Motion Picture: Will Smith and Michael Bay Reunite, San Quentin Film Festival Adds ‘Four Letters’
Havana Rose Liu - Amanda Edwards
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Will Smith and Michael Bay are in talks to reunite for the Netflix action film Fast and Loose. Bay is negotiating to direct, while Smith is set to star. The plot follows a man in Tijuana who, with no memory, discovers he's been living two lives: one as a crime kingpin and the other as a CIA agent. The script was written by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Chris Bremner, and Eric Pearson. Smith will also produce alongside Kelly McCormick and David Leitch. Bay and Smith first collaborated on Bad Boys in 1995, which led to multiple sequels.
Havana Rose Liu will star in Daniel Roher's crime thriller Tuner, alongside Lior Raz, Jean Reno, and Tovah Feldshuh, with Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman also in leading roles. Production began last week in Toronto, and the film follows a talented piano tuner whose skills help him transition from tuning pianos to cracking safes, exploring themes of love and sacrifice. The film is produced by JoAnne Sellar and Lila Yacoub, with Black Bear handling international rights and Elevation Pictures co-producing and distributing in Canada.
Gbenga Akinnagbe has joined the cast of Kathryn Bigelow's upcoming Netflix thriller, which already features a star-studded cast of Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, and Anthony Ramos. While details are under wraps, the film will be set in the White House during a national crisis. This project marks Bigelow's first feature film since 2017's Detroit. Akinnagbe currently stars as Julian Carson in the FX series The Old Man, with Season 2 concluding on October 24.
Antwon Tanner - instagram
Comedy/Dramady/Musical: Darin Brooks, Fivel Stewart, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Justin Chatwin, and Antwon Tanner will star in The Roaring Game, a sports comedy produced by Chad A. Verdi and Verdi Productions. Directed by Tom DeNucci, the story follows Rickey, a high school custodian whose girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA. Determined to win her back, he forms a misfit curling team. Filming recently concluded on the East Coast, with additional cast members including John Fiore, Paul Johansson, and Eric Lutes. Verdi expressed excitement about the comedic talent involved, while DeNucci aimed to provide a light-hearted escape for audiences.
Steve McQueen - Dimitrios Kambouris
Drama: Steve McQueen’s latest film Blitz, a WWII drama set during the Nazi bombing of the U.K., premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on his birthday. The film stars Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliot Heffernan in a poignant mother-son story that earned applause and moved many to tears. McQueen reflected on the film’s theme, drawing a connection to John Lennon’s song “Imagine,” with which he shares a birthday. Ronan praised Heffernan’s maturity, while Heffernan humorously noted his enjoyment of the craft services. Blitz will be released in select theaters on Nov. 1 and stream on Apple TV+ from Nov. 22.
Charli XCX, Jeremy O. Harris, and filmmaker Pete Ohs collaborated on the film, ERUPCJA, shot in Warsaw, Poland, in August during the peak of summer. The film focuses on the intense relationship between two women, with Charli playing a character named Bethany, who visits Poland. Ohs, known for his spontaneous filmmaking style, emphasizes collaboration and creativity by writing scenes on the fly and shooting in sequence, to explore character development more organically. The title, meaning "eruption" in Polish, symbolizes the emotional tensions between the characters and includes volcanic imagery inspired by a conversation about an Icelandic eruption. The project gained media attention when Charli was recognized by fans while filming, leading to leaks about the project. The filmmakers aim to challenge conventional production pressures and promote authentic storytelling in smaller, innovative films.
Boots Riley is set to direct I Love Boosters, partnering with Neon for the project, which features an ensemble cast including Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, LaKeith Stanfield, and Demi Moore. Principal photography is scheduled to begin this fall. The story centers around a group of enterprising shoplifters targeting a ruthless fashion mogul, though specific plot details remain under wrap. Producing the film are Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company, alongside Allison Rose Carter and Jon Read from Savage Rose Films, with Neon financing and handling worldwide rights.
Bao Nguyen - Natasha Campos / Stringer
Documentary: The San Quentin Film Festival, the first film festival held inside a prison, has added Four Letters to its lineup. This documentary short, executive produced and scored by Common, follows software engineer Charles Anderson's journey from incarceration to working at global tech companies. Directed by Bao Nguyen, Four Letters had its world premiere across California state prisons in April as part of Second Chance Month. The film is produced by Anderson, along with Deepti Rohatgi, Marie Cisco, and Carolyn Mao, in collaboration with Stardust Films, Imagine Justice, and Slack for Good.
Sean Wang - Eric Charbonneau
Industry Update: On October 10, Demi Moore, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and filmmaker Sean Wang were honored at Ghetto Film School’s annual Fall Benefit. Sponsored by Sony, Amazon MGM Studios, and Disney, the event celebrates the school’s mission of fostering the next generation of storytellers. Ghetto Film School CEO Montea Robinson praised the honorees for embodying the caliber of excellence that the organization’s students aspire to. The event will be hosted at the home of Veronica and Brian Grazer, with a prestigious committee that includes industry names like J.J. Abrams, Quinta Brunson, and Chloé Zhao.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has advised its members against working for Millennium Films, citing the company's failure to pay up-front compensation, and residuals, and meet financial obligations. Millennium, known for films like The Expendables and The Hitman’s Bodyguard, is not a signatory to the 2023 WGA contract and has refused to post a bond ensuring financial responsibility. The WGA, which has filed multiple claims against Millennium over payment issues, urges members who have worked for or been approached by the company since May 2023 to contact the guild. Millennium has not yet responded to these claims.
Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal has secured several new deals at the Asian Contents and Film Market (ACFM). The Brazilian gay rom-com Perfect Endings by Daniel Ribeiro was picked up by Outplay Films for France. Ribeiro's film, which has been sold to North America, Germany, and other regions, follows João navigating modern romance after a breakup. Additionally, Imovision acquired the Norwegian film Sex and Love, part of Dag Johan Haugerud's trilogy, for theatrical release in Brazil. The Argentine film Vera and the Pleasure of Others was acquired by Palace Films for Australia and Encripta for Latin America.
Universal Pictures is adapting Sega’s video game Shinobi into a feature film, with Sam Hargrave (known for Extraction) directing and Marc Platt producing. The film will follow protagonist Joe Musashi, a modern-day ninja battling evil, drawing inspiration from the classic 1987 arcade game. Shinobi is a long-running franchise with over five million copies sold across 14 sequels. The screenplay is being written by Ken Kobayashi, with producers including Platt, Adam Siegel, Dmitri M. Johnson, and Toru Nakahara for Sega. Universal has experienced recent success with video game adaptations, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Choreographer and creative director Charm La’Donna has signed with WME to expand her career into filmmaking. La’Donna, is known for her work with Dua Lipa on music videos such as “Dance the Night” and “Houdini,” for which she recently won an MTV Video Music Award. She has also collaborated with global brands like Louis Vuitton and Clinique. As a former protégé of Fatima Robinson, La’Donna has worked with major artists including Selena Gomez, Kendrick Lamar, and Shakira. Her upcoming work will appear in Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry's 2025 film Atlantis.
Bleecker Street, celebrating its 10th anniversary, has carved a niche by distributing smart, socially conscious films, despite the ever-evolving film industry. Co-founded by Andrew Karpen, the company’s success began with the acquisition of Eye in the Sky, which became one of the highest-grossing indie films that year. Bleecker Street prioritizes substance over flash and focuses on films aimed at older audiences. Karpen emphasizes the importance of creative freedom while maintaining fiscal discipline. Looking ahead, the company aims to continue adapting to shifting audience behaviors, while staying true to its indie cinema roots in New York.
Emmy-nominated actress Moses Ingram has signed with Linden Entertainment. She recently starred in AppleTV+'s limited series Lady In The Lake alongside Natalie Portman and in A24's All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt. Later this year, Ingram will appear in Joshua Oppenheimer's feature debut The End, featuring Tilda Swinton and Michael Shannon, and she is currently filming Kathryn Bigelow's untitled Netflix project. Ingram is known for her role in Netflix's The Queen's Gambit, which earned her an Emmy nomination, as well as appearances in Disney+'s Obi Wan Kenobi, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and Michael Bay's Ambulance. Linden Entertainment will represent Ingram alongside Innovative Artists, Fox Rothschild, and The Lede Company. Founded in 2020, Linden Entertainment is known for managing a roster of acclaimed talent, including Vin Diesel and Jennifer Garner.
