Writer/director Nancy Meyers has set her new movie up at Warner Bros.
Penélope Cruz, Kieran Culkin and Jude Law are among the cast.
It’s scheduled for a Christmas Day, 2027 release.
While she once bestrode the cinematic world like a rom-com colossus, famed for skillful scripts, fabulous settings and big-name casts, it has been more than a decade since we’ve had a movie from writer/director Nancy Meyers.
Now, though, Meyers has finally set up a new project and found a studio home for it at Warner Bros.
Kieran Culkin accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Supporting Role during the live ABC Telecast of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
The story here is almost more about the behind-the-scenes drama than what may end up on screens.
In 2023, when Meyers first set it up at Netflix, the movie was reportedly titled ‘Paris Paramount.’ It was said to focus on a young writer-director who falls in love with a producer. The pair make several successful films before breaking up, both romantically and professionally. They are forced back together when a new, great project arises, and they find themselves having to deal with high stakes and volatile stars.
Meyers had Michael Fassbender and Scarlett Johansson circling roles alongside Cruz and Wilson, but Netflix balked at a requested $150 million budget.
We don’t know how much of the script has changed and what the new budget is, but it seems Warner Bros. is happy to proceed (ironically, by the time it hits theaters, Netflix may own the studio…)
When will Nancy Meyers’ new movie land on screens?
Warner Bros. has set a December 25, 2027 release date for the film. Happy Meyers-Mass, everyone!
(L to R) Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.
We can’t say that ‘Eden’ is a very good movie, but we will say it’s a pretty entertaining one. Based on a true story, the latest from veteran director Ron Howard (‘Thirteen Lives’) is perhaps the most un-Ron Howard-like film of his career – a dark, sometimes brooding, sometimes over-the-top exploration of human beings giving into their worst impulses instead of coming together to help each other.
Noah Pink’s screenplay offers a cynical view of what happens when people try to disconnect from the rest of the world, and the movie’s ultimate insights are not exactly news. It also suffers from uneven pacing and tonal issues. But its intermittently gripping story and solid performances from its topline cast – especially Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas – make it fascinating to watch.
Story and Direction
Ron Howard on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.
In 1929, German doctor Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) and his partner Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby) settle on a remote atoll in the Galapagos Islands called Floreana, where Ritter aims to create a simpler life away from the brutal post-World War I environment that is fostering fascism around the world. Three years later, having read about Ritter’s exploits – which have made him famous back home – Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Brühl) and his pregnant new wife Margret (Sydney Sweeney), along with Heinz’s son Harry (Jonathan Tittel), arrive on Floreana to follow in Ritter’s footsteps and create their own homestead.
But Ritter and Dore, who are nothing if not world-class misanthropes, are not pleased at the intrusion. “Nothing about our life here is magic,” Ritter warns the idealistic Heinz, adding that “failure is inevitable” for the couple, who make a fairly successful go at it despite Ritter’s admonishments. Yet Ritter, Dore, and the Wittmers are all unhappy at the arrival of the Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas), a debauched denizen of European high society who shows up with her two male lovers and the intent of building an exclusive resort on Floreana.
While the Wittmers, Ritter, and Strauch are all accustomed to the rigors of life on the island, the Baroness is not, and she soon sets a chain of events in motion that find all three groups – Ritter and Strauch, the Wittmers, and the Baroness and her entourage – constantly shifting allegiances and ultimately turning on each other. It’s a scenario that’s not unexpected, and Pink’s screenplay often forces the characters into situations and decisions to drive the intended narrative, rather than let it flow out of the characters organically. The result is a story that moves in fits and starts and often has the characters acting mainly get the story from one pre-determined point to the next.
(L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.
This leads to a lack of urgency in the proceedings, with only a wild scene in which Margret gives birth by herself – as she is attacked by wild dogs all while the Baroness’ lovers raid the Wittmers’ food supplies – approaching levels of tension and outright horror that suggests the ghastliness of the overall situation. Other events play out largely as one might expect, and the tone veers from one of grim reality to outright camp (as in a late dinner party scene that made us think of a similar sequence in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ – albeit without the latter’s shocking reveal of what was on the menu).
Howard is more than confident on a technical and visual level (the Australian location shoot makes the isolation of Floreana feel real), but doesn’t seem as sure-footed in handling the tonal shifts or the overall darker nature of the material. The result is a movie in which you know what’s going to happen in the end – but you still want to keep looking to see if the film completely collapses or not (which it almost does in the third act).
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.
Everyone’s German accents waver throughout the film (except for Daniel Brühl’s, of course), but the performances are on solid footing for the most part. Sydney Sweeney does the best work overall, downplaying her physical attributes while effectively and subtly charting Margret’s journey from innocence and fear to strength and even a kind of ruthlessness. At the other end of the scale, de Armas is wildly flamboyant and outlandish but far more entertaining than her bland turn in ‘Ballerina’ earlier this year.
Law also gives quite a complicated and over-the-top performance, with his steel chompers (Ritter has his originals removed to prevent infection) and un-self-conscious full frontal nudity, and while Kirby is quite good at portraying Dore’s smirking distaste for others (“They’re clearly suffering…shall we f**k?” she inquires to Ritter at one point, evidently turned on by others’ misery), she doesn’t get nearly enough to do as she should, and is mostly left standing around reacting to the others.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Daniel Brühl and Jude Law star in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.
A film about people separating into their own camps and battling each other while the rest of civilization burns certainly has its relevance in our current situation, although it’s rich coming from the director who introduced the world by and large to JD Vance. And as with that woeful film, there’s a kind of lack of substance underneath the hood of ‘Eden’ that makes it ultimately a shallow exercise.
But nevertheless, it’s neither the complete disaster some folks have made it out to be, nor is it anywhere near a high point on Howard’s filmography. It works as misery porn about good-looking actors getting nasty, deceitful and violent with each other, although that may not be the result its director intended.
‘Eden’ receives a score of 55 out of 100.
Vanessa Kirby stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.
What is the plot of ‘Eden’?
A group of disillusioned outsiders abandon modern society in search of a new beginning, settling on a remote, uninhabited island. But their utopian dream quickly unravels as tensions spiral, desperation takes hold, and a twisted power struggle leads to betrayal, violence, and death.
Who is in the cast of ‘Eden’?
Jude Law as Dr. Friedrich Ritter
Vanessa Kirby as Dora Strauch
Daniel Brühl as Heinz Wittmer
Sydney Sweeney as Margret Wittmer
Ana de Armas as Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn
Jonathan Tittel as Harry Wittmer
Richard Roxburgh as Allan Hancock
Toby Wallace as Robert Phillipson
Felix Kammerer as Rudolph Lorenz
‘Eden’ opens in theaters on August 22nd. Photo: Vertical.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with legendary director Ron Howard about his work on ‘Eden’, the true story it is based on, why he was passionate about making it, working with the all-star cast, and overcoming unforeseen challenges shooting on location in Australia.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
Ron Howard on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.
Moviefone: To begin with, Congratulations on the movie. Is this a film that you had wanted to make for some time?
Ron Howard: Thank you, thank you very much. It was an exciting one creatively. I’d been dreaming of making it for about 15 years, finally got the courage, mostly because we had a good screenplay written on spec by Noah Pink, and a brave group ensemble of talented actors. I thought, “Well, what the hell? I’m outside my comfort zone, but I’m not alone. Let’s make this movie.”
Ana de Armas stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.
MF: What intrigued you about the true story that the film is based on and why were you so passionate about getting this movie made?
RH: Twist and turns, and the wide variety of characters and personality types, and some of them are very extreme personalities, wild, bigger than life people. Yet, you know, they lived this experience, and they are as we depict them. In fact, we’ve probably dialed them back a little bit from what they really were. They were real outliers. But I felt like that combination and the fact that what they lived ultimately was a true crime thriller. I mean, it’s like a season of ‘Survivor’, only people died. You couldn’t have cast this collision of personalities and characters in a more compelling way that’s it’s kind of funny at times. It’s sexy at times. It’s noble in places, and sometimes it’s terrifying. So, I thought it was a unique blend.
Sydney Sweeney stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.
MF: You’ve truly assembled an all-star cast with this film. Can you talk about assembling the cast and working with them on set?
RH: Well, we worked fast because this was a lower budget movie. People weren’t taking their normal salaries by any stretch of the imagination, nor was I. It was a labor of love, but it was a unique opportunity for a film like this to get made. The more they did research into the real events, the more excited they were about it. We just created a strong ensemble and I committed to trying to let every character be as dynamic, entertaining and engrossing as possible, and they just gave it everything they had. The circumstances were raw. We were filming outdoors. It was hot and poisonous snakes and spiders were around and everything. I mean, it wasn’t quite like being on a desert island, but it had its challenges that they were able to draw upon as well. So, it was an adventure making the movie.
(L to R) Daniel Brühl and Jude Law star in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.
MF: Finally, can you talk about shooting on location in Australia, the unforeseen challenges of shooting there and how you overcame them to complete the movie?
RH: Well, because we were shooting the dialogue scenes, not in the Galapagos, because that’s a game preserve, you could never stage enough scenes and so forth there and get licensed and cleared to shoot that. So, we did that in Australia and weather, lightning storms, two or three nights or two or three afternoons a week that would drive us to cover. But one time the camera operator was shooting the scene, it’s this argument scene. People have guns. It’s all kinds of tension, swirling around. Suddenly, it was a female camera operator, and she stood up and shrieked. “What was it?” It’s because a poisonous snake had slithered across her boot while she was looking through the camera, and she looked down and felt it, and freaked out. We had snake wranglers looking for venomous snakes from two hours before we started shooting, and throughout the day, and the snakes quickly slither off. No one was bitten, no problem, but we had to shut down and wait until they could safely find the snake, catch the snake, and safely transport the snake. We had a place where we could take the snakes. It was like a reserve, and that kind of thing happened about every two or three days. So, that was one of the unexpected challenges.
(L to R) Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.
What is the plot of ‘Eden’?
Director Ron Howard’s ‘Eden’ unravels the shocking true story of a group of disillusioned outsiders who abandon civilization, settling on a remote, uninhabited island only to discover that the greatest threat isn’t the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other. As tensions spiral and desperation takes hold, a twisted power struggle unfolds, leading to betrayal, violence, and the deaths of half the colony.
Who is in the cast of ‘Eden’?
Jude Law as Dr. Friedrich Ritter
Vanessa Kirby as Dora Strauch Ritter
Daniel Brühl as Heinz Wittmer
Sydney Sweeney as Margret Wittmer
Ana de Armas as Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn
No, don’t do a double-take: this does not mean they’ll be getting steamy in a remake of the pulpy 1998 thriller that saw Neve Campbell and Denise Richards as sultry students.
Instead, the actors are attached to play Vegas legends Siegfried and Roy, the flamboyant famous performers known for big-scale magic tricks and the inclusion of animals in their shows –– hence the name of the new series, ‘Wild Things.’
(L to R) Roy Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher in ‘Siegfried and Roy – Superstars Of Magic’. Photo: NBC.
Not to sound morbid, but it’s more apt to say who were Siegfried and Roy.
Siegfried Fischbacher (who died in 2021) and Roy Horn (born Uwe Ludwig Horn, who passed in 2020) were German-American entertainers who performed an animal-based magic show together as Siegfried & Roy.
They met in 1959 while both were working on a cruise ship and then began to perform together on ships and in European clubs and theaters.
In 1967, they were invited to begin performing in Las Vegas. Starting in 1990, they headlined a show at hotel and casino The Mirage. Romantic partners as well as professional, they become best known for their flamboyant, Liberace-style costumes and use of white lions and tigers in their acts; Siegfried was the magician, Roy the animal trainer.
By 1999, the show had grossed $500 million and they were the highest-paid entertainers in Las Vegas. After 5,750 performances, their career ended in 2003 when Horn was critically injured by a tiger during a performance.
Horn died from COVID-19 and Fischbacher passed from complications pancreatic cancer.
What’s the story of ‘Wild Things’?
(L to R) Tina Fey and Director John Hoffman on the set of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 2. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
Written, showrun and executive produced by John Hoffman (‘Only Murders in the Building’), the eight-episode, hour-long series tells the wild ride relationship tale of two of the greatest showman-magicians in history who, along with their white tigers, are tasked with turning Sin City into a family-friendly destination.
The duo push the concept of illusion versus reality to the extreme, personally and professionally, until tragedy reframes and opens a mystery surrounding their last fateful Las Vegas show.
Law will star as Siegfried and Garfield will star as Roy, and the series is set to go into production this fall.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman. Photo: Apple TV+.
This new show is drawn from Apple Original Podcast ‘Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy,’ which premiered in 2022, and was the first, compelling in-depth podcast series about the most famous, controversial magicians in history, who were widely misunderstood, frequently satirized and feverishly criticized.
The podcast goes behind the velvet curtain to examine the pop culture icons, lionized by a global fan base for more than 40 years, to deconstruct the illusions they created, the empire they constructed, and what really happened on the night that a tiger attack ended their reign.
Documentary filmmaker Steven Leckart, who wrote, narrated, and executive produced the podcast, will also produce the series alongside Tony Leondis, Kathy Ciric and Will Malnati, who conceived the original podcast.
On the big screen, his last couple of acting gigs included ‘Firebrand’ (in which played Henry VIII) and ‘The Order,’ which saw him as a grizzled FBI agent looking to take down white supremacists who have begun robbing banks.
Upcoming, he has Ron Howard’s thriller ‘Eden,’ which follows a group of people fueled by a profound desire for change. In order to turn their back to society they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos.
‘Eden’ will be in theaters on August 22nd.
He’s also worked on ‘Black Rabbit’ opposite Jason Bateman, with the pair playing siblings who clash over a New York hotspot. That’ll arrive via Netflix but has yet to land a date.
Likewise movie ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin,’ focusing on a young Russian filmmaker who becomes an unlikely advisor to Vladimir Putin as he rises to power in post-Soviet Russia, navigating the new era’s complexities and chaos. Law plays Putin.
What else is Andrew Garfield up to?
Andrew Garfield in ‘We Live in Time’. Photo: StudioCanal.
Next up for the actor in terms of release is Luca Guadagnino’s latest, ‘After the Hunt,’ featuring Julia Roberts as a college professor who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light.
The movie is due in theaters on October 17th.
In addition to that, Garfield has worked on a new movie adaptation of Edith Blyton’s children’s classic ‘The Magic Faraway Tree,’ about a modern family who relocate to the countryside where the children discover a magical tree with eccentric residents.
That one is awaiting a release date.
When will ‘Wild Things’ land on Apple TV+?
Apple has yet to specify when the new limited series will land on its streaming service.
John Lithgow’s near a deal to play Albus Dumbledore in the ‘Harry Potter’ TV series.
He’s the first actor anywhere near confirmed.
The show aims to adapt the books across the next several years.
With development and even pre-production already in full swing for Warner Bros. Discovery’s plan to mine the ‘Harry Potter’ novels for an ambitious new, HBO-based small screen adaptation, the news is beginning to heat up on the casting front.
And Warner Bros. has had an open casting call to find the key roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione running for a while now.
But according to Deadline, the series might have zeroed in on its first near-confirmed hire as John Lithgow, most recently seen in ‘Conclave,’ is apparently close to a deal to play Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the series.
To give him his full name, Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is also the founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, an organization dedicated to fighting the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort.
And while he’s a powerful wizard, he’s also a complicated one –– having had both a relationship and an antagonistic dynamic with previous dark magic troublemaker Gellert Grindelwald.
Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
In the movies, the character was first played by Richard Harris, with Michael Gambon stepping him after Harris’ death for the third film onwards. In the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films, a younger Dumbledore is played by Jude Law.
Lithgow would be the first American to portray Dumbledore on screen, but it’s not like he doesn’t have history with British characters –– he played Winston Churchill to Emmy-winning effect in Netflix’s ‘The Crown.’
HBO, somewhat naturally, is sticking to its blanket refusal to confirm anything:
“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”
What’s the story of the ‘Harry Potter’ TV series?
(L to R) Emma Watson as Hermione Granger,Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2’ (2011). Photo: Warner Bros.
Here’s the official HBO statement on the show:
“The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved ‘Harry Potter’ book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. It will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters ‘Harry Potter’ fans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will bring ‘Harry Potter’ and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”
The series will be written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, who scored the job after HBO conducted an extensive search for the right showrunner. Mark Mylod is executive producing and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The show will be shot at Warner Bros.’ Leavesden Studios facility outside London in the UK, where the movies were made.
Who else has been rumored for the ‘Harry Potter’ TV series?
Cillian Murphy in ‘Peaky Blinders’. Photo: Netflix.
Alongside Essiedu, there has been plenty of talk via Variety of Mark Rylance, an actor who has deep roots in British theatre and who has been seen in movies including ‘The BFG,’ ‘Ready Player One,’ ‘Dunkirk’ and ‘Bridge of Spies’ (for which he won an Oscar), potentially playing Dumbledore. It would seem that those discussions didn’t work out.
On the less solid side, we have Lithgow’s ‘Conclave’ co-star Ralph Fiennes –– who was the villainous Voldemort in four of the seven ‘Potter’ movies –– suggesting someone who could take over that character (even though he’s said he’d be willing to return if asked).
“Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian. Yeah.”
We’d add at this point that The Hollywood Reporter’s sources have poured cold water on the idea of Murphy even being considered right now. Which is not to say he isn’t, but that no one wants to talk yet.
The biggest issue for getting more famous –– and therefore busier –– actors involved is the commitment issue; those taking part would likely be contracted for a good 10 years or so. But we can imagine HBO conjuring hefty cash offers to name stars to entice them.
What about the J.K. Rowling issue?
(L to R) Emma Watson and J. K. Rowling at the premiere of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
‘Potter’ creator and original novelist J.K. Rowling is a big consideration here, since A) she has final say on anything adapted from the books and B) is a problematic figure given her negative views on trans people.
This was HBO’s recent statement on the issue:
“Warner Bros. has been working with J.K. Rowling and in the ‘Harry Potter’ business for over 20 years. Her contribution has been invaluable. We are proud to once again tell the story of ‘Harry Potter’ — the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve and acceptance. J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”
“J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings. It’s about how you become a better, stronger, more morally centered human being. The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it’s appalling. I mean, I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women. But it’s not some obscene, über-right-wing fascist. It’s just a woman saying, ‘I’m a woman and I feel I’m a woman and I want to be able to say that I’m a woman.’ And I understand where she’s coming from. Even though I’m not a woman.”
When will the ‘Harry Potter’ series be on screens?
HBO CEO Casey Bloys recently said that he expects the show to debut in late 2026 or early 2027, which makes sense given that production isn’t likely to start until some point in 2025.
Jude Law in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Opening in theaters on December 6th, ‘The Order’ finds Jude Law starring in the based-on-truth story of a committed, troubled FBI agent who digs into reports of a white supremacist group changing their tactics and led by charismatic individual.
We’re not short of stories that have their roots in real life, this one shapes up to be particularly intriguing, partly because, despite its 1980s setting, it has resonance in today’s particularly divided political world.
Nicholas Hoult in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Australian director Justin Kerzel has made it something of a specialty bringing based-on-truth movies to screens, though often with a twist. Here, he lets the persuasive, tough real-life story do most of the heavy lifting, casting well and letting all the main players be layered rather than stereotypical examples of, say, white supremacists or FBI agents.
Yes, there are some expected moments, but for the most part, Kurzel and his creative team keep you engaged with a screenplay that crackles with energy and tension, driven by some stellar acting.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Director Justin Kurzel and Jude Law on the set of ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
The script for ‘The Order’ comes from Zach Baylin (who has had mixed fortunes of late –– solid success with ‘King Richard,’ but he also contributed to recent huge flop ‘The Crow’), here adapting Kevin Flynn’s book ‘The Silent Brotherhood.’
He finds the right notes to hit following a dogged investigator drawn into something truly malicious in a small town, crafting characters based on the real people who feel like lived-in humans with their foibles intact.
Jude Law in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Kurzel brings that script to life with style and panache, but no little sense of the gritty life some of these people lead, but also relishing the beautiful Pacific Northwest backdrops against which some terrible acts take place. As the plot begins to deepen and twist, he keeps it all on track, getting fine work out of his cast and making sure to stay grounded.
If there’s a criticism to be found it is that, like some other recent movies, it occasionally feels flabby, but once the characters are back to figuring each other out, the interest level soon picks back up.
Performances
Jude Law as Terry Husk
Jude Law in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Husk is well-named, since when we meet him, he’s on the verge of being a husk of a man; burned out by the job and with his family hanging on by a thread. Yet he’s also devoted and passionate about tracking down the violent criminals at the heart of the film and Law finds the right take-no-BS attitude to bring him to life.
This is far from a noble knight in shining armor, more a dedicated public servant frustrated by those around him and not afraid to let that show in encounters with cops and fellow agents.
Nicholas Hoult in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Hoult’s fresh-faced charisma works well for Matthews, the devious yet charming white supremacist who inspires others to terrible deeds while also carrying out some of his own.
You won’t sympathize with the man’s ideals, but you will understand while people would be willing to follow him, and Hoult is great at both his violent extremes and the quieter moments he shares with family (and, er lover, who is expecting his child.)
Tye Sheridan in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
The local deputy who has his own reasons for A) loathing the white supremacists who have invaded his town and B) frustrations at the lack of progress in dealing with them before Husk shows up is a great counterpoint to both the FBI agent and Matthews.
Sheridan pitches him well as both eager but also wary.
Supporting Cast
Jurnee Smollett in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Jurnee Smollett certainly gets her share of standout moments as Joanne Carney, the FBI agent who takes over leading the case and clashes with Husk’s more forceful approach as hers tends to favor a by-the-book approach.
Likewise Alison Oliver and Odessa Young, who play Matthews’ wife and lover respectively; both have believable chemistry with Hoult and are convincing in their roles. Veteran character Victor Slezak, meanwhile, makes the most of a smaller role as hate-spewing (but less violent-leaning than Matthews church leader Richard Butler, who becomes key to the case on both sides.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Jude Law and Jurnee Smollett in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
It might not be quite up there with Kurzel’s best true-crime offerings, but ‘The Order’ certainly has a lot to recommend it if you’re a fan of tenacious law enforcement officers trying to take down a threat that impacts locally but promises to affect the country as a whole.
And given the state of the nation, culture and politics in particular, it has a lot to say about how hatred curdles into violence and what we all need to be more careful of spotting in our own communities.
‘The Order’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
kh7YMsoVuH8yA9GcPPMU9
What’s the plot of ‘The Order’?
In 1983, a series of increasingly violent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations and armored car heists frightened communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
As baffled law enforcement agents scrambled for answers, a lone FBI agent (Jude Law), stationed in the sleepy, picturesque town of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, came to believe the crimes were not the work of traditional, financially motivated criminals but a group of dangerous domestic terrorists, inspired by a radical, charismatic leader (Nicholas Hoult), plotting a devastating war against the federal government of the United States.
Launching with its first two episodes on Disney+ Monday, December 2nd, ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ is Lucasfilm’s latest attempt to spark success with a series set in the galaxy that George Lucas created.
Here, ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy director Jon Watts and regular collaborator Christopher Ford have concocted a fun romp that sends a group of young characters on an adventure beyond the borders of their mundane suburban planet.
Getting new ‘Star Wars’ TV series off the ground can be a dicey affair these days –– for every ‘Mandalorian,’ or ‘Andor,’ there’s a ‘Book of Boba Fett’ or ‘The Acolyte,’ which don’t enjoy the same level of impact or fan embrace.
‘Skeleton Crew’ benefits from charting its own course, being recognizably set in the universe of ‘Star Wars’ but also injecting plenty of its own personality. Focusing on younger characters in search of adventure –– one needs a power convertor for something but is far less whiny than the young Luke Skywalker –– brings a much-needed level of charm and infectious, youthful energy.
Creators Jon Watts and Christopher Ford co-wrote all eight episodes, with Myung Joh Wesner assisting on two. And that consistent tone and feel through the show means that ‘Skeleton Crew’ stays entertaining.
The writers have crafted some appealing characters here, and also layered in more than one mystery without coming across as some frustrating puzzle box overpowering everything.
While only the first three episodes were given the press, the show has a style all of its own already, especially given the starting point on a colony world that has its own secrets, but whose appearance puts you in mind of movies such as ‘E.T.’ and, as previously referenced, ‘The Goonies.’
Once things go off-world, the show still maintains a unique vibe, crammed full of pirates and other disreputable types as one of the first stops is a hive of scum and villainy (no, not that one, a space port with its own identity). And the first episode is nimbly edited by Andrew S. Eisen, who brings a sense of energy and helps define the tone of the show early on.
Wim is our initial anchor point, a young man who is struggling with future plans (as in, he’s not sure he has many, aside from a wistful dream of becoming a Jedi) and has an oft-absent father (played by Tunde Adebimpe’s kindly but busy widower) who, along with his nervier best friend Neel, is often getting into scrapes.
Cabot-Conyers brings him to life in entertaining fashion, without ever coming across as being annoying.
Neel, Wim’s best friend, is an appealing, sweet character who resembles a young Max Rebo from ‘Return of the Jedi’ (but is reportedly his own species), and a bundle of nerves who is nevertheless loyal to Wim.
Smith, playing the part with the help of some complex prosthetics and CG, is a superb sidekick and works well as a character.
Armstrong brings spirit and some sly humor to the tomboyish character of Fern, who loves nothing more than racing speeder bikes and pushing back against her officious mother (Kerry Condon).
Fern’s best friend, KB has her own technological secrets, but is also a great addition to the foursome. She’s careful and logical, but willing to go along with their schemes.
Law comes across as a blend of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo, and while that might sound strange, it actually works here.
He’s also something of a mystery, but never one that is frustrating –– and Law naturally has nuclear levels of charm, clearly reveling in the chance to cut loose and have fun.
Though we can’t talk about many of the characters who show up even in these early episodes because of spoilers, there are some good supporting performances going on here, including some pirates and a wealth of other aliens.
‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ is a worthy addition to the ranks of small-screen stories set in the galaxy far, far away. Watts and collaborators have created a lively, funny and adventurous series, that, while it takes a moment to get going, heads to some entertaining places with characters you’ll root for.
‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
SXAAx8HkXvEWGGAmRJ7yF1
What is the plot of ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’?
Four children (Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Robert Timothy Smith and Kyriana Kratter) end up on an adventure to make their way home after being lost in the galaxy following a discovery they make on their home planet.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Jude Law to talk about his work on ‘Skeleton Crew’, joining the ‘Star Wars’ universe, his character, influences he drew from, working with the cast of young actors, and collaborating with show creators Jon Watts and Christopher Ford.
Moviefone: To begin with, what is it like as an actor to join the ‘Star Wars’ universe and did it meet your expectations?
Jude Law: For me, personally, it was stepping into a very familiar world. I was one of the millions of kids in the late ’70s whose lives were changed when they were taken to the cinema by their parents to see the first film. So, I’ve always had a soft spot for it. I played it as a kid running around pew-pewing and collecting the figures and cards. So, it just felt very familiar actually. What really kind of lured me in was the curiosity of how they make these things and the different parameters or rules that apply for it to be or feel like an authentic ‘Star Wars’ show or film. I think, from that perspective, it absolutely lived up to expectation. The on-camera puppetry and animatronics and all of that was wonderful to experience.
MF: Without giving away any spoilers, what can you say about your character and the way you wanted to approach portraying him?
JL: Well, when he was described to me, the character was clearly just full of potential and possibilities. He’s very mysterious, he’s different things to different people with different names, and he keeps you guessing right up to the end. The big question is are his intentions good or bad? That I don’t want to spoil, but the fun aspect was, because of this multifaceted sort of nature, I was able to touch on inspiration from characters throughout the canon. There were times for humor, times for drama, times for menace, and times for heroism. He really does touch on all of those, and it meant that it was very rewarding to play.
MF: To follow up on what you just said, were there particular characters from the ‘Star Wars’ universe that were touchstones for you in creating this character?
JL: Well, I felt like Han (Solo) and Lando (Calrissian) and just the world that those two mixed in was close to what Jod (Na Nawood) is experiencing. So, there’s a little bit of him inspired by them. I’d say that’s about it really. Otherwise, it was a case of taking tones as an inspiration.
MF: Can you talk about working with the kids in the cast, and when you are working with young actors, do you have to adjust your performance at all? What did you learn from watching them work?
JL: I certainly didn’t adjust anything. I mean, they approached it and appeared day one as very professional young actors. They knew what they were doing, and they were confident, and they were very able and well-prepared, and they took it seriously. Then they were kids, so they were also being silly and funny and laughing, making everyone laugh, and they brought a lovely sense of joy. I mean, every day felt kind of fun and special and as it should on a show like this. What was interesting and what we played into was that Jod doesn’t really understand what childhood is or who kids are. So, my role really was to also bring that element to the relationships. He’s kind of aghast that they don’t know how to look after themselves or that they get hungry, or they miss their parents and seemingly can’t fly ships or firing blasters or any of that. I enjoyed that dynamic. I thought there was a lot of humor in it and, if I’m honest, the way I saw it was it is a relationship that evolves over an adventure. So, we didn’t try to build some kind of relationship before we started. We just got on with it. Then, really, you are watching me and them and the characters getting to know each other. As the adventure evolves over months and months and months, we are learning about each other too.
MF: Finally, what was it like working with Jon Watts and Christopher Ford and helping them execute their specific vision for this ‘Star Wars’ project?
JL: Very specific vision. I mean, so much of the heavy lifting had been done in the script work and the concept. It was so clear and executed through the scripts, which were just rich and fun. They were great springboards to then perform from. The same goes for the guys. They were just very approachable. I came at them with so many questions. I have a process where I must understand where my character’s been born and what happened in their past, and they agreed that we could draw all that out so that we knew exactly and in fact, they drew on it. You’ll see towards the end, they kind of drew on some of the ideas we had about his childhood, and throughout they were just incredibly clear and passionate. I mean, it’s not an easy job also setting something up and then stepping back and letting other directors come in, especially directors of the pedigree that they got. But it was a very inclusive experience.
SXAAx8HkXvEWGGAmRJ7yF1
What is the plot of ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’?
Four children (Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Robert Timothy Smith and Kyriana Kratter) end up on an adventure to make their way home after being lost in the galaxy following a discovery they make on their home planet.
On Disney+ now, ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ is the latest attempt by the studio to transform one of its animated classics into live action. And thankfully, despite being pushed straight to streaming, this reveals itself to be far better than the much-maligned ‘Pinocchio’ conversion job that (dis)graced screens last year, even that had Robert Zemeckis directing and Tom Hanks starring.
And that’s largely thanks to director David Lowery, who finds a lyrical, visually lush approach and ups the emotional ante to give the story more meaning.
xtKndQmvnZNvRRMLVqVhs3
What’s the story of ‘Peter Pan & Wendy?’
Given that author J.M. Barrie’s original play premiered back in 1904 and it, and the novel spawned from it have been adapted many, many times through the years, it’s hard to imagine anyone doesn’t know the narrative for this one. But just in case…
‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ introduces us to Wendy Darling (Ever Anderson), a young girl on the verge of leaving her family and childhood home behind to attend boarding school. One night, Wendy and brothers Michael (Jacobi Jupe –– yes, the younger brother of ‘A Quiet Place’s Noah) and John (Joshua Pickering) meet Peter Pan (Alexander Molony), a boy who refuses to grow up.
Alongside her brothers and a tiny fairy, Tinker Bell (Yara Shahidi), she travels with Peter to the magical world of Never Land. There, she encounters an evil pirate captain, Captain Hook (Jude Law), and embarks on a thrilling and dangerous adventure that will change her life forever.
Even with a seemingly failsafe story, Peter Pan has offered mixed blessings to filmmakers through the years. Disney famously made a successful animated version way back in 1953, but in more recent times, it has become something of a third rail for directors who dare to go near it.
It has provided flops for ‘Muriel’s Wedding’ filmmaker P.J. Hogan, whose 2003 traditional ‘Peter Pan’ boasted Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook but could only wrangle $121 million worldwide from a $100 million budget (not counting advertising etc.) ‘Atonement’s Joe Wright tried a punkier, revised version in 2015 with Hugh Jackman playing Hook. That did even worse, losing money. And even more recently, ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’s Benh Zeitlin turned the focus to Wendy Darling with, well, ‘Wendy’, which was made for $6 million and has so far returned less than $300,000 on limited, pandemic-impacted release after it landed in 2020.
Yet Lowery has pulled off something that feels like it both channels Barrie’s original story and does interesting things with it that make it feel fresh.
This is, of course, not Lowery’s first ride on the Disney rodeo either –– he previously brought the world a fine adaptation of ‘Pete’s Dragon’. With that movie there was a lot more scope for change, the director swapping the live action/cartoon musical story for a more grounded (aside from the whole dragon thing), story of a lost boy who finds solace in a giant winged creature.
Lost boys –– and girls –– are, of course a big part of the ‘Pan’ story (Peter has a group he’s collected through the years), and in finding his young cast, Lowery has tracked down some authentic (and authentically diverse) actors to bring the roles to life.
Ever Anderson, daughter of Milla Jovovich and director Paul W.S. Anderson, brings charm and a soulful quality to Wendy and also does well on the stunt front when called upon (the apple not falling far from the tree there). As her brothers, Pickering and Jupe aren’t called upon to handle too much, but what they bring is kids who are appealing and never precociously annoying.
Molony as Peter initially feels smug and arrogant, but those are a slightly in keeping with his base character. And as the movie probes deeply into his reasons for being the way he is, he warms up.
Law as Hook is a fantastically preening villain at first, but the actor is also talented enough to handle the deeper origin story that Lowery and co-writer Toby Halbrooks hand him. And he’s ably supported by Smee (Jim Gaffigan, who unveils a solid British accent), who is also handed more of a character than the usual comedy sidekick.
Lowery kicks off with a very theatrical feel, upping the fantasy levels and, if there’s a problem to be found, the earlier scenes (which take place at night) are a little muddy with the digital filming. And Molony, for one, sometimes looks like he’s been crafted with CGI, even more so than Shahidi’s Tink.
But once the movie gets to Neverland, sunshine arrives and the canvas expands, the movie becomes much more watchable. And the effects –– such Hook’s ship going flying and the infamous ticking-belly crocodile (to whom Peter fed Hook’s hand once he cut it off years ago) –– are effective, even if they sometimes stretch the more limited budget offered by a movie produced for the streaming service as opposed to ‘Pete’s Dragon’s lush theatrical look.
The music, meanwhile, both in score form from musicians Daniel Hart and Oliver Wallace (who channels John Williams at times) and the pirate songs from the original animated movie given fresh treatment, really help to enhance the experience.
This is Lowery bringing his carefully crafted indie sensibility to the film, once again putting his stamp on it rather than feeling like it rattled off of a construction conveyor belt. It might not appeal to fans of his more esoteric work such as ‘A Ghost Story’, but it’s a perfectly fun story for family audiences, especially with young children who have yet to see their first ‘Pan’ adaptation.
You won’t feel like a codfish for catching this one.
With Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni overseeing the ‘Mandalorian’ expanded small screen universe, the company has naturally used the success of that first show to build out others, some created by the main duo, some by different creative teams.
There were new details and looks at a variety of shows, so here’s what was talked about…
In production before any of the other series spotlighted today, the series following the further adventures of the Togruta from the planet Shili, a Padawan turned Jedi known as Ahsoka Tano had the most to show off, including a trailer that is now online.
Led by Filoni behind the scenes, the series follows the former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy –– specifically Grand Admiral Thrawn, a villain created by Timothy Zahn for his novel series. He’s already in screen canon thanks to appearances on Filoni’s animated series ‘Star Wars Rebels’ and will now be live-action, though his casting as yet to be announced.
Also making the leap from ‘Rebels’ (since Ashoka also appeared on that show) are Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and cranky droid Chopper, with the promise of others. It’s worth noting that another Rebels regular, Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios showed up in one scene of last week’s ‘The Mandalorian’.
“It was natural he would make the transition to live action,” Kathleen Kennedy said of Filoni on stage. “He has done a spectacular job.” Favreau concurred: “He cares deeply. He poured his heart and soul into it. Dave is unique in that he doesn’t ever squash your inspiration or idea but finds a way to fit it in, to keep it in the tradition that George Lucas started.” Dawson, for her part, said she had “so many pinch me moments” making the show. “Because if this does well, maybe we’ll get a second season. It’s up to y’all!” she told the 4,500-strong crowd.
The trailer is stacked with action, primarily Ahsoka showing off her trademark double lightsaber skills, plus plenty of starships dogfighting.
The pair have come up with a series set around the same time as ‘The Mandalorian’, which follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Finding their way home — and meeting unlikely allies and enemies — will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined.
Jude Law stars alongside younger actors Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter and Robert Timothy Smith and Ryan Kiera Armstrong. There’s no word yet on when the show will land on Disney+.
‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ will be premiering on Disney+ in 2023.
‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’
‘The Acolyte’ promises to take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes but discovers the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.
Series creator Leslye Headland wowed the crowd with a sneak peek at the upcoming show. Headland arrived on stage, escorted by Kelnacca, and previewed footage from the mystery-thriller series alongside several of the stars.
With production underway now, the series won’t hit Disney+ until next year, but that still is likely to be ahead of the new run of another big series set in the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy…
Lucasfilm’s ‘The Acolyte.’
‘Star Wars: Andor’
There was also word from Team ‘Andor,’ with showrunner Tony Gilroy joined by stars Diego Luna, Adria Arjona, Kyle Soller, Denise Gough, Genevieve O’Reilly, Andy Serkis, Muhannad Bahair and Joplin Sibtain to talk about the successful first season and preview footage from the second and final run of 12 episodes, which have yet to schedule a release date on Disney+.
Oh, and for fans of the show that started it all, there was naturally a ‘Mandalorian’ treat, as the next episode of the series was shown on the big screen for fans.
There is a lot to look forward to on the TV front, and, unlike the big movie announcements, we can be reasonably assured they will all hit screens. Stay tuned for more from the event as it unfolds.
The cast of ‘Andor’ at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
