Writer/director Nancy Meyers has set her new movie up at Warner Bros.
Penélope Cruz, Kieran Culkin and Jude Law are among the cast.
It’s scheduled for a Christmas Day, 2027 release.
While she once bestrode the cinematic world like a rom-com colossus, famed for skillful scripts, fabulous settings and big-name casts, it has been more than a decade since we’ve had a movie from writer/director Nancy Meyers.
Now, though, Meyers has finally set up a new project and found a studio home for it at Warner Bros.
Kieran Culkin accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Supporting Role during the live ABC Telecast of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
The story here is almost more about the behind-the-scenes drama than what may end up on screens.
In 2023, when Meyers first set it up at Netflix, the movie was reportedly titled ‘Paris Paramount.’ It was said to focus on a young writer-director who falls in love with a producer. The pair make several successful films before breaking up, both romantically and professionally. They are forced back together when a new, great project arises, and they find themselves having to deal with high stakes and volatile stars.
Meyers had Michael Fassbender and Scarlett Johansson circling roles alongside Cruz and Wilson, but Netflix balked at a requested $150 million budget.
We don’t know how much of the script has changed and what the new budget is, but it seems Warner Bros. is happy to proceed (ironically, by the time it hits theaters, Netflix may own the studio…)
When will Nancy Meyers’ new movie land on screens?
Warner Bros. has set a December 25, 2027 release date for the film. Happy Meyers-Mass, everyone!
Lawrence will be Katniss Everdeen and Hutcherson will return as Peeta Mellark. “But Moviefone,” we hear you ask, “the new movie takes place years before their films. How will this work?”
Simple: Suzanne Collins’ book includes an epilogue set during Katniss and Peeta’s time where they appear with Haymitch (which suggests Woody Harrelson, who plays the older Haymitch, will also make an appearance, although his voice does appear in the teaser trailer.)
What’s the story of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
While the previous prequel took place 64 years before the events of the original trilogy, ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is set 24 years before that trio of original films in the world of Panem, commencing on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Those games are an important event in the canon as the victor was Haymitch Abernathy, the only winner from District 12 before Lawrence’s Everdeen and Hutcherson’s Mellark’s tie win. Haymitch continues on to become a mentor, a character in the original movies played by Harrelson.
Who else has been cast in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
(L to R) Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy and McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The cast already includes included Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak, who will play Haymitch Abernathy and the woman he loves, Lenore Dove Baird.
In addition to the two leads, we also now know that McKenna Grace, who has appeared in the recent ‘Ghostbusters’ movies, will be in the movie as Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s fellow District 12 Tribute, while Jesse Plemons has the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, as brought to life by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the original movies.
Ralph Fiennes is the calculating President Snow while Kieran Culkin will be Caesar Flickerman (the eccentric host character played in the first film series by Stanley Tucci.)
Elle Fanning is on to be a younger Effie Trinket; the effusive stylist as portrayed by Elizabeth Banks in the original ‘Hunger Games’ movies.
Glenn Close is Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, and Billy Porter is playing Magno Stift is her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.
When will ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ be in theaters?
Lionsgate will have the new movie in theaters on November 20th, 2026.
(L to R) Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird and Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Glenn Close and Billy Porter are the latest addition to the new ‘Hunger Games’ prequel.
Jhaleil Swaby is also aboard, playing the character of Panache.
Francis Lawrence is again directing the movie.
While the cameras are now rolling on the new ‘Hunger Games’ franchise entry, prequel offering ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’, you might think that the stream of casting would dry up. You’d be mistaken!
Here’s ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ producer Nina Jacobson on Close’s casting:
“Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role, creating characters who are unforgettable and iconic. I think Glenn and Francis will have a ball bringing Drusilla from the page to the screen.”
And regarding Porter:
“Billy is one of those rare performers who can dazzle and devastate in equal measure on stage and screen. He made an indelible impression on me when we worked together on Pose, both as an actor and a human being. Casting this show has felt like winning the lottery every time one of our idols said yes to us.”
What’s the story of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026. Photo: Lionsgate.
While the previous prequel took place 64 years before the events of the original trilogy, ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is set 24 years before that trio of Jennifer Lawrence films in the world of Panem, commencing on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Those games are an important event in the canon as the victor was Haymitch Abernathy, the only winner from District 12 before Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta Mellark’s tie win. Haymitch continues on to become a mentor, a character in the original movies played by Woody Harrelson.
Who else has been cast in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
(Left) Joseph Zada to star as Haymitch Abernathy in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo credit: Hugh Stewart. (Right) Whitney Peak to star as Lenore Dove Bard in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo: Kate Whyte.
The cast also includes Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak, who will play Haymitch Abernathy and the woman he loves, Lenore Dove Baird.
In addition to the two leads, we also now know that McKenna Grace, who has appeared in the recent ‘Ghostbusters’ movies, will be in the movie as Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s fellow District 12 Tribute, while Jesse Plemons has the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, as brought to life by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the original movies.
Finally, recent Academy Award winner Kieran Culkin is to play Caesar Flickerman (the eccentric host character played in the first film series by Stanley Tucci).
As for the new additions?
Close’s Sickle is the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter’s Stift is her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.
Swaby’s Panache, meanwhile is a crude and aggressive career tribute from District 1, known for his arrogance and ruthlessness.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’: Collins and the filmmakers talk
Director Francis Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Here’s Suzanne Collins’ statement on the new book and movie:
“With ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few… The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day. From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026.”
And here’s Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson:
“Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star. We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant. We know ‘Hunger Games’ fans worldwide will be spellbound by where Suzanne has focused this next extraordinary story. The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem.”
When will ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ be in theaters?
Lionsgate will have the new movie in theaters on November 20th, 2026.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ opens in theaters on November 20, 2026.
(Left) Ralph Fiennes. Photo: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images. (Center) Maya Hawke. Photo: Trevor Tweeten. (Right) Lili Taylor. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for The National Audubon Society.
Preview:
Ralph Fiennes will be President Snow in the new ‘Hunger Games’ prequel.
Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor and Kelvin Harrison Jr. are also joining the cast.
The movie is set 24 years before the main movies.
Though we’ve been seeing a drip feed casting process for the new prequel to ‘The Hunger Games’ –– that would be ‘Sunrise on the Reaping,’ in case it had somehow slipped your mind –– that turned into something of a torrent this week with a slew of new announcements.
This is what producer Nina Jacobson of Color Force had to say about the new casting:
“We wanted to honor Donald Sutherland by having one of this generation’s greatest actors play President Snow 24 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the arena. Working with Ralph has been on my bucket list since he traumatized me for life in ‘Schindler’s List.’ It’s genuinely a thrill to welcome him to the Hunger Games.”
Ben Wang in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
And that’s not all! Maya Hawke, most recently seen in ‘Maestro’ and ‘The Kill Room’ and who provided the voice of Anxiety in ‘Inside Out 2,’ will be Wiress, former Hunger Games champion–turned–District 12 mentor.
Last, and by no means least among the newcomers (in franchise terms) is Kelvin Harrison, Jr., last seen in ‘O’Dessa,’ who Jeff Sneider reports will be Beetee Latier, champion of the 34th Hunger Games and father of Ampert Latier, who is a Tribute in the new movie. Fun fact: Jeffrey Wright played Beetee in three of the original movies.
Franchise veteran Francis Lawrence is directing once again from a script by Billy Ray, and the cameras are now rolling.
What’s the story of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026. Photo: Lionsgate.
While the previous prequel took place 64 years before the events of the original trilogy, ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is set 24 years before that trio of Jennifer Lawrence films in the world of Panem, commencing on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Those games are an important event in the canon as the victor was Haymitch Abernathy, the only winner from District 12 before Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta Mellark’s tie win. Haymitch continues on to become a mentor, a character in the original movies played by Woody Harrelson.
Who else has been cast in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
(Left) Joseph Zada to star as Haymitch Abernathy in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo credit: Hugh Stewart. (Right) Whitney Peak to star as Lenore Dove Bard in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo: Kate Whyte.
These new arrivals bolster a cast that already included Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak, who will play Haymitch Abernathy and the woman he loves, Lenore Dove Baird.
In addition to the two leads, we also now know that McKenna Grace, who has appeared in the recent ‘Ghostbusters’ movies, will be in the movie as Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s fellow District 12 Tribute, while Jesse Plemons has the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, as brought to life by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the original movies.
Fiennes’ casting resolves one rumor –– there has still been chatter about recent Academy Award winner Kieran Culkin mulling an offer to play Caesar Flickerman (the eccentric host character played in the first film series by Stanley Tucci.) Nothing official has been announced about that yet, so we can only assume a deal is still being worked on if at all.
Elle Fanning has also been linked with the role of a younger Effie Trinket; the effusive stylist as portrayed by Elizabeth Banks in the original ‘Hunger Games’ movies. But that has yet to be confirmed.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’: Collins and the filmmakers talk
Director Francis Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Here’s Suzanne Collins’ statement on the new book and movie:
“With ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few… The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day. From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026.”
And here’s Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson:
“Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star. We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant. We know ‘Hunger Games’ fans worldwide will be spellbound by where Suzanne has focused this next extraordinary story. The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem.”
When will ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ be in theaters?
Lionsgate wants the new movie in theaters on November 20th, 2026.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ opens in theaters on November 20, 2026.
(Far Left) Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+. (Center Left) Kieran Culkin accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Supporting Role during the live ABC Telecast of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Center Right) Woody Harrelson as Marcus in director Bobby Farrelly’s ‘Champions,’ a Focus Features release. Courtesy of Focus Features. (Far Right) Steve Buscemi in ‘Boardwalk Empire’. Photo: HBO Entertainment.
Preview:
Seth Rogen, Glenn Close and more will lend their voices to ‘Animal Farm.’
Andy Serkis is in the director’s chair.
The movie adapts the classic George Orwell novel of authoritarianism.
In development for several years now, it would seem that Andy Serkis has quietly finished work on his adaptation of George Orwell classic ‘Animal Farm.’
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We’ve been hearing about this one on and off for a while now, with talk of performance capture and at least one cast list floating around.
Orwell’s 1945 novella tells the story of a group of anthropomorphic farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Ultimately, the rebellion is betrayed, and under the dictatorship of a pig named Napoleon, the farm ends up in a far worse state than before.
The author –– who also touched on authoritarian metaphors with ‘1984,’ –– always said that ‘Animal Farm’ reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union, a period when Russia lived under the Marxist–Leninist ideology of Joseph Stalin.
Orwell, a democratic socialist, was a critic of Stalin and hostile to Moscow-directed Stalinism, an attitude that was critically shaped by his experiences during the Barcelona May Days conflicts during the Spanish Civil War.
While Serkis’ ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ director Rupert Wyatt worked on an earlier draft, Nicholas Stoller, who has been responsible for movies such as ‘The Muppets,’ ‘Storks’ and ‘You’re Cordially Invited,’ wrote the actual shooting script.
Who is who in ‘Animal Farm’?
Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
While not every cast member has a confirmed character, we do have a few details…
Rogen is voicing Napoleon, the pig who assumes command of the farm and ends up becoming a despot on four legs (and then two legs).
Culkin is on to be Squealer, a small, white, fat large white pig who serves as Napoleon’s second-in-command and minister of propaganda.
Serkis, meanwhile, is playing Benjamin, a donkey, one of the oldest, wisest animals on the farm, and one of the few who can read properly. He is skeptical, temperamental and cynical: his most frequent remark is, “Life will go on as it has always gone on –– that is, badly.” Many have pointed to Orwell adding something of himself to the character.
Here’s what Serkis has previously said about the project:
“The challenging journey to bring this extraordinary story to the screen has been finally rewarded by the opportunity to partner with the brilliant team at Aniventure and Cinesite. Together we hope to make our version of Orwell’s ever relevant masterpiece, emotionally powerful, humorous, and relatable for all ages. A tale not only for our times, but for generations to come.”
Steve Buscemi attends the launch of the Sky Atlantic channel at the Sky pop-up venue on February 4, 2011 in London, England. Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images.
While Variety’s story makes no mention of a release date (and the movie’s connection to Netflix would not naturally scream theatrical), World of Reel is reporting, and the IMDb lists, a July 11th release for ‘Animal Farm.’
Of course, given the long history of this one, we’ll believe it when it’s in cinemas or on our screens some other way.
(L to R) Director Andy Serkis and Tom Hardy on the set of 2021’s ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage.’
Jesse Eisenberg has long been an acquired taste as an actor, but as a director, his second feature, ‘A Real Pain,’ shows tremendous growth from his 2022 debut behind the camera, ‘When You Finish Saving the World.’ While that film felt incomplete and abrasive in ways, ‘A Real Pain’ brings tremendous emotional sensitivity and a more focused wit to the story of two cousins traveling together to the land of their family’s heritage, and the issues that journey brings up.
Eisenberg also wrote and stars in the picture as the more grounded of the two characters, but the showcase performance is undoubtedly that of Kieran Culkin, who comes off his incredible run on ‘Succession’ to create a character here that is complex, irritating, endearing, and deeply wounded. ‘A Real Pain’ seems deceptively modest at first, but is a powerfully funny and poignant look at family, loneliness, depression, and heritage.
David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) are cousins who were super-tight as kids but have drifted apart as adults. David is married, with a child and a solid but unglamorous job in tech, and anxiety-ridden. Benji is much looser, and living in what could best be described as a state of arrested development, although there’s ultimately more to it than that.
The two, who haven’t seen each other in years, meet at the airport for a flight to Poland, where they will tour both sites related to their family and the Holocaust thanks to money left to them by their late, beloved grandmother. From the start, Benji is much more devil-may-care, even smuggling weed aboard an international flight to David’s horror. Once they get to Poland and meet up with the rest of their tour group, Benji’s free-spiritedness manifests itself even more in ways both charming and exasperating, both to David and the group.
Whether it’s berating the cerebral tour guide James (Will Sharpe) for not exhibiting more emotion at the sites they visit, or abruptly deciding not to sit in the paid-for first class section of the train (because of a sudden interest in human rights), or having the group enact a battle scene at a memorial in the middle of a park, Benji dominates the tour with his outsized personality and antics. That sets him at odds with the more reserved David, who struggles with issues of his own and is often embarrassed at his cousin’s behavior. But as more of their family history comes to light, the double meaning of the movie’s title emerges as well: yes, Benji is a real pain, but he’s also dealing with the real pain of mental illness, which has led him to some dark places that he and David must confront.
But while that sounds grim – and the movie does feature some heavy emotional moments – much of ‘A Real Pain’ is scathingly funny, again thanks to Benji’s interactions with the tour group and the world around him. It’s a tonal balancing act managed beautifully by Eisenberg’s sharp script and unfussy direction, and given resonance by a series of locations both lovely and somber in Poland, shot magnificently by Michel Dymek. In one particularly haunting sequence, the group travels through some lush countryside only to arrive at the real Majdanek concentration camp, the setting for one of the movie’s most quietly and almost overwhelmingly powerful scenes.
As we noted above, Jesse Eisenberg as an actor is not always everybody’s cup of tea: he’s specialized throughout his career I twitchy, neurotic, highly intellectual characters who often can’t see past their own anxieties. But following his nuanced work on the ‘Fleishman is in Trouble’ miniseries, Eisenberg here brings more gravitas and even playfulness to the role of David, who may not possess the same free spirit as his cousin but is working hard to be content with who he is.
Yet Eisenberg generously cedes the spotlight to his sparring partner Culkin, who just dominates the proceedings throughout the movie. His Benji is at first righteous, arrogantly self-confident, casually careless, and determined to push people’s buttons. But that hides a far deeper pain embedded in his very soul, which Culkin brings out masterfully as he slowly peels away Benji’s bravado and lets us see the frightened boy inside. It’s a masterful performance from an actor who’s truly coming into his own, effortlessly turning our exasperation with Benji into empathy and compassion.
The supporting cast – which includes Jennifer Grey, Will Sharpe, and others – complete their assignments believably and humorously as the rest of the tour group that David and Benji are on, sketching out portraits of exactly the sort of people you’d meet on a trip like this and the way their interactions unfold, as they are briefly united as traveling partners and even friends who find themselves willing to share bits of themselves with complete strangers.
‘A Real Pain’ is the kind of “small” independent film (albeit released by Disney subsidiary Searchlight Pictures) that may seem humble in its scope but actually says something quite large about family history in every sense of the word. It’s also a poignant reminder of how important it is to learn where we come from and to stay in touch with the people we love, a theme that Eisenberg skillfully makes clear without being heavy-handed or cloying.
It’s also funny as hell, lovely to look at, and should be in the Oscars conversation for best supporting actor and best original screenplay at the very least. ‘A Real Pain’ is anything but as a movie, and is an encouraging vehicle for both the future directorial career of Jesse Eisenberg and the continuing evolution of Kieran Culkin as one of our stealth best actors.
‘A Real Pain’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘A Real Pain’?
When cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) embark on a tour of Poland as a tribute to their late grandmother, longstanding tensions and unresolved issues in their relationship and family history come to the surface.
(L to R) Maya Rudolph, showrunner, writer and executive producer Cirocco Dunlap, and Natasha Lyonne talk Prime Video’s ‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy.’
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne and showrunner, writer and executive producer Cirocco Dunlap about ‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy,’ creating the show, and Rudolph and Lyonne’s characters.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, Cirocco, can you talk about coming up with the idea for this series and creating the show?
Cirocco Dunlap: Yeah, I love sci-fi, and I watch a lot of sci-fi. I was thinking about classic movies like ‘Groundhog Day,’ ‘Alien,’ and thinking about those main characters and how they’ve got real horrible ailments, an alien in your stomach, or stuck in a time loop. I was thinking, “Wouldn’t it be fun if they had somewhere to go, someone to treat them for those illnesses?” I thought, “These main characters in classic sci-fi films could become tertiary patients in our world.”
MF: Maya, can you describe your character, Dr. Vlam, and creating the voice?
Maya Rudolph: Dr. Vlam is a robot intern who’s lived over 20,000 years and is devoted to her present craft, which is being a doctor and takes an enormous amount of pride in it. But that doesn’t stop her from talking about her past where she’s lived as a warrior king, and mother of 500. She’s done a lot. So, she likes to let everybody know she’s been around for a long time and its sort of a mix of a lot of pride and at the same time, happy to be there to serve her doctors, to serve Sleech and Klak. She just wants to do a really good job because she looks up to them so, so much.
MF: Finally, Natasha, same question. How would you describe your character, Nurse Tup, and creating her voice?
Natasha Lyonne: Nurse Tup is a nihilistic optimist. She loathes small talk, which I personally adore, and she really loves the hospital. So, she must buffer between Sleech and Klak from blowing up the joint in all their creative genius. So, she has pointy ears and in a surprising twist, a big mop of hair, six legs and a tail. So, I pretty much did a come as you are. I thought, “That is what I look like.” But Cirocco really worked with me so much on our first session to kind of really dial in exactly the vibe of who she was. Then also the other character, Zaylarx. I love that character. Zalyarx gets into trouble with Vlam and they have a good, rowdy time. Troublemakers. So yeah, good times.
What is the Plot of ‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy’?
The series follows Dr. Sleech (Stephanie Hsu) and Dr. Klak (Keke Palmer), aliens, best friends, and intergalactically renowned surgeons, as they tackle anxiety-eating parasites, illegal time loops, and deep-space STIs. In Season One, doctors Sleech and Klak take on a highly dangerous and potentially groundbreaking case and, in doing so, put existence itself in jeopardy. Although considering their dismal personal lives, oblivion might be an improvement.
Who is in the Cast of ‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy’?
2024 was supposed to be the year that the Golden Globes moved on. Detached from the old Hollywood Foreign Press Association (yet now run by possibly an even shadier for-profit corporation), it was designed to make up for a tarnished history that saw the awards get dumped by previous network NBC and chart a bright new future.
Yet on the evidence of the ceremony itself, it couldn’t recover past glories (even if those were mostly the results of the previous organization’s star-happy focus). There was the requisite assortment of big names (your Leonardo DiCaprio, your Martin Scorsese, your Christopher Nolan) but the whole thing came across as less Golden than bronze.
Comedian Jo Koy (who film fans might know outside of his stand-up career for last year’s ‘Easter Sunday’) stumbled out of the gate by quipping that he only got the gig a few days ago (it’s true that a number of more recognizable names passed) and blaming his writers for any unfunny jokes. Not a good look.
A dig at Taylor Swift’s new NFL relationship didn’t go over well either –– with the singing superstar visibly unimpressed when the camera cut to her.
He went on to offer some more visibly uninspired cracks at Barry Keoghan’s genitals in ‘Saltburn’ and Barbie’s breasts, which mostly had the audience cringing. We don’t expect him to be invited back.
“I had fun. It was a moment that I’ll always remember. It’s a tough room. It was a hard job, I’m not going to lie…I’d be lying if [I said] it doesn’t hurt. I hit a moment there where I was like, ‘Ah.’ Hosting is just a tough gig. Yes, I’m a stand-up comic but that hosting position it’s a different style. I kind of went in and did the writer’s thing. We had 10 days to write this monologue. It was a crash course. I feel bad, but I got to still say I loved what I did. The Taylor [Swift] one was just a little flat…It was a weird joke, I guess. But it was more on the NFL, I was trying to make fun of the NFL using cutaways and how the Globes didn’t have to do that. So it was more of a jab toward the NFL. But it just didn’t come out that way.”
One of the more viral –– and genuinely funny –– moments came as ‘Succession’ began to win the majority of the TV awards (that series and ‘The Bear’s near-dominance one of the entirely un-shocking elements of the ceremony). Kieran Culkin, who took the stage after winning Male Actor in a Drama Series, also took the occasion to throw a good-hearted jab the way of Pedro Pascal, who was nominated in the same category.
After a heartfelt celebration of finally nabbing the award, Culkin went full Roman Roy for a moment: “Suck it, Pedro…”
Pascal’s reaction –– a comedic combo that went from laughing to fake tears, is already a meme.
Pedro Pascal reacts perfectly to Kieran Culkin's Golden Globes speech burn https://t.co/DFP2zIXm1g
Award shows are rarely known for sparkling words when it comes to presenters. Celebrities show up on the stage, read some boring copy celebrating the creativity of whoever and then throw it to a clip package of nominees.
This year’s Globes were no exception, with largely perfunctory pre-announcement banter that barely rose to the level of competence.
Jennifer Lawrence, who has been a reliably funny awards presence in the past, offered another this time. When she was shown during the nominees section for Best Actress, Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, she mouthed, “if I don’t win, I’m leaving!”
Possibly the biggest mistake even before the show was the blatant attempt to have Taylor Swift attend by nominating her ‘Eras Tour’ concert film in the new Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category.
It worked in that she showed (only to seem insulted, see above) and then box office behemoth ‘Barbie’ scored the award anyway, one of only a couple it took home on the night.
If there were true highlights, it was in terms of representation –– Lily Gladstone won for her role in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and celebrated the victory for Native Americans while also offering a sweet shout-out to her mother, who had accompanied her to the event.
Likewise, Ali Wong became the first Asian woman to win Best Actress In A Limited Series or TV Movie (which feels a little bit forced, but is progress nonetheless) for ‘Beef’, which also saw her co-star Steven Yeun win alongside the show.
And Christopher Nolan appeared genuinely touched to have won his first directing Globe for ‘Oppenheimer’ (one of a parade the movie scored in an unsurprising run).
The ceremony itself at least scored on the ratings front –– its airing on CBS and Paramount+ saw the numbers jump from last year’s NBC/Peacock appearance –– and it counts as the most-watched Globes since 2020. But even that seems a useless metric, since the 2021 event was banished to YouTube and doesn’t even really count for ratings.
Can the Globes become relevant again? That’s the big question for now. On the evidence of last night, the answer is a big old “maybe”.
The new series is a fresh, yet recognizable adaptation of O’Malley’s original books, which chronicle how slacker Scott (Cera) goes from dating the enthusiastic Knives Chau (Ellen Wong) to becoming obsessed with the cool courier Ramona Flowers (Winstead).
Trouble is, when Scott starts dating Ramona, he learns he’ll also have to battle her seven evil ex-boyfriends (and one ex-girlfriend) to unlock the power of love and truly win her heart. You know: that old boy-meets-girl-boy-fights-exes-learns-life-lessons story.
Set in “the magical land of Toronto”, the story also brings in garage bands (since Scott plays with a scruffy local outfit called ‘Sex Bob-Om’), crazy video game references and dueling musical acts. Part of Scott’s problem is that he also has an ex, Envy Adams (Larson), who has since gone on to become a huge rock star.
Evans will be Lucas Lee, one of the exes, while Routh plays Todd Ingram, Envy’s new boyfriend and bandmate. Plaza is aboard as Scott’s sweary nemesis Julie Powers, while Anna Kendrick is his sister, Stacey. Schwartzman, meanwhile, is calculating ultimate evil ex Gideon Graves.
Fellow Sex Bob-Om bandmates include Young Neil (Johnny Simmons), Stephen Stills (Mark Webber) and Kim Pine (Pill).
“One of the proudest and most enjoyable achievements of my career was assembling and working with the dynamite cast of ‘Scott Pilgrim’. Since the film’s release in 2010 we’ve done Q&A’s, remembrances and charity read throughs, but there was never the occasion to reunite the whole gang on an actual project. Until now… Original creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, along with writer BenDavid Grabinski have conjured up an anime series of ‘Scott Pilgrim’ that doesn’t just expand the universe, but also…well, just watch it. I’m more than happy to announce that I have helped coax the entire original cast back to voice their characters on this epic new adventure. You are in for a treat.”
As a movie, the story was fun, and stylish and from the looks of this first trailer, the series will be able to both replicate the style of O’Malley’s graphic novel work while also expanding on the craziness (dinosaurs!)
‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’ hits Netflix on November 17th.
Now, though, Wright is executive producing a new animated adaptation of O’Malley’s work, with O’Malley and Ben David Grabinski as executive producers, writers and showrunners, with Science SARU as the animation studio bringing it all to life.
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Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim in director Edgar Wright’s ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.’
What’s the story of ‘Scott Pilgrim’?
The new series looks to be a new adaptation of O’Malley’s original books, which chronicle how slacker Scott (Cera) goes from dating the enthusiastic Knives Chau (Ellen Wong) to becoming obsessed with the cool courier Ramona Flowers (Winstead).
Trouble is, when Scott starts dating Ramona, he learns he’ll also have to battle her seven evil ex-boyfriends to unlock the power of love and truly win her heart. You know: that old boy-meets-girl-boy-fights-exes-learns-life-lessons story.
Set in “the magical land of Toronto”, the story also brings in garage bands (since Scott plays with a scruffy local outfit called ‘Sex Bob-Om’, crazy video game references and dueling musical acts. Part of Scott’s problem is that he also has an ex, Envy Adams (Larson), who has since gone on to become a huge rockstar.
Evans will be Lucas Lee, one of the exes, while Routh plays Todd Ingram, Envy’s new boyfriend and bandmate. Plaza is aboard as Scott’s sweary nemesis Julie Powers, while Anna Kendrick is his sister, Stacey. Schwartzman, meanwhile, is calculating ultimate evil ex Gideon Graves.
Fellow Sex Bob-Om bandmates include Young Neil (Johnny Simmons), Stephen Stills (Mark Webber) and Kim Pine (Pill).
Here’s what Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski had to say about the new series:
“We’re getting the band back together! Cera and Winstead, Bhabha, Culkin, Evans, Kendrick, Larson, Pill, Plaza, Routh, Schwartzman, Simmons, Webber, Whitman and Wong. A stellar cast, perfectly assembled by Edgar Wright. We can’t wait for fans and newcomers alike to see what we and our partners at Science SARU have been cooking up. It’s going to be a wild ride.”
And Edgar Wright adds,
“One of the proudest and most enjoyable achievements of my career was assembling and working with the dynamite cast of ‘Scott Pilgrim’. Since the film’s release in 2010 we’ve done Q&A’s, remembrances and charity read throughs, but there was never the occasion to reunite the whole gang on an actual project. Until now… Original creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, along with writer BenDavid Grabinski have conjured up an anime series of ‘Scott Pilgrim’ that doesn’t just expand the universe, but also…well, just watch it. I’m more than happy to announce that I have helped coax the entire original cast back to voice their characters on this epic new adventure. You are in for a treat.”
The film was bursting with visual imagination and geeky puns, but the series promises to be even wilder given the advantages of animation. Netflix has yet to announce a release date for the show.
Chris Evans as Lucas Lee in director Edgar Wright’s ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.’
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