The video game curse seems to have lifted in recent years. For what seemed like decades before, movie studios, for years, could not get a decent live-action video game adaptation to the screen. Sure, there were dozens of them, but they had a reputation for being awful. Now that the hump seems to be overcome—not to mention studios making quality films out of seemingly unadaptable material like “The LEGO Movie” and “Barbie”— the successful “Sonic The Hedgehog” franchise returns with its third installment.

Continue reading ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ Trailer: Shadow Joins The Video Game Adaptation Coming In December at The Playlist.

As with any massive awards announcement, some nominees are celebrating this morning, and some who decidedly are not. Despite what was once considered a generally weak year in several categories, the 2024 Emmy Awards were full of deserving talent who were unfortunately not recognized for their efforts. The biggest omission was for “The Curse” across multiple categories. But not everyone can get into the party, right? Keeping all that in mind, here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises of the 2024 Emmy Awards nominations.

Continue reading Emmys 2024 Snubs and Surprises: Kate Winslet, Emma Stone, Idris Elba at The Playlist.

Kathryn Bigelow is back, and in a big way. Deadline reports that the female director returns with her first movie since 2017’s “Detroit” for an untitled Netflix feature. What’s more, Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson are in talks to star a trifecta no one knew they needed until now.

READ MORE: Kathryn Bigelow’s Next Film Will Be A Political Thriller About A Missle Attack On The US

A plot and title remain under wraps, but the film will be a thriller set in the White House as a national crisis unfolds.  

Continue reading Kathryn Bigelow Has A New Movie Brewing At Netflix, Idris Elba & Rebecca Ferguson In Talks To Star at The Playlist.

Let’s put it out there quickly, “Sonic The Hedgehog” films—about the young anthropomorphic creatures that run at lightning speeds and become heroes of Earth—are no cinematic marvels or blockbuster essentials, and they’re arguably not super memorable either. But for what they are—light, charming escapes for kids that aren’t a chore to sit through for adults thanks to their breezy pace and charismatic actors — they’re fine little diversions (Jim Carrey and Ben Schwartz being effective in their roles as quippy villains and heroes).

Continue reading ‘Knuckles’ Review: ‘Sonic’ Spin-Off Sidelines The Main Character Revealing Limitations Of Franchise TV at The Playlist.

It’s fascinating to watch certain eras of TV and filmmaking arrive when those eras are essentially over. And by that, I mean you’ll remember during the pandemic, to keep investors happy and to show them, “Don’t worry, no theaters won’t stop us from releasing content,” every studio under the sun greenlit a ton of spin-offs of their biggest brands. Basically, this era was a great time for content creators because studios were ravenous for content.

Continue reading ‘Knuckles’ Trailer: Paramount’s ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ Spin-Off Series With Idris Elba Hits In April at The Playlist.

Though it stalls out at key moments, Idris Elba ensures that 'Hijack' still has enough thrills to reach its destination in one piece.

Continue reading ‘Hijack’ Review: Idris Elba Fights For Control Of A Flight In A Frequently Tense Yet Throwaway Apple TV+ Thriller at The Playlist.

Not interested in Idris Elba reprising his iconic detective role “Luther: The Fallen Sun” on Netflix? Well, Elba has another thriller hitting another streamer soon: “Hijack,” which premieres on Apple TV+ next month.

READ MORE: The 70 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2023

The seven-part thriller stars Elba as Sam Nelson, a business negotiator who must put his professional strategies to the test after his plane to London gets hijacked.

Continue reading ‘Hijack’ Trailer: Idris Elba Stars In Apple TV+’s Thriller Series On June 28 at The Playlist.

“Luther: The Fallen Sun” comes out as the chatter about Idris Elba as James Bond has finally dissipated. A film that makes enough passes to the 007 franchise that it could easily drum up more pointless columns about the endless debate. This Netflix film winks at its audience despite its grim tone. Yes, Luther is a rather po-faced crime thriller with horror film tropes on the outside, but small nods to martinis and Andy Serkis’ icy cool supervillain hideaway sneakily prod viewers towards what a handful of them would like to see.

Continue reading ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ Review: Idris Elba Leads A Serviceable Entertaining Thriller That Won’t Reinvent A Thing at The Playlist.

Can John Luther find redemption? The popular series “Luther” ended its run in 2019 with a startling conclusion. Now, Netflix is introducing another chapter in the story with the film “Luther: The Fallen Sun.” It follows the title character as he makes yet another life-changing decision; freeing himself from prison is only the beginning as Luther pursues a familiar killer intent on a reign of terror.

Continue reading ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ Trailer: Idris Elba’s Famous Detective Leads His Own Netflix Movie at The Playlist.

Given the glut of content, making time for short films is hard. But the new Apple TV+ animated short film “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, And The Horse” looks like something special. Based on the internationally best-selling book of the same name by celebrated author Charlie Mackesy, this story of kindness, friendship, courage, and hope for viewers of all ages premieres globally on December 25, Christmas Day, on Apple TV+.

Continue reading ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, & The Horse’ Trailer: Idris Elba, Gabriel Byrne & More Voice New Animated Apple Short at The Playlist.

Russian-born director Ilya Naishuller quickly made a name for himself with his 2015 actioner “Hardcore Henry.” Then last year he turned “Better Call Saul” star Bob Odenkirk into a bonafide action star in “Nobody.” So, what does Naishuller have in store for audiences next? Deadline reports that he’ll helm a new action-packed movie for Amazon Studios called “Heads Of State,” with Idris Elba and John Cena attached to star.

Continue reading ‘Heads Of State’: ‘Nobody’ Director Ilya Naishuller Will Shoot Upcoming Amazon Movie With Idris Elba & John Cena at The Playlist.

Baltasar Kormákur’s man vs. lion adventure film “Beast” is positively Spielbergian … late Spielberg, that is. Unlike the fan service-dependent tributes like “Stranger Things” and its nostalgic ilk, Kormákur studies the craftsmanship of the modern blockbuster’s father more than his cultural impact. (Though one character in the film does give a nod to the master by wearing a “Jurassic Park” tank top, that level of wink is harmless.) With the partnership and handiwork of Oscar-winning cinematographer Philippe Rousselot, Kormákur follows the compass that has made Spielberg a class above his competition.

Continue reading ‘Beast’ Review: A Slightly Spielbergian Creature Feature With A Real Roar at The Playlist.

As competition like HBO Max seemingly is going through a major change in the coming weeks, it appears that Netflix is still moving full steam ahead, even if the streamer is cutting jobs and supposedly cutting costs. And to prove Netflix is still in the business of high-profile, captial-C Content, the studio has apparently signed a new deal with Dark Horse (the comic book company) to develop some new projects, including a big-budget film, “Bang!

Continue reading Idris Elba To Star In New Netflix Spy Film ‘Bang!’ From Director David Leitch at The Playlist.

Ever had a holiday and by some random turn of events, it’s just gone incredibly wrong? Maybe you forgot to pack your swimsuit or that extra pair of underwear. Whatever it is, it can’t be as bad as being chased by bloodthirsty lions. “Beast” is a survival thriller from Universal Pictures, directed by Baltasar Kormakur. The Icelandic director is known for his movies such as “Everest” and “Adrift.” 

READ MORE: ‘Moonage Daydream’ Trailer: Brett Morgen Illuminates The Life & Art of David Bowie In New Cannes Doc.

Continue reading ‘Beast’ Trailer: Idris Elba’s Killer Lion Thriller Flick From Universal Pictures at The Playlist.

CANNES – George Miller is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of his generation, but when it comes to Tilda Swinton he truly knows among the greats. The star, along with Idris Elba, of his new film “Three Thousand Years of Longing” says she doesn’t pick roles. She picks people. And those people are filmmakers such as Bong Joon Ho, the Coen Brothers, Spike Jonze, Luca Guadagnino, Jim Jarmusch, David Fincher and Pedro Almodóvar, among others.

Continue reading Tilda Swinton & George Miller’s Five-Year Journey To ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ [Cannes] at The Playlist.

As if unleashing all the pent-up narrative impulses tamped down for the hard-bitten minimalism of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Australia’s proudest son George Miller returns to Cannes’ out-of-Competition section with a sumptuous banquet of storytelling in service of storytelling. “Three Thousand Years of Longing” compresses eons of heartbreak, happenstance, and hope into a hotel room tête-à-tête that then re-blooms to the size of the universe, a parable both titanic and intimate in scale as it negotiates one woman’s complacent solitude against the welfare of mythologies dating back to the cradle of civilization.

Continue reading ‘Three Thousand Years Of Longing’ Review: George Miller Returns With A Sumptuous Banquet Of Storytelling [Cannes] at The Playlist.

It hopefully should not be controversial to say that “Mad Max: Fury Road” is a titanic work of modern filmmaking. It may then come as a surprise that its equally iconic creator, George Miller, has not made a film since its release. Finally, seven years later, a new work from Miller is around the corner. To correlate with its premiere this month at the Cannes Film Festival, and following a teaser earlier this week, the first full trailer for “Three Thousand Years of Longing” is out.

Continue reading ‘Three Thousand Years Of Longing’ Official Trailer: George Miller Takes Tilda Swinton & Idris Elba On A Fantasy Ride at The Playlist.

It’s been seven years since Australian filmmaker George Miller dropped “Mad Max: Fury Road,” the acclaimed action fantasy some consider the best movie of the century. Now, the visionary writer/director/producer is back in the spotlight with another idiosyncratic original story. 

READ MORE: Cannes Film Festival 2022 Preview: 25 Must-See Films To Watch

“Three Thousand Years of Longing” is an epic fantasy romance starring Tilda Swinton as a depressed academic who encounters a genie in a bottle played by Idris Elba.

Continue reading ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ Trailer: George Miller’s Crafts An Epic Fantasy Romance With Tilda Swinton & Idris Elba at The Playlist.

Apple continues attracting high-profile talent for their original films and series after being the first streaming platform to win Best Picture at the Oscars for “CODA.” Their television division continues to grow with some quality original content and they’ve landed yet another popular actor after securing folks in the past such as Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses“), Tom Hiddleston (“Essex Serpent“), Jason Momoa (“Chief of War“), and Elisabeth Moss (“Shining Girls“).

Continue reading ‘Hijack’: Idris Elba To Star In New Plane Hijack Series At Apple TV+ at The Playlist.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” really cannot be the swan song for the great Jim Carrey. One of the great comedic careers of recent years cannot end on such a whimper. The star is, of course, free to pursue what makes him happiest, as he’s indicated on the film’s press tour. But it would be a real shame to cap off with a work that so thoroughly misunderstands his unique gift for bodily humor.

Continue reading ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ Review: This Speedy Sequel Zooms Past What Makes The Series Special at The Playlist.

While filmmaker George Miller is prepping his “Mad Max: Fury Road” prequel “Furiosa” to shoot in Australia later this year, he’s already got his next film in post-production— “Three Thousand Years of Longing” starring Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba. According to Variety, the epic fantasy romance picture budgeted at $60 million will be making its debut at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Continue reading George Miller To Debut ‘Three Thousand Years Of Longing’ Starring Tilda Swinton & Idris Elba At Cannes at The Playlist.

While they’ll try and make I.P. and franchise out of anything these days, Paramount’s live-action animated hybrid, “Sonic The Hedgehog” film was surprisingly endearing, watchable, and entertaining, perhaps thanks to the voice work of Ben Schwartz as Sonic, the surprising chemistry he had with straight man James Marsden and the inclusion of rubber face Jim Carrey as the bad guy, the brilliant, evil Dr.

Continue reading ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ Trailer: Sonic’s Next-Level Adventure Features Tails & Knuckles at The Playlist.

Did the world ask for a sequel to 2020’s “Sonic The Hedgehog?” All things considered in the world arena, probably not. However, before COVID-19 shut down the globe last March, Jeff Fowler‘s directorial debut raked in nearly $320 million on a $90 million budget. In studio logic, that’s grounds for a follow-up–even if audiences really, really don’t need it.

READ MORE: ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’: Idris Elba Announces He’ll Voice Knuckles 

Still, the main rule of the sequels is to up the ante of its predecessor.

Continue reading ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ Trailer: Sonic & Tails Team Up To Take On Dr. Robotnik & Knuckles This April at The Playlist.

Flecked with the bold sensibilities of hip-hop, struggle, and swagger, in a way, it’s a bit remarkable that no one, until now, has really tried to wed the parallel ideas of street hustle and grind to the hardscrabble, life-is-cheap ways of the Wild Wild West and yet without making a big thing about it. Because in the stylish, rhythmic, epic big-budget Western “The Harder They Fall,” directed by Jeymes Samuel and produced by Jay-Z (whose refined and unflappably trendsetting music sensibilities seem to saturate the film), everybody is trying to get theirs.

Continue reading ‘The Harder They Fall’: Jeymes Samuel Flips The Outlaw Tale Into A Stylish, Dancehall Western Of Revenge & Sins [BFI London Review] at The Playlist.

Quentin Tarantino has claimed in several interviews that Westerns, more than any other genre, reflect the “values and problems” of the era in which they were made. If that’s true, audiences are in for a vivid temperature check with “The Harder They Fall,” an upcoming neo-Western from Netflix. 

READ MORE: BFI London Film Festival 2021 Lineup Includes ‘The Harder They Fall’ World Premiere, ‘Spencer,’ ‘Last Night In Soho’ & More

The film was produced by Jay-Z, longtime Tarantino collaborator Lawrence Bender, and Will Smith’s business partner James Lassiter.

Continue reading ‘The Harder They Fall’ Trailer: Idris Elba, Jonathan Major & Zazie Beetz Shoot It Out In A Netflix Neo-Western at The Playlist.