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,
“Only Murders in the Building” Editor Matthew Barbato Blends on Season 4’s Complex Delights
Only Murders in the Building began as a cozy, non-sequitur-filled whodunit anchored by three immensely winning performances by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, and it’s never lost sight of that winning formula. Yet season over season, the series has become funnier, more ambitious, and more heartfelt, increasing the body count, laugh count, and guest star firepower while never losing sight of its chief pleasure: three lonely people who are impossibly, perfectly suited to become lifelong friends.
“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.
“Game of Thrones” Prequel, “The White Lotus” Season 3 & More Coming to HBO in 2025
Before viewers can return to Westeros, they’ll have a slightly posher option—to check into The White Lotus for season three of Mike White’s biting, hysterical comedy on HBO.
During a tech and media conference on Tuesday night, Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming chief JB Perrette revealed some key release dates for some of HBO’s biggest titles in 2025. The White Lotus has a planned February 2025 release date, while another critically acclaimed series,
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,
“Wicked” Review Round-Up: Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande Dazzle in Mesmerizing Musical
The reviews for director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked have finally arrived, confirming what was first reported around Halloween—the first big-screen adaptation of the Broadway phenomenon is a dazzling smash. In case you’ve been kept in a chamber deep within the bowels of Emerald City, we’ll lay out the broad strokes—Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star as Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the future Glinda the Good,
Crime, Crazy Rich Rom-Coms, and More: Producer Janice Chua on Bringing Asian Stories to the World
Raised in a working-class Chinese family in Singapore, Janice Chua says, “Like every Asian person, I grew up with Hong Kong martial arts movies that inspired so much of my imagination. There was a sense of excitement and pride in those action-heavy films with crazy sound effects.”
But her world changed when she encountered Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which “just came across as very poetic…and the way women were portrayed was very different.
