Movies

In a competitive situation, Warner Bros. has landed “The Color Purple” director Blitz Bazawule’s next project, which takes on the legendary Yasuke, an African warrior who became the first Black samurai. Sources tell Variety that Warner Bros. beat out three other studios and streamers’ bids on the script, tentatively titled “Black Samurai,” which Bazawule wrote

“Michael,” the upcoming biopic about pop legend Michael Jackson that seems guaranteed to spark conversation, debuted a dazzling and emotional first look at CinemaCon during Lionsgate’s presentation to theater owners on Thursday in Las Vegas. The sweeping footage starts as hysterical fans scream along to Jackson as he owns the stage, flashing between performances of

Michael Keaton was blunt about what audiences can expect when “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” hits screens, more than 36 years after the first film opened. “It’s really fucking good,” the actor told theater owners at CinemaCon. And based on the zany look at “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” that Keaton and Tim Burton shared, the collaborators have come up with

The Clown Prince of Crime and Harley Quinn want you to know that what the world needs now is… love. That’s the message of the first trailer for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” which sees Joaquin Phoenix reprise his role as Arthur Fleck (who later becomes Batman’s notorious foe) and conspire with Lady Gaga as the

Allow Robert Pattinson to introduce himself again… and again and again. He plays more than a dozen versions of the same character, Mickey Barnes, in director Bong Joon Ho‘s upcoming sci-fi thriller “Mickey 17.” Bong, the Oscar-winning director of “Parasite,” brought a wacky, thrilling first look at the film to CinemaCon, the annual exhibition trade

Jessica Alba is stepping down as chief creative officer of The Honest Company. Alba, who co-founded the baby products and personal care business in 2012, shared the news on Instagram Tuesday. “While there would never have been an easy time to make this decision, I know we have a leadership team in place with [CEO]

“Horizon: An American Saga,” Kevin Costner‘s wildly ambitious, sprawling, risky and quite possibly foolhardy two-part Western rode into CinemaCon on Tuesday. The films, which will premiere this summer, were partially financed by Costner, who mortgaged his ranch to help raise the money for the $100 million epic. “Hopefully the people come and they keep coming

Many in show business share a feeling that “Furiosa” will be big — but at Warner Bros.’ presentation to global movie theater owners on Tuesday, attendees got a taste of just how colossal the “Mad Max” entry might be. Director George Miller and his stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth made the trek to Las Vegas’ CinemaCon

Zendaya was already a big star when she was cast as MJ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” By that point in her career she had already amassed a huge following as the star of two Disney Channel hits, “Shake It Up” and “K.C. Undercover,” plus popped up in Beyonce’s “Lemonade”

With John Travolta, Gregory Nava and a host of other luminaries lighting it up, the 12th Panama International Film Festival wrapped Sunday on a high note, with general attendance exceeding expectations. Speaking at the closing ceremony held at the Canal Museum, Pituka Ortega-Heilbron, IFF Panama Board President, hailed this latest edition as a vibrant rebirth

Nicole Richie has been a “diehard fan” of the 1991 cult comedy “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” for as long as she can remember. “I’ve been quoting this movie my whole life,” she says. And now, life has come full circle because the former “Simple Life” reality television icon stars in director Wade Allain-Marcus’

Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel‘s longstanding “Fast & Furious” feud came to an official end last year when Johnson shocked fans by popping up as the beloved Luke Hobbs in a “Fast X” mid-credits scene. Diesel had extended an invitation to Johnson in November 2021 to join “Fast X,” but Johnson said the following month that “I

Francis Ford Coppola‘s passion project “Megalopolis” will officially premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, according to an individual familiar with the project. The film will debut in a gala slot on May 17. “Megalopolis” boasts an all-star cast, including Shia LaBeouf, Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Coppola’s sister Talia Shire, Jason

‘80s nostalgia is heading back to Netflix’s theaters with Milestone Movies: The Anniversary Collection – 1984.  The Milestone Movies collection will screen across three theaters: New York’s Paris Theater, The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and The Bay Theater in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Selected films turning 40 this year will play in Netflix’s theaters and the

Get ready for some fun, fun, fun! Disney+ has released the trailer for its “The Beach Boys” documentary, which is set to stream on the platform May 24. The trailer features clips from interviews with original band members, rock and roll historian Josh Kun, music star Janelle Monáe and more. The film is a celebration

Art the Clown will be back for Halloween this fall, with some help from Iconic Events Releasing. The distribution banner has partnered with Cineverse and its horror division Bloody Disgusting to handle theatrical distribution on “Terrifier 3,” the next entry in the ongoing cult horror series. Announced at CinemaCon Tuesday morning, the partnership between the

SPOILER ALERT: The following essay discusses key plot points, including the ending. Last weekend, I took in “Le Samouraï” for what must have been the sixth or seventh time, relishing the new 4K restoration of Jean-Pierre Melville’s masterpiece (now playing at Laemmle theaters in Los Angeles). As I exited the screening, I discreetly eavesdropped on

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. “Dune: Part Two” is barreling to streaming. The epic sci-fi sequel, starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, will become available to rent and purchase on digital starting Apr. 16, and will release on 4K UHD,

New York-based group FilmRise has dropped a gripping first trailer for “Missing From Fire Trail Road,” Sabrina Van Tassel (“The State of Texas vs. Melissa“)’s documentary film about the crimes against indigenous women. “Missing From Fire Trail Road” sheds light on the case of Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, a Native-American woman who disappeared in 2020, and exposes how

Michael O’Leary, the new president and CEO of the National Association of Theater Owners, is encouraging Hollywood to think smaller. Don’t get him wrong — he loves Marvel, “Mission: Impossible” and “Fast & Furious” as much as the next exhibitor. But O’Leary is urging the major studios to prioritize more than just the tentpole properties

The Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America have approved the first-ever credit of “stunt designer.” The title will be used on the upcoming release “The Fall Guy” with veteran stunt coordinator, second unit director and president of Stunts Unlimited Chris O’Hara set to receive the inaugural film credit. O’Hara’s position as a production

Two-time Oscar winner Renée Zellweger is set to return to one of her most beloved roles in Universal Pictures’ and Working Title’s “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” an adaptation of Helen Fielding’s best-selling novel. Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson are confirmed to return alongside franchise newcomers Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave,” “Love, Actually”) and Leo

Copenhagen-based DR Sales has secured major sales on the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner and Visions du Réel Grand Angle entry “A New Kind of Wilderness.” The film, directed by Silje Evensmo Jacobsen, has been acquired by ZDF and Arte for Germany and France, Cinema Delicatessen for the Netherlands, Dalton Distribution for Belgium, Against Gravity

“Deliver Me From Nowhere,” the upcoming film about the making of Bruce Springsteen‘s landmark 1982 “Nebraska” album, has landed at 20th Century Studios. “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White is in talks to star as the legendary rocker. Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart,” “Hostiles”) will write and direct the film, which is based on Warren Zane’s

Calling all Latino filmmakers, John Travolta wants to work with you. Swinging by Panama to present his 1978 musical rom-com “Grease” at the 12th Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama), Travolta professed his great love for “Mexico, Central America, South America, all of its parts.” “There is an incredible humanity that prevails and is different

The first installment of Kevin Costner‘s Western epic “Horizon, an American Saga” is set to premiere out of competition at Cannes Film Festival. Costner directed the four-part project, which he also stars in with Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington and Jena Malone. The “Yellowstone” and “Dances With Wolves” actor will be on the Croisette to present

It’s not easy to shock John Waters. The “Pink Flamingos” director spent his career pushing, prodding and profaning the envelope in every way imaginable. But one thing the self-proclaimed “pope of trash” never thought he’d see was a career-spanning show at the Academy Museum. The exhibition — which features everything from a full-scale trailer home

Jonathan Majors has been sentenced to one year of domestic violence counseling after being convicted last year of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. The actor must complete a 52-week, in-person domestic violence programming in Los Angeles, where he currently resides. There will be an opportunity in the future for the sessions to be

Robert Downey Jr. is not closing the door on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he kicked off in 2008 with “Iron Man” and headlined for 11 years through 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” Iron Man met his demise in that tentpole, but that has never stopped rumors from circulating that Marvel is trying to bring Downey back

Sony and Apple have released the first trailer for “Fly Me to the Moon,” a romantic comedy starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, which is set to premiere on July 12. The film is set against the 1960s space race and features Johansson as a marketing exec hired by NASA to film a fake moon