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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How ‘Rebel Ridge' became the Emmy frontrunner for Best TV Movie
Is Rebel Ridge about to follow in the Emmy-winning footsteps of Quiz Lady, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and ... Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers? The Netflix telefilm has held the No. 1 spot in Gold Derby's Best TV Movie odds all season long, despite increasingly fierce competition from the likes of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Out of My Mind, Mountainhead, Am I OK?, and The Gorge. Why? Perhaps Rebel Ridge is still coasting off its awards juice from earlier in the season, where it claimed prizes at the Critics Choice Awards (Best TV Movie) and Image Awards (Best Actor for Aaron Pierre), and scored nominations from the Producers Guild and Writers Guild, among others. More from GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'Eureka Day' playwright Jonathan Spector talks vaccine debates, vicious comment sections, and 'the failure of a utopia' Breakout star Owen Cooper admits 'Adolescence' was 'very out of my comfort zone' The action thriller stars Pierre as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who has a run-in with a small town's corrupt and racist police force, including Don Johnson's Chief Sandy Burnne. The cast is rounded out by AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Steve Zissis, Zsané Jhé, Dana Lee, and James Cromwell. The movie has a 95 percent at Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it "an intelligent and gripping vehicle for Aaron Pierre's star-making performance." It became one of Netflix's most-watched films of 2024, with 129 million streams. Rebel Ridge is written, produced, directed, and edited by Jeremy Saulnier, the Cannes-winning filmmaker whose prior movies include Murder Party (2007), Blue Ruin (2013), Green Room (2015), and Hold the Dark (2018). On the TV front, he's best known for directing and producing True Detective Season 3, which was considered a return to form for the HBO limited series. With Saulnier in charge, Rebel Ridge is a few notches above your everyday TV movie. Gold Derby This Emmy category has drawn backlash in recent years, particularly with light-hearted fare like Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) and Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square (2021) winning. Contemporary TV movies are rarely nominated in other categories, suggesting a general weakness for this fare both above- and below-the-line. One notable exception was 2023's well-respected Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a satiric biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe as the Grammy-winning musician, brought a sense of cachet back to the race with its eight nominations and two wins (Best TV Movie and Best Music Composition). That was followed by Quiz Lady last year, a dramedy starring Awkwafina and Sandra Oh as estranged sisters who try to win money to pay off their mother's debt that received decidedly mixed reviews and no nominations outside the category. But as the first phase of Emmy voting nears, there are signs that the race could tighten. If Gold Derby's odds are any indication, the current lineup of Best TV Movie contenders could result in one of the category's most exciting Emmy races in years. Our 21 experts from major media outlets are divided on this category, with the following four telefilms each receiving No. 1 votes: Ten experts predict Rebel Ridge: Ben Travers (Indiewire), Dave Nemetz (TVLine), Debra Birnbaum (Gold Derby), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Keith Simanton (IMDb), Matt Brennan (L.A. Times), Matt Neglia (Next Best Picture), Peter Travers (ABC), Tariq Khan (KSDK), and Wilson Morales (BlackFilmandTV) Nine experts predict Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy: Anne Thompson (Indiewire), Eric Deggans (NPR), Gregory Ellwood (The Playlist), Jazz Tangcay (Variety), Kate Erbland (Indiewire), Kristen Baldwin (Entertainment Weekly), Shawn Edwards (WDAF-TV Fox), Susan King (freelance), and Thelma Adams (freelance) One expert predicts Mountainhead: Matt Roush (TV Guide) One expert predicts Out of My Mind: Christopher Rosen (Gold Derby) Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is the fourth installment in the Bridget Jones film series, with Renée Zellweger returning as the titular love-stricken British woman. The first three films made $759 million worldwide in theaters, but this latest installment was only released theatrically overseas. Here in the United States, it can be streamed on Peacock. Mountainhead is Jesse Armstrong's highly anticipated first film project since winning seven Emmy Awards for Succession (four for writing, three for producing). The HBO movie follows four wealthy tech billionaires — played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef — who meet at a swanky ski resort amid a global crisis. It'll be released on May 31, the last day of Emmy eligibility. Out of My Mind, like Rebel Ridge, is a TV movie that's already hit it big on the awards circuit. It received noms at the Critics Choice and Writers Guild Awards, and won for Amber Sealey at the Directors Guild Awards. It also claimed the Peabody Award for Children's/Youth Program and the Television Academy Honors for inspiring social change. The Disney+ film stars Phoebe-Rae Taylor as a middle schooler with cerebral palsy whose inner thoughts are spoken by Jennifer Aniston. Of all the films in the category, Out of My Mind has seen the biggest spike in predictions in recent days and is trending upwards at the perfect time, narrowing the gap with Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and closing in on second place in the odds. Let us know what you think of this year's Best TV Movie race by sounding off in our TV forum. Make your predictions at Gold Derby right now. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks on their 'fun partnership' and the 'satisfying' killer reveal The Making of 'Beast Games': Behind the scenes of Prime Video's record-breaking competition series Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Making of ‘Beast Games': Behind the scenes of Prime Video's record-breaking competition series
"What if we brought together more contestants than any competition show ever, offered the largest cash prize in history, designed the craziest games imaginable, and built it all on the most massive sets ever seen?" That was the spark behind Beast Games, according to host, cocreator, and executive producer Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson. The record-breaking Prime Video competition series assembled an astonishing 1,000 contestants to face off in intense physical and mental challenges — all for a jaw-dropping $10 million grand prize. More from GoldDerby How 'Rebel Ridge' became the Emmy frontrunner for Best TV Movie TV Documentary panel: 'Brats,' 'Chef's Table,' and 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' 'Road Diary' director Thom Zimny reflects on 25 years with Bruce Springsteen and capturing fans as 'music hits their soul' "I've always wondered why $1 million was the artificial ceiling [for winning a competition series]," Donaldson says. "Shows get paid a lot more than that." However, the creator admits Beast Games lost money. "My goal with Season 1 wasn't to make money, it was honestly just to make the greatest competition possible. We went a little overkill." One of the show's most significant expenses was the construction of an entire custom-built city, designed by production designer Stephen Leonhardt. SEE'Beast Games' production designer Stephen Leonhardt on redefining reality TV with the most complex sets in TV history "Nobody's done anything like it — and that's what was both so exciting and terrifying about it," says Leonhardt. "We had the same amount of time you have to put together a set for a regular television show, except instead of trying to set up an existing house for a reality cast of 30, we had 500. Just the logistics — how are we going to deal with people going to the bathroom — were overwhelming and only comparable to huge events. It was the mix of a TV set and a full Coachella festival." Leonhardt also notes that much of the industry is geared toward cutting costs. "Every call you get is about doing the same show for less than you did it before. Suddenly, we have these guys who just want to swing for the fences. How can you not get excited about being a part of that? They said, 'We're going to have the highest-budget sets in the history of television.' At first I wondered if I was being taken for a ride, but when I realized they were serious it was thrilling!" For over 20 straight days during preproduction, the set design team had a role call of over 1,000 employees. "They may not be the biggest sets ever made, but they were definitely the biggest sets ever made in that timeframe," Leonhardt says. With 380 million-plus subscribers and more than 2 billion monthly views, MrBeast is the most-subscribed YouTube channel in the world. Beast Games cocreator and executive producer Sean Klitzner credits Donaldson's understanding of digital audience engagement for the show's success "It's learning and understanding what Jimmy has spent tens of thousands of hours studying – the psychological connection an audience member will have with a piece of content," Klitzner explains. "It takes years to understand that. Once you get into that realm, you're able to ask, 'How do we translate your style and your vision of creating content to television?'" Casting 1,000 contestants to compete on the show was a massive undertaking for casting director Katy Wallin. "We put together a strategic plan to go out and find 1,000 amazing people — diverse, all ages, all types — and in my three decades of casting, it was one of the best experiences of my career. It was so challenging in the most positive way." Wallin says she sought out people who were "unforgettable, passionate, and interesting": "This is not a scripted show, so we're not releasing a breakdown and putting actors in roles. These are real people competing in a contest on the biggest show in the history of television. They have to have a really good 'Why?' If we use Jeffrey Allen as an example, who won the show, he had such heart and positivity about him. It wasn't really about [the money], it was about changing the course of his son's life by finding a cure for something. We look for those layered people who are unfiltered and really open to sharing the experiences of their life that will transcend on a show like this." SEE'Beast Games' editor Mack Hopkins on the scene that was inspired by 'Dunkirk' Meanwhile, the enormity of production posed challenges even in post-production. Co-creator and editor Mack Hopkins refers to the show as "the most advanced edit mankind has ever attempted." With 1,000 contestants and more than 1,100 cameras capturing footage, watching every moment was impossible. Yet, serendipity played a role in shaping the story. "The contestants who got first and second place in this show happened to — by an actual miracle — be standing next to each other in Episode 1. We were given — by the grace of God — dialogue exchanges between first and second place in Episode 1! As a person who was trying to tell a story through this whole process, it was unbelievable and I could not believe that happened." In the full panel video above, watch the team behind Beast Games discuss in more detail their favorite episodes, the most memorable contestants, biggest challenges, and jaw-dropping moments. This article and video are presented by Prime Video. Best of GoldDerby 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks on their 'fun partnership' and the 'satisfying' killer reveal TV Documentary panel: 'Brats,' 'Chef's Table,' and 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' 'Road Diary' director Thom Zimny reflects on 25 years with Bruce Springsteen and capturing fans as 'music hits their soul' Click here to read the full article.
Tom's Guide
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 best Netflix thrillers to stream right now
When it comes to edge-of-your-seat suspense, Netflix is home to some of the most gripping thrillers you can find on a streaming service right now. Whether you're in the mood for some tense hostage standoffs, high-stakes cover-ups or pulse-pounding escapes, there's no shortage of those flicks to be found on the platform. For your next movie night, fire up a fast-moving, claustrophobic nail-biter like "Carry-On," or a gritty revenge yarn like "Rebel Ridge." Netflix has plenty of thrillers that don't let up until the credits roll. Whether you love sharp twists, morally gray characters or the kind of tension that makes you grip the armrest, we've hand-picked a few movies that we think will have you reeling until the credits hit. Keep reading for five of the best Netflix thrillers you can stream right now. Ex-Marine Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) is targeted and robbed by the local police of Shelby Springs, Louisiana, who take not only his bail money but the savings he was going to use to build a new life. As he tries to seek justice, Terry uncovers a deep web of corruption stretching through the town. The ringleader? A police chief with no intention of being exposed. With no one to trust and everything on the line, Terry goes from victim to vigilante and pushes back against a system that seems designed to crush him. Watch on Netflix Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, "Woman of the Hour" follows struggling actress Sheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick), who reluctantly agrees to appear on "The Dating Game" in a bid to boost her career. On stage, she meets Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), a charming man who' later revealed to be a serial killer. What begins as an awkward game show taping quickly morphs into something much darker as the film explores the stories of the women whose lives Alcala destroyed. Based on true events, this thriller examines how the system failed these women and enabled one of the most notorious killers in American history. Watch on Netflix In a high-tech prison where inmates can shave time off their sentences by testing experimental drugs, Jeff (Miles Teller) and Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett) sign up for what seems like an easy gig. They take daily doses of substances designed to elicit love, fear, euphoria and more. The facility has no cells or guards, just a laid-back supervisor (Chris Hemsworth) who keeps things running with a smile and a tablet. But the trials grow darker and more invasive, and Jeff begins to question the true purpose behind the experiments as well as the real reason they're all there. Watch on Netflix Former ad executive Javier Muñoz (Javier Gutiérrez) watches his privileged life crumble after losing his job, forcing him to trade his pricey Barcelona apartment for a small rental with his wife and son. But Javier can't move on. When he discovers a spare set of keys to his old home, he starts sneaking back to his old home, at first out of nostalgia, but soon with something far more sinister in mind. As his obsession with the new residents gets even stronger, Javier's actions grow into calculated manipulation. He targets the successful family now living the life he believes was stolen from him as he secretly works behind the scenes to take it back. Watch on Netflix Rookie TSA agent Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) is forced into a deadly game when a mysterious stranger blackmails him into smuggling a package onto a Christmas Eve flight. That's about when things really get crazy. After Kopek is forced to acquiesce, things spiral until you're watching a high-stakes thriller at 30,000 feet. Kopek desperately tries to uncover his blackmailer's true intentions while keeping his fellow passengers safe. He soon finds that it won't be as simple a fix as he thought, as he faces a cunning adversary, tries to figure out some uneasy alliances, and confronts how far he'll go to protect the people he loves before the plane touches tarmac. Watch on Netflix
Forbes
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
What Did We Think Of Alan Ritchson's Batman Audition In ‘Reacher' Season 3?
Reacher Reacher continues to be one of Amazon Prime Video's most popular series, seemingly greenlit indefinitely with endless source material, and a relatively cheap production that almost never leaves the service's top 10 list. Most of that is due to its enigmatic star, Alan Ritchson, the hulking drifter who punches and reasons his way through crimes and murders as he wanders the earth. The show has just finished up season 3 this past week and boy, did that entire thing feel like a giant audition for Batman. I'm not bringing this up randomly, Ritchson has said outright that he wants to play Bruce Wayne/Batman in James Gunn's new DCU. Here's him in an interview with THR: 'I would love to play Batman. There, I said it. I'll shout it from the rooftops—'I want to be Bruce Wayne!'" Then, he went on to tell Wired recently that 'You wouldn't even have to play me' to take the role. Ritchson is no stranger to superhero parts, previously playing fellow Justice League member Aquaman all the way back in Smallville. Then, Hawk in the Titans series. He was killed off there, presumably to go start up Reacher. Season 3 of Reacher very much felt like a way to expand Reacher's 'detective' powers without relying on big choreographed fight scenes every other episode. He's constantly intutively finding small clues that leads him to uncovering secrets and tracking down a missing girl. But the season ends with a fight against the 7'2 Olivier Richters which I mean, that's Batman versus Bane for you. Reacher season 3 I don't actually know if that was Ritchson's intent this season, but I am reminded of something similar that just happened with Aaron Pierre, who starred in Rebel Ridge, which is more or less a storyline identical to a Reacher plot. A month later, he was cast as Green Lantern in the DCU. So if he can do it, what about Ritchson? The most obvious pushback about Ritchson is his size. But a few things there. First, there are many instances of 'Big Batman' in the comics. Ben Affleck played a version of that in the DCEU, and now 'Absolute Batman' in the comics is a brick wall. And a larger Batman would be a stark contrast to The Batman's Batman, Robert Pattinson. Second, yes, Alan Ritchson is probably the most jacked mainstream actor alive. But his bio puts him at 'only' 6'3, and shots are sometimes angled to make him look taller (book Reacher is 6'5). And he would be shorter than Superman's David Corenswet, who is 6'4 (the tallest Superman ever cast). The Batman I don't know how I feel about Ritchson as Batman. I think with his size and being 42 would distance himself from Pattinson (yes, Pattinson is 38 but playing a much younger Batman). But there is more to being cast as Batman than just wanting it very badly and showing off your potential bat-skills in a show. No doubt he's under consideration, but given that the DCU's Brave and the Bold doesn't even have a release window yet, it may be some time before we figure out if this could actually happen or not. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Don Johnson ‘sends love' to Bruce Willis: He's having ‘a bit of a struggle right now'
Don Johnson is offering heartfelt support to his close friend Bruce Willis. The 'Miami Vice,' star, 75, spoke about his bond with Willis and touched on the actor's battle with dementia during a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight to promote the midseason debut of his ABC series 'Doctor Odyssey.' 'We're best of friends and he's having a little bit of a struggle right now, and I take this moment to send him love,' Johnson shared, speaking of the 'Die Hard' star. Willis' family revealed in February 2023 that the actor, who will celebrate his 70th birthday on March 19, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia following a previous aphasia diagnosis in 2022. In the same interview, the 'Rebel Ridge' actor also looked back on helping Willis land his first TV role — on Johnson's series 'Miami Vice' — before Willis' rise to fame on 'Moonlighting,' opposite Cybill Shepherd. 'It was his first episodic TV, before 'Moonlighting,'' Johnson noted, adding that it felt like a full-circle moment seeing Willis' daughter, Rumer Willis, appear on 'Doctor Odyssey.' 'And I knew him from New York, and I'd hang out with him and he was funny,' he continued about the action star. Johnson explained how he pushed for Willis to be considered for a role on 'Miami Vice,' saying, 'So I called our casting director on 'Miami Vice' and I said, 'You know, there's a guy over there and I think he's a struggling actor, and you should bring him in and read him because he's really funny and I think he'd be good.'' The casting director brought Willis in for an audition, and Johnson recalled, 'She brought him in and she read him and she cast him for the wife-beater,' joking that he didn't have to stick his neck out 'that far' given Willis' obvious talent. 'My instincts were pretty good,' Johnson added. Rumer, 36, provided an update on her father's health recently in a February 3 appearance on the UK talk show 'Loose Women,' sharing that Willis is 'doing really well.' 'He's doing great,' she added. Rumer also spoke about how her family — which includes mom Demi Moore, 62, and sisters Scout, 33, and Tallulah, 31 — have supported one another during Willis' health struggles. 'I think what's so beautiful is the way that we rally around each other is so lovely because we really are a unit,' she said. Moore, who has remained close to Willis since their divorce in 2000, recently told Variety, 'We will always be a family, just in a different form.' Of Willis' dementia battle, the 'Substance' star added, 'For me, there was never a question. I show up because that's what you do for the people you love.'
