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Exclusive: Josh Lucas (Yellowstone) has signed on to star in Slay the Dreamer, a new film based on the life of Rev. James Lawson, the civil rights activist who was friend and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., from director Joshua Michael Stern (Jobs).

Lucas stars as a washed-up lawyer who in 1976, at Lawson’s request, takes on the case of Grace Walden, the only eyewitness to the man who shot King who had been involuntarily held in a mental institution outside Memphis since the assassination eight years earlier. As the lawyer and his paralegal investigate Walden’s case, they uncover a conspiracy surrounding King’s assassination and risk their careers and lives to bring the truth to light.

Script is by by Donald Freed and Mark Lane, with a rewrite by Stern. Elizabeth Fowler and actor Harold Perrineau (MGM+’s From) are producing, with Joe Berlinger exec producing, and Foresight Media Services financing. Fowler and Perrineau are currently in negotiations with additional cast and are targeting a spring kickoff to production.

In a statement to Deadline, producer Fowler said, “”Slay The Dreamer” is a powerful true political thriller that will remind the world of Martin Luther King’s movement that was deliberately derailed by his assassination. We are hopeful that our film and the release of the classified files will finally reveal the true story behind the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.”

Recently starring in the series Palm Royale, Yellowstone and Long Slow Exhale, Lucas is also known for turns in films like Ford v Ferrari, The Lincoln Lawyer, A Beautiful Mind, American Psycho, J. Edgar, Glory Road, and Sweet Home Alabama, among many others. He is repped by WME, Liebman Entertainment, and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum.

Stern is best known as the creator, executive producer and director of Epix’s Nick Nolte comedy Graves, and for directing the films Jobs, starring Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs, and Swing Vote, starring Kevin Costner. He is repped by Innovative Artists and attorney Darren Trattner.

Thanks to the sheer number of holiday films Hallmark releases every year, the network has built up quite a stable of artists. Some of these actors appear in just a few Christmas movies between other projects, while others have essentially built a career around their work with Hallmark. And while it's easy to look at the ads for Hallmark holiday movies and see a variety of plug-and-play, generic brunettes, each of the channel's leading men has their own niche and strengths that they bring to their performances. 

Some are best known for playing the reluctant prince of an unknown European principality who ends up romancing a small-town American girl, while others are better suited to play ruggedly handsome Christmas tree farmers or small business owners who woo career-oriented gals from the big city with their rural charms. Just like snowflakes, no two male Hallmark stars are quite alike -- and...

The final scenes of Joachim Rønning’s “Young Woman and the Sea” are hard to spoil — the film is, after all, based on a true story — and yet, they still surprise. As the film’s own producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, sees it, that’s because the very same history that inspired the Daisy Ridley-starring feature has largely been forgotten. Until, of course: movie adaptation time.

The biographical sports drama follows swimming trailblazer Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle (Ridley), who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926. Upon the completion of her incredible athletic feat — just one of many we see Trudy tackle in the feature — she was greeted as a hero in her native New York City, care of a ticker-tape parade believed to have been attended by two million people.

“When you see that parade, you can’t believe that you’ve never heard of this athlete,...

Photo: Wes Brown, Ashley Greene

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Fred Hayes

Airing as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas, Deck The Walls stars Ashley Greene, Wes Brown and Danny Pellegrino.

As Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas 2024 continues, the latest movie is Deck The Walls, starring Ashley Greene, Wes Brown, and Danny Pellegrino.

The movie tells the story of an interior designer, who uses her skills back in her hometown to renovate a Christmas Charity Home for her brother, Sal, and his contractor, Bryson’s home-flipping company. Read on to find out more about the holiday movie and its cast.

About Deck The Walls on Hallmark Channel Photo: Ashley Greene, Danny Pellegrino

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Fred Hayes

According to TV Insider, Deck The Walls tells the story of Rose DeMonte (Ashley Greene), a successful Chicago-based interior designer. Rose loves her work, and she does a great job, but...

Photo: Erin Cahill, Wes Brown

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Holly Dunphy

Hallmark Channel’s Fall Into Love 2024 programming event is already underway and the feel-good network’s penultimate movie is Autumn At Apple Hill.

The movie features two popular Hallmark stars, Erin Cahill and Wes Brown. The actors who starred together in Every Time A Bell Rings have reunited for a fall rom-com. Moreover, the movie is based on Angie Ellington’s book of the same title.

Autumn At Apple Hill on Hallmark Channel Photo: Erin Cahill, Wes Brown

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Holly Dunphy

According to First For Women, Elise Jacobs (Erin Cahill) has recently got divorced and has inherited her late grandparent’s inn. She decides she wants to bring the inn back to life, just as she wants to revive her own life.

When she meets Luke Bellwhether (Wes Brown), a very attractive man who arrives in town,...

Josh Lucas is engaged to meteorologist Brianna Ruffalo, with the actor announcing the news Saturday.

Lucas, whose recent credits include Yellowstone and Palm Royale, took to Instagram to share footage of Ruffalo getting emotional while wearing her ring as musicians performed for the couple in the background. According to their posts, Lucas and Ruffalo have been together since the fall of 2022.

“For the last 2 years in Every Way and Every Day this beautiful soul has made me and my life better, deeper and more whole,” Lucas captioned his post. “I am so grateful and thrilled she said ‘Yes.’ I Way love you Brianna. & Thank You to our families and all the people and places that made this come true. I am absolutely aware I got crazy lucky.”

Ruffalo, who is a meteorologist and reporter for ABC7 in Los Angeles, also shared footage of the happy couple to commemorate the occasion.

Young Woman and the Sea is a critical success with a solid 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and a high audience score. Jerry Bruckheimer should focus on uplifting sports films like Young Woman and the Sea. Bruckheimer's past success with sports dramas like Remember the Titans and Glory Road showcase his keen eye for inspiring stories.

Young Woman and the Sea is a solid sports drama, and showcases one of the most undersung talents Jerry Bruckheimer has a producer. Based on the story of Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle, the film follows Trudy as she becomes the first woman to swim the deceptively trecherous 21 mile-long English Channel. Starring Daisy Ridley as Trudy with Christopher Eccleston, Stephen Graham, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Kim Bodnia, and Jeanette Hain as Young Woman and the Sea's real-life characters, the film is a solid little adaptation of an uplifting true story.

The film is just one of the several movies...

The Way Back may not be based on a true story, but it mirrors Ben Affleck's real-life struggle with alcoholism. Affleck's performance as Jack is praised in the movie, marking a major comeback for the actor. The film is more about overcoming emotional toll than winning on the court, focusing on the effects of addiction.

Gavin O'Connor's The Way Back may not be based on a true story, but it carries enough parallels to reality and to other sports movies to feel like it is. The movie sees Ben Affleck portray Jack Cunningham, a former high school basketball star who has since fallen on hard times with the collapse of his marriage following the death of his son. While Jack's depression from the tragic events of his life drives him to alcoholism, he begins to rebound after being recruited to coach the struggling basketball team at his old high school.

Following a potential MCU reboot, T'Challa's Black Panther could be recast, opening up new storylines for the character. Potential actors who could successfully portray T'Challa include Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, David Oyelowo and Laz Alonso. The First Purge star Y'lan Noel has expressed interest in assuming the role of T'Challa in the McU's future.

Marvel Studios' T'Challa, a.k.a. the Black Panther, may be recast if the MCU is rebooted following 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars. The late Chadwick Boseman first appeared as T'Challa, the Prince of Wakanda and the Black Panther, in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, and went on to star as the vibranium-empowered superhero in Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Boseman's tragic passing after a battle with colon cancer in 2020 came as a shock, but instead of recasting T'Challa in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios and Ryan Coogler developed the sequel as...

Exclusive: Affion Crockett will produce and star in new comedy, A Hip Hop Story. The film also stars Cedric the Entertainer, Damaine Radcliff, Jevin Smith, Damien Dante Wayans, Lil Rel Howery, Wayne Brady, Lil Mama, and Norm Nixon, Jr.

Directed by Radcliff, and written by Crockett, the film is about Hip Hop culture is in a crisis! A pioneer of the culture joins forces with a few of rap music’s elite performers to attempt to save Hip Hop and provides social commentary on the state of Hip Hop culture.

A Hip Hop Story is produced Crockett, Radcliff, Charlie Mack, and Talitha Watkins, and will be distributed by AMCi distribution (same division responsible for the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce.

Crockett said, “A Hip Hop story is our love letter to the culture that shaped our lives.

Jason Reed has been appointed head of Skydance Sports, the sports-focused studio joint venture formed between David Ellison’s Skydance Media and the NFL.

In the new role, Reed will oversee all Skydance Sports operations and the development and production of the studio’s entire slate of sports-driven storytelling across scripted and unscripted content, documentaries, and events including and not limited to NFL content. He’ll report directly to the Skydance Sports Board of Directors, which includes Skydance Media’s president and COO, Jesse Sisgold, who now serves as Chairman.

“Jason is an outstanding executive with a proven track record of running complex organizations and producing top-quality films and series. His versatility, creative sensibility, and expertise launching some of the world’s most recognizable franchises is a boon to Skydance Sports, as we look to harness our early successes and scale the global footprint of the studio,” said Sisgold.

Reed...

Veteran producer and film executive Jason T. Reed has been named as the head of Skydance Sports, the company announced on Thursday.

Skydance Sports is the sports-focused studio collaboration that was established in 2022, a joint effort between David Ellison’s Skydance Media and the NFL.

With more than 20 years in the media and content industry, Reed’s history includes the creation and production of significant film and TV intellectual properties, such as “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” and the live-action version of “Mulan.” Furthermore, he had an 18-year tenure at The Walt Disney Company, where he excelled in international production and franchise management.

In his newly created role, Reed will spearhead Skydance Sports operations and oversee the development and production of the studio’s entire slate of sports-driven storytelling. This will encompass both scripted and unscripted content, documentaries and events, including NFL-related content.

Reed will report directly to...

Jason T. Reed, a veteran producer who spent 18 years as an exec at Disney overseeing a number of top franchises, has been named Head of Skydance Sports.

The division of David Ellison’s Skydance Media last year formally teamed with the NFL and NFL Films. In his newly created role, Reed will lead overall Skydance Sports operations and the development and production of the studio’s entire slate of sports-driven scripted and unscripted projects, along with documentaries and events.

Jon Weinbach, who has served as President of Skydance Sports since its 2021 formation, will now focus on overseeing the studio’s unscripted and documentary slate. That unit produced NFL Draft: The Pick Is In, a docuseries that became Roku’s most-watched original documentary title ever, earning a renewal for 2024. Another title shepherded by Weinbach was Kelce, a feature documentary on Prime Video about Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.

As Reed takes on the head role,...

The most inspiring sports movie speeches of all time light a fire under every sports fan's heart. They are typically given by head coaches of underdog teams who need a pre-game or halftime locker room pick-me-up to encourage the pursuit of victory against a challenging opponent. They can also arise in other unique ways that encapsulate the feelings of sportsmanship, teamwork, and a love of the game that reminds every athlete, coach, and fan why they play ball.

The timeless tale of inspiring underdogs in sports movies is the culmination of blood, sweat, and tears as well as fearlessness in the face of a formidable opponent. The best speeches in sports movies often remind those it is intended for to keep up their determination and maintain their belief in themselves. The most inspiring moments in sports movies come from the mutual desire to become greater than the sum of any...

Tubi opens June with an intense WWII drama “Inglourious Basterds.” Allied officer Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) assembles a team of five tough Jewish soldiers to spread fear throughout the Third Reich. They have one assignment: assassinate Nazi leaders. Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed the unconventional war drama. Eli Roth, Melanie Laurent, and Christopher Walz co-star.

Watch the trailer of “Inglourious Basterds”:

The network is also streaming the original documentary “Mystery Unsolved: The Adnan Syed Story” on June 7. The murder of teenager Hae Min Lee was the focal point of a “Serial” podcast, which questioned if boyfriend Syed was her killer. After serving 22 years in prison, Syed was released, still proclaiming his innocence. Now, he may return.

Another streamer original, “Magic Carpet Rides,” arrives June 14. It centers on a social influencer torn between sharing her budding romance or honoring her boyfriend’s request to keep their life private.

Check...

Pitch Perfect, the hit 2012 music comedy, is now streaming on Netflix, and the film utilized one primary location for shooting. Directed by Jason Moore from a screenplay by Kay Cannon, Pitch Perfect helped bring a cappella further into the mainstream following its growing popularity in the late aughts. The film grossed over $115.4 million worldwide, which was impressive considering its budget was only $17 million.

Pitch Perfect is still incredibly popular and quotable over ten years since its theatrical release. Starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, and Rebel Wilson, the actors lead an ensemble cast, including co-star and director of Pitch Perfect 2 Elizabeth Banks, that brought audiences more than a handful of memorable moments. The film followed the Barden Bellas on their journey to Nationals for college a cappella. Pitch Perfect was loosely inspired by Mickey Rapkin’s non-fiction novel Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate a Cappella Glory,...

Emmy-winning TV and film editor John Gordon Wright, who cut notable titles including “Speed,” “The Hunt for Red October,” “X-Men” and “The Passion of the Christ,” died April 20 at his home in Calabasas after a battle with cancer. He was 79.

Wright, who worked frequently with directors including John McTiernan and Mel Gibson, received an Emmy award for his work on “Sarah, Plain and Tall” as well Oscar nominations for his work on “The Hunt for Red October” and “Speed.”

More than 50 years ago, Wright began his prolific career as a film editor, first working at The James Company. In 1973, Wright contributed to the TV movie “Strange Creatures of the Night” and soon moved into feature editing. Soon after Wright edited for “Life Goes to War: Hollywood and the Home Front” and “Acapulco Gold.”

Following his work throughout the 1970s — including “Dogs,” “The Family Man,” “Sancutary of Fear” — Wright then worked 10 films throughout the 1980s,...

Where can you watch Chang Can Dunk? If you're looking for a movie that explores self-discovery, familial trauma, and coming of age — that follows a triumphant story of sports achievement, keep on reading to find out.

The world could always use another feel-good sports movie full of trials, tribulations, and triumphs. Disney has delivered these time and time again, from The Mighty Ducks to Glory Road to Full Court Miracle. The studio is back at it again, this time with a heartwarming basketball-centric tale called Chang Can Dunk.

Chang Can Dunk is the story of a 16-year-old Asian American student who is part of his school’s marching band. In a moment of confidence, he bets the star basketball player that he’ll be able to dunk by the time Homecoming rolls around. He is determined, despite his 5’8” stature that is slightly uncommon when it comes to shooting hoops, to win the bet and,...

A review of this week’s Winning Time, “Who the F**k is Jack McKinney,” coming up just as soon as we kill the duck…

If not for the unfortunate fact of HBO’s longtime pay-cable rival having the same name, Winning Time would have come into this world known as Showtime. That’s the title of the Jeff Pearlman book from which the series is adapted, derived from the nickname that was bestowed upon this entire Lakers era of Magic and Kareem, the Jerrys Buss and West, Pat Riley,...

Emily Deschanel is set to star in a new Netflix limited series based on the book “Devil in Ohio,” Variety has learned.

Deschanel will lead the series, which is based on the book of the same name by Daria Polatin and is inspired by a true story. Additional cast members include Sam Jaeger as Peter, Gerardo Celasco as Detective Lopez, Madeleine Arthur as Mae, Xaria Dotson as Jules, Alisha Newton as Helen, and Naomi Tan as Dani.

In the series, when hospital psychiatrist Dr. Suzanne Mathis shelters a mysterious cult escapee, her world is turned upside down as the strange girl’s arrival threatens to tear her own family apart.

The series is currently in production in Vancover. Netflix has ordered eight 45 minute episodes. Polatin is adapting her book for the screen and will also serve as executive producer and showrunner in the series. Rachel Miller of Haven Entertainment will...

Exclusive: Josh Lucas (Ford v Ferrari) will join Oscar nominee Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects) and Tony winner Thomas Sadoski (The Newsroom) in the political thriller Lilly, which is entering production in Georgia in October.

Based on the life of Lilly Ledbetter, the Alabama woman for whom President Obama named his first piece of legislation—The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2009—the film explores the psychological cost of putting one’s life on the line for justice. At the heart of the social justice drama is a love story between Lilly (Clarkson) and her husband Charles (Lucas), a man who stood by his wife despite life-threatening challenges and significant family strife.

As previously announced, Sadoski plays Jon Goldfarb, the Birmingham civil rights attorney who navigated Ledbetter’s legal battles.

Rachel Feldman is directing from a script she wrote with Adam Prince.

The independently financed film will be produced by...

Photo: ‘Enchanted’/Disney The 2000s were an odd decade for Disney, following the success of the 90s, often referred to as the ‘Disney Renaissance’. Their traditionally animated films like ‘Treasure Planet’ were becoming box office failures while the CG animated films of their newly bought animation studio, Pixar, were dominating. Their live-action-adventure films like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ were becoming box office hits while their sports flicks like ‘Glory Road’ weren’t reaching the same success as their prior hits like ‘the Mighty Ducks’. Related article: ‘In the Heights’ – Behind the Scenes and Full Commentary/Reactions from Cast & Crew Related article: A Tribute to Cannes Film Festival: A Celebration of Cinema, Glamour, and Humanity | Statement From The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase Stranger of all, they weren’t releasing any musical fantasies, which was the reason for their success in the prior decade, until 2007’s ‘Enchanted’. ‘Enchanted’, starting out...

Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith has joined forces with guitarist Richie Kotzen, best known for stints in Poison and Mr. Big, for a bluesy, hard-rock collaboration they’ve dubbed Smith/Kotzen. The artists will drop a self-titled release on March 26th, and they’re previewing it with “Taking My Chances,” which shows off how their sensibilities blend as Smith’s bluesy licks complement Kotzen’s shredding and husky vocals.

The duo produced the nine-tack LP in Turks and Caicos in February 2020. They co-wrote each of the songs, traded off vocals,...

Bettina Gilois, a screenwriter who worked on “McFarland USA” and “Bessie,” has died from cancer. She was 58.

Gilois passed away on Sunday, her friend told multiple media outlets. TheWrap has reached out to representatives for Gilois.

Along with “McFarland USA,” Gilois co-wrote the film “Glory Road” about Texas Western college basketball team of the 1960s, and “The Lost Wife of Robert Durst,” a 2017 Lifetime TV movie that starred Katharine McPhee. The HBO pic “Bessie” starred Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith. Gilois received an Emmy nomination for co-writing the biopic about the legendary blues singer, which she shared with Dee Rees, Christopher Cleveland and Horton Foote.

Also Read: Charlie Daniels, Country Music Singer of 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia,' Dies at 83

Gilois was in the middle of writing the series “Muscle Shoals” about the famed Alabama recording studio, which was being produced by Johnny Depp, with Nancy Wilson of Heart composing the music.

Bettina Gilois, an Emmy-nominated writer who worked on the screenplays for the Kevin Costner film McFarland, USA and the Queen Latifah-starring HBO biopic Bessie, has died. She was 58.

Gilois, who was battling cancer, died Sunday in her sleep at her home in Los Angeles, her friend Joshua Plant told The Hollywood Reporter.

A native of Berlin who attended Columbia University, Gilois also co-wrote the 2006 feature Glory Road, about the history-making Texas Western college basketball team of the 1960s, and The Lost Wife of Robert Durst, a 2017 Lifetime telefilm that starred Katharine McPhee.

She served as a producer on Fire Birds (1990),...

Bettina Gilois, an Emmy-nominated writer who worked on the screenplays for the Kevin Costner film McFarland, USA and the Queen Latifah-starring HBO biopic Bessie, has died. She was 58.

Gilois, who was battling cancer, died Sunday in her sleep at her home in Los Angeles, her friend Joshua Plant told The Hollywood Reporter.

A native of Berlin who attended Columbia University, Gilois also co-wrote the 2006 feature Glory Road, about the history-making Texas Western college basketball team of the 1960s, and The Lost Wife of Robert Durst, a 2017 Lifetime telefilm that starred Katharine McPhee.

She served as a producer on Fire Birds (1990),...

Hollywood screenwriter and author Bettina Gilois died Sunday night in her sleep after battling cancer, her friend Joshua Plant confirmed to Variety. She was 58.

Gilois wrote the HBO film “Bessie” starring Queen Latifah, and numerous other films and books.

Before her death, Gilois had several projects in the works, including the drama “Shutter Spy,” about Hollywood photographer Frank Worth, and the series “Muscle Shoals,” which is produced by Johnny Depp. She was also writing a story for Lifetime about Mahalia Jackson, and Netflix’s “A Million Miles Away,” a true story about Jose Hernandez, a migrant worker who later became an astronaut.

Her credits include Disney’s “McFarland, USA” with Kevin Costner, “Glory Road” starring Josh Lucas and Lifetime’s “The Lost Wife of Robert Durst.” She was nominated for a Emmy for writing “Bessie” and “McFarland, USA.”

Among its accolades, “Bessie” won an NAACP Image Award for writing for...

Bettina Gilois, an award-winning screenwriter and author, has died in her sleep at age 58, according to a friend. She had an advanced form of cancer and passed just days before her July 9 birthday.

Gilois was having what was described by a friend as “a career year” when she passed, with several projects in development at various networks.

Gilois first began working as an assistant to Slava Tsukerman, the director of Liquid Sky, in her native Berlin. She also worked at Andy Warhol’s Factory in New York on the television series Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes.

She subsequently joined Keith Barish and Arnold Kopelson Productions as a development executive, which led to producing credits on Fire Birds, as well as Triple Bogie on a Par Five Hole with Amos Poe.

She began her writing career working with Joel Silver Productions, and in the last twenty five years has written projects for further notable producers,...

If you’re looking to expand your home video library and catch up on some movies during these trying times, Disney just gave your bank account a little breathing room. The Mouse House is offering a number of promotions as part of an on-going flash sale which begins this week. Many of their movies will be available for digital purchase for $4.99. In addition, the films are broken up into categories and each one will have its own sales period.

The first category, called “Feel Good Movies,” started on April 14th and features a mixture of musical and romantic comedies including Bohemian Rhapsody and Pretty Woman. This selection of films, which you can see in full below, is available until April 20th, when the next group begins.

You might be asking yourself, why would I want to pay $5 for these movies when I can just subscribe to Disney Plus for the...

The Walt Disney Studios announced today that movie lovers will be able to purchase a selection of their favorite films on digital at a special price in the U.S. Disney will offer select films starting at $4.99 for a limited time on digital platforms in the U.S. Organized into thematic collections, new films will become available each week throughout April and May and include something for everyone.

Feel Good Movies

Disney movies available for digital purchase April 14-20Starting at $4.99 each in HD/Uhd&#8226 Bohemian Rhapsody&#8226 The Greatest Showman&#8226 Napoleon Dynamite&#8226 The Devil Wears Prada&#8226 There's Something About Mary&#8226 Never Been Kissed&#8226 Pretty Woman&#8226 The Proposal (2009)&#8226 The Sound of Music&#8226 Under the Tuscan Sun&#8226 27 Dresses&#8226 Little Miss Sunshine&#8226 The Joy Luck Club&#8226 An Affair to Remember&#8226 Beaches

Earth Day with Disneynature

April 21-27Starting at $4.99 each in HD/Uhd&#8226 African Cats&#8226 Bears&#8226 Born In China&#8226 Chimpanzee&#8226 Earth&#8226 Expedition China...

No sports? No problem, says ESPN, which will air a selection of Disney sports films as part of its Friday night programming starting this Friday. The schedule will help bridge the gap created by the hiatus of most major sports events while the nation hunkers down to avoid spreading the coronavirus.

First up at bat is The Rookie, timed to Mlb’s postponed Opening Week. The film tells the story of high school baseball coach Jim Morris, who became the oldest rookie in the major league.

Continuing the following Friday, April 3rd, timed to the traditional Ncaa Final Four weekend, will be Glory Road, the true story of future...

Disney+ has released a new trailer teasing all of the content coming to the streaming service in December. Today marks the first day of the month and the new streaming platform is adding quite a bit of material today and throughout the week. This obviously includes The Mandalorian which will wrap up its first season this month. The first live-action Star Wars series is featured in the trailer and shows some very brief brand-new footage of the highly acclaimed show. The show will air December 6th, 13th, 18th, and 27th.

Thor: Ragnarok and The Last Jedi are ditching Netflix to move into their new home on Disney+. The McU movie lands on December 5th, while the Star Wars movie lands on December 26th, which is unfortunately after The Rise of Skywalker opens in theaters. The new streaming platform just launched on November 17th and the latest trailer shows just how...

For audiences who have been patiently awaiting the movie where comedy filmmaker turned feel-good inspirational director Tom Shadyac casts Morgan Freeman to basically play God again, well, that wait is finally over. But the small value beyond that in the sports drama “Brian Banks“— think, “The Blind Side,” and “Glory Road”— littered with a number of problematic plot points and unintentionally offensive narrative emblems, including the exasperating white savior cliché, is negligible.

Continue reading ‘Brian Banks’ Is A Soapy Legal Drama That Never Rises Above Its Magical Sports Movie Tropes [Review] at The Playlist.

When Emily Deschanel graduated from theater school, she planned to spend her career doing off-Broadway shows and the occasional indie film. The actress, who is best known for the 12 years she spent starring on Fox procedural Bones, chuckled on the phone while remembering those early career goals.

"I remember somebody laughing at me, like, 'Ok, if you never want to make any money, then great,'" she told The Hollywood Reporter.

While her earliest credited parts include small roles in not-so-indie films including Cold Mountain, Glory Road and The Alamo, Deschanel's big break came after being cast in ...

Hulu has confirmed that several of its original series will be debuting new episodes on the streaming service in December, including “Marvel’s Runaways” and “Into the Dark.” And there will also be new to Hulu seasons of some of your favorites shows from other networks, including “Killing Eve.”

Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first Hulu appearances including the Oscar-winning “A Fish Called Wanda” and “Little Miss Sunshine.”

See Netflix schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in December

Available December 1

Movies

12 Dates of Christmas

A Christmas Tree Miracle

A Dog for Christmas

A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!

A Fish Called Wanda

A Fistful of Dollars

A Snow Globe Christmas

All Over the Guy

Angels & Demons

Apollo 13

Bad Girls From Mars

Barbie: A Perfect Christmas

Barbie and Her Sisters in the Great Puppy Adventure

Barbie in a Christmas Carol

Best Seller

Beverly...

While Netflix has great offerings for December, Hulu’s strong showing is putting up a good fight against the streaming titan. There’s the darkly thrilling “Killing Eve,” Hulu originals such as “Marvel’s Runaways” and “Into the Dark” anthology series, plus a plethora of wholesome holiday movies like “A Dog for Christmas.” Whatever you choose on Hulu, make sure to pair it with some hot chocolate and a blanket over your lap.

Here’s the full list of TV shows and films coming to Hulu in December. Start streaming now at Hulu.com (Not on Hulu? The site is offering a one-month free trial right now for new users. Get more details here.)

Dec. 1

12 Dates of Christmas

24: Complete Seasons 1-8

24: Redemption

A Christmas Tree Miracle

A Dog for Christmas

A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!

A Fish Called Wanda

A Fistful of Dollars

A Snow...

Supergirl‘s Mehcad Brooks has signed with Apa. Brooks currently stars as James Olsen on the CW’s Supergirl and will next be seen in Tyler Perry’s upcoming feature film Nobody’s Fool opposite Tiffany Haddish. Brooks’ other credits include director Paul Haggis’ feature In The Valley of Elah, opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron, Jerry Bruckheimer’s Glory Road, the role of Eggs on HBO’s True Blood, and ABC’s Desperate Housewives. He is also repped by Bloom Hergott.

Karga Seven Pictures, a Red Arrow Studios company, has signed with Apa. Founded in 2008 by partners Sarah Wetherbee, Kelly McPherson and Emre Sahin, the award-winning production company headquartered in Los Angeles and Istanbul specializes in factual, scripted and branded productions across film, television and digital platforms. The company has ten series in production across eight networks and has produced more than 500 hours of programming to-date, including the...

“Community’s” Yvette Nicole Brown and “The Middle’s” Alphonso McAuley have joined Ben Platt in Black Label Media’s “Love & Oatmeal.”

“Camp X-Ray” director Peter Sattler is helming the project, with Steve Waverly penning the script. Black Label Media’s Molly Smith, Rachel Smith, Thad Luckinbill, and Trent Luckinbill are producing, along with Trina Wyatt. Blm’s Jon Schumacher will executive produce.

The story centers on Scott, a 20-something aspiring writer who, in the wake of his father’s sudden death, sees his dream of moving to Paris put in jeopardy when he is forced to temporarily take in his wildly unpredictable, mentally ill sister. They are eyeing a start of production early summer.

Brown is best known for her starring role as the opinionated but sweet Shirley Bennett on NBC’s “Community.” She recently appeared on ABC’s “The Mayor” and currently has a recurring role on “Mom.

Image Source: Netflix

While the cast of 13 Reasons Why is mostly made up of relatively new or unknown actors (at least before season one launched them to fame), there's one face that probably seems really, really familiar: Mr. Porter. As one of the notorious 13 reasons high school student Hannah Baker chooses to commit suicide in the first season, the Liberty High School guidance counselor interacts with many of the characters as they navigate the aftermath of Hannah's death. If you have feelings about Mr. Porter that you want to get off your chest, direct your questions to actor Derek Luke.

There's a good chance you've seen the 42-year-old star before, especially if you're a fan of inspiring sports movies. In Glory Road, he pops up as Bobby Joe Hill, and in 2004's Friday Night Lights, he plays running back James "Boobie" Miles. If music-themed biopics are more your speed, you might recognize him from Notorious,...

"If you're not riskin' nothin', neither will they." At a time when record executives finally realized that there was a sizeable black audience waiting to buy records from black musicians, Bessie Smith rose to fame and inspired a new generation of artists with her incredible blues. Now the story of the woman who came to be known as The Empress of the Blues is coming to HBO with Queen Latifiah (Valentine's Day, Just Wright) taking the title role in Bessie. It looks like another solid piece of filmmaking from HBO, which isn't surprising with Pariah director Dee Rees behind the lens, and it's refreshing to dig into the blues. Watch! Here's the teaser trailer for Dee Rees' Bessie from HBO: Bessie is directed by Dee Rees (Pariah) and written by Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois (McFarland USA, Glory Road). Queen Latifah (Bringing Down the House) stars as legendary blues singer...

I cannot believe it has taken this long for Kevin Costner to combine two of his cinematic passions into one movie. The first is obvious: the sports film. Costner has a slate of sports films people hold in very high regard. Field of Dreams and Bull Durham, whether you like them or not, are entering "classic" territory. The other passion may not be a easily recognizable, but Costner is quite interested in race and culture relations. From his (undeserving) Best Picture winner Dances with Wolves to this year's mediocrely reviewed Black or White, Costner really wants to let people know he can coexist with people who aren't just white. So, McFarland, USA brings those two worlds together, and the result is about as cliched as you could possibly imagine. But is that really a surprisec This particular sports film comes to us courtesy of the mighty House of Mouse. They...

"You were running a mile in five minutes." Kevin Costner didn't quite cut is an aging action star in Three Days to Kill this year, but next year he's going to try to inspire a group of young Hispanic kids into becoming champion cross country runners in McFarland, USA. Now a second trailer for the film has arrived, showing a little more of the typical sports drama we've come to expect from Disney. However, this one feels a little less compelling than usual, if only because it's about the not-so-exciting sport of long distance running. Plus, this trailer has the original song "Juntos (Together)" by Juanes, created for the film. Here's the new trailer for Niki Caro's McFarland, USA straight from Walt Disney Pictures: You can still watch the first trailer for Niki Caro's McFarland, USA right here. McFarland, USA is directed by Niki Caro (North Country,...

"You're our anchor Danny, and not just because you're fat." Following Million Dollar Arm this year, Walt Disney Pictures has another traditional inspiring sports drama coming to theaters early next year. McFarland, USA stars Kevin Costner and tells the true story of a group of amateur Hispannic runners in a small, struggling California farm town who try to overcome the odds and build a winning cross country team under the guidance of the town's newcomer Jim White (Costner). This looks just as cheesy as you would expect with messages about class and race not being subtle at all. But maybe it'll be all right? Watch! Here's the first trailer for Niki Caro's McFarland, USA, originally from Yahoo: McFarland, USA is directed by Niki Caro (North Country, The Whale Rider) and written by Bettina Gilois (Glory Road). A group of novice runners from an economically challenged town in California's farm-rich...

A quarter-century ago, Kevin Costner hit a double-play, following up "Bull Durham" with "Field of Dreams" and becoming king of the sports movie. Twenty-five years later, as "Field of Dreams" marks its 25th anniversary (it was released on April 21, 1989), Costner is back with "Draft Day." The movie's about football, not baseball, and Costner's character plays in the executive suite, not on the field, but his mere presence still offers a reminder of great sports movies past.

And after all, isn't nostalgia a key element of sports movies? "Field of Dreams" makes this explicit -- we long for the sports heroes of our childhood, for a supposed long-gone golden age of our preferred sport, as a way of connecting with our past and bridging the generational divide that separates us as adults from our parents. Sports movies offer more than just the drama of winners and losers, or the journey from dream to achievement,...

What’s new, what’s hot, and what you may have missed, now available to stream.

new to stream

Glory Road: based on a true story about the first interracial college basketball team, this predictable sports drama succeeds mainly thanks to its engaging cast, including Josh Lucas as the coach [at Netflix] A Hijacking (Kapringen): harrowing Danish drama of modern-day piracy as a sort of illicit corporate takeover; riveting and exhausting [my review] [at Netflix] Love Is All You Need: charming and wise, this is a delightful romantic dramedy about making the most of whatever life throws at you [my review] [at Netflix]

streaming now, before it’s on dvd

Ender’s Game: the Big Sf Ideas of this strange mashup of Starship Troopers and Harry Potter — gifted kids go to fascist military school! — seem positive only if your heart is made of stone [my review] [at Amazon UK Instant Video]

Oscar noms I caught up with

The Broken Circle Breakdown: heartbreaking melodrama about...

After Legendary Pictures’ Jackie Robinson biopic 42 hit it out of the park earlier this year, other studios are moving fast to develop their own movies about iconic sports figures. Disney announced today that it plans to get in on the action with a biopic centered on Jesse Owens, an African-American track star who competed at the infamous 1936 Olympics in Nazi-controlled Germany.

Disney has set Antoine Fuqua (Olympus Has Fallen) to direct the biopic, while The King’s Speech scribe David Seidler will adapt a screenplay from Jeremy Schaap’s bestseller Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler’s Olympics.

At the 1936 Olympics, which German dictator Adolf Hitler manipulated as a propaganda tool to showcase his military might, Owens became an unlikely hero for African-American athletes, winning four gold medals. Hitler had hoped to showcase white supremacy at the Games that year, but Owens upset those plans by winning medals in the 100m sprint,...

Black Film recently spoke with Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, Pain & Gain), who plays Falcon in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, about the significance of his role.

Aside from Rhodey in Iron Man, there have not been many major characters of color included in the Marvel films so far.

In an interview with Black Film, Mackie was asked if his role would be greater than that of Derek Luke’s (Antwone Fisher, Glory Road) in Captain America: The First Avenger, which was limited.

Mackie said:

I’m happy to say that I’m in a good deal of the movie and I play an integral part with Captain America taking down the winter soldier.

Mackie also gave details on what the costume would be like:

They just released pictures of the costume last week. It’s more of a military style tactical costume. He’s more along the lines of...

42 is primed to strike a victory for quality this weekend, though there are plenty of variables that could give Scary Movie 5 a sneaky win. Let's break it down! Finding a comparable for 42 isn't an easy task. Is it Cinderella Man, Glory Road or The Blind Side? You've got openings in the neighborhood of $18 million, $13 million and $34 million, which is to say the results are far from conclusive. The reviews have been mostly positive, and a baseball movie is well-timed, plus we're still in the residual spring break time period. There aren't bankable stars involved (unless you want to argue Harrison Ford, in which case I'd throw Firewall and Morning Glory your way) and it is spotting Scary Movie 5 somewhere around 100 theaters. I'm predicting $29 million and a first place victory, but... Another scary factor in trying to call this weekend is I'm also trying to hit the exact moment...

This is a slow week for DVDs. Seriously, it is. When one of the biggest releases is the incestuously Presidential Hyde Park on Hudson (and who wants to watch that clunker, drunk or not), there’s not many options. Even the big movies opening this week are thin. Who wants to drink with Remember the Titans or Glory Road to get in the spirit for 42? Finally, I wouldn’t saddle anyone with another reason to watch one of the Scary Movie movies. In my desperation to find a relevant title for a drinking game this week, it dawned on me that we have never published one for the deliciously awful Troll 2. So, relevant or not, that became my focus because we could all use a little more Troll 2 in our lives, any day of the year. Cheers! And now, to cover our butts… This game is only for people over the age of 21. Please drink...

Mulder and Scully, redux?

Josh Lucas (The Firm) and Lynn Collins (True Blood) are set as the co-leads of Occult, A&E’s drama pilot produced by Michael Bay and written by celebrated X-Files scribe James Wong, TVLine has learned.

Cheat Sheet | May Sweeps Scorecard: Find Out Who’s Dying, Who’s Getting Hitched, Who’s Breaking Up and More!

The project centers on a FBI agent (Lucas) who returns from administrative leave after going off the deep end while investigating his wife’s disappearance. Eager to be back on the job, he is paired with a female agent (Collins) who specializes in the occult.