As per usual, it’s been a busy week in the world of showbiz. From James Cameron’s return to the Terminator franchise to Quentin Tarantino’s intriguing revelations about his upcoming film, there’s plenty of movie news to talk about. 

We’ve also got news on the Safdie Brothers’ split, developments on “John Wick 5,” and David O. Russell’s new biopic project. Plus, we’ll share the latest award winners from the Cannes Film Festival and discuss the buzz Jane Fonda created with her candid remarks. Read our CinemaCues newsletter to learn all the film news you might have missed.

Movie Updates

Quentin Tarantino Confirms ‘The Critic’ Real-Life Details

Quentin Tarantino has confirmed major details about his potential final film, “The Movie Critic.” In a new interview with Deadline, Tarantino revealed that the film’s lead character is based on a real-life male critic who wrote biting reviews for a pornographic magazine during the late 1970s. The critic, who Tarantino described as “very, very funny” and “rude as hell,” wrote about mainstream movies and was the second-string critic for the magazine. 

Tarantino discovered the writer as a teenager while loading porn magazines into vending machines. The director has done extensive research on the critic, who died in his late thirties due to complications from alcoholism. Tarantino hopes to go into “pre-pre-production” on the project next month.

Oscar Isaac in Talks to Star in David Robert Mitchell’s 80s Dinosaur Movie

Oscar Isaac is reportedly in talks to star in David Robert Mitchell’s upcoming dinosaur movie set in the ’80s, titled “Flowervale St.” The film, which also stars Anne Hathaway, is being produced by Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Mitchell is best known for his Cannes-championed movie “It Follows” and the atmospheric “Under the Silver Lake.” 

Film Productions

James Cameron is Writing an AI New Terminator Film

James Cameron, king of the box office, has confirmed that he is currently writing a new Terminator movie. Speaking at the Dell Tech World convention, Cameron revealed that he started writing the film three months ago but is waiting to see how A.I. develops before proceeding further. 

This news comes after Cameron mentioned last December that he was in “discussions” to direct the next Terminator movie. However, the franchise’s future will depend on how fans react to the idea of another instalment in this long-running series. Cameron hasn’t directed a Terminator movie since Terminator 2: Judgement Day, although he had major creative involvement in Terminator; Dark Fate, which Tim Miller directed. The film lost $120 million and garnered bad reviews.

Pedro Almodovar Casting News

Pedro Almodóvar has confirmed that he will be shooting his first full-length English-language feature next March in New York City. Almodóvar has previously directed two shorts in English, The Human Voice and 2023 Cannes debutant Strange Way of Life, which he stated were warm-ups to get him accustomed to directing English-speaking actors. 

The director confirmed to a Spanish outlet that he has cast two actresses, one British and the other American, for his upcoming film. Almodóvar expressed that both actresses were his first choices, and they immediately accepted his offer. 

The Safdies Splitting Up!

In a surprising turn of events, Josh and Benny Safdie, the directing duo known for their critically acclaimed films like Heaven Knows What, Good Time, and Uncut Gems, are temporarily splitting up to direct separate projects. According to Above the Line, the much-rumoured Netflix film starring Adam Sandler, Gael Garcia Bernal, Megan Thee Stallion, and Ben Affleck will only be directed by Josh. 

The film, which revolves around the sports cards business, is set to start production in July. Benny, on the other hand, has been acting a lot recently. He’s in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and was recently seen in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. He also played a politician in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza. The Safdies’ split is said to have nothing to do with the recent controversy involving their former co-producer.

John Wick 5 Confirmed

Lionsgate has confirmed that “John Wick 5” is in early development. Lionsgate President Joe Drake made the announcement during a recent earnings call. The news comes after the successful release of John Wick: Chapter 4, which grossed over $363 million globally. Despite the film’s ending leaving a major obstacle to future John Wick films, the film ended on an ambiguous note, leaving room for further story exploration. 

Director Chad Stahelski previously touched on John Wick’s ambiguous fate, saying that the character had “found a way to be at peace.” The franchise’s future will depend on how fans react to the idea of another instalment in this long-running series. Lionsgate is also developing other projects within the John Wick universe, including the spinoff “Ballerina” and the prequel series “The Continental.”

John Madden Biopic To Be Directed by David O. Russell

David O. Russell, the five-time Oscar nominee known for films like American Hustle, is set to direct a biopic about NFL legend John Madden. The film, titled “Madden,” will star Will Ferrell in the lead role. The script, written by Cambron Clark, has been on the Blacklist for a few years and is currently being rewritten by Russell. 

The film will focus on Madden’s post-coaching career, during which he created an even bigger legacy as a larger-than-life broadcaster and co-creator of EA Sports’ NFL video game series, which launched in 1988. Madden continued to lend his name and creative input to the franchise even after retiring from the broadcast booth in 2009. The story will also explore Madden’s friendship with Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis and how Madden found a second act that made him even more famous.

Todd Haynes and Kate Winslet Reunite For HBO Series

The very-busy Todd Haynes is set to reunite with Kate Winslet for an upcoming HBO project. The duo previously worked together on the HBO series Mildred Pierce more than a decade ago. Haynes revealed in an interview with IndieWire that Winslet brought him the project. While the details of the project are still under wraps, the news of their collaboration has created a buzz in the industry. 

Haynes is coming off the critical acclaim his film May/December received at the Cannes Film Festival, hailed as his best work since 2015’s Carol, which is high praise considering Dark Waters’ existence.

Cannes Film Festival

Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall Wins Palme d’Or

Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall has been awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. The film is a thought-provoking legal drama that investigates the guilt or innocence of a popular novelist, played by Sandra Hüller, who is accused of murdering her husband. 

Anatomy of a Fall also delves into the intricacies of their marriage, bringing private details from the couple’s personal life into the courtroom for the press, public, and audience to dissect. Triet is only the third woman to win the Palme d’Or, following Jane Campion for The Piano and Titane helmer Julia Ducournau. In accepting the award, Triet acknowledged the protests against French pension reform, which were forbidden from the festival.

Other Award Winners

• The Grand Prix was awarded to The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer. The film, an adaptation of the World War 2 novel by Martin Amis, depicts the private life of the German commandant responsible for executing countless Jews at Auschwitz. 
• The best actor award went to Kōji Yakusho for his role in Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days.
• Merve Dizdar won best actress for her role in Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s About Dry Grasses. 
• Sakamoto Yûji won the screenplay prize for Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Monster.
• Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki took the Jury Prize for Fallen Leaves. 
• Directing honours went to Tran Anh Hung for The Pot au Feu. 
• The Camera d’Or prize for best first feature went to Vietnamese director Thien An Pham’s Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell. 
• The Short Films Palme d’Or was awarded to Flóra Anna Buda for 27.

Other News

Jane Fonda Causes A Stir At Cannes

Veteran actress Jane Fonda made headlines at the Cannes Film Festival with her candid remarks about some of the industry’s most influential figures. During her appearance at the festival, Fonda didn’t hold back her opinions about Robert Redford, Jean-Luc Godard, and others.

Fonda, who was at Cannes to present the Palme d’Or to Justine Triet for her acclaimed film Anatomy of a Fall, shared her unfiltered thoughts about Redford, her co-star in four films. She confessed that she was in love with Redford when they first met but later realised that he “just has an issue with women.” She also mentioned that Redford was always in a bad mood and often late on set, which she initially thought was her fault. However, by the time they worked together on the 2017 film Our Souls at Night, Fonda had learned to deal with him.

Regarding Jean-Luc Godard, Fonda praised him as a great filmmaker but criticised him as a man, saying, “He was a great filmmaker. I take my hat off. A great filmmaker. But as a man? I’m sorry. No, no.” She did not elaborate on her issues with Godard.

Fonda also recalled an inappropriate proposition by René Clément during the production of the 1964 film Joy House. She claims that the director attempted to sleep with her under the guise of acting preparation, but she was able to decline by pretending not to speak French.

Fonda’s comments have sparked a mixed reaction on social media, with some praising her for speaking out against inappropriate behaviour in the film industry. In contrast, others criticised her for attacking respected figures such as Godard and Redford.