It’s been 10 years since David Oyelowo made his U.S. breakthrough portraying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in “Selma.” Playing the awe-inspiring civil rights leader was an opportunity for the British-Nigerian actor to live up to his surname, which translates to “a king deserves respect.”
Oyelowo has been reflecting on that time in his life a lot more lately, thanks in part to “Becoming King,” a documentary directed by his wife, Jessica Oyelowo, that captures the seven-year journey to bring “Selma” to the big screen.
“It was a big year,” he says of 2014. “There was no way you could know the sheer amount of things that would happen, because at the beginning of it, nothing was happening. ‘Selma’ felt dead. I was in the middle of shooting ‘A Most Violent Year,’ having a good time with that, but just feeling in a state of limbo and then—”
He stops mid-thought.
Oyelowo has been reflecting on that time in his life a lot more lately, thanks in part to “Becoming King,” a documentary directed by his wife, Jessica Oyelowo, that captures the seven-year journey to bring “Selma” to the big screen.
“It was a big year,” he says of 2014. “There was no way you could know the sheer amount of things that would happen, because at the beginning of it, nothing was happening. ‘Selma’ felt dead. I was in the middle of shooting ‘A Most Violent Year,’ having a good time with that, but just feeling in a state of limbo and then—”
He stops mid-thought.
- 5/23/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
IndieWire and Paramount+ are proud to announce a Consider This FYC event to take place in Los Angeles on June 8, featuring Kelsey Grammer, David Oyelowo, and Matt Bomer, plus creators and talent from “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “A Gentleman in Moscow,” “Colin from Accounts,” “Fellow Travelers,” “Frasier,” and “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.”
Emmy voters and guild members can request an invitation to attend here.
The event will feature a reception with food and drinks. It will begin at 10:00am Pt and run until 2:30pm Pt, including lunch.
“Consider This Live is essential to our growing collection of creator- and artisan-driven live events that include IndieWire Honors and Pass the Remote,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, senior VP and Editor-in-Chief of IndieWire. “We’re proud to celebrate the Paramount+ lineup.”
“We’re thrilled to bring back Consider This Live exclusively with Paramount+,” said IndieWire SVP & Publisher James Israel.
Emmy voters and guild members can request an invitation to attend here.
The event will feature a reception with food and drinks. It will begin at 10:00am Pt and run until 2:30pm Pt, including lunch.
“Consider This Live is essential to our growing collection of creator- and artisan-driven live events that include IndieWire Honors and Pass the Remote,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, senior VP and Editor-in-Chief of IndieWire. “We’re proud to celebrate the Paramount+ lineup.”
“We’re thrilled to bring back Consider This Live exclusively with Paramount+,” said IndieWire SVP & Publisher James Israel.
- 5/22/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Chris Besseling, former marketing lead at eOne and Pathé UK, is joining Zygi Kamasa’s True Brit Entertainment as head of theatrical distribution, marketing and publicity.
Besseling is one of the distribution and financing outfit’s first major hires, with True Brit’s speedily expanding slate including Marching Powder, The Scurry, Giant, The Critic and Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma.
He will be based in London and report to Kamasa.
Throughout his career Besseling has been responsible for launching over 200 films at the UK and Ireland box office. He has also held posts at Metrodome, the BFI, Optimum Releasing and consulted for Studiocanal.
Besseling is one of the distribution and financing outfit’s first major hires, with True Brit’s speedily expanding slate including Marching Powder, The Scurry, Giant, The Critic and Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma.
He will be based in London and report to Kamasa.
Throughout his career Besseling has been responsible for launching over 200 films at the UK and Ireland box office. He has also held posts at Metrodome, the BFI, Optimum Releasing and consulted for Studiocanal.
- 4/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
Former eOne and Pathé UK marketing executive Chris Besseling has joined True Brit Entertainment, the UK distribution company run by Zygi Kamasa.
Besseling’s official title at True Brit is Head of Theatrical Distribution, Marketing, and Publicity. He will oversee the full theatrical distribution, marketing, and publicity function for True Brit Entertainment’s slate. He will be based in London and report to True Brit Entertainment CEO Kamasa.
Besseling began his career at the Metrodome, BFI, and Optimum Releasing. Since then, he has been responsible for launching over 200 films at the UK and Irish box office. During his time at eOne and Pathé, he spearheaded the theatrical campaigns for a wide array of titles, including 1917, Suffragette, Green Book, Selma, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves, Wild Rose, The Death of Stalin, The Woman King, Stan & Ollie, Clifford The Big Red Dog, The House With A Clock In Its Walls, Blinded By the Light...
Besseling’s official title at True Brit is Head of Theatrical Distribution, Marketing, and Publicity. He will oversee the full theatrical distribution, marketing, and publicity function for True Brit Entertainment’s slate. He will be based in London and report to True Brit Entertainment CEO Kamasa.
Besseling began his career at the Metrodome, BFI, and Optimum Releasing. Since then, he has been responsible for launching over 200 films at the UK and Irish box office. During his time at eOne and Pathé, he spearheaded the theatrical campaigns for a wide array of titles, including 1917, Suffragette, Green Book, Selma, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves, Wild Rose, The Death of Stalin, The Woman King, Stan & Ollie, Clifford The Big Red Dog, The House With A Clock In Its Walls, Blinded By the Light...
- 4/29/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Academy Award nominee Lakeith Stanfield (The Book of Clarence) is in talks to star in and produce a feature adaptation of the hit neo-noir video game El Paso, Elsewhere, Deadline has learned.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s Di Bonaventura Pictures and Colin Stark will also produce.
The film will center on James Savage (Stanfield), who while recovering from a toxic relationship, confronts both his inner demons and enigmatic ex-girlfriend, Janet, before she executes a world-ending ritual. James navigates her reality-bending universe of ethereal monsters while facing the truth of his own addictions and skewed sense of self-worth, learning that the only route to love is through healing.
Released in September 2023, the game was developed by Strange Scaffold, the development label of BAFTA nominee Xalavier Nelson Jr.
Known for roles in films like Judas and the Black Messiah, The Book of Clarence, Knives Out and Selma, Stanfield has...
Lorenzo di Bonaventura’s Di Bonaventura Pictures and Colin Stark will also produce.
The film will center on James Savage (Stanfield), who while recovering from a toxic relationship, confronts both his inner demons and enigmatic ex-girlfriend, Janet, before she executes a world-ending ritual. James navigates her reality-bending universe of ethereal monsters while facing the truth of his own addictions and skewed sense of self-worth, learning that the only route to love is through healing.
Released in September 2023, the game was developed by Strange Scaffold, the development label of BAFTA nominee Xalavier Nelson Jr.
Known for roles in films like Judas and the Black Messiah, The Book of Clarence, Knives Out and Selma, Stanfield has...
- 4/22/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Dylan Baker is the definition of a consummate actor. For over three decades he has delivered so many incredible performances in series like The Good Wife, Damages, Hunters, films like Happiness, Selma, Spider-Man 2, and his latest, Laroy, Texas, where he plays a professional killer. He talks about his approach toward playing despicable people, some who other actor’s wouldn’t touch. He takes us back to his beginnings, and the acting instruction that changed his work and which he still uses today. He tells a story about how the legendary theater director Nikos Psacharopoulos had a big impact on his early […]
The post “My Best Ability, In Terms of Acting, Is To Know Everything About My Character.” Dylan Baker, Back To One Episode, 287 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “My Best Ability, In Terms of Acting, Is To Know Everything About My Character.” Dylan Baker, Back To One Episode, 287 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 4/16/2024
- by Peter Rinaldi
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Dylan Baker is the definition of a consummate actor. For over three decades he has delivered so many incredible performances in series like The Good Wife, Damages, Hunters, films like Happiness, Selma, Spider-Man 2, and his latest, Laroy, Texas, where he plays a professional killer. He talks about his approach toward playing despicable people, some who other actor’s wouldn’t touch. He takes us back to his beginnings, and the acting instruction that changed his work and which he still uses today. He tells a story about how the legendary theater director Nikos Psacharopoulos had a big impact on his early […]
The post “My Best Ability, In Terms of Acting, Is To Know Everything About My Character.” Dylan Baker, Back To One Episode, 287 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “My Best Ability, In Terms of Acting, Is To Know Everything About My Character.” Dylan Baker, Back To One Episode, 287 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 4/16/2024
- by Peter Rinaldi
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Canadian actor-brothers Shamier Anderson (John Wick 4) and Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk) had their stars unveiled on Scarborough’s Walk of Fame. The men were raised in the marginalized Toronto community by a single mother who emigrated to Canada from Jamaica.
“It’s really humbling and flattering to receive something like this in my hometown, at a mall where I grew up, where I shopped, it’s pretty cool,” Anderson told The Hollywood Reporter.
The local Walk of Fame honor for the fast-rising Hollywood stars is more than an exercise in collective positive thinking for an inner-city neighborhood that earlier brought to the world celebrities like Mike Myers, Jim Carrey and The Weeknd.
The brothers are at work via their Bay Mills Studios production banner — named after the community housing project they grew up in Scarborough — on a landmark TV drama set in the inner-city community that is their home away from Hollywood.
“It’s really humbling and flattering to receive something like this in my hometown, at a mall where I grew up, where I shopped, it’s pretty cool,” Anderson told The Hollywood Reporter.
The local Walk of Fame honor for the fast-rising Hollywood stars is more than an exercise in collective positive thinking for an inner-city neighborhood that earlier brought to the world celebrities like Mike Myers, Jim Carrey and The Weeknd.
The brothers are at work via their Bay Mills Studios production banner — named after the community housing project they grew up in Scarborough — on a landmark TV drama set in the inner-city community that is their home away from Hollywood.
- 4/11/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Avatar actress Cch Pounder and Academy Award-nominated producer Paul Garnes will attend the inaugural Cross Continental International Co-production Forum (Ccf) in Barbados.
They’ll join media executives and high level producers from Canada, the UK, South Africa and several Caribbean countries at the event, which aims to encourage collaboration, business development, and co-productions.
Pounder and Garnes will add some heavyweight fire power to proceedings. Known for roles in the likes of ER, NCIS: New Orleans, The X Files and The Shield, she has picked up four Primetime Emmy nominations.
Garnes is best known for his work on 2014 feature Selma, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. He was a producer on Ava DuVernay’s 2023 feature Origin, a drama on the life of Isabel Wilkerson that will be screened at the Ccf.
The CeventCF is being billed as a first-of-its-kind venture established by CaribbeanTales Media Group, Imagine Media International,...
They’ll join media executives and high level producers from Canada, the UK, South Africa and several Caribbean countries at the event, which aims to encourage collaboration, business development, and co-productions.
Pounder and Garnes will add some heavyweight fire power to proceedings. Known for roles in the likes of ER, NCIS: New Orleans, The X Files and The Shield, she has picked up four Primetime Emmy nominations.
Garnes is best known for his work on 2014 feature Selma, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. He was a producer on Ava DuVernay’s 2023 feature Origin, a drama on the life of Isabel Wilkerson that will be screened at the Ccf.
The CeventCF is being billed as a first-of-its-kind venture established by CaribbeanTales Media Group, Imagine Media International,...
- 4/9/2024
- by Hannah Abraham
- Deadline Film + TV
Here’s How Oprah Winfrey Became A Billionaire. (Photo Credit – Instagram)
People who are television fans are very familiar with the alleged Queen of All Media, Oprah Winfrey. The media mogul is an inspiration for millions of people. She is widely known for The Oprah Winfrey Show. From working at a grocery store to becoming an illustrated media personality, Oprah has built an empire, and today, we have brought you a detailed story of her vast fortune.
Oprah’s early life
She was born Orpah Gail Winfrey in 1954, but people often mispronounced it and called her Oprah. It eventually stuck, and she became Oprah from Orpah. She was born in the Mississippi to Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey, but her parents were never married. Lee was a housemaid, and Oprah spent her first six years in poverty while she was with her maternal grandmother. They were so poor that the...
People who are television fans are very familiar with the alleged Queen of All Media, Oprah Winfrey. The media mogul is an inspiration for millions of people. She is widely known for The Oprah Winfrey Show. From working at a grocery store to becoming an illustrated media personality, Oprah has built an empire, and today, we have brought you a detailed story of her vast fortune.
Oprah’s early life
She was born Orpah Gail Winfrey in 1954, but people often mispronounced it and called her Oprah. It eventually stuck, and she became Oprah from Orpah. She was born in the Mississippi to Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey, but her parents were never married. Lee was a housemaid, and Oprah spent her first six years in poverty while she was with her maternal grandmother. They were so poor that the...
- 3/19/2024
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
If the Academy judged features by the same standards that they do live action shorts, the best picture ballot would be full of starry, quasi-political issue movies: well-meaning but manipulative films like “Father Stu” and “The Janes.” In this category, it’s the message that matters to Oscar voters, which makes this year’s “2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Live Action” program (available exclusively in theaters from ShortsTV) one of the most frustrating lineups in recent memory. Or it would, if not for the presence of one genuinely brilliant, liberatingly unserious nominee among them. That would be “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” the best of several delightful Roald Dahl adaptations director Wes Anderson cooked up for Netflix … but we’ll come to that in due time.
The slate opens with a far inferior Netflix short, “The After,” a risibly manipulative portrait of grief and finding the strength to move...
The slate opens with a far inferior Netflix short, “The After,” a risibly manipulative portrait of grief and finding the strength to move...
- 3/4/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Jonathan Majors first appeared in the MCU as Victor Timely in 2021, and later as Kang the Conqueror in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” in 2023. This movie kicked off Phase 5, starting the Multiverse Saga. However, “Quantumania” didn’t do too well. To make matters worse, right after the movie came out, Majors, who played the new main villain for the upcoming MCU phases, was arrested.
He was accused of hitting someone in the face, causing a cut behind their ear, and grabbing their hand and neck, which supposedly led to a bruised neck and a broken finger. Although Majors’ lawyers said these accusations were false, he was still found guilty and Disney fired him.
Now, there’s a lot of talk about who might replace him, with some saying the character Doom might take over as the main villain, and others suggesting that the “Kang Dynasty” movie might be dropped. The...
He was accused of hitting someone in the face, causing a cut behind their ear, and grabbing their hand and neck, which supposedly led to a bruised neck and a broken finger. Although Majors’ lawyers said these accusations were false, he was still found guilty and Disney fired him.
Now, there’s a lot of talk about who might replace him, with some saying the character Doom might take over as the main villain, and others suggesting that the “Kang Dynasty” movie might be dropped. The...
- 3/4/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Jonathan Majors debuted in the MCU as Victor Timely back in 2021, and then as Kang the Conqueror in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ in 2023 in what was the first movie of Phase 5, also known as the beginning of the Multiverse Saga. ‘Quantumania’ wasn’t exactly successful, adding insult to injury, soon after the release of the blockbuster movie, the actor behind the villain who was supposed to mark the next few phases of the MCU was arrested.
According to the charges, Majors allegedly struck the alleged victim ‘about the face with an open hand, causing substantial pain and a laceration behind her ear.’ He also allegedly grabbed her hand and neck, causing bruising on the neck and a broken finger. And while his lawyers quickly provided evidence that such a thing never took place, the case was far from over, and Majors was eventually found guilty and fired by Disney.
According to the charges, Majors allegedly struck the alleged victim ‘about the face with an open hand, causing substantial pain and a laceration behind her ear.’ He also allegedly grabbed her hand and neck, causing bruising on the neck and a broken finger. And while his lawyers quickly provided evidence that such a thing never took place, the case was far from over, and Majors was eventually found guilty and fired by Disney.
- 3/4/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
DC‘s upcoming Superman movie has just added a new cast member!
The James Gunn-directed film was formerly known as Superman: Legacy, and has already begun production. David Corenswet will play the titular hero aka Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan will portray Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult will play the villainous Lex Luthor.
On Friday (March 1), Wendell Pierce was revealed as the newest actor to join the cast of Superman!
Keep reading to find out more…
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wendell will take on the role of Perry White, who is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet newspaper in the movie.
Laurence Fishburne played the character in 2013′s Man of Steel and 2016′s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Wendell, 60, is best known for portraying Detective William “Bunk” Moreland in The Wire.
The actor has also appeared in Suits, The Odd Couple, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and the 2014 film Selma.
The James Gunn-directed film was formerly known as Superman: Legacy, and has already begun production. David Corenswet will play the titular hero aka Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan will portray Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult will play the villainous Lex Luthor.
On Friday (March 1), Wendell Pierce was revealed as the newest actor to join the cast of Superman!
Keep reading to find out more…
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wendell will take on the role of Perry White, who is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet newspaper in the movie.
Laurence Fishburne played the character in 2013′s Man of Steel and 2016′s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Wendell, 60, is best known for portraying Detective William “Bunk” Moreland in The Wire.
The actor has also appeared in Suits, The Odd Couple, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and the 2014 film Selma.
- 3/1/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
There are some hotly anticipated titles heading to top streaming services this week, and we’ll break down when and where to stream them.
Bit by bit, Hollywood is digging out from under the backlog of productions caused by striking actors and writers last year. Undeniably the WGA and SAG-AFTRA got much-deserved increases in pay and benefits from their decision to walk out in 2023, but the strikes led scripted TV productions to dry up for months, and studios are just getting back into the swing of things.
Fans will see some beloved favorites return to airwaves this week, along with a streaming original Star Wars title and much more. Check out the list below to see The Streamable’s top shows and movies premiering on streaming this week!
Monday, Feb. 19 ‘Becoming King’ Documentary Premiere | Paramount+
David Oyelowo was nominated for a Golden Globe for 2014’s “Selma,” in which he portrayed Dr.
Bit by bit, Hollywood is digging out from under the backlog of productions caused by striking actors and writers last year. Undeniably the WGA and SAG-AFTRA got much-deserved increases in pay and benefits from their decision to walk out in 2023, but the strikes led scripted TV productions to dry up for months, and studios are just getting back into the swing of things.
Fans will see some beloved favorites return to airwaves this week, along with a streaming original Star Wars title and much more. Check out the list below to see The Streamable’s top shows and movies premiering on streaming this week!
Monday, Feb. 19 ‘Becoming King’ Documentary Premiere | Paramount+
David Oyelowo was nominated for a Golden Globe for 2014’s “Selma,” in which he portrayed Dr.
- 2/19/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
How difficult is it to embody a legend in film? David Oyelowo had to answer this question for himself in 2014, when he portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the critically-acclaimed movie “Selma.” Now, Paramount+ is offering a new documentary dedicated to Oyelowo’s journey toward becoming Dr. King in that film, appropriately entitled “Becoming King” and available on Monday, Feb. 19. You can watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus.
How to Watch 'Becoming King' When: Monday, February 19, 2024 Where: Paramount Plus Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus. Get 30 Days Free$5.99+ / month paramountplus.com
For a Limited Time, Get a Month of Paramount+ With Code: HUJQ6R.
About 'Becoming King'
Directed by Jessica Oyelowo, “Becoming King” chronicles a seven-year transformation from actor into civil rights legend. The documentary will feature intimate footage from the film’s production, as well as interviews with Oyelowo’s closest associates and teachers,...
How to Watch 'Becoming King' When: Monday, February 19, 2024 Where: Paramount Plus Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus. Get 30 Days Free$5.99+ / month paramountplus.com
For a Limited Time, Get a Month of Paramount+ With Code: HUJQ6R.
About 'Becoming King'
Directed by Jessica Oyelowo, “Becoming King” chronicles a seven-year transformation from actor into civil rights legend. The documentary will feature intimate footage from the film’s production, as well as interviews with Oyelowo’s closest associates and teachers,...
- 2/19/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Exclusive: What does it take to become Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr? David Oyelowo took on the challenge for Ava DuVernay’s underrated 2014 film Selma. It’s all there in Becoming King, a new documentary coming to Paramount+.
The 1965 march through the segregationist state of Alabama resulted in brutal beatings by local authorities and white vigilante groups as activist marchers crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge en route to the state house in Montgomery. They didn’t get there, that day. Called Bloody Sunday, the nationally televised footage was shocking and shameful, and it left activist and future congressman John Lewis with a fractured skull. Six days later, President Lyndon Johnson had seen enough and gave a nationwide TV address pledging support for a National Voting Rights bill that became law after he introduced it in Congress. It was a milestone moment.
Oyelowo’s long preparation to play Dr. King...
The 1965 march through the segregationist state of Alabama resulted in brutal beatings by local authorities and white vigilante groups as activist marchers crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge en route to the state house in Montgomery. They didn’t get there, that day. Called Bloody Sunday, the nationally televised footage was shocking and shameful, and it left activist and future congressman John Lewis with a fractured skull. Six days later, President Lyndon Johnson had seen enough and gave a nationwide TV address pledging support for a National Voting Rights bill that became law after he introduced it in Congress. It was a milestone moment.
Oyelowo’s long preparation to play Dr. King...
- 2/14/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
While innovations in technology have made it easier than ever to make a movie, it has become harder than ever to receive significant financial backing. Doubly hard when one is a director of an underrepresented background.
Black Americans have been a part of the film industry since the beginning, over a century ago, but one could argue that there were not any Black film directors given enough of a platform to become a household name until the 1990s. Though a diverse set of directors were able to breakthrough from that time through the aughts, the shift in focus toward solely blockbuster filmmaking has left many Black filmmakers out to dry.
In recent years, quite a few Black directors have seen a greater level of support and reverence, from “Get Out” director Jordan Peele to “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins to “Selma” director Ava DuVernay. And every...
Black Americans have been a part of the film industry since the beginning, over a century ago, but one could argue that there were not any Black film directors given enough of a platform to become a household name until the 1990s. Though a diverse set of directors were able to breakthrough from that time through the aughts, the shift in focus toward solely blockbuster filmmaking has left many Black filmmakers out to dry.
In recent years, quite a few Black directors have seen a greater level of support and reverence, from “Get Out” director Jordan Peele to “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins to “Selma” director Ava DuVernay. And every...
- 2/1/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Ava DuVernay has only made five narrative features, but she’s one of the busiest women in Hollywood.
Before 2023, the California-born filmmaker’s last feature was her “A Wrinkle in Time” adaptation, released in theaters in 2018 — a five-year gap between releases that’s partially attributable to projects that sputtered in development like DC’s “New Gods” film and a Prince biopic. And yet, DuVernay has remained a constant presence during that relatively long gap, translating her numerous talents to producing and TV work. She created and directed the acclaimed Netflix miniseries “When They See Us,” about the controversial Central Park Five case. Several other TV projects followed, including OWN’s “Cherish the Day,” Netflix’s “Colin in Black and White,” and The CW’s “Naomi.” But while many of those projects have been terrific, it’s great to see the director of great films like “Middle of Nowhere” and “Selma...
Before 2023, the California-born filmmaker’s last feature was her “A Wrinkle in Time” adaptation, released in theaters in 2018 — a five-year gap between releases that’s partially attributable to projects that sputtered in development like DC’s “New Gods” film and a Prince biopic. And yet, DuVernay has remained a constant presence during that relatively long gap, translating her numerous talents to producing and TV work. She created and directed the acclaimed Netflix miniseries “When They See Us,” about the controversial Central Park Five case. Several other TV projects followed, including OWN’s “Cherish the Day,” Netflix’s “Colin in Black and White,” and The CW’s “Naomi.” But while many of those projects have been terrific, it’s great to see the director of great films like “Middle of Nowhere” and “Selma...
- 1/25/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
This Oscar season, Colman Domingo became the first Afro Latino to receive a Best Actor nomination from the Academy, for his powerhouse performance in “Rustin.” It’s a deserving nod for a performer who has only recently broken through, but already has an incredible resume of performances to his name.
Initially a stage actor, Domingo first gained acting recognition in 2008 for his role in the ensemble of “Passing Strange”; he earned Tony and Olivier nominations for his acclaimed role in the 2010 musical “The Scottsboro Boys.” Despite his onstage success, his attempts to cross over to television and film proved more difficult. In an interview with the New York Times, he spoke about considering quitting acting entirely after facing numerous rejections for bit parts in prestige dramas. But his fortune turned around after a series of successes with minor roles in films, among them “Lincoln,” “42,” and “Selma.” In 2015, he joined...
Initially a stage actor, Domingo first gained acting recognition in 2008 for his role in the ensemble of “Passing Strange”; he earned Tony and Olivier nominations for his acclaimed role in the 2010 musical “The Scottsboro Boys.” Despite his onstage success, his attempts to cross over to television and film proved more difficult. In an interview with the New York Times, he spoke about considering quitting acting entirely after facing numerous rejections for bit parts in prestige dramas. But his fortune turned around after a series of successes with minor roles in films, among them “Lincoln,” “42,” and “Selma.” In 2015, he joined...
- 1/25/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Primetime Emmy nominee Tessa Thompson’s Viva Maude has closed a multiyear first-look film deal with Amazon MGM Studios.
The actress, who has starred in the studio’s movies Creed III and Sylvie’s Love, launched her production company Viva Maude in 2020. The label’s mission is “to influence culture through projects that defy categorization and are manifestly entertaining,” per the press release.
Viva Maude is already in business with Amazon MGM Studios, under its Orion Pictures banner, on Hedda, a reimagination of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play Hedda Gabler, written and directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Thompson. Cameras are currently rolling on the pic.
In 2021, Kishori Rajan, known for her work on Random Acts of Flyness, teamed with Thompson to further expand Viva Maude’s portfolio in production and development, serving as SVP Development & Production. Viva Maude counts a slate of more than 20 movies and TV projects across several genres including narrative,...
The actress, who has starred in the studio’s movies Creed III and Sylvie’s Love, launched her production company Viva Maude in 2020. The label’s mission is “to influence culture through projects that defy categorization and are manifestly entertaining,” per the press release.
Viva Maude is already in business with Amazon MGM Studios, under its Orion Pictures banner, on Hedda, a reimagination of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play Hedda Gabler, written and directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Thompson. Cameras are currently rolling on the pic.
In 2021, Kishori Rajan, known for her work on Random Acts of Flyness, teamed with Thompson to further expand Viva Maude’s portfolio in production and development, serving as SVP Development & Production. Viva Maude counts a slate of more than 20 movies and TV projects across several genres including narrative,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Nearly a dozen actors will now have an Academy Awards section added to their Awards and Nominations page on Wikipedia. Bright and early on Tuesday morning, Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid announced the 2024 Oscars nominations live from Los Angeles. With 20 nominees across four acting categories, some names were past nominees and winners — like Jodie Foster, Emma Stone, and Bradley Cooper. But 10 nominees saw their names announced for the first time in their careers.
Cillian Murphy became a first-time Academy Awards nominee for his performance in the titular role in Christopher Nolan...
Cillian Murphy became a first-time Academy Awards nominee for his performance in the titular role in Christopher Nolan...
- 1/23/2024
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Barbie director Greta Gerwig was notably snubbed in the best director category during the Oscar nominations on Tuesday. But following last year’s omission of any female filmmaker in the category, Anatomy of a Fall’s Justine Triet received a nomination.
Triet, Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) and Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon) were nominated in the coveted category Tuesday morning.
Gerwig is a notable snub, as the Barbie director, throughout the awards season, received various best director nominations (the Directors Guild of America, the Golden Globes, Critics Choice) and wins (Palm Springs International Film Fest). She was also on various pundits’ prediction lists for best director, including from The Hollywood Reporter. Frontrunner Alexander Payne (The Holdovers) was also omitted.
Last year, no woman was nominated for best director. The nominees were Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin), Todd Field...
Triet, Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) and Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon) were nominated in the coveted category Tuesday morning.
Gerwig is a notable snub, as the Barbie director, throughout the awards season, received various best director nominations (the Directors Guild of America, the Golden Globes, Critics Choice) and wins (Palm Springs International Film Fest). She was also on various pundits’ prediction lists for best director, including from The Hollywood Reporter. Frontrunner Alexander Payne (The Holdovers) was also omitted.
Last year, no woman was nominated for best director. The nominees were Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin), Todd Field...
- 1/23/2024
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For Ava DuVernay, whose projects like 13th, Selma, and When They See Us challenge viewers to contend with the gut-wrenching racism that’s colored American history, Origin provides a more global perspective on racial inequality and its foundation within social hierarchies.
“I try to make soul food with my movies, not junk food, not fast food,” DuVernay tells Rolling Stone. “Not stuff that goes in and goes straight up the next day, but stuff that sticks to your ribs.”
Origin, which DuVernay wrote and directed, draws inspiration from Isabel Wilkerson’s best-selling book Caste,...
“I try to make soul food with my movies, not junk food, not fast food,” DuVernay tells Rolling Stone. “Not stuff that goes in and goes straight up the next day, but stuff that sticks to your ribs.”
Origin, which DuVernay wrote and directed, draws inspiration from Isabel Wilkerson’s best-selling book Caste,...
- 1/23/2024
- by Kalia Richardson
- Rollingstone.com
A decade after his breakthrough role as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Ava DuVernay’s Selma, David Oyelowo says he is heartened by the long-overdue shift toward a more culturally diverse marketplace for onscreen storytelling.
As part of NATPE 2024’s official programming, Oyelowo appeared onstage in front of a lively crowd of 150 guests at the InterContinental Miami to discuss his wide-ranging career as an actor, director and producer before receiving The Hollywood Reporter’s “Trailblazer Award” — a commendation given to Hollywood creatives whose work reflects a commitment to amplifying marginalized creators and stories.
“Streaming has really democratized things and the generational impact is seismic,” said Oyelowo, who joins recent THR Trailblazer honorees America Ferrera, Eva Longoria and Niecy Nash-Betts in receiving the award. “I know what marginalization looks like. I know how stories can break down prejudices. I feel it deeply because I’ve experienced it.”
Oyelowo’s star...
As part of NATPE 2024’s official programming, Oyelowo appeared onstage in front of a lively crowd of 150 guests at the InterContinental Miami to discuss his wide-ranging career as an actor, director and producer before receiving The Hollywood Reporter’s “Trailblazer Award” — a commendation given to Hollywood creatives whose work reflects a commitment to amplifying marginalized creators and stories.
“Streaming has really democratized things and the generational impact is seismic,” said Oyelowo, who joins recent THR Trailblazer honorees America Ferrera, Eva Longoria and Niecy Nash-Betts in receiving the award. “I know what marginalization looks like. I know how stories can break down prejudices. I feel it deeply because I’ve experienced it.”
Oyelowo’s star...
- 1/18/2024
- by Stacey Wilson Hunt
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Origin,” the latest film from director Ava DuVernay of “Selma” and featuring Augunue Ellis-Taylor of “King Richard” portraying author Isabel Wilkerson, as she seeks a thesis for a new book. In theaters January 19th.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
“Origin” has Ellis-Taylor as Wilkerson, who is organizing her latest book, which has an idea but not a foundation. She begins her journey by focusing on the word caste, as in the caste system that is best known in India, but really exists internationally. Her theory is that civilization relies on the exploitation of the caste system, having nothing to do with race, to keep wealth concentrated and elusive for most people. In America it is tied to racial bigotry, but in other parts of the world … including India … race doesn’t matter, but creating a permanent underclass controls society for the wealthy.
“Origin” is in theaters January 19th.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
“Origin” has Ellis-Taylor as Wilkerson, who is organizing her latest book, which has an idea but not a foundation. She begins her journey by focusing on the word caste, as in the caste system that is best known in India, but really exists internationally. Her theory is that civilization relies on the exploitation of the caste system, having nothing to do with race, to keep wealth concentrated and elusive for most people. In America it is tied to racial bigotry, but in other parts of the world … including India … race doesn’t matter, but creating a permanent underclass controls society for the wealthy.
“Origin” is in theaters January 19th.
- 1/18/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
After a fantastic MLK Jr. holiday weekend, we’re going into two weekends with either lower-profile releases or no new wide releases at all. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
As far as the new releases this week, we have Ava DuVernay‘s critically acclaimed drama “Origin,” starring Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“King Richard”), which takes a look into the world of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson, and her journey to writing 2020’s best-selling “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.”
Co-starring Jon Bernthal, recent Emmy winners Niecy Nash-Betts and Nick Offerman, plus Finn Wittrock, Vera Farmiga and Audra McDonald, the movie has received strong reviews since it debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last September before getting a platform Oscar-qualifying release in early December. It’s currently at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s an interesting drama that spends equal time covering Wilkerson’s domestic life,...
As far as the new releases this week, we have Ava DuVernay‘s critically acclaimed drama “Origin,” starring Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“King Richard”), which takes a look into the world of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson, and her journey to writing 2020’s best-selling “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.”
Co-starring Jon Bernthal, recent Emmy winners Niecy Nash-Betts and Nick Offerman, plus Finn Wittrock, Vera Farmiga and Audra McDonald, the movie has received strong reviews since it debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last September before getting a platform Oscar-qualifying release in early December. It’s currently at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s an interesting drama that spends equal time covering Wilkerson’s domestic life,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Welcome to the Scene 2 Seen Podcast. I am Valerie Complex, an associate editor and film writer at Deadline.
As schedules go, they could not record together, so we’re having another double episode today, but this time with Origin director Ava DuVernay and the film’s star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
Origin is based on Isabel Wilkerson’s 2020 bestseller Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents and tracks the Pulitzer Prize winner’s creative and personal journey over several continents through grief, revelation and the evils of historical stratification. The film draws parallels between historical and modern-day oppression and persecution across the world. By weaving global threads of cruelty and dehumanization together, it underscores the timeless – and timely – dangers of extremist ideology and leaders who exploit prejudice.
King Richard Oscar nominee Ellis-Taylor plays Wilkerson, and she’ll also be featured in Netflix/Lee Daniels’ film The Deliverance opposite Andra Day and Glenn Close,...
As schedules go, they could not record together, so we’re having another double episode today, but this time with Origin director Ava DuVernay and the film’s star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
Origin is based on Isabel Wilkerson’s 2020 bestseller Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents and tracks the Pulitzer Prize winner’s creative and personal journey over several continents through grief, revelation and the evils of historical stratification. The film draws parallels between historical and modern-day oppression and persecution across the world. By weaving global threads of cruelty and dehumanization together, it underscores the timeless – and timely – dangers of extremist ideology and leaders who exploit prejudice.
King Richard Oscar nominee Ellis-Taylor plays Wilkerson, and she’ll also be featured in Netflix/Lee Daniels’ film The Deliverance opposite Andra Day and Glenn Close,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Ava DuVernay is one of the most fascinating and trailblazing filmmakers in the business.
She’s an Emmy and BAFTA award winner and an Oscar and Golden Globe nominee, whose middle name should be “First.” For 2012’s Middle of Nowhere, she became the first Black woman to win Sundance Film Festival’s best director prize. With 2014’s Selma, the first studio film ever made about Dr. Martin Luther King, she became the first Black woman to direct a film that was nominated for the best director Golden Globe and the first Black woman to direct a film that was nominated for the best picture Oscar. With 2016’s 13th, the first documentary to ever open the New York Film Festival, she became the first Black woman to receive an Oscar nomination as a director in a feature category. With 2018’s A Wrinkle in Time, she became the first Black woman to...
She’s an Emmy and BAFTA award winner and an Oscar and Golden Globe nominee, whose middle name should be “First.” For 2012’s Middle of Nowhere, she became the first Black woman to win Sundance Film Festival’s best director prize. With 2014’s Selma, the first studio film ever made about Dr. Martin Luther King, she became the first Black woman to direct a film that was nominated for the best director Golden Globe and the first Black woman to direct a film that was nominated for the best picture Oscar. With 2016’s 13th, the first documentary to ever open the New York Film Festival, she became the first Black woman to receive an Oscar nomination as a director in a feature category. With 2018’s A Wrinkle in Time, she became the first Black woman to...
- 1/12/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Smac Entertainment has signed Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award-winning musical artist, actor, author, and activist Common for management.
Under the guidance of Constance Schwartz-Morini, April Guidone and Derek Sanderson, the company will work with the multi-hyphenate to seek out strategic brand partnerships and endorsements, non-scripted projects, and brand development for future products and collaborations. Factoring into the artist’s signing with Smac was his alignment with the company in terms of a commitment to creative excellence, authenticity, and social impact and reform.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Common to the Smac family,” said the company’s CEO, Constance Schwartz-Morini. “His commitment to keeping it real and making a difference aligns perfectly with our motivating force at Smac and we believe Common is not just a great fit; he’s a game-changer. We can’t wait to take off on this exciting journey together!”
Recently penning health and wellness book And Then We Rise,...
Under the guidance of Constance Schwartz-Morini, April Guidone and Derek Sanderson, the company will work with the multi-hyphenate to seek out strategic brand partnerships and endorsements, non-scripted projects, and brand development for future products and collaborations. Factoring into the artist’s signing with Smac was his alignment with the company in terms of a commitment to creative excellence, authenticity, and social impact and reform.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Common to the Smac family,” said the company’s CEO, Constance Schwartz-Morini. “His commitment to keeping it real and making a difference aligns perfectly with our motivating force at Smac and we believe Common is not just a great fit; he’s a game-changer. We can’t wait to take off on this exciting journey together!”
Recently penning health and wellness book And Then We Rise,...
- 1/10/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Welcome to a speculative journey into the Marvel Universe with the potential casting of Colman Domingo as Kang. Known for his dynamic performances and captivating presence, Domingo’s addition to this realm of superheroes could bring a fresh and thrilling dimension to one of its most enigmatic characters. Colman Domingo’s acting experience With an illustrious career marked by an Emmy win and multiple Tony nominations, Colman Domingo has demonstrated a remarkable range, from historical figures in ‘Selma’ and ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ to vibrant roles on ‘Euphoria’ and ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. His ability to embody complex characters with finesse...
- 1/9/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
DuVernay is currently in awards contention with biographical drama Origin.
Casting directors organisation Casting Society has named writer-director-producer Ava DuVernay as recipient of its Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement.
The award will be present at the US-based Society’s annual Artios Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on March 7.
DuVernay is currently in awards contention for her biographical drama Origin, about caste systems and how they have shaped America. Her previous films include Selma, documentary 13th, Middle Of Nowhere and A Wrinkle In Time.
Casting Society president Destiny Lilly said: “Ava DuVernay is a visionary storyteller who has staunchly championed...
Casting directors organisation Casting Society has named writer-director-producer Ava DuVernay as recipient of its Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement.
The award will be present at the US-based Society’s annual Artios Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on March 7.
DuVernay is currently in awards contention for her biographical drama Origin, about caste systems and how they have shaped America. Her previous films include Selma, documentary 13th, Middle Of Nowhere and A Wrinkle In Time.
Casting Society president Destiny Lilly said: “Ava DuVernay is a visionary storyteller who has staunchly championed...
- 1/4/2024
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
She’s a writer, producer, director and Oscar-nominated documentarian, and Ava DuVernay soon will be a Casting Society career honoree.
CSA said today that the Array founder will receive its 2024 Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement at the 39th annual Artios Awards gala March 7 in Los Angeles.
“Ava DuVernay is a visionary storyteller who has staunchly championed casting professionals and the art of casting throughout her impactful career,” CSA President said Destiny Lilly said. “Her passion for inclusive and progressive casting throughout her career has catapulted careers and made her a leader in the industry.”
DuVernay’s most recent film is Origin, starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, which premiered at Venice and was nominated for the Golden Lion there. Along with the Oscar-nominated 2016 documentary 13th, her big-screen credits also include Selma, Middle of Nowhere and Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, which made her the highest-grossing Black female director in U.S.
CSA said today that the Array founder will receive its 2024 Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement at the 39th annual Artios Awards gala March 7 in Los Angeles.
“Ava DuVernay is a visionary storyteller who has staunchly championed casting professionals and the art of casting throughout her impactful career,” CSA President said Destiny Lilly said. “Her passion for inclusive and progressive casting throughout her career has catapulted careers and made her a leader in the industry.”
DuVernay’s most recent film is Origin, starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, which premiered at Venice and was nominated for the Golden Lion there. Along with the Oscar-nominated 2016 documentary 13th, her big-screen credits also include Selma, Middle of Nowhere and Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, which made her the highest-grossing Black female director in U.S.
- 1/4/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
British actor Tom Wilkinson, who appeared in films including ‘The Full Monty’, ‘Shakespeare in Love’ and ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’, passed away in the U.K. He died at the age of 75 on Saturday. He won a BAFTA for supporting actor for ‘The Full Monty’, in which he plays an unemployed steel worker who joins a male striptease dance group who decide to strip completely — “go the full Monty” — in order to make money, reports Variety.
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” the statement from his family to the BBC read.
As per Variety, Wilkinson reprised his role as Gerald in ‘The Full Monty’ for the recent Disney+ series which revisited the characters 26 years later.
Wilkinson was Oscar-nominated for his roles in ‘Michael Clayton’, in which he played...
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” the statement from his family to the BBC read.
As per Variety, Wilkinson reprised his role as Gerald in ‘The Full Monty’ for the recent Disney+ series which revisited the characters 26 years later.
Wilkinson was Oscar-nominated for his roles in ‘Michael Clayton’, in which he played...
- 12/31/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Tom Wilkinson, a character actor who was also adept when called upon to play leading parts, has died. The charismatic performer, able to embody both warm, relatable heroes and cunning villains, was 75.
Born in Leeds before moving to Canada and then Cornwall in childhood, Wilkinson knew he was destined to work in entertainment at the age of 18 when he was asked to direct a play.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) before forging a career in theatre, film and TV. In 1986, he got his first major screen role in mini-series First Among Equals, based on politician-turned-author Jeffrey Archer’s best-selling novel.
That kicked off a successful career on screens big and small, with his film resume including the likes of Shakespeare In Love, Batman Begins, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Girl With A Pearl Earring, The Patriot, Selma, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind,...
Born in Leeds before moving to Canada and then Cornwall in childhood, Wilkinson knew he was destined to work in entertainment at the age of 18 when he was asked to direct a play.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) before forging a career in theatre, film and TV. In 1986, he got his first major screen role in mini-series First Among Equals, based on politician-turned-author Jeffrey Archer’s best-selling novel.
That kicked off a successful career on screens big and small, with his film resume including the likes of Shakespeare In Love, Batman Begins, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Girl With A Pearl Earring, The Patriot, Selma, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind,...
- 12/30/2023
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
Tom Wilkinson, the Emmy-winning actor who starred in the 1997 film The Full Monty and reprised his role in the 2023 sequel TV series, has died. He was 75.
Wilkinson passed away on Saturday at his home in the UK, according to the BBC. No cause of death has been reported.
More from TVLineBobby Rivers, TV Personality and Food Network Alum, Dead at 70Tom Smothers, of Smothers Brothers Comedy Duo, Dead at 86Lee Sun-kyun, of Parasite and TV's My Mister and Dr. Brain, Dead at 48
In The Fully Monty, Wilkinson plays an unemployed steel worker, Gerald, who joins a striptease dance group to make money.
Wilkinson passed away on Saturday at his home in the UK, according to the BBC. No cause of death has been reported.
More from TVLineBobby Rivers, TV Personality and Food Network Alum, Dead at 70Tom Smothers, of Smothers Brothers Comedy Duo, Dead at 86Lee Sun-kyun, of Parasite and TV's My Mister and Dr. Brain, Dead at 48
In The Fully Monty, Wilkinson plays an unemployed steel worker, Gerald, who joins a striptease dance group to make money.
- 12/30/2023
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
Wilkinson died “suddenly at home” according to a statement on behalf of his family.
UK actor Tom Wilkinson, who starred in films including The Full Monty, Shakespeare In Love and Batman Begins, has died suddenly at the age of 75.
His death was confirmed in a statement shared by his agent on behalf of his family.
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him. The family asks for privacy at this time,” read the statement.
Wilkinson received two Oscar nominations, for best...
UK actor Tom Wilkinson, who starred in films including The Full Monty, Shakespeare In Love and Batman Begins, has died suddenly at the age of 75.
His death was confirmed in a statement shared by his agent on behalf of his family.
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him. The family asks for privacy at this time,” read the statement.
Wilkinson received two Oscar nominations, for best...
- 12/30/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
We have some very sad news to close out 2023, folks. Tom Wilkinson, one of the finest and most beloved character actors of this (or any other) generation, has died suddenly at 75. Deadline was the first to report the news. The twice Oscar-nominated co-star of Michael Clayton, Batman Begins, In the Bedroom, and many more films last appeared in Disney Plus’s sequel series to his breakout role in The Full Monty.
Between 1998 and 2018, Wilkinson was one of his generation’s most prolific character actors, with his output putting him up there with Brian Cox and Brendan Gleeson. He made over 65 movies and TV series in that twenty-year period, starring in everything from high-profile arthouse fare like Todd Field’s In the Bedroom to his role as Carmine Falcone in Batman Begins. He often played villains, such as in The Lone Ranger, but had the range to take on pretty much any part.
Between 1998 and 2018, Wilkinson was one of his generation’s most prolific character actors, with his output putting him up there with Brian Cox and Brendan Gleeson. He made over 65 movies and TV series in that twenty-year period, starring in everything from high-profile arthouse fare like Todd Field’s In the Bedroom to his role as Carmine Falcone in Batman Begins. He often played villains, such as in The Lone Ranger, but had the range to take on pretty much any part.
- 12/30/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Tom Wilkinson, the British actor who appeared in films including “The Full Monty,” “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” died Saturday in the U.K., the BBC reported. He was 75.
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” the statement from his family to the BBC read.
He won a BAFTA for supporting actor for “The Full Monty,” in which he plays an unemployed steel worker who joins a male striptease dance group who decide to strip completely — “go the full Monty” — in order to make money. Wilkinson reprised his role as Gerald in “The Full Monty” for the recent Disney+ series which revisited the characters 26 years later.
Wilkinson was Oscar-nominated for his roles in “Michael Clayton,” in which he played an attorney who has a manic episode...
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” the statement from his family to the BBC read.
He won a BAFTA for supporting actor for “The Full Monty,” in which he plays an unemployed steel worker who joins a male striptease dance group who decide to strip completely — “go the full Monty” — in order to make money. Wilkinson reprised his role as Gerald in “The Full Monty” for the recent Disney+ series which revisited the characters 26 years later.
Wilkinson was Oscar-nominated for his roles in “Michael Clayton,” in which he played an attorney who has a manic episode...
- 12/30/2023
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
The UK’s leading film critics will present Colman Domingo with the first ever Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation at their upcoming awards ceremony.
Legendary critic and film historian Malcom died in August, aged 91. The award named in his honor will be part of the 44th London Critics’ Circle Awards that take place on February 4, 2024.
Domingo is being recognized for his work as an actor, producer, writer, and director in a career that spans film, television and theater.
He won an Emmy for his role in Euphoria and received a Tony nom as a producer of Fat Ham, a retelling of Hamlet. In film, his recent credits include The Color Purple and Rustin and other work includes appearances in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk, Lee Daniels’ The Butler and Ava DuVernay’s Selma.
“It’s an honor to receive the inaugural Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation and to...
Legendary critic and film historian Malcom died in August, aged 91. The award named in his honor will be part of the 44th London Critics’ Circle Awards that take place on February 4, 2024.
Domingo is being recognized for his work as an actor, producer, writer, and director in a career that spans film, television and theater.
He won an Emmy for his role in Euphoria and received a Tony nom as a producer of Fat Ham, a retelling of Hamlet. In film, his recent credits include The Color Purple and Rustin and other work includes appearances in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk, Lee Daniels’ The Butler and Ava DuVernay’s Selma.
“It’s an honor to receive the inaugural Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation and to...
- 12/21/2023
- by Stewart Clarke
- Deadline Film + TV
Colman Domingo will receive the London Film Critics’ Circle’s inaugural Innovation Award.
Domingo has been recognized for his work as an actor, producer, writer and director in film, television and theater. He won an Emmy for his role in “Euphoria.” He starred in Broadway musical “The Scottsboro Boys” (2011) for which he received a Tony nomination, and an Olivier nomination when the production transferred to London’s West End in 2014. He is a producer on “Fat Ham,” a retelling of “Hamlet,” which was nominated for five Tonys.
This year, he played Mister in film “The Color Purple” and civil-rights activist Bayard Rustin in Netflix’s “Rustin,” for which he has been nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award. Domingo’s film credits also include Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” and Ava DuVernay’s “Selma.” He was nominated for an Independent Spirit and...
Domingo has been recognized for his work as an actor, producer, writer and director in film, television and theater. He won an Emmy for his role in “Euphoria.” He starred in Broadway musical “The Scottsboro Boys” (2011) for which he received a Tony nomination, and an Olivier nomination when the production transferred to London’s West End in 2014. He is a producer on “Fat Ham,” a retelling of “Hamlet,” which was nominated for five Tonys.
This year, he played Mister in film “The Color Purple” and civil-rights activist Bayard Rustin in Netflix’s “Rustin,” for which he has been nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award. Domingo’s film credits also include Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” and Ava DuVernay’s “Selma.” He was nominated for an Independent Spirit and...
- 12/21/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: This story contains major spoilers for “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” all eight episodes of which are now streaming on Paramount+.
When David Oyelowo first learned about the legend of Bass Reeves — who escaped enslavement to become one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi — nearly a decade ago, the actor-producer set out on a mission to bring the story to the masses.
Oyelowo’s goal was the same as the one he’d set when playing Martin Luther King Jr. in 2014’s “Selma”: Who is the man behind the myth?
Over the course of eight episodes, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” aims to answer that question, filling in the gaps in the historical record about Reeves’ life and career.
“You realize he wasn’t just some saint, or some savior, or someone unattainable in terms of what and who he was,” Oyelowo, who was nominated...
When David Oyelowo first learned about the legend of Bass Reeves — who escaped enslavement to become one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi — nearly a decade ago, the actor-producer set out on a mission to bring the story to the masses.
Oyelowo’s goal was the same as the one he’d set when playing Martin Luther King Jr. in 2014’s “Selma”: Who is the man behind the myth?
Over the course of eight episodes, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” aims to answer that question, filling in the gaps in the historical record about Reeves’ life and career.
“You realize he wasn’t just some saint, or some savior, or someone unattainable in terms of what and who he was,” Oyelowo, who was nominated...
- 12/20/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: As they should, the Black List will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with some of Hollywood’s most acclaimed artists and a cinema institution next year.
Leaning into to two decades of shining a spotlight on Tinseltown’s most liked unproduced screenplays, the Franklin Leonard-founded Black List has teamed up with American Cinematheque for a screening series to kick off next month. Going into the Black List crates, a heavy hitting double bill of Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Promising Young Woman and Ava DuVernay’s January 19 released Origin and her 2014 picture Selma are the first films in the series.
Fennell and DuVernay’s films will be screening on January 12 and January 15 respectively, Deadline has learned.
With all the screenings in the 20th anniversary series drawing from past Black List participants and projects, the first films are set to be shown at Santa Monica’s Aero Theater with...
Leaning into to two decades of shining a spotlight on Tinseltown’s most liked unproduced screenplays, the Franklin Leonard-founded Black List has teamed up with American Cinematheque for a screening series to kick off next month. Going into the Black List crates, a heavy hitting double bill of Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Promising Young Woman and Ava DuVernay’s January 19 released Origin and her 2014 picture Selma are the first films in the series.
Fennell and DuVernay’s films will be screening on January 12 and January 15 respectively, Deadline has learned.
With all the screenings in the 20th anniversary series drawing from past Black List participants and projects, the first films are set to be shown at Santa Monica’s Aero Theater with...
- 12/19/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Ava DuVernay returns with “Origin,” a sprawling drama that critics have hailed as the director’s most ambitious and accomplished movie. Those reviews have yet to turn the film into an awards season juggernaut — it was shut out of the Globes, AFI and other early awards — but admirers of “Origin” hope that it will eventually find its footing with Oscars voters. Neon, the indie label behind “Parasite” and “I, Tonya,” is releasing the film in theaters on Jan. 19. It had a small qualifying run last weekend.
“Origin” is an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s acclaimed best-seller “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” It follows the author as she endures personal grief while investigating the global phenomenon of caste and the way it warps societies and sows division and hatred. The trailer gives a hint at the way the film ties together these different strands, showing scenes of a Nazi rally...
“Origin” is an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s acclaimed best-seller “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” It follows the author as she endures personal grief while investigating the global phenomenon of caste and the way it warps societies and sows division and hatred. The trailer gives a hint at the way the film ties together these different strands, showing scenes of a Nazi rally...
- 12/15/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Ava DuVernay’s “Origin” is a masterpiece, but so far, the sprawling look at the roots of hate has failed to land some of the major film prizes.
After watching the movie at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, I thought I’d seen a prime Oscar best picture contender, and that DuVernay might get her first directing nomination. Factor in Neon, the film’s distributor and the studio behind “Parasite’s” Oscar-dominating run, and “Origin” seemed poised to be an awards season force.
But I’m beginning to wonder. Early industry awards groups, such as AFI, New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, have all but overlooked “Origin.” It was left off AFI’s list of the 10 best films, and both Critics Choice and Golden Globes passed it over. So what’s going on here?
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
After watching the movie at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, I thought I’d seen a prime Oscar best picture contender, and that DuVernay might get her first directing nomination. Factor in Neon, the film’s distributor and the studio behind “Parasite’s” Oscar-dominating run, and “Origin” seemed poised to be an awards season force.
But I’m beginning to wonder. Early industry awards groups, such as AFI, New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, have all but overlooked “Origin.” It was left off AFI’s list of the 10 best films, and both Critics Choice and Golden Globes passed it over. So what’s going on here?
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
- 12/13/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
British actor David Oyelowo is drawn to portraying impactful characters, especially Black historical figures throughout the diaspora. He first gained recognition for playing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 film Selma. He then played King Seretse Khama of Botswana in 2016’s A United Kingdom, and now he takes on title role of Lawmen: Bass Reeves, the legendary figure believed to be the inspiration for the Lone Ranger.
It earned him a Golden Globe nomination today for Best Actor in a Limited Series Made for Television in the Paramount+ drama.
As one of the first Black U.S. deputy marshals west of the Mississippi, Reeves is said to have captured over 3,000 outlaws with expert marksmanship and detective skills. Oyelowo called the pioneering lawman a “quintessentially American hero” and said he felt “honored” to portray Black historical figures who fought adversity with tenacity and moral courage across different periods and places,...
It earned him a Golden Globe nomination today for Best Actor in a Limited Series Made for Television in the Paramount+ drama.
As one of the first Black U.S. deputy marshals west of the Mississippi, Reeves is said to have captured over 3,000 outlaws with expert marksmanship and detective skills. Oyelowo called the pioneering lawman a “quintessentially American hero” and said he felt “honored” to portray Black historical figures who fought adversity with tenacity and moral courage across different periods and places,...
- 12/11/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Greta Gerwig (courtesy Warner Bros.), Bradley Cooper (courtesy Netflix), Christopher Nolan (courtesy Universal Pictures), Martin Scorsese (courtesy Apple TV+)Graphic: The A.V. Club
Our preview of this year’s awards season has already touched on the contenders for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Now it’s time to...
Our preview of this year’s awards season has already touched on the contenders for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Now it’s time to...
- 12/4/2023
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
On Friday night, Oprah Winfrey hosted a swanky celebration for “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” executive producer and star David Oyelowo at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood.
Photographers lined the driveway of the iconic hotel while a who’s who of Hollywood — including Gayle King, Lupita Nyong’o, Niecy Nash-Betts and the cast of the hit Paramount+ series — posed in front of a black and gold backdrop. Inside the luxurious venue, even more stars — like Macro chief Charles D. King, Yvonne Orji, O-t Fagbenle, Anna Diop, Edwina Findley, Mykelti Williamson, Mo McRae, Eugene Ashe, Deon and Roxanne Taylor — mixed and mingled as the party took over the whole of the bar and pool area on a windy, yet starry night in Los Angeles. The affair felt more like a family reunion than an industry function, with Oyelowo joined by his wife (and Yoruba Saxon producing partner) Jessica Oyelowo and their children Asher,...
Photographers lined the driveway of the iconic hotel while a who’s who of Hollywood — including Gayle King, Lupita Nyong’o, Niecy Nash-Betts and the cast of the hit Paramount+ series — posed in front of a black and gold backdrop. Inside the luxurious venue, even more stars — like Macro chief Charles D. King, Yvonne Orji, O-t Fagbenle, Anna Diop, Edwina Findley, Mykelti Williamson, Mo McRae, Eugene Ashe, Deon and Roxanne Taylor — mixed and mingled as the party took over the whole of the bar and pool area on a windy, yet starry night in Los Angeles. The affair felt more like a family reunion than an industry function, with Oyelowo joined by his wife (and Yoruba Saxon producing partner) Jessica Oyelowo and their children Asher,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The personal and the political are deeply intertwined in Ava DuVernay’s Origin. The writer-director and Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson, adapting the latter’s 2020 nonfiction book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, both dramatize the historical calamities that Wilkerson used to boost her central thesis and tell the story of the book’s genesis and the personal tragedies that challenged and inspired the author. In doing so, DuVernay attempts to combine the empirical approach of her damning documentary on the prison industrial complex, 13th, with the tender intimacy of her 2014 biopic Selma. In spanning continents and centuries, and taking on various modes of address, Origin is equal parts unwieldy and ambitious.
Origin starts off with a harrowing reenactment of the murder of Trayvon Martin (Myles Frost) at the hands of George Zimmerman. It’s a ubiquitous tragedy, making it seem a bit too obvious as a starting point for the film.
Origin starts off with a harrowing reenactment of the murder of Trayvon Martin (Myles Frost) at the hands of George Zimmerman. It’s a ubiquitous tragedy, making it seem a bit too obvious as a starting point for the film.
- 12/3/2023
- by Derek Smith
- Slant Magazine
Andrea Scarso, a well-established entertainment financier who previously worked at Ingenious Media, has joined the fund management company Ipr.Vc.
Ipr.Vc has just raised nearly €100 million ($109 million) in its third funding round and will be investing further in content under the leadership of Scarso, who is joining the banner as partner and investment director.
The company, launched in 2015 and based in Finland, has so far raised €150 million from a broad range of investors. Half of the funds have already been allocated to 35 film and TV productions in Europe and the U.S.
Ipr.Vc initially focused its investment on Nordic scripted projects, including the Netflix hit series “Bordertown,” and went on to establish strategic partnerships with U.S. and international banners such as A24, XYZ Films and the animation studio Gigglebug.
Based in the company’s London office, Scarso has a long experience in media and entertainment financing, including the sourcing and evaluating of projects,...
Ipr.Vc has just raised nearly €100 million ($109 million) in its third funding round and will be investing further in content under the leadership of Scarso, who is joining the banner as partner and investment director.
The company, launched in 2015 and based in Finland, has so far raised €150 million from a broad range of investors. Half of the funds have already been allocated to 35 film and TV productions in Europe and the U.S.
Ipr.Vc initially focused its investment on Nordic scripted projects, including the Netflix hit series “Bordertown,” and went on to establish strategic partnerships with U.S. and international banners such as A24, XYZ Films and the animation studio Gigglebug.
Based in the company’s London office, Scarso has a long experience in media and entertainment financing, including the sourcing and evaluating of projects,...
- 11/24/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
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