Motion Picture: Rosario Dawson Set To Star In Thriller, Questlove 'SLY LIVES' Premiere At Sundance Next Month
Chris Pang - Araya Doheny
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Rosario Dawson is set to star in and produce Unmerciful Good Fortune, a supernatural horror thriller marking the feature directorial debut of veteran editor Tirsa Hackshaw. Adapted from Edwin Sanchez’s acclaimed play, the film follows Maritza Cruz, a celebrity attorney, as she defends Fatima, a waitress accused of murdering 28 people. Fatima claims her killings prevent “fates worse than death,” thanks to her psychic ability to foresee deaths through touch. Producers include Dawson, Tom DeSanto (X-Men, Transformers), Corey Large (It Follows), and Brian Kirchoff, with Concord Studios handling global rights. Promising a smart, chilling narrative with twists reminiscent of SE7EN, the project showcases Dawson’s dynamic range, following her recent standout role in Ahsoka. Hackshaw brings expertise from her editing work on Marvel’s Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, ensuring a polished and thrilling cinematic experience.
Chris Pang has joined Rachel McAdams in Sam Raimi’s upcoming horror-thriller Send Help for 20th Century Studios, shortly after signing with Buchwald. The film, a two-hander set on an island, is based on an original script by Baywatch writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift and will be produced by Raimi and Zainab Azizi. Character details remain under wraps, but the project is expected to have a theatrical release. Pang, known for his breakout role in Crazy Rich Asians, currently stars alongside Jimmy O. Yang in Hulu’s Interior Chinatown. His additional credits include Joy Ride, Blade of the 47 Ronin, and Palm Springs, showcasing his versatility across studio hits and indie projects.
Brian Tyree Henry is in final negotiations to join Julia Roberts, Elizabeth Olsen, and Eddie Redmayne in Panic Carefully, a new paranoid thriller from writer-director Sam Esmail for Warner Bros. The film, described as a blend of Esmail’s Mr. Robot and The Silence of the Lambs, centers on the pursuit of a cyber-terrorist, though specific character and plot details remain under wraps. Henry, fresh off Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Transformers One, has a packed slate of upcoming projects, including Rachel Morrison’s boxing drama The Fire Inside (out Christmas Day), Apple’s crime series Dope Thief (March 14), and Michel Gondry’s Pharrell Williams-inspired musical Golden (May 9).
Giancarlo Esposito - Michael Loccisano
Drama: The roller disco phenomenon of the late 1970s is making a cinematic comeback with California Skate, an indie film that recently wrapped production. Directed and written by David Kukoff (Model Behavior), joining the seasoned cast the likes of Brooke Shields, Jay Mohr, Henry Winkler, Bridget Moynahan, and Monique Coleman are rising talents Jahi Di’Allo Winston (Queen & Slim), Caleb Baumann (Doom Patrol), Kayli Tran (The Sympathizer), Hayden Carson Begley (Walled In), and newcomer Elliot Gilbert Adler (The Connors). Set in 1979 under the vibrant neon glow of a roller rink, the story captures a transformative night for a group of teens as they navigate first loves, new friendships, and the exhilarating journey of growing up. The project is produced by Kukoff, Moynahan, Cheryl Bayer, and Wendy Eley Jackson, with Bernie Kukoff and Marc R. Gordon serving as executive producers.
Giancarlo Esposito, Harold Perrineau, Taryn Manning, and Ryan Hurst have joined the cast of Out Come the Wolves, an indie drama inspired by Rancid's 1995 album of the same name. Directed by Danny Peykoff, the film is set in the East Bay punk scene of the mid-1990s and follows a group of high school friends dreaming of escaping their troubled city. Esposito plays a sadistic kingpin, Perrineau portrays a father with high hopes for his son's baseball career, Manning is cast as a neglectful mother, and Hurst takes on the role of a prophetic unhoused man. Currently filming in Portland, the feature marks Peykoff's directorial debut.
Documentary: The award-winning Netflix documentary Daughters, directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, explores the profound impact of a daddy-daughter dance that reconnects incarcerated fathers with their daughters. Since its Sundance debut, where it won the Audience and Festival Favorite Awards, the film has garnered critical acclaim and international attention, touching audiences with its powerful story of love, family, and resilience. Executive producers Kerry Washington and Jessica Seinfeld have provided ongoing support, amplifying its message of policy change and emotional connection. A strong Oscar contender, Daughters continues to inspire through its heartfelt storytelling and global festival presence.
Questlove's documentary SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2025. This deeply personal film explores the life of funk legend Sly Stone, highlighting his groundbreaking contributions to music and the broader context of Black artistry in America. Questlove, who was inspired by Stone’s creative legacy, aims to offer an intimate portrait of the artist using previously unseen archival footage and exclusive interviews. The film examines Stone’s influence on modern music, the pressures faced by Black artists, and the impact of his work on social change. Following its Sundance debut, SLY LIVES! Will screen at major festivals and be released theatrically and on streaming platforms.
A new documentary about Selena Quintanilla will premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, offering a fresh perspective on the late Tejano music legend. Directed by Isabel Castro, Selena y Los Dinos will feature never-before-seen footage from the family's archive and interviews with those close to Selena. This documentary stands out as a departure from previous exploitative projects, focusing on Selena's groundbreaking legacy in música mexicana and her role in empowering women in the genre. The film will screen as part of the U.S. Documentary Competition, with tickets available for purchase starting January 16, 2025.
Filmmaker Carlos López Estrada and his company, Antigravity Academy, are developing both a feature film and a documentary based on The Good Whale, a podcast from The New York Times and Serial Productions. The podcast tells the true story of Keiko, the celebrity orca from the ’90s film Free Willy, who became the subject of an international campaign to return him to the wild. López Estrada, who pitched the podcast concept three years ago, has a personal connection to Keiko’s story, having idolized the orca as a child in Mexico City. The expansion into film and documentary follows the release of the podcast’s fifth episode and a music video directed by López Estrada, featuring an original song by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul.
The documentary Frida, directed by Carla Gutiérrez, delves into the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo through extensive research. The filmmakers uncovered rare materials, including unpublished letters and personal research by historian Hayden Herrera, and tracked down key audio recordings from David and Karen Crommie. The film highlights Kahlo’s emotional and physical struggles, particularly her challenges with pregnancy, while also using animation to bring her iconic paintings to life. This in-depth investigation culminated in a critically acclaimed documentary, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
