Latest news with #ThaiFilm
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thailand's Engfa Waraha & Dream Thanika Jenjesda Want ‘Lady Bee' To Re-Define The Female Gaze In Thai Filmmaking — Cannes Studio
Upcoming Thai film Lady Bee presents a re-imagining of the 1960s Thai novel 'The Story of Jan Dara,' with popular singer-actress Engfa Waraha headlining the film as the enigmatic Lady Boonleung. In an interview at Deadline's Cannes studio, Waraha, alongside the film's co-writer and co-director Dream Thanika Jenjesda, shared that they are excited to present a new adaptation of the story — which has been remade before — from a female perspective for the first time. More from Deadline Cannes Film Festival 2025: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews Bi Gan's 'Resurrection' Hits Cannes With 7-Minute Ovation At World Premiere 'Resurrection' Review: Bi Gan's Dream Scenario Is The Perfect Cure For Insomnia - Cannes Film Festival Starring in just her second feature film after box office hit Paradise of Thorns, Waraha said, 'There's a lot of pressure because Paradise of Thorns was so well-received. This is my second role and I'm under pressure to do my best. I want to challenge myself as an actor and not just a star.' Waraha won the Best Actress prize at the 2025 Thailand Box Office Awards for her role in family drama feature The Paradise of Thorns. Besides acting, Waraha has also ventured into singing, appearing in the seventh season of The Voice Thailand. She revealed that the late legendary Thai singer Pumpuang is her biggest singing inspiration. On her singing career, Waraha said, 'It was one of my biggest dreams and whenever I received good opportunities, I did my best to be the best I could.' Set to begin principal photography in late-2025, Lady Bee follows Lady Boonleung, a woman unbound by the morality or power structures of her time and driven by a yearning for connection. 'My goal is not to be too vogue, vocal or preachy about it,' said co-writer and co-director Jenjesda. 'In Thailand, we're still a little bit conservative, a little bit suppressed in these of having male-dominated leading roles.' She named directors Sofia Coppola and Wim Wenders among her filmmaking inspirations. Lady Bee will also be co-directed by Rutaiwan Wongsirasawad (Dalah), with Julien Favre also onboard as co-writer. Pantham Thongsang will produce the film. Looking ahead, Waraha has set her sights overseas too. 'I want more opportunities at an international level, perhaps taking a role alongside a Hollywood movie star or well-known international stars,' said Waraha. 'I want to challenge my English-speaking abilities.' Lady Bee is represented by Singapore-based sales company Mokster Films. { pmcCnx({ settings: { plugins: { pmcAtlasMG: { iabPlcmt: 1, }, pmcCnx: { singleAutoPlay: 'auto' } } }, playerId: "32fe25c4-79aa-406a-af44-69b41e969e71", mediaId: "3b3f6cc7-4129-44c5-bda0-2d9b33bcbea3", }).render("connatix_player_3b3f6cc7-4129-44c5-bda0-2d9b33bcbea3_1"); }); Best of Deadline Every 'The Voice' Winner Since Season 1, Including 9 Team Blake Champions Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Miramax Secures Remake Rights To Thai Blockbuster ‘How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies'
Miramax has struck a deal for remake rights to Thai film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, a huge hit across Asia last year, which also became the first Thai movie to be shortlisted for Best International Feature at the Oscars. The deal for English-language remake rights, struck with the film's director Pat Boonnitipat and Thai powerhouse studio GDH 559, followed an intense bidding war with several other studios. Since its release in April 2024, the comedy drama has become one of the hottest properties out of Asia, grossing more than $55m, including $17m in China. More from Deadline Miramax TV Taps Carissa Hope Lynch To Lead UK & Lucy Dertavitian To Oversee MENA Daniel Battsek, Ex-Film4 Chairman And Head Of Miramax, Named President Of Film At Lincoln Center Alix Jaffe Joins Miramax As President Of Television In the U.S., the film premiered last summer at the New York Asian Film Festival, where it picked up the audience award, and has since earned a 98% Tomatometer score and 95% Popcornmeter rating. Well Go USA gave the original film a theatrical release in North America. Starring Thai singer and actor Putthipong Assaratanakul (a.k.a. Billkin), the film follows a college dropout who moves in with his ailing grandmother after her cancer diagnosis, hoping to secure her million-dollar inheritance. However, he soon finds she is no pushover and what started as a cynical race to secure her fortune soon transforms into a powerful reminder of family bonds. The remake deal was negotiated on behalf of GDH by Nelson Mok of Mokster Films, a Singapore-based investment and sales company with a primary focus on Asia-produced content. Yvette Zhuang, Miramax's SVP of International Production and Distribution who is transitioning out of her current role at the end of May, will remain closely involved as a producer on the film. Miramax said it was confident the film's 'universal appeal and deeply relatable themes' will resonate with A-list talent and audiences globally. 'A masterclass in storytelling, this is the kind of film that reminds us why we make movies,' said Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman. 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is a rare gem that manages to be hilarious, surprisingly poignant, and moving all at once. Like the original, we hope our adaptation brings generations of families to the cinema together.' The film's director Pat Boonnitipat said: 'Its success worldwide surprises me, yet it warms my heart to know that people across the world share this value—or some kind of core—that connects us beyond the identities of countries or cultures.' Producer Vanridee Pongsittisak said: 'The heart of a family is universal, but each home holds an entirely different story. That's why I'm excited to see How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies come to life once again — this time in an American household.' Miramax is coming into Cannes with a film slate that also includes the sequel to hit action film The Beekeeper, again starring Jason Statham and this time directed by Indonesia's Timo Tjahjanto; Roofman, starring Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst and Peter Dinklage; and Colman Domingo's directorial debut Scandalous, starring Sydney Sweeney and David Jonsson. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2025
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘White Lotus' Star Dom Hetrakul Boards Cannes Market-Bound Thai Crime-Horror ‘Debt Sentence' (EXCLUSIVE)
'The White Lotus' breakout Dom Hetrakul has signed on to star in 'Debt Sentence,' a buzzy Thai crime-horror film headed to the Cannes Film Market. The project marks the feature directorial debut of Warun Siriprachai and is based on the viral short film 'How to Run Away From Your Debt,' which racked up multi-million views online. More from Variety Lisa Would Love to Collaborate With Labubu and Confirms Blackpink Is Releasing a New Album : 'It's Coming Soon, I Promise' Walton Goggins Interview Shut Down Over Aimee Lou Wood Questions Because 'There's No Conversation to Be Had About That': 'What the F--!' 'SNL' Star Bowen Yang Calls Aimee Lou Wood's Backlash to 'White Lotus' Spoof 'Completely Valid': 'Parody Can Go Too Far Sometimes' The film centers around Suchart, played by Yasaka Chaisorn ('Death Whisperer 2,' 'Halabala') a man whose wife, played by Sawanee Utoomma ('The Medium,' 'The Creator') and child were murdered in their apartment. Suchart, the suspected perpetrator of the crimes, is determined to prove his innocence and find the culprit of the crime, played by Hetrakul. Hetrakul, who previously appeared in 'The Man with the Iron Fists 2,' gained significant visibility from HBO's 'The White Lotus' Season 3, which shattered the series' viewership records with its finale drawing 6.2 million viewers. Bangkok-based Night Edge Pictures is backing the project alongside production studio Wilan Prumpara and producer Panida Ngamsompong ('Homestay,' 'Friendzone'). Night Edge has an established track record in Thailand with successful theatrical releases including 'Talk to Me,' 'Late Night With the Devil,' and 'Terrifier 3,' as well as this year's Neon releases 'Together' and 'We Bury the Dead.' 'We are excited to have this film in our roster of Thai films as we bring to the global stage more exciting Southeast Asian stories that challenge the norm and break the mold,' said Hans Audric Estialbo, CEO of Night Edge Pictures. 'Dom, Yasaka and Sawanee are amazing global Thai talents and their passion to bring independent films to an international stage is unmatched.' 'Debt Sentence' is currently in production with a targeted release in the second quarter of 2026. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
