When Tyler Rake falls of the Sultana Kamal Bridge in Extraction, it was supposed to be the end. But in the weeks after the film’s release, it captured the attention of a massive audience — its story of guilt woven with high-octane action a perfect mix for the sedentary body during quarantine. Less than a month after becoming one of Netflix’s first major hits amidst the pandemic, Netflix ordered a sequel — with writer Joe Russo, director Sam Hargrave, and action star Chris Hemsworth in line to reprise their creative roles. Hemsworth, who encountered both Russo and Hargrave after collaborating o ..read more

NEW YORK, USA – With an emphasis on diversity in content and storytellers, New York’s Tribeca Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday, June 7, with highlights including documentaries about actor Rock Hudson and news anchor Dan Rather. Running from June 7 to June 18, nearly 70% of the competition feature films are directed by women. The festival is showcasing 43 first-time filmmakers, including many from traditionally underrepresented communities. Tribeca Film Festival was co-founded in 2001 by American actor Robert De Niro to help revitalize lower Manhattan following the Septe ..read more

LOS ANGELES, USA – American film-producing and writing duo Christopher Miller and Phil Lord were determined to weave a combination of art and heart into Sony Picture’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and that meant broadening the stories of the Spider people. For their sequel to 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, they have sought to build new worlds to immerse audiences in a web of animated adventure. “We wanted each one to look very distinctive and have their own aesthetic,” Miller told Reuters ahead of the film’s opening on Friday. “So that was a really fun opportunity to tell a ..read more

LOS ANGELES, USA – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is returning for an as yet untitled Fast & Furious movie as Luke Hobbs, the actor announced on Twitter on Thursday, June 1, after bowing out of the successful franchise in 2021 due to differences with star Vin Diesel. “Hobbs is back in the Fast and Furious franchise,” Johnson said in a video message from Hawaii, wearing a lei. “The next Fast & Furious film you’ll see the legendary lawman in will be the HOBBS movie that will serve as a fresh, new chapter & set up for FASTX: Part II,” he added. The Fast & Furious franchise has collecte ..read more

LOS ANGELES, USA – Cannes was like one delirious dream. Lacking sleep and experiencing jet lag while watching films from morning to late night and sometimes attending events in between, I felt that it was all a blur. But it was an ecstatic, delicious blur. Grabbing a quick bite at one of the wonderful outdoor bistros across from the Palais des Festivals, I saw Olivier Rabourdin, the father in Catherine Breillat’s stepmom seduction film, Last Summer, pass by. I just saw the drama. Was I still watching the film? My eyes followed Olivier as he walked around the corner. Cannes tents on t ..read more

Riding off the mind-blowing Into the Spider-Verse, we get the second installment in a three-part trilogy starring Miles Morales at the center, and as many other Spider-types (because it’s not just limited to people, of course) as each movie can pack in. And make no mistake about it, Across the Spider-Verse has some real Empire Strikes Back aspirations as the very dark middle section.  One thing I was saying to the other people I was with in the screening was, this is the first time in quite a while that I haven’t had to apologize for liking a superhero movie – or, well, the first time whe ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – Universal announced on Wednesday, May 31, the cast members for human riders Hiccup and Astrid for its How to Train Your Dragon live-action adaptation!  According to The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline reports, Mason Thames will portray the young misfit Viking Hiccup, while Astrid will be played by Nico Parker.  Drawing inspiration from Cressida Cowell’s book series, How to Train Your Dragon explores the extraordinary friendship between Hiccup, a young Viking boy who initially lacks heroic qualities, and Toothless, a wounded dragon he nurtures back to health. Ast ..read more

No one wants to admit their disappointment after having anticipated a film for years. But as the credits roll after Rob Marshall’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, one can’t help but feel a pang of guilt, maybe even shame, at having to admit its mediocrity. For all the hullabaloo in the last few years of development, everything from the racism Halle Bailey had to endure, to shallow critiques of Melissa McCarthy’s drag-inspired makeup, The Little Mermaid might be at-times beautiful, but as a whole is just fine. Which is is another way to say that it is ultimately unnecessary. First ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – Kathryn Bernardo and Dolly de Leon have started filming the dark comedy movie A Very Good Girl.  Star Cinema on Thursday, May 25, shared a photo of the clapperboard from the movie’s first day of shooting. “Goodness starts rolling today,” they captioned the post.  Both actresses shared the post on their respective Instagram stories.  Director Petersen Vargas also posed with the two leads during the first day of filming. The photo, which was shared on Friday, May 26, saw Bernardo in a gray outfit, while a silver-haired De Leon was in a black outfit.  ..read more

CANNES, France –  The provocatively titled film How to Have Sex, about three British teen girls who go on holiday with the aim of drinking, clubbing and hooking up, won the top prize in the “Un Certain Regard” competition at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, May 26. However, there was a slight hiccup: Molly Manning Walker was not in the room when the award for her debut feature was announced. The director was on her way back from Italy and running late from the airport – prompting jury president John C. Reilly to belt out a song to distract audiences during the wait. “I j ..read more