Jon Spaihts Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Jordan Moreau From the watery kingdom of Atlantis to the dangerous deserts of Arrakis, Jason Momoa may be heading to the video game world of Minecraft for Warner Bros, Variety has confirmed.The “Aquaman” and “Dune” star is in talks to join a live-action movie based on the massively popular Minecraft video game, which is the best-selling game of all time with more than 238 million copies sold since its release in 2011.Jared Hess, known for directing “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Nacho Libre” and more, will helm the film. Mary Parent and Roy Lee will produce, and Jill Messick will receive a posthumous credit for working on the film prior to her death in 2018.

Dune" took home six of the coveted gold trophies.  This outstanding honor puts the $165 million feature film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal 1965 novel in rare company, becoming the second of the most successful sci-fi movies at the Oscars by placing it in a tie with 2015's "Mad Max: Fury Road" with six wins.

Malina Saval Associate Editor, FeaturesAfter another politically and socially turbulent year, the Writers Guild of America is ready to celebrate the best that its members have to offer, while reflecting on the ever-changing social and entertainment landscape.The WGA’s annual awards event, a joint venture between WGAW and WGAWE, will be held on Sunday, March 20th, and similar to last year, will be handled as a virtual event. With COVID still firmly lingering in the space of the populace, the guild’s priorities have naturally shifted in ways that couldn’t have been anticipated, while still staying true to its collective core values.This year’s WGA film award nominees represent a roster of high-caliber talent.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentAs the March 27 Oscar ceremony looms, conversation has centered on the Academy’s decision to downgrade eight categories, their Twitter contest for fan favorites and their vaccination double-standard for attendees.In other words, while the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences could be shining a spotlight on the nominees, they’re instead shining a spotlight on the Academy. It’s too bad. The nominees are worth discussing, especially the enormous talent in the adapted-screenplay race.The contenders are Sian Heder, “CODA”; Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, “Drive My Car”; Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth, “Dune”; Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Lost Daughter”; and Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog.” The writers and their scripts are a study in contrasts.

**WINNER.Best Film“Belfast”“Don’t Look Up”“Dune”“Licorice Pizza”** WINNER “The Power of the Dog”Outstanding British Film“After Love”“Ali & Ava”**WINNER “Belfast”“Boiling Point”“Cyrano”“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”“House of Gucci”“Last Night in Soho”“No Time to Die”“Passing”Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer“After Love,” Aleem Khan (Writer/Director)“Boiling Point,” James Cummings (Writer), Hester Ruoff (Producer) [also written by Philip Barantini and produced by Bart Ruspoli]** WINNER “The Harder They Fall,” Jeymes Samuel (Writer/Director) [also written by Boaz Yakin]“Keyboard Fantasies,” Posy Dixon (Writer/Director), Liv Proctor (Producer)“Passing,” Rebecca Hall (Writer/Director)Film Not in the English Language** WINNER “Drive My Car”“The Hand of God”“Parallel Mothers”“Petit Maman”“The Worst Person in the World”Documentary“Becoming Cousteau”“Cow”“Flee”“The Rescue”** WINNER “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”Animated Film** WINNER “Encanto”“Flee”“Luca”“The Mitchells vs.

**WINNER.Best Film“Belfast”“Don’t Look Up”“Dune”“Licorice Pizza”“The Power of the Dog”Outstanding British Film“After Love”“Ali & Ava”“Belfast”“Boiling Point”“Cyrano”“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”“House of Gucci”“Last Night in Soho”“No Time to Die”“Passing”Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer“After Love,” Aleem Khan (Writer/Director)“Boiling Point,” James Cummings (Writer), Hester Ruoff (Producer) [also written by Philip Barantini and produced by Bart Ruspoli]“The Harder They Fall,” Jeymes Samuel (Writer/Director) [also written by Boaz Yakin]“Keyboard Fantasies,” Posy Dixon (Writer/Director), Liv Proctor (Producer)“Passing,” Rebecca Hall (Writer/Director)Film Not in the English Language“Drive My Car”“The Hand of God”“Parallel Mothers”“Petit Maman”“The Worst Person in the World”Documentary“Becoming Cousteau”“Cow”“Flee”“The Rescue”“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”Animated Film“Encanto”“Flee”“Luca”“The Mitchells vs.

Zack Sharf In the last line of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” Zendaya’s character says, “This is only the beginning.” She might as well have been talking about the “Dune” franchise itself. Villeneuve is currently in pre-production on “Dune: Part 2,” which is expected to begin filming in late summer, and a television series centered on the Bene Gesserit is already in development.

Jon Spaihts is a very busy man. Not only is he currently writing “Dune: Part Two” with Denis Villeneuve, but he’s exploring other aspects of Frank Herbert’s universe beyond his one-time association with a television spin-off, “Dune: The Sisterhood.” Throw in “Exodus,” an original screenplay for “I Am Mother” director Grant Sputore and a – breaking news – adaptation for acclaimed director Park Chan-wook and it’s clear the pandemic hasn’t slowed him down.

Clayton Davis The most shocking snub of the Oscar noms was Denis Villeneuve’s omission from the best directing category for his science-fiction epic “Dune.”The film’s 10-nomination haul includes best picture and adapted screenplay, the latter perceived to be its most difficult to attain. Yet, Villeneuve’s lack of recognition for directing could rally widespread support from Academy voters and result in the film tying or surpassing a 50-year record held by “Cabaret” (1972).Bob Fosse’s classic adaptation of the Broadway stage musical set a record at the 45th Academy Awards for the most Oscars received without winning best picture.

Dune is a three-year-plus battle long-fought, and well won by Denis Villeneuve, even if he was boxed out of the Best Director category at the Oscars.

The Power of the Dog, director Jane Champion's gorgeous, moody meditation on grief and loneliness? What about Don't Look Up, the Netflix original that had everyone on TikTok talking? Maybe you caught , the Serena and Venus Williams biopic that stars Will Smith in a career-defining role? We know you at least checked out Disney's , because we as a society have not stopped signing along to the Lin Manuel-Miranda original songs since it premiered. All can now be labeled as “Oscar nominees 2022." And good news for you: There's still time to watch the ones you missed, because the Academy Awards ceremony doesn't air until March 27. So check out the full list of Oscar nominations 2022, below, and we'll see you in March. Ciarán Hinds (Belfast)Troy Kotsur (CODA)Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog)J.K.

The 2022 Academy Award nominations list is finally here!

Clayton Davis The USC Scripter Awards has announced its nominees for its 34th annual ceremony, recognizing the best film and television adaptations. Netflix dominated the film category with three films making the cut, all from women screenwriters who also directed their movies: “The Lost Daughter” from Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Power of the Dog” from Jane Campion and “Passing” from Rebecca Hall. This is the first nomination for all three acclaimed filmmakers.Joel Coen, a two-time nominee for “No Country for Old Men” (2007), for which he won with his brother Ethan, and “True Grit” (2010), was recognized for adapting his black-and-white interpretation of “The Tragedy of Macbeth” for Apple Original Films and A24.

Nominations were revealed Wednesday for the 34th annual USC Libraries Scripter Award, which honors the year’s best film and episodic TV adaptations along with he works on which they are based. Winners will be unveiled at a planned in-person ceremony February 26 at USC’s Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library.

More than 400 years after writing “Macbeth,” William Shakespeare has been nominated for a Hollywood award for his early 17th-century classic. “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” director Joel Coen’s adaptation of the Bard’s tragedy, has been named a finalist at the 34th annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards, where the nominations go to both the screenwriter of an adaptation and the original author on which the adaptation is based.On a list unveiled by USC Libraries on Wednesday morning, Shakespeare is joined by three other deceased authors and one who is (probably) still alive but refuses to reveal her (?) real name.

Paul Krugman Guest ColumnistFor Variety‘s Writers on Writers, Paul Krugman pens a tribute to “Dune” (screenplay by Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve; based on the novel “Dune” by Frank Herbert).I went to see Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” with great anticipation — but also great trepidation.

Other than film festival audiences, “Dune” won’t be seen by most audiences until October. Still, director Denis Villeneuve is already preparing fans for his plans to move forward with a franchise.

This week, the trades revealed that Diane Ademu-John (a producer on “The Haunting of Bly Manor”) had come abord “Dune: The Sisterhood,” HBO Max’s “Dune” spin-off series. Taking over from the previous showrunner Jon Spaihts— who left in late 2019 to focus on writing the script for the second of the “Dune” reboot films (yes, it’s supposed to be a two-partner— Ademu-John was reported to be the writer, showrunner, and executive producer of the series.

Diane Ademu-John (The Haunting of Bly Manor) has been tapped as the new showrunner for HBO Max’s Dune: The Sisterhood, Deadline has confirmed. She replaces Jon Spaihts, who stepped down in November 2019 to focus on writing the script for the new Dune feature film.

Diane Ademu-John is the new showrunner for HBO Max’s upcoming “Dune” spinoff TV series. She replaces Jon Spaihts, who left the project at the end of 2019 in order to focus on writing the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming big screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Dune” television series prequel at HBO Max has found its new showrunner.Variety has learned exclusively that Diane Ademu-John has boarded “Dune: The Sisterhood” in the role of writer, showrunner, and executive producer. Jon Spaihts had previously been attached to run the series, but he stepped down in November 2019 to focus on writing the script for the second of the “Dune” reboot films.The show was ordered straight-to-series at HBO Max in June 2019.