BY Laura Berger
Emerald Fennell Enlisted by Ana de Armas to Help Write “John Wick” Spinoff “Ballerina”
Another award-winning “Killing Eve” alumna has been tapped to shape an action franchise. The spy thriller’s creator, “Fleabag” breakout Phoebe Waller-Bridge, helped...
Charlotte Wells’ “Aftersun” Will Open Edinburgh Film Festival
Charlotte Wells’ debut feature is set to open the 75th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) following its warm reception at Cannes Critics’ Week earlier this year....
Trailer Watch: Catherine Tate Embarks on a Wild Road Trip in “The Nan Movie”
Catherine Tate hits the road in “The Nan Movie,” a comedy that sees her reprising the role she first played in BBC’s “The Catherine Tate Show.” A trailer for the pic...
Trailer Watch: Letitia Wright & Tamara Lawrance Are “The Silent Twins” in Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s Latest
“I think you may be a bad influence on each other,” Letitia Wright (“Black Panther”) and Tamara Lawrance (“Invasion”) are told in a new trailer for “The...
Sanaa Lathan’s Feature Directorial Debut “On the Come Up” to Make World Premiere at TIFF
Sanaa Lathan’s feature directorial debut is set to make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. A press release announced that “On the Come Up,” the story of...
Trailer Watch: Tween Girls Come of Age and Find a Dead Body in “Summering”
Four tweens make a pact to solve a mystery in “Summering,” a coming-of-age story that’s reminiscent of “Stand By Me.” This time around, the friends at the center of the...
Trailer Watch: Amandla Stenberg and Maria Bakalova Are Hunted in “Bodies Bodies Bodies”
“You don’t have to be nervous,” Amandla Stenberg (“The Hate U Give”) assures Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) in a new trailer for “Bodies Bodies...
Sam Taylor-Johnson to Direct Amy Winehouse Biopic “Back to Black”
Sam Taylor-Johnson is bringing Amy Winehouse’s life story to the big screen. The “Fifty Shades of Grey” filmmaker has been tapped to helm “Back to Black,” a Studiocanal...
Trailer Watch: Brandi Carlile Fights for “The Return of Tanya Tucker”
“Tanya’s voice is in all of us that sing country music, and it’s time for us to do an about-face and recognize that,” says Brandi Carlile in a new teaser for “The Return...
“Tell It Like a Woman” Lands at Samuel Goldwyn Films, Directors Include Taraji P. Henson & Catherine Hardwicke
“Tell It Like a Woman” is headed stateside. Deadline reports that Samuel Goldwyn Films has landed U.S. distribution rights to the star-studded feature that consists of seven intertwining...
Trailer Watch: American Black Film Festival Winner “A Woman on the Outside”
Kristal Bush was a young child the first time she visited her father in prison. She didn’t get the opportunity to see him again until over a decade later, when she was 19 and able to drive...
Nia DaCosta Will Write and Direct “Hedda Gabler” Adaptation
From caped crusaders to Henrik Ibsen, Nia DaCosta is building an eclectic filmography. Following her history-making success at the box office with horror pic “Candyman” and ahead of her...
Trailer Watch: Regina Hall Is a Disgraced First Lady in Megachurch Satire “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.”
“Every woman is not built for the great responsibility of being a first lady,” says Regina Hall in a new trailer for “Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.” Written and directed by...
Trailer Watch: The Unluckiest Person in the World Goes on an Epic Adventure in Peggy Holmes’ “Luck”
Anything that can go wrong does go wrong for Sam Greenfield (Eva Noblezada), the unluckiest person in the world. Her days consist of mishap after mishap. All of that changes when she finds a lucky...
Pick of the Day: “Fire of Love”
A love letter to intrepid scientists and their shared passion, “Fire of Love” burns bright. When Katia and Maurice Krafft died in a volcano eruption, the French couple left behind...
Trailer Watch: A Is Back in “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin”
Goodbye Rosewood, hello Millwood. “Pretty Little Liars” is back with a new setting, cast, and mystery in HBO Max spinoff series “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.” Like its...
Trailer Watch: Time-Traveling Tweens Save the World with Ali Wong’s Help in “Paper Girls”
Ali Wong is shocked to discover a group of pre-teen girls have broken into her home — and even more shocked to discover their true identities — in a trailer for “Paper Girls.”...
Martine Syms’ “The African Desperate” Acquired by MUBI
Martine Syms’ feature debut has secured distribution following screenings at International Film Festival Rotterdam and New York’s New Directors/New Films. Deadline reports that MUBI landed...
Trailer Watch: Viola Davis Leads an Army of Women in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King”
“Some things are worth fighting for,” says Viola Davis in a new trailer for “The Woman King,” Gina Prince-Bythewood’s follow-up to smash hit “The Old Guard.”...
Trailer Watch: Leah Purcell Braves the Australian Outback in “The Legend of Molly Johnson”
Described by writer, director, and star Leah Purcell as a “story about a woman who will go to great lengths to protect the ones she loves,” “The Legend of Molly Johnson” takes...
Trailer Watch: Phoebe Robinson Is a Podcast Host Learning How to Adult in “Everything’s Trash”
Phoebe Robinson is conquering another medium with “Everything’s Trash,” a Freeform comedy based on her 2018 New York Times bestseller. The “2 Dope Queens” co-host...
Pick of the Day: “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song”
Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller pay tribute to the man born with the gift of a golden voice in “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song,” a documentary exploring the origin story and...
Trailer Watch: Anita Rocha da Silveira Follows a Religious Girl Gang in “Medusa”
A student at a Christian college questions whether she’s been possessed in “Medusa.” A new trailer for Anita Rocha da Silveira’s satire introduces us to Mari (Mariana...
Jennifer Connelly Will Topline Alice Englert’s Directorial Debut “Bad Behaviour”
Riding high off the success of “Top Gun: Maverick,” which has taken in over $1 billion worldwide, Jennifer Connelly has lined up her next project. The Oscar winner has signed on to star...
Diablo Cody and Zelda Williams Team Up for “Lisa Frankenstein,” Kathryn Newton Stars
Frankenstein is heading to high school. Diablo Cody and Zelda Williams are teaming up for “Lisa Frankenstein,” a pic inspired by Mary Shelley’s gothic novel. A press release...
Trailer Watch: Nana Mensah Inherits Her Mother’s Bookstore in Tribeca Winner “Queen of Glory”
“You don’t have to be your mother. You have to define you,” Nana Mensah is told in a new trailer for “Queen of Glory.” The multi-hyphenate’s directorial debut sees...
Cathy Bui, Lynn Kim Do, and Jazelle Villanueva Will Topline Freeform Pilot “AZNBBGRL”
“AZNBBGRL” has locked in its cast. Deadline reports that Cathy Bui (“All I Ever Wanted”), Lynn Kim Do (“FBI: Most Wanted”), and Jazelle Villanueva...
Amanda Kramer’s “Please Baby Please” Lands at Music Box, Andrea Riseborough Stars
Music Box Films has secured U.S. rights to Amanda Kramer’s latest, “Please Baby Please,” a queer thriller led by Andrea Riseborough. Variety broke the news. Penned by Kramer and...
Ellie Foumbi’s “Our Father, the Devil” Wins Big at American Black Film Fest
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has named Ellie Foumbi’s “Our Father, the Devil” as Best Narrative Feature. The 26th edition of the fest ran from June 15-19 in Miami, and...
Teaser Watch: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy Return in “Hocus Pocus 2”
Lock up your children — the Sanderson Sisters are back. A newly released teaser for “Hocus Pocus 2” sees the trio of witches, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy...
Abi Morgan to Write and Direct TV Adaptation of Her Book “This Is Not a Pity Memoir”
An Emmy-winning screenwriter is taking her own life story to the small screen. According to Deadline, Abi Morgan will write, direct, and exec produce a TV adaptation of “This Is Not a Pity...
Megan Stalter Comedy “Church Girls” in the Works at HBO Max and A24
Just over a month after booking her first starring role Megan Stalter has her own TV series in the works. The “Hacks” breakout created, exec produced, and is set to topline “Church...
Pick of the Day: “Olga”
An Olympic hopeful finds herself torn between her own dreams and a sense of duty to her country, family, and friends in “Olga,” a drama steered by a revelatory performance from real-life...
Trailer Watch: Lena Dunham Brings Back Awkwardness to the Bedroom in “Sharp Stick”
Lena Dunham is back with another sexually charged coming-of-age story. It’s been five years since “Girls” concluded, and the multi-hyphenate’s latest project follows another...
Zoë Kravitz Will Star in and Produce Bank Robber Pic “The Sundance Kid Might Have Some Regrets”
Zoë Kravitz is planning another heist. After taking on the role of the world’s most iconic cat burglar in “The Batman,” she’ll play a bank robber in “The Sundance Kid...
Trailer Watch: Claire Denis’ “Both Sides of the Blade” Finds Juliette Binoche in a Love Triangle
“When you love someone it never really goes away,” says Juliette Binoche in a new trailer for “Both Sides of the Blade.” Claire Denis’ erotic thriller sees the Oscar...
Lisa Hepner On Investigating a Radical Treatment for Diabetes in “The Human Trial”
Lisa Hepner and her partner Guy Mossman run LA-based Vox Pop Films, a production company specializing in non-fiction content and commercials. For the last 25 years, Hepner has produced a variety of...
Florence Pugh Will Topline “East of Eden” Netflix Series From Zoe Kazan
Florence Pugh and Zoe Kazan are teaming up to bring “East of Eden” to Netflix. The former will star in the limited series adaptation of the beloved, widely acclaimed John Steinbeck novel...
Anike L. Tourse’s “America’s Family” Lands Top Honors at Dances With Films
Anike L. Tourse’s feature debut made a major splash at the 25th annual Dances with Films festival in LA. “America’s Family,” a drama that depicts a family in crisis after their...
Teaser Watch: Zoey Deutch Is a Social Media Fraud in Quinn Shephard’s “Not Okay”
Zoey Deutch goes viral for all the wrong reasons in “Not Okay.” A new teaser for Quinn Shephard’s second feature introduces us to Danni (Deutch), a friendless aspiring writer who...
Trailer Watch: Jenna Cato Bass Explores a Haunted House and Domestic Servitude in “Good Madam”
“There’s a bad spirit here,” we’re told in a new trailer for Jenna Cato Bass’ “Good Madam.” The South African horror pic sees Tsidi (Chumisa Cosa), a single...
Tribeca: “Good Girl Jane,” “The Cave of Adullam,” & More Women-Directed Offerings Win Major Awards
Women-directed titles have landed the top prizes in the U.S. Narrative Competition and Documentary Competition at the 2022 edition of Tribeca Film Festival. The winner of the Founders’ Award for...
“Hacks” Renewed for Season 3 by HBO Max
Our favorite odd couple is here to stay. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are returning for a third season of “Hacks.” HBO Max has renewed Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul Down’s...
Eva Vitija’s “Loving Highsmith” Doc About the Author Behind “Carol” Goes to Zeitgeist Films and Kino Lorber
A doc about the trailblazing queer author behind the source material for “Carol” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley” is on the way. Zeitgeist Films and Kino Lorber have acquired...
Trailer Watch: A Singer Struggles to Be Heard in Lena Waithe-Penned “Beauty”
A gifted singer finds herself on the brink of fame and fortune in “Beauty.” After signing a lucrative record contract, Beauty (Gracie Marie Bradley, “Grown-ish”) can’t...
Maya Forbes & Wally Wolodarsky’s Sigourney Weaver-Starrer “The Good House” Lands Distribution
“The Good House” has secured North American distribution ahead of its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival. Deadline reports that Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions snagged rights to...
Pamela Adlon to Make Feature Directorial Debut with Pregnancy Comedy, Ilana Glazer Will Star
After helming every episode of four of “Better Things'” five-season run, Pamela Adlon is set to make her feature directorial debut. The Emmy and Peabody-winning multi-hyphenate is...
Exclusive: Cattlewomen Joke About Their Style and the Kardashians in Exclusive “Bitterbrush” Clip
“Bitterbrush” is heading to theaters and on demand following an acclaimed festival run that included screenings at Telluride, Visions du Réel, and San Francisco International Film...
Trailer Watch: Dakota Johnson Takes on Jane Austen in Carrie Cracknell’s “Persuasion”
From E.L. James to Elena Ferrante and Jane Austen, “50 Shades of Grey” breakout Dakota Johnson, recently seen in “The Lost Daughter,” takes on another literary adaptation in...
Trailer Watch: Lana Condor Is a Ghost with Unfinished Business in “Boo, Bitch”
Lana Condor is determined to make the most out of the little life she has left in “Boo, Bitch.” From showrunners Erin Ehrlich (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”) and Lauren Iungerich...
“Starstruck” Renewed for Season 3 By HBO Max
Our favorite romance about a drunken New Year’s Eve hookup is coming back. Rose Matafeo’s “Starstruck” has been renewed for a third season by HBO Max and and BBC Three....