Republic Pictures Acquires Action Thriller ‘Air Force One Down’ Starring Katherine McNamara, Ian Bohen & More

Aussie filmmaker Warwick Thornton joked that Cate Blanchett “elbowed” her way into his crafty sixth feature, The New Boy, as he introduced the pic at Deadline’s Cannes Studio shortly before its festival premiere.

Scarlett Moffatt has had to pull out of filming ITV2 show CelebAbility due to sickness, according to reports. The former Gogglebox star, 32, is believed to have been halfway through shooting the upcoming seventh series of the hit Iain Stirling-fronted panel show when she got struck down by a sick bug. Rather than cause disruption to filming, the Country Durham-born personality decided to step down as team captain with Katherine Ryan, Pete Wicks, Snoochie Shy, Will Best, and Donna Preston drafted in to replace her.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Clive Owen has joined “Star Wars” star Daisy Ridley in the London-set action-thriller “Cleaner.” Directed by “Casino Royale” helmer Martin Campbell, the project follows a group of activists who ambush an energy company’s annual meeting at the Shard — one of London’s most recognizable skyscrapers — and takes 300 people hostage. However, the cause is hijacked by an extremist within the group who’s ready to kill in order to send a message. It takes the efforts of Joey Locke, a former soldier who’s now a window cleaner (played by Ridley), to save the hostages while ensuring the corporation is held to account.

Sony Pictures Classics announced today they have acquired all rights in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Scandinavia, India, Middle East, Turkey, Southeast Asia (excluding Taiwan and South Korea) and airlines within those territories to Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s upcoming Bossa Nova-themed animated film, “They Shot the Piano Player.” Sony Classics plans to release the film at the end of the year to qualify for year-end awards consideration.A true international production, the film is produced by Cristina Huete of Trueba PC (“Chico & Rita”) in Spain, along with Serge Lalou for Les Films d’Ici (“Josep”) in France, Janneke van de Kerkhof for Submarine Sublime (“Buñuel in the Labyrinth of Turtles”) in the Netherlands, and Humberto Santana in Portugal. It is executive produced by Nano Arrieta of Atlantika and Fabien Westerhoff of Film Constellation.From Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, who previously directed the Oscar-nominated “Chico & Rita,” “They Shot the Piano Player” is narrated by Jeff Goldblum.

“Republicans are back on the air. Republicans weren’t on the air,” on CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav told a media conference Thursday as he said the storied brand is moving to become less of an “advocacy network” under new leadership.

The CW announced two new scripted series that are in the works for 2024: Joan, a six-part co-production starring Game of Thrones‘ Sophie Turner, and The Librarians: The Next Chapter, a spinoff of fantasy adventure series from writer and executive producer Dean Devlin.

EXCLUSIVE: Shia LaBeouf has joined action thriller Mace, directed by Jon Amiel from a script by David Chisholm. Trevor Jackson (Grown-ish, Superfly) will co-star. Myriad Pictures is shopping the project to buyers here in Cannes this week. 

Assassination,” will be directed by David Mamet, and takes on a novel angle to the well explored story of John F. Kennedy’s murder. John Travolta celebrates 69th birthday in Vegas—joined by daughter EllaJohn F.

King Charles III recently gave the world a glimpse at his comedic side, one that "American Idol" judge Lionel Richie knows all too well. Discussing his weekend at the coronation, Richie admitted the best part of the entire ordeal was being able to capture the comedic essence of King Charles and share it with the world. "I must be honest with you, I think the highlight for me was that I actually walked up to the king the day after the coronation and said, ‘Would you like to be on "American Idol?'" And he said, ‘Yeah,'" Richie told Extra.

EXCLUSIVE: LA-based production, finance, and sales company Premiere Entertainment have picked up international rights to the military action thriller Warhorse One, starring actor Johnny Strong (Black Hawk Down).

Although Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro take top billing in Martin Scorsese’s harrowing drama, one might say the real star of Killers of the Flower Moon is a relative unknown: Lily Gladstone, who plays Mollie, wife to DiCaprio’s Ernest. Mollie is the film’s conscience, a rich Osage woman who is slowly being robbed of her health by a seemingly simple case of diabetes. Insulin shots only seem to make matters worse, and after losing her sisters in suspicious circumstances, Mollie insists that only her husband can administer her medicine. But is she being too trusting?

EXCLUSIVE: Actor Esai Morales is in negotiations to star in the action thriller Shadow, which XYZ Films has boarded and will introduce to buyers this week in Cannes.

EXCLUSIVE: RRR and Thor franchise star Ray Stevenson is headlining Frank Ciota’s Cassino in Ischia, a feature which is being produced by Goodfellas and Casino‘s Barbara DeFina.

Sophia Scorziello editor John Travolta and Katherine Heigl will star in Nick Vallelonga’s upcoming rom-com “That’s Amore!” Palisades Park Pictures made the announcement Thursday ahead of the sales launch for the film at Cannes Film Festival. Additionally, Christopher Walken is in talks to join the cast. “Nick Venere (Travolta) is a modern-day “Marty” – he’s never been married and his best dating years are well behind him. He’s never heard the words “I love you” and figures he never will,” said the official film synopsis. “Patty Amore (Heigl) has her share of problems as well. Shy and introverted, she’s filled with various tics and nervous habits. A secret from her past, combined with her over-protective father, have caused her to withdraw from the dating game. When Nick and Patty meet, literally bumping into one another, they share an immediate connection. When these two emotionally damaged people attempt to date one another, their families get involved, and the results are hilarious.”

At the weekend Amanda Holden turned heads as she stepped out at the Coronation Concert in a hot pink suit with a matching bra worn underneath. The Britain's Got Talent judge stood out amongst all the red, white and blue in her her vibrant outfit.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Movie Film), two-times Cesar Award nominee Jean Reno (Leon), Ty Simpkins (Jurassic World) and Connie Nielsen (Gladiator) are attached to star in action movie Birdseye, which The Exchange will be launching for international sales ahead of the Cannes market.

EXCLUSIVE: Action-thriller Classified, starring Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin and Tim Roth, has completed principal photography on location in Malta.

EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Phillippe (American Murderer), Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Mena Suvari (American Horror Story) will topline Kalahari, a new action thriller from Vertical, which has wrapped production.

EXCLUSIVE: Fivel Stewart (The Recruit) has signed on to star opposite Acoryé White in Bellmount, an action thriller that White will also direct, in his second outing behind the camera, from his own script.

EXCLUSIVE: Beijing-based world sales and multi-territory distribution outfit Tiger Pictures Entertainment has acquired international rights to Chinese comedy Godspeed, which is currently topping China’s May Day holiday box office.