Black Panther: Wakanda Forever finally brought Namor the Submariner into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the character underwent some significant changes, with Atlantis swapped out for Talokan and his origin story rooted in Mayan legend.
While not everyone was happy about that, it went a long way in helping to differentiate Namor from DC's Aquaman.
Thanks to Marvel Studios concept artist Phil Saunders (who has spent the past year working on Disney's Tron: Ares), we have a new look at some sequences which didn't make it into the Black Panther sequel's final cut.
That includes a clash between Ironheart and Namora. "The script originally called for an extended battle between [Riri Williams] and [Namora] that would have taken them underwater," Saunders says. "It was inevitably cut to keep the focus on [Shuri] and [Namor], but gave me the opportunity to paint some dynamic shots."
We also see Namor riding an Orca into battle, an...
While not everyone was happy about that, it went a long way in helping to differentiate Namor from DC's Aquaman.
Thanks to Marvel Studios concept artist Phil Saunders (who has spent the past year working on Disney's Tron: Ares), we have a new look at some sequences which didn't make it into the Black Panther sequel's final cut.
That includes a clash between Ironheart and Namora. "The script originally called for an extended battle between [Riri Williams] and [Namora] that would have taken them underwater," Saunders says. "It was inevitably cut to keep the focus on [Shuri] and [Namor], but gave me the opportunity to paint some dynamic shots."
We also see Namor riding an Orca into battle, an...
- 5/28/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Marvel Studios is getting back into the Vision business. After years away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the emotionally devastating conclusion of WandaVision, Paul Bettany is getting rewired for a new series starring Marvel’s most endearing synthezoid. Marvel is developing the untitled Vision series for a 2026 premiere with Star Trek: Picard‘s Terry Matalas in the showrunner position. The door opened on a writer’s room this week, with the series being one of the first projects ordered at Marvel in quite some time.
Paul Bettany returns to the iconic role for the untitled Vision series. In WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch brought Vision’s physical body back to life. However, memories of his past life were muddled. As Vision uncovers the mystery behind his short-circuited memory, he realizes all is not as it seems. During the finale, his memories return thanks to an all-white Vision created out of...
Paul Bettany returns to the iconic role for the untitled Vision series. In WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch brought Vision’s physical body back to life. However, memories of his past life were muddled. As Vision uncovers the mystery behind his short-circuited memory, he realizes all is not as it seems. During the finale, his memories return thanks to an all-white Vision created out of...
- 5/22/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Disparage the Marvel Cinematic Universe all you want, but there's no denying that when it comes to casting, Kevin Feige and the McU's longtime casting director, Sarah Halley Finn, have the magic touch. It's all but impossible now to picture anyone other than Robert Downey Jr. lending his snarky wit to the self-declared "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" Tony Stark, or to imagine a different actor bringing the same spot-on mix of wholesomeness and New Yorker defiance like Chris Evans did as Steve Rogers. And let's not forget Thor and Loki, two Marvel Comics veterans who could've easily been dismissed as dorky C-listers, only to become the franchise's most long-lasting players thanks to Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston.
For all of its missteps, that hasn't changed in the MCU post-"Avengers: Endgame." Esteemed character actors Oscar Isaac, Hailee Steinfeld, and Florence Pugh all brought the full brunt of their talents to...
For all of its missteps, that hasn't changed in the MCU post-"Avengers: Endgame." Esteemed character actors Oscar Isaac, Hailee Steinfeld, and Florence Pugh all brought the full brunt of their talents to...
- 5/18/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Last night during Disney's 2024 Upfronts presentation, we finally got release dates for Agatha All Along and Daredevil: Born Again, as well as confirmation that Ironheart will debut on Disney+ sometime in 2025.
New logos for the shows were also unveiled, and while teaser trailers were screened for those in attendance, they have not (and likely won't be) released online.
Different versions of the teasers are sure to be officially released before too long, but for now, we have a breakdown of the footage (via IGN).
The Born Again promo sees Matt Murdock don his familiar red costume, as his voiceover warns someone that the "entire system is against you... it's often David vs. Goliath." We then catch glimpses of Kingpin, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page, and shots from a brief action sequence.
Right at the end, Murdock is asked, "what kind of a lawyer are you." He responds with, "a really good one,...
New logos for the shows were also unveiled, and while teaser trailers were screened for those in attendance, they have not (and likely won't be) released online.
Different versions of the teasers are sure to be officially released before too long, but for now, we have a breakdown of the footage (via IGN).
The Born Again promo sees Matt Murdock don his familiar red costume, as his voiceover warns someone that the "entire system is against you... it's often David vs. Goliath." We then catch glimpses of Kingpin, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page, and shots from a brief action sequence.
Right at the end, Murdock is asked, "what kind of a lawyer are you." He responds with, "a really good one,...
- 5/15/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Remember Ironheart? She showed up in Wakanda Forever and then vanished. Well, Riri Williams’ Disney+ journey to be the MCU’s replacement for Ironman will finally see the light of day … in 2025.
Several announcements were made at yesterday’s Disney Upfront event. Ironheart was among them, along with yet another retitle for the Agatha series.
Dominique Thorne was present during the reveals. Although the video hasn’t surfaced from this moment, the actress did speak to Deadline on the red (err…blue) carpet.
Dominique Thorne onstage at Disney Upfront for #Ironheart pic.twitter.com/32Bk65YgTi
— Ironheart News (@ironhnews) May 14, 2024
Dominique Thorne on filming #Ironheart and working with Anothony Ramos
pic.twitter.com/Xm62n04feP
— Ironheart News (@ironhnews) May 14, 2024
Although Thorne remained somewhat tight-lipped about the Ironheart show, which wrapped production in 2022, she was willing to give a tiny bit of info:
“I think what I can say is...
Several announcements were made at yesterday’s Disney Upfront event. Ironheart was among them, along with yet another retitle for the Agatha series.
Dominique Thorne was present during the reveals. Although the video hasn’t surfaced from this moment, the actress did speak to Deadline on the red (err…blue) carpet.
Dominique Thorne onstage at Disney Upfront for #Ironheart pic.twitter.com/32Bk65YgTi
— Ironheart News (@ironhnews) May 14, 2024
Dominique Thorne on filming #Ironheart and working with Anothony Ramos
pic.twitter.com/Xm62n04feP
— Ironheart News (@ironhnews) May 14, 2024
Although Thorne remained somewhat tight-lipped about the Ironheart show, which wrapped production in 2022, she was willing to give a tiny bit of info:
“I think what I can say is...
- 5/15/2024
- by Mike Phalin
- Pirates & Princesses
We've known for some time now that 2024 is something of a recalibration year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe after a rough past year for the blockbuster franchise. But with Wolverine & Deadpool just weeks away and X-Men '97 keeping the Marvel flag flying high on Disney+ right now, plans for Kevin Feige and co's big comeback are already well underway. And, during an announcement-laden Disney Upfront presentation yesterday, we got some big release updates for the studio's upcoming slate of Disney+ series.
Firstly, the House of Mouse — not Harkness — confirmed that they've been leading fans a merry dance with the titling of their upcoming WandaVision spin-off series, centred around everyone's favourite badass (and just plain bad) witch. It's not Agatha: House Of Harkness, The Coven Of Chaos, The Darkhold Diaries, or in fact The Lying Witch With Great Wardrobe. Turns out it was Agatha All Along, well, all along — cheeky devils!
Firstly, the House of Mouse — not Harkness — confirmed that they've been leading fans a merry dance with the titling of their upcoming WandaVision spin-off series, centred around everyone's favourite badass (and just plain bad) witch. It's not Agatha: House Of Harkness, The Coven Of Chaos, The Darkhold Diaries, or in fact The Lying Witch With Great Wardrobe. Turns out it was Agatha All Along, well, all along — cheeky devils!
- 5/15/2024
- by Jordan King
- Empire - TV
Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart debuted in the MCU with 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While not a protégé of Tony Stark, Riri Williams is also a brilliant tech wiz/inventor who built her own suit of armor with the help of the Wakandans in the film. The character’s spunk and charm made audiences want to see more of her in the MCU.
Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/ Ironheart in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The character is set to lead her own Disney+ show titled Ironheart where she will star alongside Anthony Ramos. At a recent Disney event, the actress teased what audiences can expect from the show and the fun camaraderie she had with Ramos while filming, despite being her on-screen foe in the film.
Dominique Thorne Had a Ball Working With Anthony Ramos on Ironheart
In the Heights‘ Anthony Ramos is playing the Hood in Ironheart
After her...
Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/ Ironheart in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The character is set to lead her own Disney+ show titled Ironheart where she will star alongside Anthony Ramos. At a recent Disney event, the actress teased what audiences can expect from the show and the fun camaraderie she had with Ramos while filming, despite being her on-screen foe in the film.
Dominique Thorne Had a Ball Working With Anthony Ramos on Ironheart
In the Heights‘ Anthony Ramos is playing the Hood in Ironheart
After her...
- 5/15/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
In July 2018, a movie featuring the Marvel Comics character Riri Williams/Ironheart had a script penned by Jada Rodriguez and was listed on The Black List. However, the project didn’t come to fruition. In December 2020, Marvel Studios revealed plans for a Disney+ series titled ‘Ironheart.‘
Now, after three years since her initial appearance, it seems the anticipation for Riri’s story is finally reaching its conclusion as her series is set to premiere in 2025. At the Disney Upfront presentation, a wealth of information was unveiled, and we’ve compiled a concise guide summarizing all the key details for you.
“Ironheart” will track Riri’s journey following the events of ‘Wakanda Forever’
Previously, details about the show were scarce, with only the confirmation that it would center on Riri Williams. However, recent revelations indicate that the series will follow Riri’s return to her hometown of Chicago, where she uncovers...
Now, after three years since her initial appearance, it seems the anticipation for Riri’s story is finally reaching its conclusion as her series is set to premiere in 2025. At the Disney Upfront presentation, a wealth of information was unveiled, and we’ve compiled a concise guide summarizing all the key details for you.
“Ironheart” will track Riri’s journey following the events of ‘Wakanda Forever’
Previously, details about the show were scarce, with only the confirmation that it would center on Riri Williams. However, recent revelations indicate that the series will follow Riri’s return to her hometown of Chicago, where she uncovers...
- 5/15/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
In July 2018, a film based on the Marvel Comics character Riri Williams/Ironheart had a script written by Jada Rodriguez and was listed on The Black List. However, the film did not materialize. In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced the development of a Disney+ television series titled ‘Ironheart.’
Now 3 years after her first appearance, it looks like the wait is finally over for Riri as her show will release in 2025. During the Disney Upfront presentation, plenty of information has been presented and we decided to conveniently summarize them for you in this neat guide.
Ironheart will follow Riri after the events of ‘Wakanda Forever’
Not much was known about the show except that it will follow Riri Williams. Now we know that it’s going to follow Riri after her return back home to Chicago and she will discover “dangerous threads that bring danger and adventure”.
This sort of aligns with...
Now 3 years after her first appearance, it looks like the wait is finally over for Riri as her show will release in 2025. During the Disney Upfront presentation, plenty of information has been presented and we decided to conveniently summarize them for you in this neat guide.
Ironheart will follow Riri after the events of ‘Wakanda Forever’
Not much was known about the show except that it will follow Riri Williams. Now we know that it’s going to follow Riri after her return back home to Chicago and she will discover “dangerous threads that bring danger and adventure”.
This sort of aligns with...
- 5/15/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
MCU fans will have to wait a little longer for Ironheart to drop on Disney+.
Starring Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams (aka Ironheart), the Iron Man spin-off series is set to follow the genius MIT student skilled in creating suits rivaling those of Tony Stark.
After being on the Disney+ docket for years, and following cancellation concerns, Ironheart just received a new official, and yet somewhat disappointing, release update.
Read full article on The Direct.
Starring Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams (aka Ironheart), the Iron Man spin-off series is set to follow the genius MIT student skilled in creating suits rivaling those of Tony Stark.
After being on the Disney+ docket for years, and following cancellation concerns, Ironheart just received a new official, and yet somewhat disappointing, release update.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 5/15/2024
- by Savannah Sanders
- The Direct
Following the Agatha All Along reveal, Marvel Studios announced the premiere dates for both Daredevil: Born Again and Ironheart during tonight's Disney Upfronts presentation.
Born Again, which will serve as a relaunch of the cancelled Daredevil Netflix series, is set to hit the streaming service in March of next year. Star Charlie Cox confirmed that the season will run for nine episodes.
Ironheart is also set to premiere in 2025, but an exact date was not revealed.
Marvel screened the first trailers for both shows for those in attendance, but they haven't been released online (and likely won't be for a while). However, we do have updated logos, which you can check out below along with an interview clip (via Deadline).
Charlie Cox on the preparation for coming back to the role of Daredevil for ‘Daredevil: Born Again,’ plus, Vincent D’Onofrio and Cox on agreeing on everything in the creative process pic.
Born Again, which will serve as a relaunch of the cancelled Daredevil Netflix series, is set to hit the streaming service in March of next year. Star Charlie Cox confirmed that the season will run for nine episodes.
Ironheart is also set to premiere in 2025, but an exact date was not revealed.
Marvel screened the first trailers for both shows for those in attendance, but they haven't been released online (and likely won't be for a while). However, we do have updated logos, which you can check out below along with an interview clip (via Deadline).
Charlie Cox on the preparation for coming back to the role of Daredevil for ‘Daredevil: Born Again,’ plus, Vincent D’Onofrio and Cox on agreeing on everything in the creative process pic.
- 5/14/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Marvel’s upcoming WandaVision spin-off starring Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness finally has an official title—for real this time—and a release date on Disney+.
The Agatha series has been through several titles over the years, including Agatha: House of Harkness, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, and Agatha: The Lying Witch with Great Wardrobe. It turns out those constant title changes were the result of the titular pesky witch, and the actual title was unveiled during Disney’s 2024 Upfront Presentation: Agatha All Along. The first two episodes of the series will debut on Disney+ on September 18th.
It was Agatha All Along
Don’t miss the two-episode premiere of #AgathaAllAlong, September 18 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/hwPSOeJFv6
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) May 14, 2024
The fitting title takes its name from the viral ear-worm song featuring in WandaVision from composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Admit it, you’re humming it right now.
The Agatha series has been through several titles over the years, including Agatha: House of Harkness, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, and Agatha: The Lying Witch with Great Wardrobe. It turns out those constant title changes were the result of the titular pesky witch, and the actual title was unveiled during Disney’s 2024 Upfront Presentation: Agatha All Along. The first two episodes of the series will debut on Disney+ on September 18th.
It was Agatha All Along
Don’t miss the two-episode premiere of #AgathaAllAlong, September 18 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/hwPSOeJFv6
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) May 14, 2024
The fitting title takes its name from the viral ear-worm song featuring in WandaVision from composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Admit it, you’re humming it right now.
- 5/14/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
There’s a new slate of Marvel shows coming to Disney+ soon.
During Disney’s Upfront presentation, Marvel Studios revealed that Agatha All Along will be flying onto the streamer on September 18. Two episodes will be available at launch, with episodes becoming available weekly thereafter.
Meanwhile, audiences can expect Daredevil: Born Again in March 2025. Ironheart is also coming in 2025, though the studio didn’t say when, exactly, to expect that series.
Kathryn Hahn is reprising her role of Agatha Harkness for the upcoming Wandavision spinoff, which Disney+ has already teased. With the Blu-Ray release of WandaVision, Marvel Studios snuck a little preview of the spinoff where Hahn and creators spoke about the making of the series, claiming there’s been “nothing more delicious.”
Related: Bob Iger Returns To Upfront Stage For First Time Since 1994 With Pitchman Praise For Disney’s “Creative Excellence” & Jimmy Kimmel’s Roast To Follow
Agatha: Darkhold...
During Disney’s Upfront presentation, Marvel Studios revealed that Agatha All Along will be flying onto the streamer on September 18. Two episodes will be available at launch, with episodes becoming available weekly thereafter.
Meanwhile, audiences can expect Daredevil: Born Again in March 2025. Ironheart is also coming in 2025, though the studio didn’t say when, exactly, to expect that series.
Kathryn Hahn is reprising her role of Agatha Harkness for the upcoming Wandavision spinoff, which Disney+ has already teased. With the Blu-Ray release of WandaVision, Marvel Studios snuck a little preview of the spinoff where Hahn and creators spoke about the making of the series, claiming there’s been “nothing more delicious.”
Related: Bob Iger Returns To Upfront Stage For First Time Since 1994 With Pitchman Praise For Disney’s “Creative Excellence” & Jimmy Kimmel’s Roast To Follow
Agatha: Darkhold...
- 5/14/2024
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Rumour has it Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler is being eyed to helm both Black Panther 3 and Marvel Studios' eventual X-Men reboot.
It's an exciting prospect given what a talent the filmmaker is, but one The DisInsider may have thrown cold water on. According to the site, Coogler is on a shortlist to helm both Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars.
While the post's author believes he'd likely direct only one of them, they also suggest the director could pass the reigns of Black Panther 3 to someone else to focus on Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Still, we'd bet on Marvel Studios wanting a single filmmaker for the next Avengers movies as, like Infinity War and Endgame, they could then be shot back-to-back (surely a necessity when they're being released only one year apart).
We'll see what happens, but Coogler directing Avengers 5 or Avengers: Secret Wars...
It's an exciting prospect given what a talent the filmmaker is, but one The DisInsider may have thrown cold water on. According to the site, Coogler is on a shortlist to helm both Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars.
While the post's author believes he'd likely direct only one of them, they also suggest the director could pass the reigns of Black Panther 3 to someone else to focus on Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Still, we'd bet on Marvel Studios wanting a single filmmaker for the next Avengers movies as, like Infinity War and Endgame, they could then be shot back-to-back (surely a necessity when they're being released only one year apart).
We'll see what happens, but Coogler directing Avengers 5 or Avengers: Secret Wars...
- 5/10/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Rumor: Ryan Coogler May Pass On Black Panther 3 And X-men For Avengers 5; Armor Wars May Be Scrapped
Rumour has it Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler is being eyed to helm both Black Panther 3 and Marvel Studios' eventual X-Men reboot.
It's an exciting prospect given what a talent the filmmaker is, but one The DisInsider may have thrown cold water on. According to the site, Coogler is on a shortlist to helm both Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars.
While the post's author believes he'd likely direct only one of them, they also suggest the director could pass the reigns of Black Panther 3 to someone else to focus on Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Still, we'd bet on Marvel Studios wanting a single filmmaker for the next Avengers movies as, like Infinity War and Endgame, they could then be shot back-to-back (surely a necessity when they're being released only one year apart).
We'll see what happens, but Coogler directing Avengers 5 or Avengers: Secret Wars...
It's an exciting prospect given what a talent the filmmaker is, but one The DisInsider may have thrown cold water on. According to the site, Coogler is on a shortlist to helm both Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars.
While the post's author believes he'd likely direct only one of them, they also suggest the director could pass the reigns of Black Panther 3 to someone else to focus on Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Still, we'd bet on Marvel Studios wanting a single filmmaker for the next Avengers movies as, like Infinity War and Endgame, they could then be shot back-to-back (surely a necessity when they're being released only one year apart).
We'll see what happens, but Coogler directing Avengers 5 or Avengers: Secret Wars...
- 5/10/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
MCU has quite a lot of projects to release in 2024, 2025, and beyond. We know that there are several movies being worked on currently and affected by the strikes, but none of them are as anticipated as ‘Avengers 5’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ which are expected to continue MCU’s tradition of majestic crossovers.
Since the movie is a long time away from being released, there’s not much information about it except for the supposed release date, still we gathered all the rumors in one place and decided to present you with this neat guide.
‘Avengers: Secrets Wars’ is heavily rumored to reboot the current MCU
The sixth Avengers title draws inspiration from the ‘Secret Wars’ comic storylines released in 1984 and 2015, particularly the latter, which focused more on the multiverse. In the MCU, hints from Kang in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” suggest a similar multiversal conflict, mirroring the storyline where two universes clash,...
Since the movie is a long time away from being released, there’s not much information about it except for the supposed release date, still we gathered all the rumors in one place and decided to present you with this neat guide.
‘Avengers: Secrets Wars’ is heavily rumored to reboot the current MCU
The sixth Avengers title draws inspiration from the ‘Secret Wars’ comic storylines released in 1984 and 2015, particularly the latter, which focused more on the multiverse. In the MCU, hints from Kang in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” suggest a similar multiversal conflict, mirroring the storyline where two universes clash,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
The MCU has numerous projects slated for release in 2024, 2025, and beyond. While various movies are currently in production, none are as highly anticipated as ‘Avengers 5’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars,’ which are expected to uphold the tradition of epic crossovers in the MCU.
Although ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ is still a long way off from its release, limited information is available aside from the rumored release date. Nonetheless, we’ve compiled all the rumors into one convenient guide to provide you with the latest insights.
There are strong rumors suggesting that ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ will initiate a reboot of the current MCU
The sixth Avengers title takes cues from the ‘Secret Wars’ comic storylines of 1984 and 2015, with a focus on the latter’s exploration of the multiverse. In the MCU, clues from Kang in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” hint at a parallel multiversal conflict, echoing the clash of universes depicted in the comics,...
Although ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ is still a long way off from its release, limited information is available aside from the rumored release date. Nonetheless, we’ve compiled all the rumors into one convenient guide to provide you with the latest insights.
There are strong rumors suggesting that ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ will initiate a reboot of the current MCU
The sixth Avengers title takes cues from the ‘Secret Wars’ comic storylines of 1984 and 2015, with a focus on the latter’s exploration of the multiverse. In the MCU, clues from Kang in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” hint at a parallel multiversal conflict, echoing the clash of universes depicted in the comics,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
“Character is kind of where I start from,” explains Jocelyn Bioh, “I feel like all of my work is character driven narratives.” She made her Broadway debut as a playwright this season with “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” at Manhattan Theatre Club, a play bursting at the seams with unique characters. “Sometimes I don’t actually know where I’m going,” says Bioh of her process, “I just know what the character is, and I’ll just start writing and see what they say, see where it kind of leads me.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.
In the play, audiences are dropped into the titular Harlem braiding shop where they soon grow intimately familiar with the stylists and clientele. There’s Marie (Dominique Thorne), the owner’s young daughter with a bright future ahead of her. There’s Bea (Zenzi Williams), a veteran stylist who dominates much of the...
In the play, audiences are dropped into the titular Harlem braiding shop where they soon grow intimately familiar with the stylists and clientele. There’s Marie (Dominique Thorne), the owner’s young daughter with a bright future ahead of her. There’s Bea (Zenzi Williams), a veteran stylist who dominates much of the...
- 4/8/2024
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Shakira Barrera has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.
Barrera is an actress, dancer, producer and humanitarian who is best known for her breakout role in Netflix’s G.L.O.W. as Yolanda Rivas, a lady wrestler. Most recently, she starred as First Officer Jensen Corbyt in Star Wars: Ahsoka opposite Rosario Dawson and in the series regular role of Gloria, a college-educated scam artist who discovered her love for conning people at a young age, in Greg Garcia’s Sprung from Prime Video alongside Garret Dillahunt and Martha Plimpton.
Upcoming projects include a guest-starring role on HBO’s Hacks and a series regular role on Marvel’s Ironheart starring Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos. Additional TV credits include Showtime’s Shameless, TNT’s Animal Kingdom, Netflix’s It’s Bruno! and OWN’s All Rise for Season 3.
Most recently, Barrera has been producing and creating projects of her own. In addition to acting and producing,...
Barrera is an actress, dancer, producer and humanitarian who is best known for her breakout role in Netflix’s G.L.O.W. as Yolanda Rivas, a lady wrestler. Most recently, she starred as First Officer Jensen Corbyt in Star Wars: Ahsoka opposite Rosario Dawson and in the series regular role of Gloria, a college-educated scam artist who discovered her love for conning people at a young age, in Greg Garcia’s Sprung from Prime Video alongside Garret Dillahunt and Martha Plimpton.
Upcoming projects include a guest-starring role on HBO’s Hacks and a series regular role on Marvel’s Ironheart starring Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos. Additional TV credits include Showtime’s Shameless, TNT’s Animal Kingdom, Netflix’s It’s Bruno! and OWN’s All Rise for Season 3.
Most recently, Barrera has been producing and creating projects of her own. In addition to acting and producing,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
“We played games and we laughed. And I felt like that was where the trust really began,” recalls Zenzi Williams of a pivotal potluck where she and her “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” cast members bonded. Manhattan Theatre Club presented the critically lauded new play by Jocelyn Bioh on Broadway during the fall, with many journalists tipping their hat to the synergy of its ensemble cast. According to Williams, their strong “sense of play” was born out of the closeness that the company felt during that initial dinner party. “We kind of brought that into the space and it just blossomed from there,” she explains. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Williams portrays Bea in the play, a veteran stylist at the titular Harlem braiding salon. The actress infuses Bea with an exuberant, no-nonsense attitude. Though her mood is soon tampered by younger stylists who steal her clients. The closeness...
Williams portrays Bea in the play, a veteran stylist at the titular Harlem braiding salon. The actress infuses Bea with an exuberant, no-nonsense attitude. Though her mood is soon tampered by younger stylists who steal her clients. The closeness...
- 3/26/2024
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Marvel just confirmed what many expected about Ironheart’s connection to Tony Stark in the MCU.
Riri Williams (aka Ironheart) was first introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where her genius intellect quickly crossed paths with both Wakanda and Talokan.
The character is known in the comics for building her own Iron Man suits, taking inspiration from Tony Stark. However, in the MCU, Dominique Thorne’s newly introduced character never spent a moment of on-screen time with Robert Downey Jr.’s Avenger.
Read full article on The Direct.
Riri Williams (aka Ironheart) was first introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where her genius intellect quickly crossed paths with both Wakanda and Talokan.
The character is known in the comics for building her own Iron Man suits, taking inspiration from Tony Stark. However, in the MCU, Dominique Thorne’s newly introduced character never spent a moment of on-screen time with Robert Downey Jr.’s Avenger.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 3/24/2024
- by Russ Milheim
- The Direct
When the character Riri Williams (played by Dominique Thorne) made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut back in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the idea was that we’d be seeing the character again the following year in her own Disney+ show Ironheart… but 2023 came and went without Ironheart, and the show still doesn’t have an official premiere date. This has caused some fans to speculate that Marvel and Disney+ might have decided to scrap Ironheart, along with the series Wonder Man, which had Yahya Abdul-Mateen II taking on the role of the title character, who is also known as Simon Williams and hasn’t been seen in the MCU yet. But no, Ironheart and Wonder Man are not being scrapped, and in a new interview with Agents of Fandom, Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation Brad Winderbaum described the shows as spectacular, amazing, and different.
Winderbaum told Agents of Fandom,...
Winderbaum told Agents of Fandom,...
- 3/19/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Angela Bassett made history when she became the first actor to be nominated for an Oscar in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie for her role as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. After taking home the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actress, she was a favourite to win the Oscar as well, but the award went to Jamie Lee Curtis instead (Everything Everywhere All At Once), and Bassett was visibly disappointed.
While speaking with Oprah Winfrey, Angela Bassett confirmed that she was “gobsmacked” at the loss. “I was gobsmacked! I was,” she said. “I thought I handled it very well. That was my intention, to handle it very well. It was, of course, a supreme disappointment and disappointment is human. So I thought, yes, I was disappointed and I handled it like a human being.“
Bassett continued, saying that he needed to stay composed for...
While speaking with Oprah Winfrey, Angela Bassett confirmed that she was “gobsmacked” at the loss. “I was gobsmacked! I was,” she said. “I thought I handled it very well. That was my intention, to handle it very well. It was, of course, a supreme disappointment and disappointment is human. So I thought, yes, I was disappointed and I handled it like a human being.“
Bassett continued, saying that he needed to stay composed for...
- 3/8/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
The stars are stepping out during New York Fashion Week!
Uma Thurman, Natasha Lyonne, and Awkwafina spent the afternoon at the Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2024 Fashion Show on Tuesday (February 13) held at the New York Public Library in New York City.
Photos: Check out the latest pics of Uma Thurman
Following the show, we have a compile a list of the more than 30 celebs that were in attendance.
If you missed it, Natasha joined tons of other stars at the opening of Chanel‘s new boutique in NYC.
Head inside to see all of the photos…
Keep scrolling to see photos of every star who attended the fashion show…
Alexa Chung
AnnaSophia Robb
Awkwafina
Barbara Palvin Sprouse
Dominique Thorne
Dree Hemingway
Ivy Getty
Kathryn Newton
Lily Chee
Meredith Duxbury
Natasha Lyonne
Pritika Swarup
Rachel Zoe
Uma Thurman
Click through the gallery for more photos of the stars at the fashion show…...
Uma Thurman, Natasha Lyonne, and Awkwafina spent the afternoon at the Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2024 Fashion Show on Tuesday (February 13) held at the New York Public Library in New York City.
Photos: Check out the latest pics of Uma Thurman
Following the show, we have a compile a list of the more than 30 celebs that were in attendance.
If you missed it, Natasha joined tons of other stars at the opening of Chanel‘s new boutique in NYC.
Head inside to see all of the photos…
Keep scrolling to see photos of every star who attended the fashion show…
Alexa Chung
AnnaSophia Robb
Awkwafina
Barbara Palvin Sprouse
Dominique Thorne
Dree Hemingway
Ivy Getty
Kathryn Newton
Lily Chee
Meredith Duxbury
Natasha Lyonne
Pritika Swarup
Rachel Zoe
Uma Thurman
Click through the gallery for more photos of the stars at the fashion show…...
- 2/14/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Taking place amid the crush of parties surrounding the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala — with its black-tie Black designer dress code — drew one of the most gorgeously turned out crowds of the entire bash-filled weekend.
Held for the first time in L.A. and hosted by Robin Thede, the gala raised money for the nonprofit equity organization Fifteen Percent Pledge, founded by Brother Vellies designer Aurora James, which asks retailers to devote 15 percent of shelf space to products from Black-owned brands.
First Lady Jill Biden, wearing designer Sergio Hudson, made a surprise appearance at the event, held on the lot at Paramount Studios. She touted the achievements her husband’s administration has made to help small and minority-owned businesses (including doubling the amount of loans given by the government to small Black-owned companies) and praised James for founding the Fifteen Percent Pledge in the wake...
Held for the first time in L.A. and hosted by Robin Thede, the gala raised money for the nonprofit equity organization Fifteen Percent Pledge, founded by Brother Vellies designer Aurora James, which asks retailers to devote 15 percent of shelf space to products from Black-owned brands.
First Lady Jill Biden, wearing designer Sergio Hudson, made a surprise appearance at the event, held on the lot at Paramount Studios. She touted the achievements her husband’s administration has made to help small and minority-owned businesses (including doubling the amount of loans given by the government to small Black-owned companies) and praised James for founding the Fifteen Percent Pledge in the wake...
- 2/4/2024
- by Degen Pener
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Sundance Film Festival has wrapped in snowy Park City, and Deadline was on the ground to watch all of the key films. Here is a compilation of our reviews from the fest, which include festival award winners like Daughters, the documentary that took the Festival Favorite Award, and A Real Pain, which won the Waldo Salt Screenwriter Award for its writer-director-star Jesse Eisenberg.
Other pics include several that were scooped up by distributors, led by Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story Presence selling to Neon, A Real Pain going to Searchlight, Ghostlight to IFC Films, and Netflix’s smash $17 million deal for It’s What’s Inside.
Check out the reviews below, click on the titles to read them in full, and keep checking back as we add more.
The American Society of Magical Negroes (L-r) Justice Smith and David Alan Grier in ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
Section: Premieres
Director-screenwriter: Kobi Libii
Cast: Justice Smith,...
Other pics include several that were scooped up by distributors, led by Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story Presence selling to Neon, A Real Pain going to Searchlight, Ghostlight to IFC Films, and Netflix’s smash $17 million deal for It’s What’s Inside.
Check out the reviews below, click on the titles to read them in full, and keep checking back as we add more.
The American Society of Magical Negroes (L-r) Justice Smith and David Alan Grier in ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
Section: Premieres
Director-screenwriter: Kobi Libii
Cast: Justice Smith,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Damon Wise, Valerie Complex and Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Plot: Four interconnected tales follow a teenager in love (Jack Champion), two female rappers trying to make it (Normani and Dominique Thorne), a world-weary debt mob enforcer (Pedro Pascal ) and a basketball legend (Jay Ellis) looking for vengeance in 1987 Oakland.
Review: Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson) make a triumphant return to Sundance with one of the festival’s most energetic offerings in years. Mixing a Tarantino-style crime tale with high-octane action, Boden and Fleck use the bag of tricks they earned working for the MCU (Captain Marvel) to deliver an unexpected smash. Freaky Tales is the kind of movie Sundance would have shown in its nineties heyday, with it likely the only film playing this year that ends in a kung-fu-heavy bloodbath. I loved every second of it.
Freaky Tales mostly takes place over a single night in Oakland; it uses a few things that were...
Review: Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson) make a triumphant return to Sundance with one of the festival’s most energetic offerings in years. Mixing a Tarantino-style crime tale with high-octane action, Boden and Fleck use the bag of tricks they earned working for the MCU (Captain Marvel) to deliver an unexpected smash. Freaky Tales is the kind of movie Sundance would have shown in its nineties heyday, with it likely the only film playing this year that ends in a kung-fu-heavy bloodbath. I loved every second of it.
Freaky Tales mostly takes place over a single night in Oakland; it uses a few things that were...
- 1/26/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Oscar nominee Colman Domingo picked up three nominations and Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri a pair to lead the motion picture and television categories, respectively, while Victoria Monét (six) and Usher (five) paced the music nominations for the 55th NAACP Image Awards. Domingo’s bids came for Entertainer of the Year and one each for Actor in a Motion Picture (“Rustin”) and Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (“The Color Purple”), while Edebiri’s came in Supporting Comedy Actress for “The Bear” and Guest Actress in a Comedy for “Abbott Elementary.”
Other major nominees were, for Entertainer of the Year, Domingo, Usher, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey and Keke Palmer and – for Outstanding Motion Picture – “American Fiction,” “Rustin,” Origin,” “The Color Purple” and “They Cloned Tyrone.” Netflix led the pack with 55 total nominations, with Amazon second, tallying 27. RCA Records received the most of any record label in the recording categories with 20.
SEEColman...
Other major nominees were, for Entertainer of the Year, Domingo, Usher, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey and Keke Palmer and – for Outstanding Motion Picture – “American Fiction,” “Rustin,” Origin,” “The Color Purple” and “They Cloned Tyrone.” Netflix led the pack with 55 total nominations, with Amazon second, tallying 27. RCA Records received the most of any record label in the recording categories with 20.
SEEColman...
- 1/26/2024
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Before the early-morning Sundance premiere of Freaky Tales, one of the festival’s programmers introduced the movie as an explosive, crazy ride that would surely wake an under-caffeinated audience. That same sentiment was shared moments later in the opening frames, promising that Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s Oakland-based 1980s mosaic would be a “hella wild” ride. Like the common trope of freeze-frame narration that begins in media res, it’s a bold choice to tell––instead of show––your audience what they’re about to get into.
And what do you get into with Freaky Tales? Unfortunately, something clever, self-satisfied, and much sleepier than its predetermined adrenaline rush. Its filmmakers made their first splash at Sundance with Half Nelson in 2006, eventually compounding their indie success through sensitive (It’s Kind of a Funny Story) and smart (Mississippi Grind) features that showcased their writing skills and casting decisions. Their mainstream...
And what do you get into with Freaky Tales? Unfortunately, something clever, self-satisfied, and much sleepier than its predetermined adrenaline rush. Its filmmakers made their first splash at Sundance with Half Nelson in 2006, eventually compounding their indie success through sensitive (It’s Kind of a Funny Story) and smart (Mississippi Grind) features that showcased their writing skills and casting decisions. Their mainstream...
- 1/25/2024
- by Jake Kring-Schreifels
- The Film Stage
The Deadline photo studio hosted talent at the Sundance Film Festival, as cast members of Sundance-premiering films stopped by including Glen Powell and Richard Linklater for Hit Man; John Earl Jelks, Andra Day, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Titus Kaphar and André Holland for Exhibiting Forgiveness; Fred Hechinger, Clark Gregg, June Squibb and Josh Margolin for Thelma; Kerry Washington for Daughters; Nora Fingscheidt and Saoirse Ronan for Outrun; Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun for Love Me; Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain; Pedro Pascal, Dominique Thorne, Normani Kordei Hamilton & Jack Champion for Freaky Tales and many more.
Related: Sundance Film Festival 2024: Film Premieres, Panels & Parties Gallery
The Deadline Studio at Sundance Film Festival runs January 19-22, where the cast and creatives behind the best and buzziest titles in this year’s lineup sit down with Deadline’s festival team to discuss their movies and the paths they took to get to Park City.
Related: Sundance Film Festival 2024: Film Premieres, Panels & Parties Gallery
The Deadline Studio at Sundance Film Festival runs January 19-22, where the cast and creatives behind the best and buzziest titles in this year’s lineup sit down with Deadline’s festival team to discuss their movies and the paths they took to get to Park City.
- 1/21/2024
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
Marvel Studios has a slew of projects in the pipeline, and while fans eagerly await updates on ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ and ‘The Fantastic Four’ reboot, one project that has been generating buzz for years is ‘Ironheart.’ Despite years of anticipation, the series has faced delays in development and release.
In July 2018, a film based on the Marvel Comics character Riri Williams/Ironheart had a script by Jada Rodriguez and was listed on The Black List. However, the film never materialized. In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced the development of a Disney+ television series titled ‘Ironheart,’ with Chinaka Hodge appointed as the head writer in April 2021. In March 2022, it was disclosed that Ryan Coogler, the director of ‘Black Panther,’ was involved in the production, and Dominique Thorne, Ironheart’s star, makes her first appearance in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’ Coogler’s Proximity Media is collaborating with Marvel Studios on select Disney+ series,...
In July 2018, a film based on the Marvel Comics character Riri Williams/Ironheart had a script by Jada Rodriguez and was listed on The Black List. However, the film never materialized. In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced the development of a Disney+ television series titled ‘Ironheart,’ with Chinaka Hodge appointed as the head writer in April 2021. In March 2022, it was disclosed that Ryan Coogler, the director of ‘Black Panther,’ was involved in the production, and Dominique Thorne, Ironheart’s star, makes her first appearance in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’ Coogler’s Proximity Media is collaborating with Marvel Studios on select Disney+ series,...
- 1/21/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Marvel Studios has plenty of projects in the making, and while fans are mostly anticipating every bit and piece of rumor regarding ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ and ‘The Fantastic Four’ reboot, one project that’s been hyped for years now without materializing is generating quite the chatter in the last few years. We’re talking about ‘Ironheart’ a series that is years overdue with seemingly no end in sight regarding development and actual release.
In July 2018, a film based on the Marvel Comics character Riri Williams/Ironheart had a script written by Jada Rodriguez and was listed on The Black List. However, the film did not materialize. In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced the development of a Disney+ television series titled ‘Ironheart.’ Chinaka Hodge was hired as the head writer in April 2021. In March 2022, it was revealed that Ryan Coogler, director of ‘Black Panther,’ was involved in the production, and Ironheart’s star,...
In July 2018, a film based on the Marvel Comics character Riri Williams/Ironheart had a script written by Jada Rodriguez and was listed on The Black List. However, the film did not materialize. In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced the development of a Disney+ television series titled ‘Ironheart.’ Chinaka Hodge was hired as the head writer in April 2021. In March 2022, it was revealed that Ryan Coogler, director of ‘Black Panther,’ was involved in the production, and Ironheart’s star,...
- 1/21/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
‘Freaky Tales’ Sundance Review – Energetic Genre Mixtape Starring Pedro Pascal Revels in ‘80s Excess
Writer/Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck interconnect four energetic, frequently bloody stories in infectious anthology Freaky Tales. The filmmakers set Freaky Tales in 1987 Oakland, capturing the subculture of the Bay Area amidst the peak of ‘80s excess. It yields an anything-goes anarchic spirit that, when combined with an impressive cast game for this type of madness, plays like a stylish and entertaining genre mixtape.
Borrowing a page from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, Freaky Tales segments its stories into four chapters, but they overlap in ways that don’t immediately reveal themselves as characters and timelines blur across the entire anthology. That careful structure makes up a large part of the fun, and Boden and Fleck bide their time immersing viewers in an eclectic world of punks versus Nazis, crooked cops, a crime enforcer’s attempt at retirement, and one Warrior all-star player who’s harnessed the mysterious green...
Borrowing a page from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, Freaky Tales segments its stories into four chapters, but they overlap in ways that don’t immediately reveal themselves as characters and timelines blur across the entire anthology. That careful structure makes up a large part of the fun, and Boden and Fleck bide their time immersing viewers in an eclectic world of punks versus Nazis, crooked cops, a crime enforcer’s attempt at retirement, and one Warrior all-star player who’s harnessed the mysterious green...
- 1/19/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Bay Area was a weird place in 1987. You had the remnants of the Me Decade’s cults of touchy-feeliness bumping up against Silicon Valley’s computer-nerd capitalism. Competing D.I.Y. music scenes meant you could surf between S.F. Thrash, East Bay rap, and pockets of punk popping up from everywhere; shows and entrances to a subculture of your choice were just a Bart ride away. Other than the San Francisco 49ers, still deep into their Joe Montana-led winning streak, sports meant rooting for underdogs. (The Oakland...
- 1/19/2024
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Taking a one-for-us victory lap after one-for-them studio smash “Captain Marvel,” indie duo Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden blow a big, self-indulgent kiss to the late-’80s East Bay with nostalgia-fueled “Freaky Tales.” Berkeley-born Fleck was all of 10 years old in early 1987, when this overstuffed anthology film is set, which explains the wide-eyed way he romanticizes the defining subcultures of the time.
In four distinct but intertwining chapters — populated mostly with fresh faces, plus grizzled-but-gorgeous Pedro Pascal — “Freaky Tales” melds wildly different sectors of the city: There’s the rowdy-yet-respectful Gilman Street punk crowd; the revolutionary Oakland hip-hop scene; the Warriors’ historic victory over the Lakers, in which local basketball legend Eric “Sleepy” Floyd scored a record-setting 29 points in the fourth quarter; and a disturbing spike in neo-Nazi-linked hate crimes, which strangely serves to tie everything else together.
As if those disparate realms weren’t enough of a grab bag,...
In four distinct but intertwining chapters — populated mostly with fresh faces, plus grizzled-but-gorgeous Pedro Pascal — “Freaky Tales” melds wildly different sectors of the city: There’s the rowdy-yet-respectful Gilman Street punk crowd; the revolutionary Oakland hip-hop scene; the Warriors’ historic victory over the Lakers, in which local basketball legend Eric “Sleepy” Floyd scored a record-setting 29 points in the fourth quarter; and a disturbing spike in neo-Nazi-linked hate crimes, which strangely serves to tie everything else together.
As if those disparate realms weren’t enough of a grab bag,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
If it takes doing an MCU movie, with all the corporate constrictions that entails, to plunge into the kind of exhilarating creative exorcism that Freaky Tales represents, then bring on the superhero as stepping-stone. Before they made Captain Marvel, longtime filmmaking duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck established their talents with three boldly idiosyncratic indies, Half Nelson, Sugar and Mississippi Grind. But nothing in those distinctive works can prepare you for the kinetic energy, the freewheeling imagination and the righteous battles — we’re talking rap and some serious blade slice-and-dice — of their love letter to the Bay Area and the pop-cultural imprint it left on Fleck as a kid in the ‘80s.
The tales of the title are four chapters all built around the theme of underdog victory, each of them different in texture and tone yet all ingeniously interconnected and all owing something to the big-screen aesthetics of the time.
The tales of the title are four chapters all built around the theme of underdog victory, each of them different in texture and tone yet all ingeniously interconnected and all owing something to the big-screen aesthetics of the time.
- 1/19/2024
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There’s nothing so freaky about “Freaky Tales,” Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s sci-fi omnibus ode to ‘80s cinema nostalgia that takes the definition of “derivative,” packages a bunch of retro cinematic references smugly into winky “you get it, right?” pastiche, and stretches it to its furthest possible event horizon.
The problem with structuring your film around four interlocking chapters, each with its own segueing title card, is if you’re not down with the first, you’ll be counting down the passage of time groaningly until the next. Last time they were behind the camera, Boden and Fleck had decamped their indie roots, including the lovely “Half Nelson” and “Sugar” — films powered by real characters — for the irresistible Faust’s bargain of directing 2019’s “Captain Marvel.” It seems they have not stripped themselves of the MCU’s cheeky, self-reflexive DNA, here writing and directing a film that thinks...
The problem with structuring your film around four interlocking chapters, each with its own segueing title card, is if you’re not down with the first, you’ll be counting down the passage of time groaningly until the next. Last time they were behind the camera, Boden and Fleck had decamped their indie roots, including the lovely “Half Nelson” and “Sugar” — films powered by real characters — for the irresistible Faust’s bargain of directing 2019’s “Captain Marvel.” It seems they have not stripped themselves of the MCU’s cheeky, self-reflexive DNA, here writing and directing a film that thinks...
- 1/19/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Oakland’s freaky side emerges in Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s ambitious yet tonally uneven new anthology film Freaky Tales starring Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Ben Medelsohn, Jack Champion, Ji-Young Yoo, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Too Short and Lenny G. The directors spotlight diverse local subcultures against the backdrop of Too Short’s hit of the same name, with the film intertwining four tales linked by unfolding events and a puzzling supernatural emerald glow permeating the city. Though the gritty visuals and soundtrack immerse in the look and feel of 1987 Oakland, the narrative struggles to weave these stories into a satisfying whole.
The film opens on chaos with the segment The Gilman Strikes Back as young punks Tina (Yoo) and Lucid (Champion), usually retreating from violent Nazi skinheads, finally fight back when their underground venue is attacked. Next, in Don’t Fight the Feeling, best friends and rap duo Barbie...
The film opens on chaos with the segment The Gilman Strikes Back as young punks Tina (Yoo) and Lucid (Champion), usually retreating from violent Nazi skinheads, finally fight back when their underground venue is attacked. Next, in Don’t Fight the Feeling, best friends and rap duo Barbie...
- 1/19/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Sundance revved up with the premiere of Freaky Tales tonight, a debut met with rousing applause, including at the film’s last title card that read, “In loving memory of Angus Cloud.”
The Euphoria actor died last year of a drug overdose at 25. His role is small in Freaky Tales, but Cloud “gave such a great performance, and was just there to have so much fun with,” said Jay Ellis, one of the film’s stars. “Rest in peace to Angus.”
The anthology set in 1987 Oakland was written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, and also stars Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn Normani, Dominique Thorne and Ji-Young Yoo.
Tom Hanks has a surprise cameo as a garrulous video store owner, talking movies with
“This is sort of like my 12-year old fantasy of a movie,” said an exuberant Fleck. “You know, some movies you want to make to work...
The Euphoria actor died last year of a drug overdose at 25. His role is small in Freaky Tales, but Cloud “gave such a great performance, and was just there to have so much fun with,” said Jay Ellis, one of the film’s stars. “Rest in peace to Angus.”
The anthology set in 1987 Oakland was written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, and also stars Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn Normani, Dominique Thorne and Ji-Young Yoo.
Tom Hanks has a surprise cameo as a garrulous video store owner, talking movies with
“This is sort of like my 12-year old fantasy of a movie,” said an exuberant Fleck. “You know, some movies you want to make to work...
- 1/19/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Freaky Tales officially kicked off the 2024 Sundance Film Festival with Pedro Pascal as a soon-to-be-retired fixer and Jay Ellis as NBA All-Star and former Golden State Warrior Sleepy Floyd.
The Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck-directed film received the prime 7 p.m. slot at the Eccles Theater, with the audience giving it a warm welcome. The filmmakers, whose recent credits include Captain Marvel and Masters of the Air, were welcomed back to the festival, where their feature debut Half Nelson screened in 2006 and Mississippi Grind screened in 2015.
“The last time I was here with Mississippi Grind I had to lie to get on an airplane about how pregnant I was. I was so pregnant, and I had to pretend I was less pregnant than I was. And now the person I was pregnant with is here tonight, and she is 8 years old ,” said Boden ahead of the screening to audience applause.
The Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck-directed film received the prime 7 p.m. slot at the Eccles Theater, with the audience giving it a warm welcome. The filmmakers, whose recent credits include Captain Marvel and Masters of the Air, were welcomed back to the festival, where their feature debut Half Nelson screened in 2006 and Mississippi Grind screened in 2015.
“The last time I was here with Mississippi Grind I had to lie to get on an airplane about how pregnant I was. I was so pregnant, and I had to pretend I was less pregnant than I was. And now the person I was pregnant with is here tonight, and she is 8 years old ,” said Boden ahead of the screening to audience applause.
- 1/19/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After a snowy Wednesday in Park City dampered some of the arrival fanfare of previous festivals, Sundance soaked up the sun on Thursday’s opening day. With plenty of powder to lend an idyllic backdrop to selfies and social media updates, the festival crowd was buzzing in line for the day’s largest film opening: “Freaky Tales,” taking the coveted early evening spot at the Eccles Center. Dozens of stand-by hopefuls were left in the cold for the popular event though, which kicked off the festival with a riotous screening.
The film marks a Sundance homecoming for director Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, whose breakout hit was the 2006 Sundance favorite “Half Nelson”; the pair most recently helmed the decidedly not indie 2019 superhero flick “Captain Marvel.” “Freaky Tales” is a return to their scrappy roots: An anthology horror-thriller-comedy that pays tribute to ’80s Oakland, the film stars Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis,...
The film marks a Sundance homecoming for director Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, whose breakout hit was the 2006 Sundance favorite “Half Nelson”; the pair most recently helmed the decidedly not indie 2019 superhero flick “Captain Marvel.” “Freaky Tales” is a return to their scrappy roots: An anthology horror-thriller-comedy that pays tribute to ’80s Oakland, the film stars Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis,...
- 1/19/2024
- by William Earl, J. Kim Murphy and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Normani and Dominique Thorne are all smiles while stepping out for the premiere of their new movie Freaky Tales held at Eccles Theatre on Thursday (January 18) in Park City, Utah.
The 27-year-old singer and the 26-year-old Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress joined several of their co-stars at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival premiere.
This actually marks Normani‘s film debut!
Also stepping out from the movie were Pedro Pascal, who notably was not wearing an arm sling, Jay Ellis, Keir Gilchrist, Jack Champion, Michelle Farrah Huang and Ji-young Yoo. Writers and directors of the movie, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, were in attendance as well.
Here’s a synopsis: In 1987 Oakland, a mysterious force guides The Town’s underdogs in four interconnected tales: Teen punks defend their turf against Nazi skinheads, a rap duo battles for hip-hop immortality, a weary henchman gets a shot at redemption, and an NBA All-Star settles the score.
The 27-year-old singer and the 26-year-old Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress joined several of their co-stars at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival premiere.
This actually marks Normani‘s film debut!
Also stepping out from the movie were Pedro Pascal, who notably was not wearing an arm sling, Jay Ellis, Keir Gilchrist, Jack Champion, Michelle Farrah Huang and Ji-young Yoo. Writers and directors of the movie, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, were in attendance as well.
Here’s a synopsis: In 1987 Oakland, a mysterious force guides The Town’s underdogs in four interconnected tales: Teen punks defend their turf against Nazi skinheads, a rap duo battles for hip-hop immortality, a weary henchman gets a shot at redemption, and an NBA All-Star settles the score.
- 1/19/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Festival runs January 18-28.
Sundance Film Festival kicks off on Thursday when the industry will gather on the mountain to put the world to rights and buyers will engage in the annual hunt for the festival’s must-have acquisition titles.
Streamers and theatrical buyers will vie for coveted breakouts and while there will almost certainly be a number of on-site deals as there were last year when Netflix swooped on Fair Play in a $20m deal, Apple forked out close to that amount for Flora And Son, and Searchlight Pictures paid $8m for Theater Camp, the post-Covid deal lag will...
Sundance Film Festival kicks off on Thursday when the industry will gather on the mountain to put the world to rights and buyers will engage in the annual hunt for the festival’s must-have acquisition titles.
Streamers and theatrical buyers will vie for coveted breakouts and while there will almost certainly be a number of on-site deals as there were last year when Netflix swooped on Fair Play in a $20m deal, Apple forked out close to that amount for Flora And Son, and Searchlight Pictures paid $8m for Theater Camp, the post-Covid deal lag will...
- 1/17/2024
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: The MacRo Lodge at Sundance Film Festival (www.StayMACRO.com), hosted by MacRo Founder & CEO Charles D. King (Mudbound, Judas and the Black Messiah) and his wife Stacey Walker King, Chief Brand Officer of the company, returns to the Sundance Film Festival for its seventh annual showcase of panels and parties at the iconic film festival to champion inclusion and people of color at its prime location at 136 Heber Avenue in Park City, Ut with three days of programming.
Featured events from January 19-21, 2024 will include appearances by David Alan Grier, Demario Driver, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Jay Ellis, Ji-Young Yoo, Justice Smith, Keir Gilchrist, Michelle Farrah Huang, Normani, director/writer/producers Anna Boden, Carlos Lopez Estrada, Dawn Porter, Kobi Libii and Ryan Fleck, producers Datari Turner, Debby Wolfe, Debra Martin Chase, Jelani Johnson, Leah Smith, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Poppy Hanks, Sonja Warfield and more.
Midnight MacRo, MacRo’s...
Featured events from January 19-21, 2024 will include appearances by David Alan Grier, Demario Driver, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Jay Ellis, Ji-Young Yoo, Justice Smith, Keir Gilchrist, Michelle Farrah Huang, Normani, director/writer/producers Anna Boden, Carlos Lopez Estrada, Dawn Porter, Kobi Libii and Ryan Fleck, producers Datari Turner, Debby Wolfe, Debra Martin Chase, Jelani Johnson, Leah Smith, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Poppy Hanks, Sonja Warfield and more.
Midnight MacRo, MacRo’s...
- 1/12/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Film lovers, filmmakers, industry insiders, actors, artists and more are expected to return en masse for the milestone festivities that will include a packed calendar of parties, panels, concerts, gatherings and networking opportunities, in addition to all the big-screen showings. Below is a roundup of all of the intel The Hollywood Reporter has gathered thus far, featuring events in Park City. All times listed are local and information for how to submit an event is at the end of the list.
Houses, Lodges and Activations
Acura House of Energy
Acura House of Energy, 550 Swede Alley, daily from Jan. 19-22 (with both public and private, invite-only hours)
Acura returns to Sundance for a 14th year as presenting sponsor and official vehicle of the festival by bringing new “energy” to its commitment to uplift independent artists and underrepresented through official Sundance programming and a reimagined, revamped space dubbed the Acura House of Energy.
Houses, Lodges and Activations
Acura House of Energy
Acura House of Energy, 550 Swede Alley, daily from Jan. 19-22 (with both public and private, invite-only hours)
Acura returns to Sundance for a 14th year as presenting sponsor and official vehicle of the festival by bringing new “energy” to its commitment to uplift independent artists and underrepresented through official Sundance programming and a reimagined, revamped space dubbed the Acura House of Energy.
- 1/12/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Get ready to head back to Wakanda: A Black Panther animated series titled Eyes of Wakanda is in development at Marvel Studios and Disney+, our sister site Variety reports.
Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum revealed the project as part of a surprise sizzle reel shown Monday night at an event promoting Season 2 of the animated anthology What If?. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler will be involved in the new animated series as well.
More from TVLineX-Men '97 Creator Fired From Disney+ Continuation Ahead of Series DebutTVLine Items: Descendants Teaser, Scott Wolf Joins Fox Drama and MoreObi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 Looks More Unlikely...
Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum revealed the project as part of a surprise sizzle reel shown Monday night at an event promoting Season 2 of the animated anthology What If?. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler will be involved in the new animated series as well.
More from TVLineX-Men '97 Creator Fired From Disney+ Continuation Ahead of Series DebutTVLine Items: Descendants Teaser, Scott Wolf Joins Fox Drama and MoreObi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 Looks More Unlikely...
- 12/12/2023
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
A “Black Panther” animated series is in the works at Marvel Studios.
Titled “Eyes of Wakanda,” the new project was teased on Monday night by Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum at an event to promote the second season of the studio’s inaugural animated series, “What If…?”.
“Throughout Wakandan history, brave warriors have been tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts. This is their story,” reads the official logline, per Marvel. The studio has been developing multiple series set in Wakanda with “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, and a source tells Variety Coogler will also be involved in the forthcoming animated project. Coogler is currently under a multi-year overall TV deal with the Walt Disney Company through his Proximity Media banner.
Along with “Eyes of Wakanda,” the sizzle reel at the “What If…?” event highlighted two other previously announced animated series: “X-Men ’97,” expected to debut in 2024, and “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,...
Titled “Eyes of Wakanda,” the new project was teased on Monday night by Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum at an event to promote the second season of the studio’s inaugural animated series, “What If…?”.
“Throughout Wakandan history, brave warriors have been tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts. This is their story,” reads the official logline, per Marvel. The studio has been developing multiple series set in Wakanda with “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, and a source tells Variety Coogler will also be involved in the forthcoming animated project. Coogler is currently under a multi-year overall TV deal with the Walt Disney Company through his Proximity Media banner.
Along with “Eyes of Wakanda,” the sizzle reel at the “What If…?” event highlighted two other previously announced animated series: “X-Men ’97,” expected to debut in 2024, and “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,...
- 12/12/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the most highly respected film festivals in the world, and while the horror genre generally doesn’t seem to receive as much respect as it deserves, horror has had a steady presence at Sundance over the years. In fact, just last year the Sundance horror line-up included the likes of Infinity Pool, Talk to Me, My Animal, and Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls. The Sundance 2024 line-up was revealed earlier today (you can see the list Here) – and there again a good number of horror movies included in the program.
Below you can take a closer look at some of the horror movies that will be showing at Sundance 2024, with images to go along with each one of them.
Of course, most of the horror can be found in the Midnight program:
I Saw the TV Glow / U.S.A. — Teenager...
Below you can take a closer look at some of the horror movies that will be showing at Sundance 2024, with images to go along with each one of them.
Of course, most of the horror can be found in the Midnight program:
I Saw the TV Glow / U.S.A. — Teenager...
- 12/6/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola, one of the stars of Disney+’s forthcoming Marvel miniseries Ironheart, has signed with Independent Artist Group for representation.
While details as to Olayiwola’s role are under wraps, she’s part of an ensemble led by Dominique Thorne, which also includes Anthony Ramos, Shakira Barrera, Alden Ehrenreich and more. The six-episode series created by Chinaka Hodge sees Thorne reprise her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever role of Riri Williams, a genius inventor out of MIT who has created the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man’s.
An actress, writer and comedian, Olayiwola is best known for her role as Bailiff Nikki in Amazon Freevee’s singular comedy series Jury Duty from creators Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, which went viral earlier this year and garnered three Emmy nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series. That show, of course, presents a fake jury trial, where all but one...
While details as to Olayiwola’s role are under wraps, she’s part of an ensemble led by Dominique Thorne, which also includes Anthony Ramos, Shakira Barrera, Alden Ehrenreich and more. The six-episode series created by Chinaka Hodge sees Thorne reprise her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever role of Riri Williams, a genius inventor out of MIT who has created the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man’s.
An actress, writer and comedian, Olayiwola is best known for her role as Bailiff Nikki in Amazon Freevee’s singular comedy series Jury Duty from creators Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, which went viral earlier this year and garnered three Emmy nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series. That show, of course, presents a fake jury trial, where all but one...
- 12/5/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Despite disappointing box office returns for The Marvels, Kamala Khan actress Iman Vellani is excited about her MCU future and possibly teaming up with younger heroes to punch evil in its stupid face. While nothing is written in stone, the final scene of Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels hints at a potential Young Avengers film, with Iman Vellani playing a Nick Fury-type role as she recruits up-and-coming superheroes to commit exciting acts of derring-do. Speaking with Yahoo Entertainment, Vellani revealed who she’d like to team up with for a Young Avengers initiative, and some of her choices could surprise you.
Before we reveal the list, here’s some background for how The Marvels sets up its Young Avengers tease. We’re about to take a trip into Spoiler Town, so proceed with caution! At the end of The Marvels, Kamala Khan does her best Nick Fury impression while...
Before we reveal the list, here’s some background for how The Marvels sets up its Young Avengers tease. We’re about to take a trip into Spoiler Town, so proceed with caution! At the end of The Marvels, Kamala Khan does her best Nick Fury impression while...
- 11/21/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
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