Francis Lawrence had already cast his younger leads for his upcoming Stephen King adaptation, “The Long Walk,” but now he’s added a couple of veteran actors to his ensemble. Deadline reports that Judy Greer and Mark Hamill are the latest to join the dystopian thriller, about an annual event in which 100 teenage boys walk nonstop to their deaths until one remains standing.  

Continue reading ‘The Long Walk’: Judy Greer & Mark Hamill The Latest To Join Lionsgate’s Adaptation Of Stephen King’s 1979 Richard Bachman Novel at The Playlist.

To no one’s surprise, Lionsgate remains in the “Hunger Games” business. The studio has greenlit an adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ upcoming prequel ahead of its March 18, 2025, release date. And fans of the franchise won’t wait long for the new film.  Lionsgate slates “The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping” for a premier November 20, 2026 theatrical release; so, roughly a year and a half wait.

Continue reading ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’: Lionsgate Dates Adaptation Of Upcoming Prequel For November 20, 2026 at The Playlist.

There have been tons of film adaptations of Stephen King‘s work over the years, but there’s one early novel of the prolific writer that’s never made it to the big screen: 1979’s “The Long Walk.” Several filmmakers have eyed the book for a movie over the years, including George A. Romero and Frank Darabont. But according to THR, it looks like “The Hunger Games” helmer Francis Lawrence leads the charge on the project now.

Continue reading ‘The Long Walk’: Francis Lawrence & Lionsgate To Team Up Again For Adaptation Of Early Stephen King Novel at The Playlist.

There are plenty of films where you can totally understand why a filmmaker feels like the end product was not really what was intended. Many times, that is a result of studio interference. But in the case of “Constantine,” filmmaker Francis Lawrence believes the end result was negatively affected well before cameras rolled. In fact, he thinks it was when he agreed to do the film at a PG-13 rating that doomed his feature.

Continue reading ‘Constantine’: Francis Lawrence Talks “Selling Out” On The First Film & Why The Sequel Must Be R-Rated  at The Playlist.

Never mind that it’s been almost eight years since “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” hit theaters. After Suzanne Collins published “The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes” in 2020, a prequel to her hit YA sci-fi series “The Hunger Games” was all but guaranteed Lionsgate would make a movie of it. And now that time has come: the fifth installment of “The Hunger Games” hits theaters this November, focusing on a young President Coriolanus Snow’s rise to power in Panem.

Continue reading ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes’ Trailer: Lionsgate’s Franchise Prequel Hits Theaters On November 17 at The Playlist.

Trying to follow along with all of the false starts in the world of “Constantine” is a futile gesture. After the original film was released in 2005, where it made decent but not great money and earned mixed reviews, it seemed like the potential franchise was killed before it really got the chance to happen. But over the years, there have been numerous attempts to revive the character, to no avail.

Continue reading ‘Constantine’ Sequel Is Actually Happening This Time With Keanu Reeves & Francis Lawrence Returning at The Playlist.

“Slumberland,” the latest big-budget adventure film from Netflix, is something like an “Inception” for kids, featuring a precocious young girl, a cute stuffed pig, and a towering, stinky sidekick. Written by David Guion and Michael Handelman, “Slumberland” has some snazzy fun with the concept of how dreams take us to similar experiences—about forgetting to wear pants, driving a runaway truck, or endless staircases.

Continue reading ‘Slumberland’ Review: Jason Momoa’s Latest Has Dazzling Effects But An All Too Familiar Story at The Playlist.

While the world awaits “Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom,” now delayed until a Christmas Day 2023 theatrical release, Jason Momoa and Netflix have something to tide audiences over. Enter “Slumberland,” a fantasy adventure that sees Momoa take on a different kind of hero.

READ MORE: ‘See’ Trailer: Jason Momoa Returns For The Epic Conclusion Of Apple TV+ Series [Comic-Con]

The film stars Momoa as Flip, an outlaw in the titular fantasy land who helps a young girl track down her missing dad.

Continue reading ‘Slumberland’ Trailer: Follow Jason Momoa On A New Fantasy Adventure Hitting Netflix On November 18 at The Playlist.

The DC-related supernatural property “Constantine” has been in the air for the last two years. Whispers of a belated sequel with Keanu Reeves were bandied about at one point and then seemingly squashed in 2021 when Reeves was asked by reporters and said he “would love to” make a “Constantine” sequel, but the studios weren’t interested. Instead, Warner Bros. and HBO Max went ahead with a “Constantine” series from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot productions that was supposed to kick off an interconnected world of supernatural DC projects like “Justice League Dark,” but none of those projects have yet come to fruition.

Continue reading ‘Constantine’: Keanu Reeves Will Return For A Belated Sequel, Francis Lawrence Directing Again at The Playlist.

Few ’90s bands have as devoted a fanbase as Sublime. Now, the Long Beach, California ska band will get a biopic all about the band’s rise to fame and the tragic passing of its frontman, Bradley Nowell.

READ MORE: ‘Bioshock’: Netflix Enlists Francis Lawrence & ‘Logan’ Screenwriter Michael Green To Adapt Sci-Fi Horror Video Game

EW reports that “The Hunger Games” director Francis Lawrence will helm the upcoming film, with “Ozark” showrunner Chris Mundy on board to pen the script.

Continue reading Biopic About The Band Sublime On The Way From ‘Hunger Games’ Director Francis Lawrence & ‘Ozark’ Writer Chris Mundy at The Playlist.

Netflix is developing a live-action film based on the “BioShock” video game franchise. A previous incarnation had been a passion project for filmmaker Gore Verbinski (“Pirates of The Caribbean“) but eventually dissolved before this latest version of the film surfaced. The streaming service has found its writer and director for the sci-fi horror mash-up project.

It’s been revealed by Deadline that Francis Lawrence has been hired to direct “BioShock” with Michael Green (“Logan,” “Blade Runner 2049“) tasked to pen the script.

Continue reading ‘BioShock’: Netflix Enlists Director Francis Lawrence & ‘Logan’ Screenwriter Michael Green To Adapt Sci-Fi Horror Video Game at The Playlist.

Netflix just released a massively popular TV series all about the world of dreams in “The Sandman.” And it appears this fall, the streamer is ready to head back to the dream world but with an entirely different tone in “Slumberland.”

READ MORE: Jason Momoa On His ‘Conan The Barbarian’ Remake: It Was “Turned Into A Big Pile Of Sh*t”

As seen in the teaser for “Slumberland,” the film is more of a fairy tale that involves a young girl who enters Slumberland while dreaming and comes across a new friend, Flip (played by Jason Momoa).

Continue reading ‘Slumberland’ Teaser: Jason Momoa Takes A Young Girl Through The Magical World Of Dreams at The Playlist.

Move over, Jennifer Lawrence: the “Hunger Games” films have a new star. With a movie version of the series prequel, “The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes,” set for a November 2023 release date, Lionsgate has that film’s female lead. And it’s a great fit. Variety reports that Rachel Zegler, who recently wow-ed audiences as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “A West Side Story,” will star as Lucy Gray Baird, the prequel’s heroine.

Continue reading Rachel Zegler Cast As Lucy Gray Baird In ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel at The Playlist.

Keanu Reeves is one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood today. His “John Wick” franchise is one of the most exciting recent action film series of the past decade. Reeves is also set to revive “The Matrix” in the upcoming sequel, ‘Resurrections.’ And he’s often thought of as the nicest dude on the planet. But apparently, being a really nice guy, a super famous movie star, and someone able to resurrect the “Bill & Ted” franchise doesn’t mean you get everything you want.

Continue reading Keanu Reeves “Would Love” To Make Another ‘Constantine’ But The Studio Isn’t Interested at The Playlist.

When AppleTV+ launched in the early winter/late fall of 2019, one of their biggest flagship shows was “See,” a post-apocalyptic thriller starring Jason Momoa, about a world where most people have gone blind or partially blind and live in primitive tribes. From director Francis Lawrence (“The Hunger Games“), the series, set in a brutal and primitive future, hundreds of years after humankind has lost the ability to see scored a second and third season not too long after its premiere; a big vote of confidence.

Continue reading ‘See’ Season Two Trailer: Dave Bautista Joins Jason Momoa In Apple’s Post-Apocalyptic Series at The Playlist.

After their work together on the Apple TV+ series, “See,” it appears that Jason Momoa and director Francis Lawrence are ready to work on their next collaboration, the upcoming adventure film, “Slumberland.”

READ MORE: Jason Momoa Fully Voices His Support For Ray Fisher Against Warner Bros: “This Sh*t Has To Stop”

According to Deadline, Lawrence is going to direct Momoa, along with Kyle Chandler, Chris O’Dowd, and Marlow Barkley, in a new fantasy film, titled “Slumberland.” The exact plot of the film is being kept secret, but it’s clear by the title, the film will be inspired by “Little Nemo in Slumberland,” which is a series of iconic comic strips from artist Winsor McKay dating back to 1905.

Continue reading ‘Slumberland’: Kyle Chandler Joins Jason Momoa In Francis Lawrence’s Upcoming Film at The Playlist.

You might have been expecting an announcement on a new “Constantine” movie or TV show, as reports have been pouring in on plans to continue telling stories of DC’s Hellblazer either with original actor Keanu Reeves or with a new actor (maybe Matt Ryan, who is playing the character on the Arrowverse shows). Though no new announcement was made, we did get a cool and fittingly weird idea about a “Constantine” sequel that never was, and it could have literally included Jesus Christ.

Continue reading ‘Constantine’ Producer Reveals Plans For Hard-R Sequel Where Constantine Met Jesus Christ at The Playlist.

A timely interview gives some credence to some recent rumors. The gossip of late? That Warner Bros. is developing a new “Constantine” film or sequel is in the works and possibly with Keanu Reeves (the rumor being they want him, but who knows if they can get him). The adjunct talk is that “Constantine” character falls under the “Justice League Dark” umbrella, which is currently being handled by J.J.

Continue reading Francis Lawrence Suggests A New ‘Constantine’ Movie Is In The Works But Without Him & Keanu Reeves at The Playlist.

Unlike many of its YA dystopia brethren, “The Hunger Games” franchise has been a huge success for Lionsgate, earning more than $3 billion worldwide off of the first four films. And now, it appears that Lionsgate is officially moving forward with a prequel film, titled “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The studio is also bringing back the filmmaker that helped finish the first ‘Hunger Games’ run.

Continue reading Lionsgate Announces ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel, ‘The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes,’ Directed By Francis Lawrence at The Playlist.

The last few years have seen the film industry change pretty significantly, specifically in the realm of what projects get the green light at a major studio. With streaming content becoming more and more prominent in the public’s mind and box office leaning heavily towards franchises and established IP, we’re seeing a distinct lack of original ideas and adult-themed films. And for director Francis Lawrence, he believes that’s a factor that played out over the course of production and release of his 2018 spy drama “Red Sparrow.”

Speaking to /Film, Lawrence talked about why he feels that “Red Sparrow” might not have been a huge hit for him, as well as why he thinks films like the Jennifer Lawrence-starrer just don’t get made anymore.

Continue reading Francis Lawrence Says Films Like ‘Red Sparrow’ Won’t Be Made By Studios Anymore: “They’re All So Desperate For IP-Driven Movies” at The Playlist.

Francis Lawrence is a smart man. Clearly, he knows that when you’re the director of three incredibly popular franchise films, you never shut the door on the possibility of returning. And in the case of “The Hunger Games,” with a new prequel book around the corner and Lionsgate openly admitting that a film adaptation is coming, it appears that Lawrence has already been discussing his return to the franchise.

Continue reading Francis Lawrence Confirms Talks With Lionsgate About Directing Upcoming ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel at The Playlist.

Sometimes a concept takes itself so seriously, it turns endlessly amusing by extension. Writer/producer Steven Knight is certainly no stranger to big-swing ideas. One of the men responsible for the BBC drama “Peaky Blinders,” the one-man-driving-in-a-car movie “Locke,” and “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” Knight is such a ridiculously prolific writer and creator that he almost seems to be churning out loglines at this point in his career.

Continue reading ‘See’: Jason Momoa Stars In A Dime Store, Frontier Fantasy That’s So Overly Solemn Its Just Plain Silly [Review] at The Playlist.

There are big gambles in life, and then there’s “See,” one of the first shows to debut on the new streaming service Apple TV+. The show, which hedges its bets with the star power of Jason Momoa and the high-concept plot, reportedly cost a staggering $15 million per episode to make. In the futuristic series, all of humanity has been blind for so many years that they question whether sight itself is just a historic myth.

Continue reading ‘See’ Trailer: Jason Momoa Stars In New Post-Apocalyptic Series Coming To Apple TV+ at The Playlist.

We haven’t even gotten one episode of a TV series from Apple yet, but already they’re becoming one of the premier destinations for quality streaming content. At least, on paper. And with this new announcement from Deadline, it looks like the tech company can add another anticipated series to their slate.

Deadline is reporting that Jason “My Man!” Momoa has signed on to star in a new series for Apple, called “See.” While your excitement for anything with Jason Momoa in it might be a little tempered, he’s joining some pretty exciting creators on the project.

Continue reading Jason Momoa To Star In New Series From Director Francis Lawrence And ‘Peaky Blinders’ Creator at The Playlist.

The Gawker v. Hulk Hogan story is getting the big screen treatment, and it looks like the project is assembling a pretty good crew to spearhead the film. According to reports, filmmaker Francis Lawrence (“Red Sparrow” and three of the four “Hunger Games” films) has been signed on to direct a film based on the novel “Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue,” which details the recent case that resulted in Gawker going bankrupt and Hulk Hogan becoming an even more wealthy man, all thanks to Peter Thiel.

Continue reading Francis Lawrence To Direct Gawker-Hulk Hogan Film Based On Script By ‘The Big Short’ Writer at The Playlist.