Netflix has released the trailer for their new film, The Gray Man, starring Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling. The film is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo of Avengers: Endgame fame.
Alongside Gosling and Evans, The Gray Man will star Regé-Jean Page, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Wagner Moura, and Alfre Woodard. The film is the most expensive film ever produced by Netflix, with a budget hovering in the range of $200 million.
The Gray Man synopsis reads:
The Gray Man is CIA operative Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling), aka, Sierra Six. Plucked from a federal penitentiary and recruited by his handler, Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton), Gentry was once a highly-skilled, Agency-sanctioned merchant of death. But now the tables have turned and Six is the target, hunted across the globe by Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a former cohort at the CIA, who will stop at nothing to take him out. Agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas) has his back. He’ll need it.
Ryan Gosling is The Gray Man and Chris Evans is his psychopathic adversary in the Netflix/AGBO-produced thriller directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, starring Ana de Armas, with Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Wagner Moura and Alfre Woodard. Based on the novel The Gray Man by Mark Greaney, the screenplay is by Joe Russo, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The producers are Joe Roth, Jeffery Kirschenbaum, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Mike Larocca and Chris Castaldi. Executive producers are Patrick Newall, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Jake Aust, Angela Russo-Otstot, Geoff Haley, Zack Roth, and Palak Patel.
For those who want to see another installment of Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett, don’t fret, Bad Boys 4 is on the way. Sony Chairman Tom Rothman stated the film starring Will Smith, alongside Martin Lawrence, was never stalled following Smith’s Oscar slapped.
“That was innacurate… That movie’s been in development and still is,” Rothman said, according to Indie Wire. “There weren’t any brakes to pump because the car wasn’t moving.”
The third edition of the franchise, Bad Boys For Life, was released in 2022. A fourth edition was quickly greenlit following the film’s success. After the Oscars slap, it was believed the film was placed on hold with numerous other projects that included Smith.
Rothman added, “That was a very unfortunate thing that happened, and I don’t think it’s really my place to comment, except to say that I’ve known Will Smith for many years, and I know him to be a good person. That was an example of a very good person having a very bad moment, in front of the world. I believe his apology and regret is genuine, and I believe in forgiveness and redemption.”
In April, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw reported Netflix is giving up on a sequel to Smith’s Sci-Fi action film Bright. The sequel’s cancellation is not associated with the slap of Chris Rock. Just last summer, a report cited the film was in the final stages of creating a script, bringing back Smith, Joel Edgerton, and director David Ayer. Netflix’s Fast and Loose film, which stars Smith, is now in slower development. Smith’s show with National Geographic is experiencing a delay; however, the show will continue.
Sincerely, Los Angeles, a colorful, intimate, and inspiring love letter from Los Angeles to NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna Bryant, will be produced by a new joint venture between premier production company Falkon Entertainment and Ebony Studios. The feature-length documentary, directed by Patrick Green and produced by Dexton Deboree and Wondwossen Dikran of Falkon in collaboration with Someone Great Pictures, tells heartfelt stories about everyday people affected by the tragic death of the Lakers legend, as well as a look at LA’s most inspiring mural artists and cultural figures helping each other cope with the loss and remembering Kobe and Gianna. The video follows how these homage shrines grew into a global movement that started in Los Angeles and now spans the globe, demonstrating that Kobe’s impact will live on in our hearts and city walls forever.
“The impact of Kobe’s passing can never be fully articulated or properly emphasized, because it is such a deep, complex, profound and highly personal emotional experience for so many people around the world and if you’re an Angeleno, it goes deeper than that. Even though he was a stranger to me, in many ways I had suffered that loss, just the same and I know so many others around the world felt their own version of the same thing,” says Dexton Deboree, CEO of Falkon and visionary behind Ja Morant’s PROMISELAND, Will Smith’s Best Shape of My Life and Shaquille O’Neil’s The Game Plan. “I’m grateful, honored and inspired to help Patrick and his team bring the film further to life, support his vision and collaborate closely with our partners at Ebony to pay homage and do proper justice to the lasting legacy that Kobe and Gigi had on us all, through the unique and beautiful art that has been created in their loving, dedicated and more than fond memories.”
The film, which is set in Covid-19 and depicts people’s fear of the future, the loss of a real-life superhero, and racial turmoil in the streets, is very much a time capsule of 2020. During the city’s lockdown, award-winning filmmaker Patrick Green traveled throughout the city, documenting how a diverse group of artists and citizens from Boyle Heights to Burbank, Watts to the Westside, separated by class, culture, and concrete, have taken it upon themselves to keep Kobe and Gigi’s legacy alive by painting their images on walls across the Southland. It’s something they must do for the sake of themselves and the city.
“For a lot of Angelenos like myself, Kobe’s passing was like losing a North Star and since then, we’ve all experienced the loss of loved ones, freedom, and a sense of purpose. As I navigated my way through this new normal, I kept seeing larger than life Kobe murals pop-up around LA and saw that they became a place of refuge for people to gather around and relive memories with friends, family, and complete strangers” says Patrick Green, Award-winning Director. “I felt empowered to make a film that captured Kobe’s spirit just like the muralists had done and as I filmed these stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things for themselves and their community, I began to realize that these past couple years weren’t just about loss but finding the hero within. Who better than the Black Mamba to force us to put on our big boy pants and start living again? As a POC filmmaker, it’s an honor and privilege to partner with Dexton and Falkon and have ‘Sincerely, Los Angeles’ as the debut project from the newly launched Ebony Studios.”
For more information on Falkon, visit www.falkoncontent.com.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster train is still chugging along. The latest edition in the massive franchise, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, pulled in $185 million becoming one of the biggest domestic openings of all time. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the global opening number was $450 million.
The film is the 11th biggest launch in box office history and the seventh biggest of the Marvel films, following Avengers: Age of Ultron ($191.3 million), Black Panther ($202 million), The Avengers ($207.3 million), Avengers: Infinity War ($257.7 million), Spider-Man: No Way Home ($260.1 million) and Avengers: Endgame ($357.1 million).
Doctor Stange and the Multiverse of Madness only follow The Batman for 2022 domestic releases. The Batman has pulled in $369.1 million to date. Strange was available in 4,545 theaters.
The next blockbuster for Hollywood is Top Gun: Maverick set for the end of the month. Marvel returns to theaters with Thor: Love and Thunder on July 8.
Netflix is speaking out after Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage during one of their events this week.
Variety reports a spokesperson says the company cares deeply about the safety of creators. They added, that Netflix strongly defends the right of stand-up comedians to perform on stage without fear of violence.
The comedian was attacked Tuesday while doing stand-up at the Hollywood Bowl. Chappelle was performing at the Netflix is a Joke Festival in Los Angeles when an armed man jumped on stage and lunged at him, hitting him in the torso before running off. He brandished a knife that was attached to a fake gun. The assailant was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.
Viola Davis stars as Michelle Obama in the new Showtime series The First Lady. Her work as Mrs. Obama has received criticism online, most notably for her facial expressions throughout the series.
While speaking with BBC News in the promotion of her memoir, Finding Me, Davis stated it is “incredibly hurtful when people say negative things about your work.”
She added a moment in self-reflection in how you move on, citing “you have to.” Davis added, “Not everything is going to be an awards-worthy performance.”
But to those critics, Davis had a response: “Critics absolutely serve no purpose. And I’m not saying that to be nasty, either.”
Davis would add more of her opinion on the social media messages about her portrayal of Mrs. Obama:
“They always feel like they’re telling you something that you don’t know. Somehow that you’re living a life that you’re surrounded by people who lie to you and ‘I’m going to be the person that leans in and tells you the truth,’ so it gives them an opportunity to be cruel to you. But ultimately I feel like it is my job as a leader to make bold choices. Win or fail it is my duty to do that.”
Director Matt Reeves has begun writing a sequel to The Batman, which he and Dylan Clark will also produce, according to Warner Bros. Pictures. The announcement comes after the current film’s global box office total surpassed $750 million. Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, and Reeves, who joined Emmerich onstage during his opening remarks at the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, made the announcement today.
HBO Max has announced a new series starring Colin Farrell as The Penguin, which is based on the world created by The Batman. On the new animated series “Batman: Caped Crusader,” Reeves is reuniting with J.J. Abrams and DC world veteran Bruce Timm. The massively popular “Planet of the Apes” franchise, the acclaimed fantasy horror picture “Let Me In,” and the sci-fi horror smash “Cloverfield” is among the filmmaker’s previous projects. Reeves’ other credits include “Felicity,” a famous TV show he co-created with Abrams, as well as “Ordinary Joe,” “Lift,” “Mother/Android,” “Away,” “Tales from the Loop,” and “The Passage,” among others.
According to Deadline, to date, The Batman has pulled in $750 million worldwide and had 4.1 million first-day viewers on HBO MAX.
Viola Davis stars as Michelle Obama in the new Showtime series The First Lady. Her work as Mrs. Obama has received criticism online, most notably for her facial expressions throughout the series.
While speaking with BBC News in the promotion of her memoir, Finding Me, Davis stated it is “incredibly hurtful when people say negative things about your work.”
She added a moment in self-reflection in how you move on, citing “you have to.” Davis added, “Not everything is going to be an awards-worthy performance.”
But to those critics, Davis had a response: “Critics absolutely serve no purpose. And I’m not saying that to be nasty, either.”
Davis would add more of her opinion on the social media messages about her portrayal of Mrs. Obama:
“They always feel like they’re telling you something that you don’t know. Somehow that you’re living a life that you’re surrounded by people who lie to you and ‘I’m going to be the person that leans in and tells you the truth,’ so it gives them an opportunity to be cruel to you. But ultimately I feel like it is my job as a leader to make bold choices. Win or fail it is my duty to do that.”
The roster for the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival has been released, and it includes feature and short narratives, documentaries, and animated films. This year’s festival runs from June 8 to 19 and contains everything from indie shorts to feature films worldwide.
The features program includes 109 feature films and 16 online premieres from 150 filmmakers from 40 countries and is divided into ten categories: narrative competitions, topical documentaries, and anticipated new films. There are 88 world debuts, two international premieres, seven North American premieres, two US premieres, and eleven New York premieres on the roster. 32 directors return to Tribeca with their most recent work, and 50 newcomers. Female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ filmmakers direct more than 64% (81) of feature films, including 46 percent (58) female directors, 34% (43) BIPOC directors, and 8% (10) LGBTQ+ directors.
A series of exciting live conversations and performances are planned, including a performance by Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil Baby following the world premiere of Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby; a special appearance by Colson Baker (AKA Machine Gun Kelly) after Taurus; and a performance by Of Monsters and Men after TU.
Films about the careers of Marc Bolan, The D.O.C., Leonard Cohen, and the previously announced Jennifer Lopez feature, which will start this year’s festival, are among the music documentaries that will have their world premieres at Tribeca.
You can get more information on the 2022 Festival here.
Lenard “Charlamagne Tha God” Mckelvey has declared plans to expand his media empire by creating new graphic novels and comic book series lines. Charlamagne Tha God has enlisted the help of famous creative and comic book pro Kevin Grevioux to pen an original graphic novel project called Darkstorm, published by Charlamagne’s Black Privilege Publishing, a Simon & Schuster brand. In addition, Charlamagne and Grevioux have collaborated on original comic book series with AWA Studios, an independent creator of daring and relevant stories from the world’s most exceptional artists, authors, and crafters.
“If you know anything about me, then you know how much I love comics. I’m the guy who got Wolverine holding a microphone tattooed on his arm when he was 17 because of my love of comics. Partnering with Kevin Grevioux to present this new universe, filled with Black and Brown GOD Level superheroes is a dream come true. A lot of the black superheroes I loved growing up were street level and that’s cool but I want to see Omega Level superheroes that look like me and people around me and that’s exactly what we are giving you with Darkstorm and The Vindicators,” said Charlamagne. “I AM Blessed and excited to continue the important work with my Black Privilege imprint on Simon & Schuster and begin partnerships with comic book veterans like Bill Jemas, Axel Alonso and the whole team at AWA Studios. It’s collaborations like this that help to build an empire and I’m grateful to have found good ones.”
Charlamagne and Grevioux are working on original IP that will be adapted into graphic novels and comics. Grevioux is a seasoned entertainment industry veteran with decades of experience as a writer, producer, director, actor, and comic book expert. He is most known for creating the Underworld film franchise and just made his directorial debut with his screenplay King of Killers, based on his graphic novel. He graduated from Howard University. Grevioux brings a wealth of experience to the relationship, having written for Marvel and DC Comics.
Kevin Grevioux 1
“I feel blessed to be working with a guy that is as successful as Charlamagne, a one-of-a-kind cultural icon with global reach,” said Grevioux. “He also has an incredible genre IQ for science fiction, comics, and fantasy. So, I truly believe that he is the absolute perfect partner for these ventures. The world’s really not ready for what we have in store.”
Charlamagne and Grevioux’s first collaboration will be a hallmark superhero epic series called Darkstorm, published and distributed under Charlamagne’s imprint, Black Privilege Publishing. With art by KEN LASHLEY, the comic novel will tell the story of a PTSD-affected and hesitant superhero who is portrayed as an anti-hero by everyone except those who know him best. Black Privilege Publishing’s objective to promote Black and brown perspectives will be reflected in the stories recounted in this initiative.
Lashley added, “When you get the opportunity to work on some great characters you jump at the chance. l am drawn to strong characters of color, and there are not many in mainstream comics, but Darkstorm is just that. It’s also created by Kevin Grevioux who is a very talented writer and created another powerful character in The Blue Marvel, so it’s a win-win… it’s very exciting.”
Vindicators Cover Art
In addition to the Black Privilege graphic novel series, Charlamagne has signed an agreement to develop original comic book series with AWA Studios, the rising comic entertainment firm headed by former Marvel execs Bill Jemas and Axel Alonso. The first series under creation, The Vindicators, is a new and fascinating take on a diverse superhero team, with an uber-realistic origin story that is accessible even against the backdrop of a dystopian future, albeit a gloomy one.
