When it was announced that Apple TV+ was remaking Terry Gilliam’s “Time Bandits” film as a new TV series, there were quite a few people upset by the prospect. But now that we’ve seen a trailer, the series looks… delightful. 

READ MORE: Summer TV Preview: Over 35 Must-See Series To Watch

As seen in the trailer, “Time Bandits” is co-created by Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris, and Taika Waititi and tells the story of a young boy who finds out that his bedroom allows him to travel all throughout time and space.

Continue reading ‘Time Bandits’ Trailer: Lisa Kudrow Stars In New Comedy Series From Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi at The Playlist.

It feels like we’ve been talking about the new version of “Time Bandits” for years now. Well, as a matter of fact, it was way back in 2018 (remember the good ol’ days pre-COVID?) when it was reported that Apple TV+ was doing a series based on Terry Gilliam’s sci-fi film. Now, as we approach the summer, we’re finally getting our first look at what the new “Time Bandits” will look like.

Continue reading ‘Time Bandits’ First Look: Lisa Kudrow Stars In New Sci-Fi Comedy From Taika Waitit & Jemaine Clement at The Playlist.

When the vampire mockumentary “What We Do in the Shadows” hit theaters in 2014, even its most ardent fans probably could not have guessed that its subsequent FX television adaptation would become one of the most popular comedies in a crowded television marketplace. But now, almost a decade later, the “What We Do in the Shadows” brand remains as strong as ever, and fans are ready for what season five will have to offer their favorite band of misfit vampires.

Continue reading ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ Season 5 Trailer: Staten Island’s Vampires Return To Suck Your Blood at The Playlist.

Just recently, it was announced that filmmaker Andrew Niccol is set to revisit his “Lord of War” film with a new sequel, aptly titled “Lords of War.” Well, before he gets going on that film and a reunion with Nicolas Cage, Niccol has another project lined up which could begin filming later this year, “I, Object.”

READ MORE: ‘Lords Of War’: Nic Cage & Bill Skarsgård Teaming With Andrew Niccol On A Sequel To 2005’s ‘Lord Of War’

According to THR, Andrew Niccol is begun putting a cast together for his next film, the live-action/animation hybrid film, “I, Object.” And the new members of the cast include Melanie Lynskey (“Yellowjackets”), Karl Urban (“The Boys”), Thomasin McKenzie (“Jojo Rabbit”), and Jemaine Clement (“Flight of the Conchords”).

Continue reading ‘I, Object’: Melanie Lynskey, Karl Urban, Thomasin McKenzie & Jemaine Clement Cast In Andrew Niccol’s New Film at The Playlist.

In a sea of talented actors in modern film and television, few may shine brighter than John Cho. From acclaimed performances like his leading role in the thriller “Searching” to more divided opinions on his rendition of legendary anime protagonist Spike Spiegel in the Netflix live-action adaptation of “Cowboy Bebop,” Cho is a screen presence who can garner attention with his face alone.

Continue reading ‘Don’t Make Me Go’ Trailer: John Cho Stars In Hannah Marks’ Upcoming Tribeca Film at The Playlist.

You know what could have been really lame? “What We Do In The Shadows,” the TV series spin-off of Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s excellent Sundance vampire mockumentary from 2014 (the film that got the latter filmmaker on the radar of people like Marvel‘s Kevin Feige). Now, film to TV is pretty common these days, but ‘Shadows’ is very particular about its brand of comedy and minor, but still important VFX.

Continue reading ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Season 3 Teaser Trailer: Vampires Return September 2 at The Playlist.

Let’s get this out of the way early, because there might be a bit of confusion. You probably know the works of filmmaker Kris Rey, but you might not because she used to go by Kris Swanberg. She directed films like “It Was Great, But I Was Ready to Come Home” (2009), “Empire Builder” (2012) and “Unexpected” (2015), and now goes by Kris Rey (presumably because she divorced filmmaker Joe Swanberg, which is neither here nor there, nor any of our business, but just to note the switch and filmmaker you probably already know).

Continue reading ‘I Used To Go Here’ Trailer: Gillian Jacobs & Jemaine Clement Star In Kris Rey’s SXSW Regression College Comedy at The Playlist.

Please Note: “I Used To Go Here” was originally scheduled to premiere at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival. With the express consent of the representatives of the filmmakers, we present the review of the film here.

The launch of her first novel was supposed to be a landmark accomplishment for Kate Conklin (Gillian Jacobs). But at 35, her life doesn’t look like she’d imagined it would it would back when she was a college student gluing glow-in-the-dark stars to the ceiling of her campus housing.

Continue reading ‘I Used To Go Here’: Gillian Jacobs & Jemaine Clement Offer Quirky Comedy In Kris Rey’s Charming Film [Review] at The Playlist.

The quality-level blood’s been mostly sucked out of the vampire genre in recent years, but damn, Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement really injected some fake teeth funny back into the veins of the genre in 2014. Featuring an inspired mockumentary method about a film crew allowed to document real-life, centuries-old vampires living in an old New Zealand mansion, while employing visual gags and deadpan humor, their co-directed/co-written, “What We Do In The Shadows” was an unexpected hit and left fans wanting more from the odd and quirky vampire’s next door.

Continue reading FX’s ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Is A Bloody Good Time [Season 1 Review] at The Playlist.

Before “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” and “Thor Ragnarok,” there was the 2014 mockumentary horror comedy “What We Do in the Shadows” that put its co-director and star Taika Waititi on the map and lead to his coveted Marvel gig and now-minted filmmaking career. Marvel knew then what seems like old hat now: Waititi is hysterical and brilliant, and so is the work.

Continue reading ‘What We Do In The Shadows’: FX Series Pilot Is Delicious Fun [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

Selling the idea of a “What We Do in the Shadows” TV series is fairly easy. The truth is, if you enjoyed the film of the same name from Taika Waititi, then it should serve as no surprise that you’re going to be really interested in the upcoming FX series.

As seen in the first full trailer for the series, which debuts next month, “What We Do in the Shadows” is basically the film, but with a few new characters and some new adventures.

Continue reading ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Series Trailer: Colin, The Energy Vampire, Might Be The Scariest/Funniest Of All at The Playlist.

It’s easy to think of Taika Waititi as an overnight success. It’s barely three years since the one-two punch of “What We Do In The Shadows” and “Hunt For The Wilderpeople” made him one of the hottest directors around, landed him a Marvel movie that helped him to reinvent one of the more difficult characters around in “Thor: Ragnarok,” and led to jobs involving “Star Wars,” Hitler and Michael Jackson’s monkey.

Continue reading Taika Waititi-Produced ‘The Breaker Upperers’ Is Your New Favorite Comedy [LFF Review] at The Playlist.

If you’re not familiar with filmmaker Jim Hosking’s first feature film, “The Greasy Strangler,” then you’re missing out on one of the most interesting, unique, and hilarious films of the last 5 years. In only one film, Hosking was able to put his indelible stamp on what type of film he wants to make. Think Wes Anderson, but with a very dark, even more offbeat sense of humor.

Continue reading Exclusive Clip From Jim Hosking’s Comedy ‘An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn’ Attempts To Explain “Poo Nuts” at The Playlist.

Taika Waititi‘s brand of off-kilter comedy became known to the globe thanks to “Thor: Ragnarok,” but those in the know have been hip to his distinct brand of humor for years. Hopefully, Marvel fans have taken the time to track down cult faves like “Hunt For The Wilderpeople” and “What We Do In The Shadows.” Both are well deserving of their cult status, and the latter in particular has seen fans call out for more ever since it was released.

Continue reading ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ TV Series In The Works At FX at The Playlist.

Director Jim Hosking‘s “The Greasy Strangler” caused such a polarizing reaction a few years back at Sundance that, whether you liked it or not, chances were that you were most likely intrigued by the director that came up with such a screwy narrative. It was just that kind of movie, a vision so insane that it had the whole festival talking despite the fact that many had not actually seen the film.

Continue reading Aubrey Plaza Deserves Better Than The Embarrassing ‘An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn’ [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.

Brad Sloan (Ben Stiller) lives in a beautiful house, with his beautiful wife Melanie (Jenna Fischer), runs his own non-profit, and he’s about to go to Boston with his son Troy (Austin Abrams) who is interviewing at universities, with Harvard at the top of the list. For any ordinary 47 year-old, they would look at this life with little to complain about, but Brad lays awake at night asking himself, how did I get here?

Continue reading ‘Brad’s Status’: Midlife Crisis Dramedy With Ben Stiller Lacks Insight [TIFF Review] at The Playlist.

To be honest, we kind of forgot “Brad’s Status” even existed. The new film from Mike White (“Enlightened,” “School of Rock,” “The Good Girl“) certainly has a great cast, but the entire endeavor feels a bit rote and familiar.

Starring Ben Stiller, Michael Sheen, Luke Wilson, Jemaine Clement, Jenna Fischer and Austin Abrams, the movie follows the titular Brad, who deals with a mid-life crisis as his son gears up to head to college.

Continue reading ‘Brad’s Status’ Trailer: Ben Stiller Has A Breakdown at The Playlist.

Another day, another slew of casting announcements, with a few them involving some actresses who’ve stepped in and out of the world of James Bond.

The “Blue Is The Warmest Color” stars are getting busy. First up, Adèle Exarchopoulos is joining Chulpan Khamatova (“Good Bye Lenin!”) and dancers Oleg Ivenko and Sergei Polunin to star in Ralph Fiennes’ next directorial effort “The White Crow.” About famous Russian ballet dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev, the drama charts the iconic dancer’s famed defection from the Soviet Union to the West in 1961, despite KGB efforts to stop him.

Continue reading Lea Seydoux, Adele Exarchopoulos, Eva Greene & Gemma Arterton Land New Roles at The Playlist.

From a distance, “The Lego Movie” looked like it could be the worst kind of modern studio filmmaking: literally an adaptation of Danish plastic bricks, sold on name recognition and not much else, and packed with corporate synergy for other Warner Bros. properties. But in the hands of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, it became a surprise joy: a playful, inventive, often hilarious, frequently surprising film that’s as good as any studio animated effort in recent years.

Continue reading ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ Feels Like Kind Of A Letdown [Review] at The Playlist.

I can only imagine that the office that handles all of Marvel‘s actor contracts is constantly buzzing. With multiple movies and TV shows in various stages of production at any given moment, it seems like talent is signing on every day. Certainly, the last few days has seen a storm of projects bolster their ensembles, so let’s dive right into what’s been going on:

Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya and Florence Kasumba have joined the cast of Ryan Coogler‘s “Black Panther” which includes Chadwick Boseman, Michael B.

Continue reading Marvel Casting: ‘Black Panther,’ ‘The Punisher,’ ‘The Defenders,’ ‘Legion,’ And More Add More Players at The Playlist.

Review: 'Don Verdean' Starring Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Danny McBride, Will Forte, Jemaine Clement, And More

Continue reading Review: ‘Don Verdean’ Starring Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Danny McBride, Will Forte, Jemaine Clement, And More at The Playlist.

Watch: First Trailer For 'Don Verdean' Starring Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Danny McBride & Will Forte

Continue reading Watch: First Trailer For ‘Don Verdean’ Starring Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Danny McBride & Will Forte at The Playlist.

Watch: First Trailer For Charming Comedy 'People Places Things' With Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Jessica Williams, And More

Continue reading Watch: First Trailer For Charming Comedy ‘People Places Things’ With Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Jessica Williams, And More at The Playlist.

Exclusive: Clip From Vampire Comedy 'What We Do In The Shadows' Calls A Meeting

Continue reading Exclusive: Clip From Vampire Comedy ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Calls A Meeting at The Playlist.

Review: Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi's 'What We Do In The Shadows' Is A Silly, Scary Delight

Continue reading Review: Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi’s ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Is A Silly, Scary Delight at The Playlist.