(L to R) David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in ‘The X-Files’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
‘The X-Files’, originally created by Chris Carter, aired on Fox from 1993-2001 before being revived at the network for two more seasons in 2016 and 2018. It starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who investigate cases that lean towards the paranormal and otherwise unusual.
Two movies were made based on the original show, but there’s no word yet on whether either Duchovny or Anderson will appear in any capacity. As for the new potential series’ logline? “Two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.”
Deadwyler and Patel will be playing a new original characters –– we’re assuming at this point they’ll be the main agents.
Coogler is aboard to write and direct the pilot, but should the show go to series, ‘The Copenhagen Test’s Jennifer Yale will be overseeing it.
Coogler, an avowed fan of the supernatural, has spoken previously to Variety about his feelings for the show:
“Like my relationship with ‘Rocky’ with my dad, ‘The X-Files’ is one of those things with my mom. My mom means the world to me…so this is a big one for me. I want to do right by her and the fans. My mom has read some of the stuff I wrote for it. She’s fired up.”
(Left) Director Ryan Cooler at the New York Premiere of ‘Sinners’. Photo: Warner Bros. (Center) David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in ‘The X-Files’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television. (Right) Danielle Deadwyler in ‘Parallel.’ Photo: Vertical Entertainment.
Preview:
Danielle Deadwyler will star in the new ‘X-Files’ series.
Ryan Coogler is writing the pilot and will direct it.
Jennifer Yale will be showrunner.
We’ve known for a while that ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Sinners’ director Ryan Coogler has been developing a rebooted take on cult supernatural show ‘The X-Files’ for Hulu. The show has now taken a step forward with a pilot order.
(L to R) David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in 1998’s ‘The X-Files’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
‘The X-Files’, originally created by Chris Carter, aired on Fox from 1993-2001 before being revived at the network for two more seasons in 2016 and 2018. It starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who investigate cases that lean towards the paranormal and otherwise unusual.
Two movies were made based on the original show, but there’s no word yet on whether either Duchovny or Anderson will appear in any capacity. As for the new potential series’ logline? “Two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.”
We don’t yet know exactly how Deadwyler’s character will fit in, but we can assume she’s one of the agents.
“Like my relationship with ‘Rocky’ with my dad, ‘The X-Files’ is one of those things with my mom. My mom means the world to me…so this is a big one for me. I want to do right by her and the fans. My mom has read some of the stuff I wrote for it. She’s fired up.”
Coogler is aboard to write and direct the pilot, but should the show go to series, ‘The Copenhagen Test’s Jennifer Yale will be overseeing it.
Where else can we see Danielle Deadwyler?
Danielle Deadwyler in ’40 Acres’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Upcoming on the small screen, she’ll appear in the new season of ‘Euphoria’ and Steve Carell series ‘Rooster’. Movie-wise, she’s attached to drama ‘The Street’ and has worked on crime comedy ‘The Chaperones’.
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ director Ryan Coogler.
Jonathan Majors stars in ‘Magazine Dreams’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
‘Magazine Dreams’ originally premiered more than two years ago at the Sundance Film Festival, following which Searchlight Pictures planned to release the film later in 2023 and build an Oscar campaign about the performance of star Jonathan Majors. But Majors’ subsequent arrest for assaulting his then-girlfriend and conviction on misdemeanor charges of assault and harassment (which also cost him his role as Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) led Searchlight to drop the film, which stayed in limbo until Briarcliff – the small indie also behind the release of last year’s controversial ‘The Apprentice’ – picked it up and is now releasing it.
On the merits alone, there’s simply no question that Majors’ performance may have sent him home with an Oscar had events turned out differently. While ‘Magazine Dreams’ itself is uneven and begins to break down toward the end, the film is visually arresting and narratively gripping for most of the way. Majors is simply a force of nature in the movie, his work as aspiring bodybuilder Killian Maddox a vortex of physical, emotional, and psychological trauma that’s almost too intense at times. Whatever you think of Majors as a person, ‘Magazine Dreams’ is a powerful testament to his raw talent as an actor.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Jonathan Majors and Elijah Bynum on the set of ‘Magazine Dreams’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
Killian Maddux is a young man with, literally, magazine dreams: he aims to land on the cover of bodybuilding magazines and become a celebrity like his idol, Brad Vanderhorn (played by real-life bodybuilder and magazine cover staple Mike O’Hearn). Posters and photos of Vanderhorn – who he writes constant, unanswered letters to — and others cover the walls of Killian’s room in the small house he shares with his grandfather, William (Harrison Page), who is ill and needs Killian to take care of him and the house. As we find out later, Killian has been raised by William following tragic events in the past.
Killian’s daily routine otherwise consists of painful, lengthy, extensive workouts that leave him clutching his abdomen in agony while every muscle pops out in emulation of the inhuman standards set by this most bizarre of competitions. He works out maniacally, competes in local bodybuilding contests with hopes of ascending to national meets, and posts what he thinks are inspirational videos online that draw comments like “Why hasn’t this guy killed himself yet?” and “Hella incel vibes.”
It’s clear from the start that Killian is lonely, isolated, psychologically scarred and emotionally stunted; his interactions with the customers at the supermarket where he works are awkward and socially inept, and his attraction to checkout girl Jessie (Haley Bennett) leads to a date that the word “disastrous” doesn’t really do justice to. But Killian’s other interactions with the world, unfortunately, end up in much worse places than his date slipping out the back on the pretense of going to the bathroom: after a dismissive phone call with a paint shop that refuses to come back to the house for some touch-ups, Killian heads there and promptly destroys the storefront, literally hurling himself through the glass windows in a senseless rage that can only be described as primal.
Jonathan Majors stars in ‘Magazine Dreams’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
As we find out from the doctor that treats Killian after that incident (which oddly – in one of the movie’s strange lapses of logic – does not end up with Killian behind bars for even one night), he is wrecking his body with the steroids he takes to achieve his physical goals (he’s obsessed with the size of his deltoids, which one judge a while back told him were too small). He’s also decimating his mind: “I control my emotions, my emotions don’t control me,” he tells himself at one point, which is about as far away from the truth as even his delusional imagination can handle.
But Killian is clearly a figure who also deserves our empathy: as a large Black man who can clearly intimidate people, he’s already isolated from normal social interaction to a certain extent, which writer-director Elijah Bynum emphasizes in subtle yet pointed ways (one customer in the supermarket apologizes to him for no discernible reason after she catches him glancing at her). On top of that, his haunted past, his search for human connection of any kind – which leads him to both his labored attempt at romance and his obsession with fame and celebrity culture – and the punishment he puts himself through all lead him down the same dark path we’ve seen in films like ‘Taxi Driver, ‘You Were Never Really Here,’ and ‘Nightcrawler.’
(L to R) Jonathan Majors and Elijah Bynum on the set of ‘Magazine Dreams’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
Bynum’s film doesn’t quite travel to the same conclusions as any of those, and as ‘Magazine Dreams’ rolls on, there’s a certain repetitive nature to the narrative that kicks in. The repercussions of some of Killian’s actions are never made quite clear, and during the movie’s third act we begin to wonder how much of what’s happening is real and how much is occurring in his head. After the excruciatingly intense realism of the earlier parts of the film, this more surreal final stretch isn’t quite as effective, and the ambiguous way in which ‘Magazine Dreams’ ends doesn’t match the power of the rest of the film.
Despite its flawed structure, this is still a provocative film to watch, and a striking one as well: Bynum and cinematographer Adam Arkapaw have crafted a beautiful succession of images, often casting Killian in deep blues and reds to indicate his emotional wavelength while capturing every gleaming striation of the formidable physiques of him and other bodybuilders. Jason Hill’s original score complements this quite well, as do the passages of both classical music and screaming death metal that accentuate certain scenes – the latter effectively deployed as Killian races in his car to enact his wrath on the paint shop. The production design also captures the drab, rundown nature of Killian’s world, from the empty, staring windows of defunct businesses to the sweaty, kaleidoscopic club at which Killian finds himself one night, dancing frenziedly among others who have no idea of the human timebomb in their midst.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Haley Bennett and Jonathan Majors in ‘Magazine Dreams’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
The supporting cast here is effective in what are truly minor roles: Haley Bennett brings a tentative grace to the role of Jessie, while Harrison Page delivers an exhausted, wounded dignity to William – a scene in which he gives some long-overdue comfort to his grandson stands out for its vulnerability. Elsewhere, Harriet Sansom Harris is a natural as the therapist that Killian sees, listening to him and encouraging him even as she knows he’s probably lying to her, while Taylour Paige is more or less wasted as a sex worker with whom Killian has an ultimately pointless encounter.
But let’s face it: this movie is pretty much a one-hander, and Majors – for whom this movie would have followed earlier triumphs like ‘Creed III,’ ‘Lovecraft Country,’ and ‘The Harder They Fall’ – dominates the screen for the entire two-hour running time, much of which he spends alone. Not only did the actor clearly sculpt his own body into the tortured form that passes for excellence in bodybuilding, but he brings an intensity to Killian’s volatile nature that is often as frightening and unpredictable as it is uncomfortable to watch. He’s in many ways a truly tragic figure, and Majors also brings his pain, loneliness, and sadness to light in a way that is both electrifying and moving. While ‘Magazine Dreams’ and Majors’ portrayal are both extreme in many ways, Killian’s broken nature is not.
Final Thoughts
Jonathan Majors stars in ‘Magazine Dreams’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
The release of ‘Magazine Dreams’ brings up a question that has bedeviled society for almost a decade in the wake of #MeToo and its cultural impact: can people pay their debt to society, be forgiven as a result, and resume their lives and careers? There’s no definitive answer to that, and in a way, the movie itself echoes those concerns: can a person climb out of an abyss that’s at least partially self-imposed, achieve peace, and find a way to flourish in the world?
The resolution is ultimately as uncertain for Killian Maddox as it is for the actor who portrays him, and on a moviegoing level, the age-old dilemma of separating the art from the artist is fully in play here. But if you can do that, ‘Magazine Dreams’ is a flawed, somewhat shaky, yet spellbinding experience that encapsulates the loneliness of living in a world where aspirations, connection, and serenity often elude our grasp.
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What is the plot of ‘Magazine Dreams’?
A lonely, deeply troubled aspiring bodybuilder (Jonathan Majors) pursues his dreams of fame and celebrity while also looking for human connection. But the damage he’s doing to both his body and psyche soon lead him to spiral down a dark, rage-fueled path.
Who is in the cast of ‘Magazine Dreams’?
Jonathan Majors as Killian Maddox
Haley Bennett as Jessie
Harrison Page as William Lattimore
Harriet Sansom Harris as Patricia Waldron
Taylour Paige as Pink Coat
Mike O’Hearn as Brad Vanderhorn
Jonathan Majors stars in ‘Magazine Dreams’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
Coming off the success of the fantastic ‘The Harder They Fall,’ director Jeymes Samuel’s has crafted another epic and entertaining movie, which boasts commanding performances from LaKeith Stanfield and Anna Diop. While the film will no doubt spark controversy in the fundamental bible community for its depiction of the “historical Jesus” versus the “real Jesus,” the filmmaker’s original vision and execution is hypnotic for those religiously openminded and results in a fun and though-provoking theatrical experience.
Script and Direction
Jeymes Samuel attends a Special Screening of ‘The Book of Clarence’ at Pacific Design Center on December 11, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.
‘The Book of Clarence’ is a reimagining of the biblical story of Jesus. We are first introduced to Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), a hustler living in A.D. 33 Jerusalem whose identical twin brother is Thomas (also played by Stanfield), who is one of the twelve apostles. Down on his luck, and owing money to Jedediah the Terrible (Eric Kofi-Abrefa), Clarence believes if he can become an apostle, Jesus (Nicholas Pinnock) can protect him from Jedediah. But when Clarence is denied membership in the apostles because of his lack of faith in Jesus, he decides to create his own following and along with his best friend Elijah (RJ Cyler), claims to be the Messiah himself.
This soon draws the attention of Pontius Pilate (James McAvoy), who will execute anyone claiming to be the Messiah, which also includes a homeless man (Benedict Cumberbatch) with mysterious powers. Also complicating Clarence’s problems is his love for Varinia (Anna Diop), who is the sister of Jedediah. What the film, and director Jeymes Samuel does well is tell us a familiar story from a new point of view. Even though we all know the story of Jesus, we’ve never seen it like this before and that leads to exciting and innovative storytelling.
In my opinion, Samuel had a fantastic directorial debut with ‘The Harder They Fall,’ which was an exciting and entertaining Western. With ‘Clarence,’ Samuel firmly establishes himself as a fresh and competent filmmaker and crafts an epic version of the biblical story. The director has gone on the record saying that he grew up loving classic biblical movies like ‘Ben-Hur’ and ‘The Ten Commandments,’ and his inspiration from those movies is apparent in every scene of ‘Clarence.’
But what is most important is that Samuel has injected the movie with his own personal point-of-view, which is what makes the movie really pop. The use of modern music, fantastic action sequences and a great cast certainly helps, but make no mistakes, Samuel is an auteur director not unlike Quentin Tarantino or Wes Anderson. While some audience members own religious views may be at odds with the ideas of the film, the originality and strength of Samuel’s screenplay cannot be denied.
LaKeith Stanfield is one the finest actors we have working today and is best known for his supporting work in movies like ‘Get Out,’ ‘Knives Out,’ ‘Uncut Gems,’ and ‘Judas and the Black Messiah,’ for which he earned a Best Supporting Oscar nomination. But ‘Clarence’ really marks the actor’s first major starring role, and Stanfield is mesmerizing as both the title role and his brother Thomas. The actor gives not one but two commanding performances, which at times are as comedic as they are emotional and dramatic.
Also excellent in their comedic roles are RJ Cyler as Clarence’s loyal friend, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Benjamin, who eerily looks like the historical representation of Jesus. Alfre Woodard, who plays Mother Mary, and David Oyelowo, who plays John the Baptist, both have fun comedic turns as well. But what really grounds the movie and some of its new ideas about the classic bible story is the romance between Clarence and Varinia, thanks to a lovely performance from Anna Diop. The actress is probably best known for her role as Starfire on Max’s ‘Titans,’ but based on this performance should be appearing in more big screen films very soon.
Unfortunately, the one performance that doesn’t quite work belongs to James McAvoy and his role as Pontius Pilate. McAvoy is a fine actor, but the character is never really fleshed out and ultimately just becomes a generic advisory.
For many, the reimagining of the bible is a taboo subject, and especially in America, people take their Jesus very seriously. We’ve seen many retellings of Jesus’ story met with criticism and controversy over the years such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ or Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ and I fear the same may happen to ‘The Book of Clarence.’
While I personally have no problem with the idea of a black Jesus, (let’s be honest, if he did exist, he most likely was not white), I’m afraid many people will. Which is another reason I’m so impressed with Samuel’s bold take on the biblical story, it’s a big risk for an up-and-coming filmmaker to make with his sophomore movie.
But another issue some may have, which again I didn’t, is the depiction of the long haired and bearded version of Jesus that many people believe in. Played by Cumberbatch, he is nothing but a false profit, a homeless man who is touched by the “real Jesus,” granting him powers he does not understand. The film reveals Clarence to be the true Jesus talked about in the bible, and Cumberbatch’s character is just the physical representation that history recorded. This is a fascinating idea to explore, which Samuel’s does exceedingly well, but again, it could be very controversial for many religious audience members.
Controversies aside, ‘The Book of Clarence’ is an extremely original, fresh, bold, and exciting reimaging of the story of Jesus. Director Jeymes Samuel firmly establishes himself as one of the most innovative and exciting directors working today, while LaKeith Stanfield giving a commanding lead performance.
‘The Book of Clarence’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘The Book of Clarence’?
A struggling down-on-his-luck man named Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) living in 29 A.D. Jerusalem looks to capitalize on the rise of Jesus Christ (Babs Olusanmokun) by claiming to be a new Messiah sent by God, in an attempt to free himself of debt and start a life of glory for himself.
(L to R) LaKeith Stanfield and director Jeymes Samuel discuss ‘The Book of Clarence.’
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking in-person with LaKeith Stanfield and director Jeymes Samuel to talk about their work on ‘The Book of Clarence,’ what audiences can expect from the film, writing the screenplay and the themes Samuel wanted to explore, and Stanfield’s approach to playing his dual roles.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Stanfield and Samuel, as well as RJ Cyler and Anna Diop.
Jeymes Samuel attends a Special Screening of ‘The Book of Clarence’ at Pacific Design Center on December 11, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.
Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to audiences to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about to have watching this movie?
Jeymes Samuel: Get ready for a singular piece. There’s never been a movie made like this in 135 years of the moving image. You’ve never seen a ‘Book of Clarence’ before. If anything, the movie is singular. If everything, the movie is awesome. Welcome.
LaKeith Stanfield attends a Special Screening of ‘The Book of Clarence’ at Pacific Design Center on December 11, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.
MF: LaKeith, what would you say to audiences to prepare them for ‘The Book of Clarence’ experience?
LaKeith Stanfield: This film is for the open-minded, the person that is interested in gaining some new perspective or seeing something fresh, and that isn’t interested in going into movies with preconceived notions. It’s not woke. It’s not those Hollywood buzzwords that people want to use to have things fit into their ideas of what things are. This, you will not be able to expect or even be able to hold it in your mind what this really is, unless you see it on a big screen, loud, with people you love. That’s the way to enjoy it. It really is something that you don’t want to miss, because I feel like it’s going to exist in the time as something classic. You’re going to hear people talking about it, and you might be like, “Why did I miss that?” Just do yourself a favor and check this movie out, because it’s entertaining, but it also holds some universal truths that are very good to be reminded of. Also, you get to see the beautiful black gods at play, and that’s a beautiful thing to be a part of. We had so much fun making it. But there’s love, there’s action, there’s fighting, there’s family, there’s coming together, there’s self-discovery, there’s miracles, and it’s just a bunch of fun. So yeah, it’ll be dope.
MF: Jeymes, I heard that you grew up loving epic biblical films like ‘Ben-Hur’ and ‘The Ten Commandments.’ Can you talk about writing this screenplay and specifically the themes that you were interested in exploring with this movie?
JS: Writing the screenplay was awesome. ‘The Book of Clarence,’ for whatever reason, it bled out of me, like it wanted to be born. When I sat down to write the screenplay, it was like two weeks. I’d taken notes on it for years, like over a decade. I knew what was where. But when I sat down to write the screen, I couldn’t sleep. It was just literally gushing out of me. The things I wanted to include in this movie was everything. Absolutely everything. Everything, everything, everything, everything, everything, everything. I wanted to include everything. Gladiator fights, chariot races, crucifixions, dance sequences, action pieces. I wanted to put everything into this film, this story, and what better way than to have a protagonist like Clarence. You needed to cast the right person. You needed the right person to hang and clothe all these themes upon. I knew I could not make this movie until I had the right actor, which was the day I met LaKeith Stanfield.
MF: Finally, LaKeith, in addition to playing Clarence, you also play his twin brother, Thomas. Can you talk about the difference between the two characters and your approach to playing each of them?
LS: I just thought it was important to set Clarence up as someone that could learn something. So therefore, someone that thought they had to figure it out. I knew that I wanted him to exude a confidence that gets you to the positions that you want to be in life. You manifest things here that might not have been everything that Clarence knew, but he knew that he had something special, and he carried that with him, and I wanted to show that. I also wanted to show his moments of levity and grace so that when he fell out of grace, we could clearly see the difference. When it came to Thomas, I just wanted to make sure I was able to draw lines in the sand and distinctions between these two brothers who, they came from the same place, they experienced similar things, but they chose different paths and how that can build up resentment in a pair that close. How ultimately there were parts of them that really loved each other deeply but weren’t able to come to the surface and missed a lot of the issues they were dealing with. But eventually they were able to reconcile. There was at least a nod to that idea that they were able to come together, they’re able to see the truth because it transcends all their little issues. So, I want to make sure that that was in there, that love was in there at the end of the day.
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What is the plot of ‘The Book of Clarence’?
A struggling down-on-his-luck man named Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) living in 29 A.D. Jerusalem looks to capitalize on the rise of Jesus Christ (Babs Olusanmokun) by claiming to be a new Messiah sent by God, in an attempt to free himself of debt and start a life of glory for himself.
Against his father Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) will, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) – a powerful but arrogant warrior god – recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Based on the Marvel Comics characters, Elba plays all-hearing Asgardian sentry Heimdall.
Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers (Elba and Kate Winslet) must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow covered mountain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness.
A team of explorers (Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, and Elba) discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Terri (Taraji P. Henson) is a devoted wife and mother of two, living an ideal suburban life in Atlanta when Colin (Elba), a charming but dangerous escaped convict, shows up at her door claiming car trouble. Terri offers her phone to help him but soon learns that no good deed goes unpunished as she finds herself fighting for survival when he invades her home and terrorizes her family.
Things couldn’t be better for Derek Charles (Elba). He’s just received a big promotion at work, and has a wonderful marriage with his beautiful wife, Sharon (Beyonce). However, into this idyllic world steps Lisa (Ali Larter), a temporary worker at Derek’s office. Lisa begins to stalk Derek, jeopardizing all he holds dear.
A man-cub named Mowgli (Neel Sethi) fostered by wolves. After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan (Elba), Mowgli is forced to flee the jungle, by which he embarks on a journey of self discovery with the help of the panther, Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and the free-spirited bear, Baloo (Bill Murray).
Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), a young skier and former Olympic hopeful becomes a successful entrepreneur (and a target of an FBI investigation) when she establishes a high-stakes, international poker game. With her reputation in ruins and future in jeopardy, she turns to attorney Charlie Jaffey (Elba) for legal help.
The USS Enterprise crew including Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Evans) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) explore the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy (Elba) who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.
The world’s favorite blue hedgehog is back! After settling in Green Hills, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles (Elba), in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson (Clarence Williams III), Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan after killing fellow gangster Tango (Elba). He begins buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. At home, he crosses paths with a dirty cop (Josh Brolin), and a crusading detective (Russell Crowe).
A seasoned team of bank robbers, including Gordon Cozier (Elba), John Rahway (Paul Walker), A.J. (Hayden Christensen), and brothers Jake (Michael Ealy) and Jesse Attica (Chris Brown) successfully complete their latest heist and lead a life of luxury while planning their next job. When Ghost (Tip “T.I.” Harris), a former member of their team, is released from prison he convinces the group to strike an armored car carrying $20 million. As the “Takers” carefully plot out their strategy and draw nearer to exacting the grand heist, a reckless police officer inches closer to apprehending the criminals.
On a mission deep in the Bolivian jungle, a team of elite commandos led by Franklin Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and William Roque (Elba) finds itself on the receiving end of a lethal betrayal. Now presumed dead, the men join forces with a mysterious operative named Aisha (Zoe Saldana) to hunt down their enemy and even the score. Based on the DC Comics characters.
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, as war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and a trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world. Elba plays commanding officer Marshal Stacker Pentecost.
Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), the first bunny on Zootopia’s police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case – even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to solve the mystery. Elba plays Chief Bogo, an African buffalo who is the police chief of the Zootopia Police Department’s 1st Precinct.
Ever since US Diplomatic Security Service Agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and lawless outcast Decker Shaw (Jason Statham) first faced off, they just have traded smack talk and body blows. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton’s (Elba) ruthless actions threaten the future of humanity, they join forces to defeat him.
A chronicle of Nelson Mandela’s (Elba) life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
Based on the experiences of Agu (Abraham Attah), a child fighting in the civil war of an unnamed, fictional West African country. Follows Agu’s journey as he’s forced to join a group of soldiers led by Elba’s Commandant. While he fears his commander and many of the men around him, his fledgling childhood has been brutally shattered by the war raging through his country, and he is at first torn between conflicting revulsion and fascination.
When fifteen-year-old Cole (Caleb McLaughlin) is expelled from school in Detroit, he is sent to North Philadelphia to live with Harp (Elba), his estranged father. Harp finds solace in rehabilitating horses for inner city cowboys at the Fletcher Street Stables, a real-life black urban horsemanship community that has provided a safe haven for the neighborhood residents for more than 100 years.
Torn between his growing respect for his father’s community and his reemerging friendship with troubled cousin Smush (Jharrel Jerome), Cole begins to reprioritize his life as the stables themselves are threatened by encroaching gentrification.
Gunning for revenge, outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) saddles up with his gang to take down enemy Rufus Buck (Elba), a ruthless crime boss who just got sprung from prison.
(L to R) David Dastmalchian, John Cena, Idris Elba and Daniela Melchior in ‘The Suicide Squad.’
Welcome to Belle Reve, the prison where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out, even join the super-secret Task Force X. Today’s assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport (Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie).
Now arm them heavily and drop them on the enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) on the ground to make them behave, and Amanda Waller’s (Viola Davis) government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them all!
Since then, the company has produced hundreds of original movies including the Oscar nominated ‘Roma‘ and ‘Marriage Story,’ as well as popular films like ‘Bird Box‘ and ‘Red Notice.’
Moviefone has compiled a list below of the 10 best Netflix Original Movies of all time.
Directed by Shawn Levy, a time-traveling pilot (Ryan Reynolds) teams up with his younger self (Walker Scobell) and his late father (Mark Ruffalo) to come to terms with his past while saving the future.
Directed by Aaron Sorkin, what was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest including Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen), Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong), Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) and Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.
Directed by Spike Lee, four African-American Vietnam veterans (Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr.) return to Vietnam. They are in search of the remains of their fallen squad leader (Chadwick Boseman) and the promise of buried treasure. These heroes battle forces of humanity and nature while confronted by the lasting ravages of the immorality of the Vietnam War.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, in 1956 Pennsylvania, Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a war veteran of Irish origin who works as a truck driver, accidentally meets mobster Russell Bufalino (Joe Peci). Once Frank becomes his trusted man, Bufalino sends him to Chicago with the task of helping Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), a powerful union leader related to organized crime, with whom Frank will maintain a close friendship for nearly twenty years.
Gunning for revenge, outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) saddles up with his gang to take down enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), a ruthless crime boss who just got sprung from prison.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, part documentary, part concert film, part fever dream, this film captures the troubled spirit of America in 1975 and the joyous music that Bob Dylan performed during the fall of that year.
A documentary about Hollywood veteran Bing Russell (Kurt‘s father), who creates the only independent baseball team in the country—alarming the baseball establishment and sparking the meteoric rise of the 1970s Portland Mavericks.
Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi in Prime Video’s documentary ‘A Man Named Scott.’
He’s been appearing in front of the camera in addition to contributing to songs for soundtracks for a few years now, but Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi is ready to take the next step in movies: he’ll make his directorial debut.
In addition to calling the shots, Mescudi has written the new movie for Netflix, called ‘Teddy’, that he’ll also star in.
Writing on Twitter, the musician and actor explained the decision, revealing that he’s been working on the project for quite a while now, dealing with the usual frustration of guiding something through development since at least 2013.
“I always wanted to write my own movie,” he wrote. “The road has been long, from it being a TV show for years to finally being a film. So it means so much to finally be able to bring it to the screen next year, and I can’t wait for you all to meet Teddy, his friends, his family and take a walk in his world for a bit.”
Though he didn’t completely reveal the storyline, he did offer a tease for the premise: “It’s as if I took the song ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ (his 2009 hit) and wrote a movie about it. I added a lot of my own personal struggles and experiences in it, so this film is very close to my heart.”
(L to R) Chris Abbott and Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi.
“I know, that deep down, this movie will help people in the same ways my music has,” he added. “I’m continuing my mission. Now this is a comedy, but it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t sprinkle some real stuff in there. It’s trippy, it’s fun, it’s sad, it’s life.”
From the sounds of it, it’ll be a slice-of-life story for a character much like the singer himself, and it’ll be fascinating to see what he applies from his past movie career to this latest job. Mescudi has also directed some of his music videos, including for ‘Surfin’ and ‘Frequency.’
‘The Harder They Fall’ filmmaker Jeymes Samuel,Shawn “Jay Z” Carter (who also produced ‘Fall’), James Lassiter, and company Bron will all produce the movie, which continues Mescudi’s association with them. He wrote the track ‘Guns Go Bang’ for ‘The Harder They Fall’, which has won a variety of awards.
And he also solidifies his connection with Netflix after appearing in Adam McKay’s ‘Don’t Look Up’ as a character called DJ Chello, who sings the anthem ‘Just Look Up’ as a duet with Riley Bina (played by Ariana Grande). The pair also wrote the song together.
Acting-wise, Mescudi has appeared in movies including ‘Need for Speed’, ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’ and ‘Crisis’. Coming up, he’s part of the cast for Ty West’s new horror, ‘X’, which hit theaters at the weekend. On TV, he’s voicing a role in mysterious new animated series ‘Entergalactic,’ which also happens to be a Netflix show.
