Motion Picture: Archie Renaux Joins ‘Falling,’ Naheem Garcia Joins ‘At the Sea’
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki/Lift) and Elham Ehsas (Homeland/Shantaram) have joined the cast of the thriller Fuze. Saffron Hocking (Top Boy/White Gold) has also joined the cast; her role is not yet known. The feature follows the discovery of a World War II bomb in London, which causes an evacuation of the city, during which a group of men try to exploit the situation for personal means. It is directed by David Mackenzie, written by Ben Hopkins, and produced by Gillian Berrie, Mackenzie, Sebastien Raybaud, and Callum Grant. Fuze, which has begun filming in London, marks the latest collaboration between Mackenzie and Berrie after Relay and the eighth collaboration between Mackenzie and cinematographer Giles Nuttgens.
Aml Ameen (Rustin/Boxing Day) will star in the true crime thriller film Killing of a Nation. The feature follows an American lobbyist who gains access to Haitian president Jovenel Moise’s inner circle; the film also focuses on the assassination of the president and the unrest in Haiti that followed. In addition to Ameen, the film stars Jimmy Jean-Louis (Heroes), O-T Fagbenle (The Handmaid’s Tale), Aïssa Maïga (Russian Dolls), Ayoola Ayolola (The Chosen), Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break), Grainger Hines (Dr. Death), Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things), and Jairo Ordoñez (Sound of Freedom). The film is directed by Carlos Bolado, written by Jimena Gallardo, and produced by Olga Segura and Harold Sánchez. It finished filming in Panama in June.
Zoë Kravitz (Blink Twice/The Batman) is in talks to join the cast of Caught Stealing. Based on the book by Charlie Huston, the crime thriller follows a former baseball player who finds himself in the criminal underworld of New York City in the ‘90s. The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky, written by Huston, and produced by Protozoa. It comes from Sony Pictures; Kravitz’s role in the film is currently unknown.
Stephen Oyoung (Twisters/Sicario) has joined the cast of the eighth Mission: Impossible film; his role in the film is currently unknown. Tramell Tillman (Severance/Dietland) also makes his debut in the Mission: Impossible franchise with the eighth film; it is written, produced, and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. Franchise star Tom Cruise also produces the feature, which will be released on May 23, 2025.
Jerrika Hinton (Hunters/Grey’s Anatomy) and Elvis Nolasco (Godfather of Harlem/Roxanne Roxanne) will star in the horror film Mr. Crocket. Also starring Ayden Gavin (Big George Foreman), Alex Akpobome (Industry), and Kristolyn Lloyd (Blue Bloods), the feature follows a mother trying to get her son back after a demonic host of a children’s show begins kidnapping children; it is based on Brandon Espy’s 2022 short of the same name. The feature Mr. Crocket is directed by Espy, written by Espy and Carl Reid, and produced by Reid, David Brooks, Arbi Pedrossian, and Jenna Cavelle. The film comes from Worthenbrooks and is part of a first-look deal between the company and Hulu Originals; it will premiere on Hulu this year.
Comedy/Dramedy/Musical: A fifth Shrek film is coming; some of the franchise’s principal voice cast - Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, specifically - is returning. The film will be directed by Walt Dohrn, co-directed by Brad Ableson, and produced by Gina Shay and Chris Meledandri. Meledandri, who was put in charge of reviving the Shrek and Puss in Boots franchises by Universal Pictures, spoke of wanting to keep the original vocal performances and that the challenge in creating a fifth installment was in making a film that did not simply feel like another sequel. The fifth Shrek film will be released on July 1, 2026.
Eugene Cordero (Loki/Kong: Skull Island), Clara Wong (Billions/Goliath), and Nathan Lee Graham (Theater Camp/Zoolander 2), among many others, will star in Miracle on 74th Street. The comedy follows an influencer trying to gain one million followers, in the process finding her first real new friend and her true self. It is directed by Rachel Israel (The Floaters/Keep the Change), written by Jill Kargman (who also stars), Carol Hartsell, and Sean Crespo, and produced by SJ Allocco-St. Germain, Arielle Haller-Silverstone, Mandy Ward, and Steven Ast. The film has finished production; its North American rights are being represented by CAA Media Finance.
Archie Renaux (Upgraded/The Other Zoey) has joined the cast of Falling. The feature follows a man (K.J. Apa) who begins dating, only for his best friend (Renaux) to fall for the same partner. Also starring Isabel May (Masters of the Air/1883), Emma Laird (Mayor of Kingstown/The Crowded Room), and Alex Jarrett (The Witchfinder/Adult Material), Falling comes from Gulfstream Pictures and Luber Roklin Entertainment, and is produced by Mike Karz, Bill Bindley, Lena Roklin, Matt Luber, and Piers Tempest. It is written and directed by Colin Krisel and James Krisel, and marks Renaux’s third production with Gulfstream after Upgraded and The Other Zoey. It is currently filming in the UK.
Savannah Lee Smith (Cruel Intentions/Gossip Girl), Ayvan Williams, and Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story/Last Straw) will star in the coming-of-age comedy The Upside of Unrequited. Based on the book of the same name by Becky Albertalli, the feature follows fraternal twins Cassie and Molly and their friend Olivia finding partners; when Olivia and Cassie both find someone, Molly is left alone. The film comes from Shakespeare Sisters - Hillary and Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare - who produce the film with Matt Luber and Lena Roklin. Albertalli executive produces the film, which will begin production this summer.
Hallmark+’s romantic comedy trilogy The Groomsmen will star Tyler Hynes, Jonathan Bennett, and B.J. Britt. Subtitled First Look, Second Chances, and Last Dance, the features follow three best friend groomsmen finding love and “wedding bliss” in Greece, Italy, and Bulgaria. Hallmark Media’s manager of programming, Philicia Kennedy-Flamer, spoke on the trio, saying that their performances are humorous and warm and created a “truly special” project. The trilogy is directed by Ron Oliver, and will premiere on Hallmark+ in the fall of 2024.
Drama: Letitia Wright spoke on the partnership between Angel Studios and The Daily Wire regarding her film Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot. The feature follows the true story of a community in East Texas adopting nearly 80 children in the foster system. According to Wright, the partnership between the companies was developed after the finishing of production, without her knowledge. Additionally, the actor spoke against political discourse coming from the film, citing that it is rather about helping children. Co-CEO of The Daily Wire Jeremy Boreing also spoke on the matter, citing that the film and its message are too important to not be seen.
Simone Ashley (This Tempting Madness/Bridgerton) has joined the cast of F1. The film follows a former Formula 1 driver mentoring a rookie on a fictional racing team. It is directed by Joseph Kosinski, written by Ehren Kruger, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman, Brad Pitt (who also stars), Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Lewis Hamilton. Ashley’s role in the film is unknown; it also stars Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Samson Kayo, and Sarah Niles. F1 will be released internationally on June 25, 2025, and in North America two days later.
Audra McDonald (The Gilded Age/The Good Fight), K. Todd Freeman (The Horror of Dolores Roach/A Series of Unfortunate Events), Mary-Louise Parker (Face/Weeds), Richard Kind (Only Murders in the Building/John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA), and Ben Vereen (B Positive/All That Jazz) will star in The Auction. A loose adaptation of the novel And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, the film will begin production this summer in New York. The film’s writer and director William Atticus Parker described it as a workplace drama that incorporates fantasy and horror. Parker additionally stars in the film and produces with Sabina Friedman-Seitz and Cory Asinofsky.
Naheem Garcia (Challengers/The Holdovers) has joined the cast of At the Sea. The film follows a woman returning to her family at their beach home after a rehabilitation without her coveted career. It also stars Amy Adams, Henry Eikenberry, and Murray Bartlett, among others. It is directed by Kornel Mundruczó, written by Mundruczó and Kata Wéber, and produced by Mundruczó, Alexander Rodnyansky, Stuart Manashil, Alex Lebovici, Jon Oakes, Viktória Petrányi, Aaron Ryder, and Andrew Swett. Zsofi Oblath and Rachel Rubin co-produce the film, which is currently filming in Boston.
Empire Waist will be released in the United States and Canada by Blue Fox Entertainment, which also owns the worldwide rights to the feature. The film follows an insecure teenager whose talent for fashion soon becomes noticed; in conjunction with the theatrical release of the film, the body image and self-confidence resource Empire Waist Confidence Curriculum will be released. The film stars Mia Kaplan, Jemima Yevu, Rainn Wilson, and Missi Pyle. It is written and directed by Claire Ayoub, produced by Crystal Collins, Justin Baldoni, and Andrew Calof, and co-produced by Angela Cardon. Empire Waist comes from Try Anyway Productions, American High, P&G Studios, and Wayfarer Studios; it will be theatrically released in the United States and Canada on Sept. 27.
Danny Ramirez (Winner/Top Gun: Maverick) will star in an upcoming film to be directed by Todd Haynes. The feature is said to follow two men who are lovers (with one portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix) leaving California for Mexico. The film’s screenplay was developed by Haynes, Phoenix, and Jon Raymond; the film is produced by Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler. Additional upcoming credits for Ramirez include the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: Brave New World and the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us.
Tioleja Films has optioned four novels by Gabriel Souleyka for adaptation. Tioleja Films’ CEO Yasmina Fagbemi Edwards will produce all four of the films, while Souleyka will write and produce. The four novels optioned are Solitude, My Soul is a Witness, Akoni Yoruba, and Toya; My Soul is a Witness is being co-produced by Tioleja Films and Ten Ten Global Media. According to Edwards, the focus of Tioleja Films, which has also published works, will be on fictional and non-fictional stories that showcase African narratives across millenia. The executive also said that one of the company’s core missions is “telling inspiring stories that elevate everyday heroes to their rightful places in history.”
Documentary: The UK rights to the documentary Gold: A Journey with Idris Elba have been acquired by Netflix. The project follows Elba exploring the meaning of gold and its shaping of cultures, religions, and economies. The project was conceived and shaped by the World Gold Council; it is directed by Paul Bradshaw and produced by Pioneer Productions, Colin Byne, Lucy Joyner, and Helen Shearer. It will premiere on Netflix on July 24.
A documentary about Skepta is coming. According to a release, the documentary will focus on themes of artistry and cultural identity. The project is the first to come from a partnership between 1PLUS1 Production, Skepta’s production company, and H.Wood media, a hospitality and lifestyle marketing company. It will be directed by Hector Dockrill (Post Malone: Runaway) and produced by John Terzian, Brian Toll, Jeremy Allen, and Dwight Okechukwu. The documentary is planned to release in 2025.
Industry Update: For representation, Tony Revolori has signed with Verve. Some of the actor’s past credits include three collaborations with Wes Anderson - 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2021’s The French Dispatch, and 2023’s Asteroid City - and the role of Flash Thompson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s trilogy of Spider-Man films. An upcoming credit for Revolori is the feature The Rivals of Amziah King, which is directed by Andrew Patterson.
Hot Docs Film Festival president Marie Nelson has resigned. Previously, the festival has temporarily closed its flagship Ted Rogers Cinema and laid off some staff. The organization will now be led by managing director Heidi Tao Yang and interim executive director Janice Dawe. Nelson’s exit also comes after the festival faced funding difficulties, allegations of toxic workplace behavior and mismanagement which led to ten festival programmers exiting their posts, and the festival’s artistic director Hussain Currimbhoy leaving the organization, with an internal letter allegedly mentioning that there are stories pointing towards disrespect, degradation, and dismissal from Currimbhoy. While no reason was given for Nelson’s exit, anonymous sources said that Nelson was not the right fit for the job and that her not fully relocating to Toronto upset staff.
According to the “Audiences Are Waiting for Hollywood to Greenlight Disability” report, which comes from Inevitable Foundation, 66% of audiences are “unsatisfied with current representations of disability and mental health in film and TV.” In a statement, the foundation said, “By investing in authentic disabled storytelling and ensuring multi-dimensional portrayals of characters with disabilities and mental health conditions, entertainment industry leaders have an opportunity to increase audience satisfaction, foster trust and tap into an underutilized market segment.”
The three creatives producing short films under the third annual Black Britain Unspoken program have been announced. The creatives, and their shorts, are Donell Atkinson-Johnson with Lloyd the Instructor, Lauren Gee with Dancing on Road, and Joladé Olusanya with Mandem; the shorts will premiere on discovery+ in October. The program aims to give opportunities to up-and-coming Black British filmmakers, and offers those partaking in the program a “pitch-to-production experience” and “professional development opportunities through tailored workshops that focus on media training and career progression.” Production partners for the third season include Wall to Wall and Bounce Cinema.
DNEG Group has acquired Prime Focus Technologies. DNEG Group, which has worked on productions like Oppenheimer and Dune, acquired the company in order to leverage its media workflow and automation software suite, Clear and Clear AI, as a means of solutions for streamers, studios, brands, and broadcasters regarding managing content, video collaboration, and automation during content production and distribution. According to a statement, the acquisition helps DNEG Group break out into media tech and distribution services.
Tracey L. Kemble is Hidden Empire Films’ Head of Feature Development. Working from the company’s Santa Monica headquarters, Kemble will manage Hidden Empire Films’ feature film slate. The company’s co-CEO and producer Roxanne Avent-Taylor spoke on Kemble, saying that she brings a range of knowledge and experience to her work and that she has a strong commitment to supporting filmmakers. Kemble’s past work experience includes working as the EVP of Jesse Collins Entertainment’s scripted content, the SVP Development & Production at Royal Ties Productions, and a producer at BET Productions.
The 2024 Stowe Launch Fellows have been announced; the fellows, and their projects, are Alexandra Hensley with Hearts and Minds, Arianna Ortiz with The Bastard Children of Javier Ortiz, Sebastien Tobler with Bodies of Water, Brandon Vedder with Miracle Man, and Keith Walker with Greenwood. The program, which aims to get projects to market-ready status, comes from Stowe Story Labs and the National Endowment for the Arts, and offers fellows year-long participation and mentorship. Experiences are tailored to each recipient; they may partake in pitching practices and workshops, Stowe Writers’ Retreats and Narrative Labs, and proof-of-concept short filmmaking, among other offerings. At the conclusion of the program, fellows will have a script, a plan to further their project, and refined abilities to present it.
The 2024 recipients of the New Voices Filmmaker Grant have been revealed; the recipients are Apa Agbayani, Angalis Field, Clementine Narcisse, and cai thomas. The grant, which was developed to support LGBTQ+ filmmakers, comes from a partnership between NewFest and Netflix. In addition to $25,000, recipients of the grant will receive opportunities to grow their network, opportunities to have their work showcased, and a mentorship track from NewFest, among other opportunities.
The Independent Film & Television Alliance has promoted the exhibitors of the American Film Market which, this year, will be held in Las Vegas for the first time. This year’s event currently has 145 exhibitors prepared to partake, with the Independent Film & Television Alliance saying that demand for this year’s event outstripped previous years. Some of the many exhibitors include A24, Blue Fox Entertainment, Cornerstone, The Exchange, Film Mode Entertainment, Lionsgate, Vision Films, and XYZ Films. The event will be held at the Palms Casino Resort from November 5-10.
