Martin Scorsese’s latest film, The Irishman, reached an estimated 17.1 million viewers on Netflix in its opening week after its 27 November release. Nielsen reports suggest that those viewing figures equate to roughly $155 million at the North American box office, about $20 million more than Scorsese’s previous biggest hit, The Departed. Of the 13 million viewers who tuned in on the film’s release day, roughly 18% watched the entire movie — a completion rate higher than several of Netflix’s other major releases, including El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and the platform’s biggest hit to date, Bird Box.
IndieWire – 6th Dec 2019
Stephen Graham, the British actor known for roles in This Is England and Walk Like a Panther, and recently seen in Scorsese’s The Irishman, has joined the cast of Sony’s upcoming Venom 2. Details about Graham’s character have been kept under wraps as the studio continues to withhold plot information for the sequel to the 2017 blockbuster starring Tom Hardy.
Deadline – 5th Dec 2019
Terrence Malick’s new film, A Hidden Life, received a rare screening at the Vatican on 4 December ahead of its North American release on 13 December.
THR – 5th Dec 2019
Matt Reeves’ new DC/Warner Bros. project, The Batman, has added character actor Peter Sarsgaard to its cast. Although the production has not revealed the specifics of his role, speculation has emerged that Sarsgaard could be playing Harvey “Two-Face” Dent.
THR – 6th Dec 2019
Disney is developing a new Planet of the Apes film following its acquisition of 20th Century Fox. The project will be overseen by director Wes Ball (known for The Maze Runner trilogy) and is widely believed to be a franchise reboot, although details remain limited.
THR – 3rd Dec 2019
Disney is moving forward with a sequel to the 1989 family classic Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, with original director Joe Johnston in talks to return behind the camera. The reboot was reportedly pitched to Disney by actor Josh Gad and would reportedly feature Gad as the son of Wayne Szalinski, the character originally played by Rick Moranis.
Variety – 5th Dec 2019
Sisters Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning will co-star in an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s novel The Nightingale, which will be directed by Melanie Laurent, known for her acting work in films such as Inglourious Basterds.
THR – 4th Dec 2019
Sony’s contemporary musical adaptation of Cinderella, which will star Camila Cabello, has cast Nicholas Galitzine (from the series Chambers) as Prince Charming. The film will be directed by Kay Cannon (Blockers).
THR – 5th Dec 2019
The first spin-off from Disney’s recent live-action remakes has been greenlit: a standalone film centered on Aladdin’s Prince Anders. The Disney+ exclusive will see actor Billy Magnussen reprise the role he played in the live-action Aladdin.
THR – 6th Dec 2019
Mena Massoud, who starred as the title character in Disney’s 2019 live-action Aladdin, said in a recent interview that he “hasn’t had a single audition since Aladdin came out,” expressing frustration at having to stay silent about the issue until now.
THR – 3rd Dec 2019
Oscar-winning writer Charles Randolph (The Big Short) is collaborating with Blumhouse founder Jason Blum on a film project about the real-life rise and fall of co-working start-up WeWork. The untitled project will adapt reporting by Katrina Booker and material drawn from her forthcoming book.
THR – 2nd Dec 2019
A sequel to Netflix’s 2018 holiday film The Christmas Chronicles, starring Kurt Russell, is scheduled for release in 2020. The follow-up will be directed by producer and filmmaker Chris Columbus (known for Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films), and Goldie Hawn has been confirmed to play Mrs. Claus.
See What’s Next (Netflix) – 6th Dec 2019
The next installment in the Ghostbusters franchise, directed by Jason Reitman (son of original director Ivan Reitman), has an official title: Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The film is set for release in summer 2020.
Empire – 6th Dec 2019
Disney has issued guidance to cinemas asking them to warn audiences about prolonged flashing light sequences in the upcoming Lucasfilm release Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The advisory was coordinated with the Epilepsy Foundation and is an uncommon, precautionary notice in the industry.
THR – 6th Dec 2019
Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm and the executive producer overseeing the Star Wars franchise, will receive the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ highest honour, the BAFTA Fellowship, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to cinema.
BAFTA – 6th Dec 2019
Helen Mirren, the Academy Award-winning actress best known for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, will be honoured with the Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2020.
4th Dec 2019
Joker star Joaquin Phoenix has been named PETA’s Person of the Year for 2019. The recognition follows his participation in PETA’s “we are all animals” billboard campaign, which advocates for bans on traveling animal circuses and raises awareness about animal welfare.
THR – 2nd Dec 2019
Yorgos Lanthimos’ film The Favourite was a major winner at the 2019 European Film Awards, taking home eight prizes including European Film, European Comedy, Best Director and Best Actress.
TFM – 8th Dec 2019
Studio Ghibli’s films will be available for digital purchase for the first time starting 17 December, following a deal with distributor GKIDS. All 21 of the studio’s releases will become purchasable through GKIDS’ platform and are also scheduled to appear on HBO Max in 2020.
THR – 2nd Dec 2019
Georgian director Zaza Urushadze, best known for the 2013 film Tangerines, has died at the age of 53 from an apparent heart attack.
Vestnik Kavkaza – 7th Dec 2019