News

Just 10 years ago, Amazon had not produced a single original film. Now, the mega-corporation owns the rights to the James Bond franchise. Considering how far Prime Video has come as both a streaming service and a film and TV production company, it's easy to forget that the platform had to start out with something. As it turns out, that "something" was a modern-day retelling of an ancient Greek tragedy...and a hilarious satire...and a somber commentary on gun violence and crime in Chicago's South Side...that's also kind of a musical.

As bizarre as such a blend of genres might sound, Spike Lee's 2015 film Chi-Raqmanages to pull all of them off with surprising effortlessness. Featuring a loaded ensemble cast, including Nick Cannon as eponymous gang leader Demetrius "Chi-Raq" Dupree and Wesley Snipes as the rival gang's leader, the film fluidly oscillates between uproarious hilarity and deeply sincere pathos.

Spike Lee, like millions of other Americans, tuned in to the Super Bowl halftime show to watch Kendrick Lamar’s history-making spectacle. As Lee reflected on the Pulitzer-Prize winning artist’s show, the first rapper to headline the coveted mid-game performance, he drew parallels to his own film work.

Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as “Uncle Sam,” emcees the performance, calling the performance “too loud, too reckless — too ghetto!” in one instance and “That’s what America wants! Nice and calm” in another. The portrayal drew parallels to his role in Lee’s Chi-Raq,...

Spike Lee dug Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Lix halftime show, and he especially liked what he (and others) saw as an homage to his 2015 film “Chi-Raq.”

Lamar cast Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam in his 2025 halftime performance; the character served as a narrator for Lamar’s set during the most-watched Super Bowl in history. Jackson also played a narrator figure in Lee’s “Chi-Raq,” which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year.

While film critics quickly gleaned the apparent casting reference, Lee confirmed that he too understood Lamar’s vision to include a reference to his own filmography.

“I want to thank my brother Kendrick for the 40 Acres and a Mule shoutout, which has been the name of my production company since NYU Grad Film School,” Lee wrote on social media. “And I want to send a special shoutout to my Morehouse brother Samuel Jackson who started this Super...

Between “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Malcolm X,” “He Got Game,” and “Inside Man,” Denzel Washington and Spike Lee have had more than enough opportunities to collaborate with one another, and yet it seems neither could let more time go by without doing at least one more project together.

The actor and auteur reunited for the first time in almost 20 years for the upcoming crime film “Highest 2 Lowest.” The project is inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low,” which starred Toshiro Mifune as a wealthy Japanese businessman who gets caught in a game of cat-and-mouse with a sadistic kidnapper. The film shot last year in New York City and is expected to be released sometime in 2025. Speaking in a recent interview with The New York Times, Washington expressed his joy in getting to work with Lee again, though he didn’t feel much time had passed at all.

“It didn’t feel like 20 years,...

John Cena's next movie, Matchbox, is coming together. The first plot details for the upcoming feature have been unveiled as Apple, Skydance, and Mattel continue to add more actors to the ensemble cast.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Matchbox has been described as "an action-packed, globetrotting adventure" centered around "a group of childhood friends who must work together to stop an impending worldwide disaster and rediscover their friendship along the way." Sam Hargrave, who directed the Chris Hemsworth-led Extraction movies for Netflix, is attached to helm the live-action movie from a screenplay written by David Coggeshall (The Family Plan) and Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project). A filming start date has also been revealed, with Matchbox set to kick off production in January 2025.

Related Wicked's Controversies Continue as Mattel Finds Itself in Legal Issues Over Nsfw Error on Merch

Mattel's new merch to promote the adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical worked rather wickedly.

“The Marvels” and “They Cloned Tyrone” star Teyonah Parris is jumping into the world of Mattel’s matchbox cars for Apple Original Films’ upcoming movie, “Matchbox.”

The live-action film, based on the die-cast toy vehicle line, stars John Cena and Parris joins an expanding cast that also includes Jessica Biel and Sam Richardson.

“Extraction” filmmaker Sam Hargrave is set to direct based on a screenplay by David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper. The film will be produced by Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger and Robbie Brenner for Mattel Films.

“Matchbox” will follow a group of childhood friends who must work together to stop an impending worldwide disaster and rediscover their friendship along the way.

The film is inspired by Mattel’s popular toy vehicle line, which were invented in 1953 by automotive enthusiast Jack Odell. Odell’s daughter was allowed to take a toy to school only if...

Teyonah Parris, who plays heroine Monica Rambeau in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has joined John Cena in Matchbox, Apple Original Films’ live-action take on the classic Mattel car toy line.

The movie is casting up ahead of a January start of production already has Jessica Biel and Sam Richardson on the call sheet. Sam Hargrave, the helmer behind the Extraction action movies, is directing.

Matchbox is the toy brand first created in 1953 and acquired by Mattel in 1997. The company originally competed with Matchbox in the die-cast car space with its own line, Hot Wheels.

Plot details have until now been kept under the hood but The Hollywood Reporter can reveal that the project is described as an action-packed, globetrotting adventure and centers on a group of childhood friends who must work together to stop an impending worldwide disaster and rediscover their friendship along the way.

The screenplay is by David Coggeshall,...

Actor and producer La La Anthony has signed with WME for representation.

On screen, Anthony is known for roles in Starz’ Power drama, the Bmf (Black Mafia Family) series, The Chi on Showtime and most recently an appearance in the Lifetime film The Bad Guardian, which debuted May 18.

She also recently hosted the Met Gala live stream for a third year in a row. Anthony’s other TV credits include A&e’s Unforgettable, CBS’ NYC 22 and Vh1’s Single Ladies. On the big screen, Anthony appeared in Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq, Think like a Man, Think Like a Man Too, Baggage Claim and Double Play.

She also appeared on stage in the off-Broadway production of Love Loss and What I Wore and made her Broadway producing debut with Eclipsed, the first all-female, all-black Broadway show.

Anthony’s debut as an author, The Love Playbook, was followed with her second book,...

Samuel L. Jackson is an acting legend who has starred in numerous movies of all genres. Among his major movies are School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991), Oldboy (2013), and Chi-Raq (2015), Tarantino’s films Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), Django Unchained (2012), and The Hateful Eight (2015), but he also has two extremely popular roles in his filmography – that of Nick Fury in the MCU, as well as that of Mace Windu in the Star Wars franchise.

We know that Mace Windu died in The Revenge of the Sith, but the character had already been a fan favorite by that moment and since then, there have been numerous calls for Windu to return to the series, implying that the character did not die during the fated battle against Palpatine. Samuel L. Jackson was recently asked about it and he made his opinion on the matter quite clear.

Exclusive: Ilfenesh Hadera (Godfather of Harlem) has been tapped to star opposite Denzel Washington in Apple and A24’s High and Low, an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller, from filmmaker Spike Lee.

She comes to the project following collaborations with Lee on his acclaimed Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It, based on his classic 1986 film, as well as his movies Chi-Raq and Oldboy.

Loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom, written by Evan Hunter under the pen name Ed McBain, the original High and Low watches as a shoe company executive becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom. It’s unclear how closely Lee’s film will hew to the original storyline, and there’s no word yet as to the role Hadera will play.

Developed and produced by A24, Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures, Lee...

Hoyte Van Hoytema has taken top honors at the 38th annual American Society of Cinematographers Awards for his work on “Oppenheimer.”

Van Hoytema topped a field that included Edward Lachman for “El Conde, Matthew Libatique for “Maestro,” Rodrigo Prieto for “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Robbie Ryan for “Poor Things.”

The awards were handed out Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with Ed Helms hosting the festivities.

All five theatrical feature film nominees are also nominated for best cinematography at the Oscars.

In its 38-year history, only 17 have gone on to win the Oscar. Last year, Mandy Walker made history when she became the first woman to win an ASC award for her work on “Elvis.” The Academy Award ultimately went to James Friend for “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

On the TV side, winners included Carl Herse for “Barry” and Ben Kutchins for “Boston Strangler.”

Van...

The American Film Institute has its sights set on Matthew Libatique.

The Oscar nominated cinematographer, who graduated from the institution in 1992, has been tapped to receive AFI’s Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal. It will be presented during the AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Nicole Kidman at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 27.

The medal is awarded annually “to an alumnus of either the AFI Conservatory or the [AFI Directing Workshop for Women] who best embodies the qualities of the late director: talent, taste, dedication and commitment to quality filmmaking.” Schaffner, who died in 1989, won a best director Oscar for Patton in 1970. Recipients of the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal include David Lynch, Edward Zwick, Amy Heckerling, Terrence Malick, Darren Aronofsky, Patty Jenkins, Paul Schrader, Janusz Kamiński, Caleb Deschanel, Lesli Linka Glatter, Rachel Morrison, Melina Matsoukas, Siân Heder and others.

The honor comes as Libatique has earned raves for working on Bradley Cooper...

Josh Kramer, a veteran Hollywood executive who produced such films as Roman Polanski’s Death and the Maiden and Sidney Lumet’s Night Falls on Manhattan, has died following a stroke. He was 67.

Kramer died Nov. 27 surrounded by family and friends in Santa Monica, according to a representative. The producer, who was a graduate of the American School in London, earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, where he is said to have made a mark creating conceptual art pieces. He then went on to earn his Mba from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

He began his entertainment industry career by working in foreign sales for legendary Italian producer Dino de Laurentiis, specializing in international presales of films by such directors as Sam Raimi, Michael Cimino, Bruce Beresford and David Cronenberg. One such title he shepherded was the iconic documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare.

Kramer went on...

Josh Kramer, who produced Roman Polanski’s Death and the Maiden and Sidney Lumet’s Night Falls on Manhattan and later led sales for Capitol Films before becoming Head of Motion Picture Business Operations at Amazon Studios, has died. He was 67.

Kramer died November 27 in Santa Monica.

Born on May 17, 1956, he began his showbiz career working for the Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis, pre-selling foreign movie rights that would help finance films including Manhunter, Blue Velvet and others. Kramer was instrumental in the success of the 1991 concert pic Madonna: Truth or Dare, leading the acquisition of the film rights and then selling the film overseas.

In the early 1990s, he teamed with Thom Mount to form the Mount/Kramer Company, which produced Death and the Maiden (1994) and Night Falls on Manhattan (1996).

He went on to become the head of sales for Capitol Films, later joining international acquisitions at MGM. In...

Indie and art film producer Jon Kilik, unlike many, remains hopeful for the personal, mid-budget movie for grown-ups. “Those are the films directors love to make and audiences still love,” says Kilik, being feted this week at Poland’s Camerimage cinematography festival for work of special visual sensitivity.

Having flown in from a shoot in Rome, Kilik confesses he still loves being on set after a career spanning four decades, including work with Spike Lee, Julian Schnabel, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Jim Jarmusch and Oliver Stone.

His latest project filming in Europe, “In the Hand of Dante,” starring Gal Gadot and Oscar Isaac in a metaphorical journey through hell to paradise, is characteristic of Kilik’s lifelong passion for bringing challenging works of literature and art to the screen.

And he’s proven time and again that such films have an audience and are economically viable, he points out, if handled...

Marvel Studios is back with its first new movie since “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and, should the release schedule hold, its last new movie until the third “Deadpool,” which doesn’t come out until next July.

This being a Marvel movie, there are characters old and new to keep track of, as our heroes jet across the galaxy in an attempt to thwart a massive threat to our world and countless others.

Here’s a complete cast and character guide for “The Marvels.” The only folks we have left out are the ones you definitely don’t want spoiled.

Marvel Studios Brie Larson as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel

Carol Danvers is a former test pilot turned superhero, whose origins were traced in “Captain Marvel” and who was last seen in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” lending a hand in what is now canonically referred to as the Battle of Earth.

Proud New Yorker Spike Lee took time to address the 22nd anniversary of Sept. 11 during a keynote talk at the Toronto Film Festival on Monday.

Specifically, Lee recalled he was in Los Angeles on that Tuesday in 2001 and was scrambling to get back to his hometown in crisis to be with his family.

“The world has changed since that day,” Lee said of 9/11 on Monday during a Visionaries session presented by The Hollywood Reporter.

Lee began his keynote with a 30-minute episode of NYC Epicenters 9/11 -> 2021 1/2, his 2021 four-part documentary for HBO that filters the Covid-19 pandemic, the racial reckoning of the summer of 2020, the Jan. 6 insurrection and the tragedy of 9/11 through the director’s New York city perspective.

“There’s some rough things you’ll see. But as a filmmaker, I’ve never been one to hide shit. It’s not simulated computer stuff. This is real, what happened to,...

Samuel L. Jackson and Spike Lee have a unique dynamic in their collaborations, with Jackson's performances elevating Lee's writing and adding humor to their movies. Not all of their collaborations have been successful, with Oldboy being one of the films that fell short in terms of style and the use of Jackson's comedic talents. However, films like School Daze, Chi-Raq, Jungle Fever, and Mo' Better Blues showcase the strong chemistry between Jackson and Lee, with standout performances and thought-provoking storytelling. Do The Right Thing is considered their best collaboration, striking the perfect balance between comedy and social commentary.

Samuel L. Jackson and Spike Lee have worked together several times over the course of their respective careers, blending their signature styles of comedy and drama to create some of the most entertaining and timely movies of the past few decades. The pair are always elevated by each other’s work, with...

When Spike Lee won his long overdue first competitive Oscar at the 2019 Academy Awards, he literally jumped into presenter Samuel L. Jackson’s arms for a hug. But there was a moment when the longtime friends probably couldn’t have imagined they’d share such a public embrace.

In a new interview with Vulture, Jackson – who appeared in early Lee films like “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo Better Blues,” and “Jungle Fever” – explained he had a falling out with the filmmaker over “Malcolm X.”

“I actually read with most of the people who auditioned for ‘Malcolm X.’ I was supposed to be the guy that turned Malcolm X on to Islam in prison. I forget who played that role,” Jackson revealed. Albert Hall played the role of Baines in the film and turned in an indelible performance in the part. He later appeared in Lee’s film “Get on the Bus.

They Cloned Tyrone's mystery drama is driven by its compelling characters, played by a talented roster of actors. On the surface, They Cloned Tyrone is a pulpy science fiction drama that walks audiences through the partly comical and partly harrowing misadventures of three unlikely amateur sleuths, Fontaine, Yo-Yo, and Slick Charles, who unravel a grand conspiracy as they dig deeper into the mysteries of their neighborhood. However, beyond that, They Cloned Tyrone also drops many subtle pop-culture references to real-world conspiracies and political intrigue, adding multiple layers to its overarching storyline.

While They Cloned Tyrone's overarching mysteries, conspiracies, and light satire are enough to keep most viewers hooked throughout its runtime, it also features some well-written characters whose dynamic and personal stakes add emotional depth to its narrative. These characters are convincingly portrayed by a talented cast who effectively balance They Cloned Tyrone's humor with the seriousness of its underlying themes.

There’s no joint like a Spike Lee Joint, but what other movies does the director love?

Over four decades and 30 films, Brooklyn-raised Lee has established himself as the type of director whose work can’t be replicated. The traits that make a Spike Lee Joint a Spike Lee Joint are easy to spot: the fiery and often political subject matter, the mix of humor with drama, those iconic floaty dolly shots, and an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to stylistic experimentation.

Lee’s fearlessness as a director makes for a fascinating mixed-bag of a filmography. The auteur has at least three undeniable masterpieces under his belt: 1989’s “Do the Right Thing,” a searing drama about police violence and racism; 1992’s “Malcolm X,” an epic starring Denzel Washington as the titular Civil Rights leader; and 2002’s “25th Hour,” the greatest portrait of life in New York after 9/11 put to film. Depending on who you ask,...

In 2021, Wesley Snipes used an Esquire "What I've Learned" column to make a fascinating confession: "I've got to learn how to be a movie star."

Snipes was 58 at the time of the article's publication, and enjoying a career renaissance due to his portrayal of actor-director D'Urville Martin in Craig Brewster's uproarious "Dolemite Is My Name." Though he'd officially made his comeback as an aging gang leader in Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq" four years prior, Martin was the perfect vehicle through which Snipes could examine the frustration of an ambitious artist shunted from A-list roles to low-aiming exploitation flicks.

Snipes' Martin is a bitter, alcoholic filmmaker trying, and failing miserably, to make nightclub comic Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) look like a Blaxploitation action star on par with Richard Roundtree. Martin is a defeated man, and it's hard not to sense Snipes reckoning with the sun setting on his own action-hero stardom.

Even the world’s greatest filmmakers are not immune to studio interference. Ten years ago, Oscar winner Spike Lee released his reinterpretation of Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed cult film “Oldboy.” To say the results were not what anyone had hoped would be a bit of an understatement. Critics savaged the project and mass audiences flat-out ignored its existence. “Oldboy” grossed just over $5 million worldwide, despite an all-star cast that included Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Even at the time, Lee suggested the version of “Oldboy” released in theaters was a compromised feature. Asked about recreating the original film’s virtuoso hammer-fight sequence in a 2013 interview with the New York Times, Lee expressed dismay the finished shot wasn’t shown in its intention.

“It’s not one shot,” Lee told the Times. “There’s a cut in it. Shouldn’t be, but there is a cut.

Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a landmark work in Tyler Perry’s filmography because it has a talented cast and some great characters. Based on the stage play of the same name by Perry and directed by Darren Grant, Diary of a Mad Black Woman deals with the misadventures of a recently-divorced woman who lives with her street-smart grandmother, Madea Simmons. Even though the film was met with negative reactions from critics, it went on to become a box-office success and paved the way for Perry’s successful career.

With Diary of a Mad Black Woman being followed by many more sequels focusing on Madea, the elderly woman was definitely the movie’s breakout character. However, Perry wasn't the only actor who stood out. Thanks to the excellent cast and Darren Grant's excellent direction, the movie also featured some iconic and memorable characters that have helped make characters...

On March 12, 2023, Ruth E. Carter won her second Academy Award for her work on the costumes of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." It was Carter's second Oscar win after 2018's "Black Panther," making her the first costumer in history to win Academy Awards for a movie and its sequel. Her wins are both well-deserved. Extrapolating from the fictional country originally found in the pages of Marvel Comics, "Wakanda Forever" constructed the clothes and uniforms worn by the citizens of a high-tech central African nation that, thanks to their access to a rare miracle metal and an equally rare super-powered flower, allowed them to advance centuries beyond the rest of the world. Carter designed the clothes for Wakandan royalty, the royal guard, and the country's civilians. She also had to evoke Wakandan funerary rights, as the film opens with the funeral of the original Black Panther. Carter has said that Wakandan dress...

An eight-part event series about boxing icon Muhammad Ali is in the works at Peacock from Rege-Jean Page, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Willmott.

Titled ‘Excellence: 8 Fights’, the scripted drama series hails from Oscar-winning writer Willmott and is based on Jonathan Eig’s definitive biography ‘Ali: A Life’. ‘Bridgerton’ breakout Page and Freeman are both on board as executive producers, as well as Willmott, Lori McCreary for Revelations Entertainment and Emily Brown, reports ‘Variety’.

According to the show’s official description, ‘Excellence: 8 Fights’ will “chronicle eight distinct and defining moments in the iconic life of Muhammad Ali. Each episode will be framed by one fight from Ali’s life, but the essence of the episode, what it’s really about, is the internal fight – the drama outside the ring – where we will explore the struggle going on in the heart and mind of one of the most consequential and controversial figures of the 20th century.

Chicago – It’s Oscar Week, as the 95th Academy Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, March 12th, 2023, on ABC-tv. Nominated for Best Supporting Actress is Angela Bassett for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” her second nomination after “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” in 1994.

After earning her Masters Degree at the Yale School of Drama in the 1980s, Bassett took to the New York stage, most notably in two of August Wilson’s “Pittsburgh Cycle” plays. She expanded with parts in film and TV, including “Boyz in the Hood” (1991). Breakthrough recognition would come in the next couple of years, as Bassett co-starred with Denzel Washington in “Malcolm X” (as Malcolm’s wife Betty Shabazz) and her Oscar nominated role as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (1993).

Angela Bassett as Ramonda in ‘Wakanda Forever,’ Nominated for the 95th Oscars

Photo credit: Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios

Later in the 1990s,...

February is Black History Month, and with such a wide array of streaming options, there’s no shortage of options for learning about Black heritage and celebrating Black excellence.

Amazon Prime Video

Among the programming being promoted in Prime Video’s “Celebrating Black History Month” lineup are the new second season of “Harlem,” which follows four female friends from Harlem as they navigate their love lives and careers. There’s also the new original unscripted series “Coach Prime,” which chronicles Deion Sanders in his third year coaching football at Jackson State. Other noteworthy selections include Regina King‘s Oscar-nominated “One Night in Miami,” the acclaimed documentaries “My Name is Pauli Murray” and “I Am Not Your Negro,” the Emmy-nominated romance “Sylvie’s Love,” Spike Lee‘s “Chi-Raq,” the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson, the Oscar-winning stage adaptation “Fences” from Denzel Washington, who also stars in Prime offerings “Devil in a Blue Dress...

Exclusive: John Cusack has signed with APA for representation after less than half a year with Gersh.

The signing of the iconic actor, writer and producer continues the agency’s momentum under the leadership of President Jim Osborne and Head of Global Talent Andrew Rogers, who came to APA from ICM Partners after the latter’s acquisition by CAA. APA has, in the last month alone, signed such notable talents as William H. Macy, Maria Bello, Donnie Yen and Grown-ish star Trevor Jackson. Big signings in the second half of 2022 included Regina Hall, Ken Jeong, Nathalie Emmanuel, Marc Maron, Michael Rainey Jr., Russell Hornsby and Michael Cera.

Cusack is a Golden Globe, WGA and BAFTA Award nominee who over the course of around four decades, has worked with a who’s who of directors including Rob Reiner, Spike Lee, Cameron Crowe, James Mangold, Lee Daniels, Clint Eastwood, Spike Jonze, Woody Allen,...

The Motion Picture Academy’s decision to ban Will Smith from Oscar ceremonies and events for 10 years as discipline for slapping Chris Rock is little more than an extended time out for a playground bully. It’s a toothless penalty that lays bare the shallowness of Hollywood morals.

At this point, the only person who can redeem the integrity of the Oscars is Smith himself. He needs to come to grips with the gravity of the offense he committed: slapping Rock, live on March 27 in front of millions on the Academy Awards stage. Smith needs to express-mail his golden trophy back to the Academy and publicly state something to the effect of: “Out of respect for the 94 years of honor conferred upon this award, I do not in good conscience feel worthy of being its custodian.”

Of the many unsettling things said in the aftermath of the slap, the most...

Filmmaker earned Guild’s DGA Honor in 2002.

Spike Lee will receive the Directors Guild Of America’s (DGA) lifetime achievement award, joining a roster of previous winners that includes Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott and Akira Kurosawa.

Lee will collect the Guild’s highest honour at the 74th Annual DGA Awards on March 12. The Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction has only been bestowed 35 times in the history of the DGA – and so far never to a woman. The Guild presented the filmmaker with a DGA Honor in 2002 for his “distinguished contributions to our nation...

Spike Lee will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction at this year’s DGA Awards, Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glatter announced today.

The DGA’s highest honor will be presented to Lee at the 74th annual DGA Awards on Saturday, March 12. Lee is the first Black director to get the award, which recognizes extraordinary efforts in the art of cinema, He joins a roster of just 35 helmers so honored, including Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Billy Wilder, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Miloš Forman and, most recently, Ridley Scott.

In a statement, Glatter said, “Icon. Trailblazer. Visionary. Spike Lee has changed the face of cinema, and there is no single word that encapsulates his significance to the craft of directing. From his groundbreaking Do the Right Thing, BlacKkKlansman, and everything in-between – to his signature ‘double dolly’ shot, Spike is an innovator on so many levels.

Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter is partnering with Black and woman-owned, online vintage marketplace Thrilling on a Vintage Studio Services program, aimed at connecting stylists, designers and production companies with vintage and secondhand items for film and TV projects.

Nearly 1,000 shops across the U.S. will be accessible through the initiative, which is looking to help bolster small businesses, while encouraging eco-friendly and sustainable practices within entertainment.

As Thrilling’s first-ever brand ambassador, Carter has pledged to utilize the company and its new program in her upcoming projects for 2022. In celebration of the program’s launch, Thrilling has also unveiled a campaign comprised of styles inspired by Ruth’s work across 40+ film and television projects, which illustrates the role fashion plays in setting the stage for some of cinema’s most memorable scenes.

Naturally, Carter describes her partnership with the marketplace as “thrilling.

“I really want...

Back in October 2019, before the pandemic, we brought you news about American Civil War movie Freedom’s Path.

The feature, which charts the friendship between a Union soldier and a runaway slave who is helping facilitate the Underground Railroad, stars Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting), Rj Cyler (Me And Earl And The Dying Girl) and Gerran Howell (Catch 22). Post-production has just wrapped.

As it turned out, the project would mark the final stops on the journey of two veteran actors who died while the movie was in post-production: Thomas Jefferson Byrd, a frequent Spike Lee collaborator, and New Orleans native Carol Sutton, both of whom had supporting roles.

Both actors died in sad circumstances. Tony-nominee Byrd was murdered in Atlanta and Sutton died of complications from Covid.

Today, the production has chosen to release two images of the admired actors in their final film, marking the first official stills from the movie.

Samuel L. Jackson, Elaine May and Liv Ullmann will receive honorary Oscars this year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday. Danny Glover will also receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. The four Oscar statuettes will be presented at the Governors Awards ceremony on Jan. 15, 2022.

“We are thrilled to present this year’s Governors Awards to four honorees who have had a profound impact on both film and society,” Academy president David Rubin said in a statement. “Sam Jackson is a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide, while Elaine May’s bold, uncompromising approach to filmmaking, as a writer, director and actress, reverberates as loudly as ever with movie lovers. Liv Ullmann’s bravery and emotional transparency has gifted audiences with deeply affecting screen portrayals, and Danny Glover’s decades-long advocacy for justice and human rights reflects his dedication...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday that its Board of Governors voted to present the annual Honorary Awards to Samuel L. Jackson, Elaine May, and Liv Ullmann. The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award will be given to Danny Glover. The four Oscar statuettes will be presented at the Academy’s 12th annual Governors Awards on Saturday, January 15, 2022, in Los Angeles.

Academy President David Rubin summed up the recipients’ impact, cinematic and otherwise, in the following statement: “Sam Jackson is a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide, while Elaine May’s bold, uncompromising approach to filmmaking, as a writer, director and actress, reverberates as loudly as ever with movie lovers.”

Rubin added, “Liv Ullmann’s bravery and emotional transparency has gifted audiences with deeply affecting screen portrayals, and Danny Glover’s decades-long advocacy for justice and human rights reflects his...

Exclusive: La La Anthony (Power), Aisha Hinds (Underground) and Janet Hubert (The Last O.G.) have joined the cast of The Perfect Find.

In Netflix’s romantic comedy, they’ll star opposite previously announced cast members Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers and Gina Torres. The new cast members’ roles have not yet been disclosed.

The film, based on the novel by Tia Williams, centers on a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line—including a high-stakes career, ticking biological clock and bank account—watching to see if she’s willing to risk it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback for good.

Numa Perrier is directing, from a script she wrote with Leigh Davenport. Producers on the project are Tommy Oliver and Codie Elaine Oliver for Confluential Films; Gabrielle Union for I’ll Have Another; Glendon Palmer for AGC Studios, and Jeff Morrone.

When we think of strippers, we’re pretty quick to judge. Still, even in this day of #MeToo and TimesUp, of expanding sex workers’ rights and pole dancing classes available for suburban moms, we see a stripper’s outfit and immediately think we know all about them. But displaying bodies doesn’t have to be innately sexual. In fact, it can be powerful and provocative in ways that don’t have to do with sex at all. Costume designers Rita McGhee and Alita Bailey knew from the get-go that creating the looks for Starz’s “P-Valley”—a show that brings empathy, sincerity and honesty to the story we all think we know—was going to be a welcome challenge rooted not in sex, but in female power.

“For us, it was about learning the story, learning who these women are, their characters and diving into that world,” McGhee said in a recent interview with IndieWire.

Storied filmmaker Spike Lee is the latest in a long line of auteurs to be awarded honors by the American Cinematheque.

The ceremony celebrating Lee’s more than three decade-career was presented virtually due to the ongoing pandemic. A collage of images from some of his most iconic “joints”, as well as a few personal photos of Lee with his wife Tonya, and children Satchel and Jackson and at a basketball game (presumably the filmmaker’s beloved Knicks) with Denzel Washington, served as the backdrop for the 34th annual event.

Past American Cinematheque honors recipient Jodie Foster hosted the broadcast, asking her “Inside Man” director, “It’s gotta be crazy to be honored for lifetime achievement. Does it seem like it’s been that long? Do you feel like you’re 100 years old?”

“If you love what you’re doing, you can delay Father Time,” Lee replied, “So I’ve...

Spike Lee was honored by his peers and associates Thursday as he became the 34th recipient of the American Cinematheque Award, given to a filmmaker or star who has achieved, and continues to achieve, great success in their career.

The honor, usually presented during a glitzy tribute dinner, had to go virtual this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but that didn’t stop Lee’s wide swath of admirers and colleagues from participating via Zoom and other means in the slickly produced and nicely assembled show that went off without a hitch this evening. Hosted by Jodie Foster, who previously co-starred with Denzel Washington in 2006’s Inside Man — Lee tonight recalled it as one of his personal favorites — the tribute included an innovative feature showing virtual conversations between pairs of various past artists from all fields who have worked with Lee, focusing on a specific film on which they participated.

Spike Lee is being honored with the American Cinematheque Award, and it undoubtedly encapsulates the director’s nearly five decades of artistic achievement. The award will be presented Jan. 14 in a virtual ceremony. “It’s a recognition of the body of work, and I’ve been putting in the work since the fall of 1979,” says Lee.

Previous American Cinematheque Award honorees include Amy Adams (2017), Bradley Cooper (2018) and Charlize Theron (2019).

After graduating from Morehouse College, Lee attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in the graduate film program. He has been a tenured professor and the artistic director since 2002. Lee also eyes the next generation of filmmakers and considers himself a “proud parent” when looking at all of his students, including directors Shaka King (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) and Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”).

“I’ve always felt that teachers that teach well are also learning from their students,...

Jennifer Hudson is producing and eyed to star in an untitled Christmas song comedy at New Line.

The feature will include both new and classic Christmas songs and center on a down-and-out singer’s life being turned upside down when she is mistaken for writing the next Christmas hit. Ira Madison III is writing the screenplay.

Hudson will next be seen as Aretha Franklin in the biopic “Respect,” directed by Liesl Tommy. Hudson, who was hand-picked by Franklin to play the role, executive produced the film. MGM is planning an Aug. 13, 2021, release date for “Respect,” which also stars Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald and Mary J. Blige.

Jonathan Glickman will produce the Christmas song movie through his Glickmania banner. Molly Mankiewicz will executive produce. The project reunites Hudson with Glickman, who is also producing “Respect.” His credits include “The Dark Half,” “Forever,” “Scandalous!” and “The Addams Family 2.”

Hudson...

Viagra has had a strong place in pop culture since it made its debut in 1998. Former Senator Bob Dole and soccer star Pelé pitched the erectile disfunction drug in ads, while countless shows and movies have used it as fodder for jokes over the last two decades. Now, the little blue pill is inspiring the next Spike Lee Joint: Lee is set to direct a musical take on the origins of the medication. (Via Deadline).

Lee co-wrote the screenplay with Kwame Kwei-Armah, and based it on David Kushner’s Esquire article “All Rise: The Untold Story of The Guys Who Launched Viagra.”

Inspired by Pfizer’s discovery and launch of Viagra, originally intended as a heart-related drug, original songs will be written by Stew Stewart and Heidi Rodewald, creators of the Tony-winning musical “Passing Strange.” Lee directed a filmed version of that stage production that was released in 2009.

Lee’s...

Spike Lee will receive the American Cinematheque Award and will be honored during a virtual tribute on Jan. 14, 2021.

American Cinematheque chair Rick Nicita said the legendary director always keeps his finger on the pulse of society.

“As a cultural arts organization that celebrates the importance of film in our society, Spike Lee is the perfect choice for the Cinematheque’s annual award,” Nicita said. “Spike’s ability to perceive and depict the tone of contemporary society is shown in his movies, ranging from ‘Do the Right Thing,’ ‘She’s Gotta Have It,’ ‘Malcolm X’ and ‘BlacKkKlansman’ to name only a few. He continues his outstanding output with this year’s ‘Da 5 Bloods’ and ‘American Utopia.’ We look forward with great anticipation to where he will next shine his light.”

“BlacKkKlansman,” which Lee co-wrote and directed, won the Academy Award for adapted screenplay. He was also nominated for an Oscar for directing and producing “BlacKkKlansman.

Anthony Chisholm, the Tony-nominated actor who appeared in several movies and TV series, has passed away. The news comes from The Katz Company with a post on Facebook, although a cause of death hasn't yet been revealed. He was 77 years old.

"The Katz Company is saddened to announce the passing of our longtime friend and client, Tony-Nominee, Anthony Chisholm," the post reads, including a photo of the veteran performer. "Affectionately called 'Chiz,' he was an actor and storyteller like none-other, embodying loyalty, devotion, and compassion to his artistry. We lost a great one today."

Chisholm was born on April 9, 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio. After serving for the United States Army in the Vietnam War, Chisholm pursued acting by performance on stage at Cleveland's Karamu House. By 1968, he had made his movie debut in Jules Dassin's Uptight, and more movie and TV roles were quick to follow. This includes roles in...

Anthony Chisholm, a Tony-nominated actor who was a veteran presence on stage, TV and film, has died at the age of 77.

His talent agency confirmed his death to TheWrap early on Saturday.

“The Katz Company is saddened to announce the passing of our longtime friend and client, Tony-Nominee, Anthony Chisholm,” the firm said in a statement. “Affectionately called ‘Chiz,’ he was an actor and storyteller like none-other, embodying loyalty, devotion, and compassion to his artistry.”

Chisholm, best remembered by many for his three seasons portraying Burr Redding on HBO’s “Oz,” earned his Tony nomination in 2007 for his portrayal of Elder Joseph Balow in playwright August Wilson’s “Radio Golf.” Chisholm and Wilson were frequent collaborators dating back to 1990 when he was cast in the latter’s play “Two Trains Running.”

His lengthy resume also included an off-Broadway run in “Jitney” in 2000, and he later rejoined the production for its 2017 Broadway revival,...

Anthony Chisholm, the actor who played Burr Redding on HBO’s prison drama Oz, has died at the age of 77. Although no cause of death was immediately given, his passing was confirmed by The Katz Company.

Best known for his recurring work on Oz‘s last three seasons, Chisholm starred in a total of 23 episodes from 2001-2003. His other TV credits include Law & Order: Svu, High Maintenance, Random Acts of Flyness, Hack and last year’s Hulu drama Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

More from TVLineA Million Little Things Dangles Eddie's Fate in First Season 3 FootageKaley Cuoco's Flight Attendant Gets HBO Max Launch Date,...

Tony-nominated actor Anthony Chisholm, known for his work in venerated playwright August Wilson’s final installment of the “Pittsburgh Cycle,” has died, his talent management company confirmed. He was 77.

“The Katz Company is saddened to announce the passing of our longtime friend and client, Tony-Nominee, Anthony Chisholm,” president Jeremy Katz said. “Affectionately called ‘Chiz,’ he was an actor and storyteller like none-other, embodying loyalty, devotion, and compassion to his artistry.”

Chisholm met Wilson in 1990 while auditioning for “Two Trains Running,” and was cast in the role of Wolf, which paved the way for a lifelong collaboration between the two. After appearing in the first run of the play at Yale Repertory Theatre, he went on a cross-country tour with the production to various theaters including Boston’s Huntington Theatre, Los Angeles’ Doolittle Theatre and the Kennedy Center. Chisholm later reprised the role in the Broadway production in 1992. Four years later,...

Atlanta law enforcement have a suspect in custody for the murder of actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd. The frequent Spike Lee collaborator was found dead around 1:45am in Atlanta on October 3rd. The veteran actor had been shot several times in the back, his body located near his home. Lee was tghe first to report the news on social media, stating, "I'm So Sad To Announce The Tragic Murder Of Our Beloved Brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd Last Night In Atlanta, Georgia. Tom Is My Guy." Lee then went on to celebrate some of the movies they did together over the years.

Earlier this week, Atlanta homicide detectives obtained an arrest warrant for 30-year old Antonio Demetrice Rhynes on a felony murder charge. They obtained the warrant based on "evidence and tips from the public," and he was arrested early Friday morning. A $10,000 reward had been posted in order to get...

A suspect has been arrested in the murder case of Thomas Jefferson Byrd, a character actor who had appeared in several of Spike Lee’s movies. Byrd was killed in Atlanta on October 3.

30-year-old Antonio Demetrice Rhynes was arrested on Friday morning, the Atlanta Police Department told TheWrap in a statement. Apd Fugitive Unit in coordination with Apd Swat officers arrested Rhynes on Friday morning at Royal Oaks Apartments 3540 North Camp Creek Parkway.

A warrant was issued for Rhynes arrest on Wednesday by homicide detectives. Once processed, the suspect will be taken to the Fulton County Jail.

The Atlanta Police Department previously said that on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1:45 a.m., officers were dispatched to 2257 Belvedere Ave found Byrd dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the back and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The Atlanta Police Department is proud of the diligent efforts of the Homicide Unit to identify...