Jonathan Majors’ Magazine Dreams is officially back on the market. Nearly a year after Searchlight Pictures acquired the body-building drama, the specialty arm of Walt Disney Studios has quietly returned rights of the movie to the filmmakers, who will now shop it to other buyers.
The move comes mere weeks after Majors was convicted of assault and harassment, stemming from an incident involving his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari. Searchlight delivered the news to the Magazine Dreams team late last week that it would not be releasing the film, according to sources.
Searchlight had no comment.
Magazine Dreams debuted to fanfare last January at Sundance, where Majors’ performance as amateur body builder Killian Maddox earned him rave reviews and early awards buzz. The film’s director, Elijah Bynum, was hailed as the next big director.
Searchlight bought the film for what sources say was around $2 million in February 2023. It was mapping out a late-year awards season campaign.
The move comes mere weeks after Majors was convicted of assault and harassment, stemming from an incident involving his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari. Searchlight delivered the news to the Magazine Dreams team late last week that it would not be releasing the film, according to sources.
Searchlight had no comment.
Magazine Dreams debuted to fanfare last January at Sundance, where Majors’ performance as amateur body builder Killian Maddox earned him rave reviews and early awards buzz. The film’s director, Elijah Bynum, was hailed as the next big director.
Searchlight bought the film for what sources say was around $2 million in February 2023. It was mapping out a late-year awards season campaign.
- 1/17/2024
- by Borys Kit and Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A year after the Jonathan Majors disturbed-bodybuilder drama Magazine Dreams took Sundance by storm, the pic is now back in the hands of its filmmakers and being shopped, Deadline has confirmed.
Searchlight acquired the hot title last year out of Park City for an estimated seven figures; the movie, an 84% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, originally intended as a 2023 awards contender for Majors and its director Elijah Bynum.
However, after the actor and booming marquee star was accused by his girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, of assault in March, the Disney owned indie label pulled the movie from its early December release in October 2023. The rights are now back in the hands of the filmmakers.
Majors was convicted of assault and harassment and is awaiting sentencing on Feb. 6.
The Creed III headliner was also recently dropped from the Dennis Rodman Chicago Bulls movie, 48 Hours in Vegas, which Liosngate also stepped away from.
Searchlight acquired the hot title last year out of Park City for an estimated seven figures; the movie, an 84% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, originally intended as a 2023 awards contender for Majors and its director Elijah Bynum.
However, after the actor and booming marquee star was accused by his girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, of assault in March, the Disney owned indie label pulled the movie from its early December release in October 2023. The rights are now back in the hands of the filmmakers.
Majors was convicted of assault and harassment and is awaiting sentencing on Feb. 6.
The Creed III headliner was also recently dropped from the Dennis Rodman Chicago Bulls movie, 48 Hours in Vegas, which Liosngate also stepped away from.
- 1/17/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
This shouldn’t come as any surprise, but THR reports that Searchlight has dropped Magazine Dreams, the acclaimed body-building drama starring Jonathan Majors.
Searchlight snatched up Magazine Dreams fresh after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last year. The film stars Majors as an amateur bodybuilder who struggles with severe psychological issues while dreaming of stardom. The buzz was very positive and looked to be a possible awards contender for Majors… but that all came crashing down when the actor faced allegations of assault and harassment which he was ultimately found guilty of.
Related Magazine Dreams: unlikely to ever see the light of day following the Majors verdict?
The studio took Magazine Dreams off the release schedule prior to Majors’ trial, and once he was convicted, some wondered if the movie would ever see the light of day. The rights to Magazine Dreams have been returned to the filmmakers,...
Searchlight snatched up Magazine Dreams fresh after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last year. The film stars Majors as an amateur bodybuilder who struggles with severe psychological issues while dreaming of stardom. The buzz was very positive and looked to be a possible awards contender for Majors… but that all came crashing down when the actor faced allegations of assault and harassment which he was ultimately found guilty of.
Related Magazine Dreams: unlikely to ever see the light of day following the Majors verdict?
The studio took Magazine Dreams off the release schedule prior to Majors’ trial, and once he was convicted, some wondered if the movie would ever see the light of day. The rights to Magazine Dreams have been returned to the filmmakers,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Searchlight Pictures has dropped “Magazine Dreams” starring Jonathan Majors and returned the film’s rights to the filmmakers, who intend to again shop it on the open market, IndieWire has confirmed.
Searchlight acquired the movie out of last year’s Sundance Film Festival and slated it for release during awards season, but pulled it from its release calendar after Majors was arrested on March 25 for assault and harassment roughly a month after “Magazine Dreams” was acquired.
Majors last month was found guilty of assault, leading Disney to fire him from his duties as Kang in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the time, THR reported it was unlikely “Magazine Dreams” would ever be released by Searchlight, even directly to streaming on Hulu. But rather than sit on a shelf, the film has a chance to see the light of day elsewhere should the filmmakers find an interested buyer.
Searchlight had no comment.
Searchlight acquired the movie out of last year’s Sundance Film Festival and slated it for release during awards season, but pulled it from its release calendar after Majors was arrested on March 25 for assault and harassment roughly a month after “Magazine Dreams” was acquired.
Majors last month was found guilty of assault, leading Disney to fire him from his duties as Kang in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the time, THR reported it was unlikely “Magazine Dreams” would ever be released by Searchlight, even directly to streaming on Hulu. But rather than sit on a shelf, the film has a chance to see the light of day elsewhere should the filmmakers find an interested buyer.
Searchlight had no comment.
- 1/17/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Marvel Studios has parted ways with Jonathan Majors — the actor cast to play Kang, the central antagonist in the Multiverse Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — after he was convicted on Dec. 18 of two misdemeanor counts of harassment and assault of Grace Jabbari, his ex-girlfriend. A source close to the studio confirmed the decision to Variety.
In the verdict, Majors was also found not guilty of one count of intentional assault in the third degree and one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree.
The actor was arrested on March 25 on assault and harassment charges, after Jabbari accused Majors of assaulting her in the backseat of a private car after she took his phone to read a text message he’d received from another woman. Jabbari alleged that Majors forcefully retrieved his phone from her, causing an “excruciating” injury to her right middle finger, and when she exited the car,...
In the verdict, Majors was also found not guilty of one count of intentional assault in the third degree and one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree.
The actor was arrested on March 25 on assault and harassment charges, after Jabbari accused Majors of assaulting her in the backseat of a private car after she took his phone to read a text message he’d received from another woman. Jabbari alleged that Majors forcefully retrieved his phone from her, causing an “excruciating” injury to her right middle finger, and when she exited the car,...
- 12/18/2023
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety Film + TV
Vince Vaughn is set to return in a sequel to his hit 2004 comedy “Dodgeball,” which is in early development at 20th Century Studios, according to an insider with knowledge of the project.
Screenwriter Jordan VanDina (“The Binge”) is set to write the script to the follow-up.
Released in 2004, “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” is a sports comedy that became a cult classic over the years. The film was directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, and stars Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller as rival gym owners who compete against each other in a dodgeball tournament.
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Jonathan Majors Accuser Granted Temporary Restraining Order Ahead of Domestic Incident Hearing
According to Deadline, which first reported the news, “All that’s known about the sequel, in terms of plot, is that it will continue the story of Vaughn’s prize-winning gym owner. Serving as the basis for VanDina’a script is an idea from Vaughn.
Screenwriter Jordan VanDina (“The Binge”) is set to write the script to the follow-up.
Released in 2004, “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” is a sports comedy that became a cult classic over the years. The film was directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, and stars Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller as rival gym owners who compete against each other in a dodgeball tournament.
Also Read:
Jonathan Majors Accuser Granted Temporary Restraining Order Ahead of Domestic Incident Hearing
According to Deadline, which first reported the news, “All that’s known about the sequel, in terms of plot, is that it will continue the story of Vaughn’s prize-winning gym owner. Serving as the basis for VanDina’a script is an idea from Vaughn.
- 4/27/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Vince Vaughn will return to star in (and likely produce) a sequel to his hit 2004 comedy, Dodgeball, scripted by Jordan VanDina (The Binge), which is in early development at 20th Century Studios, Deadline has learned.
While Rawson Marshall Thurber wrote and directed the original film for 20th Century Fox, it’s not yet clear whether he’ll be involved in the sequel, and who, if not Thurber, would direct. Equally uncertain is who will join Vaughn on screen, though there’s certainly a deep bench of talent to pull from in looking back to Dodgeball‘s stacked ensemble, which included Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Justin Long, Stephen Root, Alan Tudyk, Joel David Moore, Chris Williams, Missi Pyle, Gary Cole, Jason Bateman and William Shatner, as well as the late Rip Torn.
A raunchy sports comedy that grossed over $168M worldwide against a $20M budget, Thurber’s Dodgeball: A True...
While Rawson Marshall Thurber wrote and directed the original film for 20th Century Fox, it’s not yet clear whether he’ll be involved in the sequel, and who, if not Thurber, would direct. Equally uncertain is who will join Vaughn on screen, though there’s certainly a deep bench of talent to pull from in looking back to Dodgeball‘s stacked ensemble, which included Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Justin Long, Stephen Root, Alan Tudyk, Joel David Moore, Chris Williams, Missi Pyle, Gary Cole, Jason Bateman and William Shatner, as well as the late Rip Torn.
A raunchy sports comedy that grossed over $168M worldwide against a $20M budget, Thurber’s Dodgeball: A True...
- 4/27/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Multiple “alleged abuse victims” have come forward against Jonathan Majors following his arrest last month.
According to Variety, a number of Majors’ alleged victims are cooperating with Manhattan district attorney’s office as part of the ongoing criminal case against the Creed III star, who was arrested and charged with strangulation, assault, and harassment on March 25th following an incident involving a 30-year-old woman reported to be his girlfriend. He is scheduled to make a court appearance in New York on May 8th.
“Jonathan Majors is innocent and has not abused anyone. We have provided irrefutable evidence to the District Attorney that the charges are false. We are confident that he will be fully exonerated,” Majors’ attorney Priya Chaudhry said in a statement responding to Variety’s report.
Earlier this week it was reported that Majors had been dropped by both his talent manager and publicist following his arrest. Apparently...
According to Variety, a number of Majors’ alleged victims are cooperating with Manhattan district attorney’s office as part of the ongoing criminal case against the Creed III star, who was arrested and charged with strangulation, assault, and harassment on March 25th following an incident involving a 30-year-old woman reported to be his girlfriend. He is scheduled to make a court appearance in New York on May 8th.
“Jonathan Majors is innocent and has not abused anyone. We have provided irrefutable evidence to the District Attorney that the charges are false. We are confident that he will be fully exonerated,” Majors’ attorney Priya Chaudhry said in a statement responding to Variety’s report.
Earlier this week it was reported that Majors had been dropped by both his talent manager and publicist following his arrest. Apparently...
- 4/20/2023
- by Bryan Kress
- Consequence - Film News
Exclusive: Jonathan Majors has been dropped from a slew of projects we hear on good authority including Protagonist Pictures’ feature adaptation of the Walter Mosley novel, The Man in My Basement, an ad campaign for the Texas Rangers MLB team, as well as an unannounced Fifth Season’s Otis Redding biopic which the Emmy-nominated actor was circling.
The latest on Majors comes in the wake of yesterday’s news that his manager, Entertainment 360, and publicist, The Lede Company, have cut ties with the actor, who is facing domestic violence allegations in NYC after a March 25 incident involving a dispute with a 30-year old woman. The unnamed victim was taken to the hospital with “minor injuries to her head and neck,” according to authorities at the time of the incident. Majors is scheduled to appear in court on May 8 after being charged by the NYC D.A.
Majors was set...
The latest on Majors comes in the wake of yesterday’s news that his manager, Entertainment 360, and publicist, The Lede Company, have cut ties with the actor, who is facing domestic violence allegations in NYC after a March 25 incident involving a dispute with a 30-year old woman. The unnamed victim was taken to the hospital with “minor injuries to her head and neck,” according to authorities at the time of the incident. Majors is scheduled to appear in court on May 8 after being charged by the NYC D.A.
Majors was set...
- 4/18/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In the wake of new awareness regarding whom Hollywood elevates to superstardom, the superhero cinematic world has landed on a clever fix: the multiverse. After numerous scandals, allegations, and criminal charges against their tentpole actors, franchises like Marvel and DC are probably more grateful than ever for the rise of this narrative conceit.
After all, what better way to manage embattled stars than to make them replaceable?
For franchises with billions at stake, the rise of multiverses within the Marvel and DC franchises has become an unexpected PR crisis management safety net. The concept provides the perfect narrative loophole to undo past mistakes, change storylines, and introduce new characters (or new iterations of the same beloved characters) with a handy casting switcheroo.
As Quentin Tarantino reminded comic-book audiences, DC and Marvel actors are just vessels for the true stars — characters like Hawkeye, The Flash, and Kang the Conqueror — to shine.
After all, what better way to manage embattled stars than to make them replaceable?
For franchises with billions at stake, the rise of multiverses within the Marvel and DC franchises has become an unexpected PR crisis management safety net. The concept provides the perfect narrative loophole to undo past mistakes, change storylines, and introduce new characters (or new iterations of the same beloved characters) with a handy casting switcheroo.
As Quentin Tarantino reminded comic-book audiences, DC and Marvel actors are just vessels for the true stars — characters like Hawkeye, The Flash, and Kang the Conqueror — to shine.
- 3/28/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
There are a few actors to watch in 2023 — and Jonathan Majors is one of them. As one of the hottest young actors in the game, he made waves with big movies like The Harder They Fall and Devotion. He’s also currently portraying Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role that has brought him a great deal of acclaim and attention from critics and fans. In the wake of his appearance in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Majors scored a reputation as one of Hollywood’s next big rising stars. In a recent interview with NPR, Majors opened up about his love for acting and why he considers it to be the only thing that hasn’t “abandoned” him.
Jonathan Majors had his big breakout role in 2019
Majors was born in California in 1989. He spent his early years on a military base due to his father’s...
Jonathan Majors had his big breakout role in 2019
Majors was born in California in 1989. He spent his early years on a military base due to his father’s...
- 3/22/2023
- by Christina Nunn
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In just three months, Jonathan Majors has garnered widespread praise for his Sundance premiere “Magazine Dreams” and pulled off a rare box office feat, but his career’s ascent shows no signs of peaking any time soon. Only days after “Creed III” posted a $58 million opening weekend, a record for both the “Rocky” franchise and sports movies at large, and earned Majors the distinction of starring in consecutive top earners –“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” won the weekends leading up to “Creed’s” March 3 release – news broke that the in-demand actor is signing up for not one, but two high-profile projects: “Da Understudy,” a story of backstage obsession and jealousy on Broadway that’s eyeing Spike Lee to direct, and “48 Hours in Vegas,” a dramatization of Dennis Rodman’s sojourn in Sin City during the 1998 Bulls season.
This infamous, stranger-than-fiction bit of Chicago sports history should be familiar to...
This infamous, stranger-than-fiction bit of Chicago sports history should be familiar to...
- 3/10/2023
- by Ronald Meyer
- Gold Derby
There is no doubt Jonathan Majors’ star is shining brighter this year thanks to his villainous turns in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Creed III. On top of that, he’s gaining incredible buzz for his performance in the upcoming bodybuilding drama Magazine Dreams. Now, the former Lovecraft Country star is set to produce and star in a film titled Da Understudy. It is also reported that the project may even see a reunion with Majors and his Da 5 Bloods director, Spike Lee.
According to Deadline, “Da Understudy tells the story of life imitating art when the understudy of a Broadway production finds a role he’s willing to kill for.” The film will be made under Westbrook Studios and Amazon Studios. Majors is also set to produce the film under his production company, Tall Street Productions. Amazon Studios landed the script on spec in competition with other studios.
According to Deadline, “Da Understudy tells the story of life imitating art when the understudy of a Broadway production finds a role he’s willing to kill for.” The film will be made under Westbrook Studios and Amazon Studios. Majors is also set to produce the film under his production company, Tall Street Productions. Amazon Studios landed the script on spec in competition with other studios.
- 3/8/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Hot on the heels of a historic opening weekend for “Creed III,” Jonathan Majors has set his next movie with Amazon Studios, titled “Da Understudy.”
Majors will star in and produce the film, under his Tall Street Productions banner, partnering with Westbrook Studios and Amazon. The project tells the story of “life imitating art when the understudy of a Broadway production finds a role he’s willing to kill for.”
Tom Hamada, Zach Stauss and Tyler Cole wrote the screenplay, which is based on an original story by Cole and developed in-house by Westbrook. Amazon Studios landed the script on spec in a competitive situation.
Sources tell Variety Spike Lee is in very early talks to direct the film, which would reunite the filmmaker and Majors after 2020’s “Da 5 Bloods.”
In addition to Majors, Will Smith, Jon Mone (Westbrook Studios co-president and head of motion pictures) and Mike Soccio will produce the film,...
Majors will star in and produce the film, under his Tall Street Productions banner, partnering with Westbrook Studios and Amazon. The project tells the story of “life imitating art when the understudy of a Broadway production finds a role he’s willing to kill for.”
Tom Hamada, Zach Stauss and Tyler Cole wrote the screenplay, which is based on an original story by Cole and developed in-house by Westbrook. Amazon Studios landed the script on spec in a competitive situation.
Sources tell Variety Spike Lee is in very early talks to direct the film, which would reunite the filmmaker and Majors after 2020’s “Da 5 Bloods.”
In addition to Majors, Will Smith, Jon Mone (Westbrook Studios co-president and head of motion pictures) and Mike Soccio will produce the film,...
- 3/7/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
“Creed 3” star Jonathan Majors is set to star in and produce “Da Understudy” from Westbrook Studios, now in development at Amazon Studios.
Spike Lee is in early talks to direct, according to an insider with knowledge of the project.
Majors will produce the feature under his Tall Street Productions umbrella. Amazon Studios landed the script on spec in a competitive situation.
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Tom Hanada, Zach Strauss (“Smilf”) and Tyler Cole wrote the screenplay, which is based on an original story by Cole that was developed in-house by Westbrook.
“Da Understudy” tells the story of life imitating art when the understudy of a Broadway production finds a role he’s willing to kill for.
The news comes on the heels of the massive, record-breaking weekend for “Creed 3,” which became the biggest opening for a sports film in...
Spike Lee is in early talks to direct, according to an insider with knowledge of the project.
Majors will produce the feature under his Tall Street Productions umbrella. Amazon Studios landed the script on spec in a competitive situation.
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Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor Group Invested in Elon Musk’s Twitter 2.0
Tom Hanada, Zach Strauss (“Smilf”) and Tyler Cole wrote the screenplay, which is based on an original story by Cole that was developed in-house by Westbrook.
“Da Understudy” tells the story of life imitating art when the understudy of a Broadway production finds a role he’s willing to kill for.
The news comes on the heels of the massive, record-breaking weekend for “Creed 3,” which became the biggest opening for a sports film in...
- 3/7/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Jonathan Majors is set to star in and produce Da Understudy from Westbrook Studios and Amazon Studios. Majors will produce the feature under his Tall Street Productions umbrella. Amazon Studios landed the script on spec in a competitive situation. Sources said that Spike Lee is circling to direct, which would reunite the filmmaker with Majors after Da 5 Bloods.
Tom Hanada (Motherland), Zach Strauss (Smilf) and Tyler Cole wrote the screenplay, which is based on an original story by Cole and developed in-house by Westbrook.
Related Story Michael B. Jordan On Knockout Directing Debut ‘Creed III,’ Trading Blows With Jonathan Majors Related Story Spike Lee Shows Gratitude For WGA Career Achievement Award But Also Checks New York Knicks Score On His Phone Onstage, Crowing, "Boston Sucks!" – Watch Related Story Michael B. Jordan And Jonathan Majors Liken Themselves To De Niro And Pacino In NY Times Interview
Deal comes after...
Tom Hanada (Motherland), Zach Strauss (Smilf) and Tyler Cole wrote the screenplay, which is based on an original story by Cole and developed in-house by Westbrook.
Related Story Michael B. Jordan On Knockout Directing Debut ‘Creed III,’ Trading Blows With Jonathan Majors Related Story Spike Lee Shows Gratitude For WGA Career Achievement Award But Also Checks New York Knicks Score On His Phone Onstage, Crowing, "Boston Sucks!" – Watch Related Story Michael B. Jordan And Jonathan Majors Liken Themselves To De Niro And Pacino In NY Times Interview
Deal comes after...
- 3/7/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Jonathan Majors is on fire right now. The actor is quickly rising to the ranks of superstardom, successfully pulling off back–to-back number one hits at the box office in a feat that few have accomplished in their careers. First, "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," in which Majors plays the villain Kang the Conquerer, opened up to a domestic total of $104 million, and despite its steep drop in the follow-up weeks, the film remains in second place in the box office charts. The film knocking it out of the number one spot? "Creed III," also starring Jonathan Majors in the antagonistic role of Damian "Dame" Anderson.
Majors has been putting in the work, too. His performances have been turning heads since 2019, when he starred in "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," as the eccentric but kind-hearted Mont Allen. The film was a small indie affair that gained widespread acclaim...
Majors has been putting in the work, too. His performances have been turning heads since 2019, when he starred in "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," as the eccentric but kind-hearted Mont Allen. The film was a small indie affair that gained widespread acclaim...
- 3/6/2023
- by Andrew Housman
- Slash Film
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