Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s entry into the MCU was one of those iconic moments in superhero cinema, that Sony badly wants to recreate. If it were up to them, the Tom Rothman-led studio would have reunited the three heroes once again in the hopes of making another $2 billion phenomenon. Marvel’s constant objection to this plan may have forced Sony to consider another option for Maguire and Garfield.
Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: No Way Home | Marvel Studios
According to reports, Sony is set to bring back the previous Spider-Man actors into the Ssu. It could mean that both Maguire and Garfield may get their own movies and appear in Ssu’s multiversal adventures.
Industry Insider Says Sony Wants Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in the Ssu Multiverse Tobey Maguire, Tom Holland, and Andrew Garfield in a still from Spider-Man: No Way Home...
Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: No Way Home | Marvel Studios
According to reports, Sony is set to bring back the previous Spider-Man actors into the Ssu. It could mean that both Maguire and Garfield may get their own movies and appear in Ssu’s multiversal adventures.
Industry Insider Says Sony Wants Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in the Ssu Multiverse Tobey Maguire, Tom Holland, and Andrew Garfield in a still from Spider-Man: No Way Home...
- 5/24/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Quentin Tarantino’s thriving directing career was supposed to come to its official end with the director’s tenth and final film titled The Movie Critic, but now it seems like retirement will need to wait a few more years. Earlier this year the news broke about Tarantino’s decision to ditch the movie so that he could finish his path in the industry with something even more perfect.
Now that The Movie Critic is officially never happening, everybody seems pretty frustrated about this all, even major studios that were deprived of a unique chance to collaborate with Tarantino even for once.
Following the shocking news about the canceled film, Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Tom Rothman reflected on his company’s perception of such a turn of events.
Before Tarantino burned all the bridges that ever existed between him and The Movie Critic, the film, starring Brad Pitt in his Once Upon a Time…...
Now that The Movie Critic is officially never happening, everybody seems pretty frustrated about this all, even major studios that were deprived of a unique chance to collaborate with Tarantino even for once.
Following the shocking news about the canceled film, Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Tom Rothman reflected on his company’s perception of such a turn of events.
Before Tarantino burned all the bridges that ever existed between him and The Movie Critic, the film, starring Brad Pitt in his Once Upon a Time…...
- 5/22/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
The Spider-Man 4 rumors have been picking up steam over the past few weeks, as Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios (hopefully) get closer to making some kind of official announcement regarding the No Way Home follow-up.
Depending on what ends up being revealed in the trailers, this latest rumor may not turn out to be a major spoiler, but we're being careful just in case it is something that's kept out of the marketing.
According to Mttsh, Venom will appear in the fourth Spider-Man movie, but won't be the "main villain." There's no mention of Tom Hardy, so there's always a chance the Venom symbiote will take over another host.
Peter Parker himself, perhaps?
This would back up a previous rumor that the piece of the alien symbiote left behind at the end of No Way Home will factor into the plot, but would it be a smart move...
Depending on what ends up being revealed in the trailers, this latest rumor may not turn out to be a major spoiler, but we're being careful just in case it is something that's kept out of the marketing.
According to Mttsh, Venom will appear in the fourth Spider-Man movie, but won't be the "main villain." There's no mention of Tom Hardy, so there's always a chance the Venom symbiote will take over another host.
Peter Parker himself, perhaps?
This would back up a previous rumor that the piece of the alien symbiote left behind at the end of No Way Home will factor into the plot, but would it be a smart move...
- 5/21/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Marvel Studios brought the famous friendly neighborhood web-slinger over to the MCU back in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. Ever since then, it has been one magnificent ride with some shocking yet exhilarating multi-versal events. While Tom Holland aced the elements required to play Peter Parker and Spider-Man, Marvel Studios did equally well when it came to storyline, narrative, and action sequences.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in Avengers: Infinity War (Image: Marvel Studios)
And now fans have been waiting for a long time for Spider-Man 4, which is a long time due. And if Kevin Feige’s rumored plans for the movie work out, Marvel fans are surely going to lose their mind.
Kevin Feige Wants Ms. Marvel Directors to Helm Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 Fans have been eagerly waiting for Tom Holland to return as Spider-Man (Image: MCU | Marvel Studios)
Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man 4 is a long...
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in Avengers: Infinity War (Image: Marvel Studios)
And now fans have been waiting for a long time for Spider-Man 4, which is a long time due. And if Kevin Feige’s rumored plans for the movie work out, Marvel fans are surely going to lose their mind.
Kevin Feige Wants Ms. Marvel Directors to Helm Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 Fans have been eagerly waiting for Tom Holland to return as Spider-Man (Image: MCU | Marvel Studios)
Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man 4 is a long...
- 5/21/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
With annual box office takings set to drop for the first time since the pandemic, things need to change according to the head of Sony Pictures.
In the five years since 2019, there’s been plenty of uncertainty about the future of the theatrical experience. Lots of ink has been spilled and opinions have been offered. One oft-spoken thought being that we may never get back to the kind of annual box office grosses that we witnessed before the Covid-19 global outbreak decimated cinema attendances and changed the cinema-going experience, perhaps forever.
One of the many lingering issues that the pandemic has left us with is the haste with which cinema releases can now find themselves available for home viewing. Just look at Universal’s The Fall Guy, a film that was not so long ago being positioned as the big opening movie of the summer is now being primed for...
In the five years since 2019, there’s been plenty of uncertainty about the future of the theatrical experience. Lots of ink has been spilled and opinions have been offered. One oft-spoken thought being that we may never get back to the kind of annual box office grosses that we witnessed before the Covid-19 global outbreak decimated cinema attendances and changed the cinema-going experience, perhaps forever.
One of the many lingering issues that the pandemic has left us with is the haste with which cinema releases can now find themselves available for home viewing. Just look at Universal’s The Fall Guy, a film that was not so long ago being positioned as the big opening movie of the summer is now being primed for...
- 5/21/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
Since we first learned of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's plans for 28 Years Later back in January, news on the movie — the first in a proposed sequel trilogy to Brit zombie horror duology 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later — and the franchise's future has come thick and fast. Last month alone, we shared that Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have joined 28 Years Later's cast, and that Candyman director Nia DaCosta is in talks to helm the second part of the new trilogy. And now we know at last that newly-minted Oppenheimer Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, who was already aboard as an executive producer, will be making a return in front of the camera too.
In an interview with Deadline, Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman was asked directly whether Murphy — who starred in Boyle's first film as bike courier-turned-Rage virus survivor Jim — would be back for 28 Years Later.
In an interview with Deadline, Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman was asked directly whether Murphy — who starred in Boyle's first film as bike courier-turned-Rage virus survivor Jim — would be back for 28 Years Later.
- 5/20/2024
- by Jordan King
- Empire - Movies
Sony brought together a multiverse’s worth of its filmmakers past and present together Friday at Cannes for a dinner celebrating the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures.
The attendees at Mamo Michelangelo included Cannes jury president and Barbie director Greta Gerwig (who made Little Women for Columbia), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Oscar winners Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Bad Boys: Ride or Die directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Chloe Zhao, whose The Rider was distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, Anyone But You director Will Gluck and Kraven the Hunter filmmaker J.C. Chandor.
Entrepreneur and film producer Charles Finch hosted the dinner with Tom Rothman, chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group.
During the dinner, Rothman gave a toast in which he wandered among the tables, pointing out specific talent and giving a nod to their contributions to the studio, name checking Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman...
The attendees at Mamo Michelangelo included Cannes jury president and Barbie director Greta Gerwig (who made Little Women for Columbia), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Oscar winners Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Bad Boys: Ride or Die directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Chloe Zhao, whose The Rider was distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, Anyone But You director Will Gluck and Kraven the Hunter filmmaker J.C. Chandor.
Entrepreneur and film producer Charles Finch hosted the dinner with Tom Rothman, chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group.
During the dinner, Rothman gave a toast in which he wandered among the tables, pointing out specific talent and giving a nod to their contributions to the studio, name checking Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman...
- 5/19/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tom Rothman, the Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman and CEO, wined and dined a select few at a splendidly swish soirée Friday at Mamo Michelangelo in Antibes, hosted by Charles Finch as part of his annual Filmmakers Dinner honoring 100 years of Columbia Pictures, and there was something he said about why movies matter that has stuck with me.
Hours earlier, Rothman had introduced a gloriously restored print of Charles Vidor’s 1946 movie Gilda, starring Rita Hayworth as the eponymous nightclub temptress and Glenn Ford as the hardboiled gambler from her past.
They hate each other, but as we all know, that’s often a prelude on the road to love both in real and reel life.
Related: Cannes Film Festival 2024 Photos
Vidor also uses the vocabulary of dance to signal Gilda’s emotional temperature.
The great choreographer Jack Cole, who later coached Marilyn Monroe on her moves in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,...
Hours earlier, Rothman had introduced a gloriously restored print of Charles Vidor’s 1946 movie Gilda, starring Rita Hayworth as the eponymous nightclub temptress and Glenn Ford as the hardboiled gambler from her past.
They hate each other, but as we all know, that’s often a prelude on the road to love both in real and reel life.
Related: Cannes Film Festival 2024 Photos
Vidor also uses the vocabulary of dance to signal Gilda’s emotional temperature.
The great choreographer Jack Cole, who later coached Marilyn Monroe on her moves in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,...
- 5/18/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
The Spider-Man 4 buzz is dominating the social platforms, as fans have got the recent update of Tom Holland’s movie getting an exciting update. A new report suggests that Spider-Man 4 is set to move to production this fall. Also, the movie is reportedly eyeing a fall 2025 release date.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Credit: Marvel Studios
Fair enough, but the updates on Spider-Man 4 have also disturbed the sleep of Marvel fans. Recently, fillm producer, film executive, and current chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, Tom Rothman’s comment on Spider-Man 4 and Venom 3 has left fans worried about the potential story arc of Holland’s upcoming movie.
Tom Rothman Commented On Spider-Man 4 And Venom 3
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Credit: Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures
It is hard to speculate what story arc Spider-Man 4 will follow after the multiversal banger in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Credit: Marvel Studios
Fair enough, but the updates on Spider-Man 4 have also disturbed the sleep of Marvel fans. Recently, fillm producer, film executive, and current chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, Tom Rothman’s comment on Spider-Man 4 and Venom 3 has left fans worried about the potential story arc of Holland’s upcoming movie.
Tom Rothman Commented On Spider-Man 4 And Venom 3
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Credit: Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures
It is hard to speculate what story arc Spider-Man 4 will follow after the multiversal banger in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
- 5/18/2024
- by Lachit Roy
- FandomWire
After much hemming and hawing and a little bit of teases about his appearance, Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy has been confirmed for Sony’s “28 Years Later” horror thriller.
Sony chief Tom Rothman revealed the news in a new interview with Deadline. “Yes [Murphy will return], but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way,” Rothman said.
Continue reading Cillian Murphy Confirmed For Danny Boyle’s ‘28 Years Later’ at The Playlist.
Sony chief Tom Rothman revealed the news in a new interview with Deadline. “Yes [Murphy will return], but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way,” Rothman said.
Continue reading Cillian Murphy Confirmed For Danny Boyle’s ‘28 Years Later’ at The Playlist.
- 5/17/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Spider-Man: No Way Home was Sony Pictures' biggest movie ever, grossing just shy of $2 billion at the worldwide box office. However, the studio has since delivered two critical and commercial flops with Morbius and Madame Web.
Talking to Deadline about Sony's upcoming slate of projects, Sony Motion Pictures Group Chairman Tom Rothman singled out Spider-Man 4, Venom: The Last Dance, and the undated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as three of their most must-see releases.
"I think a healthy slate going forward is not going to be one side of the divide or the other," he started. "It’s going to have a balance of big IP solid sequels. Let me tell you when the last of the Spider-Verse movies comes with Phil Lord and Chris Miller, it’s going to be a significant event, as will the next Tom Holland Spider-Man film."
"And when all the Karate Kid storylines...
Talking to Deadline about Sony's upcoming slate of projects, Sony Motion Pictures Group Chairman Tom Rothman singled out Spider-Man 4, Venom: The Last Dance, and the undated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as three of their most must-see releases.
"I think a healthy slate going forward is not going to be one side of the divide or the other," he started. "It’s going to have a balance of big IP solid sequels. Let me tell you when the last of the Spider-Verse movies comes with Phil Lord and Chris Miller, it’s going to be a significant event, as will the next Tom Holland Spider-Man film."
"And when all the Karate Kid storylines...
- 5/17/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Spider-Man: No Way Home was Sony Pictures' biggest movie ever, grossing just shy of $2 billion at the worldwide box office. However, the studio has since delivered two critical and commercial flops with Morbius and Madame Web.
Talking to Deadline about Sony's upcoming slate of projects, Sony Motion Pictures Group Chairman Tom Rothman singled out Spider-Man 4, Venom: The Last Dance, and the undated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as three of their most must-see releases.
"I think a healthy slate going forward is not going to be one side of the divide or the other," he started. "It’s going to have a balance of big IP solid sequels. Let me tell you when the last of the Spider-Verse movies comes with Phil Lord and Chris Miller, it’s going to be a significant event, as will the next Tom Holland Spider-Man film."
"And when all the Karate Kid storylines...
Talking to Deadline about Sony's upcoming slate of projects, Sony Motion Pictures Group Chairman Tom Rothman singled out Spider-Man 4, Venom: The Last Dance, and the undated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as three of their most must-see releases.
"I think a healthy slate going forward is not going to be one side of the divide or the other," he started. "It’s going to have a balance of big IP solid sequels. Let me tell you when the last of the Spider-Verse movies comes with Phil Lord and Chris Miller, it’s going to be a significant event, as will the next Tom Holland Spider-Man film."
"And when all the Karate Kid storylines...
- 5/17/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
28 Days Later director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland are finally reuniting to make a sequel to their zombie movie classic. As we reporter earlier this year, this sequel is set up at Sony, is going to be called 28 Years Later – and it may even launch a whole trilogy of 28 Days Later sequels. Last year, 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy said he’d gladly be in a sequel if it was made by Boyle and Garland, and when this project was announced, it was confirmed that Murphy is on board as an executive producer… but as months have gone by and Boyle has assembled the cast, it’s remained unclear whether or not Murphy will actually appear in the movie. Now Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman has told Deadline that Murphy is back for 28 Years Later, but he’s coming back in “a surprising way.
- 5/17/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
It's not that theaters are in danger of going away in the immediate future, but the movie business is in a bit of a crisis. Thanks to the pandemic, the box office has struggled to get back to the level of ticket sales the industry had become accustomed to. The SAG and WGA strikes last year have put us in a situation where the 2024 box office is in rough shape thus far, with the summer now burdened by unreasonable expectations. So, what can be done? One Hollywood executive believes he has the answer: Make the experience of going to the movies cheaper.
Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman recently sat down to speak with Deadline. As the head of one of Hollywood's biggest studios -- one that doesn't have a streaming service and is very reliant on box office -- he has a good vantage point to comment on these matters.
Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman recently sat down to speak with Deadline. As the head of one of Hollywood's biggest studios -- one that doesn't have a streaming service and is very reliant on box office -- he has a good vantage point to comment on these matters.
- 5/17/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Before "Oppenheimer" fever swept the globe, what was actor Cillian Murphy's best and most recognizable role? Some would point to the ever-popular "Peaky Blinders" and his delightfully Brummie performance as Tommy Shelby. Anyone who offered up his casting as a space-faring physicist in Danny Boyle's "Sunshine" or even his villainous turn in Wes Craven's "Red Eye" would earn my eternal respect. But for many of us, the quintessential zombie flick "28 Days Later" best showed off what Murphy had to offer back in 2002. With plans already in motion for a return visit to that post-apocalyptic world in the sequel "28 Years Later," we've waited with bated breath to see if Murphy himself would reprise his role.
That wait is now over. The talented actor is officially coming back for "28 Years Later," as confirmed by Sony Motion Pictures Group head honcho Tom Rothman in an interview with Deadline.
That wait is now over. The talented actor is officially coming back for "28 Years Later," as confirmed by Sony Motion Pictures Group head honcho Tom Rothman in an interview with Deadline.
- 5/17/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Cillian Murphy has been confirmed to return for 28 Years Later by Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman.
Speaking to Deadline, the movie executive said Murphy would be back for the first film in the zombie franchise’s new trilogy and vaguely teased the actor would be involved “in a surprising way and in a way that grows.”
Rothman also praised the film as director Danny Boyle “at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, like we had with Edgar Wright and Baby Driver.”
Further addressing 28 Years Later, Rothman emphasized the movie is “not in any way a literal sequel.”
Earlier this year, Murphy was similarly opaque about his potential role in 28 Years Later during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, simply saying, “Watch this space.”
Murphy starred in 2002’s 28 Days Later as a bicycle courier named Jim, who wakes up from a coma to find...
Speaking to Deadline, the movie executive said Murphy would be back for the first film in the zombie franchise’s new trilogy and vaguely teased the actor would be involved “in a surprising way and in a way that grows.”
Rothman also praised the film as director Danny Boyle “at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, like we had with Edgar Wright and Baby Driver.”
Further addressing 28 Years Later, Rothman emphasized the movie is “not in any way a literal sequel.”
Earlier this year, Murphy was similarly opaque about his potential role in 28 Years Later during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, simply saying, “Watch this space.”
Murphy starred in 2002’s 28 Days Later as a bicycle courier named Jim, who wakes up from a coma to find...
- 5/17/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Film News
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are reteaming for the long-awaited 28 Years Later horror sequel trilogy, with Cillian Murphy on board as executive producer. But will Murphy, who of course starred in 28 Days Later, be reprising his role? It sounds like the answer is a big Yes.
Speaking with Deadline this week, Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman was flat out asked if Cillian Murphy will be back to star, and his answer suggests that is indeed the plan.
“Yes,” Rothman answered, “but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way.”
He continued, speaking more generally about 28 Years Later, “This is Danny at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, like we had with Edgar Wright and Baby Driver. Sometimes when you put a real signature director into a commercial arena, it elevates it.”
Cillian Murphy played protagonist Jim in 28 Days Later...
Speaking with Deadline this week, Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman was flat out asked if Cillian Murphy will be back to star, and his answer suggests that is indeed the plan.
“Yes,” Rothman answered, “but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way.”
He continued, speaking more generally about 28 Years Later, “This is Danny at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, like we had with Edgar Wright and Baby Driver. Sometimes when you put a real signature director into a commercial arena, it elevates it.”
Cillian Murphy played protagonist Jim in 28 Days Later...
- 5/17/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Even though his traditionalist strategy made him an unlikely candidate, we included Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman in our 2022 Cannes Disruptors magazine. At a time when every other major prioritized the building of streaming services above all else because of the Netflix juggernaut, Rothman was invited to defend his model. The one that sustained studios forever, where turning movies into tangible culturally relevant entities through aggressive marketing would lead to big ancillary sales through Sony’s output deal with Netflix, the place everyone else had cut off. His argument that Wall Street would soon realize that subscriber growth was a false metric and that profit is the telltale indicator would soon come to roost as the shine came off streaming ventures that have costs rivals billions to build.
Rothman is in Cannes today to toast the 100th birthday of Columbia Pictures, and show a restored print of the 1946 Charles Vidor-directed Gilda,...
Rothman is in Cannes today to toast the 100th birthday of Columbia Pictures, and show a restored print of the 1946 Charles Vidor-directed Gilda,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
As Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios continue their search for a director to take over from Jon Watts on Spider-Man 4, a new rumor is claiming that both studios may be in agreement on a filmmaker to take the helm of the highly-anticipated No Way Home sequel.
According to MyTimeToShineHello, James Wan is one of the directors in the mix to helm the movie. Whether this means he's actually had discussions about boarding the project is not clear.
Wan has previously directed the likes of The Conjuring, Malignant, Insidious, and both Aquaman movies for Warner Bros.
The scooper is also claiming that Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, will make her debut in the movie.
Felicity Jones played Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, but never suited-up as her costumed alter-ego. Anne Hathaway - who played Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises - was all set to debut as an earlier...
According to MyTimeToShineHello, James Wan is one of the directors in the mix to helm the movie. Whether this means he's actually had discussions about boarding the project is not clear.
Wan has previously directed the likes of The Conjuring, Malignant, Insidious, and both Aquaman movies for Warner Bros.
The scooper is also claiming that Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, will make her debut in the movie.
Felicity Jones played Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, but never suited-up as her costumed alter-ego. Anne Hathaway - who played Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises - was all set to debut as an earlier...
- 5/9/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Sydney Sweeney is a marketing genius. That’s Glen Powell’s reasoning for how their rom-com “Anyone but You” went from anything but a success to a box-office and VOD hit.
“The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry. Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry,” Powell told the New York Times. “That’s people wanting what’s on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit — and it worked wonderfully. Sydney is very smart.”
Sweeney, who also executive produced the film through her Fifty-Fifty Films banner, was directly behind the “Anyone but You” marketing strategy. It included romantic pictures of her and Powell, longing looks on red carpets, and lots of flirting in interviews. And when Powell and his long-term girlfriend broke up, the rumors heated up.
“The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry. Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry,” Powell told the New York Times. “That’s people wanting what’s on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit — and it worked wonderfully. Sydney is very smart.”
Sweeney, who also executive produced the film through her Fifty-Fifty Films banner, was directly behind the “Anyone but You” marketing strategy. It included romantic pictures of her and Powell, longing looks on red carpets, and lots of flirting in interviews. And when Powell and his long-term girlfriend broke up, the rumors heated up.
- 4/23/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
"Office Space," Mike Judge's satirical take on white collar office culture, disappointed at the box office but soon became a cult favorite after it arrived in 1999. That was mostly thanks to home video sales and Comedy Central airing the film multiple times after its theatrical run. But "Office Space" thoroughly deserved whatever cult status it attained, because it always felt very much ahead of its time.
The film stars Ron Livingston as Peter Gibbons, a put-upon programmer who spends his days amid the bleakly oppressive environs of software company Initech. After being hypnotized to stop caring about his job, Peter takes a lackadaisical approach to work and surprisingly begins to climb his way up the corporate ladder. But when his colleagues Samir Nagheenanajar (Ajay Naidu) and Michael Bolton (David Herman) are fired, Peter and his friends mastermind a plan to steal money from Initech via a software virus. The...
The film stars Ron Livingston as Peter Gibbons, a put-upon programmer who spends his days amid the bleakly oppressive environs of software company Initech. After being hypnotized to stop caring about his job, Peter takes a lackadaisical approach to work and surprisingly begins to climb his way up the corporate ladder. But when his colleagues Samir Nagheenanajar (Ajay Naidu) and Michael Bolton (David Herman) are fired, Peter and his friends mastermind a plan to steal money from Initech via a software virus. The...
- 3/12/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Last week, it was revealed that American Beauty and Skyfall director Sam Mendes conceived and has signed on to take on the monumental task of telling the story of arguably the most popular rock band of all time, The Beatles. His epic concept was not to have just one biopic but to make four separate movies, with each film focusing on a member of the group. Not many details have been announced beyond that, but as Mendes pitched his idea to Hollywood, Sony Pictures would end up outbidding the other studios for the chance to release these movies.
The Hollywood Reporter now reveals that Sony head Tom Rothman is betting big on this project by releasing all four movies in the same year. Rothman told THR, “You have to match the boldness of the idea with a bold release strategy. There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and...
The Hollywood Reporter now reveals that Sony head Tom Rothman is betting big on this project by releasing all four movies in the same year. Rothman told THR, “You have to match the boldness of the idea with a bold release strategy. There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and...
- 2/28/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Days after Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love overperformed in its opening weekend at the box office, Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman stole a bit of the spotlight Feb. 20 in unveiling not one but four intersecting feature films from Sam Mendes about The Beatles, each focusing on one member of the Fab Four: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
“You have to match the boldness of the idea with a bold release strategy,” Rothman tells The Hollywood Reporter about the project that earned the Oscar-winning director a coveted signoff from the group’s selective label Apple Corps. “There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and you can’t think about it in traditional releasing terms.”
Sony hopes the films, which don’t yet have writers on board, will begin shooting in the U.K. in mid-2025 to make the planned 2027 release for all four titles,...
“You have to match the boldness of the idea with a bold release strategy,” Rothman tells The Hollywood Reporter about the project that earned the Oscar-winning director a coveted signoff from the group’s selective label Apple Corps. “There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and you can’t think about it in traditional releasing terms.”
Sony hopes the films, which don’t yet have writers on board, will begin shooting in the U.K. in mid-2025 to make the planned 2027 release for all four titles,...
- 2/28/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A new report claims Marvel and Sony have reached a compromise by adding Miles Morales to the upcoming Spider-Man 4 film starring Tom Holland. This rumor immediately electrified fans who have long-awaited the web-slinger’s live-action debut. But could Morale’s’ MCU introduction hint at lingering tensions between the Hollywood studios? And how might his presence reshape plans for Spider-Man 4?
Why Are Fans So Thrilled About Potential Miles Morales MCU Casting?
Miles Morales in the Be Yourself PlayStation’s Spider-Man commercial
Ever since Miles Morales burst onto the scene in Marvel Comics in 2011, fans have dreamed of seeing the Afro-Latino teen on the big screen alongside Peter Parker. Miles brings much-needed representation as Spider-Man while offering a fresh coming-of-age perspective.
The character grew exponentially in popularity after 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced Miles as lead Spider-Man. So calls for his MCU debut alongside Tom Holland’s Peter...
Why Are Fans So Thrilled About Potential Miles Morales MCU Casting?
Miles Morales in the Be Yourself PlayStation’s Spider-Man commercial
Ever since Miles Morales burst onto the scene in Marvel Comics in 2011, fans have dreamed of seeing the Afro-Latino teen on the big screen alongside Peter Parker. Miles brings much-needed representation as Spider-Man while offering a fresh coming-of-age perspective.
The character grew exponentially in popularity after 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced Miles as lead Spider-Man. So calls for his MCU debut alongside Tom Holland’s Peter...
- 2/27/2024
- by Nivedita Dubey
- FandomWire
Marvel and Sony are butting heads on the upcoming Spider-Man 4 movie and it’s not at all good news for fans of Tom Holland’s web-slinger. Kevin Feige-led Marvel and Tom Rothman-led Sony are divided on the creative direction, the release date, and the director of the movie. Both Marvel fans and Feige do not want the Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts to direct the next film and they have a clear reason why.
Marvel fans do not want Spider-Man: No Way Home director returning for Spider-Man 4
Marvel Studios is considering Netflix’s Daredevil creator Drew Goddard to direct Spider-Man 4. The studio also does not want the film to be released next year alongside plenty of other planned MCU movies, which is something Sony reportedly opposes.
No Way Home Director Returning For Spider-Man 4 Is Bad News For Marvel Jon Watts along with...
Marvel fans do not want Spider-Man: No Way Home director returning for Spider-Man 4
Marvel Studios is considering Netflix’s Daredevil creator Drew Goddard to direct Spider-Man 4. The studio also does not want the film to be released next year alongside plenty of other planned MCU movies, which is something Sony reportedly opposes.
No Way Home Director Returning For Spider-Man 4 Is Bad News For Marvel Jon Watts along with...
- 2/21/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Sam Mendes has teamed with Sony Pictures Entertainment for The Beatles, four theatrical films about the British supergroup, each from the perspective of a different band member.
The project, coming more than 50 years after The Beatles broke up and 40 years after the death of John Lennon, will see Apple Corps (the company founded by the band members) and The Beatles — Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of Lennon and George Harrison — offer up each of the Fab Four’s full life stories and music rights for a scripted film. Mendes will direct the four theatrical feature films to recapture the story of the greatest band in history.
Music films have proven to be resilient at the box office. Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love over-performed last week, while Taylor Swift’s $15 million concert film The Eras Tour outgrossed a number of Hollywood tentpoles, with $261 million globally last year. A...
The project, coming more than 50 years after The Beatles broke up and 40 years after the death of John Lennon, will see Apple Corps (the company founded by the band members) and The Beatles — Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of Lennon and George Harrison — offer up each of the Fab Four’s full life stories and music rights for a scripted film. Mendes will direct the four theatrical feature films to recapture the story of the greatest band in history.
Music films have proven to be resilient at the box office. Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love over-performed last week, while Taylor Swift’s $15 million concert film The Eras Tour outgrossed a number of Hollywood tentpoles, with $261 million globally last year. A...
- 2/20/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
John, Paul, George and Ringo will each be the subject of a different upcoming feature film.
Director Sam Mendes plans to make four separate movies, one from each Beatles member’s point of view. They will intersect to “tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history,” leading up to their 1970 breakup, according to a press release. Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison have granted full life story and music rights for the scripted films.
“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” Mendes, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker of “American Beauty,” war drama “1917” and James Bond films “Skyfall” and “Spectre,” said in a statement.
Sony Pictures Entertainment will finance and distribute all four films theatrically in 2027. Details about...
Director Sam Mendes plans to make four separate movies, one from each Beatles member’s point of view. They will intersect to “tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history,” leading up to their 1970 breakup, according to a press release. Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison have granted full life story and music rights for the scripted films.
“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” Mendes, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker of “American Beauty,” war drama “1917” and James Bond films “Skyfall” and “Spectre,” said in a statement.
Sony Pictures Entertainment will finance and distribute all four films theatrically in 2027. Details about...
- 2/20/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Tom Holland became a household name thanks to his portrayal of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter Parker, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Following in the web-slinging footsteps of Andrew Garfield, Holland made his debut in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. He then went on to star in his own Spider-Man trilogy – Homecoming, Far From Home, and the record-breaking No Way Home – becoming the youngest actor to ever play the iconic hero on the big screen.
Tom Holland in Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home
Amidst major announcements for Deadpool and the Fantastic Four, there’s speculation that a Spider-Man update might be in the works. However, when it comes to deciding who will lead the highly anticipated film, it appears that Sony Chief Tom Rothman and Marvel Studio President Kevin Feige have differing opinions.
SUGGESTEDSpider-Man 4 Rumors: Main Villain and Tom Holland’s Spidey Suit Details Will Have You Hyped...
Tom Holland in Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home
Amidst major announcements for Deadpool and the Fantastic Four, there’s speculation that a Spider-Man update might be in the works. However, when it comes to deciding who will lead the highly anticipated film, it appears that Sony Chief Tom Rothman and Marvel Studio President Kevin Feige have differing opinions.
SUGGESTEDSpider-Man 4 Rumors: Main Villain and Tom Holland’s Spidey Suit Details Will Have You Hyped...
- 2/20/2024
- by Prantik Prabal Roy
- FandomWire
The trailer buzz was worrisome, advance ticket sales anemic. Then last week, the critic reviews for Madame Web were posted, and they stung deepest of all — Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff received the lowest average Rotten Tomatoes score (13 percent) of any major superhero film in nearly a decade.
“On Wednesday night, you could actually watch advance purchase sales declining in real time as buyers were refunding their tickets,” marvels a major theatrical chain executive. “It really says something when you’d rather have Shazam! 2 numbers.”
It marked one of the lowest starts in Hollywood history for a film based on a Marvel character. Domestic box office for the first six days in North America was just $26.2 million after opening midweek on Valentine’s Day. International tallied $25.7 million from 61 markets. Even the fan-friendly CinemaScore grade was poor (C+ — extremely low for a superhero title).
Like DC and the once-unstoppable Marvel, Sony is...
“On Wednesday night, you could actually watch advance purchase sales declining in real time as buyers were refunding their tickets,” marvels a major theatrical chain executive. “It really says something when you’d rather have Shazam! 2 numbers.”
It marked one of the lowest starts in Hollywood history for a film based on a Marvel character. Domestic box office for the first six days in North America was just $26.2 million after opening midweek on Valentine’s Day. International tallied $25.7 million from 61 markets. Even the fan-friendly CinemaScore grade was poor (C+ — extremely low for a superhero title).
Like DC and the once-unstoppable Marvel, Sony is...
- 2/19/2024
- by Pamela McClintock and James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
28 Years Later, the hot package from director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, has landed at Sony.
The Culver City-based studio has come out on top after a protracted bidding war to win the rights to the sequel package to the 2002 horror classic 28 Days Later.
Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland have reunited to write and direct the sequel, which also comes with a Part 2, to be written by Garland. Boyle would only direct the first project, with the sequel’s director to be determined at a later stage. Cillian Murphy, whose career was launched thanks to the original movie, is also returning as an executive producer. The Oppenheimer star could also possibly act in the project, although details are being quarantined.
WME, which reps Boyle and Garland, took the package out to the Hollywood studios and streamers almost three weeks ago, generating immediate interest and intense wooing.
The Culver City-based studio has come out on top after a protracted bidding war to win the rights to the sequel package to the 2002 horror classic 28 Days Later.
Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland have reunited to write and direct the sequel, which also comes with a Part 2, to be written by Garland. Boyle would only direct the first project, with the sequel’s director to be determined at a later stage. Cillian Murphy, whose career was launched thanks to the original movie, is also returning as an executive producer. The Oppenheimer star could also possibly act in the project, although details are being quarantined.
WME, which reps Boyle and Garland, took the package out to the Hollywood studios and streamers almost three weeks ago, generating immediate interest and intense wooing.
- 1/31/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In this new era of their music, Lawrence Rothman just wants to be real. On Wednesday, the musician released their single “Poster Child,” co-written with Jason Isbell, and announced their upcoming album, The Plow That Broke the Plains on April 26.
“The Plow That Broke the Plains is me not hiding behind any persona or mask and just being myself and putting that uncensored self into the words and recordings no matter how painful the confrontation was,” Rothman said in a press statement about the LP.
On “Poster Child,” Rothman stays...
“The Plow That Broke the Plains is me not hiding behind any persona or mask and just being myself and putting that uncensored self into the words and recordings no matter how painful the confrontation was,” Rothman said in a press statement about the LP.
On “Poster Child,” Rothman stays...
- 1/25/2024
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
“The first time I came to this studio was 1940 when my father brought me here to show me the stage, and I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I thought, ‘Some day this will all be mine!’ It’s finally come to be – it’s only taken me 92 years to get here!” That’s what five-time Oscar winner and 53-time nominee John Williams said as the curtain was raised on the iconic Sony Pictures Entertainment lot’s newly renamed John Williams Music Building.
Joining in the celebration — and it was a celebration — were Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman, Spe Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra (who made opening remarks), filmmaker J.J. Abrams and of course, Williams’ longtime collaborator Steven Spielberg, who instigated the idea of putting the legendary composer’s name on the building where they have worked on 20 or their 29 films, as Spielberg noted.
Rothman...
Joining in the celebration — and it was a celebration — were Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman, Spe Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra (who made opening remarks), filmmaker J.J. Abrams and of course, Williams’ longtime collaborator Steven Spielberg, who instigated the idea of putting the legendary composer’s name on the building where they have worked on 20 or their 29 films, as Spielberg noted.
Rothman...
- 1/18/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
On Thursday afternoon, the history-filled Sony lot in Culver City — which was the MGM lot during Hollywood’s Golden Age, home to “more stars than there are in heaven” — welcomed film composer John Williams, after whom the studio’s musical building was being renamed.
Williams, 91, who is best known for the scores of Star Wars and 29 Steven Spielberg films — 20 of which were scored in the structure that will henceforth be known as the John Williams Music Building — was on hand, as were many of his collaborators (Spielberg, J.J. Abrams and Spielberg’s producers Frank Marshall and Kristie Macosko Krieger) and colleagues (including fellow film composer Thomas Newman).
Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra kicked off the festivities by noting how much “magic was made right here in this building.” Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman then argued that the greatest of all time in many fields is debatable,...
Williams, 91, who is best known for the scores of Star Wars and 29 Steven Spielberg films — 20 of which were scored in the structure that will henceforth be known as the John Williams Music Building — was on hand, as were many of his collaborators (Spielberg, J.J. Abrams and Spielberg’s producers Frank Marshall and Kristie Macosko Krieger) and colleagues (including fellow film composer Thomas Newman).
Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra kicked off the festivities by noting how much “magic was made right here in this building.” Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman then argued that the greatest of all time in many fields is debatable,...
- 1/18/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Forest Whitaker has signed on to star in John Wells’ “Emperor of Ocean Park” series set at MGM+. He joins previously announced cast members Grantham Coleman (“Lawman: Bass Reeves”), Tiffany Mack (“Jessica Jones”), and Paulina Lule (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”).
He’ll play Judge Oliver Garland, a notable name in national politics and the judicial system as well as the leader of his family. “He is stern, intelligent, calculating, and proud. As a Black man in America, navigating unwelcoming and often hostile environments, he has formed a hard exterior—that he’s come to rely on as a shield. He is a devoted father whose commitment to his family simultaneously bolsters and undercuts his deeply and rigidly held conservative principles,” reads the description.
“I’m excited to be playing Judge Oliver Garland, and thank John Wells, Sherman Payne, and Michael Wright for this opportunity to join the cast and crew of Emperor of Ocean Park,...
He’ll play Judge Oliver Garland, a notable name in national politics and the judicial system as well as the leader of his family. “He is stern, intelligent, calculating, and proud. As a Black man in America, navigating unwelcoming and often hostile environments, he has formed a hard exterior—that he’s come to rely on as a shield. He is a devoted father whose commitment to his family simultaneously bolsters and undercuts his deeply and rigidly held conservative principles,” reads the description.
“I’m excited to be playing Judge Oliver Garland, and thank John Wells, Sherman Payne, and Michael Wright for this opportunity to join the cast and crew of Emperor of Ocean Park,...
- 1/17/2024
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Fox has given a script commitment to Elfquest, a one-hour animated drama series based on the epic fantasy adventure comic series created by Wendy and Richard Pini, from Rodney Rothman and Adam Rosenberg’s Modern Magic. Susan Hurwitz Arneson (The Last Amazon) will pen the series adaptation and serve as showrunner and executive producer.
Created in 1978, Elfquest, published by Dark Horse Comics, is a fantasy story about a community of elves and other fictional species who struggle to survive and coexist on a primitive Earth-like planet with two moons.
Rothman and Rosenberg will executive produce for Modern Magic, along with Arneson and Wendy and Richard Pini. Bento Box Entertainment is the studio.
“ElfQuest couldn’t be in better hands,” said Wendy and Richard Pini in a statement to Deadline. “Our collaborators trust the story. We have the highest regard for their previous achievements, and they have our blessing and input.
Created in 1978, Elfquest, published by Dark Horse Comics, is a fantasy story about a community of elves and other fictional species who struggle to survive and coexist on a primitive Earth-like planet with two moons.
Rothman and Rosenberg will executive produce for Modern Magic, along with Arneson and Wendy and Richard Pini. Bento Box Entertainment is the studio.
“ElfQuest couldn’t be in better hands,” said Wendy and Richard Pini in a statement to Deadline. “Our collaborators trust the story. We have the highest regard for their previous achievements, and they have our blessing and input.
- 1/11/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Sony Motion Picture Group Chairman has a few things to celebrate this weekend: Between the studio’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the studio’s R-rated comedy No Hard Feelings, the studio counts four Golden Globe noms. But then there’s Sony movie, Anyone But You, which reps a return for romantic comedies to the big screen; that Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell title saw a 9% jump in its third weekend at the B.O. which is unprecedented for any title in the post-holiday season.
To date, Anyone But You has posted a 7x multiple off its 3-day domestic $6M opening for a gross to date of $43.7M. Worldwide, the $25M production, co-financed by Sk Global Entertainment and Tsg Entertainment, has racked up $58.4M.
“The movie went up this weekend, and every other movie went down,” beamed Rothman on the Golden Globes red carpet at the Beverly Hilton.
For quite some time,...
To date, Anyone But You has posted a 7x multiple off its 3-day domestic $6M opening for a gross to date of $43.7M. Worldwide, the $25M production, co-financed by Sk Global Entertainment and Tsg Entertainment, has racked up $58.4M.
“The movie went up this weekend, and every other movie went down,” beamed Rothman on the Golden Globes red carpet at the Beverly Hilton.
For quite some time,...
- 1/8/2024
- by Antonia Blyth and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Lew Rothman, the veteran entertainment executive who held roles at The Weinstein Co. and Strategy PR, died unexpectedly Dec. 22 at his home in East Hampton, New York. He was 63.
Rothman was known for his humor and for having an eye on the ways Hollywood and technology could complement each other. In the 1990s, he and his wife, Serina Mayer, formed the new media consultancy Vibemaster as a way to build closer relationships between entertainment and technology companies.
He also helped develop Castnet, the first online commercial casting company, and went on to serve as Cto for Atomic Pop, considered the first online record label. It was founded by his wife and veteran record exec Al Teller.
In 2006, he joined The Weinstein Co. as Cto, moving with his family from the West Coast to his native New York. He served in the role for more than 10 years.
Rothman joined Strategy PR/Consulting...
Rothman was known for his humor and for having an eye on the ways Hollywood and technology could complement each other. In the 1990s, he and his wife, Serina Mayer, formed the new media consultancy Vibemaster as a way to build closer relationships between entertainment and technology companies.
He also helped develop Castnet, the first online commercial casting company, and went on to serve as Cto for Atomic Pop, considered the first online record label. It was founded by his wife and veteran record exec Al Teller.
In 2006, he joined The Weinstein Co. as Cto, moving with his family from the West Coast to his native New York. He served in the role for more than 10 years.
Rothman joined Strategy PR/Consulting...
- 12/29/2023
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lewis “Lew” Rothman, an entertainment executive who held top jobs at the Weinstein Company and Strategy PR, died suddenly at his home in East Hampton on Dec. 22. He was 63.
Rothman is remembered for his smarts, honesty, humor, colorful language, movie star looks and an attitude and accent that betrayed his Queens roots. Beginning in 2006, Rothman served as chief technology officer at the Weinstein Company, the indie studio behind “The King’s Speech” and “The Artist.” He worked there for a decade and later moved to Strategy, one of the preeminent awards consultancy firms, in 2016. In the early 1990s, Rothman and his wife, Serina Mayer, started a new media consultancy, Vibemaster, Inc., which worked to develop ties and expand business opportunities between entertainment and technology companies. He was instrumental in developing the first online commercial casting company, Castnet, and later served as the chief technology officer for Atomic Pop, the first online record label.
Rothman is remembered for his smarts, honesty, humor, colorful language, movie star looks and an attitude and accent that betrayed his Queens roots. Beginning in 2006, Rothman served as chief technology officer at the Weinstein Company, the indie studio behind “The King’s Speech” and “The Artist.” He worked there for a decade and later moved to Strategy, one of the preeminent awards consultancy firms, in 2016. In the early 1990s, Rothman and his wife, Serina Mayer, started a new media consultancy, Vibemaster, Inc., which worked to develop ties and expand business opportunities between entertainment and technology companies. He was instrumental in developing the first online commercial casting company, Castnet, and later served as the chief technology officer for Atomic Pop, the first online record label.
- 12/29/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The next big thing in Hollywood was created by a middle school teacher from Texas. To his fans, he’s Uncle Rick.
In the crowd of a Los Angeles theater, where Uncle Rick has stopped on his most recent book tour, two teenage sisters gush that they drove for nearly two hours to make it here tonight — longer, when you account for parking — but it was worth it. Like Percy Jackson, the character that made Uncle Rick famous, the older sister has Adhd, while the younger sister never liked reading. And Percy also landed in Los Angeles on his very first quest. So by the logic set out in Uncle Rick’s books, these girls were born to be heroes.
“Here’s what I think is gonna happen,” the 15-year-old whispers. “He’s gonna pull me out of the audience and say, ‘I want you in my show.’” Her sister...
In the crowd of a Los Angeles theater, where Uncle Rick has stopped on his most recent book tour, two teenage sisters gush that they drove for nearly two hours to make it here tonight — longer, when you account for parking — but it was worth it. Like Percy Jackson, the character that made Uncle Rick famous, the older sister has Adhd, while the younger sister never liked reading. And Percy also landed in Los Angeles on his very first quest. So by the logic set out in Uncle Rick’s books, these girls were born to be heroes.
“Here’s what I think is gonna happen,” the 15-year-old whispers. “He’s gonna pull me out of the audience and say, ‘I want you in my show.’” Her sister...
- 10/18/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Though she’d dreamed of owning a Spanish Revival home, there was something about the boxy, modern house that Anonymous Content manager Meredith Rothman couldn’t shake. Maybe it was the floor-to-ceiling windows. Or the abundance of natural light. Or the fact that it was tucked neatly into a canyon in Beverly Hills, conjuring up memories of her childhood home in Bel Air. Rothman asked interior designer Lauren Waters for her thoughts. “I assured her it was a wonderful blank canvas for intriguing furniture and great art,” says Waters.
That advice sealed the deal for Rothman, who tasked Waters with transforming the 2,500-square-foot spec house into a home that would serve as space to unwind, enable her to host the occasional soiree and showcase her burgeoning art collection, which includes works by Analia Saban and John Baldessari, as well as a charcoal drawing by her grandmother Luddie Waters, who was...
That advice sealed the deal for Rothman, who tasked Waters with transforming the 2,500-square-foot spec house into a home that would serve as space to unwind, enable her to host the occasional soiree and showcase her burgeoning art collection, which includes works by Analia Saban and John Baldessari, as well as a charcoal drawing by her grandmother Luddie Waters, who was...
- 10/14/2023
- by Abigail Stone
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A few of the industry heavyweights who cast ballots to help determine The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the 100 greatest film books of all time agreed to share a few words with THR about a film book that they especially treasure.
Below, you can read actor Alec Baldwin gush about his “favorite show business memoir,” marketing exec Terry Press explain why she owns three copies of “the only book dedicated to one of the most iconic screen teams,” studio chief Tom Rothman reveal which how-to book he gives to every young executive who comes to work for him and actor Robert Wagner on the biography of an oft-caricatured golden age studio mogul that actually captures the “vulnerable human being” who met some 70 years ago.
Alec Baldwin on By Myself, by Lauren Bacall By Myself
“I had always admired Lauren Bacall as an actress throughout her career, beginning as a young...
Below, you can read actor Alec Baldwin gush about his “favorite show business memoir,” marketing exec Terry Press explain why she owns three copies of “the only book dedicated to one of the most iconic screen teams,” studio chief Tom Rothman reveal which how-to book he gives to every young executive who comes to work for him and actor Robert Wagner on the biography of an oft-caricatured golden age studio mogul that actually captures the “vulnerable human being” who met some 70 years ago.
Alec Baldwin on By Myself, by Lauren Bacall By Myself
“I had always admired Lauren Bacall as an actress throughout her career, beginning as a young...
- 10/12/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Second Stage Theater founder Carole Rothman is leaving the company after more than 45 years at its helm.
Rothman founded Second Stage in 1979, with the mission of developing and producing works by living American playwrights. The theater company operates the Tony Kiser Theater Off-Broadway and the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway and has produced prominent shows such as the pre-Broadway production of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt; Between Riverside and Crazy by Stephen Adly Guirgis and the Broadway revival of Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out.
Rothman will depart the organization at the end of the 2023-2024 Broadway season, which will see the world premiere of Paula Vogel’s Mother Play, starring Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jessica Lange and Jim Parsons and Appropriate, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and starring Sarah Paulson.
“For 45 years, I have had the great honor of working...
Rothman founded Second Stage in 1979, with the mission of developing and producing works by living American playwrights. The theater company operates the Tony Kiser Theater Off-Broadway and the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway and has produced prominent shows such as the pre-Broadway production of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt; Between Riverside and Crazy by Stephen Adly Guirgis and the Broadway revival of Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out.
Rothman will depart the organization at the end of the 2023-2024 Broadway season, which will see the world premiere of Paula Vogel’s Mother Play, starring Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jessica Lange and Jim Parsons and Appropriate, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and starring Sarah Paulson.
“For 45 years, I have had the great honor of working...
- 9/20/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Carole Rothman, co-founder of the renowned New York theater company Second Stage responsible for such acclaimed productions as Dear Evan Hansen, Next To Normal, This Is Our Youth and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, is leaving the company she started in 1979.
“For 45 years, I have had the great honor of working with countless incredible artists and playwrights, many at the beginning of their careers, who are now among the brightest stars in the industry,” said Rothman in a statement. “The shows we have brought to life have been award-winners, conversation-starters, and groundbreakers. I’m forever grateful to all the people who have helped make Second Stage the creative springboard it is today. I’m so proud of what we have accomplished together.”
Rothman’s announcement did not state a specific reason for her departure or her immediate plans.
Since its founding by Rothman and Robyn Goodman (who left...
“For 45 years, I have had the great honor of working with countless incredible artists and playwrights, many at the beginning of their careers, who are now among the brightest stars in the industry,” said Rothman in a statement. “The shows we have brought to life have been award-winners, conversation-starters, and groundbreakers. I’m forever grateful to all the people who have helped make Second Stage the creative springboard it is today. I’m so proud of what we have accomplished together.”
Rothman’s announcement did not state a specific reason for her departure or her immediate plans.
Since its founding by Rothman and Robyn Goodman (who left...
- 9/20/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Sony film division Screen Gems, best known for its lower-budgeted genre and comedy fare, is getting a shake-up.
Steve Bersch, the division’s president, is stepping down and retiring after a 16-year stint at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Scott Strauss, executive vp of production and development, is taking the moment to exit as well.
Sony Motion Picture Group chair Tom Rothman made the announcement in an email Friday, writing, “Despite my best efforts to persuade him otherwise, Steve Bersch has decided to step down from his role as President, Screen Gems, when his contract ends on December 1st. After nearly 16 years of distinguished service to Spe, and decades more in the business overall, Steve wants to pursue other life adventures – the lucky son of a gun!”
It is unclear who will be named to lead the division or if it will be merged with Sony’s other film divisions.
Bersch joined...
Steve Bersch, the division’s president, is stepping down and retiring after a 16-year stint at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Scott Strauss, executive vp of production and development, is taking the moment to exit as well.
Sony Motion Picture Group chair Tom Rothman made the announcement in an email Friday, writing, “Despite my best efforts to persuade him otherwise, Steve Bersch has decided to step down from his role as President, Screen Gems, when his contract ends on December 1st. After nearly 16 years of distinguished service to Spe, and decades more in the business overall, Steve wants to pursue other life adventures – the lucky son of a gun!”
It is unclear who will be named to lead the division or if it will be merged with Sony’s other film divisions.
Bersch joined...
- 9/15/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: After nearly 16 years on the Culver City, CA lot, Steve Bersch, President of Screen Gems, is departing Sony when his contract ends on Dec. 1.
We understand it’s a very amicable exit, and that the executive, who is going out on a high note with the highest grossing horror movie of the year, Insidious: The Red Door ($188.5M), is eyeing other pursuits after a long career in the motion picture business. As Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group CEO and Chairman Tom Rothman says in his note to staff below, he tried to convince Bersch to stay.
Deadline also understands that Scott Strauss, EVP of Production for Screen Gems, will also be exiting when Bersch departs.
That box office result for Insidious: Red Door also repped the record for the $730M grossing franchise, one which Bersch has been with since Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group bought North American rights...
We understand it’s a very amicable exit, and that the executive, who is going out on a high note with the highest grossing horror movie of the year, Insidious: The Red Door ($188.5M), is eyeing other pursuits after a long career in the motion picture business. As Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group CEO and Chairman Tom Rothman says in his note to staff below, he tried to convince Bersch to stay.
Deadline also understands that Scott Strauss, EVP of Production for Screen Gems, will also be exiting when Bersch departs.
That box office result for Insidious: Red Door also repped the record for the $730M grossing franchise, one which Bersch has been with since Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group bought North American rights...
- 9/15/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Zahn McClarnon has justifiably garnered attention in recent years for his lead performance as Joe Leaphorn in AMC’s limited series Dark Winds. Leaphorn, a lieutenant in the Tribal Police in the Navajo Nation of Arizona, is suddenly besieged by a series of seemingly unrelated crimes within his community. As he gets closer to the truth of these cases, his own beliefs are challenged, bonds between colleagues are tested, and Joe has to dig up some painful memories from his own past.
Yet before McClarnon donned Joe’s badge and cowboy hat, he wore many other hats over his nearly 45 year career. The actor has a fairly prolific filmography as a voice over artist, he has played men on both sides of the law, and as you can imagine, as an actor of Lakota descent, has played his share of First Nations characters. Yet, when his more recent roles are carefully considered,...
Yet before McClarnon donned Joe’s badge and cowboy hat, he wore many other hats over his nearly 45 year career. The actor has a fairly prolific filmography as a voice over artist, he has played men on both sides of the law, and as you can imagine, as an actor of Lakota descent, has played his share of First Nations characters. Yet, when his more recent roles are carefully considered,...
- 9/5/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
It’s showtime! Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jerry Buss and the rest of the Lakers squad is back for a second season of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”
Viewers got to get a glimpse into executive producer Adam McKay’s portrayal of the Lakers golden era and the drama that came with it. This time around fans will get to see even more of the Lakers legacy. Newcomers are stepping onto the court as guest stars, including Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis, Jay Davis as Byron Scott, Quentin Shropshire as James Worthy, Matthew Barnes as Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Reynolds as Robert Parish, Andrew Stephens as Kevin McHale and Larry C. Fields III as Eddie Jordan.
The show announced on Aug. 24, 2022 that it started production, and it’s making its return on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and will also be available to stream on Max.
Viewers got to get a glimpse into executive producer Adam McKay’s portrayal of the Lakers golden era and the drama that came with it. This time around fans will get to see even more of the Lakers legacy. Newcomers are stepping onto the court as guest stars, including Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis, Jay Davis as Byron Scott, Quentin Shropshire as James Worthy, Matthew Barnes as Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Reynolds as Robert Parish, Andrew Stephens as Kevin McHale and Larry C. Fields III as Eddie Jordan.
The show announced on Aug. 24, 2022 that it started production, and it’s making its return on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and will also be available to stream on Max.
- 8/5/2023
- by Raquel "Rocky" Harris
- The Wrap
Will Smith needed some convincing to take on “Men in Black” and, with it, back to back extraterrestrial movies.
The Oscar winner revealed during Kevin Hart’s “Heart to Hart” Peacock talk show (via Insider) that he was hesitant to star in the 1997 film alongside Tommy Lee Jones right after “Independence Day.” It was “Men in Black” producer Steven Spielberg who later sealed the deal for Smith.
“I kind of understood ‘Men in Black’ a little bit but I didn’t want to make ‘Men in Black,'” Smith said. “That was the next year after ‘Independence Day.’ So I didn’t want to make two alien movies back to back.”
Amblin producer Spielberg contacted Smith directly and sent a helicopter to talk with him face-to-face.
“I was in New York. It landed at his house. And, like, he had me at hello,” the “King Richard” star said. “And it...
The Oscar winner revealed during Kevin Hart’s “Heart to Hart” Peacock talk show (via Insider) that he was hesitant to star in the 1997 film alongside Tommy Lee Jones right after “Independence Day.” It was “Men in Black” producer Steven Spielberg who later sealed the deal for Smith.
“I kind of understood ‘Men in Black’ a little bit but I didn’t want to make ‘Men in Black,'” Smith said. “That was the next year after ‘Independence Day.’ So I didn’t want to make two alien movies back to back.”
Amblin producer Spielberg contacted Smith directly and sent a helicopter to talk with him face-to-face.
“I was in New York. It landed at his house. And, like, he had me at hello,” the “King Richard” star said. “And it...
- 8/3/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
As the Writers Guild of America strike nears its second complete month, many continue to weigh in on the issues that pervade it, including the use of artificial intelligence in the writers room. And it’s not just writers and casual observers, but studio bigwigs. Now, Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO, is admitting that AI can be scary but may not be worth labeling a true threat.
Speaking with IndieWire on their Screen Talk podcast, Rothman said, “A lot of the panic about this is overwrought…I don’t believe that AI can replace creative genius.” Still, he admitted, “I believe AI is scary as shit. For a period of a time in my life, I was working on a movie with Steven Spielberg called Robopocalypse. Trust me, bad sh*t can happen. You seriously think a computer can’t figure out the nuclear codes?...
Speaking with IndieWire on their Screen Talk podcast, Rothman said, “A lot of the panic about this is overwrought…I don’t believe that AI can replace creative genius.” Still, he admitted, “I believe AI is scary as shit. For a period of a time in my life, I was working on a movie with Steven Spielberg called Robopocalypse. Trust me, bad sh*t can happen. You seriously think a computer can’t figure out the nuclear codes?...
- 6/25/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Sony studio head Tom Rothman made a rare stop along the press line at the May 30 premiere of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, where he told The Hollywood Reporter that when it comes to the WGA, he is, “Always hopeful, and that’s all you can do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. Certainly, everybody would like to see a resolution, it would be the best for all involved.”
Rothman said Sony’s productions have not been derailed — though development has been — and when it comes to the other guilds, like SAG, he has similar hope it will be resolved before a strike hits. “I’m always hopeful, in my job you need to be hopeful,” he added, and when pressed for thoughts on hot-button issues like AI, remained tight-lipped, saying, “I’m not smart enough to know.”
One other thing that Rothman is hopeful about: landing...
Rothman said Sony’s productions have not been derailed — though development has been — and when it comes to the other guilds, like SAG, he has similar hope it will be resolved before a strike hits. “I’m always hopeful, in my job you need to be hopeful,” he added, and when pressed for thoughts on hot-button issues like AI, remained tight-lipped, saying, “I’m not smart enough to know.”
One other thing that Rothman is hopeful about: landing...
- 6/10/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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