Hollywood Hotline - Week of February 14, 2025
HOLLYWOOD HOTLINE Archives
Happy Valentine’s Day Hotliners!
My little heart-shaped love mints with heartfelt messages printed on them to you all. Hope Cupid’s arrow has found you or is soon to get shot in your heart or butt in the best possible/metaphorical way!
TOP STORIES:
[Jeff Goldblum]: “You did it. The crazy son of a bitch, you did it."
A legacy sequel to THE GOONIES (1985) finally gets greenlit, thanks to actor, Ke Huy Quan, getting his Walk of Fame star, which lead to a cast reunion photo op. Thank you The Daniels! RIP Dick Donner (1930-2021).
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Pharrell Williams Biopic
Director Michel Gondry took the money and run. Don’t think I’ve ever heard of such a thing. Sounds like a career-ender for Gondry because why hire someone who can’t deliver? But somehow, miraculously, all’s well that ends well. No hard feelings. Catch you on the flip side! See you at the next one!
Without further ado, let’s check the Hotline:
FUTURE FILMS:
Wes Anderson on His Twee Shit Again
“THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME tells the story of a family and a family business. Pic stars Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of the richest men in Europe; Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl, his daughter/a nun; Michael Cera as Bjorn Lund, their tutor. With: Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, and Benedict Cumberbatch.”
I miss the Texas-set Wes. And the Wilson Brother Co-Writer.
Bill Murray on Some New Twee Shit This Time
“EPIPHANY follows Favorite Ives (Kristen Wiig), an heiress and fashionista whose fortune evaporates overnight, as she embarks on a two-week search for a rich husband in a bid to fight creditors and keep a roof over her head. She meets eccentric math savant billionaire Oz Bell (Murray), who needs Ives’ spirit and spontaneity as much as she needs his money. Max Barbakow (PALM SPRINGS 2020) directs. SCROOGED (1988) writer Mitch Glazer has penned the film and will produce.”
Dig the premise. Sign me up.
Roy Orbinson Getting The Candy-Colored Clown They Call The Sandman Treatment
“Denis O’Sullivan (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and Jeff Kalligheri (“I Wanna Dance With Somebody”) will produce for Compelling Pictures. Alex Orbison, Roy Orbison Jr., and Wesley Orbison will executive-produce via their production company Roy’s Boys, with Joshua Mosshart. Also serving as executive producers are Steven Garcia, Ori Allon, Janice Beard, Tanner Beard, Lexie Beard, and Dennis Casali.”
I close my eyes then I drift away
Into the magic night, I softly say
Please, no more musician biopics
Natalie Portman Just One of the Girls
Natalie Portman stars in the Lena Dunham film, whose plot synopsis reads:
“After spending a decade in a failed relationship, successful couples’ therapist Ally (Portman) is turning 40 and is pushed, kicking and screaming, by her best friend back into the hopeless New York dating scene. But Ally finds her life pulled in opposing directions as she falls into a steamy fling with a 20-something Brooklyn hipster just as she begins a promising, more conventional relationship with Alan, a successful 50-something in Manhattan. As a romantic crossroads blossoms into a full-blown identity crisis, Ally juggles to keep these two very different men separate and to make sense of her own conflicting desires before she risks losing them both.”
Sounds semi-autobiographical. I’m still a little weary after Portman’s NO STRINGS ATTACHED (2011).
Bear Russell Crowe to Roar in BEAR COUNTRY
From the filmmakers that brought you UNHINGED (2020) bring you the story:
“Based on the novel Strip by Thomas Perry, Bear Country has Crowe playing the aging yet formidable club owner, Manco Kapak, who has been robbed by a masked gunman. Now, his aspirations of selling his club and riding off into the sunset alongside his girlfriend appear more distant than ever. Cartel bosses are breathing down his neck and a young upstart has been posing as the new guy in town eager to purchase the club.”
[Russell Crowe mush-mouth]: “Could’a used a courtesy tap!” Sign me the buckle up.
Johnny Depp Putting His Drinking Skills to the Test in DAY DRINKER
“[Where] a cruise ship bartender meets a mysterious day drinker—only for both of them to find themselves entangled in a criminal underbelly, and connected in unexpected ways.”
Marc Webb (THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 2014) directs. I thought Johnny Depp was canceled and living life in London browsing shops?
TRENDY TV:
“No, it’s OK. Ben Stiller is With THE BAND.”
“Created by Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers, co-creators of the acclaimed TBS/Max comedy Search Party, The Band offers an inside look at the music industry centered on Oscar (Stiller), a pop impresario and talent mogul beset by scandal who is tasked with forming a new act in order to save his career – and perhaps his soul.”
So Ben Stiller is playing Simon Cowell, got it.
LEGALLY BLONDE Prequel Series, What? Like It’s Hard?
This is where we’re at. Kind of feels like a prequel series origin story of ‘Elle Woods’ would dilute the power and magic of the OG original? But what do I know!?
Jeremy Strong Going Deep Into His Gregory Peck Method Acting
“Netflix has set Jeremy Strong to star in THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL, with the Ira Levin Nazi conspiracy novel being adapted as a TV series by Peter Morgan, who will be executive producer along with Suzanne Mackie of Orchid Pictures.”
The original movie kind of sucked, to be quite honest. Love Strong though. Will have to wait and see.
Miranda July Book Being Adapted into Series
“Starz has acquired the rights to Miranda July’s buzzy novel All Fours to develop as a TV series. The book, about a woman at a turning point in her life who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening, has been a hot property since its May 2024 release, with a number of studios and platforms circling it for film or TV adaptation.”
Haven’t read the book but will check out the series.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Prince Cockblocks From Beyond The Grave
“Netflix has canceled the release of a six-part docuseries about Prince amid a deal with the late musician’s estate.”
“In a statement shared by Netflix and the Prince Estate, they announced a new documentary in development with exclusive content from the 7x Grammy winner’s archive, which forces the streamer to pull its project directed by Ezra Edelman.”
“The Prince Estate and Netflix have come to a mutual agreement that will allow the estate to develop and produce a new documentary featuring exclusive content from Prince’s archive,” they said. “As a result, the Netflix documentary will not be released.”
Cowards! Release the #SixPartDocu-Cut!
COMING SOON:
THE ACCOUNTANT 2 - Ben Affleck looks AI
ON SWIFT HORSES - Goodbye horses, I’m crying over you
BODERLINE - Gone a little far Gone a little far this time with something How was I to know How was I to know this high came rushing We're on the borderline
Until next week, Hotliners! Thanks for calling in.
Hollywood Hotline Back Catalog