The Weeknd, also known as Abel Tesfaye, is making his big-screen debut in Hurry Up Tomorrow. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, the suspense thriller also stars Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. Lionsgate has set its release for May 16, aligning with the launch of The Weeknd’s new album and tour.

Today, Indeed, the world’s #1 job site and a leading hiring platform, together with Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, and actor Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad, and Doménica and Constanza Castro’s 271 Films, announced the 10 filmmakers selected for Season 5 of Rising Voices. This groundbreaking initiative continues to uncover, invest in, and amplify the voices of emerging filmmakers across the United States, providing a platform for them to explore their unique perspectives on the future of work. Over the past five years, Indeed has invested over $10 million in the Rising Voices program, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to increasing representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) stories within the entertainment industry.

André Holland and Nicole Beharie team up again for the forthcoming film, ‘Love, Brooklyn’ set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival next year. Although few details have been revealed about the upcoming project, it follows the lives of three Brooklynites as they navigate love, loss, careers, and friendship against the backdrop of a rapidly changing city. Additional star features in the film include DeWanda Wise, Roy Wood Jr., Cassandra Freeman, and Cadence Reese.

Sterling K. Brown and Da’Vine Joy Randolph are set to join Cathy Yan’s intriguing new project, The Gallerist. This darkly comedic film, will be independently financed by MRC, explores the desperate schemes of a gallerist attempting to sell a corpse at Art Basel Miami. Brown, an Emmy winner (American Fiction), and Randolph, an Oscar winner (The Holdovers), bring their star power to a stellar ensemble cast that also includes Zach Galifianakis (Only Murders in the Building), Daniel Brühl (The Franchise), Charli XCX (I Want Your Sex), and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Wednesday).

Andrew Bachelor, widely known as "King Bach," has joined Artists First for management representation. A Toronto native, Bachelor has built a massive following of over 70 million fans, making him a prominent figure in comedy, acting, and content creation.

Brian Tyree Henry is in final talks to join Julia Roberts, Elizabeth Olsen, and Eddie Redmayne in Panic Carefully, a Warner Bros. thriller directed by Sam Esmail. Described as a gripping hunt for a cyber-terrorist, the film blends the intense vibes of Mr. Robot and The Silence of the Lambs.

Acclaimed actress and writer Michaela Coel, best known for her groundbreaking work in I May Destroy You and Chewing Gum, is set to star in Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming film, The Christophers. Production for this dark comedy begins in London this February.

Shonda Rhimes struck TV gold by taking viewers inside the sexy and shocking inner workings of a fictionalized White House with Scandal. Now Shondaland is setting their sights on the unmistakable mansion once again — this time, with a twist. Prepare for The Residence this spring, a murder mystery revolving around the most disastrous (and deadly) state dinner in history, starring Uzo Aduba as wry detective Cordelia Cupp. The series will come calling on March 20. 

Renowned poet Nikki Giovanni passed away today, Monday, Dec. 9, at the age of 81, following her third battle with cancer. Her death was confirmed by her friend and author Renée Watson. Poet Kwame Alexander honored Giovanni’s memory, expressing gratitude for “the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children across the writerly world.”

Following its sold out world premiere at the prestigious 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, “The Other, Gold” kicks off its Awards Season campaign with 21 Oscar-qualifying screenings at The Tara Atlanta from December 6-12, 2024. Rising talent Sharaé Nikai wrote, produced, co-directed (with David Lassiter) and stars in this heartfelt dramedy.

The fatal 2006 shooting of Sean Bell by undercover NYPD officers ricocheted through New York City and left the country in a state of shock, as Bell’s family and the larger Black community struggled to come to terms with this devastation. Sean Bell, a 23-year-old father and soon-to-be husband, was leaving his bachelor party in Queens, New York, with his friends Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield when they were confronted by undercover NYPD officers and targeted by a barrage of 50 bullets, killing Bell. Since this tremendous loss, Sean Bell’s fiancée, Nicole P. Bell, and his family have been striving for justice while honoring his legacy.

Looks like Sony Pictures is shifting gears to release the R-rated comedy One of Them Days a week earlier, strategically targeting the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend starting January 17, 2025. This timing aims to capitalize on the 95% of colleges on break, making it an opportune moment for young audiences to hit theaters.

Paramount’s Republic Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to the horror thriller The Monster, a film that promises chills and an all-star cast. Starring Djimon Hounsou (A Quiet Place: Day One), Lauren LaVera (Terrifier), and Mia Healey (The Wilds), the movie is currently in production in Danbury, Connecticut.

Sky has announced a new five-part limited series, Inheritance, from writer and actor Karla Crome, with BAFTA-nominee Gugu Mbatha-Raw taking on a leading role. The series begins filming this month in the UK and Jamaica, promising a gripping blend of historical intrigue and contemporary drama.

Wes Miller has set the legal thriller Wildcards as his next feature and has cast Leon (Swarm, Five Heartbeats), Elise Neal (All of Us), Aries Spears (Mad TV), and Stakiah Lynn Washington (Angel City) in lead roles.

Naturi Naughton, the multi-talented actress, singer, and producer, has signed with Independent Artist Group (IAG) for representation. Best known for her role as Tasha St. Patrick in the Starz hit Power franchise, Naughton now joins a lineup of powerhouse stars at IAG, including 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Rainey Jr.

The gripping psychological thriller Both Eyes Open, starring Gail Bean (Snowfall) and Taye Diggs (The Best Man), is set to hit select U.S. theaters on January 17, 2025, via RodFather Productions.

Morris Chestnut is stepping into the spotlight as Dr. John Watson in the upcoming CBS drama Watson. The show is set to premiere on Sunday, January 26, immediately following the AFC Championship Game, promising an exciting blend of medical drama and investigative intrigue.

Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle is set to lead Canyon, a gripping new thriller from Alcon Entertainment. Directed by Colin Tilley with a screenplay by John Wick creator Derek Kolstad, the story unfolds over a single intense night. Cheadle plays Canyon, a part-time jazz musician and full-time hitman who becomes the unlikely guardian of a young woman entangled in a deadly feud between rival crime families.

Season 2 of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ is currently in production, with Tony Award and 2x Emmy Award winner Courtney B. Vance taking on the role of Zeus. This recast comes after the untimely passing of the beloved actor, Lance Reddick, who passed shortly after the first season. Vance says of his new role, “I know that stepping into this role of Zeus will be a memorable experience and I’ll be giving my brother, Lance Reddick, who left us way too soon, a heavenly hug.”