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April showers… don’t matter if you’re sat inside watching TV. The Disney Bundle™ ensures that this is possible in perpetuity, with the entire libraries of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN available in whichever permutation serves your lifestyle.

This spring, Disney+ continues the rollout of “Daredevil: Born Again” and soon welcomes the return of “Andor” Season 2 (and achieving the rare astrological phase in which both Marvel and Star Wars are active on the streamer). Plenty of shows and movies will also join the Hulu library; the Emmy-winning original series “The Handmaid’s Tale” returns after a three-year hiatus with its sixth and final season, and FX will premiere the limited series “Dying for Sex” starring Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate (based on the podcast from Molly Kochan and Nikki Boyer).

Top Pick: “Andor” Season 2

The Emmy-nominated (and IndieWire-beloved) series from Tony Gilroy returns for its second and final season this spring,...

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena were separated months before the indie film director and writer’s death in January, according to a new report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

After separating in September 2024 when the actress moved to New York, Baena made “concerning remarks” to Plaza that “prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband” in October, the report obtained by The Hollywood Reporter stated.

Baena had reportedly started going to therapy after the couple had been “experiencing recent marital difficulties” in the months leading up to his death.

The coroner’s office’s report also stated that Plaza received a text message from her late husband on the day of his death at 10:36 a.m. Et. Baena’s body was later discovered inside his L.A. home by his dog walker.

Baena, a director-writer known for I Heart Huckabees (2004), Life After Beth...

Aubrey Plaza made an appearance on the special 50th anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live, introducing musical acts Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard who sang "Nothing Compares 2 U." It's Plaza's first public appearance since the tragic death of her husband, Jeff Baena, who took his life on Jan. 3, 2025.

During the brief introduction of Miley and Brittany, Plaza wore black pants and jacket along with a tie-dye shirt. Fans of the star quickly recognized that she was honoring her late husband with the shirt. The couple had been together for 10 years when they married in 2021. In an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in Dec. 2021 (via EW), Plaza discussed their wedding day and explained her husband's love of tie-dye:

"We got married on a whim, literally decided at like 5 p.m. and got married at like, 8:30. Jeff got really into tie-dyeing during the quarantine, so, I decided that Jeff...

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Last month, we reported on the tragic death of Aubrey Plaza’s husband, Jeff Baena.

The talented director took his own life at the age of 47.

Understandably, Aubrey has been keeping a low profile in the weeks since.

Aubrey Plaza attends the Gothams 34th Annual Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on December 02, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute )

So fans were pleasantly surprised to see Aubrey introduce Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard at Sunday night’s SNL 50 special.

Aubrey Plaza Stuns Fans at ‘SNL 50’

The special was loaded with celebrities, and as far as we know, Aubrey skipped the red carpet and made a low-key entrance.

On X (formerly Twitter), fans were thrilled to see Aubrey following her recent tragedy.

Writer/director Jeff Baena and actress Aubrey Plaza pose for a portrait during Sundance Next...

Finally, the American public learns how it would have gone down on 9/11 had Mark Wahlberg boarded American Airlines Flight 11. Turns out that he wasn’t wrong about the amount of blood he’d have spilled in the cabin. It’s just that half of it would’ve been his, and...

An obituary has been published following the passing of Jeff Baena.

The screenwriter and director, who was married to actress Aubrey Plaza, died by suicide earlier this month on January 3. He was 47-years-old.

The Miami Herald has now released an obituary remembering Jeff.

Keep reading to find out more…“It is with profound sadness and grief that we announce the sudden and unexpected death of Jeff Baena, a beloved son, husband, brother, uncle and friend to many.” the obit wrote. “Jeff left us too soon but despite his woefully too-short life, he left us with treasured memories of a gifted filmmaker, as well as a very special person on so many different levels.”

“Jeff was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He attended Killian High School in Kendall, Florida. He graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 1999. Upon graduation, Jeff relocated to Los Angeles to pursue writing and directing movies.

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.Dear readers: We are pleased to share the first Rushes roundup of 2025, with big plans for how this feature will develop throughout the year. Among our ambitions is to better represent the film culture everywhere our readers live. Please help us do so by submitting screenings, series, talks, and other events for our listings consideration. Many thanks! –Ed.NEWSIt’s a Wonderful Life.This holiday season, fans of Frank Capra’s Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) were outraged to discover that Amazon Prime streams an abridged version of the film that cuts almost 25 minutes from the original, including the entire “Pottersville” sequence: what Bedford Falls would look like if George Bailey had never been born. Prime also...

Jake Johnson, known for his work on the sitcom New Girl and films like Jurassic World and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, is paying tribute to his late friend, filmmaker Jeff Baena. In his latest Instagram post, Johnson remembered his friend, who he also worked with on a 2016 movie.

Johnson appeared in the film Joshy (2016), which was written and directed by Baena. It starred Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Alex Ross Perry, Nick Kroll, Lauren Graham, Alison Brie, and Aubrey Plaza. His post can be viewed below.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by jake johnson (@mrjakejohnson) Jake Johnson: "I love You"

The actor captioned his Instagram picture, which was a series of photos, with this: “I love you Jeff. Hate your last move. But still love you.” Johnson was also featured in one episode of Cinema Toast, a series Baena created for Showtime that aired in 2021. Johnson costarred with Baena’s wife,...

Two days after the death of writer/director Jeff Baena, Aubrey Plaza has released a brief statement responding to the death of her husband. The statement, which is attributed to Plaza and the Baena/Stern family, reads: “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.“

Baena was found dead in a Los Angeles residence on January 3rd, and the L.A. County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be suicide. He was 47.

Baena got his start as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis before becoming an assistant editor for David O. Russell. However, after a minor car accident injured one of Baena’s eyes, Russell encouraged him to start writing. “He was super-generous, creatively. He allowed me to advocate for any ideas that were in conflict with his ideas,” Baena said of Russell. “We were on the same wavelength,...

Jeff Baena, an acclaimed filmmaker and the husband of Aubrey Plaza, was found dead on Jan. 3 at the age of 47. Days after his unexpected passing, Plaza has spoken out about the situation to thank those who've been offering support.

Per Variety, a statement penned by Plaza, along with the Baena and Stern family, noted: “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”

Related Jeff Baena, Acclaimed Indie Filmmaker and Aubrey Plaza's Husband, Dies at 47

Jeff Baena, who collaborated with wife Aubrey Plaza on multiple projects, reportedly died by suicide.

Baena, known in part for writing I Heart Huckabees, collaborated with Plaza on several projects, such as Life After Beth, Spin Me Round, and Cinema Toast. While they kept their lives mostly private, the pair reportedly started dating in 2011 before getting married at a small ceremony in...

Aubrey Plaza has shared her first statement on the death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,” Plaza and the Baena and Stern family said in a joint statement released on Monday, January 6th. “Please respect our privacy during this time.”

Baena, a writer and director known for his work on films including Life After Beth and I Heart Huckabees, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Friday, January 3rd. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was suicide. He was 47 years old.

After dating for a decade, Plaza and Baena married in 2021. They also worked together on several projects, including Life After Beth and The Little Hours.

Aubrey Plaza Calls Death of Husband Jeff Baena an “Unimaginable Tragedy”

Scoop Harrison...

Aubrey Plaza and the family of her late husband, Jeff Baena, released a brief but heartfelt statement on Monday, two days after his death by suicide.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy,” the statement read. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”

The statement was attributed to Plaza and the Baena/Stern family. In addition to Plaza, survivors include his mother, Barbara Stern, and stepfather, Roger Stern; father Scott and stepmother Michele Baena; brother Brad Baena; stepsister Bianca Gabay; and stepbrother Jed Fluxman.

Baena, an indie film director and writer, died Friday in his Los Angeles home, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. He was 47.

Baena got his big break when he co-wrote I Heart Huckabees (2004) alongside director David O. Russell. The film was nominated for a Gotham Award for best feature.

He had been dating Plaza for...

Aubrey Plaza has shared a statement after the death of her husband Jeff Baena, who was found dead in a Los Angeles residence on Jan. 3. He was 47. The L.A. County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be suicide.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,” Plaza and the Baena and Stern family shared Monday. “Please respect our privacy during this time.”

Indie filmmaker Baena wrote the script for the 2004 film “I Heart Huckabees” and directed projects such as “The Little Hours” and “Life After Beth,” which both starred Plaza. The pair also worked together on “Spin Me Round” and the series “Cinema Toast,” which marked Plaza’s directorial debut. Although they kept their relationship relatively private, Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011 and were married in May 2021.

Plaza had previously shared that being in the same industry allowed her and...

Filmmaker Jeff Baena, husband of Parks and Recreation and Agatha All Along star Aubrey Plaza, has died. He was 47.

Baena was found dead on Friday at a Los Angeles residence, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. The coroner officially reported suicide by hanging as the cause of death.

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Update (Jan. 6): The following statement was released on behalf of...

Aubrey Plaza and the Baena family have released a brief statement on the death of her husband, Jeff Baena. Known for directing Spin Me Round and The Little Hours, as well as co-writing I Heart Huckabees, Baena died by suicide on Saturday, per The Hollywood Reporter.

"This is an unimaginable tragedy,...

Aubrey Plaza has been winning over hearts with her unique blend of dark humor and offbeat charm in Emily the Criminal and The White Lotus. But behind her success, there’s been one constant support: her husband, the quirky filmmaker Jeff Baena.

Known for his oddball indie gems like Life After Beth and The Little Hours, Baena was the kind of director who didn’t just break the mold; he made a whole new one.

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena (Credits- @plazadeaubrey/Instagram)

Tragically, on January 4, 2025, the world was stunned to learn of Baena’s passing at just 47. Plaza, ever the private star, had a rock beside her in Baena, who was not only her biggest fan but also a fellow creative force. Though his life was cut short, Baena’s impact on indie cinema, and of course, Plaza’s career remains undeniable.

But beyond the cameras and critical acclaim,...

Jeff Baena, the filmmaker and husband of The White Lotus and My Old Ass star Aubrey Plaza, has died aged 47.

Baena was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Friday and his death was subsequently ruled a suicide by County Of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.

The filmmaker made his feature directorial debut on 2014 Sundance Film Festival premiere Life After Beth starring Plaza, and followed that up two years later with another Park City premiere, Joshy.

Baena first came to attention as a co-writer on 2004’s I Heart Huckabees with director David O. Russell. He also wrote and directed The Little Hours...

Husband of actor Aubrey Plaza was known for writing and directing Life After Beth and co-writing I Heart Huckabees

Independent director and screenwriter Jeff Baena – who was known for quirky hits such as Life After Beth and was the husband of that film’s star, Aubrey Plaza – has died age 47.

The Los Angeles medical examiner said that Baena died on Friday at his home in that city at about 10.39am local time and had taken his own life.

The famous independent director Jeff Baena died Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was known for working with actress Aubrey Plaza. He was 47 years old. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said Baena killed himself.

Baena became famous at the Sundance Film Festival, where many of his works were shown for the first time and got great reviews. His first movie as a director, “Life After Beth” (2014), starring Plaza, was in the running for the festival’s Grand Jury Prize before being picked up by A24.

After graduating from New York University Film School, Baena started working as a movie actor. He went to Los Angeles and worked as a production assistant for the famous director Robert Zemeckis. After that, he worked as an assistant editor for David O. Russell and co-wrote the movie “I Heart Huckabees” with Russell. This existential comedy about two cops who look...

Trigger warning: This article includes mention of suicide that readers may find disturbing.

A cause of death for Jeff Baena, the indie writer/filmmaker known for Life After Beth and The Little Hours, has been revealed, per a report by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner. The screenwriter and director, who married actress/producer Aubrey Plaza in 2021, died by suicide.

Per additional report details, Baena was found at his residence after taking his life by hanging. Born June 29, 1977, Baena died on Jan. 3. He was 47.

In addition to the aforementioned films, both starring Plaza, Baena is also known for Joshy (2016), Horse Girl (2020), Spin Me Round (2022) and for co-writing I Heart Huckabees (2004). Upon graduating NYU Film School, the auteur moved to Los Angeles to build his career. He became a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis, working on a number of films, and followed that gig up by becoming an assistant editor for writer-director David O. Russell.

Simply awful news this weekend out of Hollywood:

Jeff Baena, a writer and director who was also married to actress Aubrey Plaza, has passed away from what law enforcement officials believe to have been a suicide.

He was 47 years old.

Jeff Baena takes part in a Q&a following the “Spin Me Round” premiere during the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Zach Theatre on March 12, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW)

Baena was likely best known for directing the horror-comedy “Life After Beth,” the dark comedy “Joshy” and also for co-writing the cult classic “I Heart Huckabees” with filmmaker David O. Russell.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed this tragedy early on Saturday morning.

Baena was born and raised in Miami and later attended film school at New York University … he then moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduating to start his career in entertainment.

The hangover from New Year celebrations was far from over, when Hollywood was rocked by the news of Jeff Baena’s demise. The writer-turned-director has had quite the journey in the Industry.

The fans know it better than anyone else. The late director had already crafted his spot in fans’ hearts with his plethora of indie works, including the likes of Life After Beth and The Little Hours. And the former held a dear place for him. After all, it’s the movie which marked his directorial debut.

Life After Beth marked an important transition in Jeff Baena’s life Life After Beth was Jeff Baena’s first directorial venture || A24

Life After Beth might have hit the theatres in 2014. But Jeff Baena had already set things in motion for the movie to take shape all the way back in 2003. That was the time Baena was going through a tough break-up.

Screenwriter and director Jeff Baena, known for the indie films Life After Beth (2014), Joshy (2016), The Little Hours (2017), Horse Girl (2020), and Spin Me Round (2022), has died. Deadline reports Baena, who has been married to actor and producer Aubrey Plaza since 2021, has died at age 47. Per TMZ, law enforcement officials told the news outlet that the filmmaker died by suicide.

Sources from law enforcement stated that an assistant found Baena’s body at a Los Angeles-area home at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time on Jan. 3 and he was pronounced dead at the scene. People reports that representatives for the filmmaker, who also co-wrote I Heart Huckabees (2004) with David O. Russell, did not respond immediately to the outlet’s request for comment.

Baena, after graduating from New York University Film School, moved to Los Angeles to begin his career, per Deadline. He worked as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis on a...

Trigger Warning: This article discusses sensitive topics, including suicide, which may be distressing for some readers. Please proceed with caution or refrain from reading if you find such content triggering.

Jeff Baena, director and husband of Aubrey Plaza, has passed away at 47 years old. The director was a notable name in the indie world, having worked on several notable works, including Life After Beth (2014), Horse Girl (2020), and I Heart Huckabees (2004). He often worked closely with writer David Owen Russell (Silver Linings Playbook) and acclaimed producer Robert Zemeckis.

According to a report by Variety, Baena was found by an assistant in his Los Angeles home on Friday, January 3. Though no cause of death has officially been listed, law enforcement reports that he died by suicide, per TMZ. There has not yet been any word from his or Plaza's representatives.

Jeff Baena's Career on Screen Baena Leaves Behind a Notable Legacy...

Jeff Baena, an indie film director and writer and Aubrey Plaza’s husband, has died. He was 47.

The filmmaker died by suicide on Friday in his Los Angeles home, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

Baena’s breakthrough came when he co-wrote I Heart Huckabees (2004) alongside director David O. Russell. The film, nominated for the Gotham Award for best feature, followed two “existential detectives” who strive to solve the meaning of a series of strange coincidences.

He made his directorial debut in Life After Beth (2014), which he wrote as well. It starred Plaza as the title character and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival that year, when it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and eventually released in theaters by A24. His next project, Joshy (2016), starring Thomas Middleditch, also bowed at Sundance with a Grand Jury nom before being released by Lionsgate.

Baena also wrote and...

Tragic news has come to light as Jeff Baena, the screenwriter and director, has passed away. He was best known for his work on films like Life After Beth (2014), Joshy (2016), The Little Hours (2017), Horse Girl (2020), and Spin Me Round (2022).

Baena is also remembered for co-writing I Heart Huckabees (2004), a film that earned a nomination for a Gotham Award for Best Feature. He had been married to actress and producer Aubrey Plaza since 2021.

Details surrounding his death are still unclear, and more information is expected in the coming days.

Baena’s career started after he graduated from NYU Film School. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue filmmaking, starting as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis. He later worked as an assistant editor for writer-director David O. Russell. His early experiences in Hollywood set the foundation for his successful career.

In 2014, Baena made his directorial debut with Life After Beth, which he also wrote.

Last Updated on January 6, 2025

Jeff Baena, the writer of I Heart Huckabees and Life After Beth, as well as the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza, has died at the age of 47.

Jeff Baena co-wrote I Heart Huckabees with its director, David O. Russell, instantly marking him as a unique voice on the independent scene. But it would be a decade later that he got behind the camera himself, directing Life After Beth in 2014. That movie, which starred eventual wife Aubrey Plaza, nabbed him a Grand Jury Prize nomination at the Sundance Film Festival, as did his next feature, 2016’s Joshy (a movie we quite liked here at JoBlo).

After working as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis, Jeff Baena started to blossom by working for David O. Russell as an assistant editor, receiving a call from the director while he was actually watching Flirting with Disaster. He would work closely...

Updated: Jeff Baena, the writer/director of films including “Spin Me Round” and “The Little Hours,” has died at age 47, IndieWire confirmed.

The filmmaker behind “Life After Beth,” “Joshy,” and “Horse Girl” also co-wrote “I Heart Huckabees” with David O. Russell. Reports of his death began to surface early Saturday, January 4. As per Deadline, Baena’s official cause of death according to a report by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner was suicide.

Baena was married to actor and producer Aubrey Plaza, who starred in the zombie comedy “Life After Beth,” “The Little Hours,” and “Spin Me Round,” Baena’s final film. IndieWire reached out to Plaza’s representatives, who have no additional comment at this time.

Baena co-wrote “Horse Girl” and “Spin Me Round” with star Alison Brie, who also acted in “Joshy” and “The Little Hours.” After graduating from NYU, Baena cut his teeth in Los Angeles...

Jeff Baena, a screenwriter and director whose credits include the offbeat comedies “The Little Hours” and “Life After Beth,” has died. He was 47.

A spokesperson for Baena confirmed his death. His body was discovered on Friday at a Los Angeles residence, according to the L.A. County Coroner’s Office, which determined the cause of death to be suicide.

Baena was the husband of Aubrey Plaza, who starred in his films “The Little Hours,” a 2017 black comedy set in a 14th century convent, and “Life After Beth,” a zombie satire. “The Little Hours” was loosely inspired by “The Decameron,” as well as Baena’s college coursework in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Critics praised the film’s modern sensibility and irreverence, while reviewers also lauded “Life After Beth” for its idiosyncratic, often hilarious, take on a well-worn horror genre.

Baena’s other directing credits include 2022’s “Spin Me Round,” a dark comedy that stars Alison Brie,...

Writer-director Jeff Baena, known for his work on films including Life After Beth and I Heart Huckabees, and as the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza, has died at the age of 47.

TMZ reports that Baena was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Friday, January 3rd. Law enforcement believe the cause of death was the result of a suicide.

After graduating from New York University’s Film School, Baena was hired as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis and then as an editor for David O. Russell. Baena later co-wrote the screenplay for Russell’s 2004 black comedy, I Heart Huckabees.

In 2014, Baena made his directorial debut with the zombie comedy Life After Beth, which starred his future wife, Plaza. His filmography also included Joshy, The Little Hours, Horse Girl, and Spin Me Round.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or know someone who is, call the National Suicide Prevention...

Film director Jeff Baena has died at the age of 47, TMZ reports. Baena was married to actress Aubrey Plaza since 2021. According to the publication, Baena was discovered dead by an assistant, and first responders confirmed his cause of death was by suicide after responding to the Los Angeles-area home at 10:30 p.m. Pt on Friday (January 3). After attending NYU Film School, Baena got his start as a production assistant to producer Robert Zemeckis before working as an assistant editor for David O, Russell, whom he later collaborated on several scripts with, including I Heart Huckabees. Baena soon became known for writing and directing the films Life After Beth, Joshy, The Little Hours, Horse Girl, and Spin Me Round. Plaza first revealed that she and Baena had secretly wed in a social media post in May 2021. View this post on Instagram A post shared by aubrey plaza (@plazadeaubrey) Plaza starred...

Tragic news. Jeff Baena has died. The screenwriter and film director is best known for Life After Beth (2014), Joshy (2016), The Little Hours (2017), Horse Girl (2020), Spin Me Round (2022), and for co-writing I Heart Huckabees (2004). He is also the husband of actress and producer Aubrey Plaza, and they have been married since 2021.

Circumstances of his passing are unclear at this moment, and we will update the post as more comes in. After graduating NYU Film School, Baena moved to Los Angeles to start building his career. He became a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis, working on a number of films, followed by a job as an assistant editor for writer-director David O. Russell. 

Baena perhaps is known for co-writing I Heart Huckabees which was nominated for the 2004 Gotham Award for Best Feature. In 2014, he made his directorial debut with Life After Beth which he also wrote. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival,...

Jonah Hill managed to pick up two Oscar nominations before his 30th birthday. It is a pretty impressive fete since the bulk of Hill’s early film work had been in outrageous comedies like “Superbad” and “21 Jump Street,” which seldom are recognized by Academy voters. He did take some serious roles in “Moneyball” and “The Wolf of Wall Street” which earned him those two nominations.

Hill started his career as a playwright. He wrote and performed a number of plays while he was attending The New School in New York City. Those plays led him to meeting the children of Dustin Hoffman who then got Hill an audition for a small role in “I Heart Huckabees.” That film lead him to associations with Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow, with whom he has worked a number of times. That led to work with Joel and Ethan Coen, Martin Scorsese and more.

Melissa’s mother finally appeared for the first time in Abbott Elementary season 4, and a notable guest star portrayed the supporting character. Abbott Elementary’s cast of characters are all memorably funny, but some of them receive more focus than others. Abbott Elementary’s Janine and Gregory relationship was central to the show’s first three seasons, as the two trepidatious teachers navigated their attraction towards each other. This meant that many beloved supporting characters, like Lisa Ann Walter’s Melissa and Janelle James’s Principal Ava, were largely relegated to B-stories in most episodes. Season 4 has changed this.

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Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 6 brought back a major supporting star from season 3, but they were playing a very different role this time.

Throughout Abbott Elementary season 4, the acclaimed sitcom has devoted more screen time and story focus to characters like Ava,...

James Bond. Benoit Blanc. Joe Bang. These characters have become synonymous with Daniel Craig’s career. Now, Craig adds William Lee, a drug-addicted gay American expat, to that list in Luca Guadagnino’s sexually charged and fantastical love story, “Queer.” The film made its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, where Guadagnino and co-star Drew Starkey participated in a post-screening Q&a.

Craig’s sensitive and transformative portrayal of a emotionally fractured man could be his greatest performance yet. It might even land him at the center of the Oscar race for best actor — if the more conservative Academy voters aren’t squeamish about the film’s sexually graphic scenes or put off by its non-traditional narrative.

Based on William S. Burroughs’ 1985 novel, “Queer” follows Lee, an American expat living a life of near isolation, save for brief encounters with a small group of acquaintances. When...

There arent many actors working today whove had such impressive ups and downs in their career as Mark Wahlberg, a star who seems to generate controversy with each new direction he takes. Wahlberg may have worked with great filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, James Gray, and Wolfgang Peterson, but it seems that in recent years hes been content to star in whatever ridiculous action or comedy film is best suited to appeal to his established audience. Its disappointing that the actor who once earned an Academy Award nomination for The Departed and served as a scene stealer in I Heart Huckabees is spending his time making forgettable duds like Me Time, Arthur the King, The Union, Infinite, and The Family Plan among others. While it's possible he may still have another great performance left in him, Wahlberg has never been better than he was in Paul Thomas Andersons classic dramedy Boogie Nights.

Mark Wahlberg's intense training for The Fighter spanned five years, helping him authentically portray a boxer on screen. Despite setbacks in casting and directing, Wahlberg's dedication to the role made his performance stand out. Supporting performances by Christian Bale and Melissa Leo in The Fighter earned Oscars, cementing the film's legacy in cinematic history.

Mark Wahlberg reflects on his extensive training and filming difficulties for The Fighter. Directed by David O' Russell, The Fighter follows the true story of Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund, the former a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older brother and get his own shot at greatness. Wahlberg leads the film's cast as Micky Ward alongside Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo.

Appearing on Variety's series in which actors are quizzed on lines from their most famous movies and TV shows, Wahlberg...

Director David O. Russell has faced renewed scrutiny over his reputation for unruly conduct on film sets. Actor George Clooney recently criticized Russell during an interview, calling the director a “miserable f***” and saying it was not worthwhile to work with him.

Clooney’s remarks stem from his experience filming “Three Kings” in 1999. He claims Russell verbally attacked crew members and engaged in a physical confrontation with Clooney himself. Clooney described the production as “the worst experience of my life.” However, Clooney is just one of many who have alleged improper behavior by Russell.

Numerous other actors and crew have told of Russell’s erratic conduct over two decades. According to a leaked video, Lily Tomlin was loudly berated by Russell while filming “I Heart Huckabees” in 2004. Christian Bale reportedly had to intervene on behalf of Amy Adams during “American Hustle,” as she struggled with Russell. Other incidents involved Russell...

David O. Russell is in the news again, but not for a new project. The director, who's brought audiences such eclectic films as "Spanking the Monkey," "American Hustle," and "Silver Linings Playbook," has built a reputation as one of the most chaotic filmmakers working today, and on more than one occasion, firsthand accounts have emerged alleging that the chaos tends to veer into verbal abuse -- or worse.

Russell still seems to have support in the industry: In 2022, more than two decades after the first reports of Russell's alleged on-set bullying and violence emerged, the filmmaker released "Amsterdam," a star-studded film featuring the likes of such beloved famous folks as Margot Robbie, Anya-Taylor Joy, John David Washington, Robert De Niro, Michael Shannon, Timothy Olyphant, and even Taylor Swift. The movie starred Christian Bale, a frequent Russell collaborator who extolled the virtues of the controversial filmmaker while doing press for the movie.

Throughout his many career ups-and-downs, five-time Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell has carved out a place for himself with a series of singularly eccentric, screwy films. Let’s take a look back at all eight of his films, ranked worst to best.

Born in 1958, Russell made his filmmaking debut with the incest comedy “Spanking the Monkey” (1994), which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and brought his Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay victories at the Independent Spirit Awards. The screwball farce “Flirting with Disaster” (1996) quickly followed, which earned him additional writing and directing bids at the Indie Spirits. He achieved a huge critical and commercial success with the Gulf War satire “Three Kings” (1999), for which he competed at the Writers Guild of America in Best Original Screenplay.

He received a more muted response with “I Heart Huckabees” (2004), an existential ensemble comedy that became infamous for leaked...

Nicolas Cage will play the title role of John Madden in David O Russell’s Madden, and here are the details.

Writer and director David O Russell began his career directing dark comedies like Spanking the Monkey, Flirting With Disaster, Three Kings, and I Heart Huckabees, before gaining critical acclaim for biographical sports drama The Fighter. He then directed several award winning dramas, including Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Despite reports of animosity between O Russell and his actors, he continues to make high profile films, most recently Amsterdam.

His next film will be Madden, a biopic of NFL player John Madden. The film will chart his rise from the head coach of the Oakland Raiders to becoming one of the greatest football reporters in America.

According to Deadline, Nicolas Cage has been cast as Madden. It is the latest in a string of eclectic films for Cage, which...

Nicolas Cage will portray John Madden, the legendary American football coach and sports commentator, in director David O. Russell’s upcoming biographical drama “Madden.”

“Nicolas Cage, one of our greatest and most original actors, will portray the best of the American spirit of originality, fun, and determination in which anything is possible as beloved national legend John Madden,” Russell said in a statement. “Together with the ferocious style, focus, and inspired individualism of Al Davis, owner of the underdog Oakland Raiders, the feature will be about the joy, humanity and genius that was John Madden in a wildly inventive, cool world of the 1970s.”

Madden, who died in 2021 at the age of 85, was the burly, garrulous head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s, leading the team to many championship games and its first Super Bowl victory. He became a mainstay of television football coverage, spending three decades as...

While David O. Russell is one of the most famous names in the industry for his star-studded critically-acclaimed pieces like American Hustle (2013), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), and The Fighter (2010), he is also rather infamous for his controversial stints. To say the least, he is one to have picked beef with and become the arch-nemesis of A-lister George Clooney.

David O. Russell. | Credits: David Shankbone/Cca-3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Adding to this list was even the actress cum comedian Lily Tomlin who, despite being a senior to Russell, had to face his wrath while working with him on I Heart Huckabees in 2004. However, this time, it all came back to bite the filmmaker right where it hurt when his infamous clip of mistreating the actress resurfaced to humiliate him years later in 2012.

David O. Russell Brutally Berated Lily Tomlin in 2004

Around two decades ago, Tomlin joined forces with filmmaker David O. Russell to...

At a certain point in your life — hopefully sooner rather than later — you realize working with (or for) needlessly angry people just isn’t worth it. Life is short. That’s something George Clooney is all too aware of after he famously clashed with director David O. Russell on the set of Three Kings. In a recent GQ cover story, Clooney said he isn’t going to repeat that experience anytime soon.

“The older you get, time allotment is very different. Five months out of your life is a lot,” Clooney said. “And so it’s not just like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go do a really good film, like Three Kings, and I’m going to have a miserable f**k like David O Russell making my life hell. Making every person in the crew’s life hell.’ It’s not worth it. Not at this point in my life.

George Clooney reflects on difficult time working with director David O. Russell, says it's not worth the misery. Clooney and Russell previously worked together on Three Kings. Clooney's quarrel with the director is not unique, for there is a history of complaints against Russell.

George Clooney speaks on his infamous feud with Hollywood director David O. Russell. Russell and Clooney worked together on the film Three Kings back in 1999, which was a dark comedy about the Persian Gulf War wherein four soldiers seek to steal back gold that was stolen from them in Kuwait. In addition to Clooney, Three Kings featured a leading cast including Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze, Cliff Curtis, and Nora Dunn. Three Kings was well-regarded upon its release, and received a Critics Choice Awards nomination for Best Picture.

Speaking with GQ, Clooney references his feud with Russell. Clooney began by talking more generally about "time allotment,...

George Clooney is still feuding with David O. Russell exactly 25 years after their infamous fight during the production of 1999 film “Three Kings.”

Clooney told GQ UK in a joint interview with his “Wolfs” co-star Brad Pitt that no film is “worth” working with a “miserable fuck like David O. Russell.” In short, don’t count on a “Three Kings” anniversary reunion between the actor and director.

“The older you get, time allotment is very different. Five months out of your life is a lot,” Clooney said of how he selects projects now. “And so it’s not just like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go do a really good film, like “Three Kings,” and I’m going to have a miserable fuck like David O. Russell making my life hell. Making every person in the crew’s life hell.’ It’s not worth it. Not at this point in my life.

Christopher Nolan Was Physically Assaulted With A Chokehold. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Acclaimed director David O. Russell has developed a reputation for alienating most of the actors in his movies. The director who once got into a fistfight with George Clooney on the set of “Three Kings” once also put Christopher Nolan in a headlock after Jude Law dropped out of Russell’s film I Heart Huckabees for a role offered by Christopher Nolan.

David O. Russell’s 2004 existential comedy I Heart Huckabees featured Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin as a pair of “existential detectives” hired by various clients to explore the purpose of their pointless lives. The actors included Jude Law, among others.

Pre-production for the film was derailed after several cast members who were tapped to star in it dropped out. According to the New York Times, Gwyneth Paltrow was the first to drop out, followed by Jude Law.

Iconic French actress Isabelle Huppert will be honored at this year’s Lumière Festival in Lyon with the prestigious Lumière Award for her contribution to cinema.

“Her career encompasses an immense part of the history of contemporary cinema,” the Institut Lumière, which oversees the festival, said of the French star of Elle, 8 Women and The Piano Teacher.

The institute gave just a sampling of Huppert’s more than 155 acting credits, which include collaborations with such French directing legends as Claude Chabrol, Claire Denis, François Ozon and Bertrand Tavernier, as well as international filmmakers including Michael Haneke, Paul Verhoeven and Hong Sang-soo. Her few U.S. films include Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate (1980), David O. Russell’s I Heart Huckabees (2004) and Frankie (2019) by Ira Sachs.

Huppert’s Lumière Award will take its place alongside a trophy case of other honors, including two Cannes best actress prizes — for Violette Noziere (1978) and...

Beloved French actor Isabelle Huppert will receive the Lumière Award in the city of Lyon in October.

Created by Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux, the Lumière Film Festival celebrates classic and contemporary cinema each fall. The Lumière Award honors a leading figure in the world of cinema and their entire body of work.

Huppert succeeds German director Wim Wenders who was awarded the prize in 2023. Former recipients include Tim Burton, Jane Campion, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, Ken Loach, Catherine Deneuve, Jane Fonda, Pedro Almodóvar, Miloš Forman, the Dardenne brothers and Wong Kar-wai, among others.

“It’s a great honor for me to receive the Lumière Award. It’s a magnificent prize, and so is its festival. It’s an award that bears the name of the inventors of cinema! Receiving it fills me with joy and pride,” said Huppert.

A prolific actor who shoots an average...

"I didn't feel like I really ever leaned into playing handsome," said Jude Law, speaking to DuJour in 2024. "[...] I was trying to play against my looks in my early 20s, and now that I'm saggy and balding, I wish I had played it up."

He's got a point. A survey of the English actor's roles after becoming a bigger name in the '90s reveals that he rarely played good-looking stand-up guys when he was younger. Not only that, but on those occasions where he did lean into his natural beauty, he would often play some kind of cad (like he did in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Alfie") or a character whose insecure, selfish behavior makes it difficult to appreciate his gorgeous features (like in "Closer" and "I Heart Huckabees"). "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" even went so far as to weaponize Law's looks by making them artificial and plastic-y...