Fresh out of its world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Kinds of Kindness” is one of the titles headed to this year’s Mediterrane Film Festival, taking place in Malta between June 22-30.
Other highlights in the festival’s first wave of programming include Jane Schoenbrun’s Sundance breakout “I Saw the TV Glow” and Meryam Joobeur’s Berlinale competition entry “Who Do I Belong To.”
The festival’s sophomore edition marks the first under the curatorial guise of Artistic Director Teresa Cavina, appointed earlier in the year. Cavina reorganized the festival’s program into four strands: In Competition, featuring films from across the Mediterranean; Out of Competition, featuring films from the rest of the world; Mare Nostrum or Our Sea, showcasing films dedicated to sustainability and the environment; and Future Visions, focusing on experimental VR projects.
In a statement, Cavina said that this...
Other highlights in the festival’s first wave of programming include Jane Schoenbrun’s Sundance breakout “I Saw the TV Glow” and Meryam Joobeur’s Berlinale competition entry “Who Do I Belong To.”
The festival’s sophomore edition marks the first under the curatorial guise of Artistic Director Teresa Cavina, appointed earlier in the year. Cavina reorganized the festival’s program into four strands: In Competition, featuring films from across the Mediterranean; Out of Competition, featuring films from the rest of the world; Mare Nostrum or Our Sea, showcasing films dedicated to sustainability and the environment; and Future Visions, focusing on experimental VR projects.
In a statement, Cavina said that this...
- 5/20/2024
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
North.Five.Six has come on to handle international sales of “Dutch & Razzlekahn” and will introduce the project to buyers at Cannes later this month. CAA Media Finance will represent domestic rights.
BAFTA-nominated Jon S. Baird will direct from a screenplay by Logan Miller and Noah Miller. Chloë Grace Moretz, Lewis Pullman and Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose will star.
Andrew Lazar’s Mad Chance Productions is producing, with Michael Rothstein and Samuel Hall from North.Five.Six executive producing. Production is scheduled to begin this summer.
Based on the 2022 Business Insider article “The $4.5 Billion Question” by Rob Price and Becky Peterson, “Dutch & Razzlekahn” tells the true story of the most expensive heist in history, with Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan (Moretz) and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein (Pullman), relentlessly pursued by the FBI and blackmailed master hacker Carla Vargas (DeBose).
DeBose, who won an Oscar for her role as Anita in “West Side Story,” is...
BAFTA-nominated Jon S. Baird will direct from a screenplay by Logan Miller and Noah Miller. Chloë Grace Moretz, Lewis Pullman and Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose will star.
Andrew Lazar’s Mad Chance Productions is producing, with Michael Rothstein and Samuel Hall from North.Five.Six executive producing. Production is scheduled to begin this summer.
Based on the 2022 Business Insider article “The $4.5 Billion Question” by Rob Price and Becky Peterson, “Dutch & Razzlekahn” tells the true story of the most expensive heist in history, with Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan (Moretz) and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein (Pullman), relentlessly pursued by the FBI and blackmailed master hacker Carla Vargas (DeBose).
DeBose, who won an Oscar for her role as Anita in “West Side Story,” is...
- 5/6/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Ariana DeBose, Lewis Pullman, and Grace Moretz will star in the heist thriller Dutch & Razzlekahn, with North.Five.Six introducing to international buyers in Cannes next week.
Jon S. Baird, whose credits include Filth and Stan & Ollie, will direct from a screenplay by Logan Miller and Noah Miller, the writers behind Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick.
Based on the 2022 Business Insider article ‘The $4.5 Billion Question’ by Rob Price and Becky Peterson, Dutch & Razzlekhan recounts the true story of the most expensive heist in history.
Moretz and Pullman will portray Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein, who are pursued by the...
Jon S. Baird, whose credits include Filth and Stan & Ollie, will direct from a screenplay by Logan Miller and Noah Miller, the writers behind Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick.
Based on the 2022 Business Insider article ‘The $4.5 Billion Question’ by Rob Price and Becky Peterson, Dutch & Razzlekhan recounts the true story of the most expensive heist in history.
Moretz and Pullman will portray Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein, who are pursued by the...
- 5/6/2024
- ScreenDaily
North.Five.Six is set to handle international sales for the true-life heist pic Dutch & Razzlekhan, on which we were first to report. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz (The Peripheral), Lewis Pullman (Lessons in Chemistry) and Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), the film will be introduced to buyers at Cannes later this month, with CAA Media Finance repping domestic rights.
Based on the 2022 Business Insider article “The $4.5 Billion Question” by Rob Price and Becky Peterson, Dutch & Razzlekhan is the explosive and unbelievably true story of the most expensive heist in history, with Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan (Moretz) and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein (Pullman) — lovers, hipsters, and aspiring rapper-entrepreneurs — at its center. DeBose plays Carla Vargas, the master hacker who was blackmailed by the FBI to help track down the duo.
After stealing over $4 billion worth of cryptocurrency, the millennial couple was caught by the Department of Justice and charged with conspiracy to launder the stolen...
Based on the 2022 Business Insider article “The $4.5 Billion Question” by Rob Price and Becky Peterson, Dutch & Razzlekhan is the explosive and unbelievably true story of the most expensive heist in history, with Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan (Moretz) and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein (Pullman) — lovers, hipsters, and aspiring rapper-entrepreneurs — at its center. DeBose plays Carla Vargas, the master hacker who was blackmailed by the FBI to help track down the duo.
After stealing over $4 billion worth of cryptocurrency, the millennial couple was caught by the Department of Justice and charged with conspiracy to launder the stolen...
- 5/6/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
UK director Mike Leigh will receive a lifetime achievement award at Malta’s second annual Mediterrane Film Festival (June 22-30).
The seven-time Oscar nominee will also host a masterclass and participate in an in conversation with Adrian Wootton, CEO at the British Film Commission, with whom the festival has a partnership.
Leigh began his career in theatre and TV with work including Abigail’s Party in 1977. He focused on features throughout the 1990s, winning acclaim for films such as High Hopes, Life Is Sweet, Naked and Secrets And Lies. The latter won the Palme d’Or in 1996.
His following films included Topsy-Turvy,...
The seven-time Oscar nominee will also host a masterclass and participate in an in conversation with Adrian Wootton, CEO at the British Film Commission, with whom the festival has a partnership.
Leigh began his career in theatre and TV with work including Abigail’s Party in 1977. He focused on features throughout the 1990s, winning acclaim for films such as High Hopes, Life Is Sweet, Naked and Secrets And Lies. The latter won the Palme d’Or in 1996.
His following films included Topsy-Turvy,...
- 4/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
Mike Leigh, the veteran director of “Vera Drake,” “Another Year” and “Happy-Go-Lucky,” will be honored at Malta’s Mediterrane Film Festival with its Career Achievement Golden Bee Award.
Leigh will also host a masterclass at the festival, the second edition of which is taking place June 22 to 30 in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. The director, who has earned seven Oscar nominations and won the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or for 1993’s “Naked,” will be in conversation with Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission.
The Mediterrane Film Festival has also revealed its first jury members, who will judge the festival’s competition section, consisting of 12 films from the region. At the festival’s Golden Bee Awards closing ceremony on June 30, prizes will be handed out for best feature film, acting performance, screenwriting, production design, creative technical performance and the special jury award.
Jury...
Leigh will also host a masterclass at the festival, the second edition of which is taking place June 22 to 30 in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. The director, who has earned seven Oscar nominations and won the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or for 1993’s “Naked,” will be in conversation with Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission.
The Mediterrane Film Festival has also revealed its first jury members, who will judge the festival’s competition section, consisting of 12 films from the region. At the festival’s Golden Bee Awards closing ceremony on June 30, prizes will be handed out for best feature film, acting performance, screenwriting, production design, creative technical performance and the special jury award.
Jury...
- 4/29/2024
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Simon Rex (Red Rocket) is joining Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Ariana DeBose, Dominic Sessa and Demi Lovato in Stephanie Laing’s Tow, which is currently in production.
Tow will tell the true story of Amanda Ogle, an unhoused Seattle woman who fought her way out of tow-company hell to reclaim her life and the car that held it all together after receiving a tow bill for $21,634. Ogle also serves as an executive producer.
The original screenplay is written by Jonathan Keasey, Brant Boivin, and Annie Weisman. The Exchange acquired international sales rights and CAA Media Finance will rep domestic.
Producers are Byrne, Laing, via her newly launched Cake or Death Pictures, Brent Stiefel and Justin Lothrop of Votiv Films and Brian O’Shea and Danyelle Foord of The Exchange. Executive producers include DeBose, Jonathan Keasey, Jonathan Tropper, Ogle, Josh Ricks, and Danny Gusman, Nat McCormick and Giovanna Trischitta of The Exchange,...
Tow will tell the true story of Amanda Ogle, an unhoused Seattle woman who fought her way out of tow-company hell to reclaim her life and the car that held it all together after receiving a tow bill for $21,634. Ogle also serves as an executive producer.
The original screenplay is written by Jonathan Keasey, Brant Boivin, and Annie Weisman. The Exchange acquired international sales rights and CAA Media Finance will rep domestic.
Producers are Byrne, Laing, via her newly launched Cake or Death Pictures, Brent Stiefel and Justin Lothrop of Votiv Films and Brian O’Shea and Danyelle Foord of The Exchange. Executive producers include DeBose, Jonathan Keasey, Jonathan Tropper, Ogle, Josh Ricks, and Danny Gusman, Nat McCormick and Giovanna Trischitta of The Exchange,...
- 4/9/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chloë Grace Moretz (The Peripheral), Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick), and Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) have signed on to star in Dutch & Razzlekhan, a heist film based on a true story that will go into production this summer under the direction of BAFTA nominee Jon S. Baird (Tetris).
Logan Miller and Noah Miller penned the script, with Andrew Lazar’s Mad Chance aboard to produce. CAA Media Finance will arrange financing for the film and represent its worldwide distribution rights.
Based on the 2022 Business Insider article “The $4.5 Billion Question” by Rob Price and Becky Peterson, Dutch & Razzlekhan is the explosive and unbelievably true story of the most expensive heist in history, with Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan (Moretz) and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein (Pullman) — lovers, hipsters, and aspiring rapper-entrepreneurs — at its center. After stealing over $4 billion worth of cryptocurrency, the millennial...
Logan Miller and Noah Miller penned the script, with Andrew Lazar’s Mad Chance aboard to produce. CAA Media Finance will arrange financing for the film and represent its worldwide distribution rights.
Based on the 2022 Business Insider article “The $4.5 Billion Question” by Rob Price and Becky Peterson, Dutch & Razzlekhan is the explosive and unbelievably true story of the most expensive heist in history, with Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan (Moretz) and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein (Pullman) — lovers, hipsters, and aspiring rapper-entrepreneurs — at its center. After stealing over $4 billion worth of cryptocurrency, the millennial...
- 3/7/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
In 2019, rumors circulated that Shia Labeouf and Mel Gibson would be featured in a new movie about the affluent Ashkenazi Jewish noble banking Rothschild family. The project, which was said to delve into the mysterious and secretive world of one of the wealthiest families in history, was met with excitement by fans.
However, since the initial announcement, there have been few or no updates regarding the status of the film, causing many to wonder: What happened to Gibson’s Rothschild movie? The project was supposed to be helmed by Tetris director Jon S. Baird.
Mel Gibson in the John Wick spin-off, The Continental
Speculation has been rife concerning the causes of the apparent delay or possible demise of the project. The movie’s title and subject matter caused controversy then, and Gibson was forced to deny any link between Rothchild and the wealthy Jewish banking dynasty of the same name.
However, since the initial announcement, there have been few or no updates regarding the status of the film, causing many to wonder: What happened to Gibson’s Rothschild movie? The project was supposed to be helmed by Tetris director Jon S. Baird.
Mel Gibson in the John Wick spin-off, The Continental
Speculation has been rife concerning the causes of the apparent delay or possible demise of the project. The movie’s title and subject matter caused controversy then, and Gibson was forced to deny any link between Rothchild and the wealthy Jewish banking dynasty of the same name.
- 2/27/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Despite being significantly hit by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, U.K. film studios and production facilities are looking to pick back up where they left off after a record-breaking year for film and high-end television production spend in 2022.
When asked what the industry can expect in terms of business in the year ahead, Samantha Perahia, head of production U.K. at the British Film Commission, says she feels positive that demand “is going to be ramping up.”
She continues, “We already know that some of our studio facilities in the U.K. are getting very busy. While not every facility in the U.K. is jampacked again, there seems to be some momentum now, which is very welcome.”
The production spend in the U.K. jumped from £726 million ($376 million) in 2016 to $7.8 billion in 2022. At the same time, the U.K. considerably expanded its studio and stage provision to...
When asked what the industry can expect in terms of business in the year ahead, Samantha Perahia, head of production U.K. at the British Film Commission, says she feels positive that demand “is going to be ramping up.”
She continues, “We already know that some of our studio facilities in the U.K. are getting very busy. While not every facility in the U.K. is jampacked again, there seems to be some momentum now, which is very welcome.”
The production spend in the U.K. jumped from £726 million ($376 million) in 2016 to $7.8 billion in 2022. At the same time, the U.K. considerably expanded its studio and stage provision to...
- 2/18/2024
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
In any given year, British TV can be relied on to provide plenty in the way of crime drama, and 2023 was no different. Between these returning series and newcomers A Town Called Malice, Blue Lights, Marlow, Payback, Rebus, Steeltown Murders, The Gold, The Sixth Commandment, Wolf and more, crime continued to flourish on the small screen.
Happily though, that was far from all that UK TV offered this year. There was fantasy too, in the form of Netflix’s South London super-powers drama Supacell, ghost detective series Lockwood & Co., Greek and Roman mythology series Kaos, and sci-fi in Prime Video’s The Rig.
Add to all those the romances, dramas inspired by real-life, and several other book adaptations, period and otherwise plus music-based dramas Champion and This Town, and it was a pretty full slate.
January Stonehouse
Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen and Crossfire‘s Keeley Hawes star in this three-part ITV drama,...
Happily though, that was far from all that UK TV offered this year. There was fantasy too, in the form of Netflix’s South London super-powers drama Supacell, ghost detective series Lockwood & Co., Greek and Roman mythology series Kaos, and sci-fi in Prime Video’s The Rig.
Add to all those the romances, dramas inspired by real-life, and several other book adaptations, period and otherwise plus music-based dramas Champion and This Town, and it was a pretty full slate.
January Stonehouse
Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen and Crossfire‘s Keeley Hawes star in this three-part ITV drama,...
- 1/3/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
‘Blue Jean’, ‘My Old School also among awarded films.
Aftersun was the big winner at the 2023 Bafta Scotland Awards, taking three prizes for best actor for Paul Mescal, best director (fiction) for Charlotte Wells and best writer (film and television) for Wells.
Aberdeen-based Hassan Nazer’s Iran-set family drama Winners, produced by Nadira Murray and Paul Welsh, received the feature film award; while Lucy Halliday took the actress film prize for her role as a gay girl in 1980s northeast England in Georgia Oakley’s Blue Jean.
The director factual award went to Jono McLeod for My Old School, a...
Aftersun was the big winner at the 2023 Bafta Scotland Awards, taking three prizes for best actor for Paul Mescal, best director (fiction) for Charlotte Wells and best writer (film and television) for Wells.
Aberdeen-based Hassan Nazer’s Iran-set family drama Winners, produced by Nadira Murray and Paul Welsh, received the feature film award; while Lucy Halliday took the actress film prize for her role as a gay girl in 1980s northeast England in Georgia Oakley’s Blue Jean.
The director factual award went to Jono McLeod for My Old School, a...
- 11/19/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Jon S. Baird, the Scottish filmmaker known for his work on Tetris and Stan & Ollie, has signed with Range Media Partners.
Baird’s most recent feature, the true-life thriller Tetris, earned him a nomination for Best Director – Fiction at the upcoming 2023 BAFTA Scotland Awards, after world premiering at SXSW. The Apple TV+ pic tells the story of Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), a video game enthusiast turned entrepreneur, who stumbles upon a little-known title called Tetris at a tech expo and becomes embroiled in a high-stakes battle for its rights, facing off against rival companies, the Kgb, and even Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Baird previously directed Stan & Ollie, a feature about comedy legends Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Hardy (John C. Reilly), for eOne and BBC Films, which was nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year at the BAFTA Film Awards. The filmmaker also with that title secured...
Baird’s most recent feature, the true-life thriller Tetris, earned him a nomination for Best Director – Fiction at the upcoming 2023 BAFTA Scotland Awards, after world premiering at SXSW. The Apple TV+ pic tells the story of Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), a video game enthusiast turned entrepreneur, who stumbles upon a little-known title called Tetris at a tech expo and becomes embroiled in a high-stakes battle for its rights, facing off against rival companies, the Kgb, and even Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Baird previously directed Stan & Ollie, a feature about comedy legends Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Hardy (John C. Reilly), for eOne and BBC Films, which was nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year at the BAFTA Film Awards. The filmmaker also with that title secured...
- 10/26/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Frankie Corio becomes youngest-ever Bafta Scotland nominee.
Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun leads the nominations for the Bafta Scotland Awards 2023, recognised in five categories: actor film, actress film, director fiction, feature film and writer film/television.
The UK-us co-production has acting nominations for Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio, with Corio becoming the youngest-ever nominee at Bafta Scotland.
Scroll down for the full list of nominations
Wells receives the other three nominations, with producers Mark Ceryak, Amy Jackson, Barry Jenkins and Adele Romanski nominated alongside her for feature film.
Aftersun previously received four nominations at the Bafta Film Awards earlier this year, winning...
Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun leads the nominations for the Bafta Scotland Awards 2023, recognised in five categories: actor film, actress film, director fiction, feature film and writer film/television.
The UK-us co-production has acting nominations for Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio, with Corio becoming the youngest-ever nominee at Bafta Scotland.
Scroll down for the full list of nominations
Wells receives the other three nominations, with producers Mark Ceryak, Amy Jackson, Barry Jenkins and Adele Romanski nominated alongside her for feature film.
Aftersun previously received four nominations at the Bafta Film Awards earlier this year, winning...
- 10/11/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: United Talent Agency has signed actor Jack Champion for representation in all areas, Deadline can exclusively reveal.
Champion is best known for starring alongside Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang and more in Avatar: The Way of Water, James Cameron’s sequel to his groundbreaking 2009 sci-fi epic Avatar, which came in upon its December 2022 release as the third-highest-grossing film of all time.
The fast-rising talent proved a standout in his role as Miles “Spider” Socorro, the 16-year-old human son of the world-conquering Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who bonds deeply with the human-turned-Na’vi Jake (Worthington), as well as his mate Neytiri (Saldaña) and their children while growing up on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Champion will continue his work with Cameron on installments of the franchise still to come, including the as-yet-untitled Avatar 3, set for release on December 19, 2025.
Most recently, Champion appeared in Paramount and Spyglass’s Scream VI,...
Champion is best known for starring alongside Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang and more in Avatar: The Way of Water, James Cameron’s sequel to his groundbreaking 2009 sci-fi epic Avatar, which came in upon its December 2022 release as the third-highest-grossing film of all time.
The fast-rising talent proved a standout in his role as Miles “Spider” Socorro, the 16-year-old human son of the world-conquering Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who bonds deeply with the human-turned-Na’vi Jake (Worthington), as well as his mate Neytiri (Saldaña) and their children while growing up on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Champion will continue his work with Cameron on installments of the franchise still to come, including the as-yet-untitled Avatar 3, set for release on December 19, 2025.
Most recently, Champion appeared in Paramount and Spyglass’s Scream VI,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The “Tetris” movie has inspired a new puzzle. The Apple Original film, which premiered at SXSW this year before arriving in theaters and the streaming platform in March, stars Taron Egerton as American video game salesman Henk Rogers, who discovered Tetris in 1988 and set out to acquire and popularize the Russian computer game.
The nonfiction 2016 book “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World” charted the history of Tetris. Now, author Dan Ackerman is alleging that the film illegally copied from his book without fair compensation. Ackerman, who is also the editor-in-chief of Gizmodo, is seeking at least $4.8 million in damages from Apple, “Tetris” screenwriter Noah Pink, and Tetris Co.
Per the lawsuit, as first reported by Reuters, Ackerman claimed he sent a pre-publication copy of “The Tetris Effect” to Tetris Co., but the company sent him a “strongly worded cease-and-desist letter” and refused to discuss adaptation rights, plus...
The nonfiction 2016 book “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World” charted the history of Tetris. Now, author Dan Ackerman is alleging that the film illegally copied from his book without fair compensation. Ackerman, who is also the editor-in-chief of Gizmodo, is seeking at least $4.8 million in damages from Apple, “Tetris” screenwriter Noah Pink, and Tetris Co.
Per the lawsuit, as first reported by Reuters, Ackerman claimed he sent a pre-publication copy of “The Tetris Effect” to Tetris Co., but the company sent him a “strongly worded cease-and-desist letter” and refused to discuss adaptation rights, plus...
- 8/9/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Dan Ackerman, editor in chief of tech-news site Gizmodo, alleges Apple TV+ film “Tetris” illegally copied from his book on the popular video game, in a lawsuit he filed seeking at least $4.8 million in damages from Apple and others.
Ackerman’s “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World,” published in 2016, is about the game’s origins in the former Soviet Union and the fight for its global licensing rights. The lawsuit touted the book as a “literary masterpiece” and described it as “in the style of Cold War spy thriller.”
According to the lawsuit, Ackerman sent a pre-publication copy of the book to the Tetris Co. in 2016 but that the company refused engage in a deal with him for any projects related to the book — and sent him a “strongly worded cease-and-desist letter.”
In the lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Ackerman asked the...
Ackerman’s “The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World,” published in 2016, is about the game’s origins in the former Soviet Union and the fight for its global licensing rights. The lawsuit touted the book as a “literary masterpiece” and described it as “in the style of Cold War spy thriller.”
According to the lawsuit, Ackerman sent a pre-publication copy of the book to the Tetris Co. in 2016 but that the company refused engage in a deal with him for any projects related to the book — and sent him a “strongly worded cease-and-desist letter.”
In the lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Ackerman asked the...
- 8/8/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Services remained a bright spot for Apple as it reported revenue of $94.8 billion for its second fiscal quarter of 2023, beating Wall Street estimates. Quarterly revenue had been forecasted to hit approximately $93 billion, marking a 4% year-over-year drop. The actual drop was 3%.
The company announced quarterly earnings per diluted share were $1.52, beating estimates (and unchanged year-over-year). Analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research had predicted earnings per share of $1.44. The company reported earnings per share of $1.52 in the year-ago quarter.
A contributor to the above results was its services business, which includes Apple TV+. While the company declared its services business hit all-time highs, what remains unclear is the size of the role Apple TV+ played in those figures, as Apple declined to get specific with its subscription numbers and raw revenue.
Also Read:
Apple TV+ Has a Branding Problem – and ‘Ted Lasso’ Alone Won’t Win the Streaming Wars | Analysis
Apple typically...
The company announced quarterly earnings per diluted share were $1.52, beating estimates (and unchanged year-over-year). Analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research had predicted earnings per share of $1.44. The company reported earnings per share of $1.52 in the year-ago quarter.
A contributor to the above results was its services business, which includes Apple TV+. While the company declared its services business hit all-time highs, what remains unclear is the size of the role Apple TV+ played in those figures, as Apple declined to get specific with its subscription numbers and raw revenue.
Also Read:
Apple TV+ Has a Branding Problem – and ‘Ted Lasso’ Alone Won’t Win the Streaming Wars | Analysis
Apple typically...
- 5/4/2023
- by Robert Carnevale
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Simon Rex (Red Rocket) and Chris Cooper (Little Women) will star alongside Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Jack Champion in Everything’s Going To Be Great, the new film that Jon S. Baird is directing for eOne and Astute Films. No character details have been disclosed.
Written by I, Tonya‘s Steven Rogers, the film currently shooting outside Toronto area is billed as a valentine to big dreamers whose dreams won’t necessarily come true. It’s about individuality vs. conformity, fantasy vs. reality — but mostly, it’s about family. As the Smart family moves from one state to the next, they cope with loss and struggle with identity, all while performing in regional theater.
eOne is co-financing, with Jillian Share, Jen Gorton and Courtney L. Cunniff overseeing production, alongside Astute Films’ Fred Bernstein and Rick Jackson. Rogers is also producing alongside Clubhouse Pictures’ Bryan Unkeless and exec producer Scott Morgan,...
Written by I, Tonya‘s Steven Rogers, the film currently shooting outside Toronto area is billed as a valentine to big dreamers whose dreams won’t necessarily come true. It’s about individuality vs. conformity, fantasy vs. reality — but mostly, it’s about family. As the Smart family moves from one state to the next, they cope with loss and struggle with identity, all while performing in regional theater.
eOne is co-financing, with Jillian Share, Jen Gorton and Courtney L. Cunniff overseeing production, alongside Astute Films’ Fred Bernstein and Rick Jackson. Rogers is also producing alongside Clubhouse Pictures’ Bryan Unkeless and exec producer Scott Morgan,...
- 5/3/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
"Tetris" is a new biographical drama feature, directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Taron Egerton, following 'Henk Rogers' who discovers the game 'Tetris', now streaming on AppleTV+:
"...this is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe.
"Businessman 'Henk Rogers' and T'etris inventor 'Alexey Pajitnov' join forces in the Ussr, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Click the images to enlarge...
"...this is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe.
"Businessman 'Henk Rogers' and T'etris inventor 'Alexey Pajitnov' join forces in the Ussr, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 4/28/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
There are no sure things in life, but if you're making a film with Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney as co-leads, I'm fairly certain you've got the goods.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this dynamic thespian duo is set to topline Jon S. Baird's "Everything's Going to Be Great." The project originated with "I, Tonya" screenwriter Steven Rogers, and if you're any kind of theater nerd, it sounds like this will be right down your alley. There's not a lot of information currently available regarding the film from Entertainment One and Astute Films, but this is a project we'll certainly be keeping our eyes on as things develop.
Everything's Going To Be Great Plot Details And When You Can See It
Janney and Cranston will star as the heads of the Smart family, a peripatetic clan dealing with matters of loss and identity as they bop from state to state.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this dynamic thespian duo is set to topline Jon S. Baird's "Everything's Going to Be Great." The project originated with "I, Tonya" screenwriter Steven Rogers, and if you're any kind of theater nerd, it sounds like this will be right down your alley. There's not a lot of information currently available regarding the film from Entertainment One and Astute Films, but this is a project we'll certainly be keeping our eyes on as things develop.
Everything's Going To Be Great Plot Details And When You Can See It
Janney and Cranston will star as the heads of the Smart family, a peripatetic clan dealing with matters of loss and identity as they bop from state to state.
- 4/22/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Bryan Cranston is to star in 'Everything's Going to Be Great'.The 'Breaking Bad' actor is attached to feature in the movie alongside Allison Janney, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Jack Champion.The film is being directed by Jon S. Baird from a script by 'I, Tonya' writer Steven Rogers and production has started in Toronto.The movie tells the story of the Smart family as they cope with loss and struggle with identity as they move from one state to the next while performing in regional theatre.Baird's previous film credits include 'Stan and Ollie', the biopic starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as comedy greats Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, and the recent Apple TV+ movie 'Tetris' that features Taron Egerton.Meanwhile, Bryan previously revealed that he will only eat a meal on set if a scene requires it.The...
- 4/21/2023
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Production underway in Toronto.
Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have joined the cast of eOne and Astute Films’ Everything’s Going To Be Great from Bafta-nominated director Jon S. Baird (Stan & Ollie) and I, Tonya writer Steven Rogers.
Production is scheduled to begin on April 21 in Toronto on what is described “a valentine to big dreamers whose dreams won’t necessarily come true” as the Smart family moves from one state to the next, coping with loss and struggling with identity, all while performing in regional theatre. The cast includes Jack Champion.
eOne is co-financing, with Jillian Share,...
Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have joined the cast of eOne and Astute Films’ Everything’s Going To Be Great from Bafta-nominated director Jon S. Baird (Stan & Ollie) and I, Tonya writer Steven Rogers.
Production is scheduled to begin on April 21 in Toronto on what is described “a valentine to big dreamers whose dreams won’t necessarily come true” as the Smart family moves from one state to the next, coping with loss and struggling with identity, all while performing in regional theatre. The cast includes Jack Champion.
eOne is co-financing, with Jillian Share,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Production underway in Toronto.
Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have joined the cast of eOne and Astute Films’ Everything’s Going To Be Great from Bafta-nominated director Jon S. Baird (Stan & Ollie) and I, Tonya writer Steven Rogers.
Production is scheduled to begin on April 21 in Toronto on what is described “a valentine to big dreamers whose dreams won’t necessarily come true” as the Smart family moves from one state to the next, coping with loss and struggling with identity, all while performing in regional theatre. The cast includes Jack Champion.
eOne is co-financing, with Jillian Share,...
Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have joined the cast of eOne and Astute Films’ Everything’s Going To Be Great from Bafta-nominated director Jon S. Baird (Stan & Ollie) and I, Tonya writer Steven Rogers.
Production is scheduled to begin on April 21 in Toronto on what is described “a valentine to big dreamers whose dreams won’t necessarily come true” as the Smart family moves from one state to the next, coping with loss and struggling with identity, all while performing in regional theatre. The cast includes Jack Champion.
eOne is co-financing, with Jillian Share,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney are set to star in “Everything’s Going to Be Great,” an upcoming film from Scottish director Jon S. Baird, eOne and Astute films. The film will also star Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (“The Haunting of Bly Manor”) and Jack Champion (“Avatar: The Way of Water”). Principal photography is set to begin Friday in Toronto.
Cranston is known for playing antihero Walter White in the HBO television series “Breaking Bad.” Recently, he’s starred in the legal drama series “Your Honor” and David Frankel’s “Jerry and Marge Go Large.” Janney played the mother of Tonya Harding in the biopic “I, Tonya.” She previously in the political drama series “West Wing” and the CBS sitcom “Mom.”
This year, Baird directed “Tetris,” a biographical drama based on the true story of how one man helped Tetris make its way to America during the Soviet War. Baird also...
Cranston is known for playing antihero Walter White in the HBO television series “Breaking Bad.” Recently, he’s starred in the legal drama series “Your Honor” and David Frankel’s “Jerry and Marge Go Large.” Janney played the mother of Tonya Harding in the biopic “I, Tonya.” She previously in the political drama series “West Wing” and the CBS sitcom “Mom.”
This year, Baird directed “Tetris,” a biographical drama based on the true story of how one man helped Tetris make its way to America during the Soviet War. Baird also...
- 4/20/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney have grabbed the lead roles in Everything’s Going to Be Great, which has started production in Toronto.
The Entertainment One and Astute Films project is being directed by Jon S. Baird and has a script from I, Tonya writer Steven Rogers. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Jack Champion also appear in the pic about the Smart family moving from one state to the next, as they cope with loss and struggle with identity, all while performing in regional theater.
eOne is co-financing the project, with Jillian Share, Jen Gorton and Courtney L. Cunniff overseeing production, alongside Astute Films’ Fred Bernstein and Rick Jackson. Rogers is also producing alongside Clubhouse Pictures’ Bryan Unkeless and executive producer Scott Morgan; all three previously teamed up on I, Tonya, for which Janney won an Oscar, and the miniseries Mike.
Also producing in Toronto is Alex Lalonde and executive producers...
The Entertainment One and Astute Films project is being directed by Jon S. Baird and has a script from I, Tonya writer Steven Rogers. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Jack Champion also appear in the pic about the Smart family moving from one state to the next, as they cope with loss and struggle with identity, all while performing in regional theater.
eOne is co-financing the project, with Jillian Share, Jen Gorton and Courtney L. Cunniff overseeing production, alongside Astute Films’ Fred Bernstein and Rick Jackson. Rogers is also producing alongside Clubhouse Pictures’ Bryan Unkeless and executive producer Scott Morgan; all three previously teamed up on I, Tonya, for which Janney won an Oscar, and the miniseries Mike.
Also producing in Toronto is Alex Lalonde and executive producers...
- 4/20/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After partnering with eOne on the BAFTA- and Golden Globe-nominated drama Stan & Ollie, director Jon S. Baird is reteaming with the studio on Everything’s Going to Be Great, a new film on which it’s partnered with Astute Films. Set to star in the pic, heading into production around the Toronto area tomorrow, are Bryan Cranston (Your Honor), Allison Janney (To Leslie), Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Haunting of Bly Manor) and Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water).
The film penned by I, Tonya‘s Steven Rogers is billed as a valentine to big dreamers whose dreams won’t necessarily come true. It’s about individuality vs. conformity, fantasy vs. reality — but mostly, it’s about family. As the Smart family moves from one state to the next, they cope with loss and struggle with identity, all while performing in regional theater.
eOne is co-financing, with Jillian Share,...
The film penned by I, Tonya‘s Steven Rogers is billed as a valentine to big dreamers whose dreams won’t necessarily come true. It’s about individuality vs. conformity, fantasy vs. reality — but mostly, it’s about family. As the Smart family moves from one state to the next, they cope with loss and struggle with identity, all while performing in regional theater.
eOne is co-financing, with Jillian Share,...
- 4/20/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on March 30th, 2023, reviewing “Tetris,” the 1980s origin of the addictive video game. Currently in theaters, since March 31st.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
This film features Chris Pine as Edgin, the leader of a rogue band of thieves that features the warrior Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), the sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith) and the shape shifting Druid Dorie (Sophia Lillis). The gang forms after Edgin and Holga have busted out of prison, and they learn that Forge (Hugh Grant) has taken over the raising of Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chris Coleman) and conned a kingdom into give him Duke status. The new gang’s assignment is to defeat Forge and regain the trust of Kira.
”Tetris” is currently streaming on Apple TV+. Featuring Taron Egerton, Mara Huf, Toby Jones, Roger Allam, Anthony Boyle and Nikita Efremov. Written by Noah Pink.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
This film features Chris Pine as Edgin, the leader of a rogue band of thieves that features the warrior Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), the sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith) and the shape shifting Druid Dorie (Sophia Lillis). The gang forms after Edgin and Holga have busted out of prison, and they learn that Forge (Hugh Grant) has taken over the raising of Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chris Coleman) and conned a kingdom into give him Duke status. The new gang’s assignment is to defeat Forge and regain the trust of Kira.
”Tetris” is currently streaming on Apple TV+. Featuring Taron Egerton, Mara Huf, Toby Jones, Roger Allam, Anthony Boyle and Nikita Efremov. Written by Noah Pink.
- 4/3/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Jon S. Baird’s Apple+ movie about the journey of one man who went through a grueling process of acquiring the rights to a game from beyond the Iron Curtain to have it published for the entire world, called “Tetris,” has just premiered, and it’s a surprisingly accurate telling of the actual events. The story follows the CEO of Bullet-Proof Software, Henk Rogers’s (Taron Egerton) journey from being a small-time game publisher to being the joint owner of the most famous video game in the world. With multiple transactions and a lot of deals happening throughout the movie, it may get difficult to keep track, so here’s a detailed explanation of all the possible queries you might’ve had while enjoying this almost entirely accurate adaptation of a true story.
Spoilers Ahead
How Did Henk Find Out About Tetris?
In 1988, while trying to attract crowds to a game he had published,...
Spoilers Ahead
How Did Henk Find Out About Tetris?
In 1988, while trying to attract crowds to a game he had published,...
- 4/2/2023
- by Indrayudh Talukdar
- Film Fugitives
Starting today you can play “Tetris.”
Not the game of colorful blocks falling from the sky, but the new feature film about how the rights to “Tetris” were maneuvered out of the former Soviet Union by an American programmer and game developer named Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton). It’s a wild and deeply compelling story, the kind of Cold War caper that is even more incredible because it really happened.
Produced by “Kingsman” mastermind Matthew Vaughn, the movie has a decidedly poppy tone and visual aesthetic (embroidered with 8-bit flourishes) that makes it even more fun to watch. And you can watch it right now, on Apple TV+.
TheWrap spoke to “Tetris” director Jon S. Baird (who previously brought the story of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to the big screen in “Stan & Ollie”) about how the project came about, whether or not he was a “Tetris” die-hard and...
Not the game of colorful blocks falling from the sky, but the new feature film about how the rights to “Tetris” were maneuvered out of the former Soviet Union by an American programmer and game developer named Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton). It’s a wild and deeply compelling story, the kind of Cold War caper that is even more incredible because it really happened.
Produced by “Kingsman” mastermind Matthew Vaughn, the movie has a decidedly poppy tone and visual aesthetic (embroidered with 8-bit flourishes) that makes it even more fun to watch. And you can watch it right now, on Apple TV+.
TheWrap spoke to “Tetris” director Jon S. Baird (who previously brought the story of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to the big screen in “Stan & Ollie”) about how the project came about, whether or not he was a “Tetris” die-hard and...
- 3/31/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Tetris is an iconic video game that has captivated players for four decades. Originally the product of one man in Soviet Russia, the game became a global sensation when bundled with the Nintendo GameBoy in 1989. While there have been countless iterations of the game over the years, few know the real story of how the puzzle game broke through the Iron Curtain. Despite books and documentaries on the subject, the new AppleTV+ film Tetris tells the story many never knew.
Starring Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, Tetris takes us through the tumultuous rights negotiations between British company Mirrorsoft, run by Robert Maxwell, and Dutch-American Rogers. While navigating the tricky Soviet political machine, Rogers befriends the creator of Tetris, Alexey Pajitnov, and the duo embarks on a risky venture to bring the game to the world. Playing out like a spy thriller, Tetris is an exciting look at the Cold War...
Starring Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, Tetris takes us through the tumultuous rights negotiations between British company Mirrorsoft, run by Robert Maxwell, and Dutch-American Rogers. While navigating the tricky Soviet political machine, Rogers befriends the creator of Tetris, Alexey Pajitnov, and the duo embarks on a risky venture to bring the game to the world. Playing out like a spy thriller, Tetris is an exciting look at the Cold War...
- 3/31/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Video games have been a huge part of popular culture for decades now, particularly following the home console boom in the '80s. In all that time, few games have endured quite like "Tetris" has. It's become an absolute staple of this era, with people playing the simple yet addicting game for hours on end on the original Game Boy, the Nes, or at their nearest arcade. So, perhaps it's only fitting that, in an era when video game movies are finally starting to click in a real way, this beloved title would finally get the big screen treatment. No, it's not an adaptation. Rather, it's more of a biopic in the form of director Jon S. Baird's "Tetris," which arrives on Apple TV+ this week. In a roundabout way, it instantly earns its place as one of the greatest video game movies to date.
"Tetris" is an incredibly...
"Tetris" is an incredibly...
- 3/31/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Tetris is a biographical film directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Taron Egerton and Toby Jones.
The story of Henk Rogers who developed a video game that was quite successful which maybe some of you remember: Tetris, a game so simple, exciting and addictive that “some of us” have played… a couple of quick games.
Excellent production and with a very intelligent script: good cinema.
Tetris (2023) Movie Review
Tetris takes everything it can get out of the history of the video-game, and also, with style and personality, knows how to bring out that “something more” that turns a good movie into an excellent movie.
First of all (and I will end up being right after repeating it so much): with a good script, things go better. This one has an excellent script, good dialogue and a solid structure. Moreover, it doesn’t limit itself to developing mechanically, it knows how to stamp humour and,...
The story of Henk Rogers who developed a video game that was quite successful which maybe some of you remember: Tetris, a game so simple, exciting and addictive that “some of us” have played… a couple of quick games.
Excellent production and with a very intelligent script: good cinema.
Tetris (2023) Movie Review
Tetris takes everything it can get out of the history of the video-game, and also, with style and personality, knows how to bring out that “something more” that turns a good movie into an excellent movie.
First of all (and I will end up being right after repeating it so much): with a good script, things go better. This one has an excellent script, good dialogue and a solid structure. Moreover, it doesn’t limit itself to developing mechanically, it knows how to stamp humour and,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Martin Cid
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
The official page of the film says that “Tetris” is a biographical drama, and yes, it is, but when you watch it, it’s more than just a memoir; it’s about the game “Tetris.” When you were a kid, for sure, you played this game, on a handheld game console and got addicted to it, but you never asked how it came about or who its author and developer was. “Tetris” confirms our obsession with games, which for the director Jon S. Baird, is poetry that magically creates synchronicity between art and mathematics to form a perfect amusement and recreation that enslaves us. At the beginning of the movie, you may trip because of the hard-core information that is thrown at you to make you aware of the chronological licensing, or should I say? Tetris-related piracy and plagiarism, but as it progresses, the pace increases, as does your...
- 3/31/2023
- by Carlos Luis
- Film Fugitives
In Apple TV+'s upcoming film, "Tetris," we're presented with the true story of Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov, the two men most responsible for the worldwide takeover of one of the most addicting video games ever created. Pajitnov was the creator of the game and Rogers was the businessman who negotiated the rights with the very anti-capitalist Soviet company that Pajitnov worked for during the height of Cold War tensions between Russia and the U.S.
The resulting movie is filled with humor, tension, and even some 8-bit surreality. When I was offered the chance to talk with director Jon S. Baird and the two actual guys this movie is based on, Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov, I knew I had to ask about how close to the mark the movie actually is to what happened and what incorporating those 8-bit surreal elements added to the movie.
"It wasn't really in the script,...
The resulting movie is filled with humor, tension, and even some 8-bit surreality. When I was offered the chance to talk with director Jon S. Baird and the two actual guys this movie is based on, Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov, I knew I had to ask about how close to the mark the movie actually is to what happened and what incorporating those 8-bit surreal elements added to the movie.
"It wasn't really in the script,...
- 3/30/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
With its coloured blocks tumbling through the air as players frantically jigsaw them together, Tetris remains one of the world’s most elegantly simple video games. Even now, 39 years on from its creation. But not many know the story behind the game. When filmmaker Jon S Baird (of Stan & Ollie and the Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth) first heard it, after reading the script for what became his Apple TV+ film Tetris, he did a double take. “I was like, ‘Is that really true? Wow, that is crazy!’”
Crazy doesn’t even begin to cover a story that ties together the Soviet Politburo, the late media mogul Robert Maxwell, and the launch of Nintendo’s iconic GameBoy – as various interested parties all scrambled to get the rights to Tetris. Invented in 1984 by Russian coder Alexey Pajitnov, the game’s title came from “tetra” and “tennis” (one of Pajitnov’s favourite sports). Gradually,...
Crazy doesn’t even begin to cover a story that ties together the Soviet Politburo, the late media mogul Robert Maxwell, and the launch of Nintendo’s iconic GameBoy – as various interested parties all scrambled to get the rights to Tetris. Invented in 1984 by Russian coder Alexey Pajitnov, the game’s title came from “tetra” and “tennis” (one of Pajitnov’s favourite sports). Gradually,...
- 3/30/2023
- by James Mottram
- The Independent - Film
"Tetris" is a new biographical drama feature, directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Taron Egerton, following 'Henk Rogers' who discovers the game 'Tetris', streaming March 31, 2023 on AppleTV+:
"...this is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe.
"Businessman 'Henk Rogers' and T'etris inventor 'Alexey Pajitnov' join forces in the Ussr, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Click the images to enlarge...
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"...this is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe.
"Businessman 'Henk Rogers' and T'etris inventor 'Alexey Pajitnov' join forces in the Ussr, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Click the images to enlarge...
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- 3/30/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
(Welcome to The Weekly Watchlist, a feature where we program everything you need to stream this week. In this edition: "Tetris" takes center stage, but we also offer up some video game behind-the-scenes documentaries and the best video game adaptation to stream.)
The Movie: "Tetris"
Where You Can Stream It: AppleTV+
The Pitch: People are getting tired of video game adaptations that faithfully recreate games and translate gameplay into TV or film. Forget "The Last of Us," or "Castlevania," it's time to give the people what they want — a movie about the acquisition of the handheld console rights to "Tetris." That's right, the movie "Tetris" finally tells the thrilling, unbelievable story of how one guy went to Russia right before the collapse of the Soviet Union and managed to untangle a web of indecipherable licensing agreements, leading to one of the biggest video games in history.
Why It's Essential Viewing: Somehow,...
The Movie: "Tetris"
Where You Can Stream It: AppleTV+
The Pitch: People are getting tired of video game adaptations that faithfully recreate games and translate gameplay into TV or film. Forget "The Last of Us," or "Castlevania," it's time to give the people what they want — a movie about the acquisition of the handheld console rights to "Tetris." That's right, the movie "Tetris" finally tells the thrilling, unbelievable story of how one guy went to Russia right before the collapse of the Soviet Union and managed to untangle a web of indecipherable licensing agreements, leading to one of the biggest video games in history.
Why It's Essential Viewing: Somehow,...
- 3/27/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Apple Original Films has released a fascinating new featurette for the highly anticipated thriller, “Tetris,” starring Taron Egerton. The actors and filmmakers discuss the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe.
Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.
“Tetris” is directed by Jon S. Baird from a script by Noah Pink. The film is produced by Matthew Vaughn, Gillian Berrie, Claudia Vaughn, Len Blavatnik and Gregor Cameron, with Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres, Iain Mackenzie, Noah Pink, Taron Egerton, Danny Cohen, Amanda Ghost,...
Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.
“Tetris” is directed by Jon S. Baird from a script by Noah Pink. The film is produced by Matthew Vaughn, Gillian Berrie, Claudia Vaughn, Len Blavatnik and Gregor Cameron, with Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres, Iain Mackenzie, Noah Pink, Taron Egerton, Danny Cohen, Amanda Ghost,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A friend recently sent me the trailer of a forthcoming film from Apple TV+ with this message: How much of this do you think will be true? The film in question is Tetris, about the addictive, Soviet-born video game that stormed the West in the 1980s. A film about a bunch of bars moving about the screen? Actually, no. Tetris is pitched as a gripping thriller about the geopolitics and intrigue that surrounded the origin and unstoppable spread of the game. Since I have not seen it yet — it releases at the end of March — I cannot remark on its veracity. But I have high hopes. Taron Egerton, who plays the lead role, is an outstanding actor, and the director Jon S. Baird and his screenwriting partner, Noah Pink, are equally brilliant professionals. The trailer certainly evokes the anxieties and tension of the true story.
The reason my friend brought...
The reason my friend brought...
- 3/22/2023
- by Armen Sarkissian
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Tetris" is a new biographical drama feature, directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Taron Egerton, following 'Henk Rogers' who discovers the game 'Tetris', streaming March 31, 2023 on AppleTV+:
"...this is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe.
"Businessman 'Henk Rogers' and T'etris inventor 'Alexey Pajitnov' join forces in the Ussr, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Click the images to enlarge...
"...this is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe.
"Businessman 'Henk Rogers' and T'etris inventor 'Alexey Pajitnov' join forces in the Ussr, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 3/18/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
When we think of video game movies these days, the first mental images that surface are inevitably garish, computer generated characters, over the top, cartoonish performances; maybe the occasional survival horror adaptation. Rarely does one imagine a procedural thriller about hastily written clauses in licensing contracts, but with Jon S. Baird’s Tetris that’s exactly what we get. One of the most popular video games of all time makes its big screen debut in this Cold War adventure written by Noah Pink (Genius) and starring Taron Egerton (Rocketman) and Nikita Efremov (Ballad About the Bomber). Tetris was created in 1984 by a bored Russian coder named Alexei Pajitnov (Efremov), who passed it to his friends leading to its eventual underground success in the communist state among...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 3/18/2023
- Screen Anarchy
Plot: “Tetris” tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, “Tetris” is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.
Review: Tetris should have been a dumb movie. The sheer idea of making a film out of the worldwide best-selling video game instantly conjured images from Adam Sandler’s bizarre, awful 2015 movie, Pixels. When details came forward that the movie would instead chronicle the too crazy to not be true story of how the game made its way out of Soviet Russia and onto Nintendo’s GameBoy,...
Review: Tetris should have been a dumb movie. The sheer idea of making a film out of the worldwide best-selling video game instantly conjured images from Adam Sandler’s bizarre, awful 2015 movie, Pixels. When details came forward that the movie would instead chronicle the too crazy to not be true story of how the game made its way out of Soviet Russia and onto Nintendo’s GameBoy,...
- 3/17/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
"Tetris" is a fantastic retelling of the rather incredible story behind the game. This is not really about the game, mind you, but about the bizarre, complex, and — if you were to believe the film — almost country-ending story behind the acquisition of the rights to the game. Thanks to yet another compelling and hugely entertaining performance by Taron Egerton, some genuinely thrilling moments, and some imaginative visuals, "Tetris" is as addictive and exciting as the game that inspired it.
A lot has been said about video game adaptations, from those who believe "The Last of Us" is the first good video game adaptation to those who know "Arcade," "Castlevania" and "Sonic the Hedgehog" proved video games could make for incredible TV and film. But there is no plot driven by puzzles or moving different shapes here. Instead, we follow developer and publisher Henk Rogers (Egerton) as he tries to get...
A lot has been said about video game adaptations, from those who believe "The Last of Us" is the first good video game adaptation to those who know "Arcade," "Castlevania" and "Sonic the Hedgehog" proved video games could make for incredible TV and film. But there is no plot driven by puzzles or moving different shapes here. Instead, we follow developer and publisher Henk Rogers (Egerton) as he tries to get...
- 3/16/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
The Game Boy was slightly before my time, but I remember the Game Boy Color vividly. It was an introduction to handheld consoles, and a chance to finally have Mario and Pokémon in my pocket. Yet to my surprise, the best companion for long road trips was neither Pikachu nor those bouncy Italian plumbers; it was a game comprised of falling blocks and the Russian folk song “Korobeiniki.” It was Tetris.
I’d been aware of Tetris before then. It existed on my mother’s computer, but it was barely considered a video game there. Mario or Sonic were games that kids played. But Tetris was for everyone; she’d even play it on occasion. This was the power which made it the second highest selling game franchise of all-time: Everyone gets addicted to visions of falling blocks. Getting those visions in front of everyone, however, turns out to be...
I’d been aware of Tetris before then. It existed on my mother’s computer, but it was barely considered a video game there. Mario or Sonic were games that kids played. But Tetris was for everyone; she’d even play it on occasion. This was the power which made it the second highest selling game franchise of all-time: Everyone gets addicted to visions of falling blocks. Getting those visions in front of everyone, however, turns out to be...
- 3/16/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
At last, a video game movie that’s more than just a video game movie.
In theory, “Tetris” — that primitive and highly addictive block-stacking strategy game — doesn’t lend itself to the big-screen treatment any more than Rubik’s Cube or Tic-Tac-Toe might. But Noah Pink has found an ingenious solution to a classic puzzle. The screenwriter realized that there’s more to Tetris than most people knew. Namely, there’s a terrific backstory about how this Soviet-hatched computer software made its way over the Iron Curtain, and telling it could play like a Cold War thriller as three teams of Western rivals race one another to Russia to secure the rights.
In a sense, the video game movie that “Tetris” most resembles is 1984’s “Cloak & Dagger,” which made an Atari cartridge the MacGuffin that all kinds of untrustworthy people want to get their hands on. Here, it’s...
In theory, “Tetris” — that primitive and highly addictive block-stacking strategy game — doesn’t lend itself to the big-screen treatment any more than Rubik’s Cube or Tic-Tac-Toe might. But Noah Pink has found an ingenious solution to a classic puzzle. The screenwriter realized that there’s more to Tetris than most people knew. Namely, there’s a terrific backstory about how this Soviet-hatched computer software made its way over the Iron Curtain, and telling it could play like a Cold War thriller as three teams of Western rivals race one another to Russia to secure the rights.
In a sense, the video game movie that “Tetris” most resembles is 1984’s “Cloak & Dagger,” which made an Atari cartridge the MacGuffin that all kinds of untrustworthy people want to get their hands on. Here, it’s...
- 3/16/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Full disclosure: Sue me but not only have I never played the iconic ’80s video game Tetris, I had never heard of it before encountering this new film Tetris, which world premiered tonight at SXSW and comes from Apple Original Films. I realize that probably makes me a bit of an oddity to the gamer generation, but I can only say my lack of knowledge on this product did not hurt one bit in being wildly entertained by a movie that tells its origin story. In fact it seems to be part of an encouraging but unlikely new genre this young year: movies all about the backstory of well-known products. BlackBerry from IFC and Paramount, Flamin’ Hot from Searchlight, and now Tetris from Apple have been on display this week at SXSW (BlackBerry actually premiered at Berlin), and if you think watching the emergence of a smartphone, a Cheetos brand...
- 3/16/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Somewhere along the way in Jon S. Baird’s fleet and compelling fictionalized look at the invention of Tetris, you forget that you’re watching a film about a video game. Zippy car chases, farcical negotiation scenes and a tour of 1980s-era conference rooms around the world make Tetris, which premiered at SXSW and airs on Apple TV+ at the end of March, more than an ordinary origin story. Baird (Stan & Ollie) uses the convoluted licensing battle around the game to frame a sturdy and occasionally funny drama about capitalism, intellectual property and the specter of the Soviet Union’s dissolution. Tetris’ willingness to tackle these themes indeed makes it more absorbing than your average streamer fare, but it also makes you wish the film went farther in exploring its ambivalence about the relationship between creative expression and greed.
The story starts in ’80s Las Vegas, where Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton...
The story starts in ’80s Las Vegas, where Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton...
- 3/16/2023
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jon S. Baird has just closed Twitter. The trailer for Tetris was released an hour ago, and the director’s been watching the online reaction closely ever since. There’s one joke that everyone seems to be making—where are the talking tetriminos?
“It’s absolutely not that at all,” the Scottish filmmaker tells Den of Geek with a laugh. “I hear that a lot, but I like that people are noticing that it’s a bit different.”
Tetris is certainly a different proposition from other video game movies. Rather than being about falling blocks that need to neatly fit into lines, Tetris tells the story of Henk Rogers, the mustachioed man who secured the rights to distribute the eponymous game around the world. While that doesn’t exactly sound like the plot of a fun thriller at first glance, the fight to get Tetris on the Game Boy took...
“It’s absolutely not that at all,” the Scottish filmmaker tells Den of Geek with a laugh. “I hear that a lot, but I like that people are noticing that it’s a bit different.”
Tetris is certainly a different proposition from other video game movies. Rather than being about falling blocks that need to neatly fit into lines, Tetris tells the story of Henk Rogers, the mustachioed man who secured the rights to distribute the eponymous game around the world. While that doesn’t exactly sound like the plot of a fun thriller at first glance, the fight to get Tetris on the Game Boy took...
- 3/12/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
"Tetris" is a new biographical drama feature, directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Taron Egerton, following 'Henk Rogers' who discovers the game 'Tetris', streaming March 31, 2023 on AppleTV+:
"...this is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe.
"Businessman 'Henk Rogers' and T'etris inventor 'Alexey Pajitnov' join forces in the Ussr, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Click the images to enlarge...
"...this is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe.
"Businessman 'Henk Rogers' and T'etris inventor 'Alexey Pajitnov' join forces in the Ussr, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 3/2/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
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