Motion Picture: Ving Rhames Joins Cast Of ‘The Mongoose’, Dave Bautista Set To Star in Thriller ‘Dreadnought’

Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi:G20, starring Viola Davis, is streaming on Prime Video starting April 10. When the G20 summit is attacked, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Davis) becomes the prime target. After narrowly escaping capture, she must outsmart the assailants to protect her family, defend her country, and safeguard world leaders. The action-packed thriller also stars Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Ramón Rodríguez, Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Marvel, Sabrina Impacciatore, Christopher Farrar, and Antony Starr.

Dennis Haysbert has joined the cast of Send Help, Sam Raimi’s upcoming survival horror thriller for 20th Century Studios. Haysbert joins previously announced stars Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien, and Chris Pang. Written by Baywatch scribes Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, the film follows two colleagues stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, forcing them to work together despite their differences. Raimi and Zainab Azizi are producing. Haysbert, known for 24 and Heat, recently appeared in Flamin’ Hot and Summer Camp and is an executive producer on American Smuggler.

Ving Rhames has joined the cast of The Mongoose, an upcoming action thriller starring Liam Neeson. Rhames will play Tanker, the loyal right-hand man to Neeson’s character, Fang, and the former second-in-command of their Special Forces squad in Afghanistan. Directed by Mark Vanselow, the film follows Fang as he leads police on a high-stakes, televised cross-country chase after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Currently filming in Australia, The Mongoose also stars Marisa Tomei and Michael Chiklis and is produced by Code Entertainment and Jupiter Peak Productions.

Naomi Ackie, BAFTA winner for Blink Twice, joins Jason Statham in an untitled action thriller directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland). Ackie, along with a talented cast including Statham, Bill Nighy, and Daniel Mays, will bring her dynamic presence to the film, which is centered around Statham’s character grappling with the ghosts of his violent past. The film, currently in production in the UK and Ireland, is based on a script by Ward Parry, with revisions by Christian Contreras. It’s produced by Statham and a team of industry veterans, with Black Bear handling international sales.

Dave Bautista reunites with Bushwick directors Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott for the dystopian thriller Dreadnought. In the film, Bautista stars as Max, a man struggling to survive in a world ravaged by an alien plague. His daughter, Greta, is dying from the disease, and an alien Sentinel is closing in on their home to claim her body for a ritual. Max defies the societal acceptance of this fate, determined not to lose her. With a screenplay by Joseph Greenberg, Dreadnought is produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, with Bautista also producing through Dogbone Entertainment.

Jesse Garcia (The Mother, Flamin’ Hot) and Will Yun Lee (San Andreas, The Good Doctor) have joined the cast of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, a mythic action epic based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem. The film follows Odysseus' journey home after the Trojan War and explores themes of heroism, loyalty, and divine struggle. Garcia’s upcoming projects include Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip, and The Mother, while Lee recently wrapped the final season of The Good Doctor and has starred in films like Rampage and San Andreas. The film’s ensemble includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson, and will be released on July 17, 2026.

Up-and-comer Kartiah Vergara (All Her Fault) has landed a supporting role alongside Academy Award winner Russell Crowe in Bear Country, an action thriller directed by Derrick Borte. The film, based on Thomas Perry's novel Strip, follows aging club owner Manco Kapak (Crowe), who is forced to confront cartel bosses and a young upstart after being robbed by a masked gunman. Vergara, who recently wrapped a role in All Her Fault opposite Sarah Snook, has also appeared in Ticket to Paradise and Dora the Explorer: The Lost City of Gold. The film is currently in production in Queensland, Australia.

On February 10, Film Independent partnered with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Focus Features for a live read of Conclave. The event featured a star-studded cast, including Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Josh Gad, Jason Mantzoukas, Patton Oswalt, Eugenio Derbez, and screenwriter Peter Straughan as narrator. Directed by Edward Berger, this one-night-only event highlights the political thriller set within the Vatican, based on Robert Harris' novel. Conclave is an awards season favorite, with eight Oscar nominations and several accolades, including Best Picture at the 2024 National Board of Review.

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Comedy/Dramady/Musical: Hannah Cruz has joined the cast of Richard Linklater's Merrily We Roll Along, based on Stephen Sondheim’s 1981 musical. Cruz, a Clarence Derwent Award winner, will portray Gussie, the wife of Paul Mescal’s Franklin Shepard, a Broadway composer turned Hollywood producer. The film, like Linklater’s Boyhood, will be shot over 20 years. Cruz, known for her theater work, was part of the original Broadway cast of Suffs and performed in Hamilton and Bullets Over Broadway. The film also stars Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein, and Mallory Bechtel, with producers including Linklater and Jason Blum.

Pharrell Williams’ childhood musical Golden (formerly Atlantis), directed by Michel Gondry, has been scrapped during post-production, Deadline has confirmed. Originally slated for a May 5 release by Universal, the film will not be released and is not being shopped. Gondry and Williams cited their inability to achieve the vision they had for the project, expressing gratitude to the cast and crew. The film was to star Kelvin Harrison Jr. and featured a cast including Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Halle Bailey, and Missy Elliott, focused on Williams' upbringing in Virginia Beach. The film's cancellation marks a shift in Williams' upcoming projects, with no clear replacement yet for the film's release.

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Drama: Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù has secured a leading role in My Father’s Shadow, the feature debut of British-Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies—Dìrísù stars in the semi-autobiographical film about a father and his two sons over a day in Lagos. Co-written by Davies and his brother Wale, the film is produced by Element Pictures, BBC Film, and the BFI, with Mubi acquiring distribution rights in multiple territories. Dìrísù, praised for roles in His House and Mr. Malcolm’s List, continues to rise in the industry.

Gravitas Ventures has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to Grassland, a feature drama executive produced by Common, set for release in April. Directed by William Bermudez and Sam Friedman, the film follows a Latina mother running a marijuana operation whose life is upended when her son befriends a neighborhood boy and his grandfather, a cop. Set in New Jersey during the 2008 recession and Obama’s presidential campaign, Grassland stars Mía Maestro, Quincy Isaiah, Jeff Kober, and Ravi Cabot-Conyers. The film premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and has partnered with Common’s Free to Dream organization.

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù stars in Akinola Davies Jr’s highly anticipated debut feature My Father’s Shadow, produced by Element Pictures. The film, set in Lagos, follows two brothers spending a pivotal day with their estranged father during a turbulent time marked by Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election. My Father’s Shadow has already garnered attention, with Mubi pre-buying distribution rights for North America, the UK, Ireland, and Turkey. Produced by Rachel Dargavel and Funmbi Ogunbanwo, the film is in post-production and promises to showcase a personal and rarely seen side of Lagos. Dìrísù’s performance has been praised for adding depth to the emotional narrative.

The long-delayed bodybuilding drama Magazine Dreams, starring Jonathan Majors, is set for a U.S. release on March 21 via Briarcliff Entertainment and is heading to the European Film Market with Celsius for international sales. Directed by Elijah Bynum, the film follows Killian Maddox (Majors), a man obsessed with becoming a world-famous bodybuilder, whose pursuit of perfection leads to self-destruction. The cast also includes Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige, and Mike O'Hearn. After debuting at Sundance 2023 and being picked up by Searchlight Pictures, Majors' legal troubles impacted the film's distribution.

Peter “Navy” Tuiasosopo - Frederick M. Brown / Stringer

Industry Update: Peter “Navy” Tuiasosopo, known for roles in Necessary Roughness, Street Fighter, and New Girl, passed away at 61 due to heart complications. His son, Manoah Peter Tuiasosopo, confirmed the news on Facebook, expressing gratitude for the support and remembering his father’s strength and kindness. A former football player, Tuiasosopo transitioned to acting, playing Manumana in Necessary Roughness, E. Honda in Street Fighter, and appearing in The Fast and the Furious, 12 Rounds, and Hawaii. His family plans to announce details for a Celebration of Life soon.

Sydney-based production company Causeway Films, known for hits like The Babadook and Talk To Me, has appointed Sleena Wilson as Head of Development. Wilson, formerly VP of Film and Television at Black Bear, will relocate to Sydney to lead Causeway's expanding slate. With five years at Black Bear, she contributed to projects like the Oscar-nominated Sing Sing and AMC’s Monsieur Spade. Causeway, currently in post-production on Bring Her Back and The Fox, is excited about Wilson’s creative vision and international expertise, aligning with the company’s commitment to original, character-driven storytelling.

Colman Domingo addressed rumors about replacing Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror in the MCU during the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, revealing he met with Marvel executives to discuss the speculation. Majors was originally set to be the MCU's next major villain but was dropped in December 2023 after his assault conviction. Marvel decided to scrap Kang's storyline and introduce Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom instead. Domingo clarified that while he had conversations with Marvel about potential roles, he never seriously considered replacing Majors, stating he prefers to build a character from the ground up rather than take over an existing one.

Ke Huy Quan recalled how Harrison Ford helped calm his nerves while filming Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, his first acting role as a child. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Quan shared that he was terrified during a key escape scene and began crying, but Ford reassured him, saying, "Ke, I want you to remember, I will never hurt you." That moment cemented Quan's admiration for Ford, who became one of his biggest supporters during his Oscar-winning run for Everything Everywhere All at Once. Quan credits Temple of Doom for sparking his love of action films, a passion he continues as the lead in Love Hurts, now in theaters.

U.S. sales outfit The Syndicate and financier Rabbits Black have formed a strategic partnership ahead of the European Film Market in Berlin. The Syndicate will handle sales for Rabbits Black-backed films, including Midnight, starring Rosario Dawson, Milla Jovovich, and Alexandra Shipp, and Stranglehold, directed by Clark Duke and starring Ashley Benson, Jake Lacey, and Ron Perlman. Both thrillers are in post-production. Additionally, The Syndicate will offer Turn Up The Sun with James McAvoy, Bad Man starring Sean William Scott and Rob Riggle, and the Venice Film Festival documentary From Darkness to Light.

Netflix’s adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is moving forward, with The Burial director Maggie Betts set to direct. Betts will co-write the script with Liz Tigelaar, while Liza Chasin and Brad Mendelsohn will produce. The novel, a long-running New York Times bestseller, and TikTok sensation, follows an aging Hollywood starlet who reveals shocking secrets about her seven marriages in a tell-all interview. Jenkins Reid and Margaret Chernin will executive produce. Betts steps in after Leslye Headland's departure, marking her next major project following The Burial.

Film Independent has appointed Brenda Robinson as Acting President, following the passing of longtime president Josh Welsh on December 31. Eric d'Arbeloff has been named Acting Board Chair, stepping up from Vice Chair, and will lead the search for a permanent president. Robinson, who has been involved with Film Independent for over a decade, previously served as Board Chair, while d'Arbeloff, co-president of Roadside Attractions, has been with the organization for 20 years. Film Independent continues supporting independent filmmakers through programs like the Spirit Awards, Filmmaker Labs, and Project Involve.