Theatrical release of American Fiction pushed

American Fiction, which recently won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, has pushed back its limited theatrical release date of December 15. It will further expand across theatres on December 22. 

The film, which marks Cord Jefferson's feature directorial debut, was originally scheduled to have a limited opening on November 3 and then expand on November 10 and 17. However, on Wednesday, MGM announced that the release has been delayed to December to make best use of the holidays.

Starring Jefferey Wright, American Fiction is a satirical dramedy. The film, based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, is a satire on the way the publishing industry treats black stories. The film also stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Sterling K. Brown, Myra Lucretia Taylor, John Ortiz, Issa Rae and Adam Brody.

Another trailer from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is here 

The makers of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes released a new trailer of the upcoming film on social media recently, ahead of the release on November 17.

The film is based on the 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, and prequel to The Hunger Games (2012) and the fifth installment in The Hunger Games film series. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes features an ensemble cast including Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Shcaefer, Josh Andres Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray's charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favour. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.

It is developed by Lionsgate Entertainment and directed by Francis Lawrence, who has previously directed four films in the five-part Hunger Games franchise.

Netflix unveils release date on Old Dads

Netflix released the trailer of its upcoming film Old Dads, which will mark the directorial debut of standup comedian and actor Bill Burr.

Billed to be a comedy, the trailer shows the film to revolve around a group of old fathers who try to face the challenges thrown by parenting and generational differences. It further shows the unconventional parenting methods used by Bill's character while his friends take modern ways to do the same.

The film will premiere on October 20. Apart from directing, Bill Burr will also star in the film along with Bobby Cannavale, Bokeem Woodbine, Katie Aselton, Jackie Tohn, Reign Edwards, Rachael Harris, among others.

Old Dads is co-written and produced by Burr with Ben Tischler co-writing the screenplay and also produced it. Monica Levinson, Bill Block, and Mike Bertolina are also the producers.

Netflix announces documentary The Devil on Trial release date 

Netflix announced the documentary titled The Devil on Trial which will chronicle one of the bizarre cases the United States encountered when a demonic possession was used as a defense in a murder trial. The documentary will premiere on October 17.

“The Devil on Trial recounts the brutal crime that led to this unprecedented legal strategy, incorporating firsthand accounts and actual recordings of alleged devil possession to tell an extraordinary story about a family that lost control,” reads the synopsis.

It tracks down the case of a 19-year-old Arne Cheyenne Johnson's trial who made headlines in 1981. Arne claimed that he murdered his 40-year-old landlord, Alan Bono since he was under demonic possession. The incident also drew attention of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, and was subsequently the topic of the film Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

Trailer of Amber Heard's In the Fire is out 

The trailer of the upcoming  American-Italian thriller In the Fire, starring  Amber Heard, has been released online. Directed by Conor Allyn, the film is set to hit the theatres  in the United States on October 13, 2023

The film's official logline read, "A doctor (Amber Heard)  from New York travels to a remote plantation in the 1890s to care for a disturbed boy who seems to have inexplicable abilities. She begins treating the child, but in doing so, ignites a war of science versus religion with the local priest, who believes the boy is possessed by the Devil and is the reason for all the village's woes."

Here is the trailer 

Conor Allyn co-wrote the film with Pascal Borno and Silvio Muraglia. The film also stars Eduardo Noriega, Lorenzo McGovern Zaini , Luca Calvani, and Yari Gugliucci

The final trailer of Sex Education S4 is here

The much-celebrated teen sex comedy-drama Sex Education started streaming on Netflix on Thursday. On the same day, the streamer released a final trailer for the series. The season four will mark the end of the series.

In the new trailer, Otis (played by Asa Butterfield) is seen reflecting on his journey.

In the finale of Season 3, Moordale students received news that they must seek education elsewhere. Consequently, Otis (Asa Butterfield), Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), and their peers enrolled in Cavendish Sixth Form College, which is vastly different from Moordale. Concurrently, Maeve (Emma Mackey) embraced an exciting opportunity in the United States. Back home, Otis and Jean (Gillian Anderson) acclimated to life with a new addition to their family.

The show also has major casting shifts as a new addition to the cast, including Jodie Turner-Smith, Dan Levy, Thaddea Graham, Marie Reuther, Alexandra James, Anthony Lexa, Felix Mufti, and Imani Yahshua.

The recurring cast of the series includes Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson Connor Swindells, Alistair Petrie, Kedar Williams-Stirling, George Robinson, Chinenye Ezeudu, Dua Saleh, Mimi Keene, and Samantha Spiro. 

Stranger Things prequel play cast revealed

The London stage production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow—a prequel to the popular Netflix series—announced its cast and opening dates on Wednesday.

The ensemble cast features Shane Attwooll as Chief Hopper, Isabella Pappas as Joyce, Chris Buckley as Bob Newby, Oscar Lloyd as Hopper Jr, Louis McCartney as Henry Creel, Patrick Vaill as Dr Brenner and Max Harwood as Allen Munson.

While Isabella Pappas and Oscar Lloyd play Joyce Maldonado and Jim Hopper respectively, Christopher Buckley will portray the younger version of Joyce's Season 2 love interest—Bob Newby and the child with powers akin to Eleven's will be played by Louis McCartney.

The stage production for the prequel was announced back in July 2022.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Stranger Things: The First Shadow is being presented in association with Sonia Friedman Productions. Stranger Things creators – the Duffer Brothers, are serving as creative producers for the stage show. The timeline for the plot will tell the story of Hawkins in 1959 featuring younger versions of some of the show's much-appreciated older characters. 

Previews will begin on November 17 at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End, with the official opening set for December 14.

Tom Sharp to headline scripted series The Pendragon Cycle

Newcomer Tom Sharp has been cast as the lead actor in the upcoming scripted series The Pendragon Cycle, with the shooting of the series underway in Europe.

The drama will be seven episodes long and will be a reimagining of King Arthur's myth and set against the backdrop of Roman Britain.  Tom will be essaying the role of Merlin, son of Atlantean princess Taliesen.

The series is helmed by Jeremy Boreing. Inspired by Stephen R Lawhead's book series The Pendragon Cycle, the shooting is currently happening in Hungary and Italy. It will release in 2024.

“Pendragon is the most ambitious project we’ve ever taken on, and we are thrilled to have a true talent in Tom Sharp as our lead. His depth as an actor makes him the perfect choice to bring the legendary hero to life. Merlin is one of the most iconic characters of all time, and I have no doubt this will prove to be a breakout role for Tom,” Boreing was quoted as saying.

Kellan Lutz, Cam Gigandet to star in crime thriller Desert Dawn

Actors Kellan Lutz and Cam Gigandet who are best known to have played Emmett Cullen and James in the Twilight films, will be once again sharing the screen space for an upcoming crime thriller.

The film is titled Desert Dawn and will be directed by Marty Murray from an original screenplay by Chad Law and Johnny Walters.

Desert Dawn will follow the story of a newly appointed small-town sheriff (Lutz) and his envious deputy (Gigandet). As they fall into a web of lies and corruptive businessmen, all the while investigating the death of a mysterious woman.

Premiere Entertainment Group is backing the project. The film has gone on floors this week in Nevada. The production received a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement to allow filming during the union strikes.

Teaser of Percy Jackson and the Olympians out 

The teaser of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the upcoming series, was released by Disney+. It is set to premiere on December 20, with the first two episodes, with the following episodes releasing every Wednesday.

The series is based on Rick Riordan's book series

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is about the 12-year-old titular character played by Walker Scobell. Everything is fine in his normal life, until one of his teachers attacks him and reveals himself to be a monster, leading Percy to learn from his mother that he is a demigod. As he shifts to Camp Half-Blood to be with people just like him, trouble brews.

Others part of the cast include Lance Reddick, Aryan Simhadri, Leah Sava Jeffries, Virginia Kull, among others. Guest and recurring actors are Lin-Manuel Miranda, Megan Mullally, Toby Stephens, Jason Mantzoukas, Jay Duplass, Glynn Turman and others. The series is run by Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz and helmed by James Bobin.