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Yahoo
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- Entertainment
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Charles Roven Reflects On Career & Collaborations, Says ‘Road House 2' Likely Starting In September
Veteran producer Charles Roven was here in Taormina this week to pick up an Achievement Award from the festival ahead of a special screening of Zack Snyder's Man of Steel which had originally played the event a dozen years ago. Roven, whose long list of credits also includes Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and the filmmaker's Oscar winning 2023 Oppenheimer, as well as Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman, Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys and David O. Russell's American Hustle, got his producing start with Shirley Muldowney biopic Heart Like a Wheel in 1983 and tells us about that experience below in a quick-take reflection on a decades-spanning career, and shares insight into the state of the business. More from Deadline Da'Vine Joy Randolph On Emerging Industry "Sisterhood" & Power Of Sharing Info On Salary Talks - Taormina Michael Douglas, In Taormina To Receive Career Honor, Apologizes For U.S. Role In Ongoing Global Conflicts: "This Is The Worst Time That I Can Ever Remember" 'Thena': First Look At Peter Gold's Gritty Debut Ahead Of Taormina Premiere Next up on Roven's producing slate is Chris Pratt-starrer Mercy, due in January 2026 via MGM, and Guy Ritchie's Road House 2 with Jake Gyllenhaal which Roven said, 'should be starting in September.' (The Q&A below has been edited and condensed for clarity.) Oppenheimer CHARLES ROVEN: I've had a lot of people tell me that. It fills me with a lot of joy to have been part of making that movie and seeing it come to fruition… From beginning to end, my involvement with that movie was like it was just meant to be. ROVEN: I'm interested to see what James (Gunn) does. I've known James for a long time. We started working together on the live action Scooby Doo movies. He's a very talented man, and I know he's in the process of trying to reboot the DC Universe to his own vision. And you know, the truth is going to be in the pudding pretty soon (when Gunn's Superman releases next month). I wish him the best, and I wish Warner Bros the best. I've done many movies with them. It'll be interesting to see what happens when they break the company apart. DEADLINE: Were you surprised by the news earlier this week that Warner Bros Discovery will split into two entities. ROVEN: Not really, because I've known for a while, just tracking the business, that the cable companies, while they have a certain level of value… they do some content creation, but not a lot of content creation. They have a lot of revenue that's generated by, you know, the downstream of those, of other things that are created for HBO Max or Warner Bros, or that ultimately come to them. So it may be a good thing. DEADLINE: How are you feeling about the theatrical business in general these days? ROVEN: I've seen theatrical ebb and flow, really, over the course of, I think I came into the business, I put the shingle up 'producer,' like in the 70s. The theatrical business was not doing well then, and they were just suffering from big losses on big tentpoles that didn't make any money. And then they started making some, what you would call today an independent movie, and the business came back. And then, of course home entertainment… But then, boom, the theatrical business came back. And then we had COVID, which really hurt the theatrical business — maybe more than that disease needed to because, to be honest, I never heard of anybody getting COVID in a movie theater… So I'm glad that at least, in '23 Barbenheimer helped the business, and I'm really glad to see that now in '25 after a rocky start, there's a lot of box office coming back and it makes me very happy — and the box office is happening both domestically and around the world. I couldn't be happier, and I believe that the theatrical experience is one that people desire. I'm not saying that streaming isn't good for the business. Creating content is what our business is all about, but I think they can both thrive, and they both should thrive, and one of the things that I'm watching thrive right now is what Amazon is doing, both with their Amazon Prime, but with moving MGM forward. And now, not only have they done an expansion of their theatrical business since Courtenay (Valenti) took over, but also they're moving back into international distribution. (WATCH) Charles Roven's acceptance speech at Taormina Film Festival He is the recipient of the Taormina Achievement Producer Award — Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 11, 2025 DEADLINE: What would you say has been the most pivotal point in your career? ROVEN: Certainly the first movie. I watched Shirley Muldowney, who was the first woman to ever win a world championship in car racing, and she did it in drag racing, and she did it by actually beating her boyfriend. And I got in my car, I drove down to Pomona. She was packing up all her stuff. I was in my mid 20s, and I said, 'Hi, I'm Chuck Roven, and I'm a film producer and I'd like to option the rights to your life story.' She goes, 'Honey, I just kicked my ex-boyfriend's ass, but I'll tell you, he was also my sponsor. Now I have no money for a ride, so if you can get me money for a ride, you can have the rights to my life.' And I managed her for 10 years…The first one's always memorable. And, of course, making movies with Chris (Nolan) and Emma (Thomas), the success we've had together is pretty remarkable. Also working with Terry Gilliam on 12 Monkeys. That was my first really big hit, and it was a very special experience. David Russell, working with him has been a special experience. James Gunn, I've been lucky. Zack Snyder, we've done some pretty good things together. Patty Jenkins, the first Wonder Woman — obviously, something that took a while to get made, but turned out great. When I think about Christian Bale, I've done three Batmans, American Hustle. I'm hoping to make another movie with him. He's just amazing. Yeah, I've been really fortunate working with some really, really, very, very talented people in front of the camera, behind the camera. Best of Deadline Use The Schwartz!: 'Spaceballs' Movie Photos & Posters 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Late Johnstown police chief memorialized by police academy award; scholarship
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Friends, family and police officers gathered outside the Police Academy classroom of Penn Highlands Community College to present an award dedicated to the late James Mock. For over 40 years, Mock served in the Richland Police Department starting in 1964 as a patrolman. Five years later, he earned the title of police chief, to which he held that role for 33 years. He was also paramount in creating the Johnstown Municipal Police Academy in 1975. Mock died in 2003 at the age of 63. Thursday morning his family, especially his daughter Catherine Rager, saw his name live in infamy in the halls of Penn Highlands Community College. The Chief James Mock Memorial Police Academy Achievement Award will be given to the top cadet of each police academy class, starting with the current class in session. Jersey Mike's month of giving to support Pink Zone Little League Challenger 'It was the way I wanted to honor my father for his many, many years in law enforcement,' Rager said. 'He was such an integral part of this region, this area, just like the small enforcement community.' The recipient will get their name engraved into a small section of the plaque, along with a $1,000 scholarship. Cadets are usually awarded as the top of their class in different skill sets related to the job. 'This is the first one that's more kind of all inclusive and all around with that includes leadership and things like that,' Penn Highlands Police Academy Director Cregg Dibert said. 'He always wanted the very best for his police officers to go out in the street,' Rager added. 'He wanted them to be well trained, not only for their protection, but for everybody's protection. That was extremely important to have.' After submitting the story of her father to the school's foundation board, director Carole VanMeter wanted to aid in helping out. After talks with Rager, they decided upon the plaque and scholarship. 'I wanted to just really learn about her father and his dedication and service to the area,' VanMeter said. 'After learning about how instrumental he was to not only to the community at large, but specifically to the start of the police academy, we felt that it was really necessary to honor him and the proper way of giving an award and a plaque that shows the cadets throughout the years and their achievements.' The added award at the graduation ceremony of each class will all strive to be the top dog. That added competition is going to be driven by the memory of a former police chief. 'We're honoring someone who has been involved in the police academy for so long and has such a great legacy,' Dibert added. 'That I think that that's going to that's going to be something that they're all going to strive to do.' 'I hope it incentivizes them to do their very best,' Rager said. As cadets walk through the entrance, they will see the gold plaque next to the informational corkboard about the police academy. Rager believes seeing her father's legacy heading into training will set a standard by an officer who was impactful for his department and community. 'What they are doing is vital in our communities,' Rager said. 'And for anyone who does not realize how rigorous a program this is or what it takes to be a police officer, they will understand that.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
