Jake Gyllenhaal will star in a new sports movie called ‘Play by Play’.
Chris McCoy wrote the script.
Amazon MGM Studios is backing the project.
It looks like Jake Gyllenhaal is becoming a company player for Amazon MGM Studios, as the company has bought yet another project for him to star in and produce via his Nine Stories production label.
Plot specifics about ‘Play by Play’ are largely under wraps (more on that below), but McCoy has a past in sports scripting and the potential movie will also be produced by a company called Religion of Sports’, co-owned by Tom Brady (yes, the one who has a little bit of sports experience himself) and Gotham Chopra.
Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Presumed Innocent,’ premiering June 12, 2024 on Apple TV+.
As we mentioned, Deadline’s report on Gyllenhaal boarding the movie offers no details on the story, but a quick online check suggests it’ll feature the story of a popular pro sports newscaster gets involved in a seedy underworld on his road trips and becomes a marked man by a notorious gang. But we’ll have to wait and see if that is the actual plot.
This is just the latest Amazon MGM movie Gyllenhaal is involved in, following the ‘Road House’ remake and its upcoming sequel.
He’s also in business with the company on ‘Honeymoon with Harry’, a forthcoming dramedy where he’ll star opposite Kevin Costner, as well as ‘Code Black’, a political thriller based on a short story by Harrison Query that’s currently in development.
(Left) Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca. (Right) Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daisy Head and Amethyst Davis about their work on ‘The Gray House’, the true story it is based on, their characters’ relationship, working with Mary-Louise Parker, and collaborating on set with director Roland Joffé.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Head, Davis, and Keith David.
Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
Moviefone: To begin with, Daisy, can you talk about the alliance that Elizabeth and her mother make with Mary Jane and the incredible work they do together against all odds?
Daisy Head: It was a remarkable trio, a very tenacious group of women. Obviously, Mary Jane had suffered so much adversity and just had such an extraordinarily harrowing experience for any human to have endured. To be able to unite and rely on each other’s bravery, courage, and strength in their quest for freedom and to preserve American democracy was really humbling to experience as a human being and portraying that character in that role within that story. I was in awe of these three women and everything that they sacrificed. Being able to play against Mary-Louise and Amethyst in the scenes was just an absolute privilege, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
MF: Amethyst, in the series your character explains that she has lost her faith in God and that it is rage that keeps her going. Can you talk about that and how her rage gave her an advantage against the Confederates?
Amethyst Davis: I think that’s a turning point of the whole series. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to when something traumatic and devastating happens, and you start to lose your faith a little bit and you get reunited with something else. But it’s something that the journey of feeling trauma and dealing with it and seeing it with your own eyes, with your own family can really give you ammo to get ready to do things that you never thought you would do.
Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
MF: Amethyst, as an actor and as a human being, what was it like to act out some of the horrible situations in this series? Did it feel real at times, and how did that help inform your performance?
AD: I think sometimes, but no, it didn’t feel real. The more prepared I was, the more removed from it I could be. There was one scene that was a real small scene, no lines, and I really didn’t prepare that much because I just thought, “Oh, it was going to be a quick scene.” It was not a quick scene. I was not prepared, so then therefore, I’m in it. It’s me in this scene, and now we’re traumatized. No, we weren’t traumatized. We shook it off and we were all a close cast, so we were able to help each other out and hang out with each other. So, we were able to shake that off.
MF: Daisy, can you talk about the relationship between Elizabeth and her mother and what it was like working with Mary-Louise Parker?
DH: I mean, Mary-Louise, testament to her, she is such a remarkably talented actor. To be able to have a relationship on screen, but develop it off-screen as well was a true joy because it I felt like we had our own chemistry and our own bond off-screen. I was able to, in scenes just feel very comfortable and safe in her company. She is an extraordinary talent, and I’m so fond of her as a human being. So, it really helped strengthen the narrative of the story, because there was an incredibly tight bond between us as people. Which just made it easier, and I was able to generate that kind of strength of relationship much faster than if it was someone else. So, it was a great privilege.
Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
MF: Daisy, what was it like working with director Roland Joffé and watching him execute his vision for this project?
DH: I mean, he’s just remarkable. He is so talented, and his eye and attention to detail is literally unparalleled. I just felt so honored to have the opportunity to work alongside him for such a long project and fully trust in his vision and concept. Because even in some scenes, I would be concerned about how something was being portrayed and about whether I needed to do it. He was just like, “No, trust me, in the bigger scheme of things, don’t worry too much about this little thing.” I put my full faith in him. I mean, the finished product, the work speaks for itself. He is an incredibly, extraordinarily talented human.
MF: Finally, Amethyst, what was your experience like working with Roland?
AD: I was just so surprised at how much he respected my voice and my opinion as being a newer actor. Anytime I had a suggestion or sometimes they would even ask me things. They never made me feel like, “Oh, you’re just an actor,” or “Oh, you’re just a new actor,” or anything like that. They were very respectful and open, and I know that doesn’t always happen.
Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
What is the plot of ‘The Gray House’?
Based on a true story, the series is about the secret work carried out by Union spies during the American Civil War.
Super Bowl LX is scheduled for Sunday, February 8th and it promises to be an unforgettable game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
6966
However, if you still need your football fix, Moviefone has compiled a list of 30 of the best football movies of all time for you to watch after the game.
These football movies cover what happens both on and off the field, and best of all, every movie here is streaming right now, so you can get started watching any of them immediately.
(L to R) Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock in ‘The Blind Side.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
The story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman (Sandra Bullock) and her family
American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is.
High school football coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) befriends Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a mentally-challenged man who becomes a student at TL Hanna High School in Anderson South Carolina. Their friendship extends over several decades where Radio transforms from a shy tormented man into an inspiration to his community.
Sensitive study of a headstrong high school football star (Tom Cruise) who dreams of getting out of his small Western Pennsylvania steel town with a football scholarship. His equally ambitious coach (Craig T. Nelson) aims at a college position resulting in a clash which could crush the players dreams.
Jaycen ‘Two Js’ Jennings (Snoop Dogg) is a washed-up former pro football star who has hit rock bottom. When he is sentenced to do community service coaching the Underdoggs, an unruly pee-wee football team in his hometown, he sees it mostly as an opportunity to rebuild his public image. But in the process, he may just turn his life around and rediscover his love of the game.
Pro quarterback Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) and former college champion and coach Nate Scarboro (Burt Reynolds) are doing time in the same prison and are asked to put together a team of inmates to take on the guards. Crewe enlists the help of Scarboro to coach the inmates to victory in a football game fixed to turn out quite another way.
Several players from different backgrounds try to cope with the pressures of playing football at a major university. Each deals with the pressure differently some turn to drinking others to drugs and some to studying.
In small-town Texas, high school football is a religion, 17-year-old schoolboys carry the hopes of an entire community onto the gridiron every Friday night. When star quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) suffers an injury, the Coyotes are forced to regroup under the questionable leadership of John Moxon (James Van Der Beek), a second-string quarterback with a slightly irreverent approach to the game.
Burt Reynolds in 1974’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
A football player-turned-convict (Burt Reynolds) organizes a team of inmates to play against a team of prison guards. His dilemma is that the warden (Eddie Albert) asks him to throw the game in return for an early release but he is also concerned about the inmates lack of self-esteem.
Bobby Boucher (Adam Sandler) is a water boy for a struggling college football team. The coach (Henry Winkler) discovers Boucher’s hidden rage makes him a tackling machine whose bone-crushing power might vault his team into the playoffs.
Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) used to be a typical sports agent willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients plus a nice commission for himself. Then one day he suddenly has second thoughts about what he’s really doing. When he voices these doubts he ends up losing his job and all of his clients save Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) an egomaniacal football player.
Inspired by the true story of Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a man with nothing to lose who ignored the staggering odds and made his dream come true. When the coach of Papale’s beloved hometown football team hosted an unprecedented open tryout, the public consensus was that it was a waste of time – no one good enough to play professional football was going to be found this way.
A light hearted comedy about the beginnings of Professional American Football. When a decorated war hero (George Clooney) and college all star (John Krasinski) is tempted into playing professional football. Everyone see the chance to make some big money, but when a reporter digs up some dirt on the war hero… everyone could lose out.
Marlon Wayans is Isaiah (back, pointing) and Tyriq Withers is Cam (foreground) in ‘HIM’, directed by Justin Tipping. Photo: Universal Pictures.
After suffering a potentially career-ending brain trauma, Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) receives a lifeline when his hero, legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife. But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker.
When the Texas Southern Armadillos football team is disqualified for cheating and poor grades, the University is forced to pick from a team that actually goes to school. Will they even win a single game?
Inspired by the true story of four best friends (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Field) living life to the fullest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their hero Tom Brady play.
At the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner) has the opportunity to rebuild his team when he trades for the number one pick. He must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with NFL dreams.
Keanu Reeves in ‘The Replacements’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Maverick old-guard coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) is hired in the wake of a players’ strike to help the Washington Sentinels advance to the playoffs. But that impossible dream hinges on whether his replacements can hunker down and do the job, including washed up Quarterback Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves). So, McGinty dusts off his secret dossier of ex-players who never got a chance (or screwed up the one they were given) and knits together a bad-dream team of guys who just may give the Sentinels their title shot.
Based on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying.
Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty) is a quarterback preparing to lead his team to the Super Bowl when he is almost killed in an accident. An overanxious angel plucks him to heaven only to discover that he wasn’t ready to die, and that his body has been cremated. A new body must be found, and that of a recently-murdered millionaire is chosen. His wife and accountant—the murderers—are confused by this development, as he buys the L.A. Rams in order to once again quarterback them into the Super Bowl.
Molly (Goldie Hawn) is a high school track coach who knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet. When a football coach’s position becomes vacant, she applies for the job, despite snickers from fellow staff members and her former husband.
When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team’s new coach (Matthew McConaughey) and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.
(L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in ‘The Last Boy Scout’. Photo: Warner Bros.
When the girl (Halle Berry) that detective Joe Hallenback (Bruce Willis) is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend (Damon Wayans) of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of a pro football team.
Rudy (Sean Austin) grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of five people and has set his sights upon joining the team.
A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles (Derek Luke), is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town’s dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) to instill in the other team members — and, by proxy, the town itself — a sense of self-respect and honor.
After leading his football team to 15 winning seasons, coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) is demoted and replaced by Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) – tough, opinionated and as different from the beloved Yoast as he could be. The two men learn to overcome their differences and turn a group of hostile young men into champions.
(L to R) Jamie Foxx, Al Pacino and Denis Quaid in ‘Any Given Sunday’. Photo: Warner Bros.
A star quarterback (Dennis Quaid) gets knocked out of the game and an unknown third stringer (Jamie Foxx) is called in to replace him. The unknown gives a stunning performance and forces the ageing coach (Al Pacino) to reevaluate his game plans and life. A new co-owner/president (Cameron Diaz) adds to the pressure of winning. The new owner must prove herself in a male dominated world.
Kevin Costner and Leonardo DiCaprio are developing at TV show about the United Nations
‘United’ would focus on specific events in the organization’s history.
Costner would play Bill Clinton.
While you might think Kevin Costner would have enough on his hands trying to get more of his ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ Western movies to screens, he’s found time for other projects.
Deadline reports that Costner, along with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way company, is developing ‘United,’ a new TV series which will chronicle different real-life issues tackled by the United Nations.
(L to R) Alec Baldwin and President Bill Clinton at ‘Alec Baldwin: One Night Stand’. Photo: Comedy Central.
The project is written and will be directed by David Raymond (‘Night Hunter’), who partnered with the UN’s Creative Community Outreach Initiative during the tenure of previous UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon and has been working with them ever since, unearthing true stories that highlight the power of shared humanity. It’s being approached as an ongoing series dramatizing true stories of the courage and sacrifice that humanitarian staff continuously make around the world.
The presumed focus is the 1999 uprising in East Timor, which took place following a UN-organized independence referendum in the territory. East Timor was a Portuguese colony up until 1975, briefly asserting independence before being annexed by Indonesia, in an invasion supported by the administration of U.S. President Gerald Ford.
In subsequent decades, those in the territory endured military repression, famine and widespread human-rights abuses. But by the late ’90s, Indonesia was politically weakened, and the people of East Timor were allowed to vote on whether to remain within Indonesia or become independent.
President Clinton and his staff were instrumental in de-escalating the situation in East Timor after the initial referendum, liaising with leaders in Australia, Portugal and other countries affiliated with the UN to pull it off.
The series is slated to shoot in Atlanta and Spain next year.
When might ‘United’ be on screens?
Fifth Season is handling distribution, and we have to assume the show will be looking for a streaming or network home before too long.
But right now, there is no information on when it might arrive.
Kevin Costner for ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ at CinemaCon 2024. Photo: Warner Bros.
The plot for this one has its roots in a novel by Bart Baker, which follows a man (Gyllenhaal) as he decides to go on a honeymoon with his would-be father-in-law (Costner) after his fiancée dies unexpectedly two days before their wedding.
Though the two men dislike each other, they find common ground in their shared grief.
But enough about the story. It’s the history of the project that’s interesting: this one has been in the works since 2004, when Baker’s novel was still unpublished (it finally saw shelves in 2012).
Producer Mike Karz first set up ‘Honeymoon’ at New Line Cinema 21 years ago, and the project attracted top name talent through the years, but nothing came to fruition. ‘Crash’ filmmaker Paul Haggis wrote a draft and was going to direct a version that had Vince Vaughn and Jack Nicholson circling.
Fogelman first came on board to write it in 2015, when New Line had Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro as the intended leads. And in 2017, Nick Cassavetes was attached to direct.
Finally, Karz has moved it to Amazon MGM Studios, which has attached its ‘Road House’ star Gyllenhaal and Costner, who has been ploughing much of his time, energy and no small amount of money into his epic ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ Western movies.
When will ‘Honeymoon with Harry’ be on screens?
While this project has seemingly been cursed with bad luck, its fortunes may finally be changing. Amazon has yet to announce a release date, though, so we’ll have to wait and see if this one finally makes it to either theaters or streaming.
(L to R) Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in 1992’s ‘The Bodyguard’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
A remake of ‘The Bodyguard’ is in development at Warner Bros.
‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ director Sam Wrench is in charge of the movie.
No roles have been cast yet.
It has one of the most iconic movie posters and boasts one of the best-known romantic songs in “I Will Always Love You.”
So you can understand that, despite the reaction it is sure to provoke from fans of the original, Warner Bros. has decided that the time is right to develop a remake of ‘The Bodyguard.’
7483
First broken via a Deadline interview with current Warner Bros. co-chairman/CEOs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, the plan is now in place for Sam Wrench to direct and Jonathan A. Abrams to write the script.
There will of course be pressure for the new movie to live up to the impact of the original, but we’ve seen a few remakes manage that trick, including ‘Speak No Evil,’ ‘A Star is Born,’ and the ‘Ocean’s movies, even if the success rate is not high.
(L to R) Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston in 1992’s ‘The Bodyguard’. Photo: Warner Bros.
The 1992 movie followed Kevin Costner’s former Secret Service agent Frank Farmer, who takes a job as bodyguard to famous R&B star Rachel Marron, played by Whitney Houston at the height of her music fame.
Drama, romance and a thriller plot ensue as Frank tries to sniff out a dangerous stalker, with the final act playing out as Rachel wins the Best Picture Academy Award.
In addition to a $411 million worldwide box office, the movie was nominated for two Oscars for its songs, and its soundtrack became the best-selling of all time (and the best-selling album by a female artist of all time). Its hits included “I Will Always Love You,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Queen of the Night” and the Oscar-nominated “Run to You” and “I Have Nothing.”
So you can see why Warner Bros., which has been busy ferreting around its back catalogue for titles it can potentially remake, might see this as an attractive proposition.
Of course, there is an argument for not remaking such a beloved movie, even as it has long been turned into other mediums including a stage musical. But we live in an age when almost any movie is fair game.
What else has Sam Wrench worked on?
Scene from ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie.’ Photo: AMC Theatres.
Wrench has previously been best known for wrangling live musical events and movies based on them, including for the superstar likes of BTS, Billie Eilish, Brandi Carlile and, most recently, Taylor Swift.
In fact, ‘The Eras Tour’ became a big box office hit, earning more than $261 million in an exclusive deal between Swift and AMC theaters.
Which means that while Wrench would technically be making his narrative feature debut with the new ‘Bodyguard,’ he certainly knows a thing or two about staging musical sequences, which will form a fair part of the movie.
And given his connection to Swift, could we see him reaching out to the global megastar to make one of her rare appearances in front of a movie camera to take on the role of the character originally played by Houston?
It’s certainly a possibility, but given her busy schedule and the rigors of having worked on the Eras Tour (which only wrapped up this past December), we’d guess she may limit her interaction to contributing a song to the soundtrack.
As to who could potentially star in the movie, it may still go for a big name from the music world to replicate the success of having Houston in the lead. As for the Costner role, it’s likely to be a much in-demand part, but is Glen Powell’s phone already ringing (probably not yet, but chances are he’ll be in the mix).
For his part, Abrams’ one produced scriptwriting credit is Clint Eastwood’s ‘Juror #2’ from last year.
Upcoming, he wrote comedy movie ‘Destination Wedding,’ and has written the script for a new TV series called ‘Bishop,’ about a mysterious hotel concierge in New Orleans who becomes the de facto “fixer” for the country’s largest family-owned hotel.
He also worked as a producer on 2013’s prison pic ‘Escape Plan’.
When will ‘The Bodyguard’ be on screens?
Given that this one is still at a relatively early stage, the studio has yet to announce when any new ‘Bodyguard’ might head to screens. But if it comes together this year, there’s a chance we could see it arrive in 2026.
(L to R) Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in 1992’s ‘The Bodyguard’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Bill Pullman in ‘Independence Day’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Monday, February 17th is President’s Day in the United States. Coinciding in the same month as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays, the holiday is now used to celebrate all U.S. Presidents, past and present.
Over the years, there have been many great movies to feature U.S. Presidents, both real and fictional. From Bill Pullman‘s President Thomas J. Whitmore fighting aliens in ‘Independence Day,’ to Daniel Day Lewis‘ Oscar winning performance as “Honest Abe” in ‘Lincoln,’ now is a perfect time to look back at the greatest movies about American Presidents of all-time.
(L to R) Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in ‘White House Dead’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl (Joey King) with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it’s up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
The story of the love affair between FDR (Bill Murray) and his distant cousin Margaret Stuckley (Laura Linney), centered around the weekend in 1939 when the King (Samuel West) and Queen (Olivia Colman) of the United Kingdom visited upstate New York.
President Lincoln’s (Benjamin Walker) mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.
A look at President Richard M. Nixon (Anthony Hopkins), a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.
(L to R) Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon in ‘Elvis & Nixon’. Photo: Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street.
In 1970, a few days before Christmas, Elvis Presley (Michael Shannon) showed up on the White House lawn seeking to be deputized into the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs by the President (Kevin Spacey) himself.
A look at the life of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) who served eight presidents as the White Houses head butler from 1952 to 1986 and had a unique front-row seat as political and racial history was made.
The story of the eventful life of George W. Bush (Josh Brolin), his struggles and triumphs how he found both his wife and his faith and the critical days leading up to his decision to invade Iraq.
After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
For three years after being forced from office, Nixon (Frank Langella) remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting David Frost (Michael Sheen) as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans. Likewise, Frost’s team harboured doubts about their boss’s ability to hold his own. But as the cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted.
John Travolta in ‘Primary Colors’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton’s 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta). Burton is pulled into the politician’s colorful world and looks on as Stanton — who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall — contends with his ambitious wife, Susan (Emma Thompson), and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton).
Two high school girls (Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams) wander off during a class trip to the White House and meet President Richard Nixon (Dan Hedaya). They become the official dog walkers for Nixon’s dog Checkers, and become his secret advisors during the Watergate scandal.
Told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich (Jon Voight), a former KGB agent whose life becomes inextricably linked with Ronald Reagan’s when Reagan (Dennis Quaid) first caught the Soviets’ attention as an actor in Hollywood, this film offers a perspective as unique as it is captivating.
George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell) picks Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney’s impressive résumé includes stints as White House chief of staff, House Minority Whip and Defense Secretary. When Bush wins by a narrow margin, Cheney begins to use his newfound power to help reshape the country and the world.
When the White House Secret Service Code “Olympus” is captured by a terrorist mastermind (Rick Yune) and the President (Aaron Eckhart) is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) finds himself trapped within the building. As the national security team scrambles to respond they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House save the President and avert an even bigger disaster.
Jeff Bridges in ‘The Contender’. Photo: DreamWorks Pictures.
The vice president is dead and as the president (Jeff Bridges) makes his choice for a replacement as a secret contest of wills is being waged by a formidable rival. When Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) is nominated as the first woman in history to hold the office hidden agendas explode into a battle for power.
The story of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the nuclear standoff with the USSR sparked by the discovery by the Americans of missile bases established on the Soviet-allied island of Cuba.
On July 2, a giant alien mothership enters orbit around Earth and deploys several dozen saucer-shaped ‘destroyer’ spacecraft that quickly lay waste to major cities around the planet. On July 3, the United States conducts a coordinated counterattack that fails. On July 4, a plan is devised to gain access to the interior of the alien mothership in space, in order to plant a nuclear missile.
A young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan), eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
A sweet-natured Temp Agency operator and amateur Presidential lookalike (Kevin Kline) is recruited by the Secret Service to become a temporary stand-in for the President of the United States.
Harrison Ford in ‘Air Force One’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
When Russian neo-nationalists hijack Air Force One the worlds most secure and extraordinary aircraft the President (Harrison Ford) is faced with a nearly impossible decision to give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country’s dignity but the lives of his wife (Wendy Crewson) and daughter (Liesel Matthews).
Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), one of the world’s most powerful men, can have anything he wants — and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd’s attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.
During the 1972 elections, two reporters’ (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) investigation sheds light on the controversial Watergate scandal that compels President Nixon to resign from his post.
Daniel Day-Lewis in ‘Lincoln.’ Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
The revealing story of the 16th US Presidents tumultuous final months in office In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) pursues a course of action designed to end the war unite the country and abolish slavery With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come
Kevin Costner for ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ at CinemaCon 2024. Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
Kevin Costner has co-written and will star in ‘Headhunters.’
It’s the story of surfers looking for the perfect wave on an island that has dark secrets.
Steven Holleran came up with the idea and is co-writing and directing.
For a while there, it looked like Kevin Costner might be pulling a James Cameron and devoting himself almost exclusively to working in one cinematic world, as the latter has done with the ‘Avatar’ movies.
Yet in Costner’s case, the actor/writer/director/producer certainly has not seen the same sorts of financial performance from his own passion project, ‘Horizon: An American Saga.’
4xgmBFnzM2y5fxLArQfcT2
The Western, for which Costner rounded up much of the financing and starred/produced/wrote/directed, was intended to launch a multi-movie story, but while he’s made at least two more entries, the whole wagon train hit a major bump when the first movie landed in theaters with a thud this past June.
It earned a paltry $38 million worldwide from a $100 million budget and put plans for the other movies’ releases on hold for now.
Costner is switching tracks, collaborating with cinematographer Steven Holleran on a new movie called ‘Headhunters,’ which Holleran originated and has co-written with the star.
Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.
According to the official logline, ‘Headhunters’ will find Costner as Lazer, a washed-up American ex-pat with a mysterious past who finds himself living in Bali, Indonesia.
Lazer recruits a group of surfers led by Bima, a local photographer, on a journey to an uncharted island to pioneer a “perfect wave.” To their surprise, the island is home to an ancient tribe of headhunters guarding the land at all costs.
What ensues is an adventure turned survival story of epic and bloody proportions on a tropical island which once seemed to be paradise… But is actually closer to hell.
Here’s what Holleran, who will make his directorial debut with the movie, had to say about it:
“My filmmaking journey got its start in the ocean shooting surf videos in California as a teenager. Twenty years later, ‘Headhunters’ brings things full circle and connects three life-long passions of mine — surfing, filmmaking, and adventure.”
He’s in pre-production now, with shooting set to start next month in Hawaii.
Who else is working on ‘Headhunters’?
(L to R) Daniel Zovatto and Russell Crowe in Sony Pictures ‘The Pope’s Exorcist.’
And Costner’s Territory Pictures is co-producing the film alongside Scott Steindorff and his Stone Village Films.
This is what Steindorff had to say about the collaboration:
“For decades, my friend Kevin and I have been searching for the right project to collaborate on. This is one of the best scripts I have seen in my career. Kevin is a legendary actor who brings so much depth and charisma to his roles and has written an iconic horror script with Steve.”
When will ‘Headhunters’ be on screens?
‘Headhunters’ is currently seeking distribution, so there is no release date information to report yet.
The next chapter Kevin Costner’s Western saga is delaying its theatrical release.
‘Chapter 1’ has stumbled at the domestic and worldwide box office.
Costner had filmed ‘Chapter 2’ with the intent of an August launch.
There was a big mix of kudos and concern when Kevin Costner announced that he was stumping up millions of his own money to finally get his giant Western passion project ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ to theaters after years of companies telling him the expansive story might work better on TV.
After blending his funds with mysterious other investors, Costner appeared to have scored a win when Warner Bros. agreed to distribute the first two of a planned four-chapter saga a couple of months apart. But now, following very disappointing box office results, ‘Chapter 2’ (which has already been shot), is now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, skipping theaters (or at least is delayed indefinitely).
Unfortunately for Costner, his grand experiment has been largely met with shrugs from audiences.
‘Horizon: Chapter 1’, which boasts a sprawling cast, a $100 million price tag and a run time of three hours and one minute, opened to just $11 million over the June 28th weekend. It was an alarming debut for the movie, hampered by a poor B- CinemaScore and tepid reviews (a 43 percent critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes). It fell 51 per cent in its second weekend to $5.4 million for a 10-day domestic total of $22 million.
Kevin Costner for ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ at CinemaCon 2024. Photo: Warner Bros.
New Line (the Warner Bros. arm that released ‘Part 1’ offered a statement:
“Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have decided not to release ‘Horizon: Chapter 2’ on August 16th in order to give audiences a greater opportunity to discover the first installment of ‘Horizon’ over the coming weeks, including on PVOD and Max. We thank our exhibition partners for their continued support as moviegoers across the U.S. discover the film in its theatrical run.”
And that was backed up by a separate release from the movies’ production company:
“The audience response to ‘Horizon’, and enthusiasm for seeing our story continue in ‘Horizon 2’, has been incredibly gratifying. Kevin made this film for people who love movies and who wanted to go on a journey. The support that we have received from film fans, and the theater owners, as they experience the first chapter of this saga only serves to reinforce our belief in them and the films that we have made, and we thank them for coming on board for the ride. We welcome the opportunity for that window to be expanded as we know it will only serve to enhance the experience of seeing ‘Horizon 2.’”
Given that ‘Horizon’s first two chapters cost $100 million each to make, we do have to wonder what the forward trail is for this series. Costner, though, seems confident, with plans to resume work on ‘Part 3’ next month. He appears intent on sticking to the big screen concept, but there remains a chance that he’ll have to opt for streaming for more than one future installment.
One of his earliest film roles was in the classic Western ‘Silverado‘, and he would go on to make the Academy Award winning ‘Dances with Wolves‘, which earned him an Oscar for Best Director. He’s appeared in other Westerns over the years like ‘Wyatt Earp‘, ‘Open Range‘ and ‘Let Him Go,’ but he might be best known to television audiences as John Dutton III on ‘Yellowstone‘.
While Costner has officially left the popular series, fans can see him ride a horse once again in ‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,’ which he also directed and will open in theaters on June 28th.
In addition, Costner has three sequels to ‘Horizon’ planned, with ‘Chapter 2‘ already completed and scheduled for release on August 16th. ‘Chapter 3‘ began shooting earlier this year, and ‘Chapter 4‘ is still in development.
In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down every Western Kevin Costner has ever made, including ‘Horizon – Chapter 1’ and his TV work.
NOTE: For this list we are including both traditional Westerns as well as contemporary Westerns.
Kevin Costner in ‘The Postman’. Photo: Warner Bros..
In 2013, there are no highways, no I-ways, no dreams of a better tomorrow, only scattered survivors across what was once the Unites States. Into this apocalyptic wasteland comes an enigmatic drifter (Costner) with a mule, a knack for Shakespeare, and something yet undiscovered: the power to inspire hope.
(L to R) Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid in ‘Wyatt Earp’. Photo: Warner Bros.
From Wichita to Dodge City, to the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Wyatt Earp (Costner) is taught that nothing matters more than family and the law. Joined by his brothers and Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid), Earp wages war on the dreaded Clanton and McLaury gangs.
Kevin Costner in ‘Hatfields & McCoys’. Photo: Sony Pictures Television.
It’s the true American story of a legendary family feud—one that spanned decades and nearly launched a war between Kentucky and West Virginia. The Hatfield-McCoy saga begins with Devil Anse Hatfield (Costner) and Randall McCoy (Bill Paxton) … Close friends and comrades until near the end of the Civil War, they return to their neighboring homes—Hatfield in West Virginia, McCoy just across the Tug River border in Kentucky—to increasing tensions, misunderstandings and resentments that soon explode into all-out warfare between their families. As hostilities grow, friends, neighbors and outside forces join the fight, bringing the two states to the brink of another civil war.
(L to R) Kevin Costner and T. J. Lowther in ‘A Perfect World’. Photo: Warner Bros.
A kidnapped boy (T. J. Lowther) strikes up a friendship with his captor (Costner), an escaped convict on the run from the law, headed by an honorable U.S. Marshal (Clint Eastwood).
(L to R) Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner in ‘The Highwaymen’. Photo: Netflix.
In 1934, Frank Hamer (Costner) and Manny Gault (Woody Harrelson), two former Texas Rangers, are commissioned to put an end to the wave of vicious crimes perpetrated by Bonnie Parker (Emily Brobst) and Clyde Barrow (Edward Bossert), a notorious duo of infamous robbers and cold-blooded killers who nevertheless are worshiped by the public.
Explore the lure of the Old West and how it was won—and lost—through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, embark on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.
(L to R) Kevin Costner and Diane Lane in ‘Let Him Go’. Photo: Focus Features.
Following the loss of their son, a retired sheriff (Costner) and his wife (Diane Lane) leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family living off the grid in the Dakotas.
Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.
Follow the violent world of the Dutton family, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Led by their patriarch John Dutton (Costner), the family defends their property against constant attack by land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first National Park.
(L to R) Danny Glover, Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn and Kevin Costner in ‘Silverado’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Four unwitting heroes (Scott Glenn, Kevin Kline, Danny Glover and Costner) cross paths on their journey to the sleepy town of Silverado. Little do they know the town where their family and friends reside has been taken over by a corrupt sheriff (Brian Dennehy) and a murderous posse. It’s up to the sharp-shooting foursome to save the day, but first they have to break each other out of jail, and learn who their real friends are.
Kevin Costner in ‘Dances with Wolves’. Photo: Orion Pictures.
Wounded Civil War soldier, John Dunbar (Costner) tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he’s assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.
