Prime Video’s “The Boys,” based on a popular comic book series of the same name, is a massive hit series for the streaming service. One of the biggest on the platform. However, that doesn’t mean the show was quick to make happen. In fact, long before it was a popular series, there was development that would have turned the comic book series into a trio of films with an acclaimed filmmaker helming them. 

Continue reading ‘The Boys’: Adam McKay Originally Developed The Project As A Trilogy Of Films & Had The First One Already Written at The Playlist.

Brace yourselves, horror fans: this upcoming project may be too juicy for its own good. THR reports that “Mandy” director Panos Cosmatos has his next film lined up, a vampire thriller set in 1980s LA starring Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac.  Still not excited?  How about “Se7en” and “The Killer” scribe Andrew Kevin Walker penning the script?  

Continue reading ‘Flesh Of The Gods’: Kristen Stewart & Oscar Isaac To Star In Pano Cosmatos’ Vampire Thriller Set In ’80s LA Written By Andrew Kevin Walker at The Playlist.

Well, aren’t we happy we didn’t place this one on our 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2024 feature (not that it had shot, so it wouldn’t have been ready). And it looks like the rumors are true. Adam McKay’s serial killer Netflix pic “Average Height, Average Build” is dead and isn’t moving forward. McKay is evidently eying a new film altogether.

But let’s lament what’s not happening first because it would have been a Most Anticipated Film for 2025 and guaranteed within the top five.

Continue reading Adam McKay’s Political Serial Killer Film With Robert Pattinson & Amy Adams Is Dead; Director Pivots To Climate Change Movie at The Playlist.

Thought HBO’s acclaimed basketball, rise-of-the-LA Lakers series, “Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty,” was a one-off? Oh no, the series, from writer/director Adam McKay, a huge hoop dreams nut, is back for more. Still, it cautions: it takes more than one NBA Championship to build a certified dynasty, which the Lakers obviously were for several years in the 1980s.

The seven-episode season of “Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty” debuts Sunday, August 6 at 9:00 p.m.

Continue reading ‘Winning Time’ Season 2 Trailer: It Takes More Than A Championship To Build A Dynasty at The Playlist.

Well, it looks like Adam McKay‘s “Average Height, Average Build” is a go, at least in terms of its cast. Deadline reports that McKay has the two leading men he wants for the project lined up, with Robert Pattinson and Robert Downey Jr. now on board. But three others also join the cast list of the director’s upcoming allegorical dramedy: Amy Adams, Forest Whitaker, and “Till” star Danielle Deadwyler.

Continue reading ‘Average Height, Average Build’: Adam McKay’s Serial Killer Dramedy Adds Amy Adams, Forest Whitaker & Danielle Deadwyler at The Playlist.

What’s Adam McKay have on his mind as a follow-up to 2021’s “Don’t Look Up“? At the Tribeca Film Festival last year, McKay hinted that he was working on a script all about “big, dirty money,” ostensibly about the USA’s corrupt corporate and financial sectors. That sounds like a logical next step for the guy who made “The Big Short” in 2015.

READ MORE: Adam McKay Working On Script For Next Film & It’s All About “Big, Dirty Money”

But over at Puck, Matthew Belloni has the scoop that McKay is currently pitching another project to streamers and studios.

Continue reading ‘Average Height, Average Build’: Adam McKay Is Shopping Around A Serial Killer Dramedy, Wants Robert Pattinson & Robert Downey Jr. To Star at The Playlist.

It’s not uncommon for a major news event to spawn multiple TV and film projects. Often, these are welcomed because it’s always interesting to watch different filmmakers and writers take a stab at a major news event. But sometimes, there is one definitive version that renders the rest irrelevant. And in the mind of Jennifer Lawrence, watching Amanda Seyfriend nail the role of Elizabeth Holmes in “The Dropout” made her second guess starring in the upcoming film, “Bad Blood.”

READ MORE: Amanda Seyfried Doesn’t Believe For A Second Elizabeth Holmes Avoided Watching ‘The Dropout’ [Inteview]

On Twitter, writer Kyle Buchanan shared an outtake from a recent New York Times interview he did with Jennifer Lawrence.

Continue reading Jennifer Lawrence Says Amanda Seyfried’s ‘Dropout’ Performance Convinced Her To Depart Adam McKay’s ‘Bad Blood’ at The Playlist.

Not speaking on the actual quality of his more recent filmography, if there is one wide-reaching filmmaker who seems to have a particular recurring bone to pick with the rich and bougie currently, it is Adam McKay. From his Dick Cheney biopic “Vice” from 2018 to his climate change-concerned dramedy “Don’t Look Up” from last year, McKay seems to be having it up to here with those in power and the amount of power they wield.

Continue reading ‘The Menu’ Trailer: Anya-Taylor Joy & Ralph Fiennes Star In A Dark “Eat The Rich” Comedy at The Playlist.

What’s next for Olivia Cooke after AppleTV+‘s “Slow Horses” and HBO‘s upcoming “Game Of Thrones” prequel “House Of The Dragon“? It looks like she’ll return to the thriller-horror genre for the first time since 2017’s “Thoroughbreds.”

READ MORE: Adam McKay Working On Script For Next Film & It’s All About “Big, Dirty Money”

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Cooke will headline the cast of Lionsgate‘s upcoming socially-minded horror project “Breeders.” And “Don’t Look Up” director Adam McKay is one of the brains behind the idea.

Continue reading Olivia Cooke Teams Up With Adam McKay For Upcoming Lionsgate Horror Thriller ‘Breeders’ at The Playlist.

Fresh off last year’s apocalyptic comedy “Don’t Look Up” and directing the pilot for HBO’s “Winning Time,” Adam McKay has his sights on his next motion picture. And, for good or ill, his follow-up to a movie about the end of the world as we know it tackles another thorny, controversial subject.

READ MORE: The Essentials: The Films Of Adam McKay

Deadline reports that in a Q&A at the Tribeca Film Festival, McKay revealed he’s hard at work on a new script, another dramatic comedy in the vein of “Don’t Look Up.” But this time, McKay has “big, dirty money” in his satirical sights.

Continue reading Adam McKay Working On Script For Next Film & It’s All About “Big, Dirty Money” at The Playlist.

How far would you go for a great meal? With food culture exploding in the past decade, many couples have made a ritual of seeking out trendy restaurants and unique culinary experiences. Given the means, some foodies will travel far and wide to enjoy extraordinary cuisine. That is the basis of “The Menu,” an upcoming dark comedy from director Mark Mylod and producer Adam McKay.

The movie stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult as romantic partners who visit a mysterious island to eat at a prestigious restaurant with a sinister chef played by Ralph Fiennes.

Continue reading ‘The Menu’ Trailer: Ralph Fiennes Is A Sinister Chef & Anya Taylor-Joy Co-Stars In A Dark Comedy From The ‘Succession’ Team at The Playlist.

One of the most accomplished directors today, Denis Villeneuve’s audacious visions make every frame a marvel to behold. Most of his films are dark and cerebral, featuring characters having an existential crisis in a complex world. Villeneuve frequently operates in gritty dramas or expansive science fiction stories with plots that explore the worst of humanity, such as “Prisoners,” “Arrival,” and “Sicario.”

His latest film brings Frank Herbert’s mythical “Dune” to life.

Continue reading Denis Villeneuve’s “Very Old Secret” Is Directing An Adam McKay-Written “Dark Comedy” at The Playlist.

The Bingeworthy buds, Mike DeAngelo and Playlist Editor-in-Chief Rodrigo Perez, are back to talk about all of the TV news and shows that are worth your time. This week finds our hosts digging into one of the new HBO series, “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”

LISTEN: David Jenkins Talks ‘Our Flag Means Death,’ Working With Taika Waititi & More [Bingeworthy Podcast]

The new Adam McKay (“Succession,” “Don’t Look Up,” “Anchorman“) show follows, as the title suggests, the rise of the 80’s Lakers Dynasty led by a new and controversial team owner, Jerry Buss (John C.

Continue reading Max Borenstein, Rodney Barnes & Quincy Isaiah Talk HBO’s Hilarious & Hedonistic ‘Winning Time’ [Bingeworthy Podcast] at The Playlist.

HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” wants to be the “Boogie Nights” of basketball, and more often than not achieves the excitement of that pitch. It tells you the history you didn’t know you wanted to know about how the Los Angeles Lakers became such a dominant team, without demanding you know the sport. There are numerous intriguing pieces here in this ten-episode series from Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, adapted from the book “Showtime” by Jeff Pearlman, including the rise of young rookie Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the million-dollar gambles of unlikely team owner Dr.

Continue reading ‘Winning Time’: Adam McKay’s Series With John C. Reilly Pops With “Showtime” Magic But Then Loses Its Edge [Review] at The Playlist.

NBA All-Star Weekend is over and about four weeks away from March Madness starting. So, with this relative lull in between major basketball events, it’s not surprising that HBO has decided to debut its ambitious new basketball series right in between. And while still embargoed from sharing thoughts on the program, we can guarantee you that “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” is going to create a tremendous amount of buzz not only with Laker fans but for anyone who follows NBA (and perhaps the league offices as well).

Continue reading ‘Winning Time’: John C. Reilly On Jerry Buss’ “Great American Story” [TCA] at The Playlist.

The Bingeworthy boys, Mike DeAngelo, and Playlist Editor-in-Chief Rodrigo Perez, are back to talk about all of the TV news and shows that are worth your time. This week finds us discussing the big Paramount investor day presentation news and digging into the depths of HBO Max to uncover a hidden gem of a show called “Painting with John.”

READ MORE: ‘Painting With John’: John Lurie Offers A Soulful, Deep, Pained & Absurdist Portrait Of An Artist & A Strange Life [Review]

After the news breakdown, John Lurie himself stops by to discuss his career and the second season of “Painting with John,” which begins on HBO Max this Friday, February 18.

Continue reading John Lurie Talks ‘Painting with John’ Season 2 [Bingeworthy Podcast] at The Playlist.

It’s hard to think of other professional basketball teams that measure up to the Showtime Lakers era. NBA dynasties such as the Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan had a predecessor with Magic Johnson and the Lakers. Considered one of the best eras for the franchise before the late Kobe Bryant, and more recently, LeBron James helped to revitalize the team.

HBO Max is behind a new series that will explore that era that made Johnson a superstar athlete and has released a new trailer for “Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty,” giving audiences an idea of the show’s tone and showcasing the impressive group of actors assembled.

Continue reading ‘Winning Time’ Trailer: New HBO Max Series Focusing On Legacy Of The L.A. Lakers Debuts March 6 at The Playlist.

No stranger to political works, writer/director Billy Ray was behind the recent Showtime series “The Comey Rule,” focusing on former FBI director James Comey and President Trump’s attempt to coax the FBI to drop an investigation into his campaign’s and his own personal dealings with Russia. Now, in an announcement that isn’t all that surprising given their outspoken politics on the matter, filmmaker Adam McKay (“Vice,” “Don’t Look Up“) and Ray are looking to unite to focus on the Trump administration by moving forward with a feature film focusing on the U.S.

Continue reading ‘J6’: Billy Ray To Direct U.S. Capitol Insurrection Attack Film With Adam McKay Producing at The Playlist.

Well, folks, Netflix has a new “biggest thing ever!” to talk about. Before last year, the biggest streaming platform on the planet was pretty hush-hush when it come to talking about viewership numbers for films and TV shows, often giving us nebulous charts and questionable stats. But now, every week, Netflix updates its Top 10 website, showcasing what is currently the biggest shows and TV series based on total hours viewed over a period of time (though to be fair, it’s not like it’s super transparent data, nor is it comparative to anything else; just a touting of its hits without mention of any flops).

Continue reading ‘Don’t Look Up’ Apparently Scores Biggest Weekly Viewership In Netflix Film History at The Playlist.

Long before he directed “Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy,” a movie that shaped the sensibility of 2000’s screen comedy to an immeasurable degree, Adam McKay was already schooled in the art of making people laugh. As a young man, the Denver-born McKay cut his teeth at venerated Chicago comedy institutions, like Second City, IO, and Upright Citizens Brigade. McKay then went on to audition for “Saturday Night Live,” where he failed to make the cut as a cast member.

Continue reading The Essentials: The Films Of Adam McKay at The Playlist.

Adam McKay has made a name for himself as one of the premier filmmakers working today. It seems that once he made the jump from straight comedy to more satirical work with “The Big Short” and his more recent films, he’s become one of the biggest Oscar favorites each time he releases a film. This gives his casts confidence that they can go big and do whatever is asked of them with each film.

Continue reading Leonardo DiCaprio Was Concerned About Meryl Streep’s Nude Scene In ‘Don’t Look Up’ Because She’s “Film Royalty” at The Playlist.

Over the past week or so, there have been multiple stories about the reasons behind the professional breakup of producing partners, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. The duo created the popular production company, Gary Sanchez, to only eventually go their separate ways. And apparently, it is all the result of a casting issue with McKay’s upcoming HBO Laker’s drama series. But what has been missing from all of this reporting, at least in McKays’ estimation, is talk about his upcoming film, “Don’t Look Up,” and the serious issue it attempts to tackle.

Continue reading Adam McKay Thinks People Focusing On Will Ferrell Feud Instead Of His Climate Change Film Is “A Scary Sign Of Our Times” at The Playlist.

Plenty of ink has been spilled on the evolution (or, depending on who you’re talking to, de-evolution) of Adam McKay, who has gone from the “Saturday Night Live” writers room to the auteur of such likably goofy Will Ferrell vehicles as “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights” to the Oscar-winning purveyor of message movies like “The Big Short” and “Vice.” His critics—and there are plenty of them,—have accused McKay of committing the ultimate crime for a comic artist: taking himself too seriously, inhaling his own press clippings, and deeming himself not merely the co-creator of Ron Burgundy, but a somber thinker and social commentator.  

Continue reading ‘Don’t Look Up’ Review: A Smug, Glib Miscalculation From Adam McKay at The Playlist.

Way back in 2016, after the success of “The Big Short,” it was reported that Adam McKay would team up with Jennifer Lawrence for a film titled “Bad Blood,” about the downfall of Theranos founder, Elizabeth Holmes. Then, like so many projects, things went silent. Not a peep about the project. Well, a couple of more McKay films later, it appears the project is back on the slate with Apple ready to help bring it to life.

Continue reading Apple To Produce & Distribute Adam McKay’s Elizabeth Holmes Film Starring Jennifer Lawrence at The Playlist.

In Hollywood, it’s rare that anyone is candid or truthful of much, usually offering diplomatic answers instead of delving into the truth. Take Will Ferrell discussing the nature of his split with director Adam McKay. The two had a longstanding working and creative relationship for years, Ferrell starring in many of McKay’s movies, and the two had a successful production company Gary Sanchez that released several successful comedies.

Continue reading Adam McKay Admits He “F*cked Up” His Relationship With Will Ferrell Who Hasn’t Returned His Emails at The Playlist.