Jensen Ackles to Star in Crime Thriller Series ‘Rules of Prey’ at MGM+

 Jensen Ackles is set to star in the thriller series "Rules of Prey," which has been approved by MGM+.

The show has eight episodes and is based on a book of the same name by John Sandford, who goes by the pen name John Camp.

This book is the first in a series of novels featuring Lucas Davenport, a former police detective.Production for the series is set to start this month in Toronto.It will premiere on MGM+ in the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.

The show follows Davenport (played by Ackles), who used to be a detective with the Minneapolis Police Department.

He is pulled out of hiding and back into law enforcement to investigate a series of mysterious murders that are meant to send a message directly to him.When a clever serial killer starts killing people in Minneapolis, Davenport, who is smart and unconventional, takes the case.This leads to a intense mental battle with a very smart enemy.As Davenport tries to understand the killer's strange moral code and personal anger, he has to outsmart a criminal who believes their fight is the ultimate challenge.

Jensen Ackles is known for his charm and has worked with Amazon MGM Studios before, including his role as Soldier Boy in the Prime Video series "The Boys." He will return to that role in the prequel "Vought Rising," which is coming out in 2027.

He has also appeared in the series "Countdown" for one season.He is most famous for his 15-year run on the show "Supernatural," which aired from 2005 to 2020.

The first book featuring Lucas Davenport came out in 1989.

There are 36 books in total, with the most recent one being "Revenge Prey," published in 2026.

The series is created by Bruce Terris, who also acts as showrunner and executive producer.

Ackles will also be an executive producer.Charles Gogolak and Matt Leipzig from Modern Literary Arts are among the producers, along with Howard Braunstein, Michael Jaffe, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, and John Weber.John Sandford is also a co-producer.Daniel Sackheim will direct the first episode and the second episode, as well as be an executive producer.The show is produced by MGM Television and Take 5 Productions.

Terris is signed with CAA, Modern Literary Arts, and Lichter Grossman.

Ackles is represented by Gersh and attorney PJ Shapiro.Sandford is represented by CAA.Sackheim is represented by Independent Artist Group, Industry Entertainment, and Jared Levine.

Deadline was the first to report the series order.

Paper Tiger Movie Official Trailer - In Theaters November

‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Crosses $100 Million at the Box Office in a Stunning Underdog Comeback

Hollywood loves stories about underdogs, and this film has really shown what that means.It started as a movie that was finished but was going to be put away forever.But instead, it became one of the most surprising box office hits of the year.The studio almost kept it from being seen by anyone, but things changed.

The journey to show the film was unusual.

There were cancellations, a lot of people speaking up, and then a last-minute rescue that felt like a big twist.That story has made the film even more special for everyone who helped get it to the audience.

Recently, it was reported that "Coyote vs.

Acme" has made over $100,000,000 worldwide.That's a huge turnaround, especially since Warner Bros.had planned to never show it, mainly for tax reasons.The film mixes live-action and animation, based on a short story by Ian Frazier from 1990 that was published in The New Yorker.Warner Bros.stopped plans in 2023, but an independent company called Ketchup Entertainment stepped in and bought the rights for $50,000,000, giving the film a second chance.

This decision clearly worked.

Making over $100 million is way more than expected for a film the industry had already given up on, especially after Warner Bros.made it clear they weren’t confident in the project.The marketing team shared their excitement in a statement.They said they were proud to be part of the Ketchup team and that "Coyote vs.Acme" was a labor of love.They also thanked the Ketchup team for hitting the $100 million mark.

The film tells a new version of the classic Looney Tunes story where Wile E.

Coyote joins forces with a lawyer who got hurt in a billboard accident to fight against the Acme Corporation.The film was directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch, with James Gunn, Jeremy Slater, and Burch also contributing to the story.James Gunn also helped produce the film with Chris DeFaria, who has been a strong supporter of the film since the shelving controversy began.

Interestingly, "Coyote vs.

Acme" has now made more money than Warner Bros.' own sequel, "Practical Magic 2," which only made around $76,800,000.That's a bit ironic since Warner Bros.poured a lot of money into "Practical Magic 2" with big stars like Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.Still, the film's path to success is complicated because its production budget was $70,000,000, and Ketchup paid $50,000,000 for the rights.Despite that, reaching $100 million is a big win for a project that many believed would never see the light of day.

The movie's big earnings show how much good can happen when both viewers and people in the movie business stand up to a studio's choice to hide a finished film.

For everyone who argued against the original plan to keep the movie on the shelf, seeing 'Coyote vs.Acme' make over $100,000,000 feels like real proof that their efforts made a difference.

Robert Eggers To Direct ‘Olde English’ Romeo And Juliet Adaptation After Werwulf

Considering his past work, which includes psychologically intense, thematically complex, and historically rooted period films, it's a bit surprising that Robert Eggers hasn't made a Shakespeare film before.

Although he did create a Norse epic, *The Northman*, which shares similar source material with Shakespeare's *Hamlet*, Eggers hasn't directly adapted any of the Bard's plays.That might change now.According to THR, Focus Features has outbid A24, Sony, and Warner Bros.to secure Eggers to direct an adaptation of *Romeo And Juliet*.

Eggers is known for his horror-themed films like *The Witch* and *The Lighthouse*, so it's easy to imagine he might have considered adapting a more violent or dark Shakespeare play first, like *Titus Andronicus* or *Macbeth*.

However, THR reports that Eggers' version of *Romeo And Juliet* has secured a near-$80 million deal with Focus Features.The filmmaker is already planning to add his own unique touch by having the actors speak in Old English, which could mean the adaptation is set in an earlier time and place than the original play's 14th-century Italy.

THR also notes that Eggers has previously explored themes of forbidden love and tragic deaths in *Nosferatu*, so *Romeo And Juliet* isn't a completely new concept for him.

According to THR, *Romeo And Juliet* will be Eggers' next film following the release of the werewolf horror film *Werwulf* on New Year's Day, 2027.

The exact status of his upcoming projects, including a sequel to *Labyrinth* and a *Christmas Carol* movie starring Willem Dafoe, is still unclear.But we're all very interested to see how Eggers will bring Shakespeare's famous tale of love and tragedy to life.We predict it won't follow the style of Baz Luhrmann's version.

Tom Cruise Weighs AI’s Inevitability With Human-Made Art: ‘People Want to See Real Things’

Tom Cruise's name has become closely connected with film culture, with the action star often called the "ambassador of movies" or the "president of Hollywood." As artificial intelligence poses a big change to the movie industry, it's time for the ambassador to share his thoughts.

Cruise talked about AI in filmmaking at a BAFTA "Life in Pictures" event in London on Monday.

The actor reflected on his film career and the upcoming Oscar film "Digger." During the event, moderator Edith Bowman asked Cruise, who has been more active in interviews as he prepares for the awards season, for his opinion on AI in filmmaking.

He started by saying, "Here's the thing: There is nothing like human." 

The "Top Gun" and "Mission: Impossible" star gave a six-minute speech, receiving applause for emphasizing the importance of humanity in the arts.

Cruise did not ignore the reality of AI's growing role in filmmaking, noting that its use is "coming, and it's going to happen."

"But people want to see real things," he added.

Cruise has built his career by showing people real things — or at least, realistic fake things.

"Top Gun: Maverick," often cited as a film that helped "save cinema" after the pandemic started, was praised for its use of practical effects and real stunt work.The "Mission: Impossible" series turned into a series of increasing stunts, with each new film pushing Cruise into more extreme challenges.The last two "Mission: Impossible" movies also featured a rogue AI as the main villain.

"People want that experience.

They're going to movie theaters," Cruise said at the BAFTA event."I always believe in humanity."

Deadline first reported on Cruise's surprise speech.

"Digger" will be released in theaters on October 2.

David Fincher’s ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’ Trailer Teases Netflix’s First Imax Movie

Cliff Booth is back.

After a Super Bowl teaser that never came out and some other hints here and there, Netflix finally put out the official trailer for "The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth" on Monday.

The movie is directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino.

It's not just a follow-up to the story Tarantino started in his Oscar-winning film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." It's also the first Netflix movie to be shown in Imax theaters worldwide.

The film is set in 1977, eight years after the events of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Now, Booth isn't working as a stuntman anymore.

Instead, he's helping powerful people solve problems.

According to the official description, Booth gets a call from talent agent Karen Crosby (played by Elizabeth Debicki) about her client, TV star Charlie Peters (Scott Caan), who does his own stunts.

Booth is drawn in more when he meets other people in Charlie's world, like his wife Toni (Carla Gugino), football star turned actor Roderick "Hot Rod" Harrison (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), and the mysterious Verdusco brothers (Matt Groove and JB Tadena), who are causing trouble in the city.What was once a fantasy becomes a crime story, mixing violence, ambition, and desire — something only happens in LA.

"The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth" will be shown only in Imax theaters on November 25, then it will come to Netflix on December 23, playing in Imax for two weeks.

Originally, Greta Gerwig's "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" was planned for that special Imax release, but Netflix moved it to February for a full wide theater release.

Instead, they chose to show Fincher and Tarantino's first team-up, which fans from around the world are excited about.

The story of "The Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth" began as Tarantino's 10th and last film.

But after writing the script, he decided he didn't want it to be just another version of something he had done before, so he put it away.With Tarantino's permission, Brad Pitt asked him if he could show the script to Fincher — Tarantino's favorite director — to see if he would be interested.That's how the project got going.

Fincher works with his regular cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, who won an Oscar for shooting "Mank" and also filmed Fincher's "Mindhunter" and his last film, "The Killer." 

The film also has Peter Weller, Corey Fogelmanis, and Karren Karagulian, and is produced by Brad Pitt and Ceán Chaffin.

‘Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been’ Review: A Stirring Pop Doc Traces How the Great Singer of ‘He’s a Rebel’ and Other Classics Reclaimed Her Name

 "Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been" is a documentary about one of the greatest singers in pop music history, but it's also a deep look at the idea of identity in the music world.Darlene Love made some of her biggest hits in the early 1960s, when she was part of the Phil Spector hit factory.She was in a group called the Blossoms, who Spector used in 1962 to sing "He's a Rebel." This song became the model for the Wall of Sound that Spector was famous for.The song was meant to be sung by the Crystals, but they were 3,000 miles away in New York, so Spector rushed things and gave the song to the Blossoms, even though he officially credited the Crystals.

Darlene Love sang "He's a Rebel" with a strong, confident voice that grew stronger and more powerful, almost like she was showing admiration for the bad boys she sang about.

It's no surprise that Kenneth Anger used this song in "Scorpio Rising" and made her sing about Jesus.Her voice was as powerful as the Wall of Sound she helped create.She sang lead on another Crystals song, "He's Sure the Boy I Love," and did backing vocals on many other Spector songs.In 1963, she sang "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," which is considered one of the greatest Christmas songs ever recorded.

She was credited on that song, but the album "The Phil Spector Christmas Album" came out on November 22, 1963, the day JFK was assassinated.

The record didn't do well, and Spector stopped distributing it after a few weeks.The album was almost forgotten until it was reissued by Apple Records in 1972.Even though she was on the album's biggest song, her name was still missing.

Thirteen years ago, Morgan Neville's documentary "20 Feet from Stardom" honored the backup singers in rock 'n' roll, especially the Black ones who often stayed in the background.

Darlene Love was one of them and played a big part in the film.When the movie won an Oscar for best documentary, she gave a memorable speech at the Academy Awards.

"20 Feet from Stardom" showed that these artists didn't become stars, but it suggested they might have if things had been different.

Darlene Love's situation was a bit different.She was in the background but also a real star.She was out front, leading some of the most magical pop songs of the 20th century.But her name was erased, so her identity was also lost.You could recognize her voice, but she was right in front of you and still invisible.

"Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been" shows how she lived with the mix of fame, unfairness, missed chances, broken dreams, strength, and finally getting the recognition she deserved.

The movie, like her life, is a special journey and makes you feel closer to the heart of pop music.

Love is now 85 years old, but in the documentary, which is based on a recent interview with her (along with a lot of old footage), she seems timeless.

With her orange-blonde curls and glowing face, her smile, laugh, and personality are full of life, and she doesn't look old at all.She met Paul Shaffer when David Letterman loved "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and decided to have her perform it on his late-night show in 1986, a performance that became an annual tradition."

The documentary shows Love performing with Shaffer and his band in the Power Station studio.

She sings new versions of some of her most important songs.Her voice is amazing, still powerful and strong.Love also tells her own story well.She understands what she lost—more than just credit, but also the life she might have had.Yet she has moved past sadness and found a way to keep going.

The film's director, Barry Avrich, takes us back to the time of radio (he gives a nice tribute to it in the opening credits), when you'd hear a voice coming out of the radio, and that voice had a strong effect on you.Love, born Darlene Wright in 1941, moved between Los Angeles and Texas, and spent her first 15 years in church, listening to gospel music as much as Aretha or Ray Charles.She joined the Blossoms in the late 1950s, and they sang backup on many classic songs, starting with Sam Cooke's "Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha" and then on "Chain Gang," "Rockin' Robin," "Monster Mash," and "Johnny Angel."

From there, they worked with Phil Spector.

They sang backup for him and also replaced the Crystals and Bob B.Soxx and the Blue Jeans, for whom Love sang lead on the beautifully soft "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts." Spector was a very intense and often scary person (though he was also very talented), and the way he treated his female singers, moving them around like they were pieces on a game board, had several purposes.It made Spector the main star (he was the first producer to do that).It let him keep the money for himself.And in a bigger way, it was his (racist) way of treating all his singers like they were forced to work for him.

Love became a big part of "Shindig!", the popular rock and roll TV show that let performers be wild and fun (Shaffer gives a great memory of it).

She sang backup on songs like "Monday, Monday" and the Beach Boys' "In My Room." She also went on tour with other Spector singers and started a serious relationship with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers.Onstage, she had a confident, playful energy.

Her career had many chances she missed, including one that feels like a conspiracy, though it's presented in an interesting way in "I Know Where I've Been." Love was originally supposed to record "River Deep, Mountain High" for Phil Spector.

But at the last minute, he changed the singer to Tina Turner.That song ended up being a major failure, which effectively ended Spector's influence.The theory is that Turner's version had too much R&B style for the pop charts of 1966.Love, with her smoother pop-soul voice, would have made it a hit.Ah, the idea of what could have been!The documentary shows how Spector became more of a creepy figure over time and kept controlling her, even going as far as buying out her contract with someone else.There's no doubt Spector's songs helped her career, but the way he managed it also limited her success.

Love was still singing in the early 1970s, and we hear her do a powerful version of "I'll Be There." But as the peak of R&B faded, so did her opportunities.

She was married several times and had four kids, two of whom got involved in the L.A.gang scene and ended up in prison.(They eventually came back and had success.) Love ended up cleaning houses.Still, she was never forgotten.Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt, longtime fans, took an interest in her (they are spoken about a lot in the film).She started her career again by performing on cruise ships, which led to the 1984 jukebox musical revue "Leader of the Pack," where she was a main part when it started in Greenwich Village's Bottom Line.It became a big hit.The documentary hints that it was also successful on Broadway (which is not true; it failed there), but Darlene Love was finally recognized.

Her big break came from the exciting performances of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on Letterman, with bigger choirs each year, and her 2011 induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Suddenly, everyone knew who Darlene Love was.

"I Know Where I've Been" finishes the journey.

It's a movie that really moves you — in awe of her amazing voice, in understanding the big and small forces of the time that kept her from being recognized, and in realizing what could have been, which should never stop us from being amazed by what actually was.