Moviefone Editorial

Tag: amazon

  • Orlando Bloom Thinks He’s Too Old to Be in Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series

    Orlando Bloom Thinks He’s Too Old to Be in Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series

    New Line

    Don’t expect to see Orlando Bloom notching arrows as Legolas in Amazon’s upcoming “Lord of the Rings” series.

    While speaking to reporters about his new Amazon series “Carnival Row,” Bloom hinted that he’s too old to reprise his elegant elf character from the original trilogy and “The Hobbit” films.

    “I remember being on set with Peter [Jackson] … 20 years ago now? And he was saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny to think about when they’ll want to do a remake of Lord of the Rings?’” the actor recalled.

    “We were in the midst of this remarkable shoot and I said, ‘No! That’s never going to happen.’ And here I am, working for Amazon and they’re redoing it. It’s great.”

    However, if fans are hoping Bloom will be back as Legolas — well, it’s unlikely due to the series’ time period. It takes place during the Second Age and while J.R.R. Tolkien never gave an age for the character, the prevailing theory is that he was born in the latter part of that era.

    “I mean look, I don’t know how they’re going to approach it. I haven’t had any conversations about this. I fell that I have done everything…Coming back to be on ‘The Hobbit’ was a really wonderful little tip from Peter that he wanted me to come into that and it made a lot of sense,” Bloom noted.

    “I like to think of myself as ageless but I don’t know where I would fit into that world. If you’re saying as Legolas, they’ve probably got some 19-year-old kid who is ready to go.”

  • ‘Game of Thrones’ Creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Eyeing Amazon, Disney, Netflix for Overall Deal

    HBO

    The courtship of “Game of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for a mega overall deal is narrowing down to a few suitors.

    The duo has narrowed the field down to Amazon, Disney, and Netflix, according to Variety and Deadline.

    The deal would encompass films, television, and other forms of content.

    Benioff and Weiss aren’t the only high-profile creators looking for a home. J.J. Abrams is also considering homes for an overall deal.

    The duo already has a relationship with Disney, as they are developing a “Star Wars” movie slated for 2022.

    And both Amazon and Netflix would like to tap into the minds behind the pop culture juggernaut that was “Game of Thrones. Both have big and expensive properties in the works — Amazon has “Lord of the Rings” and Netflix has “Chronicles of Narnia” and “Sandman.” Amazon even recently signed a deal with Bryan Cogman, their co-executive producer and writer on “Game of Thrones.”

    “I think wherever they end up, they’ll be lucky to have them,” HBO programming chief Casey Bloy said recently. “They’re some of the best showrunners I’ve ever worked with, and in this talent marketplace, I think everybody should go and get whatever they can.”

  • Amazon Moves ‘The Aeronauts’ to More Awards-Friendly December Release

    Amazon Moves ‘The Aeronauts’ to More Awards-Friendly December Release

    Amazon

    The period adventure film “The Aeronauts,” which reteams “The Theory of Everything” stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, just got shifted from November 1 to December 6.

    It was originally going to debut on IMAX-only screens on October 25 before expanding to traditional theaters. Now it will debut on Amazon Prime on December 20, only 2 weeks after its theatrical release.

    Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke explained the reasoning behind the release changes, “The Aeronauts’ is a spectacular film featuring some of Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne’s finest work. The level of filmmaking is nothing short of a technical feat that transports you to another world high up in the clouds. The theatrical experience is an important part of our business but our highest priority is our customers.”

    She also said the company wanted Amazon Prime Video customers to have “access to [it]as soon as possible…. considering how competitive it has become to capture audiences’ attention and how audiences are consuming their entertainment, we believe this is the best choice for the film and that we’re delivering our customers an epic film that we believe will be a major player in the awards conversation at the height of awards season.”

    “The Report,” another awards hopeful from Amazon, is also getting a short theatrical run before hitting Amazon Prime.

    “The Aeronauts,” directed by Tom Harper (“Wild Rose“), is expected to debut at a major fall film festival, possibly Telluride.

    Set in 1862, “The Aeronauts” follows wealthy widow Amelia Wren (Jones) and headstrong scientist James Glaisher (Redmayne), on their balloon expedition as they try to fly higher than anyone in history.

    [Via Deadline]

  • Janelle Monáe to Star on ‘Homecoming’ Season 2, Replacing Julia Roberts

    Janelle Monáe to Star on ‘Homecoming’ Season 2, Replacing Julia Roberts

    20th Century Fox

    Singer-actress Janelle Monáe has been scoring some juicy roles in recent years, and her latest gig has her taking over TV headlining duties from an Oscar-winning actress.

    Monáe has been tapped as the new lead on “Homecoming,” Amazon’s acclaimed psychological thriller from “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail. Season one starred Julia Roberts as a caseworker who helps soldiers transition back to civilian life, though there’s much more happening at her facility than meets the eye.

    Roberts only had a one-year deal to appear in front of the camera, but will remain with “Homecoming” as an executive producer on its second season. The storyline will now shift to an entirely new thread, focusing on Monáe’s character, who’s described as “a tenacious woman who finds herself floating in a canoe, with no memory of how she got there — or even who she is.”

    No other details about season two have been revealed so far, though Esmail previously told TVLine that the mysterious post-credits sequence from the season one finale, featuring Hong Chau‘s character, Audrey, was “a sign of things to come.” According to Deadline, Chau is one of several season one stars who are expected to return in some capacity, along with Bobby Cannavale, Stephan James, and Shea Whigham.

    Season two of “Homecoming” is slated to begin production later this summer, with a 2020 premiere date in mind.

    [via: Deadline, TVLine]

  • Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Has Cast its First Star: Report

    Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Has Cast its First Star: Report

    BBC One

    Many details about Amazon’s upcoming TV adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic “Lord of the Rings” series still remain a mystery, but now, audiences know at least one name who will be starring in the series.

    Variety has the scoop that Australian actress Markella Kavenagh is in talks to take a role in the sprawling fantasy epic. Not much is known yet about who she will be playing, though Variety’s sources say her character’s name is Tyra.

    Kavenagh is relatively unknown outside of the U.K. and her native homeland, where she was named a Rising Star by the Casting Guild of Australia in November of 2018. She recently starred in the BBC One series “The Cry,” and has also appeared in the sequel series to the Australian film “Romper Stomper,” as well as the TV show “Picnic at Hanging Rock.”

    Amazon’s adaptation is said to be a prequel of sorts, and is set in the years before the events in the first novel of the “LOTR” series, “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Though details about the series are scant at this point, the show’s official Twitter account previously teased two big clues for fans: a map depicting lands that are assumed to be the show’s setting, as well as a reference to the Second Age, a.k.a. the timeframe when the Rings of Power were created.

    The as-yet-untitled series has a crack creative team behind the lens, including writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, consultant Bryan Cogman (“Game of Thrones”), and director J.A. Bayona (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”). Amazon had previously aimed to get the series to air by 2021; stay tuned to see if it makes that deadline.

    [via: Variety]

  • ‘Jack Reacher’ Series in the Works at Amazon

    ‘Jack Reacher’ Series in the Works at Amazon

    Paramount Pictures

    Action hero Jack Reacher is making the leap to the small screen, with Amazon nabbing the rights to turn author Lee Child’s bestselling books into a TV series.

    Deadline reports that the project will be spearheaded by Nick Santora, who previously created CBS series “Scorpion.” Santora will write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner on the new drama.

    For those keeping track at home, yes, the Reacher character has already appeared on the big screen, in a pair of films starring Tom Cruise as the titular ex-Army investigator. And while 2012’s “Jack Reacher” and 2016’s “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” performed well at the box office, Child admitted late last year that he didn’t entirely agree with Cruise’s casting, thanks to the actor’s diminutive height.

    “The size of Reacher is really, really important and it’s a big component of who he is. The idea is that when Reacher walks into a room, you’re all a little nervous just for that first minute,” the author explained at the time. “And Cruise, for all his talent, didn’t have that physicality.”

    Presumably, the search will now be on for a much taller actor to fill Reacher’s shoes. But the creative team appears to be aiming for a similar vibe to the films, securing original studio Paramount as a producer, and director Christopher McQuarrie as an executive producer.

    There are more than 20 books in Child’s bestselling series. Stay tuned to find out which ones make the cut for the TV drama.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Ring’ TV Series Hires ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s J.A. Bayona to Direct First 2 Episodes

    Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Ring’ TV Series Hires ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s J.A. Bayona to Direct First 2 Episodes

    New Line

    Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings” TV series is marching steadily forward, hiring “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” director Juan Antonio (J.A.) Bayona to helm the first two episodes of the massive and pricey fantasy drama.

    “The Lord of the Rings” series is set many years before the films during the Second Age, which spans 3,000 years and ends with the first downfall of the evil wizard Sauron (an event that is briefly touched upon in a prologue in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy).

    Potential storylines could follow Sauron’s rise to power, humans and elves banding together in the Last Alliance, the destruction of Númenor, and the forging of the rings of power.

    The series is written by feature film writers JD Payne and Patrick McKay, who are also working with “Game Of Thrones” veteran Bryan Cogman in a consulting role.

    “J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honor and a joy to join this amazing team,” Bayona said.

    “I can’t wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never before seen story.”

  • Neil Gaiman Finds ‘Good Omens’ Petition Gaffe ‘So Beautiful’

    Neil Gaiman Finds ‘Good Omens’ Petition Gaffe ‘So Beautiful’

    Good Omens
    Amazon Studios

    A petition against the series “Good Omens” caught creator Neil Gaiman‘s attention for the wrong reason: It asked Netflix to ax what is, in fact, an Amazon show.

    The petition came from the religious group Return to Order and called on Netflix to cancel “Good Omens,” asserting that the series tries to “make satanism appear normal, light and acceptable,” per Variety. The online appeal had been signed by more than 20,000 people, and the mistake went viral. The organization apparently pulled it from its website, as Deadline notes, but it was too late to stop Gaiman and others from poking fun at the gaffe.

    The writer and showrunner tweeted about it multiple times on Wednesday morning.

    “I love that they are going to write to Netflix to try and get #GoodOmens cancelled,” Gaiman wrote in one tweet. “Says it all really.”

    He later added that “this is so beautiful” and expressed his hope that no one would tell them.

    Gaiman, who adapted the series from the 1990 novel he wrote with Terry Pratchett, doesn’t seem bothered by the criticism. In fact, he may just be enjoying this saga more than anyone.

    “Good Omens” debuted May 31 on Amazon Prime Video.

    [via: Neil Gaiman/Twitter; Variety; Deadline]

  • Salma Hayek, Owen Wilson Starring in Amazon’s ‘Bliss’

    Salma Hayek, Owen Wilson Starring in Amazon’s ‘Bliss’

    Salma Hayek; Owen Wilson
    Summit Entertainment; Lionsgate

    Production is underway on a new sci-fi drama starring Salma Hayek and Owen Wilson.

    The two are toplining director Mike Cahill‘s “Bliss.” Amazon Studios announced Thursday that principal photography had begun in Los Angeles and Croatia. The film is described as a “mind-bending love story.”

    Cahill is directing from his own script. It centers on Greg (Wilson), a recently divorced man who meets Isabel (Hayek), a captivating woman with an interesting theory about the world they live in. She believes that the ugliness around them is a simulation inside a real, more beautiful and blissful world. Although Greg initially has his doubts, he finds that Isabel may be onto something.

    Both Hayek and Wilson are Academy Award nominees with a number of successful projects to their names. Her recent films include “The Hummingbird Project” and “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.” Meanwhile, Wilson was recently seen in “Wonder” and “Father Figures.”

    “Bliss” is being produced by James D. Stern. Lucas Smith and Marsha Swinton are serving as executive producers. So far, the film’s release date has not been announced.

  • Rosamund Pike to Star in Amazon’s ‘Wheel of Time’ Fantasy Series

    Rosamund Pike to Star in Amazon’s ‘Wheel of Time’ Fantasy Series

    Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures

    Now that “Game of Thrones” has concluded, Amazon is moving forward with its own fantasy epic series.

    The long-in-the-works “Wheel of Time” TV show has cast “Gone Girl” star Rosamund Pike in the lead role of Moiraine.

    The drama follows Moiraine, a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small town of Two Rivers. There, she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity.

    “Wheel of Time” is a bestselling 14-book fantasy series written by Robert Jordan (he died before completing the final three novels; they were finished by author Brandon Sanderson from Jordan’s notes). They have sold over 90 million copies worldwide.

    A television series has been in development at Amazon for a year, but its journey to the screen has been as long and arduous as that of the heroes’ in the books.

    Amazon is clearly looking to fill the fantasy gap left by “Game of Thrones” (as is every other TV and streaming player, including HBO, which has a prequel series in development). Amazon not only is working on “Wheel of Time,” but it spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the rights to make a “Lord of the Rings” TV show.