News Analysis India

Tag: Netflix

  • Jamie Foxx’s sitcom ‘Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!’ cancelled at Netflix after first season

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Jamie Foxx-led comedy sitcom “Dad Stop Embarrasing Me!” will not be returning for a second season on streaming platform Netflix. According to Deadline, Foxx was involved in the decision to end the series, which debuted on the streamer in April.

    The show was inspired by Foxx’s relationship with his daughter Corinne, who also produced the series alongside Alex Avant. Actor Kyla-Drew played Foxx’s daughter on the multi-camera comedy, which also featured David Alan Grier, Porscha Coleman and Jonathan Kite.

    Foxx has co-created the sitcom with American television veteran Jim Patterson who quit as a showrunner before the start of production. He was replaced by Bentley Kyle Evans. Ken Whittingham directed the first six episodes, while Evans helmed the last two.

  • LA Lakers front office comedy series in the works at Netflix with Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Streaming platform Netflix has given a straight-to-series order to a workplace comedy inspired by the front office of American basketball team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

    The 10-episode show will be penned by “The Modern Family” alum Elaine Ko, while Mindy Kaling, who has previously starred in and backed workplace comedy series “The Office”, will executive produce.

    According to Variety, the untitled series is inspired by the personal and professional dynamic between the family owners and front office team that together run one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports — the Los Angeles Lakers.

    The workplace comedy follows fictional team governor Eliza Reed as she navigates National Basketball Association (NBA) ownership and family drama with her best friend by her side.

    Ko will also serve as showrunner and executive producer on the series.

    President of the Lakers Jeanie Buss, Lakers executive director Linda Rambis as well as Howard Klein of 3 Arts will be executive producing.

    Warner Bros Television, where Kaling’s eponymous banner is under an overall deal, will produce.

  • Will Smith to host Netflix’s comedy-variety special

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Will Smith is set to host and star in a new comedy variety special at Netflix.

    According to Deadline, the one-hour special will include surprise celebrity guests, noteworthy conversation, fresh comedic sketches, huge musical performances and more.

    Smith’s Westbrook Studios will produce the special for Netflix with the 52-year-old actor serving as an executive producer.

    Terence Carter, Miguel Melendez and Sahara Bushue are also executive producing the special, which will launch globally on Netflix later this year.

    Smith and Westbrook are currently working on a number of projects across film, television, and digital platforms.

    Among those is “Bel-Air”, a reimagining of the actor’s cult classic sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”.

    The show, which has a two season order from streaming service Peacock, is based on Morgan Cooper’s viral video that reimagined the NBC comedy series as a drama.

    On the film front, Smith will next star in Warner Bros’ “King Richard”, a movie about Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.

  • Jennifer Lopez to star in Netflix’s sci-fi thriller ‘Atlas’

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: After signing her recent first-look deal with Netflix, American singer and actor Jennifer Lopez is already busy building up that development slate as sources tell that she is set to star and produce in the Netflix sci-fi thriller ‘Atlas’ with Rampage Brad Peyton directing the movie.

    According to Deadline, Aron Eli Coleite is writing the most recent draft of the script based on Leo Sardarian’s original script. Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell will produce for Safehouse Pictures along with Peyton and Jeff Fierson for ASAP Entertainment as well as Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina joining Lopez to produce through Nuyorican Productions. Courtney Baxter will executively produce with Matt Schwartz co-producing.

    The film follows Atlas, a woman fighting for humanity in a future where an AI soldier has determined the only way for ending war is to end humanity. To outthink this rogue AI, Atlas must work with the one thing she fears most, another AI.

    Peyton said, “I’m so honored to be working with Jennifer, Elaine and the rest of the team at Nuyorican Productions along with our partners Joby and Tory at Safehouse. Having the chance to direct Jennifer in the title role of this movie is a dream come true, as I know she’ll bring the incredible strength, depth and authenticity we’ve all come to admire from her work.”

    He further added “Furthermore, Jeff and I are so excited to be back working with Scott, Ori and the entire team at Netflix. They have been nothing short of amazing to work with and we are blessed to have the opportunity to make another movie on the service.”

    The film falls under the newly announced creative partnership between Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and Netflix where Lopez, producing partner Goldsmith-Thomas and longtime manager Medina will produce a slate of films, television series, scripted and unscripted content, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers, and filmmakers.

    The first two announced projects both starring Lopez include ‘The Mother’ which is directed by Niki Carpo and ‘The Cipher’, based on the novel by Isabella Maldonado.

    As per Deadline, Lopez will be seen next in the Universal rom-com ‘Marry Me’ opposite Owen Wilson and also has the Lionsgate action comedy ‘Shotgun Wedding’. Both films will be released in 2022.

  • Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale to play leads in Netflix limited series ‘The Watcher’

    By Express News Service
    Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale have been roped in to play the leads in The Watcher, a Netflix limited series from Ryan Murphy and his frequent collaborator Ian Brennan.

    The Watcher reportedly follows a married couple (Watts, Cannavale) who move into their dream home and start facing threats in the form of letters from a stalker.

    The series marks a reunion of the leads Watts and Cannavale, who feature together in the upcoming feature Once Upon a Time in Staten Island.

    Filming of The Watcher, inspired by true incidents that happened around 1905, is set to begin in the fall.Watts has Amazon’s remake of horror cult classic Goodnight Mommy, which is currently being filmed, in the lineup including Lakewood and Infinite Storm.

    On the TV front, she recently portrayed Gretchen Carlson in the Showtime limited series The Loudest Voice. Cannavale, on the other hand, co-stars in the Netflix comedy Thunder Force. He next will be seen in the films Jolt, Seriously Red, Blonde and Lapham Rising. 

  • Jessica Henwick joins Daniel Craig in ‘Knives Out 2’

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: Netflix’s upcoming ‘Knives Out’ sequel has added actor Jessica Henwick to the already packed star cast of the film.

    As per Deadline, the actor has joined the first sequel to ‘Knives Out’, teaming up with a star-studded list of previously announced cast members including Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Janelle Monae, Leslie Odom Jr. and Edward Norton.

    Actor Daniel Craig, who essayed the role of master sleuth Benoit Blanc in the hit 2019 whodunnit, will reprise the role in the sequel.

    The upcoming second installment will be written and directed by Rian Johnson. He is also set to produce with Ram Bergman under their T-Street banner. Plot details are being kept under wraps but the follow-up will be another star-studded murder mystery anchored by Craig’s character Blanc.

    ‘Knives Out’ was released via Lionsgate in 2019, earning a total of USD 311.4 million at the box office on a USD 40 million budget. Johnson, who earned a 2020 Oscar nomination for the ‘Knives Out’ screenplay, told The Hollywood Reporter that he began working on the script shortly after the first film was released.

    In a massive USD 469 million deal, Netflix recently won the rights for two sequels and a readymade franchise. The only contingencies of the deal were that Craig must star in both the sequels and that each must have at least the budget of the 2019 movie.

    The original ‘Knives Out’ starred Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana de Armas, Christopher Plummer, Michael Shannon, and Toni Collette, among many others. It is currently unclear whether or not any of the original film’s cast members will join Craig for the new murder mystery, which is planning to start production in Greece this summer.

    The first film was born out of Johnson’s love for Agatha Christie novels, and he set out to write his own whodunnit focussing on the demise of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Plummer), which sets off a fight for his estate among his children and grandchildren.

    Among the dysfunctions within the deceased’s family, Detective Blanc (Craig) arrives to investigate the suspicious circumstances of Thrombey’s death, with everyone a suspect.

    Henwick had her first breakout role in the Netflix and Marvel series ‘Iron Fist’. She followed that up by landing a coveted leading role in the next chapter in ‘The Matrix’ series starring opposite Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss.

    She is currently filming ‘The Gray Man’ opposite Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.

  • Jonah Hill, Kenya Barris collaborating for Netflix comedy film

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Jonah Hill has teamed up with “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris for a comedy feature film.

    The movie, which is set up at streamer Netflix, has been co-written by Hill and Barris, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    Although plot details are being kept under wraps, the untitled project will be an updated look at the themes tackled in the classic movie “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”.

    The 1967 movie, which featured Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Houghton, centred on a white couple’s daughter surprising her parents with a Black fiance.

    Hill and Barris will both produce the project as well.

    Barris will produce via his Khalabo Ink Society banner, while Hill will produce through his Strong Baby banner, along with Kevin Misher for Misher Films.

    E Brian Dobbins, Matt Dines, Ali Goodwin and Andy Berman will serve as executive producers.

    The makers aim to start production on the project later this year.

  • Jennifer Lopez sign multi-year production deal with Netflix

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Pop star-actor Jennifer Lopez’s production company has inked a multi-year first-look deal with video streaming platform Netflix.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions will create feature films, TV series and unscripted content, supporting diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

    The “Hustlers” star, who co-runs the banner with production partner Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, is already working on two Netflix features — “The Mother” and “The Cipher”.

    “I am excited to announce my new partnership with Netflix. Elaine, Benny and I believe there is no better home for us than a forward-leaning content creation company that seeks to defy conventional wisdom and directly market to the millions across the globe who no longer view art and entertainment with the kind of boundaries and limitations of the past,” she said.

    Scott Stuber, Netflix’s head of global films, said they are looking forward to showcase “impactful” stories in collaboration with Lopez.

    ALSO READ | Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck working towards taking relationship to next level

    “Throughout every aspect of her career, Jennifer Lopez has been a force in entertainment. In partnering with her and Nuyorican, we know she will continue to bring impactful stories, joy and inspiration to audiences around the world,” he said.

    Lopez will start shooting for Niki Caro-directed “The Mother” later this year.

    The film is scheduled to release in 2022.

  • Chrissy Teigen exits Netflix comedy ‘Never Have I Ever’ after ‘bullying’ revelations

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: American model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen has existed a guest voice role in the Netflix comedy ‘Never Have I Ever’ in the wake of revelations that she once engaged in online bullying against model Courtney Stodden.

    Teigen decided to step away from the role, which would have occurred in one episode, according to a spokesperson for the show, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

    Teigen opted to drop out of the planned voice role in one episode of the upcoming second season of the Netflix coming of age comedy from Mindy Kaling. The series features voice-over narration for key characters performed by guest actors.

    A spokesman for the show said the role is expected to be recast. ‘Never Have I Ever’ revolves around a first-generation Indian American teenage girl navigating high school while dealing with the loss of her father.

    The previous season featured voiceover narration by famed tennis player John McEnroe for Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s character Devi.

    Teigen issued a public apology on May 12 after Stodden revealed in an interview with Daily Beast that Teigen harassed them online a decade ago after Stodden married actor Doug Hutchison when they were 16 and he was 60.

    Stodden revealed that Teigen sent them direct messages with cruel taunts such as “I can’t wait for you to die.”

    Teigen apologised to Stodden publicly in a lengthy Twitter post.

    “Not a lot of people are lucky enough to be held accountable for all their past bulls– in front of the entire world. I’m mortified and sad at who I used to be. I was an insecure, attention seeking troll,” Teigen wrote in the post.

    The model, who has 13.5 million followers on Twitter and 34.9 million followers on Instagram, has not tweeted since her three-part apology on May 12. Her last Instagram post on May 11 featured a page from one of her cookbooks.

    ‘Never Have I Ever’ hails from Universal Television. Mindy Kaling created the series with Lang Fisher, who is executive producer and showrunner. Kaling also serves as executive producer with 3 Arts Entertainment’s Howard Klein and David Miner.

  • Actor Blake Lively to headline ‘We Used to Live Here’ on Netflix

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Blake Lively will play the lead role in the adaptation of “We Used to Live Here”, a psychological thriller novella by Marcus Kliewer.

    According to Deadline, streaming giant Netflix has made a deal for the screen rights to the novella which was published on Reddit.

    The novella follows a homeowner who finds herself interrupted during move-in by the arrival of a nuclear family of strangers.

    The family just wants to take a look around the old place, they explain; they used to live there, after all.

    After making the extremely ill-advised decision to let them in, the homeowner and her girlfriend find themselves snowed in with the family during a blizzard.

    Lively will also produce the movie along with Kate Vorhoff through her B for Effort banner.

    Ground Control Entertainment’s Scott Glassgold, and 6th & Idaho’s Matt Reeves and Adam Kassan are the other producers.