The original ‘Ray Donovan’ series starred Liev Schreiber as the title character, a tough nut fixer in the sprawling mecca of the rich and famous. Ray does the dirty work for LA’s top power players as the go-to guy who makes the problems of the city’s celebrities, superstar athletes, and business moguls disappear.
But he also had to juggle family issues, particularly his ex-con father, played by Jon Voight.
Liev Schreiber as Raymond “Ray” Donovan in ‘Ray Donovan.’ Photo: Jeff Neumann/Showtime.
This new show seems unlikely (at least at this point, it’s still being kept mostly under wraps) to feature anyone from ‘Ray Donovan,’ and indeed its title has shifted from ‘The Donovans’ to ‘Guy Ritchie’s The Associate.’ But thanks to Deadline, we do at least know who will appear.
According to Deadline, Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan are all in final negotiations for the new series, which is backed by Paramount+.
Featuring a family of fixers who solve problems for the most powerful clients in Europe, ‘The Associate will see fortunes and reputations at risk, odd alliances unfold, and betrayal around every corner; as the nature of their business means there is no guarantee what’s in store tomorrow.
Hardy –– who appeared in Ritchie’s ‘RocknRolla’ –– will play Harry, the main fixer, a man who is as dangerous as he is handsome.
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Mirren and Brosnan ––who recently finished working together on the Netflix film adaptation of Richard Osman’s mystery novel ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ –– would star as the crime family’s matriarch and patriarch, respectively.
Ritchie, who, let’s not forget also has his TV spin-off of ‘The Gentlemen’ headed for a second season on Netflix and a film career to keep bubbling along, will be an executive producer and direct the 10-episode initial run of the show.
The actual writing and show-running duties fall to Ronan Bennett, who created ‘Top Boy’ and wrote movies such as ‘Face’ and ‘Public Enemies.’
When will ‘Guy Ritchie’s The Associate’ be on screens?
Given that it just started filming last month, we’re not sure we see the series debuting later this year as originally planned (though with Ritchie’s output of late, it’s not impossible), and would predict it’ll see screens next year.
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal (left) and director Guy Ritchie (right) on the set of ‘The Covenant,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Christopher Raphael / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures.
(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
‘Gladiator II’ director Ridley Scott says he has ideas for a third.
There are no concrete plans just yet.
The ‘Gladiator’ sequel launches in theaters in November.
Even though ‘Gladiator II’, the much-buzzed about sequel to his 2000 epic ‘Gladiator’ is still two months away from release, director Ridley Scott is saying that he’s already throwing around ideas for a third movie, one he intends to wrap up the story as a trilogy.
And according to the filmmaker, he’s got some interesting inspiration…
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
While a third ‘Gladiator’ movie is strictly at the discussion stage right now, Scott told France’s Premiere magazine that he’s considering ideas for it.
Here’s what Scott had to say:
“I’m already playing with the idea of ‘Gladiator III’ “No, seriously! I lit the fuse… The ending of ‘Gladiator II’ evokes that of ‘The Godfather,’ with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn’t want and wondering, ‘And now, Father, What am I doing?’ So, the next film will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”
That concept points to a return for Paul Mescal, who plays main character Lucius (more on that below).
In a follow-up interview with the magazine, the actor admitted that he’d spoken to Scott about a potential next outing.
This is what Mescal had to say:
“Yes, Ridley spoke to me about it, but only yesterday! So I’m waiting to see what will happen, but it interests me, of course. But we must not rush anything: the story must hold together.”
Whether it interests Mescal or not is only part of the issue here; ‘Gladiator II’ is a big, expensive bet by Paramount (to the tune of, according to different reports, of between $200 and $300 million), so it will need to make some serious profit to trigger spending on another sequel.
But let’s be honest here, if any director can wrangle studios to his will, it’s Scott.
What’s the story of ‘Gladiator II’?
Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Scott’s sequel is set decades after the original film. Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) dispatched Lucius (who in adult form is played by ‘Normal People’ and ‘Aftersun’s Mescal) to the African region of Numidia, where he has grown up feeling resentful of his mother for sending him away.
Her reasons were to secure his safety –– Numidia is beyond the grasp of Rome. But as Lucius has raised his own family, his relatively safety is put under threat when Rome decides to invade Numidia.
Returned to his birthplace as a slave and then a gladiator, Lucius must confront his past and secure his future.
Who else is in ‘Gladiator II’
Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
The movie also features Pedro Pascal as Acacius, the Roman General who leads the assault on Numidia, and who ends up clashing with Lucius back in Rome –– oh, and he’s also in love with Lucilla.
Denzel Washington, who worked with Scott on ‘American Gangster’, is Macrinus, an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, including wine and oil and makes steel, spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. He is a very wealthy man who rides a golden chariot.
Then we have Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla and Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, two relatively young brothers who rule the crumbling Roman Empire and are described as damaged goods from birth, cruel and vain.
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When will ‘Gladiator II’ be in theaters?
‘Gladiator II’ is scheduled for release on November 22nd.
Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime) stars in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
The ‘Transformers‘ franchise has grossed over $4.5 billion at the box office!
With eight previous films including live-action and animated movies, as well as the spinoff ‘Bumblebee,’ Transformers is now the 14th most highest grossing franchise in film history.
The ninth movie in the franchise, the CG-animated ‘Transformers One‘ rolls into theaters on September 20th. In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down every Transformers movie ever made, including live-action, animation and spinoffs.
Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’. Photo: Paramount.
Autobots and Decepticons are at war, with humans on the sidelines. Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth.
(L to R) Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf in ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’ Photo: Paramount.
Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) leaves the Autobots behind for a normal life. But when his mind is filled with cryptic symbols, the Decepticons target him and he is dragged back into the Transformers’ war.
Mark Wahlberg in ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’. Photo: Paramount.
As humanity picks up the pieces, following the conclusion of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” Autobots and Decepticons have all but vanished from the face of the planet. However, a group of powerful, ingenious businessman and scientists attempt to learn from past Transformer incursions and push the boundaries of technology beyond what they can control – all while an ancient, powerful Transformer menace sets Earth in his cross-hairs.
Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’. Photo: Paramount.
The Autobots continue to work for NEST, now no longer in secret. But after discovering a strange artifact during a mission in Chernobyl, it becomes apparent to Optimus Prime that the United States government has been less than forthright with them.
2023’s ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’. Photo: Paramount.
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth. The movie is directed by Steven Caple Jr. (‘Creed II‘) and stars Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback.
Megatron in ‘Transformers: The Movie’. Photo: De Laurentiis Entertainment Group.
The Autobots must stop a colossal planet-consuming robot who goes after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. At the same time, they must defend themselves against an all-out attack from the Decepticons in this animated feature film.
Hailee Steinfeld in ‘Bumblebee’. Photo: Paramount.
On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary yellow VW bug.
(L to R) Brian Tyree Henry (D-16/Megatron), Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1), Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime) and Keegan-Michael Key (B-127), star in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
‘Transformers One’ is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry), better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.
(L to R) Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf in ‘Transformers.’ Photo: Paramount.
Young teenager Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) becomes involved in the ancient struggle between two extraterrestrial factions of transforming robots – the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons. Sam holds the clue to unimaginable power and the Decepticons will stop at nothing to retrieve it.
Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Connie Britton about her work on ‘Here After’, her first reaction to the screenplay, her character’s guilt, her relationship with her daughter, working with actress Freya Hannan-Mills, the tone of the movie, and collaborating with director Robert Salerno on set, as well as teasing her other upcoming movie, the true story ‘Winner’, which also opens in theaters on September 13th.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Britton and director Robert Salerno.
Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to be part of this project?
Connie Britton: Well, I’ve joked about this before because of course, doing ‘American Horror Story’ all those years ago, I’ve always been afraid of horror movies. That’s not been my go-to genre, but I was really moved by this story when I read it, and it really took me by surprise, and it tapped into some very maternal feelings that I experience in my life and in kind of this supernatural way. But for me, whenever I read a script, I always really look for something that taps into my own humanity because I feel like if I’m experiencing that now in this way, my hope is that then I can help an audience tap into that thing too. So, that’s what it felt like when I first read the script. I just kind of felt really moved and the experience of what it feels like to be a mother and the unknown, but in a way that I hadn’t quite seen before.
MF: Can you talk about the guilt that Claire is dealing with and what she’s willing to do to protect her daughter?
CB: Well, I mom guilt is a thing. It’s real. Parent guilt is real. We’re not going to just restrict it to moms. I’ve done enough therapy to know that guilt is never productive, so it’s kind of is something that plagues us. So, for me, it was interesting to explore how she’s guilty because there was a consequence to something that was a result of her own emotional pain. There was a deeply emotionally painful consequence to that. So, I really was trying to explore my own guilt and what it would feel like if that was ratcheted up to here and heightened to a point where I couldn’t see the world in any other way other than through the filter of that guilt. It was interesting. As an actor, I always want to try to learn something from the roles that I play and learn something about myself. Sometimes you must look at things that you don’t really want to look at all the time every day. Guilt is certainly one of them. So, it was a challenging exploration, but also a beneficial one. I think it helped me understand the places where I feel guilty and where it’s not beneficial for me. Again, I hope that for audiences who watch it too.
(L to R) Freya Hannan-Mills and Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about Claire’s relationship with Robin and what it was like working with actress Freya Hannan-Mills?
CB: Well, Freya is so wonderful and just a wonderful human being and a wonderful actress and amazing, transformative in this part. She made it easy, and instinctively she’s somebody that you want to be maternal toward, but we talked a lot about her relationship with her mother, and she’s just a gentle soul. So, it felt very much, like I could just get right into that feeling of I love this being. So yeah, it was wonderful to work with her.
MF: Can you talk about the film’s tone, and as an actress, is that something you are concerned with, or do you just leave that up to the director?
CB: Tone is really one of the most important things always because tone is such a pivotal part of telling the story. So, because if you tell a story with a more humorous tone, it’s going to come across completely differently than if you tell a story with a more surreal or moody tone. So yeah, as we were making the movie, I was constantly trying to understand what my role was between grounding the movie, but also understanding that there was this supernatural element to it and trying to find the balance between worlds. But I always want to try to ground any character that I play as much as I can, because I think that that allows our audience then to open into whatever worlds we’re creating even more effectively because the audience feels grounded as well. But that’s always a balancing act, and just to find out how, you’re firmly on the ground and then how far you can fly.
(L to R) Giovanni Cirfiera, Alessandro Bressanello and Connie Britton in ‘Here After’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
MF: What was it like collaborating with veteran producer Robert Salerno on his first feature film as a director?
CB: It’s always exciting working with someone who is directing the original vision from the script. It’s exciting because, and we talked about it a lot, he really had invested so much of himself into the vision of this story. Then it’s exciting to see that unfold. In Bob’s case, he is a veteran producer, but also, he was directing a movie for the first time in Italy. We had these incredible Italian crews that I just adored so much. But it was interesting watching the challenges that came up for him around that, and being a first-time director, and it just felt like we kind of were all in these beautiful Roman trenches together, really learning how to do this in that beautiful landscape with the wonderful crews that we got to work with.
Director Susanna Fogel’s ‘Winner’. Photo: Vertical.
MF: Finally, in addition to ‘Here After’, you also have the film ‘Winner’ opening on the same day. What can you tell us about that movie and the character you play?
CB: Well, I mean, that is an incredible story. I don’t know if you know the story of Reality Winner or not, but it’s a true story about a young woman named Reality Winner who during the 2016, when Trump was elected, basically she was working for the NSA, and she discovered that the Russians had interfered with our elections. So, because she felt like people needed to know this, she anonymously sent her discovery to a to a media site, and she was arrested by the FBI. She went through a terrible prison ordeal and is still enduring a lot of the repercussions of that. Anyway, it’s an amazing story of this very young woman. I play her mother who helped try to give her a voice because she was given one of the worst sentences, we’ve ever given to someone who’s basically been accused of being a traitor to the country. So, it’s an interesting philosophical story, and hers is a story of courage. You learn a lot about it, but Susanna Fogel (‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’), the director tells it almost as a black comedy, which speaking of tone, it’s kind of a harrowing story, but seen through the lens of black comedy, it makes it more accessible and relatable as well.
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What is the plot of ‘Here After’?
Claire Hiller (Connie Britton) is overjoyed when her daughter Robin (Freya Hannan-Mills) is miraculously revived after a fatal accident. But her relief turns to dread as Claire notices changes in her daughter, suspecting something dark has followed her back from the brink of death.
The trailer is online for new thriller ‘Depravity’.
Victoria Justice, Sasha Luss, and Dermot Mulroney star.
The new movie is from writer/director Paul Tamasy.
The huge success of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ proves that we’re all a little bit nosey when it comes to our neighbors –– particularly those in the close quarters of apartment blocks.
But while ‘Only Murders’ goes the comedic route, ‘Depravity’ promises to be altogether darker and more disturbing as only the most compelling horror thrillers can be.
Writer and director Paul Tamasy’s ‘Depravity’. Photo: Paramount Pictures
And as the trailer suggests, it’s full of all the twists, turns and terror you might hope for.
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What’s the story of ‘Depravity’?
Writer and director Paul Tamasy’s ‘Depravity’. Photo: Paramount Pictures
When three residents suspect their reclusive neighbor is a serial killer, they break into his apartment only to uncover a hidden fortune in stolen art.
But their discovery turns into a nightmare as they’re ensnared in a sadistic game of survival, where every corner hides a new horror. Outsmart the killer or become their next victim…
Henry Cavill in ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’. Photo: Daniel Smith.
‘Depravity’ marks the full feature directorial debut of Paul Tamasy, who has had a hand in the likes of ‘The Finest Hours,’ ‘Patriots Day,’ ‘The Fighter’ and, most recently, ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.’ It also sees him working once again with producer Dorothy Aufiero, who worked on many of those projects.
Working from his own script, he shot the movie in Thailand, which stood in for its American locales.
Opening in limited release in theaters on August 16th is ‘Rob Peace,’ which is based on a true story and the book ‘The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace’ by author Jeff Hobbs.
‘Rob Peace’ writer, director and actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with actor, writer and director Chiwetel Ejiofor about his work on ‘Rob Peace’, his first reaction to learning of the true story, adapting the novel, playing Rob’s father, their relationship, and casting Jay Will.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Ejiofor, Jay Will and author Jeff Hobbs.
(L to R) Jay Will and Chiwetel Ejiofor in ‘Rob Peace’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to learning of Rob’s true story and why did you personally want to make this movie?
Chiwetel Ejiofor: When I first read the book, which was not long after it came out and before I was involved in the film, I was just really moved by his story. I thought that it really encapsulated thoughts and ideas that I had had, I suppose, but not organized in a way, the way that the book does. Jeff Hobbs, Rob’s roommate at Yale wrote a book that really encapsulates not only Rob’s life, but a lot of the systemic challenges that were faced by Rob. I felt like that was incredibly moving to see in this document and a document of empathy and a document of passion in this book. So, I was very moved and inspired to talk about that because I immediately felt that it had a cinematic resonance. So, I was inspired to see what that would feel like, what that would be like, and how to bring this story off the page.
(L to R) Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jay Will in ‘Rob Peace’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about developing the screenplay, adapting Jeff Hobbs’ book and the themes you wanted to explore as a filmmaker?
CE: I think I was very interested immediately in understanding these intersections in the systemic realities that Rob faced. So, there were intersections of race, of housing, of the education system, of the criminal justice system due to Rob’s father who may or may not have been wrongly imprisoned for a double homicide, and this having a profound effect on Rob’s life. So, my first interest was in this region and pulling together these ideas, these thematic ideas. Then I suppose it grew into this kind of idea of what is our responsibilities. As a theme, what are our responsibilities to ourselves? What are our responsibilities to our community? Who draws those lines and who draws those boundaries? How when people are faced with very complicated circumstances, especially if they’re young, especially if it’s emotional, how can they navigate these challenges and these challenges of responsibility? I felt that that was an important theme. It’s an important theme in the world. I think that the ideas of social mobility are talked about in sometimes quite limited ways, Rob being an extreme example of this in many ways, but for a lot of people, the ideas of social mobility are incredibly challenging. I felt that it was important to speak about that. I felt that there was some room thematically in a narrative to talk about that. I also felt that it had a dramatic energy, that there was something that could be cinematic about those choices, about those decisions, and about those relationships. So, for all of those reasons, I think I wanted to start to explore it as a screenplay and as a film.
(L to R) Jay Will and Chiwetel Ejiofor in ‘Rob Peace’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about your approach to playing Rob’s father, Skeet and how he is relying on his son to get him out of prison?
CE: I think it is a powerful central relationship in the story. This part of the story being about a father and son and how once Skeet is incarcerated, he starts to rely on Rob in a way that puts an enormous amount of pressure on his son. To me I was interested in that dynamic because I felt that it’s a really interesting way to look at those kinds of familial relationships. That at what point is it too much? At what point do you feel that a father needs to allow whatever’s happening to him to happen to him and not apply any additional pressure on a son who idolizes him in some ways, who is receptive to these kinds of pressures, who appreciates and values as foremost in his mind in some ways the ideas of family and community and these kinds of relationship and bonds that tie. At the same time, I felt like I could completely understand Skeet’s issue, that his desperation, wanting to grasp anything, anyone who’s declared that they’re on your side to aid you out of difficult circumstances. That push and pull, the nature of that dilemma I just thought was fascinating, was interesting, was emotional and I think relates to so many of our lives. Again, in ways that are often in a minor key. But explored in this way I think that there’s always something so universal about those challenges.
Jay Will in ‘Rob Peace’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
MF: Finally, can you talk about the challenges of finding the right actor to play Rob and casting Jay Will in that role?
CE: Jay, I think is remarkable. He was in a way a real discovery because he had just finished at Julliard. He was part of the COVID year, so he didn’t really have a showcase to speak of. So, people weren’t incredibly aware of him. There were some online materials on him from the school and that I was shown. I just thought immediately that he had a real quality, he had this ease about him which I loved, but there was something very emotional, determined and engaged about him. So, I wanted to do some workshopping with him, and we did some sort of extended auditions, and it became very clear to me very quickly that he is an extraordinary talent. In this part, he was able to bring something to it that made the film feel more complete in a way. I was busy away writing these lines, when you are adapting something and you’re in your own way playing all the parts and trying to figure out if a scene works or whatever. Then seeing somebody really embody it, really understand the nuances of these dynamics, which Jay did. He kind of was able to really complete that work because he understood both sides of it. He understood the sides of it that were in the slightly more complicated, slightly more difficult upbringing or circumstances. He understood the Juilliard side and that slightly more rarefied engagement that you can get there. One of the things that was important to me was that it wasn’t a conversation about code switching. That it was a conversation about somebody who exists as they are in these circumstances. That we see them differently in some ways because we see them in these different spaces, but they hold themselves in much the same way throughout it. Jay really was able to capture that. It’s quite a nuanced thing, but he was able to sit in that space in a way that was completely authentic. I think as an actor, he’s just very much a truth seeker and I think that really shows.
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What is the plot of ‘Rob Peace’?
Yale University graduate Rob Peace (Jay Will), known as Shaun at the time his father (Chiwetel Ejiofor) was arrested for crimes he may not have committed, turns to drug dealing to get his father out of jail while maintaining other activities.
Who is in the cast of ‘Rob Peace’?
Jay Will as Rob Peace
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Skeet Douglas
Mary J. Blige as Jackie Peace
Camila Cabello as Naya Vazquez
Michael Kelly as Reverend Edwin Leahy
Jay Will in ‘Rob Peace’. Photo: Republic Pictures.
Available to purchase on digital June 30th and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and in a collectible 4K Ultra HD SteelBook on October 8th is the box office hit ‘A Quiet Place: Day One,’ which is a prequel to John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place’ and was directed by Michael Sarnoski (‘Pig’).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer and director Michael Sarnoski about his work on ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, taking on the franchise, the challenge of directing a movie with little to no dialogue, showing the aliens, Lupita Nyong’o’s performance, Sam and Eric’s friendship, Djimon Hounsou’s return, recreating and destroying New York City, and what it’s like to direct a cat.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(L to R) Joseph Quinn as “Eric” and Director Michael Sarnoski in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
Moviefone: To begin with, coming off the success of ‘Pig’, can you talk about taking on a big franchise like this and developing the screenplay based on a story you created with John Krasinski?
Michael Sarnoski: Initially, ‘Pig’ was well received. That was very exciting. It was a very small movie, it very much felt like a piece of my soul, and I think there was a part of me that was like, I don’t want to do the whole jump into a franchise studio project. I want to be very cautious about that. But then this came along. John had loved ‘Pig’ and he really was asking, “Hey, can you bring some of that ‘Pig’ feeling to the ‘Quiet Place’ universe?” He gave me just a lot of freedom to be like, “All we need is New York on day one. What characters do you want? What story do you want? Make this your own.” So, it just felt like a unique opportunity to play in this big sandbox but do it with my own voice. It was kind of scary to jump into something like that, but it seemed like a unique opportunity and something that I would really love. Thankfully, it really worked out and I count myself very lucky. But it was intimidating and exciting and all those things.
(L to R) Alex Wolff as “Reuben”, Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira”, Producer John Krasinski, and Director Michael Sarnoski in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
MF: This is of course a prequel to the first two movies, but in release order is the third in the franchise. In the first movie, Krasinski was careful to not show the aliens too early in the film, but you show them in full very early in ‘Day One’. Did you feel like you had the freedom to do that because as an audience we already know what they look like from the other two movies?
MS: It was a balance that we were always talking about, because even with things like the rules and all of that, everyone knows all the rules already, so you need to show them a little bit, but if you suddenly make that a huge part of the story, it’s just going to be like, “We’ve seen all of this twice before.” So, finding that right balance of feeling like you’re seeing fresh stuff and your expanding things was important. We still tried to space out the aliens properly so that initially, you’re not seeing too much, and then it gradually as it builds and builds, you’re seeing more and more, and part of that comes with this scope of this New York invasion. This isn’t in the farmland with a couple of creatures wandering around. This is a hotbed of where the aliens landed, so you need to carry a heft of that. But we still tried to do it in ways that wasn’t too in your face. I liked this idea of these creature stampedes that just made the ground shake and you’re not as focused on specific things, it’s just these passing shadows. So, we tried to find ways to keep it exciting and keep it feeling like there was a progression to the reveals of these creatures, but you do still have to give a little more because of the scale and because of it being the third movie in the franchise. But it was just always something we were talking about and playing with.
Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
MF: As a filmmaker, can you talk about the challenges of making a movie with little to no dialogue? Was it restraining or freeing in a sense?
MS: It’s a little bit of both. I love dialogue. I love a long dialogue scene where you really get to understand these characters and their nuances, but then at the same time, I think you rely on having really good actors like Joe and Lupita, but just watching these two people navigate silently together and their expressions also brings out a ton of stuff that in some ways, you wouldn’t be focused on as much in a more dialogue heavy movie. So, you’re just trading one tool for another. You do have to lean on your actors a lot more to be able to convey these characters and convey these moments, but I was lucky to have amazing actors.
(L to R) Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” and Director Michael Sarnoski in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about centering the movie on the character of Sam, and what Lupita Nyong’o brought to the role?
MS: I think Lupita brings a lot to every role she does. She’s incredible. She’s extremely intelligent, she’s very thoughtful and is willing to dive in and talk about these characters and figure out what’s driving them, what their history is. All of the nuances of these characters, she spends a lot of time on, and I think Sam, on paper, she’s kind of prickly and standoffish and has separated herself from her past life, and to be able to play that character in a way that doesn’t alienate the audience but actually makes the audience lean in is really difficult, and she did an amazing job with that. You get that she’s got a chip on her shoulder, but it makes you care about her more, and you want to know more how this story is going to play out for her and how she’s going to develop. I think that just comes from creating a very full, realized character that she does so beautifully.
(L to R) Joseph Quinn as “Eric” and Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
MF: Can you also talk about Sam and Eric’s unusual friendship, and Lupita and Joseph Quinn’s onscreen chemistry?
MS: I think we really lucked out with both together because Joe’s wonderful, and I think there was something about it being such a silent film with not a lot of dialogue, that the two of them really had to lean in and engage with each other. So, they’re watching each other’s performances a lot. They really connected on a silent but beautiful level, and I think it made a dynamic that you just felt like these two people were really seeing each other and really trying to understand each other because that’s what they were doing on set every day. I think it came across on screen better than I could have hoped.
Djimon Hounsou as “Henri” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about the decision to bring back Djimon Hounsou’s Henri from ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ and flesh out that character’s backstory?
MS: He’s an incredible actor and he’s so easy and fun to work with, and so, A, I’m just happy I did that, but B, I liked the idea of in the second one, we see a glimpse into his stable society that he’s helped create, and I wanted to explore the difficult decisions that were made in order to get to that place and hint at this wasn’t all happy living on an island stuff. He must have made some really hard decisions to protect his family and to lead this group of people. So, I wanted to glimpse that, but then I also wanted to use that as a, okay, this is his story and he’s going to go off and live that story, and this is where Sam diverges from that. So, it’s also used as a foil to her personal journey, going to get pizza story, and he’s going to escape the island and try and survive in this apocalyptic world. So, I use it as something to just compare her story, so we understand, that’s not what she’s engaged with. He was wonderful.
Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
MF: Can you talk about New York City as a character in the film?
MS: When I first got this project and when I was working on the script, I rented an apartment in New York for a month, just to steep myself in this place because I knew that that needed to be a part of it. This was a New York day one invasion movie, which we’ve seen a lot of, and I felt like if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right with New York City. I think the thing I ended up landing on was exploring the different meanings of New York City to different characters, and for Sam, she’s someone that was raised here but then had to leave it behind. For Eric, he’s someone that came here with dreams. He’s the classic immigrant story to New York, and they all mean different things, but we all have this common understanding and cultural meaning of New York. So, I wanted that to just be felt so that we could all relate to that, but then also understand the kind of nuanced differences between each character’s relationship with the city. I just spent a lot of time wandering around New York, reading books about New York, and just thinking about what it meant to these characters. I think as a society, we have a very charged relationship with this city, and especially the idea of the destruction of this city. Without putting too fine a point on it, I wanted to tap into that so that people could feel like they were there with these characters, and they recognize these images and these ideas and these feelings.
Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
MF: Finally, how difficult is it directing a cat?
MS: It is impossible. You’re not directing a cat, you just are casting your wishes to the winds and hoping for the best. Once you get the hang of it, after a couple of weeks of shooting, then you know, okay, this is what the cat can do. This is what the animal trainers can help us with, and these are the things that we can aim for, and you adjust certain actions based on that. So, it’s like once you have an understanding with the cat and the trainers, then it becomes a lot easier. But I think that initial sniffing out period of like, okay, so he’s not going to want to do this action, and if we want him to do this, there’s going to have to be food involved or something like that, and then you just start figuring out creative compromises and solutions to all that stuff. So it wasn’t that hard. I think it’s telling that by the end of the movie, the cast and crew all adored Nico and Schnitzel who played Frodo, whereas if it had been a real pain, everyone would’ve been like, “Thank God Nico and Schnitzel aren’t on set anymore.” I think it really worked out wonderfully.
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What is the plot of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’?
On the first day of an invasion by aliens that hunt living things by sound, a woman dying of cancer (Lupita Nyong’o ) tries to make her way uptown in Manhattan while befriending a fellow survivor (Joseph Quinn) who’s lost and alone as the world crashes down around them.
The ‘Transformers One’ Panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con featured casting news about Laurence Fishburne and Steve Buscemi.
Chris Hemsworth and Tyree Henry are among the leads.
‘Toy Story 4’ director Josh Cooley made the new movie.
While this year’s outing of the San Diego Comic-Con has so far proved to be a relatively quiet one (at least until the likes of Marvel show up to offer tantalizing news tidbits), there was some new information about an animated movie that is garnering some positive buzz off the back of early screenings: ‘Transformers One’.
(L to R) Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Hemsworth and Bryan Tyree Henry at the Comic-Con 2022 ‘Transformers One’ presentation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
It kicked off one of the early presentation panels, and the actors (minus Johansson, who was busy on the new ‘Jurassic World’ film) were on hand alongside director Josh Cooley (‘Toy Story 4’) and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura to debut some fresh footage and provide some new insight into the movie.
And the panel also offered up the latest trailer, which you can watch above.
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What’s the story of ‘Transformers One’?
‘Transformers One’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
The new movie is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.
Hemsworth voices Orion Pax, who will become Autobot leader Optimus Prime, while Henry is D-16, the future Megatron. Key plays B-127, a chatty ‘bot who’ll later be known as Bumblebee, and Johansson is Elita-1.
What did we learn about the ‘Transformers One’ cast?
(Left) Jon Hamm as Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson in ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. (Center) Laurence Fishburne in ‘Clipped’. Photo: FX. (Right) Steve Buscemi in ‘Boardwalk Empire’. Photo: HBO Entertainment.
The panel included word (or rather, confirmation) that Jon Hamm is playing Cybertron leader Sentinel Prime, with Laurence Fishburne taking the Morpheus-alike role of Alpha Prion.
Perhaps the biggest revelation was word that Steve Buscemi voices Starscream, who we know will become one of Megatron’s (usually) loyal lieutenants. In ‘Transformers One’, they’re in opposition, with Starscream proclaiming that “the idea of a unified Cybertron is a myth” –– though it’s clear D-16 is starting to have doubts about his alliances.
Chris Hemsworth at the Comic-Con 2022 ‘Transformers One’ presentation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Among the panel highlights were funny moments, including Hemsworth remarking that he and Henry –– who never shared a recording booth –– prepped to play best friends by sleeping in bunk beds.
Key, meanwhile (whose character is the comic relief for the movie), looked to lead the Hall H audience in a rendition of the ‘Transformers’ cartoon theme tune, only to find few takers. “Good, now we know who’s over 40,” he quipped.
Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura at the Comic-Con 2022 ‘Transformers One’ presentation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
This is what producer di Bonaventura had to say about the advantages of animation for a Transformers movie:
“If we did this as a live-action movie, it would probably cost $500M. What has been tricky in live-action is that every time a robot talks, it costs a lot of money. In animation, you can have them build out their character.”
And for Cooley, it was a chance to dig into the characters lore.
“Hasbro gave me the bible of ‘Transformers’, this Tolkien-length history –– so much to play with, a huge sandbox –– I wanted the feeling of what it was like to play with the toys as a kid, that feeling of nostalgia and joy trying to make these things work.”
When will ‘Transformers One’ be in theaters?
‘Transformers One’ will be released on September 20th.
(L to R) Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Hemsworth, director Josh Cooley and Bryan Tyree Henry at the Comic-Con 2022 ‘Transformers One’ presentation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Transformers’ Franchise:
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in season 1, episode 2 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.
Preview:
The first pictures of new Paramount+ series ‘Landman’ are online.
Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm and Demi Moore are among the cast.
It’s the latest show from ‘Yellowstone’ creator Taylor Sheridan.
While ‘Yellowstone’ might be coming to an end, series creator Taylor Sheridan is certainly keeping himself busy. He has a variety of other shows either on streaming services or in the works, and the first images from one of the newcomers, ‘Landman’ are now online.
Starring Billy Bob Thornton (who first came into Sheridan’s orbit when he took a role on ‘Yellowstone’ prequel ‘1883’), the series is set in the high-pressure (in several senses of the word) world of oilrigs in Texas.
And around Thornton, he’s recruited a typically starry cast.
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What’s the story of ‘Landman’?
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in season 1, episode 3 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.
Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, ‘Landman’ is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. Based on the 11-part podcast ‘Boomtown’ from Imperative Entertainment and Texas Monthly, the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.
Who else is in ‘Landman’?
(L to R) Jon Hamm as Monty Miller and Demi Moore as Cami Miller in season 1 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: James Minchin/Paramount+.
(L to R) Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris and Demi Moore as Cami Miller in season 1, episode 10 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.
“I’m a fixer and a foreman. Even though I work with the head guy, I also work very closely with the people out in the field. I check the wells every day, get the information to give him, I deal with the landowners, and if something happens on that land, if there’s an accident on the rig, I’ve got to solve that problem and go deal with the lawyers. There aren’t really a lot of scenes where my character comes home and says, ‘My God, was my day amazing!’ I slink into the house every day like somebody just beat the hell out of me.”
Moore discussed working with Sheridan on the show:
“He thinks way ahead. He’s thinking through not just one season. He’s thinking through an epic story. He writes incredible, complex, dynamic and delicious women who are powerful, vulnerable, flawed.”
When will ‘Landman’ be on screens?
Paramount+ will launch the 10-episode first season with its initial two episodes on Sunday, November 17th, with the rest following weekly.
A scene from season 1, episode 1 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.(L to R) Jacob Lofland as Cooper Norris, Mustafa Speaks as Boss and Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in season 1, episode 4 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.(L to R) Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris and Jon Hamm as Monty Miller in season 1, episode 6 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.(L to R) Demi Moore as Cami Miller, Dani Raen as Grace Miller, Jon Hamm as Monty Miller, and Rylie Rodriguez as Monty’s daughter in season 1, episode 2 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.(L to R) Demi Moore as Cami Miller and Rylie Rodriguez as Monty’s daughter in season 1, episode 2 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.(L to R) Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris and Ali Larter as Angela Norris in Landman streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: James Minchin/Paramount+.(L to R) Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris and Ali Larter as Angela Norris in season 1, episode 3 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.Michael Peña as Armando in season 1, episode 1 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.Jacob Lofland as Cooper Norris in season 1, episode 2 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.James Jordan as Dale in season 1, episode 5 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.Mark Collie as Sheriff Walt Joeberg in season 1, episode 2 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.(L to R) Colm Feore as Nathan, Kayla Wallace as Rebecca Savage, and Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in season 1, episode 4 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.(L to R) Kayla Wallace as Rebecca Savage, Paulina Chavez as Ariana, and Colm Feore as Nathan in season 1, episode 6 of ‘Landman’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.A slate is pictured from the first day of production of ‘Landman’, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+.
After months of negotiating, Paramount Global and Skydance Media are to merge.
Skydance boss David Ellison will become Paramount’s CEO.
Other companies had looked to make their own deal for the studio.
It has been months of feeling like Paramount Global was a Tinder user swiping left on potential suitors as it was courted by various groups for mergers and acquisitions.
Now, it appears that it has finally found the right partner, as, after rejecting one offer from the company, a special committee of Paramount’s board –– and now the full board of directors –– has approved an $8 billion takeover from Skydance Media.
Like many of the big legacy media companies, Paramount has found itself struggling with debt and lowered earnings, especially when it comes to its streaming service.
It has, naturally, been a target for interest from other big companies –– at one point, there was talk of a potential merger with Warner Bros. or Universal.
But among the most eager to take control has been David Ellison’s Skydance Media, which already has connections with the studio, since it co-produces the likes of the ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies and the ‘Star Trek’ movie franchise.
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Ellison, working with investment partners, made a previous overture to buy a controlling interest in National Amusements Inc., the entity owned by Shari Redstone which has a majority share in Paramount Global. It was rejected (partly because of concerns from other shareholders), but a new version has been accepted.
The current plan is for Skydance to take control of Paramount and for the companies to merge, which has largely been seen as a positive, since it means much of the studio stays intact.
Here’s Shari Redstone’s statement on the deal:
“In 1987, my father, Sumner Redstone, acquired Viacom and began assembling and growing the businesses today known as Paramount Global. He had a vision that ‘content was king’ and was always committed to delivering great content for all audiences around the world. That vision has remained at the core of Paramount’s success and our accomplishments are a direct result of the incredibly talented, creative, and dedicated individuals who work at the company. Given the changes in the industry, we want to fortify Paramount for the future while ensuring that content remains king. Our hope is that the Skydance transaction will enable Paramount’s continued success in this rapidly changing environment. As a longtime production partner to Paramount, Skydance knows Paramount well and has a clear strategic vision and the resources to take it to its next stage of growth. We believe in Paramount, and we always will.”
Right now, the company is being run by three Chief Executive Officers, but if (increasingly when) Skydance takes over, David Ellison would become the new CEO.
Paramount has 45 days to entertain other offers before formally accepting this deal –– and Skydance would receive a $400 million payoff if it should go a different route.
Who else has been interested in Paramount?
Sony Pictures Logo. Photo: Sony Pictures.
Skydance is far from the only company that has shown interest, as the likes of Barry Diller (a former president of the company), rival studio Sony and investment company Apollo have all considered bids for Paramount.
When will the deal be finally sealed?
Assuming no other issues come up –– since regulators still have to assess this current deal –– and Paramount doesn’t somehow decide to go with another option, the deal should be officially closed by mid-2025.
