Motion Picture: Issa Rae Joins ‘Into The Spider-Verse’ Sequel, Cannes Releases 2021 Selection
Donnie Yen - Albert L. Ortega
Action: IP Man franchise star Donnie Yen has joined the cast alongside Keanu Reeves and pop superstar Rina Sawayama in the Chad Stahelski-directed John Wick 4. Written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, John Wick 4 is produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, and Stahelski, with Yen portraying an old friend of John Wick who shares a similar history. Other significant projects Yen has worked on previously include Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and xXx: Return of Xander Cage.
Insecure star Issa Rae has joined the voice cast of the upcoming Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse sequel as Spider Woman (alias Jessica Drew). Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson will be co-directing the sequel, with the original film’s co-director Peter Ramsey set to executive produce with Aditya Sood. The script will be written by Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and David Callaham. The film is set for release Oct. 7, 2022.
Actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Dwayne Johnson, and Beau Flynn are teaming up for the upcoming Warner Bros. action thriller Emergency Contact. Written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, the pitch was pre-emptively picked up by Warner Brothers with Abdul-Mateen attached as both star and executive producer, with Beau Flynn producing via his FlynnPictureCo. Though plot details are being kept under wraps, Emergency Contact is said to be a high-concept action film set within the underground music scene of Austin, Texas.
Jonathan Majors (known for his role as Atticus Freeman in Lovecraft Country) is in talks to join the cast of Creed III, the third installment of MGM’s Rocky reboot franchise. Written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, the film will see the return of Michael B. Jordan as the bruised boxer as well as his directorial debut. Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad are expected to reprise their roles from the previous films. Creed III is set for release Nov. 23, 2022.
Tiffany Haddish - CBS Photo Archive
Drama: Tiffany Haddish is set to star as the record-setting track and field dynamo Florence Griffith Joyner in an upcoming biopic. Game1 co-CEO’s Greg Economou and Basil Iwanyk will produce alongside Haddish, with Florence Griffith Joyner’s (nicknamed “Flo-Jo”) former coach and widower Al Joyner functioning as both producer and creative consultant. Jonathan Fuhrman of Thunder Road Pictures will serve as executive producer.
Anand Desai-Barochia - Rodin Eckenroth / Stringer
Industry Update: The Outpost star Anand Desai-Barochia has signed with the talent agency Innovative Artists. Desai-Barochia’s other significant works include the Netflix projects Bridgerton and The Tiger Hunter, the UK television hit Skins, and the upcoming horror film Lake Mead directed by Eli Roth (Hostel, Green Inferno). Desai-Barochia also frequently works with the organization Arts For India, which provides education relating to art, fashion, film, and design to underprivileged students.
Cannes’ Marché du Film has launched the new industry showcase ImpACT, which is designed to support and improve efforts in “diversity, inclusion, and representation.” With a focus on the international film industry, the ImpACT program of events will take place throughout the Marché du Film and is curated alongside Think-Film Impact Production, which specializes in activist filmmaking. Microsoft has partnered with the Marché for ImpACT’s christening this year.
Clarence Williams III, known for his roles as Lincoln Hayes on the late 60’s ABC drama The Mod Squad and the iconic Mr. Simms in Rusty Cundieff’s original Tales From the Hood, has died at the age of 81. Williams began his career in theater, securing a Tony nomination for his performance in Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, going on to captivate audiences with his roles in numerous films such as Purple Rain, Sugar Hill, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, and The Legend of 1900. Williams is survived by his sister Sondra Pugh, daughter Jamey Phillips, niece Suyin Shaw, and her children Eliot, Ese, and Azaria.
Festival president Pierre Lescure and director Thierry Frémaux have released the first list of the 2021 Cannes Official Selection. A significant amount of Asian films have been selected for this year’s festivities, if this first list is any indication, including Gaey W’ar by Na Jiazuo of China, Drive My Car by Ryusuke Hamaguchi of Japan, and the world premiere of In Front of Your Face by Hong Sang-Soo of South Korea, among others. The festival is expected to be held in person this year from July 6 – 17.
