Chris Pine earned some of the worst reviews of his career for “Poolman,” a Los Angeles-set comedy mystery in the vein of “Chinatown” that Pine directed, co-wrote and starred in. The movie is Pine’s feature directorial debut, but it got eviscerated by critics when it premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Variety critic Owen Gleiberman called it an “absurdist disaster,” for instance.
Making the press rounds to support the “Poolman” theatrical release, Pine stopped by the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast and refused to believe that he made a complete dud of a movie.
“Criticism as an actor is just a part of the game, but there’s a lot of stuff to hide behind,” Pine said. “There’s the director and the writer and the release pattern, etc. As an actor you come on set and you do your dance and you go off and by...
Making the press rounds to support the “Poolman” theatrical release, Pine stopped by the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast and refused to believe that he made a complete dud of a movie.
“Criticism as an actor is just a part of the game, but there’s a lot of stuff to hide behind,” Pine said. “There’s the director and the writer and the release pattern, etc. As an actor you come on set and you do your dance and you go off and by...
- 5/9/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
American actress DeWanda Wise’s growth as an actress is evident in her performances in movies and TV shows. Wise developed a love for acting while in High School, eventually attending and graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a Bfa in Drama and Urban Studies. Since her graduation in 2006, Wise has had a busy acting career. Whether in theater, television, or film, DeWanda Wise has earned particular praise for her talent and performances. Although she made her screen debut in 2006, her success as an actress began in the mid to late 2010s. Wise has
The post DeWanda Wise: Where You Know the Actress From first appeared on TVovermind.
The post DeWanda Wise: Where You Know the Actress From first appeared on TVovermind.
- 5/9/2024
- by Onyinye Izundu
- TVovermind.com
Plot: A spacey pool cleaner (Chris Pine) discovers a plot to steal water from Los Angeles during a drought.
Review: (Note – Poolman Was Reviewed At TIFF 2023) In the fourteen years I’ve been covering TIFF, I’ve seen only a handful of movies that I’d say were shockingly bad. The Mickey Rourke/ Megan Fox/ Bill Murray dud Passion Play comes to mind. Poolman ranks with the worst movies I’ve ever reviewed at JoBlo. It’s a stunningly unfunny comic noir vanity project for star Chris Pine, who also directed and co-wrote the film. That it was made at all is a testament to the power of celebrity, as it has already become notorious at the festival for the amount of walkouts taking place at the screenings.
So why is Poolman so awful? It comes down to the screenplay and Pine’s grating lead performance as a kind of...
Review: (Note – Poolman Was Reviewed At TIFF 2023) In the fourteen years I’ve been covering TIFF, I’ve seen only a handful of movies that I’d say were shockingly bad. The Mickey Rourke/ Megan Fox/ Bill Murray dud Passion Play comes to mind. Poolman ranks with the worst movies I’ve ever reviewed at JoBlo. It’s a stunningly unfunny comic noir vanity project for star Chris Pine, who also directed and co-wrote the film. That it was made at all is a testament to the power of celebrity, as it has already become notorious at the festival for the amount of walkouts taking place at the screenings.
So why is Poolman so awful? It comes down to the screenplay and Pine’s grating lead performance as a kind of...
- 5/8/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Chris Pine, Annette Bening, and Danny DeVito in PoolmanImage: Vertical
Movie stars will literally direct a whole movie about going to therapy instead of, you know, actually going to therapy. This could be the tagline for Chris Pine’s Poolman, a film that so deeply misunderstands what normal people like...
Movie stars will literally direct a whole movie about going to therapy instead of, you know, actually going to therapy. This could be the tagline for Chris Pine’s Poolman, a film that so deeply misunderstands what normal people like...
- 5/8/2024
- by Emma Keates
- avclub.com
Imaginary is now available on Digital(Est) and will be available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital starting on May 14. Ahead of the release, we've been provided with an exclusive look at a behind-the-scenes feature that shows the making of Chauncey as well as the entity from the film.
"When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter, Alice, finds a stuffed bear named Chauncey. As Alice's behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.
Imaginary stars DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion), Tom Payne (“The Walking Dead”), Taegen Burns (“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”), Pyper Braun (Desperation Road), Betty Buckley (Carrie), Matthew Sato (“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”), and Veronica Falcón (“Ozark”)."
The post Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of Chauncey in Exclusive Clip...
"When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter, Alice, finds a stuffed bear named Chauncey. As Alice's behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.
Imaginary stars DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion), Tom Payne (“The Walking Dead”), Taegen Burns (“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”), Pyper Braun (Desperation Road), Betty Buckley (Carrie), Matthew Sato (“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”), and Veronica Falcón (“Ozark”)."
The post Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of Chauncey in Exclusive Clip...
- 5/7/2024
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Chris Pine makes his directorial debut in the sun-soaked film noir “Poolman.” He also co-wrote the script with Ian Gotler and starred in the title role as Darren Barrenman, a Los Angeles poolman who uncovers a conspiracy in the vein of “Chinatown.” Danny DeVito, Annette Bening, DeWanda Wise, and Jennifer Jason Leigh co-star. “Poolman” arrives
The post “Poolman” Cast Interviews appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
The post “Poolman” Cast Interviews appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
- 5/7/2024
- by manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Jordan Peele is dusting off his ten-gallon hat and sharpening his spurs for a potentially powerful docuseries about Black cowboys of the Wild West. Peele’s goal with his new project is to change the public perception of the Old West and the people who contributed to its identity. The docuseries is getting set up at Peacock, with Peele executive producing. Reports say the project aims to “dismantle the whitewashed mythology of the cowboy” and elaborate on themes featured in Peele’s 2022 invasion thriller Nope.
Peele is teaming up with By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem’s Keith McQuirter, who joins the untitled Black cowboy docuseries as showrunner and executive producer.
Here’s the official description for Jordan Peele’s Black cowboy docuseries:
“The untitled Black cowboy docuseries will rewrite a foundational piece of American history, unmasking the forces that erased the identity of the Black...
Peele is teaming up with By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem’s Keith McQuirter, who joins the untitled Black cowboy docuseries as showrunner and executive producer.
Here’s the official description for Jordan Peele’s Black cowboy docuseries:
“The untitled Black cowboy docuseries will rewrite a foundational piece of American history, unmasking the forces that erased the identity of the Black...
- 5/2/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Cameras have started rolling in Sofia, Bulgaria, on the survival-thriller Savage Hunt from Dutch filmmaker Roel Reiné (Halo).
The pic comes from a screenplay penned by Chad Law and Christopher Jolley. The story follows a vengeful tracker who is brought in to hunt down a large grizzly bear, which has begun attacking humans when a new local resort begins construction, disrupting the natural habitat of the wildlife.
The production has told us they are currently using a real grizzly bear on location as part of the shoot.
“We wanted to strive for as much realism as possible, showing how powerful nature can be, and the effects of man encroaching on an animal’s natural environment,” producers said.
Film Bridge International has sales rights to the pic and will introduce it to buyers at the forthcoming Cannes market. Producing the pic are United Film’s Gabriel Georgiev, Ellen Wander, and...
The pic comes from a screenplay penned by Chad Law and Christopher Jolley. The story follows a vengeful tracker who is brought in to hunt down a large grizzly bear, which has begun attacking humans when a new local resort begins construction, disrupting the natural habitat of the wildlife.
The production has told us they are currently using a real grizzly bear on location as part of the shoot.
“We wanted to strive for as much realism as possible, showing how powerful nature can be, and the effects of man encroaching on an animal’s natural environment,” producers said.
Film Bridge International has sales rights to the pic and will introduce it to buyers at the forthcoming Cannes market. Producing the pic are United Film’s Gabriel Georgiev, Ellen Wander, and...
- 5/1/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Why Did DeWanda Wise Leave Captain Marvel? Actress Breaks Silence - Main Image
Marvel found its Maria Rambeau in Lashana Lynch, but before the British actress took the role, DeWanda Wise was supposed to play Carol Denver’s best friend in the 2019 Captain Marvel. However, she left the project before the production began, and Wise has now broken her silence about the real reason behind her exit.
Wise was cast as Maria Rambeau in January 2018 but was forced to part ways with the project in March of the same year before the filming started that Spring.
At the time, it was revealed that her departure was due to scheduling conflicts with the production of She’s Gotta Have It Season 2.
However, some couldn’t help but notice Wise’s words when she said making a Marvel movie was her “own personal nightmare.” So, what’s the truth about her exit?
DeWanda...
Marvel found its Maria Rambeau in Lashana Lynch, but before the British actress took the role, DeWanda Wise was supposed to play Carol Denver’s best friend in the 2019 Captain Marvel. However, she left the project before the production began, and Wise has now broken her silence about the real reason behind her exit.
Wise was cast as Maria Rambeau in January 2018 but was forced to part ways with the project in March of the same year before the filming started that Spring.
At the time, it was revealed that her departure was due to scheduling conflicts with the production of She’s Gotta Have It Season 2.
However, some couldn’t help but notice Wise’s words when she said making a Marvel movie was her “own personal nightmare.” So, what’s the truth about her exit?
DeWanda...
- 5/1/2024
- EpicStream
Jurassic World Dominion star DeWanda Wise was originally cast as Captain Marvel's Maria Rambeau in early 2018, but later exited the movie before production began later that year.
Lashana Lynch soon replaced her and has since played the character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels.
While it was initially reported that Wise left Captain Marvel due to scheduling issues with She's Gotta Have It season 2, the actress has since been quoted as calling Marvel Studios' approach to filmmaking "[her] own personal nightmare."
Talking to The Direct, Wise explained that her comments were taken out of context and confirmed her Captain Marvel departure boiled down to a conflict with her television work.
"No, but that was a funny headline. I had to exit because it conflicted with Season 2 of 'She's Gotta Have It,'" she confirmed. "It was just both of those things were true at one time.
Lashana Lynch soon replaced her and has since played the character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels.
While it was initially reported that Wise left Captain Marvel due to scheduling issues with She's Gotta Have It season 2, the actress has since been quoted as calling Marvel Studios' approach to filmmaking "[her] own personal nightmare."
Talking to The Direct, Wise explained that her comments were taken out of context and confirmed her Captain Marvel departure boiled down to a conflict with her television work.
"No, but that was a funny headline. I had to exit because it conflicted with Season 2 of 'She's Gotta Have It,'" she confirmed. "It was just both of those things were true at one time.
- 5/1/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Poolman, A Man in Full and Hacks.
TCM Classic Film Festival
After kicking off with a Pulp Fiction reunion on April 18, the TCM Classic Film Festival continued through the weekend, as Jodie Foster had her handprints and footprints enshrined in concrete at the Tcl Chinese Theatre and then appeared at a screening of her film The Silence of the Lambs; Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins reunited for a screening of their film The Shawshank Redemption; and Mel Brooks introduced a closing night presentation of his film Spaceballs.
Jodie Foster signs her autograph in cement during the Handprint and Footprint Ceremony TCM Host Eddie Muller, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins and TCM Host Dave Karger attend ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ screening Mel Brooks speaks onstage at the ‘Spaceballs’ screening
Poolman premiere...
TCM Classic Film Festival
After kicking off with a Pulp Fiction reunion on April 18, the TCM Classic Film Festival continued through the weekend, as Jodie Foster had her handprints and footprints enshrined in concrete at the Tcl Chinese Theatre and then appeared at a screening of her film The Silence of the Lambs; Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins reunited for a screening of their film The Shawshank Redemption; and Mel Brooks introduced a closing night presentation of his film Spaceballs.
Jodie Foster signs her autograph in cement during the Handprint and Footprint Ceremony TCM Host Eddie Muller, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins and TCM Host Dave Karger attend ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ screening Mel Brooks speaks onstage at the ‘Spaceballs’ screening
Poolman premiere...
- 4/26/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chris Pine has done just about everything in Hollywood. The 43-year-old has starred in blockbuster franchises, indie flicks, and rom-coms, as well as TV sitcoms, series, and comedies. No wonder Pine was getting “bored and frustrated” with his entertainment career. He was ready to try something new, hence his directorial debut with Poolman. The Don’t Worry Darling star also seems ready to spice up his wardrobe. Learn more about Pine’s new comedy mystery movie and out-there look for the premiere.
Chris Pine at the ‘Poolman’ premiere celebrating Pine’s directorial debut | Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Chris Pine rolled up to LA’s Vista Theatre in a blue work van outfitted with his Poolman character’s “Awesome Aquatics” logo and catchphrase, “Love’s alive in Los Angeles,” emblazoned on its sides. The Star Trek star exited the vehicle and began signing autographs in a surprising get-up. Pine donned a beige...
Chris Pine at the ‘Poolman’ premiere celebrating Pine’s directorial debut | Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Chris Pine rolled up to LA’s Vista Theatre in a blue work van outfitted with his Poolman character’s “Awesome Aquatics” logo and catchphrase, “Love’s alive in Los Angeles,” emblazoned on its sides. The Star Trek star exited the vehicle and began signing autographs in a surprising get-up. Pine donned a beige...
- 4/25/2024
- by Ali Hicks
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Josh Kelly is proudly celebrating his 42nd birthday today! Born on April 25, 1982, in Yokosuka, Japan, Josh Kelly spent his formative years in Columbia, Maryland, and graduated from Atholton High School in 2000. During his time in high school, he crossed paths with Dewanda Wise, who would also go on to make waves in […]
The post Josh Kelly Celebrates His Birthday appeared first on Soap Opera News.
The post Josh Kelly Celebrates His Birthday appeared first on Soap Opera News.
- 4/25/2024
- by Soap Opera News
- Soap Opera News
Exclusive: Ryuhei Kitamura (The Midnight Meat Train) is set to direct roller coaster thriller Thrill Ride, which Film Bridge International is launching for sales ahead of next month’s Cannes market.
Production is being lined up for the fourth quarter of this year with filming due to take place in Bulgaria at Pro Cinema Studios.
Penned by Chad Law and Christopher Jolley, the English-language film will tell the story of a group of people, including two young women, who are trapped upside down on a roller coaster taken over by a mysterious saboteur threatening to drop them all one-by-one to their deaths.
Producing will be United Film’s Gabriel Georgiev, Ellen Wander and Jordan Dykstra. Casting is in process.
Japanese filmmaker Kitamura is known for Japanese and English-language movies including Godzilla: Final Wars, Bradley Cooper thriller The Midnight Meat Train, No One Lives with Luke Evans, Japanese action pic Lupin III,...
Production is being lined up for the fourth quarter of this year with filming due to take place in Bulgaria at Pro Cinema Studios.
Penned by Chad Law and Christopher Jolley, the English-language film will tell the story of a group of people, including two young women, who are trapped upside down on a roller coaster taken over by a mysterious saboteur threatening to drop them all one-by-one to their deaths.
Producing will be United Film’s Gabriel Georgiev, Ellen Wander and Jordan Dykstra. Casting is in process.
Japanese filmmaker Kitamura is known for Japanese and English-language movies including Godzilla: Final Wars, Bradley Cooper thriller The Midnight Meat Train, No One Lives with Luke Evans, Japanese action pic Lupin III,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The full trailer is out now for Chris Pine‘s upcoming directorial debut Poolman!
The 43-year-old actor not only directs the movie, but he also stars, produces and co-wrote the film with Ian Gotler.
Poolman “tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live. When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.”
Check out the trailer and learn more inside…
Also starring in the film are Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz and Ray Wise.
The 43-year-old actor not only directs the movie, but he also stars, produces and co-wrote the film with Ian Gotler.
Poolman “tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live. When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.”
Check out the trailer and learn more inside…
Also starring in the film are Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz and Ray Wise.
- 4/4/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
"You waded out into the deep end, and now you're drowning right before our eyes." Vertical has debuted the full official trailer for the wacky stoner comedy titled Poolman, marking the directorial debut of actor Chris Pine. He shot this film in 2022 when the pandemic was still on, and now it's set for release starting in May in theaters. This initially premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival last fall, but got terrible reviews (and even a few walk outs) from most critics at the festival. Poolman is described as a stoner riff on the noir classic Chinatown. It's about a hapless dreamer and would-be philosopher who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block in sunny LA. When he uncovers the greatest water heist, he does what he can to protect his precious city. Chris Pine also stars in this as Darren Barrenman, the titular "poolman", with Annette Bening,...
- 4/4/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Santa Monica, CA – Keep your new best friend forever when Imaginary arrives on Electronic Sell-Through May 7 and Blu-ray™ (+ DVD and Digital), and DVD from Lionsgate. Imaginary stars Chauncey the Bear, Blumhouse’s latest horror icon, now ready to play in your imagination at home! But remember, Chauncey is not imaginary, and not your friend. Alongside Chauncey are his human castmates DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion), Tom Payne (“The Walking Dead”), Taegen Burns (“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”), Pyper Braun (Desperation Road), Betty Buckley (Carrie), Matthew Sato (“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”), and Veronica Falcón (“Ozark”).
When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter, Alice, finds a stuffed bear named Chauncey. As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.
Lionsgate and Blumhouse...
When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter, Alice, finds a stuffed bear named Chauncey. As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.
Lionsgate and Blumhouse...
- 4/2/2024
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
This week brought along with it five brand new horror movies, including a sequel to a viral hit, the at-home debut of a recent theatrical release, and even a new Easter horror movie.
Here’s all the new horror that released March 25, 2024 – March 31, 2024!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
From Fathom Events, the slasher sequel Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey II was released into theaters on March 26, but the bad news here is that the film was only playing in theaters for three days – March 26 – March 28. Stay tuned for an at-home release date.
In the film from director Rhys Frake-Waterfield, “Deep within the 100-Acre-Wood, a destructive rage grows as Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, and Tigger find their home and their lives endangered after Christopher Robin revealed their existence. Not wanting to live in the shadows any longer, the group decides to take the fight to the town of Ashdown,...
Here’s all the new horror that released March 25, 2024 – March 31, 2024!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
From Fathom Events, the slasher sequel Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey II was released into theaters on March 26, but the bad news here is that the film was only playing in theaters for three days – March 26 – March 28. Stay tuned for an at-home release date.
In the film from director Rhys Frake-Waterfield, “Deep within the 100-Acre-Wood, a destructive rage grows as Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, and Tigger find their home and their lives endangered after Christopher Robin revealed their existence. Not wanting to live in the shadows any longer, the group decides to take the fight to the town of Ashdown,...
- 3/30/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Imaginary, the latest team-up between Blumhouse and director Jeff Wadlow – who had previously collaborated on the 2018 film Truth or Dare and the 2020 horror version of Fantasy Island – reached theatres on March 8th, and it hasn’t set the box office on fire during its tow and a half week theatrical run, pulling in just under $29 million at the global box office. Now Lionsgate has given the film a PVOD (that’s Premium Video on Demand) and Pest (that’s Premium Electronic Sell-Through) release, so maybe more genre fans will check it out now that it’s available to watch in the comfort of our own homes.
The Amazon version it available to watch Here. The Vudu version comes with an exclusive featurette: Forged by Fire: A Tale of Unbreakable Family Bonds.
The film sees DeWanda Wise of Jurassic World: Dominion taking on the role of Jessica, who moves back into...
The Amazon version it available to watch Here. The Vudu version comes with an exclusive featurette: Forged by Fire: A Tale of Unbreakable Family Bonds.
The film sees DeWanda Wise of Jurassic World: Dominion taking on the role of Jessica, who moves back into...
- 3/26/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Did you have a stuffed animal when you were a kid? Heck, do you have one now (no judgment)? Well ... what if that stuffed animal was alive and also evil ... or something like that? That's the basic set-up of "Imaginary," one of the latest offerings from Blumhouse, the folks who know how to make horror hits. The horror flick directed by Jeff Wadlow hit theaters earlier this month, and if you've been waiting to watch the movie at home, here's some good news: it'll be available to watch via Premium Video on Demand and Premium Electronic Sell-Through this week! Tomorrow, in fact!
DeWanda Wise ("Jurassic World Dominion"), Tom Payne ("The Walking Dead"), Taegen Burns ("The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers"), Pyper Braun ("Desperation Road"), Betty Buckley ("Carrie"), Matthew Sato ("High School Musical: The Musical: The Series"), and Veronica Falcón ("Ozark") all star in the film, along with the movie's main attraction: Chauncey the Bear.
DeWanda Wise ("Jurassic World Dominion"), Tom Payne ("The Walking Dead"), Taegen Burns ("The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers"), Pyper Braun ("Desperation Road"), Betty Buckley ("Carrie"), Matthew Sato ("High School Musical: The Musical: The Series"), and Veronica Falcón ("Ozark") all star in the film, along with the movie's main attraction: Chauncey the Bear.
- 3/25/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
After scaring up $30 million at the worldwide box office, Blumhouse and Lionsgate’s new horror movie Imaginary is now headed home this week, Bloody Disgusting has learned.
Meet your brand-new best friend forever when Imaginary arrives on Premium Video on Demand and Premium Electronic Sell-Through on March 26 from Lionsgate.
Beginning tomorrow, Imaginary will be available to buy for $24.99 and to rent at $19.99 (48-hour period) on participating digital platforms from which movies are purchased, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.
Special Features include:
Vudu Exclusive Featurette – “Forged by Fire: A Tale of Unbreakable Family Bonds”
DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion) stars in Imaginary…
“Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family. Her youngest stepdaughter Alice develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister. As...
Meet your brand-new best friend forever when Imaginary arrives on Premium Video on Demand and Premium Electronic Sell-Through on March 26 from Lionsgate.
Beginning tomorrow, Imaginary will be available to buy for $24.99 and to rent at $19.99 (48-hour period) on participating digital platforms from which movies are purchased, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.
Special Features include:
Vudu Exclusive Featurette – “Forged by Fire: A Tale of Unbreakable Family Bonds”
DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion) stars in Imaginary…
“Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family. Her youngest stepdaughter Alice develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister. As...
- 3/25/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
DeWanda Wise was originally tapped to play Maria Rambeau, best friend to Carol Danvers, in 2019’s “Captain Marvel.” DeWise later said she backed out due to other filming obligations, but in an interview with Collider published Sunday, the “Jurassic World Dominion” star revealed a major reason had to do with the way Marvel actors work, which she described as “my own personal nightmare.”
“When I almost did Captain Marvel, there was a crew member, because I was going down the process, and they said to me, ‘Yeah, you know how it is, these movies, you hit your mark, you say your line, you go home’ … I heard that and I was like, ‘That is my own personal nightmare.… pic.twitter.com/n6TthhDBa9
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) March 17, 2024
“I don’t think I’ve said this, and this is not good news, but when I almost did ‘Captain Marvel,’ there was...
“When I almost did Captain Marvel, there was a crew member, because I was going down the process, and they said to me, ‘Yeah, you know how it is, these movies, you hit your mark, you say your line, you go home’ … I heard that and I was like, ‘That is my own personal nightmare.… pic.twitter.com/n6TthhDBa9
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) March 17, 2024
“I don’t think I’ve said this, and this is not good news, but when I almost did ‘Captain Marvel,’ there was...
- 3/17/2024
- by Stephanie Kaloi
- The Wrap
DeWanda Wise rose to prominence with her performance in the Netflix comedy-drama series She’s Gotta Have It. However, fans of the Jurassic World franchise might know the actress as Kayla Watts in 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion. Wise is currently starring in the Blumhouse horror film Imaginary, and gave an interview while promoting the film.
DeWanda Wise as Kayla in Jurassic World Dominion
In the interview, Wise opened up about her Hollywood career and spoke about being a part of a blockbuster franchise. At the same time, Wise shared her brief experience in the MCU and criticized Marvel for their approach to characterization and acting. Here is what Wise revealed about her short-lived MCU stint and why the Marvel process was one of her worst nightmares.
Jurassic World‘s DeWanda Wise Criticizes Marvel Movies Over Creative Approach
DeWanda Wise in a still from Jurassic World Dominion
Actress DeWanda Wise recently appeared...
DeWanda Wise as Kayla in Jurassic World Dominion
In the interview, Wise opened up about her Hollywood career and spoke about being a part of a blockbuster franchise. At the same time, Wise shared her brief experience in the MCU and criticized Marvel for their approach to characterization and acting. Here is what Wise revealed about her short-lived MCU stint and why the Marvel process was one of her worst nightmares.
Jurassic World‘s DeWanda Wise Criticizes Marvel Movies Over Creative Approach
DeWanda Wise in a still from Jurassic World Dominion
Actress DeWanda Wise recently appeared...
- 3/17/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Our own Chris Bumbray caught Chris Pine’s Poolman at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and absolutely loved the movie, calling it “desperately unfunny,” “grating,” “and “one of the worst movies I’ve ever reviewed.” High praise indeed. The first trailer for Poolman was recently released, giving audiences the chance to check out this cinematic triumph for themselves.
Poolman tells the story of “Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live. When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.” In addition to starring in Poolman,...
Poolman tells the story of “Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live. When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.” In addition to starring in Poolman,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Halloween is coming early this year, as Blumhouse and AMC Theatres have partnered to launch the Halfway To Halloween Film Festival, which will take place at over 100 AMC theaters in 40 U.S. cities from March 29 to April 2.
Anchored by an April 1st 13th anniversary screening of Insidious, the horror franchise launcher marking the first collaboration between the now-merged Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, the fest kicks off with M. Night Shyamalan’s Split on Friday, March 29, with The Purge to return to screens on the 30th. Other films showcased will include Ouija: Origin of Evil on March 31 and Elisabeth Moss starrer The Invisible Man on April 2.
Festival attendees will have the chance to win giveaways and get sneak peaks at upcoming titles, as well as a look at exclusive recorded messages from Blumhouse directors and talent. Tickets are on sale now for $8 a pop.
“Blumhouse films terrify and delight horror fans,...
Anchored by an April 1st 13th anniversary screening of Insidious, the horror franchise launcher marking the first collaboration between the now-merged Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, the fest kicks off with M. Night Shyamalan’s Split on Friday, March 29, with The Purge to return to screens on the 30th. Other films showcased will include Ouija: Origin of Evil on March 31 and Elisabeth Moss starrer The Invisible Man on April 2.
Festival attendees will have the chance to win giveaways and get sneak peaks at upcoming titles, as well as a look at exclusive recorded messages from Blumhouse directors and talent. Tickets are on sale now for $8 a pop.
“Blumhouse films terrify and delight horror fans,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Chris Pine is making his directorial debut!
The 43-year-old actor stars in and directs the new comedy movie Poolman, which he also co-wrote with Ian Gotler.
Here’s the synopsis: “Poolman tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live.”
Keep reading to find out more…“When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.”
The movie also stars Annette Being, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz, and Ray Wise.
Did you see that a famous actor recently...
The 43-year-old actor stars in and directs the new comedy movie Poolman, which he also co-wrote with Ian Gotler.
Here’s the synopsis: “Poolman tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live.”
Keep reading to find out more…“When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.”
The movie also stars Annette Being, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz, and Ray Wise.
Did you see that a famous actor recently...
- 3/15/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Vertical has debuted a new trailer for the feature from Chris Pine ‘Poolman’.
Written, directed and starring Pine, the movie tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Chris Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live.
When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.
Annette Bening, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz, Ray Wise, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Danny DeVito also star.
Also in trailers – “What do you want to do today?” First trailer lands for ‘The Greatest Hits’
The movie hits U.S. cinemas on May 10th.
Written, directed and starring Pine, the movie tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Chris Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live.
When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.
Annette Bening, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz, Ray Wise, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Danny DeVito also star.
Also in trailers – “What do you want to do today?” First trailer lands for ‘The Greatest Hits’
The movie hits U.S. cinemas on May 10th.
- 3/15/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Chris Pine’s directorial debut Poolman is on the way, and you can get your first look right here.
Chris Pine’s Poolman is set to release next month courtesy of Vertical in the US and Signature Entertainment here in the UK. Poolman marks Pine’s directorial debut and is said to be an LA-based mystery comedy which to our mind, brings forth notes of The Big Lebowski or Under The Silver Lake.
Whether Poolman can hit these highs remains to be seen, although the film did find itself coming under some fire when it released at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Still, we won’t be judging it until we’ve seen it with our own eyes and the opportunity to do that will soon be arising. The film releases on the 10th of May in the US although here in the UK, Signature haven’t yet dated its release.
Chris Pine’s Poolman is set to release next month courtesy of Vertical in the US and Signature Entertainment here in the UK. Poolman marks Pine’s directorial debut and is said to be an LA-based mystery comedy which to our mind, brings forth notes of The Big Lebowski or Under The Silver Lake.
Whether Poolman can hit these highs remains to be seen, although the film did find itself coming under some fire when it released at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Still, we won’t be judging it until we’ve seen it with our own eyes and the opportunity to do that will soon be arising. The film releases on the 10th of May in the US although here in the UK, Signature haven’t yet dated its release.
- 3/15/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
"Dear Moviegoer, thanks for watching my trailer." You're welcome, Mister Poolman. Vertical has unveiled a teaser trailer for the wacky stoner comedy titled Poolman, marking the directorial debut of actor Chris Pine. He shot this film in 2022 when the pandemic was still on, and now it's set for release starting in May in theaters around the country. It originally premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival last year, but got terrible reviews (and even a few walk outs) from most critics. Poolman is described a stoner riff on the noir classic Chinatown. It's about a hapless dreamer and would-be philosopher who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block in sunny LA. When he uncovers the greatest water heist, he does what he can to protect his precious city. Chris Pine also stars as Darren Barrenman, the titular "poolman", with Annette Being, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Teddy Bears can be scary too. At least that’s what the fine folks behind Imaginary are counting on. Opening last weekend, the latest from Blumhouse takes spooky toys in a new direction. Directed by Jeff Wadlow, who has had a couple of collaborations with Blumhouse, the thriller brings horror to the family. Starring DeWanda Wise, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, and Tom Payne who portray a family that faces an unexpected terror when a young girl discovers a cute little teddy bear.
Having spoken to Jeff Wadlow before, I’ve always found him to be terrific to talk with. Having sat down with him, along with Jason Blum, a couple weeks ago, Jeff and I continued our conversation the day before the film’s opening. During the extended chat, the director discussed the idea of a scary bear, and how that became the creepy toy in Imaginary. The filmmaker discussed his previous efforts,...
Having spoken to Jeff Wadlow before, I’ve always found him to be terrific to talk with. Having sat down with him, along with Jason Blum, a couple weeks ago, Jeff and I continued our conversation the day before the film’s opening. During the extended chat, the director discussed the idea of a scary bear, and how that became the creepy toy in Imaginary. The filmmaker discussed his previous efforts,...
- 3/14/2024
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
DeWanda Wise, who can currently be seen on the big screen in the Blumhouse horror movie Imaginary, joined Universal’s Jurassic Park / Jurassic World franchise with the most recent film, Jurassic World Dominion, where she took on the role of former US Air Force pilot Kayla Watts. Now a new entry in the franchise is on the fast track to production, but during an interview with Collider, Wise revealed that she doesn’t expect to be in the new film.
When asked if she’ll be returning for the new Jurassic film, Wise said, “I’m gonna be honest with you, and I don’t think so. And that makes me sad.“
We don’t know what the new movie is going to be about, but Wise went on to say that the Jurassic movie she would like to see would be set between the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom...
When asked if she’ll be returning for the new Jurassic film, Wise said, “I’m gonna be honest with you, and I don’t think so. And that makes me sad.“
We don’t know what the new movie is going to be about, but Wise went on to say that the Jurassic movie she would like to see would be set between the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom...
- 3/11/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Blumhouse returned to the big screen with brand new horror movie Imaginary over the weekend, and the marketing campaign from Blumhouse and Lionsgate suggested that the studios were hoping to have another M3GAN on their hands. But while M3GAN opened to $30 million in early 2023, Imaginary only scared up 1/3 of that number in its debut weekend.
Director Jeff Wadlow’s Imaginary pulled in $10 million at the domestic box office over the weekend, but the good news for Blumhouse is that the film’s production budget was just $10-12 million. The Blumhouse model all but ensures that these smaller horror movies are going to be profitable no matter what – even if audiences and critics agree they’re not so good.
Speaking of which, you can read Meagan’s review for Bloody Disgusting here.
Meagan writes, “More than just a familiar entry in horror, Imaginary is the type of silly that...
Director Jeff Wadlow’s Imaginary pulled in $10 million at the domestic box office over the weekend, but the good news for Blumhouse is that the film’s production budget was just $10-12 million. The Blumhouse model all but ensures that these smaller horror movies are going to be profitable no matter what – even if audiences and critics agree they’re not so good.
Speaking of which, you can read Meagan’s review for Bloody Disgusting here.
Meagan writes, “More than just a familiar entry in horror, Imaginary is the type of silly that...
- 3/11/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Stars: DeWanda Wise, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Betty Buckley, Tom Payne, Veronica Falcon | Written by Jeff Wadlow, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland | Directed by Jeff Wadlow
Produced by BlumHouse and directed by Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island), Imaginary is a solidly entertaining Friday night horror flick that does a decent job with its premise. It may not deliver any really big scares (at least not if you’re not frightened of bears or spiders), but it’s consistently creepy and tense and Wadlow pulls off a couple of neat twists.
DeWanda Wise plays Jessica, a children’s book author and illustrator who has recently married musician Max (Tom Payne) and become stepmother to his two daughters, stroppy teenager Taylor (Taegen Burns) and six year-old Alice (Pyper Braun). When the family move into Jessica’s old family home, Alice finds an old teddy bear in the basement and quickly turns him into her imaginary friend,...
Produced by BlumHouse and directed by Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island), Imaginary is a solidly entertaining Friday night horror flick that does a decent job with its premise. It may not deliver any really big scares (at least not if you’re not frightened of bears or spiders), but it’s consistently creepy and tense and Wadlow pulls off a couple of neat twists.
DeWanda Wise plays Jessica, a children’s book author and illustrator who has recently married musician Max (Tom Payne) and become stepmother to his two daughters, stroppy teenager Taylor (Taegen Burns) and six year-old Alice (Pyper Braun). When the family move into Jessica’s old family home, Alice finds an old teddy bear in the basement and quickly turns him into her imaginary friend,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
In the crammed video aisle of supernatural horror films, the introduction of a villainous teddy bear in Imaginary might initially raise more eyebrows than pulse rates. Directed with a keen eye for the absurd by Jeff Wadlow (director of Nofs fave Cry_Wolf) and penned by the trio of Wadlow, Greg Erb, and Jason Oremland, this latest offering from Blumhouse Productions – the powerhouse behind a slew of commodified villains – might seem like it’s scraping the bottom of the horror trope barrel. The film stars DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, and the delightful Betty Buckley, in a narrative that threads the familiar needle of haunted playthings and the unseen horrors they sneak under our beds.
“..Imaginary manages to swerve unexpectedly from eye-roll-worthy to surprisingly delightful. “
The premise of Imaginary tiptoes around the edge of being all too familiar: Jessica (DeWanda Wise) and her family, including the youngest stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun), move back to her childhood home,...
“..Imaginary manages to swerve unexpectedly from eye-roll-worthy to surprisingly delightful. “
The premise of Imaginary tiptoes around the edge of being all too familiar: Jessica (DeWanda Wise) and her family, including the youngest stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun), move back to her childhood home,...
- 3/10/2024
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
Director John Krasinski’s 2024 movie If is all set to hit the theatres in May 2024 and coincidentally, it was made alongside a film with a similar “imaginary friends” theme movie directed by Jeff Wadlow called Imaginary. In a recent interview, Wadlow opened up about running into Krasinski several times as their films were edited in the same building.
A still from Imaginary (2024)
The films are not the same, as Krasinski’s If is an animated fantasy comedy film while Wadlow’s Imaginary is a supernatural horror film, however, due to the similar themes admitted that he “kept his head down” whenever he bumped into Krasinski in New York.
Imaginary director Jeff Wadlow was trying to avoid John Krasinski A still from John Krasinski’s If (2024)
Director Jeff Wadlow recently acknowledged the fact that his 2024 film Imaginary shares a similar theme to John Krasinski‘s 2024 movie If. The director explained in...
A still from Imaginary (2024)
The films are not the same, as Krasinski’s If is an animated fantasy comedy film while Wadlow’s Imaginary is a supernatural horror film, however, due to the similar themes admitted that he “kept his head down” whenever he bumped into Krasinski in New York.
Imaginary director Jeff Wadlow was trying to avoid John Krasinski A still from John Krasinski’s If (2024)
Director Jeff Wadlow recently acknowledged the fact that his 2024 film Imaginary shares a similar theme to John Krasinski‘s 2024 movie If. The director explained in...
- 3/10/2024
- by Farhan Asif
- FandomWire
Talk about loyalty.
Betty Buckley has been staying at the Chateau Marmont for about 50 years. She first checked in when she was filming her big screen debut as gym teacher Miss Collins in “Carrie” and then when she landed the role of Abby Bradford, Dick Van Patten’s new wife and stepmother to his kids in ABC’s 1970s family comedy-drama “Eight Is Enough.”
After half a century calling the Chateau her Los Angeles home — she lives full-time at a ranch outside of Fort Worth, Texas — Buckley has a lot of stories.
“Oh, there are some wild ones,” the 76-year-old actor and singer says while nibbling on a fruit and cheese plate in the hotel’s lobby restaurant on a recent weekday afternoon. She’s in town promoting her new horror movie, “Imaginary.”
Buckley quickly recalls becoming friends with John Belushi, first in New York City and then when he...
Betty Buckley has been staying at the Chateau Marmont for about 50 years. She first checked in when she was filming her big screen debut as gym teacher Miss Collins in “Carrie” and then when she landed the role of Abby Bradford, Dick Van Patten’s new wife and stepmother to his kids in ABC’s 1970s family comedy-drama “Eight Is Enough.”
After half a century calling the Chateau her Los Angeles home — she lives full-time at a ranch outside of Fort Worth, Texas — Buckley has a lot of stories.
“Oh, there are some wild ones,” the 76-year-old actor and singer says while nibbling on a fruit and cheese plate in the hotel’s lobby restaurant on a recent weekday afternoon. She’s in town promoting her new horror movie, “Imaginary.”
Buckley quickly recalls becoming friends with John Belushi, first in New York City and then when he...
- 3/9/2024
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Jack Black’s Po is back after nearly a decade, and he’s already receiving a hero’s welcome from audiences.
Kung Fu Panda 4 opened to a stellar $58.3 million domestically, well ahead of expectations and a near-series best in a win for the family marketplace, as well as for DreamWorks Animation and parent company Universal (the studio behind Sunday’s Academy Awards frontrunner Oppenheimer). The only other Kung Fu Panda installment to open higher was the first one in 2008 with $62 million, not adjusted for inflation.
Along with Black, returning members of the Kung Fu Panda 4 voice cast include Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master Shifu, James Hong as Po’s adoptive father, Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father Li and Ian McShane as Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis.
Series newcomers include Viola Davis as a tiny lizard and shapeshifting sorceress and Awakawfina as a quick-witted thief...
Kung Fu Panda 4 opened to a stellar $58.3 million domestically, well ahead of expectations and a near-series best in a win for the family marketplace, as well as for DreamWorks Animation and parent company Universal (the studio behind Sunday’s Academy Awards frontrunner Oppenheimer). The only other Kung Fu Panda installment to open higher was the first one in 2008 with $62 million, not adjusted for inflation.
Along with Black, returning members of the Kung Fu Panda 4 voice cast include Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master Shifu, James Hong as Po’s adoptive father, Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father Li and Ian McShane as Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis.
Series newcomers include Viola Davis as a tiny lizard and shapeshifting sorceress and Awakawfina as a quick-witted thief...
- 3/9/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Spoiler Alert: This article discusses plot twists in the new movie “Imaginary.“
To the public, DeWanda Wise is the glamorous heart of movies like “The Harder They Fall” and “Jurassic World Dominion,” but she consistently describes herself as a “nerdy actor.”
While she plays it cool as Jessica, the hero battling a sinister teddy bear named Chauncey in the new horror movie “Imaginary,” Wise pushes herself by working behind the camera. Her executive producer credit on the Lionsgate film was not a vanity title, but rather an essential step on her journey to claim space behind the scenes.
“I’m a filmmaker,” she said. “I have never been the kind of actor that shows up to a set and just lays back in the makeup chair.”
Wearing multiple hats encouraged Wise to prepare deeply for the role, essential for a film like “Imaginary,” which required plenty of emotion and physicality.
To the public, DeWanda Wise is the glamorous heart of movies like “The Harder They Fall” and “Jurassic World Dominion,” but she consistently describes herself as a “nerdy actor.”
While she plays it cool as Jessica, the hero battling a sinister teddy bear named Chauncey in the new horror movie “Imaginary,” Wise pushes herself by working behind the camera. Her executive producer credit on the Lionsgate film was not a vanity title, but rather an essential step on her journey to claim space behind the scenes.
“I’m a filmmaker,” she said. “I have never been the kind of actor that shows up to a set and just lays back in the makeup chair.”
Wearing multiple hats encouraged Wise to prepare deeply for the role, essential for a film like “Imaginary,” which required plenty of emotion and physicality.
- 3/9/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer cram into the podbooth just minutes after returning to London from a live show in Norwich, which was part of the pod's March tour. And, despite their exhaustion, they throw themselves into a fun episode that involves a deep dive into the filmographies of every actor who's played The Doctor in Doctor Who, an in-depth discussion of the upcoming Oscars that takes up pretty much the entire movie news section, and reviews of Damsel, Ricky Stanicky, and Origin.
Guest-wise, it's another belter, as Chris has lovely chats with the wonderful Robin Wright, star of Damsel and Helen's personal fave, The Princess Bride (25:02 - 39:43 approx.), before welcoming back the magnificent DeWanda Wise, star of this week's horror film, Imaginary (1:02:11 - 1:21:17 approx). Does Chris pluck up the nerve to sing Curtis Stigers' I Wonder Why,...
Guest-wise, it's another belter, as Chris has lovely chats with the wonderful Robin Wright, star of Damsel and Helen's personal fave, The Princess Bride (25:02 - 39:43 approx.), before welcoming back the magnificent DeWanda Wise, star of this week's horror film, Imaginary (1:02:11 - 1:21:17 approx). Does Chris pluck up the nerve to sing Curtis Stigers' I Wonder Why,...
- 3/8/2024
- by Chris Hewitt
- Empire - Movies
Pyper Braun as Alice in ‘Imaginary’ (Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis / Lionsgate)
At first glance, it would seem as if Blumhouse’s new horror movie Imaginary is just another killer doll movie along the lines of Child’s Play or Annabelle. And after a watch, that’s pretty much what it is. But with a few twists.
Imaginary is about a children’s book author/illustrator named Jessica (DeWanda Wise from Jurassic World Dominion) who moves into her childhood home with her husband, Max (The Walking Dead’s Tom Payne), and his two girls, the teenaged Taylor (Monarch’s Taegen Burns) and the younger Alice (Desperation Road’s Pyper Braun). Lonely in her new place, Alice immediately makes an imaginary friend named Chauncey who takes the form of a cute little teddy bear. But there’s more to Chauncey than meets the eye – and he has history with Jessica.
Directed by Jeff Wadlow...
At first glance, it would seem as if Blumhouse’s new horror movie Imaginary is just another killer doll movie along the lines of Child’s Play or Annabelle. And after a watch, that’s pretty much what it is. But with a few twists.
Imaginary is about a children’s book author/illustrator named Jessica (DeWanda Wise from Jurassic World Dominion) who moves into her childhood home with her husband, Max (The Walking Dead’s Tom Payne), and his two girls, the teenaged Taylor (Monarch’s Taegen Burns) and the younger Alice (Desperation Road’s Pyper Braun). Lonely in her new place, Alice immediately makes an imaginary friend named Chauncey who takes the form of a cute little teddy bear. But there’s more to Chauncey than meets the eye – and he has history with Jessica.
Directed by Jeff Wadlow...
- 3/8/2024
- by James Jay Edwards
- Showbiz Junkies
In the latest from Blumhouse, evil has found a new home in a cute little teddy bear. Imaginary tells the story of Jessica who returns to her childhood home with her family. Things don’t go so well when they discover a sweet old teddy bear, locked away in a secret door. What’s up with this scary bear? I won’t spoil it here. The Jeff Wadlow-directed feature stars DeWanda Wise, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Tom Payne, and Betty Buckley. And now you can discover the secrets of this frightful childhood toy.
We sat down with the fine folks behind this new fright flick. First came the family, as we chatted with the lovely and talented DeWanda Wise as well as Taegen Burns and Pyper Braun. For Wise, she talked about taking on the lead in a Blumhouse thriller. She opened up about working with Jeff Wadlow, and dealing with childhood fears.
We sat down with the fine folks behind this new fright flick. First came the family, as we chatted with the lovely and talented DeWanda Wise as well as Taegen Burns and Pyper Braun. For Wise, she talked about taking on the lead in a Blumhouse thriller. She opened up about working with Jeff Wadlow, and dealing with childhood fears.
- 3/8/2024
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
Dane Diliegro‘s breakthrough role as the feral Predator in 2022’s Prey marked him as one to watch in the genre space. Now, the 6’8″ actor can be seen going feral on screen once more in Imaginary, as the more monstrous version of Chauncey the Bear.
Imaginary, out now in theaters, is directed by Jeff Wadlow (Cry Wolf, Kick-Ass 2, Truth or Dare, Fantasy Island, The Curse of Bridge Hollow) and stars DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Veronica Falcon, and Betty Buckley.
The horror film introduces a cute, imaginary teddy bear named Chauncey, brought to life via the award-winning animatronic and practical effects house Spectral Motion. But there are many iterations of the villain, with the Diliegro’s Bear Beast delivering critical scares and at least one notable kill. Bloody Disgusting spoke with Diliegro about his turn in Imaginary, where the actor provided more insight into the film...
Imaginary, out now in theaters, is directed by Jeff Wadlow (Cry Wolf, Kick-Ass 2, Truth or Dare, Fantasy Island, The Curse of Bridge Hollow) and stars DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Veronica Falcon, and Betty Buckley.
The horror film introduces a cute, imaginary teddy bear named Chauncey, brought to life via the award-winning animatronic and practical effects house Spectral Motion. But there are many iterations of the villain, with the Diliegro’s Bear Beast delivering critical scares and at least one notable kill. Bloody Disgusting spoke with Diliegro about his turn in Imaginary, where the actor provided more insight into the film...
- 3/8/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Lionsgate horror Imaginary opens in 516 UK-Ireland cinemas this weekend, as the first challenger to Dune: Part Two’s box office supremacy.
Directed by Jeff Wadlow who wrote the screenplay with Greg Erb and Jason Oremland, Imaginary stars DeWanda Wise as a woman who returns to her childhood home, to discover that the imaginary friend she left behind is real and unhappy at his abandonment.
It is the eighth feature from US filmmaker Wadlow, who has worked predominantly in the genre space with titles including 2018’s Truth Or Dare and 2020’s pandemic-afflicted Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island (£392,999; £763,958). His highest-grossing title is 2013’s Kick-Ass 2,...
Directed by Jeff Wadlow who wrote the screenplay with Greg Erb and Jason Oremland, Imaginary stars DeWanda Wise as a woman who returns to her childhood home, to discover that the imaginary friend she left behind is real and unhappy at his abandonment.
It is the eighth feature from US filmmaker Wadlow, who has worked predominantly in the genre space with titles including 2018’s Truth Or Dare and 2020’s pandemic-afflicted Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island (£392,999; £763,958). His highest-grossing title is 2013’s Kick-Ass 2,...
- 3/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
Plot: A woman returns to her childhood home to discover that the imaginary friend she left behind is very real and unhappy that she abandoned him.
Review: 2024 has already not been a great year for Blumhouse horror films. Night Swim absolutely sunk on release and I can’t imagine a world where Imaginary does well. Because everything about this PG-13 horror venture feels tired and uninspired. That’s not a massive surprise, as the trailer induced groans at nearly every screening I’ve attended over the last few months. But whenever these kinds of movies are released, I always wonder: is there at least some dumb fun to be had? Unfortunately, this one is nearly barren of entertainment value.
Imaginary follows a young artist named Jessica (DeWanda Wise) as she returns to her childhood home with her new husband and stepkids, Alice and Taylor. There’s a mystery around what...
Review: 2024 has already not been a great year for Blumhouse horror films. Night Swim absolutely sunk on release and I can’t imagine a world where Imaginary does well. Because everything about this PG-13 horror venture feels tired and uninspired. That’s not a massive surprise, as the trailer induced groans at nearly every screening I’ve attended over the last few months. But whenever these kinds of movies are released, I always wonder: is there at least some dumb fun to be had? Unfortunately, this one is nearly barren of entertainment value.
Imaginary follows a young artist named Jessica (DeWanda Wise) as she returns to her childhood home with her new husband and stepkids, Alice and Taylor. There’s a mystery around what...
- 3/8/2024
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
"Imaginary" is a new supernatural horror feature, directed by Jeff Wadlow, starring DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Veronica Falcón and Betty Buckley, releasing March 8, 2024 in theaters:
"...when 'Jessica' returns to her childhood home with her family, she finds her old stuffed bear 'Chauncey' and that her stepdaughter Alice has grown attached to it. After Alice's behavior becomes concerning and the games that she and Chauncey play turn increasingly sinister, Jessica starts realizing that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed bear she believed him to be all those years..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...when 'Jessica' returns to her childhood home with her family, she finds her old stuffed bear 'Chauncey' and that her stepdaughter Alice has grown attached to it. After Alice's behavior becomes concerning and the games that she and Chauncey play turn increasingly sinister, Jessica starts realizing that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed bear she believed him to be all those years..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 3/8/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
They have been known to get us through tough times in our childhoods, but what happens to imaginary friends when we get older and leave them behind for the “real world”? Do they simply vanish, or does some part of them remain, waiting for us to return for a playdate that will never happen? And what if they get impatient while they wait, with their own imagination becoming dark and twisted as the days turn into years and they wait for us to return so that we can be friends forever? These intriguing (and unsettling) questions are explored in the new horror movie Imaginary, a supernatural slice of gateway horror that takes some unexpectedly eerie turns and introduces viewers to Chauncey the Bear, a new horror villain who doesn’t play nice.
At first, moving back into her childhood home seems like a fresh start for Jessica (DeWanda Wise), a...
At first, moving back into her childhood home seems like a fresh start for Jessica (DeWanda Wise), a...
- 3/8/2024
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The new horror film Imaginary is ready to scare audiences this weekend and fans are expected to rush to theaters to see the new film.
Fans who are checking out the movie will likely want to know if they should stick around after the credits for an additional scene. Many movies these days, especially ones that are part of a franchise, will include extra footage at the end to tease future installments or to give audiences some bonus content.
So, do you need to stick around after Imaginary?
Keep reading to find out if you need to wait for a post-credits scene…
We can confirm that No, there is no post-credits scene during the movie Imaginary, so feel free to leave the theater right when the movie ends without having to worry about missing anything.
__________
Here’s the movie’s synopsis: “When Jessica (DeWanda Wise) moves back into her childhood home with her family,...
Fans who are checking out the movie will likely want to know if they should stick around after the credits for an additional scene. Many movies these days, especially ones that are part of a franchise, will include extra footage at the end to tease future installments or to give audiences some bonus content.
So, do you need to stick around after Imaginary?
Keep reading to find out if you need to wait for a post-credits scene…
We can confirm that No, there is no post-credits scene during the movie Imaginary, so feel free to leave the theater right when the movie ends without having to worry about missing anything.
__________
Here’s the movie’s synopsis: “When Jessica (DeWanda Wise) moves back into her childhood home with her family,...
- 3/8/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
The Curse of Bridge Hollow and Fantasy Island director Jeff Wadlow’s Imaginary adheres to the time-honored tradition of transforming make-believe childhood pals into sinister manifestations that torment their abandoners. Here, a cuddly teddy bear named Chauncey harbors dangerous resentment for being forgotten, igniting a wave of terror for an unsuspecting family. If only that terror extended to the audience experience.
A cold open teases the monstrous imaginary friend via nightmare sequence before introducing the central family unit. Jessica (DeWanda Wise), along with her husband (Tom Payne) and stepchildren Taylor (Taegen Burns) and Alice (Pyper Braun), relocate from their hectic New Orleans apartment to Jessica’s childhood home in the suburbs. Typical growing pains and adjusting to a new town are compounded by dark family histories. Then Alice finds a cute teddy bear named Chauncey in the basement, which will force Jessica to confront painful memories when Alice starts behaving strangely.
A cold open teases the monstrous imaginary friend via nightmare sequence before introducing the central family unit. Jessica (DeWanda Wise), along with her husband (Tom Payne) and stepchildren Taylor (Taegen Burns) and Alice (Pyper Braun), relocate from their hectic New Orleans apartment to Jessica’s childhood home in the suburbs. Typical growing pains and adjusting to a new town are compounded by dark family histories. Then Alice finds a cute teddy bear named Chauncey in the basement, which will force Jessica to confront painful memories when Alice starts behaving strangely.
- 3/8/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
It used to be that if a horror movie wasn’t very good, it was probably too simplistic in its fear mechanics: stalker on the loose, ghost in the attic, don’t go in the basement. Today, though, it’s often the case that megaplex horror schlock isn’t too simple — it’s too busy, too fraught with convolutions. Instead of jump scares, we get world-building hoops to jump through.
“Imaginary,” a watchable mess of a child’s-play fright flick, exemplifies the trend of overwrought too-muchness. The movie pivots around a little girl, Alice (Pyper Braun), who in the basement of her new home discovers an old Teddy bear, named Chauncey, who becomes her imaginary friend. But, of course, Chauncey isn’t just the sum of his stuffing; he’s a sinister presence with a life of his own. In the ancient days, “Imaginary” would have been an elemental spook...
“Imaginary,” a watchable mess of a child’s-play fright flick, exemplifies the trend of overwrought too-muchness. The movie pivots around a little girl, Alice (Pyper Braun), who in the basement of her new home discovers an old Teddy bear, named Chauncey, who becomes her imaginary friend. But, of course, Chauncey isn’t just the sum of his stuffing; he’s a sinister presence with a life of his own. In the ancient days, “Imaginary” would have been an elemental spook...
- 3/8/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
With a similar elevator pitch and budget as M3GAN, Jeff Wadlow’s Imaginary is clearly striving to become 2024’s PG-13 horror darling about an evil children’s doll wreaking havoc on a family already in a state of metamorphosis. Regrettably, the filmmakers here have completely abandoned the archness of tone and shades of camp that made M3GAN such an entertaining, if ultimately inconsequential, experience. In place of that film’s knowing playfulness is an overwrought family drama that’s as undercooked as it is painfully familiar.
The blended family at the center of Imaginary consists of comic book artist Jessica (DeWanda Wise), her new husband, Max (Tom Payne), and his two kids from a previous marriage, Taylor (Taegen Burns) and Alice (Pyper Braun). While moody, edgy teenager Taylor constantly gives Jessica the cold shoulder, Alice—much to her big sister’s chagrin—has started to warm up to her stepmom.
The blended family at the center of Imaginary consists of comic book artist Jessica (DeWanda Wise), her new husband, Max (Tom Payne), and his two kids from a previous marriage, Taylor (Taegen Burns) and Alice (Pyper Braun). While moody, edgy teenager Taylor constantly gives Jessica the cold shoulder, Alice—much to her big sister’s chagrin—has started to warm up to her stepmom.
- 3/8/2024
- by Derek Smith
- Slant Magazine
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