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B O X O F F I C E who’s making the money | F I L M N E W S who’s making the headlines | ||
I N T H E U K . . .
I N T H E U S . . .
T O P N E W S T R E A M E R S . . .
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so reviews and news updates will be more sporadic than usual.
Zoe Saldana and Matthew McConaughey will team up for the romantic caper movie POSITANO. The plot is being kept under wraps, and the only thing revealed is that it's set in the eponymous village on Italy's Amalfi coast. Daniel Roher (Navalny) is directing. Rob Lowe and Maddie Zieglar will team up for the romantic comedy HOLIDAZE, based on the novel about a young woman who finds herself in a time loop that involves reliving the same Christmas over and over again. Amy Madigan is joining John C Reilly and Jason Segel in SPONSOR, a psychological thriller about a guy in a court-ordered alcoholism support group where his sponsor takes an unnerving approach. James Ponsoldt is directing from a script he cowrote with Segel. Natasha Lyonne will write, direct and produce BAMBO, a comedy-drama that follows a boxing promoter in 1980s Brooklyn who sets out to become the next Don King, with his young daughter at his side. Before that, Lyonne is directing UNCANNY VALLEY, set in the world of immersive videogames. Mads Mikkelsen is joining Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in WHAT HAPPENS AT NIGHT, Martin Scorsese's next film. It's about an American couple who travels to a snowy Scandinavian town to adopt a baby, encountering enigmatic people who have dark secrets. The script is by Patrick Marber. Rupert Grint has joined the cast of EBENEZER: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, perhaps playing Bob Cratchit alongside Johnny Depp in the title role. This is Ti West's horror-style adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic holiday ghost story. Lars Eidinger will play Braniac in the Superman sequel MAN OF TOMORROW, which again stars David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, Isabela Merced and Frank Grillo. James Gunn is also back as writer-director. Lauren Hutton, Michael Angelo Covino, Devon Bostick, Sean Kaufman, Jose Zuniga and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine are joining the cast of Ron Howard's military drama ALONE AT DAWN, alongside Adam Driver, Anne Hathaway, Jonathan Ajayi and Betty Gilpin. It's based on the true story of the investigation into the heroic actions of an Air Force officer in Afghanistan. Jonathan Lipnicki, Matt Walsh and Geneva Carr will star in WILLISTON, a psychological thriller about developers trying to secure a parcel of land in North Dakota that's owned by a Native American man. Adam Seidel is writing and directing. Sylvester Stewart Jr will direct a documentary about his father, Sly Stone. The film will take a personal approach, exploring Stone's music and legacy using clips from the family's personal archive, as well as new interviews. And Paul King (Paddington/Wonka) will direct a film based on the fad-sparking LABUBU range of ugly-cute Chinese dolls. There's no word yet on what the story might be, or if the film will be animated or feature live-action humans.
Olivia Colman and Andrew Scott will star in ELSINORE, based on the true story of how actor Ian Charleson took on an enormous challenge to play Hamlet at London's National Theatre. Simon Stone is directing from a script by Stephen Beresford. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are officially reprising their Hunger Games roles for the prequel SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, possibly alongside Woody Harrelson in the story's epilogue. The film stars Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, McKenna Grace, Maya Hawke and Kelvin Harrison Jr. Francis Lawrence is directing. David Oyelowo will reteam with Selma director Ava DuVernay to produce and star in HEIST OF BERLIN. The plot is being kept under wraps, but it's being described as an art-world thriller set in present-day London. The script is by Jesse Quinones. LaKeith Stanfield will play Dennis Rodman in the biopic 48 HOURS IN VEGAS, based on his infamous celebrity partying excess surrounding the 1998 NBA finals. Apparently, Michael Jordan was sent to retrieve Rodman for the big game. Sharon Stone, David Strathairn, Ed Helms and Ashley Park are the latest cast members to join Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick in BABIES, a comedy about a couple facing instant parenthood when their divorced friend moves in with a toddler. Lauren Miller Rogen is writing and directing. Johnny Depp will produce and star in THE MASTER AND MARGARITA, based on Mikhail Bulgakov’s satirical 1940 novel about the devil visiting 1930s Moscow. The book inspired the Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil. John C Reilly and Jason Segel will team up for SPONSOR, a thriller about a guy who attends a court-ordered alcoholism support group, where he meets a sponsor who takes an unnerving approach. James Ponsoldt is directing from a script he cowrote with Segel. Freddie Highmore will produce and star in the romantic comedy LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS, about a socially awkward astronomer who finds unexpected romance. Pat Cunnane is writing the script. Brandon Sklenar and Hassie Harrison will star in THE RESCUE, a dramatic thriller about a rodeo cowboy searching for his missing daughter while accompanied by his dog. Potsy Ponciroli is directing from a script by John Fusco. Taika Waititi will direct BARN 8, based on the novel about two government egg auditors who plot an elaborate heist to free a million chickens from a factory farm. The script is by Jessica Gao (She-Hulk). Jacobi Jupe (Hamnet) is joining Scarlett Johansson in Mike Flanagan's new EXORCIST movie, which is being described as a reboot/reimagining of the original film, as opposed to sequels that are still in the works. And Amy Sedaris will team up with writer-director Paul Dinello for THE WASP WOMAN, a blackly comical reimagining of the 1959 cult classic about a cosmetics company executive who uses wasp serum to reverse ageing, with very nasty side effects.
Alexander Skarsgard will star in THE WOLF WILL TEAR YOUR IMMACULATE HANDS, an English-language drama about a British widower in the 1860s Pacific Northwest who hires a Native American governess to teach his two daughters. Nathalie Alvarez Mesen (Clara Sola) is directing. Kim Kardashian, Fortune Feimster, Nikki Glaser and Brenda Song will star in THE FIFTH WHEEL, a comedy about a group of high school friends reuniting for a messy trip to Las Vegas. Eva Longoria is directing from a script by Paula Pell and Janine Brito. Lucas Hedges is joining LOVE IS NOT THE ANSWER, a dark comedy about an actress struggling to balance her work and personal lives. Also starring are Pamela Anderson, Liam Neeson, Steve Coogan, Jamie Dornan, Fred Hechinger, Shirley Henderson and Tyler Posey. Michael Cera is making his writing-directing debut. Dianna Agron will join Jack Kesy, Tom Arnold and boxer Nicola Adams in THE GUN ON SECOND STREET, which a Pittsburgh police officer who falls for the wife of his late partner. Writer-director Rohit Karn Batra (Line of Descent) started filming last week. Sean Penn is producing. Paul Dano is joining Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Patrick Schwarzenegger in BUNKER, about an architect who gets a job to build a survivalist bunker for a tech billionaire, leading to various moral dilemmas. Florian Zeller is writing and directing. Charlie Plummer is joining Angelina Jolie in SUNNY, a dark thriller about a gangster fighting to protect her sons from a vicious drug lord. Eva Sorhaug is directing. Filming is underway in Norway. Shabana Azmi, Kabir Bedi and Emily Shah will star in USA V RAJ, based on the true story of Rajendra Bothra, a doctor who was charged with fraud and denied bail for three and a half years in federal detention before being cleared by a jury. Cinematographer Ravi K Chandran is directing. Dean Norris, Zak Corrigan, Jonathan Cruz and Jessica Garza will star in the supernatural horror comedy DUBBELS, about an engineering team sent to evaluate an abandoned ski resort that is rumoured to be cursed. Paul Marashlian is writing and directing. Sofia Bush, Lauren Holly and Steve Guttenberg will star in BROAD TRIP, a comedy about a bachelorette road trip during which a woman tries to talk her impulsive mother into calling off her latest wedding. Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe is directing. Lalisa Manobal (The White Lotus), Don Lee and Lee Jin-wook (Squid Game) will star in the thriller TYGO, a spinoff from the Extraction movies inspired by the Russo brothers' graphic novel about a former child soldier turned mercenary. Lee Sang-yong is directing. Matt Kelsey, Christian Zuber, Marion Kerr, Craig Thomas and Austin Woods are starring in ABOVE GROUND, about an author who retreats from the world after a personal loss, dealing with his past and finding hope for the future. Kelsey is also writing and directing. And veteran Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) is making a live-action adaptation of the bestselling 2021 manga LOOK BACK, which follows two young women as they try to become manga artists. It was adapted into an animated film in 2024.
Vin Diesel will write and star in a movie based on the vintage boxing game ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM ROBOTS. There's no word yet on the plot of the film, or even if it would be live-action or animated, or a mix of both. Leslie Odom Jr will star in DANCE WITH THE DEVIL, a horror movie based on the Rolling Stone article that explores the unlikely connection between Sammy Davis Jr and satanic church founder Anton LaVey. They apparently met while working on a TV pilot together. Odom is also writing the script. Scarlett Johansson is being lined up to join the cast of THE BATMAN PART II, possibly in a villainous role opposite Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright and Andy Serkis. Matt Reeves is also back as director, and plans to start filming in Glasgow next month. Taron Egerton is lined up to star in the blackly comical ALPHA, about a quiet American financial analyst who becomes bolder as he rises up through the ranks of a London investment firm. The script is by actor-musician Hal Ozsan. Fire Island costars and best friends Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers will reteam to write and star in a comedy about two American guys who travel to Berlin so they can visit the iconic Berghain nightclub, but they have to contend with the notoriously strict bouncers. Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey will star in the romantic drama DEEP CUTS, based on the novel about two music-obsessed young people trying to get their adult lives started in the early 2000s. Sean Durkin is writing and directing. Jack Whitehall, Robbie Amell, Elizabeth Mitchell, Lizze Broadway and Randall Park are joining Lana Condor in the cast of WHODUNNIT, a romcom about a young woman who finds herself pregnant after a raucous weekend following a breakup. And now she needs to work out who the father is. Director Nora Kirkpatrick is currently filming in Oregon. Tig Notaro is reteaming with director Zack Snyder for DEVIANTS, which is being called a "hot lesbian action" movie set at a time when gay women were still in the closet. The project is now in development, sparked by Notaro's sexy fighter role in Snyder's Army of the Dead. Ex Machina actress Sonoya Mizuno will reteam with Alex Garland, who is producing her feature film directing debut STAGES. The story is based on Mizuno's experiences as a dancer in the English National Ballet and other companies. And word has it that RUSH HOUR 4 is officially in development, after Donald Trump told studio execs to make it happen. The film would re-team Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker for more buddy cop antics, again directed by Brett Ratner. OLDER NEWS >> | ||
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S T A G E & M O R E beyond the big screen... | |||
 Make the yuletide gay STAGE: The Fit Prince brings a hilarious sense of holiday romcom anarchy to King's Head Theatre until 3rd Jan...  Let it all hang out STAGE: Golden Goose Theatre's new production of cheeky song and dance hit Boys in the Buff until 10th Jan...  Tale as old as time STAGE: Charing Cross Theatre presents its annual queer adult pantomime Beauty and the Beast until 11th Jan...  The boss’ new groove DANCE: ZooNation's a dazzling hip-hop take on Dickens, Ebony Scrooge at Sadler's Wells East until 4th Jan... STAGE: RVT's panto Growled riotously spins Beauty and the Beast, until 3rd Jan... STAGE: Brick Lane Music Hall's The Magic of Christmas dinner-theatre until 19th Dec...
NOV TV: Boots, Only Murders 5, Chad Powers, Peacemaker 2, MobLand, The Morning Show 4, Alien: Earth, more... DANCE: Ballet Black's Shadows, a new double bill at Sadler's Wells... DANCE: Pite and McBurney's staggering Figures in Extinction at Sadler's Wells... DANCE: Akram Khan and Manal AlDowayan's elemental Thikra at Sadler's Wells... STAGE: KC and the Sunshine Band musical Get Down Tonight at Charing Cross... STAGE: Ghost Stories returns to London's Peacock Theatre... DANCE: Hofesh Schechter's surreal Theatre of Dreams at Sadler's Wells... SEP TV: Chief of War, Wednesday 2, Smoke, Dexter: Resurrection, The Institute, Stick, Fisk and more... DANCE: Andrea Pena's Bogota explores history and culture at Sadler's Wells East... DANCE: Acosta Danza celebrates A Decade in Motion at Sadler's Wells...
MORE >>
NEWS SOURCES:
Dark Horizons.
The Hollywood Reporter.
Variety.
Deadline.
The industry.
| ALSO: Empire. IMDb. Rotten Tomatoes. Ain't It Cool News. Digital Spy. The Wrap. Sight and Sound. Entertainment Weekly. BBC. CNN. Evening Standard. The Guardian. Film Threat. indieWire. Screen International. © 2025 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall HOME | REVIEWS | NEWS | FESTIVAL | AWARDS | Q&A | ABOUT | TALKBACK | ||
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