Moviefone Editorial

Author: Stephanie Topacio Long

  • ‘Castle Rock’ Will Bring Season 2 ‘Misery’ in October

    ‘Castle Rock’ Will Bring Season 2 ‘Misery’ in October

    Castle Rock
    Hulu

    Prepare for “Misery” this fall.

    Hulu announced the “Castle Rock” Season 2 premiere date on Thursday, teasing in a tweet, “Misery arrives.” The tweet alludes to the theme of the sophomore season of the Stephen King-based show; “Misery” is one of the horror writer’s novels. Season 2 will arrive on Oct. 23, with Lizzy Caplan playing one of the book’s main characters, the psychotic former nurse Annie Wilkes.

    Hulu’s date announcement video unfortunately doesn’t show any footage from the season. It does, however, offer some creepy visuals, including the title “Castle Rock” against a dark, cloudy sky. “Misery arrives” appears below in red.

    “Castle Rock” Season 2 is set in the titular town, where Wilkes, an outsider, arrives. Her presence there will cause a tense situation to boil over, triggering a feud between clans. A previous screen adaptation, 1990’s “Misery,” starred Kathy Bates as Wilkes.

    “Castle Rock” Season 2 premieres Oct. 23 on Hulu.

    [via: Castle Rock/Twitter; h/t: The AV Club]

  • First ‘Ad Astra’ Reviews out of Venice International Film Festival Are a Mix of Raves, Shrugs

    First ‘Ad Astra’ Reviews out of Venice International Film Festival Are a Mix of Raves, Shrugs

    Brad Pitt in Ad Astra
    Courtesy of Venice International Film Festival

    James Gray‘s much-anticipated sci-fi thriller “Ad Astra” had its world premiere Thursday at the Venice International Film Festival, so the first reviews are finally here.

    So far, things are looking good for the Brad Pitt-starrer. While the space film wasn’t necessarily universally loved, many critics have shared very glowing reviews. In fact, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes shows that with nine in so far, the film has a Tomatometer score of 89%. Those who loved it were also vocal on Twitter; there was even talk of Pitt and a possible Oscar.

    Of course, it’s always hard to get everyone on board. In spite of all the rave reviews, some critics found themselves a little underwhelmed by the sci-fi flick (hence the sub-100% rating). They’ve been vocal as well, explaining where they felt “Ad Astra” missed the mark.

    First, here are some of the positive early reviews:

    And here’s what the critics who are a bit underwhelmed are saying:

    “Ad Astra” opens Sept. 20, so you can watch it and decide for yourself whether it’s amazing or a little disappointing.

  • Dylan O’Brien Joins Mark Wahlberg in Action Thriller ‘Infinite’

    Dylan O’Brien Joins Mark Wahlberg in Action Thriller ‘Infinite’

    Dylan O'Brien in Maze Runner: The Death Cure
    20th Century Fox

    Dylan O’Brien is back in action.

    The Maze Runner series star has reportedly taken on a new role. O’Brien will star in the action thriller “Infinite,” according to Variety. Sources told the publication that he and Sophie Cookson (“Kingsman”) are now part of the cast, joining Mark Wahlberg.

    Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) will direct the film, and Ian Shorr is set to pen the script. It’ll be an adaptation of “The Reincarnationist Papers” by D. Eric Maikranz, a novel surrounding a centuries-old secret society called the Cognomina. Its members remember their past lives, so when a young man who is troubled by two of his stumbles upon it, he decides to join. The project was originally set to star Chris Evans, but after scheduling conflicts led to his departure, Wahlberg stepped in.

    So far, O’Brien’s character hasn’t been revealed. He has plenty of experience in the action genre, though — not just with “The Maze Runner” and its sequel but also films like “American Assassin” and “Deepwater Horizon.” Additionally, he also starred in the MTV series “Teen Wolf.”

    “Infinite” comes from Paramount and will be produced by John Zaozirny and Di Bonaventura Pictures’ Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian. Rafi Crohn is set to serve as executive producer.

    Production on “Infinite” is slated to start this fall, with the film due out Aug. 7, 2020.

    [via: Variety]

  • Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton to Star in Untitled Blumhouse Thriller

    Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton to Star in Untitled Blumhouse Thriller

    Vince Vaughn; Kathryn Newton
    HBO; Jennifer Clasen/HBO

    There’s an untitled Blumhouse thriller on the way that involves a strange, scary tale of body-swapping.

    Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton will star in the Chris Landon-directed flick, Deadline reports. Their characters will be the ones who end up swapped. Newton’s, a high school girl, will have the horror of finding out she’s in the body of a deranged serial killer (Vaughn).

    The screenplay was co-written by Landon and Michael Kennedy. It will follow the teen as she discovers she only has 24 hours to switch back. After that point, she’ll be stuck in the serial killer’s body.

    Newton tweeted after the news broke Thursday that “this is going to be so wild!” That sounds like an accurate description to us. The idea of being in a serial killer’s body is scary enough, and it’s even worse when you realize him being in yours could pose a serious threat to your friends and family. Chilling, right?

    Vaughn has played a criminal before. He previously starred in HBO’s “True Detective.” More recently, he starred in “Seberg,” which hits the Venice Film Festival on Aug. 30. He was also in “Fighting With My Family,” which opened earlier this year. Meanwhile, Newton has appeared in two seasons of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” and is one of the stars of the Netflix series “The Society.” She was also in “Detective Pikachu,” which hit theaters in May.

    The upcoming thriller will be produced by Jason Blum. So far, no release date has been announced.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein to Star in Multi-Year Richard Linklater-Directed Film: Report

    Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein to Star in Multi-Year Richard Linklater-Directed Film: Report

    Ben Platt; Beanie Feldstein
    Netflix; United Artists Rising

    There are plans to adapt the Stephen Sondheim musical “Merrily We Roll Along” to film, and pieces seem to be falling into place nicely.

    “Boyhood” director Richard Linklater will direct a multi-year movie with stars Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein, according to Collider. The publication’s sources also say Ginger Sledge and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum are on board. For now, there’s been no official confirmation of the news.

    The project sounds like an interesting one, not to mention a huge undertaking. Like the musical, it would follow characters over two decades. Linklater, who has ample experience working with actors over many years, is said to intend to shoot it over an extended time period.

    The musical — itself based on George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s play of the same name — centers on Franklin Shepard, a Broadway musical composer who left his friends and songwriting ambitions behind to produce Hollywood movies. It moves backward, showing the moments and decisions that altered his path. In order to capture the many years the story covers, Linklater will shoot in reverse chronological order, Collider’s sources say.

    Platt’s character is reportedly Shepard, while Feldstein will portray Mary Flynn, his close friend and a film critic. The two both appeared in “The Female Brain,” and each has a series on the way. Platt will star in “The Politican” on Netflix, while Feldstein has a main role in “American Crime Story: Impeachment.” Recent films for him include “Drunk Parents” and “Run This Town,” and hers include “Booksmart” and “Lady Bird.”

    For now, we’d better get used to waiting for this movie, because it sounds like it won’t be released for a long, long time.

    [via: Collider]

  • Aaron Sorkin’s Star-Studded ‘Trial of the Chicago 7’ on Track Again with Paramount Distributing

    Aaron Sorkin’s Star-Studded ‘Trial of the Chicago 7’ on Track Again with Paramount Distributing

    Sacha Baron Cohen; Eddie Redmayne; Joseph-Gordon-Levitt
    Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures; Open Road Films

    Budgetary problems stopped progress for “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” but new developments have apparently righted the ship.

    Paramount is now the U.S. distributor of the upcoming Aaron Sorkin film, while Cross Creek has joined Amblin Pictures in co-financing and producing, Deadline reports. With these players involved, production is expected to be able to begin in October. Amblin previously had to pull the plug during pre-production, per The Hollywood Reporter.

    The film had already set multiple big-name stars, including Sacha Baron Cohen (“Hugo”), Eddie Redmayne (the Fantastic Beasts series), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Snowden”), Jonathan Majors (“The Last Black Man in San Francisco”), and Alex Sharp (“The Hustle”). Now, Mark Rylance (“Ready Player One”) and Frank Langella (“Captain Fantastic”) have joined. Even more roles have yet to be cast.

    The Sorkin-penned screenplay centers on the 1969 trial of a group of anti-war activists. The U.S. government accused them of several crimes, including conspiracy and inciting to riot, after they held protests during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The five previously cast actors will play activists on trial, while Langella will play U.S. District Court Judge Julius Hoffman and Rylance will portray William Kuntsler, the activists’ defense lawyer.

    “The Trial of the Chicago 7” will be produced by Marc Platt, Stuart Besser, Matt Jackson, and Cross Creek’s Tyler Thompson. ShivHans Pictures’ Shivani Rawat will serve as executive producer. Here’s hoping there are no more stumbling blocks.

    [via: Deadline; THR]

  • Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons Will Star in ‘Love, Weddings & Other Disasters’

    Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons Will Star in ‘Love, Weddings & Other Disasters’

    Diane Keaton; Jeremy Irons
    Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures

    A pair of Academy Award winners have teamed up for “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters.” Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons will star in the upcoming romantic comedy from director Dennis Dugan, Deadline reports. The cast also includes Veronica Ferres, Jesse McCartney, and DNCE’s JinJoo Lee.

    Dugan (“Grown Ups”) is both the film’s director and screenwriter. His story is about people who work on weddings and strive to create the perfect day for couples yet have not-so perfect relationships themselves. So far, we don’t know any specifics about individual characters.

    Keaton and Irons are both acclaimed actors with long lists of credits behind them. She won her Oscar for 1977’s “Annie Hall,” and he won his for 1990’s “Reversal of Fortune.” More recently, she starred in “Poms” and “Book Club,” and he was one of the stars of “Justice League” and “Red Sparrow.”

    “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters” has producers Mike Rachmill, Dan Reardon, Adrian Politowski, and Martin Metz on board. Meanwhile, Lisa Wolofsky, Frank Buchs, Al Munteanu, and Santosh Govindaraju are serving as executive producers. Gersh and Endeavor will handle U.S. rights as Fortitude presents the film to buyers during the 2019 Toronto Film Festival.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Netflix’s ‘Tall Girl’ Trailer Sets up a Rom-Com Love Triangle

    Netflix’s ‘Tall Girl’ Trailer Sets up a Rom-Com Love Triangle

    Tall Girl trailer still
    Netflix/YouTube

    A new high school romantic comedy is hitting Netflix, just in time for back-to-school season.

    The streamer dropped the official trailer on Thursday, introducing Jodi (Ava Michelle), the tallest girl in her high school. At 6-foot-1, she towers over her family and classmates, and she’s gotten used to feeling like her height is the only thing people see about her. That makes dating hard, as the preview shows.

    “I just think it’s crazy you won’t date a short guy,” her friend Jack (Griffin Gluck) says. “You really that at any moment some taller-than-you perfect guy is just going to walk through that door?”

    Well, guess what, one does: an exchange student named Stig (Luke Eisner). His arrival sets up a love triangle with Jack as Jodi works to find her inner confidence. Watch below.

    The rom-com was directed by Nzingha Stewart from a script by Sam Wolfson.

    “Tall Girl” starts streaming on Netflix on Sept. 13.

  • Anna Kendrick Joins Bharat Nalluri Crime Thriller ‘Unsound’

    Anna Kendrick Joins Bharat Nalluri Crime Thriller ‘Unsound’

    Anna Kendrick in A Simple Favor
    Lionsgate

    Add fictional crime-fighter to Anna Kendrick‘s resume.

    The Academy Award nominee has joined the upcoming crime thriller “Unsound,” Deadline reports. Her character is a New England state trooper who is secretly dealing with hearing loss, not to mention a tough mission. The script was written by Matthew Ross and Christopher Edwards, and Bharat Nalluri (“The Man Who Invented Christmas”) is set to direct.

    The story centers on Kendrick’s law enforcement character. She is assigned the most dangerous case of her career: digging into a notorious gang leader’s prison break. Her investigation will uncover a conspiracy, and between that and her ongoing hearing loss, she’ll find her career and life in jeopardy.

    Kendrick is an Oscar nominee for 2009’s “Up in the Air.” Since then, she’s starred in a number of high-profile films, including the Pitch Perfect movies and “Trolls.” Additionally, she was one of the leads in “A Simple Favor” and has two movies coming out before the end of the year — “The Day Shall Come” and “Noelle.”

    “Unsound” will be produced by ShowKat Production’s Jonathan Shukat, Untapped’s Andrew Corkin, and XYZ’s Aram Terzakian and Nate Bolotin. XYZ and CAA Media Finance are backing the film and will handle sales during the 2019 Toronto Film Festival.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Julianne Moore to Star in Jill Soloway Film ‘Mothertrucker’

    Julianne Moore to Star in Jill Soloway Film ‘Mothertrucker’

    Julianne Moore in After the Wedding
    Sony Pictures Classics

    The upcoming film “Mothertrucker” is rolling forward with some big talent. Julianne Moore is set to star, and the movie will be written and directed by Jill Soloway, Deadline reports. It comes from the studio Makeready, with Focus Features set to distribute.

    The project is an adaptation of a memoir by essayist Amy Butcher that is due out in 2022. It centers on Butcher’s friendship with Joy Wiebe, once the sole female ice road trucker in the United States as well as an Instagram celebrity. Butcher met Wiebe by chance and joined her on a journey that took them on the deadliest road in America. Sadly, Wiebe died in a tanker accident in 2018, as the Anchorage Daily News reported at the time.

    Moore will play Wiebe in the film, and the studio is still looking for the actress who will star as Butcher. Makeready reportedly plans to land another well-known star. The pick will have to hold her own against Moore, an Academy Award winner for her role in “Still Alice.” More recently, Moore has starred in “After the Wedding” and “Bel Canto.”

    Meanwhile, Soloway has been tasked with writing the script, in addition to directing and producing. The “Transparent” creator is “honored to tell this deeply resonant story about two women finding meaning and strength as they face an epic challenge in one of the most punishing and beautiful landscapes on the planet.”

    Soloway and Andrea Sperling will produce via Topple Productions, and Moore serves as a producer through Fortysix Productions. Additionally, Bart Freundlich and Makeready’s Pam Abdy and Natalie Williams will serve as executive producers.

    [via: Deadline]