Are you not entertained? You will be when you watch Peacock’s Those About to Die trailer. The new series revolves around gladiatorial combat, political upheaval, and deception lurking around every piss-soaked corner of an evolving empire. Peacock‘s Those About to Die series hails from director/executive producer Roland Emmerich, who details his passion for the project in today’s press release and shares its origin.
“I have always been fascinated by the history of the Roman Empire. So much still seems relevant for our society today – from the entanglement of politics and sports to the disciplines of the competitions, which haven’t changed much either over the last 2000 years. The most electrifying spectacles for the masses still involve two men in an arena, beating each other up, and the chariots of today are called race cars whose drivers still crash and often pay with their lives,” Emmerich writes.
“When my partners Gianni Nunnari and Harald Kloser put Daniel Mannix’s Those About to Die on my reading list, I was immediately hooked. My goal was to create a show that explores a side of Rome never told before – the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. Let the games begin.”
According to Peacock’s official description, Those About to Die is “an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.”
If you watch Peacock’s Those About to Die trailer closely; you’ll catch sight of an ensemble cast to reckon with, including Anthony Hopkins, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, Emilio Sakraya, David Wurawa, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Eneko Sagardoy, and Romana Maggiora Vergano.
All Those About to Die episodes launch on July 18, just in time to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics (July 26-August 11, 2024).
Are you prepared to enter the arena for Those About to Die? Let us know in the comments section below.
PlayStation has announced the new rotation of games coming to PlayStation Plus on June 18, and there are some standouts. Strategy fans have a lot to look forward to with the addition of Anno 1880 and Crusader Kings III, and Far Cry 4 is always a fun time for fans of the Ubisoft open-world FPS series. But the game that…
PlayStation has announced the new rotation of games coming to PlayStation Plus on June 18, and there are some standouts. Strategy fans have a lot to look forward to with the addition of Anno 1880 and Crusader Kings III, and Far Cry 4 is always a fun time for fans of the Ubisoft open-world FPS series. But the game that…
Former model Hunter Schafer made her acting debut on hit HBO series Euphoria – and with production on season 3 of that series being delayed while creator Sam Levinson reworks the scripts, The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Schafer has landed a lead role in the Prime Video limited series Blade Runner 2099 – which is, of course, a continuation of the franchise that began with the 1982 Ridley Scott film Blade Runner and then got a long-awaited follow-up called Blade Runner 2049, which had Denis Villeneuve at the helm, in 2017. Details on the role Schafer will be playing are being kept under wraps. She joins the previously announced Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) in the cast… and we don’t know anything about Yeoh’s character, either.
Blade Runner 2099 was originally expected to start shooting in Belfast last summer, but the Hollywood strikes put the kibosh on that plan. When the show does go into production, it’s now set to be filmed in Prague.
Shining Girls creator Silka Luisa is the writer, showrunner, and executive producer of the series, which has Ridley Scott executive producing through his Scott Free production banner. Jonathan van Tulleken (Shogun) will be directing the first two episodes.
When this project was first announced in 2022, Amazon Studios head of global television Vernon Sanders said, “We are honored to be able to present this continuation of the Blade Runner franchise, and are confident that by teaming up with Ridley, Alcon Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, and the remarkably talented Silka Luisa, Blade Runner 2099 will uphold the intellect, themes, and spirit of its film predecessors.“
While we wait for Blade Runner 2099 to get rolling, we’ll have the chance to see Hunter Schafer on the big screen twice in the next couple months. She has a role in the latest Yorgos Lanthimos / Emma Stone team-up, Kinds of Kindness, which is set to reach theatres on June 21st, and she stars in the horror film Cuckoo, which gets a theatrical release on August 9th.
Are you interested in Blade Runner 2099? What do you think of Hunter Schafer joining Michelle Yeoh in the cast? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Stephen King‘s novel The Institute (which can be purchased HERE) reached store shelves on September 10, 2019 – and that same day, it was announced that David Kelley and Jack Bender, the duo behind the King series adaptation Mr. Mercedes, were working on a limited series adaptation of The Institute. Nearly five years have gone since then and Kelley has dropped off the project along the way, but The Institute is moving forward at MGM+ – and Deadline reports that Mary-Louise Parker of Weeds (and Mr. Mercedes) and Ben Barnes of Shadow and Bone have signed on to star on the show.
Set to run for eight episodes, The Institute will tell the following story: When 12-year-old genius Luke Ellis is kidnapped, he awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did, and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won’t last, as his story and Luke’s are destined to collide.
Barnes will be playing Tim Jamieson, “a disillusioned ex-cop who takes a job as the night knocker in a small town, withdrawing from the world until Luke’s plight reignites him and gives him something to believe in.” Parker’s character is Ms. Sigsby, “the charming but iron-willed director of the Institute and a true believer in its awful mission. She’s certain history will come to see her as a hero.”
Coming our way from MGM+ Studios, The Institute is being directed and executive produced by Jack Bender (Lost) and written and executive produced by Benjamin Cavell (Justified). Filming will take place in Nova Scotia later this year.
King provided the following statement: “I’m delighted and excited at the prospect of The Institute, with its high-intensity suspense, being filmed as a series. The combination of Jack Bender and Ben Cavell guarantees that the results will be terrific.“
Michael Wright, head of MGM+ (which previously worked with King on Chapelwaite), had this to say: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work again with Stephen King. And The Institute, based on his critically acclaimed novel, is an exciting addition to the MGM+ original series slate. There is no creative team I would trust more to bring the book to life than Jack and Ben, whose creative vision and love of Mr. King’s voice, will bring this thought-provoking and gut-wrenching story to life, in the engaging, cinematic, and thrilling style MGM+ viewers expect.“
In addition to Mr. Mercedes, Bender also worked on the King-inspired shows Under the Dome and The Outsider. He said, “I’m thrilled that Stephen King has entrusted me with another of his brilliant novels and continuing the extraordinary creative relationship with Michael Wright and MGM+. Working alongside Ben Cavell and a team of exceptional writers, to tell the story of these uniquely gifted children, will ensure a suspenseful and engrossing series.“
Cavell, who worked on the recent mini-series version of King’s The Stand, added, “It is my great honor to have another chance to adapt Stephen King, who has been generous and collaborative beyond my wildest imaginings. Also, the opportunity to work with Jack Bender, who has directed some of my all-time favorite television, is truly a dream come true. I couldn’t be more grateful to Michael Wright and MGM for putting this team together.“
Are you interested in seeing The Institute brought to the screen by MGM+? What do you think of Mary-Louise Parker and Ben Barnes signing on to star in the series? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
PLOT: Ted is a failed writer-turned-Yankees Stadium peanut slinger who moves back home after learning of the failing health of his Red Sox-obsessed father, Marty. While Marty strives to make amends for his past, his health drops abruptly whenever his beloved Sox lose a game. To keep his dad’s spirits up, Ted takes matters into his own hands and manufactures a winning streak with the help of a crew of dad’s neighborhood pals. An ode to the bond between father and son, this warm and witty film demonstrates how life truly belongs to the losers, and that the longshots are the ones worth betting on.
REVIEW: Over the last decade, David Duchovny has transformed from actor to musician and novelist. On top of three albums of original songs, the former star of The X-Files and Californication has written four best-selling novels. After a great role in HBO’s The Sympathizer, Duchovny returns for his first feature film directorial effort since 2004’s House of D. Adapting his own novel, Bucky F*cking Dent, Duchovny stars alongside Logan Marshall-Green and Stephanie Beatriz in the film Reverse The Curse. Telling the story of fathers and sons, missed opportunities, sickness, death, and loss and grief, Duchovny blends a sense of humor with emotionally resonant storytelling, all told through the lens of the healing power of baseball. While it does not all come together as cohesively as it could have, Duchovny tugs at the right heartstrings while showcasing the talents of costars Marshall-Green and Beatriz.
Logan Marshall-Green takes the lead as Ted, a peanut vendor at Yankee Stadium and a struggling novelist who the editor tells that he needs to experience something to write meaningful stories that people care about. Ted then learns that his father, Marty (David Duchovny), has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. After meeting with Mariana (Stephanie Beatriz), Marty’s nurse, helping him prepare to die, Ted returns home to spend time with his father before he passes away. There is tension between Ted and Marty, something that has existed since childhood but which both father and son begrudgingly try to repair. Ted finds his father’s old writings, which are surprisingly good, and his love of the Boston Red Sox, who are on track to break the decades-long Curse of the Bambino that has kept them out of the playoffs. When Ted realizes that Marty’s health declines when the Red Sox lose and improves when they win, he sets out with Marty’s friends to hide any losing games to try and prod a miraculous recovery. As the plan seems to work, Ted also develops feelings for Mariana, which may finally turn his life around.
The unique concept of Reverse the Curse starts quaint and cute, painting Marty and Ted as an odd-couple blend of crotchety patriarch and neer-do-well child. Still, the fun dynamic of the film’s first act soon segues into a more serious story full of emotional outbursts from all three main characters. This also transitions into scenes of Ted’s ridiculous plan to hide losing Sox games from his dad with ploys that would not have worked on the zaniest of old-school sitcoms. Duchovny cast Evan Handler, Jason Beghe, and Santo Fazio as Marty’s barbershop buddies who help hide newspapers, bribe teenagers, and make fake thunderstorms to further Ted’s scheme. If this had been the story’s main thrust, it may have worked as a decent comedy. But, as father and son get closer, thanks to the magic of nostalgia (and marijuana), the story shifts to Ted trying to help his father reclaim his long-lost love, played by Daphne Rubin-Vega. This equally cute subplot gives way to yet another as Marty and Ted embark on a road trip to the legendary 1978 game playoff between the Red Sox and the Yankees.
The tone and narrative of Reverse the Curse is all over the place. There are flashes of brilliance throughout the film wasted by the uneven structure that cannot determine the tone it wants to set. The final act is emotionally resonant and almost saves the entire movie, but it struggles by still trying to inject comedy into moments that do not quite need it. Some of this may be due to Duchovny choosing to play Marty. At 63, Duchovny still does not look nearly old enough to portray his actual age convincingly. Couple that with the fact that Logan Marshall-Green is only sixteen years younger than Duchovny but playing a thirty-three character, and you can see some of the struggles with credulity. Marshall-Green is youthful enough that his charm works as Ted echoes a combination of Jeff Bridges as The Dude and Joaquin Phoenix from Inherent Vice. Marshall-Green is responsible for most of the comedy in the movie as the usually hilarious Stephanie Beatriz gets to flex her dramatic muscles to great effect. Beatriz and Marshall-Green have a nice and effortless chemistry, making their relationship a hallmark of Reverse the Curse.
David Duchovny is a better writer than he is director, and Reverse the Curse‘s main narrative works better than it should. Had the film retained the novel’s title, Bucky F*cking Dent, it may have resonated more than the generic moniker it is being released under. Duchovny is a workmanlike filmmaker and does not bring any distinctiveness to Reverse the Curse but focuses instead on performance, giving Logan Marshall-Green and Stephanie Beatriz enough space to roll with their characters. Most of the emotional heft in this film rings true, whereas the more elaborate machinations that are meant to make this movie feel quirky and lighthearted are where it is the weakest. Reverse the Curse wants to showcase baseball as a healer of wounds and relationships and almost gets there if David Duchovny could get out of his own way.
Reverse the Curse is a better story than a movie, which may be why the novel was a bestseller. These interesting characters have layers that are not done justice in a movie that cannot figure out what it wants to be. David Duchovny would have been better served if he had cast someone else in the role of Marty and focused his attention behind the camera because there is something underneath the artificiality of this movie that could have been something better. There are some nice moments in this movie and an ending that brought a tear to my eye, but overall, this film needed to pick a lane. Logan Marshall-Green has the chops, literally and figuratively, to warrant more comedic roles in the future, while Stephanie Beatriz should be used dramatically on the big screen more often. Reverse the Curse does not strike out, but it is not a home run either.
Following the Xbox Showcase on June 9, 2024, Starfield got a bit bigger. Now, in addition to its 1,000-plus planets, the endless potential of official and community mods are available directly in the game, all via the new Creations suite. Starfield already had mods on PC for sure, but the Creations are a little…
Following the Xbox Showcase on June 9, 2024, Starfield got a bit bigger. Now, in addition to its 1,000-plus planets, the endless potential of official and community mods are available directly in the game, all via the new Creations suite. Starfield already had mods on PC for sure, but the Creations are a little…
While there are directors with strong opinions on comic book films, often targeting the face of it all, Marvel Studios, there is no shortage of impressive actors who have starred in these superhero films. You have actors like Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Josh Brolin, Michael B. Jordan, Scarlett Johansson and more who have proven their abilities in more dramatic fares. There are even some older iconic actors that have dabbled in the genre, like Robert Redford, Michael Douglas, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Costner and Michelle Pfeiffer. And let’s not forget names like Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson starring in the ones that legitimized the genre.
Russell Crowe is also someone who lent his talents to multiple superhero films. He was Jor-El in Man of Steel, Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder and he will be seen in the upcoming Spider-Man Sonyverse film Kraven The Hunter as Kraven’s bad dad. However, Crowe’s attitude on the genre isn’t as dedicated as one might assume. Variety reports on an interview Crowe gave British GQ, where he responded candidly to Dakota Johnson’s impression of starring in Madame Web, saying that it felt like art “created by a committee.” Crowe laughed,
I don’t want to make any comments to what anybody else might have said or what their experience is, but… you’re bringing out the impish quality of my humor. [Laughs.] You’re telling me you signed up for a Marvel movie, and some fucking universe for cartoon characters… and you didn’t get enough pathos? Not quite sure how I can make this better for you. It’s a gigantic machine, and they make movies at a certain size…these are jobs. You know: here’s your role, play the role. If you’re expecting this to be some kind of life-changing event, I just think you’re here for the wrong reasons.”
Crowe is not known for mincing words in the public eye. Although Gladiator II has stars like Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, Crowe will still get asked about the film even though he will not be involved in any way. Crowe would joke, “They should be f*cking paying me for the amount of questions I get asked about the f*cking film that I am not even in,” adding, “in that world, I’m dead, six feet under. And that’s that.” However, he would recently admit how uncomfortable he is with the film being made, “I’m slightly uncomfortable with the fact they’re making another one — because, of course, I’m dead and I have no say in what gets done. But a couple of the things I’ve heard I’m like, ‘No, no, no, that’s not in the moral journey of that particular character’. But I can’t say anything, it’s not my place, I’m six foot under. So we’ll see what that is like.”
Jude Law may have steely blue eyes but he wasn’t quite ready to play the Man of Steel himself, confirming that while he had the chance to portray Superman, he just couldn’t find the inner strength to do so.
Speaking with The Playlist, Jude Law said he was a serious contender to play the DC superhero for Brett Ratner’s scheduled movie, titled Superman: Flyby. “This is true. Yeah. And there was a process of flirtation going on. And I always resisted because it just felt like [off]. And I know you can say, ‘Well, but you played Yonn-Rogg and Dumbledore!’ It just felt like a step too far.”
Jude Law said he even did costume tests, although he never got a chance to actually try on Christopher Reeve’s Superman get-up. “It was kind of like it was more metallic. Anyway, I tried on and I looked in the mirror and part of me initially was like, ‘Wow, this would be a [good thing],’ and then I just thought, ‘No, you can’t – you can’t do this. You can’t.’ And I didn’t sell myself to myself. And I stepped away and the film never happened anyway. So maybe it probably wouldn’t have done anything.”
Brett Ratner’s Superman movie – which had a script by J.J. Abrams – was just one of several that Warner Bros. was trying to produce to revive the franchise. But Jude Law wasn’t the only one in the running, as Matt Bomer was considered and a costume test for Josh Hartnett has been floating around.
Honestly, it’s a little tough to see Jude Law as Superman, as talented as the guy is. To me, he gives off more of a villainous vibe and may have fared better as someone like The Riddler for a ‘90s Batman movie.
The franchise would eventually land on Brandon Routh for Superman Returns before Henry Cavill would don the cape for a series of movies. Now we have David Corenswet and his own costume to look forward to as he will star in James Gunn’s movie, set for a July 11th, 2025 release.
How do you think Jude Law would have done as Superman? What do you think immediate fan reaction would have been? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
