Wilson Chapman: Last News

Wilson Chapman editor Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Sebastian Stan and Pete Davidson will lead the cast of “Dumb Money,” an upcoming film about last year’s GameStop stock market explosion. Based on the nonfiction book “The Antisocial Network” by Ben Mezrich, “Dumb Money” is directed by Craig Gillespie, from a script penned by Rebecca Angelo and Lauren Schuker Blum. Gillespie previously collaborated with Stan on his 2017 film “I, Tonya” and directed him and Rogen in several episodes of this year’s Hulu limited series “Pam & Tommy.” Gillespie produces with Teddy Schwarzman and Ryder Picture Company. “Dumb Money” focuses on the January 2021 “short squeeze” movement around GameStop, where users of the Reddit page “Wall Street Bets” banded together to artificially increase the stock values of video game retail chain GameStop, which suffered from lagging stock prices for years. The situation resulted in major hedge funds as well as independent short sellers taking significant financial losses, and it caused calls for more regulation of the stock market. Filming for the project, which focuses on the Reddit users behind the short squeeze, is set to begin this September.

Wilson Chapman editor The DC FanDome virtual event will not be held this fall, Variety has confirmed. First established in 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic, DC FanDome was a virtual event that showcased upcoming projects for DC films, with the two conferences held so far showing off trailers for anticipated projects like “The Batman,” “The Snyder Cut” and “Peacemaker” and dropping news about developing films and series. According to a statement from Warner Bros. Discovery, the company decided not to produce a FanDome this year in response to the return of in-person events, instead planning to announce news out of various comic conventions around the world.

Wilson Chapman editor Hot on the heels from making out with himself in this spring’s ludicrous “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” Nicolas Cage is now taking on another comedy role. The iconic actor is set to star in “Dream Scenario,” an upcoming A24 comedy produced by “Hereditary” and “Midsommar” director Ari Aster, Variety has confirmed. Beyond the genre, most details on the film are being kept under wraps. Kristoffer Borgli, whose directorial debut “Sick of Myself” premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, wrote the script and will direct. Aster produces with Lars Knudsen under their Square Peg banner, while A24 will finance and produce the film. Jacob Jaffke and Tyler Campellone serve as additional producers.

Wilson Chapman editor Some of the most acclaimed films in animation history are finally available to rent online. GKIDS, the animation specialist distributer, has released the catalog of acclaimed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli starting Tuesday. 22 films from the studio — including Oscar winner “Spirited Away” and nominees such as “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “When Marnie Was There” — will be made available to rent on all major digital platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon VOD, Vudu, Google Play and Microsoft. The films will be be priced at $4.99 per title, and all will be available in HD, with most being offered in the original Japanese language as well as English dubs.

Wilson Chapman editor After an even more dramatic Oscars season than usual — with controversy over categories being excluded from the show and a shocking unplanned slap largely overshadowing the rest of the ceremony — newly appointed Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer wants to move forward. “We want to move forward and have an Oscars that celebrates cinema,” Kramer said when asked during a conference call with multiple publications on Monday if there is a plan for next year’s Oscars to address the on-stage altercation between Chris Rock and Will Smith. “That’s our focus right now, it’s really about moving forward.” Kramer, who was appointed as CEO of the Academy last month, spoke to journalists from multiple publications on Monday to discuss his plans for the Academy going forward and the preliminary discussions the organization has had with ABC for the 2023 Oscars ceremony, which will be the award show’s 95th anniversary.

Wilson Chapman editor Animation specialists GKIDS has acquired North American distribution rights for Chinese animated film “New Gods: Yang Jian,” with plans to release the film in theaters early next year. Directed by Ji Zhao, “Yang Jian” is the second installment in his “New Gods” series of animated fantasy films adapted from Chinese mythology. The series, which began last year with “New Gods: Nezha Reborn,” is produced by Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation, which also produced Zhao’s directorial debut “White Snake” in 2019. “Yang Jian” follows the titular Chinese god, also known as Erlang Shen, who was famous for his truth-seeing eye in the middle of his forehead. Thirteen years after he imprisoned his own sister beneath a mountain, the god works as a bounty hunter, and is hired by a mysterious woman to stop his nephew Chenxiang from obtaining a magical lotus lantern with incredible power. The film was released in Chinese theaters last week, where it beat “Minions: Rise of Gru” to top the box office with a $19.8 million opening weekend.

Wilson Chapman editor Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, one of the largest film festivals in Canada, has set its lineup for the 2022 edition. The festival will open with a gala screening of “Ashgrove,” Jeremy LaLonde’s Canadian drama about a scientist in the distant future attempting to find a cure for a water shortage crisis. The festival will host nine gala screenings in total, including abortion drama “Call Jane,” country music documentary “The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile,” Anna Kendrick film “Alice, Darling” and closing night film “Presque (Beautiful Minds).” In addition to the gala screenings, Cinéfest will also host 18 special presentation screenings, 19 films in its Canadian features spotlight, 10 in its Canadian documentary spotlight, five in its Indigenous filmmakers series, 19 in its world cinema series, four in its world doc lineup and 68 short films. Notable films set to screen at the festival include Toronto International Film Festival premiere “Emily” starring Emma Mackey, Cannes Palme D’or winner “Triangle of Sadness,” Mia Hansen-Løve’s “One Fine Morning” and documentary “The Issue With Tissue” about the Indigenous people who live in Northern Ontario’s boreal forest.

Wilson Chapman editor Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you haven’t watched “Wide Net,” Episode 5 of FX’s “Reservation Dogs” Season 2, now streaming on Hulu. After filming the fifth episode of “Reservation Dogs'” second season, Sarah Podemski went out and got matching Navajo floral tattoos with four of her co-stars. The quartet — who include her sister Tamara, “Rutherford Falls” star Jana Schmieding and Nathalie Standingcloud — took the lead on the episode “Wide Net,” which focuses on Podemski’s character Rita as she takes a girl’s trip with her longtime childhood friends to the Indian Health Services conference. It’s a bawdy and terrifically fun episode, but also quietly radical — the episode was written and directed by Indigenous director Tazbah Rose Chavez, and follows four Native women in their attempts to snag men and bust moves at the conference dance floor.

Wilson Chapman editor With its library of Marvel films, Disney animation classics and “Star Wars” installments, Disney+ has one of the largest catalogues of blockbuster films on streaming platforms. But recently, subscribers have noticed the biggest film is missing: James Cameron’s “Avatar,” the highest-grossing movie of all time, has been quietly removed from the service with no prior announcement. Sources confirmed the removal to Variety and attributed it to the upcoming theatrical re-release of the 2009 sci-fi epic. Set for Sept. 23, the theatrical re-release, intended to promote the film’s long awaited sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water,” will present the movie in new, 4K high-dynamic range restoration. The original “Avatar” will have a limited, two-week run.

Wilson Chapman editor The 2023 Independent Spirit Awards will implement gender neutral acting categories, Film Independent announced on Tuesday. The award ceremony, which honors the best in independent filmmaking and television production, will now present three film acting awards and two TV acting awards that are all gender neutral. The gendered film categories — male lead, female lead, male supporting and female supporting — have been eliminated, in favor of a lead performance and supporting performance category. Both will feature 10 nominees each, as opposed to the gendered categories which included five nominees. In addition, a new best breakthrough performance category has been added, which will feature five nominees of any gender.

Wilson Chapman editor“Fast and Furious” fans around the world are excited for the return of the franchise with the 10th installment, “Fast X,” next April. The residents of Los Angeles’ historic Angelino Heights neighborhood, not so much.Ever since it premiered in 2001, “Fast and the Furious” fans have made a beeline to Angelino Heights to gawk at Bob’s Market, the store owned by the family of the film’s Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and the character’s quaint Victorian house.But unlike the nearby house where The WB series “Charmed” was shot, Bob’s Market and Dominic’s house have become a destination for more than just snapping selfies. Nearly every night, car enthusiasts spin out doing donuts at high speeds in front of the store in addition to racing and doing street takeovers throughout the area just west of Downtown.

Wilson Chapman editor“Selling Sunset” star Christine Quinn has exited the hit Netflix reality series, Variety has confirmed.Quinn will not appear in the show’s sixth and seven seasons, which recently began back-to-back production. The real estate agent has previously been a major part of the show, which follows the employees of the high-end Los Angeles real estate firm Oppenheim Group.

Wilson Chapman editor“Emily,” a biopic starring Emma Mackey as “Wuthering Heights” writer Emily Brontë, will have its world premiere through Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform program, the festival announced Wednesday.Platform, which was established in 2015 and is named after the 2000 film by Jia Zhang-ke, screens eight to 12 films from a diverse range of global filmmakers with rising careers. After the screenings, the Platform Prize, an award of $20,000 CAD, is given to one film selected by an international jury.

Wilson Chapman editor“To Kill A Mockingbird,” Aaron Sorkin’s stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s beloved coming-of-age novel, will not return to Broadway as previously announced, The New York Times reported.A spokesperson for the production declined to comment on the cancellation to Variety.The stage play, which opened on Broadway in 2018, played its final performance at the Shubert Theatre on Jan. 16.

Wilson Chapman editor“They/Them,” a new Blumhouse slasher that promises a queer take on the horror genre, is set to go straight to streaming on Peacock next month. But before that, the film received a full in-person theatrical screening, as the closing night premiere of Los Angeles queer film festival Outfest.“This is the perfect place,” Kevin Bacon, who plays the film’s chief villain Owen Whistler, told Variety on the red carpet.“They/Them” is a slasher horror film set in a gay conversion therapy camp.

Wilson Chapman editor“Please Baby Please” and “Mars One” are among the winners of the 40th Anniversary Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival. The organization  announced the honorees during its award ceremony Wednesday.The L.A.-based nonprofit, which promotes LGBTQ filmmakers and projects, ran its 40th edition festival from July 14-24.

Wilson Chapman editor“Stranger Things” is one of the most visual effects heavy show on television — the recent season 4 finale featured more VFX shots than the entire third season combined. While some of those VFX shots are obvious — the ground splitting open into lava, a horde of demonic bats attacking the heroes — others are designed to be hidden from the audience.For example, one of the most memorable scenes of the season featured a return appearance by Dacre Montgomery, whose character Billy died last season, as a vision torturing his stepsister Max (Sadie Sink).

Wilson Chapman editor“Stranger Things” is one of the most visual effects heavy show on television — the recent season 4 finale featured more VFX shots than the entire third season combined. While some of those VFX shots are obvious — the ground splitting open into lava, a horde of demonic bats attacking the heroes — others are designed to be hidden from the audience.For example, one of the most memorable scenes of the season featured a return appearance by Dacre Montgomery, whose character Billy died last season, as a vision torturing his stepsister Max (Sadie Sink).

Wilson Chapman editor“Alone,” the History Channel survival series, is expanding with two spinoff series set to premiere next month.Titled “Alone: The Skills Challenge” and “Alone: Frozen,” the spinoffs will follow in the original show’s premise of dropping challengers into the wilderness as they attempt to survive on their own the longest, with new twists to the formula as well as return appearances from past contestants.“The Skills Challenge,” which premieres Aug. 4, focuses on three former “Alone” participants as they compete in build challenges, devised by another former participant, to develop shelter in the wilderness. Returning contestants from the original show include Callie North (Season 3), Lucas Miller (Season 1), Amós Rodriguez (Season 7), Britt Ahart (seasons three and five), Jordan Jonas (season six), Joel Van Der Loon (season seven) and Clay Hayes (season eight).

Wilson Chapman editor“Beavis and Butt-Head” are back on TV. A revival of the classic ’90s MTV animated series is set to premiere on Paramount+ on Aug. 4, the streamer announced Thursday.

Wilson Chapman editor“RWBY” is crossing over with the heroes of DC Comics. A new film spinoff of the popular animated web series has been announced, which will feature characters from the Justice League.The announcement was made on Friday during RTX Austin, a convention hosted by digital media company Rooster Teeth. During a panel for “RWBY,” the cast and crew — including writers and directors Kerry Shawcross and Eddy Rivas, supervising producer Laura Yates and voice actors Lindsay Jones, Barbara Dunkelman, Arryn Zech and Kara Eberle — dropped the news for the upcoming film, along with other announcements.The crossover will be the first film set in the “RWBY” universe and will be animated by the same team as the web series.