Exclusive: Scott Foley (Scandal) has signed on to star in La Dolce Villa, a new romantic comedy for Netflix. Others cast in the film, from director Mark Waters (Mean Girls), include Violante Placido (The American), Maia Reficco (Do Revenge) and Giuseppe Futia.
La Dolce Villa follows successful businessman Eric (Foley) as he travels to Italy to stop his daydreaming daughter Olivia (Reficco) from blowing her life savings on restoring a crumbling villa she purchased for €1. Italy, however, has different plans for him as it delivers on its legendary promise of beauty, magic, and romance.
Script was written by Elizabeth Hackett & Hilary Galanoy. Pic’s producers are Robyn Snyder, Deborah Evans, and Nicola Rosada. Hackett & Galanoy are serving as executive producers.
Best known for roles on shows like Scandal, Scrubs, Whiskey Cavalier and The Big Leap, Foley will next be seen on the Max political...
La Dolce Villa follows successful businessman Eric (Foley) as he travels to Italy to stop his daydreaming daughter Olivia (Reficco) from blowing her life savings on restoring a crumbling villa she purchased for €1. Italy, however, has different plans for him as it delivers on its legendary promise of beauty, magic, and romance.
Script was written by Elizabeth Hackett & Hilary Galanoy. Pic’s producers are Robyn Snyder, Deborah Evans, and Nicola Rosada. Hackett & Galanoy are serving as executive producers.
Best known for roles on shows like Scandal, Scrubs, Whiskey Cavalier and The Big Leap, Foley will next be seen on the Max political...
- 2/29/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
In Jon Favreau's 2008 film "Iron Man," the title hero (Robert Downey Jr.) was assisted in his high-tech superhero lab by an artificially intelligent butler-like presence named J.A.R.V.I.S. Iron Man's digital butler not only wrangled the hero's complicated engineering projects, but also controlled the even-higher-tech devices in his lab. When Iron Man went out on patrol, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice could be heard inside his helmet. J.A.R.V.I.S. was voiced by Paul Bettany. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continued to grow, so too did Iron Man's computerized friend. Eventually, J.A.R.V.I.S. was shunted into an indestructible android body and renamed Vision (also Bettany).
When Vision became sentient and autonomous, that meant Tony Stark had to program a new computer helper, and invented F.R.I.D.A.Y. (voiced by Kerry Condon...
When Vision became sentient and autonomous, that meant Tony Stark had to program a new computer helper, and invented F.R.I.D.A.Y. (voiced by Kerry Condon...
- 12/22/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Oscar-winning French director Luc Jacquet (“March of the Penguins”) will be honored by the Locarno Film Festival with its Locarno Kids Award celebrating a film personality who has brought the magic of movies to younger audiences.
“Luc Jacquet’s gaze has followed the perspective of the plant and animal kingdoms through his many voyages to the Antarctic or into forests both remote and close to home,” the Swiss festival dedicated to indie cinema said in a statement. It pointed out that this year’s prize “goes to a filmmaker who has consistently conveyed a powerful ecological message to younger generations of cinema lovers.”
The French biologist and filmmaker has made hugely popular nature documentaries such as “Penguins,” watched by more than 25 million people worldwide since its 2006 release, and “Once Upon a Forest” in 2013 and “Ice and the Sky” (2015). He also helmed a fiction feature “The Fox & the Child” (2007).
Jacquet...
“Luc Jacquet’s gaze has followed the perspective of the plant and animal kingdoms through his many voyages to the Antarctic or into forests both remote and close to home,” the Swiss festival dedicated to indie cinema said in a statement. It pointed out that this year’s prize “goes to a filmmaker who has consistently conveyed a powerful ecological message to younger generations of cinema lovers.”
The French biologist and filmmaker has made hugely popular nature documentaries such as “Penguins,” watched by more than 25 million people worldwide since its 2006 release, and “Once Upon a Forest” in 2013 and “Ice and the Sky” (2015). He also helmed a fiction feature “The Fox & the Child” (2007).
Jacquet...
- 4/18/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Each year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences attempts to award Oscars to the “best” film or artist in each category that year, and each year it fails at least a few times.
There is always room for disagreement on what constitutes “best”: how can we possibly compare Toy Story 3, Inception and The King’s Speech? And yet voters did just that in 2010.
It is similarly impossible to nail down all the egregious choices in academy history, but here are a few of the most glaring errors, with just days to go until the 2023 ceremony. Starting with the granddaddy of them all...
How Green Was My Valley
Beat: Citizen Kane to Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography in 1941
It takes a bit of searching these days to find someone who has a) seen John Ford’s Welsh melodrama How Green Was My Valley and b...
There is always room for disagreement on what constitutes “best”: how can we possibly compare Toy Story 3, Inception and The King’s Speech? And yet voters did just that in 2010.
It is similarly impossible to nail down all the egregious choices in academy history, but here are a few of the most glaring errors, with just days to go until the 2023 ceremony. Starting with the granddaddy of them all...
How Green Was My Valley
Beat: Citizen Kane to Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography in 1941
It takes a bit of searching these days to find someone who has a) seen John Ford’s Welsh melodrama How Green Was My Valley and b...
- 3/9/2023
- by Helen O'Hara
- The Independent - Film
Each year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences attempts to award Oscars to the “best” film or artist in each category that year, and each year it fails at least a few times.
There is always room for disagreement on what constitutes “best”: how can we possibly compare Toy Story 3, Inception and The King’s Speech? And yet voters did just that in 2010.
It is similarly impossible to nail down all the egregious choices in academy history, but here are a few of the most glaring errors. Starting with the granddaddy of them all...
How Green Was My Valley
Beat: Citizen Kane to Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography in 1941
It takes a bit of searching these days to find someone who has a) seen John Ford’s Welsh melodrama How Green Was My Valley and b) did not do so out of a morbid curiosity...
There is always room for disagreement on what constitutes “best”: how can we possibly compare Toy Story 3, Inception and The King’s Speech? And yet voters did just that in 2010.
It is similarly impossible to nail down all the egregious choices in academy history, but here are a few of the most glaring errors. Starting with the granddaddy of them all...
How Green Was My Valley
Beat: Citizen Kane to Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography in 1941
It takes a bit of searching these days to find someone who has a) seen John Ford’s Welsh melodrama How Green Was My Valley and b) did not do so out of a morbid curiosity...
- 1/30/2023
- by Helen O'Hara
- The Independent - Film
The entertainment industry might be run by grown-ups, but sometimes, kids are the best collaborators. Celebrated author Neil Gaiman took a cue from his young daughter, Holly when writing his deeply unsettling novella "Coraline," and if it weren't for Edward Berger's teenage daughter, we might not have the latest on-screen adaptation of "All Quiet on the Western Front." A young Kurt Russell shouldn't be left off the list, either. According to the actor, his feedback on an early cut of "Mary Poppins" led to Dick Van Dyke eventually dancing around with animated penguins.
In a 2016 conversation with GQ, Russell revealed that he actually had a close relationship with Walt Disney as a young teen. As such, Disney would ask for his thoughts on upcoming films (it probably didn't hurt that the actor fit squarely into the studio's target demographic). When Disney eventually asked about "Mary Poppins," Russell admitted that...
In a 2016 conversation with GQ, Russell revealed that he actually had a close relationship with Walt Disney as a young teen. As such, Disney would ask for his thoughts on upcoming films (it probably didn't hurt that the actor fit squarely into the studio's target demographic). When Disney eventually asked about "Mary Poppins," Russell admitted that...
- 1/25/2023
- by Demetra Nikolakakis
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
Universal Production Music, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group that produces and licenses production music for the entertainment industry, has teamed with prolific film and TV composer Harry Gregson-Williams for a new U.K.-based joint venture.
Gregson-Williams’ impressive list of credits includes all four installments of Shrek, the first of which landed him a BAFTA nomination. Meanwhile, he received Golden Globe and Grammy nominations for his score for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and an Emmy nod for an episode of Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams. More recent film and TV projects include The Last Duel and House of Gucci, Disney’s live-action Mulan, Disneynature’s Penguins and Polar Bear, HBO’s The Gilded Age and the Netflix documentary Return to Space.
The newly-launched label, Scored By: Harry Gregson-Williams, will feature albums composed by Gregson-Williams and his team,...
Universal Production Music, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group that produces and licenses production music for the entertainment industry, has teamed with prolific film and TV composer Harry Gregson-Williams for a new U.K.-based joint venture.
Gregson-Williams’ impressive list of credits includes all four installments of Shrek, the first of which landed him a BAFTA nomination. Meanwhile, he received Golden Globe and Grammy nominations for his score for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and an Emmy nod for an episode of Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams. More recent film and TV projects include The Last Duel and House of Gucci, Disney’s live-action Mulan, Disneynature’s Penguins and Polar Bear, HBO’s The Gilded Age and the Netflix documentary Return to Space.
The newly-launched label, Scored By: Harry Gregson-Williams, will feature albums composed by Gregson-Williams and his team,...
- 8/11/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Matthew Wood has probably played more "Star Wars" characters than any other actor. Thanks to his involvement in feature films, TV shows, video games, and ancillary shorts, Wood has played Kylo Ren, Anakin Skywalker, General Grievous, Bib Fortuna, various Battle Droids, Ig-88, D-o, Darth Maul, C3-po, and Magaloof. His voice work, however, is done in addition to his career as a sound designer, a line of work that began for Wood in the early 1990s with the film "Soap Dish" and the series "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles." Wood had since worked on notable blockbusters like "The Rock," "Mission: Impossible," "Volcano,"...
The post How Attack of the Clones Got Help from a Fruit Bat and Mating Penguins appeared first on /Film.
The post How Attack of the Clones Got Help from a Fruit Bat and Mating Penguins appeared first on /Film.
- 5/31/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Ed Sheeran is releasing a new “tour edition” of his latest album, =. Pronounced Equals, the Fall 2021 release gets a refresh with the addition of nine tracks. Two songs from the expanded edition — “I Will Remember You” and “Welcome to the World” — are brand new, while two tracks come from the 2019 film, Yesterday, in which the singer also starred. Those tracks, “One Life” and “Penguins,” have never been officially released.
The “tour edition” of the album also includes loosie “Afterglow,” and previously released collaborations, including “The Joker and the Queen” featuring...
The “tour edition” of the album also includes loosie “Afterglow,” and previously released collaborations, including “The Joker and the Queen” featuring...
- 5/27/2022
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
For a company as renowned for its family friendly product as Disney, it has a history of scenes or sequences that are horrifying (if not outright depressing) – Mufasa getting trampled by the wildebeests, Bambi’s mother disappearing into the forest and pretty much everything that happens in “Pinocchio.” (Not to mention live-action atrocities like the end of “Old Yeller” and the beginning of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”) But nothing can prepare you for how sobering and deeply unsettling Disneynature’s “Polar Bear” is.
“Polar Bear” is very much like other Disneynature entries that came before it (things like “Dolphin Reef” or “Penguins”) – it’s beautifully shot, featuring moments you never thought you’d seen (like when a beached whale becomes an unlikely polar bear pool party) and has top notch narration (this time courtesy of Catherine Keener). But in other ways it’s more somber and introspective; the narration is first-person,...
“Polar Bear” is very much like other Disneynature entries that came before it (things like “Dolphin Reef” or “Penguins”) – it’s beautifully shot, featuring moments you never thought you’d seen (like when a beached whale becomes an unlikely polar bear pool party) and has top notch narration (this time courtesy of Catherine Keener). But in other ways it’s more somber and introspective; the narration is first-person,...
- 4/22/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Each year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences attempts to award Oscars to the “best” film or artist in each category that year, and each year it fails at least a few times.
There is always room for disagreement on what constitutes “best”: how can we possibly compare Toy Story 3, Inception and The King’s Speech? And yet voters did just that in 2010.
It is similarly impossible to nail down all the egregious choices in academy history, but here are a few of the most glaring errors. Starting with the granddaddy of them all...
How Green Was My Valley
Beat:Citizen Kane to Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography in 1941
It takes a bit of searching these days to find someone who has a) seen John Ford’s Welsh melodrama How Green Was My Valley and b) did not do so out of a morbid curiosity...
There is always room for disagreement on what constitutes “best”: how can we possibly compare Toy Story 3, Inception and The King’s Speech? And yet voters did just that in 2010.
It is similarly impossible to nail down all the egregious choices in academy history, but here are a few of the most glaring errors. Starting with the granddaddy of them all...
How Green Was My Valley
Beat:Citizen Kane to Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography in 1941
It takes a bit of searching these days to find someone who has a) seen John Ford’s Welsh melodrama How Green Was My Valley and b) did not do so out of a morbid curiosity...
- 3/12/2022
- by Helen O'Hara
- The Independent - Film
Penguins are perfect. Sardine-saturated floaties with ridiculous flappers and leather toes, the flightless birds are God’s most beautiful mistake.
That’s undoubtedly why the tuxedo bois have become a fixture of nature documentaries, starring in full-length features like March of the Penguins and Disney’s Penguins. Now Netflix’s new docuseries Penguin Town, narrated by Patton Oswalt, is betting on the unshakable fact that pop culture can never have too many penguins. Penguin Town bets correctly.
“They’re incredibly clumsy because they’ve got short little legs,” Penguin Town field producer Cayley Christos says. “They’re almost like bouncing balls. They’ll walk along in a line and several of them will make the same fall and stumble, which is hysterical to watch.”
It’s never a bad time for penguins. But after the rough year that was, now might really be the time for nature’s unwitting comedians to shine.
That’s undoubtedly why the tuxedo bois have become a fixture of nature documentaries, starring in full-length features like March of the Penguins and Disney’s Penguins. Now Netflix’s new docuseries Penguin Town, narrated by Patton Oswalt, is betting on the unshakable fact that pop culture can never have too many penguins. Penguin Town bets correctly.
“They’re incredibly clumsy because they’ve got short little legs,” Penguin Town field producer Cayley Christos says. “They’re almost like bouncing balls. They’ll walk along in a line and several of them will make the same fall and stumble, which is hysterical to watch.”
It’s never a bad time for penguins. But after the rough year that was, now might really be the time for nature’s unwitting comedians to shine.
- 6/16/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Penguins are arguably the kings of the nature documentary. Monkeys may have a shot at the title, and sharks have a whole week to themselves, but penguins and their little waddling bodies have been a source of fascination — especially in megahits like 2005’s March of the Penguins. Now with Netflix’s latest docuseries, Penguin Town, a gang […]
The post ‘Penguin Town’ Trailer: Patton Oswalt Narrates the Exploits of South Africa’s Adorable Penguins appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Penguin Town’ Trailer: Patton Oswalt Narrates the Exploits of South Africa’s Adorable Penguins appeared first on /Film.
- 5/24/2021
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
While it’s just over a year or so old, Disney Plus has picked up a significant number of subscribers as it heads into 2021. Although the big release this month will be WandaVision, the Mouse House are continuing to flesh out the library of content and added eight new movies and television shows on January 1st.
After being removed from Disney+ only a few months ago, The Wolverine is back, presumably as the result of a new licensing deal being agreed upon. The James Mangold-directed picture is one of the stronger entries in the Fox X-Men franchise, and sees Hugh Jackman’s character travel to Japan in an adaptation of a popular 1980s comic story. Although it’ll still be some time before we can watch Logan and company all in one place, we’d expect more Marvel-related films to start appearing on the service in the first half of the year.
After being removed from Disney+ only a few months ago, The Wolverine is back, presumably as the result of a new licensing deal being agreed upon. The James Mangold-directed picture is one of the stronger entries in the Fox X-Men franchise, and sees Hugh Jackman’s character travel to Japan in an adaptation of a popular 1980s comic story. Although it’ll still be some time before we can watch Logan and company all in one place, we’d expect more Marvel-related films to start appearing on the service in the first half of the year.
- 1/3/2021
- by Jessica James
- We Got This Covered
Look, it’s understandable if you’re still watching or rewatching season 2 of The Mandalorian. That outrageously awesome final episode was truly something, right? However, a new month is approaching, and that means Disney Plus is gearing up to launch more content for you to dive into. And hard as it may be to pull yourself away from the adventures of Baby Yoda and Mando, you might be excited to hear that some underrated comedies are on their way from one of Hollywood’s funniest guys.
Two Jim Carrey efforts are landing on Disney Plus this week, both of which will make for excellent family movie nights due to their wide reaching appeal to all audiences. So, if you’re a fan of penguins, Dr. Seuss, or just Carrey’s ridiculous antics in general, you won’t want to sleep on these.
First up is Mr. Popper’s Penguins, which...
Two Jim Carrey efforts are landing on Disney Plus this week, both of which will make for excellent family movie nights due to their wide reaching appeal to all audiences. So, if you’re a fan of penguins, Dr. Seuss, or just Carrey’s ridiculous antics in general, you won’t want to sleep on these.
First up is Mr. Popper’s Penguins, which...
- 12/30/2020
- by Billy Givens
- We Got This Covered
Disney Plus is adding a bunch of new titles this January 1st, including two great Jim Carrey family movies that the Mouse House has inherited from 20th Century Fox. Going up on the site on New Year’s Day are a couple of well-received entries in Carrey’s filmography from roughly a decade ago that have nonetheless kind of been forgotten about. Namely, they’re 2008’s Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! and 2011’s Mr. Popper’s Penguins.
Horton Hears a Who! is an animated adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss children’s book and stars the actor as Horton, an eccentric elephant living in the jungle who discovers that Whoville exists on a tiny dust speck. He fights to keep the people of the town – led by Mayor Ned McDodd (Steve Carrell) – safe, though his efforts lead to much upheaval. The terrific cast also includes Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Selena Gomez and Amy Poehler,...
Horton Hears a Who! is an animated adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss children’s book and stars the actor as Horton, an eccentric elephant living in the jungle who discovers that Whoville exists on a tiny dust speck. He fights to keep the people of the town – led by Mayor Ned McDodd (Steve Carrell) – safe, though his efforts lead to much upheaval. The terrific cast also includes Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Selena Gomez and Amy Poehler,...
- 12/18/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
2020 has turned out to be a pretty big year for Disney Plus, what with many major releases going up on streaming instead of dropping in theaters. However, the pandemic’s also held a lot back until 2021, too, which means that next year is going to be an even bigger one for the Mouse House’s platform. And things will kick off right out of the gate, as January is a major month when it comes to new additions.
New Year’s Day delivers a bunch of movies and National Geographic documentaries for subscribers to enjoy. Suffice it to say, if you love sharks, it’s going to be a good January 1st for you. For everyone else, a trio of films inherited from Fox are added to D+’s library the same day. Namely, animated flick Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who, Jim Carrey comedy Mr. Popper’s Penguins and X-Men spinoff The Wolverine,...
New Year’s Day delivers a bunch of movies and National Geographic documentaries for subscribers to enjoy. Suffice it to say, if you love sharks, it’s going to be a good January 1st for you. For everyone else, a trio of films inherited from Fox are added to D+’s library the same day. Namely, animated flick Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who, Jim Carrey comedy Mr. Popper’s Penguins and X-Men spinoff The Wolverine,...
- 12/15/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Production and distribution powerhouse All3Media has acquired leading natural history producer Silverback Films.
Founded in 2012 by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey (right), Silverback Films is the U.K.’s top natural history producer outside of the BBC Natural History Unit, and creates wildlife content for film and TV. Recent credits include the documentary “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet”, which had a worldwide theatrical release at the end of September before launching on Netflix.
The deal is a tremendous coup for All3Media, which has been on the market for more production acquisitions in the last two years. The company’s portfolio spans 28 companies around the world, with key titles including “Fleabag,” “Call the Midwife” and “Liar.” While All3Media has a number of reputable unscripted production outfits in its wheelhouse, the acquisition of Silverback puts it firmly in the natural history space as a major contender going forward.
Founded in 2012 by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey (right), Silverback Films is the U.K.’s top natural history producer outside of the BBC Natural History Unit, and creates wildlife content for film and TV. Recent credits include the documentary “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet”, which had a worldwide theatrical release at the end of September before launching on Netflix.
The deal is a tremendous coup for All3Media, which has been on the market for more production acquisitions in the last two years. The company’s portfolio spans 28 companies around the world, with key titles including “Fleabag,” “Call the Midwife” and “Liar.” While All3Media has a number of reputable unscripted production outfits in its wheelhouse, the acquisition of Silverback puts it firmly in the natural history space as a major contender going forward.
- 12/3/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to this week’s All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have more from Tony Khan’s weekly drug trip. Also, there are a shit-load of perverts who have been allegedly revealed, including Jim Cornette & Synn, Dave Lagana, Jordan Devlin & numerous others in Nxt UK and David Starr (along with Alberto Del Rio a few months back and Jay Lethal numerous times over the years). The stories are horrifying and include male and female victims. If you are reading this and have ever been abused, don’t hold that sh*t in. Say that sh*t so everybody can see it and it can’t be hidden anymore. Every time someone gets away with a crime, that leaves them available to hurt more people. Hell, if anyone ever felt like I had ever done anything to them, I’d want them...
- 6/19/2020
- by Nathan Favel
- Nerdly
In Digital Shorts we review some of the latest video games that are only available digitally (at least in the UK), in a short-form review format. In this edition we take a look at not one but Two new indie games, Ghost Sweeper and Fledgling Heroes, both of which are now available on the Nintendo Switch.
Ghost Sweeper
Ghost Sweeper is a puzzle-platformer set in a cartoon fantasy world, and sees you play as the titular sweepers, noble warriors armed with weapons (there’s two of them to choose from: one has a vacuum which can suck in ghosts and the other that has a fire ball gun – neither of which are really key to completing any level) that let them create and destroy blocks, as well as suck up any supernatural spirits. Players must manipulate each stage’s architecture as they search for coins, keys, and other goodies while...
Ghost Sweeper
Ghost Sweeper is a puzzle-platformer set in a cartoon fantasy world, and sees you play as the titular sweepers, noble warriors armed with weapons (there’s two of them to choose from: one has a vacuum which can suck in ghosts and the other that has a fire ball gun – neither of which are really key to completing any level) that let them create and destroy blocks, as well as suck up any supernatural spirits. Players must manipulate each stage’s architecture as they search for coins, keys, and other goodies while...
- 5/14/2020
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Updated: Networks and streamers are setting special programming to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22. We’ll be updating as more information comes in, so refresh for the latest.
National Geographic has programmed an entire day of special Earth Day programming on April 22, culminating with two Nat Geo specials.
More from Deadline'The Story Of Plastic' Documentary To Premiere On Discovery Channel In Honor Of Earth DayRon Howard And Brian Grazer Set Nat Geo Docu Following Chef José Andrés And World Central KitchenApple Releases IPhone Se, A $399 Device For Uncertain Economic Times
Jane Goodall: The Hope, featuring the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall, follows her throughout her travels, capturing her commitment and determination to spread a message of hope. Premiering April 22, at 9/8c on Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild. Born Wild: The Next Generation is produced in tandem with ABC News and hosted by Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts.
National Geographic has programmed an entire day of special Earth Day programming on April 22, culminating with two Nat Geo specials.
More from Deadline'The Story Of Plastic' Documentary To Premiere On Discovery Channel In Honor Of Earth DayRon Howard And Brian Grazer Set Nat Geo Docu Following Chef José Andrés And World Central KitchenApple Releases IPhone Se, A $399 Device For Uncertain Economic Times
Jane Goodall: The Hope, featuring the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall, follows her throughout her travels, capturing her commitment and determination to spread a message of hope. Premiering April 22, at 9/8c on Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild. Born Wild: The Next Generation is produced in tandem with ABC News and hosted by Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts.
- 4/20/2020
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Over the last dozen years, Disneynature, Disney’s nature documentary wing, has churned out a wide variety of films that cover all manner of the animal kingdom and its attendant environs. Some have been huge hits, like wide-ranging smashes “Earth” and “Oceans” or the beloved animal-centric offerings “Chimpanzee” and “African Cats,” while others have fizzled (remember “Ghost of the Mountains”? maybe “Penguins”?). Along the way, the dozen-strong film lineup has shored up a predictable formula that combines on-the-ground insight with a cutesy, anthropomorphized look at some of the wild’s most majestic creatures.
And when it works, it really works. Mark Linfield’s “Elephant,” the first of two new Disneynature docs pushed directly to Disney’s fledgling streaming service Disney+, is one that works. Linfield, who previously co-directed sterling Disneynature offerings “Earth” and “Chimpanzee” alongside Alastair Fothergill, is now armed with a new partner: co-director Vanessa Berlowitz, a long-time producer...
And when it works, it really works. Mark Linfield’s “Elephant,” the first of two new Disneynature docs pushed directly to Disney’s fledgling streaming service Disney+, is one that works. Linfield, who previously co-directed sterling Disneynature offerings “Earth” and “Chimpanzee” alongside Alastair Fothergill, is now armed with a new partner: co-director Vanessa Berlowitz, a long-time producer...
- 3/31/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
It’s about wild animals. It’s narrated by Meghan Markle. And it’s one of the first Disneynature films to be released as a Disney+ exclusive. That ought to be enough give “Elephant” a shot of pop-culture currency rare for a nature documentary, and attract some curious viewers who’d otherwise be interested in “Tiger King” or “The Mandalorian.”
Make no mistake, though: “Elephant,” premiering on April 3 on Disney+ alongside another Disneynature doc, “Dolphin Reef,” does not have the train-wreck appeal of “Tiger King.” It’s got some big cats who briefly threaten our plucky pachyderms, but no crazy people around them. And Markle, who is listed in the credits as “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex” and who came on board in return for a hefty Disney donation to the Elephants Without Borders charity she supports, is a nondescript narrator who mostly stays out of the way; if you didn’t know it was her,...
Make no mistake, though: “Elephant,” premiering on April 3 on Disney+ alongside another Disneynature doc, “Dolphin Reef,” does not have the train-wreck appeal of “Tiger King.” It’s got some big cats who briefly threaten our plucky pachyderms, but no crazy people around them. And Markle, who is listed in the credits as “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex” and who came on board in return for a hefty Disney donation to the Elephants Without Borders charity she supports, is a nondescript narrator who mostly stays out of the way; if you didn’t know it was her,...
- 3/31/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Actress and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle will be narrating the Disneynature documentary "Elephants".
The show will debut on April 3 on Disney Plus, the studio announced Thursday.
This will be Meghan's first project for Markle in show business after she and her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, officially step away from their roles within the British Royal Family on March 31, reports variety.com.
In support of "Elephants," Disneynature and the Disney Conservation Fund are donating to Elephants Without Borders, an organisation working to protect the elephants living in Botswana.
Earlier this year, news broke that Markle had partnered with Disney on an unspecified project after she and her husband revealed they would be stepping back from their royal duties.
In the announcement, Disneynature's credits Markle as "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex", rather than including her previous royal title of "Hrh". "Elephant" will premiere on Disney Plus the same day...
The show will debut on April 3 on Disney Plus, the studio announced Thursday.
This will be Meghan's first project for Markle in show business after she and her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, officially step away from their roles within the British Royal Family on March 31, reports variety.com.
In support of "Elephants," Disneynature and the Disney Conservation Fund are donating to Elephants Without Borders, an organisation working to protect the elephants living in Botswana.
Earlier this year, news broke that Markle had partnered with Disney on an unspecified project after she and her husband revealed they would be stepping back from their royal duties.
In the announcement, Disneynature's credits Markle as "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex", rather than including her previous royal title of "Hrh". "Elephant" will premiere on Disney Plus the same day...
- 3/27/2020
- GlamSham
Deals for both titles were signed at last month’s European Film Market.
Genre specialist Devilworks has signed Us distribution deals for two titles, with exploitation film distributor Artsploitation Films.
The first is Welcome To The Circle, a directorial debut for writer David Fowler, whose previous writing credits include wildlife documentaries Penguins, Born In China and Gowing Up Wild for Disney.
The film tells the story of a young girl and her father who fall prey to a secluded, madman-worshipping cult situation deep in the woods. The title premiered at Fantasporto Fantastic Festival in Portugal earlier this month; Michael Khazen produces for High Deaf Productions,...
Genre specialist Devilworks has signed Us distribution deals for two titles, with exploitation film distributor Artsploitation Films.
The first is Welcome To The Circle, a directorial debut for writer David Fowler, whose previous writing credits include wildlife documentaries Penguins, Born In China and Gowing Up Wild for Disney.
The film tells the story of a young girl and her father who fall prey to a secluded, madman-worshipping cult situation deep in the woods. The title premiered at Fantasporto Fantastic Festival in Portugal earlier this month; Michael Khazen produces for High Deaf Productions,...
- 3/26/2020
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
The streaming space is a crowded one. Between Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Apple TV+ and the 2020 launches of NBCUniversal’s Peacock and WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, the competition for your money and attention is fierce.
Now Disney has made the splashiest entrance into the streaming landscape with Disney+. The service’s library features Disney live-action and animated classics, and content from Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic.
Disney+ is more than just the greatest hits from the House of Mouse. The service is set to roll out original feature films, TV shows, and documentaries. For instance, more episodes of The Clone Wars season 7 are set to arrive this month.
Grab a Free Trial of Disney+, on us, right here!
Below we have details on the new content that will be available to stream this April 2020. We’ll continue to update this article each month when Disney+ announces its new programming slate.
Now Disney has made the splashiest entrance into the streaming landscape with Disney+. The service’s library features Disney live-action and animated classics, and content from Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic.
Disney+ is more than just the greatest hits from the House of Mouse. The service is set to roll out original feature films, TV shows, and documentaries. For instance, more episodes of The Clone Wars season 7 are set to arrive this month.
Grab a Free Trial of Disney+, on us, right here!
Below we have details on the new content that will be available to stream this April 2020. We’ll continue to update this article each month when Disney+ announces its new programming slate.
- 3/19/2020
- by Chris Longo
- Den of Geek
Though it’s yet to launch in the UK and other parts of Europe, Disney+ has already proven itself to be a major player in North America – thanks in large part to its suite of digital content, which ranges from Marvel Studios to Star Wars and everything in between.
And much like its online peers, Disney+ is still to roll out a fresh wave of content for April 2020, beginning with Doctor Dolittle on April 1st – not to be confused with the recent remake starring McU mainstay Robert Downey Jr.
What’s more, April marks Earth Month, so you can expect plenty of eco-friendly documentaries to air via National Geographic. Indeed, it’s fair to say that the Disney+ lineup has fast become one of the most diverse on the market. From new episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars to age-old classics like Doctor Dolittle, there’s really something for everyone.
And much like its online peers, Disney+ is still to roll out a fresh wave of content for April 2020, beginning with Doctor Dolittle on April 1st – not to be confused with the recent remake starring McU mainstay Robert Downey Jr.
What’s more, April marks Earth Month, so you can expect plenty of eco-friendly documentaries to air via National Geographic. Indeed, it’s fair to say that the Disney+ lineup has fast become one of the most diverse on the market. From new episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars to age-old classics like Doctor Dolittle, there’s really something for everyone.
- 3/18/2020
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Any parent hoping to watch a David Lynch movie with the whole family is in luck starting in April. Disney+ has announced Lynch’s 1999 Disney movie “The Straight Story” will be available to stream next month, which is exciting news as the movie has been hard to come by in recent years on streaming. “The Straight Story” is available to purchase on YouTube and Amazon, but Disney+ subscribers will be able to stream the biographical drama as part of their membership staring April 3.
“The Straight Story” is an outlier in Lynch’s challenging and experimental filmography, with the majority of his movies only be suitable for adult viewers. Co-written by John Roach and Mary Sweeney, “The Straight Story” tells the true story of Alvin Straight, who made headlines in 1994 for journeying across Iowa and Wisconsin on a lawn mower. The cast includes Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, and regular Lynch collaborator Harry Dean Stanton.
“The Straight Story” is an outlier in Lynch’s challenging and experimental filmography, with the majority of his movies only be suitable for adult viewers. Co-written by John Roach and Mary Sweeney, “The Straight Story” tells the true story of Alvin Straight, who made headlines in 1994 for journeying across Iowa and Wisconsin on a lawn mower. The cast includes Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, and regular Lynch collaborator Harry Dean Stanton.
- 3/18/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
A bright spot in the middle of this dark month, Alison Reid’s unabashedly sincere documentary offers gentle comfort even when it brushes up against tough subjects. “The Woman Who Loves Giraffes” is Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, though a more accurate — if admittedly impractical — title might be “The Woman Who Once Loved Giraffes, Then Lost Them, and Finally Found Them Again.”
The movie traces the length of her remarkable journey beginning in 1936, when her mother took her to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Just three years old, she gazed at a group of giraffes — what she now calls “a symphony of perfection” — and knew that she wanted to dedicate her life to them.
And so she did, at least at first. Dagg made her way to Africa for the rigorous study of wild animals in their native habitat years before Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey or many other peers who earned greater renown.
The movie traces the length of her remarkable journey beginning in 1936, when her mother took her to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Just three years old, she gazed at a group of giraffes — what she now calls “a symphony of perfection” — and knew that she wanted to dedicate her life to them.
And so she did, at least at first. Dagg made her way to Africa for the rigorous study of wild animals in their native habitat years before Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey or many other peers who earned greater renown.
- 1/9/2020
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
Our year in review party begins. A different list each day. Here's Glenn Dunks...
The documentary box office of 2018 was always going to be hard to beat - impossible, even. Last year we had five documentaries reach totals greater than $10mil. This year, unfortunately, we had none, although one of those five, Peter Jackson's colorized war doc They Shall Not Grow Old made the bulk of its money in the new year so there's that, as did Oscar winner Free Solo.
Nevertheless, the realm of non-fiction more or less thrived in cinemas across America. Where indie flicks with big names faultered, sputtered and got chewed up by the markets divergance towards streaming, documentaries continued to post solid numbers for their boutique distributors. The clear winner for 2019 was Apollo 11, which capitalized on the 50th anniversary of man's first walk on the moon as well as being marketed as an event movie in IMAX.
The documentary box office of 2018 was always going to be hard to beat - impossible, even. Last year we had five documentaries reach totals greater than $10mil. This year, unfortunately, we had none, although one of those five, Peter Jackson's colorized war doc They Shall Not Grow Old made the bulk of its money in the new year so there's that, as did Oscar winner Free Solo.
Nevertheless, the realm of non-fiction more or less thrived in cinemas across America. Where indie flicks with big names faultered, sputtered and got chewed up by the markets divergance towards streaming, documentaries continued to post solid numbers for their boutique distributors. The clear winner for 2019 was Apollo 11, which capitalized on the 50th anniversary of man's first walk on the moon as well as being marketed as an event movie in IMAX.
- 12/18/2019
- by Glenn Dunks
- FilmExperience
‘Frozen 2’ Propelling Disney Past $3B At Domestic Box Office; Third Time Ever For Studio & Hollywood
Disney for the third time in both the studio and the motion picture film industry, will click past the $3 billion mark at the domestic box office either today, most likely tomorrow with the opening of Frozen 2 this weekend. This doesn’t include any B.O. from Fox or Fox Searchlight which is around $463.9M, and it’s 100% more than the 2nd ranking major studio, Warner Bros, which will count north of $1.5B. The Burbank studio will be passing this threshold sooner than they did last year, which was in mid December and wound up being an industry record with $3.09B.
Prior to that, Disney hit $3 billion for the first time in the year-end 2016 domestic box office.
Current running box office for Disney in U.S/Canada is $2.946 billion per Comscore and Deadline calculations, which includes last...
Prior to that, Disney hit $3 billion for the first time in the year-end 2016 domestic box office.
Current running box office for Disney in U.S/Canada is $2.946 billion per Comscore and Deadline calculations, which includes last...
- 11/22/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney Music Group, in association with Treefort Media, will debut “For Scores,” a new podcast series featuring interviews with film and television composers from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox.
Set to launch this week, the podcast is hosted by Variety contributor Jon Burlingame and “will give voice to award-winning visionary composers, exploring the challenges and emotional journeys of these musical storytellers,” reads an announcement by Dmg.
Burlingame, who has written about film music for Variety since 1997, is the author of four books on the subject (including the best-selling “The Music of James Bond”), teaches film-music history at USC, and has produced and hosted a series of movie-music specials for Classical Kusc in Los Angeles.
Composers featured in the first four episodes include:
— Alan Silvestri. Silvestri talks about his work on four Marvel movies, including “Avengers: Endgame.” He reveals the emotional process he goes through, how it has...
Set to launch this week, the podcast is hosted by Variety contributor Jon Burlingame and “will give voice to award-winning visionary composers, exploring the challenges and emotional journeys of these musical storytellers,” reads an announcement by Dmg.
Burlingame, who has written about film music for Variety since 1997, is the author of four books on the subject (including the best-selling “The Music of James Bond”), teaches film-music history at USC, and has produced and hosted a series of movie-music specials for Classical Kusc in Los Angeles.
Composers featured in the first four episodes include:
— Alan Silvestri. Silvestri talks about his work on four Marvel movies, including “Avengers: Endgame.” He reveals the emotional process he goes through, how it has...
- 8/20/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
One April weekend in 1964, the Beatles achieved the impossible when they notched the top five spots on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. That achievement — never accomplished before or since — erased any remaining doubts about their dominance. Marvel’s three-hour “Avengers: Endgame” (Disney) was expected to set a record as the biggest domestic opener ever. But Disney accomplished more than one record-breaking film this week. The now mammoth studio made film business history.
Since Thursday night, “Endgame” has notched an estimated $350 million domestic gross. Worldwide it has already reached $1.2 billion (Russia is the sole major market not included; it opens Monday). Those numbers alone are a big story. Here are some significant box office achievements included in this massive result.
Records broken
All-time opening records are no rarity: this is the third time in under 3.5 years after “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” What is staggering is that new...
Since Thursday night, “Endgame” has notched an estimated $350 million domestic gross. Worldwide it has already reached $1.2 billion (Russia is the sole major market not included; it opens Monday). Those numbers alone are a big story. Here are some significant box office achievements included in this massive result.
Records broken
All-time opening records are no rarity: this is the third time in under 3.5 years after “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” What is staggering is that new...
- 4/28/2019
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Warner Bros./New Line’s “The Curse of La Llorona” has beaten box office expectations this weekend with a $26.5 million opening against a $9 million budget. But while the horror film will find profit for New Line, the anticipation for “Avengers: Endgame” has depressed overall grosses for the Easter box office, leading to the lowest total for the holiday weekend in 14 years.
Overall, the domestic box office grossed an estimated $103 million this weekend, down 22% from last year’s Easter weekend. With “Avengers” expected to dominate the global box office next weekend, most studios have steered clear of releasing a movie this weekend to avoid getting ignored by audiences who can’t wait to see how the Marvel superheroes take down Thanos. The last time an Easter weekend was this low was in 2005, when the Sony comedy “Guess Who” opened to $20 million and the overall box office only reached $99 million.
Also Read:...
Overall, the domestic box office grossed an estimated $103 million this weekend, down 22% from last year’s Easter weekend. With “Avengers” expected to dominate the global box office next weekend, most studios have steered clear of releasing a movie this weekend to avoid getting ignored by audiences who can’t wait to see how the Marvel superheroes take down Thanos. The last time an Easter weekend was this low was in 2005, when the Sony comedy “Guess Who” opened to $20 million and the overall box office only reached $99 million.
Also Read:...
- 4/21/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Warner Bros. and New Line’s “The Curse of La Llorona” ascended to the top of domestic box office charts, conjuring $26.5 million when it opened in 3,372 North American theaters.
“La Llorona” is the latest horror movie to outperform expectations, further cementing the genre as one of the most reliable box office draws. Even so, “La Llorona” and other new releases “Breakthrough” and “Penguins” couldn’t salvage movie theaters from suffering the worst Easter weekend showing in almost 15 years. This weekend’s offerings amassed a combined $112 million in ticket sales, the lowest haul since 2005, according to Comscore. The decline in sales is likely because the rest of Hollywood avoided opening a big movie ahead of Disney and Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” which is expected to crush records when it debuts on April 26.
“The Curse of La Llorona” also launched this weekend in 71 international markets, where it collected $30 million for a global start of $56.5 million.
“La Llorona” is the latest horror movie to outperform expectations, further cementing the genre as one of the most reliable box office draws. Even so, “La Llorona” and other new releases “Breakthrough” and “Penguins” couldn’t salvage movie theaters from suffering the worst Easter weekend showing in almost 15 years. This weekend’s offerings amassed a combined $112 million in ticket sales, the lowest haul since 2005, according to Comscore. The decline in sales is likely because the rest of Hollywood avoided opening a big movie ahead of Disney and Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” which is expected to crush records when it debuts on April 26.
“The Curse of La Llorona” also launched this weekend in 71 international markets, where it collected $30 million for a global start of $56.5 million.
- 4/21/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
In this week’s edition of the Variety Movie Commercial Tracker, powered by the TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv, Annapurna Pictures claims the top spot in spending for the second week in a row with “Missing Link.”
Ads placed for the animated film had an estimated media value of $5.91 million through Sunday for 1,852 national ad airings on 41 networks. (Spend figures are based on estimates generated from April 8-14. Estimates may be updated after the chart is posted as new information becomes available.) Annapurna Pictures prioritized spend across networks including Nick, NBC and CBS, and during programming such as “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “The Loud House.”
Just behind “Missing Link” in second place: Lionsgate’s “Long Shot,” which saw 489 national ad airings across 29 networks, with an estimated media value of $3.54 million.
TV ad placements for Lionsgate’s “Hellboy” (Emv: $3.43 million), Warner Bros.’ “Pokémon Detective Pikachu...
Ads placed for the animated film had an estimated media value of $5.91 million through Sunday for 1,852 national ad airings on 41 networks. (Spend figures are based on estimates generated from April 8-14. Estimates may be updated after the chart is posted as new information becomes available.) Annapurna Pictures prioritized spend across networks including Nick, NBC and CBS, and during programming such as “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “The Loud House.”
Just behind “Missing Link” in second place: Lionsgate’s “Long Shot,” which saw 489 national ad airings across 29 networks, with an estimated media value of $3.54 million.
TV ad placements for Lionsgate’s “Hellboy” (Emv: $3.43 million), Warner Bros.’ “Pokémon Detective Pikachu...
- 4/20/2019
- by iSpot.tv
- Variety Film + TV
“The Curse of La Llorona,” Warner Bros. and New Line’s horror film from the producers of “The Conjuring” movies, earned $2.75 million in Thursday box office previews.
Both Fox’s “Breakthrough” and Disneynature’s “Penguins” opened early as part of the Easter holiday weekend, making “La Llorona” the sole weekend release. All three are hoping to compete with Warner Bros. and DC’s tongue-in-cheek superhero film “Shazam!” for the top spot, and “La Llorona” is looking at a three-day opening between $17-20 million. New Line’s “Conjuring” spinoff film “The Nun” opened in September last year and made $5.4 million at the Thursday box office ahead of a $53.8 million opening.
For other more recent comparisons, “Pet Sematary” from earlier this month made $2.3 million in its Thursday previews opening against “Shazam!” and made $24.5 million in its opening weekend. January’s “Escape Room” also made $2.3 million from Thursday previews and made $18.2 million when it opened.
Both Fox’s “Breakthrough” and Disneynature’s “Penguins” opened early as part of the Easter holiday weekend, making “La Llorona” the sole weekend release. All three are hoping to compete with Warner Bros. and DC’s tongue-in-cheek superhero film “Shazam!” for the top spot, and “La Llorona” is looking at a three-day opening between $17-20 million. New Line’s “Conjuring” spinoff film “The Nun” opened in September last year and made $5.4 million at the Thursday box office ahead of a $53.8 million opening.
For other more recent comparisons, “Pet Sematary” from earlier this month made $2.3 million in its Thursday previews opening against “Shazam!” and made $24.5 million in its opening weekend. January’s “Escape Room” also made $2.3 million from Thursday previews and made $18.2 million when it opened.
- 4/19/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
“The Curse of La Llorona,” the latest entry in Warner Bros. and New Line’s “Conjuring” universe, conjured $2.75 million from Thursday preview showings, while “Breakthrough,” a faith-based offering from Fox-Disney, brought in $1.5 million from its second day of screenings.
“La Llorona’s” haul tops recent horror counterparts “Pet Sematary” and “Escape Room,” which each took in $2.3 million in previews.
The two films are hoping to dominate the Easter and Passover holiday box office, but they face stiff competition from “Shazam!,” the tongue-in-cheek superhero flick that has topped charts for two weekends in a row. The domestic haul of “Shazam!” stands at $104 million.
“Breakthrough,” which is the first 20th Century Fox film to be released by Disney since it wrapped its deal to buy most of the studio’s assets, already got a jump on the weekend, opening on Wednesday. It is expected to earn between $13 million to $20 million from 2,700 theaters...
“La Llorona’s” haul tops recent horror counterparts “Pet Sematary” and “Escape Room,” which each took in $2.3 million in previews.
The two films are hoping to dominate the Easter and Passover holiday box office, but they face stiff competition from “Shazam!,” the tongue-in-cheek superhero flick that has topped charts for two weekends in a row. The domestic haul of “Shazam!” stands at $104 million.
“Breakthrough,” which is the first 20th Century Fox film to be released by Disney since it wrapped its deal to buy most of the studio’s assets, already got a jump on the weekend, opening on Wednesday. It is expected to earn between $13 million to $20 million from 2,700 theaters...
- 4/19/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
With Disney and Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” gearing up to obliterate box office records, the rest of Hollywood is laying low on the film front.
“Endgame,” a culmination of sorts for the comic-book empire’s film saga, is expected to suck all the oxygen out of other movie theater auditoriums when it launches on April 26. For the most part, studios shied away from major releases even before Avengers in fear that rival movies could struggle to recoup ticket sales beyond opening weekend.
However, there was at least one studio brave enough to take on Disney, and that is, well, Disney. The Magic Kingdom is launching two movies this weekend, most notably, “Breakthrough,” the studio’s first Fox title since completing its $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Disney also has “Penguins,” a documentary from the Buena Vista company’s Disneynature label. Both titles are getting a head start on the weekend by opening on Wednesday.
“Endgame,” a culmination of sorts for the comic-book empire’s film saga, is expected to suck all the oxygen out of other movie theater auditoriums when it launches on April 26. For the most part, studios shied away from major releases even before Avengers in fear that rival movies could struggle to recoup ticket sales beyond opening weekend.
However, there was at least one studio brave enough to take on Disney, and that is, well, Disney. The Magic Kingdom is launching two movies this weekend, most notably, “Breakthrough,” the studio’s first Fox title since completing its $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Disney also has “Penguins,” a documentary from the Buena Vista company’s Disneynature label. Both titles are getting a head start on the weekend by opening on Wednesday.
- 4/17/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
With “Unplanned” still performing well at the box office, the recent hot streak for Christian films could continue with Roxann Dawson’s “Breakthrough,” which is hitting theaters tomorrow ahead of Easter weekend
“Breakthrough” tells the story of a married couple (Chrissy Metz and Josh Lucas) who rely on their faith to pull through after their son falls through a frozen lake and ends up in a coma. The film is also a historic one for the film industry, as it will be the first film released by 20th Century Fox under ownership of Disney, which completed its acquisition of the 83-year-old studio last month. It will be one of the final films released through Fox 2000, which Disney is shutting down after it completes the release of its remaining films.
Also Read: 'Shazam!' Still Flies High at Box Office With $25 Million 2nd Weekend
Prior to the completion of last month’s merger with Disney,...
“Breakthrough” tells the story of a married couple (Chrissy Metz and Josh Lucas) who rely on their faith to pull through after their son falls through a frozen lake and ends up in a coma. The film is also a historic one for the film industry, as it will be the first film released by 20th Century Fox under ownership of Disney, which completed its acquisition of the 83-year-old studio last month. It will be one of the final films released through Fox 2000, which Disney is shutting down after it completes the release of its remaining films.
Also Read: 'Shazam!' Still Flies High at Box Office With $25 Million 2nd Weekend
Prior to the completion of last month’s merger with Disney,...
- 4/16/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Title: ‘Penguins’ Directors: Alastair Fothergill (Disneynature’s ‘Monkey Kingdom’ and ‘Bears’) and Jeff Wilson Embarking on a quest to find a life partner, build a suitable home together and start a family is an alluring dream that not only humans strive to achieve. In the upcoming Disneynature documentary, ‘Penguins,’ which Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is […]
The post Disneynature’s Penguins Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Disneynature’s Penguins Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 4/11/2019
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
‘Penguins’ Review: Disney’s Captivating Documentary Franchise Follows a Plucky Bird Looking for Love
Before Disney wraps up the third phase of its blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe later this summer, the studio has yet another long-running series to keep building out. Sandwiched alongside all those superhero movies, that “Star Wars” franchise, a growing list of live-action remakes, and a continued interest in their Disney Princess films, Disneynature has quietly churned out over a dozen nature documentaries since its inception over a decade ago.
In a crowded House of Mouse, they remain some of the best bets the studio has to offer, uniting entrainment and education in an appealing package. With “Penguins,” frequent Disneynature filmmaker Alastair Fothergill and franchise newbie Jeff Wilson are working in a more minor key than such essential entries as “Chimpanzee” and “African Cats,” but the artistry and relative magic of the series is still on full display.
Every Disneynature film needs a hero to lead it, and for the purpose of their latest feature,...
In a crowded House of Mouse, they remain some of the best bets the studio has to offer, uniting entrainment and education in an appealing package. With “Penguins,” frequent Disneynature filmmaker Alastair Fothergill and franchise newbie Jeff Wilson are working in a more minor key than such essential entries as “Chimpanzee” and “African Cats,” but the artistry and relative magic of the series is still on full display.
Every Disneynature film needs a hero to lead it, and for the purpose of their latest feature,...
- 4/10/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Although the name “Disney” has become roughly synonymous with a multi-tentacled corporate octopus over the years, latching onto every profitable pop culture phenomenon it can reach and then squeezing it dry — it’s important to remember that it’s also synonymous with “nature documentaries,” and that it has been ever since the Oscar-winning short “Seal Island” way back in 1948.
These nature docs have, over the decades, exposed audiences and particularly Disney’s target demo of wholesome family units to the wide-ranging world of animals in their various natural habitats. For the last 11 years, the Disneynature label has been keeping this torch aflame, and their latest documentary “Penguins” is another feather in the imprint’s cap.
Sumptuously photographed and narratively benign, “Penguins” explores the life of the Adélie penguin, which is smaller than its Emperor cousins and — arguably — even cuter. Ed Helms narrates and provides the voice for our Adélie protagonist,...
These nature docs have, over the decades, exposed audiences and particularly Disney’s target demo of wholesome family units to the wide-ranging world of animals in their various natural habitats. For the last 11 years, the Disneynature label has been keeping this torch aflame, and their latest documentary “Penguins” is another feather in the imprint’s cap.
Sumptuously photographed and narratively benign, “Penguins” explores the life of the Adélie penguin, which is smaller than its Emperor cousins and — arguably — even cuter. Ed Helms narrates and provides the voice for our Adélie protagonist,...
- 3/18/2019
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
It was a tumultuous year for an entertainment industry rocked by media shifts and adjusting to an unfamiliar post-Harvey landscape. Yes, the 2018 box office wound up well ahead of last year, but the future is not rosy for two-hour movies in theaters, as Silicon Valley streamers from Netflix to Apple make studio chiefs and their theater partners reach for the Maalox.
Here’s how last year’s winners and losers will play out in 2019.
Winners
Having bought Twentieth Century Fox, Disney will thrive as it prepares to stock three late-2019 Ott ventures to compete with Netflix. While Disney will be building its subscribers from scratch, quality IP from Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm and National Geographic will “obviously create a demand and gives us the ability to not necessarily be in the volume game, but to be in the quality game,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger on an earnings call.
On the movie side,...
Here’s how last year’s winners and losers will play out in 2019.
Winners
Having bought Twentieth Century Fox, Disney will thrive as it prepares to stock three late-2019 Ott ventures to compete with Netflix. While Disney will be building its subscribers from scratch, quality IP from Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm and National Geographic will “obviously create a demand and gives us the ability to not necessarily be in the volume game, but to be in the quality game,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger on an earnings call.
On the movie side,...
- 1/1/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
It was a tumultuous year for an entertainment industry rocked by media shifts and adjusting to an unfamiliar post-Harvey landscape. Yes, the 2018 box office wound up well ahead of last year, but the future is not rosy for two-hour movies in theaters, as Silicon Valley streamers from Netflix to Apple make studio chiefs and their theater partners reach for the Maalox.
Here’s how last year’s winners and losers will play out in 2019.
Winners
Having bought Twentieth Century Fox, Disney will thrive as it prepares to stock three late-2019 Ott ventures to compete with Netflix. While Disney will be building its subscribers from scratch, quality IP from Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm and National Geographic will “obviously create a demand and gives us the ability to not necessarily be in the volume game, but to be in the quality game,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger on an earnings call.
On the movie side,...
Here’s how last year’s winners and losers will play out in 2019.
Winners
Having bought Twentieth Century Fox, Disney will thrive as it prepares to stock three late-2019 Ott ventures to compete with Netflix. While Disney will be building its subscribers from scratch, quality IP from Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm and National Geographic will “obviously create a demand and gives us the ability to not necessarily be in the volume game, but to be in the quality game,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger on an earnings call.
On the movie side,...
- 1/1/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Bristol, two hours west of London and known by toon enthusiasts as the home of Aardman Animations, also happens to be the world center of wildlife filmmaking and home to the top producers, directors and camera pros creating the influx of natural history shows that continue to grow ever more popular on TV screens around the world.
The city is the headquarters of the BBC Natural History Unit and also the base for large independent players in the nature film arena such as Silverback Films, Plimsoll Prods., True to Nature, Tigress Prods., Off the Fence, Keo Films and Icon Films. Top production and post-production houses in the area that cater to the genre include Films@59, Evolutions and Big Bang.
The best-known name in wildlife filmmaking associated with the city is David Attenborough, now 92, whose 1979 classic TV series “Life on Earth” began a wave of television that continues to crest with such shows as “Blue Planet.
The city is the headquarters of the BBC Natural History Unit and also the base for large independent players in the nature film arena such as Silverback Films, Plimsoll Prods., True to Nature, Tigress Prods., Off the Fence, Keo Films and Icon Films. Top production and post-production houses in the area that cater to the genre include Films@59, Evolutions and Big Bang.
The best-known name in wildlife filmmaking associated with the city is David Attenborough, now 92, whose 1979 classic TV series “Life on Earth” began a wave of television that continues to crest with such shows as “Blue Planet.
- 12/14/2018
- by Valentina I. Valentini
- Variety Film + TV
Viewers can Celebrate the Season with More Than 600 Hours of Holiday Classic Films, Specials and Family Favorites Beginning November 26 Through December 25
AMC has viewers covered this holiday season with “AMC Best Christmas Ever,” its largest slate of holiday programming ever featuring 35 films and 18 specials, airing all day, every day. Beginning Monday, November 26 through Christmas Day, the monthlong programming marathon will offer up more than 600 hours of holiday-themed movies, specials and family favorite films, as well as the television debut of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You (2017). AMC will be the exclusive home to Christmas favorites including Elf, The Polar Express and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as well as 12 classic Christmas specials from the legendary Rankin/Bass production company, including The Year Without a Santa Claus, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Jack Frost, Rudolph’s Shiny New Yearand Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, among many others.
“In...
AMC has viewers covered this holiday season with “AMC Best Christmas Ever,” its largest slate of holiday programming ever featuring 35 films and 18 specials, airing all day, every day. Beginning Monday, November 26 through Christmas Day, the monthlong programming marathon will offer up more than 600 hours of holiday-themed movies, specials and family favorite films, as well as the television debut of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You (2017). AMC will be the exclusive home to Christmas favorites including Elf, The Polar Express and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as well as 12 classic Christmas specials from the legendary Rankin/Bass production company, including The Year Without a Santa Claus, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Jack Frost, Rudolph’s Shiny New Yearand Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, among many others.
“In...
- 11/30/2018
- by Andrew Wendowski
- Age of the Nerd
FX has set the main cast for the eight-episode limited series “Fosse/Verdon,” Variety has learned.
The series is based on the biography “Fosse” written by Sam Wasson and tells the story of the romantic and creative partnership between Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) and Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams).
Norbert Leo Butz has been cast in the series regular role of Paddy Chayefsky, while Margaret Qually will appear in the series regular role of Ann Reinking.
In addition, the following people have been cast in recurring roles: Aya Cash as Joan Simon, Nate Corddry as Neil Simon, Susan Misner as Joan McCracken, Bianca Marroquin as Chita Rivera, Kelli Barrett as Liza Minnelli, Evan Handler as Hal Prince, Rick Holmes as Fred Weaver, Paul Reiser as Cy Feuer, Ethan Slater as Joel Grey, Byron Jennings as George Abbott, and Laura Osnes as Shirley MacLaine.
Butz is currently starring on Broadway in “My Fair Lady...
The series is based on the biography “Fosse” written by Sam Wasson and tells the story of the romantic and creative partnership between Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) and Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams).
Norbert Leo Butz has been cast in the series regular role of Paddy Chayefsky, while Margaret Qually will appear in the series regular role of Ann Reinking.
In addition, the following people have been cast in recurring roles: Aya Cash as Joan Simon, Nate Corddry as Neil Simon, Susan Misner as Joan McCracken, Bianca Marroquin as Chita Rivera, Kelli Barrett as Liza Minnelli, Evan Handler as Hal Prince, Rick Holmes as Fred Weaver, Paul Reiser as Cy Feuer, Ethan Slater as Joel Grey, Byron Jennings as George Abbott, and Laura Osnes as Shirley MacLaine.
Butz is currently starring on Broadway in “My Fair Lady...
- 11/19/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
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