Motion Picture: Ashton Sanders Joins Thriller ‘Corporate Retreat’, Joan Chen Gets New Management
ashton sanders - VALERIE MACON
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Ryan Coogler recently reflected on the late Chadwick Boseman’s lasting impact during an appearance on The Breakfast Club, praising the actor’s unmatched dedication and influence. Coogler, who directed Boseman in Black Panther, revealed that Boseman's death hit Michael B. Jordan the hardest, describing him as a disciplined, old-school professional who led by quiet example. Coogler shared that deeply inspired both him and Jordan. That influence continued on the Sinners set, where Coogler encouraged Jordan to channel Boseman's commitment while tackling dual roles. Sinners is in theaters today.
Ashton Sanders has joined the upcoming horror-thriller Corporate Retreat cast, which is currently in pre-production, with filming set to begin in June. Known for his powerful performances in Moonlight, Native Son, and Judas and the Black Messiah, Sanders will star in the film about a corporate team-building trip that spirals into a brutal fight for survival. Written and directed by Aaron Fisher, with a script co-written by Kerri Lee Romeo, the film promises a tense, elevated horror experience. Corporate Retreat is being produced by Passage Pictures, with Uri Singer at the helm.
Samuel L. Jackson will star in Man of War, a Western action film moving forward at Paramount with Tim Story directing and producing. Jackson will play a retired general who returns to his Georgia hometown after his wife’s death, only to confront deep-rooted corruption, gentrification, and racism. Armed with military strategy and combat skills, he declares war on a powerful billionaire exploiting the town. Oscar-nominated writer Sheldon Turner writes the screenplay. The project is produced by Turner and Jennifer Klein’s 100% Productions, with Story and The Story Company also on board.
Gabrielle Union has joined the cast of Forbidden Fruits, the feature directorial debut of Meredith Alloway. She joins Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, and Emma Chamberlain in the genre film, which is currently in production and set for a 2026 release via IFC Films and Shudder. Based on Lily Houghton’s play Of the Women Came the Beginning of Sin and Through Her We All Die, the film centers on a group of women running a secret femme cult beneath a mall store. Union recently earned acclaim for her role in The Inspection and can be seen in Riff Raff.
Viola Davis leads the action-packed political thriller G20 as President Danielle Sutton, a role she acknowledges may feel politically charged following Kamala Harris’ 2024 loss to Donald Trump. While the film avoids naming Sutton’s party, Davis says the goal is to “reach people,” not push partisanship. Directed by Patricia Riggen, G20 centers on a terrorist attack at a global summit, where Sutton must rely on her leadership and military expertise to protect world leaders and her family. The film hit theaters on April 10 and featured a cast that includes Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, and Antony Starr.
Fadia Abboud, director of House of Gods, is set to direct a groundbreaking sci-fi feature focused on underrepresented communities in Australia. The film, titled 2 Moons, follows five distinct characters, including a Samoan fa’afafine landscaper and a Lebanese matriarch with a secret younger lover, each reflecting unique cultural backgrounds and societal struggles. The project, developed by Co-Curious and commissioned by the Powerhouse Museum, explores what it means to be Australian amidst political and ecological challenges. Abboud, known for her work on House of Gods, is joined by a talented team of writers and an all-female producing team, ensuring a fresh and compelling narrative. The film aims to amplify new Australian voices while offering a unique take on Western Sydney communities and cultures.
rickey smiley - Robin L Marshall / Stringer
Comedy/Dramady/Musical: Rickey Smiley is returning to the stage with Fool-ish, his first comedy special in over a decade, set to premiere on Hulu on May 30. The special, the subject of a bidding war, was filmed at the Lyric Theater in Smiley’s hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. It showcases his signature humor, characters, and social commentary. Directed by David E. Talbert, this special marks Smiley’s first since 2011's Open Casket Sharp. Smiley, known for his radio show The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, promises a deeper connection with his audience, drawing on his personal experiences and transformation. The special is executive produced by Talbert, Lyn Sisson-Talbert, and Laura Lizer.
danielle deadwyler - Frazer Harrison
Drama: Sophie Okonedo and Chloe Coleman star in Mouse, the latest film from Ghostlight directors Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan. The story centers on two best friends, Minnie and Callie (played by Katherine Mallen Kupferer and Coleman), whose bond is tested just before their senior year. Set and shot in North Little Rock, Arkansas—O’Sullivan’s hometown—the film showcases Okonedo, a Tony winner and Oscar nominee, in a key role alongside rising star Coleman, known for My Spy and Big Little Lies. Mouse continues the duo’s streak of character-driven storytelling following the critical success of Ghostlight.
Danielle Deadwyler will produce and star in a film adaptation of Ann Petry’s groundbreaking 1946 novel The Street, which follows a Black mother’s fight to raise her son amid poverty and racism in 1940s Harlem. Gina Atwater (Westworld) will write the script and executive produce, with Michael Sherman and Alix Madigan also producing. Deadwyler called the novel essential to American literature, praising its emotional depth and portrayal of survival. The Street was the first novel by a Black woman to sell over a million copies and remains a powerful reflection on motherhood and the American Dream.
Freestyle Digital Media has acquired the domestic rights to the Asian-American family drama The Harvest, which explores generational trauma and familial bonds. Directed by Caylee So, the film tells the story of Thai, who returns to Southern California to confront his estranged family and a father battling kidney failure. The film stars Doua Moua and features a talented cast, including Perry Yung and Dawn Ying Yuen. Premiering at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, The Harvest has garnered several awards and nominations, including the Audience Award at the Seattle Asian-American Film Festival. It will be available for digital rental and purchase starting June 20, 2025.
Raoul Peck - Justin Sammer / Stringer
Documentary: Raoul Peck will premiere his new documentary Orwell: 2+2=5 at Cannes next month, exploring George Orwell’s final months and the lasting relevance of 1984 in today’s political climate. Speaking at Visions du Réel, Peck warned of rising global autocracy, drawing parallels between Orwell’s concept of “Newspeak” and modern-day misinformation, fear, and censorship. A longtime critic of systemic racism and authoritarianism, Peck also criticized the state of documentary filmmaking, calling out the influence of streaming platforms and the loss of support for independent, diverse voices. Despite industry challenges, Peck remains committed to telling urgent, uncompromising stories.
Joan Chen - Jeff Spicer / Stringer
Industry Update: At the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas, Academy president Janet Yang emphasized the need to preserve “human authorship” as AI becomes more integrated in Hollywood, urging that creative storytelling must remain rooted in human input. Speaking to an audience of engineers, Yang noted the Academy's commitment to supporting artistic and technological voices, highlighting that AI is a tool—not a replacement. Annie Chang of the Academy's Science and Technology Council echoed the sentiment, stating that humans must remain central to storytelling. Yang also reflected on this year's Oscars, celebrating wins for Anora, Flow, and I’m Still Here, and announced the launch of ACES 2.0, the Academy's updated open-source color system.
Documentary filmmakers Sabaah Folayan, Loira Limbal, and Peter Nicks received the Catapult Film Fund's annual research grant, receiving $10,000 and four months of mentorship from industry advisors. Their selected projects tackle urgent social themes: Folayan’s Flowing with Blessings follows a mobile hygiene service for Atlanta’s unhoused, Limbal’s Between Oceans explores the lives of Black Caribbean women in seasonal U.S. labor, and Nicks’ All My Friends reflects on youth grief and the loss of his daughter. Now in its fifth year of offering the grant, Catapult shifted focus to mid-career filmmakers, choosing three recipients from 214 applicants.
Jenna Ortega confirmed in an interview that her departure from the Scream franchise was not due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, she tied to the fallout from co-star Melissa Barrera's firing over pro-Palestinian social media posts. Ortega, who starred as Tara Carpenter in the 2022 and 2023 films, said the franchise was "falling apart" after the original creative team and Barrera were no longer involved. She stated it "didn't seem like the right move" for her career without the team she'd grown close to. Ortega desires to work with new directors and original stories.
Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society has optioned The House of Last Resort, a horror novel by Christopher Golden, for feature film development. Golden, an award-winning author and screenwriter behind Hellboy: The Crooked Man, will adapt his book for the screen. The story follows an American couple who buy a one-euro home in a remote Sicilian town, only to uncover catacombs and dark secrets beneath their new residence. Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo will produce for Outlier alongside Golden and Pete Donaldson. The project adds to Outlier's expanding slate, which includes The Thomas Crown Affair reboot and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6.
Director and actress Joan Chen has signed with Anonymous Content for management. Chen was recently nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award for her role in Sean Wang’s DiDi and will next appear in Andrew Ahn’s The Wedding Banquet and Amazon MGM’s holiday comedy Oh. What. Fun. She also joined Netflix’s upcoming series, Remarkably Bright Creatures. Chen first rose to fame as a teen in China, winning the “Hundred Flowers Award,” and later starred in The Last Emperor and Twin Peaks. As a director, her work includes Autumn in New York and Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down-Girl.
Concordia Studio has selected four filmmakers for its 2025 Documentary Filmmaker Fellowship: Contessa Gayles, Jason M. Harper, Mohammed Naqvi, and Jennifer Tiexiera. Chosen for their craft, collaboration, and exploration of unknown worlds, they will receive strategic and creative support from the studio. Gayles, known for Songs From the Hole; Harper, recognized for As We Speak; Naqvi, acclaimed for Among the Believers; and Tiexiera, celebrated for Speak, join a prestigious group of past fellows and continue Concordia’s mission to uplift diverse and visionary storytellers in the documentary world.
