It seems John Cena is quite serious about turning from a professional wrestler into a recognized actor, as the movies starring him took over the streaming platforms charts. These include Prime’s prominently top-tier comedy Ricky Stanicky, Apple TV’s Argylle and we’re not talking about the hyped Barbie, where he has made a hilarious cameo.
Gained enough credit as an actor by portraying Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad in 2021 and the eponymous 2022 television series, Cena is only starting to explore his acting talent. However, one of his last years’ movies shows it not from the best side.
Featuring Cena’s Mason Pettis, a former special forces operative, it follows him on a freelance gig in South America. There he needs to protect disgraced journalist Claire Wellington as she goes to the fictional authoritarian country to interview its dictator.
As it always happens in similar movies, nothing goes according to the plan,...
Gained enough credit as an actor by portraying Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad in 2021 and the eponymous 2022 television series, Cena is only starting to explore his acting talent. However, one of his last years’ movies shows it not from the best side.
Featuring Cena’s Mason Pettis, a former special forces operative, it follows him on a freelance gig in South America. There he needs to protect disgraced journalist Claire Wellington as she goes to the fictional authoritarian country to interview its dictator.
As it always happens in similar movies, nothing goes according to the plan,...
- 4/26/2024
- by [email protected] (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
Nearly two years have gone by since we heard that production had wrapped on Cuckoo, a new horror film from writer/director Tilman Singer that stars Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Dan Stevens (The Guest), Jessica Henwick (Love and Monsters), Marton Csókás (Freelance), Greta Fernández (Santo), and Jan Bluthardt (Tatort). We’re going to have our chance to see how it has turned out when it reaches theatres on August 9th – and today a trailer for Cuckoo has arrived online to give us a preview of what the film has in store for us. You can check it out in the embed above.
Here’s the official synopsis: Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. König, her father’s boss, who takes...
Here’s the official synopsis: Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. König, her father’s boss, who takes...
- 4/3/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Pierre Morel, the veteran action director behind Taken, has been tapped to direct a feature based on the popular racing Nft Reactor Motors from the company of the same name, Deadline has learned.
The film will be produced by Morel, Mike Bundlie and Barry Levine of Abstract Entertainment, and Renee Tab of Sentient Entertainment.
Created by artist and Abstract co-founder Bundlie, Reactor Motors‘ storyline follows geophysicist Eva Mason as she accidentally discovers a new mineral she calls Reykium while researching geothermal energy in Iceland’s volcanoes. The mineral is energetically reactive to metal which she and her team convert into the future of clean energy race cars in hopes of making it globally available. Subsequently, her team’s racing wins catch the attention of an energy conglomerate that will do anything to acquire the Reykium engine.
“Pierre is the perfect director for Reactor with his...
The film will be produced by Morel, Mike Bundlie and Barry Levine of Abstract Entertainment, and Renee Tab of Sentient Entertainment.
Created by artist and Abstract co-founder Bundlie, Reactor Motors‘ storyline follows geophysicist Eva Mason as she accidentally discovers a new mineral she calls Reykium while researching geothermal energy in Iceland’s volcanoes. The mineral is energetically reactive to metal which she and her team convert into the future of clean energy race cars in hopes of making it globally available. Subsequently, her team’s racing wins catch the attention of an energy conglomerate that will do anything to acquire the Reykium engine.
“Pierre is the perfect director for Reactor with his...
- 3/13/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
John Cena may have taken his catchphrase “You can’t see me” quite literally while taking the stage at the 2024 Oscars, as he decided to walk out naked to present the Best Costume Award. However, the actor has now come clean about his lifelong deception while promoting his new film, Ricky Stanicky. The WWE star confessed in a recent interview, asserting that he has been living a lie and people can actually see him.
John Cena in Ricky Stanicky John Cena’s Candid Confession About Living a Lie
In a recent interview with MTV, the Ricky Stanicky stars John Cena and Zac Efron were asked if they have ever lied during an interview. And the wrestler turned actor took the opportunity to make a stark confession, as he replied, “All the time.” Cena continued,
John Cena (image via MTV | YouTube)
“I don’t think there’s an ounce of truth in anything I’ve said.
John Cena in Ricky Stanicky John Cena’s Candid Confession About Living a Lie
In a recent interview with MTV, the Ricky Stanicky stars John Cena and Zac Efron were asked if they have ever lied during an interview. And the wrestler turned actor took the opportunity to make a stark confession, as he replied, “All the time.” Cena continued,
John Cena (image via MTV | YouTube)
“I don’t think there’s an ounce of truth in anything I’ve said.
- 3/13/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
Nearly two years have gone by since we heard that production had wrapped on Cuckoo, a new horror film from writer/director Tilman Singer that stars Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Dan Stevens (The Guest), Jessica Henwick (Love and Monsters), Marton Csókás (Freelance), Greta Fernández (Santo), and Jan Bluthardt (Tatort) – but we’re finally going to have the chance to see it very soon, as Neon will be giving Cuckoo a theatrical release on May 3rd. The film has been shrouded in secrecy this whole time, but during a new interview with Variety Schafer has revealed some new details… like the fact that Cuckoo sees her getting covered in blood and facing off with a bird-like monster!
First, here’s a refresher on the official synopsis: Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family.
First, here’s a refresher on the official synopsis: Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family.
- 2/16/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Tennis drama stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist.
In a strategic twist, Warner Bros will now release Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers in French cinemas. Prime Video had previously planned to skip a French theatrical release for the tennis drama starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, and send it straight to its streaming platform locally. Following its release in theatres, the film will now have to wait 17 months before landing on Prime Video in France per the country’s media chronology.
While rumoured to be released on April 24 just ahead of its April 26 release date in the US via Amazon MGM Studios,...
In a strategic twist, Warner Bros will now release Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers in French cinemas. Prime Video had previously planned to skip a French theatrical release for the tennis drama starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, and send it straight to its streaming platform locally. Following its release in theatres, the film will now have to wait 17 months before landing on Prime Video in France per the country’s media chronology.
While rumoured to be released on April 24 just ahead of its April 26 release date in the US via Amazon MGM Studios,...
- 1/10/2024
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Nearly six months after its release, and perfectly timed to its powerful awards momentum, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” (Universal), now renting for $5.99 ahead of its unannounced Peacock debut, repeats as #1 at iTunes and Google Play this week.
Both platforms rank by transactions. “Trolls Band Together,” also Universal and still renting at $19.99, is #1 at Vudu, where revenue determines the top 10. They list “Oppenheimer” #3, tops among lower-priced entries, reinforcing its draw. “Trolls” is second at iTunes, #5 at Google Play.
“Society of the Snow,” a stealth Oscar contender from Spain director J.A. Bayona, is #2 at Netflix — besting its high-profile originals “Maestro” and “May December,” both of which ranked for only a few days and at lower positions.
“Snow,” which is Spain’s Oscar submission, is following the path of “All Quiet on the Western Front” last year as a non-English language success on the platform. It’s just behind “The Equalizer 3” for the second week,...
Both platforms rank by transactions. “Trolls Band Together,” also Universal and still renting at $19.99, is #1 at Vudu, where revenue determines the top 10. They list “Oppenheimer” #3, tops among lower-priced entries, reinforcing its draw. “Trolls” is second at iTunes, #5 at Google Play.
“Society of the Snow,” a stealth Oscar contender from Spain director J.A. Bayona, is #2 at Netflix — besting its high-profile originals “Maestro” and “May December,” both of which ranked for only a few days and at lower positions.
“Snow,” which is Spain’s Oscar submission, is following the path of “All Quiet on the Western Front” last year as a non-English language success on the platform. It’s just behind “The Equalizer 3” for the second week,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Leading Japanese publishing house Kodansha has struck a deal with new production company Majestic Limited for a feature film adaptation of its “Origin” comic.
Created by Boichi, a renown Korean manga artist (real name Park Mu-jik) who is based in Japan, “Origin” is set in a near-future where humanity has achieved incredible advancements in technology and robotics. It tells a story of self-discovery, morality, and what it means to be human.
Winning the grand prize for manga at the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival and currently only printed abroad, the English translation of “Origin” hit U.S. shelves only in late November.
Majestic was founded by Josh Boone, Danny Chan and Darius Shahmir. Boone directed $300 million grossing 2014 Fox Searchlight hit “The Fault in Our Stars” on a budget of $12 million. Indie horror “Barbarian” grossed $45 million for New Regency.
Kodansha is one of Japan’s three largest publishing houses and has...
Created by Boichi, a renown Korean manga artist (real name Park Mu-jik) who is based in Japan, “Origin” is set in a near-future where humanity has achieved incredible advancements in technology and robotics. It tells a story of self-discovery, morality, and what it means to be human.
Winning the grand prize for manga at the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival and currently only printed abroad, the English translation of “Origin” hit U.S. shelves only in late November.
Majestic was founded by Josh Boone, Danny Chan and Darius Shahmir. Boone directed $300 million grossing 2014 Fox Searchlight hit “The Fault in Our Stars” on a budget of $12 million. Indie horror “Barbarian” grossed $45 million for New Regency.
Kodansha is one of Japan’s three largest publishing houses and has...
- 12/6/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
A new film claimed the top spot of the box-office weekend as The Marvels enjoyed a dominating opening weekend, beating the second-place film by $38.0 million.
Over its first weekend in release, the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures offering, The Marvels took in $47.0 million. This easily bested second-place finisher Five Nights at Freddy’s which added $9.0 million in its third week in release to bring the Universal Pictures International film’s overall tally to $127.2 million. This pushed Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour to a third place finish where it added $5.9 million, raising its total take to $172.5 million. Holding its ground in fourth place, Priscilla took in $4.8 million to give the A24 product a three-week total of $12.7 million. In its fourth week in release, Killers of the Flower Moon fell two spots to land in fifth place this weekend where it added $4.7 million to raise the Paramount Pictures product’s total to $59.9 million.
Over its first weekend in release, the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures offering, The Marvels took in $47.0 million. This easily bested second-place finisher Five Nights at Freddy’s which added $9.0 million in its third week in release to bring the Universal Pictures International film’s overall tally to $127.2 million. This pushed Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour to a third place finish where it added $5.9 million, raising its total take to $172.5 million. Holding its ground in fourth place, Priscilla took in $4.8 million to give the A24 product a three-week total of $12.7 million. In its fourth week in release, Killers of the Flower Moon fell two spots to land in fifth place this weekend where it added $4.7 million to raise the Paramount Pictures product’s total to $59.9 million.
- 11/13/2023
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
“Freelance” is a new action comedy feature. directed by Pierre Morel starring John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Alice Eve, Marton Csokas and Christian Slater, now screening in theaters:
“…years after retiring from the ‘Army’, a ‘Special Forces’ operator takes a job providing security for a female journalist as she interviews a cruel dictator.
“But when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle together…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…years after retiring from the ‘Army’, a ‘Special Forces’ operator takes a job providing security for a female journalist as she interviews a cruel dictator.
“But when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle together…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 11/7/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Take a look at actress Alison Brie ("Freelance") posing for "L'Officiel" magazine, wearing Tommy Hilfiger, Diane von Fuerstenberg, Christian Louboutin and a whole lot more, photographed by Sarah Krick:
Brie is best known for her starring role as 'Annie Edison' in the sitcom "Community" (2009–2015) and as 'Trudy Campbell' in AMC's "Mad Men" (2007–2015).
Brie voiced the character 'Diane Nguyen' on the Netflix animated series "BoJack Horseman" (2014) and as 'Ruth Wilder' in the Netflix series "Glow" (2017).
Brie also starred in several feature films including "Scream 4" (2011), "The Five-Year Engagement" (2012), "The Lego Movie" (2014), "Get Hard" (2015)...
..."Sleeping with Other People" (2015), "How to Be Single" (2016), "The Little Hours" (2017), "The Disaster Artist" (2017), and "The Post" (2017).
Click the images to enlarge...
Brie is best known for her starring role as 'Annie Edison' in the sitcom "Community" (2009–2015) and as 'Trudy Campbell' in AMC's "Mad Men" (2007–2015).
Brie voiced the character 'Diane Nguyen' on the Netflix animated series "BoJack Horseman" (2014) and as 'Ruth Wilder' in the Netflix series "Glow" (2017).
Brie also starred in several feature films including "Scream 4" (2011), "The Five-Year Engagement" (2012), "The Lego Movie" (2014), "Get Hard" (2015)...
..."Sleeping with Other People" (2015), "How to Be Single" (2016), "The Little Hours" (2017), "The Disaster Artist" (2017), and "The Post" (2017).
Click the images to enlarge...
- 11/7/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Sticking around for another week on top of the box-office weekend was Five Nights at Freddy’s as it managed to hold onto first place by a margin of $5.9 million.
In its second weekend of release, Five Nights at Freddy’s pulled in $19.4 million to give the Universal Pictures International product an overall total of $113.6 million. Holding steady in second place was Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour with $13.5 million, giving it a four-week total of $166.0 million. Killers of the Flower Moon also stood firm in third place with $7.0 million added to bring the film’s three week total to $52.3 million for Paramount Pictures. Debuting in the top ten in fourth place was the A24 product Priscilla with $5.1 million in its second week of release, giving the film an overall total of $5.3 million. The second debut of the weekend, Radical from Pantelion Films landed in fifth place with $2.7 million.
Dropping a spot...
In its second weekend of release, Five Nights at Freddy’s pulled in $19.4 million to give the Universal Pictures International product an overall total of $113.6 million. Holding steady in second place was Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour with $13.5 million, giving it a four-week total of $166.0 million. Killers of the Flower Moon also stood firm in third place with $7.0 million added to bring the film’s three week total to $52.3 million for Paramount Pictures. Debuting in the top ten in fourth place was the A24 product Priscilla with $5.1 million in its second week of release, giving the film an overall total of $5.3 million. The second debut of the weekend, Radical from Pantelion Films landed in fifth place with $2.7 million.
Dropping a spot...
- 11/6/2023
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
On a weekend when “Five Weeks at Freddy’s” (Universal) dropped 76 percent and overall grosses were $65 million on a traditionally prime release date, it could have been worse. With limited studio alternatives, there were some good holds among longer-run films, and solid expansions for “Priscilla” (A24) and “The Holdovers” (Focus). “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (AMC) showed particular strength with a 13 percent drop in its fourth weekend.
“Freddy’s” added $19.4 million after its unexpectedly massive opening. It’s also a massive fall — one of the biggest ever for its level of initial gross, and more so for a film with an A- Cinemascore. Still, let’s be honest: A month ago, a prediction of “Freddy’s” grossing nearly $20 million its second weekend would be considered delusional.
The Blumhouse videogame adaptation is now at $113 million domestic, $217 million total worldwide off a film budgeted at $20 million pre-marketing. Already, that’s a massive...
“Freddy’s” added $19.4 million after its unexpectedly massive opening. It’s also a massive fall — one of the biggest ever for its level of initial gross, and more so for a film with an A- Cinemascore. Still, let’s be honest: A month ago, a prediction of “Freddy’s” grossing nearly $20 million its second weekend would be considered delusional.
The Blumhouse videogame adaptation is now at $113 million domestic, $217 million total worldwide off a film budgeted at $20 million pre-marketing. Already, that’s a massive...
- 11/5/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
In what is one of the lowest grossing weekends of the year, Five Nights at Freddy’s was able to overcome a truly horrific second weekend decline of 76% to remain atop the box office with an estimated $19.4 million. As we said in our Thursday predictions, no matter the decline this movie saw, anything it made was just the cherry on top of the massive $80 million sundae it had last week.
It is evident this film was made for the fans and the fans propelled it to that record breaking opening, but with no real appeal to general audiences, we are seeing the type of decline a film like this can have. Of course it really doesn’t matter when your film costs just $20 million to make and has already surpassed $140 million worldwide in just one week. This isn’t a Flash or Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning or Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny...
It is evident this film was made for the fans and the fans propelled it to that record breaking opening, but with no real appeal to general audiences, we are seeing the type of decline a film like this can have. Of course it really doesn’t matter when your film costs just $20 million to make and has already surpassed $140 million worldwide in just one week. This isn’t a Flash or Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning or Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny...
- 11/5/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
One would be forgiven for having absolutely no idea that a new action/comedy starring Jon Cena and Alison Brie hit theaters this past weekend. "Freelance" did, indeed, arrive in more than 2,000 theaters and was straight-up buried by the horror sensation that is "Five Nights at Freddy's." It would be one thing for a movie to come in second -- or even third place -- against a blockbuster release like that. Unfortunately for those behind this film, however, it barely made it into the top 10.
Relativity Media's "Freelance" opened to just $2 million, coming in at number eight on the charts for the weekend, per The Numbers. It made less than "The Nightmare Before Christmas" ($2.1 million), which is in the second weekend of its 30th anniversary re-release, and little more than "Saw X" ($1.7 million), which has been in theaters for five weekends. The worst news of all? Cena and Brie's...
Relativity Media's "Freelance" opened to just $2 million, coming in at number eight on the charts for the weekend, per The Numbers. It made less than "The Nightmare Before Christmas" ($2.1 million), which is in the second weekend of its 30th anniversary re-release, and little more than "Saw X" ($1.7 million), which has been in theaters for five weekends. The worst news of all? Cena and Brie's...
- 11/1/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Director Pierre Morel is the man who made Liam Neeson into an action icon. His movie Taken established the middle-aged character actor as perhaps the 21st century’s biggest action icon, and it was an unlikely transformation. Truly, Morel is an ace action director, with his film District 13 being one of the best action movies of the last twenty years. Since Taken, he’s specialized in transforming actors into action stars, directing Sean Penn in The Gunman and Jennifer Garner in Peppermint. Both were pretty grim movies, so now Morel is turning to somewhat lighter material with Freelance.
In it, John Cena plays a former special forces operative who’s become a suburban dad and lawyer. He seeks to recapture some of the excitement of his youth by taking a job as a bodyguard for a high-profile journalist (Alison Brie) who’s interviewing a dictator. In the middle of the assignment,...
In it, John Cena plays a former special forces operative who’s become a suburban dad and lawyer. He seeks to recapture some of the excitement of his youth by taking a job as a bodyguard for a high-profile journalist (Alison Brie) who’s interviewing a dictator. In the middle of the assignment,...
- 10/30/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
A new film sits atop the box-office weekend as the Halloween-themed Five Nights at Freddy’s took control of the box office by a margin of $63.3 million.
In its first weekend of release, the latest horror film from Blumhouse Productions easily claimed the number spot of the weekend box-office top ten with an opening of $78.0 million for the Universal release. Last week’s top film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour finished in a very distant second place with $14.7 million. Despite the finish, the film still sports a three-week total of $149.3 million. Meanwhile, Killers of the Flower Moon dropped a spot to land in third place where it added $9.0 million over the weekend, giving the Paramount Pictures product a two-week total of $40.7 million. The second debut of the weekend, Angel Studios’ After Death landed in fourth place with $5.1 million. Dropping two spots to finish in fifth this weekend, The Exorcist: Believer...
In its first weekend of release, the latest horror film from Blumhouse Productions easily claimed the number spot of the weekend box-office top ten with an opening of $78.0 million for the Universal release. Last week’s top film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour finished in a very distant second place with $14.7 million. Despite the finish, the film still sports a three-week total of $149.3 million. Meanwhile, Killers of the Flower Moon dropped a spot to land in third place where it added $9.0 million over the weekend, giving the Paramount Pictures product a two-week total of $40.7 million. The second debut of the weekend, Angel Studios’ After Death landed in fourth place with $5.1 million. Dropping two spots to finish in fifth this weekend, The Exorcist: Believer...
- 10/30/2023
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
There may be nothing more boomer than comparing Gen Z’s box-office juggernaut to a movie released before their parents were born. Nevertheless, that’s what this boomer is doing: The staggering opening for “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (Universal) is as shocking as the success of “Easy Rider” 54 years ago for its sense of upheaval and disruption.
Like Peter Fonda’s low-budget motorcycle cross-country drama “Easy Rider” in 1969, we are seeing moviegoers under 25 embrace a film as their own while it leaves older viewers baffled. Similarly, its success will have significant strategic impact for the future of production and distribution.
Blumhouse Productions’ $20 million video game adaptation opened to an estimated $78 million and $152 million worldwide. With its lower ticket prices, that total translates to a bigger audience than the first weekends of either “Taylor Swift The Eras Tour” (AMC) or “Oppenheimer” (Universal).
It’s a shocker. Sure, rules can be broken...
Like Peter Fonda’s low-budget motorcycle cross-country drama “Easy Rider” in 1969, we are seeing moviegoers under 25 embrace a film as their own while it leaves older viewers baffled. Similarly, its success will have significant strategic impact for the future of production and distribution.
Blumhouse Productions’ $20 million video game adaptation opened to an estimated $78 million and $152 million worldwide. With its lower ticket prices, that total translates to a bigger audience than the first weekends of either “Taylor Swift The Eras Tour” (AMC) or “Oppenheimer” (Universal).
It’s a shocker. Sure, rules can be broken...
- 10/29/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The theatrical day and date model has been one that has been scrutinized over the past few years as the world tried to figure out how to release movies during a global pandemic. Warner Bros famously saw their entire 2021 slate receive simultaneous releases on their HBO streaming service and felt the wrath of filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan. But every so often, that model proves not to be that big of a factor. For instance, this weekend saw Universal release the video game adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s to the record-breaking number of $78 million, $13 million more than we predicted on Thursday. That number makes it the second highest-grossing opening for a video game adaptation of all time after The Super Mario Bros Movie took in $146.3 million earlier this year while also breaking the Halloween weekend record previously held by Puss in Boots.
Tracking for this movie was all over the place,...
Tracking for this movie was all over the place,...
- 10/29/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
Halloweekend saw a huge horror hit, in fact the biggest opening for this weekend ever, and many movie writers and critics felt older than usual with that movie’s jaw-dropping success among the youth. Read on for the weekend box office report.
Universal and Blumhouse had been developing a movie based on Scott Cawthorn‘s popular video game series, “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” for quite some time, and it was finally released this weekend into 3,675 theaters. Starring Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”), reviews were harsh, as it only received 25% on RottenTomatoes, but this was always to be expected based on the younger age range of fans of the games and books.
After making a whopping $10.3 million from Thursday previews – more than the $7.7 million made by David Gordon Green‘s “Halloween” reboot in 2018 – the PG-13 rated “Freddy’s” brought in $39.5 million on Friday (including previews). That was more than 2019’s “Joker,...
Universal and Blumhouse had been developing a movie based on Scott Cawthorn‘s popular video game series, “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” for quite some time, and it was finally released this weekend into 3,675 theaters. Starring Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”), reviews were harsh, as it only received 25% on RottenTomatoes, but this was always to be expected based on the younger age range of fans of the games and books.
After making a whopping $10.3 million from Thursday previews – more than the $7.7 million made by David Gordon Green‘s “Halloween” reboot in 2018 – the PG-13 rated “Freddy’s” brought in $39.5 million on Friday (including previews). That was more than 2019’s “Joker,...
- 10/29/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Freelance is an action comedy film directed by Pierre Morel, from a screenplay by Jacob Lentz. The film revolves around Mason Pettits, a retired Special Forces operator who takes on the job of providing protection to Claire Wellington as she interviews the president of Paldonia Juan Venegas. But things go awry when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview and all three of them have to run for their lives. Freelance stars John Cena and Alison Brie in the lead roles with Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater, and Alice Eve starring in leading roles. So, if you love the action comedy film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Lionsgate
Synopsis: The world’s top protection agent [Ryan Reynolds] is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hitmen [nm0000168 autoSamuel L.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Lionsgate
Synopsis: The world’s top protection agent [Ryan Reynolds] is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hitmen [nm0000168 autoSamuel L.
- 10/27/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Pierre Morel among producers. Production in Australia set for early 2024.
XYZ Films has boarded worldwide sales on Sentient Entertainment’s shark thriller Alphas starring Martin Henderson and will introduce to buyers at AFM next week.
Liam O’Donnell will direct the Australia-uk co-production and Taken and District 13 director Pierre Morel will produce alongside his partners Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin of Sentient, and Matthew Chausse and Drew Bailey.
Principal photography is scheduled to start in Australia in early 2024 on Alphas, which takes place in a quiet surfing community where killer whales are enlisted to fend off great white sharks after a series of attacks.
XYZ Films has boarded worldwide sales on Sentient Entertainment’s shark thriller Alphas starring Martin Henderson and will introduce to buyers at AFM next week.
Liam O’Donnell will direct the Australia-uk co-production and Taken and District 13 director Pierre Morel will produce alongside his partners Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin of Sentient, and Matthew Chausse and Drew Bailey.
Principal photography is scheduled to start in Australia in early 2024 on Alphas, which takes place in a quiet surfing community where killer whales are enlisted to fend off great white sharks after a series of attacks.
- 10/26/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The specific fantasy that Freelance is tapping into is probably as old as the concept of American masculinity itself. The action comedy, directed by Pierre Morel (Taken), centers on a middling suburban lawyer (John Cena) with a profound and unshakable understanding that this is not what he’s meant for. He’s meant to be a good guy, a hero, a super-jacked soldier who dives headfirst into danger; in fact he was that guy once, until a back injury ended his military career.
Though the film follows Cena’s Mason to South America and back, really its central journey is Mason’s back to the manly man he’s been inside all along. But even the most cherished daydream needs a bit of skill and finessing if it’s to translate to the big screen, and that’s where Freelance falls fatally short — yielding not an uplifting escape, but an enervating bore.
Though the film follows Cena’s Mason to South America and back, really its central journey is Mason’s back to the manly man he’s been inside all along. But even the most cherished daydream needs a bit of skill and finessing if it’s to translate to the big screen, and that’s where Freelance falls fatally short — yielding not an uplifting escape, but an enervating bore.
- 10/26/2023
- by Angie Han
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Pierre Morel’s Freelance follows disgraced American journalist Claire Wellington (Alison Brie) and her ex-military bodyguard, Mason Pettits (John Cena), as he escorts her to the fictional South American country of Paldonia for an exclusive interview with its dictator, Juan Venegas (Juan Pablo Raba). While the film starts out by presenting Paldonia and its leader as unrepentantly evil—among other things, we’re told that Venegas is responsible for the deaths of half of Pettits’s former squad years earlier—it eventually reveals that various imperialist forces and corporate-funded mercenary groups have been actively undermining Venegas as a means of forcing him to sell valuable natural resources for a cheaper rate.
That’s a surprising turn of events, especially for an action-comedy, given Hollywood’s typically simplistic representations of under-developed countries whose conditions are presented as justification for American intervention. Regrettably, that’s the only surprise to be found in Jacob Lentz’s screenplay,...
That’s a surprising turn of events, especially for an action-comedy, given Hollywood’s typically simplistic representations of under-developed countries whose conditions are presented as justification for American intervention. Regrettably, that’s the only surprise to be found in Jacob Lentz’s screenplay,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Derek Smith
- Slant Magazine
Plot: A former special forces operative (John Cena) turned family man lawyer is tempted by an old friend to take a job as a bodyguard for a famous journalist (Alison Brie) who’s set to interview a dictator.
Review: Pierre Morel will forever be celebrated as the director who turned Liam Neeson into an action star. His movie, Taken, remains (by a long shot) the best movie in that franchise. Now, Morel is dipping his toe into a different genre, the action-comedy. While Freelance has some well-conceived action sequences and a game cast, there’s a big problem – the movie isn’t funny.
Indeed, Cena can be hilarious, given the right material. He has a twinkle in his eye that makes him personable despite his hulking physique, with Blockers an excellent example of that. But he feels like the wrong fit for this. Given that the premise seems to promise...
Review: Pierre Morel will forever be celebrated as the director who turned Liam Neeson into an action star. His movie, Taken, remains (by a long shot) the best movie in that franchise. Now, Morel is dipping his toe into a different genre, the action-comedy. While Freelance has some well-conceived action sequences and a game cast, there’s a big problem – the movie isn’t funny.
Indeed, Cena can be hilarious, given the right material. He has a twinkle in his eye that makes him personable despite his hulking physique, with Blockers an excellent example of that. But he feels like the wrong fit for this. Given that the premise seems to promise...
- 10/26/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
“Freelance” is a new action comedy feature. directed by Pierre Morel starring John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Alice Eve, Marton Csokas and Christian Slater, releasing October 27, 2023 in theaters:
“…years after retiring from the ‘Army’, a ‘Special Forces’ operator takes a job providing security for a female journalist as she interviews a cruel dictator.
“But when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle together…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…years after retiring from the ‘Army’, a ‘Special Forces’ operator takes a job providing security for a female journalist as she interviews a cruel dictator.
“But when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle together…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 10/26/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
October (and even September) have been chock-full of appropriately scary horror movies for spooky season, and the weekend before Halloween introduces one more. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
Those looking for the next big horror franchise need not look much further than Universal and Blumhouse’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” an adaptation of the popular multi-platform video game first introduced in 2014. That initial game led to five sequels, multiple spin-offs, and even a series of novels that just kept things going for the fanbase that has been itching for this movie to happen.
Directed by Emma Tammi of the 2018 horror-Western “The Wind,” the movie stars Josh Hutcherson from the “Hunger Games” movies, Elizabeth Lail from “Mack & Rita,” Piper Rubio and Kat Conner Sterling, but as we all know by now, the cast of a horror movie is rarely as important as the premise, especially with...
Those looking for the next big horror franchise need not look much further than Universal and Blumhouse’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” an adaptation of the popular multi-platform video game first introduced in 2014. That initial game led to five sequels, multiple spin-offs, and even a series of novels that just kept things going for the fanbase that has been itching for this movie to happen.
Directed by Emma Tammi of the 2018 horror-Western “The Wind,” the movie stars Josh Hutcherson from the “Hunger Games” movies, Elizabeth Lail from “Mack & Rita,” Piper Rubio and Kat Conner Sterling, but as we all know by now, the cast of a horror movie is rarely as important as the premise, especially with...
- 10/25/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
After one of the worst months of 2023 at the box office, we might have found the true savior for the month of October in a pop singer. Taylor Swift‘s return to theaters is with a concert film based on her multi-billion North American tour. How much money do we think it’ll rake in? Read on for Gold Derby’s October 2023 box office preview.
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (AMC Theatrical Distribution – Oct. 13)
It’s Taylor Swift’s world, and we’re just livin’ in it. That might be the biggest takeaway for the month, as “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” blasts into theaters after its surprise announcement at the end of August. Considering how quickly most of the stops on her U.S. tour sold out and the controversy it stirred up with ticket sales, it was no surprise when the filmed version of her L.A. show...
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (AMC Theatrical Distribution – Oct. 13)
It’s Taylor Swift’s world, and we’re just livin’ in it. That might be the biggest takeaway for the month, as “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” blasts into theaters after its surprise announcement at the end of August. Considering how quickly most of the stops on her U.S. tour sold out and the controversy it stirred up with ticket sales, it was no surprise when the filmed version of her L.A. show...
- 9/29/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Britney Spears isn’t about to be outdone by Taylor Swift again, as her 2002 flick Crossroads is returning to theaters. Ok, we have to admit here and now that she will once again be outdone by Taylor Swift…
While 2023 might seem like an odd choice for a re-release of Crossroads – 21st anniversaries aren’t typically celebrated on the big screen… – it is meant to coincide with the release of Britney Spears’ upcoming memoir, “The Woman in Me”. But this re-release of Crossroads, which will play on October 23rd and 25th, will also have it in theaters at the same time as Taylor Swift shakes it off with her Eras Tour concert movie, due out on October 13th. But will Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour have two bonus sing-alongs like Crossroads? We don’t think so!
Of course, the showdown between Britney Spears – who we hope is on the rebound – and...
While 2023 might seem like an odd choice for a re-release of Crossroads – 21st anniversaries aren’t typically celebrated on the big screen… – it is meant to coincide with the release of Britney Spears’ upcoming memoir, “The Woman in Me”. But this re-release of Crossroads, which will play on October 23rd and 25th, will also have it in theaters at the same time as Taylor Swift shakes it off with her Eras Tour concert movie, due out on October 13th. But will Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour have two bonus sing-alongs like Crossroads? We don’t think so!
Of course, the showdown between Britney Spears – who we hope is on the rebound – and...
- 9/22/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
The Newport Beach Film Festival, which will run from Oct. 12-19 this year, has announced their opening and closing night films.
Marco Perego’s “The Absence of Eden,” which stars Zoë Saldaña, will open the festival on Oct. 12 at the Edwards Big Newport. Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” starring Paul Giamatti, will close the festival on Oct. 19. The 24th festival will take place in person and feature 91 films from around the world.
Filmmakers will be present for a moderated interview before “The Absence of Eden” screens. The film follows an Ice agent (Garrett Hedlund) grappling with the moral conflict of border security and an undocumented woman (Saldaña) fighting to get away from a merciless cartel; the paths of these two individuals intersect as they join together to save an innocent girl’s life.
Payne’s newest comedy “The Holdovers” follows a grouchy teacher (Giamatti) at a New England prep school...
Marco Perego’s “The Absence of Eden,” which stars Zoë Saldaña, will open the festival on Oct. 12 at the Edwards Big Newport. Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” starring Paul Giamatti, will close the festival on Oct. 19. The 24th festival will take place in person and feature 91 films from around the world.
Filmmakers will be present for a moderated interview before “The Absence of Eden” screens. The film follows an Ice agent (Garrett Hedlund) grappling with the moral conflict of border security and an undocumented woman (Saldaña) fighting to get away from a merciless cartel; the paths of these two individuals intersect as they join together to save an innocent girl’s life.
Payne’s newest comedy “The Holdovers” follows a grouchy teacher (Giamatti) at a New England prep school...
- 9/20/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Location, Location, Location
Entertainment, sports and brand licensing firms WildBrain Cplg and WildBrain Ltd. have brokered location-based entertainment (Lbe) deals on behalf of Peanuts Worldwide for “Peanuts,” “Teletubbies” and “In the Night Garden” with China’s Max-Matching Entertainments. These are expected to lead to the opening of family entertainment centers and IP-themed hotel rooms for each brand in Beijing, in Zhongshan City, Guangdong and a third city yet to be announced. These will roll out over the next five years.
The moves come at a time when WildBrain Cplg is expanding its Asia-focused teams. These include the Los Angeles-based veteran licensing executive, Kevin Suh who is former president of themed entertainment & consumer products at Paramount Pictures. Suh was also a senior executive at the Motion Picture Association of America and a lawyer in California. Shanghai-based Evi Sari joins as VP of Lbe in Apac and the Gcc. She was previously...
Entertainment, sports and brand licensing firms WildBrain Cplg and WildBrain Ltd. have brokered location-based entertainment (Lbe) deals on behalf of Peanuts Worldwide for “Peanuts,” “Teletubbies” and “In the Night Garden” with China’s Max-Matching Entertainments. These are expected to lead to the opening of family entertainment centers and IP-themed hotel rooms for each brand in Beijing, in Zhongshan City, Guangdong and a third city yet to be announced. These will roll out over the next five years.
The moves come at a time when WildBrain Cplg is expanding its Asia-focused teams. These include the Los Angeles-based veteran licensing executive, Kevin Suh who is former president of themed entertainment & consumer products at Paramount Pictures. Suh was also a senior executive at the Motion Picture Association of America and a lawyer in California. Shanghai-based Evi Sari joins as VP of Lbe in Apac and the Gcc. She was previously...
- 9/7/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Gayle Hunnicutt, the Texas-born actor known for 1969’s “Marlowe” and her role as Vanessa Beaumont in “Dallas,” died on Aug. 31 in London, according to The Times of London. She was 80.
Hunnicutt played Vanessa Beaumont, an English aristocrat who shares an illegitimate son with Larry Hagman’s J.R. Ewing, in the final three seasons of “Dallas” from 1989 to 1991.
Born on Feb. 6, 1943, in Fort Worth, Texas, Hunnicutt made her television debut in 1966 on the NBC sitcom “Mister Roberts.” She guested on several series in the ’60s, including “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Hey Landlord,” “Love on a Rooftop” and “Get Smart.”
On the film side, Hunnicutt starred opposite James Garner in the 1969 neo-noir crime film “Marlowe,” in which she played television star Mavis Wald. She appeared in more than 30 films during her career, including “The Wild Angels,” “P.J.,” “Freelance,” “Running Scared,” “Target” and “The Legend of Hell House” opposite Roddy McDowell.
Hunnicutt married...
Hunnicutt played Vanessa Beaumont, an English aristocrat who shares an illegitimate son with Larry Hagman’s J.R. Ewing, in the final three seasons of “Dallas” from 1989 to 1991.
Born on Feb. 6, 1943, in Fort Worth, Texas, Hunnicutt made her television debut in 1966 on the NBC sitcom “Mister Roberts.” She guested on several series in the ’60s, including “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Hey Landlord,” “Love on a Rooftop” and “Get Smart.”
On the film side, Hunnicutt starred opposite James Garner in the 1969 neo-noir crime film “Marlowe,” in which she played television star Mavis Wald. She appeared in more than 30 films during her career, including “The Wild Angels,” “P.J.,” “Freelance,” “Running Scared,” “Target” and “The Legend of Hell House” opposite Roddy McDowell.
Hunnicutt married...
- 9/6/2023
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
The North American box office has been a challenge to track the past couple of years, first with movie theaters shuttering along with almost everything else due to the Covid pandemic, and then in 2023, just when thing were returning to normal, a pair of Hollywood strikes has further complicated studios’ release-date strategies.
Still, as of last weekend of August, the 2023 domestic box office is already past $6.6 billion in grosses, up 25% over the same frame a year ago, and there are still busy festival and holiday seasons to help boost awareness — and attendance.
Check out 2023’s latest U.S release date schedule for the major and specialty studios below and keep checking back for the latest updates.
September Friday, September 1
The Equalizer 3
Sony Pictures (Wide)
The Good Mother
Vertical Entertainment (Moderate)
Cheta Singh
Seven Colors America (Limited)
Don’t Look Away
Level 33 (Limited)
Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia
Gkids...
Still, as of last weekend of August, the 2023 domestic box office is already past $6.6 billion in grosses, up 25% over the same frame a year ago, and there are still busy festival and holiday seasons to help boost awareness — and attendance.
Check out 2023’s latest U.S release date schedule for the major and specialty studios below and keep checking back for the latest updates.
September Friday, September 1
The Equalizer 3
Sony Pictures (Wide)
The Good Mother
Vertical Entertainment (Moderate)
Cheta Singh
Seven Colors America (Limited)
Don’t Look Away
Level 33 (Limited)
Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia
Gkids...
- 8/28/2023
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple TV+ has debuted the trailer for ‘Still Up,’ the upcoming comedy series starring Antonia Thomas and Craig Robert.
Co-created and written by Steve Burge and Natalie Walter, the new eight-episode comedy is an almost romantic comedy set in the after-hours world of insomniacs Danny (Roberts) and Lisa (Thomas) who have no secrets except their feelings for each other. Also starring in the ensemble cast are Blake Harrison, Lois Chimimba, Luke Fetherston and Rich Fulcher.
Directed by BAFTA Award nominee John Addis. Bryce Hart also writes on the series. The series is produced for Apple TV+ by Various Artists Limited and is executive produced by BAFTA Award winner Paul Schlesinger and Emmy Award winner Phil Clarke. Arabella McGuigan serves as producer.
Also in trailers – John Cena & Alison Brie team up in trailer for ‘Freelance’
The series makes its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes on Friday,...
Co-created and written by Steve Burge and Natalie Walter, the new eight-episode comedy is an almost romantic comedy set in the after-hours world of insomniacs Danny (Roberts) and Lisa (Thomas) who have no secrets except their feelings for each other. Also starring in the ensemble cast are Blake Harrison, Lois Chimimba, Luke Fetherston and Rich Fulcher.
Directed by BAFTA Award nominee John Addis. Bryce Hart also writes on the series. The series is produced for Apple TV+ by Various Artists Limited and is executive produced by BAFTA Award winner Paul Schlesinger and Emmy Award winner Phil Clarke. Arabella McGuigan serves as producer.
Also in trailers – John Cena & Alison Brie team up in trailer for ‘Freelance’
The series makes its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes on Friday,...
- 8/22/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Relativity Media has debuted the trailer for the John Cena and Alison Brie-led action comedy ‘Freelance.’
An ex-special forces operative stuck in a dead-end desk job (John Cena) reluctantly takes on a gig to provide private security for a washed-up journalist (Alison Brie) as she interviews a ruthless—but impeccably dressed—dictator (Juan Pablo Raba). When a military coup breaks out just as she’s about to get the scoop of a lifetime, the unlikely trio must figure out how to survive the jungle, the assassins, and each other in order to make it out alive.
Directed by, John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, and Christian Slater star.
Also in trailers – “Tenacity is a superpower…” Michael Peña stars in trailer for ‘A Million Miles Away’
The movie releases in U.S. cinemas on October 6th.
The post John Cena & Alison Brie team up in trailer for ‘Freelance’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
An ex-special forces operative stuck in a dead-end desk job (John Cena) reluctantly takes on a gig to provide private security for a washed-up journalist (Alison Brie) as she interviews a ruthless—but impeccably dressed—dictator (Juan Pablo Raba). When a military coup breaks out just as she’s about to get the scoop of a lifetime, the unlikely trio must figure out how to survive the jungle, the assassins, and each other in order to make it out alive.
Directed by, John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, and Christian Slater star.
Also in trailers – “Tenacity is a superpower…” Michael Peña stars in trailer for ‘A Million Miles Away’
The movie releases in U.S. cinemas on October 6th.
The post John Cena & Alison Brie team up in trailer for ‘Freelance’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 8/22/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
“Freelance” is a new action comedy feature. directed by Pierre Morel starring John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Alice Eve, Marton Csokas and Christian Slater, releasing October 6, 2023 in theaters:
“…years after retiring from the ‘Army’, a ‘Special Forces’ operator takes a job providing security for a female journalist as she interviews a cruel dictator.
“But when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle together…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…years after retiring from the ‘Army’, a ‘Special Forces’ operator takes a job providing security for a female journalist as she interviews a cruel dictator.
“But when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle together…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 8/22/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
John Cena and Alison Brie get caught in the middle of political unrest in the first trailer for the forthcoming action-comedy movie Freelance.
The Relativity Media film from director Pierre Morel (Taken) hits theaters Oct. 6. It centers on a Special Forces operator (Cena) resurfacing from retirement to escort a journalist (Alison Brie) to interview the dictator of a foreign country, which is embroiled in a dangerous coup that begins shortly after their arrival.
During the trailer, Brie tells Cena, “I’m with the president of a country in the middle of a coup. This is the scoop of a lifetime.” He bluntly responds, “You gotta be alive to have the scoop of a lifetime.”
Later, after they find themselves fleeing from peril, Cena asks, “Are you still excited to cover a coup?” Brie understatedly replies, “Less and less, honestly.”
Morel directs from a script by Jacob Lentz (Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Relativity Media film from director Pierre Morel (Taken) hits theaters Oct. 6. It centers on a Special Forces operator (Cena) resurfacing from retirement to escort a journalist (Alison Brie) to interview the dictator of a foreign country, which is embroiled in a dangerous coup that begins shortly after their arrival.
During the trailer, Brie tells Cena, “I’m with the president of a country in the middle of a coup. This is the scoop of a lifetime.” He bluntly responds, “You gotta be alive to have the scoop of a lifetime.”
Later, after they find themselves fleeing from peril, Cena asks, “Are you still excited to cover a coup?” Brie understatedly replies, “Less and less, honestly.”
Morel directs from a script by Jacob Lentz (Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- 8/21/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"You've gotta be alive to have he scoop of a lifetime." Relativity has debuted an official trailer for an action comedy movie titled Freelance, the latest from French action filmmaker Pierre Morel. Set to open in theaters nationwide this October. An ex special forces operator takes a job to provide security for a journalist as she interviews a dictator, but, a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview with the suave dictator. They are forced to escape into the jungle where they must survive and figure out how to escape. This sounds a lot like so many other movies recently, mainly The Lost City or Shotgun Wedding. John Cena and Alison Brie star with Juan Pablo Raba, Alice Eve, Marton Csokas, and Christian Slater. It was shot in Colombia early last year. This doesn't look so bad, mainly because I think Cena is hilarious, handling all his action and comedy quite well.
- 8/21/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
After years of being a professional wrestler, it appears that John Cena has finally created his own niche in film. He is now the go-to actor if you need someone with the muscles of a ‘90s action star but with really good comedic timing. Basically, John Cena is a great doofus-y, somewhat dorky action guy if your film needs someone like that. Thankfully for Cena, it appears there is a demand for that, as in the new film, “Freelance.”
Read More: ‘Barbie’: Margot Robbie Says John Cena’s Kenmaid Cameo Happened Entirely By Chance
As seen in the trailer for “Freelance,” the film follows the story of an ex-special forces guy (Cena) who has retired and is now a lawyer feeling a bit lost with his current life.
Continue reading ‘Freelance’ Trailer: John Cena Has To Protect Alison Brie In New Action Comedy From The Director Of ‘Taken’ at The Playlist.
Read More: ‘Barbie’: Margot Robbie Says John Cena’s Kenmaid Cameo Happened Entirely By Chance
As seen in the trailer for “Freelance,” the film follows the story of an ex-special forces guy (Cena) who has retired and is now a lawyer feeling a bit lost with his current life.
Continue reading ‘Freelance’ Trailer: John Cena Has To Protect Alison Brie In New Action Comedy From The Director Of ‘Taken’ at The Playlist.
- 8/21/2023
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
A couple years ago, we heard that John Cena would be teaming up with Taken director Pierre Morel for an action comedy called Freelance. That project has since made its way through production, and now it’s ready to reach theatres on October 6th. To start building the hype for the release, a trailer for the film has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.
Freelance is the first produced feature screenplay for writer Jacob Lentz, who previously earned writing credits on over 1000 episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The story Lentz crafted for this film has the following synopsis: Ex-special forces operative Mason Pettis (Cena) is stuck in a dead-end desk job when he reluctantly takes on a freelance gig to provide private security for washed-up journalist Claire Wellington as she interviews the ruthless—but impeccably dressed—dictator, Juan Venegas. When a military coup breaks out just...
Freelance is the first produced feature screenplay for writer Jacob Lentz, who previously earned writing credits on over 1000 episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The story Lentz crafted for this film has the following synopsis: Ex-special forces operative Mason Pettis (Cena) is stuck in a dead-end desk job when he reluctantly takes on a freelance gig to provide private security for washed-up journalist Claire Wellington as she interviews the ruthless—but impeccably dressed—dictator, Juan Venegas. When a military coup breaks out just...
- 8/21/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
“Taken” director Pierre Morel is turning his lens to action-comedies with latest film “Freelance.”
Alison Brie stars as a washed up journalist who travels to Colombia for a high-profile interview with a local dictator. She hires a private security guard, played by John Cena, to protect her while abroad; yet of course, things go horribly wrong and the duo are on the run.
The official synopsis reads: An ex special forces operative stuck in a dead-end desk job (Cena) reluctantly takes on a gig to provide private security for a struggling journalist (Brie) as she interviews a ruthless — but impeccably dressed — dictator (Juan Pablo Raba). When a military coup breaks out just as she’s about to get the scoop of a lifetime, the unlikely trio must figure out how to survive the jungle, the assassins, and each other in order to make it out alive.
Alice Eve and Christian Slater also star.
Alison Brie stars as a washed up journalist who travels to Colombia for a high-profile interview with a local dictator. She hires a private security guard, played by John Cena, to protect her while abroad; yet of course, things go horribly wrong and the duo are on the run.
The official synopsis reads: An ex special forces operative stuck in a dead-end desk job (Cena) reluctantly takes on a gig to provide private security for a struggling journalist (Brie) as she interviews a ruthless — but impeccably dressed — dictator (Juan Pablo Raba). When a military coup breaks out just as she’s about to get the scoop of a lifetime, the unlikely trio must figure out how to survive the jungle, the assassins, and each other in order to make it out alive.
Alice Eve and Christian Slater also star.
- 8/21/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Joel Kinnaman (For All Mankind) is attached to star in They Found Us, an alien abduction thriller to be directed for AGC Studios and Temple Hill by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Neill Blomkamp (District 9), which will head into production in Australia later this year.
The film to be fully financed by Stuart Ford’s fast-growing independent content studio, AGC Studios, is based on an original screenplay by Jeremy Slater, whose credits include Moon Knight, Fantastic Four, The Exorcist, The Lazarus Effect and The Umbrella Academy. It will follow a father (Kinnaman) and his daughter Kaylee as they undertake a camping trip in the Utah wilderness to heal their broken relationship. After being attacked by a hostile extraterrestrial lifeform, their lives — not just their relationship — wind up at stake, as they fight with a humanoid beast to stop their abduction to an unknown and terrifying alien world.
Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen...
The film to be fully financed by Stuart Ford’s fast-growing independent content studio, AGC Studios, is based on an original screenplay by Jeremy Slater, whose credits include Moon Knight, Fantastic Four, The Exorcist, The Lazarus Effect and The Umbrella Academy. It will follow a father (Kinnaman) and his daughter Kaylee as they undertake a camping trip in the Utah wilderness to heal their broken relationship. After being attacked by a hostile extraterrestrial lifeform, their lives — not just their relationship — wind up at stake, as they fight with a humanoid beast to stop their abduction to an unknown and terrifying alien world.
Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen...
- 4/26/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Distribution and production company Signature Entertainment has revealed four new executive roles across the U.K. and U.S.
Kristin Ryan joins Signature’s London office as marketing director. Ryan was most recently head of home entertainment marketing at Studiocanal where she led the home entertainment releases of both films in the Paddington franchise, “The Railway Children Return” and “Another Round.” She had previous stints in the marketing departments at eOne and Momentum Pictures.
Meanwhile, after seven years in the U.K. marketing team, most recently as acting head of U.K. marketing, Emilie Barra is moving into a new role as head of international marketing. Barra will look after the marketing for international acquisitions and distribution as well overseeing marketing for the company’s in-house productions.
Caroline Dubourg joins in a new role as head of business affairs working across all areas of distribution, production, international sales and corporate.
Kristin Ryan joins Signature’s London office as marketing director. Ryan was most recently head of home entertainment marketing at Studiocanal where she led the home entertainment releases of both films in the Paddington franchise, “The Railway Children Return” and “Another Round.” She had previous stints in the marketing departments at eOne and Momentum Pictures.
Meanwhile, after seven years in the U.K. marketing team, most recently as acting head of U.K. marketing, Emilie Barra is moving into a new role as head of international marketing. Barra will look after the marketing for international acquisitions and distribution as well overseeing marketing for the company’s in-house productions.
Caroline Dubourg joins in a new role as head of business affairs working across all areas of distribution, production, international sales and corporate.
- 3/17/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Alison Brie came out as bisexual earlier this February during an interview with her husband, Dave Franco. The duo wrote their new movie "Somebody I Used to Know" together; Franco served as director with Brie as the star. To promote the February release, the pair read thirst tweets together in a Feb. 17 video for BuzzFeed.
In the video, Brie reads a fan's tweet to her husband: "Listen I am bisexual for a reason and that reason is strictly to be used in a threesome by dave franco and alison brie." The duo high five, and Brie says, "That's also why I'm bisexual." Franco teases his wife for choosing this moment to share this fact, saying, "You've been waiting for this tweet from someone you don't know who they are or what they look like?"
"Yeah," Brie says with a shrug, and Franco responds, "Yeah, yeah, makes sense."
Franco and Brie...
In the video, Brie reads a fan's tweet to her husband: "Listen I am bisexual for a reason and that reason is strictly to be used in a threesome by dave franco and alison brie." The duo high five, and Brie says, "That's also why I'm bisexual." Franco teases his wife for choosing this moment to share this fact, saying, "You've been waiting for this tweet from someone you don't know who they are or what they look like?"
"Yeah," Brie says with a shrug, and Franco responds, "Yeah, yeah, makes sense."
Franco and Brie...
- 2/27/2023
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
Exclusive: Prolific German actor Thomas Kretschmann, star of movies including The Pianist, King Kong and the upcoming Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, is to play seminal and controversial German composer Richard Wagner in a new English-language biopic.
The movie will chart the journey of Richard and Cosima Wagner as they arrive in Venice following the prèmiere of Parsifal in 1882. The plot will turn on an alternative history, as it will see Wagner’s father-in-law, Franz Liszt, follow the couple soon after as news of a comet headed towards earth launches Wagner into composing one final piece of music.
Marton Csokas (The Equalizer) will play fellow-composer Liszt in the project which is being sold at Berlin’s EFM by Motus Studios.
Daniel Graham (Prizefighter: The Life Of Jem Belcher) is writer-director and the team is aiming to shoot in Venice in late spring, 2023.
Emanuele Moretti (Assassin Club) is producing...
The movie will chart the journey of Richard and Cosima Wagner as they arrive in Venice following the prèmiere of Parsifal in 1882. The plot will turn on an alternative history, as it will see Wagner’s father-in-law, Franz Liszt, follow the couple soon after as news of a comet headed towards earth launches Wagner into composing one final piece of music.
Marton Csokas (The Equalizer) will play fellow-composer Liszt in the project which is being sold at Berlin’s EFM by Motus Studios.
Daniel Graham (Prizefighter: The Life Of Jem Belcher) is writer-director and the team is aiming to shoot in Venice in late spring, 2023.
Emanuele Moretti (Assassin Club) is producing...
- 2/18/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The rap world is ever-changing, and 2022 showed us where we might be heading next. The year was full of solid releases from budding stars who set the stage for a lower-key sensibility within hip-hop. It was a year where fans turned away from the larger-than-life superstars towards more down-to-earth figures in the scene. The rise of homegrown acts like Babytron and newcomers Ice Spice proved that hip-hop’s new landscape is abundant. In today’s rap world, there’s something for everyone.
2023 is poised to be no different. This year,...
2023 is poised to be no different. This year,...
- 1/16/2023
- by Jeff Ihaza, Mankaprr Conteh, Dewayne Gage and Andre Gee
- Rollingstone.com
AGC International, the international sales and distribution arm of Stuart Ford’s independent content studio AGC Studios, has secured a raft of pre-sales on Richard Linklater’s Hitman and Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut The Dating Game, both of which will enter production in October.
Hitman has thus far sold to Leonine Studios in Germany and Switzerland; Snd in France; Sun Distribution in Latin America and Spain; WW Entertainment Bv in Benelux; Bim Distribuzione in Italy; Vvs Film in Canada; Scanbox Entertainment in Scandinavia; Paradise/Mgn in the Baltic States; Kino Swiat in Poland; Selim Ramia in the Middle East; Nos Lusomundo in Portugal; Empire Entertainment in South Africa; United King Film in Israel; Aqua in Turkey; and Kcs in Ex-Yugoslavia.
The Dating Game has sold to Telepool in Germany; Signature Entertainment in the UK and Ireland; Sun Distribution in Latin America, Spain and Portugal; Vvs Films in Canada; Lucky...
Hitman has thus far sold to Leonine Studios in Germany and Switzerland; Snd in France; Sun Distribution in Latin America and Spain; WW Entertainment Bv in Benelux; Bim Distribuzione in Italy; Vvs Film in Canada; Scanbox Entertainment in Scandinavia; Paradise/Mgn in the Baltic States; Kino Swiat in Poland; Selim Ramia in the Middle East; Nos Lusomundo in Portugal; Empire Entertainment in South Africa; United King Film in Israel; Aqua in Turkey; and Kcs in Ex-Yugoslavia.
The Dating Game has sold to Telepool in Germany; Signature Entertainment in the UK and Ireland; Sun Distribution in Latin America, Spain and Portugal; Vvs Films in Canada; Lucky...
- 9/20/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
International buyers have swiped right on Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, The Dating Game.
The upcoming thriller was snatched up by multiple international distributors at the Toronto International Film Festival following an in-person pitch by Kendrick and AGC Studio’s CEO Stuart Ford, who are producing and fully financing the film.
Telepool prebought The Dating Game for Germany, while Signature Entertainment took rights in the U.K. and Ireland; Sun Distribution bought Latin America, Spain and Portugal; Vvs Films scored Canadian rights; Lucky Red took Italian rights, and Roadshow Films landed the film for Australia and New Zealand, among many other deals.
Kendrick will also produce The Dating Game and star in the stranger-than-fiction true story as Cheryl Bradshaw, a bachelorette on the hit 1970s TV matchmaking show The Dating Game whose bachelor pick, Rodney Alcala, turns out to be a serial killer.
International buyers have swiped right on Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, The Dating Game.
The upcoming thriller was snatched up by multiple international distributors at the Toronto International Film Festival following an in-person pitch by Kendrick and AGC Studio’s CEO Stuart Ford, who are producing and fully financing the film.
Telepool prebought The Dating Game for Germany, while Signature Entertainment took rights in the U.K. and Ireland; Sun Distribution bought Latin America, Spain and Portugal; Vvs Films scored Canadian rights; Lucky Red took Italian rights, and Roadshow Films landed the film for Australia and New Zealand, among many other deals.
Kendrick will also produce The Dating Game and star in the stranger-than-fiction true story as Cheryl Bradshaw, a bachelorette on the hit 1970s TV matchmaking show The Dating Game whose bachelor pick, Rodney Alcala, turns out to be a serial killer.
- 9/20/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Christian Slater has been tapped as a major lead in The Spiderwick Chronicles, Disney+’s live-action series adaptation of the popular fantasy books.
Slater will play Mulgarath (alter ego Dr. Dorian Brauer), a capital-v Villain who does what all ogres do — he eats people, an insatiable desire to consume. Mulgarath wants the secrets contained in Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Natural World for a nefarious scheme that will satisfy his hunger.
The Spiderwick Chronicles book series follows the Grace Family — twin brothers Jared and Simon, their sister Mallory and mother Helen — as they move into their dilapidated ancestral home and begin to unravel a dark mystery about their great-great Uncle who once discovered the secret and maybe foreboding faerie world existing parallel to their own.
Kat Coiro will direct the first two episodes of the series, a modern coming-of-age story combined with fantasy adventure, produced by Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television.
Slater will play Mulgarath (alter ego Dr. Dorian Brauer), a capital-v Villain who does what all ogres do — he eats people, an insatiable desire to consume. Mulgarath wants the secrets contained in Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Natural World for a nefarious scheme that will satisfy his hunger.
The Spiderwick Chronicles book series follows the Grace Family — twin brothers Jared and Simon, their sister Mallory and mother Helen — as they move into their dilapidated ancestral home and begin to unravel a dark mystery about their great-great Uncle who once discovered the secret and maybe foreboding faerie world existing parallel to their own.
Kat Coiro will direct the first two episodes of the series, a modern coming-of-age story combined with fantasy adventure, produced by Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television.
- 8/24/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
AGC Studios, Stuart Ford’s independent content studio, is pushing into kids and young adult entertainment. The LA-based company has hired children’s content veteran Aghi Koh to spearhead its move into the space on an initial consulting basis, it was announced today by AGC’s Chief Creative Officer Lourdes Diaz.
Koh has over 20 years experience in the industry and had held senior creative executive positions at DreamWorks TV Animation, Nickelodeon and Universal Studios Kids and Family. She was also an executive producer on the Walt Disney animated feature The Princess and the Frog, and has shepherded animated TV series Curious George and Kinderwood, and the film The Land Before Time: Journey of the Brave.
“It’s exciting to join Stuart, Lourdes and the dynamic team at AGC and to work with them to add to the studio’s multi-layered film and television content,” she said. “I’m looking forward...
Koh has over 20 years experience in the industry and had held senior creative executive positions at DreamWorks TV Animation, Nickelodeon and Universal Studios Kids and Family. She was also an executive producer on the Walt Disney animated feature The Princess and the Frog, and has shepherded animated TV series Curious George and Kinderwood, and the film The Land Before Time: Journey of the Brave.
“It’s exciting to join Stuart, Lourdes and the dynamic team at AGC and to work with them to add to the studio’s multi-layered film and television content,” she said. “I’m looking forward...
- 8/22/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
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