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“The Nanny” star and SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, Jane Seymour, Luke Wilson and Joe Manganiello are the latest additions to the robust roster of Hollywood stars set to attend the upcoming eighth edition of the Filming Italy Sardegna festival, which will be held June 19-22 on the island of Sardinia.

Sarah Michelle Geller, Andy Serkis and the “The O.C.” star Mischa Barton are also expected to make the trek to the event, which combines film and TV with an emphasis on women in the biz and creating a bridge between the Italian and U.S. film industries.

As previously announced, Alec Baldwin — who has recently been seen in the ill-fated Western “Rust” and in numerous appearances on “Saturday Night Live” — and Heather Graham are also headed to Sardinia, where they will be members of the fest’s jury dedicated to short films by female directors.

“From a practical standpoint, Filming...

Mike Flanagan's upcoming TV adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie has cast Kate Siegel and 13 other actors for yet-unknown roles in the horror classic. Mike Flanagan's adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie is one of the most highly anticipated projects in the entire horror genre. The show is still early in development, but the main cast of Carrie has been announced, which includes horror stars like Summer Howell (Curse of Chucky) as the titular Carrie White and Matthew Lillard (Scream) as Principal Grayle. Now, Flanagan's upcoming Prime Video series has announced a whole slew of new actors in recurring and guest roles.

A new report from Deadline confirmed that the Carrie show has cast Kate Siegel, Mike Flanagan's wife and most frequent collaborator, Michael Trucco, Katee Sackhoff, Rahul Kohli, Crystal Balint, Danielle Klaudt, Heather Graham (Chosen Family), Tim Bagley (The Perfect Couple), Tahmoh Penikett (The Madness), Mapuana Makia (Doogie Kamealoha M.

Following Wish You Were Here’s release, the actor answers your questions about Sunday roasts, being kept on her toes by Paul Greengrass and especially villainous villains

Hi Julia. What’s it like being directed by Paul Greengrass with his fast-cut, handheld camera, reportage style? Do you have to approach your acting in a different way? HighPriest1967

Paul is an extraordinary director, a visionary director, and I absorbed so much by watching him work. He comes from documentary, so even though he was filming these elaborate, very expensive, complicated action sequences, he was still able to see things happening spontaneously. I remember when we were shooting The Bourne Ultimatum in Tangier, running through those windy streets. Normally as an actor, you turn a corner and you think you’re off camera, so you’d stop. But you could never do that with Paul because there might be a camera around the corner.

Alec Baldwin, Heather Graham, Simon Baker and Cuba Gooding Jr. are among the Hollywood talents booked to attend the upcoming eighth edition of the Filming Italy Sardegna festival, which will be held June 19-22 on the island of Sardinia.

Baldwin, who has recently been seen in the ill-fated Western “Rust” and in numerous appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” and Graham will be members of the fest’s jury dedicated to short films. Also on the jury of the fest’s shorts competition – which is the event’s only competitive section – are Italy’s Micaela Ramazzotti (“Like Crazy”), who is the jury’s president; Spain’s Rocío Muñoz Morales; Italy’s Riccardo Milani, Aurora Giovinazzo and Giacomo Giorgio; as well as professor Massimo Arcangeli, Andrea Minuz and Tiziana Rocca, the marketing guru and current Taormina Film Festival chief who launched the Sardinia event eight years ago.

Among announced films premiering locally...

Heather Graham was frequently cast as the sexpot in comedy movies, and eventually she began to tire of being seen as just one thing. She's experienced a lot in Hollywood, and she knows full well the industry isn't always good for women.

She talked to The Guardian about her career recently. “I related to the awkward romantic comedy heroines more than to the glam characters. Sometimes, I felt like I wasn’t being seen for my intelligence or other qualities," she mused. But even more on her mind was how much Hollywood skewed to the male demographic.

“Most movies are financed based on a male actor attaching themselves,” she told the newspaper, “and if it’s not a male-driven story – if the guy’s not this hero, like killing all these people and saving everyone’s lives – it’s sometimes harder to get men to attach. Every independent movie is...

The actor has seen the best and worst of Hollywood, from directors like Paul Thomas Anderson to the notorious Harvey Weinstein. She talks about her #MeToo moment, her difficult childhood and her new movie, Chosen Family

For almost all her life, Heather Graham says, she was a “people pleaser”. It was encouraged in childhood, she says, this obligation to put others’ needs above her own, and it endured even after the 1997 film Boogie Nights had made her a star and she had severed all contact with her “judgmental, authoritarian” parents.

Now 55, Graham was in her 40s before she recognised her self-sabotaging tendencies, and tried to correct course. “I realised, no, actually I can just ask myself, ‘What do I want?’ and make myself happy,” she says over Zoom from her home in Los Angeles. “I wish I could have had this when I was 20 or 15. If I wasn’t trying to please other people,...

This past week marked 35 years since Twin Peaks debuted on ABC, a bittersweet anniversary given that co-creator David Lynch passed away not long ago. The iconic director's cult classic series featured a vast array of famous actors, including Heather Graham as Annie, a diner waitress from Season 2 who was also a love interest to Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan). MovieWeb recently caught up with Graham while she was promoting her latest Western film, Gunslingers, and the celebrated actress took time to reflect on her involvement in Lynch's small-screen project — especially as his daughter recently unveiled Lynch's mysterious Hollywood gravestone.

"I'm very grateful to be in Twin Peaks. So many people, it was so meaningful to them, and I'm just grateful to be part of that amazing TV show," Graham told us. "And, you know, he told me to learn how to do Transcendental Meditation, so I'll always be...

Exclusive: QC Entertainment, the company behind Get Out and BlacKkKlansman, has completed the Victoria, BC shoot on horror film The Casket Girls with four major additions to the cast: Mike Colter (Evil), Raúl Castillo (Smile 2), Matt Frewer (Perry Mason), and Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!).

As previously announced, Gabrielle Union leads the ensemble. Lennon also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Robert Ben Garant, his partner on Night at the Museum and numerous other projects, with revisions by Keith Cooper (Anything for Jackson) & Justin Dyck (Anything for Jackson), who directed the film.

The Casket Girls is inspired by true events involving a group of young women sent from France to New Orleans to become brides to French colonists in the early 1700s. They arrived with small chests, or “caskets” of their belongings, hence the name given by locals. According to legend, upon the girls’ arrival, the homicide rate in New Orleans rose dramatically,...

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Hulu is ready with an entertainment-packed March this year. The upcoming month will see the release of the brilliant crime comedy-drama series Deli Boys and the streaming release of the award-winning film Anora. Just like every month, Hulu is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the 7 new movies and TV shows coming to Hulu in March 2025.

Deli Boys Season 1 (March 6) Credit – Hulu

Deli Boys is an upcoming crime dark comedy-drama series created by Abdullah Saeed. The Hulu series follows two Pakistani American brothers who are suddenly put in charge of the family-owned convenience store after their father suddenly dies. They soon realize that their father was mixed up in some dangerous criminal activities, and now they must take up his mantle to continue the family business. Deli Boys stars Asif Ali,...

Actor Julia Stiles makes her directorial debut with romantic comedy Wish You Were Here. Here, have a trailer and a synopsis.

Julia Stiles made her name in hugely popular films like 10 Things I Hate About You, Down To You, Save the Last Dance and The Prince and Me. She went on to star in indie dramas like The Business of Strangers, before starring opposite Matt Damon in the Bourne franchise. In recent years she has appeared in films like Hustlers and, most recently Heather Graham’s Chosen Family. She has also worked on the small screen, starring in Amazon Original comedy series The Lake.

Now? She makes her directorial debut with romantic drama Wish You Were Here.

The cast for the feature includes Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jimmie Fails, Gabby Kono-Abdy, wirh Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey and Frasier actor Kelsey Grammer.

Stiles directs from a screenplay she co-wrote with Renée Carlino,...

Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence is bringing back the medical comedy 15 years later after the show ended with a notoriously disliked final season. Despite having the opportunity to retcon that ninth season in different ways, Lawrence says the upcoming reboot will honor the controversial events of Seasn 9, which mainly focused on a new set of characters (in a new location) — something that wasn't fully embraced by Scrubs fans. While Season 9 did see most of the original stars return in guest roles, Donald Faison and John C. McGinley were the only two to return in recurring roles. That was obviously a bold choice (given the popularity of the show's original cast)... and it didn't pay off: Scrubs was canceled following its ninth season.

But, despite all that, Lawrence says there is room for Scrubs' talented final season cast in the upcoming revival. During a conversation with TVLine, Lawrence defended his stance, saying,...

Leonardo DiCaprio has just crossed over into…the Twilight Zone — and the life of its creator, Rod Serling.

IndieWire can reveal exclusively that DiCaprio’s Appian Way is set to produce an authorized biographical documentary on the life of Serling, the host, creator, narrator, writer, and political activist best known for his series “The Twilight Zone.”

The untitled film will be directed by Jonah Tulis, who previously directed “GameStop: Rise of the Players” for Neon and “Console Wars” for Legendary Pictures and Paramount+. He and the producers have received the full blessing of Serling’s daughters Jodi Serling and Anne Serling, who are executive producing the project.

The Serling documentary will explore how Serling’s writing helped change television forever. The film will look at Serling’s humble beginnings in television and how he later used his platform to affect change both on and off the screen, including his battles...

Es.TV is set to bring an exciting lineup on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 6:30 Am on Talk. The show will feature a star-studded cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, known for his role in “Venom: The Last Dance.” His presence promises to bring depth and charisma to the episode.

Anna Kendrick, fresh off her performance in “Woman of the Hour,” will also be part of the show. Her talent and charm are sure to add a lively touch to the morning. Fans of John Brotherton, who recently starred in “Chosen Family,” will be pleased to see him joining the lineup as well.

The episode will also feature the dynamic duo of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, famous for their roles in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” Their chemistry is legendary, and viewers can expect plenty of laughs. Adding to the entertainment will be comic Pedro Hernandez, who is known for his engaging humor.

On Monday 28 October 2024, Talk broadcasts Es.TV!

Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Es.TV” promises an exciting lineup for fans. This episode features Scarlett Johansson, known for her role in “Transformers One.” She will likely share insights about her latest projects and experiences in the film industry.

Thomas Lennon, from “Chosen Family,” will also make an appearance. His comedic talent is sure to bring some light-hearted moments to the show. Viewers can expect engaging conversations and perhaps some funny anecdotes from his career.

Brendan Gleeson, recognized for his role in “Joker: Folie à Deux,” adds to the star power of the episode. His presence will likely bring a serious and thought-provoking perspective to the discussions. Dakota Fanning, who stars in “The Watchers,” is another notable guest. Her impressive career at a young age will surely be a topic of interest.

The episode will also feature comic Reggie Jr., adding a...

We spoke with comedic actor Thomas Lennon amid the release of Chosen Family, his new movie from writer-director Heather Graham who also leads the cast. Lennon steals his scenes as Matt, the hilarious but supportive friend of Ann (Graham), a single yoga instructor trying in vain to connect with her new boyfriend's devilish seven-year-old daughter. It's the latest laugh-out-loud project in a long line of similarly comedic ones from Lennon, whom Comedy Central fans might remember best from the acclaimed mockumentary series, Reno 911! And it sounds like another reunion between its beloved cast is not exactly out of the question down the line.

"I can't imagine we wouldn't do more Reno 911! because we already have all the outfits, which is basically the hardest part," Lennon told MovieWeb. "You can tell that we don't really overthink it when we do it. If anything, we really underthink it quite a bit." He...

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Heather Graham writes, directs, and stars in the new rom-com Chosen Family, which also stars Julia Stiles, Thomas Lennon, and John Brotherton. She spoke with Will Sayre of MovieWeb about stepping behind the camera, and discussed the planned reboot of Scrubs.

In Chosen Family, yoga teacher Ann cannot escape her manic family, miserable dating life, and inability to say no, leaving her constantly trying to fix everyone else's problems. Things start looking up, however, when her friends set her up with a divorced dad who has an adorable 7-year-old daughter.

Heather Graham recalls stepping out of her comfort zone to take on her role in 1997’s Boogie Nights.

The actress, who plays Rollergirl in Paul Thomas Anderson’s porn-industry drama, recently said on the Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum podcast that she initially avoided projects involving sexual content.

“I grew up in a religious family, and they were like, ‘Don’t do anything with any sexual content,'” Graham explained. “But try to be a woman in Hollywood in your early 20s, mid-20s, and then to try to get no roles with any sexual content — it’s like impossible.”

The Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me star ultimately decided to go against her family’s wishes and not limit her opportunities in Hollywood.

“I had turned down a few things where there was sexual content, and then I saw other people, having really good careers,” she recalled.

We spoke to celebrated actress Julia Stiles leading up to the release of Chosen Family, her new romantic comedy from writer-director and co-star Heather Graham. It's a funny and sweet look at modern-day struggles like finding love while juggling work alongside an overbearing family. Stiles told us how she was inspired by Graham's direction (and sought advice from a surprising action director) for her own upcoming directorial debut, Wish You Were Here, a film adaptation of the novel by Rene Carlino. Stiles told MovieWeb:

"Somebody sent me the book, and I thought, 'Oh, this will make a really good movie. It's a love story. It has some rom-com elements, but ultimately, it's a pretty tragic love story, and I think it's just about appreciating the present moment and the time that we have on Earth, because life is precious. It'll be out in theaters, I think, early next year. I...

We spoke to Heather Graham upon the release of her directorial project Chosen Family, a comedy film she wrote and also stars in. The title lives up to its name, as Graham's lovable lead character navigates modern romance and lasting friendships while struggling to set boundaries against her increasingly needy family. It's the latest in a long line of projects Graham has tackled over the years, on both the big and small screen. TV audiences know her from Twin Peaks, Californication, and, of course, her standout role on the hit sitcom Scrubs and fans have been hoping for a reboot ever since it went off the air. Graham told MovieWeb:

"I definitely would love to be in the Scrubs revival. Zach [Braff] and Donald [Faison] do a podcast called [Fake Doctors, Real Friends] and we were all talking about that. And I was just like, 'I want to go back and do more episodes of Scrubs!

Renowned actress Heather Graham steps behind the camera for the first time with Chosen Family, the charming yet flawed tale of a yoga instructor’s adventures in love and family. Graham writes, directs, and stars as Ann, a single woman juggling work, romance, and the daily dramas of her eclectic relatives.

Ann loves helping others through her yoga classes in quiet Rhode Island, but her own love life remains a tricky mess. Past relationships all followed the same pattern – attractive but unreliable men who left her feelings unfulfilled. Meanwhile, her sister battles addiction while eccentric parents demand more of her time.

Enter Steve, a kindly contractor who shows Ann a different kind of care. Their romance blooms but stumbles on a new obstacle – Steve’s controlling daughter Lilly. The young girl takes an instant disliking to Ann and works constantly to sabotage their bond. As Lilly’s antics escalate, deeper...

John Brotherton is a father in the middle of a divorce whose desire to date someone new is hampered by his attached daughter in Chosen Family. Having first broken out with his work in the soap opera One Life to Live, Brotherton steadily began making a name for himself with his roles in both James Wan's The Conjuring, starring as local police officer Brad Hamilton roped into the Warrens' investigation of the Perron home, and Furious 7, not only playing Mr. Nobody's right-hand man, Sheppard, but also being Paul Walker's stand-in for some scenes as Brian.

In Chosen Family, Brotherton stars as Steve, a charming contractor hired by chef and restauranteur Max for help with fixing up his new business, all while raising his daughter and going through a divorce. Through his interactions with Max, Steve meets Ann, a yoga instructor looking to forge a better path...

Julia Stiles is a woman whose efforts to remain sober prove troublesome amid her dysfunctional family in Chosen Family. The Golden Globe and Emmy nominee first found success with her turns in multiple William Shakespeare modernizations, including the Heath Ledger-co-starring 10 Things I Hate About You, Ethan Hawke's Hamlet and Tim Blake Nelson's O. Her star power has only grown since, including starring in the original Bourne trilogy with Matt Damon and in Dexter season 5 as Lumen.

Stiles stars in Chosen Family as Clio, sister to the film's protagonist Ann, just released from her latest stint in rehab after years of struggling with various addictions. Moving back in with their hyper-religious father and eccentric mother, Clio becomes consistently more frustrated with her sister's overbearing nature of making sure she doesn't go back to rehab, while their parents continue to support her with her various ideas of businesses she wants to form,...

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The charming John Brotherton discusses his role in Chosen Family, a new film written & directed by and starring Heather Graham. He can't say enough good things about Graham, and also Bob Saget, remembering his time on Fuller House. Chosen Family is available Oct. 11, 2024, from Brainstorm Media.

In Chosen Family, yoga teacher Ann cannot escape her manic family, miserable dating life and inability to say no, leaving her constantly trying to fix everyone else's problems.

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The iconic comedian Thomas Lennon speaks to MovieWeb's Will Sayre about his role in Chosen Family, a rom-com written and directed by Heather Graham, who stars with Lennon (and Julia Stiles). He also runs through the legacy of Reno 911! and other titles in his long career.

In Chosen Family, yoga teacher Ann cannot escape her manic family, miserable dating life and inability to say no, leaving her constantly trying to fix everyone else's problems.

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family. That's how the adage always went, at least until we started to expand our definition of family. Yes, the notion of a chosen clan is ever-growing in popularity, and it's being explored on the big screen in a variety of ways. There are darker explorations like the Jesse Eisenberg film Manodrome from earlier this year, and now, on a much lighter note, there's the quite obviously titled Chosen Family, a passion project from the always charming Heather Graham.

The last time we spoke to Graham, she was playing a gritty Western character trying to protect her daughter (in the film Place of Bones). This time around, her character Ann is trying in vain to connect with someone else's daughter, giving Chosen Family an uncomfortable comedic end result that might give certain millennials and Gen X'ers Ptsd based on their own past family woes.

Thomas Lennon reunites with Heather Graham on her return to the director's chair with Chosen Family. Having gotten his start in the iconic comedy troupe The State, Lennon is perhaps best known for his work as the co-creator and star of the Reno 911! franchise alongside his State collaborators Robert Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney-Silver. Beyond the improv police comedy show, Lennon has found success both in front of and behind the camera, co-writing the first two Night at the Museum movies with Garant, while also starring in everything from I Love You, Man to Bob's Burgers and The Odd Couple reboot.

Lennon stars in Chosen Family as Max, one of a group of close friends of Graham's Ann, and a chef gearing up to open a new restaurant with his wife, Frances. The movie primarily follows Ann as she looks to finally break her trend of dating lackluster men, striking...

Written and directed by Heather Graham, Chosen Family is a heartwarming and hilariously relatable film that navigates the complexities of relationships with a blend of comedy and drama.

Featuring an ensemble cast, including Graham, John Brotherton, Andrea Savage, Michael Gross, Julie Halston, Thomas Lennon, and Julia Stiles, the film brings humour and heart to its exploration of family and connection and is a must-watch date movie (you'll walk away with a bigger smile on your face than you did after watching Joker: Folie à Deux). 

So, while Chosen Family isn't a comic book movie, we couldn't pass up the chance to talk with Heather after checking this one out.

During our conversation, the actor and filmmaker talked us through her approach to telling this unconventional rom-com story, took us behind the scenes of some standout moments, and reflected on getting physical with The Bourne Identity star Julia Stiles.

We also...

Heather Graham is getting back to the director's chair with Chosen Family. In front of the camera, Graham's career has seen her star in everything from Jon Favreau's buddy comedy Swingers to David Lynch and Mark Frost's beloved mystery show Twin Peaks, The Hangover trilogy and, more recently, in the latest adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand and H.P. Lovecraft-based Suitable Flesh. Behind the camera, Graham made her directorial debut with the 2018 comedy Half Magic, which garnered generally positive reviews from critics.

With Chosen Family, Graham not only is back in the director's chair and writing the script for the romantic comedy, but also stars as Ann, a yoga instructor looking to break free from her string of bad relationships. This leads to her dating Steve, a single father working as a contractor for her restauranteur friend. Their relationship gets off to a strong start, but...

Heather Graham has been getting candid about her personal life and explaining why she decided to go public with details of her family rift. The 54-year-old actress recently revealed that fame resulted in her becoming estranged from her ultra-conservative parents Joan and James Graham, who didn’t approve of her Hollywood lifestyle. She admitted that they haven’t been on speaking terms for years. Now she is opening up about why she felt it was important to publicly address her family fractures. “It is a little vulnerable to talk about in an interview,” she admitted People. “And at the same point, I know there’s a lot of other people who are going through something like it, so I guess I just feel like being honest about my life and not pretending that everything is always fantastic.” The star continued, “I’m okay just being who I am.” Her latest...

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The iconic Julia Stiles stars in a new film directed by another awesome woman who began with great '90s movies, Heather Graham. Their film Chosen Family is in theaters and on demand Oct. 11, 2024. Stiles also discusses making the Bourne movies and other highlights from her career, including directing her own movie, Wish You Were Here.

In Chosen Family, yoga teacher Ann cannot escape her manic family, miserable dating life and inability to say no, leaving her constantly trying to fix everyone else's problems.

Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke and former NFL star Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski have nabbed starring roles in writer/director Tom DeNucci’s sports comedy The Roaring Game.

Also joining the Verdi Productions pic, that just wrapped production, in key roles is William Forsythe (The Devil Rejects) and Vanessa Angel (Kingpin). The Roaring Game centers on Rickey, a high school janitor who loses everything when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games.

To win her back, Rickey creates a misfit curling team and uses his sweeping skills to compete for gold and complete a comic quest for redemption that captivates the nation.

Rourke is best known for his role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, which earned him Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. Former New England Patriots tight-end Gronkowski has acting credits that include The Clapper, Entourage, Boss Level and the buddy comedy The Instigators.

Despite a lack of updates over the past few years, Reno 911! may not be completely over. The mockumentary is famously a Cops parody, showcasing the Reno Sheriff's Department as they attempt to intervene in various crimes and domestic issues. It is filled with raunchy humor, as the characters are not especially competent officers and generally struggle with the producers of their supposed documentary. It ran for eight seasons and starred numerous actors, including voice actor Wendi McLendon-Covey.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant about Chosen Family (2024), Reno 911! co-creator, Thomas Lennon, opened up about the show's future. Lennon admitted that he expects to see it return and believes that the cast would agree, no matter what they were working on. He had high praise for every star and their dedication to the show but cited Niecy Nash (Deputy Raineesha Williams) as especially devoted. Check out his quote below:...

With the original movie's star recently expressing her interest in a sequel, Thomas Lennon recalls the original scrapped plans for Taxi 2. Lennon and his creative partner, Robert Ben Garant, were brought on to rewrite the script for the remake of Luc Besson's hit action comedy of the same name, with the American version centering on skilled taxi driver Belle partnering with hapless NYPD detective Andy Washburn to stop a series of bank robberies carried out by skilled getaway drivers. Led by Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah, Taxi was a solid box office success in spite of its critical panning.

During a recent interview with Screen Rant for his role in the upcoming romantic comedy Chosen Family, Lennon was asked about Latifah's recent comments, in which she expressed her interest in making Taxi 2 with Fallon. The original movie's co-writer recalled that he and Garant were actually previously...

With the franchise finally gearing up to get back to the screen, Julia Stiles is weighing in on her potential Bourne 6 return. The Golden Globe and Emmy nominee has been with the Matt Damon-led action franchise since its first installment, The Bourne Identity, as Nicky Parsons, a logistics technician for the mysterious CIA black ops program Treadstone. Though initially only a minor role, Stiles' Nicky would become a key figure in the rest of Damon's Bourne trilogy, assisting him at various points in his efforts to discover his identity and expose the corruption of Treadstone.

During a recent interview with Screen Rant for the upcoming romantic comedy Chosen Family, Stiles was asked about her potential return in Bourne 6. The star acknowledged that it seems unlikely she will be back to play Nicky for the Damon-led sequel, primarily due to her character's death in the previous installment, as any return...

"You sleep in the same bed with Anne? Ewww." Brainstorm Media has revealed an official trailer for a fun romantic comedy called Chosen Family, the second feature film directed by actress Heather Graham. She also wrote the screenplay for this one and produces and stars in it. Graham made her feature directorial debut with the 2018 comedy Half Magic and has been appearing in various films recently but this is only the second time she has directed. Yoga teacher Ann cannot escape her manic family, miserable dating life, and inability to say "no" to anyone else, leaving her constantly trying to fix everyone else's problems. But can she finally put herself first when a new love walks into her life? She falls for a hunky new divorced father but must also battle her 7-year-old daughter for affection. Starring Graham as Anne, with John Broherton as Steve, Andrea Savage, Michael Gross, Julie Halston,...

Heather Graham has joined the cast of They Will Kill You, the thriller being produced by Nocturna Pictures, the horror label formed earlier this year by Skydance and Andy and Barbara Muschietti.

New Line is co-financing and distributing the feature, which will have Kirill Sokolov in the director’s chair when shooting gets underway in mid-September.

Zazie Beetz is toplining They Will Kill You, which is described as a horror feature laced with black humor. It tells the story of a woman (Beetz) who answers a help wanted ad to be a housekeeper in a mysterious New York City high-rise, not realizing she is entering a community that has seen a number of disappearances over the years. The project has been described as being a tonal mix of Ready or Not and The Raid.

Graham’s role is being kept in the basement, but she joins Oscar winner Patricia Arquette and Tom Felton,...

Brainstorm Media has acquired the North American distribution rights to Chosen Family, a romantic comedy written and directed by Heather Graham, and for which a trailer has now been released. Graham stars as the lead opposite 1990s movie icon Julia Stiles (The Bourne Identity) in a story about sibling rivalry and the family you choose as your own. Chosen Family tells the story of Ann (Graham), a yoga teacher on a path for inner peace amidst the chaos of her manic family and miserable dating life. Ann's journey is complicated by her inability to say no and her relentless desire to fix everyones problems. She struggles to save her sister Clio (Stiles) from addiction, leading to disastrous results. With a new love interest entering her life, played by John Brotherton (Fuller House), Ann must navigate the complexities of her relationships and learn to put herself first.

You can check out...

Heather Graham’s chosen family is growing.

The actress-turned-filmmaker’s latest big-screen effort, Chosen Family, has been acquired by Brainstorm Media for North America with a theatrical release set for Oct. 11.

Written, directed by and starring Graham, the Verdi Prods. film also stars John Brotherton, Ella Grace Helton, Andrea Savage, Michael Gross, Julie Halston, Thomas Lennon and Julia Stiles. Chosen Family follows a yoga teacher named Ann (Graham) who is on a path to find inner peace amidst the chaos of her manic family and miserable dating life. The situation is complicated by an inability to say no and her relentless desire to fix everyone’s problems. She also struggles to save her sister Clio (Stiles) from addiction, leading to disastrous results.

Graham said she can’t wait for audiences to see her film, which she describes as a labor of love. “I’m so excited that Brainstorm is releasing...

Exclusive: Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actress Julia Stiles has wrapped production on her directorial debut, Wish You Were Here, based on the bestseller by Renee Carlino. The cast includes Isabelle Fuhrman (The Novice), Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Jimmie Fails (The Last Black Man in San Francisco), Gabby Kono (Magic Carpet Rides), Jennifer Grey (A Real Pain) and Kelsey Grammer (Frasier).

Adapted for the screen by Stiles, the film tells the story of Charlotte, a woman who finds herself in a rut, searching for a spark that seems just out of reach. After she has a whirlwind night of romance and imagining a future with a man named Adam, he ghosts her. But when Charlotte finally discovers that Adam is terminally ill, she helps him spend his last days living life to the fullest.

In a statement to Deadline, Stiles shared that she’s “been looking for years for the right story to tell” as director,...

Vmi Worldwide has boarded worldwide sales on the high finance satire Discussion Materials starring Tom Blyth from The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes.

Alfredo Barrios Jr. directed the existential tale about a former ice hockey player turned junior banker who navigates life at an investment bank following the death of a managing director.

The feature is based on Bill Keenan’s memoir Discussion Materials: Tales Of A Rookie Wall Street Investment Banker. Keenan, Howard Baldwin, Karen Baldwin, Andrew Sugerman, Doug Ellin, and William J. Immerman serve as producers.

Blyth portrayed the young Coriolanus Snow in the Hunger Games...

Set to open on Feb. 7, the Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival enters its 39th year with high stakes. Organizers must re-create past successes while forging new paths to keep proceedings fresh, keeping their eye on a mission to education while celebrating the power of film.

This year’s edition of the coastal festival will open with the world premiere of Matt Ogens and Joel Kachi Benson’s “Madu,” a Disney documentary about a young Nigerian whose ballet performance went viral online. It concludes with the world premiere of “Chosen Family,” directed by and starring Heather Graham, who also plans to attend with the cast.

In between, Sbiff will host many noteworthy film screenings and events. There are more than 200 films in this year’s lineup and, per programming director Claudia Puig, 70% of them will celebrate their U.S. or world premieres at the festival. That amounts to more than 75 feature films and over 45 shorts,...

Vmi Worldwide has acquired Heather Graham’s comedy “Chosen Family” and will shop the film to international buyers at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival market. Graham, who is best known for the “Hangover” movies, wrote, directed and stars in the film, about a yoga instructor navigating various relationship dramas.

The film will make its world premiere on the closing night of the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Feb. 17.

Graham plays Ann, a yoga teacher attempting to find inner peace despite her manic family and miserable dating life. Not knowing how to say no, she often ends up fixing everyone else’s problems. While trying to repair her relationship with her sister, Ann relies on her friends to guide her through life’s woes.

Rounding out the cast is Julia Stiles, playing Ann’s estranged sister Clio, alongside Thomas Lennon, Andrea Savage, John Brotherton and Michael Gross.

“Chosen Family” marks the latest film from Verdi Prods.

Under executive director Roger Durling, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Sbiff, February 7-17, 2024) has thrived by not only mounting a film festival but surfing the awards season wave, programming a ton of onstage interviews with Oscar contenders.

Every year, screenwriters, directors, and producers promote their films on panels, and the likes of Kristen Stewart, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Nolan, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, Bong Joon Ho, Adam Driver, Renée Zellweger, Laura Dern, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Saoirse Ronan, Bruce Dern, Jeff Bridges, Melissa McCarthy, Isabelle Huppert, Viggo Mortensen, Rami Malek, Glenn Close, and Sam Elliott submit to in-depth tributes.

The panels, tributes, and special screenings lure local cinephiles and the area’s few hundred Academy members eager to hear Oscar contenders talk about their creative process. All tributes and panels are held in person at the historic Arlington Theatre, and they’re posted online.

Sbiff 2024 will feature over 200 films from 48 countries,...

Exclusive: Annette Bening, who just received her fifth Oscar nomination last week for her portrayal of champion swimmer Diana Nyad in Nyad, has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Arlington Award.

The Arlington represents the first new award the festival has created in more than two decades and is named for the historic venue where all the fest’s annual tributes timed to Oscar season take place. It will be presented on Friday, February 16, 2024 at the theater, preceded by an in-person conversation I will be moderating covering her entire career.

“This is the first award added to our slate in 20 years. It is made to honor an artist who is greatly admired and who has demonstrated an incomparable commitment to film and its craft. Ms. Bening has not only displayed all of those qualities, but is considered by us to be a friend of the film festival.

The complete program for the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival has been announced.

Taking place from Feb. 7-17, the festival will open with the world premiere of the documentary “Madu,” directed by Matt Ogens and Joel ‘Kachi Benson. The film follows a 12-year-old Nigerian boy named Anthony Madu who moves to England to study ballet at a prestigious dance school. Sbiff will close with Heather Graham’s “Chosen Family,” starring Graham, Julia Stiles, Thomas Lennon and Michael Gross. Graham’s feature tracks a yoga teacher named Ann who “is trying to find inner peace despite having a manic family, a miserable dating life, and an inability to say no that keeps her busy trying to fix everyone else’s problems.”

The festival also features a myriad of tributes throughout the week. Bradley Cooper will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award. Robert Downey, Jr. will receive the Maltin...

Another "Friends" star has paid tribute to Matthew Perry. Perry, famous for playing Chandler on the iconic sitcom, died on October 28, 2023 at the age of 54. His untimely death sent shockwaves around the world, and many were wondering how his fellow "Friends" castmates would react in the wake of such tragic news. The cast first released a joint statement about Perry's death.

Since then, cast members Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox have released solo statements paying tribute to their fellow "Friends" castmate. Now Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel on the sitcom, is offering some words of her own. "Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I've never experienced before," she wrote on Instagram. You can read the full statement below. 

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[Editor’s note: The following interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike began on July 14, 2023.]

Heather Graham is looking back on her own Hollywood legacy. The “Suitable Flesh” star recently told IndieWire that 1999 meta comedy “Bowfinger” is one of the films she’s “proudest” of starring in. “That’s one of the movies I’m proudest about being in,” Graham said. “I’m so proud and so grateful to be in that movie.”

Graham’s co-star Steve Martin wrote the film, which follows an indie film producer (played by Martin himself) who is looking to helm his big break. Graham portrays an aspiring actress who uses her sexuality to ascend Hollywood’s male-dominated power structures; Eddie Murphy and Christine Baranski co-star. Frank Oz directed.

“Bowfinger” came out two years after Graham’s breakout “Boogie Nights” role. The “Chosen Family” writer-director additionally told IndieWire that the sexist themes parodied by “Bowfinger” are still present in Hollywood today.

“It’s still not totally what I think it should be,...

[Editor’s note: The following interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike began on July 14, 2023.]

Heather Graham may have a legendary decades-long career in Hollywood, but she’s never done horror…or rather, never shed her skin completely for a project quite like “Suitable Flesh.”

In the film, Graham plays psychiatrist Elizabeth Derby, who becomes obsessed with a handsome younger patient (Judah Lewis) who is suffering from extreme personality disorder. Yet Elizabeth soon realizes there is a dark occult danger within his presence, and after consummating their relationship, she too becomes possessed by an otherworldly spirit.

Turns out, Elizabeth Derby was in fact originally written as a man, and it was director Joe Lynch’s decision to flip the gender of the lead star.

“Just to get to play sort of like that powerful male role as a woman, you never usually get to play one where you’re like the ultimate villain that can’t die. It’s just like a something I’ve...

Verdi Productions, run by Chad A. Verdi, Paul Luba, Chad Verdi, Jr.

and Michelle Verdi, plans to release three films in 2024 that were previously put on hold since actors were unable to promote work during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

“Workers in the film industry are getting financially destroyed by these strikes, whether it’s actors, writers, directors or crew. Most of these individuals were already working multiple jobs to get by,” Verdi said in a statement. “This widespread production shutdown didn’t hurt the top 1% in the industry but ruined many people who work week-to-week and paycheck-to-paycheck. It’s very unfortunate to see. Let’s get our union members a fair deal so that they can get back to doing what they love.”

In partnership with Vmi Worldwide, Verdi Productions will release “Junction” in January. The film follows the modern-day opioid crisis through three different viewpoints: the CEO of a pharmaceutical company,...

Exclusive: Rhode Island-based production company Verdi Productions has halted pre-production on the next feature film on the company’s slate, a biopic of Muhammad Ali Jr., due to the impending SAG strike.

According to producer Chad A. Verdi (Bleed For This), the indie movie was due to enter principal photography on September 1 in Rhode Island with cast attached, but will now be pushed to late 2024. Tom DeNucci directs.

The movie will chart the story of Ali Jr. who has struggled to live in his legendary father’s shadow, dealing with bullying, abandonment, drug addiction and family issues. More recently, Ali Jr. has found greater peace with himself, his former relationship, his father and his own children.

Verdi recently produced a documentary on the same subject.

Chad A. Verdi stated: “With the WGA already on strike and a possible SAG strike looming, pushing this film was the right thing to do.