There’s a lot of breaking news in Hollywood happening every minute. In the age of the blockbuster, it’s easy for some smaller movie and television news to slip through the crack. Last Week in Hollywood is our new weekly series highlighting all the interesting news from the last week that we thought didn’t warrant its own post, but was still worth mentioning. It’s less personal opinions and more a hearty roundup of what you might have missed.
Frank Grillo, James DeMonaco Back for The Purge 6
In a recent interview with The Playlist, Frank Grillo revealed that he will be reprising his role as Leo Barnes in The Purge 6. Here’s what he said:
“We committed to doing that— ‘Purge 6’ with [James DeMonaco] directing. … He’s going to send me the script. He just finished it. … I love doing the ‘Purge’ movies … I’m psyched, they called me and said James wanted to direct one more and I’m like, ‘Don’t even tell me. I’m in.'”
Grillo previously starred in The Purge: Anarchy and The Purge: Election Year. The Purge creator James DeMonaco is also back as director after helming the first three entries in the franchise.
Luther Coming Back as Netflix Movie
Netflix has announced plans for a feature film based on the BBC drama series Luther. Series creator Neil Cross will write the film continuation which will pick up after the events of the season 5 finale.
Idris Elba will return in the titular role of John Luther. He will be joined by franchise newcomers Cynthia Erivo and Andy Serkis.
Dan Levy Closes First Look Deal With Netflix
Dany Levy, who won four Primetime Emmys two years ago for his work on Schitt’s Creek, has closed two first look deals with Netflix. One is for features and the other is for scripted content, under which he’ll write and produce.
The first film Levy will work on is an original untitled romantic-comedy. He will direct, write, produce, and star in. Levy currently has a three-year overall deal with ABC Signature, so his new Netflix TV deal will not start until July 2022.
Pitch Perfect Returning as TV Series
Peacock has given a straight-to-series order for Pitch Perfect, a sequel series that will bring back Adam Devine as Bumper Allen, “the vocal villain whom we love to loathe.”
Here’s the official description of the show: “In the new series for Peacock, several years after we last saw him in Pitch Perfect, Adam Devine’s Bumper Allen moves to Germany to revive his music career when one of his songs becomes big in Berlin.”
Does this mean that Flula Borg might return to reprise his role of Pieter Krämer, the leader of the German powerhouse group Das Sound Machine from Pitch Perfect 2? God, I hope so, because Devine was one of the least likeable characters in this franchise. Why don’t you just have focus on a new generation of the Barden University Bellas? No one wants a Pitch Perfect series starring Adam Devine.
Clooney, Pitt, Watts Film Package Attracting Bidders
Jon Watts (Spider-Man: Homecoming) will write, direct, and produce a thriller starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Sony, Lionsgate, Apple, Netflix are all vying for the movie package. Amazon, Annapurna, Universal, MGM, and Warner Bros. are also said to be in the mix.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but it will reportedly “tell the tale of two lone wolf fixers assigned to the same job.”
Netflix Acquires the Roald Dahl Story Company
Netflix has acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company. The two companies previously struck a deal in 2018 that covered a slate of animated TV shows. The acquisition will allow Netflix to create “a universe across animated and live action films and TV, publishing, games, immersive experiences, live theater, consumer products and more.”
All 26 employees of RDSC will retain their positions. RDSC will function as “an autonomous unity within Netflix and expand on the plans currently in place for 19 TV shows, films, stage shows and live experiences.”
New Jalmari Helander Film Announced
Deadline reports that principal photography has begun on Immortal, a World War II action film from director Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports). The film, set in 1945, tells the story of “ex-soldier Aatami (Jorma Tommila), who stumbles upon gold in the deep woods of Lapland. His efforts to bring the gold along with him are thwarted by SS goons, led by a ruthless officer (Thomas Anderson).”
Filming will primarily take place along in the woods of Lapland and in Helsinki. Immortal also stars Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan, and Onni Tommila.
Den of Thieves 2 Shoots Next Year
STXfilms announced a sequel to Den of Thieves back in 2018, but we hadn’t heard much about the sequel since then. Well, when speaking with UNILAD to promote his latest movie Copshop, Den of Thieves star Gerard Butler said:
“We’re supposed to shoot early next year. We’re Europe-bound, we’re still on the hunt for Donnie who’s now on the diamond district in Marseilles. I go over to hunt him down, but with different intentions than you might imagine. So we’re gonna be in Marseilles, the Alps and London – it’s definitely a more glamorous journey than the last one, and probably a more fun, sexy journey.”
Warner Bros. Hires New Writer for The Bodyguard Remake
Warner Bros. has been trying to remake the 1992 Kevin Costner/Whitney Houstin movie The Bodyguard for over a decade. Now, they have hired playwright Matthew López (The Newsroom) to write the screenplay with the hope that he will finally get this stalled vehicle started.
Variety reports that López will write a “reimagining” of the story, which is said to be “inspired by” the first film. Lawrence Kasdan (who wrote and produced the original film) is on board as a producer. No casting decisions have been made yet, but reportedly the studio is looking for a pairing similar to Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson (I like) or Channing Tatum and Cardi B (yikes).
Sex Education & Only Murders in the Building Get Renewed
Netflix has renewed Sex Education for a fourth season. The announcement was made during the fan event Netflix Tudum. The renewal came only a week after the third season began streaming.
Hulu has renewed the critically acclaimed Only Murders in the Building for a second season. The renewal comes just five episodes into the series’ freshman run. It stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. (Seriously, watch this show. It’s this year’s Ted Lasso.)
Bryce Dallas Howard to Direct Flight of the Navigator Remake
Disney has hired Bryce Dallas Howard to direct and produce a reimagining of its 1986 science-fiction film Flight of the Navigator for Disney+. The remake will have a female lead. The original movie followed a boy who travelled eight years into the future from 1978 and had an adventure with an intelligent, wisecracking alien ship, named Max.
New Paranormal Activity Movie Gets Title and R-Rating
Per the Motion Picture Association, the upcoming Paranormal Activity film has been officially titled Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin. The horror film has also received an R-rating “for violence and bloody images, and language throughout.”
Clifford the Big Red Dog Gets Day-and-Date Release
Paramount has decided to give its upcoming Clifford the Big Red Dog adaptation a theatrical and Paramount+ day-and-date release. The decision comes after the release of Paw Patrol: The Movie did well using the same format. Clifford the Big Red Dog will not theaters and Paramount+ on November 10, 2021.
Stallone to Direct Grillo in Nighthawks Limited Series
Sylvester Stallone will direct Frank Grillo in a remake of his 1981 thriller Nighthawks. In the film, “fresh from mounting a devastating bomb attack in London, an international terrorist arrives in New York and remains intent upon wreaking further bloody havoc. His preparation is clinical and thorough but he overlooks one thing – the grit and steely determination of one New York cop.”
Grillo will play New York cop DaSilva in the 8-episode limited series. The actor revealed the news during an interview on the podcast The Beard and the Bald. He said:
“We’re redoing Nighthawks as a limited TV series – eight episodes. I’m playing him. He’s directing, he’s gonna direct ‘em, and then he’s gonna be in it…It’s happening as we speak, we’re selling it right now.”
Live-Action She-Ra Series in the Works at Amazon
Variety reports that a live-action She-Ra series is in the early stages of development at Amazon. She-Ra, otherwise known as Princess Adora, first appeared in the 1985 animated film He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword. That led to a spin-off series titled She-Ra: Princess of Power that ran for 93 episodes.
In 2018, Netflix released their own animated adaptation, She-Ra and The Princesses of Power, which ran for five seasons. The new live-action series will have no link to the recent Netflix show, but Dreamworks Animation will still serve as the executive producer. No writer or director are attached to the project at this time.
That’s it for last few weeks. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us down in the comments!
