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This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network: physical media lives, 70s sci-fi dies, a Doctor regenerates and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

The Collectors Commentary

The first episode of a brand new show about physical media collecting sees Ian Buckley and Mark McManus discuss their own personal favourite purchases…

Podmetheus

Having tackled Alien itself, Aj Black zooms out with the help of critic Darren Mooney to explore the journey toward it, from pulp 50s sci-fi to the dystopian 1970s…

Podcast-616

The man without fear fights on this week as Hugh McStay discusses Daredevil: Born Again 1×03 with guests Craig McKenzie and Dan Owen…

Writers on Film

Female directors have long not been championed enough, so John Bleasdale helps the cause by having Marya E Gates join him to discuss her book on the subject…

Illumination Above All

Cold Harbor looms in sight as all of the...

Gossip Girl star Blake Lively is one of the stars who has been the topic of discussion ever since she dropped the lawsuit against her co-star Justin Baldoni and his production company in December 2024. Of course, Baldoni, who not only co-starred opposite Lively but also served as the director of the movie It Ends With Us, was not going to sit back and accept the allegations. He has since then filed a lawsuit against the New York Times, Blake Lively, and her husband Ryan Reynolds.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in It Ends With Us | Credits: Sony Pictures

The actress, who is going to be seen in the sequel of A Simple Favor along with Anna Kendrick, has the full support of her husband. They recently stepped out in the public eye to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Saturday Night Live. Baldoni and Lively’s trial will begin in May 2026, but ahead of that,...

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network: American idols, almost birthday girls, Oscar hopefuls and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Podcast-616

Suit up as the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off perhaps its most important year since the endgame, with Hugh McStay and Robert Clark teaming up to look at Captain America: Brave New World…

Modern Horror

Listen to the episode talking Longlegs nowwwww, with Aj Black, Hugh McStaaaaay and Dan Owen, and it’ll be nice, but if you don’t listen nowwwww, then we’ll have to make more episodes, not onnnnce, not twiiiiiiice, but as many times as we liiiiiiiike!

Academy Watch

You can practically smell the Oscars coming off Bo Nicholson’s podcast as this week, he chats The Brutalist with Ian Buckley, The Wild Robot with Craig McKenzie and Dune Part Two with Sam Stokes, but what are their chances?

Writers...

Good afternoon Insiders, welcome welcome, Max Goldbart here. Big news this week with the shaken-not-stirred revelation that was the Amazon-Broccoli deal. We’ve all that and more below. Sign up here.

Bond Shocker!

The name’s Bezos… Jeff Bezos: Much like a Bond mission, the 007 news was kept top secret. Until yesterday, when a thunderbolt was unleashed through the industry via the news that longtime James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are relinquishing control of their beloved spy franchise and handing the reins to Amazon MGM Studios. Chatter about strains in the relationship between Broccoli-Wilson and Jeff Bezos’ behemoth had long been in the ether and only a few weeks ago the Wall Street Journal published a deep-dive titled ‘James Bond Outdueled Goldfinger and Dr. No. Can He Win a Battle With Amazon?’, which publicized these difficulties. But this week’s mega-deal, which our U.

Love is in the air this week on the Film Stories Podcast Network: star cross’d lovers, bloody marriages, fine young cannibals and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

No Book Club

After almost two years following a damp squib of a second season, Yellowjackets returns as does our weekly recap coverage, spearheaded by Aj Black, Kurt North and Matt Latham, who chat 3×01 ‘It Girl’, and 3×02 ‘Dislocation’…

Reel Talk

No, The Brutalist doesn’t have that title because of its length, as Sam Stokes explores with awards enthusiast Bo Nicholson…

Podmetheus

In space, no one can hear you podcast. The Fs network launches a podcast dedicated to the Alien franchise, as Aj Black is joined by Mark McManus to establish the show, and Fs’s own Ryan Lambie to dig into 1979’s Alien…

At the Movies in the 90s

Off to fair Verona this week as star...

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network: mystery box TV, kaiju monsters, new waves and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Illumination Above All

The most anticipated mystery box show on television is back and so is our weekly coverage of it, as hosts Ian Buckley and Sarah Applegate head back to the severed floor to unpack Severance 2×01, ‘Hello, Ms Cobel’, plus don’t miss their final overall Season 2 preview released this week…

Japan on Film

One of the most celebrated Japanese films in recent years, host Perry Constantine and guest Jason Kleeberg explore 2023’s Godzilla Minus One…

Frame to Frame

In one of their most anticipated episodes of the year, Andy Williams and Sean Wilson, joined by guest Bo Nicholson, come together for the second ‘spicy takes’ annual episode, as they unpack their own and listener surprising views on all things cinema. Plus, don’t...

Warning! Spoilers about The Rig season 2, episode 6 ahead.

The Kinloch Bravo crew had to face unknown foes throughout The Rig seasons 1 and 2, but the surprising revelation of the Ancestor to the world can make things exponentially more dangerous given the enemy it puts on their path. The Ancestor itself was long viewed an enemy by most in The Rig season 1, with only Rose considering it as something to study rather than fear. While those infected by it acted rashly, effectively imperiling all The Rig characters part of Kinloch Bravo crew, a bigger foe presented itself the moment Coake boarded the Kinloch Bravo in season 1.

Related Rose's Vision About The Ancestor & Its True Nature In The Rig Season 2 Explained

The Ancestor's actions weren't easy to understand in both seasons of The Rig, but season 2 finally revealed the truth about its nature and purpose.

Coake’s actions precipitated the situation once he tricked Hutton,...

Good afternoon Insiders. The first international newsletter of the year is delivered in sad circumstances following the devastating wildfires ripping through L.A., impacting friends, colleagues and the industry. Max Goldbart here with more on that below plus the rest of the week’s news. Sign up here.

L.A. Wildfires

Apocalyptic scenes: The scenes in LA over the past few days conjure images straight out of a Hollywood movie. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires sweeping across the state. They’ve impacted many of our brave West Coast colleagues, who have nonetheless been working around the clock to keep the industry updated with the latest info. This is an incredibly fast-moving story but as Insider goes to press we are into day three of the fires. They continue to rage in four areas, hundreds of thousands of people been displaced and the...

Warning! Spoilers about The Rig season 2, episode 6 ahead.

The Ancestor’s workings throughout The Rig seasons 1 and 2 weren’t clear, causing as much death as it did thriving life, but Rose’s resurrection in The Rig season 2 finally explained how its power worked. The Rig’s beginning presented the Ancestor as something to fear, as everything it brought forth was inexplicable to the Kinloch Bravo crew, even causing some deaths on the oil rig. From The Rig’s fog to the raining ash, the Ancestor permanently detached them from the shore. The Ancestor’s behavior started making sense only when Coake’s plan became clearer, showing the entity tried to defend itself.

Related The Rig Cast & Character Guide

Prime Video's The Rig is filled with talented actors who bring its supernatural story to life, and many of them have worked together in the past.

While the Ancestor caused its fair...

One of the hallmarks of the fantasy genre is setting the story in a school for magic. While many popular books use this backdrop, like Harry Potter, this is far from the only narrative that touches upon what an academy of magic and mysticism might look like. Depending on the target audience, adult or young adult, these books can look very different, with some authors willing to discuss the dark and violent parts of these stories. Whether they're set in another universe or a fictionalized version of the real world, all these schools are beyond the readers' wildest dreams.

Many of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2025 are delving into the dark academia genre, as this has quickly become one of the most popular niches within literature. Schools are a great setting for any story, not just fantasy. This is because they're a microcosm of the larger world. Issues of class,...

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, festive Doctor Who, new Lord of the Rings and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Reel Talk / One Rules Them All

In an epic crossover fit enough to forge a ring, Sam Stokes brings his Reel Talk podcast together with Baz Greenland and Luke Winch’s One Rules Them All to discuss new animated Lotr film, The War of the Rohirrim…

The Tardis Crew

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Doctor Who and this year, Steven Moffat is on writing duties with 'Joy to the World’, dissected by Baz and Ben Greenland…

Writers on Film

A surfeit of episodes from John Bleasdale have arrived in recent weeks, including part two of a conversation with Terrence Malick’s cinematographer Jack Fisk, and this end of 2024 summation alongside a re-aired favourite, Walter Chaw on Walter Hill…

MovieVersaries

In a network tradition,...

Amazon Prime’s supernatural survival thriller, The Rig has returned with its second season and has massively changed up the equation between the surviving crew and the seemingly omnipotent primeval microorganism—the Ancestor—by the end. In the first season finale, the survivors of Kinloch Bravo found themselves to be back at square one as they end up heading towards another rig, as Pictor Energy, the company whose greedy resource exploitation tactics are responsible for awakening the Ancestor, seems to have major plans to evade accountability for their actions and counter the microorganism. The first season ended with Baz sacrificing himself while attempting to communicate with the Ancestor and convince it of humanity’s willingness to change, and a series of mining explosions and rampant oil extraction by Pictor causing a mega tsunami that wipes the coastal areas of the North Sea off the map. Now with the future of the world at stake,...

Created by David Macpherson, ‘The Rig’ (Season 1) is a supernatural thriller series streaming on Prime Video. It follows the crew workers of a Scottish oil rig who witness a mysterious phenomenon that takes them through a horrifying struggle for survival. While it can be termed as an aquatic horror narrative, the writing also delves into the aspects of environmentalism and workers’ rights while building intrigue about the unknown. With a confounding blend of varying moral, political and ethical belief systems, it develops a drama that is stimulating and riveting.

The Rig (Season 1) Recap: Why is Kinloch Bravo surrounded by a mysterious fog?

On an oil rig stationed off the Scottish coast named Kinloch Bravo, the crew is waiting to return to their homes. Magnus (Iain Glen from Game of Thrones), who leads the crew, has been told to keep the news of the future layoffs away from them. Upon knowing about it,...

Although Amazon Prime Video’s supernatural thriller series, The Rig, does not have the shiniest visuals or the highest production value, its premise is undoubtedly unique and gripping. Set aboard a Scottish oil rig in a remote part of the North Sea, the series follows the crew members as they react to a bizarre situation in which an inexplicable fog strands them from the rest of the world, and unnatural tremors are felt in the sea. With season 2 of The Rig coming on 2nd January, 2025, let’s take a look at the mysteries of season 1 and see what can be expected from the follow-up.

Spoiler Alert

What is the series about?

The Rig begins on a usual day of work at the Kinloch Bravo oil rig site in the middle of the North Sea, as the crew members gather for a meeting in the common area. Most of the crew...

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, our array of film and TV chats are Christmas themed appropriately talking a brace of John McClane, festive Muppets and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

At the Movies in the 90s

Welcome to the (Christmas) party, pal! A. J. Black and new guest Mark McManus get into all things Die Hard 2 for this festive episode, which comes with an important announcement to boot…

Britcom Goes to the Movies

In the festive finale of the podcast’s third season, hosts Rob Heath and Guy Walker, with guest comedian Rob Gilroy, tackle 2014’s Christmas family comedy Get Santa…

CineMortuary

Wherever you find podcasts, it feels like Christmas! To bedlam with the premise of the show, instead Rob Yeomans, Dave Walker and Chris Wilson throw off the ghostly shackles of horror and enjoy the best Christmas film of all time...

Natalie Portman was almost chosen for Juliet’s role in Romeo + Juliet? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

In 1996, Natalie Portman was set to play Juliet in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, but there was one problem: Leo was 21. That age gap made the studio and director say, “Nah, not gonna fly.”

In an interview with HelloGiggles, Natalie alluded, “It was a complicated situation. At the time I was 13 and Leonardo was 21 and it wasn’t appropriate in the eyes of the film company or the director, Baz. It was kind of a mutual decision too that it just wasn’t going to be right at the time.” Translation: Too creepy for comfort.

So, Natalie got the boot. But did she let that stop her? Nah. She bounced back faster than a Hollywood plot twist. In 1996, she appeared in Beautiful Girls, Everyone Says I Love You, and Mars Attacks!

Trending Mufasa...

The TNT drama Animal Kingdom followed the Codys, a criminal family governed by ruthless matriarch Smurf (Ellen Barkin) and comprised of her grandson and four sons. With a specialty in robberies, the Codys were infamous in Oceanside, California, and attracted the attention of law enforcement. To keep the family out of prison, Smurf encouraged the boys to put family above all else. However, her strict code ensured that anyone who threatened them must be dealt with by whatever means necessary.

The Codys' unconventional lifestyle wasn't short on drama and violence. Unfortunately, many of the people who crossed their paths got sucked into that drama and had to pay a price, one way or another. Following Animal Kingdom's conclusion in August 2022, these are nine characters who met tragic fates because of the Codys.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on December 16, 2024: Animal Kingdom may be over, but fans are still reeling...

Nicole Kidman has revealed that she was nervous to accept one of her most important roles. Kidman is a celebrated actor who first got her start in Australian projects including the cult movie BMX Bandits and the maritime thriller Dead Calm. She began to rise to fame in the 1990s, taking on projects such as Far And Away, Batman Forever, and To Die For. Over the course of her career, she has now earned five Oscar nominations with one win, 17 Golden Globe nominations with six wins, three Emmy nominations with two wins, and five BAFTA nominations with one win.

More contemporary Nicole Kidman movies have seen her taking on a variety of unique roles, including playing a villain in Paddington, having Zac Efron as a love interest in both The Paperboy and A Family Affair, joining a massive superhero franchise as Queen Atlanna in Aquaman and its sequel, and more.

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, our array of film and TV chats cover Ancient Rome, slasher movies and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Reel Talk

Strength and honor all the way this week as Sam Stokes and guest Ian Buckley discuss Ridley Scott’s epic sequel Gladiator II. Are you not entertained?!

Britcom Goes to the Movies

Check it! Bo, join me main men Rob ‘Eaf and Guy Walka to chat all about Ali G: Indahouse, starring bredwin Sacha Baron Cohen, from 2003. Westside!

Modern Horror Podcast

The modern slasher is hacked about with this week as A. J. Black and Hugh McStay cover Chris Nash’s stripped back, artful 2024 bloodbath, In a Violent Nature…

Writers on Film

Don’t forget John Bleasdale’s discussion with Terrence Malick’s production designer Jack Fisk on ‘The Malick Hours’ series, but he also talks to recurring...

Each week, we handpick a selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry. This week, Paul vs. Tyson leads to a lawsuit, Bitcoin losses lead to a hospitalization, and the Costco Guys lead us into the holiday season.

Creator commotion

Did Keith Lee find something wriggling in his sushi? When the TikTok food reviewer visited Fob Sushi in Seattle, some viewers claimed to notice something moving in his sashimi. Though the restaurant initially chalked up the incident to “elasticity” in the fish, it did temporarily close down to protect the health of its customers. Lee didn’t offer a strong opinion on the rumors, but the ripple effects of his visit are a reminder that he’s the most influential food critic around.

Won’t the real Logan Paul please stand up? Paul sent a lookalike in his...

Why Was Natalie Portman Replaced In Leonardo DiCaprio’s Romeo + Juliet? (Photo Credit – Instagram/Prime Video)

In the mid-90s, Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet was about to flip Shakespeare’s classic love story with a modern twist. But before Claire Danes became the iconic Juliet, 13-year-old Natalie Portman was up for the role. The same Natalie who’d later crush it in Black Swan and Star Wars. So, what happened? Simple: the age gap between her and Leonardo DiCaprio, aka Romeo, just didn’t vibe.

At the time, Portman was 13, fresh off Léon: The Professional and Heat. Perfect for Juliet, right? She was practically the same age as the character in Shakespeare’s play. But then DiCaprio, cast as Romeo at 21, suddenly things got… weird. Portman herself later admitted, “It was a complicated situation,” and honestly, who could blame her? The idea of a 21-year-old DiCaprio getting...

Which Role Was Blake Lively Almost Cast In The Great Gatsby? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Okay, brace yourself for this: Blake Lively almost played Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby! Imagine her going head-to-head with heavyweights like Keira Knightley and Michelle Williams for the gig. It turns out she was close to landing it. She even had lunch with Leonardo DiCaprio and director Baz Luhrmann to discuss the role. It looked pretty promising until Carey Mulligan stepped in, nailed her audition, and stole the show with that iconic kiss scene.

As Mulligan confessed, “I was terrified of reading with him… but it said in the script that Daisy kisses Gatsby, so I asked if I should, and Baz said, ‘Yes.’ So I kissed him.” Yup, that was the moment. But here’s the kicker: even though Lively didn’t land the role, she did snag something else—Leo. The two allegedly...

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, our array of film and TV chats cover top 10 Disney films, classic Doctor Who and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

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Writers on Film

Lock your doors as John Bleasdale talks to writer James Rose about his Devil’s Advocate’s monograph on the terrifying Texas Chainsaw Massacre…

Vampire Videos

Hugh McStay and Dan Owen enter dark waters this week as they, alongside guest Dr. Sorcha Ni Fhlainn, tackles Abel Ferrara’s seductive take on the vampire mythos, 1995’s The Addiction…

The Magic Box

It’s a charm offensive in Lost this week with 1×08 ‘Confidence Man’, as Kurt North sits down with guest Cortlan Waters Bartley to chat about the swaggering Sawyer…

Modern Horror

Turn that frown upside down and join Hugh McStay and A. J. Black, alongside guest Kat Hughes, to discuss Parker Finn’s Smile and the recently released,...

Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘The Great Gatsby’ (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Yep, Leo almost passed on playing Jay Gatsby. Titanic’s golden boy was “reluctant” to dive into the role, and it was no casual hesitation. This is Jay Gatsby, who throws the wildest parties in East Egg!

DiCaprio’s take? He’d read The Great Gatsby back in junior high. “It made sense to me back then,” he said, adding he got Gatsby’s “obsession.” But years later, he wasn’t so sure he wanted the pressure of playing one of literature’s most debated characters. “Everyone has their interpretation of these characters,” he explained. So, naturally, he was wrestling with taking on an iconic and complicated role.

But then Baz Luhrmann, the mad genius behind Romeo + Juliet, walked in. He didn’t pitch Leo like some Hollywood exec. No, he brought him a first edition of The Great Gatsby.

The end of the year is fast approaching, but there are still plenty of fantasy books coming out over the next two months and November 2024 sees many exciting titles hitting shelves. The winter is the perfect time to snuggle up with a good book, and lengthy fantasy reads offer a great escape from the cold. Whether readers are diving into a high-stakes series or enjoying cozy fantasy narratives, they'll be able to lose themselves in the pages.

There's no shortage of new fantasy releases that will have that effect, whether they're sequels to beloved series or promising debuts. November is a great month for fans of Fae romances, but it has something for everyone looking to embark on a new adventure. There's even a cozy fantasy story with a talking cat. Needless to say, fantasy lovers will be adding quite a lot of titles to their Tbr piles.

The Teller...

Lacma’s Art + Film gala entered its brat era over the weekend.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s marquee fundraiser took place on the grounds of the L.A. cultural institution on Saturday night as the rebellious spirit of its musical headliner Charli Xcx and her culture shifting brat album seemed to permeate the festivities. The carpet got a green-hued makeover, Anna Wintour praised honoree Baz Luhrmann’s frenetic creative spirit and how he once convinced Rihanna to dance on a table at the Met Gala, Kim Kardashian caused a stir by wearing another rare piece of fashion history and Chloe Sevigny demanded the crowd “make some fucking noise” for Charli, who turned Lacma into an electric after hours with a quick set featuring her Sweat Tour mate Troye Sivan. It even rained a little, a very brat-coded thing for Mother Nature to do in a city like Los Angeles.

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, our array of film and TV chats cover 1960s comedy, B-movie science fiction and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Den of Ten

Sam Stokes regularly unpacks people’s favourite top ten’s in popular culture, today being joined by Geoff Owen to discuss their Top 10 Gaming Systems…

The Magic Box

A possible language barrier this week between Kurt North and guest Carl Sweeney as they discuss Lost 1×06 ‘House of the Rising Sun’…

At the Movies in the 90s

The first of a series of bonus episodes coming over the next month sees A. J. Black talk to Perry Constantine about Roger Corman’s 1990 sci-fi horror Frankenstein Unbound…

ChuckyVision

Mark Adams and Dev Elson continue their odyssey into killer doll territory, joined by Violet Hammond to discuss, err… Heartstopper Season 3. Good old tenuous links, eh?

Britcom Goes to the Movies

Not only Peter Cook,...

I hate you, Butler! But you’ll almost certainly love the selection of new things to listen to on the Film Stories Podcast Network. Here’s a menu:

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, our shows have been busy bringing you an array of film and TV conversation.

Here’s what we’ve been up to…

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Britcom Goes to the Movies

Joining the network for its third season, Rob Heath and Guy Walker are joined by Smersh Pod funny man John Rain to discuss 1971’s big screen version of On The Buses. You’ll never see Reg Varney in the same way again…

The Magic Box

One of Lost's most iconic hours is on the agenda this week as Kurt North is joined by Darren Mooney to dissect 1×04 ‘Walkabout’. Just don’t tell them what they can’t talk about…

Modern Horror Podcast

Anthology horror series V/H/S...

Will Smith is known for many things: his charisma as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, his legacy as an action hero, and even his controversial status as the man who shook Hollywood with a single slap. Now, Men in Blackdirector Barry Sonnenfeld has revealed yet another impressive epithet for the blockbuster star: the man who evacuated an entire movie set for three hours due to a single fart.

Appearing on the Let's Talk Off-Camera With Kelly Ripa podcast, Sonnenfeld dished out more than a few not-so-savory secrets about his time spent with Hollywood heavy hitters like Smith and his Men in Black co-star Tommy Lee Jones. Despite the unbridled success and iconic legacy of the 1997 sci-fi film which grossed $584 million worldwide it seems there were a couple bumps in the road during production. Sonnenfeld memorably recalled one incident in particular where Smith and Lee were sealed inside a pod to...

Sure, laughter is the best medicine, but who knew it could also lead to mass evacuations? We’ve all had our moments, but not many can claim to have ignited a three-hour-long exodus with a single fart.

In a recent episode of Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa, Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld, 71, spilled the beans on an uproarious incident that might just take the cake for the most memorable moment on set. And just when you thought his most talked-about moment was ‘the slap’ heard around the world at the 2022 Oscars, Sonnenfeld blew the lid off another indelible Smith moment.

Will Smith in Men in Black 3 | Credit:

Sony Pictures Releasing

Apparently, Smith’s fart had the power to clear a room faster than a fire alarm! Yes, you heard that right—a single toot caused a three-hour-long evacuation during the filming of the 1997 classic.

Men in...

Today, in "David Schwimmer would never" news: Director Barry Sonnenfeld has revealed that star Will Smith once shut down filming on Men In Black by unleashing a bit of a Noisy Cricket of his own on the movie's set. Was that too oblique? It's possible that was too oblique: The man farted,...

“Men in Black” director Barry Sonnenfeld appeared on the “Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa” podcast and revealed the set of the 1997 action comedy once had to be evacuated “for about three hours” because Will Smith farted. Smith starred opposite Tommy Lee Jones in “Men in Black,” which grossed $584 million worldwide to become the third-highest-grossing movie of 1997. Combined with the blockbuster success of “Independence Day,” the movie turned Smith into a global superstar.

According to Sonnenfeld, the incident occurred during the scene in which Smith and Jones are in a transforming car that travels at hyper speeds and flips over. In order to film the sequence, the two actors had to be “hermetically sealed” in the pod that was being used for the car.

“There are locks to prevent it from opening and falling,” Sonnenfeld said. “I say, ‘Roll camera.’ And I hear Will Smith go, ‘Oh Jesus,...

Veteran filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld has a new book out this week, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time, that publisher Hachette Books is teasing for its “cavalcade of sometimes baffling, often enlightening and always funny stories about Sonnenfeld’s many films and television shows.”

The promo push has Sonnenfeld squeezing some of those tales out in real life, including an, um, gassy anecdote about his superstar collaborator Will Smith. Sonnenfeld worked closely with Smith on a number of films including the Men in Black franchise and Wild Wild West, and it was on the former that Sonnenfeld claims a stinky situation presented itself.

“We were getting ready to shoot Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and Tommy does not suffer fools, I’ll tell you that,” Sonnenfeld told Kelly Ripa on a new episode of her SiriusXM podcast Let’s Talk Off Camera. “They have to be put in this device,...

There’s a wealth of things to listen to on the Film Stories Podcast Network, from critiques of Agatha All Along to dissections of The X-Files. Here’s what’s new this week:

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, our shows have been busy bringing you an array of film and TV conversation. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Podcast-616

Marvel have kicked off a brand new series in Agatha All Along, and our all-purpose MCU podcast is bringing the party to you, as hosts Hugh McStay and Ashley Thomas discuss the first two episodes. Don’t miss Hugh with guest Rob Turnbull chatting episode three too…

ChuckyVision

Sadly, Chucky the TV show was cancelled this week but our dedicated coverage of all things killer dolls will endure, as hosts Mark Adams and Dev Elson here discuss The Garbage Pail Kids Movie from 1987…

The Magic Box...

A new bunch of shows land on the Film Stories Podcast Network – from Lost and vampires, to horror and Red Dwarf. More here.

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, our shows have been busy bringing you an array of film and TV conversation. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

The Magic Box

Lost, that bonkers show we all watched relentlessly back in the day, is 20 years old this week so Kurt North fully kicks off coverage of the first season, looking at the ‘Pilot’ Part One with guest, A. J. Black…

Vampire Videos

Dan Owen and Hugh McStay continue their voyage through 100 years of vampire cinema by the 1997 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Night Flier, with guest Robert Clark…

One Rules Them All

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues apace and this week, host Luke Winch is joined by fantasy author...

Afternoon Insiders, here we are once again, another week and another busy one in the world of international film and TV. Sign up to the newsletter here. Or read on.

Splashy Last Week On The Lido

Uncharacteristically buzzy: The Venice Film Festival ends tomorrow after an uncharacteristically buzzy second week. The festival is usually front-loaded, with the splashiest titles playing early. This year, however, Alberto Barbera, who dished to Andreas, said the lengthy runtimes of some competition titles meant the spoils had to spread across both weeks. Enter Brady Corbet’s 215-minute post-wwii epic The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Stacy Martin, Raffey Cassidy, Emma Laird, Isaach De Bankolé and Alessandro Nivola. The pic was well received, landing a 13-minute ovation from the Sala Grande audience. Pedro Almodóvar launched his English-language debut The Room Next Door with his leading ladies Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.

The video game industry is always full of surprises, with the recent release of a 3v3 tactical shooter, Spectre Divide fans are surprised once again. Upon its release, the game boasted over 30,000 concurrent players, making a thunderous debut in the world of tactical shooters. This impressive launch is sticking out even more due to Sony’s recent misstep with Concord.

The game boasted over 30,000 players on its debut, shocking the gaming industry. | Image Credit: Mountaintop Studios

Concord not only struggled ever since its initial release but also going to be shut down very soon, just a few weeks after release. In contrast, the latest title which has the backing of a popular stream Shroud (as the lead gameplay advisor) showed how quality and attention to detail can combine to deliver a hit game.

The Unexpected Rise of Spectre Divide Within Tactical Shooter Genre

Spectre Divide’s launch has been nothing short of spectacular,...

Sebastian Bach has added Fall 2024 North American tour dates as he continues to support his latest solo album, Child Within the Man.

The extensive run kicks off October 4th in Portland, Oregon, and will see the ex-Skid Row singer routing across Canada before returning stateside. The trek wraps up November 20th in Sacramento, California, following a two-night stand at the famed Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles on the 18th and 19th.

Get Sebastian Bach Tickets Here

Artist pre-sales for select dates are ongoing, and general ticket sales start Friday (August 23rd) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Fans can also look for deals or get tickets to sold-out dates via StubHub, where your purchase is 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s Fan Protect program.

Bach also unveiled an updated video for the excellent single “(Hold On) To the Dream” — a clip that Baz described as “similar to the previous...

Roll up, Insiders. Jesse Whittock here with the outlook on the latest international TV and film news, as the Olympic flag left Paris and began its long journey to LA — certainly no Mission Impossible. Sign up for the newsletter here.

Tom Cruise Drops In To Steal The Show

Actor Tom Cruise is seen during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Cruise control: Like a moth to a flame or a teenage girl to a Taylor Swift concert, Tom Cruise is drawn to global entertainment events. And half the time, he’s got a stunt in mind. Sunday’s closing ceremony of the Olympic Games was the perfect case in point. While Cruise had been seen in the crowd throughout the three weeks of sporting competition, rumors in Hollywood swirled that he’d embark on a Mission Impossible-style entrance as the Paris event wound down and the Olympic torch was,...

Exclusive: Powerhouse Thai producer Vanridee Pongsittisak has unveiled more details about Bask Production House — a new collaboration formed between Bangkok-based studio Gdh and Bad Genius director Baz Poonpiriya, which was unveiled earlier this month.

Poonpiriya is set to direct Bask’s first two projects, which have Fast & Furious films director Justin Lin and Anita Gou from Kindred Spirit (The Farewell) onboard as producers.

Lin’s project already has a completed screenplay and is in the process of securing investment, while Gou’s project is currently in the script development stage.

“Baz had been developing a project but due to a scheduling conflict, I couldn’t help produce the film,” said Pongsittisak in an exclusive interview with Deadline. “Baz then reached out to Justin Lin for the project, because Baz admires his talent and vision. After reading the screenplay, Justin found it to be a great fit for him as well.

Fans speculate Wonder Woman's newfound power as she flaunts a bloodied Green Lantern ring in the DC vs. Vampires sequel. The cover art hints at Diana Prince's possible role in the narrative, suggesting she may have killed to gain the ring. Wonder Woman's potential possession of a Green Lantern ring could elevate her status as the most powerful vampire.

DC vs. Vampires is back with an epic sequel, teasing vampire Wonder Woman flaunting a bloodied Green Lantern ring, possibly elevating her power levels to even more extreme heights. But one major question remains: Whose Green Lantern ring does Diana Prince now possess, and what did she have to do to get it?

Fans may also see vampire Wonder Woman donning an epic new costume if she wields the Green Lantern ring.

On October 9, 2024, Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidts DC vs. Vampire: World War V #3 will hit comic shelves.

Sebastian Bach put the youth in “Youth Gone Wild” when he brought out his 11-year-old stepson Trace for a performance of the Skid Row anthem during a gig in Las Vegas.

During Bach’s free show at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Vegas on Saturday (July 20th), the ex-Skid Row frontman welcomed Trace onstage to play guitar, as well as his 35-year-old son Paris to play drums.

Get Sebastian Bach Tickets Here

Trace has clearly taken after his stepdad, having already developed a full-on rocker persona.

Wielding a Dean guitar that’s as big as he is, the long-haired kid performed shirtless and in leather pants. He looks like he could be a member of Baz’s touring band and played like it, too, holding down the chord progressions and ripping off shred solos, much to the delight of the crowd.

The moment was also symbolic of the title to Sebastian’s latest album,...

Bad Genius director Baz Poonpiriya and Thailand’s Gdh 559 have partnered to form strategic creative house Bask for global productions, partnering with Justin Lin as executive producer and Anita Gou as producer.

The new venture aims to offer a fresh perspective on Thai and Asian culture for global audiences. “Our mission is to support Asian filmmakers, giving a voice to those who are often overlooked and making sure they are heard and seen both behind and in front of the camera,” Baz told Screen.

On its debut slate are a string of in-development projects with Thai filmmakers attached. The...

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn offers a straightforward story with a clear ending, wrapping up most of its loose ends. Nor and Enki team up to defeat the god Uru in intense battles, showcasing both melee and ranged combat tactics. The game hints at potential Dlc or sequel adventures for Nor and Enki, leaving mysteries and open questions for future exploration.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn has a simpler, more straightforward story than the average Soulslike, culminating in a clear ending that ties up many (if not all) of the story's loose ends. Set in a post-apocalyptic world in which humanity is under siege by monstrous gods and the living dead, Flintlock follows a hardened soldier named Nor. Nor is one of a group that style themselves Sappers. Staunch defenders of the remnants of humanity, the Sappers maintain fragile dominion over the safe city of Dawn.

[Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn.]

The story of Flintlock...

Hello again, it’s Insider time. Jesse Whittock here with the latest news and views from the international TV and film worlds. Let’s begin. Sign up here.

Emmys: Noms & Numbers

Gary Oldman was nominated for ‘Slow Horses’

Om, nom nom: It was another excellent Emmys nomination day for acting and producing talent outside of the U.S. on Wednesday. Shōgun, via an American production, topped the overall program chart with 25. The hit series was largely shot in Japan and mainly in the Japanese language with Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Takehiro Hira, Anna Sawai and Vasco Rodrigues all up for acting awards at the ceremony in September. Netflix’s UK breakout hit Baby Reindeer shrugged off controversy around its safeguarding processes and authenticity to bag 11 noms, including one for Richard Gadd in the Lead Actor In A Limited Series or Anthology category. The Crown‘s final season landed a total...

We’re thrilled to announce that over 30 new podcasts are joining the Film Stories family. More information right here.

Right at the infancy of Film Stories, nearly six years ago, it was an individual podcast that kicked things off. The Film Stories with Simon Brew podcast is now nearing its 400th episode, while Film Stories magazine has just made it to issue 50. Across live events, print magazines, videos and audio, it’s been the podcast that was the catalyst for it all.

Now, we’re excited to announce that podcasts are to become an even bigger part of the Film Stories family. The already-successful We Made This network of film and television podcasts is, going forward, now the Film Stories Podcast Network. And here’s the list of the programmes that are instantly adding hundreds of thousands of downloads a month to the Film Stories world…

8-Bit Back Issues (hosted...

Baz's death in Season 3 of Animal Kingdom shocked fans due to the mystery surrounding his killer. Baz's character started as a favorite but turned villainous due to selfish actions, leading to his demise. The mystery of Baz's murderer was finally revealed in Season 3, showing Smurf's role in ordering the hit through Mia.

Debuting in 2016, TNT's Animal Kingdom spotlighted 17-year-old J's (Finn Cole) transition to living with his estranged criminal family, led by his no-nonsense grandmother, Smurf (Ellen Barkin). The drama had killed off a few prominent characters by its series finale. However, no death was as shocking as that of Barry "Baz" Blackwell (Scott Speedman) in the Season 3 premiere. Not only was the killer's identity initially a mystery, but there also was -- technically -- more than one correct answer to who killed Baz on Animal Kingdom.

In Season 1 of Animal Kingdom, Baz was introduced as one of J's more level-headed uncles,...

Ever wondered what’d happen if you take Theme Hospital and throw it into space? Well, with about 20 years of the genre moving forward thrown into the mix, the answer is Galacticare. For anyone that loves sims, you’re not going to regret checking out the space-hospital game, and we were lucky enough to chat with Josh Bishop, the Creative Director at Brightrock Games and visionary behind the wacky idea.

[Note]: Some answers have been edited for clarity and length.

For the FandomWire readers who may not be aware of who you are, would you mind explaining that, and also what you doing?

We are Brightrock Games, an indie developer based in Brighton, UK. We’re a self-made studio, with our team hailing from all over Europe. We came together over a love of dungeon management titles and launched War for the Overworld back in 2015. We’ve continued to support...

Good afternoon Insiders, Jesse Whittock back again to take you through the week’s news in the entertainment industry, as the Cannes Film Festival nears its close.

What More Cannes I Say?

Stand up for the standouts: After a quiet opening, the Cannes Film Festival received a shot of life as several buzzy titles finally hit the screen. The excitement on the ground began with The Substance, the much-anticipated blood-splattered horror thriller from French director Coralie Fargeat, which was met with a 13-minute ovation, the longest for a title at this year’s festival until Gilles Lellouche’s Beating Hearts (L’Amour Ouf) took that crown last night. Fargeat’s pic, which stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid, is a punk rock fable centered around a new product called The Substance that promises to transform people into the best version of themselves. It’s an offer that comes with a twist.

Kyle Rayner is on track to replace Hal Jordan as the central Green Lantern in the DC Universe, due to recent dramatic events. The Emotional Spectrum is under attack, causing Kyle to panic and leading the Green Lanterns to focus on him for a potential solution. With the damage to the Emotional Spectrum, Kyle may become the star of the Green Lantern series, set to take on a more prominent role.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Green Lantern #11!Just as he did in the 90s, Kyle Rayner is on the cusp of replacing Hal Jordan as the DC Universe's central Green Lantern. The Emotional Spectrum is under attack and it's having a drastic effect on Kyle. With such drastic changes in Green Lantern's corner, Kyle could be coming back into the spotlight.

In Green Lantern #11 by Jeremy Adams, Xermnico and Amancay Nahuelpan, the few members of the Green Lanterns' resistance gather deep in the Oan underground.