Actors’ Equity To Leaflet Broadway-Bound ‘Smash’ Workshop Warning Of Possible Strike

Palme d’Ors don’t grow on trees, so it’s small wonder that the world has fallen for Justine Triet’sAnatomy of a Fall, and the outstanding lead performance of Sandra Hüller, since it won the Cannes Film Festival’s top prize. Hüller’s turn dominates the ‘sort of’ courtroom drama of the film, in which her German novelist — also called Sandra — is accused of pushing her French husband Samuel (Samuel Theis), also a writer, from the top floor of their alpine home. Sandra maintains he fell, or jumped, and the film spends much of its runtime chewing over the truth, though never revealing it.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Back in August 2023, as two labor strikes were roiling Hollywood and preventing stars from promoting blockbusters, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures decided to postpone the release of “Dune: Part Two.” The studios feared that without Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya on the press circuit, the big-budget science fiction sequel wouldn’t live up to its box office potential on its initial November date. “My first thought was ‘Oh, crap,'” remembers Chris Randleman, chief revenue officer of the Texas-based cinema chain Flix Brewhouse.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent As the European Film Market starts to unwind, the verdict is already in: Even if global economics are rocky, buyers are back and on the lookout. This week, dealmaking has been happening on both star-driven packages as well as arthouse and foreign-language movies.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor One of the most reliably charming presences on the circuit all season has been Robert Downey Jr. as he speaks about “Oppenheimer,” particularly Christopher Nolan.

Naman Ramachandran U.K. sales and distribution outfit Blue Finch Films has boarded worldwide rights to thriller “Cold Wallet.” In the film, after losing everything in a cryptocurrency scam, a ragtag team of vigilante Redditors attempt to kidnap the kingpin who cheated them But when the home invasion takes a turn for the worst, they become victims in a sadistic game. The cast includes Raul Castillo (“Cassandro”), Melonie Diaz (“The First Purge”), Tony Cavalero (“The Righteous Gemstones”) Josh Brener (“Silicon Valley”) and Zoe Winters (“Succession”).

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Culturally pluralistic and gender-diverse Taiwan is the backdrop for “The Chronicles of Libidoists,” a new film by Gilles Yang, a director whose three previous films have also explored the erotic. The story is inspired by “The Little Mermaid,” the traditional fairy tale in which a mermaid princess falls in love with a human prince. But in Yang’s hands there is a twist in that the mermaid turns out to be a boy.

Production is officially underway for Obsessed, a new, Broadway-bound Diane Warren bio-musical: Producers announced today that licensing deals are set for songs that will be featured in the score, including the Taylor Swift hit “Say Don’t Go.”

“The Notebook” featuring music and lyrics from Ingrid Michaelson, just began previews at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 10.Starring Joy Woods and Ryan Vasquez in the lead roles, the pair will inhabit the parts that made Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling household names after the release of the 2004 film.However, this new iteration of the classic tale will shake things up.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Simon Moutaïrou, the critically acclaimed screenwriter behind the spy thriller hit “Black Box,” has partnered with some of France’s biggest players — leading producer Chi-Fou-Mi (“November,” “All Your Faces”) and Studiocanal — on his ambitious directorial debut, “No Chains, No Masters.” Now in post, “No Chains, No Masters,” is an epic movie inspired by historical accounts of former slaves in West Africa, nicknamed Maroons, who emancipated themselves from French settlements. Set in 1759, in the French colony of Mauritius Island, “No Chains, No Masters” is an epic historical drama following a father, Massamba (Ibrahima Mbaye Thié), and his fierce teenage daughter Mati (Anna Thiandoum) who defy all odds to survive a manhunt across the jungle and emancipate themselves from the hell of a colonial plantation.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Films Boutique has closed a raft of deals on the Chinese movie “Brief History of a Family,” which will play at the Berlinale in the Panorama section. Chinese filmmaker Lin Jianjie‘s feature debut, “Brief History of a Family” premiered at Sundance and will be screening for buyers at the EFM as well. Films Boutique has sold the movie to Benelux (September Films), Italy (Movies Inspired) and Spain (Karma Films).

Matt Damon was in a chatty mood during Tuesday’s appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, updating that a sixth Jason Bourne film is in the works.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment Writer Christopher Nolan recently proclaimed that the decision to hire Robert Downey Jr.

“Suits” spinoff titled “Suits: LA.”The NBC series is currently in the works, with Amell starring as Ted Black, “a charismatic force of nature who puts his own needs above others,” according to Variety. While the new legal drama is set in the universe of the 2011 USA Network series, none of the OG cast members will be involved.Amell’s character is a former New York prosecutor who sets up camp in Los Angeles and leads a new team of lawyers at his firm.He reacted to the news, writing on social media in response, “I know a thing or two about building a universe.”People on X (formerly known as Twitter) rolled their eyes at his casting announcement following several controversies.

“Only Murders in the Building” — Oliver, Charles and Mabel are taking their acts (and podcast) from New York to LA in Season 4.At least for a little while.The Hulu series starring Martin Short (Oliver Putnam), Steve Martin (Charles-Haden Savage) and Selena Gomez (Mabel Mora) is relocating its universe from the fictional Arconia building on the Upper West Side to the City of Angels.The move was confirmed by Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich, though there are no specifics — including how long the characters will remain in LA.In the Season 3 finale of “Murders,” Tobert (Jesse Williams) asked Mabel to head to LA with him; Mabel rejected the offer … but that may change with the show landing on the West Coast.“Well, I’m very excited to see Steve, Martin and Selena take a little break from the apartment building and come to Los Angeles,” Erwich told Deadline.

Annika Pham Hot Swedish helmer of Georgian descent Levan Akin is due to kickstart Berlin’s Panorama Feb. 15 with his feature drama “Crossing.” Nine years earlier, he walked the Berlinale red carpet with his youth sci-fi “The Circle,” showcased at Generation. Next to him were his Swedish producers of RMV Film – ABBA’s Benny Andersson and his son Ludvig Andersson.

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the series finale of NBC‘s La Brea.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Mickey Mouse, kickin’ ass for the working class? Employees who work in Disneyland’s Characters and Parades departments announced they are unionizing with Actors’ Equity Association. Actors’ Equity represents some 51,000 professional actors and stage managers on Broadway and in live theatre across the U.S.

Naman Ramachandran U.K.-based sales and distribution company Blue Finch Films has boarded international sales for select territories to Shudder original film “Oddity.” Written and directed by Damian McCarthy (“Caveat”), the supernatural film will have its world premiere at SXSW 2024 as part of the Midnighter section. Blue Finch will introduce the title in advance to buyers at the Berlin European Film Market (EFM). “Oddity” follows Darcy, a blind medium, who uncovers the sinister truth behind her sister’s death with the help of a frightening wooden mannequin.

The labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre has voted to authorize a strike against The Broadway League, the trade association for Broadway.

Creator Alexi Hawley expressed regret on Saturday about the cancellation of The Rookie: Feds, an ABC procedural that he said was a victim of economics and “consolidation in the industry.”