The Hills of California, the first new play by Jez Butterworth‘s since his acclaimed The Ferryman in 2017, will open on Broadway this fall, reuniting the playwright with director Sam Mendes.
16.05.2024 - 06:33 / variety.com
Alex Ritman Genre filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig (Lionsgate’s “Jigsaw”) are set to direct “Fall 2,” the second installment in the “Fall” franchise. Scott Mann, who directed and co-wrote the first film, is returning to co-write with Jonathan Frank. Following the hugely successful survival thriller “Fall,” released in 2022 by Lionsgate, “Fall 2” — set to start production in June — will reunite producers Mark Lane and James Harris of Tea Shop Prods.
(“47 Meters Down”), Capstone’s Christian Mercuri, David Haring and Scott Mann via the Flawless banner. Dan Asma, John Long and Roman Viaris will also reunite as executive producers alongside Capstone’s Ruzanna Kegeyan. Capstone will finance the sequel, with Capstone Global handling worldwide rights.
In late 2023, Capstone Studios greenlit both “Fall 2” and “Fall 3,” which will bring back original characters from the first film while also leaving room for new ones to be introduced. The first “Fall” followed two best friends who climb 2,000 feet to the top of an abandoned radio tower and find themselves stranded with no way down. Their expert climbing skills are put to the test as they desperately fight to survive the elements, a lack of supplies and vertigo-inducing heights.
Mann will return to write and direct the third installment. “We’re extremely excited to helm the second installment of this franchise and bring to life another nail biting, vertigo inducing thrill ride,” the Spierig Brothers said. Mann added: “I am so proud to hand over the reins to the Spierigs, two highly respected genre directors whose addition will undoubtedly make this follow-up even more of a must-see experience than we already knew it would be.” The Spierig brothers are best known for
.The Hills of California, the first new play by Jez Butterworth‘s since his acclaimed The Ferryman in 2017, will open on Broadway this fall, reuniting the playwright with director Sam Mendes.
Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones‘ big news has been revealed!
Well, it’s official: after starting talks with Blumhouse earlier this month, Mike Flanagan will write, direct, and produce the studio’s next “Exorcist” film. But Deadline reports that the project isn’t a sequel to “The Exorcist: Believer” anymore. Instead, Flanagan will helm “a radical new take” on the horror series for Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, effectively starting the franchise over.
Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic When you sit down to watch a documentary about the Beach Boys, you know what you want: to be immersed in the California dreamin’ of the group’s early surfin’-hit days, in the jaunty beauty of songs like “I Get Around” and “Help Me Rhonda,” and in the story of how Brian Wilson began to figure out a way to turn pop songs into miniature symphonies. You want to be immersed in the recording of “Pet Sounds,” in the Beach Boys’ rivalry with the Beatles, in the derailed masterpiece that was “Smile,” and in how Brian’s mental and emotional problems began to tear himself and the group apart.
Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Nurse Jackie” sequel series is now in development at Amazon Prime Video with original star Edie Falco set to return, Variety has learned exclusively. It was first reported in 2023 that a “Nurse Jackie” followup was in the works at Showtime from Lionsgate Television, but the project has now moved to Amazon. The official logline states, “10 years after we left Jackie Peyton (Falco) clinging to life in the series finale, we find her back on her feet in spite of having lost her nursing license.
Coronation Street's Claire Sweeney is set to take a brief hiatus from the Weatherfield drama as she embarks on an exciting new role in Channel 5's gripping murder-mystery series, The Good Ship Murder. The star, known for her portrayal of Cassie Plummer, will be absent from the soap for approximately one week to join former Corrie stars Catherine Tyldesley and Shayne Ward in the sun-drenched series brimming with suspense and dark twists.The show is gearing up for its return with even more thrilling storylines, featuring the dynamic duo of Shayne's character, the cabaret singer turned sleuth Jack Grayling, and Catherine's ambitious First Officer Kate Woods.
EXCLUSIVE: Tom Brittney (Back in Action) has signed on to star in Black Box (Flight 298), a recently announced supernatural thriller from Capstone Studios and Hammerstone Studios. Others set for roles in the film, currently in production in Bulgaria, include Holly White (Home and Away) and Betsy Blue English (Four Weddings and a Funeral).
Courteney Cox has opened up about the loss of her Friends co-star Matthew Perry and told how she believes he "visits" her regularly since his death last October. While discussing the 20th anniversary of the comedy series' finale on CBS Sunday Morning at the weekend, the actress opened up about the late star and said: "You know, he’s just so funny. He has genuinely a huge heart, obviously struggled.
It feels like it’s been months or even years that we’ve all known that Timothée Chalamet would star in a Blue De Chanel advertisement directed by Martin Scorsese (“Killers Of The Flower Moon”). The pair, who conducted some interviews last year, particularly one for GQ, are clearly mutual admirers of one another.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Zach Galifianakis and Tom Sturridge team up in Olivier Assayas’ political thriller “The Wizard of the Kremlin”, based on Giuliano da Empoli’s bestseller by the same name. Produced by Olivier Delbosc’s banner Curiosa Films and Gaumont – who last partnered on Cannes prizewinning “The Taste of Things” — “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is one of the hottest packages launching at the Cannes Film Market where Alexis Cassanet, Gaumont’s EVP international sales and distribution, is kicking off pre-sales.
Alex Ritman Paris-based sales house Charades has sold the Argentinian Western-inspired documentary “Gaucho Gaucho” across much of Europe. The film — which won a Sundance Jury Prize in January and recently played at CPH:DOX — has landed deals with Tandem (France), Filmin (Spain), Selmer Media (Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark), M2 (Romania, Poland, Hungary. Ex-Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria), Praesens (Switzerland) and Bantam Films (Benelux).
Alex Ritman Bill Murray has joined the cast of “Riff Raff,” the upcoming crime comedy from director Dito Montiel set to feature Jennifer Coolidge (“The White Lotus”), Ed Harris (“Love Lies Bleeding”) Gabrielle Union (“The Inspection”), Lewis Pullman (“Top Gun: Maverick”), Emanuela Postacchini (“Robots”), Miles J. Harvey (“American Vandal”) and Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island”).
Audrey Diwan is attached to direct “The Marriage Portrait,” based on the novel by award-winning Northern Irish writer Maggie O’Farrell, best known for “Hamnet.” Variety hears that the project will see the fast-rising French auteur team with two of Europe’s leading arthouse producers in Ireland’s Element Pictures (which has three films in Cannes’ official selection this year) and Italy’s Wildside. Film4 helped develop the feature.
EXCLUSIVE: Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood, Daredevil) is set to star in horror-thriller The Cycle, which will be launched for sales at the Cannes market by The Exchange.
EXCLUSIVE: On the eve of the Cannes market, Westbrook Studios and AGC Studios have set Italian filmmaker Stefano Sollima, known for directing Without Remorse, Sicario: Day of the Soldado and hit series Gomorrah, to helm big-budget action-thriller Sugar Bandits.
Joe Otterson TV Reporter “The Conners” has been renewed for Season 7 at ABC, which will also be the show’s last. In addition, ABC has canceled “Not Dead Yet” after two seasons. The final season of “The Conners” will reportedly be shorter than past seasons, with sources saying it will run for just six episodes.
EXCLUSIVE: Clea DuVall (Happiest Season) has been tapped to direct Abbi and the Eighth Wonder, a female-driven comedy adventure film in development at TriStar Pictures.
EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed filmmakers Ryan J. Sloan & Ariella Mastroianni for representation in all areas, with UTA Independent Film Group coming aboard to handle domestic sales for Sloan’s feature directorial debut, Gazer, which is set to premiere as part of Directors’ Fortnight and compete for the Camera d’Or at Cannes.
Selena Kuznikov Grace Caroline Currey has joined the cast of “The Breed,” and is set to lead the film. Directed by brothers Sean and Bryan Furst, the film is an “unconventional reimagining of the Wes Craven cult classic.” The brothers will produce together through their company, Curmudgeon Films. The film centers around Currey’s character Violet, “a rebel icon and badass on a mission to search for abandoned dogs on a remote island which leads to complete adrenaline-fueled terror.” Currey most recently starred in Lionsgate’s adventure thriller, “Fall,” directed by Scott Mann.
EXCLUSIVE: Matthew Del Negro (City on a Hill) is joining season 3 of Mayor of Kingstown.