Forest Whitaker News

Netflix has shared the official trailer for upcoming action film How It Ends. How It Ends launches on Netflix July 13, 2018. As a mysterious apocalypse causes the spread of misinformation and violence, a man and his estranged father-in-law race across a chaotic and fractured country to save his pregnant wife. 

Multi-award winning writer-director John Ridley (American Crime) has signed on to direct the first episode of the EPIX(R) original series, Godfather of Harlem, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, starring and executive produced by Oscar(R) winner Forest Whitaker.

Multi-award winning writer-director John Ridley (American Crime) has signed on to direct the first episode of the EPIX® original series, Godfather of Harlem, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, starring and executive produced by Oscar® winner Forest Whitaker.

Premium pay television network EPIX(R) announced that the second season of its critically-acclaimed original series from MGM Television, Get Shorty, will debut on Sunday, August 12 at 9 PM ET/PT. The dark comedy, based in part on the 1990's bestselling Elmore Leonard novel of the same name and created for television by Davey Holmes (Shameless, In Treatment), is currently in production in Los Angeles.

Premium pay television network EPIX® announced that the second season of its critically-acclaimed original series from MGM Television, Get Shorty, will debut on Sunday, August 12 at 9 PM ET/PT. The dark comedy, based in part on the 1990's bestselling Elmore Leonard novel of the same name and created for television by Davey Holmes (Shameless, In Treatment), is currently in production in Los Angeles.

Dwight Yoakam just took to the airwaves on his recently launched Sirius XM channel, “Dwight Yoakam & The Bakersfield Beat” in order to personally debut two brand new songs entitled, “Pretty Horses” and “Then Here Came Monday.” This marks the first release from the multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning icon since 2016's acclaimed bluegrass opus, Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars…

Bill Kenwright presents the inaugural Classic Screen to Stage Theatre Company production of RAIN MAN. Mathew Horne (Gavin & Stacey, The Catherine Tate Show) stars as Raymond Babbit opposite Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey, Wolf Hall) as Charlie Babbit. RAIN MAN opens at Windsor Theatre Royal on 21 August, before embarking on a UK tour to Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Eastbourne, Southend, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Brighton, Guildford, Leeds, Richmond, Derby and Northampton. Further dates and casting to be announced in due course.

Based on the true story of one of the most notorious and unsolved cases in recent time, CITY OF LIES is a provocative thriller revealing a never-before-seen look at the infamous murder of The Notorious B.I.G. shortly following the death of Tupac. L.A.P.D. detective Russell Poole (Johnny Depp) has spent years trying to solve his biggest case, but after two decades, the investigation remains open. 'Jack' Jackson (Forest Whitaker), a reporter desperate to save his reputation and career, is determined to find out why. In search of the truth, the two team up and unravel a growing web of institutional corruption and lies. Relentless in their hunt, these two determined men threaten to uncover the conspiracy and crack the foundation of the L.A.P.D. and an entire city.

ABC Studios and ABC Signature Studios had another successful selling season with nine new series going into production between the two studios.

Premium cable network EPIX(R) announced today a straight-to-series greenlight of the DC origin story PENNYWORTH, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television, executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (Gotham, The Mentalist, Rome) and executive producer/director Danny Cannon (Gotham, CSI series).

Premium cable network EPIX® announced today a straight-to-series greenlight of the DC origin story PENNYWORTH, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television, executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (Gotham, The Mentalist, Rome) and executive producer/director Danny Cannon (Gotham, CSIseries).

On the Season Four premiere, Lucious makes his first public appearance after the explosion in Las Vegas, while all members of the Lyon family have their own interests in Lucious regaining his physical and mental faculties. Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actor, director and producer Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland,” “Arrival,” “Lee Daniels' The Butler”) will guest-star in a multi-episode arc on EMPIRE, beginning this fall on FOX. Whitaker will play “Uncle Eddie,” a charismatic music icon and bonafide hitmaker, who gave an unknown Lucious (Terrence Howard) his first radio airplay. Decades later, Eddie steps up for Lucious at a critical moment during his rehabilitation, and a grateful Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) invites him to produce a song in celebration of Empire Entertainment's 20th anniversary.

Sundance Institute, in collaboration with Annapurna Pictures, invites fans and supporters of independent cinema to celebrate the irrepressible writer/director/producer/musician/activist Boots Riley. Boots, an alumni of both the Sundance Labs and Film Festival, will be honored with the Sundance Institute's annual Vanguard Award at its summer fundraiser on June 14, 2018 at The Theatre at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, just before the Los Angeles debut of his new film, Sorry to Bother You and an afterparty for all ticketholders immediately following. Proceeds from the evening will help advance Sundance Institute's mission and programs that  discover, support and amplify risk-taking and exciting independent artists in film, theatre and new media. 

FOX has renewed the hit drama EMPIRE for a fifth season, it was announced today by Michael Thorn, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Forest Whitaker has signed on to star in the new straight-to-series scripted drama GODFATHER IN HARLEM. The new EPIX show got a 10 episode order. In addition to starring in, Whitaker will also executive produce. Read more about the news from The Hollywood Reporter here!

Odyssey Impact and its production company Transform Films announced today a series of awards, upcoming films and growth for the Spring into Summer 2018. The national non-profit organization – that has won an unprecedented nine major awards including a 2018 Peabody Award and 2017 Venice International Film Festival Human Rights Award – has a mission to inspire social change through the power of film. Recent and upcoming works are slated to compete and screen at prestigious film festivals throughout the world including this month at Tribeca and The Melbourne International Film Festival in August.

On the Season Four premiere, Lucious makes his first public appearance after the explosion in Las Vegas, while all members of the Lyon family have their own interests in Lucious regaining his physical and mental faculties. Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actor, director and producer Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland,” “Arrival,” “Lee Daniels' The Butler”) will guest-star in a multi-episode arc on EMPIRE, beginning this fall on FOX. Whitaker will play “Uncle Eddie,” a charismatic music icon and bonafide hitmaker, who gave an unknown Lucious (Terrence Howard) his first radio airplay. Decades later, Eddie steps up for Lucious at a critical moment during his rehabilitation, and a grateful Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) invites him to produce a song in celebration of Empire Entertainment's 20th anniversary.

Check out the official music video for Jussie Smollett's HURT PEOPLE, which will be featured on tonight's episode of EMPIRE on Fox.

Marvel Studios' “Black Panther,” the highly celebrated story of T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), a young African prince who takes on the mantle of King and Super Hero, has thrilled and inspired generations of moviegoers around the globe. Now, fans can bring home the phenomenon, packed with light-hearted fun, pulse-pounding action and a powerful message, and watch it over and over again, Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD and Movies Anywhere on May 8 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on May 15. With both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos immersive sound, 4k Ultra HD offers consumers a transformative viewing experience.

Eric Bana (MUNICH and currently starring in THE FORGIVEN) is set to star opposite Connie Britton (NASHVILLE, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) in the first season of Bravo Media's scripted anthology series DIRTY JOHN, based on the articles and breakout true crime podcast of the same name from Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard. Marking his U.S. television debut, Bana will star as John Meehan, a handsome and romantic charmer who sweeps Debra Newell (Britton) off her feet and pulls her into his web of lies. The series chronicles the true story of how a romance with Meehan spiraled into secrets, denial and manipulation. DIRTY JOHN is produced by Universal Cable Productions (UCP), in association with Los Angeles Times Studios and Atlas Entertainment, and will be executive produced and written by Alexandra Cunningham (CHANCE, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES). Richard Suckle and Charles Roven will serve as executive producers for Atlas Entertainment; Mark Herzog, Christopher G. Cowen and Chris Argentieri will serve as executive producers for Los Angeles Times Studios; Britton and Bana will also serve as executive producers.