Andy Kaufman Doc Underway With Safdie Brothers’ Company – Film News in Brief

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorIFTA (The Independent Film & Television Alliance) announced Tuesday that American Film Market managing director Jonathan Wolf would step down when his term ends on June 30. Wolf has led the AFM for 24 years, and will continue as an advisor for the 2022 AFM, set to return to Santa Monica in person on Nov.

This is how we all win. While he was robbed of an Oscar nomination, Adam Sandler did win an Indie Spirit Award for his terrific, on-edge performance in 2019’s “Uncut Gems,” as an inveterate gambler—and it was a hell of a speech (see below).

Wilson Chapman editorNetflix has set release dates for nearly 40 moves debuting between May and Labor Day Weekend. The streamer unveiled a first look at the Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg-starrer “Me Time,” which follows a stay-at-home dad (Hart) who finds himself with some “me time” for the first time in years.

HBO series from The Weeknd and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson is undergoing an overhaul, according to reports.In a statement released on Monday (April 25), HBO said the series, titled The Idol, is “adjusting” its cast and crew to serve a new direction.“The Idol’s creative team continues to build, refine, and evolve their vision for the show and they have aligned on a new creative direction,” a statement reads.“The production will be adjusting its cast and crew accordingly to best serve this new approach to the series. We look forward to sharing more information soon.”According to Variety, director Amy Seimetz (The Killing) has departed the project.

Kevin Hart announced on Tuesday he is merging his Laugh Out Loud and HartBeat Productions to form HartBeat, a global, multi-platform media company. HartBeat launches with a $100M investment from private equity firm Abry Partners, which took a minority investment in the new company. As part of the deal, Abry Partners partner Nicolas Massard will be joining the HartBeat board.

The Rookie world is expanding.Niecy Nash joins the fray as Simone Clark, the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy, for a two-hour backdoor pilot setting the table for a potential spinoff. In Nash's debut episode, which airs Sunday, Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and the Los Angeles division of the FBI enlist the help of FBI trainee Clark when one of her former students is suspected of terrorism following an explosion at a local power station.«Simone is so fun to play,» Nash tells ET's Rachel Smith of her character.

Following her tenure on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, NeNe Leakes filed a lawsuit against its production companies, citing a hostile and racist working environment.

has been suspended after a complaint was reportedly filed specifically against the 71-year-old actor, alleging “inappropriate behavior.”The complaint was filed last week and production was temporarily halted on Monday, according to Deadline. On Thursday, however, the film was suspended indefinitely as an investigation takes place.

NeNe Leakes is suing the companies behind the, alleging that they fostered and tolerated a hostile and racist work environment.The lawsuit, filed in the Atlanta federal court on Wednesday, lists NBCUniversal, Bravo, the production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, executives from the companies and  executive producer Andy Cohen as defendants, according to the Associated Press,The suit states, per the AP, “NBC, Bravo and True foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated – if not, encouraged.”According to the AP, the lawsuit states that Leakes had complained for years about alleged racist remarks made by fellow former cast member Kim Zolciak-Biermann, who, according to the suit, allegedly made “racially insensitive and stereotypical” comments about fellow cast member Kandi Burruss' home and that Zolciak-Biermann allegedly used the N-word to refer to Leakes and other members of the cast. Leakes did not name Zolciak-Biermann in the lawsuit.The lawsuit also claims that Leakes' complaints of alleged racism had her forced off the series prior to the 13th season in 2020. Leakes was a cast member on  from 2008-2020. Leakes' lawyer in Beverly Hills, David DeRubertis, released a statement to ET regarding the lawsuit.“From the day the series began filming, NeNe was the target of systemic racism from co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, which was tolerated by Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen and other executives,” says DeRubertis.

After starring on seven seasons on The Real Housewives of Atlanta over the years, NeNe Leakes is reportedly suing the companies behind the show for a hostile and racist work environment.

Anna Franklin “Utama,” the debut feature from Bolivian filmmaker Alejandro Loayza Grisi, won best film in the Glocal Images International Competition section of Cyprus Film Days Intl. Film Festival, according to online news service Film New Europe.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorKevin Bacon and Farrah Mackenzie have joined Netflix’s “Leave the World Behind,” joining Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke and Myha’la Herrold in the film based on the bestselling novel by Rumaan Alam.The story revolves around a couple vacationing in a rental house on Long Island, who are surprised when the homeowners arrive bearing news of a mysterious blackout.Sam Esmail writes and directs, and the Obamas’ production Higher Ground recently came on as an executive producer. The novel was a finalist for the National Book Award.USC’s School of Cinematic Arts is partnering with the Gary Cooper estate for the 70th anniversary of Oscar-nominated Western “High Noon.” On Sunday, April 24, events will include a special screening and panel, book signing and opening of the Gary Cooper Exhibition.

EXCLUSIVE:  Olivia Thirlby is joining the star-studded cast of Christopher Nolan’s feature film Oppenheimer. 

Spring is in the air, cinephiles are drunk with rampant Cannes speculation, and maybe we can get more Safdie Brothers films starring Adam Sandler as a treat. While this trio, filmmakers Benny and Josh Safdie and the Sandman gave us the terrific thriller “Uncut Gems” in 2019—where Sandler played the Jewish-American jeweler Howard Ratner, a man with a terrible gambling addiction—there could be more where that came from.

Robert Downey, Jr. sports a full head of white hair on the set of his new movie, Oppenheimer, in New York on Tuesday afternoon (April 12).

Under The Skin has been named the best British film of the 21st century in a critics poll.Conducted by MASSIVE Cinema, the poll consisted of 60 film reviewers from national newspapers, leading film magazines and freelance critics. Any British film released from January 1 2000 was eligible, with 179 films receiving at least one vote.Directed by Jonathan Glazer, Under The Skin starred Scarlett Johansson as a shape-shifting alien who drives around Glasgow to prey on unsuspecting men.

Spring is in the air, cinephiles are drunk with rampant Cannes speculation, and maybe we can get more Safdie Brothers films starring Adam Sandler as a treat. While this trio, filmmakers Benny and Josh Safdie and the Sandman gave us the terrific thriller “Uncut Gems” in 2019—where Sandler played the Jewish-American jeweler Howard Ratner, a man with a terrible gambling addiction—there could be more where that came from.

Kevin Smith has shared further details about his new horror film KillRoy Was Here, which is set to be the first film ever released as an NFT.Directed and by Smith and based on a script he co-wrote with Andy McElfresh, the horror anthology features a creature that kills evil adults on behalf of their traumatised child victims. Smith also produced the film with Jordan Monsanto and David Shapiro.KillRoy Was Here will be released as an NFT that also includes exclusive content from the film, behind-the-scenes footage, and a commentary track (per Deadline).