Arriving on Prime Video on March 11 with all eight episodes of its first season is ‘Scarpetta’, the adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s successful book series, starring Nicole Kidman as the forensic pathologist investigating a mysterious serial killer.
While so many others in the genre have seen their books adapted for screens both big and small in the past, Patricia Cornwell, a titan in the crime field, has resisted overtures to bring particularly her Kay Scarpetta book series out of the pages.
She was smart to wait for a team that includes Blumhouse, Jamie Lee Curtis and executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff (‘Barry’), because the result is an impressive, layered take that spans two different time periods.
Sarnoff, working alongside a writing team that also includes Matthew Zucker and ‘Narcos: Mexico’ veteran Iturri Sosa, has found a way to crack the Scarpetta story, successfully evolving and updating the story while maintaining what works in the books. Juggling two different storylines that connect via the characters, it’s a balancing act that comes across well.
Leading a directorial group that also features Charlotte Brändström, David Gordon Green brings a stylish sheen to a show that could have ended up looking like a bland procedural but never does. Little touches such as showing cigarette butts littered next to a young Scarpetta’s parking spot give character clues and exposition without need them rammed home.
Kidman works well as the cool, sometimes icy forensic pathologist, while still finding space for her to react to big challenges. But by far the highlight of the series is Curtis as her flamboyant, narcissistic sister Dorothy, a showcase role that lets her do her thing but still fit perfectly in with the ensemble.
And credit also to the younger cast who play the characters 30 years prior –– they’re all excellent, bringing subtle nuance to the roles.
Prime Video was clearly impressed enough with the efforts of all involved to order up two seasons initially, so those who have a good time with the first run (and a finale that teases more) will be comforted in the knowledge that another will be on the way.
Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman) returns to Virginia and resumes her former position with complex relationships, both personal and professional – including her sister Dorothy (Jamie Lee Curtis), with plenty of grudges and secrets to uncover.
(L to R) Ariana DeBose and Bobby Cannavale star in ‘Scarpetta’.
Moviefone recently spoke with Bobby Cannavale and Ariana DeBose about their work on Scarpetta, DeBose’s first reaction to the series and her approach to her character, Cannavale collaborating with his son Jake to portray the same role, and their experiences working with Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with DeBose and Cannavale, as well as Simon Baker, Hunter Parish, Jake Cannavale, showrunner Liz Sarnoff, and author Patricia Cornwell.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to this series and your approach to playing Lucy and the grief that she is going through?
Ariana DeBose: I thought that was just inherently very compelling. I’d never seen a grief process dramatized in this way, with the tech elements, as we call it. I hope viewers will watch and tune in and find out exactly what I’m talking about. It allowed for an interesting exploration. I don’t know that it’s ever been explored in this way. I like trying new things. So, when you get an opportunity to play a character that is so wildly layered, not only in her personality or her circumstances, but in this very specific emotional process that she’s going through, and it’s in a sandbox with these great people? Yeah, I think I’ll do that.
MF: Bobby, you and your son, Jake, both play the same character but in different time periods. Did you work together to create one seamless performance, or did it feel like you were both working on two separate projects?
Bobby Cannavale: You know, a little bit of both. I certainly didn’t want to tell him how to play the part. I think Jake’s physical mannerisms are a done deal. He knows how to look like me, and act like me. I guess what we talked about really was, where this guy was coming from before he met up with, Nicole’s character, Kay and how to incrementally find his way to a mutually respectful relationship with her because that is where they are 30 years later. So, we want that to grow incrementally. That’s why there is so much tension and static between them early on. I think that’s fascinating to watch. When we meet them 30 years later in the present day, they are harboring a pretty deep and dark secret. I think like calibrating where they are earlier in the show and making sure that we don’t get too far ahead for the audience, was something we did talk about.
MF: Bobby, what was it like for you to work with Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis on this project?
BC: The way I heard about the project was I got a text from Jamie Lee, and I didn’t know Jamie. She got my number somehow. She’s very direct and I like people like that, especially in this business. I said, “What is it?” She went on and on about Patricia and Patricia’s work, which I had not read. She encouraged me to read some of her stuff and I did, and then, it was a no-brainer. Jamie is so talented. She’s so enigmatic and you just want to be around her energy. Nicole, I had worked with on ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ some years ago and I was up for playing with her again. That’s not a hard decision to make.
MF: Finally, Ariana, what was your experience like working with Nicole and Jamie Lee to create the dynamic between those three characters?
AD: I will say every day I got to go to work, it was an exciting day because I knew I would get to be in the sandbox and just watch master’s at their craft and take notes. It’s like the finest form of flattery, right? When I watch something that I like, I put things in my toolbox. To share space and time and energy with them, it’s just a real gift. I think they’re the type of actors and artists that make all your chakras come alive when you’re in a scene with them. So, you’re going to sweat, but you’re going to have a great time. Ultimately, I think when you have the privilege to work with actors like Nicole, Jamie Lee, Bobby, and Simon (Baker), and really all the very fine actors in our cast, you come out better. Every day I got to go to work was like getting an education on the thing that I love to do.
‘Scarpetta’ premieres March 11th on Prime Video.
What is the plot of ‘’Scarpetta’?
Kay Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman) is a brilliant and beautiful forensic pathologist, the protagonist in a beloved series of crime novels. Inspired by former Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Marcella Farinelli Fierro MD (retired), she employs advanced forensic technology to unravel mysteries and solve crimes. Throughout the series, Scarpetta, of Italian descent, navigates her investigative journey across various settings, including Florida, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina.
Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in ‘Murder, She Wrote.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Television.
For those who didn’t grow up in the 1980s or have somehow gotten this far in life not knowing the name Jessica Fletcher, ‘Murder She Wrote’ was a crime procedural drama series that kicked off on CBS in 1984.
It stars Lansbury as Fletcher, a seemingly mild-mannered crime writer who has a penchant for digging into mysteries of all kinds. Working and living primarily in the fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine, she’s consistently underestimated by police and criminals and ends up solving many murders.
For the new movie, ‘Dumb Money’ duo Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo wrote the screenplay based on the series. Curtis will take on the role as Fletcher, and the tone may tend towards warmly comedic.
What else has Jason Moore directed?
In addition to helping launch the ‘Pitch Perfect’ franchise, Moore has also been behind the camera for movies including ‘Sisters’ and ‘Shotgun Wedding.’
He’s also directed the pilot and served as an executive producer on ‘Elle,’ the upcoming ‘Legally Blonde’ prequel TV series at Prime Video.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, and director Jason Moore on the set of ‘Shotgun Wedding’. Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
Paul Greengrass can direct this sort of ripped-from-the-headlines drama with one hand tied behind his back; he’s proved time and again that he’s capable of wringing real emotion out of human chaos.
Fortunately, ‘The Lost Bus’ finds him fully in control of his faculties as a filmmaker, keeping the focus sharp and largely side-stepping cliches like a bus careening away from falling power lines.
Script and Direction
Director Paul Greengrass on the set of ‘The Lost Bus,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.
Written by Brad Ingelsby (no stranger to either taught, tense drama or against-the-odds stories having created such projects as ‘Mare of Easttown’) and Greengrass, the new movie doesn’t seek to sensationalize the devastating events of the Camp Fire that tore through the town of Paradise in California and its environs, but keeps its eye largely on the occupants of the bus.
Greengrass near documentary style keeps things compelling as the disaster erupts around the community, stopping in on the fire fighting forces trying to tame the deadly blaze and those in charge of running the school bus system that proves vital to the evacuation.
Naturally, the focus is on the two leads and the kids aboard the bus, who all give good, naturalistic performances. A lot of weight is given early on to Kevin McKay’s (McConaughey) frustrations in life and fractured relationship with his son, but that’s mostly to provide drive for him as he seeks to save his young charges then get back to his own child.
But one other performance deserves a shout-out: Ashlie Atkinson, who is superb as Ruby, the manager/dispatcher at the bus depot, who initially clashes with Kevin, but soon shows her own spine of steels as the crisis worsens.
Final Thoughts
It might be a fairly standard version of the heroic small-town true story, but in Greengrass’ hands it’s scary, impressive and watchable.
Kudos also to the effects team, who bring the various fires to such vivid life you might feel yourself getting warm.
‘The Lost Bus’ receives 80 out of 100.
‘The Lost Bus,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.
What’s the story of ‘The Lost Bus’?
‘The Lost Bus’ is a white-knuckle ride through one of America’s deadliest wildfires as a wayward school bus driver (Matthew McConaughey) and a dedicated school teacher (America Ferrera) battle to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno.
In honor of Curtis’ new movie, ‘Freakier Friday‘ which is a sequel to ‘Freaky Friday’ reuniting her with Lindsay Lohan and opening in theaters on August 8th, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best films of Jamie Lee Curtis’ long and impressive career, including her latest.
Two decades after surviving a massacre on October 31, 1978, former baby sitter Laurie Strode (Curtis) finds herself hunted by persistent knife-wielder Michael Myers. Laurie now lives in Northern California under an assumed name, where she works as the headmistress of a private school. But it’s not far enough to escape Myers, who soon discovers her whereabouts. As Halloween descends upon Laurie’s peaceful community, a feeling of dread weighs upon her — with good reason.
A 1939 test pilot asks his best friend to use him as a guinea pig for a cryogenics experiment. Daniel McCormick (Mel Gibson) wants to be frozen for a year so that he doesn’t have to watch his love lying in a coma. The next thing Daniel knows is that he’s been awoken in 1992.
Three laborers on a Northern California marijuana plantation (Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria and Ryan Phillippe) become increasingly paranoid when they learn that their boss has been murdered. They know enough to run, taking with them enough of the crop to pay them for services rendered. Hooking up with go-between Lucy (Kelly Lynch) in the next town, they plot their next move.
The nightmare isn’t over as unstoppable killer Michael Myers escapes from Laurie Strode’s (Curtis) trap to continue his ritual bloodbath. Injured and taken to the hospital, Laurie fights through the pain as she inspires residents of Haddonfield, to rise up against Myers. Taking matters into their own hands, the Strode women and other survivors form a vigilante mob to hunt down Michael and end his reign of terror once and for all.
Jamie Lee Curtis in ‘Blue Steel’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Megan Turner (Curtis), a rookie NYC cop, foils an armed robbery on her first day and then engages in a cat-and-mouse game with one of the witnesses (Ron Silver) who becomes obsessed with her.
History — make that high school — may repeat itself when Marni (Kristen Bell) learns that Joanna (Odette Annable), the mean girl from her past, is set to be her sister-in-law. Before the wedding bells toll, Marni must show her brother (James Wolk) that a tiger doesn’t change its stripes. On Marni’s side is her mother (Curtis), while Joanna’s backed by her wealthy aunt (Sigourney Weaver).
A British spy (Pierce Brosnan) is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador’s mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor (Geoffrey Rush) with a nefarious past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The tailor also has a wife (Curtis), who works for the Panamanian president and a huge debt. The mission is to learn what the President intends to do with the Canal.
Four years after the events of Halloween in 2018, Laurie (Curtis) has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. But when a young man (Rohan Campbell) is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.
Vada Sultenfuss (Anna Chlumsky) is obsessed with death. Her mother is dead, and her father (Dan Aykroyd) runs a funeral parlor. She is also in love with her English teacher (Griffin Dunne), and joins a poetry class over the summer just to impress him. Thomas J. (Macaulay Culkin), her best friend, is “allergic to everything”, and sticks with Vada despite her hangups. When Vada’s father hires Shelly (Curtis), and begins to fall for her, things take a turn to the worse…
Years after Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter (Julia Butters) of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter (Sophia Hammons). As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover lightning might indeed strike twice.
Mother and daughter bicker over everything — what Anna (Lindsay Lohan) wears, whom she likes and what she wants to do when she’s older. In turn, Anna detests Tess’s (Curtis) fiancé. When a magical fortune cookie switches their personalities, they each get a peek at how the other person feels, thinks and lives.
Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
A snobbish investor (Dan Aykroyd) and a wily street con-artist (Eddie Murphy) find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.
(L to R) Don Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ana de Armas in ‘Knives Out’. Photo: Lionsgate.
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death.
A diamond advocate is attempting to steal a collection of diamonds, yet troubles arise when he realizes that he is not the only one after the diamonds.
A fearless, globe-trotting, terrorist-battling secret agent (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has his life turned upside down when he discovers his wife (Curtis) might be having an affair with a used car salesman (Bill Paxton) while terrorists smuggle nuclear war heads into the United States.
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
3149
1. ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)
(L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis as Deirdre Beaubeirdre, and Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Quan Wang in A24’s ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes.
Legacy sequels and comedy; two examples of filmmaking that are hard to get right. You have studios looking to exploit classic IP –– in this case, 2003’s lightweight but fun Lindsay Lohan/Jamie Lee Curtis body swap comedy ‘Freaky Friday’ (itself a remake, let’s not forget) –– but in the transition to a more up-to-date story with the core cast intact, something can often be lost.
It’s a relief to report, then, that in this case, that ‘Freakier Friday’, which returns Curtis and Lohan (plus a few other welcome characters from the first film), surrounds them with entertaining newer talent and manages to capture the spirit without feeling like a rip-off.
Jordan Weiss has the screenplay credit here, with Elyse Hollander scoring a “story by” listing, evidence of the film going through a few script drafts on its journey to the screen.
But despite the development process, what has emerged still feels fresh and funny, warm and emotional, riffing on the basic body swap concept, and borrowing some elements (such as an impending wedding and tension between teens and mothers –– or grandmother).
Like the old wedding tradition states, something old, something new, something borrowed and while “something blue” only really counts for the denim outfit Curtis’ character dons while occupied by someone else, it all serves to move the story forward while keeping the laughs coming.
The connection between Lohan and Curtis remains strong, and the script finds ways to update their relationship while keeping them as familiar characters. The new additions, meanwhile, including Anna Coleman’s (Lohan) actual child (Butters) and future step-daughter (Hammons), are worthwhile.
Director Nisha Ganatra, meanwhile, keeps it all ticking along well, making good use of Los Angeles locations to have the film feel like it truly takes place in the universe of the 2003 original.
She also represents a welcome move towards diversity, something that occurs here both in front of and behind the camera.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan both seemed eager to return to their roles, and from the looks of the movie itself (and the blooper reel at the end), they clearly had a lot of fun catching up with the characters of Tess and Anna Coleman.
With the movie quickly and smoothly briefing us on how their relationship has evolved now Anna is a mother of her own (and has found love with Manny Jacinto’s Eric), it soon gets down to taking us through a familiar story that goes in interesting new directions.
The two actors are more than ready to throw themselves into the physical comedy and also hit the emotional beats when needed.
Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons carry the other end of the heavy lifting as the warring future siblings who are both unhappy with Anna and Eric’s marriage plans (and a potential move to London). The two actors really make the characters’ issues believable, and are just as adept when it comes to the funny moments.
Jacinto meanwhile, is a funny performer who is here saddled a little with too straightforward a role (and a British accent that doesn’t really suit him). Yet he’s still adept at hunky love interest and confused suitor.
‘Freakier Friday’ also brings back some other legacy characters –– Chad Michael Murray as Jake, Anna’s old flame, gets the meatiest role, and still carries his other torch, for Tess. And it’s always good to see perennial character actor Stephen Tobolowsky show up, here reprising frustrated teacher Mr. Bates from the original.
In new supporting roles, the likes of X Mayo (as the principal of Harper and Lily’s school) and especially Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (star of Netflix comedy ‘Never Have I Ever’, who here plays an overly emotional pop star) really make an impact.
‘Freakier Friday’ is a sequel that doesn’t embarrass the original, has callbacks that work as more than simply fan service and should bring a smile to different generations.
It’s also that welcome comedy that is actually funny and makes good use of its cast.
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What’s the story of ‘Freakier Friday’?
The story picks up years after Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) endured an identity crisis. Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter.
As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might indeed strike twice.
Jeremy Allen White as Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto in ‘The Bear’ Season 4. Photo: FX.
‘The Bear’ Season 4 receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
Released via FX on Hulu with its entire 10-episode fourth season on June 25th, ‘The Bear’ returns us to the world of Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) and his attempts to blend fine dining with the chaotic world of his extended Chicago family.
It’s no secret that after a sleeper hit first season, a critically acclaimed, award-winning and much-watched second, culinary drama ‘The Bear’ went off the boil somewhat in its third. The ingredients were the same –– great performances, visually stylish and one of the better collections of needle drops on TV –– but somehow the script and the pace let it down.
The big question going forward is whether Season 4 sees the blend back in balance.
Early reports had the fourth season shot back to back with the third, but aside from a couple of small elements, this was not the case. But the overarching feeling, even in a meta sense, is of the series almost apologizing for past stumbles.
That’s perhaps not all that surprising in a show where the main characters are all a work in progress in terms of their own careers and healing journeys, dealing with a soup of past trauma, self-esteem issues and other psychological problems. The character of Carmy in particular realizes the damage he has inflicted on those around him and (mostly) aims to make good.
Unlike the last season, this is handled in compelling fashion by the narrative, which finds a better mix of the tone of the show and moving its story alone.
There are still lingering problems with pace in some scenes, it’s as if everyone decided that certain moments didn’t need to be edited and could instead play out way beyond their useful time scale. And while the show’s long sequences of food preparation largely remain compelling, some still come across as filler.
‘The Bear’s visual style remains excellent, making good use of Chicago locations and keeping us close to the characters when the emotional flames are high.
Even the humor level is raised this year –– even if the series really shouldn’t be competing in the comedy categories.
He remains the main character and focus of the show, but Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy is still dialed down a little bit this year. The actor’s mournful face and low-key performance work for the role, and he plays well against almost anyone, particular Edebiri and Moss-Bachrach.
As Syd, Ayo Edebiri continues to rank among the series most valuable performers, and co-wrote her own showcase episode this year, which saw her taking a day away from the restaurant to ponder a tempting job opportunity elsewhere while she’s getting her hair done by a cousin (there are so many cousins in this show, it’s almost hard to keep track). She’s typically great as the genius cook with the almighty crisis of confidence.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach is likewise a star of the show, an actor who has proved he can steal scenes no matter the genre or material. Richie is a particularly juicy part, a screw-up who is committed to turning his life around and has found his calling running the dining experience at in-show restaurant The Bear. His turbulent personal life –– his ex-wife is getting re-married and he wonders about his connection to his young daughter –– is also fuel for superb performances.
Liza Colón-Zayas’ Tina isn’t in the spotlight quite as much last season (when she got her own showcase episode), but she’s still a welcome presence, struggling with the timing on a new pasta dish. She’s also a welcome sprinkling of spice in other scenes, such as when she’s encouraging Carmy on his own journey.
Around the main cast is a variety of excellent supporting performers, ‘The Bear’ always working best as a stew of people and personalities rather than just Carmy’s obsessions. Episode 7, ‘Bears’ is the true highlight of the season, an hourlong entry set at the wedding of Richie’s ex-wife Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs) to Frank (Josh Hartnett).
It features the return of top-caliber recurring performers such as Jamie Lee Curtis (as Carmy and Natalie’s troubled mother Donna), Bob Odenkirk as “Uncle” Lee Lane (Donna’s occasional boyfriend), and the welcome addition of –– spoiler alert in case you don’t want to know about new guest stars –– Brie Larson, who fits perfectly as one of the sprawling Fak family.
There is also the welcome return of Will Poulter as Chef Luca, bringing a humble, funny energy to the kitchen.
It might not be simmering back at the level of the first or second seasons, but ‘The Bear’ has certainly found a better mix for its various elements for a more satisfying final dish this time.
While the finale leaves some plot threads dangling, if the cast’s increasingly busy schedule makes future seasons challenging, this would work to put a lid on the show.
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What’s the plot of ‘The Bear’ Season 4?
Season 4 of ‘The Bear’ sees Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) grappling with the restaurant’s success and his own future, leading to a dramatic shift in his role and the restaurant’s leadership structure.
The season explores themes of family, trauma, and the relentless pursuit of perfection within the high-pressure environment of a fine-dining restaurant. Sydney faces her own career crossroads, while Richie continues his journey of self-discovery and leadership.
Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Preview:
Disney brought several movies to its CinemaCon 2025 presentation.
The likes of ‘Tron: Ares,’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and more were showcased.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ also showed footage, alongside Pixar’s Elio, Freakier Friday and the new, live-action/CG ‘Lilo & Stitch
While it is still looking to rebuild its fortunes, Disney can at least look back on 2024 as one with several big hits, especially ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’
But it will have to prove that this year’s slate can match past successes. Luckily, the Mouse House has more strings to its bow than even the likes of Universal or Warner Bros., and heavy hitters including Pixar, Marvel and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ series primed and ready with new entries, plus the return of ‘Tron’ to the grid… er, cinemas.
Following the usual stuff about sponsors and theater owners (got to play to the crowd!), the Disney presentation signaled the end of CinemaCon’s studio events and began with the traditional sizzle reel of upcoming movies, framed in amusing fashion by having ‘Lilo & Stitch’s titular blue troublemaker wander through the rest of the slate.
Getting the presentation off to its formal stage start was Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.
He was joined by Andrew Cripps, head of theatrical distribution at the studio to unveil the typically packed schedule of movies the studio will have across the rest of the year, and to extol the fact that Disney movies are Disney movies are typically in theaters an average of three weeks longer than any other studio.
2025’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo: Walt Disney Pictures.
The latest animated-to-live-action conversion project faces additional pressure following ‘Snow White’s poor showing at the box office this past month. With Disney bosses pushing pause on a planned ‘Tangled’ live-action movie, ‘Lilo’ will need to perform in order to keep that particular strand of the company’s strategy alive beyond ‘Moana,’ due next year.
Some fresh, sneak peek footage from the new movie was screened for the crowd, featuring Stitch on a trip with Lilo and family; they go to a restaurant where the little blue alien causes the requisite chaos even as Lilo tries to teach him to behave. Some of what was shown has already popped up in the trailer, including Stitch squirting her with a soda gun.
(L to R) Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan were ushered on stage to promote this sequel to the 2003 original, which moves the story forward and features even more body-switching chaos than last time as Curtis’ Tess and Lindsay’s Anna Coleman switch places with their teenage daughter/granddaughter.
Curtis and Lohan cued up a look at some brand new footage from the movie, which according to the duo has been playing well with test audiences.
Curtis says that the film was…
“Made to be seen on a big screen.”
The scene played showed Tess and Anna trying to win back Anna’s boyfriend –– but in different bodies.
‘Freakier Friday’ brings body swap chaos to theaters on August 8th.
(L to R) Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
The studio went all out with a light show to promote the third ‘Tron’ movie, and also brought Jeff Bridges and new franchise face Jared Leto to the stage.
Bridges said,
“To be back on the grid was incredible, and working with Jared… It was a great time.”
For his part, Leto said he was obsessed and this was everything he wanted from a movie. It took him to a world he had never seen before.
Leto described his character, Ares:
“An advanced program that crosses over to real world to fulfill his directive.”
After confirmation of Nine Inch Nails doing the music for the new movie, we got a look at some new footage.
What was screened was a look at Ares riding his bike in the real world, with Bridges’ Kevin Flynn narrating. We also see him ask Ares, “Are you ready? Because there is no coming back…”
‘Tron: Ares’ departs the grid for our world on October 10th.
With ‘The Amateur’ due on screens next week, its chunk of the presentation was minimal, limited to a full version of the scene in the pool we glimpse in the trailer, but show full-length here. It was followed by the trailer.
‘The Amateur,’ as mentioned, will find a way into theaters on April 11th.
Elle Fanning at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.Photo: Disney.
The new ‘Predator’ movie from ‘Prey’s Dan Trachtenberg immediately looked interesting, since the Predator creature is more of a protagonist in this one, and it takes place on a new planet where he’s been exiled and must fight his way back.
Star (no, not as the Predator!) Elle Fanning arrived on stage to confirm that this movie breaks new ground in the ‘Predator’ universe. She also said something unprecedented happens. Her character is not being chased, she teams up with Predator and you see him in new light.
She cued up the first trailer for the new movie, which sees the Predator battling a giant, nearly invincible beast with Fanning’s help.
‘Predator: Badlands’ stalks into cinemas on November 7th.
Strong, for the record, plays Jon Landau, Springsteen’s manager and producer. He said he sees the role as Lewis to Springsteen’s Clark.
White, meanwhile, explains that the movie charts Springsteen’s teenage years to around 1982.
Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere.’ Photo: 20th Century Studios.
We got a first look at the trailer for the new movie, which is directed by Scott Cooper. The footage wraps up showing Springsteen in concert performing ‘Born to Run.’
‘Deliver Me from Nowhere’ has yet to announce when it’ll be delivered to theaters.
(L to R) Emma Mackey and Jamie Lee Curtis at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
James L. Brooks’ new comedy drama stars Emma Mackey as an idealistic young politician who juggles familial issues and a challenging work life while preparing to take over the job of her mentor, the state’s longtime incumbent governor (Albert Brooks).
She co-stars with Jamie Lee Curtis, and the latter returned to the stage alongside Mackey for the presentation.
Brooks, meanwhile, received the Cinema Vérité Award on stage and called for more movies to have a 35-day window in theaters.
Director James L. Brooks receives the Cinema Vérité Award at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
He also had a great quote about previewing movies with audiences:
“A woman came up to me and said the loveliest words: ‘they’re crying in the ladies toilet.’ Compare that to data.”
After Brooks’ emotional speech, we got a first look at the movie itself. The scene that played took place in a bar, where Curtis’ character takes Ella to meet her father, Woody Harrelson. They haven’t spoken in years after he dated her friend.
That was followed the trailer.
‘Ella McCay’ will be in cinemas on September 19th.
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From there, it was time to look at team Searchlight’s output, following a victory lap for the awards success of ‘A Real Pain’ and ‘A Complete Unknown.’ The studio arm’s new offering is…
Unlike the 1989 version, this Jay Roach-directed sees Cumberbatch and Colman as a successful chef and her businessman husband whose lives start to fall apart when he’s fired.
Things go from bad to worse, and as we saw in the trailer that played, it gets to the point where she has him at gunpoint.
‘The Roses’ fights for its place in theaters on August 29th.
Talking of guns, we moved on to one of the studio’s biggest… Marvel!
First up was the next movie from the prolific superhero franchise.
(L To R) David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
The ‘Thunderbolts*’ portion of the show kicked off with a funny bit about the cast being MIA –– Wyatt Russell appeared to have lost a lot of cash in the casino with co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus hoping the movie makes money so they can pay his debts!
The scene featured the Thunderbolts driving through New York as Harbour’s Red Guardian tries to bond with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). The team has to fight their way through bad guys to Avengers tower.
(L To R) Hannah John-Kamen, Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Wyatt Russell in ‘Thunderbolts*’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
We got an extended look at the Avengers Tower scene where Louis-Dreyfus gathers the gang –– after having sent them to kill each other and being frustrated that they teamed up.
There was also a very brief look at the introduction of Sentry (Lewis Pullman). And following that? A sizzle reel of scenes from the movie, which appears to be full of chaotic fun.
‘Thunderbolts*’ heads to cinemas on May 2nd. Less than a month for this one, folks!
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That was followed by Marvel boss Kevin Feige, currently in the UK on the set of ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ (which is “days away from the start of production”) confirming the appearance of the original X-Men team in the new movie.
We also got our first look at Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer, who cautions that planet Earth is “marked for death.” Kirby’s Sue Storm says they’ll “fight the threat as a family”.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ flies into theaters on July 25th.
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To switch tracks (but still be galactic rather than Galactus), it was the turn of the animation arm(s).
Zoe Saldaña at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Pixar’s latest finds a young lad dreaming of being abducted by aliens.
Zoe Saldaña, who plays the title character’s Aunt Olga, arrived on stage to talk about the new ‘toon.
A scene from the movie was shown in 3D, showing Elio brought on board an alien spaceship that is more like a living planet via a tractor beam, where he meets the vessel’s AI. He’s been recruited to join the universe’s smartest creatures to work together as a collective… But have they made a mistake? Elio meets and bonds with a young alien creature.
‘Elio’ heads into space (and theaters) on June 20th.
Ke Huy Quan introduces ‘Zootopia 2’ at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Thanksgiving sees the return of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), the mismatched buddy duo of rabbit police officer and crafty fox. This time around, they’re on an undercover mission to stop a murderous reptile (Ke Huy Quan’s Gary).
In a video introduction, we got Bateman changing the show’s title to “ZinemaCon” and there are animal jokes about theaters –– AMZ, Pandango, Fur D X, followed by giving other Disney movies critter-like makeovers (‘Thundercolts,’ ‘Sealio,’ ‘The Fantastic Fur.’)
‘Zootopia 2’. Photo: Disney.
Quan arrived on stage to discuss the sequel and his role as Gary the snake. And that Judy and Nick go to a therapy animal (played by ‘Abbot Elementary’s Quinta Brunson) to sort their strained friendship –– which we saw in a scene from the movie. That was followed by a scene of Nick and Judy at Marsh resort trying to track down Gary.
‘Zootopia 2’ goes wild in theaters on November 26th.
Zoe Saldaña at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
James Cameron appeared via video from New Zealand, where he’s still at work on the latest ‘Avatar’ outing. He was sorry he isn’t there in person, but he did tell the crowd he’d sent some footage.
He promised “increased emotional heart and soul,” and that the Sully family will be put through the wringer (again) as they face the Ash People. We’ll also meet the Wind Traders.
Saldaña (who has been part of the franchise since the 2009 original) returned to the stage to introduce the footage.
Zoe Saldaña at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
We saw Jake and wife Neytiri (Saldaña) flying a dragon creature to Wind Traders’ ship where Miles “Spider” Socorro (Jack Champion), the son of Miles Quaritch, lives now.
That preceded a reel of other scenes, including Jake telling Neytiri they can’t live in hate, humans attacked the Na’vi, a shot of the whale-like creatures we met in ‘The Way of Water,’ the return of Stephen Lang’s Quaritch and Varang, the Na’vi leader of the volcano-dwelling Ash People threatening Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), the daughter of Dr. Grace Augustine’s Na’vi avatar who was adopted by the Sully family.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ welcomes us back to Pandora on December 19th.
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And that’s all, folks!
(L To R) Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, and Hannah John-Kamen at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Matthew McConaughey will star in new historical drama ‘The Rage.’
Paul Greengrass is directing.
It’s a reunion for the pair following the upcoming ‘The Lost Bus.’
Is Matthew McConaughey the new Matt Damon? No, we don’t mean he’s taking over Damon’s role as Jason Bourne… he’s instead become a repeat creative collaborator with writer/director Paul Greengrass, who worked with Damon on several films, including some of the ‘Bourne’ franchise.
McConaughey, meanwhile, starred for Greengrass in wildfire drama ‘The Lost Bus’ (more on that below), and is now in talks to take another leading role, this time in history-based drama ‘The Rage.’
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According to Deadline, McConaughey will play a key figure in the new movie, which Greengrass is gearing up to direct next.
It’s certainly in keeping with much of Greengrass’ work, which outside of the ‘Bourne’ films, often focuses on real-life events and high drama.
Matthew McConaughey arrives on the red carpet of The 90th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Credit/Provider: Scott Diussa / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: A.M.P.A.S.
The new movie, which Greengrass also wrote, is set to take place during the Peasants’ Revolt, a major uprising that took part across large parts of England in 1381 in response to socio-economic and political tensions and high taxation.
McConaughey is on for the role to play a farmer who becomes the leader of the revolt (which could indicate that he’s playing the legendary Wat Tyler, who led the uprising before being killed by forces loyal to King Richard, but that has yet to be confirmed).
Interestingly, the former title of the movie was ‘The Hood,’ since Tyler is one of the real-life people that has been taken as inspiration for the legend of Robin Hood (whose historical provenance is somewhat cloudier).
This is not the first incarnation of the movie; Greengrass previously set it up in 2022 with Benedict Cumberbatch attached to the Tyler role, and FilmNation (which is still aboard to represent the movie) had the rights for sale at that year’s Cannes Film Festival.
What is ‘The Lost Bus’?
Matthew McConaughey backstage during the live ABC Telecast of The 90th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Credit/Provider: Matt Sayles / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: A.M.P.A.S.
‘The Lost Bus’ has been a passion project for Jamie Lee Curtis since 2022, after hearing Lizzie Johnson talk about her book ‘Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire’ on the Camp Fire situation in an NPR interview. She investigated the rights and set it up with Blumhouse, where her Comet Pictures company has a first-look deal.
It follows heroic bus driver Kevin McKay (McConaughey in the film) and school teacher Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera), who helped navigate a bus full of children through the deadly wildfire as the town of Paradise in California is caught in the destruction and chaos. The fire destroyed most of the mountain town and killed 85.
‘Out Of The Furnace’s Brad Ingelsby adapted the script based on the book, and Greengrass came aboard as director in 2023.
Despite delays due to the strikes, it shot last year and seems certain to have particular resonance this year following the devastating fires in the territory north of Los Angeles.
This movie follows a young woman named Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass), whose life takes a tragic turn when she loses her mother and leaves foster care.
Reuniting with her former foster parent, Amziah (McConaughey), changes everything: he becomes her mentor, revealing hidden skills when a devastating situation arises. Kateri relies on her newfound strength to seek justice.
‘The Rivals of Amziah King’ will premiere at this year’s SXSW festival in March.
But that’s not all that McConaughey is attached to: he’s also preparing to star in Apple TV+ comedy series which was formerly known as ‘Brother from Another Mother’ (but is listed as untitled right now) alongside old pal Woody Harrelson.
The 10-episode half-hour Apple TV+ comedy from ‘The Big Door Prize’ showrunner David West Read reunites Harrelson and McConaughey, who play heightened versions of themselves in a heartfelt odd couple love story revolving around their strange and beautiful sibling-like bond.
Matthew and Woody’s close friendship is tested when their combined families attempt to live together on Matthew’s ranch in Texas. Break out the bongs –– and the bongos –– and let the bonding commence!
Deadline brings word that Holland Taylor is now aboard the show as a fellow regular, playing McConaughey’s mother, Ma Mac.
Taylor, a veteran of stage and screen, was most recently seen in the likes of ‘Quiz Lady’ and scored her ninth Emmy nomination for her role in one of Apple’s big TV series ‘The Morning Show.’
When will ‘The Rage’ be in theaters?
‘The Rage’ is a project currently looking for a buyer, and its rights will be on sale at this year’s European Film Market in Berlin, so there is no release date to speak of as of yet.
On the other hand, ‘The Lost Bus’ will arrive this year via Apple (whether that means it hits theaters or goes straight to Apple TV+ remains to be seen).
Matthew McConaughey in ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: STX films.
Pamela Anderson in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
It’s lately been a thing that a number of our best-known actresses have delivered performances that were especially raw physically, emotionally, or both, with many of them involving a change in appearance about as far from red carpet movie star glamour as one could imagine. Amy Adams in ‘Nightbitch.’ Demi Moore in ‘The Substance.’ Jamie Lee Curtis in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’ And now you can add one-time ‘Baywatch’ star and all-around TV sexpot Pamela Anderson to that list with her achingly poignant work in ‘The Last Showgirl.’
The movie itself, directed by Gia Coppola (yes, a third-generation Coppola filmmaker), isn’t going to change the world, and it may not even change much about the current status of Anderson’s career. But it shows that underneath the pneumatic figure and red bathing suit that defined much of her tenure, Anderson is capable of pulling a fine piece of acting out of her heart and soul. Shelley Gardner, the last showgirl of the title, is far from perfect, but she’s endearing and human and worth your time, even if the movie itself is merely okay.
Story and Direction
‘The Last Showgirl’ director Gia Coppola.
As ‘The Last Showgirl’ opens – after a prologue in which we see Shelley nervously about to embark on an audition – we learn that the Las Vegas show she’s been part of for 30 years, “Le Razzle Dazzle,” has been given its last rites and will close in two weeks. Shelley and some of her friends in the ensemble – younger dancers like Jodie (Kiernan Shipka) and Mary-Anne (Brenda Song) who treat her like a reluctant mother figure – are informed of this by Eddie (Dave Bautista), their quiet stage manager with whom it’s hinted that Shelley has a history. But the more immediate concern for all is where they go from here.
For Shelley, it’s an especially tough blow: she sees “Le Razzle Dazzle” as “the last true showgirl show in Vegas,” with its peekaboo nudity and old-school raunchiness giving way to either more explicit sexcapades or family-friendly spectacles like the circus that’s taking over their stage. “They used to treat us like movie stars,” Shelley says mournfully at one point. “Ambassadors for style and grace.” She’s even in the 1980s press shots for the show – which means it’s going to be even harder for her to find work in something new, as a casting director (Jason Schwartzman) viciously points out in the scene that we eventually circle back to from the prologue.
Jamie Lee Curtis in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
She could become a cocktail waitress like her friend Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis), a former dancer who can barely fit into her work uniform and can’t make ends meet when she’s around slot machines all the time. But Shelley has always aspired to be onstage – an ambition in life that once almost led her to the Rockettes (“I found all that kicking very redundant”) but that also led her, on a more serious note, to all but abandon her daughter Hannah (Billie Lourd), now about to graduate college, who Shelley wants to reconnect with.
The tension between Hannah and Shelly forms the main spine of ‘The Last Showgirl,’ in addition to the impending end of the show, but it turns out that those are barely enough to sustain the film’s 90-minute runtime. It’s not an expensive movie, to be sure, with much of it taking place either in Shelley’s cramped little house or the equally small backstage area of the show. But despite its meaningful themes, it’s also not as fleshed-out as it could be. Bewildering montages of Shelley and/or Hannah wandering the avenues of Vegas among its monstrous edifices of vice make it painfully obvious that Coppola is stretching the film to feature length.
Which is a shame because there’s room for more here. Shelley is no angel: “Mothers aren’t saints or saviors,” she says, “Just regular people doing the best they can with the tools they have.” Yet the movie kind of papers over the fact that she left her child behind to pursue her dreams – dreams which led her to spend most of her life in what Hannah calls “a stupid nudie show” when she finally sees what she lost her mom to. There’s something subversive about the idea of Shelley sacrificing a normal relationship with her child and not exactly regretting it, but the movie doesn’t examine this – or much else – in too much depth, relying instead on Anderson to carry it forward.
The Cast
(L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis and Pamela Anderson star in ‘The Last Showgirl’.
Make no mistake, this is the Pamela Anderson show. She still cuts an impressive figure even though she’s a long way from her TV lifeguard days, and there’s no doubt that in her work here she is channeling her own journey from ‘Baywatch’ breakout to failed movie star to sex tape joke to righteous animal activist. But while we don’t imagine this will jumpstart her acting career, this is still surprisingly resonant work from the actor. Anderson brings both a vulnerability and a steely dignity to the role of Shelley, and certainly stretches herself for this role in a way that her previous onscreen work never hinted at.
Also impressive is Jamie Lee Curtis disappearing again into an almost unrecognizable, deglammed role as Annette, while Dave Bautista adds to his own catalog of sensitive, empathetic performances that belie his physical bulk. Less memorable are Billie Lourd as Shelley’s daughter and both Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka as her friends from the show, all of whom are fine but don’t get quite the character depth as the three leads. Lourd’s Hannah in particular has a reactive turn halfway through the movie that doesn’t seem believable, although the emotions between Hannah and Shelley feel real. Meanwhile, Jason Schwartzman cameos as that callous casting director in what must be his 118th film appearance of the past year.
Final Thoughts
Pamela Anderson in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
‘The Last Showgirl’ touches on a lot of genuine issues: aging, identity, responsibility, and the fear of irrelevance, all filtered through the perspective of women who almost always have it way tougher when it comes to these challenges. Yet “touches” is the right word, because ‘The Last Showgirl’ doesn’t spend a lot of time on any of them and as a film is rather evanescent and lightly developed.
As a vehicle for a woman who has no doubt grappled with these issues herself, ‘The Last Showgirl’ is fascinating. It will change your perspective on Pamela Anderson, who appears here – to trot out a well-worn phrase – like you’ve never seen her before, and it will make you think about the way women are carelessly tossed to the side in show business – and other businesses – like clothes that are no longer in fashion. “I just have to disappear,” Shelley says bitterly near the end, before asserting that she has “no regrets, none.” Despite its flaws, Anderson should have no regrets about starring in ‘The Last Showgirl,’ and in the end you should have none about watching her in it.
‘The Last Showgirl’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘The Last Showgirl’?
After a successful thirty-year run, a seasoned showgirl (Pamela Anderson) must plan her future after the show closes abruptly.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Last Showgirl’?
Pamela Anderson as Shelly
Jamie Lee Curtis as Annette
Dave Bautista as Eddie
Brenda Song as Mary-Anne
Kiernan Shipka as Jodie
Billie Lourd as Hannah
Jason Schwartzman as a director
Pamela Anderson in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
