Moviefone Editorial

Tag: karyn-kusama

  • ‘Jennifer’s Body’ Director Confirms Sequel in Development

    (L to R): Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in 'Jennifer's Body'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    (L to R): Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in ‘Jennifer’s Body’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Preview:

    • Director Karyn Kusama has offered an update on the ‘Jennifer’s Body’ sequel.
    • Original writer Diablo Cody is working on a script.
    • The 2009 original has become a cult favorite.

    While it may not have set the box office alight back in 2009 (partly due to some questionable marketing decisions), horror comedy ‘Jennifer’s Body’, which starred Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried, has become something of a cult classic.

    And now its director, Karyn Kusama is confirming previous chatter that a sequel is in the works.

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    Talking to Deadline, Kusama revealed that she had spoken to Diablo Cody, who wrote the original and learned some details about the sequel –– more on that below.

    She’s also happy that the movie has a following:

    “I’m just so grateful that the film managed to find its audience, perhaps on a different timeline than any of us might have expected or hoped for, but I’m just so thankful that the work continues to speak to people. I’m just so satisfied by that.”

    Related Article: 17 Horror Movies To Watch On Halloween That You’ve (Probably) Never Seen

    What was the story of ‘Jennifer’s Body’?

    Megan Fox in 'Jennifer's Body'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    Megan Fox in ‘Jennifer’s Body’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    The 2009 film follows Jennifer Check (Fox), a demonically possessed high school student who kills her male classmates and devours their flesh in order to survive, while her bookworm best friend Anita “Needy” Lesnicki (Seyfried) must find a way to end her killing spree.

    What has Karyn Kusama said about the sequel?

    Amanda Seyfried in 'Jennifer's Body'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    Amanda Seyfried in ‘Jennifer’s Body’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    This was what Kusama had to say about the sequel following Cody saying she was ready to write it and Seyfried had teased the possibility of one:

    “I know she’s working on it right now, and I’m very excited to hear what comes of it. I know some of the bones of it, so I’m not going to give anything away, but it sounds fun and crazy like the first film. And I have no doubt that Diablo will do something absolutely incredible with it.”

    When will the ‘Jennifer’s Body’ sequel be on screens?

    With the movie still at a very nascent stage, there is zero word on when it might start shooting, let alone arrive in theaters.

    Megan Fox in 'Jennifer's Body'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    Megan Fox in ‘Jennifer’s Body’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Other Movies directed Karyn Kusama:

    Buy Karyn Kusama Movies and TV on Amazon

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  • Beyond Fest Announces Full 2025 Line Up

    2025 Beyond Fest poster.
    2025 Beyond Fest poster.

    Preview:

    • Beyond Fest is back in Los Angeles for its 2025 edition later this month.
    • ‘Bugonia’, ‘After the Hunt’ and more will receive premieres.
    • Filmmakers including Gore Verbinski and John Carpenter will discuss their work.

      Following news of its Guillermo del Toro celebration, the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, Beyond Fest is back for 2025 offering even more exciting screenings, including ‘Bugonia’, ‘Black Phone 2’ and ‘Good Fortune’ and talks with filmmakers.
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    If you enjoy hearing talented types talk up their work, attendees will be able to see the likes of Al Pacino, William Petersen and John Carpenter at special screenings of movies they appeared in or made.

    Related Article: ‘Wicked: For Good,’ and ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ Lead Universal’s CinemaCon Show

    What other movies will screen at this year’s Beyond Fest?

    Emma Stone stars as Michelle Fuller in director Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia', a Focus Features release. .Credit: Atsushi Nishijima/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Emma Stone stars as Michelle Fuller in director Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘Bugonia’, a Focus Features release. .Credit: Atsushi Nishijima/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    As is usual for Beyond Fest, there is a packed programme at the 2025 event. The opening night movie is Park Chan-Wook’s ‘No Other Choice’, while the likes of Bryan Fuller’s ‘Dust Bunny’ and Luca Guadagnino’s ‘After the Hunt’.

    And that’s not all! Stunt icon Kenji Tanigaki brings his instantly infamous epic-fight-fest, ‘The Furious’, to the Egyptian Theatre for its US Premiere, while Jalmari Helander’s ‘Sisu: Road to Revenge’ will raise the action to another level.

    Plus, there is the usual host of retrospective presentations, including Al Pacino discussing the legacy of ‘Dick Tracy’, an event celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Karyn Kusama’s ‘The Invitation’ and Gore Verbinski returns to the Egyptian Theatre for a very special screening of ‘The Ring’.

    Finally, the whole event wraps up with Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest chunk of weirdness, ‘Bugonia’.

    That’s just a small sampling of what’s on offer. Visit beyondfest.com and americancinematheque.com for more details.

    When and where is Beyond Fest 2025 happening?

    (from left) Finn (Mason Thames) and The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) in 'Black Phone 2', directed by Scott Derrickson. © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    (from left) Finn (Mason Thames) and The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) in ‘Black Phone 2’, directed by Scott Derrickson. © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    This year’s event runs between September 23rd –– October 8th.

    In partnership with the American Cinematheque and presented exclusively by distributor NEON, Beyond Fest will screen at the Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre and Los Feliz 3. Theatre.

    How can I get tickets for the 2025 Beyond Fest?

    Tickets will be on sale via americancinematheque.com on Thursday, September 11th at 10 am PST.

    A still from Bryan Fuller's 'Dust Bunny'. Photo: Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions.
    A still from Bryan Fuller’s ‘Dust Bunny’. Photo: Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions.

    Selected List of Movies Playing at Beyond Fest:

    Buy John Carpenter Movies and TV on Amazon

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  • Nicole Kidman Looks Rough, But Real, in First ‘Destroyer’ Photo

    Nicole Kidman Looks Rough, But Real, in First ‘Destroyer’ Photo

    Big Little Lies, Nicole Kidman
    HBO

    Nicole Kidman is still supermodel gorgeous at age 51. Her new movie “Destroyer” can’t quite erase her glamazon status, but it gets her closer to what a “real middle-aged woman” can look like, especially if she’s had a tough life.

    Here’s the synopsis for director Karyn Kusama‘s new film:

    “‘Destroyer’ follows the moral and existential odyssey of LAPD detective Erin Bell who, as a young cop, was placed undercover with a gang in the California desert with tragic results. When the leader of that gang re-emerges many years later, she must work her way back through the remaining members and into her own history with them to finally reckon with the demons that destroyed her past.”

    Vanity Fair shared the first photo of Nicole Kidman’s Erin Bell:

    Nicole Kidman, Destroyer
    Annapurna Pictures

     

    Karyn Kusama (“Girlfight,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “Æon Flux,” “The Invitation“) talked about the look they were going for:

    “We always knew that what we wanted her to look like was a real middle-aged woman with a past that she wears on her face. With sun damage and sleep deprivation and stress and rage, just in her whole physical body.”

    But to portray that role, they didn’t cast a woman who already looked all that. They went with Nicole Kidman — because she’s a great actress, and she does love to stretch beyond her good looks. (She got an Oscar for “The Hours,” after a physical transformation. )

    Kusama added that Kidman’s character “wears her ugliness on the outside, all that smallness and bitterness.” Not that she stays that way. Ultimately, the director said, “the character is so sort of tragic, and ultimately heroic.”

    “Destroyer” co-stars Tatiana Maslany, Sebastian Stan, Bradley Whitford, Toby Kebbell, Scoot McNairy, Beau Knapp, and Jade Pettyjohn. It will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September, and arrive in theaters December 25. Just in time for the 2019 Oscars.

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