Chad Stahelski Inks Pact With Lionsgate To Have Oversight Of ‘John Wick’ & ‘Highlander’ Franchises; Filmmaker Already Set To Helm Action-Fantasy Reboot

Dakota Johnson brought Shark Tank to Saturday Night Live.

William Earl “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” crashing host Dakota Johnson‘s opening monologue as she bantered with the night’s musical guest, Justin Timberlake. Johnson opened the show by noting it was her first visit to Rockefeller Center’s Studio 8-H since 2015, when she first hosted “SNL” on the heels of its landmark 40th anniversary special when the audience was packed with notables such as directors Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Donald Trump, months before he launched his first successful campaign for the White House. On screen a photo of Johnson in that starry crowd flashed.

Michaela Zee Tom Johnson, a writer and comedian whose credits include “The Daily Show,” “Lopez Tonight” and “The Jeselnik Offensive,” died Jan. 14 in his Los Angeles home. He was 55.

Keanu Reeves has been set to receive the inaugural Lance Reddick Legacy Award at the 51st annual Saturn Awards ceremony, which has itself been dedicated to the memory of Reddick, a friend and former host of the show, who could be seen opposite the John Wick star in the entire franchise, passing away in March at the age of 60.

Todd Gilchrist editor Ian McShane is 81, but you’d never know it watching him in “American Star.” Also a producer of director Gonzalo López-Gallego’s new film, the English actor plays Wilson, a seasoned assassin who visits the Canary Islands’ Fuerteventura for a job, but instead unexpectedly becomes involved in the life of a French expatriate (Nora Arnezeder) and the lonely child of a vacationing couple (Oscar Coleman). From the first scene, McShane dances across the screen with the same effortlessness of a performer a quarter of his age as his character reckons with an escalating series of disruptions to a sequence of events whose outcome is inevitable: someone dying of a bullet from his gun.

Primetime Emmy nominee Tessa Thompson‘s Viva Maude has closed a multiyear first-look film deal with Amazon MGM Studios.

does not suffer fools. Born into a dynasty of Hollywood elites, she is blasé about maintaining Los Angeles pleasantries.

Oliver Stone has a lot of opinions about the current film industry and says movies like Barbie are contributing to the “infantilization of Hollywood.”

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Sasquatch Sunset” is the kind of movie you need to see to believe. Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough star in the absurdist comedy, which premiered on Friday at the Sundance Film Festival and follows a family of Yetis over the course of a year. The film, with zero dialogue or narration but plenty of grunts, captures an immersive, “true” depiction of the daily life of the Sasquatch.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor It’s game on for Amazon MGM Studios‘ TV division! MGM Alternative, a division of Amazon MGM Studios, announced a pact with the Global Esports Federation to create a range of content built around the GEF’s Global Esports Games, esports pro athletes and “the gaming lifestyle.” MGM Alternative’s productions include such reality shows as “The Voice,” “Shark Tank” and “Survivor.” The Singapore-based GEF, founded in December 2019, says it “promotes the credibility, legitimacy and prestige of esports globally.” The organization and MGM Alternative will work together to develop new linear and streaming content, as well as live events within GEF’s esports conventions and events. “With the global interest in esports at an all-time high, we’re eager to share the stories and excitement surrounding the Global Esports Games, their athletes and the gaming lifestyle,” Barry Poznick, GM of MGM Alternative, said in a statement.

Chad Stahelski is a filmmaker who finds himself attached to a number of projects. And even though we get excited for every new film his name comes up about, Stahelski always ends up coming back to his baby—“John Wick.” Well, it appears the filmmaker is going to continue spearheading the ‘Wick’ franchise, but his next film is actually going to be something very different.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Berlin’s Studio Babelsberg, one of Europe’s largest studio complexes, has revealed that its senior management has been rejigged. Recent movies to shoot at the studios include “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” “John Wick: Chapter 4” and “The Matrix Resurrections.” Founded in 1912, Babelsberg is one of the oldest studios in the world.

Fans are freaking out over the New Girl reunion that happened this week!

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Roku Channel has cut a deal with actor B.J. Novak‘s ChainFest to air an hourlong special about the food festival that celebrates the culinary creations of chain restaurants. Novak and chef Tim Hollingsworth created what is billed as an “immersive dining experience” that celebrates the pleasures of fast food and fast casual chain restaurants such as Chili’s, Panda Express, Pizza Hut, Red Robin and more.

OMG! Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa have already finalized their divorce!

Indie studio XYZ Films has renewed its financing pact with Finish-based fund management company IPR.VC. 

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Just after Spaniard J.A. Bayona’s Oscar-shortlisted “Society of the Snow” opened on Netflix to a massive 55.8 million hours watched over Jan. 4-7 – the second best bow ever in watching time for a non-English Netflix movie – ICEX Spain Trade & Investment, the country’s powerful export and inward investment board, has unveiled a new deal with Parrot Analytics.

Lionsgate announced on Tuesday that its new Guy Ritchie film The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare is set to open in wide release on April 19. Set to contend with the pic in its opening weekend at the box office is Radio Silence’s untitled monster thriller for Universal.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Tom Cruise has his next mission. The ageless action star signed a new deal to develop and produce theatrical films with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor As Hollywood tries to get its arms around the potential uses of generative AI, a Detroit-based tech firm has quietly spent the past few years building a video AI platform that can create ready-to-air TV commercials in a matter of minutes. Waymark has signed a broad pact with E.W. Scripps Co.