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New Show Details and Stills for ‘Castle Rock’ Stephen King Anthology Series

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Castle Rock Stephen King

One of the most anticipated shows of the year, Castle Rock, is drawing near with its July start only two months away. We have seen the trailer and have an idea of what to expect, but Entertainment Weekly has enticed fans with new details and stills.

The Stephen King driven universe, besides its star-studded cast, looks to blend familiar characters and overlying themes into a new anthology experience.

A small town by the name of Orange, Massachusetts, has been transformed over the last months into the dark, grisly, town of Castle Rock. Locals helped with the renovation of their beloved town by putting up Castle Rock signs in their windows and even selling merchandise specific to the show.

EW met with actors and production team mid-December in the town of Orange, where Andre Holland was filming a scene for the season finale.

Holland’s character, lawyer Henry Deaver, is the main protagonist in Castle Rock. Henry seems traumatized by his childhood and finds himself back in the last place he ever thought (and wants) to be.

Via Joblo, “As a child, Henry (Andre Holland) was involved in an accident that left his father dead and him the sole suspect, but he has no memory of it and eventually fled when townspeople turned against him. Now a death-row attorney with few connections — his clients, see, usually die — Henry only returned home because a mysterious inmate at Shawshank State Penitentiary (Bill Skarsgård), who was discovered in a cage deep beneath the facility, asked for him. Only him. Yet, Henry has never heard of the inmate — and the inmate, nicknamed “The Kid,” has been in solitary confinement so long that he may be insane.”

Skarsgård is now best known for his portrayal of Pennywise in Andy Muschietti’s IT; however, this role does not seem far off the crazy meter. He is the second actor from IT to join the cast of Castle Rock. Chosen Jacobs (who played the young Mike Hanlon) will also be featured in the series.

Castle Rock
Episode: Severance
Pictured: Bill Skarsgård

“He’s a very traumatized creature,” Skarsgård says of his character to EW. “He’s very feral. He’s not normal. Everything is off and wounded in some way.” But why? “A lot of what he’s been through has shaped who he is, and …” Skarsgård chuckles. “I can’t say who he is without revealing what he’s been through.”

Apparently, those words are what hooked J.J Abrams to sign on board as executive producer. Once Abrams heard the ideas for the pilot episode of Castle Rock from co-creators Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason, it was a done deal.

“I was like, ‘This is going to be so much fun,’ ” recalled Abrams. “There were things they were pitching that were truly terrifying and truly creepy.”

The self-proclaimed “Stephen King heads,” Shaw and Thomason hope to evoke a true Stephen King feel. Not only will they hope to match the same look and tone but the creators also look to use exact characters and settings from his extensive list of work. His library consists of 56 novels and 200 short stories…..and counting.

With so much to options to choose from, the possibility of a muddled story line was a fear co-creators wanted to avoid.

Castle Rock
Episode: Severance
Pictured: Scott Glenn

“When we returned to his library, a lot of his stories about prison and justice were really compelling to us,” said Shaw. “They’re the closest things to true-life monster stories that we tell ourselves as a culture. How do we assign blame? How do we reckon with the idea of evil and whether we believe in it?”

Thomason added, “The germ of the idea was to think about the kinds of people who have the grit to stick it out in a place that’s been terrorized over and over again. Who stays in a place like that?”

Residents of Castle Rock all seem to be in a permanent state of resentment and bitterness. From the real-estate agent who works in a town where no one is looking to buy property, to Alan Pangborn, the hero of novels Needful Things and The Dark Half who is no longer. The residents of the town will also see the return of the highly regarded (and my personal favorite) Sissy Spacek.

After 41 years, she will return to the Stephen King Universe as the adoptive mother of Henry. She first appeared as the starring role in Carrie, King’s first book-to-film adaptation. Spacek’s character’s complexity in Castle Rock is what drew her back into this dark world of Kings’. Not only will she struggle with past issues in the series but her character will also be suffering from dementia, struggling to remember where and when she is.

Castle Rock
Episode: Severance Pictured: Sissy Spacek, Andre Holland

“The Stephen King world is a good place to be. This story, really, is an homage to him,” said Spacek. “I hope we were able to do him proud.”

No worries are needed when the King himself gave his seal of approval after viewing the pilot. He actually enjoyed Castle Rock so much he signed on as an executive producer.

“It was a very, very cool moment, when J.J. forwarded us the email,” Shaw said with a laugh. “You want to be sure that when Stephen King watches your Stephen King show, he’s happy and maybe just a little scared.”

As the biggest fan of Carrie, I am excited to see Spacek back in this world. I truly hope to see some glimmer of Carrie White in the series but for now, we will be excited to just gaze upon one of the original scream queens.

Are you excited for Castle Rock? Who is your favorite Stephen King character? Let us know in the comments.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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