Barry Jenkins Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Oscar-nominated “King Richard” and “The Help” actress Aunjanue Ellis is set to star in a feature adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s “The Nickel Boys” for writer-director RaMell Ross and MGM’s Orion Pictures. The film will co-star Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater and Fred Hechinger.

Aka Niviâna, Isabella Star Lablanc, and Joel D. Montgrand have joined HBO’s True Detective: Night Country, starring alongside leads Jodie Foster and Kali Reis for Season 4 of the crime anthology series.

Janelle Monáe was fashionably late as she strolled onstage at the BFI Southbank, where she headlined the London Film Festival’s final major keynote ‘screen talk’ Friday afternoon. 

MK2 Managing Director Fionnuala Jamison was the focus of the London Film Festival’s second ‘spotlight’ industry talk Wednesday, during which she provided insights on navigating the international film market, including how regional prejudices can impact how films are sold.

Like many fans, Trevor Noah was rather befuddled by the lighting for HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon.” The series raised eyebrows after a scene in the latest episode was so dark that it was hard for some viewers to distinguish what, exactly, was going on.During Wednesday’s episode of “The Daily Show,” Noah had a few guesses as to why the scene was lit that way, pointing out that it isn’t just “House of the Dragon” that has suffered from this phenomenon.“For real, you guys. Have you guys noticed how this is happening on every single show these days? Everything on TV is so dark. You can’t see anything.

EXCLUSIVE: Licorice Pizza and If Beale Street Could Talk producer Sara Murphy and War Pony producer Ryan Zacarias have launched their own TV and film production company and have struck a deal with Anonymous Content.

won the Pulitzer Prize in Public Service in 2018 for breaking the story of Harvey Weinstein’s decades of sexual abuse allegations in their explosive reporting with the New York Times.Mulligan will play the role of Twohey in the upcoming “She Said” alongside Zoe Kazan, who will play Kantor. First breaking out in “An Education,” the twice Oscar-nominated Mulligan has starred in “Promising Young Woman” and “Spaceman,” and has been involved in initiatives like the Alzheimer’s Society, the Society’s Dementia Awareness Week and serves as an ambassador for War Child, an organization that aids children affected by conflict.

Clayton Davis It’s more than just Harry, it’s an ensemble. Amazon Studios is moving forward with an awards push for director Michael Grandage’s romantic drama “My Policeman,” despite mixed reviews out of the Toronto Film Festival, where it received an ensemble tribute. Variety has learned exclusively that Amazon will be submitting the entire cast, which includes music superstar Harry Styles and Emmy nominee Emma Corrin, all in the supporting categories for Oscar consideration. Going between younger and older versions of the three main characters over a 40-year span, the British drama tells the story of Tom (Styles and Linus Roache), Marion (Corrin and Gina McKee) and Patrick (David Dawson and Rupert Everett) and how events from their past affect their future when reunited.

Kate Aurthur editor The coalition of showrunners, TV creators and directors formed in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in June to overturn Roe v. Wade are continuing to put pressure on Hollywood studios to put safety protocols into place in abortion-hostile states. But on Sept. 28, in a full-page ad in the Power of Women issue of Variety, the still-unnamed coalition thanked those studios “for fully engaging and being thought leaders with us,” as the message reads in part. (The page was donated to the coalition by Variety‘s sales team without charge. The full letter is included below.) The coalition’s efforts became public on July 28, when Variety reported that 411 showrunners had sent nine major studios a letter demanding that new safety protocols be established for productions in states where abortion has been outlawed. Four days later, 594 male showrunners and creators backed up that demand — and the group was soon joined by nearly 400 directors.

Clayton Davis After two weeks of solid showings at the box office, excellent reviews and passionate fan responses, “The Woman King” has become one of the year’s standout hits, with plans to be competitive in the awards races for both major and artisan category attention.  One of the film’s standout stars, Thuso Mbedu, who plays the young Nawi, will be campaigning for supporting actress attention, Variety has learned. Academy Award winner Viola Davis (“Fences”) will be the sole actress campaigning for lead actress.  Mbedu, who was the breakout sensation of 2021’s Emmy-nominated series “The Underground Railroad” from director Barry Jenkins, will compete in supporting alongside her co-stars Sheila Atim, Jayme Lawson, Adrienne Warren and most prominent, Lashana Lynch. All of the male actors, including John Boyega, will be competing in supporting actor. 

True Detective season four, according to reports.Eccleston, known for roles in Doctor Who and The Leftovers, will star in the fourth season as Ted Corsaro, described as a “regional chief of police and a political animal,” as reported by Variety. Killing Eve actor Shaw will play Rose Aguineau, a “survivalist with a past full of secrets”.Other new cast members include John Hawkes (Deadwood) as Hank Prior, a police officer with “old grudges hiding under a quiet surface”.

In March, HBO announced that “True Detective: Night Country” was in the works, with Issa López writing the series ilot and Barry Jenkins on board as executive producer. Then in May, Jodie Foster joined the cast in a starring role, with Kali Reis signing on in June.

HBO is rounding out the cast for True Detective: Night Country. John Hawkes (Deadwood, Winter’s Bone), Christopher Eccleston (The Leftovers), Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve), Finn Bennett (Domina) and Anna Lambe (Three Pines) are set as leads alongside Jodie Foster and Kali Reis in Season 4 of the crime anthology series.

After “Moonlight,” “If Beale Street Could Talk,” and “The Underground Railroad,” did anyone expect Barry Jenkins‘s next film to be… a prequel to “The Lion King“? It’s a total left-field move by Jenkins. After all, how will the director’s formal brilliance shine through all the photo-realistic CGI “Mufasa: The Lion King” will rely on?   READ MORE: ‘Lion King’ Prequel TItle Unveiled, ‘Haunted Mansion’ Adds New Cast & More [D23 Expo] Audiences won’t get an answer until the movie releases in 2024, but even then: it’s a Barry Jenkins movie, so, something to be really excited about.

EXCLUSIVE: Sheila Atim MBE (The Woman King) has signed with UTA for representation in all areas.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Disney has removed “Rogue Squadron,” the new “Star Wars” film from director Patty Jenkins, from its release calendar. The move comes as little surprise since the tentpole, which was scheduled for Dec. 22, 2023, was taken off the studio’s production schedule in 2021. The announcement is more-or-less pro forma, as the window for “Rogue Squadron” to start filming in time to complete the movie by next December had very nearly closed. The next big-screen story in the space opera saga had already been delayed in November 2021, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts with Jenkins. As part of the scheduling change, Disney set release dates for several movies, including its “Snow White” remake, starring Rachel Zegler (March 22, 2024); “Inside Out 2,” a follow-up to the emotional Pixar picture (June 14, 2024); and “The Lion King” sequel “Mufasa,” from director Barry Jenkins (July 5, 2024).

D23 Expo, the Disney fan event held every two years, just wrapped up in Anaheim, California. For fans of the brand, it’s their chance to get a first look at new movies, television shows and theme park attractions from every corner of the vast Disney empire and to celebrate (along with other like-minded folks) the stories that mean so much to them.

Clayton Davis Three movies into his film career, Harry Styles’ ability as an actor continues to improve with each of his outings. Beginning as a young soldier in Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” (2017), he returns to the silver screen with two films this year. In the first, he’s the charming husband to Florence Pugh in “Don’t Worry Darling,” with the press tour that keeps on giving. In the second, he portrays a closeted gay police officer in Michael Grandage’s drama “My Policeman” from Amazon Studios, featuring his strongest turn yet as an actor. But is an Oscar nomination in his future? Singers-turned-actors have had an inconsistent road to the Academy Awards. While there are successes such as Cher (“Moonstruck”) and Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”), Academy voters sometimes make actors prove themselves for a while to show they’re the real deal. Known as a “pretty boy,” Styles’ celebrity status does present an obstacle to overcome with awards voters. As Tom, the internalized conflict that Styles conveys is executed effectively, and if he decides to campaign and make a play for his first Oscar nomination, it will have to begin with Amazon choosing to submit him for supporting actor attention – which is not category fraud.

Disney‘s big event, D23 Expo 2022, is currently underway at the Anaheim Convention Center and today Walt Disney Studios‘ made a big promotional push for upcoming theatrical and Disney+ lineup for feature films. The giant entertainment company revealed new details and first looks, led by their new “Lion King” prequel, directed by Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight“), now titled “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Some of those anticipated titles include traditional animation flicks the family-friendly company is known for from Walt Disney Animation Studios, along with their live-action projects as well.

Barry Jenkins will be directing Mufasa: The Lion King, the upcoming prequel to the 2019 live-action adaptation of The Lion King.

Disney‘s big event, D23 Expo 2022, is currently underway at the Anaheim Convention Center and today Walt Disney Studios‘ made a big promotional push for upcoming theatrical and Disney+ lineup for feature films. The giant entertainment company revealed new details and first looks, led by their new “Lion King” prequel, directed by Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight“), now titled “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Some of those anticipated titles include traditional animation flicks the family-friendly company is known for from Walt Disney Animation Studios, along with their live-action projects as well.

Wilson Chapman editor Barry Jenkins is heading to Pride Rock. At D23, the acclaimed “Moonlight” director appeared on stage to officially announce “Mufasa: The Lion King,” a new prequel to the 2019 “Lion King” film. Originally announced in 2020 as a sequel to the 2019 film, “Mufasa” tells the origin story of the iconic Disney father, exploring his childhood growing up with his brother Scar. The film will feature the voice of Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as younger versions of the characters, filling in for James Earl Jones as Mufasa in both the 1994 original and the 2019 CGI remake, and Jeremy Irons and Chiwetel Ejiofor as the villainous Scar. In addition to announcing the title, exclusive preview footage of the film was shown to the audience of the D23 expo.

Gregg Goldstein The last time Fred Hechinger was in Toronto, he came to see a film that left his acting on the cutting room floor. Six years later, in one of several full-circle moments, the breakout star of HBO’s “The White Lotus” and Sony/Marvel’s upcoming Spider-Man Universe entry “Kraven the Hunter” returns with the Sept. 9 Gala premiere of “Butcher’s Crossing,” his first lead role in a feature. “It was my first time going to a festival to see something that I was a part of,” the actor recalls. “I was working behind the scenes on [the romantic drama] ‘Tramps,’ they put me in one scene and I got cut, but it was technically the first thing I’ve ever acted in.” Yet that trip ignited a bizarre series of events that helped launch his career. “To connect a lot of crazy dots, the next morning I saw the first [TIFF] screening of ‘Moonlight’ and a Q&A with Barry Jenkins.” When the director hired him years later for the 2021 Amazon Prime miniseries “The Underground Railroad,” Hechinger read some revivalist western novels on set for research … including John Williams’ 1960 book, “Butcher’s Crossing.”

Clayton Davis In the late summer of 2012, the indie film production and distribution company A24 was born. Drama, comedy, horror, documentary, animation – nothing has been off-limits for the New York outfit.

The Toronto International Film Festival announced its second big wave of programming for the 47th edition, a 54 feature title lineup across its Discovery, Midnight Madness and Wavelengths sections.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterHoly hot-dog fingers! A24’s zany black comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once” has cleared a major box office milestone, crossing $100 million in global ticket sales. It’s the first A24 movie to hit that box office benchmark.Since the movie landed in theaters in March, the multiverse adventure turned into the rare indie sleeper hit at the box office on its journey to becoming A24’s highest-grossing film of all time.

Disney+ has unveiled the first trailer and poster for Lucasfilm and Imagine Documentaries’ “Light & Magic,” a new docuseries that chronicles the untold history of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the special visual effects, animation and virtual production division of Lucasfilm. “Star Wars” creator George Lucas founded the company in 1975. It has gone on to earn 16 Academy Awards while spearheading groundbreaking developments in the realm of special effects.

EXCLUSIVE: De’Adre Aziza (She’s Gotta Have It) is the latest addition to the cast of MGM’s boxing drama Flint Strong, marking the feature directorial debut of Oscar-nominated DP Rachel Morrison. She joins an ensemble led by Ryan Destiny, which also includes Oluniké Adeliyi and Brian Tyree Henry, as previously announced.

True Detective, led by Jodie Foster, has officially been confirmed by HBO.The Oscar-winning actress has been cast alongside professional boxer and Indigenous rights advocate Kali Reis.The fourth season, titled True Detective: Night Country, comes from writer-director Issa López, who will also executive produce alongside Foster, Barry Jenkins, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and Cary Fukunaga.“We are tremendously excited to return to the True Detective franchise and to be working with the multi-talented Issa López, whose singular vision for her ‘Night Country’ instalment will be beautifully realised with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis in the starring roles,” said Francesca Orsi, the Executive Vice President and Head of Programming at HBO.A synopsis for the upcoming season (via Deadline) reads: “When the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace.“To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Reis) will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.”“It was all a dream…..” ✊

Ukonwa Ojo, who arrived at Amazon Studios and Prime Video close to two years ago as Chief Marketing Officer, is exiting.

“Catch the Fair One” star Kali Reis is joining Jodie Foster in the fourth season of HBO’s “True Detective,” it was announced Tuesday.HBO gave a series order for the fourth season — “True Detective: Night Country” — from Issa López who will serve as showrunner, writer, director and executive producer. Foster is also an executive producer.The new series is set to film in Iceland.

Actor, professional boxer and Indigenous rights advocate Kali Reis is set to star opposite Jodie Foster in True Detective: Night Country. With both leads in place, Season 4 of the crime thriller anthology series has received a formal greenlight by HBO.

The Peabody Awards finished announcing its 82nd class of winners this morning and you could argue it saved the best for last. Joining previous winners “Hacks,” “Dopesick,” “Sort Of” and “Reservation Dogs” were Barry Jenkins’ “The Underground Railroad,” the celebrated Netflix special “Bo Burnham: Inside” and the Oscar-winning documentary “Summer of Soul,” among others.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAmazon Prime Video’s “The Underground Railroad” and Netflix’s “Bo: Burnham: Inside” are among the final round of entertainment series to be honored by the Peabody Awards this year. The last crop of winners were announced Thursday morning.“The Underground Railroad” award was presented by Ibram X.

True Detective. As reported by Variety, Foster will play the role of Detective Liz Danvers in the show’s forthcoming iteration True Detective: Night Country.The series will follow Detective Danvers and Detective Evangeline Navarro (who is yet to be cast), as they set about solving a case in Ennis, Alaska, in which six men operating the Tsalal Arctic Research Station mysteriously vanish. According to the show’s synopsis, the duo will “have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.”Foster has starred in a number of iconic films during her Hollywood career, including The Silence Of The Lambs, Taxi Driver, Nell and The Accused.Rumours of a fourth True Detective series started circulating in February this year, when HBO’s chief content officer Casey Bloys said they were looking at ways to move the story forwards following the third season.“It’s safe to say we’re working with a couple of writers to find the right tone and take,” he told Deadline.

A new era of “True Detective” is on the way as HBO has recruited Mexican filmmaker Issa López (“Tigers Are Not Afraid”) to write/direct the pilot for “True Detective: Night Country” with Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight,” “The Underground Railroad”) set to produce. The anticipated project has landed a high-profile actor to the cast as Deadline reports that Oscar-winner Jodie Foster has nabbed a lead role in ‘Night Country,’ marking the actress’ first major adult television role (Foster hasn’t appeared on the small screen since 1975).