Month: December 2024

Midori Francis

Writer/director Natalie Erika James made her feature debut with the psychological horror drama Relic and followed that up with the Rosemary’s Baby prequel Apartment 7A. Now, Deadline reports that filming is underway on James’ third feature, a psychological horror film called Saccharine, and Midori Francis of Grey’s Anatomy and The Sex Lives of College Girls has the lead role.

Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw are producing Saccharine, which is a Carver Films and Thrum Films production. Production investment came from Screen Australia, XYZ in conjunction with IPR.VC, and Stan, in association with VicScreen. Ben Morgan is a co-producer. Deadline notes that the film will be distributed theatrically in Australia and New Zealand by Maslow Entertainment and will launch as a Stan Original Film on Stan. 

Francis is taking on the role of Hana, a lovelorn medical student who becomes terrorized by a hungry ghost after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.

We first heard of this project a couple of months ago, when James told The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m doing another psychological horror, and this one’s called Saccharine. It’s about a woman who eats human ash to lose weight, and she becomes haunted by the ghost of the person she’s eating. So it has a bit of an absurd bent to it, but I’m very excited and we’re shooting here in Melbourne.” Deadline confirms that filming is taking place at Docklands Studios Melbourne and various locations around Melbourne.

Francis is joined in the cast by Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$) as Josie, Hana’s best friend, and Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time) as Alanya, a personal trainer and fitness influencer.

James provided the following statement: “There is so much toxic messaging around weight and appearance that permeates every corner of our culture. Saccharine is an intimate look into one woman’s struggle with body image, self-worth, and shame-driven compulsion, told through a supernatural body-horror with a queer lens and an edge of the absurd.” The producers added, “Saccharine explodes off the page with Natalie’s bold vision. To team with her again is such a sweet pleasure for us. We can’t wait to see Midori, Danielle and Madeleine bring these incredible women to life.

Does Saccharine sound interesting to you? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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Ansel Elgort, Catherine Hardwicke, If You Could See Me Now

Ansel Elgort (Tokyo Vice, Baby Driver) and Catherine Hardwicke (Point Break, The Hurt Locker) are letting their imaginations run wild as they partner for an adaptation of Cecelia Ahern’s novel If You Could See Me Now. Ahern’s book tells the touching story of an unlikely romance between a woman with the world’s weight on her shoulders and her imaginary friend, Ivan.

Here’s a synopsis for Cecelia Adhern’s If You Could See Me Now novel courtesy of Amazon:

What if love was right there in front of you – you just couldn’t see it? Elizabeth Egan is too busy for friends. As a reluctant mother to her sister Saoirse’s young son Luke and with her own business to run, every precious moment is made to count.

But with Saoirse crashing in and out of their lives, leaving both her sister and her son reeling, Luke and Elizabeth are desperately in need of some magic. Enter Ivan. Wild, spontaneous and always looking for adventure, in no time at all Ivan has changed Elizabeth in ways she could never have imagined. But is Ivan too good to be true? Has Elizabeth opened her heart only to risk it being broken again?

Catherine Cort will write the adaptation of Ahern’s If You Could See Me Now, with Robert Julzer and Simon Brooks producing.

After starring alongside Ken Watanabe and Rachel Keller in Max’s Tokyo Vice, Ansel Elgort is preparing to star in Faster Than Horses, the biographical thriller produced by Bear Grylls. Yes, that Bear Grylls. Faster Than Horses tells the story of a former Olympic runner who attempts a comeback in the grueling Marathon des Sables across the Sahara. After a devastating sandstorm strands him, he fights for survival for 10 days instead of achieving victory.

Meanwhile, Catherine Hardwicke is in pre-production for two projects, including Heathen and A French Pursuit. Heathen is an adaptation of the Vault comic book series created by Natascha Alterici. It centers on Aydis, a young female Viking, a warrior, an outcast, and a self-proclaimed “heathen.” Born into a time of warfare, suffering, and subjugation of women, she is on a mission to end the oppressive reign of the god king Odin. Meanwhile, A French Pursuit stars Toni Collette and tells the story of British art teacher Zoe Turner’s romantic getaway plans, which are shattered when rebel Jean-Louis disappears. With donkey Napoleon’s help, Zoe pursues Jean-Louis through the scenic Cévennes, encountering new friends and challenges.

Did you have an imaginary friend growing up? I did. Her name was January. She was a little ghost girl who kept me company through thick and thin. In the comments below, let us know if you’re intrigued by If You Could See Me Now.

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Mufasa: The Lion King, reactions, review

Disney‘s Barry Jenkins-directed origin story, Mufasa: The Lion King, is ready to roar in theaters, and the first reactions to the film are roaring online. Making a prequel to one of all-time’s most beloved Disney classics is a tall order. Still, Jenkins’ effects-driven origin tale is marching into cinemas with its head held high. Well, for most people. In my estimation, the first reactions are a mixed bag of people who think Jenkins understood the assignment, while others believe going back to the Pride Lands was a waste of time and money.

First, let’s focus on the positive:

While many of the above-posted reactions are ultra-positive, some critics and fans remain less impressed by Mufasa: The Lion King. Unfortunately, we operate in a time when negativity breeds engagement, so I always question where some of the vitriol for movies comes from. Are these adverse reactions genuine? Did people set the film up for failure before their screening? It’s best to take things at face value, then go to the theater and judge for yourself.

Here’s the official plot synopsis for Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King:

“Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick,” reads the synopsis. “Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.”

The film boasts quite the voice cast, with Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka/Scar, Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, Preston Nyman as Zazu, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Thandiwe Newton as Eshe, Lennie James as Obasi, Anika Noni Rose as Afia, Keith David as Masego, John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Donald Glover as Simba, Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, Braelyn Rankins as Young Mufasa, Theo Somolu as Young Taka, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala.

Mufasa: The Lion King opens in theaters on December 20, 2024.

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