Oscar Winner Ariana DeBose to Star in Psychological Thriller ‘House of Spoils’ for Amazon Studios, Blumhouse Television

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The 18th Zurich Film Festival (Sept. 22-Oct. 2) will present its Golden Icon Award to the British actor Ben Kingsley on Sept. 29. Kingsley will present the European premiere of his latest movie “Dalíland,” in which he portrays the Spanish painter Salvador Dalí. In addition, Kingsley will speak about his career in a ZFF Masters. Kingsley has played several iconographic roles in film history: He was the title character in “Gandhi,” Oskar Schindler’s bookkeeper, and has worked with such leading director as Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott and Isabel Coixet. “Sir Ben Kingsley is an outstanding and highly versatile character actor who is not only completely absorbed in his roles, but is also able to imbue his characters with a rare human depth,” Christian Jungen, ZFF artistic director, said.

At the ripe young age of 90, veteran Hollywood composer John Williams says there’s still one more major film franchise he’d like to tackle: “James Bond.” The composer behind iconic scores for such blockbusters as “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter,” “Jaws,” “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” “Superman,” “Jurassic Park” and “Indiana Jones” — the fifth installment of which he’s currently working on — briefly opened up about the possibility of composing a 007 score in an interview with Classic FM (via the Guardian), saying only, “I’d love it” when asked if he’d be interested in the opportunity.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-winning star Mark Rylance and his wife Claire van Kampen, a playwright, composer and director, have teamed with Steven Spielberg and his Amblin Entertainment on a TV project, the actor revealed to Deadline.

At the ripe young age of 90, veteran Hollywood composer John Williams says there’s still one more major film franchise he’d like to tackle: “James Bond.” The composer behind iconic scores for such blockbusters as “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter,” “Jaws,” “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” “Superman,” “Jurassic Park” and “Indiana Jones” — the fifth installment of which he’s currently working on — briefly opened up about the possibility of composing a 007 score in an interview with Classic FM (via the Guardian), saying only, “I’d love it” when asked if he’d be interested in the opportunity.

Clayton Davis Could Sarah Polley join the ranks of Jane Campion, Chloe Zhao and Kathryn Bigelow by becoming only the fourth female filmmaker to win an Oscar for directing? Based on the rapturous reception that “Women Talking” received at the Telluride Film Festival on Friday, it certainly seems possible. Even if that doesn’t happen, the ambitious film, a drama about a group of women in a tight-knit religious community grappling with a legacy of abuse, has put a stake in the ground as the festival’s first slam dunk best picture candidate. In fact, I think it’s going to be a contender across the board. In a Telluride lineup that is heavy on documentaries and Cannes titles, Polley’s film is one of only four World Premieres for narrative features. But what a launching pad Telluride is shaping up to be for the film and its director, a critical favorite for her work in front of the camera in “The Sweet Hereafter” and behind with the likes of “Away From Her.” The premiere for “Women Talking” kicked off with a tribute to Polley, who was presented with the Silver Medallion by Frances McDormand, who produced and stars in “Women Talking.”

For all its discussion of weighty topics such as morality, espionage, and whistleblowing, Bryan Fogel’s Oscar-winning documentary “Icarus” was, at its heart, a buddy comedy. Existential and, at times, terrifying? Sure.

Vladimir Putin demands absolute fealty to the Russian state, and woe to anyone who defies him.

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.

Naomie Harris and Natalie Dormer are teaming up to star in “The Wasp,” a psychological thriller based on Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s play of the same name.“Moonlight” Oscar nominee Harris and “Game of Thrones” actor Dormer will play Heather and Carla, who meet up for tea after not having spoken in several years. Heather presents a shocking proposition that will change their lives forever.Guillem Morales (“Inside No.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Kore-eda Hirokazu will be the star turn at Emerging Japanese Films, a Los Angeles showcase organized by Japan’s Visual Industry Promotion Organization. The event, running Sept. 27 – Oct. 1, 2022, at the Harmony Gold Preview House, consists of four newly-released, dramatic and awards-worthy Japanese feature films and a retrospective night that honors Kore-eda, whose “Shoplifters” won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2018. Kore-eda will take part in a live video conversation after the screening of his “Like Father, Like Son,” a child-swap drama film that Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks previously optioned for remake.

Manori Ravindran International Editor Georgia Brown, head of Amazon Studios in Europe, is stepping down after five years in the role, Variety can reveal. The executive’s last day at the business is Wednesday (Aug. 31), though her departure is understood to have been in the works for some time. Brown is believed to be moving on to another opportunity, though it’s not yet clear what or where her new role will be. Brown has been a strong and prominent ambassador for Amazon Studios in Europe, and was the first executive hired to lead originals for the continent. In the 2016 to 2018 period, when a number of the global streaming services were first setting up shop internationally and kept their executives largely out of view, Brown was always front and center for Amazon, keen to discuss her local-first strategy.

Amazon Studios Europe’s content chief Georgia Brown is leaving the streamer after five years in the role.

horror script to life,” said Budreau in a press statement.“We are so happy to be back in business with Robert as director on another film for Productivity Media,” added Productivity Media’s Santor. “He has a great creative voice, and we are thrilled to be on this journey with him and our award-winning and collaborative partners at Appian Way.”Freeman, best known for his work on “The Hobbit” films, recently appeared in television series “Angelyne” and starred in the third season of his show “Breeders.” He will soon reprise his role as agent Everett K.

Ralph Eggleston, a longtime animator and art director who worked on several Pixar films starting with Toy Story and won an Oscar for directing the animated short For the Birds, died Sunday of pancreatic cancer in Lake Charles, LA, Pixar announced. He was 56.

Barbie Ferreira has joined the cast of the upcoming psychological thriller, Amazon Prime Video and Blumhouse Television announced on Monday. The casting news comes less than a week after Ferreira said she would not be returning for third season.  also stars Ariana DeBose, who plays an ambitious chef who «battles kitchen chaos, a dubious investor, crushing self doubts… and the powerful spirit of the estate's previous owner who threatens to sabotage her at every turn,» the film's press release reads.

recently announced that she would be leaving the series. In film, she starred opposite Haley Lu Richardson in the HBO Max road trip comedy “Unpregnant.” “House of Spoils” reunites Cole, Krudy, Secret Engine, and Amazon Studios following Amazon Studios’ acquisition of worldwide rights to their film “Blow the Man Down” out of TIFF in 2019.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Barbie Ferreira, who broke out on HBO’s buzzy series “Euphoria,” is joining the cast of “House of Spoils,” a psychological thriller starring Ariana DeBose. The film is backed by Amazon Prime Video and Blumhouse Television. Production is expected to begin in the fall. Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy will direct “House of Spoils” from their own script. It will premiere on Prime Video on a yet-to-be-determined date. “House of Spoils” follows an ambitious chef (DeBose) who opens her first restaurant — a farm-to-table joint on a remote escape — where she battles chaos in the kitchen, a dubious investor and crushing self doubt. Oh, and the powerful spirit of the estate’s previous owner, who is constantly threatening to sabotage her. Ferreira is playing a sous chef who works with Debose’s character. According to the official logline, the film is “a tense, psychological and sensuous thriller that will leave hearts pounding and mouths watering.”

Barbie Ferreira already has her next project lined up!

Ariana DeBose is heading for the culinary world — with a twist. She’s signed on to play an ambitious chef in “House of Spoils,” a movie produced by Blumhouse and Prime Video.