Michael Mann News

XLrator Media proudly announces the VOD and DVD release of WE THE PARTY. Written and directed by Mario Van Peebles, WE THE PARTY takes a close look at today's youth culture. The film is available on VOD on all providers on July 19, 2012, and in stores on July 31, 2012 at an SRP of $20.99 for the DVD and $26.99 for the DVD/Blu-Ray combo.

Today we are concluding our two-part look at the life and career of legendary stage and screen icon Christopher Plummer by focusing on some of the finest films, television and filmed stage performances of his career thus far, as we anticipate the nationwide release of his newest stage and screen venture, the cinematic presentation of his recent turn as Prospero at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Des McAnuff's THE TEMPEST, presented by Fathom-equipped movie theaters on June 13, followed by a Q&A with Plummer. From his stage debut in the late-1940s through to his spectacular screen career begun with Sidney Lumet's STAGE STRUCK in 1958, in this career-spanning clip collection we will be sampling many of the most memorable and most notable projects from a rich resume ranging from almost every major male role in the canon of Shakespeare - AS YOU LIKE IT to THE WINTER'S TALE - to the work of Lilian Hellman, Bertolt Brecht, Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov and Peter Shaffer to Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC on film to the Tony Award-winning Anthony Burgess musical adaptation of CYRANO onstage, to TV's THE THORN BIRDS and ON GOLDEN POND all the way to last year's double-header of brilliance in both David Fincher's THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGTON TATTOO and BEGINNERS, the latter being the part for which Plummer finally received a Best Actor Academy Award. Of course, besides his well-earned Oscar, Plummer has amassed many other top honors over the course of his sixty-year-career, as well - two Tony Awards (for CYRANO, a musical, and BARRYMORE, a two-person mostly monologue); a Golden Globe; two Emmy Awards; a SAG Award; a Genie; the list goes on and on… as does Christopher Plummer's reputable and riveting career.

Today we are shining a light on one of the most respected and revered stage and screen stars of the last several decades who is known the world over for not only his stirring and commanding dramatic performances and touching and rib-tickling comedies on film, but also for his iconic roles on the stage playing Shakespeare, and, perhaps most of all, for his essaying of Captain Von Trapp in the celebrated Robert Wise film adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning THE SOUND OF MUSIC - the elegant, graceful and eminently gifted Christopher Plummer. Looking back at a career spanning nearly seven decades, today we will focus on Plummer's most important and most fondly remembered roles to date - ranging from Sidney Lumet's STAGE STRUCK in 1958 to his Shakespeare stage work, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER, TV's THE THORN BIRDS, and, of course, his Academy Award-winning turn in last year's BEGINNERS - with a look ahead to the exceptionally enticing new Fathom in-cinema presentation of Des McAnuff's Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of THE TEMPEST starring Plummer as Prospero, in movie theaters nationwide on June 14 - what the 83-year-old actor has promised will be his final Shakespeare performance onstage. So, if there were ever a time to take a look back at one of the most remarkable Broadway/Hollywood crossover stars of the last century or the current one as he reaches yet another peek in a career populated with many highs, now is certainly the time! After all, as the oldest Oscar-winner to date, a midsummer night's dream has evidently quite quickly turned to a winter's tale - but with sound and fury signifying much, as we will see.

The American director, screenwriter and producer Michael Mann - a total filmmaker and one of the most influential and representative figures in contemporary American cinema - has been designated to chair the International Jury for the Competition at the 69th Venice International Film Festival (29 August - 8 September 2012), which will award the Golden Lion and other official prizes.

Academy Award winner Christopher Walken and his wife casting director (Sopranos, Entourage) Georgianne Walken made a rare appearance on the town attending a preview of Kenyetta Lethridge's Innocent Flesh at the Actors Temple Theatre. The usually camera shy Walken was so impressed by the four young actresses who play teenage hookers in the searing drama posed happily with the cast members as they whipped out their cell-phones. They also congratulated writer / director Kenyetta Lethridge and producers Michael Mann & Diana Zollicoffer on the production.

HBO has released a statement regarding the sudden cancellation of production on its new drama series LUCK.

Following a sold out run in Los Angeles, NAACP Award winner Kenyetta Lethridge's critically acclaimed social drama, Innocent Flesh, exposing the stark realities of the sexual exploitation, forced teen prostitution & trafficking of young children all across America, will bow in New York at Actors Temple Theater. The look at girls "in the life" that is dark yet funny begins previews March 1. Opening night is March 15.

The Rose Nagelberg Theatre at The Baruch Performing Arts Center was SRO for the special presentation of Earl Wilson Jr.'s 'topical, rousing & inspiring new musical' YES!

'Monk' star Tony Shalhoub and his wife actress Brooke Adams made a special trip into New York to catch a preview of NAACP Image Award winner Kenyetta Lethridge's social drama 'Innocent Flesh' at the Off-Broadway Actors Temple Theater. The piece focuses on teen sex slave trafficking as told through the eyes of four young girls.

Following a sold out run in Los Angeles, NAACP Award winner Kenyetta Lethridge's critically acclaimed social drama, Innocent Flesh, exposing the stark realities of the sexual exploitation, forced teen prostitution & trafficking of young children all across America, will bow in New York at Actors Temple Theater. The look at girls "in the life" that is dark yet funny begins previews March 1. Opening night is March 15.

Following a sold out run in Los Angeles, NAACP Award winner Kenyetta Lethridge's social drama, Innocent Flesh will bow in New York at Actors Temple Theater, 339 West 47th Street, New York 10036. Described as 'a gritty, unflinching look at girls 'in the life' that is dark yet funny,' the show begins previews March 1. Opening night is March 15.

Filmmaker Michael Mann and documentary director David Frankham will collaborate to produce a new limited documentary series, WITNESS, for HBO.

Following a sold out run in Los Angeles, NAACP Award winner Kenyetta Lethridge's critically acclaimed social drama, Innocent Flesh, exposing the stark realities of the sexual exploitation, forced teen prostitution & trafficking of young children all across America, will bow in New York at Actors Temple Theater. The look at girls "in the life" that is dark yet funny begins previews March 1. Opening night is March 15.

Following a sold out run in Los Angeles, NAACP Award winner Kenyetta Lethridge's social drama, Innocent Flesh will bow in New York at Actors Temple Theater, 339 West 47th Street, New York 10036. Described as 'a gritty, unflinching look at girls 'in the life' that is dark yet funny,' the show begins previews March 1. Opening night is March 15.

According to Deadline.com, stage veteran Mercedes Ruehl has joined the cast of HBO's 'Luck' as a series regular. Ruehl will return as 'Julietta Caligari' in this second season.

HBO has renewed the drama LUCK for a second season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming.

This Black History Month, BET and CENTRIC will showcase the range, richness and diversity of the African-American experience with an exciting lineup of programming highlighting the cultural contributions of black America.

HBO is giving fans a chance to watch the second episode of the new series LUCKSM, starring Dustin Hoffman, a full week early by logging on to HBO GO(R) from their desktop, iPad(R) or smart phone. Beginning SUNDAY, JAN. 29, episode 2 of LUCK will become available on HBO GO simultaneously with the linear premiere of episode 1, which debuts on the HBO main channel at 9:00-10:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Episode 2 will remain on the HBO GO service throughout the week leading up to its HBO main channel debut on SUNDAY, FEB. 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), and in perpetuity. The episode will also be available early on HBO On Demand via select providers.

From acclaimed director Michael Mann and 'Deadwood' creator David Milch, the nine-episode season of LUCK, starring Oscar(R) winner Dustin Hoffman and Oscar(R) nominee Nick Nolte, debuts SUNDAY, JAN. 29 (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT), with other episodes debuting on subsequent Sundays at the same time.

HBO is giving fans a chance to watch the second episode of the new series LUCKSM, starring Dustin Hoffman, a full week early by logging on to HBO GO(R) from their desktop, iPad(R) or smart phone. Beginning SUNDAY, JAN. 29, episode 2 of LUCK will become available on HBO GO simultaneously with the linear premiere of episode 1, which debuts on the HBO main channel at 9:00-10:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Episode 2 will remain on the HBO GO service throughout the week leading up to its HBO main channel debut on SUNDAY, FEB. 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), and in perpetuity. The episode will also be available early on HBO On Demand via select providers.