"At ILM, we look for work that scares us. We look for work that we haven't done before. It is a challenge to constantly pull that off – but it's also what drives us." Lucasfilm has debuted a wonderful new video titled "Challenging The Impossible", a 3-min featurette looking at all the work that goes in behind-the-scenes to make all of their movies, series, games, and more. "At Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, we challenge the impossible every day." They highlight these three companies, and the many people involved in designing, creating, crafting, and completing the ideas that the visionaries dream up. "What's it like to challenge the impossible every day? It's thrilling." This is a nice tribute to the magic of storytellers and craftspeople, always inspiring to see. There's a series of 3 videos from Lucasfilm which first debuted a few years ago - they've been updated and re-released with new footage. After "Challenging The Impossible", there's "Story Drives Everything" and "Celebrating Empowerment and Hope" also embedded below. Enjoy. https://onfs.net/3WAbdes

"What are you waiting for?! We're right here!!" Watch out for this axe-wielding madman!! IFC Films has unveiled another trailer for the acclaimed slasher horror In a Violent Nature, arriving in theaters this May (see the other full trailer). It first premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to rave reviews praising it as something new. It's described as "a fearless roll of the dice... gushes exquisite gore and reimagines the slasher structure with newfound originality." The gimmick for this one is that it's all from the perspective of the killer - following him as he goes around slashing. This iconic new film tracks an undead, ravenous zombie creature as it makes its way through the woods. Starring Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Creaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis, & Sam Roulston. IFC is really putting their marketing might behind this film! Everyone who watches keeps saying it's crazy and super violet and one-of-a-kind. A must see when it's playing in select theaters later this month. https://onfs.net/3wFjdAl

"When's the last time you sold anything?" Netlfix has unveiled the first look trailer for a new comedy series titled Tires, the latest comedy concept featuring the comedian Shane Gillis in the lead role (as "Shane"). This was initially revealed as part of Netflix's annual "Netflix is a Joke Fest" comedy event, which is why the trailer is launching now to go along with the launch there. Will, the nervous and unqualified heir to an auto repair chain, attempts to turn his father’s business around despite constant torture from his cousin and now employee, Shane (Gillis). A new sit-com with a bunch of tire shop workers. The series is co-created by Gillis, Steven Gerben, and McKeever - all three credited as writers & exec producers. Tires also stars Gerben, Chris O'Connor, Kilah Fox, and Stavros Halkias, with guest appearances by Andrew Schulz. There's a few funny moments in here, but can they sustain this humor for the entire series and beyond? Check it out. https://onfs.net/4aeTCMo

How do you find your way out of a room with no doors? That's the conundrum in this animated short film titled The Cocoon, made by Chinese-Jewish American filmmaker David Shen Miller. After playing at a few film festivals last year, Omeleto has debuted the short online for everyone to watch. In the metaphorical The Cocoon, a trapped man goes to extreme lengths to clean a dirty room - coming to a realization about what it really takes to confront his trapped dilemma. "This intriguing animated short operates on a metaphorical level, using animation's inherent elasticity and freedom to explore deeply psychological terrain with a well-paced, compelling narrative." The idea in this is interesting, though the animation isn't top notch - it's a bit shaggy and obvious at times. Nonetheless, it's still an impactful little film. "He's given himself a Sisyphean task, with no real solution in sight, despite all his efforts. But then, he finds a way to transform the mess and imperfection around him into something else entirely." The Cocoon is only 9 minutes - give it a watch below. https://onfs.net/3WIqB8C

"I'm trying to protect you!!" Quiver Distribution has debuted the official trailer for an emotional, intense family drama titled Fresh Kills, which is the feature directorial debut for New Yorker actress Jennifer Esposito. Esposito writes, directs, and stars in the film - a modern mafia story following the story of the loyal women of an organized crime family that dominated some of the boroughs of New York City in the late 20th century. The film is about a young woman named Rose Larusso, who learns her father is an emerging mafia kingpin. Rose’s growing desire to break free from the path set before her soon threatens her existence and alienates her from her closest allies: her mother Francine, her sister Connie, and her aunt Christine. Fresh Kills stars Emily Bader as Rose, Odessa A'zion, Jennifer Esposito, Domenick Lombardozzi, Nicholas Cirillo, and Annabella Sciorra. This played at a few film festivals last year and will be opening in select US theaters this June. A very powerful trailer! This is actually seems like it might be worth a look. https://onfs.net/3WB0ZL6

"You didn't have to go all crazy just to get the three of us together!" Film Movement has revealed an official trailer for Mother, Couch, a very strange dark comedy from filmmaker Niclas Larsson making his feature directorial debut. This premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival last fall to plenty of mixed reviews, one of the big discoveries from last year's fest even though critics are divided on it. Three children are brought together when their mother refuses to move from a display couch in a furniture store. Which sends them all on an existential odyssey. TIFF intro adds: Ewan McGregor, Rhys Ifans, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Ellen Burstyn star in this sublime and eccentric story about the grand expanse that parents occupy within our lives and the family that has to come together to help you find your way. The cast also includes F. Murray Abraham, Lake Bell, and Taylor Russell. Reviews state it is "strange, bold, and more dreamlike than I could have anticipated." All of this sounds strange yet also appealing? I'm particular curious about this film - always intrigued to see how filmmakers try to pull off a unique cinematic concept like this. Give this a look. https://onfs.net/4bcxljB

"Last week you were a straight-A student, now a killer-for-hire?" VMI has unveiled an official trailer for an indie action thriller film titled Kill Craft, the latest creation from filmmaker Mark Savage. Yet another new hitman movie to join so many others recently released, though this one is actually a hitwoman movie. When a veteran hitman is killed on the job, leaving his wife and teenage daughter without a source of income, his daughter reluctantly agrees to fulfill his remaining job, putting herself and her mother in terrible jeopardy. Of course! Being an assassin is a dangerous job and there will always be tons of people after you. So what's new? Starring Senae Loutsis as Marina, Michael Parè as her father, Bill Oberst Jr., Isis Eggleston, Amy DiLorenzo, Cole Springer, Theresa Allen, Caleb Baker, Jason Brooks, and Ben Chacon. "Daddy's Little Killer" is such a bad tagline. There are so many better films out there to watch than this one. https://onfs.net/4byV3Gz

"You shot one before?" French distributor Les Films du Losange has revealed a first look teaser trailer for a film titled The Damned, a French production made by an Italian filmmaker about America's Civil War in the 1860s. The film is premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival this month, playing in the "Un Certain Regard" section. It's the latest narrative feature made by Italian filmmaker Roberto Minervini, whose last film was a doc also set in America called Roberto Minervini. The Damned is set in the winter of 1862, during the Civil War. The U.S. Army (I guess they're referring to the Union?) sends a volunteer company to patrol the uncharted Western territories. As their mission changes course, the meaning behind their engagement begins to elude them. The film stars Jeremiah Knupp, René W. Solomon, Cuyler Ballenger, Noah Carlson, Judah Carlson, and Tim Carlson. There's barely 30 secs of footage, but it does provide a good look at the dour and bleak mood of this film about America's past. Looks like it's going to be pretty grueling. https://onfs.net/3JXE6d5

"We don't run from our problems." Sky TV has revealed an official UK trailer for a comedy series titled Mr. Bigstuff, arriving to watch in the UK starting this July (though no US launch yet). The series stars actor Danny Dyer, best known for his various "tough guy" roles like Moff in Human Traffic, Tommy Johnson in The Football Factory, and Mick Carter in Eastenders. When two estranged brothers Glen (Ryan Sampson) and Lee (Danny Dyer) find themselves under one roof in "idyllic" suburbia, their lives start to unravel faster than a cheap carpet. Glen is a nervy perfectionist and carpet salesman striving to live a suburban ideal and Lee is an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction and a tin full of their dad's ashes. Written & created by Ryan Sampson, this "relatable, irreverent comedy about brotherhood, manhood and carpet sales" is set in Essex. Also with Harriet Webb, Adrian Scarborough, Fatiha El Ghorri, Ned Dennehy, Victoria Alcock, Geoff Bell, Nitin Ganatra, Judi Love, and more. This looks like kooky, wacky fun! Check it out. https://onfs.net/44DTkxA

"It's obvious they were tracking you through her." An early first look teaser trailer has debuted for the next film from acclaimed genre filmmaker David Cronenberg titled The Shrouds. It's set to premiere later this week at the prestigious 2024 Cannes Film Festival in France, before arriving in theaters later in 2024. Variety explains the premise: "The Shrouds centers on Karsh, a prominent businessman. Inconsolable since the death of his wife, he invents GraveTech, a revolutionary and controversial technology that enables the living to monitor their dear departed in their shrouds. One night, multiple graves, including that of Karsh's wife, are desecrated. Karsh sets out to track down the perpetrators." It's inspired by the idea of reconnecting with the dead, but goes beyond that as Cronenberg explains his own "shrouds" are "cinematic devices" and describes this film as "cemetery cinema." Yeah, I'm in. Sounds like he's getting his fingers dirty digging around in graves. The film stars Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce, and Sandrine Holt. Not a lot of footage yet, but I'm certainly curious. "Why would they do that?" Indeed, that is the question, Karsh. https://onfs.net/3JWzowe

"Find strength in the darkness." Well Go USA has revealed a new US trailer for their release of a Chinese action movie called Blind War, now set to debut in June in the US. This originally opened in China as an online release during the pandemic in May 2022. It's already streaming on Hi-YAH! to watch in the US, or you can wait for the VOD launch in June. A blind ex-SWAT captain, Dong Gu, confronts an old foe to save his daughter, seeking redemption for a mission that cost him his sight. After breaking protocol during a surprise siege that leaves him permanently blinded, a SWAT captain retires from the force in disgrace. But while he adjusts to his new reality as a civilian, his beloved daughter is kidnapped, forcing him to seek out an unlikely ally to help him pursue justice from the shadows. This action film stars Andy On, Waise Lee, Dao Dao, Vincent Matile, Li Zixiong, AMRO, Yang Xing, Wang Hanyangm, Qi Shenghan. Looks like a cheesy plot, but it does seem to have kick ass fights. Might be worth a watch if you're into this action. https://onfs.net/4bCdiuU

"I want them to feel what I felt going into that theater for the first time. I want to make them laugh, to make them sing." Universal has revealed a new featurette for the Wicked musical movie event, arriving in theaters as two parts in 2024 / 2025. After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Directed by the very talented filmmaker Jon M. Chu (of Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba Thropp, a young woman with green skin who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. Ariana Grande co-stars as Glinda, along with Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, plus Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz. This is an exciting look at the making of the movie, with Chu & Erivo & Grande all talking about how much they adore Wicked and want to make this movie just right. The full trailer drops this week. https://onfs.net/3WMaqqS

"I had no choice but to take refuge in the spiritual world." There's an early promo trailer available for a peculiar, mind-bending, strangely fun new film titled The Hyperboreans, from the one-of-a-kind Chilean filmmakers Joaquín Cociña & Cristóbal León. It's premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival this week in the Directors' Fortnight sidebar. Here's their full intro: "Following their first feature-length animated film The Wolf House (2018), the Chilean duo are back, mixing puppets, stop-motion and live-action, theatre, science fiction, and real and fabricated biopic. In the liminal space of a big studio, our only guide is a woman – by turns storyteller, actress and illusionist – who interacts with Méliès-style cardboard sets and effigies, following in the footsteps of a very real man: the Chilean neo-Nazi dandy Miguel Serrano (1917-2009), a writer and the originator of delirious esoteric theories. Should he be viewed as a fascinating anomaly or symbolic of a deeper evil?" This looks crazy! A mix of animation, live-action, shifting sets, masks, and more. If you can't catch this one at Cannes this month, keep eye out for it at other film festivals throughout 2024. https://onfs.net/4bCQgnu

"When does an empire die? Does it collapse in one terrible moment? No, no... Whoa!! American Zoetrope has dropped a real teaser trailer for Megalopolis, unveiling an incredible 90 secs of jaw-dropping footage. Megalopolis is director Francis Ford Coppola's latest ambitious project, a $100M+ feature that he has been trying to make ever since he first conceived the film in 1979. The basic setup is: an architect wants to rebuild New York City as a utopia following a devastating disaster. It's not actually NYC, but a giant city like NYC hence the Megalopolis title. The architect's plan is opposed by the mayor, who has other ideas for the city. It's premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Main Competition this week - and we posted a teaser clip last week. The movie's cast includes Adam Driver as Caesar, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Jason Schwartzman, Talia Shire, Grave Vanderwaal, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman. This teaser also features a chilling voiceover by Laurence Fishburne, who some will remember got his career started by starring in Apocalypse Now. This looks AWESOME! Finally some properly epic footage to be amazed by. I can't wait to watch this in theaters. https://onfs.net/3K0Qw3W

"You're not getting a confession. You're not in my head." "Oh I'm definitely living rent-free." Prime Video has revealed the first look teaser trailer for their upcoming Cross series, the latest adaptation from James Patterson's crime thriller novels. Cross is an adaptation of the Alex Cross series, and will be streaming in 2024. Aldis Hodge (seen in Black Adam, City On A Hill, One Night In Miami, "Leverage", "Underground") stars as Cross - detective and forensic psychologist, uniquely capable of digging into the psyches of killers and their victims, in order to identify—and ultimately capture—the murderers. The series is created by producer and writer Ben Watkins ("Burn Notice", "Hand of God"), and produced by Paramount Television Studios and Skydance Television. The series cast also includes Isaiah Mustafa, Darnell Bartholomew, Ashley Rios, Stacie Greenwell, Siobhan Murphy, Sharon Taylor, Mercedes de la Zerda, as well as Jennifer Wigmore as Chief Anderson. This looks like a fairly dark and intense series, investigating brutal crimes and mysterious things happening in dark corners. Might turn out pretty good - check this out. https://onfs.net/3yj6kfX

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid." Focus Features has unveiled the official trailer for Didi, the feature directorial debut of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang (of the short Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó) - who is one of my favorite new filmmakers from 2024. I love this film! At its premiere in competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival it received critical & audience acclaim, winning both the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award & also the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast. "For anyone who's ever been a teenager." In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can't teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom. A distinct coming-of-age story from Sean Wang. The film stars Izaac Wang as Chris "Didi" Wang, with Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, Chang Li Hua as Nai Nai, Mahaela Park, Raul Dial, Aaron Chang, Chiron Cillia Denk, Sunil Maurillo, and Montay Boseman. I wrote a glowing review of this film which is quoted in this trailer! And I couldn't be happier to support it and spread the good word. Enjoy. https://onfs.net/3wqo20z

"Darkness will bind them." Here we go again! Prime Video has revealed an epic first teaser for Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series. It's start to launch in late August during the fall - just like Season 1 did back in 2022. The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history. For Season 2, as we all know from the finale of Season 1: Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season 1's epic scope and ambition, Season 2 plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. The ensemble cast for Season 2 features Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh. So far so good, this footage rocks! This looks much more darker than Season 1, with even more action and greater stakes with Sauron menacing all of Middle Earth. https://onfs.net/3wwiHop

"Ever been on a bull? It's the greatest rush of adrenaline..." An official trailer it out for a beloved indie film titled National Anthem, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker / photographer Luke Gilford. This premiered at the last year's SXSW Film Festival, and also played at TIFF, Mill Valley, and NewFest. The film is a fictional version of the story of Luke discovering the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA). Charlie Plummer stars as Dylan, who's from rural New Mexico. He takes a gig at the House of Splendor, a homestead built by a community of queer rodeo performers & ranchers, and soon the indefinable magic of an untamed America unfolds before him. SXSW adds: "Finding space to explore and discover himself, he becomes entwined in the life of Sky, a talented barrel racer and free spirit." Also starring Eve Lindley, Rene Rosado, Mason Alexander Park, and Robyn Lively. The film is also inspired by Gilford's photo book of the same name profiling real queer rodeo performers. It looks fantastic! What a magnificent trailer. https://onfs.net/4dBsNVz

"I got the situation under control." Prime Video has revealed a first look teaser trailer for a comedy movie titled You're Cordially Invited, the next big comedy created & directed by filmmaker Nick Stoller (of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, The Five-Year Engagement, Neighbors 1 & 2, Bros). Another marriage comedy for everyone to enjoy! You're Cordially Invited follows a woman who is planning her sister's wedding and the father of another bride-to-be. They discover that they are double-booked for their destination wedding, so both parties decide to share the venue, but chaos and disaster await. "Save the date." It's set for release in January 2025, so there's a long wait, but until then have fun with this footage. Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon star as the double-booked hosts, with Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner, Wesley Mann, Jimmy Tatro, Celia Weston, Leanne Morgan, Rory Scovel, and Keyla Monterroso Mejia. There's only 60 seconds of footage, but this is a hilarious trailer that might get your attention! Stoller is back with something akin to Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Join Will & Reese below. https://onfs.net/3UVFi77

"The killer... is one of us!" Republic Pictures has revealed a trailer for a murder mystery comedy called Reunion, from director Chris Nelson (of Ass Backwards, Date and Switch, The Perfect Date before). This one is set for a direct-to-VOD release in June this summer. After a murder at a high school reunion party, the remaining guests are trapped in a snowbound mansion, not knowing who to trust. They race to uncover which one of their old classmates is the killer before they're all iced out for good. Starring Lil Rel Howery, Billy Magnussen, Jillian Bell, Jamie Chung, Michael Hitchcock, Nina Dobrev, Chace Crawford. This just a movie version of that streaming series The Afterparty, which is already on Season 2. Looks extra cheap, and cheesy, and definitely something to skip over on the VOD options when choosing what to watch. https://onfs.net/3UFGQ3J

"Nothing is as it seems. And the truth will be revealed." Lionsgate has unveiled an official trailer for the US remake of the film titled Longing, which was originally an Israeli film from filmmaker Savi Gabizon (aka Savi Gavison). The film is a direct remake of his own 2017 film also called Longing (or Ga'agua), and it is once again written and directed by Gabizon this time. A business mogul named Daniel Bloch runs into his old small town girlfriend from 20 years ago while she is visiting the big city only to find out that they had a child together that he was unaware of, but has since died. This remake is set to open in the US in June this summer. Starring Richard Gere as Daniel, with Diane Kruger, Suzanne Clément, Marnie McPhail, Jessica Clement, Tomaso Sanelli, and Shauna MacDonald. This trailer reveals almost the entire plot though that doesn't help much, because this just doesn't look like it's good enough to pay to watch anyway. https://onfs.net/3wAAlHu