The Shared DNA Between Writer/Director Jean de Meuron’s “Edge of Space” and “Top Gun: Maverick”
A visually lavish and emotionally captivating short film about the early days of manned spaceflight exploration, writer/director/producer Jean de Meuron’s directorial debut, Edge of Space, is set in 1961. The 18-minute film follows U.S. Air Force test pilot Glen Ford (played by the Sniper film series’ Chad Michael Collins), who risks it all for a suborbital test flight in the X-15 hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft. The film provides a refreshing glimpse into the decade leading to the Apollo missions,
“Maria” Cinematographer Ed Lachman on Painting Angelina Jolie’s Mythic Opera Legend With Light
Passionate Greek-American soprano Maria Callas was the world’s premier opera star when she was struck with various ailments that limited her capacity to sing. She led a life rivaling any opera drama, including a tumultuous relationship with Aristotle Onassis and explosive interactions with collaborators and fans that made her increasingly controversial. She said, “I will always be as difficult as necessary to achieve the best.”
Director Pablo Larraín chose to highlight Callas in his new film Maria.
Jeremy Allen White Joining “The Mandalorian & Grogu” Movie as Iconic Villain’s Son
Emmy-winning actor and overall hot commodity Jeremy Allen White is taking a voyage to a galaxy far, far away.
The Bear star is set to appear in The Mandalorian & Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, as Jabba the Hutt’s son Rotta the Hutt. Deadline confirms the casting and says it’s a meaty role (pun intended).
Considering Jabba doesn’t have any human offspring that have been mentioned,
“28 Years Later” Trailer Releases Hell in Director Danny Boyle’s Long-Awaited Zombie Thriller Sequel
The first trailer for director Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later has arrived, giving us a visceral glimpse at Boyle’s first time at the helm of the franchise since his nervy 2002 original 28 Days Later reanimated the zombie genre, introducing a version of the undead that was quicker, more decisive, and far more rageful.
The trailer opens with a group of small kids watching Teletubbies on the TV,
How “Gladiator II” Editors and the VFX Supervisor Shaped Three Ferocious Scenes
Gladiator II picks up fifteen years following the events of Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator (2000), an epically visceral film from Ridley Scott that not only won five Oscars, including Best Picture at the 73rd Academy Awards but is considered one of the greatest action films in movie history – a notion underpinned by its quotable dialogue that has become part of the public lexicon.
“Maria” Costume Designer Massimo Cantini Parrini on Designing Angelina Jolie as a Legendary Diva
“I am happy with the theater behind my eyes,” utters legendary American-born Greek soprano Maria Callas (portrayed by Angelina Jolie after seven months of intense vocal lessons) at the film’s beginning. Drenched in the melancholy of a woman well aware that her days are numbered, the stunning film traverses between the heights of La Callas’ massive successes in the 1950s and 1960s and present day in her extravagant Parisian apartment, where she reflects on the triumphs,
“Gladiator II” Costume Designers Janty Yates and David Crossman on Lunatic Emperors & Blood-Splattered Warriors
She won an Oscar for outfitting the first Gladiator, and 20 years later, costume designer Janty Yates once again teamed with Ridley Scott to cloak ancient Rome’s ruling class in bespoke finery. Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal as a slave who fights his way to freedom, with Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger in featured roles. Yates and military expert David Crossman, who costumed the downtrodden gladiators,
A New Spin on “Wicked”: Choreographer Christopher Scott on his Whirlwind Creations
Wicked has danced its way through theaters, earning rave reviews and the adoration of fans all over the globe. The kinetic, kaleidoscopic movement accompanying the iconic songs was largely thanks to choreographer Christopher Scott, who crafted all-new, original numbers for the show-stopping music, ranging from intimate to epic.
The adaptation of the stage musical, based on Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” follows Elphaba (Cynthia Ervo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) to Shiz University in the land of Oz,
“Wicked” Director Jon M. Chu Takes us Behind the Curtain of His Gravity Defying Adaptation
Spoilers aplenty!
Black hat seated atop her head, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) peers around the corner of the Ozdust ballroom, excited to attend her first party ever.
She tentatively takes her first steps down the stairs, silhouette illuminated by the spotlight, when the music suddenly halts and her peers begin to laugh.
The excitement quickly drains from her face as she realizes that the acceptance she so desperately craved did not come.
James Gunn Teases “Superman” Star David Corenswet’s Freakishly Great Performance
“Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, David Corenswet is going to freak everyone out with how great he is,” said James Gunn during a chat with his Creature Commandos showrunner Dean Lowery and The Hollywood Reporter. “He is one of the best actors I’ve ever worked with, and he can do everything. The man is incredible.”
Gunn, the now not-so-newly-minuted co-chief of DC Studios,
“Snow White” Trailer: It’s Rachel Zegler vs. Gal Gadot in Enchanting Second Look
Our second look at Disney’s Snow White is here.
Disney first revealed director Marc Webb’s live-action remake of the classic movie at its D23 event in late August, so it’s been a minute since we’ve gotten a fresh peek at stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. The film’s music comes from Dear Evan Hansen and The Greatest Showman songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and boasts a screenplay from Barbie writer/director Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson—all top-tier talent.
“Nosferatu” Review Round-Up: Robbert Eggers Masterful Horror Sinks Its Teeth Into You
The reviews for writer/director Robert Eggers’ Nosefratu have arrived, and the auteur behind The Northman (2022), The Lighthouse (2019), and The Witch (2015) has delivered a masterful gothic horror. Robert Eggers delivers a “full-blown Gothic melodrama,” Empire Magazine writes. “A moody, stunning visual masterpiece, it’s the best horror film of the year and easily one of 2024’s best overall,” writes Collider‘s Jeff Ewing.
“Moana 2” Paddles Into Movie History With Record-Shattering Debut
A trio of excellent directors—David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller—a canoe full of beloved animated characters, led by stars Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, and incredible animators, storyboard artists, sound designers, visual effects artists, musicians, all collaborated to bring Moana 2 to the screen. Now, their efforts have paid off in the biggest five-day opening of all time. It was an incredible act of cinematic history wayfinding that Johnson’s demigod Maui would appreciate.
“Gladiator II” Cinematographer John Mathieson on Capturing Robotic Rhinos & Colossal Carnage
If you’re in the mood for a visually stunning film with gladiators battling to the death in a flooded Colosseum and a very ripped Paul Mescal going head-to-head with a rhinoceros and a baboon, Ridley Scott’s pulse-pounding period actioner is the movie you’ve been waiting for. Twenty-three years after his first Oscar nomination for the original Gladiator, British cinematographer John Mathieson (Logan, Mary Queen of Scots) is back with the long-anticipated sequel,
Production Designer Nathan Crowley: The Visionary Behind “Wicked’s” Stunning Sets
Before Wicked, British production designer Nathan Crowley worked on eight Christopher Nolan movies, earning six Oscar nominations along the way. Now he’s made the unlikely pivot from dark Gotham City to effervescent Emerald City as world builder-in-chief for Universal Pictures’ Wizard of Oz prequel. Based on the Broadway musical, Wicked topped the box office this past weekend with $114 million, making it Hollywood’s most popular movie musical to date.
“Gladiator II” Production Designer Arthur Max on Rebuilding a Decadent, Debased Ancient Rome
In the first installment of our conversation with Gladiator II production designer Arthur Max, he talked about making Ridley Scott’s sequel on an even bigger scale than the original film and staging a naval battle sequence in the desert of Morocco for the opening sequence. Now, let’s find out what it took to flood the Colosseum to recreate the mock naval battle in the third act.
Did you use mostly local crew on the sequel?
Maximus Effort: “Gladiator II” Production Designer Arthur Max on Creating Colossal Constructions
Oscar-nominated production designer Arthur Max has worked on 16 of Ridley Scott’s films. These include some of American cinema’s most indelible cinematic spectacles, such as the original Gladiator (for which Max scored his first Oscar nod), Black Hawk Down, and The Martian. Despite the impressive body of work between them, Max thinks that the Roman epic actioner, Gladiator II, is their most ambitious yet.
“Wicked” Cinematographer Alice Brooks on Casting a Magical Light Over This Dazzling Adaptation
Embracing Old Hollywood and a plethora of source material, cinematographer Alice Brooks knew her Wicked vision for Oz would be rich and luxurious.
Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, inspired by the long-running stage show based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel. It stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a misunderstood green-skinned woman. She finds an unusual kinship with Ariana Grande’s popular girl, Glinda. When their paths lead them to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz,
“Gladiator II” Screenwriter David Scarpa on the Herculean Task of Writing a Worthy Sequel
It’s been a long time coming, but the sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic, which won the Oscar for Best Picture, opens in theaters nationwide on November 22. Starring Oscar nominee Paul Mescal (Aftersun), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), the iconic Denzel Washington, and original cast member Connie Nielsen, Gladiator II finally came to fruition thanks to the script from David Scarpa, who’d previously penned Scott movies All the Money in the World and Napoleon.
Mushroom Couture: “Wicked” Costume Designer Paul Tazewell on Drawing Inspiration From the Natural World
Few films this year showcase intricate detail and epic scale like director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked does. The breathtaking costuming created by acclaimed costume designer Paul Tazewell is a vital element of the filmmaker’s captivating vision.
Wicked, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, is inspired by the long-running stage show based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 titular novel. Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba,
