Mechagodzilla is undoubtedly one of the coolest aspects of the MonsterVerse. The villain introduced in Godzilla vs. Kong gave us some visually extravagant scenes and proved a tough adversary for the Titans. Surprisingly, the villain was not initially planned for Godzilla vs. Kong but for another MonsterVerse project.
Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong | Legendary Pictures
The MonsterVerse is known for bringing cool big-screen spectacles with its projects. Before appearing in the 2021 monster blockbuster, Mechagodzilla was slated to increase the visual appeal of Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Writer Max Borenstein confirmed that he wanted to introduce the Gundam beast in the monster-studded 2019 Godzilla film, but he agreed that the monster made more sense in Godzilla vs. Kong.
Why was Mechagodzilla not introduced in Godzilla: King of the Monsters? A still from Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Legendary Pictures
Despite being pitched as a mega conflict between the two renowned Kaijus,...
Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong | Legendary Pictures
The MonsterVerse is known for bringing cool big-screen spectacles with its projects. Before appearing in the 2021 monster blockbuster, Mechagodzilla was slated to increase the visual appeal of Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Writer Max Borenstein confirmed that he wanted to introduce the Gundam beast in the monster-studded 2019 Godzilla film, but he agreed that the monster made more sense in Godzilla vs. Kong.
Why was Mechagodzilla not introduced in Godzilla: King of the Monsters? A still from Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Legendary Pictures
Despite being pitched as a mega conflict between the two renowned Kaijus,...
- 6/6/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
Godzilla has always been super cool, but what about a Godzilla that's actually a mechsuit? Well, Mechagodzilla was originally intended as an antithesis for the king of monsters, representing attempts to squash a force of nature that wreaks havoc or acts as a benevolent mediator, depending on who you ask. The Gundam version of Godzilla first appeared in 1974's "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla," where a bunch of aliens from Black Hole Planet 3 built a massive robot monster to destroy Godzilla and take over the planet. After thwarted attempts to take down the Og prehistoric beast, humans took matters into their own hands to craft a high-endurance, super-powerful cyborg in 2002's "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla," who teamed up with other beasts like Mothra to put Godzilla down (and failed).
Coming to the MonsterVerse, Mechagodzilla made its first appearance in Adam Wingard's "Godzilla vs. Kong," where the mecha is controlled telepathically by Ren...
Coming to the MonsterVerse, Mechagodzilla made its first appearance in Adam Wingard's "Godzilla vs. Kong," where the mecha is controlled telepathically by Ren...
- 6/3/2024
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
"This isn't art. It isn't even great trash. It's a con game, and we bear the claw marks." That's what critic Rita Kempley wrote for the Washington Post in a particularly scathing review of Roland Emmerich's 1998 movie, "Godzilla." It was the first attempt by Hollywood to bring the classic monster to life in America, and it was a spectacular failure. That's what Warner Bros., Legendary, and director Gareth Edwards were working against while crafting 2014's "Godzilla." Skepticism was built in. They had to prove that a film within this franchise made outside of Japan could work.
They did that and then some.
"Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be...
"This isn't art. It isn't even great trash. It's a con game, and we bear the claw marks." That's what critic Rita Kempley wrote for the Washington Post in a particularly scathing review of Roland Emmerich's 1998 movie, "Godzilla." It was the first attempt by Hollywood to bring the classic monster to life in America, and it was a spectacular failure. That's what Warner Bros., Legendary, and director Gareth Edwards were working against while crafting 2014's "Godzilla." Skepticism was built in. They had to prove that a film within this franchise made outside of Japan could work.
They did that and then some.
"Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be...
- 5/18/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Swagger is a sports drama in the Apple TV+ series created by Reggie Rock Bythewood. Loosely inspired by the real-life experiences of NBA player Kevin Durant, the Apple TV+ series explores the world of youth basketball through the players and their families and all the people involved in making the youngster’s dream come true. Swagger stars Solomon Irama, Tessa Ferrer, Quvenzhané Wallis, Shinelle Azoroh, O’Seah Jackson Jr., Caleel Harris, Tristan Wilds, Isaiah Hill, James Bingham, and Ozie Nzeribe. So, if you loved Swagger and all of its drama and a look into the world of sports here are some similar shows you should check out next.
All American (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – The CW
Inspired by the real-life of pro football player Spencer Paysinger, All American is a sports drama that will show you the story behind the legend just like Swagger did. Created by April Blair,...
All American (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – The CW
Inspired by the real-life of pro football player Spencer Paysinger, All American is a sports drama that will show you the story behind the legend just like Swagger did. Created by April Blair,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
The USC Libraries announced the winners for the 36th annual USC Libraries Scripter Award, which honors the year’s best film and television adaptations, as well as the works on which they are based. This group of academics, industry professionals, and critics (for which I vote) is often predictive of the Adapted Screenplay Oscar race.
For the second year in a row, “Slow Horses” took home the prize for episodic series; Cord Jefferson won the 2024 award for film adaptation; both he and the author of the novel he adapted, Percival Everett, were in attendance. Jefferson thanked Everett for trusting him with his 2001 novel, which he felt was written just for him. “He has managed to mine my novel for the material he needed to make this film,” said Everett, who teaches at USC. “And then I sat back and did nothing. So good job. Thank you.”
“I wouldn’t be here without without him,...
For the second year in a row, “Slow Horses” took home the prize for episodic series; Cord Jefferson won the 2024 award for film adaptation; both he and the author of the novel he adapted, Percival Everett, were in attendance. Jefferson thanked Everett for trusting him with his 2001 novel, which he felt was written just for him. “He has managed to mine my novel for the material he needed to make this film,” said Everett, who teaches at USC. “And then I sat back and did nothing. So good job. Thank you.”
“I wouldn’t be here without without him,...
- 3/3/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The 36th annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards on Saturday named Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction its outstanding film adaptations, giving the Oscar-nominated script a boost leading into next weekend’s Academy Awards.
Apple TV+’s Slow Horses won in the episodic series category for a second year in a row during the ceremony tonight at the University of Southern California’s Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library.
The Scripters honor writers of the year’s most accomplished film and episodic TV series adaptations, as well as the writers of the works on which they are based.
American Fiction, written by Jefferson based on the novel Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, was joined on tonight’s finalist list by two other Oscar nominees, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Tony McNamara’s Poor Things. Also nominated tonight were Ava DuVernay’s Origin and Martin Scorsese and Eric Roth’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
Apple TV+’s Slow Horses won in the episodic series category for a second year in a row during the ceremony tonight at the University of Southern California’s Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library.
The Scripters honor writers of the year’s most accomplished film and episodic TV series adaptations, as well as the writers of the works on which they are based.
American Fiction, written by Jefferson based on the novel Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, was joined on tonight’s finalist list by two other Oscar nominees, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Tony McNamara’s Poor Things. Also nominated tonight were Ava DuVernay’s Origin and Martin Scorsese and Eric Roth’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
- 3/3/2024
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The writers behind the feature American Fiction and the TV adaptation Slow Horses took home the top honors at the USC Scripter Awards, which honors the best adapted projects of the year. Both the original authors as well as the screenwriters share the award.
In the film category, American Fiction (Cord Jefferson’s adaptation of Percival Everett’s novel Erasure) topped fellow nominees Killers of the Flower Moon (Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI); Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer); Origin (Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents); and Poor Things (Tony McNamara’s adaptation of Aliasdair Gray’s novel of the same name).
On the TV side,...
In the film category, American Fiction (Cord Jefferson’s adaptation of Percival Everett’s novel Erasure) topped fellow nominees Killers of the Flower Moon (Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI); Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer); Origin (Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents); and Poor Things (Tony McNamara’s adaptation of Aliasdair Gray’s novel of the same name).
On the TV side,...
- 3/3/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A new "Jurassic World" movie on the way, and it's happening in a hurry. In the span of just a month, we learned that original "Jurassic Park" writer David Koepp has returned to the franchise to pen this mysterious new entry, Universal Pictures is planning to release the film next summer, and they are looking to begin filming in just a few months. Given that we only learned about the movie's existence several weeks ago, it's all pretty surprising. So, who will be shepherding this project through production? None other than Gareth Edwards.
We recently learned that the filmmaker behind franchise films such as 2014's "Godzilla" and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" will occupy the director's chair. It marks the third time that Edwards will helm an installment in a long-running franchise, which is never an easy task. Yet, both times that he stepped up to the plate, Edwards...
We recently learned that the filmmaker behind franchise films such as 2014's "Godzilla" and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" will occupy the director's chair. It marks the third time that Edwards will helm an installment in a long-running franchise, which is never an easy task. Yet, both times that he stepped up to the plate, Edwards...
- 2/22/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
The Terror, one of AMC’s hit franchises, is returning to the network more than five years after its last season.
The network has ordered The Terror: Devil in Silver as the third installment in the anthology series. It comes after Season 2 – The Terror: Infamy – premiered in 2019.
The six-part series premiering in 2025 is based on The Devil in Silver, a novel written by Victor Lavalle. He is writing the new iteration alongside Chris Cantwell, who who was showrunner on AMC’s 2014-17 drama Halt and Catch Fire.
Back in 2020, then AMC boss Sarah Barnett told Deadline that it was interested in a third run and was eyeing topics for development.
The Terror: Devil in Silver tells the story of Pepper, a working-class moving man who, through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with the people society would rather forget.
The network has ordered The Terror: Devil in Silver as the third installment in the anthology series. It comes after Season 2 – The Terror: Infamy – premiered in 2019.
The six-part series premiering in 2025 is based on The Devil in Silver, a novel written by Victor Lavalle. He is writing the new iteration alongside Chris Cantwell, who who was showrunner on AMC’s 2014-17 drama Halt and Catch Fire.
Back in 2020, then AMC boss Sarah Barnett told Deadline that it was interested in a third run and was eyeing topics for development.
The Terror: Devil in Silver tells the story of Pepper, a working-class moving man who, through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with the people society would rather forget.
- 2/6/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Following a nearly five-year absence, AMC is revisiting anthology The Terror for a third cycle.
The basic-cable network on Tuesday, ahead of its time at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, announced that the horror franchise will return for a third season and will be subtitled Devil in Silver, with the new cycle based on the book of the same name by Victor Lavalle.
The author will team with Chris Cantwell (AMC’s own Halt and Catch Fire) to write the six-episode season, which is expected to air on the cabler in 2025.
AMC says Devil in Silver “tells the story of Pepper — a working-class moving man, who through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital — an institution filled with the people society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients who work against him, doctors who harbor grim secrets,...
The basic-cable network on Tuesday, ahead of its time at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, announced that the horror franchise will return for a third season and will be subtitled Devil in Silver, with the new cycle based on the book of the same name by Victor Lavalle.
The author will team with Chris Cantwell (AMC’s own Halt and Catch Fire) to write the six-episode season, which is expected to air on the cabler in 2025.
AMC says Devil in Silver “tells the story of Pepper — a working-class moving man, who through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital — an institution filled with the people society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients who work against him, doctors who harbor grim secrets,...
- 2/6/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The finalists for the 36th USC Libraries Script Awards, honoring the most accomplished films and episodic series adaptations, have been announced. Among the selected are “American Fiction,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Things,” all top-tier contenders for Oscar attention. Ava DuVernay’s drama “Origin” was a surprise entry in the lineup, making her the second Black woman recognized by the awards body (the first was Dee Rees for 2017’s “Mudbound”).
A strong bellwether for the Oscars’ best adapted screenplay category, previous Scripter winners that have matched the Academy in the last decade include “12 Years a Slave” (2013), “The Imitation Game” (2014), “The Big Short” (2015), “Moonlight” (2016), “Call Me by Your Name” (2017), “Nomadland” (2020) and “Women Talking” (2022). Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” (2019) is the only Scripter-eligible film to win the Academy Award without being nominated by the organization.
One of the notable omissions from the group is Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” but according to the awards team,...
A strong bellwether for the Oscars’ best adapted screenplay category, previous Scripter winners that have matched the Academy in the last decade include “12 Years a Slave” (2013), “The Imitation Game” (2014), “The Big Short” (2015), “Moonlight” (2016), “Call Me by Your Name” (2017), “Nomadland” (2020) and “Women Talking” (2022). Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” (2019) is the only Scripter-eligible film to win the Academy Award without being nominated by the organization.
One of the notable omissions from the group is Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” but according to the awards team,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The USC Libraries has revealed the finalists for the 36th annual USC Libraries Scripter Award, which honors the year’s best film and television adaptations, as well as the works on which they are based. This group of academics, industry professionals, and critics (for which I vote) is often predictive of the Adapted Screenplay Oscar race.
Last year, screenwriter Sarah Polley and novelist Miriam Toews won the film award for “Women Talking,” which was nominated for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay Oscars; Polley won for Adapted at the Academy Awards. Meanwhile, the television prize last year went to English stand-up comedian and screenwriter Will Smith for the episode “Failure’s Contagious,” from “Slow Horses,” based on the novel by Mick Herron. Past winners include “Call Me By Your Name,” “Moonlight,” “The Big Short,” and “The Imitation Game,” which all won Oscars. In fact, before 2019, eight Scripter Award winners went on to win Oscars.
Last year, screenwriter Sarah Polley and novelist Miriam Toews won the film award for “Women Talking,” which was nominated for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay Oscars; Polley won for Adapted at the Academy Awards. Meanwhile, the television prize last year went to English stand-up comedian and screenwriter Will Smith for the episode “Failure’s Contagious,” from “Slow Horses,” based on the novel by Mick Herron. Past winners include “Call Me By Your Name,” “Moonlight,” “The Big Short,” and “The Imitation Game,” which all won Oscars. In fact, before 2019, eight Scripter Award winners went on to win Oscars.
- 1/17/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The screenwriters and authors behind Oppenheimer, Origin, American Fiction, Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon and The Crown, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Last of Us, Winning Time and last year’s TV winner Slow Horses have been nominated for this year’s USC Libraries Scripter Awards.
In its 36th year, the Scripters honor the writers of the year’s best film and TV adaptations.
Last year, Sarah Polley and author Miriam Toews won for Women Talking, which went on to win the Adapted Screenplay Oscar. Will Smith and Mick Harron are back in the hunt this year for Slow Horses, as is Peter Morgan for The Crown, which he adapted based on his stage play The Audience.
The 2024 Scripter selection committee chaired by USC professor Howard Rodman selected the finalists from a field of 80 film and 56 episodic series adaptations. Winners will be revealed March 2 during a black-tie...
In its 36th year, the Scripters honor the writers of the year’s best film and TV adaptations.
Last year, Sarah Polley and author Miriam Toews won for Women Talking, which went on to win the Adapted Screenplay Oscar. Will Smith and Mick Harron are back in the hunt this year for Slow Horses, as is Peter Morgan for The Crown, which he adapted based on his stage play The Audience.
The 2024 Scripter selection committee chaired by USC professor Howard Rodman selected the finalists from a field of 80 film and 56 episodic series adaptations. Winners will be revealed March 2 during a black-tie...
- 1/17/2024
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Season one of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” ended on an appropriately triumphant note with the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Boston Celtics in the 1980 NBA Championships. Not only was Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) vindicated after his tumultuous first year as franchise owner, but budding superstar Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and his seasoned counterpart Kareen Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) put aside their differences to unite their teammates both on and off the court. For the acclaimed HBO series, repeating that success — dramatically, much less historically — would prove a more difficult challenge, and not just because in real life the Lakers wouldn’t win a second title for two years, and three more for a third.
After helming two episodes in Season One (including that nail-biting finale), Salli Richardson-Whitfield graduated to executive producer for Season Two. Looking forward not only at the complicated trajectory of the...
After helming two episodes in Season One (including that nail-biting finale), Salli Richardson-Whitfield graduated to executive producer for Season Two. Looking forward not only at the complicated trajectory of the...
- 12/14/2023
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
“King of the Monsters—Savior of Our City?” This is what a news channel chyron at the end of 2014’s Godzilla asks. The question appears on a television set in a San Francisco stadium that has been converted into a Fema camp for survivors of Godzilla’s attack on the Bay Area, which climaxed with a battle between the Big G and two Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms (MUTOs). The scale of suffering caused by these creatures, and the shrieks of terror the survivors let out when they see Godzilla rise after defeating the MUTOs and walk to the sea, tell us that the answer is “no.”
To anyone wondering who, then, is the savior of the city, the same scene provides an answer. In a sequence that mirrors countless feel-good videos shared on social media, we follow protagonist Lt. Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) in his tattered fatigues as he carries...
To anyone wondering who, then, is the savior of the city, the same scene provides an answer. In a sequence that mirrors countless feel-good videos shared on social media, we follow protagonist Lt. Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) in his tattered fatigues as he carries...
- 12/5/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
The Mean Machine is getting back on the field… again. Deadline reports that Paramount Pictures are developing another remake of The Longest Yard.
The 1974 original was a prison sports comedy starring Burt Reynolds as Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a former NFL star who is sentenced to 18 months in Citrus State Prison, where he recruits a group of prisoners to play football against the guards. The film included a number of real-life football stars, including Ray Nitschke of the Green Bay Packers. The 2005 remake amped up the comedy and starred Adam Sandler in the role of the wash-up quarterback, who agrees to assemble a prison team in exchange for a reduced sentence. Burt Reynolds appeared in the remake as the team’s coach.
The remake starring Adam Sandler wasn’t the only adaptation of The Longest Yard, nor was it the first. Vinnie Jones took the lead in Mean Machine in 2001, which...
The 1974 original was a prison sports comedy starring Burt Reynolds as Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a former NFL star who is sentenced to 18 months in Citrus State Prison, where he recruits a group of prisoners to play football against the guards. The film included a number of real-life football stars, including Ray Nitschke of the Green Bay Packers. The 2005 remake amped up the comedy and starred Adam Sandler in the role of the wash-up quarterback, who agrees to assemble a prison team in exchange for a reduced sentence. Burt Reynolds appeared in the remake as the team’s coach.
The remake starring Adam Sandler wasn’t the only adaptation of The Longest Yard, nor was it the first. Vinnie Jones took the lead in Mean Machine in 2001, which...
- 11/7/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
/Film's Ryan Scott is on the ground at Austin Film Festival, and today attended a panel centered on Max Borenstein, co-creator of the recently-canceled HBO series "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty." The series, set in 1979-1980 and adapted from the nonfiction book "Showtime" by Jeff Pearlman, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Los Angeles NBA team and its management during 1980 (when the team was home to legends like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabar).
While fans may be disappointed about the series being canceled after just two seasons, some of its subjects might feel vindicated. For example, former Lakers coach Jerry West (played by Jason Clarke in "Winning Time") threatened legal action against HBO for his portrayal. The network refused to budge or throw its creators under the bus, citing dramatic license, as "Winning Time" is a dramatization, and providing assurance that the writers had done their homework.
While fans may be disappointed about the series being canceled after just two seasons, some of its subjects might feel vindicated. For example, former Lakers coach Jerry West (played by Jason Clarke in "Winning Time") threatened legal action against HBO for his portrayal. The network refused to budge or throw its creators under the bus, citing dramatic license, as "Winning Time" is a dramatization, and providing assurance that the writers had done their homework.
- 10/28/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Grandview has signed showrunner, writer and executive producer Max Borenstein.
Borenstein is currently under an overall deal at HBO where he was the executive producer and creator of the hit series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Previously, he was under an overall deal at AMC studios where he was the creator and executive producer of The Terror: Infamy. Borenstein also created and executive produced Minority Report for Amblin/20th/Fbc and is an executive producer on the highly anticipated upcoming Apple+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
Borenstein first gained attention for his Blacklist feature script What is Life Worth, which became Worth, starring Michael Keaton. He went on to write the blockbusters Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong.
Borenstein is also repped by UTA and attorney Eric Feig.
Borenstein is currently under an overall deal at HBO where he was the executive producer and creator of the hit series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Previously, he was under an overall deal at AMC studios where he was the creator and executive producer of The Terror: Infamy. Borenstein also created and executive produced Minority Report for Amblin/20th/Fbc and is an executive producer on the highly anticipated upcoming Apple+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
Borenstein first gained attention for his Blacklist feature script What is Life Worth, which became Worth, starring Michael Keaton. He went on to write the blockbusters Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong.
Borenstein is also repped by UTA and attorney Eric Feig.
- 10/19/2023
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Following the conclusion of HBO’s acclaimed sports drama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, actor Quincy Isaiah has signed with Range Media Partners for representation.
Created for the premium cabler by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, the show marking Isaiah’s breakout role had him playing legendary Lakers point guard Magic Johnson. Based on a book by Jeff Pearlman, it chronicled the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined an era, both on and off the court.
Among those Isaiah starred opposite are John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, Adrien Brody, and Solomon Hughes. Exec produced by Adam McKay, who also directed the pilot, Winning Time premiered in March 2022 and wrapped up its two-season run in September. For his performance, capturing the physicality, charisma and confidence of Johnson,...
Created for the premium cabler by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, the show marking Isaiah’s breakout role had him playing legendary Lakers point guard Magic Johnson. Based on a book by Jeff Pearlman, it chronicled the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined an era, both on and off the court.
Among those Isaiah starred opposite are John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, Adrien Brody, and Solomon Hughes. Exec produced by Adam McKay, who also directed the pilot, Winning Time premiered in March 2022 and wrapped up its two-season run in September. For his performance, capturing the physicality, charisma and confidence of Johnson,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The cancellation of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” provoked a wide range of responses from fans, ranging from displeasure at the anticlimactic ending to calls for Showtime to revive the series with a more appropriate title. But to Magic Johnson, who was played by Quincy Isaiah in the unauthorized series, the show’s untimely end was a vindication of his public criticisms.
The NBA legend had led a chorus of former Los Angeles Lakers, including his former teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and coach Jerry West, in calling out what they saw as the show’s factual inaccuracies. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson expressed some schadenfreude about the show’s cancellation and reiterated his belief that the story of the 1980s Lakers could not be told without the involvement of the team.
“Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story?...
The NBA legend had led a chorus of former Los Angeles Lakers, including his former teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and coach Jerry West, in calling out what they saw as the show’s factual inaccuracies. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson expressed some schadenfreude about the show’s cancellation and reiterated his belief that the story of the 1980s Lakers could not be told without the involvement of the team.
“Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story?...
- 10/1/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Minority Report is the latest Hollywood blockbuster to get the stage — and gender-swap — treatment.
The science fiction tech noir based on Philip K. Dick’s 1956 novella and later made into the 2002 box office hit directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise, is being turned into a play that will make its world premiere in the U.K. in spring 2024. The show is part of a co-production between three U.K.-based theaters in association with Simon Friend Entertainment and by arrangement with Electric Shepherd Productions.
Adapted by actor-writer David Haig with Life of Pi‘s Max Webster set to direct, the new stage play will hold its world premiere at Nottingham Playhouse, opening on Feb. 16 and running through March 9. It will then have two more separate runs, first at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from March 22 to April 6, followed by a month-long staging at London’s Lyric Hammersmith between April 19 and...
The science fiction tech noir based on Philip K. Dick’s 1956 novella and later made into the 2002 box office hit directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise, is being turned into a play that will make its world premiere in the U.K. in spring 2024. The show is part of a co-production between three U.K.-based theaters in association with Simon Friend Entertainment and by arrangement with Electric Shepherd Productions.
Adapted by actor-writer David Haig with Life of Pi‘s Max Webster set to direct, the new stage play will hold its world premiere at Nottingham Playhouse, opening on Feb. 16 and running through March 9. It will then have two more separate runs, first at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from March 22 to April 6, followed by a month-long staging at London’s Lyric Hammersmith between April 19 and...
- 9/28/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On the heels of Sept. 17’s season two finale of HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, fans were shocked to learn that the series had been canceled. Others, like Magic Johnson, were unfazed.
“Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story? Nobody! Dr. Buss was way ahead of his time as an owner. Our team? Unbelievable! The Laker girls with Paula Abdul? Unbelievable! Nobody can tell that story,” the NBA great told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday night when asked about it on the red carpet at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS. “So, none of us watched it because it was fictional. You just can’t tell that story. But, hey, that’s on them.”
Based on Jeff Pearlman’s book, Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Winning Time chronicled the...
“Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story? Nobody! Dr. Buss was way ahead of his time as an owner. Our team? Unbelievable! The Laker girls with Paula Abdul? Unbelievable! Nobody can tell that story,” the NBA great told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday night when asked about it on the red carpet at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS. “So, none of us watched it because it was fictional. You just can’t tell that story. But, hey, that’s on them.”
Based on Jeff Pearlman’s book, Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Winning Time chronicled the...
- 9/25/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Monster,” Hirokazu Kore-eda, Japan
Described by Variety critic Peter Debruge as a “convoluted portrait of a pre-teen in turmoil,” Kore-eda ‘s Palme d’Or best script and Queer Palm winner stars Sakura Andō as a mother who confronts a teacher after noticing odd changes in her son’s demeanor. Written by Yuji Sakamoto, it’s scored by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto.
“Peafowl,” Byun Sungbin, South Korea
Myung, a transgender, is estranged from her family because of who she is. She competes in a dance to earn some money for her sex-change surgery but it does not go well. One day, she is told that her father has died and that his will stipulates she could inherit his estate if she performed the Drum Dance during his memorial. Left with no other options, she returns to her hometown to do her father’s bidding.
“Waiting for Dali,” David Pujol, Spain
Fernando,...
Described by Variety critic Peter Debruge as a “convoluted portrait of a pre-teen in turmoil,” Kore-eda ‘s Palme d’Or best script and Queer Palm winner stars Sakura Andō as a mother who confronts a teacher after noticing odd changes in her son’s demeanor. Written by Yuji Sakamoto, it’s scored by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto.
“Peafowl,” Byun Sungbin, South Korea
Myung, a transgender, is estranged from her family because of who she is. She competes in a dance to earn some money for her sex-change surgery but it does not go well. One day, she is told that her father has died and that his will stipulates she could inherit his estate if she performed the Drum Dance during his memorial. Left with no other options, she returns to her hometown to do her father’s bidding.
“Waiting for Dali,” David Pujol, Spain
Fernando,...
- 9/25/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
HBO confirmed that it canceled Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty after two seasons. The news was a surprise, coming only moments after the network aired its second-season finale on Sept. 17. Hecht is the co-creator of the series with Max Borenstein.
My wife burst into tears.
I didn’t have that on my “Winning Time Cancellation” bingo card. I mean, I knew, following nearly a decade of doubts and fears and highs and lows, my HBO series was coming to a jarring conclusion. But then my phone lit up with condolence texts. My mom left a teary voice message. My dad’s email included a link to an article announcing the cancellation, “In case you haven’t heard …” What if I hadn’t? And I had to explain to my step-kids what the word “canceled” means in the TV universe (“No, we don’t have to move”).
But...
My wife burst into tears.
I didn’t have that on my “Winning Time Cancellation” bingo card. I mean, I knew, following nearly a decade of doubts and fears and highs and lows, my HBO series was coming to a jarring conclusion. But then my phone lit up with condolence texts. My mom left a teary voice message. My dad’s email included a link to an article announcing the cancellation, “In case you haven’t heard …” What if I hadn’t? And I had to explain to my step-kids what the word “canceled” means in the TV universe (“No, we don’t have to move”).
But...
- 9/21/2023
- by Jim Hecht
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lego revealed their annual Winter Village set today, a beautiful Alpine-inspired log cabin inn with fantastic parts usage designed to create a wooden aesthetic.
“Today the Lego Group reveals the Alpine Lodge set, the perfect display set for the holiday season. A captivating addition to the holiday season that represents the essence of a quaint and whimsical winter wonderland, the Alpine Lodge is the latest addition to the Winter Village Collection. This 1,517-piece set is packed with a host of wonderful features, the main being the snowy lodge with warm interior including a bar offering hot drinks, a cosy seating space in front of the fireplace, and a little Christmas tree.”
Read more at Brickset
Rollacrit announces new kickstarter campaign to bring back a classic, fan-favorite bag, new and improved, for your next quest.
“A long time ago, in a previous life, there was the original Bag of Holding which...
“Today the Lego Group reveals the Alpine Lodge set, the perfect display set for the holiday season. A captivating addition to the holiday season that represents the essence of a quaint and whimsical winter wonderland, the Alpine Lodge is the latest addition to the Winter Village Collection. This 1,517-piece set is packed with a host of wonderful features, the main being the snowy lodge with warm interior including a bar offering hot drinks, a cosy seating space in front of the fireplace, and a little Christmas tree.”
Read more at Brickset
Rollacrit announces new kickstarter campaign to bring back a classic, fan-favorite bag, new and improved, for your next quest.
“A long time ago, in a previous life, there was the original Bag of Holding which...
- 9/19/2023
- by Lee Parham
- Den of Geek
Well, this is a bit of a shocker.
HBO has confirmed the demise of the 1980s basketball drama Winning Time.
The series wrapped its sophomore run Sunday night and was canceled the same day as the finale.
Series showrunner Max Borenstein alluded to the cancellation with a message on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love," he wrote.
Fans commented their thoughts on the shocking decision below the Tweet.
"So sorry Max. I eagerly anticipated each episode and enjoyed the hell out of the series," said one fan, adding:
"Congratulations on making something so creatively successful as Winning Time."
"Everything I anticipated it could be and even better when you told me about it at that lunch way back when," said another fan.
"Disappointed it couldn't at least get to Riley's promise of a repeat, but everything you did do was great.
HBO has confirmed the demise of the 1980s basketball drama Winning Time.
The series wrapped its sophomore run Sunday night and was canceled the same day as the finale.
Series showrunner Max Borenstein alluded to the cancellation with a message on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love," he wrote.
Fans commented their thoughts on the shocking decision below the Tweet.
"So sorry Max. I eagerly anticipated each episode and enjoyed the hell out of the series," said one fan, adding:
"Congratulations on making something so creatively successful as Winning Time."
"Everything I anticipated it could be and even better when you told me about it at that lunch way back when," said another fan.
"Disappointed it couldn't at least get to Riley's promise of a repeat, but everything you did do was great.
- 9/18/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Sound the buzzer and clear the path to the locker rooms because Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty ends its run after two seasons. Creator Max Borenstein confirmed the news on the app formally known as Twitter, saying, “Not the ending that we had in mind,” expressing his disappointment in not finishing the story on its own terms. “But nothing but gratitude and love,” he added.
Director Salli Richardson joined the chorus on Instagram by saying, “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
Not the ending that we had in mind.
But nothing but gratitude and love.
Director Salli Richardson joined the chorus on Instagram by saying, “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
Not the ending that we had in mind.
But nothing but gratitude and love.
- 9/18/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Following the second season finale of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty on Sunday, September 17, the show’s creator, Max Borenstein, confirmed the HBO sports drama has been canceled. “Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love,” Borenstein wrote on Twitter/X on Sunday night, seemingly confirming the premature end of the show. Director Salli Richardson shared a similar message on her Instagram, writing, “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.” Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love. #winningtime...
- 9/18/2023
- TV Insider
HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty has come to an end.
After the second season finale Sunday, Creator Max Borenstein confirmed the news on X. “Not the ending that we had in mind,” he wrote. “But nothing but gratitude and love.”
Director Salli Richardson followed up on Instagram with “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
Added co-creator/executive producer Jim Hecht on X, “9.5 years. We made the show of my dreams. That wasn’t the ending we hoped for but very grateful to everyone who watched and for trusting me with his genius book.
After the second season finale Sunday, Creator Max Borenstein confirmed the news on X. “Not the ending that we had in mind,” he wrote. “But nothing but gratitude and love.”
Director Salli Richardson followed up on Instagram with “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
Added co-creator/executive producer Jim Hecht on X, “9.5 years. We made the show of my dreams. That wasn’t the ending we hoped for but very grateful to everyone who watched and for trusting me with his genius book.
- 9/18/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Winning Time is winning no more.
HBO confirmed that it has canceled the series — full title Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty — after two seasons. The news was a surprise, coming only moments after the network aired the second-season finale Sunday night.
Co-creator Max Borenstein shared his thoughts about the news on X (formerly Twitter): “Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love.”
And director Salli Richardson posted on Instagram: “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
In an interview conducted with THR in late August,...
HBO confirmed that it has canceled the series — full title Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty — after two seasons. The news was a surprise, coming only moments after the network aired the second-season finale Sunday night.
Co-creator Max Borenstein shared his thoughts about the news on X (formerly Twitter): “Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love.”
And director Salli Richardson posted on Instagram: “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
In an interview conducted with THR in late August,...
- 9/18/2023
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Season 2 of “Winning Time” concluded Sunday evening with the Lakers’ devastating loss to the Celtics during the 1984 NBA finals, and as it turns out the episode serves as the series finale for the HBO series — the network announced Sunday night that it would not be moving forward with more seasons.
But that’s not to say future seasons weren’t already in mind for the show’s creators.
“In real life, the Lakers come back and beat the Celtics the next year. So that would absolutely be at the heart of any Season 3,” executive producer Kevin Messick told TheWrap during an interview conducted before the show’s fate had been determined. “In terms of the longevity of the show, there’s a lot more Laker stories to tell, a lot more characters, larger than life, as big and bigger than Magic [Johnson] and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] that have yet to enter onto the stage.
But that’s not to say future seasons weren’t already in mind for the show’s creators.
“In real life, the Lakers come back and beat the Celtics the next year. So that would absolutely be at the heart of any Season 3,” executive producer Kevin Messick told TheWrap during an interview conducted before the show’s fate had been determined. “In terms of the longevity of the show, there’s a lot more Laker stories to tell, a lot more characters, larger than life, as big and bigger than Magic [Johnson] and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] that have yet to enter onto the stage.
- 9/18/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
[This story contains spoilers from the finale of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty season two.]
The name says it all when it comes to the title of episode one of season two of the HBO sports drama Winning Time: “One Ring Don’t Make a Dynasty.”
How the second season started — the Lakers celebrating their win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA World Championship — isn’t how it ended: In the finale, the Celtics beat out the Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals. But it’s the moments in between those defining games that give audiences a clearer picture of what the central players in the Lakers franchise were up against on and off the court.
Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and his relationship with then-on-again-off-again girlfriend Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly (Tamera Tomakili) was a focal point throughout season two, which began with the 6 foot, 9 inch pro baller finding out he’d fathered a child, his first son Andre Johnson,...
The name says it all when it comes to the title of episode one of season two of the HBO sports drama Winning Time: “One Ring Don’t Make a Dynasty.”
How the second season started — the Lakers celebrating their win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA World Championship — isn’t how it ended: In the finale, the Celtics beat out the Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals. But it’s the moments in between those defining games that give audiences a clearer picture of what the central players in the Lakers franchise were up against on and off the court.
Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and his relationship with then-on-again-off-again girlfriend Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly (Tamera Tomakili) was a focal point throughout season two, which began with the 6 foot, 9 inch pro baller finding out he’d fathered a child, his first son Andre Johnson,...
- 9/18/2023
- by Brande Victorian
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Spoiler Alert: This article includes details about the Season 2 finale of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” now streaming on Max.
The show may have been called “Winning Time,” but it’s ending with a historic loss. HBO has confirmed to Variety that Sunday’s Season 2 finale is the last episode of the basketball series.
After a seven-game duel between the Lakers and the Celtics, Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) and his Boston ballers sink a dagger into their West Coast rivals, claiming victory as the NBA champions of 1984. It’s an ugly defeat for Los Angeles, who are immediately greeted with a stampede of Celtics fans rushing the floor before they can sulk off the court. Boston uncorks the Champagne while Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) collapses in the locker room showers, his spirits cratering to a new low as Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should...
The show may have been called “Winning Time,” but it’s ending with a historic loss. HBO has confirmed to Variety that Sunday’s Season 2 finale is the last episode of the basketball series.
After a seven-game duel between the Lakers and the Celtics, Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) and his Boston ballers sink a dagger into their West Coast rivals, claiming victory as the NBA champions of 1984. It’s an ugly defeat for Los Angeles, who are immediately greeted with a stampede of Celtics fans rushing the floor before they can sulk off the court. Boston uncorks the Champagne while Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) collapses in the locker room showers, his spirits cratering to a new low as Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should...
- 9/18/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
The season finale of “Winning Time” Season 2 will see the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird comes to a head at the 1984 NBA Finals.
In an exclusive clip shared with TheWrap, the Lakers are celebrating their win for Game 1 of the championship. But as they are getting ready to leave, their bus is immediately ambushed by angry Celtics fans.
In addition to the game, the episode follows Lakers owner Jerry Buss as he fends off a potentially life-altering lawsuit. Meanwhile, Claire Rothman faces the possibility of yet another bankruptcy and Jeanie Buss questions her place in professional sports.
“Winning Time” stars Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, John. C Reilly, Hadley Robinson, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Sean Patrick Small, Michael Chiklis, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas Mann, Gillian Jacobs and Rob Morgan.
In an exclusive clip shared with TheWrap, the Lakers are celebrating their win for Game 1 of the championship. But as they are getting ready to leave, their bus is immediately ambushed by angry Celtics fans.
In addition to the game, the episode follows Lakers owner Jerry Buss as he fends off a potentially life-altering lawsuit. Meanwhile, Claire Rothman faces the possibility of yet another bankruptcy and Jeanie Buss questions her place in professional sports.
“Winning Time” stars Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, John. C Reilly, Hadley Robinson, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Sean Patrick Small, Michael Chiklis, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas Mann, Gillian Jacobs and Rob Morgan.
- 9/14/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Note: This interview was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike and contains spoilers for Winning Time Season 2, Episode 5
In Sunday’s episode of HBO’s “Winning Time,” Kareem Abdul-Jabarr (Solomon Hughes) confronts Lakers owner Jerry Buss in a roller rink, accusing him of taking advantage of Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah).
To prepare for the confrontation, Hughes told TheWrap that he would sneak onto set with the show’s basketball assistant director Derek Dibiagio to learn how to roller skate.
“He generously brought his skates to work just about every day and we would sneak onto the set and roller skate on the court and it was like a month of learning,” Hughes recalled. “I learned early on, ‘you’re gonna get this scene with John C. Reilly and by the way, you’re gonna be on roller skates’ and I’m like ‘Oh, ok. All right.’ So that was fun...
In Sunday’s episode of HBO’s “Winning Time,” Kareem Abdul-Jabarr (Solomon Hughes) confronts Lakers owner Jerry Buss in a roller rink, accusing him of taking advantage of Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah).
To prepare for the confrontation, Hughes told TheWrap that he would sneak onto set with the show’s basketball assistant director Derek Dibiagio to learn how to roller skate.
“He generously brought his skates to work just about every day and we would sneak onto the set and roller skate on the court and it was like a month of learning,” Hughes recalled. “I learned early on, ‘you’re gonna get this scene with John C. Reilly and by the way, you’re gonna be on roller skates’ and I’m like ‘Oh, ok. All right.’ So that was fun...
- 9/5/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Note: This story contains spoilers from “Winning Time” Season 2, Episode 5.
In Sunday’s episode of “Winning Time,” Paul Westhead (Jason Segel) is fired as head coach of the Lakers. The actor said the twist was one of his “most fun days” on set.
“I did that scene over and over again with John C. Reilly,” he told TheWrap in an interview before the SAG-AFTRA strike. “That was a day of using all the different skills because there’s comedy in it. It’s pathetic, it’s dramatic. It just required a little bit of everything. And I got to dance with John C. Riley in that scene which is special thing.”
While Westhead is an important figure in Lakers history, Segel said he was also “lesser known,” giving him “a lot of freedom to explore what we’re trying to say with the character.”
“I hope he would appreciate,...
In Sunday’s episode of “Winning Time,” Paul Westhead (Jason Segel) is fired as head coach of the Lakers. The actor said the twist was one of his “most fun days” on set.
“I did that scene over and over again with John C. Reilly,” he told TheWrap in an interview before the SAG-AFTRA strike. “That was a day of using all the different skills because there’s comedy in it. It’s pathetic, it’s dramatic. It just required a little bit of everything. And I got to dance with John C. Riley in that scene which is special thing.”
While Westhead is an important figure in Lakers history, Segel said he was also “lesser known,” giving him “a lot of freedom to explore what we’re trying to say with the character.”
“I hope he would appreciate,...
- 9/4/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Paul Westhead is feeling the pressure of his feud with Magic Johnson in an exclusive sneak peak of Sunday’s new episode of HBO’s “Winning Time.”
In the episode, titled “The Hamburger Hamlet”, a final clash between Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and the Lakers head coach (played by Jason Segel) causes Lakers owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) to task Jerry West (Jason Clarke) with picking up the pieces. Meanwhile, as Honey (Ari Graynor) attempts a heart-to-heart with Jeanie (Hadley Robninson), Buss faces pushback from the press and his captain. Later, Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) faces his demons and takes control of his team.
The clip sees Westhead pay a visit to Buss’ office, where the former is told that the latter is in a meeting.
“With who?,” Westhead asks, to which Buss’ secretary replies, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
As Westhead turns to leave, another door swings open where Jerry West,...
In the episode, titled “The Hamburger Hamlet”, a final clash between Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and the Lakers head coach (played by Jason Segel) causes Lakers owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) to task Jerry West (Jason Clarke) with picking up the pieces. Meanwhile, as Honey (Ari Graynor) attempts a heart-to-heart with Jeanie (Hadley Robninson), Buss faces pushback from the press and his captain. Later, Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) faces his demons and takes control of his team.
The clip sees Westhead pay a visit to Buss’ office, where the former is told that the latter is in a meeting.
“With who?,” Westhead asks, to which Buss’ secretary replies, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
As Westhead turns to leave, another door swings open where Jerry West,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
In the first episode of “Winning Time” Season 2, audiences see Lakers owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) flipping through a scrapbook of his love interests just moments after a heated exchange with his kids — in which they call him out for ditching them for “p–y and fun.” He’s later seen wooing an old flame named Honey with a lavish date in Episode 2, and she’s even invited to the family’s game night in Sunday’s latest episode.
Buss, who is often seen in the HBO drama series with a drink and cigarette in his hand, was known for hosting extravagant parties at the Pickfair mansion, which he purchased in 1980 and is showcased throughout “Winning Time.”
Actor John C. Reilly, who plays Buss on “Winning Time,” said his “appetites” were the most surprising thing he learned while preparing for the role.
“If I had the kind of partying weekend that Jerry Buss had,...
Buss, who is often seen in the HBO drama series with a drink and cigarette in his hand, was known for hosting extravagant parties at the Pickfair mansion, which he purchased in 1980 and is showcased throughout “Winning Time.”
Actor John C. Reilly, who plays Buss on “Winning Time,” said his “appetites” were the most surprising thing he learned while preparing for the role.
“If I had the kind of partying weekend that Jerry Buss had,...
- 8/21/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
For Sean Patrick Small, playing Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird in the HBO drama series “Winning Time” was a “dream come true.”
“I get to act, play basketball and get paid to do so, while being one of, if not the, greatest [basketball players] of all time,” he told TheWrap in an interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Small’s preparation for the role unknowingly started in 2014, as he worked on a miniseries focused on Bird’s life from his senior year of high school to his senior year of college.
“His whole back story really surprised me because he was at Indiana University for a short amount of time, dropped out, didn’t ever think he was going to go back to college. Was working for the county, picking garbage up weekly and painting park benches and loving it with his friends… and his father tragically passing, all this type...
“I get to act, play basketball and get paid to do so, while being one of, if not the, greatest [basketball players] of all time,” he told TheWrap in an interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Small’s preparation for the role unknowingly started in 2014, as he worked on a miniseries focused on Bird’s life from his senior year of high school to his senior year of college.
“His whole back story really surprised me because he was at Indiana University for a short amount of time, dropped out, didn’t ever think he was going to go back to college. Was working for the county, picking garbage up weekly and painting park benches and loving it with his friends… and his father tragically passing, all this type...
- 8/21/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Jeff Pearlman, the author of “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” — which “Winning Time” is based on — is calling on audiences to help the HBO drama series get renewed for a third season.
“I’m telling you — the future of ‘Winning Time’ hangs in the balance. We need viewers. The strikes are crippling. Please help spread the word. Season 2 is amazing. But … HBO is big on #s,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, this week. “And, to be blunt, I’m worried there won’t be a season three. And it’s not about me. I’m fine. It’s about a cast of amazing young actors who live this. So, seriously, tell your friends to support “Winning Time” and show @hbo you want it to continue. Peace. #winningtime.”
And, to be blunt, I'm worried there won't be a season three. And it's not about me.
“I’m telling you — the future of ‘Winning Time’ hangs in the balance. We need viewers. The strikes are crippling. Please help spread the word. Season 2 is amazing. But … HBO is big on #s,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, this week. “And, to be blunt, I’m worried there won’t be a season three. And it’s not about me. I’m fine. It’s about a cast of amazing young actors who live this. So, seriously, tell your friends to support “Winning Time” and show @hbo you want it to continue. Peace. #winningtime.”
And, to be blunt, I'm worried there won't be a season three. And it's not about me.
- 8/18/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters – A New Godzilla Spin-Off Series Starring Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a new science fiction drama series that will premiere on Apple TV+ in 2023. The series is based on the world of Legendary’s MonsterVerse franchise, which features iconic kaiju such as Godzilla, King Kong, Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah. The series will explore the history and secrets of the Monarch organization, a covert group that studies and protects these giant creatures.
The series will star Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell, who are father and son in real life, as the same character over a period of 50 years. They will play Lee Shaw, a former Monarch agent who had a mysterious connection to Godzilla. The series will follow his two children, who embark on a quest to uncover the truth about their father’s involvement in Monarch and his relationship with the King of the Monsters.
Monsterverse Teaser
Kurt Russell is an acclaimed actor who has...
The series will star Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell, who are father and son in real life, as the same character over a period of 50 years. They will play Lee Shaw, a former Monarch agent who had a mysterious connection to Godzilla. The series will follow his two children, who embark on a quest to uncover the truth about their father’s involvement in Monarch and his relationship with the King of the Monsters.
Monsterverse Teaser
Kurt Russell is an acclaimed actor who has...
- 8/17/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
Note: This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
In HBO’s “Winning Time,” Quincy Isaiah took on the “large task” of portraying Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. — often regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time after helping the Lakers win five NBA championships across 13 seasons.
“I think being able to make it smaller, in terms of playing this person who just won a championship and who’s just dealing with life issues, I think that’s the way that I have to frame it… really taking this giant of a person and making him relatable to everyday people,” Isaiah told TheWrap. “The way that we are able to do that is with a great script and a great cast, but also just leaning into the humanity of these emotions that you see in Season 2.”
Johnson faces several challenges during the season, including a knee injury...
In HBO’s “Winning Time,” Quincy Isaiah took on the “large task” of portraying Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. — often regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time after helping the Lakers win five NBA championships across 13 seasons.
“I think being able to make it smaller, in terms of playing this person who just won a championship and who’s just dealing with life issues, I think that’s the way that I have to frame it… really taking this giant of a person and making him relatable to everyday people,” Isaiah told TheWrap. “The way that we are able to do that is with a great script and a great cast, but also just leaning into the humanity of these emotions that you see in Season 2.”
Johnson faces several challenges during the season, including a knee injury...
- 8/14/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty returned to HBO on Sunday with 629,000 total viewers tuning in for the Season 2 premiere across Max and linear telecasts.
That’s a bit of a fall from grace, considering the 901,000 people who tuned in for the Season 1 debut in March 2022. By May of that year, Season 1 managed to amass 1.6M same-day viewers for the finale.
HBO generally banks on the growth potential from delayed viewing, as the network previously reported that new episodes of a series tend to only draw 10%-20% of their total viewership on Sunday nights.
Season 1 episodes of Winning Time went on to average about 1.2M viewers per episode on premiere nights, which grew to 6M viewers per episode over time.
That’s a bit of a fall from grace, considering the 901,000 people who tuned in for the Season 1 debut in March 2022. By May of that year, Season 1 managed to amass 1.6M same-day viewers for the finale.
HBO generally banks on the growth potential from delayed viewing, as the network previously reported that new episodes of a series tend to only draw 10%-20% of their total viewership on Sunday nights.
Season 1 episodes of Winning Time went on to average about 1.2M viewers per episode on premiere nights, which grew to 6M viewers per episode over time.
- 8/8/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for the Season 2 premiere of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” now streaming on Max.
The Los Angeles Lakers are on top of the world at the start of “Winning Time” Season 2. It doesn’t take long before they find themselves back on their asses.
After taking down the Philadelphia 76ers to win the 1980 NBA Finals, it’s no surprise that a championship would inflate some egos in Inglewood. Basking in the glow of a city’s adoration, Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) finds himself a media darling, fielding fawning reporters that regularly overrun the Lakers locker room. It’s enough hot air to irk Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) — who also hasn’t shaken the awkward disappointment of suffering a sprained ankle during the Finals. The team’s de facto leader watched from home as Johnson took over his position at center to clinch the championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers are on top of the world at the start of “Winning Time” Season 2. It doesn’t take long before they find themselves back on their asses.
After taking down the Philadelphia 76ers to win the 1980 NBA Finals, it’s no surprise that a championship would inflate some egos in Inglewood. Basking in the glow of a city’s adoration, Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) finds himself a media darling, fielding fawning reporters that regularly overrun the Lakers locker room. It’s enough hot air to irk Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) — who also hasn’t shaken the awkward disappointment of suffering a sprained ankle during the Finals. The team’s de facto leader watched from home as Johnson took over his position at center to clinch the championship.
- 8/7/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Note: This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
After ending its first season with the Lakers’ climactic victory at the 1980 NBA championships, HBO’s “Winning Time” is back for more, with cocreator Max Borenstein teasing that the team is in for more challenges in Season 2.
“Coming out of the first season, the Lakers are now no longer the underdogs. They won, they had a Cinderella story and now they’re the champions. The moment you’ve had that kind of success, repeating it is the hardest thing in the world,” Borenstein told TheWrap. “Everything comes up against them this year: injuries, internal struggles, egos… and knowing that ultimately they have to face their greatest rival and somehow find a way to come together this time, not just to win a championship but to take down the reigning dynasty of the Celtics. So the stakes are higher this year in that way.
After ending its first season with the Lakers’ climactic victory at the 1980 NBA championships, HBO’s “Winning Time” is back for more, with cocreator Max Borenstein teasing that the team is in for more challenges in Season 2.
“Coming out of the first season, the Lakers are now no longer the underdogs. They won, they had a Cinderella story and now they’re the champions. The moment you’ve had that kind of success, repeating it is the hardest thing in the world,” Borenstein told TheWrap. “Everything comes up against them this year: injuries, internal struggles, egos… and knowing that ultimately they have to face their greatest rival and somehow find a way to come together this time, not just to win a championship but to take down the reigning dynasty of the Celtics. So the stakes are higher this year in that way.
- 8/6/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Throughout the Season Two premiere of HBO’s basketball drama Winning Time, various characters, from Lakers assistant coach Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) to Boston Celtics general manager Red Auerbach (Michael Chiklis) talk about how difficult it is to repeat as champions. The real Riley would eventually refer to this as “the disease of more,” where players who were willing to sacrifice for the good of the team in pursuit of a title now want more playing time, more of a role in the offense, and/or more money.
In Winning Time,...
In Winning Time,...
- 8/6/2023
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
The Los Angeles Lakers’ heated rivalry with the hated Boston Celtics moves to center court in Season 2 of the pulpy series about the birth of purple-and-gold dynasty (premiering August 6 on HBO). Colorful playboy owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) and his superstars — brash young buck Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and crusty captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) — have established their fast-paced, high-flying brand of basketball, dubbed Showtime, transforming the beleaguered franchise from drab to glam and the NBA from an afterthought into a pop culture phenomenon. Now, can the Lakers defend their title and establish a new dynasty? The answer was no slam dunk. “Failure is difficult to deal with, but success in some ways is even harder,” says Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakes Dynasty cocreator Max Borenstein. “Are you going to be a flash in the pan? The challenges of truly becoming a dynasty are manifold.” Magic’s...
- 8/4/2023
- TV Insider
Co-creators Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” was a delight for basketball fans in Season 1, a rare look at a specific sports era that’s not part of a “30 for 30” ESPN documentary nor in a two-hour movie. And because the series was about as precious with historical details as it was keeping a consistent visual style—that is, not so much—we got to have fun imaging how legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) and Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) would have butt heads in the locker room.
Continue reading ‘Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty’ Review: HBO’s Throwback Series Is Charismatic But Not As Slick In Season 2 at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty’ Review: HBO’s Throwback Series Is Charismatic But Not As Slick In Season 2 at The Playlist.
- 7/31/2023
- by Nick Allen
- The Playlist
Exclusive: Ari Graynor has joined the Season 2 cast of Adam McKay’s Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty in a major recurring role.
Winning Time is based on Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. McKay’s Hyperobject Industries is producing.
Co-created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, the fast-break series chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined its era both on and off the court.
Graynor will play Honey, a fictional character inspired by the former girlfriends and wives of Dr Jerry Buss. Honey is described as having left the fast lane of the Los Angeles party scene to run an art school in the valley. Dr. Buss played by John C. Reilly, in pursuit of a real love connection, reaches out...
Winning Time is based on Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. McKay’s Hyperobject Industries is producing.
Co-created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, the fast-break series chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined its era both on and off the court.
Graynor will play Honey, a fictional character inspired by the former girlfriends and wives of Dr Jerry Buss. Honey is described as having left the fast lane of the Los Angeles party scene to run an art school in the valley. Dr. Buss played by John C. Reilly, in pursuit of a real love connection, reaches out...
- 6/20/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
The escalating rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers’ Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) takes center stage in the trailer for the second season of HBO’s Winning Time.
In the footage released Monday from the basketball-centric series created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, the Lakers are looking to build on the success of Johnson’s rookie season, which was the focus of the first season and culminated with the team winning the NBA title in May 1980. The second season debuts Aug. 6 on HBO and Max, and it spotlights the squad’s ups and down from 1980 to 1984.
“Ain’t nobody scared of Larry Bird,” Isaiah says as Johnson in the trailer.
Lakers coach Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) is a bit more concerned about the challenge posed by Bird and the Celtics: “They’re won their rings. We’ve won ours. None of...
In the footage released Monday from the basketball-centric series created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, the Lakers are looking to build on the success of Johnson’s rookie season, which was the focus of the first season and culminated with the team winning the NBA title in May 1980. The second season debuts Aug. 6 on HBO and Max, and it spotlights the squad’s ups and down from 1980 to 1984.
“Ain’t nobody scared of Larry Bird,” Isaiah says as Johnson in the trailer.
Lakers coach Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) is a bit more concerned about the challenge posed by Bird and the Celtics: “They’re won their rings. We’ve won ours. None of...
- 6/13/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.