Helgeland has a knack for compelling characters and crime stories, so hopefully something good will come of this collaboration. And it also marks a reunion for the filmmaker and Jones, who previously worked together on ‘Finestkind’.
The film follows a former Chicago mob enforcer (Cube), who after being released from prison, is a man intent on changing his life. Disappearing into rural Texas, he finds work under a skilled furniture craftsman and retired Texas Ranger Gus Wanamaker (Jones).
As Ruben and Gus form an unlikely friendship, that bond is jeopardized when both men’s pasts threaten to catch up with them.
When will ‘Outside Man’ be in theaters?
That’s a question right now –– the combination of Jones, Cube and Helgeland is currently in the process of being offered to studios and streamers to see who will pick it up. So stay tuned on that front.
Ice Cube stars in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.’
Between the two horror films out this month that both happen to be directed by Irish filmmakers, we know which one we prefer. ‘Hokum,’ the third feature from Damian McCarthy after ‘Oddity’ (2024) and ‘Caveat’ (2020), is the best horror movie we’ve seen so far this year, a slow-burn combination of folklore, mystery, and ghost story that oozes atmosphere and gives you goosebumps at every possible opportunity.
Set in a haunted hotel in a remote region of Ireland, peppered with truly shocking moments, suffocating darkness and eerie silences, ‘Hokum’ confirms that McCarthy is low-key becoming a modern master of the genre, while Adam Scott continues to establish his dramatic bona fides with a textured performance of a difficult lead character.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Adam Scott and director Damian McCarthy talk ‘Hokum’.
‘Hokum’ begins, surprisingly, in a desert, as a bedraggled conquistador and a young boy search hopelessly for a treasure, the map to its location sealed in a bottle that there is only one way to open. We quickly learn, however, that this is the final scene in a new novel being written by Ohm Bauman (Scott), a successful author who nevertheless seems deeply haunted; he sits alone at his laptop in his empty, darkened house, and right from the first moment it’s made clear that apparitions from the past have found their way into his life.
Still unsure of his ending, Bauman heads to a remote part of Ireland with his parents’ ashes, intent on scattering them around a tree in the woods near the Bilberry Hotel, where they stayed for their honeymoon. The hotel itself is peppered with odd characters, from the bellhop who aspires to be a novelist himself to the owner who terrifies children with tales of a local witch to Jerry, a vagrant who lives in the woods and drinks a special concoction of goat’s milk and mushrooms because it opens his mind to whatever exists beyond our veil of reality.
While Ohm himself has trouble believing that, he soon learns that the hotel’s honeymoon suite has been closed for decades because, according to the employees, there is a witch trapped up there. And after two significant, tragic incidents – one involving Ohm himself, and the other the disappearance of someone in the hotel – events conspire to put Ohm on a path that will lead him into that suite and whatever secrets it holds.
‘Hokum’ is many things: a character study of a man deeply, almost irretrievably, burdened with guilt and loss; a murder mystery; and a folk horror tale steeped in the legends and history of the Irish countryside. There are points throughout the film where McCarthy seems to have a spot of trouble meshing those three narrative strands together into a cohesive whole, but he nevertheless forges right through those moments with his brilliant control of the film’s tone and atmosphere – from the bits of humor sprinkled throughout to the undeniably frightening mix of well-placed jump scares and quieter horror.
Florence Ordesh in ‘Hokum’. Photo: Neon.
Working with production designer Til Frohlich and cinematographer Colm Hogan, McCarthy creates a palpable aura of decay and dread, particularly once the action moves into that terrible honeymoon suite. From the dim lighting to the little statues scattered around that seem to stare right through you, the room belongs right up there with Hill House, Bly, and the Overlook as one of the most viscerally unsettling locales ever shown on film.
But the filmmakers’ expertise extends beyond that room as well, making nearly every corner of the Bilberry terrifying in its own way and cranking up that terror as the story descends into the hotel’s long-unused basement. The imagery that McCarthy conjures up is genuinely skin-freezing, and he also doesn’t bother to explain much of it, letting the nightmare logic of the story do the heavy lifting as it should.
By the time ‘Hokum’ reaches its climax and then comes full circle with a poignant coda, you may well feel like you’ve watched something of a genre masterpiece, which never once loses sight of its humanity even as its characters face the inhuman and the inexplicable.
Cast and Performances
Adam Scott in ‘Hokum’. Photo: Neon.
The cast is uniformly excellent in ‘Hokum,’ with each of the characters getting something to do even if some are not as well drawn as others (special mention to David Wilmot as the spaced-out but empathetic Jerry). But this is primarily Adam Scott’s show, and the ‘Severance’ star – who’s been moving gradually into more serious roles – grabs it head-on.
Ohm is not a likable person at first – he’s rude, dismissive, and insulting, and in one scene even intentionally burns the bellhop’s hand to make a point – but Scott does a lot with facial expressions, physical movements, and his line delivery, eventually allowing the audience into the character’s tortured psyche just as the character begins to find his humanity again. It’s a subtle but well-played arc, seasoned with Ohm’s genuine terror and desperation as his ordeal becomes graver.
Final Thoughts
A scene from ‘Hokum’. Photo: Neon.
If our only real criticism of ‘Hokum’ is that the movie tries to do a little too much, that’s still a compliment in a way. This is the kind of horror film we like best, with the right combination of genuine scares and jolts and proper attention paid to character development and mood.
If the year’s other horror offerings have been largely disappointing so far, ‘Hokum’ is here to save the day – and hopefully provide you with a few sleepless nights long after seeing it.
‘Hokum’ receives a score of 90 out of 100.
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What is the plot of ‘Hokum’?
When novelist Ohm Bauman retreats to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force him to confront dark corners of his past.
Moviefone has compiled a list of the most anticipated movies opening in theaters and/or streaming in May, June, July and August 2026, which not only includes major studio releases but also smaller independent films that you won’t want to miss.
Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) navigates her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing. She faces off against Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), her one-time assistant, now a high-powered executive for a luxury group, with advertising dollars that Priestly desperately needs.
A scene from ‘Animal Farm’. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.
A satirical allegory of revolution and power that traces how a movement for equality is systematically corrupted. As the pigs consolidate control, truth is erased, dissent is crushed and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship.
(L to R) Priya Jain, Molly Belle Wright and Aaron Eckhart in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.
A group of international passengers on a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai is forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. The terrified group is forced to work together and overcome their differences if they hope to escape their sinking plane and the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.
(Right) Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in ‘Mortal Kombat 2’. Photo: Warner Bros.
The fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
The film follows George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a shepherd who loves his sheep and raises them only for their wool. Every night he reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand, never suspecting that not only can they understand but they argue for hours afterwards about whodunnit. When George is found dead under mysterious circumstances, the sheep realize at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it. The local cop Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun), on the other hand, has never solved a serious crime in his life, so the sheep conclude they will have to solve it themselves, even if it means leaving their meadow for the first time and facing the fact that the human world isn’t as simple as it appears in books.
(L to R) Sally Field and Lewis Pullman in ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’. Photo: Netflix.
A lonely elderly widow named Tova (Sally Field) forms an unlikely friendship with a curmudgeonly cephalopod octopus named Marcellus (voice of Alfred Molina), but unbeknownst to her, Marcellus is on a mission to solve a mystery that will heal the widow’s heart and lead her to a life-changing discovery.
Billie Eliish in ‘Billie Eliish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)’. Photo: Henry Hwu and Paramount Pictures.
Captured during Billie Eilish‘s sold-out world tour, a concert experience from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation, presented in immersive 3D.
After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
In Is God Is, two sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) embark on an epic quest for revenge, confronting a charged family history that will push them to extraordinary lengths. The film is Aleshea Harris’ directorial debut and is based on Harris’ adaptation of her award-winning play of the same name.
(L to R) Jude Law and Paul Dano in ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’. Photo: Gaumont.
Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), charts his path. First an artist, then a reality TV producer, he becomes the spin doctor to a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin (Jude Law). At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies, belief and manipulation. Only the magnetic Ksenia is beyond his control, tempting him away from this dangerous game. Years later, after retreating into silence and shrouded in mystery, Baranov finally opens up, revealing the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.
A group of teens steal their school’s driver’s ed car to go on a road trip to help a high school senior track down his college-freshman girlfriend and win her back.
Four teenage slackers attempt a multi-million-dollar Bitcoin heist from their bedrooms, only to spiral into the darkest corners of the internet-and a danger beyond their computer screens.
When an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy, Ryan (John Krasinski) is forced back into the world of espionage to confront a rogue black-ops unit.
The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.
An arrogant but charismatic ladies’ man (Sacha Baron Cohen) finds his life of money, power and casual flings upended when he wakes up in a parallel world dominated by women.
After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana (Midori Francis) finds herself haunted by the ghost of the person she’s eating.
Nate’s (Nate Bargatze) supermom wife, Katie (Mandy Moore), lands a deal on ‘Shark Tank‘. Subsequently, the lifelong breadwinner of the family becomes a stay-at-home dad and quickly realizes he’s in way over his head.
(L to R) Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall in ‘Turner’. Photo: Alan Markfield; Courtesy of Black Bear.
A talented piano tuner’s (Leo Woodall) life is turned upside down when he discovers that his meticulous skills for tuning pianos can equally be applied to cracking safes.
In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, ‘Pressure’ follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) and Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) as they face an impossible choice—launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.
(L to R) Clark Shotwell and Kelly Eviston-Quinnett in ‘Propeller One-Way Night Coach’, premiering May 29, 2026 on Apple TV.
In the golden age of aviation, a young airplane enthusiast, Jeff (Clark Shotwell), and his mother (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett) set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood, which transforms a simple flight into the trip of a lifetime. Between airline meals, charming flight attendants, unexpected stopovers, larger-than-life passengers and a thrilling glimpse at first class, the journey unfolds in moments both magical and unexpected, charting the course for the boy’s future.
(L to R) William H. Macy as “Father Novak” and Katie Cassidy as “Sister Lu” in the horror film, ‘Speed Demon’, a Maverick Film & Complex Corp release. Photo courtesy of Maverick Film & Complex Corp.
Aboard a high-speed train, a Nun (Katie Cassidy) who lost her faith must perform her first Exorcism on a possessed passenger hellbent on crashing the runaway train.
Nicholas Galitzine stars in ‘Masters of the Universe’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Almost two decades after crashing down to Earth, Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is whisked back across space to defend his home planet of Eternia against the evil forces of Skeletor (Jared Leto). But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe.
Marlon Wayans plays Shorty in ‘Scary Movie’ from Paramount Pictures.
Twenty-six years after outrunning a suspiciously familiar masked killer, the Core Four are back in the killer’s crosshairs and no horror movie IP is safe.
(L to R) Paul Rudd as Rick and Nick Jonas as Danny in ‘Power Ballad’. Photo Credit: David Cleary.
When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves – even if it means risking everything he cares about.
(L to R) Kyle Gallner and Samara Weaving in ‘Carolina Caroline’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.
A young woman (Samara Weaving) skips her small town — in search of her estranged mother (Kyra Sedgwick) — alongside a charismatic con man (Kyle Gallner) on the run from the law. The duo leave a wave of crime and passion behind them as they hustle their way through the Southeast.
(L to R) Emma Suárez as “Olivia” and Willem Dafoe as “Marcos Timoleon” in the drama, ‘The Birthday Party, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
The late 1970s, somewhere in the Mediterranean: Marcos Timoleon (Willem Dafoe), a tycoon, is throwing a lavish, extravagant birthday party for Sofia (Vic Carmen Sonne) on his exclusive private island. The party is a perfect excuse for various people in his life to approach him with their own agendas.
Jackie (Jennifer Lopez), President and CEO of Air Cruz, runs a tight ship in her business, including a rigid anti-fraternization policy for all her employees. When a new sexy lawyer (Brett Goldstein) begins working for her, that policy becomes very tested.
(Center) RuPaul Charles in ‘Stop! That! Train!’. Photo: Bleecker Street.
Two train stewardess BFFs switch from a dull railway to the luxurious Glamazonian Express. During a massive storm, they must work with snooty first-class crew and President Gagwell (RuPaul) to prevent disaster in LA.
When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the rest of the gang’s jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.
Coley (Maya da Costa), 17, from rural Oregon, navigates intimacy after her mother’s passing. Meeting Sonya (Myra Molloy) sparks new feelings, but self-doubt hinders their connection. Sonya, unfamiliar with dating girls, is uncertain. They learn to embrace emotions.
(L to R) Brian Muller as “Frankie Finnegan,” Erica Hernández as “Marie Finnegan,” Edward Burns as “Freddy Finnegan,” and Brian d’Arcy James as “Teddy Finnegan” in the comedy, drama film, ‘Finnegan’s Foursome’, a Republic Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
Two middle aged brothers (Edward Burns and Brian d’Arcy James) and their respective adult children (Erica Hernandez and Brian Muller) travel to Ireland to play the Finnegan Family’s annual golf outing, where they distribute the ashes of the family patriarch
Hugh Jackman in ‘The Death of Robin Hood’. Photo: A24.
Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood (Hugh Jackman) finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman (Jodie Comer), he is offered a chance at salvation.
Bella Thorne in ‘Find Your Friends’. Photo: Shudder.
Amber (Helena Howard) and her four best girlfriends take a trip to escape the L.A. bubble and cut loose in Joshua Tree for the weekend. But upon arrival, they quickly realize the locals don’t want them there.
While celebrating her 21st birthday, Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) travels across the galaxy with her dog Krypto, during which she meets the young Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) and goes on a “murderous quest for revenge”.
(L to R) Angelina Jolie and Louis Garrel in ‘Couture’. Photo: Vertical.
In the frenzy of Fashion Week, three women cross paths in Paris, grappling with the world’s tragedies and the questions of their lives: Maxine (Angelina Jolie), an American film director in her forties, discovers she has cancer; Ada (Anyier Anei), a young South Sudanese model, escapes a predetermined destiny to be thrust into a deceptive universe and French makeup artist Angèle (Ella Rumpf), a small hand working in the shadows of the catwalks, dreams of escaping her life.
(L to R) John Cena and Eric André in ‘Little Brother’. Photo: Netflix.
A famous real estate agent’s carefully curated world is upended when his eccentric “little brother” unexpectedly reappears. Starring John Cena and Eric André.
This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.
William Franklyn-Miller in ‘Young Washington’. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.
Against the frontier of colonial America, the untold origin story of a 22-year-old George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller) unfolds—long before the Revolution, long before the Constitution—when a single mistake nearly cost him everything. After triggering the start of the French and Indian War, Washington must reckon with personal failure, devastating loss, and the weight of responsibility. What emerges from the ashes isn’t just a military leader—but a man forged by humility, courage, and conviction.
In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui (Dwayne Johnson) reaches the island of an impetuous Chieftain, his willful daughter (Catherine Laga‘aia) answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the demigod to set things right.
Matt Damon is Odysseus in ‘The Odyssey’, written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe.
(L to R) Mary Steenburgen and Jake Johnson in ‘The Dink,’ premiering July 24, 2026 on Apple TV.
Desperate to save a struggling country club and earn his father’s respect, a washed-up tennis pro (Jake Johnson) is compelled to break a sacred vow and do the unthinkable: play pickleball.
Alan Ritchson stars in ‘Motor City’. Photo: Independent Film Company.
In 1970s Detroit, John Miller (Alan Ritchson) falls in love with the girlfriend of a local gangster. To get revenge, the gangster sets up a frame-up to send the innocent man to prison. With his life ruined, Miller plots revenge against the man who took his girlfriend away from him.
Carter Young as “Marshall” in ‘Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie’ from Paramount PIctures and Spinmaster.
The PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs after their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm. They meet Rex (Hayden Chamberlen), a pup who has been stranded on the island for years and has become an expert in all things dino-related. When the Patrol’s archrival, Mayor Humdinger, begins recklessly mining in hopes of exploiting the island for its natural resources, he inadvertently causes a huge, dormant volcano to erupt. The pups are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues bigger than anything they’ve done before, as they must stop Humdinger before everything on the island goes extinct.
Ari Millen in ‘Ice Cream Man’. Photo: Valerie Flores/The Horror Section.
‘Ice Cream Man’ follows an idyllic summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man (Ari Millen) serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results.
(L to R) Ewan McGregor as Greg Platt, Christian Convery as Brian Platt, Maisy Stella as Audrey Platt and Anne Hathaway as Denise Platt in in ‘The End of Oak Street’, a Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, a family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.
‘Insidious: Out of the Further’. Photo: Warner Bros.
A trio of stalkers infiltrate a quiet suburb and force a new family into the astral plane, where they uncover a terrifying truth: the Further is bleeding into the real world.
Jason Statham as Cole Reed in ‘Mutiny’. Photo: Dan Smith/Lionsgate.
After witnessing his billionaire boss’ murder and being framed for the crime, Cole Reed (Jason Statham) boards a cargo ship on a one-man crusade to avenge his boss’ death only to discover an international conspiracy.
(L to R) Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris in ‘Spa Weekend’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
The film follows three best friends, Jane, Coco and Sophie, as they embark on some much-needed pampering during a luxury spa break in Palm Springs. But when their trainwreck friend, Mel, turns up, the relaxation quickly descends into chaos with hilarious consequences. Starring Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris.
Dave Franco in ‘Idiots’. Photo: Independent Film Company .
When two unqualified bozos (Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr.) are hired to transfer a rich teen to rehab, their straightforward gig quickly spirals into dangerous mayhem.
When a lovesick musician (Spike Fearn) is given the wrong number for his dream girl, he teams up with a driven psychology student to find her (Angourie Rice). Together, they spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
Lily James in ‘Cliffhanger’. Photo: Rocket Science.
During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper (Pierce Brosnan) and his daughter Sydney (Nell Tiger Free) are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s other daughter Naomi (Lily James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival.
After the world’s population has been ravaged by a pandemic, a man (Jacob Elordi) lives a lonesome existence in a Colorado airplane hangar with his dog and a dour gunman (Josh Brolin) he has befriended. When a mysterious transmission comes through on the radio while he’s flying his old Cessna, it sparks a hunt for the provenance of the sound.
Jun Ji-hyun as “Se Jeong” in the Horror film, ‘Colony’, a Well Go USA release. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.
Professor Se-jeong (Gianna Jun) is thrust into a bloody nightmare when a rapidly mutating virus is released during a biotech conference causing authorities to seal the facility. Trapped inside with no escape, Se-jeong along with a small group of survivors must fight to stay alive while the infected undergo horrific transformations.
(L to R) Wile E. Coyote and Will Forte in ‘Coyote vs. Acme.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Discovery.
After Acme products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation.
2006’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ succeeded thanks to the sheer star power of its cast and a sharp script from Aline Brosh McKenna that spotlighted workplace comedy in the rarified air of a luxury fashion magazine. So what does that world look like these days? As you might expect, struggling legacy media, the rise of AI and our main characters reflecting on changed circumstances in their lives. But can it channel the charisma of the original?
With McKenna once again drawing (even more loosely this time from Lauren Weisberger’s original source novel), the screenplay has plenty of Miranda Priestly Zingers and some –– pun entirely intended –– blunt putdowns. And while the story feels rushed in places, it at least has something on its mind beyond the fashion world.
David Frankel, meanwhile, does a workmanlike job on keeping things (mostly) light and fun, and the new movie feels of a piece with the original.
Though Hathaway’s Andy can still come across a little bland, the actor’s innate charm helps keep her watchable. But we all know we’re here for Streep, Tucci and Blunt, and they certainly deliver.
Around the main foursome, the supporting cast is solid –– Rachel Bloom steals scenes as Andy’s book publisher pal, while Justin Theroux is good value as billionaire, Benji Barnes, Emily’s current beau.
Though it occasionally falls into the trap of rehashing old storylines (perhaps that’s a nod to the cycling of fashion trends) and rarely rises above the level of serviceable sequel, this second visit with Miranda, Andy and the rest still offers plenty for fans who have wanted to see these characters back on screens.
Twenty years on, Miranda (Meryl Streep), Andy (Anne Hathaway), Emily (Emily Blunt) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Andy Serkis and Iman Vellani about their work on ‘Animal Farm’, adapting George Orwell’s story and the changes they made, Vellani’s dual role, and putting together the all-star voice cast.
‘Animal Farm’, directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.
Moviefone: To begin with, Andy, can you talk about why you wanted to adapt George Orwell’s story and the changes you made to the source material?
Andy Serkis: It always entranced me, the book did from when I first read it on the bus going to school when I was about 12, and I knew, here was this book that was speaking about dark themes, and yet it was couched in this sort of innocence. That was one of the things that stuck with me and through the years, I realized I wanted to make a movie about it. When we were making the ‘Apes’ movies, I suddenly thought, there hasn’t been an adaptation of ‘Animal Farm’ for such a long time. So, it was originally going to be a motion capture and live action version. But animation retained its innocence and allowed us to go into the story for a much wider audience. When we were writing a script that really defined it, you know, in the book, the pigs are offstage characters, and the story is told objectively. So, we needed a protagonist, and I wanted to have it start with a young, innocent piglet who considered himself just one of the other animals, and then gradually, as the story progresses, he realizes that he’s being pulled in another direction that he thinks is right for everybody, but he’s been manipulated. So, the invention of that character, Lucky is new, but there are young piglets in the book from later, which become part of the story, but that was a choice. Then the other thing was, having a third act where there was some hope in a very otherwise bleak story, because this is really for a young audience to sit with their parents and grandparents and engage and actually just say, “Look, it may be difficult and there’s probably no answer because we always seem to get it wrong no matter how long we live on this planet, but we’ve got to keep trying.”
‘Animal Farm’, directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.
MF: Iman, were you familiar with the novella and what was it like voicing two different characters?
Iman Vellani: I was familiar with the book, but that was about it. I didn’t have to read it in school, so it wasn’t until they said they set up this meeting with Andy and they told me it was ‘Animal Farm’. I was like, “I haven’t read it,” and I was so glad it was a novella. I skimmed through it, and I was like, “Oh my god, this is really intense”. Then that final image was so haunting, and it really stuck with me. Then you are wondering how this is going to be a children’s book or adaptation? So, I came in with so many questions, but Andy was so generous with his time and made it so accessible for me to also insert myself in because we are reorienting it to a young person’s perspective. I think there’s so much power in a coming-of-age story because you get personal stakes. You’re following these characters, making decisions, calling out injustices, and having these moments of rebellion and that’s exactly what kids are dealing with today. They just need the impetus to do it and something to inspire them. If all you’re getting is negativity in the news, in school and through your parents, you don’t feel like you’re growing up in a world that’s going to have anything left to offer to you, right? So, then with Puff and Tammy, they were just so much fun to play. Puff was really the only character I played initially. We didn’t know about Tammy until a bit later. She just felt like a great addition because you could show that extreme version of her, someone who doesn’t question authorities, someone who just goes with the flow of whatever’s attractive and speaking the loudest. So, that was fun for me to play. I learned so much from Andy because this was my first-time doing voice work. So, I didn’t realize how much play and looseness would be involved.
‘Animal Farm’, directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.
MF: Finally, Andy, you cast some of the most recognizable voices in the industry in this movie including Seth Rogen, Woody Harrelson, and Kathleen Turner. Can you talk about putting together the voice cast?
AS: Well, obviously they had to quintessentially hit those characters immediately. With every member of the cast, from Woody Harrison to Jim Parsons, we were so blessed because everyone was so passionate about the source material and the book. We started talking to people many years ago and they stuck with it. They really wanted to tell this story because they were passionate about what it had. I think everyone just crystallized and each of the actors were perfect for their roles. We were so blessed and particularly with Iman having to do two characters, one of them thrown in much later. But it was wonderful to observe. So, we were very lucky, but it came from a lot of passion for the book and wanting to tell this story for a young modern audience.
‘Animal Farm’, directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.
What is the plot of ‘Animal Farm’?
A satirical allegory of revolution and power that traces how a movement for equality is systematically corrupted. As the pigs consolidate control, truth is erased, dissent is crushed, and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Aaron Eckhart about his work on ‘Deep Water’, similarities to ‘Sully’, how his research for Clint Eastwood’s movie prepared him to play a pilot in this film, what he learned from working with Sir Ben Kingsley, acting in water, how they shot the shark sequences, why Renny Harlin was uniquely qualified to direct this movie, and if he got a chance to meet producer and KISS bassist Gene Simmons.
Moviefone: To begin with, after ‘Sully’, ‘Deep Water’ marks the second time that you have successfully landed a plane full of passengers on water in a movie. Did you feel any déjà vu while you were shooting this film?
Aaron Eckhart: There you go. I’m ready for the big time. Obviously, it was getting back in the cockpit, putting the hat on, getting in the chair, adjusting the chair, and pushing the buttons. I took pilot training myself in real life, and then on YouTube, people are filming themselves in cockpits all over the world. So, it’s a combination of all that. Then really, the script, and we have a guy on set that’s telling us what to do, “Don’t push that, do this, do that.” Then it comes down to just Sir Ben and me in the cockpit playing off each other. That’s really the most exciting part, or if it were Tom (Hanks) or whoever. It just comes down to working with great actors.
MF: When you research a subject to play a character with a particular occupation like a pilot, a cop, or a doctor, does that training stay with you if you ever play a character with that occupation again, or do you have to relearn those skills film to film?
AE: Oh, yeah. Not only that, but in my daily life, it stays with me daily. If I play a cop and I learn something about situational awareness or defense, I practice it every day. For example, I learned to chop when I did a cooking movie (‘No Reservations’). I learned how to make sauces. I learned how to flip stuff in a pan. That stays with me today. I do that. I use that every day. A great thing, selfishly, about making movies is that you get to work with the best people in the world and they’ll do it with a smile on their face, whether it’s a doctor, pilot, gunfighter, cowboy, or whoever it is. That stuff stays with you your whole life. As long as it’s a good guy, when it’s a bad guy, I try to get rid of it. In fact, people say, “Well, why are you doing all these action movies?” It’s because I want to play good guys. I don’t want to go down into the dark abyss of things that are going to interrupt my sleep at night. I don’t want to do that anymore. This movie is a perfect example of that, of being a leader, of having to step up, having to deal with people, being humbled, loving my family, loving others, and doing the right thing. That’s the sort of thing I prefer to do now.
Ben Kingsley in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.
MF: Can you talk about acting opposite Sir Ben Kingsley, and what did you learn from watching the way he works and carries himself on set?
AE: Well, that’s a very good question. I have the utmost respect for him. He’s one of the greats. He’s done fantastic work. Now, as an actor, when he walks onto the set, when he walks into wardrobe, how’s he doing? How does he greet people? Does he have a smile on his face? Does he take time with people? These are all things that I’m watching. I’m soaking up everything, not just the acting. How does he go onto set? What does he do when he gets onto set? How does he prepare himself? How does he talk to the director? All these things, I am soaking up all the time. For Sir Ben, or if its Nicole Kidman (‘Rabbit Hole‘), or whoever it is, you’re with the best. They’re sitting with you and they’re working with you, so you must take advantage of them. Any question that I ask is like, “Sir Ben, what was it like doing ‘Hamlet’? What was it like doing this? What were you thinking about?” I did that with Clint Eastwood (‘Sully’). I did it with Jack Nicholson (‘The Pledge‘). I did it with all of them. I’ve learned things from them that I put into my repertoire. Things that Tom Hanks said to me. He might not even know that he said it to me, or it wasn’t even said. I just go, “Okay, that’s the way to do it.” Gary Oldman, I learned a lot from on ‘The Dark Knight’. How do these guys deal with others? How do they deal with crisis on the set? How do they deal with times when they’re not happy? Just all that stuff. I have so many experiences of that, but it never goes to waste. I’m always looking at them. Let’s say that an actor of Sir Ben’s quality and qualifications is not happy with something. How does he deal with that? How do I deal with him? How do I ask questions when he’s concentrating? It’s a little dance. Then I look at others and go, “Well, how are they responding to me? What sort of energy am I putting out?” Over the years it’s changed. I have to say earlier on in my career, I wasn’t good at it. I misinterpreted a lot of signals, and I wasn’t as professional as I thought I could be. So, I’ve learned, and I’ve mutated over the years to try to be the professional Sir Ben is.
MF: What are the challenges of acting and performing in water?
AE: Well, I’ll tell you what, let’s just think about it. If you and I were acting together and I said, “Okay, this is what happened. We just fell 30,000 feet out of the air. We’ve just seen people getting dragged out of a plane. We’re in the middle of the ocean. The water’s freezing. We’re not prepared. You’re freaked out. Action!” It’s impossible. Now, you’re in water and you must use the fourth wall as an actor and there’s sharks out there. You can’t see through the water, it’s a nighttime. People are yelling and screaming and now you must deal with every single fear at the highest level. Now, you must do it with eight other actors. How do you do it? I don’t know how you do it, but you got to always do it on a level of 10. When you find yourself slipping into a 9 or an 8, you got to hit yourself and say, “Hey, I got to be up at 10. This is 10 time.” You look at other people and they’re not at 10 because they’re sipping warm tea, and they got a jacket around them and they’re waiting for the director to set up the lights and the camera. You can’t do that. You got to stay at 10. I’m not saying you got to be freaking out all the time. I’m saying you got to be prepared mentally at 10 all the time, because the audience wants you to be at 10. Even if you’re being calm, you got to be at 10. That’s the challenge. Then in water, it was very challenging because you must feel like the sharks are ripping you out of the water, and it was very difficult in that sense. I don’t know if we achieved what I wanted, but it’s tough.
Aaron Eckhart in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.
MF: Did you shoot in a tank on a soundstage or were you in a practical location?
AE: No, you’re in tanks with green screen, and the tanks are at 55°. They try to make it as comfortable as possible. So, you have that to fight against that, but there are some dangers. I mean, when you’re swimming with a girl on your back and you’re taking more water in than you want to, and you’re not getting as big of breaths as you need, you have a certain responsibility there and there are people watching you. Look, the fun is being real. So, if you can convince yourself that there’s a shark right there and he’s coming at you and he’s going to eat you, if you can somehow get in that ballpark, then everything’s fun. It’s when you can’t get to that ballpark, that it becomes frustrating. So, Renny’s helping you, and you have the other actors, the circumstances, and your preparation. It’s all that, but that is the challenge in filmmaking.
MF: What was it like working with someone who clearly has experience making movies in this genre such as ‘Deep Blue Sea’ director Renny Harlin?
AE: I loved it. As you say, he’s the pro. He’s the go to guy in this genre. He loves filmmaking, and he’s always happy. I always say to Renny, “You really love this stuff, don’t you?” He’s like, “I love it!” He said to me one time, “I love every frame.” He’s always coming back and saying, “Look at this area, look at this frame.” It’s a big explosion and I’d say, “That looks awesome, Renny.” So, he’s great. He’s willing to work with me, which means a lot to me, and I think that we’re developing a rhythm together. I trust him as a filmmaker. He lets me do what I want to do. Hopefully he trusts me, so I like it. Everybody around him loves Renny. He’s very good to the crew. At the beginning of the day, he has a pep talk. At the end of the day, he has a pep talk. He has giveaways. He always tries to keep the crew into what he’s doing. So, he knows how to do it.
(L to R) Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley of Kiss in ‘Biography: KiSStory’. Photo: The Biography Channel.
MF: Finally, the film is produced by rockstar Gene Simmons from KISS. Are you a KISS fan and did you get a chance to meet Gene while you were making this movie?
AE: Yeah. I grew up in the ’70s. KISS was revolutionary in the ’70s. It was like a brand-new thing, and of course, they didn’t take their makeup off till years later. So, I never knew what those guys looked like, but I listened to KISS. Now, I did not know that Gene was a producer on this movie. We filmed in New Zealand and then we filmed in the Canary Islands. So, he never made the trip, I don’t believe. But I’m glad he’s into it. I hope it helps, and I’d love to do another one with him. So, get that out there!
‘Deep Water’ opens in theaters on May 1st.
What is the plot of ‘Deep Water’?
A group of international passengers traveling from Los Angeles to Shanghai are forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. Now they must work together in hopes to overcome the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.
Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
Preview:
‘Michael’ has set records for biopic movies on its first weekend.
It topped the domestic box office with $97 million.
Elsewhere, new releases struggled.
It may have arrived laden with controversies about re-shoots and didn’t exactly strike a chord with critics, but audiences have certainly embraced ‘Michael’, the biopic of troubled music superstar Michael Jackson.The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, has kicked off its run at the box office as an instant success, earning $97 million for first place.
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The movie’s ticket sales rank as the best start of all time for a biopic, smashing the record set by 2015’s ‘Straight Outta Compton’ ($60 million). And they tower above 2018’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, which opened to $51 million. Can it match the latter’s huge run, though? That’s a bigger question. Still, with $217 million globally in one weekend, it’s a solid start.
What else happened at the box office this weekend?
(L to R) Luigi (Charlie Day), Mario (Chris Pratt), Yoshi (Donald Glover) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) in Nintendo and Illumination’s ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic.
Previous champion ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ was pushed down to second place after three weekends in the No. 1 spot. Universal’s animated sequel added $21.2 million, boosting revenues to $384 million domestically and more than $800 million globally.
‘Project Hail Mary’, meanwhile, was third with $13.2 million, a remarkable tally for a film in its sixth weekend of release. So far, the space epic has generated a mighty $305 million in North America and $613 million worldwide.
What about other new releases?
(L to R) Michaela Coel and Anne Hathaway in ‘Mother Mary’. Photo: A24.
Besides ‘Michael,’ other new releases fared less well. A24’s thriller ‘Mother Mary’, starring Anne Hathaway as a pop star on the eve of a comeback, earned $1.3 million.
And ‘Lorne’, a documentary about ‘Saturday Night Live’ boss Lorne Michaels, struggled to break out with $70,000 from 248 theaters. The film has collected $426,000 while playing in limited release.
Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Bruce Talamon.
Robert Pattinson is one of the most popular actors working today!
The actor began his career playing Cedric Diggory in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire‘, but of course, is best known for playing Edward Cullen in the ‘Twilight‘ franchise.
Unlikely hero Mickey Barnes (Pattinson) finds himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.
Bella (Stewart) once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with Jacob (Taylor Lautner), knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life.
Monte (Pattinson) and his baby daughter are the last survivors of a damned and dangerous mission to deep space. The crew—death-row inmates led by a doctor (Juliette Binoche) with sinister motives—has vanished. As the mystery of what happened onboard the ship is unraveled, father and daughter must rely on each other to survive as they hurtle toward the oblivion of a black hole.
Driven by an intense need for fame and validation, members of a dysfunctional Hollywood family chase celebrity, one another, and the relentless ghosts of their pasts. Their fragile ecosystem is disrupted by the arrival of Agatha (Mia Wasikowska), the scarred and estranged pyromaniac daughter.
Bella Swan (Stewart) and Edward Cullen’s (Robert Pattinson) honeymoon phase is abruptly disrupted by betrayals and unforeseen tragedies that endanger their world.
(L to R) Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson in ‘Die My Love’. Photo: Kimberley French/Mubi.
After inheriting a remote Montana house, Jackson (Pattinson) moves there from New York with his partner Grace (Jennifer Lawrence), and the couple soon welcome a child. As Jackson becomes increasingly absent and rural isolation sets in, Grace struggles with loneliness, creative frustration, and unresolved emotional wounds. What begins as an attempt at renewal gradually turns into an intense psychological descent, placing strain on their relationship and exposing the fragile balance between love, identity, and motherhood.
In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson) joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he’s transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon).
Forks, Washington resident Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is reeling from the departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), and finds comfort in her friendship with Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a werewolf. But before she knows it, she’s thrust into a centuries-old conflict, and her desire to be with Edward at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks.
Riding across Manhattan in a stretch limo during a riot in order to get a haircut, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager’s life (Pattinson) begins to crumble.
England, 15th century. Hal (Timothée Chalamet), a capricious prince who lives among the populace far from court, is forced by circumstances to reluctantly accept the throne and become Henry V.
(L to R) Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2’. Photo: Summit Entertainment.
After the birth of Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy), the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.
Still reeling from a heartbreaking family event and his parents’ subsequent divorce, Tyler Hawkins (Pattinson) discovers a fresh lease on life when he meets Ally Craig (Emilie de Ravin), a gregarious beauty who witnessed her mother’s death. But as the couple draws closer, the fallout from their separate tragedies jeopardizes their love.
A true-life drama in the 1920s, centering on British explorer Col. Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who discovered evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization in the Amazon and disappeared whilst searching for it.
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas (Pattinson) embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City’s underworld to get his brother Nick (Benny Safdie) out of jail.
Two lighthouse keepers (Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.
Armed with only one word – Tenet – and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist (John David Washington) journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.
When his name emerges from the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) becomes a competitor in a grueling battle for glory among three wizarding schools—the Triwizard Tournament. But since Harry never submitted his name for the Tournament, who did? Now Harry must confront a deadly dragon, fierce water demons, and an enchanted maze only to find himself in the cruel grasp of He Who Must Not Be Named.
When Bella Swan (Stewart) moves to a small town in the Pacific Northwest, she falls in love with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a mysterious classmate who reveals himself to be a 108-year-old vampire. Despite Edward’s repeated cautions, Bella can’t stay away from him, a fatal move that endangers her own life.
From Warner Bros. Pictures comes Matt Reeves‘ ‘The Batman’, starring Pattinson in the dual role of Gotham City’s vigilante detective and his alter ego, reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne.
(Left) ‘Nightbitch’ director Marielle Heller. (Right) 1992’s ‘FernGully: The Last Rainforest’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Preview:
Director Marielle Heller is developing a live-action ‘FernGully’.
It’ll be a remake of the 1992 animated movie.
Amazon MGM Studios is backing the project.
1992’s Environmental-themed ‘FernGully’ wasn’t exactly a big hit upon its original release –– it made $32 million worldwide against a $24 million budget. But in the decades since, it has earned a place in at least some cinemagoers’ hearts.
That’s surely what Amazon MGM Studios will be hoping for as it sets ‘Nightbitch’ filmmaker Marielle Heller to write and direct a live-action update.
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And let’s not forget that the studio will also be aiming to replicate the success seen by the likes of Disney and DreamWorks Animation, which have seen several re-imaginings of their cartoon output do good business at the box office in the last few years.
1992’s ‘FernGully: The Last Rainforest’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
The original film followed the magical inhabitants of an Australian rainforest as they fight to save their home, which is threatened by logging and a polluting force of destruction called Hexxus.
We don’t yet know what elements Heller –– who has written and will direct the new film –– is retaining.
When will the new ‘FernGully’ be in theaters?
Amazon MGM Studios has yet to say anything about the movie’s potential release date (and we notice it wasn’t mentioned as part of the company’s CinemaCon presentation), so we’ll have to wait and see on that front.
1992’s ‘FernGully: The Last Rainforest’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
(Left) Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester in ‘The Housemaid’. Photo: Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate. (Center) Tramell Tillman in ‘Severance’, now streaming on Apple TV+. (Right) Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Preview:
Amanda Seyfried, Rachel Zegler and Tramell Tillman will appear in musical adaptation ‘Octet’
Lin-Manuel Miranda is directing the movie.
It follows people struggling with digital dependence.
Going full speed ahead on musical adaptation ‘Octet’, director Lin-Manuel Miranda (no stranger to stage work himself), has found the cast for the movie version.
The New York cast of stage musical ‘Octet’. Photo: Joan Marcus/WNYC Studios.
With a script and score by Dave Malloy, directed by Annie Tippe, the show follows an octet of people struggling with digital dependency, charting their compulsions using only the analog vibrancy of their own voices. With witty lyrics, shimmering harmonies and virtuosic solos, ‘Octet’ sings of connection, redemption, hope — and how we can be truly present with each other.
It opened off-Broadway on May 19, 2019, at the Signature Theatre in New York City, before ending its run on June 30. That was followed by a west coast premiere with a five-week run at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2022.
Here’s Miranda’s statement on tackling the musical for the screen:
“I haven’t stopped thinking about ‘Octet’ since I saw Annie Tippe’s premiere production in November of 2019. Dave Malloy’s score is versatile, brilliant and grows more relevant with each passing year. It won’t leave me alone so here we are.”
