Colleen Hoover’s ‘Verity’ Film Adaptation in Development at Amazon MGM

CGI movie technology, it is getting harder and harder to deliver that true spine-chilling internal fear that makes horror films so great.Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids may arrogantly scoff at retro scary movies, but it hasn’t always been this way.There was once a time when picture-goers were so viscerally terrified by what they were seeing on the big screen that it would trigger powerful physical reactions right there in the theater.During Jaws (1975) people fainted and vomited in the cinema during some of the gruesome scenes, while others stopped going swimming in the ocean altogether out of pure fear.Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Psycho (1960) sparked mania during the infamous shower stabbing scene, with reports of people hyperventilating and passing out in their cinema chairs.However, one of the most horrifying movies to ever hit the big screen, causing widespread panic, fear and repulsion, is William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973).Based on William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel, the film follows the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s attempt to rescue her through an exorcism by two Catholic priests.With some wildly disturbing scenes, including some bizarre 360 degree head spinning, eerie spider-walking on the stairs and some disgusting projective lime-green vomit, it shocked those 1970s audiences to their core.One particular vulgar scene involving a crucifix — that is too crude to describe here — shocked and upset many, especially considering the percentage of people who were religious back then.The flick was so scary that even renowned Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert was at a loss for words about how it made him feel.“I am not sure exactly what reasons people will have for seeing this movie; surely

An iconic sci-fi star is joining a legendary science-fiction fantasy series. Sigourney Weaver, known for her turn as Ellen Ripley in the “Alien” series, has been cast in the upcoming “Star Wars” film, “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” according to THR.

EXCLUSIVE: Ever Anderson, an up-and-coming actress known for roles in Disney+’s Peter Pan & Wendy and Marvel’s Black Window, has entered into a new strategic partnership with Amazon MGM Studios, sources tell Deadline.

If cinema is somehow retracting, contracting, or diminishing, don’t tell the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival and all its many sidebars. Thank god for them because when you look at the Cannes 2024 line-up, cinema seems to be in great health and shape.

EXCLUSIVE: Peter Morgan‘s next project for Netflix is likely to be a film adaptation of his stage play Patriots rather than more of The Crown, according to sources close to the writer.

Robert De Niro.The off-shoot, appropriately titled De Niro Con promises to be a fitting tribute to the Oscar winner. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 80 years of Robert De Niro, my dear friend and co-conspirator for the past 35 years, than by throwing a big bash for his fellow New Yorkers,” Tribeca co-founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal said in a statement.The extravaganza, which takes place from June 14-16, is a De Niro delight.And many famous co-stars and directors will be joining in.Film screenings include “A Bronx Tale” with an introduction by co-star Chazz Palminteri.“Jackie Brown” will be followed by a conversation between Quentin Tarantino and De Niro.Billy Crystal will be chatting with De Niro after a screening of “Analyze This.”“Silver Linings Playbook” will include a convo with director David O.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has optioned the film rights to Elizabeth Rose Quinn’s unpublished novel Follow Me, with Adele Lim in negotiations to write and direct. Megha Parekh at Amazon Publishing has also acquired novel rights in a preempt for publication in 2025.

EXCLUSIVE: Charlie Cox (Daredevil) has been tapped to star opposite Zooey Deschanel in Merv (working title), Amazon MGM Studios‘ rom-com from director Jessica Swale, which is now in production.

The copyright battle over Road House and this year’s remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor has turned into a full-on bare-knuckle legal brawl.

It’s May 4th, and you know what that means. In honor of the annual “Star Wars” fan holiday (“May The Force”), Lucasfilm has revealed the new trailer for “The Acolyte,” and if you were maybe a bit underwhelmed by the secretive nature of the first teaser, well, this trailer rips off the mask, unveils secrets and looks pretty damn great.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Amazon Prime Video has ordered a series adaptation of the Michelle Frances novel “The Girlfriend” with Robin Wright set to star and direct, Variety has learned. In addition, Olivia Cooke (“House of the Dragon,” “Sound of Metal”), Laurie Davidson (“Mary and George”), and Waleed Zuaiter (“Gangs of London”) will star alongside Wright. The official description of the series states: “Laura (Wright) wants for nothing.

EXCLUSIVE: Ismael Cruz Cordova (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Safia Oakley-Green (Out of Darkness), and Vedanten Naidoo (Suzume) have been tapped for roles in Amazon MGM Studios‘ forthcoming film The Bluff from director Frank E. Flowers.

By the power of Greyskull! Deadline reports that Amazon MGM has dated their live-action reboot of “Masters Of The Universe” to arrive in two summers: June 5, 2026, to be exact. The co-production with Mattel Films has been long in the making.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Meryl Streep will receive the honorary Palme d’Or on the opening night of the 77th edition of Cannes Film Festival, Variety has learned. Luring the Oscar winner is yet another feat for this Cannes edition, which will bring together a flurry Hollywood legends. Notably, George Lucas will receive the honorary Palme d’Or during the closing ceremony; Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” and Paul Schrader’s “Oh, Canada” are playing in competition; and George Miller‘s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and Kevin Costner’s Western epic “Horizon, an American Saga” are playing out of competition.

The power of Greyskull is happening on June 5, 2026 when Amazon MGM Studios’ and Mattel Films’ finally bring their live-action reboot of Masters of the Universe to theaters.

“Verity,” Colleen Hoover‘s 2018 book that was self-published before becoming a smash-hit success, is now becoming a movie!

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel are set to headline a series adaptation of the Alafair Burke novel “The Better Sister” at Amazon Prime Video, Variety has learned. “The Better Sister” is described as a thriller about “Chloe (Biel), who moves through the world with her handsome lawyer husband Adam and teenage son Ethan by her side while her estranged sister Nicky (Banks) hustles to make ends meet while trying to stay clean,” per the official description.

There was a fleeting moment in the early and mid-00s when being selected for the Slamdance Film Festival could mean something for a filmmaker’s career. Sure, it wasn’t the same as being part of the more prestigious and larger Park City, Utah film festival, but the edgier offshoot event gave a voice to independent films that didn’t have an industry connection or agency influence to make the Sundance cut.

EXCLUSIVE: More theatrical product for 2024 as Amazon MGM Studios‘ Orion Pictures has dated the feature take of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Nickel Boys for October 25. It’s a limited theatrical release on a date that also includes Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance and Cinedigm’s Terrifier 3.

EXCLUSIVE: Outlier Society is developing the Amazon MGM Studios action thriller movie, T-Minus, which is being co-scripted by Fall Guy‘s Drew Pearce and Watchmen and Station Eleven scribe Nick Cuse.