Johnny Depp Directs Al Pacino in First Look at ‘Modi’; Says First Directorial Gig After Trials Is ‘Transformative Experience’

With Sundance wrapped up, we are now looking forward to the rest of the early 2024 festivals, including SXSW in March. While we already have some idea of what we’ll see at the event, we now know the Closing Night film is one to keep an eye on— “The Idea of You” from director Michael Showalter.

Vanessa Feltz appeared to show her relief as she spent time alone for the first time in more than 300 days since her heartbreaking split from her former fiance Ben Ofoedu.

New EastEnders spoilers show Karen Taylor is soon set to arrive back in Walford after fleeing to Spain back in December, having grown concerned about the whereabouts of her son Keanu. Karen (Lorraine Stanley) left Albert Square behind last year after Keanu (Danny Walters) blamed her for son Albie's kidnap, despite him being behind the entire thing.

Annika Pham Seasoned actor Tinna Hrafnsdóttir (“The Minister,” “The Valhalla Murders”) has joined Icelandic counterparts Aníta Briem (“The Tudors”, “As Long as We Live”) and Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir (“Paris of the North”, “Happily Never After”), successful female actors who have made with panache the leap to screenwriting, sharing the distinction of a nomination for best screenplay of a Nordic drama series. Flying Iceland’s flag at this year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize, to be handed out Jan.

Singer Elle King has postponed a show set for Fort Worth, Texas, this Friday. It would have been her first show since her controversial performance at a Dolly Parton tribute at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Jan. 19.

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

Caroline Brew editor Netflix has released the full trailer for its live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon’s animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” All eight hour-long episodes of the show’s first season will premiere on Netflix on Feb. 22. The first trailer for the series was released in November.

Naman Ramachandran “Emergency,” written, directed and produced by Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut, has set a release date. The film focuses on one of the most controversial periods of post-Independence Indian history from 1975 to 1977 when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a nationwide state of emergency. During that time civil liberties and press freedom were curtailed and elections were canceled.

Caroline Brew editor Hulu debuted first look images from its new limited series “We Were the Lucky Ones,” starring Joey King and Logan Lerman. The first three episodes will premiere on the streamer on March 28, with the following episodes coming out weekly. The series is a television adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s novel “We Were the Lucky Ones.” Based on a true story, the show follows a Jewish family separated at the start of World War II on their quest to survive and reunite, per the release.

Netflix has set an April 4 premiere date and unveiled the first trailer for psychological thriller series Ripley, starring Andrew Scott as Patricia Highsmith’s title character. The series adaptation, from The Night Of’s Steve Zaillian, was orginally set at Showtime but moved to the streamer ahead of Showtime’s integration into Paramount+.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Gaumont has unveiled a first still and trailer for “Black Tea,” Abderrahmane Sissako‘s highly anticipated follow-up to his 2015 Oscar-nominated film “Timbuktu.” The movie will world premiere in competition at the Berlin Film Festival. A lushly-lensed romance drama, “Black Tea” (previously titled “The Perfumed Hill“) tells the story of Joice, who leaves the Ivory Coast after walking out on her wedding day and sets off to start a new life in Guangzhou, China.

Johnny Depp‘s new directorial outing Modi, starring Al Pacino, have been released – you can view them below.The upcoming biopic tells the story of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, known as “Modi” to his friends, and is based on Dennis McIntyre’s play Modigliani, with a screenplay by Jerzy and Mary Kromolowski.The synopsis for the story, which takes place over 48-hour period, reads: “On the run from the police, Modi’s desire to end his career and leave the city is dismissed by fellow Bohemians: French artist Maurice Utrillo, the Belarusian-born Chaim Soutine and his English muse and lover, Beatrice Hastings. Modi seeks advice from his Polish art dealer and friend Leopold Zborowski, but the chaos reaches a crescendo when he’s faced with a collector who could change his life.”In the first-look images below, Depp is seen directing his cast, including Pacino who plays real-life French art collector Maurice Gangnat.⁠A post shared by Variety (@variety)The upcoming film, which has now wrapped production, marks the first time Depp and Pacino have worked together since 1997’s Donnie Brasco.

EXCLUSIVE: Production has officially begun on Netflix‘s The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3 and Deadline has your sneak peek of what’s ahead.

First behind-the-scenes images have been revealed of Johnny Depp directing biopic Modi, which is wrapping production.

Ben Croll Premiering out of Sundance’s World Cinema Documentary Competition, the impressionistic essay film “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” refracts the plot against Patrice Lumumba through a kaleidoscopic lens. Cutting between historical footage of the UN General Assembly and home movies shot in liberation-era Congo, weaving in a diverse set of perspectives, and setting the pace to a non-stop rhythm of bebop, rumba and classic jazz, director Johan Grimonprez evokes the euphoria of post-colonial possibility and the heartbreak of the dashed hopes and violent reprisals that would ensue.

BreAnna Bell Amazon and Tastemade have signed a multi-year first look deal to produce unscripted lifestyle content. Their first venture together as part of the deal will deliver 15 new shows to Prime Video and Amazon Freevee audiences over the next few years.

Cinema export agency Unifrance’s annual international box office report for 2023 revealed on Tuesday that Russia was the top market in terms of admissions for French cinema last year.

French director Maïwenn has been fined $435 (€400) for assaulting a leading French journalist in the lead-up to the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, according to French media reports.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-nominated Yellowjackets executive producer Drew Comins has signed a first-look deal with film and TV studio Fifth Season for his Creative Engine Entertainment production company. Under the pact with the indie studio, run by co-CEOs Graham Taylor and Chris Rice, Creative Engine will continue to develop talent-driven original series for streaming platforms and premium cable outlets, which Comins will be executive producing.

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