Steve Pond's Blog, page 50

Steven Knight’s ‘House of Guinness’ Sets Premiere Date at Netflix

Steven Knight is bringing the story of the Guinness family to Netflix. The 19th-century drama about the family behind the Irish brew will premiere Sept. 25 on the streaming service.

“House of Guinness explores an epic story inspired by one of Europe’s most famous and enduring dynasties – the Guinness Family,” a logline from Netflix reads. “Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, the story begins immediately after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the far-reaching impact of his will on the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, as well as on a group of Dublin characters who work and interact with the phenomenon that is Guinness.”

“House of Guinness” stars Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn and Fionn O’Shea as Arthur, Edward, Anne and Ben, respectively. Other cast members include James Norton, Dervla Kirwan, Jack Gleeson, Niamh McCormack, Danielle Galligan, Ann Skelly, Seamus O’Hara, Michael McElhatton, David Wilmot, Michael Colgan, Jessica Reynolds, Hilda Fay and Elizabeth Daulau.

Knight’s career as a screenwriter, director and creator spans both film and television. After serving as a co-creator for the game show “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire,” Knight took on a number of other TV projects, most notably creating the Cillian Murphy drama “Peaky Blinders.” Knight’s cinematic screenwriting credits include “Eastern Promises” and “Spencer,” while his feature directorial efforts include “Locke” and “Serenity.”

It was recently announced that Knight would pen the screenplay for the upcoming James Bond film. This will see Knight join forces with “Dune” director Denis Villeneueve, who will helm the 26th entry in the Bond franchise — and the first for Amazon. An actor for James Bond has yet to be cast.

Knight created and wrote “House of Guinness,” which was directed by Tom Shankland and Mounia Akl. Knight and Shankland serve as executive producers for the show alongside Karen Wilson, Elinor Day, Martin Haines and Ivana Lowell. Cahal Bannon is credited as a series producer, while Howard Burch is a producer. Kudos and Nebulastar are listed as production companies for the Netflix prestige drama.

The post Steven Knight’s ‘House of Guinness’ Sets Premiere Date at Netflix appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Trapped’ Wins Grand Prize at Hollyshorts Film Festival, Qualifies for Oscars

Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz’s “Trapped” has won theGrand Prize at the 2025 Hollyshorts Film Festival, qualifying it for this year’s Academy Awards competition for Best Live-Action Short.

That award is one of four Hollyshorts categories that grant the winners automatic entry into the Oscar short-film race, provided they meet the categories’ other requirements. The other Hollyshorts winners to qualify for the Oscars are Jan Saska’s “Hurikán,” which won the award as the festival’s best animated short; Andrés Ramírez Pulido’s “A Son and a Father,” which won the best live action award; and Irving Serrano and Victor Rejón’s “Voices From the Abyss,” which won the top documentary award.

Lee Knight won the best director award for “A Friend of Dorothy.”

The Hollyshorts Film Festival was established in 2005. This year, it showcased 427 films that screened in Hollywood from Aug. 7 through Aug. 16.

Here is the complete list of winners:  

Oscar qualifying categories
Grand Prize: “Trapped,” Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz
Best Animation: “Hurikán,” Jan Saska
Best Live Action: “A Son and a Father,” Andrés Ramírez Pulido
Best Documentary: “Voices From the Abyss,” Irving Serrano, Victor Rejón

Other categories
AAPI Award: “Mushroom Dad,” Michael Yuchen Lei
Best Cinematography: “Lo Que Desaparece,” Mario Lerma and Alex Rapariz
Best Comedy: “Susana,” Gerardo Coello Escalante and Amandine Thomas
Best Drama: “Trapped,” Sam Cutler-Kreutz – David Cutler-Kreutz
Best Director: “A Friend of Dorothy,” Lee Knight; Special Mention: “A Son and Father,” Alexander Farah
Best Editing: Say Wuff!” Fabian Podeszwa
Best Horror: “Heirlooms,” Dan Abramovici
Best International: “The Painting & the Statue,” Freddie Fox
Best Midnight Madness: “Stomach Bug,” Matty Crawford
Best Music Video: “Earth Defender,” Sil van der Woerd, Jorik Dozy and Kynan Tegar
Best Podcast: “Moonburn,” Robbie Hyne
Best Producer: “Money Talk$”: Tony Mucci (Director and Producer), Scott Aharoni (Producer), Bryan Schmier (Producer) and David Mazouz (Producer)
Best Sci-Fi: “The Second Time Around,” Jack Howard
Best Special Effects: “Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting,” Alexander Thompson
Best Student Film: “1:10,” Sinan Taner
Best Thriller: “Plastic Surgery,” Guy Trevellyan
Best TV: “Chasers,” Erin Brown Thomas
Best Web Series: “Hasaan Hates Portland,” Mischa Webley
Kodak Best Shot on Film, 16MM: “Ragamuffin,” Kaitlyn Mikayla
Kodak Best Shot on Film, 35MM: “The Singers,” Sam Davis
Kodak Honorable Mention: “Synthesize Me,” Bear Damen
Latine Award: “Cura Sana,” Lucía G. Romero
LGBTQIA+ Award: “Dancing in Tomorrowland,” Jakob Roston
SAGindie Award: “L’avance,” Djiby Kebe
Social Impact Award: “Rise,” Jessica J. Rowlands
Best Sports Drama: “Negro League Nights,” Kyle Sykes
Best Sports Documentary:  “It’s On Like a Pot of Neckbones,” Joey Garfield

Top 10 Live Action Short Films Finalists
“A Son and a Father,” Andrés Ramírez Pulido
“Mercenaire,” Pier-Philippe Chevigny
“Ragamuffin,” Kaitlyn Mikayla
“Amarela,” André Hayato Saito
“L’avance,” Djiby Kebe
“Trapped,” Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz
“One Of Them,” Mostafa Vaziri
“A Friend of Dorothy,” Lee Knight
“Rise,” Jessica J. Rowlands

Script Awards
ISA Story Award – Best Feature Screenplay: “The Dope Friend,” Matt Ferrucci
Best Female Screenplay: “The Unraveling,” Samantha Mallory
Best Short Screenplay Grand Prize – “Mudslide,” Frederik Ehrhardt

The post ‘Trapped’ Wins Grand Prize at Hollyshorts Film Festival, Qualifies for Oscars appeared first on TheWrap.

YouTube Inquires About Becoming Next Home of the Academy Awards | Report

YouTube, which is interested in expanding to live events, has inquired about becoming the next home of the Academy Awards, Bloomberg reported Sunday.

The telecast, which has aired on ABC since 1976, has a contract with the Disney owned-company through 2028. Before that, the show alternated between NBC and ABC since it was first televised in 1953.

NBC, which carried the Oscars for most of the 1950s and 1960s, is also a suitor, Bloomberg reported. But two people familiar with the inquiry told the outlet that YouTube is also actively interested.

The most-watched video platform in the world has been open about its interest in streaming high-profile live events, and the Academy Awards would certainly be a crown jewel in its stable, which now includes the NFL Sunday ticket and a small but growing roster of live sports.

Messages sent to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is in the middle of negotiations for the telecast beyond 2028, were not immediately returned Sunday. Inquiries sent to Google and YouTube were also not immediately returned.

YouTube offers a huge audience on streaming, but it lacks the broadcast component of other companies – all of which also have their own streaming platforms. And at least three active bidders own major movie studios that send product to movie theaters – a huge priority for the Oscars and the films they showcase.

The 97th Academy Awards, which aired on March 25, drew an average of 19.6 million viewers across TV and streaming, according to Nielsen, a slight uptick from 2024, and the highest viewership in five years.

The post YouTube Inquires About Becoming Next Home of the Academy Awards | Report appeared first on TheWrap.

Israeli ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Contestants Go Viral With Donald and Melania Trump Tribute | Video

A piece of Trumpian performance art has taken the internet by storm. Haim Pershtin and internet personality Taylor Malkov, participants on Israel’s version of “Dancing With the Stars” debuted a routine inspired by Donald and Melania Trump — and set to “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “YMCA.”

The duo kicked things off dressed in full Trump regalia: Pershtin donned a suit and crimson tie, and Malkov wore a version of Melania’s inauguration day outfit. They stood side-by-side with their hands over their hearts as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played before launching into the rest of last week’s routine.

MUST WATCH !! Israel’s “Dancing with the Stars" featured one of the pairs dressed as President Trump and Melania Trump, and they absolutely killed it. pic.twitter.com/2pZOX9mHfD

— April Silverman (@CaliMAGABarbie) August 12, 2025

Malkov tore off her double-breasted suit when “YMCA” began to play, and revealed a red, white, and blue bodysuit decorated with fringe.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the performance received many rave reviews from MAGA-friendly voters on X. “Oh my the heads of the Democrat communist party are going to explode over this one. Congratulations Israel.! Job well done,” wrote one person.

Watch the performance in the video above.

The post Israeli ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Contestants Go Viral With Donald and Melania Trump Tribute | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Marco Rubio, Sen. Chris Murphy Push Polar Opposite Trump-Putin Summit Takes on ‘Meet the Press’ | Video

Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian president Vladmir Putin was either a “disaster” or a success, depending on whom you ask — and on Sunday NBC’s Kristen Welker asked both Sen. Chris Murphy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“That meeting was a disaster. It was an embarrassment for the United States. It was a failure,” Murphy insisted. “Putin got everything he wanted. I mean, first of all, he wanted that photo op, right? He wanted to be absolved of his war crimes in front of the world. He was invited to the United States. War criminals are not normally invited to the United States of America.”

Putin also “didn’t have to give up anything,” Murphy added, including a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine — or even have a conversation about the possibility.

“President Trump said he wanted a ceasefire. It appears the ceasefire wasn’t even seriously discussed. And then, third, there’s no consequences. Trump said, ‘If I don’t get a ceasefire, Putin is going to pay a price,'” Murphy said. “And then he walked out of that meeting saying, ‘I didn’t get a ceasefire. I didn’t get a peace deal, and I’m not even considering sanctions.'”

Rubio offered an opposite take. Putin and Trump “agreed … that the best way to end this conflict is through a full peace deal,” he insisted. “There’s no doubt about that. I mean, who would be against the fact if tomorrow we came to you and said, ‘We have a full peace deal and it’s done,’ I think that’s the best way to end the war.”

He continued, “Now, whether there needs to be a ceasefire on the way there, well, we’ve advocated for that.”

After Welker played a clip of Trump noting, “I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don’t know if it’s going to be today. But I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today,” Rubio attempted to reroute the conversation.

“Well, first of all the Russians are already facing very severe consequences. There’s not a single sanction that’s been lifted, not one. I mean, they’re facing all the same sanctions that have been in place today,” he said. “All the American support continues to Ukraine. And ultimately look, if we’re not going to be able to reach an agreement here at any point, then there are going to be consequences, not only the consequences of the war continuing, but the consequences of all those sanctions continuing and potentially new sanctions on top of it as well.”

Watch the interviews with Sen. Murphy and Marco Rubio in the videos above.

The post Marco Rubio, Sen. Chris Murphy Push Polar Opposite Trump-Putin Summit Takes on ‘Meet the Press’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Conan O’Brien Insists Stephen Colbert Is ‘Too Talented and Too Essential’ to Disappear: ‘Not Going to Happen’ | Video

Stephen Colbert is “too talented and too essential to go away,” Conan O’Brien said Saturday night as he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. “It’s not going to happen,” O’Brien added near the end of a lengthy and emotional speech celebrating the occasion.

Colbert will “evolve and shine brighter than ever in a new format that he controls completely,” O’Brien insisted. And “technology can do whatever they want” in terms of changing the landscape of television, even “make a television pill.”

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“It can make television shows a high protein, chewable, vanilla-flavored capsule with added fiber. It still won’t matter,” O’Brien continued. “If the stories are good, if the performances are honest and inspired, if the people making it are brave and of good will, then somewhere, two weird siblings huddled in their crowded living room just off Route 9 outside Boston are going to be moved.”

O’Brien began his speech by recalling a childhood spent with his brother Neil, an unabashed fan of TV. And though “streaming changes the pipeline” through which series are delivered into homes and minds, he said, “the connection, the talent, the ideas that come into our homes, I think it’s as potent as ever.”

The late night host pointed to the audience as proof positive, and cited series like “Severance” and “Andor” to support his point. The reality of TV in 2025 is that “it’s all electrifying a new generation of viewers.”

“Yes, late night television as we have known it since around 1950 is doing to disappear,” O’Brien admitted, “but those voices aren’t going anywhere.”

Colbert announced the end of his late show in mid-July. Since then late night ratings have surged, and Colbert has managed to get in a few jokes that surprised even his audience.

The post Conan O’Brien Insists Stephen Colbert Is ‘Too Talented and Too Essential’ to Disappear: ‘Not Going to Happen’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

The 7 Best New Movies Streaming Free on Tubi Right Now

A whole lot of movies came to Tubi in August, which means you might be struggling to pick which ones to check out first.

The good news is, you don’t have to spend any money to watch them, so you don’t have to worry about getting them in before a free trial expires, or before an account cancellation kicks in. The better news is that, if you don’t want to go scrolling for half an hour trying to decide what to watch, we can help.

Here are seven of the best new movies streaming on Tubi right now.

“Holes” (Photo credit: Walt Disney Pictures)Holes (2003)

Based on Louis Sachar’s book of the same name, “Holes” is a staple film for an entire generation. Starring Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, Patricia Arquette and more, the story centers on Stanley Yelnats (LaBeouf) who is unfortunately part of a cursed family. Yes, literally. It doesn’t get too supernatural though; it’s just a great neo-Western. Plus, it’s been too long since “Dig It” by The D Tent Boys was in your head.

“Wayne’s World” (Paramount Pictures)Wayne’s World (1992)

As far as “SNL” sketches go, “Wayne’s World” may just have the longest legacy at this point. Are we worthy? No. Are we grateful? For sure. Starring Mike Meyers — this actually marks his film debut — and Dana Carvey, this comedy earned love from both critics and fans, and right now you can watch it for free!

“The Heat” (20th Century)The Heat (2013)

Paul Feig has a pretty deep comedy catalogue, but “The Heat” is arguably one of his very best. It stars Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy as law enforcement officials who get forced together on a case, despite their opposite personalities — Bullock is an uptight FBI agent, McCarthy is a rough-and-tumble cop. Yes, it’s a buddy-cop movie with two very funny ladies. It’s worth revisiting.

“Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre” (Lionsgate)Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)

“Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre” is pretty much everything you could want from a Jason Statham action flick. Statham does his thing, every line delivery from Aubrey Plaza is pitch perfect, Josh Hartnett stars as a sweet semi-himbo, and Cary Elwes gets to be a little dastardly. If you’re looking for much else from an action movie, I don’t know what to tell you, your standards are too high.

20th Century FoxHow Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

Angela Bassett, Regina King and Whoopi Goldberg. Need we say more? As summer draws to a close, you can send it out properly by going to Jamaica with Stella and watching her fall in love again (having a blast while doing it). This movie is considered one of Bassett’s best, and you can see why pretty clearly when you watch it.

The cast of “The Wiz” (Photo by Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)The Wiz (1978)

With “Wicked: For Good” on the way and “The Wizard of Oz” headed to The Sphere in Las Vegas, make sure you don’t leave out another excellent retelling of the story. Starring legends including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and more, the film takes full advantage of the voices it has in its cast. Ease on down the road while you wait for the next piece of “Wicked.”

“Robots” (Blue Sky Animation)Robots (2005)

It’s been 20 years since “Robots” hit theaters, and really, you may not remember it at all. So, we think it’s time to revisit. It’s got Robin Williams, it’s got peak Amanda Bynes and so many more in its cast, and it’s just kind of delightfully silly. It arguably should’ve gotten a sequel, and discussions did happen, but Blue Sky animation instead focused on its “Ice Age” franchise.

The post The 7 Best New Movies Streaming Free on Tubi Right Now appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Severance’ Star Tramell Tillman Crashes ‘Zoolander’ Screening – With a Marching Band

Ben Stiller was on hand to greet a sold-out crowd attending a “Zoolander” screening at Hollywood Cemetery Saturday night — and he was joined by “Severance” star Tramell Tillman, who showed up with the University of Southern California’s marching band in tow.

Tillman and the band recreated the actor’s now-iconic “Severance” season two finale dance before shifting to a rendition of “Relax” in honor of Stiller’s 2001 film. The performance deftly stitched together two of Stiller’s most beloved offerings to date.

“Severance” has been a runaway hit for Stiller and Apple TV+ and is the most-nominated Emmy series this year with 27 nods (including Outstanding Drama; Lead Actor for Adam Scott; Lead Actress for Britt Lower; Directing for Ben Stiller and Jessica Lee Gagné; and Writing for Dan Erickson).

Tillman stars as Mr. Milchick, the show’s chief antagonist.

“The Music Dance Experience [in Season 1] was so iconic, and I loved how people embraced that moment,” Tillman told TheWrap in March. “It has become meme-ed over and over and over again, it’s on T-shirts and whatnot. It’s beautiful. But there are some things that you can’t recreate.”

The post ‘Severance’ Star Tramell Tillman Crashes ‘Zoolander’ Screening – With a Marching Band appeared first on TheWrap.

Spike Lee Says Trump Should ‘Think Twice’ if He Considers a Federal Takeover of New York: ‘The Boogie-Down? Harlem?’ | Video

Spike Lee’s characters say “Wake up!” in “Do the Right Thing,” “School Daze” and “Malcolm X” – and now the director has put the signature line in his weekend MSNBC appearance, too.

Speaking with “Politics Nation” host Rev. Al Sharpton on Saturday to promote the Denzel Washington film “Highest 2 Lowest,” Lee said the Trump administration’s federal law-enforcement takeover in Washington, D.C., wouldn’t go quite the same if the president tried it in New York City.

“This country right now is … it’s bananas, and this and this guy trying to take over D.C. and just weaponize these things,” Lee said. “And I mean, he’s going to think twice [if he tries] to do that in New York though. The Boogie Down? Harlem?”

Sharpton agreed, saying that it would “be a different kind of reaction.”

Chuckling with glee, Lee responded: “Oh yeah. It’s gonna be very different.”

Sharpton asked Lee what he thought about Trump mobilizing federal agents and National Guard troops “in heavily Black and brown cities with Black mayors,” given how Lee has portrayed authoritarian law enforcement throughout his films.

“They’re weaponizing these other agencies of the United States government,” Lee said more gravely. “And this is — this is a scary time. The last word in ‘School Daze’ … my brother … Lawrence Fishburne saying, ‘Wake up!’ And the first line in ‘Do the Right Thing’ you know — Samuel Jackson saying, ‘Wake up.’ So we need to wake up. We need to wake up. You know, it’s some serious times and we gotta be on point and just be in the moment and see this three-card-monte game — watch the black, watch the black, watch the black! … you can’t win.”

“Highest 2 Lowest” is in theaters now.

Watch the entire exchange in the video above.

The post Spike Lee Says Trump Should ‘Think Twice’ if He Considers a Federal Takeover of New York: ‘The Boogie-Down? Harlem?’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

ICE Arrests TikTok Influencer Who Documented Immigration Raids at Her Home on Livestream

Colombian TikTok influencer Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez was taken into ICE custody while live streaming from her home in Los Angeles. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Martinez was arrested in connection with a prior DUI.

Newsweek reported Martinez, who is well-known on TikTok for posting videos that document several ICE arrests, was filmed on Friday seated in her Tesla when agents opened her car door and pulled her onto the pavement. She also appeared to experience a medical event during the arrest, and at one point onlookers are heard demanding treatment for her.

The arrest was also briefly interrupted by a man who attempted to tow one of the police cars in the arrest.

“He mocked and videotaped ICE officers chasing after him,” McLaughlin also told Newsweek. “Secretary Noem has been clear: Anyone who seeks to impede law enforcement will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Martinez was initially transported to White Memorial Hospital and is currently being held in a detention center in downtown Los Angeles.

On Thursday, Los Angeles Rep. Jimmy Gomez accused ICE of staging an empty migrant detention center.

“One person was talking to the Mexican consulate who happened to be there, and the other person was just in the cell with their head down on a table or on the table or something. He was just kind of sitting there,” Gomez said of the center he visited recently.

Gomez also questioned why the center was so empty despite the numerous arrests made recently. Nearly 2,800 people have been taken into ICE custody since early June.

“They’ve been running raids, even over the weekend, and all of a sudden there’s no one there? That’s just completely bizarre,” he told MSNBC’s Jen Psaki.

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