Newsflash: Iran has invaded the sleepy Canadian city of Winnipeg. Correction: Iranian cinema has actually invaded Winnipeg. Precision: Two Iranian movies that launched the nation onto the international film scene, Abbas Kiarostami’s Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987) and Jafar Panahi’s The White Balloon (1995), have somehow found their way into the capital of Manitoba.
What exactly they’re doing there is never explained. Nor is it really the point of director Matthew Rankin’s bizarre and enchanting experimental comedy Universal Language, which picked up the first-ever audience award in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. Starring the director himself alongside a cast of Farsi-speaking locals both young and old, the film is rather hard to describe on paper, but let’s give it a shot.
We’re in snow-covered Winnipeg, which half-resembles the drab, midsized Canadian city, and half looks like a neigborhood somewhere in Tehran — not present-day Tehran, but Tehran circa the 1980s and 90s.
What exactly they’re doing there is never explained. Nor is it really the point of director Matthew Rankin’s bizarre and enchanting experimental comedy Universal Language, which picked up the first-ever audience award in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. Starring the director himself alongside a cast of Farsi-speaking locals both young and old, the film is rather hard to describe on paper, but let’s give it a shot.
We’re in snow-covered Winnipeg, which half-resembles the drab, midsized Canadian city, and half looks like a neigborhood somewhere in Tehran — not present-day Tehran, but Tehran circa the 1980s and 90s.
- 5/27/2024
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Despite being set in a parallel-universe Winnipeg where the people talk in Farsi and the world around them seems as if it’s been frozen in time since the mid-1980s, the haunted but hopeful “Universal Language” is an unmistakably modern film at heart.
Described by writer-director Matthew Rankin as a piece of “autobiographical hallucination,” this wonderfully deadpan whatsit is the work of a white 43-year-old Canadian man who fell in love with the movies a time when “foreign” cinema was becoming more available to people outside major cultural hubs. He found that Kanoon-style fables like “Where Is the Friend’s House?” and “The White Balloon” spoke to him in a way that few English-language films ever had. That discovery sparked a cross-cultural dialogue that eventually compelled Rankin to visit Tehran in an effort to locate the auteurs who had inspired him and learn why their films had whispered in his ear.
Described by writer-director Matthew Rankin as a piece of “autobiographical hallucination,” this wonderfully deadpan whatsit is the work of a white 43-year-old Canadian man who fell in love with the movies a time when “foreign” cinema was becoming more available to people outside major cultural hubs. He found that Kanoon-style fables like “Where Is the Friend’s House?” and “The White Balloon” spoke to him in a way that few English-language films ever had. That discovery sparked a cross-cultural dialogue that eventually compelled Rankin to visit Tehran in an effort to locate the auteurs who had inspired him and learn why their films had whispered in his ear.
- 5/24/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Der kanadische Regisseur Matthew Rankin ist für sein Drama „Universal Language“ mit dem Publikumspreis der Quinzaine des Cinéastes ausgezeichnet worden, mit dem in diesem Jahr erstmals auf dem Festival de Cannes ein Publikumspreis vergeben wurde.
Publikumspreisgewinner der Quinzaine des Cinéastes: „Universal Language“ von Matthew Rankin (Credit: Quinzaine des Cinéastes)
In diesem Jahr wurde im Rahmen der Quinzaine des Cinéastes der erste Publikumspreis auf dem Festival de Cannes verliehen. Die mit 7.500 Euro dotierte und von der Chantal Akerman Foundation gestiftete Auszeichnung ging an den kanadischen Regisseur Matthew Rankin für sein persisch- und französischsprachiges Drama „Universal Language“.
In seinem Drama verknüpft Rankin die Geschichten mehrerer Charaktere miteinander: die Grundschüler Negin und Nazgol, die im Eis eine höhere Geldsumme finden und versuchen, an sie ran zu kommen, Massoud, der eine Gruppe Touristen durch Winnipeg führt und Matthew, der seinen bedeutungslosen Job in einem Büro der Regierung von Quebec kündigt und sich auf eine...
Publikumspreisgewinner der Quinzaine des Cinéastes: „Universal Language“ von Matthew Rankin (Credit: Quinzaine des Cinéastes)
In diesem Jahr wurde im Rahmen der Quinzaine des Cinéastes der erste Publikumspreis auf dem Festival de Cannes verliehen. Die mit 7.500 Euro dotierte und von der Chantal Akerman Foundation gestiftete Auszeichnung ging an den kanadischen Regisseur Matthew Rankin für sein persisch- und französischsprachiges Drama „Universal Language“.
In seinem Drama verknüpft Rankin die Geschichten mehrerer Charaktere miteinander: die Grundschüler Negin und Nazgol, die im Eis eine höhere Geldsumme finden und versuchen, an sie ran zu kommen, Massoud, der eine Gruppe Touristen durch Winnipeg führt und Matthew, der seinen bedeutungslosen Job in einem Büro der Regierung von Quebec kündigt und sich auf eine...
- 5/24/2024
- by Jochen Müller
- Spot - Media & Film
Canadian director Matthew Rankin’s Persian and French-language drama Universal Language has won the inaugural Audience Award of Directors’ Fortnight.
This is the first official prize launched by Directors’ Fortnight which does not have a jury. The €7,500 cash award, is also the first audience award to be launched in Cannes, across the Official Selection and the parallel sections.
It is being sponsored by the Chantal Akerman Foundation, which preserves the legacy of the director who retained strong ties with Directors’ Fortnight throughout her career, after screening breakthrough film Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce – 1080 Brussel in the section in 1975.
Described as taking place “somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg”, Universal Language intertwines multiple characters.
Gradeschoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it, while Massoud leads a group of befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg and Matthew quits...
This is the first official prize launched by Directors’ Fortnight which does not have a jury. The €7,500 cash award, is also the first audience award to be launched in Cannes, across the Official Selection and the parallel sections.
It is being sponsored by the Chantal Akerman Foundation, which preserves the legacy of the director who retained strong ties with Directors’ Fortnight throughout her career, after screening breakthrough film Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce – 1080 Brussel in the section in 1975.
Described as taking place “somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg”, Universal Language intertwines multiple characters.
Gradeschoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it, while Massoud leads a group of befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg and Matthew quits...
- 5/23/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
In Universal Language, a man makes a journey to his childhood home and meets the family now living there––these are at least the broad strokes. The director is Matthew Rankin, a Canadian filmmaker whose work usually requires less-basic terms. In his previous film The Twentieth Century, Rankin reimagined the life of Canada’s longest-serving prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, through a lens of German expressionism: a trippy Brazil with a masturbation complex. Much of the casting was done either cross-gender or color-blind: “In a school play you can have a Filipino Captain von Trapp and a transgender Artful Dodger and it’s fine,“ Rankin explained at the time. ”In film, I don’t understand why there’s this pressure to always link an actor to their exact demographic profile.”
For Universal Language, Rankin takes that idea to a different place: the Winnipeg of this film is, for wont...
For Universal Language, Rankin takes that idea to a different place: the Winnipeg of this film is, for wont...
- 5/23/2024
- by Rory O'Connor
- The Film Stage
In the Canadian cities of Montreal and Winnipeg, a futile tension exists between French and English speakers — doubly silly, since the country is officially bilingual. In his gently satirical “Universal Language,” writer-director Matthew Rankin imagines a rather fanciful solution, where Farsi is now the region’s dominant tongue. Taking his cues from such Iranian classics as “Children of Heaven” and “The White Balloon,” Rankin mixes the humanism of Majid Majidi, Jafar Panahi, et al. with his own peculiar brand of comedy (as seen in the more off-the-wall “The Twentieth Century”), offering a delightful cross-cultural hybrid designed to celebrate our differences.
Though Rankin shows a genuine affection for all things Persian, the first and most obvious hiccup to his premise is that audiences don’t necessarily share his interest or his references. There’s something inherently provocative — and perhaps even triggering to some — about seeing a nondescript Canadian elementary school where...
Though Rankin shows a genuine affection for all things Persian, the first and most obvious hiccup to his premise is that audiences don’t necessarily share his interest or his references. There’s something inherently provocative — and perhaps even triggering to some — about seeing a nondescript Canadian elementary school where...
- 5/18/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Brussels-based company Best Friend Forever (Bff) has acquired international sales rights for Canadian director Matthew Rankin’s Universal Language.
The intriguing Persian and French-language drama is among 21 feature films announced as being selected for the 2024 edition of Cannes parallel section Directors’ Fortnight on Tuesday.
In a first key distribution deal for the movie, Oscilloscope Laboratories have taken U.S. rights. Quebecois distributor Maison4Tiers will release in Canada.
Universal Language is Rankin’s second feature after The Twentieth Century, on which Bff also handled international sales. The surrealist dark comedy won the Berlinale Fipresci Award in 2020 and Best Canadian debut award in TIFF Midnight Madness 2019.
Rankin has also made multiple short films including The Tesla World Light, which premiered in Cannes Critic’s Week 2017.
Going under the Persian title of Avaz boughalamoune (Lovesong for a Turkey), Rankin’s new film Universal Language is described as taking place “somewhere between...
The intriguing Persian and French-language drama is among 21 feature films announced as being selected for the 2024 edition of Cannes parallel section Directors’ Fortnight on Tuesday.
In a first key distribution deal for the movie, Oscilloscope Laboratories have taken U.S. rights. Quebecois distributor Maison4Tiers will release in Canada.
Universal Language is Rankin’s second feature after The Twentieth Century, on which Bff also handled international sales. The surrealist dark comedy won the Berlinale Fipresci Award in 2020 and Best Canadian debut award in TIFF Midnight Madness 2019.
Rankin has also made multiple short films including The Tesla World Light, which premiered in Cannes Critic’s Week 2017.
Going under the Persian title of Avaz boughalamoune (Lovesong for a Turkey), Rankin’s new film Universal Language is described as taking place “somewhere between...
- 4/16/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney loves a live-action remake. The House of Mouse has discovered that instead of coming up with new ideas they can simply remake their classic animated flicks into live action. The results have been pretty darn profitable, and the studio shows no signs of stopping — there are currently live-action remakes of "Moana" and "Lilo and Stitch" on the way. One of their successful live-action remakes was the 2019 take on "Aladdin," helmed by — believe it or not — Guy Ritchie. The film was a smash, hauling in over $1 billion worldwide and going on to become the ninth highest-grossing film of 2019.
When you make numbers like that, a sequel can't be far behind. Sure enough, in 2019 the film's producer, Dan Lin, revealed that Disney was in the early stages of developing a sequel. But that's the last we've really heard of the potential follow-up. The live-action "Aladdin" starred Will Smith as the Genie...
When you make numbers like that, a sequel can't be far behind. Sure enough, in 2019 the film's producer, Dan Lin, revealed that Disney was in the early stages of developing a sequel. But that's the last we've really heard of the potential follow-up. The live-action "Aladdin" starred Will Smith as the Genie...
- 2/21/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
‘Tis the season of abundance! Celebrate more being more with director Jenn Wexler’s “The Sacrifice Game,” a campy new Shudder release that imagines what would happen if the cast of “The Holdovers” got a Christmas visit from the Manson Family at an all-girls boarding school with a witchy secret.
Co-written by Wexler and Sean Redlitz, this grab-bag seasonal period flick — shot in snowy Canada and set in 1971 — is more gruesome than scary and takes a handful of decidedly silly turns. Be it fruit cake, stuffed stocking, whatever your holiday metaphor, the fantasy horror adventure of students Samantha (Madison Baines) and Clara (Georgia Acken) gifts audiences steadily stranger fun almost all the way through. It’s a genre blend that’s delightful, baffling, and surprisingly ruthless in its decisive direction with a holiday twist that isn’t necessary for the plot but certainly ties the zany concept together.
What begins...
Co-written by Wexler and Sean Redlitz, this grab-bag seasonal period flick — shot in snowy Canada and set in 1971 — is more gruesome than scary and takes a handful of decidedly silly turns. Be it fruit cake, stuffed stocking, whatever your holiday metaphor, the fantasy horror adventure of students Samantha (Madison Baines) and Clara (Georgia Acken) gifts audiences steadily stranger fun almost all the way through. It’s a genre blend that’s delightful, baffling, and surprisingly ruthless in its decisive direction with a holiday twist that isn’t necessary for the plot but certainly ties the zany concept together.
What begins...
- 12/8/2023
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
The 1970s-set supernatural horror film The Sacrifice Game, the new film from The Ranger (you can read my 8/10 review Here) director Jenn Wexler, is scheduled to start spreading holiday fear on the Shudder streaming service on December 8th – and with that date just weeks away, a trailer for the film has arrived online! You can check it out in the embed above.
Olivia Scott Welch of the Fear Street trilogy stars in the film alongside Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Gus Kenworthy (American Horror Story: 1984), Chloë Levine (The Oa), Derek Johns (The Wolf and the Lion), Laurent Pitre (Under the Banner of Heaven), Madison Baines (1Up), and newcomer Georgia Acken.
Wexler wrote the screenplay for The Sacrifice Game with Sean Redlitz, crafting a story that’s set at The Blackvale School for Girls, 1971. It’s bad enough that students Samantha and Clara can’t go home for the holidays, but things take...
Olivia Scott Welch of the Fear Street trilogy stars in the film alongside Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Gus Kenworthy (American Horror Story: 1984), Chloë Levine (The Oa), Derek Johns (The Wolf and the Lion), Laurent Pitre (Under the Banner of Heaven), Madison Baines (1Up), and newcomer Georgia Acken.
Wexler wrote the screenplay for The Sacrifice Game with Sean Redlitz, crafting a story that’s set at The Blackvale School for Girls, 1971. It’s bad enough that students Samantha and Clara can’t go home for the holidays, but things take...
- 11/13/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The 1970s-set supernatural horror film The Sacrifice Game, the new film from The Ranger (you can read my 8/10 review Here) director Jenn Wexler, won the gold in the Best Canadian Feature category at the Fantasia International Film Festival back in August. More genre fans are going to have their chance to see the movie in just a couple months, as it has been announced that The Sacrifice Game is going to be released through the Shudder streaming service on December 8th!
Olivia Scott Welch of the Fear Street trilogy stars in the film alongside Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Gus Kenworthy (American Horror Story: 1984), Chloë Levine (The Oa), Derek Johns (The Wolf and the Lion), Laurent Pitre (Under the Banner of Heaven), Madison Baines (1Up), and newcomer Georgia Acken.
Wexler wrote the screenplay for The Sacrifice Game with Sean Redlitz, crafting a story that’s set at The Blackvale School for Girls,...
Olivia Scott Welch of the Fear Street trilogy stars in the film alongside Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Gus Kenworthy (American Horror Story: 1984), Chloë Levine (The Oa), Derek Johns (The Wolf and the Lion), Laurent Pitre (Under the Banner of Heaven), Madison Baines (1Up), and newcomer Georgia Acken.
Wexler wrote the screenplay for The Sacrifice Game with Sean Redlitz, crafting a story that’s set at The Blackvale School for Girls,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
It is not that often that we come across stories about how an operation was conducted by intelligence agencies. We have seen and heard about them through books and movies. Often, the characters in these are fictionalized, while other times they stick to using the names of real people. Spy Ops is a brand-new documentary series that takes the audience through several famous spy operations conducted all around the world by different intelligence agencies. The first episode is about how the Central Intelligence Agency, aka CIA, carried out ‘Operation Jawbreaker’ in Afghanistan within months of the attacks of September 11, 2001. A mission was carried out to decimate the Taliban and Al Qaeda and kill Osama bin Laden.
What Triggered The Formation Of Operation Jawbreaker?
The episode begins with Gary Schroen talking about his history of serving in Afghanistan from 1993 to 1996 and how he has established ties with Allies for his agency.
What Triggered The Formation Of Operation Jawbreaker?
The episode begins with Gary Schroen talking about his history of serving in Afghanistan from 1993 to 1996 and how he has established ties with Allies for his agency.
- 9/9/2023
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
Pink Parrot Media has secured a ScreenX format release for the 3D animated family feature Butterfly Tale, which is voiced by Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany and Mena Massoud (Aladdin).
Korea’s Cj 4Dplex and Canadian producer Carpe Diem partnered to show the animated feature in the 270-degree panoramic ScreenX format in North America and internationally. The producers insist Butterfly Tale is the first 3D animated feature to be made in the ScreenX format from the pre-production stage.
Director Sophie Roy said challenges in making an animated ScreenX film included camera work and lighting. “Keeping the horizon equal throughout the three screens when the camera tilts was especially difficult and matching the light direction on all three screens took some serious work to make it all look seamless, a real challenge, but the results exceeded our expectations,” Roy said in a statement.
ScreenX is a multi-projection theater technology developed in...
Korea’s Cj 4Dplex and Canadian producer Carpe Diem partnered to show the animated feature in the 270-degree panoramic ScreenX format in North America and internationally. The producers insist Butterfly Tale is the first 3D animated feature to be made in the ScreenX format from the pre-production stage.
Director Sophie Roy said challenges in making an animated ScreenX film included camera work and lighting. “Keeping the horizon equal throughout the three screens when the camera tilts was especially difficult and matching the light direction on all three screens took some serious work to make it all look seamless, a real challenge, but the results exceeded our expectations,” Roy said in a statement.
ScreenX is a multi-projection theater technology developed in...
- 9/8/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jenn Wexler's sophomore feature "The Sacrifice Game" bursts with behind-the-camera confidence as a creepy, culty, Christmassy midnighter romp. It's one of those horror movies that aims to make horror fun again, feeling at home on VHS shelves or snuck behind parents' backs for an unapproved after-bedtime watch. Wexler's seasonal genre package is tightly wrapped, keeping the audience in a giddy state of suspense as twists and turns unfold. Shades of cinematic parallels to everything from "The Blackcoat's Daughter" or "The Babysitter" make "The Sacrifice Game" this playfully disturbing road-trip killing spree with a dangerous bite, appealing to the devils inside us hungry for bad-vibes horror served with a crooked smile.
The film takes place over Christmas 1971, at and around Blackvale School for Girls, where students Samantha (Madison Baines) and outcast Clara (Georgia Acken) will spend their holiday break with supervising teacher Rose (Chloë Levine). Bad fortune brings greasy-haired Jude...
The film takes place over Christmas 1971, at and around Blackvale School for Girls, where students Samantha (Madison Baines) and outcast Clara (Georgia Acken) will spend their holiday break with supervising teacher Rose (Chloë Levine). Bad fortune brings greasy-haired Jude...
- 8/1/2023
- by Matt Donato
- Slash Film
A few years ago, I had a lot of fun watching Jenn Wexler’s feature directorial debut The Ranger (you can read my 8/10 review Here), so I’m looking forward to checking out Wexler’s second feature, the 1970s-set supernatural horror film The Sacrifice Game. Attendees of the Fantasia International Film Festival will have the chance to watch the movie this Friday (at 9:30pm) – and in anticipation of the film’s festival premiere, a poster has been unveiled! You can check it out at the bottom of this article.
Wexler wrote the screenplay for The Sacrifice Game with Sean Redlitz, crafting a story with the following synopsis: It’s bad enough that boarding school students Samantha and Clara can’t go home for the holidays, but things take a deadly turn when a gang of cult killers arrives on their doorstep—just in time for Christmas.
Olivia Scott Welch...
Wexler wrote the screenplay for The Sacrifice Game with Sean Redlitz, crafting a story with the following synopsis: It’s bad enough that boarding school students Samantha and Clara can’t go home for the holidays, but things take a deadly turn when a gang of cult killers arrives on their doorstep—just in time for Christmas.
Olivia Scott Welch...
- 7/24/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Actor Mena Massoud is in hot water after making an unsolicited remark about “The Little Mermaid.”
Read More: Mena Massoud Talks Growing Up In An Egyptian Family In Toronto And Struggling To Find Work After Success Of ‘Aladdin’
The “Aladdin” star deleted his Twitter account after receiving criticism for allegedly taking a jibe at the box office prediction of the soon-to-release Disney film.
The Egyptian-Canadian actor contrasted the new movie to his 2019 feature, which has not been allowed a sequel despite debuting to a similar figure, in response to a news that the live-action musical adaptation of the 1989 cartoon picture is anticipated to gross $115 on its domestic box office weekend.
“Our film was unique in that audiences went to watch it multiple times. It’s the only way we reached the billion dollar mark with our opening,” he tweeted on Saturday, May 13.
“My guess is Tlm doesn’t cross the...
Read More: Mena Massoud Talks Growing Up In An Egyptian Family In Toronto And Struggling To Find Work After Success Of ‘Aladdin’
The “Aladdin” star deleted his Twitter account after receiving criticism for allegedly taking a jibe at the box office prediction of the soon-to-release Disney film.
The Egyptian-Canadian actor contrasted the new movie to his 2019 feature, which has not been allowed a sequel despite debuting to a similar figure, in response to a news that the live-action musical adaptation of the 1989 cartoon picture is anticipated to gross $115 on its domestic box office weekend.
“Our film was unique in that audiences went to watch it multiple times. It’s the only way we reached the billion dollar mark with our opening,” he tweeted on Saturday, May 13.
“My guess is Tlm doesn’t cross the...
- 5/16/2023
- by Aashna Shah
- ET Canada
Los Angeles, May 15 (Ians) Actor Mena Massoud has landed in hot soup over his unwarranted comment on ‘The Little Mermaid’.
The “Aladdin” actor has deactivated his Twitter account after coming under fire for apparently throwing shade at the latest Disney movie, reports aceshowbiz.com.
The backlash was triggered by Massoud’s own post about ‘The Little Mermaid’.
Following a report that the live-action musical adaption of the 1989 animated film is projected to earn $115 on its domestic box office weekend, the Egyptian-Canadian actor compared the new movie to his 2019 film, which has not been granted a sequel despite opening to a similar number.
“Our film was unique in that audiences went to watch it multiple times. It’s the only way we reached the billion dollar mark with our opening,” he tweeted on Saturday, May 13.
“My guess is Tlm doesn’t cross the billion mark but will undoubtedly get a sequel.
The “Aladdin” actor has deactivated his Twitter account after coming under fire for apparently throwing shade at the latest Disney movie, reports aceshowbiz.com.
The backlash was triggered by Massoud’s own post about ‘The Little Mermaid’.
Following a report that the live-action musical adaption of the 1989 animated film is projected to earn $115 on its domestic box office weekend, the Egyptian-Canadian actor compared the new movie to his 2019 film, which has not been granted a sequel despite opening to a similar number.
“Our film was unique in that audiences went to watch it multiple times. It’s the only way we reached the billion dollar mark with our opening,” he tweeted on Saturday, May 13.
“My guess is Tlm doesn’t cross the billion mark but will undoubtedly get a sequel.
- 5/15/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Just days after it was reported that director Guy Ritchie was kicking around ideas for a sequel to his 2019 live adaptation of the classic Disney animated film Aladdin, the film’s star gives a somber update to those who enjoyed the live-action version and were anticipating a sequel. However, the movie’s star, Mena Massoud isn’t optimistic about the movie’s chances of being made. He made he feelings known on Twitter when he was asked if we were still getting an Aladdin 2. Massoud replied bluntly, saying it’s “Very unlikely at this point.”
Very unlikely at this point
— Mena Massoud (@MenaMassoud) March 15, 2023
Disney is on a streak of releasing a slew of live-action adaptations of their original animated movies that already had large fanbases. They have mostly been successful, especially Aladdin, with a take of $1 billion at the box office, but none of the adaptations have ventured into sequels.
Very unlikely at this point
— Mena Massoud (@MenaMassoud) March 15, 2023
Disney is on a streak of releasing a slew of live-action adaptations of their original animated movies that already had large fanbases. They have mostly been successful, especially Aladdin, with a take of $1 billion at the box office, but none of the adaptations have ventured into sequels.
- 3/17/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
After Disney’s live-action adaptation of Aladdin made over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, it came as no surprise that the studio quickly began developing a sequel. But four years later, we’ve heard very little about the project moving forward. Collider recently sat down with Guy Ritchie and asked him if he will be returning to direct Aladdin 2.
“I’d very much like to,” Guy Ritchie said. “I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed that experience. It was a great experience. That whole Disney thing, as you can imagine, is such a professional outfit. Just from that perspective, it was so much fun. I would very much like to, we’ll wait and see.” The director added that they’ve “been kicking some ideas around for some time now, but it’d be great to do, it would be great to go back there.“
Related Aladdin...
“I’d very much like to,” Guy Ritchie said. “I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed that experience. It was a great experience. That whole Disney thing, as you can imagine, is such a professional outfit. Just from that perspective, it was so much fun. I would very much like to, we’ll wait and see.” The director added that they’ve “been kicking some ideas around for some time now, but it’d be great to do, it would be great to go back there.“
Related Aladdin...
- 2/28/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
The European Film Market kicks off Feb. 16 with a wide assortment of films from sellers around the world. Below is a healthy selection of what’s on offer for buyers.
The Adults
Director: Alex Winter
Key cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Josh Gad, Anthony Carrigan
Synopsis: A sister and brother, Megan and Nathan are barely hanging on and their lives are completely upended when they discover a dead body, long buried in their parent’s basement, sending them down a rabbit hole of crime and murder.
Producers: Alex Winter, Scott Kroopf, Russell Hollander
Sales: Rocket Science (international); CAA Media Finance (domestic)
The Astronaut
Director: Jess Varley
Key cast: Emma Roberts, Laurence Fishburne
Producers: Brad Fuller, Eric B. Fleischman, Cameron Fuller
Synopsis: When astronaut Sam Walker (Roberts) returns from her first space mission, she’s found miraculously alive in a punctured capsule floating deep off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. General...
The Adults
Director: Alex Winter
Key cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Josh Gad, Anthony Carrigan
Synopsis: A sister and brother, Megan and Nathan are barely hanging on and their lives are completely upended when they discover a dead body, long buried in their parent’s basement, sending them down a rabbit hole of crime and murder.
Producers: Alex Winter, Scott Kroopf, Russell Hollander
Sales: Rocket Science (international); CAA Media Finance (domestic)
The Astronaut
Director: Jess Varley
Key cast: Emma Roberts, Laurence Fishburne
Producers: Brad Fuller, Eric B. Fleischman, Cameron Fuller
Synopsis: When astronaut Sam Walker (Roberts) returns from her first space mission, she’s found miraculously alive in a punctured capsule floating deep off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. General...
- 2/13/2023
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
“Aladdin” star Mena Massoud has revealed the first slate of projects out of his company Press Play Productions, which aims to bridge the gap between Hollywood and the Middle East and North Africa.
With offices in Dubai and Los Angeles, Press Play was founded by Massoud and producing partner Ali Mashayekhi, who heads content development in North America. George Shehata oversees content development in the Mena region.
Massoud, who is of Egyptian heritage, broke out playing Aladdin in Guy Ritchie’s live-action adaptation of the Disney film. His other credits include Prime Video’s “Hotel for the Holidays,” the animated feature “Lamya’s Poem” and Hulu series “Reprisal.”
The company’s slate include Canadian TV series “Evolving Vegan,” as well as the films “In Broad Daylight,” the Stephen King adaptation “The Last King” and festival title “Spaceman.”
Bell Media original series “Evolving Vegan” is slated to debut this spring in Canada...
With offices in Dubai and Los Angeles, Press Play was founded by Massoud and producing partner Ali Mashayekhi, who heads content development in North America. George Shehata oversees content development in the Mena region.
Massoud, who is of Egyptian heritage, broke out playing Aladdin in Guy Ritchie’s live-action adaptation of the Disney film. His other credits include Prime Video’s “Hotel for the Holidays,” the animated feature “Lamya’s Poem” and Hulu series “Reprisal.”
The company’s slate include Canadian TV series “Evolving Vegan,” as well as the films “In Broad Daylight,” the Stephen King adaptation “The Last King” and festival title “Spaceman.”
Bell Media original series “Evolving Vegan” is slated to debut this spring in Canada...
- 2/7/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Nothing kicks the week off like a good rumor. According to The Sun, Will Smith is reprising his role as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin 2. The live-action sequel would be Smith’s first role since he slapped the taste out of Chris Rock’s mouth at the Oscars. Ever since “the Slap,” Smith stepped back from the spotlight to reflect on his actions, learn from the incident, and re-position himself for a Hollywood comeback. According to IMDb, Andrea Berloff and John Gatins will write the Guy Ritchie-directed sequel, inspired by the One Thousand And One Nights series of Middle Eastern folk tales. If all goes according to plan, cameras could begin rolling by the end of the year for a 2025 release.
The Sun spoke with an insider close to the film for its report. According to the individual, “This would be one of the first movies Will...
The Sun spoke with an insider close to the film for its report. According to the individual, “This would be one of the first movies Will...
- 1/30/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Mena Massoud has lined up his next role and it’s a big one: portraying legendary British boxer Naseem Hamed in the upcoming biopic “Giant”.
Known to fans by the nicknames Prince Naseem and Naz, Hamed held multiple featherweight world titles during his 10-year professional career, including the Wbo, Ibf and Wbc titles.
Naseem Hamed poses for a portrait with his belts in 2001 in New York (Photo by: The Ring Magazine via Getty Images)
Massoud, the Canadian-born actor best known for playing the title role in Disney’s live-action “Aladdin”, will be starring alongside Paddy Considine (“House of the Dragon”), who’ll be playing Hamed’s Ireland-born boxing trainer, Brendan Ingle.
Read More: Will Smith Says Mena Massoud Is A ‘Spectacular Actor’ After Revelation Massoud Hasn’t Had An Audition Since ‘Aladdin’
Massoud took to Twitter to share his excitement at the news.
“Time to put some real respect on our names,...
Known to fans by the nicknames Prince Naseem and Naz, Hamed held multiple featherweight world titles during his 10-year professional career, including the Wbo, Ibf and Wbc titles.
Naseem Hamed poses for a portrait with his belts in 2001 in New York (Photo by: The Ring Magazine via Getty Images)
Massoud, the Canadian-born actor best known for playing the title role in Disney’s live-action “Aladdin”, will be starring alongside Paddy Considine (“House of the Dragon”), who’ll be playing Hamed’s Ireland-born boxing trainer, Brendan Ingle.
Read More: Will Smith Says Mena Massoud Is A ‘Spectacular Actor’ After Revelation Massoud Hasn’t Had An Audition Since ‘Aladdin’
Massoud took to Twitter to share his excitement at the news.
“Time to put some real respect on our names,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Boxing champ Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed is getting the sports biopic treatment. Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud are aboard to star in Giant.
With The Rise's Rowan Athale writing and directing, the film will follow the true story of Hamed’s (Massoud) humble beginnings on the tough working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Brendan Ingle (Considine), a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership along with Naz’ unorthodox style, cocky persona and dominance in the ring propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite, all in the face of Islamophobia and racism.
And Athale is excited that a certain Sylvester Stallone, who has some experience with boxing movies, is among the producers. "The story of fabled boxing trainer Brendan Ingle and his tempestuous relationship with protege ‘Prince’ Naseem is both legendary, and truly cinematic,” he says. "It’s exciting, necessary, hilarious, and heartbreaking, and...
With The Rise's Rowan Athale writing and directing, the film will follow the true story of Hamed’s (Massoud) humble beginnings on the tough working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Brendan Ingle (Considine), a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership along with Naz’ unorthodox style, cocky persona and dominance in the ring propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite, all in the face of Islamophobia and racism.
And Athale is excited that a certain Sylvester Stallone, who has some experience with boxing movies, is among the producers. "The story of fabled boxing trainer Brendan Ingle and his tempestuous relationship with protege ‘Prince’ Naseem is both legendary, and truly cinematic,” he says. "It’s exciting, necessary, hilarious, and heartbreaking, and...
- 1/25/2023
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
“House of the Dragon” star Paddy Considine is set to star alongside Mena Massoud (“Aladdin”) in the boxing drama “Giant,” based on the true story of British-Yemeni pugilist Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed and his ascent to a world championship under the tutelage of Irish-born boxing trainer Brendan Ingle.
The film will be written and directed by Rowan Athale (“The Rise”) and produced by Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions and Kevin Sampson of White Star Productions. “Moonfall” and “Tinder Swindler” outfit AGC Studios will fully finance and produce, with executive producers including Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions.
“Giant” is the true story of Hamed’s humble beginnings on the tough working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Ingle, a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership along with Naz’ unorthodox style, cocky persona and dominance in the ring propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite,...
The film will be written and directed by Rowan Athale (“The Rise”) and produced by Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions and Kevin Sampson of White Star Productions. “Moonfall” and “Tinder Swindler” outfit AGC Studios will fully finance and produce, with executive producers including Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions.
“Giant” is the true story of Hamed’s humble beginnings on the tough working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Ingle, a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership along with Naz’ unorthodox style, cocky persona and dominance in the ring propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Sylvester Stallone among executive producers.
Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud will star in sports drama Giant based on the true rags to riches story of British-Yemeni fighter Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed for AGC Studios, Tea Shop Productions and White Star Productions.
Rowan Athale is writing and directing the feature, on which Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions serve as executive producers.
Giant will chart Hamed’s life from humble beginnings in Sheffield where he is discovered by boxing trainer Brendan Ingle and rises to become featherweight world champion against the backdrop of rampant Islamophobia and racism of in 1980 and 1990s Britain.
Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud will star in sports drama Giant based on the true rags to riches story of British-Yemeni fighter Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed for AGC Studios, Tea Shop Productions and White Star Productions.
Rowan Athale is writing and directing the feature, on which Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions serve as executive producers.
Giant will chart Hamed’s life from humble beginnings in Sheffield where he is discovered by boxing trainer Brendan Ingle and rises to become featherweight world champion against the backdrop of rampant Islamophobia and racism of in 1980 and 1990s Britain.
- 1/25/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Paddy Considine and Mena Massoud have signed on to star in the upcoming sports drama Giant, based on the life of British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed.
Born in Egypt and raised in Canada, Massoud (Aladdin, Amazon Prime Video’s Jack Ryan) will play Naseem Hamed, nicknamed Prince and Naz, who held multiple featherweight world titles in his 10-year professional career, including the Wbo, Ibf and Wbc titles. The BAFTA-award-winning Considine (Tyrannosaur, HBO’s House of the Dragon) will play Hamed’s Irish-born boxing trainer Brendan Ingle.
Rowan Athale, director of 2012 Toronto Film Festival title Wasteland (aka The Rise) and a writer on the Sky/AMC series Gangs of London, will write and direct Giant, which will focus on Hamed’s rags-to-riches rise as a child of Yemeni working-class immigrants in Yorkshire who became a southpaw superstar.
Hamed was discovered in Sheffield by Ingle, a steel industry worker-turned-boxing trainer,...
Born in Egypt and raised in Canada, Massoud (Aladdin, Amazon Prime Video’s Jack Ryan) will play Naseem Hamed, nicknamed Prince and Naz, who held multiple featherweight world titles in his 10-year professional career, including the Wbo, Ibf and Wbc titles. The BAFTA-award-winning Considine (Tyrannosaur, HBO’s House of the Dragon) will play Hamed’s Irish-born boxing trainer Brendan Ingle.
Rowan Athale, director of 2012 Toronto Film Festival title Wasteland (aka The Rise) and a writer on the Sky/AMC series Gangs of London, will write and direct Giant, which will focus on Hamed’s rags-to-riches rise as a child of Yemeni working-class immigrants in Yorkshire who became a southpaw superstar.
Hamed was discovered in Sheffield by Ingle, a steel industry worker-turned-boxing trainer,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The true-life tale of British-Yemeni boxer Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed and his relationship with Irish-born trainer Brenan Ingle is about to get the Hollywood treatment. Written and directed by Rowan Athale ‘Giant’ will star Mena Massoud and Paddy Considine.
Produced by Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions and Kevin Sampson of White Star Productions, AGC Studios will fully finance while Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions will executive produce.
“Giant” is the true story of Hamed’s beginnings on the working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Ingle, a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership — along with Naz’s unorthodox style, cocky persona and dominance in the ring — propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite. Hamed’s global superstardom occurred amid the rampant Islamophobia and racism of 80’s and 90’s Britain.
Also Read:
Sundance: Mubi Nabs ‘Passages’ for Theatrical Release
Rowan Athale stated,...
Produced by Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions and Kevin Sampson of White Star Productions, AGC Studios will fully finance while Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood of Balboa Productions will executive produce.
“Giant” is the true story of Hamed’s beginnings on the working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Ingle, a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership — along with Naz’s unorthodox style, cocky persona and dominance in the ring — propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite. Hamed’s global superstardom occurred amid the rampant Islamophobia and racism of 80’s and 90’s Britain.
Also Read:
Sundance: Mubi Nabs ‘Passages’ for Theatrical Release
Rowan Athale stated,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Hollywood star Will Smith is reportedly set to return for ‘Aladdin’ sequel, reprising his role as Genie from the 2019 Disney musical fantasy film. Based on the ‘One Thousand And One Nights’ series of Middle Eastern folk tales, the script for the upcoming movie is being written. Details are still scarce, but the hope reportedly is that filming could begin at the end of this year, reports aceshowbiz.com.
“This would be one of the first movies Will has shot since the Oscars slap and it is quite surprising, given that it will be for a kids’ film,” a so-called movie insider says of Smith’s acting return since his controversial behavior at the 2022 Academy Awards.
“He has done a lot of work on himself and the consensus is that it will all be very much in the past by the time the movie is released.”
“The first film was a huge success,...
“This would be one of the first movies Will has shot since the Oscars slap and it is quite surprising, given that it will be for a kids’ film,” a so-called movie insider says of Smith’s acting return since his controversial behavior at the 2022 Academy Awards.
“He has done a lot of work on himself and the consensus is that it will all be very much in the past by the time the movie is released.”
“The first film was a huge success,...
- 1/24/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Although some have questioned Disney’s ongoing goal of giving every one of their animated movies the live-action treatment, it’s hard to deny that that audience isn’t there. Several of the live-action Disney movies have made over 1 billion at the worldwide box office, including Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin. The studio quickly got the ball rolling on Aladdin 2, but it’s been a while since we heard any updates on the sequel.
Mena Massoud, who played Aladdin in the live-action movie, offered an update on Aladdin 2 while speaking with Variety, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there’s much to say. “I don’t know that there is movement,” Massoud said. “There was a change with the writers, and they are working on a brand new draft. That’s all I know. If Aladdin 2 happens, that’s fantastic. I think it should happen. Dan Lin...
Mena Massoud, who played Aladdin in the live-action movie, offered an update on Aladdin 2 while speaking with Variety, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there’s much to say. “I don’t know that there is movement,” Massoud said. “There was a change with the writers, and they are working on a brand new draft. That’s all I know. If Aladdin 2 happens, that’s fantastic. I think it should happen. Dan Lin...
- 12/8/2022
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Madelaine Petsch, the star of The CW’s hit teen drama “Riverdale,” and Mena Massoud, who brought Aladdin to life in Disney’s blockbuster remake, instantly clicked when they met first time as guests on the talk show “A Little Late With Lilly Singh.”
So, it felt like a natural fit to play (eventual) love interests in “Hotel for the Holidays,” a Christmas-themed romantic comedy. The Manhattan-set movie follows Petsch as a hotel manager who finds her attention torn between a guest (who also happens to be an ex-prince) and the resident chef (Massoud). It lands on Amazon Freevee, a free, ad-supported video platform formerly known as IMDb TV, on Dec. 2.
What’s the appeal of making a holiday-centric romantic comedy?
Petsch: I’m a big Christmas fan. There’s a certain charm to holiday films, and a warmness that brings people together. I’m excited to make something that...
So, it felt like a natural fit to play (eventual) love interests in “Hotel for the Holidays,” a Christmas-themed romantic comedy. The Manhattan-set movie follows Petsch as a hotel manager who finds her attention torn between a guest (who also happens to be an ex-prince) and the resident chef (Massoud). It lands on Amazon Freevee, a free, ad-supported video platform formerly known as IMDb TV, on Dec. 2.
What’s the appeal of making a holiday-centric romantic comedy?
Petsch: I’m a big Christmas fan. There’s a certain charm to holiday films, and a warmness that brings people together. I’m excited to make something that...
- 12/1/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Ezra Bridger is officially headed to live-action, with Eman Esfandi playing the Star Wars animated character in Ahsoka, the Disney+ series toplined by Rosario Dawson.
Esfandi’s credits include the Robert Rodriguez horror film Red 11, which screened at Cannes in 2019, as well as a small role in best picture nominee King Richard. He also appears in the upcoming gay military drama The Inspection, which is getting strong early reviews out of the Toronto Film Festival this week.
Ezra Bridger debuted in 2014 in the animated Star Wars Rebels, where he was voiced by actor Taylor Gray. The character grew from an orphan with a knack for the Force into a Rebel who trained in the ways of the Jedi. The geek culture-focused site Cinelinx first reported the news.
The Disney+ series stars Dawson as titular Jedi Ahsoka Tano, who first jumped to live...
Ezra Bridger is officially headed to live-action, with Eman Esfandi playing the Star Wars animated character in Ahsoka, the Disney+ series toplined by Rosario Dawson.
Esfandi’s credits include the Robert Rodriguez horror film Red 11, which screened at Cannes in 2019, as well as a small role in best picture nominee King Richard. He also appears in the upcoming gay military drama The Inspection, which is getting strong early reviews out of the Toronto Film Festival this week.
Ezra Bridger debuted in 2014 in the animated Star Wars Rebels, where he was voiced by actor Taylor Gray. The character grew from an orphan with a knack for the Force into a Rebel who trained in the ways of the Jedi. The geek culture-focused site Cinelinx first reported the news.
The Disney+ series stars Dawson as titular Jedi Ahsoka Tano, who first jumped to live...
- 9/9/2022
- by Aaron Couch and Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Amazon Freevee has picked up its first original holiday movie, Hotel for the Holidays, to star Madelaine Petsch and Aladdin star Mena Massoud as the romantic leads.
Set in the Hotel Fontaine in New York City during Christmas, the holiday pic sees Georgia, played by Petsch, as a hotel manager who attracts eclectic guests looking for an escape from their everyday lives. But Georgia’s work and personal life becomes entangled when she is caught between the charming hotel chef Luke (Massoud) and a sophisticated ex-prince staying at the hotel.
Hotel for the Holidays, produced by Brad Krevoy’s Motion Picture Corporation of America, will debut this holiday season exclusively on the Amazon Freevee streaming service in the U.S. and UK.
The ensemble cast includes Max Lloyd-Jones, Kayleigh Shikanai, Jami Belushi, Neil Crone and Jayne Eastwood (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) as Florence.
Amazon Freevee has picked up its first original holiday movie, Hotel for the Holidays, to star Madelaine Petsch and Aladdin star Mena Massoud as the romantic leads.
Set in the Hotel Fontaine in New York City during Christmas, the holiday pic sees Georgia, played by Petsch, as a hotel manager who attracts eclectic guests looking for an escape from their everyday lives. But Georgia’s work and personal life becomes entangled when she is caught between the charming hotel chef Luke (Massoud) and a sophisticated ex-prince staying at the hotel.
Hotel for the Holidays, produced by Brad Krevoy’s Motion Picture Corporation of America, will debut this holiday season exclusively on the Amazon Freevee streaming service in the U.S. and UK.
The ensemble cast includes Max Lloyd-Jones, Kayleigh Shikanai, Jami Belushi, Neil Crone and Jayne Eastwood (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) as Florence.
- 8/25/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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