Motion Picture: Anna Lambe Stars In ‘The Heart Of The Beast’, Lizzo Set To Star In ‘Rosetta’ About The Rock Pioneer
Arianna Rivas - imdb
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Sony has removed Legendary’s Street Fighter film adaptation from its release calendar and delayed Tommy Wirkola’s shark thriller, now titled Shiver, from August 2025 to July 2026. Street Fighter, co-produced by Capcom and Legendary, remains without a release date or confirmed plot, cast, director, or writer. The franchise was previously adapted into films in 1994 and 2009, failing commercially. Shiver, starring Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, and Djimon Hounsou, was rescheduled to align with the summer blockbuster season. Wirkola, known for Violent Night and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, directs the upcoming thriller.
Jason Statham teams up with director David Ayer for A Working Man, an action thriller about an ex-Royal Marine turned construction worker who springs into action when human traffickers kidnap his boss’s daughter (Arianna Rivas). The film, co-written by Sylvester Stallone and Ayer, continues Statham’s streak of portraying working-class heroes following The Beekeeper. Rivas, who trained for months for her role, gets in on the action herself, fighting alongside Statham in the film’s climactic showdown. Despite last-minute changes to her big fight scene, Rivas embraced the challenge, impressing stunt coordinator Eddie J. Fernandez with her dedication.
Lionsgate has removed Saw XI from its release calendar, canceling its planned debut on September 26, 2025. The studio will release The Strangers – Chapter 2 on that date instead. Despite this setback, the Saw franchise remains a box-office success, with Saw X earning $112 million globally in 2023. Meanwhile, The Strangers – Chapter 2 continues Lionsgate’s new horror trilogy, following the 2024 installment starring Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez. Petsch teased that the sequel will be even more terrifying, with producers Mark Canton and Courtney Solomon promising a suspenseful experience for horror fans.
Anna Lambe will co-star alongside Brad Pitt in The Heart of the Beast, an action-adventure film directed by David Ayer. Lambe, known for North of North and True Detective: Night Country, joins Pitt and J.K. Simmons in a story about a former Army Special Forces soldier and his combat dog fighting for survival after a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness. While Lambe’s role is undisclosed, the film is produced by Damien Chazelle, Olivia Hamilton, and others, with a release date yet to be announced. Lambe’s upcoming projects include the Canadian series North of North, which is set to be released on Netflix in April.
Steven Yeun has joined the cast of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies' untitled animated Avatar: The Last Airbender film, directed by Lauren Montgomery. Yeun’s character details are being kept under wraps, and it's unclear which Four Nations he will represent. The film, set for release on January 30, 2026, also stars Dave Bautista, Eric Nam, Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten, and Román Zaragoza. Yeun previously voiced Wan in The Legend of Korra, another installment in the Airbender universe. An Oscar nominee for Minari, Yeun is also starring in upcoming projects like Animals and RIP, while his recent television credits include Beef and The Walking Dead.
Haunted Heist, a horror-comedy starring Lil Rel Howery and Tiffany Haddish, has added Andrew ‘King Bach’ Bachelor, Karlous Miller, Brett Gelman, Ari Dayan, Tony Baker, and newcomer Tara Terry to its cast. The film marks Howery's directorial debut. Written by Carl Reid, it follows four estranged friends who reunite at a house, only to discover it’s haunted while one of them plans to rob it for a valuable antique. As they confront ghosts, they must also resolve their differences to survive. Produced by Sean King O’Grady, Josh Feldman, Jesse Ford, and Howery, Haunted Heist is executive produced by Feras M. Shammami, Priscilla Ross Smith, and Kendall Anlian.
Arienne Mandi has been cast as the female lead in Hostage, starring alongside William Moseley and Mark Valley. Directed by Luca Elmi, the thriller is set to complete principal photography in Kentucky this week. Written by Drew Ingram, the film follows Logan Marshall (Moseley), a politician whose campaign for governor is derailed by a high-stakes hostage situation, forcing him to confront his past. Mandi plays Angela Robinson, a rising star on Logan's campaign team, working closely with Valley’s character, Jon Lewis, Logan’s ruthless campaign manager. Elmi, a director and producer from Milan, is known for his work on The First King and Succede.
Jonathan Majors will lead True Threat, an action film directed by Gerard McMurray. Majors stars as Vernon Threat, a Special Forces operative seeking justice after a Harlem gang, The Apollo Kids, murders his son. Threat infiltrates the gang's 20-story building stronghold to confront their leader and his former mentor, Shallow. The film combines intense action with themes of fatherhood, brotherhood, and community responsibility. True Threat will feature 52 Blocks, a Black American martial art style, marking the first major film to showcase the discipline. CAT5, a production company focused on high-quality action films, produces the film.
Deepa Mehta - Tristan Fewings / Stringer
Comedy/Dramady/Musical: Kevin Hart and director Tim Story are reuniting for 72 Hours, a new Netflix comedy about a 40-year-old executive caught up in a wild three-day bachelor party after being mistakenly added to a group text. The film is written by Matt Mider & Kevin Burrows, along with Cobra Kai creators Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg. Produced under Hartbeat, Davis Entertainment, Counterbalance, and Will Packer, 72 Hours marks the fifth collaboration between Hart and Story, following hits like Think Like a Man and Ride Along.
Acclaimed filmmaker Deepa Mehta is developing Sher, a comedic reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes universe centered around Dr. Watson in Calcutta. The film portrays Watson, struggling to sell his book about Sherlock Holmes, discovering that Holmes had an illegitimate daughter named Sher, born from an affair with an Indian woman while he was at Cambridge. Written by Johnny Guzman, Sher marks a commercial departure for Mehta, known for her dramatic works like Fire and Water. The film is one of three projects Mehta is developing, alongside Troilokya, a true-crime story from 1890s Calcutta, and Forgiveness, exploring cross-cultural relationships in post-WWII Canada.
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page will star in Italianna, a romantic comedy from Universal Pictures directed by Kat Coiro. The film is written by Ryan Engle, who co-conceived the story with Kristin Engle. Bailey, known for her role as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, and Page, famed for Bridgerton, join a project produced by Will Packer and Johanna Byer under Will Packer Productions' first-look deal with Universal. Coiro, who directed Marry Me and Matlock, and Engle, known for Rampage and Beast, round out the creative team. Plot details remain undisclosed.
Hallmark Media, NFL, and Skydance Sports are collaborating again for Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, which will be featured in Hallmark Channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas. Filming will begin in late 2025 and occur in Buffalo, New York, including Highmark Stadium. The film follows the success of last year’s Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, which garnered 2.88 million viewers. Pete Guelli of the Buffalo Bills expressed excitement about showcasing Buffalo and its fanbase, with Hallmark’s partnership with the NFL proving beneficial given the overlapping audience.
barry jenkins - Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
Drama: Lizzo is set to play gospel and rock pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Rosetta, an upcoming film from Amazon MGM Studios. The project, currently in development, is produced by Lizzo, Kevin Beisler, and Significant Productions’ Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker. Natalie Chaidez (The Flight Attendant) and Kwynn Perry (Tigerbelles) are writing the script. Rosetta will explore a defining chapter in Tharpe’s life as she revolutionized music, challenged societal norms, and turned a wedding into rock’s first stadium concert. Lizzo, a four-time Grammy winner, brings her musical and acting chops to the role following her success in Hustlers and Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.
Barry Jenkins will direct Be My Baby, a biographical drama about Ronnie Spector, with Zendaya set to portray the '60s music icon. The film, based on Spector’s memoir Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, will focus on her tumultuous marriage to producer Phil Spector. Zendaya, who Spector personally chose before she died in 2022, has been attached to the project since 2020. The screenplay is written by Dave Kajganich, with A24, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, and Zendaya producing. Jenkins' previous work with A24 includes Moonlight and Sorry, Baby. Zendaya also has upcoming projects with A24, including The Drama and Euphoria.
Alex Wheatle - David Levenson
Industry Update: An actress, using the pseudonym Penelope, testified in court that Noel Clarke exposed himself and made inappropriate sexual remarks after they filmed a sex scene. She alleged Clarke cleared the room of production staff before demanding she look at him. Clarke has denied all accusations. In his libel lawsuit against The Guardian, Clarke is seeking around $12 million in damages, claiming the newspaper’s reports—based on misconduct allegations from 20 women—caused severe harm to his career and finances. Clarke maintains the allegations are false and that The Guardian’s coverage led to the cancellation of all his contracts.
Acclaimed British author Alex Wheatle, known as the “Brixton Bard,” has died at 62 following a battle with prostate cancer. His family confirmed his passing in a statement, highlighting his literary legacy. Wheatle, best known for the Crongton Knights series, was a celebrated voice in Black British literature and a passionate advocate for working-class stories. His life was dramatized in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology. Tributes from the literary community praised his storytelling, mentorship, and impact. The BBC’s adaptation of Crongton will proceed in his honor, continuing his legacy of inspiring young readers.
Tyler Perry Studios is launching the Dream Collective, a program to foster emerging filmmakers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. The initiative will guide participants through making a short film by offering hands-on training, mentorship, and industry access. Led by Perry alongside advisors Dawn Hudson and Nekisa Cooper, the program provides a structured, multi-round selection process, culminating in five grand prize winners receiving $30,000 each to produce their films with studio resources. Applications open on April 17, marking a significant step in Perry’s mission to open doors for the next generation of storytellers.
Chris Rock has signed with WME for full representation across acting, directing, comedy touring, and books. This move follows the departure of his longtime agent, Eddy Yablans, from CAA. Rock, a four-time Emmy, and three-time Grammy winner, made history with Netflix’s first global live-streamed special, Selective Outrage. He is set to direct and star in Misty Green, helm a U.S. remake of Another Round, and direct a Martin Luther King Jr. biopic by Steven Spielberg. Rock also executive produces and narrates Everybody Still Hates Chris on Paramount+.
Dyllón Burnside has signed with Artists First for management. Best known as Ricky Evangelista on Pose, Burnside has starred in Monster: Dahmer and American Horror Stories. His stage work includes Black Superhero in London and Broadway productions like Holler if Ya Hear Me and Thoughts of a Colored Man. He has released multiple chart-topping singles as a singer and toured alongside Stevie Wonder and Rihanna. A Daytime Emmy winner for Prideland, he is now set to direct his first narrative film, Unbroken. Burnside is also a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ and racial equity, honored by GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign.
Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther, plans to cast Denzel Washington in the next superhero sequel, affirming his intention to work with the legendary actor. Coogler shared his excitement on the Nightcap podcast, calling Washington a mentor and a living legend. Washington previously revealed that Coogler was writing a role for him in Black Panther 3, though Marvel has not officially confirmed the sequel yet. Coogler teased that the film's release is not far off, with the first two Black Panther films collectively earning over $2 billion globally.
Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya has signed with WME for representation. Kaluuya, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Judas and the Black Messiah, has built a strong career with performances in Get Out, Black Panther, Widows, and Nope. Kaluuya is also producing a live-action Barney film with A24 and Mattel Films, and he co-founded Centre 59, a creative partnership with Roundhouse to support emerging artists. He remains represented by B-Side Management and Johnson Shapiro Slewett and Kole.
