Ahead of its fourth season premiere on September 28, Fox has already renewed LEGO Masters for a fifth season, debuting in 2024. The show, a hit with critics and fans, once again hosted and executive produced by Will Arnett, features pairs of Lego enthusiasts facing off in brick-building challenges, cheered on by Arnett and a panel of expert judges, until one duo is crowned the LEGO Master…
9-1-1: Lone Star alum Rob Lowe has moved on to his next Fox project, the quiz show The Floor, set for a midseason debut. The show, produced and hosted by Lowe, is “a spectacular battle of the brains in which 81 contestants stand on 81 squares on a massive game show floor, competing for a whopping $250,000 prize,” according to the network. The Floor marks Lowe’s latest unscripted series for the Fox, who hosted two seasons of Mental Samurai between 2019 and 2022…
Directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, the mystery-crime film is based on the Agatha Christie novel Halloween Party, though it’s a much less faithful Christie adaptation compared to the first two Branagh films, Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express.
Although it strays a bit, James Prichard, one of the producers, who is also Christie’s great-grandson and CEO of her estate, tells ABC Audio that he trusted writer Michael Green.
“He wanted to play with the horror genre. And he felt that Halloween Party was a great launching pad to play with that,” Prichard explains. “I think we have achieved what we set out to achieve, which is to create what I would call a valid, a faithful Agatha Christie experience within some aspects of the horror genre.”
One way the movie strayed was relocating the story, which was originally set outside of London, to Venice, something Prichard says added to the spookiness.
“Venice does have a certain atmosphere. It has a certain mystery. It has a certain mystique,” he shares.
So what would Christie think of this latest representation of her work?
“I wouldn’t want to do her the disservice of putting her words into her mouth,” Prichard says. “I hope, I think she would just be amazed that we’re still here, we’re still talking about her works. I hope she’d be incredibly proud.”
A Haunting inVenice also stars Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver, a writer of mystery novels, and a character many think Christie loosely based on herself. Whatever the case, Prichard says Fey brought the “wit” and “sass.”
“We get that really great interplay between her and Ken Branagh,” he shares, adding, “I think this is Ken’s best performance as [Detective] Poirot.”
(Austin Butler, Jodie Comer) – 20th Century Studios
On Wednesday, September 13, the organizers of The Chicago International Film Festival announced The Bikeriders, the biker gang drama starring Elvis‘ Austin Butler and Mad Max: Fury Road‘s Tom Hardy, will close the event.
Also, writer-director Jeff Nichols will be honored with the festival’s Artistic Achievement Award.
The festival runs from October 11 to October 22 and has the distinction of being the longest-running competitive film festival in North America.
Inspired by Danny Lyon‘s iconic book of photography, The Bikeriders also stars Killing Eve Emmy winner Jodie Comer and Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, who is also appearing at this year’s festival with his directorial debut, Eric Larue.
Bikeriders also stars The Walking Dead‘s Norman Reedus, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny‘s Boyd Holbrook and West Side Story‘s Mike Faist. The film hits theaters December 1.
Regarding honoring the movie’s director, Chicago International Film Festival artistic director Mimi Plauché noted, “From his feature debut Shotgun Stories, which had its U.S. premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2007, to his stunning follow-ups Take Shelter, Mud, Midnight Special, Loving, and his latest achievement The Bikeriders, Jeff Nichols’ work is remarkable for the stunning performances he elicits from his actors … combined with a profound understanding of the human spirit and the often overlooked corners of American life.”
The Sorvinos in 2010 – Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Mira Sorvino said she’ll be dancing in honor of her late father, Goodfellas actor Paul Sorvino, on season 32 of Dancing with the Stars.
The Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion actress, 55, opened up to Good Morning America with a sweet recollection of her famous dad, who died in July 2022 at the age of 83, which she said inspired her to sign up for the show despite feeling both “excitement and fear.”
“We used to watch all the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly movies together,” she said. “That was such a fond memory I have, and so getting to do the ballroom portion, you know, the more elegant dances or the movie-type dances, it’s kind of for him.”
In addition to her dad, the Oscar winner said she’s dancing for herself, as well as for “my girls,” referencing her daughters Mattea and Lucia.
“I’m dancing for myself because it was a dream of mine since I was a kid to be a real dancer,” she noted. “I love dancing, but I’m not really a dancer, so this is like this little visit to Dancing Land.”
As for her daughters, Sorvino said Mattea is an “incredible dancer” in her own right and Lucia “loves dancing too.”
Sorvino also has two sons, Holden and Johnny, whom she shares with husband Christopher Backus.
Dancing with the Stars season 32 premieres September 26 on ABC and Disney+.
On Wednesday, September 13, Chris Prattposted on Instagram a warm thank you to those who contributed to a charity effort for Maui fire relief via sale of clothing from his lifestyle apparel partner TravisMatthew.
Pratt previously announced that all the profits from the company’s onlineEnd of Summer Sale, which began September 1, would be donated to the Maui Strong Fund through the Hawaii Community Foundation.
“We raised a ton of money for our friends in need out in Maui,” said Pratt, who incidentally was discovered as an actor while working at a restaurant in hard-hit Lahaina.
He noted the effort raised $375,628. “That’s awesome,” Pratt said, calling the results “a big step up” from what they expected, adding he’s going to be making his own donation “on top of that.”
Pratt also asked people to donate to the charity, if they are able, even though the sale is over. “Our friends are in need. And they are our countrymen, our brothers and sisters, mothers, fathers and friends. So God bless you, and thank you,” the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise star said.
Three of the late night hosts who make up the podcast Strike Force Five —Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon — are taking their podcast live.
The trio are coming together for a one-night-only show at the Dolby Live at Park MGM venue in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 23, to support the podcast’s goal: raising money for the staff of their respective shows. Due to Hollywood’s ongoing writers and actors strikes, their staff have been out of work for several months.
For the record, the two remaining Strike Force Five hosts, Seth Meyers and John Oliver, already made their excuses.
Oliver explained, “I’m not allowed back in Vegas until I’m cleared of all charges.” Meyers said, “I will be in Vegas but unable to attend as I gotta play my slots.”
Presale tickets for Strike Force Three go on sale September 14 at 1 p.m. ET; general public sales start on September 15 at 1 p.m. ET at Ticketmaster.com.
Fox’s mythological animated comedy series Krapopolis has announced a series of very high-profile stars to guest on its first season.
Ben Stiller, Jane Lynch, Hamilton‘s Daveed Diggs, Fargo‘s Steve Buscemi and Susan Sarandon are among the guests announced Wednesday, September 13.
The show was co-created by Dan Harmon, and Sarandon already voiced a character on Harmon’s other animated series, Rick and Morty.
Another Harmon pal, Yvette Nicole Brown, from Community, is also on the guest list, as are SNL vets Will Forte, Bobby Moynihan and Tim Meadows. Twisted Metal‘s Stephanie Beatriz and The Hangover‘s Rob Riggle also join the cast.
As reported, Krapopolis is set in ancient Greece and stars the voices of Ted Lasso Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham, What We Do in the Shadows’ Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd.
It “tells the story of a dysfunctional family of humans, gods and monsters trying to run one of the world’s first cities, while also trying their best to not kill each other in the process.”
The new show premieres on Fox Sunday, September 24, but in the meantime, fans can get a sneak peek of Stiller as Prometheus in a new clip.
Starz has dropped the second season trailer to Shining Vale, its supernatural horror comedy series starring Courteney Cox, Greg Kinnear and Oscar winner Mira Sorvino.
The second season begins just months after the first. Cox’s author Pat has emerged from the psychiatric hospital, into which she was committed at the end of season 1, after being plagued by Sorvino’s demonic Rosemary and Pat nearly killing her own family with an ax.
“I am rehabilitated…I’m no longer a danger to society,” Pat tells her Merrin Dungey‘s Kam, who is Pat’s book editor and friend.
Kam wants Pat back out plugging her work. “Let’s stick to the story. No ghosts. No demons. You had a mental breakdown while you were writing your book, and now you’re recovered,” she tells her.
Pat attempts to put her past behind her, but she fears her “psychosis got into the family,” as now, her amnesiac husband Terry, played by Kinnear, can see Rosemary, too.
Oh, Rosemary’s back, by the way. “You let me in, and there’s no escape,” she warns.
On Wednesday, September 13, Apple TV dropped a tense second trailer to Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese‘s forthcoming film starring Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
DiCaprio plays Ernest Burkhart,the “war hero” nephew to De Niro’s character William Hale, who Burkhart calls “the nicest man in the world.”
However, he’s anything but.
Based on David Grann‘s bestselling book of the same name, Killers of the Flower Moonis set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the real-life serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation.
De Niro’s character warms his nephew up to the plan to steal the oil discovered on Osage land — through marriage into the tribe and straight-up murder.
The resulting killing spree was known locally as the Reign of Terror and lasted from 1921 to 1926; while locals covered up the deaths as “bad luck,” as De Niro’s character coldly puts it, a federal investigator played by Jesse Plemons thinks there’s more to it.
Meanwhile, Burkhart was torn between both worlds: his uncle’s scheming and his Native American wife Mollie, played by Lily Gladstone, who begs him to avenge her family.
“You gotta pick a side,” his uncle advises him.
Killers of the Flower Moon premiered earlier this year at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it was met with a nine-minute standing ovation.
As reported, Paramount Pictures is releasing the film wide on October 20 — including in IMAX theaters — before it debuts on Apple TV+.
Drew Barrymore‘s decision to resume production on The Drew Barrymore Show amid the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes has cost her a hosting gig.
Barrymore was to emcee the 2023 National Book Awards on November 15, but she was just uninvited by the awards show.
“In light of the announcement that ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms. Barrymore’s invitation to host the 74th National Book Awards Ceremony,” announced the organizers of the event, which has been deemed the Oscars for the publishing world.
The statement on social media continued, “Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the Awards remains on celebrating writers and books, and we are grateful to Ms. Barrymore and her team for their understanding in this situation.”
When Drew’s show resumed production on Monday in New York City, Writers Guild of America members picketed outside the studio.
Barrymore was dragged online as well, with spoofs of her movie posters popping up, including one titled Scab instead of Stab, a fictional film within the Scream series.
On social media earlier this week, Barrymore announced the show would be returning, saying in part, “I made a choice to walk away from the MTV, film and television awards because I was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with which was studios, streamers, film, and television.
“However, I am also making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me,” she added.
For the record, CBS’ The Talk and two syndicated chat shows, The Jennifer Hudson Show and Sherri, hosted by Sherri Shepherd, are also returning to the studio, per The Hollywood Reporter.
