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MAD 4 RYAN
WARNER UNVEILS NEW LOOK UK TEAM…
RUIZ AIMS TO MAZIMISE BRANDS
BFI UNVEILS Q4…
…AS IT GETS BRIGHT EYES AND BUSHY-TAILED
101 ADDS TO AGFA
SCREENBOUND ADDS NORTHERN COMEDIES
DAZZLER’S CUCKOOS FLY IN
AT THE MOVIES TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
We’ll start this week’s newsletter with one of those lovely human interest stories – certainly the kind that comes around during August when things are slowing down and the silly season for news kicks off in earnest – that surrounds Hollywood talent and stars. And this concerns loveable Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds. He now owns Wrexham football club and he’s helped out a local entertainment store which specialises in physical media across films, TV, books and music, Mad4Movies, by offloading some unwanted DVDs of his films to help raise charity cash. The star popped into the shop, owned by Rob Clarke, when he first took over the club alongside his pal Rob McElhenney, then later offered the films when he and wife Blake Lively were having a clear out. He’s sent hundreds to Clarke – as well as signing them, and they’ll now be auctioned to raise cash to fight the rare disease that his son suffers from, ITP. Clarke told newspapers: “He told me that he and Blake were having a clear out of their office and came across multiple DVD and blu-ray copies of some of their films. "He proceeded to tell me that they have signed every one of them and are sending them to me. "Since they arrived, and with Ryan’s blessing, we have decided that we will use some to raise funds for ITP support, which is a condition our eldest son Charlie lives with. They signed some DVDs, including a Green Lantern one which Ryan jokingly admitted wasn’t his finest work – he wasn’t afraid to have a laugh at himself." Clarke’s store will receive a further boost when it appears in the series documenting the takeover of the football club by the Hollywood elite when Welcome To Wrexham airs on Disney+ later this month.
It's been a strange old week for Warner, what with the studio canning its Batgirl film from its streaming service in the US and the fact it will likely never be seen anywhere (sparking many articles musing over the reasons), but back on terra firma, Warner Bros Discovery UK & Ireland has announced a new look for its senior management and executives under the tutelage of general manager Antonio Ruiz. This includes Rachel Wakley now overseeing retail, consumer products, physical home video, games, supply chain and experiences and Alison Morris overseeing TV licensing and digital home entertainment distribution. Elsewhere at the major, Clare Laycock will cover editorial, taking in local content production, programming and media planning; Neil Marshall will look after theatrical distribution and local film production and acquisition; Katie Coteman handling ad sales; Alex Foley heading up insights, strategy and retail planning and Alex Lewis leading on marketing, creative services, brand partnerships, franchise management, social media and consumer PR.
Comment on the new structure came from Ruiz, who said: “Since I became general manager for the UK and Ireland, I’ve been focused on defining our strategy and structure and today I am delighted to announce my new leadership team. Both legacy companies house tremendous talent which makes me even more excited about the organisation we are building for the future as we look to maximise our portfolio of brands, content, products and channels, along with our ambitions to deliver a hugely successful streaming business, in the U.K. and Ireland.”
 The big forthcoming product announcement of the past seven days or so came from the BFI, which unveiled its slate for the final quarter of 2022, taking in the months from October through to December. It takes in a widely varied slate, kicking off with a new addition to its excellent Flipside series of more obscure British films, The Ballad Of Tam Lin, alongside a sumptuous package for homegrown animated classic Watership Down. November sees Peter Greenaway’s The Draughtsman’s Contract in an extras laden set alongside the fourth volume of its Bergman series, while December has a very seasonal Ghost Stories For Christmas offering a Blu-ray first for the classic BBC Yuletide spooky tales, as well as the not nearly as seasonal Nil By Mouth, Gary Oldman’s grim tale of south London alcoholism.
Comment on the BFI’s series came from the organisation’s John Ramchandani, who said: “2022 has been another stellar year for BFI Home Entertainment with UHDs and premium Blu-rays continuing to wow our audiences so it’s only fitting that we round things off with a Q4 that showcases the eclectic scope of British film and television landmarks. From folk-horror (THE BALLAD OF TAM LIN) to restored classic animation (WATERSHIP DOWN), erotic country house murder mystery (THE DRAUGHTMAN’S CONTRACT) to a BBC festive treat (GHOST STORIES FOR CHRISTMAS) by way of the fourth and final volume in our Ingmar Bergman collection, there’s something to fill every stocking above the fireplace this year. And we save the best for the last with our highly-anticipated and much-requested Limited Edition 2-disc Blu-ray release of NIL BY MOUTH, newly remastered in 4K by BFI National Archive to mark the film’s 25th anniversary. The December release accompanies a Southbank retrospective of Gary Oldman’s career and comes replete with brand new extras and a perfect-bound book. Notoriously profane, Oldman’s script contains the word ‘fuck’ no less than 482 times (I won’t mention that ‘c*nt’ features 82 times). Season’s Greetings to one and all!”
Meanwhile, further announcements came from our pals at 101 Films, whose excellent AGFA range – you can see some coverage here – has unveiled its September titles. Here’s the company’s Tim Scaping on its slate, he said: “Our AGFA range goes from strength to strength in September, with a double bill of ‘70s adult movies with the stories brought to the fore, and a wild shot-on-video horror anthology from Baltimore. X-rated genre movies with the X-rated bits removed, SMUT WITHOUT SMUT VOL. 1 features a future dystopia dream-epic shot in San Antonio (THINGS TO COME) and a sleazy crime spree summer-bummer from the wilds of California (THE DIRTY DOLLS), while SCARY TALES proves that the films of John Waters and Don Dohler aren’t the only genre miracles from Baltimore, with a shot-on-video horror anthology that plays out like a public access version of Creepshow. These titles bring us up to 14 releases for the year in our 101 x AGFA range, and we're delighted with the UK interest in these often challenging and always weird genre delights. Look out for a couple more releases before the year end and a new slate next year.”
 In stores this week, landing on August 8, are a brace of new titles from Screenbound, here’s the company’s Martin Glew on its titles, he said: “Screenbound is delighted to release two Northern Comedy classics, previously never released on DVD in the UK; Somewhere in England (1940) starring Frank Randle and Under New Management (1942) starring Nat Jackley. Screenbound’s Marketing Manager Martin Glew has said ‘Its great releasing such titles for the first time on DVD and them being well received by customers. Northern Comedies are an almost forgotten heritage in the UK and its brilliant to remind audiences of our comical past. These titles have also been a passion project for our production department, who have been working their magic restoring the picture quality to a near HD standard, bringing them into the 21st Century and allowing new audiences to enjoy them’. Both are now available to order.”
Also releasing is the ever-busy Dazzler, with a more goodies, including a new take on a much loved British sci-fi horror tale. The company’s Paul Holland said: “Yet another big couple of weeks of great UK TV drama being released by Dazzler and showcased on prime time TV. Starting with the release on DVD and Blu-Ray on the August 8 of Midwich Cuckoos, Sky's big TV drama for the summer. Starring Keeley Hawes and Max Beesley this drama is based on the best selling book by John Wyndham. This eight part series tells the tale of an English village in which the women become pregnant by a brood parasitic, which seeks to destroy first the village and then the world. Starting on Sunday night on ITV1 was the second series of top Amsterdam based cop, Van Der Valk, starring Marc Warren. The series will run over the next two weekends with the DVD out on the August 22. This high end, quality, feature length drama pitches the cop and his colleagues against the dark underbelly of Amsterdam, a city of vice, drugs and murder. Also set your alarms for next Sunday at 9pm and the start of a new BBC1 drama. The cast is an 'A' list as you'll find with Sean Bean and Nicola Walker starring in Marriage. Having received a number of rave reviews already this will be essential viewing for all married couples with years of experience. Dazzler will be releasing the DVD in September. Finally next Monday August 8 also sees the release on DVD, Blu Ray and EST of the third series of the epic World War 2 drama, Das Boot. Set over 10 episodes, the saga continues with more submarine warfare in the Atlantic which is just as deadly and intriguing as ever while World War Two rages on.”
More from Arrow Video FrightFest and horror streaming specialist Shudder has announced it has acquired not to eh films due to air there, Mastemah, ahead of its premiere at the August bank holiday weekend event, for the UK, US and other territories. It means a total of 10 films that will go to Shudder are airing over the five-day festival. As the company said: “The film joins a line-up of nine further Shudder acquisitions and originals premiering at FrightFest, the UK’s largest fantasy and horror film festival which takes place 25-29 August: A Wounded Fawn from co-writer and director Travis Stevens; Dark Glasses from iconic director and co-writer Dario Argento; Deadstream, written and directed by Joseph Winter and Vanessa Winter; Raven’s Hollow from co-writer and director Christopher Hatton; Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge, from directors Aaron B. Koontz, Alexandra Barreto, Anthony Cousins, Jed Shepherd, and Rachele Wiggins; Sissy, written and directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes; and Who Invited Them from writer and director Duncan Birmingham, all of which will premiere on Shudder later this year. Sorry About the Demon from writer and director Emily Hagins and The Lair from writer and director Neil Marshall will premiere in 2023.” Craig Engler, general manager of Shudder, added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have so many of our new releases screen at this year's FrightFest, the perfect audience for our movies. And we're looking forward to bringing Shudder members exclusive access to this fantastic line-up of new horror films in the coming months and into 2023.” And following on from FrightFest comes another big event in the shape of the London Film Festival, which has announced that the second Knives Out film, Glass Onion, will close out this year’s event, with the gala screening taking place on October 16. Director Ran Johnson said: "Rian Johnson, said: “I’m thrilled to be back at LFF with Glass Onion, and it’s an honour to be closing the festival. A proper whodunnit really does belong in London, so it feels a bit like coming home!” Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: “Rian Johnson’s Knives Out was a major hit when we hosted the European Premiere at the Festival in 2019. Our audiences adored the film’s wit and that it tipped its very stylish hat to the wonderful tradition of British onscreen sleuths. And here, Rian Johnson strikes gold again with the help of the year’s hottest ensemble cast. Like its predecessor, Glass Onion is entertaining and culturally literate in equal measure, making some hilarious, razor sharp observations about the world we live in. The European Premiere of the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery will bring the house down as the Closing Gala of the 66th BFI London Film Festival!”
Aside from the news it is pulling Batgirl, Warner is messing ahead with other elements of the DC film world, with the latest being that Lady Gaga is joining the cast of Joker: Folie A Deux, its next instalment of Joaquin Phoenix take on the baddie… The film is due in 2024… TWEET OF THE WEEK Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun… TRAILERS OF THE WEEK This looks excellent… Very excited for this one…
More from Signature…
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