Charles Melton Explains Why He Gained 40 Pounds for 'May December' Role Opposite Julianne Moore & Natalie Portman

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with the Todd Haynes-directed May December starring Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman and Charles Melton. It made a splash at Cannes this year when the darkly comedic and complex feature, loosely based on the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, was picked up by Netflix in a splashy $11 million rights deal.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Since 1998, Variety has honored rising stars on its 10 Actors to Watch report, heralding artists who are experiencing major breakthroughs. The alumni group includes more than 35 Oscar winners and nominees, including Mahershala Ali, Adam Driver, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o and Brie Larson.

Natalie Portman if she was also in the original Star Wars films during The Phantom Menace premiere in 1999.The actor was reflecting on her role as Padmé Amidala in George Lucas’ Star Wars prequel trilogy, which was completed by 2002’s Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in 2005.The first two original Star Wars films – Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – came out before Portman was born in 1981, while Episode VI: Return of the Jedi was released in 1983.The actor was still only a teenager when she began filming for the prequels, but revealed that King Charles once wondered if she might have been involved in the originals.“I remember Prince Charles, he was then Prince Charles, asked me if I was in the originals,” Portman recalled of the premiere on Watch What Happens Live with host Andy Cohen. “I was like, ‘No, I’m 18!’ But he was very friendly.”The actor appeared on the show alongside Julianne Moore to discuss their new drama May December, when Portman added that while “no one has asked” her, she would also be open to reprising her role of Padmé Amidala.She said that working on the trilogy was “amazing,” adding: “It was the first time I worked digitally.

Charles Melton is opening up about wearing a prosthetic for a scene in his new movie May December.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Natalie Portman appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” to promote her buzzy Netflix drama “May December” and once again told “Star Wars” fans that she is more than open to reprising her role of Padmé Amidala on screen. Portman was just a teenager when she landed a leading role in George Lucas’ “Star Wars” prequel trilogy. Her first entry, “The Phantom Menace,” opened in 1999 when Portman was 18 years old.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for Netflix’s “May December” In Netflix’s “May December,” one of the most memorable scenes features Joe Yoo (played by Charles Melton) arriving at the hotel to deliver a letter from his wife Gracie (Julianne Moore) to actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman). Their encounter leads to a brief yet intense sexual liaison on the floor, culminating in a conspicuous silhouette shot of Joe’s penis. Amid Samy Burch’s narrative brilliance and Todd Haynes’ tantalizing direction, one might imagine Melton — known for his role in The CW’s “Riverdale” — felt immense pressure acting opposite Oscar winner Portman, who also produced the film.

Camila Morrone and Charles Melton both received special honors at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements.

forced to keep her cool when King (then-Prince) Charles mistakenly thought she was in the original “Star Wars” films from the 1970s and ’80s.The Oscar winner, 42, recalled meeting the royal, 75, at the 1999 London premiere of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” on a recent episode of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.”Portman recounted the galactic incident on the Bravo chat show, saying: “I remember Prince Charles asked me — he was then Prince Charles — if I was in the originals.”“I was like, ‘I’m 18,'” she joked. “But he was very friendly.”The “May December” star portrayed Padmé Amidala in the space opera prequel.She further described the “amazing” experience shooting the flick, telling Cohen, 55, “It was the first time I had shot digitally.The Long Island native went on: “I don’t think anyone was shooting that way then.

Jordan Moreau The 2024 Independent Spirit Awards nominations, which honor TV and indie films with smaller budgets, were announced Tuesday morning. Joel Kim Booster and Natalie Morales revealed the nominations. “Saturday Night Live” alum Aidy Bryant will host the awards show on Feb.

Charles Melton was honored at the Critics Choice Celebration of Black, Latino & AAPI Achievements and broke accepting his award.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, a day before the National Board of Review will weigh in on its selections for the best films and performances of 2023. They’ll be following the New York Film Critics Circle who kicked off the season last week by crowning Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” as its top choice. Its West Coast counterpart, Los Angeles Film Critics, will drop their choices on Sunday.

Natalie Portman is opening up about how her life has changed since becoming a mom!

Megan Fox had so much to say in a new interview.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Gotham Awards brought the usual array of surprises this year, and it wasn’t only about who walked away with the trophies. Aside from the uproar over Robert De Niro’s speech (which is unlikely to have much bearing on the awards campaign for “Killers of the Flower Moon”), some of the other top contenders gained significant traction leading up to a crucial week ahead.

The Big Lebowski is going up for auction next month, along with a host of other Hollywood memorabilia.The iconic outfit worn by Bridges in his role as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski in Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 crime comedy film is to be displayed at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills on December 16, to honour the movie’s 25th anniversary. It will feature the character’s brown fleece bathrobe and cotton t-shirt.The movie, which also starred John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore among many other famous faces, follows Lebowski as he is tasked with the mission of delivering a kidnapping ransom on behalf of a millionaire, also named Jeffrey Lebowski, for whom the protagonist is mistaken at the start of the film.Named by NME and others a “cult classic”, The Big Lebowski was praised for its iconic soundtrack, Bridges’ performance and the amusing script.

Charles Melton was so shocked by his win at the 2023 Gotham Awards that he was practically speechless while accepting the award!

May December, the title of Todd Haynes’s latest drama, reflects the director’s dance card for the year: having opened in Cannes, the Netflix title has been a festival favorite ever since, and will likely hang in there until voting closes after Christmas. Its two star names, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, have been getting curious audiences through the doors, but what keeps the film playing in everyone’s minds is the moral maze of questions it poses.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Natalie Portman calls Todd Haynes’ new film, “May December,” a “dream role.” “May December” stars Portman as actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman), who is set to portray Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) in a movie. Gracie is a Georgia woman who became a notorious tabloid figure when she engaged in a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy, Joe. (Yes, this is loosely based on the story of teacher Mary Kay Letourneau, who had an affair with and married her teenage student, Vili Fualaau.) Twenty years have passed, and Gracie is trying to move on from the scandal.

Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles on Saturday drew 28 of this season’s biggest and buzziest films for our annual panel showcase of cast and creatives, with a list of films that included everything from Barbie and Oppenheimer to John Wick: Chapter 4 and Trolls Band Together and every kind of movie in between.

When Julianne Moore first was approached for May December, a dark dramedy that would have her star opposite Natalie Portman under the direction of frequent collaborator Todd Haynes, she said yes immediately. But only in looking more closely at the material and her Gracie character did she come to understand the complexity of what she’d just signed on for.