Moviefone Editorial

Author: Stephanie Topacio Long

  • Sarah Paulson May Complete the Star-Studded ‘Ocean’s Eight’

    Television Academy's Performers Peer Group Celebration - ArrivalsIt looks like Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow may have found their much-needed No. 8 for the upcoming “Ocean’s Eight”: “American Horror Story” and “The People v. O.J. Simpson.”

    The acclaimed actress is reportedly in early talks for the film, and if a deal is reached, she’ll add still more talent to an already impressive cast. A female-driven spinoff of 2001’s “Ocean’s Eleven,” the film is set to star the likes of Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, and Awkwafina (actress Nora Lum). As if that weren’t enough starpower for one movie, stars from “Ocean’s Eleven” — yet another film with a fantastic cast — are expected to appear.

    “Ocean’s Eight” will follow in the footsteps of “Ocean’s Eleven” (and 1960’s “Ocean’s 11” before it) in telling the story of a group’s efforts to pull of a thrilling heist. The script was written by Gary Ross and Olivia Milch, and Ross will direct. Meanwhile, Steven Soderbergh, who helmed “Ocean’s Eleven,” will produce.

    No timeline for the film’s release has yet been announced, but we say the sooner the better.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Yet Another JonBenet Ramsey Special Is Coming to TV

    JonBenét Ramsey murder caseAfter nearly 20 years, the high-profile murder of 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey is still captivating the public with its many unanswered questions. The proof? Yet another network has announced plans to bring the tragic mystery to TV.

    A&E joins Lifetime, CBS, and Investigation Discovery in scheduling a show about the controversial case. Called “The Killing of JonBenét: The Truth Uncovered,” the two-hour special will examine the events surrounding Ramsey’s 1996 murder, including the suspects (none of whom were charged), the infamous ransom note, and even new developments in DNA evidence.

    What should be particularly interesting, however, will be interviews with members of the Ramsey family. Not only will the special feature the first airing of an interview with JonBenét’s older brother, Burke, it will include the first sit-down interview with her father, John. It sounds like he’ll get very candid, even sharing his diaries from the time of the murder.

    While the fact that there are so many upcoming shows about the same case may seem like overkill, there seems to actually be an audience for them. If we’ve learned anything from recent true crime trend, it is that the public loves to play armchair detective.

    “The Killing of JonBenét: The Truth Uncovered” is produced by Mills Productions for A&E Network and comes from executive producers David Mills, Janet Taylor, Elaine Frontain Bryant, and Laura Fleury. The special is set to premiere on Sept. 5 at 9 p.m.

    [via: Variety]

  • Stay Out of the Woods: A New ‘Blair Witch’ Trailer Is Here

    Blair WitchCancel your camping plans, because a new “Blair Witch” trailer is here to scare you away from the woods.

    Released today by Collider, the preview makes the upcoming horror flick look every bit as terrifying as its predecessors, 1999’s “The Blair Witch Project” and 2000’s “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.” The film follows James (played by James Allen McCune) and a group of fellow college students as they take a trip into Maryland’s Black Hills Forest to see what they can find out about the mysterious disappearance of his sister. There, they get more than they bargained for, and naturally, it is the stuff of nightmares. According to the film’s official synopsis, “the group is visited by a menacing presence,” and “they begin to realize the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined.”

    The footage is just as eerie as that sounds. A word to the wise? If you ever come upon the entrance to a creepy underground tunnel and you think, “I don’t want to go in there … let’s not go,” go with your gut.'Blair Witch' (2016) Trailer 3

    “Blair Witch” stars McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott, Valorie Curry, Corbin Reid, and Wes Robinson. The film hits theaters on Sept. 16.

    [via: Collider]

  • A Lifetime Movie About Britney Spears Is Coming

    Britney Spears at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas

    The fact that there hasn’t been a Britney Spears-centric Lifetime movie yet is frankly surprising, but never fear, because one is finally on the way.

    The network is set to delve into the iconic pop star’s fascinating life in “Britney,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Centering on the singer’s roller-coaster journey, the film will take viewers from Spears’ childhood in Louisiana to her years of superstardom. We’ll see her personal challenges along the way, including her ill-fated relationships with Justin Timberlake, Jason Alexander, and Kevin Federline, her very public breakdown, and the battle for custody of her kids.

    As we all know, Spears is back on top — her ninth studio album, “Glory,” drops this week — so there will be plenty of triumph, too. The two-hour movie will also show her reemergence as a pop sensation. With its many emotional ups and downs, the story lends itself perfectly to becoming a Lifetime original movie.

    “Britney” will star Natasha Bassett, who recently appeared in “Hail, Caesar!” The Lifetime movie will be directed by Leslie Libman from a script to be written by Anne-Marie Hess. Asylum Entertainment will produce, with Steve Michaels, Jonathan Koch, and Joan Harrison executive producing.

    Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long for “Britney.” The film is set to begin production in Vancouver in September, with its premiere slated for 2017.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]

  • Marvel Tapped Dan Harmon for ‘Doctor Strange’ Scenes

    Dan Harmon at the Turner Upfront 2016 An unlikely writer penned some last-minute scenes for Marvel’s “Community” creator Dan Harmon.

    The writer isn’t known for superhero flicks, but apparently Marvel Studios trusted him to do the job. He was brought in late, joining the project only after principal production wrapped, according to a Hollywood Reporter source. Just what he added has been kept under wraps, but given his previous work, we suspect that he injected a bit of fun, quirky humor into the upcoming film.

    Harmon has proven himself as a comedic writer, creating not only “Community” but also the Adult Swim cartoon “Rick and Morty.” (He co-created the latter with Justin Roiland.) “Doctor Strange” marks his first project for Marvel, but he isn’t the first “Community” alum to work with the studio; Anthony and Joe Russo each directed numerous episodes of the sitcom before jointly helming the Marvel hits “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Captain America: Civil War.”

    We expect that Harmon transitioned to the MCU as smoothly as the Russo brothers have, but we won’t see for sure until “Doctor Strange,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, hits theaters on Nov. 4.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]

  • John Krasinski to Take on ISIS in Amazon’s ‘Jack Ryan’

    Premiere of Sony Pictures Classics' "The Hollars" - ArrivalsJohn Krasinski is going to have his work cut out for him in Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”: The actor will go up against ISIS while portraying the fictional government operative, Krasinski revealed in a recent interview with Collider.

    Jack Ryan, the iconic fictional CIA analyst created by author Tom Clancy, will be the focus of the upcoming spy series. So far, just one season has been ordered, but Krasinski revealed that the idea is for each installment to have a different conflict. The former “Office” star referred to the issues Ryan will take on as “ripped-from-the-headlines type stuff.” Fittingly, he will first tackle ISIS.

    The government operative clearly has big challenges ahead of him, but luckily, there will be plenty of time to explore his journey. The first season will consist of 10 episodes, and Krasinski revealed that they are looking at it as more of “a movie that’s being told in 10 parts” than a TV series.

    “[Showrunner and executive producer Carlton Cuse’s] whole idea was he just felt that two hours wasn’t enough time to tell a Jack Ryan story because Tom Clancy’s books are so detailed and rich,” Krasinski told Collider. “There’s a lot of problem solving and things that take time, and that’s the beauty of the spy genre.”

    “Jack Ryan,” which could begin production as early as January, will be filmed in locations around the world. Expect big action and impressive stunts each week. James Bond might want to just step aside now.

    [via: Collider]

  • ‘Dexter’ Marks 10th Anniversary With Marathon, New Trailer

    Michael C. Hall as DexterFor “Dexter” fans, it has been too bloody long since the Showtime crime drama series ended, but more of the show is on the way — sort of.

    Believe it or not, it has been a whopping 10 years since “Dexter” premiered, introducing viewers to the irresistible vigilante serial killer. In honor of the show’s 10th anniversary, Showtime is bringing it back for a marathon in October. The premium network will air 10 of the best-ever “Dexter” episodes, as voted on by fans on social media.

    To get viewers ready for the anniversary event, Showtime dropped a new trailer, reminding us all why Dexter (played by Michael C. Hall) was everyone’s favorite blood spatter expert-slash-cold-blooded killer in the first place. The trailer highlights Dexter’s double life as a suburban dad and vicious killer, plus the show’s talented cast. The series starred Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Erik King, Lauren Velez, David Zayas, Aimee Garcia, Desmond Harrington, C.S. Lee, Geoff Pierson, and James Remar.The marathon will air on Oct. 1, exactly 10 years to the day it made its memorable debut. Wanna play?

  • ‘Stranger Things’ Creators Confirm the Fates of Barb & Dr. Brenner

    Like many an addicting series, the first season of Stranger Things” left fans wondering about the fate of multiple characters. Fortunately, the Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross, aren’t keeping fans completely in the dark: They recently shared some hints during an interview with IGN. (*Warning: Spoilers ahead.*)

    As creators, writers, and directors of the series, the Duffer Brothers have obviously given the future of their characters a lot of thought, even with Season 2 still unconfirmed. The brothers opened up about whether Barb (played by Shannon Purser) is actually dead, and if the evil Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine) survived his monster attack. It turns out that one of the two is likely gone for good, while the other will get a new lease on life — at least for a while.

    “I can’t see it happening,” Matt Duffer told IGN about Barb returning from the dead. “But Barb will not be forgotten. We’ll make sure there’s some justice for Barb. … Part of what we want to do with hypothetical Season 2 is to explore the repercussions of everything that happened.”

    Meanwhile, Brenner didn’t die on-screen last season, and that’s for a reason. Basically, it sounds like if the Duffer Brothers do kill off the villain, you can expect to see it happen on-camera.

    “As an audience member watching the show, if that was his death, that would be very unsatisfying to me – when the monster jumps on him and we cut away,” said Matt. “He would deserve much more than that as an ending. So yes, there’s a possibility of seeing him again.”

    Now, if Netflix could hurry up and confirm “Stranger Things” Season 2, we’d feel much better about that possibility.

    [via: IGN]

  • Rupert Grint to Star as Con Man in ‘Snatch’-Inspired Series

    A Celebration of Harry Potter You may still think of Rupert Grint as Harry Potter‘s goofy and lovable sidekick, Ron Weasley, but the actor isn’t always on the straight and narrow on screen: Grint is set to play a con man in the upcoming series adaptation of “Snatch,” reports Deadline. He’ll star in and executive produce the Crackle series, which is inspired by the popular 2000 heist film starring the likes of Jason Statham and Brad Pitt.

    Grint’s character, Charlie Cavendish, is described as “dynamic, frustratingly chaotic and utterly posh,” and he should be a fun one for the actor. The characters, though different from those of the cult film, sound like a fascinating and entertaining group. Grint will appear alongside “Fear the Walking Dead”) as Vic Hill, a con man that even jail time can’t keep out of the game, and recurring guest star Ed Westwick (“Wicked City”) as Sonny Castillo, a night club owner.

    Equally intriguing is the plot, which is inspired by a real-life London Heist. The story will follow “up-and-coming hustlers” who find themselves at the center of the city’s crime world after discovering a truck of stolen gold bullion. There is definitely a lot at stake for them as they have to try to figure out how to deal with all kinds of threats, from rogue cops to mobsters, among other villains.

    The 10-episode first season will be directed by “The Mustketeers” helmer Nick Renton and is created by Alex De Rakoff, who serves as head writer and executive producer. Production begins next week in Manchester England, and “Snatch” will premiere in 2017 on Crackle.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Kit Harington: Final ‘Game of Thrones’ Seasons to Be ‘Bleak’

    HBO's "Game of Thrones" Season 5 - San Francisco PremiereWinter has finally come to Westeros, so it is not surprising that the final seasons of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” could be “bleak.”

    The adjective may apply to more than just the weather, though; Kit Harington revealed in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he expects the last two seasons to be pretty dismal before we reach any kind of ending — happy or otherwise.

    While Harington, who plays fan favorite Jon Snow, admitted that he hasn’t seen any scripts yet, he has his theories about how the final two seasons of the HBO drama will play out. He hasn’t ruled out some kind of happy ending, but he thinks there will be a whole lot of unpleasantness first.

    “I think it’s going to get very bleak before,” he told THR. “I think it’s going to get very dark before it gets better.”

    He has good reason to think this. White Walkers have been a growing threat, and we have been hearing for seasons that winter will bring more danger and despair.

    “I think what we might see this season is those White Walkers and that Army of the Dead really come into force,” said Harington. “I don’t know what it means. I think with the whole ‘winter is finally here’ business, it means everyone is going to have a really bad time.”

    Yet not quite everyone will have a bad time. The fans, at least, can count on more drama, action, and excitement as the power struggle in the Seven Kingdoms continues. However, it will be bittersweet given that Season 8 will conclude the series.

    “I think I’m going to really make the effort in these next two years to enjoy every moment of it,” said Harington.

    We’ll be right there alongside him, doing the same.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]