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Tag: jay roach

‘The Roses’ Digital Release Interview: Director Jay Roach
‘The Roses’ director Jay Roach. Photo: Dan Steinberg Photography.

‘The Roses‘ tells the story of a couple, Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Olivia Colman), and what happens when stress and resentment start to take over their lives.
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Director Jay Roach joined Moviefone for a cooking class at The Gourmandise School in Santa Monica as a celebration of the fact that Searchlight Pictures’ ‘The Roses’ is now available to buy on Digital.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The Roses’

Jay Roach Details Why Benedict Cumberbatch & Olivia Colman Were The Perfect Casting Choices For ‘The Roses’

(L to R) Director Jay Roach with Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch on the set of ‘The Roses’. Photo by Jaap Buitendijk, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

When ‘The Roses’ came to Jay Roach, Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch were already attached to the project. He explains why they were the perfect choice to play this couple.

Jay Roach: I could just imagine them as a couple and they each have such specific personal mythologies and coping strategies and somehow Benedict’s enjoyable confidence and his comfort in his own skin, seeing that undermined by the story early and then seeing Olivia who’s so easygoing but then gets a little taste of success. I just somehow, with this great screenplay I got, and at the same time that they had developed and they had never worked together, I had a sense that they might get on and they might also have really excellent battles and conflict and the stuff that keeps you suspenseful like, oh how’s that gonna work out? So that’s how I felt about it. I’m such huge fans of both of them so it was a pretty easy equation to solve.

Jay Roach Explains What The Biggest Challenge Of Filming ‘The Roses’ Was

Jay Roach attends ‘The Roses’ home release event. Photo: Searchlight Pictures

With a movie like ‘The Roses’, there are a lot of aspects that go into it – including big fights that cause the couple to destroy things. When asked what the most important thing to get right was, director Jay Roach reveals it was the food.

Jay Roach: The most important thing for us was to get the food right. I wasn’t that much of a foodie but everybody around me were all foodies like, you can’t mess this up, make sure you get this food right. And so we just wanted to make it seem authentic that she really cared about the food as a whole, her restaurant’s growth and expansion is a big part of the story and so you had to believe that people would want to eat that great food. We had to shoot it in a way that made it seem delicious and we had a great food consultant, Ali Dhabu is an amazing chef in London and we shot in his restaurant. So we always had the comfort that we could pull it off. But I also found it interesting to then turn the food into a weapon sometimes. She throws cake, we have one crazy point, they end up spiking each other’s food, it’s an interesting primal thing. We all love food and we all love the sensation of great smells and great tastes but what happens when that turns into part of the battle, you know? And so that was the challenge.

‘The Roses’ digital release event. Photo: Dan Steinberg Photography.

What’s the story of ‘The Roses’?

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids.

But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing –– as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Roses’?
- Olivia Colman as Ivy Rose
- Benedict Cumberbatch as Theo Rose
- Kate McKinnon as Amy
- Andy Samberg as Barry
- Ncuti Gatwa as Jeffrey
- Allison Janney as Eleanor
- Zoë Chao as Sally
- Sunita Mani as Jane
‘The Roses’ director Jay Roach. Photo: Dan Steinberg Photography.

List of Jay Roach TV Shows and Movies:
- ‘Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery‘ (1997)
- ‘Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me‘ (1999)
- ‘Mystery, Alaska‘ (1999)
- ‘Meet the Parents‘ (2000)
- ‘Austin Powers in Goldmember‘ (2002)
- ‘Meet the Fockers‘ (2004)
- ‘Recount‘ (2008)
- ‘Trumbo‘ (2008)
- ‘Dinner for Schmucks‘ (2010)
- ‘The Campaign‘ (2012)
- ‘Game Change‘ (2012)
- ‘The Brink‘ (2015)
- ‘All the Way‘ (2016)
- ‘Bombshell‘ (2019)
- ‘Coastal Elites‘ (2020)
- ‘High Desert‘ (2023)
- ‘The Roses‘ (2025)
Buy Jay Roach Movies On Amazon
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October 30, 2025
Movie Review: ‘The Roses’
(L to R) Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Roses’. Photo by Jaap Buitendijk, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

In theaters on August 29th is ‘The Roses’, the new adaptation of Warren Adler’s 1981 novel about a married couple whose relationship descends into frustration, deception and all-out war.
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Directed by Jay Roach (‘Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery’), the new dark comedy stars Benedict Cumberbatch (‘Doctor Strange’), Olivia Colman (‘The Favourite’), Kate McKinnon (‘Saturday Night Live’), Andy Samberg (‘Hot Rod’), Ncuti Gatwa (‘Barbie’) and Allison Janney (‘The Help’).

Related Article: Benedict Cumberbatch Addresses Doctor Strange’s Future in the MCU and a Third Stand-Alone Movie

Initial Thoughts

Olivia Colman in ‘The Roses’. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

Warren Adler’s novel about a marriage whose passion curdles into bitterness, jealousy and regret has been adapted once before, by Danny DeVito, who reunited ‘Romancing the Stone’ pair Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner for ‘The War of the Roses’, a pitch-dark comedy drama fueled by their existing dynamic.

Jay Roach and ‘The Favourite’s writer Tony McNamara go a different route for ‘The Roses’, which for much of its running time is a portrait of a seemingly blissful couple whose public façade hides simmering resentments, but is more cold war until it truly ignites in the third act.

Script and Direction

Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Roses’. Photo by Jaap Buitendijk, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

McNamara has long shown a talent for writing believably toxic relationships with enough of a farcical edge to keep it all from being too brutal –– except when it needs to be. His screenplay for ‘The Roses’ is the perfect fodder for two British stars (American audiences may sometimes react the way their marriage counsellor does in the first scene, taken aback by the sheer comic vitriol on display) to trade barbs like consummate pros.

And Roach, who has blended comedy and drama to winning effect (but also knows how to make farce serve story), was a solid choice to make this, keeping out of the cast’s way and working with them to develop the dynamics in very funny, sharp ways.

While you do sometimes wonder whether the film would have been better set in the UK, the disconnect between the leads and their American friends/co-workers does add some spice to the story.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Kate McKinnon, Jamie Demetriou, Zoe Chao, and Andy Samberg in ‘The Roses’. Photo by Jaap Buitendijk, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

This one really works because of its firecracker central pair; Cumberbatch and Colman may not totally convince as a couple deep in the throes of love and family, but when it comes to subversive, scathing dialogue, they are experts.

As Cumberbatch’s character sees his professional architect career (and ego) crumble even as his wife’s chef ambitions flourish, they craft excellent performances, bouncing off one another.

There is a deep bench of comedy performers backing them up, but the standouts here are certainly Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon as Amy and Barry, friends of the couple whose own marriage has seen better days. Credit also to Allison Janney, who pops up for one scene as Colman’s ruthless divorce lawyer, stealing every moment she’s on screen.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Olivia Colman and Allison Janney in ‘The Roses’. Photo by Lara Cornell, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

‘The Roses’ may be more a skirmish than a war, but it is also a reboot that justifies its existence with a very different type of caustic relationship clash and superlative performances from its leads.

It may not always be a feel-good movie, but that’s not the intent. And it’ll certainly make you laugh.

‘The Roses’ receives a score of 80 out of 100.

(L to R) Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman in ‘The Roses’. Photo by Jaap Buitendijk, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

What’s the story of ‘The Roses’?

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids.

But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing –– as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Roses’?
- Olivia Colman as Ivy Rose
- Benedict Cumberbatch as Theo Rose
- Kate McKinnon as Amy
- Andy Samberg as Barry
- Ncuti Gatwa as Jeffrey
- Allison Janney as Eleanor
- Zoë Chao as Sally
- Sunita Mani as Jane
Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Roses’. Photo by Jaap Buitendijk, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The Roses’:
- ‘Romancing the Stone‘ (1984)
- ‘Heartburn‘ (1986)
- ‘Ruthless People‘ (1986)
- ‘The Witches of Eastwick‘ (1987)
- ‘The War of the Roses‘ (1989)
- ‘She-Devil‘ (1989)
- ‘I Love You to Death‘ (1990)
- ‘Death Becomes Her‘ (1992)
- ‘Serial Mom‘ (1994)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Roses’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Benedict Cumberbatch Movies On Amazon
August 26, 2025
Lee Isaac Chung in Talks to Direct ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ Prequel
(Left) Director Lee Isaac Chung on the set of ‘Twisters.’ Photo: Universal. (Right) ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ poster. Photo: Warner Bros.

Preview:
- ‘Twisters’ director Lee Isaac Chung is in talks for the ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ prequel.
- Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling have been talked about as cast.
- Story details are officially locked in a vault.
We’ve been hearing talk of a prequel movie set in the ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ world for while now, with the likes of Margot Robbie (who is also producing) and her ‘Barbie’ co-star Ryan Gosling taking the lead roles.

Things have been quiet of late –– presumably because the script has proved a tough nut to crack. Still, there is some news to report now, with Deadline bringing word that ‘Twisters’ Lee Isaac Chung is in talks to direct the movie.
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Robbie and Gosling are not confirmed for the movie just yet, but if Chung makes a deal, it points to some positive forward movement.

Related Article: ‘Bullet Train’ and ‘The Fall Guy’ Director in Talks to Roll the Dice on ‘Ocean’s Fourteen’

What’s the story of the ‘Ocean’s Prequel’?

The cast of 2001’s ‘Ocean’s Eleven’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Deadline’s report mentions that the script remains secret, though previous stories brought word that it’ll be set in 1962, and focus on a pair of thieves who target expensive earrings during a mansion event followed by a plot to steal precious diamond in Monte Carlo.

Seeking payback after something goes wrong, they recruit a team to sabotage his Monaco Grand Prix victory and swipe the gem.

Carrie Solomon wrote the most recent draft of the screenplay, but there may well have been others involved since then.

The likes of Jay Roach and Molly Rose have been talked up as directors previously, but it would seem Chung is the current choice given the success of ‘Twisters’.

What else is happening in the ‘Ocean’s world?

George Clooney in ‘Ocean’s Eleven’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

The last thing we heard on the ‘Ocean’s front was ‘The Fall Guy’ director David Leitch entering talks to direct a new outing for George Clooney and co. in the main series of movies that includes ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, ‘Ocean’s Twelve’ and ‘Ocean’s Thirteen’.

But since those initial stories there has been little update.

Clooney, who is a producer on the ‘Ocean’s franchise in addition to its lead actor, told Uproxx about a development for the future back in 2023:

“We have a really good script for another ‘Ocean’s’ now, so we may end up doing another one. It’s actually a great script. the idea is kind of like ‘Going in Style.’ ”

That’s a nod to Martin Brest’s 1979 heist comedy, which famously starred George Burns, Art Carney, Lee Strasberg and Charles Hallahan as senior citizens who pull off a bank heist.

When will the ‘Ocean’s’ prequel movie be on screens?

Warner Bros. has, somewhat smartly, chosen not to plant a flag for this one just yet, which makes sense since it’s still in development.

‘Barbie’ CinemaCon 2023 Presentation and Press Line, April 25th. Photos By Eric Charbonneau.

Other Movies in the ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ Franchise:
- ‘Ocean’s Eleven‘ (1960)
- ‘Ocean’s Eleven‘ (2001)
- ‘Ocean’s Twelve‘ (2004)
- ‘Ocean’s Thirteen‘ (2007)
- ‘Ocean’s Eight‘ (2018)
Buy ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ Movies On Amazon
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August 7, 2025
Owen Wilson Returning for New ‘Meet The Parents’ Movie
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Owen Wilson in ‘Meet the Parents’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Preview:
- Owen Wilson is returning for the new ‘Meet the Parents’ movie.
- Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner will be back.
- John Hamburg is writing the script and directing.
Looks like a lot of the old ‘Parents’ gang is getting back together.

Following earlier news that Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner are among those returning for a fourth ‘Meet the Parents’ movie, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Owen Wilson will be back.

John Hamburg, who co-wrote all three prior films, wrote the screenplay for the new feature and is set to direct.
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Wilson plays Kevin Rawley, the laidback rival of Stiller’s character (who becomes less so as the story goes on).

We don’t know much about the new movie’s plotline so far, but it’ll reportedly see the son of Stiller’s Greg getting engaged to a headstrong woman (with Ariana Grande) playing the fiancée.

Related Article: ‘Wicked’s Ariana Grande Joins Cast of the New ‘Meet the Parents’ Movie

What’s the story of the ‘Meet the Parents’ movies?

(L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Meet the Parents’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

The idea for the ‘Parents’ franchise actually originated years before Ben Stiller accidentally knocked an urn full of ashes from a mantle or milking a cat was ever discussed.

Greg Glienna and Mary Ruth Clarke created and co-wrote an independent film, also titled ‘Meet the Parents,’ back in 1992.

Glienna directed, wrote two original songs, and starred as protagonist Greg: a Chicago advertising agent who travels with his fiancée Pam Burns to meet her parents, Irv and Kay, over a weekend but sets off a series of accidents and causes the family to fall apart.

After Pam’s sister Fay commits suicide, framing Greg in the process, Irv attempts to shoot him but accidentally kills Kay and Pam before dying of a heart attack. So… yes, a little darker even than what followed.

Sensing some potential (albeit with less murder/suicide), Universal bought the rights to the indie movie. The studio hired screenwriter Jim Herzfeld to expand the script and tone down some of the sharper edges, which led to what we all now know as ‘Meet the Parents’ in 2000.

Jay Roach directed that film, with Hamburg re-writing the script. It stars Stiller as Gaylord “Greg” Focker, a male nurse who is looking to propose to his girlfriend, Pam (Polo). Upon learning that Pam’s sister’s fiancé sought her father’s permission to marry, Greg sees an opportunity when they travel to her parents for the wedding.

As it turns out, Pam’s father is the stern, authoritative Jack Byrnes (De Niro), who claims to have been a florist in his career but is in fact a retired CIA counterintelligence officer. And not quite as retired as he claims. Chaos ensues, including the aforementioned urn destruction, injuries and bad behavior from Jack’s beloved cat Mr. Jinx.

(L to R) Blythe Danner and Robert De Niro in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Danner played Dina, Jack’s wife who is much less stress-inducing than him, but still less easygoing than Greg’s family. Yet despite all the madness, Greg does manage to convince Jack he’s worthy of Pam and ends up engaged.

That film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $166.2 million domestically and a total of $330.4 million worldwide.

A sequel was greenlit, with Roach returning to direct and Herzfeld and Hamburg once more writing. In 2004’s ‘Meet the Fockers,’ Greg and Pam decide to have Jack and Dina meet his parents.

The eccentric, fun-loving and free-spirited couple are, Bernie Focker (Dustin Hoffman), a lawyer-turned-stay-at-home-dad, and Roz (Barbra Streisand), a sex therapist for elderly couples. While Dina bonds with the Fockers, cracks form between Jack and the Fockers due to their contrasting personalities and backgrounds.

There’s also the small matter of Greg potentially having fathered a child as a teenager with the Focker family house-keeping and renewed tension with Jack. Yet it all works out happily and Greg and Pam marry at the end.

‘Meet the Fockers’ was an even bigger hit, earning more than $279 million domestically and more than $522 million worldwide.

The world had to wait until 2010 for the third entry, ‘Little Fockers,’ which saw Hamburg back writing, this time alongside Larry Stuckey. Paul Weitz took over directing chores.
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‘Little Fockers,’ which finds Greg and Pam preparing to celebrate the fifth birthday of their twins Samantha and Henry.

However, things seem to go awry for Greg when his in-laws, Jack and Dina Byrnes, visit them, and Jack announces he is looking for his successor as the head of the Byrnes family. Jack’s family has been hit by his daughter’s (Pam’s sister) divorce and more disruption, plus some health issues.

Yet more madness follows, though it ends well for both men, even if Greg’s parents announce they’re moving to Chicago to be closer to him and Pam.

This third film was critically panned and not as successful as the previous two entries, ending up with a worldwide total of $310.7 million.

Where else can we see Owen Wilson?

Owen Wilson in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.

Wilson hasn’t been seen on the big screen since 2023’s ‘Haunted Mansion’, but he’s had work on TV, appearing as Morbius in Marvel’s ‘Loki’ and is currently to be found playing a former golf champion mentoring a talented new young player on Apple TV+ series ‘Stick’.

Upcoming movie work includes medical transport thriller ‘Runner’ and Jeremy Garelick’s new comedy ‘Rolling Loud’, about a father who takes his son to a wild hip-hop festival.

When will the new ‘Meet the Parents’ movie hit theaters?

(L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Meet the Parents’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Since the details are now starting to come together, Universal is confident enough to plant a flag for this one: the new movie will be out on November 25th, 2026.

And Paramount Pictures has announced it will co-produce the movie and distribute it outside the U.S.

(L to R) Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

List of Movies in the ‘Meet the Parents’ Franchise:
- ‘Meet the Parents‘ (2000)
- ‘Meet the Fockers‘ (2004)
- ‘Little Fockers‘ (2010)
Buy ‘Meet the Parents’ Movies On Amazon
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June 27, 2025
Ariana Grande Joins New ‘Meet The Parents’ Movie
(Left) Ariana Grande arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Michael Baker / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) (L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Preview:
- Ariana Grande is joining the new ‘Meet the Parents’ movie.
- Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner will be back.
- John Hamburg is writing the script and directing.
Welcome to the circle of trust, Ariana Grande!

If you’re not sure what you’re on about, you might want to cast your mind back to last December, when the news broke that Universal had started the gears turning on a new instalment of the ‘Meet the Parents’ franchise.

Things have moved on since then, and we now know that ‘Parents’ veterans Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner and Robert “I have nipples, Greg, could you milk me?” De Niro are all returning.
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That’s not all: John Hamburg, who wrote all three previous movies not only came back to tackle the screenplay again, but will direct the new entry, the title of which remains under wraps.

Grande confirmed the news via an Instagram stories post.

Related Article: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and More in Talks to Return for New ‘Meet the Parents’ Movie

What’s the story of the ‘Meet the Parents’ movies?

(L to R) Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in ‘Meet the Parents’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

The idea for the ‘Parents’ franchise actually originated years before Ben Stiller accidentally knocked an urn full of ashes from a mantle or milking a cat was ever discussed.

Greg Glienna and Mary Ruth Clarke created and co-wrote an independent film, also titled ‘Meet the Parents,’ back in 1992.

Glienna directed, wrote two original songs, and starred as protagonist Greg: a Chicago advertising agent who travels with his fiancée Pam Burns to meet her parents, Irv and Kay, over a weekend but sets off a series of accidents and causes the family to fall apart.

After Pam’s sister Fay commits suicide, framing Greg in the process, Irv attempts to shoot him but accidentally kills Kay and Pam before dying of a heart attack. So… yes, a little darker even than what followed.

Sensing some potential (albeit with less murder/suicide), Universal bought the rights to the indie movie. The studio hired screenwriter Jim Herzfeld to expand the script and tone down some of the sharper edges, which led to what we all now know as ‘Meet the Parents’ in 2000.

Jay Roach directed that film, with John Hamburg re-writing the script. It stars Stiller as Gaylord “Greg” Focker, a male nurse who is looking to propose to his girlfriend, Pam (Polo). Upon learning that Pam’s sister’s fiancé sought her father’s permission to marry, Greg sees an opportunity when they travel to her parents for the wedding.

As it turns out, Pam’s father is the stern, authoritative Jack Byrnes (De Niro), who claims to have been a florist in his career but is in fact a retired CIA counterintelligence officer. And not quite as retired as he claims. Chaos ensues, including the aforementioned urn destruction, injuries and bad behavior from Jack’s beloved cat Mr. Jinx.

(L to R) Blythe Danner and Robert De Niro in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Danner played Dina, Jack’s wife who is much less stress-inducing than him, but still less easygoing than Greg’s family. Yet despite all the madness, Greg does manage to convince Jack he’s worthy of Pam and ends up engaged.

That film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $166.2 million domestically and a total of $330.4 million worldwide.

A sequel was greenlit, with Roach returning to direct and Herzfeld and Hamburg once more writing. In 2004’s ‘Meet the Fockers,’ Greg and Pam decide to have Jack and Dina meet his parents.

The eccentric, fun-loving and free-spirited couple are, Bernie Focker (Dustin Hoffman), a lawyer-turned-stay-at-home-dad, and Roz (Barbra Streisand), a sex therapist for elderly couples. While Dina bonds with the Fockers, cracks form between Jack and the Fockers due to their contrasting personalities and backgrounds.

There’s also the small matter of Greg potentially having fathered a child as a teenager with the Focker family house-keeping and renewed tension with Jack. Yet it all works out happily and Greg and Pam marry at the end.

‘Meet the Fockers’ was an even bigger hit, earning more than $279 million domestically and more than $522 million worldwide.

The world had to wait until 2010 for the third entry, ‘Little Fockers,’ which saw Hamburg back writing, this time alongside Larry Stuckey. Paul Weitz took over directing chores.
10012981
‘Little Fockers,’ which finds Greg and Pam preparing to celebrate the fifth birthday of their twins Samantha and Henry.

However, things seem to go awry for Greg when his in-laws, Jack and Dina Byrnes, visit them, and Jack announces he is looking for his successor as the head of the Byrnes family. Jack’s family has been hit by his daughter’s (Pam’s sister) divorce and more disruption, plus some health issues.

Yet more madness follows, though it ends well for both men, even if Greg’s parents announce they’re moving to Chicago to be closer to him and Pam.

This third film was critically panned and not as successful as the previous two entries, ending up with a worldwide total of $310.7 million.

As for what might happen in a future entry? We predict tension, slapstick and chances for family bonding. There’s a chance that Hoffman and Streisand could return as Greg’s parents.

Could Grande be playing one of Greg and Pam Focker’s kids in the new ‘Parents’ movie? The timing is a little skewed, but she did, after all, play a college student in ‘Wicked’…

What else has Ariana Grande worked on?

Ariana Grande performs at the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Phil McCarten / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Unless you have somehow been trapped under a wayward Kansas farmhouse dropped by a tornado, you’ll know that Grande is a music superstar with seven studio albums, a soundtrack album, a live album, a remix album, a compilation album, and two EPs to her name, plus 61 singles, including 17 as a featured artist, and 15 promotional singles.

She has won Grammys and a host of other awards, but these days appears to be leaning more towards her acting career.

That’s largely thanks to the success of ‘Wicked,’ which shattered box office records, becoming the most successful Broadway musical film adaptation of all time, earning almost $800 million worldwide. The film was nominated for 10 Oscars including Best Picture, winning for Costume Design and Production Design (Grande was nominated for Best Supporting Actress).

Grande will be back as Glinda the Good in the second half of the ‘Wicked’ story, ‘Wicked: For Good,’ which will be in theaters on November 21st.

When will the new ‘Meet the Parents’ movie hit theaters?

Since the details are now starting to come together, Universal is confident enough to plant a flag for this one: the new movie will be out on November 25th, 2026.

(L to R) Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in ‘Little Fockers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

List of Movies in the ‘Meet the Parents’ Franchise:
- ‘Meet the Parents‘ (2000)
- ‘Meet the Fockers‘ (2004)
- ‘Little Fockers‘ (2010)
Buy ‘Meet the Parents’ Movies On Amazon
hfDtvum8
June 2, 2025
Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman Starring in ‘The Roses’
(Left) Benedict Cumberbatch as Henry Sugar in ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.’ Photo: Netflix ©2023. (Right) Olivia Colman in ‘Empire of Light.’ Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

Preview:
- Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman will star in and produce ‘The Roses’.
- Jay Roach is directing the new take on 1989 comedy thriller ‘The War of the Roses’
- ‘Poor Things’ Tony McNamara is aboard to adapt the William Adler novel.
Back in 1989, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner starred as the Roses –– Oliver and Barbara –– who seemed to be living the perfect life. But, as it turned out to darkly comic effect, that wasn’t exactly the case in ‘The War of the Roses’ the movie directed by Danny DeVito.

That story –– which was adapted from William Adler’s 1981 novel –– is headed back to our screens in a new incarnation. And this time, British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are starring.
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What’s the Story of ‘The Roses’?

(L to R) Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in ‘The War of the Roses.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Here’s the official logline for the movie: “Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Theo (Cumberbatch) and Ivy Rose (Colman): successful careers, great kids, an enviable sex life. But underneath the façade of the perfect family is a tinderbox of competition and resentments that’s ignited when Theo’s professional dreams come crashing down.”

Who is Making ‘The Roses’?

Director Jay Roach attends the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

With Colman and Cumberbatch on board to produce as well as taking the lead roles, the new movie will be directed by Jay Roach, best known for the ‘Austin Powers’ films, though more recently applauded for the politically-minded likes of ‘Bombshell’, ‘Recount’ and ‘Game Change’.

Tony McNamara, who most recently wrote ‘Poor Things’ for director Yorgos Lanthimos (and also penned the director’s ‘The Favourite’, which saw Colman scoop an Oscar for her performance), is aboard to adapt the book.

Related Article: Actress Olivia Colman and Director Sam Mendes Talk ‘Empire of Light’

‘The Roses’: The Filmmakers Speak

(L to R) Jay Roach and guest attend the Academy’s 2019 Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom on Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Hollywood, CA. Credit/Provider: Troy Harvey / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

All involved are clearly excited about this new prospect.

Here’s Searchlight president Matthew Greenfield:

“The Roses is a wildly funny, bigger than life, and yet deeply human story. With Jay at the helm, and Benedict and Olivia and Tony, we have a dream team bringing it to life.”

And this was the statement from SunnyMarch, Cumberbatch’s production company:

“We are thrilled to be working on this very special film with such an incredible team. We have been long admirers of Jay’s work and his vision and passion to tell this story is incredibly inspiring.”

Finally, this was the comment from Colman’s team at South of the River:

“We have been cooking this up with our friends at SunnyMarch for some time, and it has been an absolute thrill to see it spring into life under Jay’s passionate and thoughtful guidance. He and Tony are a match made in cinematic comedy heaven.”

When Will ‘The Roses’ Be in Theaters?

‘The Roses’ is still in development, so it has yet to find a spot on the packed Disney release schedule. And given that both Cumberbatch and Colman are in-demand actors, it may have to wait until their availability opens up.

(L to R) Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in ‘The War of the Roses.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The Roses’:
- ‘Romancing the Stone‘ (1984)
- ‘Heartburn‘ (1986)
- ‘Ruthless People‘ (1986)
- ‘The Witches of Eastwick‘ (1987)
- ‘The War of the Roses‘ (1989)
- ‘She-Devil‘ (1989)
- ‘I Love You to Death‘ (1990)
- ‘Death Becomes Her‘ (1992)
- ‘Serial Mom‘ (1994)
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April 3, 2024
‘High Desert’ Interview: Patricia Arquette and Matt Dillon
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Premiering on Apple TV+ beginning May 17th is the new series ‘High Desert,’ which was created and written by Nancy Fichman (‘Damages’), Katie Ford (‘Miss Congeniality’) and Jennifer Hoppe-House (‘Nurse Jackie’), and directed by Jay Roach (‘Bombshell’).

What is the plot of ‘High Desert?’

‘High Desert’ follows Peggy (Patricia Arquette), an on-again-off-again addict who decides to make a new start after the death of her beloved mother, with whom she lived in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, California, and makes a life-changing decision to become a private investigator.

Meanwhile, Peggy is also dealing with her ex, Denny (Matt Dillon) who is an undeniably charming parolee and a relentless operator, Guru Bob (Rupert Friend), a local ex-anchorman who rebrands himself as a mystic desert personality, Carol (Weruche Opia) who is Peggy’s closest friend, and Bruce (Brad Garrett), a private investigator whose business is circling the drain and who becomes Peggy’s reluctant employer.

Who is in the cast of ‘High Desert?’

‘High Desert’ stars Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette (‘Boyhood‘) as Peggy, Matt Dillon (‘There’s Something About Mary‘) as Denny, Rupert Friend (‘Obi-Wan Kenobi‘) as Guru Bob, Weruche Opia (‘When Love Happens‘) as Carol, Brad Garrett (‘Ratatouille‘) as Bruce, Bernadette Peters (‘The Jerk‘) as Rosalyn, Christine Taylor (‘Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story‘) as Dianne, Carmine Giovinazzo (‘Black Hawk Down‘) as Nick Gatchi, Carlo Rota (‘Saw V‘) as Arman, Jeffrey Vincent Parise (‘The Chumscrubber‘) as Roger, Tracy Vilar (‘Double Jeopardy‘) as Tina, Keir O’Donnell (‘American Sniper‘) as Stewart, Susan Park (‘Always Be My Maybe‘) as Tammy.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Patricia Arquette and Matt Dillon about their work on ‘High Desert,’ how they got involved with the project, the aspects of their characters that they were excited to explore on screen, Peggy’s unique sense of right and wrong, and Peggy and Denny’s relationship.

(L to R) Matt Dillon and Patricia Arquette star in ‘High Desert,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Arquette, Dillon, Bernadette Peters, Christine Taylor, Keir O’Donnell, Weruche Opia, Rupert Friend, and director Jay Roach.

Moviefone: To begin with, Patricia, how did you become involved in this project?

Patricia Arquette: The writer producers came to me many years ago now with a version of this script, and I really loved elements of it. I loved their voice. It was very funny, the three of them, how they wrote it, and it was inspired by one of them, Nancy Fishman’s sister Marjorie, who’d been an addict and got sober and then slipped off the wagon again. At one point she had said, “You know what? I’m going to be a PI.” Nancy thought, “Wow, okay. That’s kind of the sanest thing you’ve ever said. You’d be a great PI, actually.” But unfortunately, Marjorie has passed away, and I think this is part of the homage to her spirit, her beautiful heart, her wildness, and an imagined journey if Peggy could have been a PI.

MF: Matt, what were some of the aspects of your character that you were excited to explore in this series?

Matt Dillon: Well, Denny’s complicated. He’s a manipulator. He’s funny. He’s got this spiritual side to him that he really, truly believes in. But he’s a criminal, and he’s always been that way. He’s loyal. He’s very much in love with Peggy, and yeah, he’s a man of many contradictions.

Patricia Arquette in ‘High Desert,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

Related Article: ‘Severance’ Interview: Patricia Arquette Talks Apple TV+ Series

MF: Patricia, can you talk about your approach to playing Peggy?

PA: Well, again, a lot of it came from the writing. The writers were just hilarious in what they were writing. Again, I think it was this kind of love letter to her sister Marjorie. Then there were elements of it that reminded me of my sister, Alexis. She was always collecting these broken bird people, taking care of them. It’s like, “Wait a minute. You can’t even take care of yourself. Now you’re going to help this guy who’s getting a divorce, who’s got a broken heart, and then this other person, with their thing, and the girl with her fake boobs? What’s going on here?” So I just kind of like the whole journey. I liked how she was so fast moving and it was the opposite of ‘Severance.’ It’s very wild and it’s very kinetic. It’s very unstructured, where ‘Severance’ is a pressure cooker, kind of uncomfortable, strict structure. So there was a lot of things I loved.

MF: Peggy has a very unique sense of what is right and wrong, can you talk about that aspect of the character?

PA: We both do. That’s the weird thing too. They have their own kind of moral code that they’ve created. She’ll say that she’s sober and she means it, and then she’ll be like, “Well, that doesn’t include acid because that’s a spiritual thing, and this is for some other thing.” She’s got a million little reasons, and that can happen with addicts.

(L to R) Matt Dillon and Patricia Arquette in ‘High Desert,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

MF: Matt, how would you describe Denny and Peggy’s relationship?

MD: I think they were written with love. They’re damaged people, but you got that feeling from Nancy and the showrunners, that they really loved Peggy. The character is very close to Nancy’s sister in real life, as was Denny because Denny was in Peggy’s life. It was based on real people. But I do think, just to the point about burning out, I think what’s great about Peggy and Denny is that they’re so resourceful. You know what I mean? “Okay, this isn’t going to work out, but I got another idea”. They don’t always agree, but they love each other so much that they’re not really polite to each other.

MF: Finally, Patricia, what is your take on Peggy and Denny’s relationship?

PA: I think we all have known addicts that were beautiful people and interesting, fascinating, knew these great things, had these talents and this mortal flaw, and they’re like these bright flames that burn very quickly and they burn out. So I do feel this whole show was written with incredible love. He pretends he is going along with her, but then he does whatever the hell he wants. He’s the only person that can out-hustle Peggy.

Patricia Arquette in ‘High Desert,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

Movies Similar to ‘High Desert:’
- ‘The Maltese Falcon‘ (1941)
- ‘The Long Goodbye‘ (1973)
- ‘Night Moves‘ (1975)
- ‘The Last Boy Scout‘ (1991)
- ‘True Romance‘ (1993)
- ‘Flirting with Disaster‘ (1996)
- ‘There’s Something About Mary‘ (1998)
- ‘Crash‘ (2005)
- ‘Takers‘ (2010)
- ‘Boyhood‘ (2014)
- ‘Inherent Vice‘ (2015)
- ‘The Nice Guys‘ (2016)
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May 20, 2023
Margot Robbie Bets on New ‘Ocean’s’ Movie

Margot Robbie in 2018’s ‘Terminal.’

Ever since the franchise born from ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ did big business, there have been attempts to cash in once again, with the most recent example being the Sandra Bullock-starring ‘Ocean’s Eight’ in 2018.

Now, Warner Bros. is looking to bet big on Margot Robbie starring in and producing her own version. And director Jay Roach, who worked with Robbie (helping her to an Oscar nomination in the process) on Roger Ailes sexual misconduct drama ‘Bombshell’.

Loosely remaking the 1960’s version starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and other members of the Rat Pack, 2001’s ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ saw director Steven Soderbergh bringing an ensemble anchored by George Clooney and Matt Damon to the screen, the characters looking to pull off a huge, tricky heist at a Las Vegas hotel.

That movie generated over $450 million worldwide in theatrical business alone, and Warners was quick to have Soderbergh reunite his cast (adding even more celebrity talent for good measure) for two follow-ups, ‘Ocean’s Twelve’ in 2004 and 2007’s ‘Ocean’s Thirteen’.

Robbie and Roach don’t appear to be aiming for a basic remake of the Soderbergh film. Instead, they have Carrie Solomon, a relative newcomer who has one script, ‘My Boyfriend’s Wedding’, in development, writing a screenplay that turns the clock back to the 1960s.

Details are scarce, but it’s apparently a new heist story set in Europe, and we’d expect Robbie to be fronting a female-focused ensemble.

(L to R) George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt in 2004’s ‘Ocean’s Twelve.’

However, the movie has yet to receive a formal greenlight from the studio but is in active development. All involved are stacking the deck with the hope of starting shooting next year.

Robbie has become a valuable part of Warner Bros.’ stable – since appearing in 2015’s ‘Focus’, she’s worked on several movies for the studio, including ‘The Legend of Tarzan’, ‘Suicide Squad’, ‘Birds of Prey’, and last year’s ‘The Suicide Squad’. She’s currently filming toy adaptation ‘Barbie’, co-written and directed by Greta Gerwig, which is sounding like a fascinating take on the idea.

And Robbie has also branched out as a producer via her LuckyChap company, backing not only her own movies, but helping the likes of ‘Promising Young Woman’ make it to screens.

Alongside ‘Barbie’, she will be seen in ‘Amsterdam’ opposite Christian Bale and John David Washington for director David O. Russell, ‘Asteroid City’, the latest comedy from Wes Anderson, and old Hollywood story ‘Babylon’, playing Clara Bow for Damien Chazelle.

Roach, meanwhile, made his name with comedy movies such as the ‘Austin Powers’ and ‘Meet the Parents’ trilogies, but has branched out to comedy dramas with his TV work, which includes ‘Recount’ and ‘Game Change’ for HBO. His most recent job was directing and producing all the episodes of comedy ‘High Desert’ for Apple TV+, which stars Patricia Arquette and Matt Dillon.

(L to R) Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, and Sarah Paulson in 2018’s ‘Ocean’s Eight.’

May 19, 2022
Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, & Margot Robbie seem poised for the awards race in the trailer for ‘Bombshell’

Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie star in Bombshell.

In 2016, longtime Fox News chief Roger Ailes resigned over allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women, including network hosts Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly. And since scandals often serve as fodder for movies, it should come as no surprise that we’re getting a feature film based on those allegations and what happened behind the scenes at Fox News.

Lionsgate just dropped a new trailer for ‘Bombshell,’ which opens on December 20, and stars Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, and John Lithgow as Roger Ailes. Margot Robbie stars as the fictional character Kayla Pospisil, and the film is directed by Jay Roach. Theron is already getting Oscar buzz (yes, this early), and the December release by Lionsgate is clearly poised to make the movie top of mind during the nomination and voting windows.

October 16, 2019