Latest news with #JJAbrams
Washington Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Lost for seven years, Josh Holloway is back in the driver's seat
Josh Holloway was stranded in a Hollywood wasteland five years ago when the phone rang. It was J.J. Abrams, and he was offering a route out of the figurative desert — by way of a literal one. The third and final season of the Holloway-starring series 'Colony' had aired more than a year earlier. Freshly 50, Holloway accepted that the dystopian drama was probably his last leading-man gig. If the offer came to play, say, a leading man's father? He'd be there. But that wasn't happening, either.
Geek Tyrant
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Brie Larson Set to Star in J.J. Abrams-Produced 'Wild Ride' Creature Horror FAIL-SAFE — GeekTyrant
Brie Larson ( Captain Marvel ) has officially signed on to star in Fail-Safe , a new creature horror film with J.J. Abrams producing and filmmaker JT Mollner ( Strange Darling ) set to direct. Strange Darling was a great freakin' film, so I'm excited to see what Mollner ends up doing with this project. Fail-Safe is described as 'a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother's true nature.' Larson takes on the role of the mother, and according to producer Drew Simon is excited that she's on board. He said: 'I'm beyond excited to see Brie take on this role – it's frightening, emotionally charged, and so different from anything she's done before. The depth and intensity this character demands is immense, and I know Brie's going to bring something unforgettable to the screen.' The script was written by Brian Duffield, who knows his way around high-concept horror, and his recent film No One Will Save You had everyone talking, and he's currently directing Whalefall for 20th Century and Imagine. Abrams said in a statement: 'With Fail-Safe , Brian Duffield has written an absolute powerhouse of a script. It's a horror film that is as sweet and moving as it is terrifying. 'To have JT Mollner in the director's chair — his Strange Darling blew me away — is a dream come true. Finally, having the limitlessly talented Brie Larson as our star sets up Fail-Safe to be that rare horror film that makes you laugh, feel, and care, before taking you on an absolutely wild ride.' Fail-Safe is based on a short story by Philip Fracassi, known for his eerie, emotionally rich horror fiction. This is going to be a fun project for Larson to be a part of and I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Fail-Safe may end up to be a great genre project. Source: Deadline
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Thank you so much Australia!': Gracie Abrams takes to the stage in Perth as she bids to become the next Taylor Swift
Gracie Abrams kicked off the first of two sell out shows in Perth on Friday night as she embarked on the final leg of her Australian tour. Taylor Swift's bestie had already performed packed shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, and unlike so many big pop stars of recent times, Abrams refused to give her fans in Perth the cold shoulder. It's been a meteoric rise to the top for Abrams, who is the daughter of Hollywood director JJ Abrams. While she began on few people's radar as an up and coming singer-songwriter, a starring position as support on pal Taylor Swift's Eras Tour was the nudge she needed to send her soaring into the mainstream much like fellow Eras Tour act Sabrina Carpenter. Despite it being her first arena tour following her breakout success, Abrams clearly wanted to keep things intimate despite the grand setting of the RAC Arena as she pranced through the crowd from the main stage to the B-stage which had been dressed up to look like her childhood bedroom. As she belted out some of her lesser known tracks you'd be mistaken for thinking they were all world conquering smash hits listening to fans singing back every word to her. She had the crowd, filled mostly with teenage girls enamoured by the singer's girl next door smile and talent for writing a hook, in the palm of her hand and one thing quickly became clear; Abrams is here to stay. 'Thank you for making me feel so welcome' she gushed of the Australian crowds before later proudly waving an Aussie flag thrown to her from the crowd. The entire experience was elevated further thanks to watching the show from one of RAC Arena's 30 fully customisable private suites, allowing the feeling of being embedded in the crowd without having to scramble through whenever a bathroom break is needed - simply a must for any millennial concertgoer. Despite all her talents, it's hard to shake off the feeling that we still don't quite know who Abrams is as an artist or what her sound is outside of her many influences. From her distinct vocal delivery (Halsey, Olivia Rodrigo), to her songwriting style (Taylor Swift, Lorde) to her persona (Michelle Branch, Natalie Imbruglia), Abrams is yet to carve out a distinguishable identity of her own. At present, she's still - while clearly very talented - an amalgamation of the pop stars she no doubt listened to in her childhood bedroom while dreaming of one day becoming just like them. That doesn't mean it won't happen for Abrams. Olivia Rodrigo faced similar critiques when she first emerged. But just a handful of years later and the former High School Musical star quickly found her niche and became responsible for bringing back female fronted pop rock to the charts where it had long been considered an essentially dead genre since dying out in the late 2000s. Abrams' interactions with her adoring fans while sat on a model of her childhood bed was very sweet, and she seemed genuinely grateful to have formed such a close connection with a demographic that has become synonymous with seeking out parasocial relationships with their idols. She ended her two hour-ish set with her two biggest hits, Close To You and then the global smash That's So True, which surprised even Abrams' diehard fans when it soared to the top of the charts at the tail-end of 2024. With such a big hit to her name just as she begins work on a follow-up album, she seems poised to cement herself within the pantheon of pop with her next release - but for now, for this writer at least, the question remains: Who is Gracie Abrams? However, one thing's for sure, I look forward to finding out.
Washington Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
What parents need to know about ‘Final Destination Bloodlines' and more
Age 16+ Ultra-gory horror franchise reboot misses originals' appeal. This is the sixth movie in the horror franchise about characters fruitlessly trying to evade death. Extreme violence includes impalings, blood spatters, bloody wounds, a severed arm, fatal falls, explosions, people on fire, characters getting crushed, piercings getting yanked off by a giant magnet and a face getting ripped off by a lawn mower. Dialogue references pregnancy and an affair, and there's lots of strong language: 'f---,' 's---,' 'a--hole,' 'son of a b----,' 'b-----d,' 'goddamn,' 'hell,' 'oh my God' and more, plus a middle finger. Characters drink socially at a restaurant and a barbecue. (109 minutes) Available in theaters. Age 15+ Compelling 1970s-set crime drama has sex, violence and drugs. An action-packed crime series co-created by J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, 'Duster' follows a midlevel Phoenix criminal (Josh Holloway) who teams up with a fledgling FBI agent (Rachel Hilson) to take down the crime boss he's been working for since he was 16. Expect lots of violence, including fistfights and gunfire, plus a graphic heart transplant scene. Bare breasts are shown, and characters drink hard alcohol in bars. An unidentified substance in a plastic baggie is used to drug a man. Language includes 'f---, 's---,' 'goddamn,' 'a--hole' and 'motherf----r.' (Eight episodes) Available on Max. Age 14+ Sex, swearing and drinking in Judy Blume adaptation on teen love. Based on the Judy Blume novel, this drama series follows two Los Angeles-area teens — Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) — as they navigate their first love. Characters flirt, make out and plan to have sex. Some scenes have sexual innuendos, seminudity (with some sensitive parts shown) and sexual activity. An ex previously distributed a sex video of Keisha, which leaves her paranoid about her new relationship with Justin. Adults and teens drink alcohol, smoke pot and party. Frequent language includes 'f---,' 's---,' 'b----,' 'dick,' 'damn,' 'oh my God,' 'ho,' 'a--' and 'motherf----r.' Logos for brands such as Apple and Nike appear but aren't focused on. (Eight episodes) Available on Netflix. Age 16+ Raunchy college comedy has sex, drinking and heart. A bawdy coming-of-age comedy about a closeted college student (Benito Skinner) follows his journey through freshman year. There's lots of sexual content: Characters masturbate (only their faces are seen), make out and have sex, and bare breasts, chests and butts are shown. Strong and frequent language includes 'f---,' 's---,' 'c---' and 'dick.' People snort cocaine, and underage characters drink at parties. While the show is a veritable raunch-fest, there are a handful of poignant moments that the cast deftly pulls off, making this a hilarious choice for mature teens and for adults remembering their college adventures. (Eight episodes) Available on Prime Video. Common Sense Media helps families make smart media choices. Go to for age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites and books.
Broadcast Pro
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Jordan raises film production rebate to 45% in bid to attract global shoots
Productions that spend over $10m and incorporate elements of Jordanian culture are eligible for the full 45% rebate. The Royal Film Commission of Jordan has increased its financial incentives for film and television productions, raising the upper limit of its cash rebate from 25% to 45%. The new scheme was officially unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14 and reflects Jordan's renewed commitment to attracting international productions and supporting its domestic film industry. Approved by the Jordanian cabinet on May 12, the revamped incentive package introduces a tiered rebate system ranging from 25% to 45%, determined by a points-based evaluation of each project. Criteria include the scale of production, the extent to which Jordanian cultural content is integrated, and the artistic, cultural and economic value of the project. Productions spending over $10m in-country and incorporating significant local elements are eligible for the maximum rebate. Jordan is also increasing support for local filmmakers. Rebates for domestic productions have been raised from 10% to 30% for projects with budgets exceeding $500,000, as part of a broader strategy to stimulate local production activity and empower Jordanian producers. The announcement comes as Jordan seeks to reassert itself as a premier shooting location in the Middle East, despite recent regional instability that has impacted the territory's appeal. The aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks and subsequent conflict in Gaza has led to hesitancy among some international filmmakers, though several regional projects have continued to film in the country. Known for its rich cinematic backdrops—including UNESCO World Heritage sites like Petra and the vast desert landscapes of Wadi Rum—Jordan has previously hosted major productions such as Dune and Dune: Part Two directed by Denis Villeneuve, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker by JJ Abrams, and Guy Ritchie's Aladdin. This year, Jordan has launched a strong promotional campaign at Cannes to reinvigorate its film sector and position itself more competitively against other MENA countries offering attractive filming incentives. Speaking about the broader goals of the initiative, Mohannad Al-Bakri, Managing Director of the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, said: 'The amendments aim to enhance Jordan's competitiveness as a major film production hub in the region by creating a supportive environment that fosters creativity, provides robust infrastructure, and facilitates the exchange of expertise, training, and knowledge transfer. They also aim to boost film tourism by promoting filming locations and highlighting Jordanian cultural identity and heritage in global productions.'
