Tag: chernobyl

  • Craig Mazin Helped Write ‘Dune: Part Two’

    Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure ‘Dune: Part Two,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While he was once known for the likes of ‘The Hangover’ movies and ‘Scary Movie’ franchise, writer/producer/director Craig Mazin is more famous these days as the creator of hit HBO series ‘Chernobyl’ and, more recently, for developing and co-showrunning the company’s successful adaptation of video game sensation ‘The Last of Us’.

    Yet despite his busy TV schedule (he’s also consulted on Apple TV+ comedy ‘Mystic Quest’ in the past), movies are not completely out of his work sphere under certain conditions.

    Pedro Pascal and Anna Torv in 'The Last of Us.' Photo: Warner Media.
    (L to R) Pedro Pascal and Anna Torv in ‘The Last of Us.’ Photo: Warner Media.

    Talking on Josh Horowitz’ ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, Craig Mazin admitted that he’d done some polishing work on the ‘Dune: Part Two.’

    Here’s what he said about taking the assignment:

    “I’m out of the movie business, basically. I’ll work with certain directors when they call because I love them and because they’re so brilliant, so if, like, Denis Villeneuve calls, then absolutely. I’m there for, three-four weeks, a month, to work on what you’re working on. Anytime Denis makes a movie, you should be excited. He is as kind as he is brilliant. He is a rare one, he’s just remarkable.”

    And here’s Mazin talking about the credit he’s receiving on the new movie:

    “I am a participating writer in Dune: Part Two’ “I came in and did a little bit of work… It used to be that you couldn’t even say that, but now they have this additional ‘literary material thing at the end, so I am ‘Additional Literary Material’.”

    XBfOVvaBHpE472vRjA6LC2

    What is ‘Additional Literary Material’?

    The ALM credit was introduced in 2022, ensuring writers who have rendered WGA-covered writing services on theatrical features (but cannot claim authorship) receive acknowledgement for their contributions.

    So, if a writer helps to polish a script, but doesn’t meet the criteria to receive full credit, this description kicks in.

    Mazin happens to be a vocal member of the Writers Guild of America and is currently on strike (the ‘Dune’ work was completed before the strike began) and also co-hosts a podcast on screenwriting called ‘Scriptnotes’.

    What’s the story for ‘Dune: Part Two’

    The new ‘Dune’ movie picks up where the first one left off, adapting the remainder of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel. ‘Dune: Part Two’, with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) fleeing into the desert following the devastating attack on the Atreides base by Harkonnen and Imperial forces. Paul is destined to rise as a spiritual and military leader of the native Fremen and lead an attack against the Harkonnen and the scheming Emperor.

    Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure ‘Dune: Part Two,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Related Article: ‘The Last of Us’ Renewed for Season 2

    Who else is in ‘Dune: Part Two’?

    Alongside Chalamet and Ferguson, we’ll see the return of Josh Brolin (who plays Atreides war master Gurney Halleck, another survivor of the attack) and Stellan Skarsgård, along with Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, AKA “The Beast”.

    On the Fremen side, we’ll get to properly meet Zendaya’s Chani, a Fremen warrior who haunted Paul’s dreams and visions long before he ever met her, and who is destined to become the great love of his life. And Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, leader of the Fremen people, who will work with Paul to attack the Harkonnen.

    New this time? Florence Pugh, who plays Princess Irulan and Christopher Walken as her father, Emperor Shaddam IV.

    On the Harkonnen side, there is the cunning, weapon happy Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, played by ‘ElvisAustin Butler. From the looks of the character, Villeneuve and his team are aiming to have this Feyd be as distinctive as the metal-jockstrap version played by Sting in David Lynch’s movie.

    ‘Dune: Part Two’ will be in theaters on November 3rd.

    Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warne
    Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure ‘Dune: Part Two,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Dune: Part Two:’

    Buy ‘Dune’ On Amazon

     

    SbsS4lDd

  • HBO’s ‘Chernobyl’ Becomes Top-Rated TV Show on IMDb

    HBO’s ‘Chernobyl’ Becomes Top-Rated TV Show on IMDb

    Jared Harris, Emily Watson in Chernobyl
    Liam Daniel/HBO

    The HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” has officially taken over the coveted top spot on an IMDb list. It is currently the top rated TV show on the IMDb charts with a rating of 9.6. Its rating was even up to 9.7 rating on Tuesday, per Variety.

    “Chernobyl” is an HBO/Sky co-production from creator Craig Mazin. It centers on the tragic and catastrophic nuclear accident that took place in 1986. Over the course of five episodes, it shares the mistakes, lies, heartbreak, and sacrifices of different people involved. The first episode aired on May 6, and the miniseries concluded on June 3.

    “Chernobyl” is in good company on the IMDb list it tops. The miniseries is currently ranked above both “Planet Earth” documentary series, “Band of Brothers,” “Breaking Bad,” and “Game of Thrones.” All of the shows in the top 25 of the IMDb list have at least a 9.0 rating, but only “Chernobyl” and “Planet Earth II” have a 9.5 or above.

    The show has been met with such enthusiasm that Mazin is already fielding questions about whether or not he’d considering doing a second season. He answered that definitively on Wednesday, writing in a tweet that the answer to the question is simply “No.”

    We might not be getting quantity with “Chernobyl,” but there’s no denying the quality.

    [h/t: Variety]

  • ‘Chernobyl’ Trailer Shows the Horrifying, Heartbreaking Disaster

    ‘Chernobyl’ Trailer Shows the Horrifying, Heartbreaking Disaster

    Chernobyl trailer still
    HBO/YouTube

    HBO’s upcoming limited series “Chernobyl” arrives in March, so the premium network has unveiled the official trailer.

    The five-part miniseries centers on the Chernobyl disaster, a 1986 power plant explosion in part of the Soviet Union that is now Ukraine. The accident was catastrophic, as the preview shows. It highlights the magnitude of the tragedy and shows how people were affected.

    “Every atom of uranium is like a bullet, penetrating everything in its path — metals, concrete, flesh,” one character explains. “Now, Chernobyl holds over 3 trillion of these bullets. Some of them will not stop firing for 50,000 years.”

    Chernobyl remains one of the world’s worst human-made disasters, so needless to say, the trailer is both horrifying and heartbreaking. Watch below.

    The limited series stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson. The show was created by Craig Mazin (“The Huntsman: Winter’s War”) and directed by Johan Renck (“Bloodline”).

    “Chernobyl” premieres May 6 on HBO.

  • HBO Sets Premiere Dates for ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Veep’ and ‘Leaving Neverland’

    HBO Sets Premiere Dates for ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Veep’ and ‘Leaving Neverland’

    HBO

    Mark those calendars (and set those DVRs): HBO announced today when we can expect to see the return of “Big Little Lies,” “Veep,” as well as two new series and the documentary “Leaving Neverland.”

    March 3-4: “Leaving Neverland,” the four-hour documentary about two men who say Michael Jackson abused them when they were boys. It premiered at Sundance.

    March 31: The seventh and final season of “Veep” premieres.

    May TBD: “Chernobyl,”  the five-part miniseries about the 1986 nuclear meltdown in the Soviet Union and the ensuing aftermath. Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson star.

    June TBD: Season 2 of the Emmy-winning show is set for sometime in June, but no firm date yet. Meryl Streep joins the series as Alexander Skarsgård’s mother.

    June TBD:  The Spanish-language comedy series “Los Espookys” is set in a strange and dreamy version of present-day Mexico City and follows a group of friends who turn love for horror into a peculiar business. It stars Bernardo Velasco, Cassandra Ciangherotti, and Fred Armisen.

    [Via Variety]