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The Empire Strikes Back: Variety Retaliates Against Deadline.com Over Coppola Kissing Scandal

Roger Friedman
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The Empire Strikes Back: Variety Retaliates Against Deadline.com Over Coppola Kissing Scandal

It’s definitely civil war at Penske Media.

Now Variety has retaliated against sister site Deadline.com in the ongoing scandal of Francis Ford Coppola kissing extras.

Variety now has an extra on the record saying she was “in shock” when Coppola kissed her on the set of “Megalopolis.” Originally Variety had reported Coppola — and offered a video — of him doing such a thing during the movie shoot.

Then Deadline.com found an extra who was kissed and said it didn’t bother her.

The two publications are owned by Jay Penske, who’s cornered the market out west and even east, buying up Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Rolling Stone, WWD, plus the Golden Globes, and Dick Clark Productions.

You’d think this would guarantee no public skirmishes among all these groups, but you’d be wrong!

It doesn’t help this is a slow summer, with few new movies or deals to report. These people have to write about something!

So click here for the new Variety story. And wait for Deadline to come back with something on this extra. I hope this poor woman doesn’t have any parking tickets!

Meantime, Coppola’s “Megalopolis” needed all this publicity since it’s been panned wherever it’s been shown. The three hour epic opens next month via Lions Gate.

Broadway: 4 Time Oscar Nominee Marsha Mason Assistant Directing Patti Lupone-Mia Farrow Play

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: 4 Time Oscar Nominee Marsha Mason Assistant Directing Patti Lupone-Mia Farrow Play

The Patti Lupone- Mia Farrow play coming to Broadway this month has some news.

Famed director Jack O’Brien, age 86, is getting a young, perky assistant director.

Marsha Mason, who’s only 82, will be helping O’Brien run the ship. Mason is a four time Oscar nominee with a long, stellar career on Broadway as an actress and a writer.

O’Brien has six Tony Awards, so he’s allowed to have an assistant at age 86! He’s one of the theater world’s living legends.

Performances begin August 29th. We can’t to watch these two legends — Lupone and Farrow — chew up the scenery.

DiCaprio New Movie Id’d as Another Paul Thomas Anderson Adaptation of Thomas Pynchon

Roger Friedman
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DiCaprio New Movie Id’d as Another Paul Thomas Anderson Adaptation of Thomas Pynchon

A few years ago the director Paul Thomas Anderson made a movie based on Thomas Pynchon’s “Inherent Vice.”

It was so long and incomprehensible we called it “Incoherent Vice.”

Now there are reports that PTA’s new movie is based on Pynchon’s novel, “Vineland.” Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina King, and Sean Penn star in it.

According to Jeff Sneider’s The Insneider newsletter, the new title is “The Battle of Baktan Cross.”

A website called Lostcoastoutpost.com has been reporting on filming in Humboldt, California since at least February. They reprinted a press release from February from the The Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission detailing what had been going on.

It read in part:

“That’s a wrap! The feature film known as the BC Project wrapped [locally] yesterdayafter 11 days of filming on the redwood coast.

“They are still wrapping out of some of the locations and area in general, so you might still see a truck or two, but filming is now complete,” expressed Cassandra Hesseltine, the Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commissioner.

“The film commission was first notified by the location team for the studio feature film in April of 2019. “We are honored to have been on their radar for all these years and for the project to finally come to fruition,” stated Hesseltine. The location department is usually our first point of contact and the last one to leave town.”

Will “Baktan Cross” be three hours, like “Inherent Vice”? Will it make as little sense? The hope is that PTA, who’s a fine director, will stay in the mode of his recent “Licorice Pizza,” which was enjoyably lighthearted, concise, and to the point.

We’ll see “Baktan Cross” in 2025, probably in Cannes or Venice.

Pynchon is 87 years old, and has lived like a recluse in New York for decades. He’s married to his literary agent, Melanie Jackson. Coincidentally, I saw them walking on the street the other day. But spotting them is like finding a white rhino in the field. I didn’t even think to take a picture.

Apart from these PTA filmed books, the author has other classics on his CV including “Gravity’s Rainbow,” “V,” and “The Crying of Lot 49.”

Trump Media Stock Drops At Opening Bell as Company Announces TV Streaming Platform

Roger Friedman
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Trump Media Stock Drops At Opening Bell as Company Announces TV Streaming Platform

Trump Media stock dropped by $1 this morning at the opening bell of the stock market.

That’s despite the company announcing the beginning of streaming on their video platform on the Truth Social app.

According to a press release, “TMTG plans to expand programming as its streaming rollout continues, focusing on news, Christian content, and family friendly content.”

Much mocked former congressman Devin Nunes, a long time Trump supporter, runs Truth Social.

Wall Street so far does not seem excited about this news. Trump Media stock has been in a straight decline for more than two weeks. Trump’s latest racist blatherings are not turning out well for business.

Weekend Box Office Bombs DOA: Damon-Affleck (Casey), M. Night Shaymalan Horror of a Film

Roger Friedman
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Weekend Box Office Bombs DOA: Damon-Affleck (Casey), M. Night Shaymalan Horror of a Film

It’s going to be a second dazzling weekend for “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

That’s because, besides its popularity, the two new releases of interest this week are DOA.

Apparently, Apple is dumping a heist movie called “The Instigators” into theatres for a week before streaming. Matt Damon and Casey Affleck star, Doug Liman is the director. You can’t do better than those names.

But you can, after all. “The Instigators” has barely had any publicity or critics’ screenings. There are no previews tonight. “The Instigators” will open tomorrow to 45% or lower on Rotten Tomatoes. The film literally had one screening in New York and Los Angeles on Wednesday night in very small venues.

“The Instigators” may make “The Fabulous Four” look like…”Deadpool and Wolverine.”

Then there’s M. Night Shayamalan’s “Trap.” Previews started tonight but reviews were embargoed until the very last minute. So far on Rotten Tomatoes six top critics have posted, and the rating is 50/50. Horror is very popular, so maybe “Trap” will catch on. But it’s unlikely despite the eclectic casting of Josh Hartnett and beloved Hollywood star Hayley Mills.

Shayamalan really has never made a movie as good as “The Sixth Sense” in 1999. I just watched it on cable, and so it’s so clever, subtle, and moving. Bruce Willis, Hayley Joel Osment, and Toni Colette are spectacular. For Shayamalan “The Sixth Sense” stands alone. Otherwise, only “Signs” and “Split” have come close over the years among almost two dozen films.

So “Deadpool and Wolverine” have a clear shot this weekend, with no competition. And there’s little that looks promising in the near future.

Britney Spears Movie Not Called “Crazy Rich Pop Star” Coming from “La La Land” Producer

Roger Friedman
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Britney Spears Movie Not Called “Crazy Rich Pop Star” Coming from “La La Land” Producer

The day started with Adam Driver off Broadway.

Then Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter announced as stars of “Waiting for Godot” on Broadway.

Now Universal Pictures will produce Britney Spears’ book, “The Woman in Me,” as a movie.

Jon M. Chu, director of “Crazy Rich Asians,” will direct. Marc Platt, who produced “La La Land,” will guide the ship.

They must have a screenplay if they have the director. So someone will have to play Britney, which will turn into a major PR casting call, of course. Someone will have to play Justin Timberlake, too, and other assorted characters in the Britney saga.

Britney says on Twitter: “Excited to share with my fans that I’ve been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He’s always made my favorite movies … stay tuned”

“The Woman in Me” paperback edition is current number 73,647 on amazon. Really.

Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter to Star on Broadway in Vladimir and Estragon’s Big Adventure

Roger Friedman
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Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter to Star on Broadway in Vladimir and Estragon’s Big Adventure

Um, like, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are really going to star in a Broadway play.

The former stars of “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” movies will play Estragon and Vladimir in Samuel Beckett’s classic, Waiting for Godot. Jamie Lloyd will direct.

The production is set for the fall of 2025.

I kid you not.

Of course, this will sell out in minutes.

Producers are The Jamie Lloyd Company, ATG Productions, Bad Robot Live, and Gavin Kalin Productions. 101 Productions, Ltd. will serve as general manager. Bad Robot Live is owned by producer-director JJ Abrams.

Why would he do this to us?

Beckett is rolling over in his grave, that much is understood. How bad can this be? Is it an April Fool’s joke? The last production on Broadway of “Waiting for Godot” starred Sirs Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen. I mean, come on.

You want to be hip and say, Hey that sounds good! But really, it doesn’t, and it’s just like making fun of real theater. They have a year to rehearse, I guess.

Losing: Truth Social Stock Continues Steep Price Drop as Trump Continues Racist Attack on Kamala Harris

Roger Friedman
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Losing: Truth Social Stock Continues Steep Price Drop as Trump Continues Racist Attack on Kamala Harris

Donald Trump’s Trump Media stock continues its spiral downward today.

The stock, in his Trump’s Truth Social media, is down to $27 in an unstoppable decline. Who would want stock in this company? Truth Social is full of vile and hateful declarations.

The worst poster is Trump himself, whose gag order was continued today in his hush money case by a New York appeals court. He can’t attack anyone associated with the trial or case, so he’s left with calling out Kamala Harris as being ‘not black.’ His performance yesterday at the National Association of Black Journalists was outrageous and disgraceful. You’d think he’d stop but no, Trump is now posting a long ago picture of Harris with Indian members of her family. The smug, despicable convicted felon writes:

“Thank you Kamala for the nice picture you sent from many years ago! Your warmth, friendship, and love of your Indian Heritage are very much appreciated.”

What could be the upside of this racist campaign? Americans are too smart for this. Harris has always described herself as Black and Indian. Regardless, maybe someone will ask when Trump became orange?

Trump is not only racist, he’s misogynist (he hates women). His other Truth Social post today gloats about the fine journalist Norah O’Donnell losing her anchor position on the CBS Evening News.

About O’Donnell, Trump wrote: “So sad that Norah O’Donnell of CBS News lost her show. They had Norah at a “steal” at $12 Million Dollars a year. Will she be doing Deface the Nation anymore, where she was so wonderful? Was she better than the Late, Great Walter Cronkite, also of CBS News? That is the only question left!”

Adam Driver Going Off Broadway in Kenneth Lonergan Play at Tiny Theater This Fall, Chaos Declared

Roger Friedman
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Adam Driver Going Off Broadway in Kenneth Lonergan Play at Tiny Theater This Fall, Chaos Declared

You want tickets to this off Broadway show? Fuhgeddabout it.

Adam Driver will star in Kenneth Lonergan’s new play, “Hold on to Me, Darling” at the Lucille Lortel Theater beginning in September. Neil Pepe is directing.

This is a 13 week run that you know will be extended and then move to Broadway if it’s any good.

But tickets? No. They’re already thousands of dollars and they haven’t gone on sale.

Driver plays a country singing superstar who ditches it all and moves back to his hometown in Tennessee. Will he sing? Undoubtedly. No word yet on who wrote the songs.

All along Christopher Street, restaurants will now brace themselves and raise all their prices. Chaos will ensue in the west Village. Lucille Lortel, long deceased, is booking the first five rows for friends. This also means it will very hard to get to the West Side Highway during showtimes.

Pedro Almodovar’s 1st Full Length English Feature to NY Film Fest with Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton

Roger Friedman
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Pedro Almodovar’s 1st Full Length English Feature to NY Film Fest with Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton

The NY Film Festival has its centerpiece film.

Pedro Almodovar’s first full length feature in English, The Room Next Door, stars Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. It will debut on October 4th at Alice Tully Hall.

The Room Next Door joins the previously announced RaMell Ross’s “Nickel Boys,” the Opening Night selection, and Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” the Closing Night film of NYFF62.

This will be a hot festival.

The Almodovar film, from his home at Sony Pictures Classics, will be an Oscar contender. Here’s the description: “Ingrid (Julianne Moore), a best-selling writer, rekindles her relationship with her friend Martha (Tilda Swinton), a war journalist with whom she has lost touch for a number of years. The two women immerse themselves in their pasts, sharing memories, anecdotes, art, movies—yet Martha has a request that will test their newly strengthened bond.”

Alessandro Nivola — very hot right now — and the always popular John Turturro co-star.

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