation movies more often than going to class.
“I went to New York University, very briefly,” Waters is quoted on Dreamlandnews.
While the extremely low-budget Plan 9 from Outer Space is renowned as the worst film ever made, Pink Flamingos has a street rep as the raunchiest. Ed Wood’s sci-fi horror mashup cost $60,000 to make, which by 1956 standards is still five times the budget Waters spent. And this from an NYU film school reject who stole textbooks and sold them back to the college bookstore, and went to sleazy exploitation movies more often than going to class.
“I went to New York University, very briefly,” Waters is quoted on Dreamlandnews.
- 3/30/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Last year saw the belated release in cinemas of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's epic novel Dune, and if I say it was generally well-received here it would be an understatement. Bring on the second half! But Villeneuve's version is not the first. After Alejandro Jodorowsky famously failed to get a version made in the 1970s (itself the subject of a great film), studios were eyeing the property with trepidation, but when the Star Wars franchise became massively successful a new attempt was made. This film appeared in 1984 and was directed by David Lynch. I recollect it fondly. I was 15 years old, had recently read the book (after seeing the trailer for the film had piqued my interest), recognized all the characters,...
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- 3/21/2022
- Screen Anarchy
Grimes is having quite the week.
The songwriter was the subject of a bombshell Vanity Fair cover story, in which she accidentally revealed that she has a second child with Elon Musk. But for movie lovers, that may not even be the biggest news to come out of the article. Grimes also spoke about her love for Frank Herbert’s “Dune” books, and said that she had been dreaming of directing a film adaptation for years, joining Alejandro Jodorowsky on the list of artists with bold visions for “Dune” movies that they never saw realized.
Grimes’ interest in the material is hardly surprising, considering the musician’s longtime love of science fiction, and her interest in using space travel to find alternative solutions to ecological problems. According to the article, Grime’s take on the material would have “the more problematic colonialist elements scrubbed out,” but that did not make...
The songwriter was the subject of a bombshell Vanity Fair cover story, in which she accidentally revealed that she has a second child with Elon Musk. But for movie lovers, that may not even be the biggest news to come out of the article. Grimes also spoke about her love for Frank Herbert’s “Dune” books, and said that she had been dreaming of directing a film adaptation for years, joining Alejandro Jodorowsky on the list of artists with bold visions for “Dune” movies that they never saw realized.
Grimes’ interest in the material is hardly surprising, considering the musician’s longtime love of science fiction, and her interest in using space travel to find alternative solutions to ecological problems. According to the article, Grime’s take on the material would have “the more problematic colonialist elements scrubbed out,” but that did not make...
- 3/12/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
As usual, contenders in the Adapted Screenplay category are a varied bunch, with movies of all shapes and sizes adapted from prior material, whether novels, short stories, or a prior film. As always, auteurs have the advantage with Academy voters.
Literary adaptations
While David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky may have been defeated by big-screen adaptations of Frank Herbert’s 1965 science-fiction novel “Dune” (Warner Bros./HBO Max), Oscar-nominated French-Canadian auteur Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”) embraced the chance to bring his trademark visual panache to the sci-fi epic, which will come in two parts. Part One was whittled down from the sprawling novel by the director, veteran Oscar-winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”), and Jon Spaihts. Oscar Isaac’s Duke Leto Atreides and Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica travel with their son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) to dangerous desert planet Arrakis, which supplies the universe with the valuable spice melange. After pandemic delays, the movie...
Literary adaptations
While David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky may have been defeated by big-screen adaptations of Frank Herbert’s 1965 science-fiction novel “Dune” (Warner Bros./HBO Max), Oscar-nominated French-Canadian auteur Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”) embraced the chance to bring his trademark visual panache to the sci-fi epic, which will come in two parts. Part One was whittled down from the sprawling novel by the director, veteran Oscar-winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”), and Jon Spaihts. Oscar Isaac’s Duke Leto Atreides and Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica travel with their son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) to dangerous desert planet Arrakis, which supplies the universe with the valuable spice melange. After pandemic delays, the movie...
- 2/12/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
As usual, contenders in the Adapted Screenplay category are a varied bunch, with movies of all shapes and sizes adapted from prior material, whether novels, short stories, or a prior film. As always, auteurs have the advantage with Academy voters.
Literary adaptations
While David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky may have been defeated by big-screen adaptations of Frank Herbert’s 1965 science-fiction novel “Dune” (Warner Bros./HBO Max), Oscar-nominated French-Canadian auteur Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”) embraced the chance to bring his trademark visual panache to the sci-fi epic, which will come in two parts. Part One was whittled down from the sprawling novel by the director, veteran Oscar-winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”), and Jon Spaihts. Oscar Isaac’s Duke Leto Atreides and Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica travel with their son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) to dangerous desert planet Arrakis, which supplies the universe with the valuable spice melange. After pandemic delays, the movie...
Literary adaptations
While David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky may have been defeated by big-screen adaptations of Frank Herbert’s 1965 science-fiction novel “Dune” (Warner Bros./HBO Max), Oscar-nominated French-Canadian auteur Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”) embraced the chance to bring his trademark visual panache to the sci-fi epic, which will come in two parts. Part One was whittled down from the sprawling novel by the director, veteran Oscar-winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”), and Jon Spaihts. Oscar Isaac’s Duke Leto Atreides and Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica travel with their son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) to dangerous desert planet Arrakis, which supplies the universe with the valuable spice melange. After pandemic delays, the movie...
- 2/12/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
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