News

Production is under way in Australia’s Victoria state on War Machine, a new sci-fi action thriller film from Lionsgate and Netflix.

Produced, directed, and co-written by Patrick Hughes, “War Machine” follows the final 24-hours of the world’s toughest selection program, as a team of Army Rangers encounter a threat beyond their imagination.

“Reacher” star Alan Ritchson heads a cast that also includes Dennis Quaid, Stephan James (“The Piano Lesson”), Jai Courtney (“The Suicide Squad”) and Esai Morales (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”) as well as Australian actors Blake Richardson (“Mystery Road: Origin”), Keiynan Lonsdale (“The Flash”) and Daniel Webber (“The Dirt”) also have credits.

Ritchson plays the lead Ranger candidate with James, Courtney, Richardson, Lonsdale and Webber playing other aspirants who themselves in way over their heads. Quaid and Morales will play commanding officers.

Filming will take place around Bright and Myrtleford as well as Melbourne and Docklands Studios,...

Halloween may still be months away, but that hasn't stopped us getting in the spooky spirit on the latest episode of the Pilot TV podcast. Yes, this week's show sees James, Kay, and Boyd getting stuck into an undead double bill of vampires and zombies with a suitably morbid side order of people hurling themselves to a watery doom. Fun! More specifically, the pod squad (as nobody is calling them) tackle the second season of deliciously queer Anne Rice adaptation Interview With The Vampire on BBC2, series two of The Walking Dead spin-off Daryl Dixon on Sky Max, and Thomasin McKenzie starring Aussie dark comedy Totally Completely Fine on Itvx.

Elsewhere, the gang catch up on what they've been watching this week, namely Netflix historical rom-com The Decameron, Australian crime drama High Country (available on BBC iPlayer), Apple TV+ legal thriller Presumed Innocent, and... er... Fox news, apparently. Then, Kay...

Viaplay Results: Focus On Core Ops Working Slowly

Viaplay’s focus on doing what it does best willed out in its latest quarterly results, with total turnover down slightly but turnover in core operations increasing by a similar margin. Since the exit of former CEO Anders Jensen amidst financial turmoil last year, the Scandi outfit has been focused on making far less original content and supercharging sports rights. Today, Q2 turnover was shown to have declined a smidgeon to SEK4.49B ($424M), while core turnover rose by a similar amount to SEK4.29B. In further signs of green shoots a year on from Jensen’s departure, operating income, while still in the red, was only minus SEK70M, compared to minus SEK273M in Q2 2023. Jensen’s replacement as CEO, Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, said “our focused focused work to retransform Viaplay Group is progressing, with substantial changes being made across the business,...

The BBC has added the Australian mystery thriller High Country to its lineup. This eight-part series, inspired by true events, centres on Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford and her gripping investigation in the Victorian High Country. Created by Wentworth writer Marcia Gardner, High Country stars Leah Purcell, Ian McElhinney, Sara Wiseman, and Aaron Pedersen. The story […]

Australian Mystery Thriller “High Country” Acquired by BBC...

Kalki Trailer

The first trailer has been unveiled for “Kalki 2898 Ad,” the Indian sci-fi epic starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani. The film, which is directed by Nag Ashwin and backed by Vyjayanthi Movies, was teased at the San Diego Comic-Con last year. While a budget for the film has not been revealed, Variety understands that it is in the region of $72 million, which will make it one of the most expensive Indian films of all time.

In Hindu mythology, Kalki is the 10th and final incarnation of the god Vishnu who appears in order to end the Kali Yuga, the darkest period in mankind’s history.

The film is due a worldwide theatrical release on June 27 in the Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and English languages.

Thai Tearjerker

Thai film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” earned S$1.16 million during its second...

Lada Guruden Singh Steps Down From Sony Pictures India Role

Lada Guruden Singh has stepped down from his role as General Manager, Sony Pictures International Productions (Spip), India, where he oversaw local production, and has entered a producing deal with the studio. At Spip India, Singh has been instrumental in acquiring and developing superhero IP Shaktimaan while other projects included the remake of Spanish hit Campenoes and Chetan Bhagat’s One Indian Girl. Singh also expanded Sony Pictures’ footprint in Telugu with breakout hit Major and spearheaded the studio’s debut in Tamil with Amaran which is due for release later this year. Said Singh: “I am grateful to Sony for its belief and support as I chart a new producer path, beginning with the films I set up at studio itself… My producing role will allow me to chase clutter breaking IPs and produce larger than life theatricals that cut across languages,...

Exclusive: Alison Hurbert-Burns, content chief at Colin From Accounts streamer Binge, has told Deadline “the proof is in the pudding” as the platform’s Australian pay-tv parent Foxtel unveiled its 2024 slate today.

In an exclusive interview ahead of the slate reveal, Binge Executive Director Hurbert-Burns talked up the reach of the streaming platform and Foxtel, which is Australia’s leading pay service.

“I’m a believer in the proof being in the pudding and the good content finding its way through,” she said. “The differentiator for us is we don’t do anything unless it’s exceptional, and we have nearly 30 years of proving that ambition.”

Foxtel launched in 1995 and has been in its current form, with News Corp as majority owner, since 2018. Binge launched during the pandemic in May 2020 and has quickly established itself as a major player in original content in Australia. The CBS Studios and Easy Tiger...