Latest news with #LaurenceFishburne
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Spy Games In D.C.: ‘The Amateur' Celebrates Digital Release With Director James Hawes
"The Amateur," starring Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne, is now available for viewers to watch at ... More home at Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango. Secrets and danger. Complex plots and cover-ups. Suspense and intrigue. High-stakes operations and unexpected twists. And stories that unravel like puzzles, with each piece more thrilling than the last. The commonality? These are the descriptors for the spy-espionage content category, which was the theme at a recent press event in Washington D.C. orchestrated by Disney and 20th Century Studios in honor of the recent digital release of the James Hawes spy thriller The Amateur. Based on the 1981 novel by Robert Littell, The Amateur, which opened in theaters in April, is now available for viewers to watch at home at Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango. "The Amateur" is now available for viewers to watch at home at Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and ... More Fandango. Inside the Plot Filmed across London, Paris, Istanbul, and Madrid, The Amateur stars Rami Malek as Charlie Heller, a CIA cryptographer whose quiet life unravels after his wife's (Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) murder by terrorists. Suddenly, Malek's Charlie shifts into vigilante mode. But does he have what it takes to find justice? LONDON, ENGLAND: James Hawes attends the European Premiere of 20th Century Studios' "The Amateur" at ... More Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on March 31, 2025 in London, England. (Photo byfor The Walt Disney Company Limited) From Cryptographer to Operative: The Unlikely Hero of The Amateur Shades of the Charles Bronson vigilante classic Death Wish blended with the more current Jason Bourne movie franchise, Charlie demands expert training at a military base with a license to hunt down the four assailants himself. But, new to the spy game, he finds himself in over his head as he travels across the globe to find the assailants who killed his wife. Enter Laurence Fishburne as Robert "Hendo" Henderson, a grizzled old school CIA operative who underestimates Charlie due to his unassuming nature and lack of a "killer instinct.' However, Charlie demonstrates an unexpected capacity for lethal action, using his intelligence and computer skills to orchestrate elaborate and unconventional methods of eliminating his enemies. The result is a riveting spy thriller packed with exotic locations, top-tier performances, and enough twists to leave audiences wanting more. 'The spy/espionage genre puts an everyday person out into the world. You don't have to join the Army or NASA, or go to war anywhere extreme, to be that kind of hero,' said James Hawes, who directed The Amateur and is known for his work on television series like Doctor Who, Black Mirror, and the Emmy Award-winning spy thriller Slow Horses, 'You don't have to go to space and you don't have to go to underwater. It could be on your own streets where suddenly the world is turned upside down.' LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 31: Director James Hawes attends the European premiere of 'The ... More Amateur' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, United Kingdom on March 31, 2025. (Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images) A Night at the Spy Museum Hawes spoke with journalists and media influencers at the June 18 event in Washington, D.C., who were treated to a private tour at the International Spy Museum led by Jonna Mendez, the former CIA Chief of Disguise and wife of Tony Mendez (the real-life inspiration for the 2012 Oscar-winning film Argo); and an Embassy Row walking spy tour guided Rosanna Minchew, a former CIA director of Operations. The International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. documents the tradecraft, history, and contemporary ... More role of the intelligence field and espionage. Specifically, Tony Mendez, a CIA operative, orchestrated the rescue of six American diplomats during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, using a fake movie project called "Argo" as a cover. His book Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History served as the basis for the 2012 film Argo, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Retired CIA operative Tony Mendez photographed at his gallery in rural Maryland with the movie ... More poster of Argo, and Ben Affleck in his role on February 19, 2013. The film won the Best Picture Oscar at the Academy Awards held on February 24, 2013. (Photo by Mark Makela/Corbis via Getty Images) After retiring from the CIA in 1993, Tony and Jonna served on the board of directors for the International Spy Museum, where they were both involved in the museum planning and design. Founded in 2002, the International Spy Museum is dedicated to the history and practice of espionage, tracing its history back as early as the Ancient Greeks and the Roman Empire to modern day. The International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., which opened in 2002, displays more than 7,000 ... More artifacts with approximately 1,000 on public display, accompanied by historical photographs, interactive displays, film, and video. 'We lived under deep cover. No one knew what we did for a living,' noted Mendez, who detailed her top-secret association with the CIA in her 2024 memoir In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked. 'It was a career I loved. I was doing work that mattered, work that made a difference – making history in some small way,' wrote Mendez in her book. 'I was, after all, just a girl from Kansas seeking adventure, never dreaming that would translate into a life that was both covert and trailblazing.' 'I loved The Amateur and I don't usually love spy shows,' said Jonna Mendez on the tour, noting similarities in her career that Rami Malek's character in the film faced. 'I didn't have Laurence Fishburne training me, however.' Jonna Mendez, the former CIA Chief of Disguise, serves on the board of directors for the ... More International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. While fans of the spy-espionage category of storytelling may recall an earlier Canadian film of the same name also based on the same Robert Littell novel, James Hawes cites only one similarity: the casting of Swiss actress Marthe Keller in a cameo as the flower seller. CANNES, FRANCE: Jury member Marthe Keller attends the Jury Un Certain Regard Photocall during the ... More 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 13, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by) Hawes emphasized that the film is a reinterpretation of Littell's novel rather than a remake: 'Naturally, we were inspired by the underlying concepts of the novel. We have the essence of it. We update it. And, of course, the film takes place in a different climate,' he said. 'But, for the film buffs out there, there is a character in the original movie played by Marthe Keller who, as a favor to me, agreed to return in this one scene.' 'The goal behind The Amateur was to be a new version of the novel rather than a remake of the earlier film,' he said.
South Wales Argus
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Matrix's Laurence Fishburne at Newport Comic Con Wales 2025
The actor, known for his roles in films such as The Matrix, John Wick, and Boyz N the Hood, will join other big names at the convention in Newport. The Matrix star Laurence Fishburne is the star guest at Comic Con Wales 2025 (Image: Comic Con Wales) The event, held at the ICC Wales, is one of the UK's largest pop culture conventions, drawing in more than 10,000 fans each year. The main attraction is always the star guests, and this year, apart from Fishburne, attendees will get to meet the likes of Billie Piper, Misha Collins, Christian Serratos, Michelle Gomez, and Peggy, also known as Dogpool. With 25 celebrities set to visit the event, fans will have plenty to look forward to. Supernatural star Misha Collins will also be attending Comic Con Wales 2025 (Image: Comic Con Wales) A spokesperson for Comic Con Wales said: "We're all a fan of something, and Comic Con Wales is the best place to celebrate all things pop culture. "As well as having the chance to meet your heroes, get an item signed or a photo, many guests will also appear live on stage so you'll get to hear directly about their new projects and previous roles." The event will also feature unique props and set builds for photo opportunities, a stage for cosplayers to showcase their costumes, retro and modern gaming areas for attendees to test their skills, and a large show floor for shopping. The spokesperson added: "The shared fandoms and sense of community is central to everything we do. "Fans from all over the UK come together every year in South Wales to share their love of comics, fantasy, sci-fi, gaming, horror and cosplay. "To find and bond with like-minded individuals who share their interests. "We'll continue to grow and evolve this event as a place you can celebrate your community fandoms, discover new ones and most of all have fun." For those interested in meeting Laurence Fishburne or any of the other celebrities, tickets are available on the Comic Con Wales website. The event will take place on August 9 and 10. Fans unable to attend can still have items signed by emailing merchandise@
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Rami Malek Spy Thriller ‘The Amateur' Gets Digital Streaming Date
"The Amateur" partial poster featuring Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne. The Amateur — a CIA spy thriller starring Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne — is coming soon to digital streaming. Rated R, The Amateur opened in theaters on April 11. The summary for The Amateur reads, 'Charlie Heller (Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. 'When his supervisors refuse to take action, he takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge.' Directed by James Hawes, The Amateur also stars Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez and Danny Sapani. The Amateur will be released on streaming via premium video on demand on Tuesday, June 10, 20th Century Studios announced on Tuesday. The digital purchase and rental prices have not yet been announced, but new films released on PVOD generally cost anywhere between $19.99 to $29.99 to purchase and $14.99 to $24.99 to rent for 48 hours. The Amateur will be available on a variety of digital platforms including Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube. The Amateur earned $40.7 million in North American theaters and $55 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $95.7 million against a $60 million budget before prints and advertising costs. The Amateur also received a 60% 'fresh' rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 177 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, 'Rami Malek is a compellingly unconventional action hero in the otherwise formulaic The Amateur, which dispenses justice with solid execution but a curious lack of emotional stakes.' The film also received an 88% 'fresh' score on RT's Popcornmeter. The audience summary for the film on RT reads, 'Jason Bourne goes geek, The Amateur proves that heart and a good cast can elevate a seen-before premise into an action-packed, thrilling ride.' The Amateur arrives on PVOD on June 10.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
New Pee-Wee Herman Documentary Arrives On Streaming This Week
Pee-wee as Himself, a new two-part documentary on late actor Paul Reubens and his alter-ego Pee-wee Herman, premieres on streaming this week. The official synopsis for the documentary partially reads, 'Driven by a soul-baring interview with Paul Reubens, the man behind the iconic character Pee-wee Herman, Pee-wee as Himself is the definitive portrait of the comedic performer and a window into his never-before-discussed personal life. 'Determined to correct the record and tell the factual story of his life, Reubens excavates his kaleidoscopic influences, origins in the circus and avant-garde performance theater, and career choices, while reflecting on the reasoning behind, and the consequences of, severing his beloved alter ego from his authentic self." Reubens died on July 30, 2023, at age 70 after a private battle with cancer. An HBO Original Documentary, Part 1 of Pee-wee as Himself premieres on HBO on Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, immediately followed by Part 2 at 9:40 p.m. ET/PT, per a Warner Bros. Discovery press release. Both parts of the documentary will also be available to stream on Max. Directed and produced by Matt Wolf, Pee-wee as Himself features interviews with Reubens' sister, Abby Rubenfeld, and artists Gary Panter and Wayne White, as well as actors Lynne Stewart, John Moody, Alison Mork, Natasha Lyonne, S. Epatha Merkerson, Laurence Fishburne, Debi Mazar, David Arquette, Laraine Newman and Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Also featured in the documentary are interviews with directors Tim Burton and Judd Apatow. Burton made his feature film directorial debut in 1985 with Reubens' Pee-wee's Big Adventure, while Apatow directed the iconic actor in the 2016 Netflix original comedy movie Pee-wee's Big Holiday. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Pee-wee as Himself is 'woven together from over 40 hours of interview footage filmed before Reubens' premature death in 2023, 1,000 hours of archival footage, and tens of thousands of never-before-seen photographs from his personal collections.' The summary for the documentary also partially notes that the documentary "chronicles Reubens' influences, from growing up in the circus town of Sarasota, Fla. to his avant-garde theater training at the California Institute of the Arts. Combining his love of performance art and comedy, Reubens joined the legendary Groundlings improv group, where he created Pee-wee Herman, the impish character that would come to define his career.' Pee-wee Herman Ultimate Action Figure. NECA May is shaping up to be a Pee-wee Herman renaissance in pop culture. In addition to the release of the Pee-wee as Himself two-part documentary, collectibles company NECA recently released a 7-inch-scale Pee-wee Herman 'Ultimate Action Figure.' The action figure features Paul Reubens' famed character in his trademark gray glen plaid suit, white shoes and shirt and red bow tie, along with a Pterri the pterodactyl accessory. Pterri (voiced by John Paragon), of course, was featured on Reubens' classic series Pee-wee's Playhouse. Part 1 of Pee-wee as Himself — a documentary featuring Paul Reubens and his alter-ego Pee-wee Herman — premieres on HBO on Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT, followed by Part 2 at 9:40 p.m. ET/PT. Pee-wee as Himself Parts 1 and 2 will also be available to stream on Max.
Egypt Today
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Animated family adventure SNEAKS arrives in Egyptian cinemas on May 7th
Get ready for an exciting journey through the streets of New York as the highly anticipated animated family comedy SNEAKS makes its way to Egyptian cinemas on May 7th, courtesy of Four Star Films, which is managing the film's distribution in Egypt. Featuring an all-star voice cast — including Martin Lawrence (BAD BOYS), Laurence Fishburne (THE MATRIX), Anthony Mackie (CAPTAIN AMERICA), three-time Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor Keith David, Rico Rodriguez (MODERN FAMILY), Jonathan Kite (2 BROKE GIRLS), and Chloe Bailey (LAST HOLIDAY) — this visually stunning and humor-packed adventure promises to entertain audiences of all ages. The film follows a designer sneaker who, after unexpectedly finding himself lost in New York City, must dig deep into his sole to rescue his sister and make his way back to his rightful owner. With its dazzling animation, sharp humor, and immersive storytelling, SNEAKS brings a fresh perspective to the world of footwear, transforming ordinary sneakers into expressive characters full of personality and charm. The film also boasts an energetic soundtrack featuring music from Terrace Martin and Grammy award-winning producer Mustard, adding to its lively, rhythm-infused atmosphere. Directed by Rob Edwards and Chris Jenkins and penned by Edwards, SNEAKS combines adventure, comedy, and heartwarming moments, making it a must-watch for families and animation lovers alike. Find out the movie's availability and showtimes at your nearest movie theater.
