Moviefone Editorial

Tag: ron howard

  • Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver Starring in ‘Alone at Dawn’

    (Left) Adam Driver stars in director Michael Mann's 'Ferrari.' (Center) Anne Hathaway for Apple TV+'s 'WeCrashed.' (Right) 'Eden' director Ron Howard.
    (Left) Adam Driver stars in director Michael Mann’s ‘Ferrari.’ (Center) Anne Hathaway for Apple TV+’s ‘WeCrashed.’ (Right) ‘Eden’ director Ron Howard.

    Preview:

    • Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver are starring in ‘Alone at Dawn’.
    • Ron Howard is in the director’s chair.
    • It’s based on a true story.

    Director Ron Howard is no stranger to based-on-truth moviemaking –– the likes of ‘Apollo 13’ and ‘Thirteen Lives’ speak to that. He’s reuniting with Amazon MGM Studios (which produced the latter) for a new film that tackles an incredible true story called ‘Alone at Dawn’.

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    And Deadline brings word that for the new movie about heroism and struggle, he’s recruited quite the leading duo, as Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver are both aboard to star.

    Related Article: Zendaya and Anne Hathaway the Latest Additions to Christopher Nolan’s Next Film

    What’s the story of ‘Alone at Dawn’?

    Adam Driver in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'. Photo: Lucasfilm.
    Adam Driver in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’. Photo: Lucasfilm.

    The new movie is based on the book of the same name by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz and is inspired by an incredible true story.

    Years after Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman fought to the death to save his fellow soldiers, an intelligence officer strives to prove his valor — leading an investigation that would ultimately secure him the Medal of Honor. Schilling is a military consultant on the movie and, like Chapman, was also a Combat Control Technician. Longfritz, full name Lori Chapman Longfritz, is Chapman’s sister.

    Thruline Entertainment brought the manuscript of the book to The Hideaway Entertainment who optioned it in a heated bidding war before it became a New York Times bestseller.

    Hideaway hired Michael Russell Gunn (‘Designated Survivor’) to write the script, which has also seen work by Erin Cressida Wilson (‘The Girl on the Train’) and Amy Herzog (‘Scenes from a Marriage’). And that, in turn caught Howard’s attention when the screenplay arrived at Imagine Entertainment.

    Driver, meanwhile, jumped aboard as a former Marine who has long wanted to appear in a military-focused project with the right message.

    He and Howard then approach Hathaway, who agreed to play the intelligence officer.

    Where else can we see Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver?

    Anne Hathaway in 'The Devil Wears Prada'.
    Anne Hathaway in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Most recently seen in ‘Mother’s Instinct’ and ‘The Idea of You’, Hathaway is currently shooting ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and has also completed filming on Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’.

    Driver will next be seen in Jim Jarmusch’s new film ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’, and James Gray’s ‘Paper Tiger’.

    When will ‘Alone at Dawn’ be on screens?

    With the project still at an early stage, we don’t yet know when it might hit screens, and in true Amazon fashion, it could land in theaters or debut on Prime Video.

    Ron Howard on the set of 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    Ron Howard on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    List of Ron Howard Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Ron Howard Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Eden’

    Sydney Sweeney stars in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    Sydney Sweeney stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    Opening in theaters August 22 is ‘Eden,’ directed by Ron Howard and starring Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl, Richard Roxburgh, Toby Wallace, and Felix Kammerer.

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    Related Article: Director Ron Howard Talks ‘Eden’ and Working with his All-Star Cast

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby on the set of 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    (L to R) Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    We can’t say that ‘Eden’ is a very good movie, but we will say it’s a pretty entertaining one. Based on a true story, the latest from veteran director Ron Howard (‘Thirteen Lives’) is perhaps the most un-Ron Howard-like film of his career – a dark, sometimes brooding, sometimes over-the-top exploration of human beings giving into their worst impulses instead of coming together to help each other.

    Noah Pink’s screenplay offers a cynical view of what happens when people try to disconnect from the rest of the world, and the movie’s ultimate insights are not exactly news. It also suffers from uneven pacing and tonal issues. But its intermittently gripping story and solid performances from its topline cast – especially Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas – make it fascinating to watch.

    Story and Direction

    Ron Howard on the set of 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    Ron Howard on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    In 1929, German doctor Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) and his partner Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby) settle on a remote atoll in the Galapagos Islands called Floreana, where Ritter aims to create a simpler life away from the brutal post-World War I environment that is fostering fascism around the world. Three years later, having read about Ritter’s exploits – which have made him famous back home – Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Brühl) and his pregnant new wife Margret (Sydney Sweeney), along with Heinz’s son Harry (Jonathan Tittel), arrive on Floreana to follow in Ritter’s footsteps and create their own homestead.

    But Ritter and Dore, who are nothing if not world-class misanthropes, are not pleased at the intrusion. “Nothing about our life here is magic,” Ritter warns the idealistic Heinz, adding that “failure is inevitable” for the couple, who make a fairly successful go at it despite Ritter’s admonishments. Yet Ritter, Dore, and the Wittmers are all unhappy at the arrival of the Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas), a debauched denizen of European high society who shows up with her two male lovers and the intent of building an exclusive resort on Floreana.

    While the Wittmers, Ritter, and Strauch are all accustomed to the rigors of life on the island, the Baroness is not, and she soon sets a chain of events in motion that find all three groups – Ritter and Strauch, the Wittmers, and the Baroness and her entourage – constantly shifting allegiances and ultimately turning on each other. It’s a scenario that’s not unexpected, and Pink’s screenplay often forces the characters into situations and decisions to drive the intended narrative, rather than let it flow out of the characters organically. The result is a story that moves in fits and starts and often has the characters acting mainly get the story from one pre-determined point to the next.

    (L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    This leads to a lack of urgency in the proceedings, with only a wild scene in which Margret gives birth by herself – as she is attacked by wild dogs all while the Baroness’ lovers raid the Wittmers’ food supplies – approaching levels of tension and outright horror that suggests the ghastliness of the overall situation. Other events play out largely as one might expect, and the tone veers from one of grim reality to outright camp (as in a late dinner party scene that made us think of a similar sequence in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ – albeit without the latter’s shocking reveal of what was on the menu).

    Howard is more than confident on a technical and visual level (the Australian location shoot makes the isolation of Floreana feel real), but doesn’t seem as sure-footed in handling the tonal shifts or the overall darker nature of the material. The result is a movie in which you know what’s going to happen in the end – but you still want to keep looking to see if the film completely collapses or not (which it almost does in the third act).

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    (L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    Everyone’s German accents waver throughout the film (except for Daniel Brühl’s, of course), but the performances are on solid footing for the most part. Sydney Sweeney does the best work overall, downplaying her physical attributes while effectively and subtly charting Margret’s journey from innocence and fear to strength and even a kind of ruthlessness. At the other end of the scale, de Armas is wildly flamboyant and outlandish but far more entertaining than her bland turn in ‘Ballerina’ earlier this year.

    Law also gives quite a complicated and over-the-top performance, with his steel chompers (Ritter has his originals removed to prevent infection) and un-self-conscious full frontal nudity, and while Kirby is quite good at portraying Dore’s smirking distaste for others (“They’re clearly suffering…shall we f**k?” she inquires to Ritter at one point, evidently turned on by others’ misery), she doesn’t get nearly enough to do as she should, and is mostly left standing around reacting to the others.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Daniel Brühl and Jude Law star in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Daniel Brühl and Jude Law star in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    A film about people separating into their own camps and battling each other while the rest of civilization burns certainly has its relevance in our current situation, although it’s rich coming from the director who introduced the world by and large to JD Vance. And as with that woeful film, there’s a kind of lack of substance underneath the hood of ‘Eden’ that makes it ultimately a shallow exercise.

    But nevertheless, it’s neither the complete disaster some folks have made it out to be, nor is it anywhere near a high point on Howard’s filmography. It works as misery porn about good-looking actors getting nasty, deceitful and violent with each other, although that may not be the result its director intended.

    ‘Eden’ receives a score of 55 out of 100.

    Vanessa Kirby stars in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    Vanessa Kirby stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    What is the plot of ‘Eden’?

    A group of disillusioned outsiders abandon modern society in search of a new beginning, settling on a remote, uninhabited island. But their utopian dream quickly unravels as tensions spiral, desperation takes hold, and a twisted power struggle leads to betrayal, violence, and death.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Eden’?

    • Jude Law as Dr. Friedrich Ritter
    • Vanessa Kirby as Dora Strauch
    • Daniel Brühl as Heinz Wittmer
    • Sydney Sweeney as Margret Wittmer
    • Ana de Armas as Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn
    • Jonathan Tittel as Harry Wittmer
    • Richard Roxburgh as Allan Hancock
    • Toby Wallace as Robert Phillipson
    • Felix Kammerer as Rudolph Lorenz
    'Eden' opens in theaters on August 22nd. Photo: Vertical.
    ‘Eden’ opens in theaters on August 22nd. Photo: Vertical.

    List of Ron Howard Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Eden’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Ron Howard Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Eden’ Exclusive Interview: Director Ron Howard

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    Opening in theaters on August 22nd is the new survival thriller ‘Eden’, which was directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard (‘A Beautiful Mind’ and ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’) and stars Jude Law (‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’), Vanessa Kirby (‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’), Daniel Brühl (‘Captain America: Civil War’), Sydney Sweeney (‘Madame Web’), and Ana de Armas (‘Ballerina‘).

    'Eden' director Ron Howard.
    ‘Eden’ director Ron Howard.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with legendary director Ron Howard about his work on ‘Eden’, the true story it is based on, why he was passionate about making it, working with the all-star cast, and overcoming unforeseen challenges shooting on location in Australia.

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    Related Article: Director Ron Howard and Colin Farrell Talk Prime Video’s ‘Thirteen Lives’

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

    Ron Howard on the set of 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    Ron Howard on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Congratulations on the movie. Is this a film that you had wanted to make for some time?

    Ron Howard: Thank you, thank you very much. It was an exciting one creatively. I’d been dreaming of making it for about 15 years, finally got the courage, mostly because we had a good screenplay written on spec by Noah Pink, and a brave group ensemble of talented actors. I thought, “Well, what the hell? I’m outside my comfort zone, but I’m not alone. Let’s make this movie.”

    Ana de Armas stars in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    Ana de Armas stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: What intrigued you about the true story that the film is based on and why were you so passionate about getting this movie made?

    RH: Twist and turns, and the wide variety of characters and personality types, and some of them are very extreme personalities, wild, bigger than life people. Yet, you know, they lived this experience, and they are as we depict them. In fact, we’ve probably dialed them back a little bit from what they really were. They were real outliers. But I felt like that combination and the fact that what they lived ultimately was a true crime thriller. I mean, it’s like a season of ‘Survivor’, only people died. You couldn’t have cast this collision of personalities and characters in a more compelling way that’s it’s kind of funny at times. It’s sexy at times. It’s noble in places, and sometimes it’s terrifying. So, I thought it was a unique blend.

    Sydney Sweeney stars in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    Sydney Sweeney stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: You’ve truly assembled an all-star cast with this film. Can you talk about assembling the cast and working with them on set?

    RH: Well, we worked fast because this was a lower budget movie. People weren’t taking their normal salaries by any stretch of the imagination, nor was I. It was a labor of love, but it was a unique opportunity for a film like this to get made. The more they did research into the real events, the more excited they were about it. We just created a strong ensemble and I committed to trying to let every character be as dynamic, entertaining and engrossing as possible, and they just gave it everything they had. The circumstances were raw. We were filming outdoors. It was hot and poisonous snakes and spiders were around and everything. I mean, it wasn’t quite like being on a desert island, but it had its challenges that they were able to draw upon as well. So, it was an adventure making the movie.

    (L to R) Daniel Brühl and Jude Law star in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Daniel Brühl and Jude Law star in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about shooting on location in Australia, the unforeseen challenges of shooting there and how you overcame them to complete the movie?

    RH: Well, because we were shooting the dialogue scenes, not in the Galapagos, because that’s a game preserve, you could never stage enough scenes and so forth there and get licensed and cleared to shoot that. So, we did that in Australia and weather, lightning storms, two or three nights or two or three afternoons a week that would drive us to cover. But one time the camera operator was shooting the scene, it’s this argument scene. People have guns. It’s all kinds of tension, swirling around. Suddenly, it was a female camera operator, and she stood up and shrieked. “What was it?” It’s because a poisonous snake had slithered across her boot while she was looking through the camera, and she looked down and felt it, and freaked out. We had snake wranglers looking for venomous snakes from two hours before we started shooting, and throughout the day, and the snakes quickly slither off. No one was bitten, no problem, but we had to shut down and wait until they could safely find the snake, catch the snake, and safely transport the snake. We had a place where we could take the snakes. It was like a reserve, and that kind of thing happened about every two or three days. So, that was one of the unexpected challenges.

    (L to R) Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby on the set of 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    (L to R) Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    What is the plot of ‘Eden’?

    Director Ron Howard’s ‘Eden’ unravels the shocking true story of a group of disillusioned outsiders who abandon civilization, settling on a remote, uninhabited island only to discover that the greatest threat isn’t the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other. As tensions spiral and desperation takes hold, a twisted power struggle unfolds, leading to betrayal, violence, and the deaths of half the colony.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Eden’?

    • Jude Law as Dr. Friedrich Ritter
    • Vanessa Kirby as Dora Strauch Ritter
    • Daniel Brühl as Heinz Wittmer
    • Sydney Sweeney as Margret Wittmer
    • Ana de Armas as Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn
    • Jonathan Tittel as Harry Wittmer
    • Richard Roxburgh as Allan Hancock
    • Toby Wallace as Robert Phillipson
    • Felix Kammerer as Rudolph Lorenz
    'Eden' opens in theaters on August 22nd. Photo: Vertical.
    ‘Eden’ opens in theaters on August 22nd. Photo: Vertical.

    List of Ron Howard Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Eden’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Ron Howard Movies on Amazon

  • Glen Powell Starring in New Firefighter Movie

    (Left) Glen Powell arrives at The 89th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 26, 2017. Credit/Provider: Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right)

    Preview:

    • Glen Powell is attached to a new movie about firefighters.
    • Ron Howard is aboard to direct.
    • Amazon MGM has picked up the project.

    Glen Powell could truly be described as one of the hottest rising stars around right now, and his plan to team up with veteran filmmaker Ron Howard could be something really hot –– literally.

    According to reporter Jeff Sneider, Powell and Howard are joining forces to develop a new movie about firefighters that the former would star in and the latter would direct.

    The new movie, which is currently untitled, will come with a script from ‘Birds of Prey’ and ‘Bumblebee’ writer Christina Hodson, who Powell and Howard got in touch with and asked to pitch ideas. And Amazon MGM Studios has snapped up the pitch project with the three attached.

    Powell would produce via his Barnstorm company, alongside Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment.

    Related Article: Bidding War Launches For Glen Powell Starring Sci-fi Erotic Thriller ‘Homewreckers’

    What is the story of the new firefighter movie?

    Kurt Russell and William Baldwin in 'Backdraft'.
    (L to R) Kurt Russell and William Baldwin in ‘Backdraft’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Hodson’s script is largely under wraps, but we do have a few details.

    The story is apparently about disparate childhood friends, now elite firefighters, who must rekindle their fractured relationship when a series of deadly fires sweep across Texas.

    Certainly sounds like something that would fit Powell’s style, and it’s not like Ron Howard doesn’t have experience bringing fearsome cinematic fire to life.

    After all, he made 1991’s ‘Backdraft’, which starred Kurt Russell, William Baldwin and Robert De Niro in the tale of feuding siblings carrying on a heroic family tradition as Chicago firefighters.

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    That movie was so successful that it spawned an attraction at several Universal Studios theme parks. A 2019 sequel popped up, featuring some of the cast (including Baldwin and Donald Sutherland) but Howard had little involvement beyond an executive producer credit.

    And indeed, there was chatter last year about a potential ‘Backdraft’ remake with Brian Grazer’s backing, and that included talk of Powell potentially being involved.

    Here’s what Grazer had to say:

    “Imagine [Entertainment] has always played in that zone where there is that chance, high probability of chance, that it [a movie] will be successful in a movie theater. It’s great for us because we’ve built, over 30 years, over 100 different products –– brands. Whether it’s ‘Backdraft’ which I’m now going to do today with Glen Powell, or whether it’s 24, a movie that we’re going to do in a very interesting way with Disney-Fox.”

    We haven’t heard anything about a formal ‘Backdraft’ remake since then, but this sounds awfully like a new take on that concept, given it’ll be about strained relationships between firefighters who must team up to tackle new blazes.

    Where else can we see Glen Powell?

    Glen Powell as Tyler in 'Twisters', directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
    Glen Powell as Tyler in ‘Twisters’, directed by Lee Isaac Chung.

    Even though he’s said he’s trying to take a break of late, Powell has been as busy as ever.

    The actor, who was last seen in ‘Twisters’ will next star in the Hulu comedy series ‘Chad Powers,’ which follows a disgraced college quarterback named Russ Holliday who disguises himself as Chad Powers and walks onto a struggling southern football team to revive his football career.

    On the big screen, he’ll be seen in Paramount’s adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘The Running Man’ from director Edgar Wright. That one will be in theaters on November 7th.

    There is also John Patton Ford’s ‘Huntingdon’, about a young man who hatches a murderous plot to inherit his family’s wealth, which has yet to score a release date.

    And he’s been working on J.J. Abrams’ mysterious new movie, which might be called ‘Ghostwriter’ and co-stars Jenna Ortega.

    Beyond those, he recently entered a first-look deal through Barnstorm with Universal, which will begin with the upcoming ‘The Natural Order’ directed by Barry Jenkins.

    Finally, he’s attached to the likes of John Lee Hancock’s ‘Monsanto’ and an untitled new comedy that Judd Apatow has been developing to direct.

    What else is Ron Howard working on?

    Ron Howard in 'The Studio,' now streaming on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
    Ron Howard in ‘The Studio,’ now streaming on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.

    Howard is no slouch in the working hard department either. You might have caught him recently playing a version of himself on Apple TV+ series ‘The Studio’ and he also has a thriller called ‘Eden’ on the way.

    That movie follows a group of people fueled by a profound desire for change; in order to turn their back to society they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos.

    It’ll be out on August 22nd.

    And given how active Howard is as a producer, there is a laundry list of projects that he’s involved in, too many to document here.

    When will the new firefighter movie be on screens?

    Despite the seeming drawing power of both Powell and Howard, Amazon MGM has picked this up as a pitch and there’s still a chance it could fall into development limbo.

    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Ron Howard in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Ron Howard in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    List of Glen Powell Movies:

    Buy Glen Powell Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Deep Cover’ Interviews: Bryce Dallas Howard and Cast

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    Premiering on Prime Video beginning June 12th is the new action comedy ‘Deep Cover’, which was directed by Tom Kingsley (‘The Darkest Universe’), and stars Bryce Dallas Howard (‘Jurassic World’), Orlando Bloom (‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’) and Nick Mohammed (‘Ted Lasso’).

    Related Article: Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard Talk Sequel ‘Jurassic World Dominion’

    (L to R) Nick Mohammed, Bryce Dallas Howard and Orlando Bloom star in 'Deep Cover'.
    (L to R) Nick Mohammed, Bryce Dallas Howard and Orlando Bloom star in ‘Deep Cover’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed about their work on ‘Deep Cover’, Howard’s first reaction to the screenplay and experience working with director Tom Kingsley, Bloom’s character’s dedication to his craft and if Bloom would want to act opposite him in real life, and how improv comedy helps Mohammed’s character grow and change.

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

    Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in 'Deep Cover'. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.
    Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Bryce, what was your first reaction to the screenplay, the situation the characters find themselves in, and did it read funny on the page?

    Bryce Dallas Howard: Oh yeah. So, the script is written by two brilliant improv comedians. Some of the best, honestly. So, it was hilarious, but it was also truthful. I really related to the characters and all the characters were very different. You know, it’s fun because this is a true ensemble. So, I had heard about the movie for years from Colin (Trevorrow) because we worked together on ‘Jurassic World’. I’d heard of it as a British action comedy, and I didn’t think that there would be any room for an American but then very luckily I got invited into it.

    Orlando Bloom as Marlon in Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in 'Deep Cover'. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.
    Orlando Bloom as Marlon in Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Orlando, can you talk about your character’s dedication to his craft and is Marlon someone that you would want to work with on a movie set? What do you think he would be like to have as a scene partner?

    Orlando Bloom: I don’t think so. He’d be somebody you’d poke fun at. I think that was the low hanging fruit, the layup for the character was that I think historically and hilariously actors can and have and maybe some do or have taken themselves too seriously. Me, I’ve never done that. As a guy who’s just desperate and thirsty for that shot at life, he sees this opportunity to sort of go deep method, if you like, instead of deep cover. He’s creating this weird world. I kind of based the character on Liam Gallagher a little bit because he was written as a Northerner and I thought, well, that’s the most swag because I grew up with the band Oasis. I saw this guy as this, and it informed the whole Roach aspect of the character even down to the costume and some of the physicality and the attitude that I think was right for the role. You know, the writing being so well done, the humor was on the page, and I just had to play the truth of all those moments. I’ve not done a lot of straight comedy as it were, but that’s what I’ve kind of realized that when there’s heart and truth in it, if the writing is good, then the humor lands.

    Nick Mohammed as Hugh in 'Deep Cover'. Credit: Lara Cornell / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.
    Nick Mohammed as Hugh in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Lara Cornell / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Nick, why does your character join this improv group, what he is hoping to get out of it, and how does his life change as a result?

    Nick Mohammed: Well, you know, he’s at crossroads in his life like all the characters really, but Hugh works in an office. He doesn’t have an acting background or an improv background or anything. He quite fortuitously just stumbles into Kat’s class, likes what he sees, feels like he might have maybe found his people or at least found a way to improve his confidence. Little does he know that very quickly things spiral out of control and obviously he ends up on these undercover missions. I mean, he is truly out of his depth, goes on a big journey, including having that fleeting relationship with Shosh. But by the end, he does have his confidence built. He’s sort of found these confidence soulmates in in Marlon and Kat. He’s just feels like a better person, more of his own person, more comfortable in his in his own skin, I guess, by the end. His journey is kind of like that.

    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as Marlon, Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat, Nick Mohammed as Hugh in 'Deep Cover'. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as Marlon, Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat, Nick Mohammed as Hugh in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, Bryce, can you talk about working on the set with filmmaker Tom Kingsley, and as an actress, has your approach to working with directors changed since you became a director yourself?

    BDH: No, because I’m a third-generation actor. So, my dad (Ron Howard) grew up on sets, and I grew up on sets and whether that’s an inappropriate thing, we’ll leave that to other people to debate. But because of that, I’ve always viewed things more from an outside perspective. I see the process more through the director’s eyes and then acting is like something fun that I feel like I’m getting away with. Where I’m like, “Oh my God, I get to go in front of the camera. That’s crazy.” So, it’s such a joy getting to see how other directors direct, because that’s often the challenge when you’re directing full time. You’re doing your stuff, but you’re not actually getting to see how other people do it. You know, you always learn so much and, my God, Tom is such a gentle, lovely, open minded and encouraging director. He really wants us to all feel a sense of ownership over the work that we’re doing, and just no ego whatsoever. I just really loved getting to be around him and getting to work with him.

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    What is the plot of ‘Deep Cover’?

    Set in the London criminal underworld, three improv-actors (Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed) are recruited by the police for sting operations, in which they must “yes, and…” their way into a criminal gang.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Deep Cover’?

    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Marlon,” Bryce Dallas-Howard as “Kat,” and Nick Mohammed as “Hugh” in the action comedy 'Deep Cover'. Photo courtesy of Peter Mountain/ Metronome Film.
    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Marlon,” Bryce Dallas-Howard as “Kat,” and Nick Mohammed as “Hugh” in the action comedy ‘Deep Cover’. Photo courtesy of Peter Mountain/ Metronome Film.

    List of Bryce Dallas Howard Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Bryce Dallas Howard Movies on Amazon

     

  • TV Review: ‘The Studio’

    (L to R) Ike Barinholtz and Seth Rogen in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Ike Barinholtz and Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    ‘The Studio’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

    Arriving on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes on March 26th (a further eight arrive weekly), ‘The Studio’ represents Hollywood poking fun at itself and looking for ways to show how ridiculous the business of moviemaking can be.

    It’s also the latest comedy from prolific duo Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who emerged from the Judd Apatow school of laughs to essentially build their own creative empire.

    Related Article: Seth Rogen Developing a Comedy About United Nations Employees For CBS

    Will ‘The Studio’ produce laughs for you?

    (L to R) Sarah Polley, Catherine O’Hara and Seth Rogen in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Sarah Polley, Catherine O’Hara and Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    Hooray for Hollywood! It’s a viper’s nest of giant egos, entitled talent, sweaty executives, million-dollar (and sometimes billion-dollar decisions), drugs, parties, glad-handing, disagreements about edits and a hundred tough decisions a day.

    There’s a movie in danger of going over budget! A star who just wants their way! A corporation really hoping that its latest film is a hit with the sort of audiences who don’t really care what it’s about, just that they recognize the names!

    If the scenario sounds familiar, it’s because it’s been seen in a swathe of movies and TV shows, most notably in the likes of 1992 Robert Altman effort ‘The Player’ and more recently with HBO’s ‘The Franchise,’ which tweaked the nose of the superhero film industrial complex (though couldn’t land all its punches and has been summarily cancelled after one season).

    ‘The Studio’ is essentially a blend of the two –– an old-school Hollywood farce but crossbred with current concerns such as exploiting IP.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Bryan Cranston and Seth Rogen in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Bryan Cranston and Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    Created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg alongside Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck and Frida Perez (Gregory and Huyck took the lead as showrunners since Rogen was starring and co-directing every episode with Goldberg), this initially comes across as Hollywood Satire 101. So many of the beats feel familiar, even down to Rogen’s Matt Remick, the movie-obsessed executive who thinks his knowledge of Hollywood history will help him succeed in his dream job, only to be hamstrung by corporate concerns and uncooperative above-the-line folk.

    Trouble is, that carries over a lot into the rest of the series; while a couple of the characters are interesting and original, most are archetypes we’ve watched so many times before: the harried junior executive, the wacky PR person, the aggrieved former studio head.

    And as one episode in particular later on (one of the better examples of the show having a viewpoint), it can be hard to care too much about people struggling to make movies at this sort of level; worried for their jobs they might be, but they’re still earning big bucks.

    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Ron Howard in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Ron Howard in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    Even as Rogen and co. try to make their issues relatable, they can’t quite get there. The show does at least have a few solid laughs, and as the season goes on, the focus shifts slightly to other aspects of the job (as mentioned, a later episode has Rogen’s Matt trying to defend his position that his job is as stressful as, say, a doctor’s), and the characters start to bed down and work more smoothly.

    Still, the final couple –– about which we won’t directly talk –– do fall back into old, predictable and somewhat tiresome patterns.

    Rogen and Goldberg are experienced directors at this point, with several movies under their collective belt. With a hefty Apple TV+ budget to spend, they’re clearly happy to experiment to a limited degree, pulling off continuous tracking shots here and there and giving the show some visual panache.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders and Seth Rogen in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders and Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    As the heart of the series, Rogan is a variation on his relatively easygoing screen persona, albeit thrown into a tough new situation. He does sweaty, sweary desperation well, but is still overshadowed by some of his co-stars.

    Ike Barinholtz is good value as Sal Saperstein. Matt’s friend and fellow executive jockeying for position. In true Barinholtz style, he’s more of a “bro,” all about the party lifestyle and social climbing, but with a quivering vein of vulnerability.

    As ambitious young corporate ladder-climber Quinn Hackett, Chase Sui Wonders can be more of a sympathetic character, since she doesn’t hold so many of the cards. While her storyline is sometimes predictable, she’s fun in the role.

    Kathryn Hahn naturally steals scenes as Maya, the hyperactive, foul-mouthed marketing guru at the studio. It’s the sort of supporting comedic role that Hahn shines in, and she makes the most of the character.

    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Catherine O’Hara in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Catherine O’Hara in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    Catherine O’Hara falls into a similar category of reliable performer, and here she’s Patty Leigh, the one-time studio head forced out and now ploughing her own course as a powerhouse producer. O’Hara brings just the right level of bitterness and comic creation to the role.

    Playing Griffin Mill, the boss of the studio even above Matt, Bryan Cranston is sadly saddled with the sort of blowhard corporate type we’ve seen so many of in the past. And naming the character after Tim Robbins’ role in ‘The Player’ just calls more attention to how this variation doesn’t quite work.

    On the cameo front, at least the ones we can talk about, Nicholas Stoller offers solid entertainment value playing a slightly more eager-to-please version of himself, while Martin Scorsese is largely there because he’s a Hollywood titan and is good at being gruff when needed.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    Assuming you’re not familiar with everything from ‘For Your Consideration’ to ‘State and Main,’ ‘Bowfinger’ or ‘Tropic Thunder,’ then ‘The Studio’ will likely read as a fresh take on the entertainment industry to you.

    While it can’t compete with the best of those, when it switches focus slightly, it does offer more value. And if its comedic levels aren’t always the highest, it does have some solid gags and situations.

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    What’s the plot of ‘The Studio’?

    Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) is the newly appointed head of Continental Studios. He attempts to save the floundering company in an industry undergoing rapid social and economic changes.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Studio’?

    • Catherine O’Hara as Amy
    • Ike Barinholtz as Sal Seperstein
    • Chase Sui Wonders as Quinn
    • Kathryn Hahn as Maya
    • Bryan Cranston as Griffin Mill
    • Ron Howard as himself
    • Martin Scorsese as himself
    • Olivia Wilde as herself
    • Steve Buscemi as himself
    • Greta Lee as herself
    (L to R) Seth Rogen, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders and Ike Barinholtz in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Seth Rogen, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders and Ike Barinholtz in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    Seth Rogen Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Seth Rogen Movies on Amazon

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  • Glen Powell the Top Choice for a ‘Backdraft’ Remake

    (Left) Glen Powell as Tyler in 'Twisters', directed by Lee Isaac Chung. (Right) Kurt Russell in 'Backdraft'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    (Left) Glen Powell as Tyler in ‘Twisters’, directed by Lee Isaac Chung. (Right) Kurt Russell in ‘Backdraft’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Producer Brian Glazer says he’s working on a ‘Backdraft’ remake.
    • He mentions Glen Powell is likely to star in the project.
    • There are no other official details yet.

    Glen Powell is, as the old phrase runs, “so hot right now”. He confirmed his star status with the likes of ‘Anyone But You’ and ‘Hit Man’ and is in theaters again this weekend with ‘Twisters’, which has been picking up some positive reviews like a tornado scoops up cows and cars.

    You can imagine, then, that he’s high on studios and production companies’ list of people to work with, and that includes Brian Grazer.

    The veteran producer, a business partner of Ron Howard, who has shepherded many movies and TV shows to screens of all sizes, is now talking about going back to territory that he and Howard tackled in 1991.

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    And if he really intends to do it, he apparently needs A) a fire axe and B) Glen Powell –– as, according to what Grazer told CNBC business series Squawk Box as part of a wider interview about Hollywood’s future, he dropped mention of a potential remake of ‘Backdraft’.

    Here’s what Grazer had to say:

    “Imagine [Entertainment] has always played in that zone where there is that chance, high probability of chance, that it [a movie] will be successful in a movie theater. It’s great for us because we’ve built, over 30 years, over 100 different products –– brands. Whether it’s ‘Backdraft’ which I’m now going to do today with Glen Powell, or whether it’s 24, a movie that we’re going to do in a very interesting way with Disney-Fox.”

    You can find more about the ‘24’ movie in our report below.

    Related Article: Disney’s 20th Century Studios is Developing a Movie Based on ‘24’

    What’s the Story of ‘Backdraft’?

    William Baldwin, Kurt Russell and Scott Glenn in 'Backdraft'.
    (L to R) William Baldwin, Kurt Russell and Scott Glenn in ‘Backdraft’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    ‘Backdraft’ –– directed by Howard from a script by Gregory Widen, follows Chicago firefighting brothers Stephen (Kurt Russell) and Brian (William Baldwin), who have been rivals since childhood.

    Brian, struggling to prove himself, transfers to the arson unit. There he aids Don (Robert De Niro) in his investigation into a spate of fires involving oxygen-induced infernos called backdrafts. But when a conspiracy implicating a crooked politician and an arsonist leads Brian back to Stephen, he is forced to overcome his brotherly competitiveness in order to crack the case.

    It was a big box office hit, earning more than $150 million worldwide (in 1991, don’t forget) from a $40 million budget.

    And in case your remake anger levels are rising, you might also recall –– or, for most people, learn –– that a sequel to the original arrived in 2019. William Baldwin and Donald Sutherland were among the actors who returned for the straight-to-video effort that arrived with little heat.

    What Else Did Grazer Say About a Potential New ‘Backdraft’?

    Kurt Russell in 'Backdraft'.
    Kurt Russell in ‘Backdraft’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    According to the producer, we could see the fire effects –– which were pretty superb back in the 1991 effort, and brought to life practically –– given a modern-day make-over:

    “AI and digital effects have so far advanced themselves that you can have tiny little cameras, almost imperceptible, that will capture the physics of a fire in a way that’s never been done before… Those are the advancements and benefits of AI and digital effects.”

    Will Glen Powell Actually Star?

    Glen Powell stars in 'Hit Man'.
    Glen Powell stars in ‘Hit Man’. Photo: Netflix.

    Grazer is not one to spread wild rumours, so his mentioning Powell’s name means there have probably been discussions even if there’s no deal in place. And given that there’s zero official word on any studio involvement (Universal has the rights), it’s a waiting game at this point.

    Powell, meanwhile, is already attached to a remake or two: he’ll star in Edgar Wright’s take on ‘The Running Man’ and has been named as a potential lead for a new take on ‘Heaven Can Wait’.

    Kurt Russell and William Baldwin in 'Backdraft'.
    (L to R) Kurt Russell and William Baldwin in ‘Backdraft’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Movies in the ‘Backdraft’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Backdraft’ Movies On Amazon

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  • Ron Howard and Colin Farrell Talk ‘Thirteen Lives’

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    Now playing in select theaters and premiering on August 5th on Prime Video is the new film ‘Thirteen Lives,’ which was directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard and is based on a true story.

    The film stars Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen, Joel Edgerton, and Tom Bateman as a group of elite divers that help save a junior football team and their coach after they are trapped in a Northern Thailand cave for 18 days.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Ron Howard and actor Colin Farrell about their work on ‘Thirteen Lives,’ the real-life story that inspired it, and shooting the underwater sequences.

    Thira ‘Aum’ Chutikul as Commander Kiet, Popetorn ‘Two’ Soonthornyanaku as Dr Karn, Joel Edgerton as Harry Harris, Colin Farrell as John Volanthen and Viggo Mortenson as Rick Stanton in 'Thirteen Lives,' a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    (L to R) Thira ‘Aum’ Chutikul as Commander Kiet, Popetorn ‘Two’ Soonthornyanaku as Dr Karn, Joel Edgerton as Harry Harris, Colin Farrell as John Volanthen and Viggo Mortenson as Rick Stanton in ‘Thirteen Lives,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Vince Valitutti / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Ron Howard, Collin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen, Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman, Sahajak “Poo” Boonthankit, Teeradon “James” Supapunpinyo, Weir Sukollawat Kanaros, Pattrakorn “Ploy” Tungsupakul, and co-producer Raymond Phathanavirangoon.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Ron what was it about this true story that inspired you to make this movie?

    Ron Howard: It’s such a story for this moment because it’s about putting divisions aside, putting politics aside, and international people across borders getting something done. That requires a lot. That requires a spirit of volunteerism. It also requires that the country that is where the crisis is occurring has to also allow for this.

    So, I thought on so many levels the story was inspiring, and informative, and set a great example. Also, it’s just a great movie story. It’s suspenseful, it’s emotional, and it’s all the things that I love to see in a film.

    MF: Colin, the character you play, John Volanthen, was uniquely qualified as a diver for this particular rescue. Can you talk about his experience as a diver and the challenges of convincing the government officials to let him help?

    Colin Farrell: The experience of the divers? I mean, it’s such a cottage industry, cave diving. There’re not many cave divers in the world. I think it’s becoming a little bit more popular through the years, but maybe that means the addition of an extra 20 divers globally every year. It’s something that they love to do.

    I play John Volanthen and he mixes it up. He’s an incredibly measured man, incredibly bright, but he also has an extreme side to him. He runs ultra-marathons, and he’s been doing cave diving for 30 years. They make their own equipment as well, Rick and John, they’re just a one stop shop. They make their own equipment and they modify it themselves.

    All this stuff, it didn’t look like it was high end technologically advanced gear that they brought to Thailand. It was all homemade stuff. They were just the only ones that were really equipped with a certain set of skills to do this particular thing.

    Colin Farrell at Prime Video's 'Thirteen Lives' premiere.
    Colin Farrell at Prime Video’s ‘Thirteen Lives’ premiere.

    So, they, without hesitation, went over and they didn’t know. They didn’t know when they arrived. Nobody knew if the boys were still alive, even by that point. I do know that there was a stage where they believed that they were going to be finding dead bodies as opposed to alive children.

    This story is very much about the coming together and the communal experience of shared care, focused in toward one direction of the rescue that was needed to take place. But of course, there were arguments and of course there were misunderstandings. Of course, understandably certain factions of the Thai government were suspicious about outsiders, as they should be. But at the end of the day, they worked it out on site.

    I wasn’t there, but I know they worked it out and I know they all came together. It’s been very documented. Some of the tensions have also been documented. It’s already a two-and-a-half-hour film, so we didn’t have time. Ron didn’t want to explore that. It wasn’t the point of the story that we were telling. You have to make judicial cuts, of course.

    But at the end of the day, everyone did come together, and they came together for one common purpose. That was the most beautiful aspect of being part of this film, in such a divided world. This was the opposite. It was people that looked beyond national division, looked beyond even cultural separation and said, “Okay, let’s do what’s right by these kids. The most important thing is to get them out alive.”

    Director Ron Howard on the set of THIRTEEN LIVES
    Director Ron Howard on the set of ‘Thirteen Lives,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Vince Valitutti / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, Ron can you talk as a director about the challenges of shooting the underwater sequences and training the actors to be able to accomplish those scenes?

    RH: Well, I was a little cavalier about it because I’ve done a lot of filming underwater, going back to ‘Splash’ and ‘Cocoon.’ Over the years, I’ve done a lot of filming underwater in the heart of the sea. It’s always been exciting and very productive.

    But I underestimated the degree of difficulty when you create the caves. We built all of those caves and recreated the most dangerous spots along the cave system. But I underestimated how difficult it was going to be and how much the safety issues were going to factor into making sure we even could shoot on a tank with these caves. It was just so constricted and risky.

    You’re still talking about trapping people in a space like that. The training was vital. Two of the actual cave rescuers were technical advisors on the movie and came not only to make sure we were getting it right, but they got in the water with our actors, our stunt people, and our stunt coordinators and made sure that we got it right. That the technique was right.

    They did such a great job that the actors came to me and said, “We now believe we can do this safely. Please, let’s not use any stunt people. We want to do it ourselves. It’s literally part of the characters that we now have to create.” That’s the way it worked out. It was heroic.

    Director/Producer Ron Howard at Prime Video's 'Thirteen Lives' premiere.
    Director/Producer Ron Howard at Prime Video’s ‘Thirteen Lives’ premiere.
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  • ‘Thirteen Lives’ Trailer Chronicles Real-Life Rescue

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    Bringing based-on-truth dramas to the screen can be a tricky affair – while you’ve got all that built-in tension and (usually) at least a happy ending to wrap things up. But then there’s the touchy subject of real lives being involved, and, in this case, also tragically lost.

    Still, Ron Howard is an old hand at this sort of thing (‘Rush’, ‘Apollo 13’) and this time he’s bringing ‘Thirteen Lives’ the compelling tale of an international effort by divers to rescue a team of soccer players.

    You might find yourself wondering quite why divers would need to rescue sportsmen outside of the likes of rowing or swimming, but ‘Thirteen Lives’ has a twist. In June and July 2018, the members of a junior football team were trapped for 18 days in Thailand’s Tham Luang Nang Non cave, after heavy rainfall flooded the cave system and blocked their way out.

    As the team – who ranged in age from 11-16 years old – and their coach remained trapped for weeks, the situation attracted global interest and an international rescue team was assembled to locate them. Howard’s film will chronicle the events of the rescue, focusing on the efforts of the divers to save the trapped team members.

    Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell lead the cast as Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, the British cave divers who volunteered their expertise to help find the group alongside anesthetist Harry Harris (Joel Edgerton) and Chris Jewell (Tom Bateman). Sahajak ‘Poo’ Boonthanakit portrays Governor Narongsak, who headed the rescue operation, with Teeradon ‘James’ Supapunpinyo playing Ekkaphon Chanthawong, the team’s assistant coach.

    Director Ron Howard on the set of THIRTEEN LIVES
    Director Ron Howard on the set of THIRTEEN LIVES, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Vince Valitutti / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Everest’ scriptwriter William Nicholson provides the screenplay here, working from a story by Don MacPherson.

    The event captured the world’s attention, and naturally several projects have either emerged or are still in developed. Suffice it to say, Howard’s carries a high profile.

    “Like a lot of people, I was aware of what was going on,” says the director. “My wife, Cheryl, was really glued and paying attention, and of course, the outcome was a relief to the world. It was one of those tremendous moments. When I had a chance to read William Nicholson’s script, it not only delivered on everything I had recalled, but it suggested so much more. There were more levels and dimensions to the heroics and to the people involved, especially the Thai people, and there were surprises in the story.”

    “I just felt like I could make something really visceral and immediate and do what a scripted version of a telling of a true story is supposed to do, which is to make it more engaging and engage the nervous system of the audience, in addition to trying to give all the information. It was a really exciting creative opportunity for me, and I knew I would learn a lot about Thai culture,” he adds.

    Howard, who has also garnered plenty of experience on the factual side of things with the documentaries he’s either directed or produced, here errs on the side of heroics, but doesn’t discount the danger. And then there’s that cast – Mortensen in particular breaking out a pretty solid British accent.

    While ‘Thirteen Lives’ was produced by MGM, the company’s deal with Amazon means the movie will arrive in select theaters on July 29th before hitting Prime Video globally on August 5th.

    Thira ‘Aum’ Chutikul as Commander Kiet, Popetorn ‘Two’ Soonthornyanaku as Dr Karn, Joel Edgerton as Harry Harris, Colin Farrell as John Volanthen and Viggo Mortenson as Rick Stanton in 'Thirteen Lives,' a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    (L to R) Thira ‘Aum’ Chutikul as Commander Kiet, Popetorn ‘Two’ Soonthornyanaku as Dr Karn, Joel Edgerton as Harry Harris, Colin Farrell as John Volanthen and Viggo Mortenson as Rick Stanton in ‘Thirteen Lives,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Vince Valitutti / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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  • Star Wars Celebration: ‘Light & Magic’ Presentation

    Ron Howard, Lynwen Brennan, Phil Tippett, Rose Duignan, Joe Johnston and Dennis Muren
    (L-R) Ron Howard, Lynwen Brennan, Phil Tippett, Rose Duignan, Joe Johnston and Dennis Muren attend the “Light & Magic” presentation at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 27, 2022. The ILM documentary series premieres exclusively on Disney+ July 27, 2022. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney).

    Day two of Star Wars Celebration continued on Friday at the Anaheim Convention Center as fans staggered into the big hall for the ‘Light & Magic’ presentation to hear more about the upcoming Disney+ documentary series that will take viewers behind the scenes at Industrial Light & Magic.

    On hand virtually was the documentary’s director Lawrence Kasdan, who also wrote ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi.’ Kasdan was supposed to appear in person but tested positive for COVID just before the event. However, taking the stage were ‘Star Wars’ filmmakers Ron Howard (‘Solo’), and Joe Johnston (‘A New Hope’), as well ILM veterans Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, and Rose Duignan, and the GM of Lucasfilm Lynwen Brennan.

    The new series, which was directed by Kasdan, will explore the history of Industrial Light & Magic or ILM, and their impact on the history of cinema. Kasdan began by saying, “I’ve known ILM for 40 years I but didn’t know how it happened. It’s the greatest effects house in the world.”

    “What I did know was ILM is a house of geniuses and somehow George Lucas had the vision to bring these people together,” Kasdan continued. “He was somehow, with John Dykstra, able to bring these people together and create a place that has been unmatched in these 45-50 years. At first, nobody knew exactly how it was going to work and there was a lot of improvising that lead to a lot of communication. When someone needed help, they would go to someone else and they always would try to help. It’s been that kind of environment where geniuses help geniuses.”

    Lawrence Kasdan (via video)
    Lawrence Kasdan (via video) attends the “Light & Magic” presentation at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 27, 2022. The ILM documentary series premieres exclusively on Disney+ July 27, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney).

    Director Ron Howard is an executive producer on ‘Light & Magic’ and has quite the history with George Lucas, which goes all the way back to ‘American Graffiti.’ Howard spoke about the first time he saw ‘Star Wars.’ “It was mind-blowing,” he said. “I saw it opening weekend, and I left the theater and said to my wife, do you want to see it again? So, we saw it twice on opening day.” The director also talked about how Lucas explained to him on the set of ‘Graffiti’ that he wanted to apply what Stanley Kubrick did in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ on a ‘Flash Gordon’ type serial, which of course became ‘Star Wars.’

    Joe Johnston, who began his career as a Visual Effects artist on the original ‘Star Wars’ trilogy and has since gone on to direct movies like ‘The Rocketeer’ and ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ discussed how he came to work with Lucas. “I was working as an industrial designer when I saw this add on the wall that they were looking for painters on a space movie,” explained Johnston. “When I found out what this job was, I realized that I could design things that look great but don’t need to work. I felt like a fish out of water until I realized I was part of this family like everyone else.”

    “I wish Larry would had sent me a list of the questions he was going to ask,” Johnston joked about his interview for the documentary. “He asked me things that I had forgotten about, and it brought back those memories. What a fantastic achievement he’s made with this series. It really tells the story of ILM.”

    “Larry did a fantastic job,” Lucasfilm’s Lynwen Brennan said of the project. “But the series is really about the people. We have an amazing team, and I have the greatest job in the world. The thing that unites us is that ‘we can do anything’ spirit. There is no hoarding of the secrets, everyone works together and there is always a sense that anything is possible. I’m really standing on the shoulders of giants.”

    Joe Johnston
    Joe Johnston attends the “Light & Magic” presentation at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 27, 2022. The ILM documentary series premieres exclusively on Disney+ July 27, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney).

    Visual Effects supervisor Phil Tippett said of watching the completed documentary, “I binge watched the thing and Larry did a fantastic job. It made me wistful for that time. It’s very meaningful and he did a great job.” Tippett also discussed some of his early character designs and that he would give them strange names like “Calamari Man,” who eventually became Admiral Ackbar. “I had no idea who Admiral Ackbar was,” he said. ‘We were just coming up with stupid names!”

    ILM’s Rose Duignan told a funny story about being confused regarding who was going to interview her for the documentary. “I was told someone named Larry was going to interview me. I asked him how I knew him, and he said, ‘I wrote ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’ Oh, that’s how I know you, you’re Lawrence Kasdan!”

    Duignan also told an amusing story of ILM’s early days and how ILM founder John Dykstra would amuse himself by using a crane to drop refrigerators into a hot tub. One day, George Lucas and several 20th Century Fox executives pulled up in a limo and once they saw what was going on, turned around and left. They never even got out of the limo.

    Visual Effects artist Dennis Muren talked about his experience working with George Lucas on the first ‘Star Wars.’ “We wanted to please him,” Muren said. “I could look at those things and imagine them in motion. There’s nothing like being given great stuff. I knew how to bring those together in front of the camera. The last four or five months, it all kind of came together. To have it be a success was unbelievable.”

    Ron Howard
    Ron Howard attends the “Light & Magic” presentation at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 27, 2022. The ILM documentary series premieres exclusively on Disney+ July 27, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney).

    Howard not only directed ‘Solo’ but his daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, has directed episodes of both ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Book of Boba Fett,’ and he talked about how ‘Star Wars’ has become a Howard Family business. “Bryce has been working on ‘Mandalorian’ and that makes me a proud dad. The breakthroughs keep coming and its always about ideas first. It all goes back to George saying, here’s what is in my head so how do we do it?” The crowd then began shouting ‘Solo 2,’ to which Howard replied, “I’m not in charge of that.”

    Finally, Kasdan discussed his hopes for the upcoming documentary series. “Not only did I want to tell the story of this group, but there was a secret desire I had for this show, as I was making it, I was inspired about creativity and my desire was to make this for my grandchildren. I think that is at the heart of this thing. I want people to know that problems can be overcome, and people will support them in that. If they get that out of this I will be happy.”

    The ‘Light & Magic’ documentary series will premiere on Disney+ in July.

    Rose Duignan, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, Joe Johnston, Ron Howard, and Lynwen Brennan
    (L-R) Rose Duignan, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, Joe Johnston, Ron Howard, and Lynwen Brennan attend the “Light & Magic” presentation at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 27, 2022. The ILM documentary series premieres exclusively on Disney+ July 27, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney).