Andy Serkis Unveils “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” Footage at Annecy

As promised back in mid-May, the first look at The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim was unveiled at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Tuesday by none other than Andy Serkis. Serkis, of course, was one of the stars of Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy, and his time playing Gollum has not come to an end (more on that later).

“Shakespeare but with football”: Director Matthew Hamachek Unpacks “The Dynasty: New England Patriots”

Director and executive producer Matthew Hamachek calls The Dynasty, the 10-part docu-series now streaming on Apple TV+, “Shakespeare but with football.”

He’s not overstating it. As Dynasty charts the rise and fall of the six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots over the course of 20 years, dazzling on-field highlights are deftly layered with the documentary’s themes of male ego, betrayal, the price of success, and the corporatization of sports at the expense of players.

“The Wild Robot” Starring Lupita Nyong’o & Pedro Pascal Reveals Stunning Footage at Annecy

DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures unveiled the first footage of writer/director Chris Sanders’ The Wild Robot on Tuesday at the Annecy Animation Festival, drawing laughter and tears from the festivalgoers.

The upcoming animated film stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Kit Connor and was adapted by the three-time Oscar nominee Sanders from Peter Brown’s novel. Sanders and his Wild Robot team are still working on the film, which is set to hit theaters on September 20. 

First “Knives Out 3” Image Finds Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc With Long Locks

Knives Out 3 has officially begun filming.

To be accurate, the third installment in Rian Johnson’s whodunit franchise is actually called Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, and Johnson took to X to share the first image from the set—Daniel Craig’s delightfully dandified sleuth Benoit Blanc is now sporting some long locks. Craig’s Blanc is, as always, dressed to the nines, wearing a three-piece suit and holding a hat.

Giving the “Abbott Elementary” Teachers a Glow Up With the Hair & Makeup Maestros Moira Frazier and Constance Foe

As summer shimmers just ahead and another school year wraps up, we take time now to reflect on the fire looks our teachers were serving. The educators at Abbott Elementary gave it their all through two semesters of change. As they navigated celebrations and setbacks, this season was filled with transformations guided by Hair Department Head Moira Frazier and Makeup Department Head Constance Foe.

Janine Teagues’ (Quinta Brunson) relentless optimism and dedication to her students saw a major payoff when her big ideas caught the attention of the school district.

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” DP Robrecht Heyvaert on Creating the Ride of a Lifetime

In the fourth time around for Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s wise-cracking Miami detectives, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, now in theaters, earns its summer popcorn movie bonafides with loads of goofy banter and antic action sequences. Helmed by Belgian-Moroccan directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. Ride or Die follows Mike Lowery [Smith] and Marcus Lawrence [Lawrence] as they do battle with a sadistic criminal mastermind named McGrath (Eric Dane) and corrupt cops.

Richard Linklater on the Killer Chemistry in his Romantic Comedy “Hit Man”

In Richard Linklater‘s latest film, an irresistibly sexy romantic comedy that’s also a bit of a noir, a giddy satire on the hitman genre, and a screwball quasi-whodunit, the one constant is a vibe that is decidedly and effusively all Linklater. Glen Powell, a rising star who has been Linklater’s longtime collaborator through a string of roles dating back to 2006’s Fast Food Nation, plays Gary Johnson, a professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of New Orleans who is as passionate about Nietzsche as he is dispassionate about the affairs of his own life.

Michael B. Jordan Offers “I Am Legend 2” Update

I Am Legend 2, the sequel to Will Smith’s 2007 hit, is very much in the works, but don’t just take our word for it.

Michael B. Jordan recently told People that Akiva Goldsman, who wrote the original film, and Mark Protosevich are writing the script for the sequel. Jordan will join Smith in the follow-up.

“We’re still working on the script and getting that up to par,” Jordan told People.

James Gunn’s “Superman” Brings “Saturday Night Live” Alum Beck Bennett Aboard

Longtime Saturday Night Live star Beck Bennett has joined the cast of James Gunn’s Superman, which is currently filming in Atlanta.

Bennett is the latest cast member to join Gunn’s reboot of DC’s most iconic character (Batman fans will disagree), following the recently added Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince, playing Martha and Jonathan Kent, respectively. The film stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.

“The Acolyte” Composer Michael Abels on Scoring a “Star Wars” Story Unlike Any Before It

Fans of Star Wars have been eagerly anticipating their newest live-action series, The Acolyte, which features all-new characters in a tense and action-filled story that explores the light and dark sides of the force, as well as many grey areas in between. Set in the High Republic era that leads into Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, The Acolyte is the creation of Russian Doll writer/producer/director and lifelong Star Wars fan Leslye Headland.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” Director Shawn Levy Eyed for Next “Avengers” Film

With Deadpool & Wolverine slashing its way toward its July 26 premiere, its director, Shawn Levy, remains a very busy man. He’s got the final season of Stranger Things on his dance card—he’s directing two episodes and executive producing, which will carry him into 2025. This was the initial reason why Levy, when offered the opportunity to possibly direct the next Avengers movie, had to turn it down.

“Alien: Romulus” Trailer Bridges the Gap Between the Two Most Iconic Installments

You know the old adage, made famous by Ridley Scott’s original Alien, that in space, no one can you hear scream? You can be sure there will be screams aplenty in director Fede Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus, an interquel that bridges the gap between Scott’s 1979 game changer and James Cameron’s fantastic 1986 sequel Aliens. 

Alvarez’s film has the distinction of having been approved by both Scott and Cameron.

Pioneering Producer Auchara Kijkanjanas on Animating Thailand’s Entertainment Industry

A pioneer of animation in Thailand, producer Auchara Kijkanjanas is no stranger to copyright infringement. The founder and head of Big Brain Studio produced the nation’s first big animation hit, which was pirated shortly after it was released. Hence, Kijkanjanas takes both personal and professional satisfaction from witnessing the changes in attitude and behavior toward intellectual property that have occurred in subsequent years. She also holds out hope that something like Thailand’s generous and successful production incentives for live-action projects from overseas might one day be introduced for the animation sector.

“Furiosa” Composer Tom Holkenborg Takes us on a Wild Musical Ride

George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Story has given us the best action sequence of the year, a relentless, 15-minute literal thrill ride that pits a young Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy), her War Rig mentor Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), and some assorted War Boys against the onslaught of Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) and his Biker Horde. This includes the Mortiflyers, a team of motorcyclists who get airborne using a number of inventive techniques,

Elle Fanning Prepared to Hunt or be Hunted in New “Predator” Movie “Badlands”

Elle Fanning is ready to take on the universe’s most lethal hunter.

The star of Hulu’s series The Great is trading in her royal robes in 18th-century Russia for Dan Trachtenberg’s upcoming Predator film Badlands, the sequel to his 2022 hit Prey, which starred Amber Midthunder as Naru, a young Comanche woman in 1719 fighting back against one of the first Predators to reach earth. 

“Venom: The Last Dance” Trailer Reveals Symbiote Battle Royale

The official trailer for first-time director Kelly Marcel’s Venom: The Last Dance is here, and as the title suggests, this will be the last time we see Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, the journalist turned host of an alien symbiote with an insatiable appetite who has, over the years, learned to channel his aggression (sort of) for the right causes. 

Hardy collaborated on the story with writer/director Marcel, a longtime Venom scribe,

“Jim Henson: Idea Man” Editors On Making a Documentary the Muppets Creator Would Have Made Himself

Ron Howard’s documentary Jim Henson: Idea Man, out May 31st on Disney+, is not only a tribute to the beloved, brilliant creator of the Muppets but feels like an artistic reflection of the creator’s own work. Cutting between Henson’s best-known creations, Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, along with his early short films, commercials, abstract videos, and Henson family footage, the documentary also uses visual effects, stop-motion animation,

“Captain America: Brave New World” Adds Giancarlo Esposito’s Mysterious Villain

Director Julius Onah’s Captain America: Brave New World is currently putting in a 22-day shoot to capture additional photography and a new action sequence, a fairly routine course of business for an MCU film. What’s intriguing about Brave New World’s shoot is that it’s also bringing in a phenomenal performer, Giancarlo Esposito, to play a mysterious new villain.

Onah’s film actually wrapped principal photography in the spring of 2023,

Chris Hemsworth Eyeing Role in “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe” Crossover Movie

Chris Hemsworth knows a thing or two (or three) about blockbuster franchises. From Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Dementus in George Miller’s Mad Max wasteland, Hemsworth has no problem carrying the weight of a movie world on his shoulders.

Now, the talented Aussie is in talks to star in Paramount’s upcoming Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover film. The reality of this upcoming cinematic event was teased at the end of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, 

Hugh Jackman on the Secret to Bulking Up to Become Wolverine Again

Hugh Jackman hasn’t suited up and bulked out as Wolverine for seven years, since James Mangold’s stellar 2017 film Logan. In that movie, as fans are well aware, an aging, sick—but still very strong—Wolverine was trying to protect Professor X (he failed) and later, a young mutant named Laura (Dafne Keen—he succeeded) in what would turn out to be his final, heroic act.

But of course, we now know nothing’s final where Marvel is concerned.