In brief: J.K. Simmons joins Brad Pitt in ‘Heart of the Beast’ and more

In brief: J.K. Simmons joins Brad Pitt in ‘Heart of the Beast’ and more

J.K. Simmons has joined Brad Pitt in his upcoming film Heart of the Beast. Deadline first reported the news on Monday. It marks the second time Simmons will work with director David Ayer and the third time he’ll star in a film with Pitt. The Paramount Pictures movie will follow a former Army special forces soldier and his retired combat dog as they battle for survival in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash …

AMC Networks has renewed their series Dark Winds for a fourth season. The network announced the renewal ahead of the show’s season 3 premiere. It returns for its latest season on March 9. The upcoming season 4, which begins shooting in March, will consist of eight, hour-long episodes, and will mark the directorial debut of the show’s star and executive producer, Zahn McClarnon. It will premiere on AMC and AMC+ sometime in 2026 …

Charlie Kaufman‘s latest project has found its stars. Deadline reports that Eddie Redmayne, Tessa Thompson and Patsy Ferran will star in Later the War, which Kaufman will write and direct. The filmmaker adapted the script from the short story Debby’s Dream House by Iddo Gefen. While plot details about the film adaptation are unknown, the short story follows a man who makes dreams for people, before he ultimately starts creating nightmares for them …

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In brief: ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ renewed for season 4 and more
In brief: ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ renewed for season 4 and more

Dylan O’Brien will star alongside Rachel McAdams in the upcoming horror thriller Send Help. Deadline reports that the 20th Century Studios film will be directed and produced by Sam Raimi and will follow two colleagues who get stranded on a deserted island after they’re the only survivors of a plane crash. After the crash, they have to overcome their differences to survive. The movie is written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who wrote Baywatch, and is expected to release in theaters …

Sydney Sweeney is in talks to star in a revisionist take on the Edgar Allen Poe short story The Masque of the Red Death for A24. According to Deadline, Charlie Polinger will write, direct and executive produce the film, which will also be executive produced by Lucy McKendrick. While details are being kept under wraps, the new film will be a darkly comedic take on the original story, which follows a prince who tries to avoid the plaque by hiding in his abbey …

A fourth season of The Lincoln Lawyer is a go. Netflix has renewed the series, which stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, for season 4. Production on the new episodes will begin in February. Neve Campbell will return for all episodes of the new season, along with cast members Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole and Angus Sampson …

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In brief: Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun join Ben Affleck-directed ‘Animals’ and more
In brief: Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun join Ben Affleck-directed ‘Animals’ and more

Kerry Washington and Steven Yeun are joining Ben Affleck and Gillian Anderson in Animals, a new thriller film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Affleck will direct the film for Netflix, with shooting slated to begin in LA in April. Its story follows a mayoral candidate, played by Affleck, and his wife, played by Washington, whose son is kidnapped, leaving them no choice but to get their hands dirty to save him. Yeun will play the political campaign manager while Anderson will play a fixer …

Miles Teller and Casey Affleck are teaming up for a new thriller from director Jason Hall. Variety reports that the movie, called Wild Game, comes from a script adapted by Hall from the bestselling book of the same name by Frank Bergon. It’s based on true events, and follows a Fish and Game officer, played by Affleck, who joins a routine poacher arrest where he has a deadly encounter with a man named Claude Dallas, played by Teller …

Hannah Cruz has joined Richard Linklater‘s adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along. Deadline first reported that the actress will play Gussie, the wife of Paul Mescal‘s Franklin Shepard, in the musical film. Linklater is shooting the film over the span of 20 years, similar to how he made the Oscar-nominated film Boyhood, which he shot over the course of 12 years. Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein and Mallory Bechtel also star in the movie-musical …

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Daisy Ridley on playing Rey in upcoming ‘Star Wars’ movie: ‘It’s very exciting’
Daisy Ridley on playing Rey in upcoming ‘Star Wars’ movie: ‘It’s very exciting’
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Daisy Ridley is opening up about the upcoming Star Wars film centered on her character, Rey.

In a recent interview with ABC Audio, Ridley said she was thrilled to be returning to the character she played in all three Star Wars sequels — The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.

“She’s someone I have been so thrilled to play over the last three films,” Ridley said. “It really had to mean something and feel important to continue to tell her story. And I feel like we are in the process of doing that. So it’s very exciting.”

The upcoming film, which currently has the working title Star Wars: New Jedi Order, was announced by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy at Star Wars Celebration in April 2023. The current premise finds Ridley’s Rey overseeing a new class of Jedi knights.

Star Wars: New Jedi Order will also mark a milestone for the franchise. Oscar-winning documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is set to direct the film, making her the first woman to helm a Star Wars movie.

Ridley expressed her excitement over Obaid-Chinoy getting to tell the next chapter of Rey’s story.

“I think Sharmeen is going to take an amazing amount of care with her,” Ridley said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

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