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  • ‘Eleanor the Great’ Interview: June Squibb and Erin Kellyman

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    Opening in theaters on September 26th is the new film from first time director Scarlett Johansson (“Jurassic World Rebirth‘) entitled ‘Eleanor the Great’.

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    The movie stars Oscar nominee June Squibb (‘Nebraska’), Erin Kellyman (‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’), Jessica Hecht (‘Sideways’), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (‘Doctor Strange’).

    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with June Squibb and Erin Kellyman about their work on ‘Eleanor the Great’, Squibb’s first reaction to the screenplay, Eleanor and Nina’s friendship, the themes of loss, being directed by Scarlett Johansson, what Kellyman learned from working with Squibb, and what they’ll remember most about making the movie.

    You can watch the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Eleanor the Great’

    June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Jojo Whilden. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
    June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Jojo Whilden. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

    Moviefone: To begin with, June can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay, and did you recognize right away that this would be a fantastic role for you to play?

    June Squibb: Yes. I did. I think I knew after the second page or so. It was just beautifully written, and I began to see Eleanor, and I felt I knew who she was, and I recognized her and how she felt about things. It was almost an immediate yes.

    Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: Erin, can you talk about the friendship that Nina forms with Eleanor and how she feels when she realizes that the relationship was based on a lie?

    Erin Kellyman: Nina’s obviously just interested in Eleanor’s story. It’s obviously a real story, but it’s just not hers. I think she’s genuinely just interested in that and wants to write a piece on it. Then I think the more and more that these two characters hang out and spend time with each other, I think Nina realizes that Eleanor is a good friend and someone that she really needs in her life. She’s been isolating herself and not seeing her friends and then along comes this person who has a new set of eyes on the situation. I think in those circumstances, you can almost open-up more with people that are brand new in your life because they don’t have any preconceived ideas about anything. I think Nina finds Eleanor very wise, interesting, funny and fun to be around and to learn from. But also, that’s her rock, she’s not really speaking about her feelings with anybody else. It’s only Eleanor that she’s doing that with. So, she puts so much trust in this woman. I think obviously when Nina finds out that it wasn’t her story, I think it’s the most crushing thing. Because this is the first time that she’s opened-up to anybody and then to have the person that she’s opened-up to lie about something or not lie but tell somebody else’s story about something that’s so heavy. But all Nina is thinking is it’s a lie. When she first finds out, she’s just thinking, this is completely fabricated. So, it’s crushing. It’s difficult for her. But there’s forgiveness there once she understands. I think it almost is that she understands more because Nina is currently grieving. So, she can see her friend is also grieving and she just did this in a way to be close to her and to keep her story alive because Bessie had explained that before, she’s worried that no one’s going to know about her brother. So, there’s forgiveness and understanding there at the end.

    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Rita Zohar as Bessie in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Rita Zohar as Bessie in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: June, can you talk about Eleanor’s friendship with Bessie, how she is grieving that loss, and how telling Bessie’s story helps keep her memory alive?

    JS: I think Bessie meant more to her at this point than anyone. I think even more than her husband did. I think that they had so completely just emerged their lives together. I think that that is the only thing she’s thinking about. I don’t think she even thinks in terms of, “Why am I doing this or what am I doing?” You know, I think it’s like, “Oh, I’ve got a chance to tell Bessie’s story. This is great. Everybody will know about her brother now.” I think that’s where it all comes from.

    (L to R) Erin Kellyman as Nina and June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) Erin Kellyman as Nina and June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: Erin, Nina has also lost her mother, and her father and her are still grieving. This movie is about how we grieve and navigate loss, isn’t it? Can you talk about that?

    EK: I think there’s three people at the center of this film that are grieving. They all handle it in such different ways. Roger (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is keeping everything in and can’t talk about it because it hurts too much. I think Nina is in the middle. I feel like, Eleanor wants to talk, and she realizes that you must, and I think she’s very wise for that. But I think Nina is stuck in the middle where she wants to but can’t because her dad doesn’t want to. She spent six months not talking about it and then struggles to open-up, but then Eleanor brings that out of her, and she realizes that that’s probably a better solution than keeping everything locked away.

    (L to R) Scarlett Johansson and June Squibb on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) Scarlett Johansson and June Squibb on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: June, what was it like working with Scarlett Johansson on set as a director?

    JS: Well, it was wonderful. Everything was very relaxed. She was our leader, always. I loved it because she used her acting background to direct me, and she knew immediately what I was doing, what I needed, and how long I needed things. I loved that. It was like a shorthand; we didn’t have to talk that much about things. She just knew what I was doing.

    Scarlett Johansson, June Squibb on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Scarlett Johansson, June Squibb on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: Can you give me one example of how Scarlett used her acting skills on set to give you direction?

    JS: I think the scene with the rabbi, when we’re talking about the bat mitzvah. We did it a few times and she came in, and I forget what she said to me, but it all went, “Oh my God, yes”. She said exactly what I needed. I don’t even remember if it was technical or if it was emotional or what it was. But whatever it was, it opened me up completely.

    Scarlett Johansson on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Scarlett Johansson on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: Erin, have you ever been directed by another actor before, and what was your experience like collaborating with Scarlett on set?

    EK: No, I don’t think I have. It was interesting. I think, as an actor, you understand what it is like to be on set and be trying to bring a character to life. I think Scarlett obviously understands that so well because she’s been doing this for her whole life. So, the way that she would communicate what she needed from you was so clear. But she also had patience too. Like if something didn’t click for me straight away, she would understand why it wasn’t clicking and then tell me about the note in a different way and then it would click. Just her patience in figuring out what I needed and then how to communicate with me was brilliant. She did that for everybody, that wasn’t just for me. She was figuring out lots of different people’s communication styles and working with it.

    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: June, can you talk about working with Erin and creating Eleanor and Nina’s friendship on screen?

    JS: It was great fun. We had a good time. I think we emotionally had a good time. You know, it worked. It really did. Like in that diner scene, we were enjoying ourselves immensely being in a diner. We really were. I think we just kept talking when the camera was off. It made no difference to us. We just kept talking to each other.

    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: Erin, what did you learn from working with June on this project?

    EK: I think what I admired most about June was her ability to do 110% on every single take, whether it was on her, not on her, a wide shot, like every single take was 110% and every single take was so impressive. It’s honestly a shame that they can only use one take for every scene. You know what I mean? There are so many good ones, that we could have another film. We could make another film with all the different avenues that she went down. But just the stamina and the energy, like the emotional stamina that you need to be able to do that is taxing and she did it. She did it every single time.

    June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: Finally, June, what will you remember most about this filmmaking experience?

    JS: Well, having Erin with me for one, and being a part of Scarlett’s first film. I think that’s going to be important. I think she’s going to be a very important director. If she wants it, if that’s what she wants to do.

    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    What is the plot of ‘Eleanor the Great’?

    Witty and troublesome 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein (June Squibb) moves from Florida to New York City following a devastating loss. She soon tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own, while befriending a 19-year-old journalism student (Erin Kellyman).

    Who is in the cast of ‘Eleanor the Great’?

    • June Squibb as Eleanor Morgenstein
    • Erin Kellyman as Nina
    • Jessica Hecht as Lisa
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger
    • Rita Zohar as Bessie
    • Will Price as Max
    'Eleanor the Great’ opens in theaters on September 26th. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    ‘Eleanor the Great’ opens in theaters on September 26th. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    List of Scarlett Johansson Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Eleanor the Great’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Scarlett Johansson Movies on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘Eleanor the Great’

    June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    Opening in theaters September 26 is ‘Eleanor the Great,’ directed by Scarlett Johansson and starring June Squibb, Erin Kellyman, Jessica Hecht, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Will Price, and Rita Zohar.

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    Related Article: 20 Best Movies of Scarlett Johansson’s Career Ranked from Worst to Best

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Rita Zohar as Bessie in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Rita Zohar as Bessie in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    Like many actors before her, Scarlett Johansson moves from in front of the camera to behind it for her directorial debut, ‘Eleanor the Great.’ And there is talent there: Johansson’s direction is mostly unfussy and she largely stays out of her own way in laying out this intimate comedy-drama.

    She’s also aided immensely by another tremendous performance from 95-year-old June Squibb, who’s as irascible and steadfast as she was in her knockout 2024 starring vehicle, ‘Thelma.’ But both the director and her leading lady are let down in part by a script that makes a fatal Hollywood mistake – and all in service about what is occasionally a profound story of loss and remembrance, told in the shadow of the Holocaust but dangerously coming close to undermining it.

    Story and Direction

    Scarlett Johansson, June Squibb on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Scarlett Johansson, June Squibb on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    Eleanor Morgenstern (June Squibb), 94 years old, is widowed yet living contentedly in Florida with her best friend, Bessie (Rita Zohar). But an abrupt change in circumstances forces Eleanor to move to New York City, where she initially moves in with her daughter Lisa (Jessica Hecht) and her grandson (Will Price), a scenario with which no one is particularly comfortable.

    Feeling adrift and distant from her family, Eleanor wanders into a support group for Holocaust survivors – and begins to tell the story of Bessie, herself a survivor who never shared her experience with anyone but Eleanor, as if it was her own. She attracts the attention of a young journalism student named Nina (Erin Kellyman), who is making a film about the survivors, and soon becomes a friend and mentor to Nina and even meets her father, a local New York news anchor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – all while her ill-conceived lie takes on a life of its own.

    Scarlett Johansson on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Scarlett Johansson on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    And that is where Tory Kamen’s script goes wrong: in pretending to have lived Bessie’s life, Eleanor creates a terrible problem that didn’t need to happen. She could easily walk into that survivors’ group, apologize for being in the wrong room, but still offer to talk about her friend Bessie – and perhaps even be welcomed. There’s another version of this movie in which she does that. But her mistake – lying that she herself is the survivor — feels less organic than contrived for the purposes of making this movie, which gives the movie an air of being deliberately manipulative even as it struggles with its tone.

    That’s not to say that Johansson and her actors don’t get a number of good moments out of this material. They do, particularly in Eleanor and Bessie’s early scenes together, and later when Eleanor is desperate to salvage the relationships she fosters in New York. The film does also have some poignant meditations on grief and the role of family, and it’s also a nicely realized New York City movie in a year that’s seen some good ones already. But the seriousness of Eleanor’s mistake, and the needlessness of it, clashes with both the darkness of Bessie’s story and the more lighthearted aspects of the film.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Jojo Whilden. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Jojo Whilden. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    The cast here is quite strong – and Johansson adds a note of real gravitas by casting real survivors as part of the support group – but this is June Squibb’s show all the way. Despite the script’s problems, which threaten our empathy with Eleanor, Squibb overcomes that with her wit, her candor, and her mix of compassion, heartbreak, and stubbornness, giving this actor another impressive notch in her incredible career renaissance.

    Ejiofor and Hecht are good in somewhat underwritten roles, but the other standout is Erin Kellyman as Nina, who is dealing with her own sense of loss and trying to find her way in the world as a young woman. Her intelligence and charisma shine through.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina in ‘Eleanor the Great’. Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    We’ll certainly give Scarlett Johansson kudos for tackling difficult material as a first-time director, and for the inarguable decision to cast June Squibb. But the weight of the subject matter is at odds with the film’s overall tone and aesthetic, plus there are other aspects of the story – like whether Eleanor can rightly be left on her own – that are glossed over. ‘Eleanor the Great’ has its moments, and might even produce some laughs or a lump in the throat, but great it’s not.

    ‘Eleanor the Great’ receives a score of 65 out of 100.

    June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    June Squibb as Eleanor in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    What is the plot of ‘Eleanor the Great’?

    Witty and troublesome 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein moves from Florida to New York City following a devastating loss. She soon tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own, while befriending a 19-year-old journalism student.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Eleanor the Great’?

    • June Squibb as Eleanor Morgenstein
    • Erin Kellyman as Nina
    • Jessica Hecht as Lisa
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger
    • Rita Zohar as Bessie
    • Will Price as Max
    (L to R) Scarlett Johansson and June Squibb on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) Scarlett Johansson and June Squibb on the set of ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    List of Scarlett Johansson Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Eleanor the Great’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Scarlett Johansson Movies on Amazon

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  • Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller Join ‘Paper Tiger’

    (Left) Scarlett Johansson arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.Scarlett Johansson arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Miles Teller arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    (Left) Scarlett Johansson arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.Scarlett Johansson arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Miles Teller arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Preview:

    • Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller will star in ‘Paper Tiger.’
    • They replace Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway in the crime drama.
    • James Gray wrote and is about to start directing the movie.

    It’s all change –– well, not quite all change… but some change for ‘Ad Astra’ writer/director James Gray, who is swapping out some hefty A-list names for some equally notable talent on his new crime movie ‘Paper Tiger.’

    While back in November last year he had Adam Driver set to star alongside Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong (who appeared in his most recent directorial effort, the semi-autobiographical ‘Armageddon Time’), he’s down two actors, as Hathaway and Strong have since had to drop out for scheduling reasons.

    Since the movie, as the below logline suggests, sees brothers getting into deep trouble with the Russian mob, we can only assume Strong decided he needed more time to become a Soviet crime boss in real life to prepare.

    Still, Gray is pushing forward with a new lead duo to work opposite Driver –– Deadline brings word that Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller will be taking over the roles, and cameras should be rolling next month in New Jersey.

    Related Article: Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey Lead First Look at ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

    What’s the story of ‘Paper Tiger’?

    Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina in 'Megalopolis'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina in ‘Megalopolis’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    The new movie, which Gray wrote, is described a tense and gritty story revolving around two brothers (we’d guess Teller and Driver) who pursue the American Dream — only to become entangled in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true.

    As they try to navigate their way through an ever-more dangerous world of corruption and violence, they find themselves and their family brutally terrorized by the Russian “Mafiya.” Their bond begins to fray, and betrayal — once utterly unthinkable — now becomes all too possible.

    Where else can we see Scarlett Johansson?

    Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in 'Jurassic World Rebirth', directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Johansson will be back on our screens this summer, leading ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, playing a specialist who must lead a group of scientists and mercenaries to the island where the original Jurassic Park dinos were bred in search of medical resources.

    The latest entry in the giant beastie franchise will stomp on to our screens on July 2nd.

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    On a very different scale (and wavelength) Johansson also has her latest collaboration with director Wes Anderson, ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, which will see theaters next month, June 6th.

    And possibly even more excitingly, Johansson is making her directorial debut with drama ‘Eleanor the Great,’ which stars June Squibb in the story of a 900-year-old Floridian woman who moves to New York City for a fresh start. When Making new friends her age proves difficult, she unexpectedly befriends a 19-year-old student.

    That movie, formerly known as ‘Eleanor, Invisible,’ also stars Erin Kellyman, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jessica Hecht, and scored a deal with Sony Pictures Classics. It’ll make its world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

    What else is Miles Teller attached to?

    Miles Teller attends the Academy’s 8th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 12, 2016. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Miles Teller attends the Academy’s 8th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 12, 2016. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Teller, whose past resume also includes the likes of ‘Whiplash,’ the 2011 version of ‘Footloose,’ ‘Spiderhead’ ‘Rabbit Hole,’ the less-than-loved 2015 take on ‘Fantastic Four’ and, most recently, Apple TV+ horror action thriller ‘The Gorge,’ is a busy, in-demand actor.

    He has ‘Eternity’ on the way, a new A24 movie directed by David Freyne that also stars Callum Turner, Elizabeth Olsen and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

    It’s the story of how, after death, everybody gets one week to choose where to spend eternity. But for  main characters Joan, Larry, and Luke, it’s really a question of who to spend it with.

    While the movie doesn’t have a set release date in place yet, it’s already drawing potential awards buzz.

    Then there is ‘Michael,’ the musical biopic of superstar Michael Jackson, in which Teller plays John Branca, Jackson’s manager, lawyer and close friend. The movie currently has an October release window from Lionsgate, though there has been chatter about legal issues surrounding the depiction of one of his accusers in a sexual abuse case, and the potential for the movie to be split in two so as to cover the full breadth of Jackson’s story.

    Outside of those, there is animated tale ‘The Ark and the Aardvark,’ in which Teller voices Gilbert, the titular creature, who is given the task of shepherding the animals on to Noah’s Ark.

    And we know he’ll be part of Paul Downs Colaizzo’s ‘Winter Games,’ set in the high-stakes arena of the Winter Olympic Games, following a perpetually overlooked skier and a self-sabotaging hockey legend (Teller) who collide at their breaking points. Their unexpected connection threatens her chance for a medal and his shot at a comeback as they navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village.

    Miles Teller plays Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw in 'Top Gun: Maverick' from Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.
    Miles Teller plays Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ from Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

    The actor is also attached to the long-developing third outing for the ‘Top Gun’ franchise, where he would reprise the role of Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, AKA the son of Anthony Edwards’ Goose from the 1986 original.

    More recently, it was announced via Deadline that Teller will lead the cast for quirky new music comedy ‘Possum Song,’ directed by ‘Sing Sing’s Greg Kwedar to follow his Oscar-nominated prison pic.

    Written by Isaac Adamson, ‘Possum Song’ will follow Eddie (Teller), an overconfident Nashville star who is hiding a dark secret: He stole the songs for his hit debut album.

    Now, with a new wife and a baby on the way, Eddie must write his follow-up solo or risk losing everything. But just when things seem most hopeless, Eddie discovers a musical genius in the form of a magical possum with whom he strikes a dangerous Faustian bargain.

    FilmNation is backing the movie, and here’s what Ben Browning, the company’s president of motion pictures had to say about it:

    “This is a one-of-a-kind film. Greg’s vision, Isaac’s hilarious script and the magnetic performance of Miles Teller will create the kind of cinematic ride that audiences are craving — with showstopping music, visceral shocks, possums, humor and emotion.”

    There are a number of other projects on his To Do list, including crime thriller ‘Wild Game,’ ‘Bartali,’ another sporting tale (where Teller would here play champion cyclist Gino Bartali, who put his career on hold to fight in World War II) and Martin Scorsese’s wishlist project ‘The Life of Jesus,’ which also has Andrew Garfield attached but has still yet to shoot.

    When will ‘Paper Tiger’ be in theaters?

    Since we’re in the Cannes Film Festival zone (a little bit like The Twilight Zone, but with fewer gremlins ripping bits off plane wings), add this one to the list of titles up for sale to distributors.

    Vincent Maraval and Kim Fox’s The Veterans are representing the international sales rights and CAA Media Finance is handling North American rights. With the movie still in sales limbo, we’ll have to wait to see which company picks it up and what date it assigns to the movie.

    Scarlett Johansson in Marvel Studios' 'Black Widow.' Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
    Scarlett Johansson in Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

    List of Scarlett Johansson Movies:

    Buy Scarlett Johansson Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Thelma’

    June Squibb and Fred Hechinger in 'Thelma', a Magnolia Pictures release.
    (L to R) June Squibb and Fred Hechinger in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Arriving in theaters on Friday June 21st, ‘Thelma’ is combines fun action moments, a winning star turn from June Squibb and some knowing talk about the vagaries of aging, all wrapped up in a confident, humorous tale.

    Not to be confused with the 2017 European movie about a psychokinetic young woman, this ‘Thelma’ is instead more like a cross between a ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie and ‘The Straight Story’, about an aging person on a quest.

    Related Article: Richard Roundtree, Best Known for Playing the Lead in ‘Shaft’, Has Died at the Age of 81

    Is ‘Thelma’ a Possible Mission?

    Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in 'Thelma', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    (L to R) Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    A crowd-pleasing hit out of the Sundance Film Festival, ‘Thelma’ is a movie that works on various different levels, to differing levels of success. But the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and this makes for a refreshing take on action comedy blended with honest emotion and observation.

    And if you’ve ever wondered whether Tom Cruise might still be looking to do the sort of stunts for which he’s become famous via the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise (a direct influence here, referenced early on) in his later years, June Squibb provides the answer. Admittedly, she’s not jumping motorbikes off cliffs or hanging from planes as they take off, her stunts more limited to some nifty scooter driving, a gentle roll across a bed or hilarious moments wielding a gun, but she certainly gives it her all to a degree that Cruise would surely offer a thumbs up to.

    Script and Direction

    'Thelma' director Josh Margolin.
    ‘Thelma’ director Josh Margolin. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Writer/director Josh Margolin infuses real emotion and truth into his story since it is partly based on his interactions with his own grandmother (also named Thelma and glimpsed in real-life video during the end credits).

    It all powers a story that feels real while also making for a truly entertaining experience. Margolin’s screenplay also works like a finely-crafted watch, setting up concepts that pay off perfectly down the line –– a subtle reference to a class at Ben’s (Richard Roundtree) retirement community that ends up paying off, and a literal example of the Chekhov’s gun idea (even if it ends up going off long before the final act).

    Margolin has also concocted truly watchable characters, the role of Thelma herself a gift for any actor, but perfectly tailored to Squibb’s particular vibe. Don’t go into the movie expecting a pulse-pounding thriller, this is much more a deliberate, quietly-paced comedy drama with a keen eye for small details that add up and creative a convincing world.

    Beyond the driving –– literally in several moments –– central plot of an elderly woman looking to get her money back after she falls victim to a scam, there are carefully observed touches such as Thelma constantly thinking she knows people around town, being befuddled by modern technology and dealing with her anxious family.

    Yet there is no mockery of those at a later stage of life: while she’s introduced trying to get to grips with the confusing world of a computer, Thelma and her fellow pensioners are portrayed as smart, fearless and using the valuable experience gathered in a lifetime to solve problems, including the smart use of a lifeline emergency tracking gadget to evade discovery and real tenacity in the face of danger.

    The resulting film is a real delight, shot unfussily but with real style in a few places, happily spoofing some action movie angles, and, in one pyrotechnic moment, the whole concept of lead actors walking away from an explosion without looking back (in this case, also not being able to hear it). Margolin lets his actors do their jobs without needing to jazz up the frame.

    Performances

    Parker Posey, Fred Hechinger and Clark Gregg in 'Thelma', a Magnolia Pictures release.
    (L to R) Parker Posey, Fred Hechinger and Clark Gregg in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    This is most definitely June Squibb’s film. The actor, who was 93 when she shot the movie, fully engages with the fact that this is her first leading role in a movie. And on the evidence of this (and, let’s be honest, performances in movies such as ‘Nebraska’), it was long, long overdue.

    Squibb brings Thelma to life perfectly, channeling Margolin’s script and working to bring the character to the screens in believably fun ways. And her interactions with the rest of the cast are just as memorable.

    Richard Roundtree –– the man who was Shaft back in the day –– is warm and involving as Thelma’s slightly estranged friend Ben, who she ropes into her mission mostly because she needs his motorized scooter. Roundtree, in his final performance, has easy chemistry with Squibb and the pair play well off of each other.

    Fred Hechinger is also solid as her grandson Danny, a young man still searching for his place in life, who is fresh off a breakup and can’t seem to find the right gear (unless he’s driving). Hechninger has a fun vibe with Squibb, and also his own arc.

    While Parker Posey and Clark Gregg don’t have the same screentime, and the nervy family subplot doesn’t always offer the same compelling reason to watch, they’re always entertaining and put their all into the roles.

    Final Thoughts

    Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in 'Thelma', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    (L to R) Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    A truly original film that deserves to see success, ‘Thelma’ is well-written and superbly performed.

    Action stars rarely see awards love, and even given the mid-year release, we wouldn’t be surprised if Squibb in particular ends up in the Oscar conversation for a nomination at the very least.

    ‘Thelma’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What’s the story of ‘Thelma’?

    The action comedy follows Thelma Post (June Squibb), a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) and sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by aging friend Ben (Richard Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her.

    Who else is in ‘Thelma’?

    The cast also features Parker Posey as Thelma’s daughter Gail, Clark Gregg as son-in-law Alan, and Malcolm McDowell as Harvey, the scammer she ultimately confronts.

    Theatrical one-sheet for 'Thelma', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    Theatrical one-sheet for ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Other June Squibb Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy June Squibb Movies on Amazon

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  • Best Richard Roundtree Movies

    2019 'Shaft's Richard Roundtree.
    2019 ‘Shaft’s Richard Roundtree.

    Legendary actor and Hollywood icon Richard Roundtree passed away in 2023 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 81.

    Best known for playing the iconic character John Shaft in five movies including the original ‘Shaft‘ and the 2000 reboot starring Samuel L. Jackson, Roundtree also appeared in the groundbreaking TV series ‘Roots‘, as well as popular movies like ‘Earthquake‘, ‘Se7en‘, ‘George of the Jungle‘, ‘Brick‘, and ‘Speed Racer‘.

    Roundtree’s final film is the action-comedy ‘Thelma,’ which also stars Oscar-nominee June Squibb and opens in theaters on June 21st. Roundtree’s final performance is already earning the late actor some of the best reviews of his long career.

    In honor of ‘Thelma’s release, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies of Richard Roundtree’s legendary career, including his last.

    Let’s begin!

    20. ‘Corky Romano‘ (2001)

    Peter Berg, Chris Penn and Chris Kattan in 'Corky Romano'.
    (L to R) Peter Berg, Chris Penn and Chris Kattan in ‘Corky Romano’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

    Corky Romano (Chris Kattan) is a bumbling, simpleton, veterinarian and the youngest, outcast son of an aging gangster, named Pops Romano (Peter Falk), who calls upon Corky to infiltrate the local FBI and retrieve and destroy evidence being used to incriminate Pops for racketeering charges.

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    19. ‘Steel‘ (1997)

    When a renegade military reject puts new superweapons in dangerous hands, John Henry Irons (Shaquille O’Neal) becomes Steel. Wearing body armor, wielding a fearsome electrohammer and riding a gadget-packed motorcycle, he’s ready to wage war… if he can fix the untimely glitches in his untested gear.

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    18. ‘Man Friday‘ (1975)

    Englishman Robinson Crusoe (Peter O’Toole), stranded alone on an island for years, is overjoyed to find a fellow man, a black islander whom he names Friday (Roundtree). But Crusoe cannot overcome the shackles of his own heritage and upbringing and is incapable of seeing Friday as anything other than a savage who needs Crusoe’s brand of cultural and religious enlightenment. Friday attempts to share his own more generous and unashamed culture, but ultimately realizes that Crusoe can never see him as anything but an inferior being. With that awareness, Friday sets out to turn the tables on Crusoe.

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    17. ‘George of the Jungle‘ (1997)

    Deep in the African jungle, a baby named George (Brendan Fraser), the sole survivor of a plane crash, is raised by gorillas. George grows up to be a buff and lovable klutz who has a rain forest full of animal friends: Tookie, his big-beaked toucan messenger; Ape, a witty talking gorilla; and Shep, a peanut-loving pooch of an elephant. But when poachers mess with George’s pals, the King Of Swing swings into action.

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    16. ‘Escape to Athena‘ (1979)

    During the World War II, the prisoners of a German camp in a Greek island are trying to escape. They not only want their freedom, but also seek an ineffable treasure hidden in a monastery at the summit of the island’s mountain.

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    15. ‘Shaft‘ (2019)

    Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Roundtree in 2019's 'Shaft'.
    (L to R) Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Roundtree in 2019’s ‘Shaft’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    JJ, aka John Shaft Jr. (Jessie T. Usher), may be a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, he needs an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly.

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    14. ‘What Men Want‘ (2019)

    Magically able to hear what men are thinking, a sports agent (Taraji P. Henson) uses her newfound ability to turn the tables on her overbearing male colleagues.

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    13. ‘Game for Vultures‘ (1980)

    The South African businessman David Swansey (Richard Harris) is delivering illegal German helicopters to Rhodesia That makes the patriot Gideon Marunga (Roundtree) an angry man.

    20002847

    12. ‘Earthquake‘ (1974)

    Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.

    28750

    11. ‘Maniac Cop‘ (1988)

    Innocent people are brutally killed on the streets of New York by a uniformed police officer. A young cop, Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell), finds himself marked as the chief suspect after his wife is murdered.

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    10. ‘Shaft’s Big Score!‘ (1972)

    Richard Roundtree in 'Shaft's Big Score!'.
    Richard Roundtree in ‘Shaft’s Big Score!’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

    John Shaft (Roundtree) is back as the lady-loved black detective cop on the search for the murderer of a client.

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    9. ‘City Heat‘ (1984)

    Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood in 'City Heat'.
    (L to R) Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood in ‘City Heat’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    Set in Kansas City in 1933, Clint Eastwood plays a police lieutenant known simply by his last name, Speer. Burt Reynolds plays a former cop turned private eye named Mike Murphy. Both Speer and Murphy served on the force together and were once good friends, but are now bitter enemies. When Murphy’s partner is slain they team up again to fight the mob.

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    8. ‘Moving On‘ (2023)

    Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda star in director Paul Weitz's 'Moving On.'
    (L to R) Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda star in director Paul Weitz’s ‘Moving On.’

    Two old friends (Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin) reconnect at their friend’s funeral, and decide to exact revenge on the widower who wronged all three of them decades earlier.

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    7. ‘Shaft in Africa‘ (1973)

    Richard Roundtree in 'Shaft in Africa'.
    (Right) Richard Roundtree in ‘Shaft in Africa’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

    Detective John Shaft (Roundtree) travels incognito to Ethiopia then France to bust a human trafficking ring

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    6. ‘Speed Racer‘ (2008)

    Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Kick Gurry and Emile Hirsch in 'Speed Racer'.
    (L to R) Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Kick Gurry and Emile Hirsch in ‘Speed Racer’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a young and brilliant racing driver. When corruption in the racing leagues costs his brother his life, Speed must team up with the police and the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) to bring an end to the corruption and criminal activities.

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    5. ‘Shaft‘ (2000)

    Samuel L. Jackson and Jeffrey Wright in 2000's 'Shaft'.
    (L to R) Samuel L. Jackson and Jeffrey Wright in 2000’s ‘Shaft’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    New York police detective John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) arrests Walter Wade Jr. (Christian Bale) for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted — especially since he’s paid a drug kingpin (Jeffrey Wright) to kill the witness.

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    4. ‘Brick‘ (2005)

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 'Brick'.
    (Left) Joseph Gordon-Levitt in ‘Brick’. Photo: Focus Features.

    After a phone call from his ex-girlfriend (Emilie de Ravin), teenage loner Brendan Frye (Joseph Godron-Levitt) learns that her dead body was found. Vowing to solve her murder himself, he must infiltrate high-school cliques that he previously avoided. His search for the truth brings him before some of the school’s roughest characters.

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    3. ‘Se7en‘ (1995)

    Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in 'Se7en'.
    (L to R) Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in ‘Se7en’. Photo: New Line Cinema.

    Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the “seven deadly sins” in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Sommerset (Morgan Freeman) researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer’s mind, while his novice partner, Mills (Brad Pitt), scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.

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    2. ‘Thelma‘ (2024)

    Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in 'Thelma', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    (L to R) Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Deceived by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, a 90-year-old woman (June Squibb) sets out on a quest to reclaim what was taken from her.

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    1. ‘Shaft‘ (1971)

    Richard Roundtree in 1971's 'Shaft'.
    Richard Roundtree in 1971’s ‘Shaft’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

    Cool black private eye John Shaft (Roundtree) is hired by a crime lord to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.

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  • Movie Review: ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ (2024)

    Simone Joy Jones in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    (Center) Simone Joy Jones in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    Opening in limited release in theaters on April 12th, ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ takes the basic structure of the 1991 comedy that starred Christina Applegate and gives it a fresh new life with some worthwhile changes and a handful of solid, charismatic performances bolstered by a story that doesn’t tie itself in knots trying to get the protagonists into scrapes.

    Crucially, it also finds a tone that works to set the new movie apart from the original, so while there are many of the same beats, they enjoy a new spin.

    Related Article: Simone Joy Jones and Nicole Richie Talk ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’

    Is ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ a Welcome Remake?

    2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    Remakes are a longtime bugbear of fandom, particularly online, with each new permutation chastised as the end of creativity and a sign of Hollywood’s lack of imagination. Take a recognizable title, slap on a different cast and tweak one or two ideas, and voila! New movie that can be sold over again.

    And there is a raft of movies that it would be wise never to touch –– we’ve seen studios stumble trying to revisit the likes of ‘RoboCop’, ‘The Wicker Man’ and more. Fortunately for ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’, the new movie has a head start, since the original is a fun film, but hardly a stone cold classic.

    Which makes this new one all the more opportune. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s also a rather fun night at the movies.

    ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’: Script and Direction

    2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    Chuck Hayward wrote the new version, with the story still credited to the original’s Neil Landau and Tara Ison, as is only right since it uses a lot of their concept.

    Still, Hayward’s work on the new movie can’t be ignored, since he’s done a lot to update the premise –– one of the characters, when someone else suggests a way to get rid of the dead babysitter, scoffs, “this isn’t 1991…” And indeed it isn’t a cast of wealthy white folk either.

    Though the new family is certainly not without money (and still live in a giant house), their race plays into a lot of the setup, since Tanya Crandell (Simone Joy Jones) and her siblings are acutely aware that as four black kids, they would not find many friends among the local sheriff’s department were they to reveal that their babysitter is dead –– even if she did, like in the original, pass away in her sleep.

    2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.' Photo: BET+.
    2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    Much like the original, though, the focus is a lot on Tanya (as it was on Christina Applegate’s Swell), who has to bear the brunt of finding work to make money and care for her brothers and sister. Yet the screenplay shares the love around –– her family aren’t lazy layabouts; yes, even weed-happy brother Kelly (Donielle T. Hansley Jr.), who steps up when really called upon. There are welcome character arcs for everyone, even the younger siblings’ eccentricities called upon to help when the moment requires it (younger sister Melissa, played by Ayaamii Sledge, is obsessed with true crime cases and CSI-style shows, and is a natural when it comes to dealing with the dead).

    And around the leads, the script builds a collection of characters who feel like people more than archetypes –– they all have wants and needs, and no one is just a villain or anything else.

    Wade Allain-Marcus keeps things moving and works well with his cast to get the most out of them. It’s also not a flat, boring shooting style, though it’s unfussy and lets the comedy flow.

    ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’: Performances

    Simone Joy Jones in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    (Left) Simone Joy Jones in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    The storyline naturally falls mostly on Jones, and she’s more than up to the task of making Tanya believably human. She’s not superwoman –– the responsibilities weigh on her and she’s as a capable of being a brat as anyone else in the household. She’s also convincingly a teenager, particularly around her mother (Ms. Pat, who has cameos at the beginning and end) and when falling for Bryan (Miles Fowler).

    The relationship angle is perhaps the weaker, more traditional storyline here, but its inoffensive and has its charms.

    Nicole Richie in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    Nicole Richie in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    At the workplace that Tanya fakes her way into comes across as a version of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, while still drawing from the original storyline. Nicole Ritchie is essentially playing a version of herself, but if there’s something that she knows how to do in the acting arena, it’s that –– and she has a lot of fun doing it.

    While June Squibb naturally has more limited screentime as Mrs. Sturak, the babysitter, she makes an impression early on, revealing that she’s watched Madea movies in order to learn how to wrangle the kids.

    ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’: Final Thoughts

    Simone Joy Jones in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.' Photo: BET+.
    (Right) Simone Joy Jones in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    Winning and actually welcome in the sphere of remakes, this new version actually earns its reason to exist and provides a good group of characters to root for and also laugh at.

    And how refreshing it is to be able to say that?

    ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the Plot of ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead’?

    17-year-old Tanya’s (Simone Joy Jones) plans for a carefree summer are derailed when her stressed-to-the-limit mom (Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams) takes off for a wellness retreat and puts Tanya and her three siblings in the charge of a crotchety (and racist) old babysitter (June Squibb). The babysitter’s sudden death leaves the kids short on cash and reluctant to pull mom prematurely out of her much-needed R&R, so Tanya is forced to get a job. Posing as an adult, she gets a gig as the executive assistant at a fashion company and overnight is thrust into the world of adulthood and parenting.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead’?

    • Simone Joy Jones as Tanya Crandell
    • Nicole Richie as Rose Lindsey
    • June Squibb as Mrs. Sturak
    • Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams as Mom
    • Donielle T. Hansley Jr. as Kelly
    • Miles Fowler as Bryan
    June Squibb in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    June Squibb in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    Other Movies Similar to 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ On Amazon

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  • ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ Cast Interview

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    Opening in theaters on April 12th is the remake of the classic 90s’ comedy ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead‘. Directed by Wade Allain-Marcus (‘Black Box‘), the new film stars Simone Joy Jones (‘Anything’s Possible’), Nicole Richie (‘Good Burger 2’), June Squibb (‘Nebraska’), Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams (‘Drugstore June’), Jermaine Fowler (‘Coming 2 America’), and Gus Kenworthy (’80 for Brady’).

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Road House’

    Simone Joy Jones and Nicole Richie in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    Simone Joy Jones and Nicole Richie in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Simone Joy Jones and Nicole Richie about their work on ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead,’ their reaction to the screenplay, their love for the original, their characters, and the humor of the movie.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Jones, Richie and director Wade Allain-Marcus.

    Simone Joy Jones in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    (Left) Simone Joy Jones in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Simone, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the idea of making a remake of the 90’s comedy?

    Simone Joy Jones: First impression was, “Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m belly laughing reading the script.” There’s a lot of times you’re like, “Oh, that’s going to be funny once that person’s there. That’s going to be funny once it’s all happening.” I was like, “No, it was funny off the page.” Which I was like, “Okay, amazing.” With this specific remake, I was just so excited about Wade’s Vision. He came with all the fabric of how the film was going to be made, and I was like, “I’m on board.”

    MF: Nicole, were you a fan of the original and what does it mean to you personally to be in this remake?

    Nicole Richie: I am a diehard fan. I’ve seen this movie no less than 1,000 times. I could tell you everything about it. So, when we shot at the original house, I was walking through just so excited. We’ve got some very special cameos from the original version there, and it felt like I was at Universal Studios. I was like, “I cannot believe that I am here. I’ve been in this living room; I’ve been in this kitchen.” I connect to Rose so much. I quote her all the time. So, it was just so much fun.

    Simone Joy Jones in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    (Center) Simone Joy Jones in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    MF: Simone, can you talk about what Tanya learns about responsibility from working with Rose and taking care of her siblings all summer?

    SJJ: I think she just learns that you got to figure it out. I think that’s kind of what I’ve learned in real life of just like, “Okay, nobody knows.” The secret is that nobody knows. So, I think watching her find that out in real time, it’s just so refreshing and it’s awesome to see.

    Nicole Richie and Simone Joy Jones in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    (L to R) Nicole Richie and Simone Joy Jones in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    NR: Which is a real confidence that I think only a teenager can have, because you really don’t know. I think obviously as we get older, we know the other side of it and we’re like, “I don’t want to fail.” I do think that there is this kind of blind confidence in Tanya that’s like, “All right, what do I have to lose? I’ve got my whole life ahead of me, so I’m just going to do it.” I really love that.

    Nicole Richie in 2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    Nicole Richie in 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    MF: Finally, Nicole, you are very funny in this movie. Was all the humor in the script or did you find some of it on set? Also, could you relate to Rose as a character?

    NR: Thank you. Well, one thing that it was very important for me to remember the whole time is that we are always looking at Rose through a teenager’s eyes. So, the amount of responsibility that she’s talking about as she’s trying to lightly move through everything that’s going on in her head, and she’s talking to Tanya, but she’s also kind of talking to herself and she’s also talking out loud. I think that that’s what teenagers view adults as, nuts. So, I think it was really just important for me to know that that was the perspective and the light that we were looking at her under all the time. What I love so much about Rose is that she’s not going to let anything get in her way. I mean, she really has that forward energy. She knows as the boss and as the head of this company, that it all starts at the top and she wants everyone else to be excited, and she just wants to build her life and keep it moving. I really love that about her.

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    What is the Plot of ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead’?

    17-year-old Tanya’s (Simone Joy Jones) plans for a carefree summer are derailed when her stressed-to-the-limit mom (Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams) takes off for a wellness retreat and puts Tanya and her three siblings in the charge of a crotchety (and racist) old babysitter (June Squibb). The babysitter’s sudden death leaves the kids short on cash and reluctant to pull mom prematurely out of her much-needed R&R, so Tanya is forced to get a job. Posing as an adult, she gets a gig as the executive assistant at a fashion company and overnight is thrust into the world of adulthood and parenting.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead’?

    • Simone Joy Jones as Tanya Crandell
    • Nicole Richie as Rose Lindsey
    • June Squibb as Mrs. Sturak
    • Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams as Mom
    • Donielle T. Hansley Jr. as Kelly
    • Miles Fowler as Bryan
    2024's 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.'
    2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ Photo: BET+.

    Other Movies Similar to 2024’s ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ On Amazon