Locarno Pro Set to Focus on U.K. Films in Post

films have seen many characters come and go, there's one — Stu Macher — that still has managed to linger over subsequent sequels despite being killed off in the very first installment. And ahead of 's debut in theaters on March 10, the cast and creative team addressed those rumors that he might still be alive — and if he might possibly return to the franchise.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Sideshow and Janus Films have bought North American rights for “Orlando, My Political Biography,” Paul B. Preciado’s film which won four awards at the Berlinale. In “Orlando, My Political Biography,” Preciado sheds light on Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando,” the first novel in which the main character changes sex in the middle of the story.  A century later, Preciado, who is a trans writer and activist, decides to send a film letter to Woolf, telling her that Orlando has come out of her fiction and is living a life she could have never imagined. Preciado organizes a casting and gathers 26 contemporary trans and non-binary people, from 8 to 70 years old, who embody Orlando.

ABC is in negotiations with Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) to headline Motherland, a comedy pilot based on the British series. Karan Soni (Deadpool franchise) has been tapped for a lead in the project, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) has come on board to direct.

Cameron Diaz has shaken off the nerves she initially felt heading into her first acting job in roughly 10 years.

Love in the fast lane! Max Verstappen is one of the biggest Formula 1 stars in the world, but off the track, his heart belongs to Kelly Piquet.

Will Smith got emotional when he revealed he was spit on by a White actor while filming "Emancipation." Smith appeared at the 14th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards on Wednesday night to accept the Beacon Award. "'Emancipation' was the most individual difficult film of my entire career," Smith said after director Antoine Fuqua spoke, via "Entertainment Tonight." "It’s really difficult to transport a modern mind to that time period. It’s difficult to imagine that, that level of inhumanity." "It was the second day of shooting and 110 degrees," he said.

This is one killer lottery.

What’s next for Paul Feig after directing “The School For Good And Evil” last year? It’s “Grand Death Lotto,” an action-comedy for Prime Video with a pretty dark premise. In the near future, California starts a Grand Lottery to help with its economic challenges, albeit with a catch: if anyone kills the winner before sundown, they get to collect the massive multi-billion dollar prize.

Angelique Jackson John Cena, Awkwafina and Simu Liu are set to star in the action-comedy “Grand Death Lotto” for Prime Video. Paul Feig will produce and direct the film from a script by Rob Yescombe (“Outside the Wire”). “Grand Death Lotto” is set in the very near future, where a competition known as “the Grand Lottery” has been established in “economically challenged California.” But, as the film’s official logline explains, there’s a catch: “Kill the winner before sundown and you can legally claim their prize.” The logline continues: “New LA transplant Katie (Awkwafina) accidentally finds herself with the winning ticket and must join forces with amateur jackpot protector Noel (Cena) to make it to sundown in order to claim her multi-billion dollar prize, all while dealing with Noel’s protection rival Louis Lewis (Liu), who also wants to get her to sundown in order to claim his rich protection commission.”

DGA Award winner and 5x Emmy nominee Paul Feig has found a stellar trio to lead his new action-comedy Grand Death Lotto for Amazon Studios in John Cena (Peacemaker), Awkwafina (Renfield) and Simu Liu (Barbie).

EXCLUSIVE: Altered Innocence has picked up all North American rights to the Locarno competition title Astrakan, the debut feature from filmmaker David Depesseville.

The organizers of Broccoli City have announced the festival’s 2023 lineup, with Lil Uzi Vert, Jazmine Sullivan, and Brent Faiyaz set to headline. The event will take place on July 15 and 16 this year at RFK Stadium Festival Grounds in Washington, DC.

Sideshow and Janus Films have picked up the North American rights to “Afire,” which won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at Berlinale 2023. A theatrical release is planned for Summer 2023.From writer-director Christian Petzold, the film follows four young people who convene at a holiday house by the Baltic Sea.

Cameron Diaz was in hot pursuit on the water while driving a speed boat during Back in Action filming in London over the weekend.

Kate Hudson opened up about relationships past and present during a recent interview.

DEALSCountry star Brad Paisley has left Sony Music’s Arista Nashville label, where he has been for nearly 25 years, and moved over to Universal Music’s EMI Nashville. The move sees him reunited with former Arista execs Mike Dungan and Cindy Mabe. “There were two people that should get the credit that you even know my name – Mike Dungan and Cindy Mabe”, says Paisley.

Kate Hudson’s wedding plans are a little different than usual.

Film Independent has announced the presenters for the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Slipknot turntablist Sid Wilson has recalled showing the band how “crazy” he was in order to secure a spot in the metal group.Wilson said in a new interview that he was already practicing with Slipknot “and coming up with parts” but that he needed to see them play live before making a decision on joining.He told Revolver earlier this month: “But before making the commitment, I needed to see the band live. They kept telling me, ‘We’re crazy, we’re crazy. We wear masks, we’re crazy.’ I’m like, Got it.

EXCLUSIVE: Black Bear International has closed a raft of international deals on EFM titles Longlegs and Fred & Ginger, we can reveal. The two projects were among the most in-demand with foreign buyers and the deals account for the lion’s share of each film’s budget.