Forest Whitaker News

Kathrine Narducci is set for a recurring role on Godfather of Harlem, according to Deadline. Narducci will star opposite Vincent D'Onofrio in Epix's straight-to-series crime drama from Narcos co-creator Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein and ABC Signature Studios.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupes's Black Nativity A Must See Sarasota Holiday Tradition

Premium network EPIX has greenlit Punk, a four-part docuseries from executive producer John Varvatos.  Varvatos brings his passion and deep connection to the roots of the PUNK movement to the series, partnering with filmmaker Derik Murray's Network Entertainment to produce the quintessential story of punk.  The series is currently in production, and will premiere on EPIX on March 11, 2019 at 10 PM. 

Polly Walker has joined the cast in the recurring role of “Peggy Sykes” for the upcoming EPIX drama series PENNYWORTH.  PENNYWORTH is from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and based on the characters from DC.

Production has officially wrapped in Alabama on the coming-of-age teen comedy “This is the Year” starring breakout actor Lorenzo Henrie (“Fear the Walking Dead”) and Gregg Sulkin (Marvel's “Runaways,” “Faking It”). David Henrie (“Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”) is directing the film and wrote the screenplay with Bug Hall, Pepe Portillo and Sienna Aquilinni.

Premium network EPIX® continues to amplify its original slate, adding to its scripted greenlights with the docuseries Elvis Goes There.  Premiering Monday, February 4, 2019 at 10pm, the four-episode, one-hour series follows renowned journalist Elvis Mitchell as he travels with A-list filmmakers and actors to places of inspiration around the world with unprecedented access, exploring how each location shaped their work and identity. 

Pre-sale tickets will be available to FRIENDS of UIS Performing Arts donors and members of our Email Club beginning Wednesday, November 28th and Thursday, November 29th; all remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, November 30th at 10 am.

On Monday night, Academy Award nominated actor Hugh Jackman received the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Ritz Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, CA. Jackman was honored for his illustrious career in film and his recent work in The Front Runner. On hand to celebrate this momentous occasion were cast mate J.K. Simmons, Director Jason Reitman, and longtime friend Ben Mendelsohn.

This morning, Film Independent announced the nominations for the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The Spirit Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independent's year-round programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and promote diversity in the industry. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at the W Hotel in Hollywood, with actors Gemma Chan and Molly Shannon presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included Eighth Grade, First Reformed, If Beale Street Could Talk, Leave No Trace and You Were Never Really Here.

Forest Whitaker joins the David E. Talbert family holiday musical for Netflix. The film is titled 'Jingle Jangle.'

Jason Flemyng (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) has joined the cast in the series regular role of villain “Lord Harwood” in the upcoming EPIX drama series PENNYWORTH. PENNYWORTH is from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and based on the characters from DC.

Paloma Faith has joined the cast in the series regular role of “Bet Sykes,” a spirited, sadistic and sharp-tongued villain, in the upcoming EPIX drama series PENNYWORTH, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and based on the characters from DC.

Ryan Fletcher and Hainsley Lloyd Bennett have been cast as series regulars in the upcoming EPIX drama series PENNYWORTH, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and based on the characters from DC. 

Ben Aldridge has been cast in the lead role of Thomas Wayne in the upcoming EPIX drama series PENNYWORTH, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and based on the characters from DC.

Jack Bannon has been cast in the lead role of Alfred Pennyworth in the upcoming EPIX drama series PENNYWORTH, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and based on the characters from DC.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced today that Academy Award® nominee Hugh Jackman will be honored with the thirteenth annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film. The award will be presented at a black-tie Gala dinner at The Ritz Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara on Monday, November 19, 2018. The multi-faceted Jackman may best be known for Oscar nominated films THE GREATEST SHOWMAN and LES MISERABLES, THE X-MEN FRANCHISE, and PRISONERS. Jackman will next be seen in Jason Reitman's THE FRONT RUNNER, in theaters November 6, 2018.

International advocacy organization Global Citizen today announced that headliners Janet Jackson, The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, and Janelle Monae will perform at the 2018 Global Citizen Festival, the free-ticketed event on the Great Lawn in Central Park, New York City today, September 29, 2018. For the fifth consecutive year, MSNBC & Comcast NBCUniversal will air a live simulcast of the Festival on MSNBC and for the seventh consecutive year, iHeartMedia has been named the exclusive audio media partner.

In celebration of the fall returns of hit music dramas EMPIRE and STAR, Fox Broadcasting Company and parent company 21st Century Fox have teamed up with Turnaround Arts, a national program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, for a new social campaign. As one of the marquee national education initiatives of the Kennedy Center, Turnaround Arts empowers struggling schools with innovative arts programs and arts-based learning across subject areas as a strategy to help address broader school challenges and close the opportunity gap.

VIDEO: Check Out First Look Of EMPIRE Season 5 on FOX

Today, Freeform announced the start of production on season two of the critically acclaimed comedy series “grown-ish.” From “black-ish” executive producer Kenya Barris, “grown-ish” is a contemporary take on the current issues facing both students and administrators in the world of higher education.