‘Undergods’ Dystopian Thriller Picked Up By Gravitas Ventures; Matthew Penn Set To Direct Citizen Skull’s ‘Badge Of Trust’ – Film Briefs

Animal Kingdom‘s Christina Ochoa is set as a lead in ABC’s Promised Land, Matt Lopez’s Latinx family drama pilot.

EXCLUSIVE: Elisabeth Röhm (American Hustle, Joy) and Malik Yoba (New York Undercover, Designated Survivor) have teamed with veteran reality TV executives Dorothy Toran (The Real Housewives of New Jersey) and Leslie D. Farrell’s Lauren Grace Media on a true-crime docuseries.

With vaccines getting distributed pretty damn fast in the US, we’re starting to see some cities begin to recover and make plans for in-person events in the summer and fall. In the world of film festivals, it appears that the first event to really attempt a full in-person experience is going to be this year’s Tribeca.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticAs a critic committed to maintaining a certain professional distance with those whose work I might review, I don’t often play the fan in the presence of filmmakers.

Vanessa Williams made history becoming the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America, but the road ahead for her was not an easy one. Thirty-eight years later, Williams, 58, says winning the title made her «grow up overnight.»«I really wasn't prepared [to handle how the country took my win] because I'd never been a part of the system before, so I didn't know what was the next step,» Williams told ET's Kevin Frazier.

Director, writer and actor Matt Ross has signed with CAA. Ross will direct and executive produce Starz’s upcoming Watergate anthology series Gaslit, which stars Julia Roberts and Sean Penn.

Focus Features said Friday that it will release its thriller Stillwater, directed by Spotlight Oscar winner Tom McCarthy and starring Matt Damon, in domestic theaters on July 30, 2021.

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros. studio veteran Ravi Mehta has been named Head of Physical Production, Post-Production, VFX at 20th Century Studios. Mehta will oversee all aspects of physical production for the Disney-owned 20th Century studios film division.

racist stereotype.“I think the Apu stories are fantastic, and he’s one of the most nuanced characters on a silly two-dimensional cartoon show,” the show’s creator Groening told USA Today of the show’s Indian-American Kwik-E-Mart shopkeeper.“So, yeah, I’m proud of Apu,” he insisted.“We’ve got plans for Apu, but we have to see if we can make the stories work … We’re working on something kind of ambitious.

Danny Glover, Matt Dillon, Danny Pudi and Michelle Mylett joined the cast of American Dreamer, the Paul Dektor-directed dark comedy that has just gotten underway in Vancouver. The actors join Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine and Kim Quinn on the Ted Melfi scripted film. Dinklage, David Ginsberg, Quinn, Melfi and Dektor are producing along with Flying Firebird.

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening has said that he is “proud” of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon following criticism of the character.Original voice actor Hank Azaria stepped down from voicing the role last year, which came after a 2018 documentary called The Problem With Apu argued that the role was a racist stereotype.Speaking about the criticism of the character and whether he would change anything, Groening has now told USA Today: “I think the Apu stories are fantastic, and he’s one of the most

Matt Groening is standing behind “The Simpsons” character Apu, despite recent debate. 

Gravitas Ventures has picked up the North American rights to writer/director Leon Pierce Jr.'s Welcome Matt comedy ahead of a planned theatrical and on demand release on May 28, 2021. The indie stars Tahj Mowry, Deon Cole, Jazsmin Lewis-Kelley, Dorien Wilson and G.G.

CBS Media Ventures, as the TV syndication unit was rebranded in January, has teamed with NuTime Media in a new effort to connect advertisers with African American consumers.

elections and political conventions and was a frequent anchor and contributor to various specials.

IFC Films has acquired the North American rights to Sonia Kennebeck’s (National Bird) documentary thriller Enemies of the State which is executive produced by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Errol Morris (The Fog of War). The docu will be released this summer.

It only took a couple of dates for the now-Duke and Duchess of Sussex to hit it off. But how did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet in the first place? It isn’t every day that an American actress ends up mingling with a prince from across the pond, after all.