How SXSW Led to Big Wins for Sandra Bullock, Nicolas Cage and A24

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaThe rom-com may be showing signs of life.After being written off as a theatrical proposition, Paramount’s “The Lost City” appears to be scoring with audiences. The film, which puts a fresh coat of varnish on “Romancing the Stone” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” earned $2.5 million in Thursday previews.

There’s been a trend of veteran directors throwing shade at Marvel Studios for crowding the theatrical space and potentially pushing out smaller thought-provoking films during recent interviews. Well, not everyone shares the feeling evidently.

Editors note: Todd Lieberman is the Oscar-nominated producer of The Fighter with credits including Beauty and the Beast, Wonder and The Muppets. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, he contributes occasional guest columns for Deadline.

upcoming film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, where he plays a fictionalised version of himself, is wasting no time in getting into character for his next role.And what a role it is.He’s starring as Dracula in the comedy-horror Renfield alongside Nicholas Hoult, who’s set to play the titular Renfield, a henchman of the villainous monster.Suiting up as the iconic vampire, Nic, 58, looked completely the part in a (blood) red velvet ensemble, his hair slicked back and pale makeup.The actor also rocked an intriguing eyebrow shape, long pointy fingernails, and colourful jewellery with the star looking solemn as he got into character.Quite the opposite to Nic’s immaculate look, Skins star Nicholas, 32, sported a blood-stained jumper with blood also spattered across his face.Safe to say it doesn’t look like things go down too well for Renfield.Directed by The Tomorrow War’s Chris McKay, Renfield will see Dracula’s henchman attempt to leave his line of work after he falls in love.Joining Nic and Nicholas will be Sonic star Ben Schwartz, Awkwafina, and Focus actor Adrian Martinez.Meanwhile, Nic’s been studying up for the role, looking back at Dracula played by Bela Lugosi (1931), Frank Langella (1979) and Gary Oldman (1992).‘I want it to pop in a unique way from how we’ve seen it played. So I’m thinking to really focus on the movement of the character,’ he told Variety.He added of the movie: ‘What makes it super fun is that it’s a comedy.‘And when you get that tone right — comedy and horror — like American Werewolf in London, it’s a blast.

Channing Tatum was inspired by Brad Pitt for his look in. During an appearance on Thursday's episode of, the 41-year-old actor shares what is was like working with Pitt, and which one of his films inspired his character, a romance novel cover model named Dash (Alan), in . “I can’t believe I got to work with either one of them,” Tatum says of Pitt and his other co-star, Sandra Bullock. “I met [Brad] once.

“The Net.”During a chat on the “The Jess Cagle Show,” co-host Julia Cunningham asked the Oscar winner if the ’90s action thriller is why she’s not on any social media platform.Bullock jokingly replied, “I learned a lot.”The “Blind Side” actress added, “We met real hackers and I remember people going, ‘Does that exist? Do you think we could actually order a pizza from your computer?’ And I was like, ‘Yes.'”“The Net” also starred Jeremy Northam and Dennis Miller and followed Bullock as a computer programmer for a software company. She unmasks a government conspiracy while at the same time trying to make sure her identity is not wiped off the face of the Earth.

Nude scenes must always be awkward, but filming them over and over again sounds even more so! Channing Tatum, 41, admitted that he and Sandra Bullock, 57, got close very quickly while filming their upcoming movie The Lost City, because they had to film a scene where he was naked so many times, because he couldn’t help but laugh at some of his hilarious lines. The actor opened up about doing the scene “like 50 times” in an upcoming interview on Ellen.

Brad Pitt was literally an inspiration for Channing Tatum.

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum seem to get along well both on and off screen, but unfortunately for the actors, the same wasn’t always the case for their kids. During a screening of their new film, The Lost City, last week, the actress revealed that her daughter Laila and Tatum’s daughter Everly used to get into their fair share of trouble when they were in preschool.A post shared by Channing Tatum (@channingtatum)“Channing and I were always getting called by the principal of our school because our daughters were at each other’s throats,” Bullock toldPEOPLE.

Nicolas Cage has revealed the baby names that he and his pregnant wife Riko Shibata have already chosen for their first child together.In a new interview, the Oscar-winner said he and Riko, 26, have pickedAkira Francesco if it's a boy and Lennon Augie if it's a girl.Cage, 58, explained to GQ: 'Augie was my father's nickname. And my uncle has decided to change his name to Francesco.' Making plans:Nicolas Cage, 58, reveals the baby names he and pregnant wife Riko Shibata, 26, have already picked for their first child together; they are seen in 2021The names have been chosen in honor of his late father, August Coppola, and his uncle, director Francis Ford Coppola.

burned through some $150 million — blown on eccentric splurges such as a 67-million-year-old dinosaur head, a couple of islands and the first “Superman” comic — but his exotic pets are a constant. He’s cared for snakes, crows, cats, turtles, fish and at least one octopus. As revealed in the April issue of GQ, maintaining his menagerie comes with challenges and pleasures.

Pedro Pascal answered some “Burning Questions” for IMDb while appearing at SXSW for the premiere of his new film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”, starring opposite Nicolas Cage.

GQ. “Here’s the MacGuffin: When the Mongolian government said they needed it back, I gave it to them, but I never got my money back.”He added: “So, somebody at the auction house should be in jail.”Cage’s publicist Alex Schack had said at the time that the actor had received a certificate of authenticity from the gallery, but was later informed by the Department of Homeland Security that the skull might have been taken illegally.

Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage might be finally transitioning away from strictly making smaller VOD features. Cage is playing himself in Lionsgate‘s meta-movie “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent” and most recently was cast as Universal‘s newest incarnation of Count Dracula in the horror-comedy “Renfield” starring opposite Nicholas Hoult, which could mean he might continue that role in other Universal Monsters projects.

“Speed” is hardly a masterpiece or even the best action film of the 1990s, but it did help cement Keanu Reeves as an action star (alongside Kathryn Bigelow‘s “Point Break“) and was one of the movies that introduced audiences to future Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock. However, its sequel “Speed 2: Cruise Control” is not only a cautionary tale of what not to do with a follow-up to a hit studio blockbuster – replacing their main lead with some other guy (Jason Patric) – but is also considered one of the worst films of the 1990s.

Nicolas Cage is in new phase of life. In a recent interview with , the 58-year-old actor shares how the impending birth of his third child has led to quieter days.Cage is already dad to 31-year-old Weston Cage and 16-year-old Kal-El Cage from previous relationships, and his 27-year-old wife, Riko Shibata, is now expecting her first child, his third. Cage says they already have the names picked out, which are inspired by his late father, August Coppola, and his uncle, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.  The couple like the names Akira Francesco for a boy and Lennon Augie for a girl.“Augie was my father's nickname,” Cage tells the magazine, «And my uncle has decided to change his name to Francesco.»As for becoming a father of three, Cage is thrilled.

Sandra Bullock gave Entertainment Tonight a preview of her future when speaking on the red carpet of the Los Angeles premiere of her film, The Lost City. Sandra, 57, stars opposite Channing Tatum in the movie, but she will see a lot more of the 41-year-old Magic Mike star. Sandra’s daughter, Laila, 10, has become super close with Channing’s girl, Everly, 8, during the movie’s filming. “It was full months of sleepovers,” Sandra told ET during the Mar. 21 event. “I mean, they’re the same. They’re two A-type strong women who just, you know – they’re exerting their power. I respect it.”

Nicolas Cage, 58, married his fifth wife, Riko Shibata, 27, in Feb. 2021, and he’s confident that this is going to be the marriage that lasts for him. “I am a romantic, and when I’m in love, I want to give that person everything I can,” Nick told GQ in a new interview. “It’s my expression of saying, ‘I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’ And this is it for me. I mean, this is not happening again. This is it. This is it.”

Sandra Bullock's forthcoming action-adventure rom-com The Lost City has some spectacular stunts and even more exciting cameos — and the actress is opening up about how some of the movie's most memorable moments came to be.Bullock and co-star Daniel Radcliffe recently sat down with ET's Cassie DiLaura, and they reflected on some of the movie's most exciting scenes — including a daring rescue by Brad Pitt that featured an enormous explosion.«We only did that shot in one take!» Bullock revealed. «We didn't know how big the explosion was gonna be. It's all about preparation, preparation, preparation and then a whole lot of luck.»Bullock stars in the film as Loretta Sage, a reclusive romance-adventure author who's spent her career writing about exotic places.

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have a new movie coming out. “The Lost City” stars the two of them alongside Daniel Radcliffe, in a romantic comedy that’s also an adventure movie. In an interview, Sandra and Channing explained how they first met and how their daughters impacted their decision to make this film.

Oscar winner Sandra Bullock made a dramatic entrance to The Lost City premiere at Regency Village Theatre in LA's Westwood neighborhood on Monday while wearing a plunging pink ombré gown.The Virginia-born beauty easily defied her 57 years in the frothy frock, which she paired with black leather thigh-high boots and a matching bolo blazer selected by stylist Elizabeth Stewart.The voluminous dress featured a bejeweled-embellished bodice, a train of flowery gathered tulle, and the one thing many women's clothes sadly lack - actual pockets. Werrrk! Oscar winner Sandra Bullock made a dramatic entrance to The Lost City premiere at Regency Village Theatre in LA's Westwood neighborhood on Monday while wearing a plunging pink ombré gownHairstylist Lona Vigi blew out Sandra's signature middle-parted brunette mane for the film festivities.And make-up artist Sabrina Bedrani applied Bullock's brown smoky eye, peachy cheeks, and natural-looking pout.