PRODUCTION BEGINS ON SEQUEL TO “FREAKY FRIDAY” WITH JAMIE LEE CURTIS AND LINDSAY LOHAN

 

BURBANK, Calif. (June 24, 2024) – Production on the sequel to “Freaky Friday,” the studio’s hit comedy from 2003 starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, began today in Los Angeles. The film will be released in theaters nationwide in 2025.

 

Curtis and Lohan reprise their roles as Tess and Anna Coleman. Other returning cast members from the original film include Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Rosalind Chao. They are joined by Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Manny Jacinto, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.

 

The film is directed by Nisha Ganatra. The producers are Kristin Burr, Andrew Gunn, and Jamie Lee Curtis, with Nathan Kelly, Ann Marie Sanderlin, and Lindsay Lohan serving as executive producers. A sequel to the beloved 2003 film with a multigenerational twist, the film picks up years after Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) endured an identity crisis. Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might indeed strike twice.

4K Digital Review: The First Omen

 

The original 1976, "The Omen," is a masterpiece of the horror genre. Directed by Richard Donner, this movie showcased his way of being able to manipulate an audience. This redefined the horror movie and proved that you can keep people on the edge of their seats without the use of the typical horror movie cliches. Since then, the other movies in the franchise have been on a steady decline.

This brings us to, "The First Omen," a prequel that tries to fill in the gaps leading up to the original. The story follows Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), an American woman who moves to a Rome orphanage to devote her life to the Catholic Church. She meets Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson) who reveals that the orphanage is a front to bring about the birth of the Antichrist. 

The premise of the movie was intriguing but sadly the story does not live up to the legacy of the franchise. The tension and suspense in the original trilogy is left to jump scares here. The film also fails to utilize some of the wonderful score of the original. But one of the highlights is the visuals that completely capture the essence of the 1970s. Also, Nell's performance is solid as Margaret, as she transforms from an innocent person to a determined and strong-willed protector.  

Bonus Features:

Featurette 

• The Mystery of Margaret – Join director Arkasha Stevenson and stars Nell Tiger Free, Bill Nighy and Maria Caballero as they dive into the character of Margaret, her relationships with other characters, and how she’s manipulated while trying to solve the film’s horrifying mystery.

• The Director’s Vision – Director Arkasha Stevenson talks about her love of horror films, the opportunity to expand on The Omen legacy, and crafting The First Omen entirely through a female lens. She also describes shooting in Rome, and the cast recounts working with Arkasha.

• Signs of The First Omen – Join the director and talented artists as they reveal some of the symbolism within the set designs and the costumes. Learn how the use of practical effects blurs the line between what is real and what is not in The First Omen’s terrifying world.

Conclusion:

If you are a fan of The Omen franchise then you will want to see how it all began. Some good bonus features that sadly are better than the film itself. 

*The movie was sent to me by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of review. The review is entirely my own opinion.*

Catherine Laga‘aia Cast as Moana in Disney’s Live-Action “Moana”

Catherine Laga‘aia will be voyaging to Motunui and beyond as the adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people in Disney’s upcoming live-action “Moana.” “I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” said the 17-year-old Sydney, Australia, native. “My grandfather comes from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”

 

The cast also includes Auckland, New Zealander John Tui as Moana’s no-nonsense father, Chief Tui; Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams portrays Moana’s playful and strong-willed mother, Sina; and Rena Owen, who hails from Bay of Islands, NZ, was cast as the revered Gramma Tala. Previously announced, Dwayne Johnson, who voiced larger-than-life demigod Maui in the 2016 animated version of the film, will reprise his role. 

 

Releasing in theaters on July 10, 2026, “Moana” is directed by Thomas Kail, who helmed “Hamilton” on Broadway and Disney+, “Grease Live” and the first and last episodes of Hulu’s lauded limited series “We Were the Lucky Ones.” Said Kail, “I am thrilled to have met Catherine, Rena, Frankie and John through this casting process. I am humbled by this opportunity, and I cannot wait to all be on set together. And there’s no better pair to be in a canoe with than Catherine and Dwayne—actually, trio: Heihei is ready, too.” 

 

“Moana” will bring to life in a whole new way the story of a young woman eager to pave her own path. Celebrating the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders in a spectacular adventure, the production begins filming this summer. The new feature film is produced by Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia via their Seven Bucks Productions and Beau Flynn via FlynnPictureCo. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the original songs, will also serve as producer. Executive producers include Scott Sheldon of FlynnPictureCo., Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 film, and Charles Newirth. Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller have been tapped for the project. Bush, a veteran of Disney Animation, wrote the screenplay for 2016’s “Moana,” and Miller is a Samoan writer who created Netflix’s “Thai Cave Rescue” and co-founded the non-profit Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK). 

Stars, Filmmakers, Special Guests Celebrate “Inside Out 2” World Premiere

 

Stars cast joined filmmakers and special guests on the purple carpet in Hollywood to celebrate the world premiere of Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” Attendees screened the all-new feature film that opens in theaters nationwide this Friday, June 14, inviting moviegoers inside the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as Headquarters undergoes a sudden demolition to make room for new Emotions. 

 

The event welcomed members of the voice cast, including Amy Poehler (Joy), Maya Hawke (Anxiety), Kensington Tallman (Riley), Liza Lapira (Disgust), Tony Hale (Fear), Lewis Black (Anger), Ayo Edebiri (Envy), Lilimar (Valentina), Grace Lu (Grace), Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green (Bree), Kyle MacLachlan (Dad), Yvette Nicole Brown (Coach Roberts), Ron Funches (Bloofy), James Austin Johnson (Pouchy), Kirk Thatcher (Foreman), Frank Oz (Mind Cop Dave), June Squibb (Nostalgia), Sarayu Blue (Margie), Flea (Jake), Bobby Moynihan (Forgetter Bobby) and Kendall Coyne Schofield (Hockey Announcer). Filmmakers in attendance include Kelsey Mann (directed by/story by), Mark Nielsen (producer), Andrea Datzman (music by/score produced by), and Pixar’s chief creative officer Pete Docter (EP), among others. 

 

In the follow-up to 2015’s Oscar®-winning “Inside Out,” Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust—who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts—aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety, Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment show up. The voice cast includes Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Paul Walter Hauser and Yvette Nicole Brown. “Inside Out 2” is directed by Kelsey Mann, produced by Mark Nielsen and executive produced by Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera and Dan Scanlon. The film features a screenplay by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein and story by Mann and LeFauve. With music by Andrea Datzman, the all-new feature film releases only in theaters June 14, 2024.  Tickets are now available on Fandango, https://www.fandango.com/InsideOut2, and wherever tickets are sold. 

TERRIFYING NEW TRAILER AND POSTER FOR “ALIEN: ROMULUS”

 

The terrifying new trailer and poster for “Alien: Romulus” is here! The all-new sci-hi/horror-thriller from producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede Alvarez opens exclusively in theaters nationwide August 16, 2024.  

 

“Alien: Romulus” takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu. Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. “Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.