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FILM: From Borderlands to Megalopolis: A Sneak Peek At 2024’s Biggest Films

CINCINNATI HERALD — The pressure is on for the 2024 box office to restore Hollywood to financial stability after the combined challenges of the pandemic and the fight to give its workers fair wages. The first four months of 2024 are fairly sparse on new releases, in large part because prolonged labor negotiations set timelines back for films scheduled in the early part of the year.
The post FILM: From Borderlands to Megalopolis: A Sneak Peek At 2024’s Biggest Films first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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1 year ago

February 27, 2024

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By Sofia Voss | The Cincinnati Herald

It’s safe to say that 2023 was a revolutionary year for film, reflected by the historic Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strikes. With the two strikes overlapping, Hollywood effectively shut down for roughly half the year, delaying or otherwise impacting dozens of film and television projects. As of November, both strikes have ended, and many of the affected productions are on track to hit theaters in 2024.

Marvel, which originally planned for a record-breaking six new films to come out in 2024, is now expecting only four. Among those 2024 releases are “Madame Web,” the first-ever female-led “Spider-Man” spinoff film, and the third installment of the “Venom” franchise. Renowned production company A24 has a full 2024 slate, including Mia Goth’s return to horror in “MaXXXine,” Ti West’s follow-up to “X” and “Pearl.” New offerings from renowned directors like Luca Guadagnino and George Miller are also forthcoming.

The pressure is on for the 2024 box office to restore Hollywood to financial stability after the combined challenges of the pandemic and the fight to give its workers fair wages. The first four months of 2024 are fairly sparse on new releases, in large part because prolonged labor negotiations set timelines back for films scheduled in the early part of the year. There are, however, a few prospective big hits in those months, including high-profile films like “Argylle” and “Dune: Part Two.” The “Mean Girls” musical, which premiered in January 2024, lived up to its anticipation—garnering a $28M box office debut and the number one spot after just three days.

Suffice it to say, 2024 is not only an incredibly important year for the future of the film industry but also quite an exciting one in terms of its cinematic offerings. To give audiences more insight into what to expect, Casino Bonus CA looked ahead at movies coming out in 2024 and highlighted the most buzzed-about titles.

Blitz

– Director: Steve McQueen

“Blitz” takes its name from the World War II German aerial bombing campaign known as the “blitzkrieg,” and follows a group of civilians in London during the years 1940 and 1941. The film is written and directed by Steve McQueen, the British filmmaker best known for his Academy Award-winning drama “12 Years a Slave.” “Blitz” marks McQueen’s first narrative feature film since 2018’s “Widows,” and stars acting talents like Saoirse Ronan, Stephen Graham, and Harris Dickinson.

Borderlands

– Director: Eli Roth

“Borderlands” is based on the popular video game of the same name, which follows a team of hunters as they travel to the dystopian planet Pandora in search of mysterious alien vaults. The feature film adaptation has horror filmmaker Eli Roth at its helm, and follows up his 2023 slasher “Thanksgiving.” While many plot details are still hidden, Roth has said that the film will loosely adhere to the Borderlands game, but isn’t precious about the specifics.

Challengers

– Director: Luca Guadagnino

Originally slated to premiere on the opening night of the prestigious Venice Film Festival in 2023, Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” is now set for theatrical release on April 26, 2024. “Challengers” is a romantic drama that follows three young tennis stars as they contend with the price of winning and continued relevance. The film stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor in a convoluted love triangle that caused an internet meltdown after the release of the trailer.

Civil War

– Director: Alex Garland

“Civil War” marks Alex Garland’s third directorial collaboration with A24, following 2022’s “Men” and 2014’s “Ex Machina.” The film depicts a desolate and divided near-future United States, caught in the midst of a civil war after 19 states secede from the Union. Kirsten Dunst stars as a journalist trying to survive alongside her family. “Civil War” also features rising star Cailee Spaeny, whose performance in Sofia Coppola’s 2023 film “Priscilla” won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival.

Deadpool & Wolverine

– Director: Shawn Levy

One of the Marvel films impacted by the Hollywood strikes, “Deadpool & Wolverine” will hit theaters on July 26 after getting pushed back from its original May 2024 release. With filming happening as recently as November 2023, Ryan Reynolds will reprise his role as Deadpool. This installment will also include Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Emma Corrin as the new lead villain, and “Succession” star Matthew Macfadyen in a still-unknown role.

Dune: Part Two

– Director: Denis Villeneuve

The first installment of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” project in 2021 was a massive success, earning over $400 million in the global box office—and if Villeneuve has anything to say about it, “Dune: Part Two” will be even bigger. At a press conference, the director was quoted as saying that the sequel is a “much better” movie than Part One, reaching “an intensity and a quality of emotions” that he hadn’t quite attained in the first film. Like several films on this list, its release date has been shuffled due to the strike but is currently slated for March 1.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

– Director: George Miller

Charlize Theron originated the character Furiosa in 2015’s critically acclaimed “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a spinoff film of the classic “Mad Max” series starring Mel Gibson. In “Furiosa,” Anya Taylor-Joy will play the titular role in the “Fury Road” prequel, following a younger version of the character on an odyssey to get back home after being kidnapped by Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). With George Miller once again at the helm, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” has an expected release of May 24.

Here

– Director: Robert Zemeckis

Robert Zemeckis is the director behind blockbuster hits including 1985’s “Back to the Future,” 1994’s “Forrest Gump,” 2000’s “Cast Away,” and 2012’s “Flight,” so it is safe to say there’s buzz surrounding his upcoming film “Here.” Starring frequent collaborator Tom Hanks, reuniting with his “Forrest Gump” co-star Robin Wright, “Here” follows the lives of people who occupied the same room at various points over the course of centuries. The film harnesses Metaphysics Live, an AI tool, to de-age actors on set in real time without the need for postproduction digital effects. The film is based on a graphic novel of the same name written by Richard McGuire.

Horizon: An American Saga

– Director: Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner is no stranger to Westerns—he’s the star of the hit television show “Yellowstone,” as well as 1990’s “Dances with Wolves,” 1994’s “Wyatt Earp,” and the 2003 film “Open Range,” among other films. Now, the actor is writing and directing his own series of Western films titled “Horizon: An American Saga.” This two-part film project is said to explore the topic of Westward expansion, centered around the years before and after the Civil War.

Inside Out 2

– Director: Kelsey Mann

In 2015, Disney and Pixar’s animated film “Inside Out” was released to great critical and commercial acclaim, snagging the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2016. Where the first film explores the mind of 11-year-old Riley, the sequel promises to explore her teenage emotions, which includes the addition of Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke. While Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black will return as Joy, Sadness, and Anger, respectively, Bill Hader’s Fear and Mindy Kaling’s Disgust have been replaced.

Joker: Folie à Deux

– Director: Todd Phillips

While Batman adaptations abound, “Joker: Folie à Deux” promises an entirely new look into the world of Gotham. Following the box office success of 2019’s “Joker,” which starred Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character, joined by Zazie Beetz and Robert De Niro, the sequel introduces Lady Gaga as notorious Batman villain Harley Quinn. Gaga’s portrayal will no doubt differ significantly from previous depictions of the character, such as Margot Robbie’s, particularly because “Joker: Folie à Deux” will be a musical.

Maria

– Director: Pablo Larraín

Pablo Larraín has established himself as director of some of the most high-profile biopics of the last decade, including 2016’s “Neruda” and “Jackie,” as well as 2021’s “Spencer,” which featured Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana. His next film, “Maria,” will follow legendary Greek American opera singer Maria Callas, played by Angelina Jolie, in the last few days of her life. Even though the production signed an interim SAG agreement in order to begin filming during the strike, there is no set release date. “Maria” is reportedly still in postproduction.

Megalopolis

– Director: Francis Ford Coppola

As the title indicates, “Megalopolis” features an impressive roster of megastars including Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Laurence Fishburne, Shia LaBeouf, and Aubrey Plaza, just to name a few. Not much information about the film’s plot and characters is publicly available, but it is rumored to explore a destroyed New York City and an architect determined to rebuild it. “Megalopolis” is apparently a passion project for Coppola—so much so that he self-financed most of the nearly $100 million production—and he’s taking his time to get it right, pushing the film back from its initially expected 2023 release date.

Mufasa: The Lion King

– Director: Barry Jenkins

Barry Jenkins is best known for his Best Picture Oscar-winning drama “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Now he’s lending his talents to Disney for the upcoming film “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which will serve as a prequel to Jon Favreau’s 2019 remake of “The Lion King.” The 2019 movie broke ground with its photorealistic animation style, an aesthetic “Mufasa” will also adopt. In the aftermath of the Hollywood strikes, the release date was pushed from July to Dec. 20.

Nosferatu

– Director: Robert Eggers

The first-ever “Nosferatu” came out all the way back in 1922 as a silent film directed by F.W. Murnau. The film centers around the evil vampire Count Orlok as he terrorizes an unsuspecting young couple. The new “Nosferatu” is written and directed by Robert Eggers, whose past films—including 2015’s “The Witch” and 2019’s “The Lighthouse”—showcase the director’s aptitude for eerie horror. Starring Bill Skarsgård and Lily-Rose Depp, Eggers’ “Nosferatu” is slated for a Christmastime release.

They Follow

– Director: David Robert Mitchell

David Robert Mitchell’s 2014 film “It Follows” was the low-budget indie horror hit that no one saw coming, garnering over $20 million at the global box office. Nearly a decade later, the sequel, “They Follow,” was announced, with lead actress Maika Monroe committed to return. While there are no plot details available, it’s likely that the sexually transmitted monster capable of shifting its appearance at any time will return as an antagonist.

Additional research by Luke Hicks. Story editing by Eliza Siegel. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.

This story originally appeared on Casino Bonus CA and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

The post From Borderlands to Megalopolis: A sneak peek at 2024’s biggest films appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald.

The post FILM: From Borderlands to Megalopolis: A Sneak Peek At 2024’s Biggest Films first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Remembering George Floyd

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3 days ago

May 25, 2025

Oakland Post

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OP-ED: Oregon Bill Threatens the Future of Black Owned Newspapers and Community Journalism

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Published

5 days ago

May 23, 2025

Oakland Post

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

For decades, The Skanner newspaper in Portland, the Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium have served Portland, Oregon’s Black community and others with a vital purpose: to inform, uplift and empower. But legislation now moving through the Oregon Legislature threatens these community news institutions—and others like them.

As President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), which represents more than 255 Black-owned media outlets across the United States—including historic publications like The Skanner, Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium—l believe that some Oregon lawmakers would do more harm than good for local journalism and community-owned publications they are hoping to protect.

Oregon Senate Bill 686 would require large digital platforms such as Google and Meta to pay for linking to news content. The goal is to bring desperately needed support to local newsrooms. However, the approach, while well-intentioned, puts smaller, community-based publications at a future severe financial risk.

We need to ask – will these payments paid by tech companies benefit the journalists and outlets that need them most? Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors, and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption, and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Legislation that sends money to these national conglomerate owners—without the right safeguards to protect independent and community-based outlets—rewards the forces that caused this inequitable crisis in the first place. A just and inclusive policy must guarantee that support flows to the front lines of local journalism and not to the boardrooms of large national media corporations.

The Black Press exists to fill in the gaps left by larger newsrooms. Our reporters are trusted messengers. Our outlets serve as forums for civic engagement, accountability and cultural pride. We also increasingly rely on our digital platforms to reach our audiences, especially younger generations—where they are.

We are fervently asking Oregon lawmakers to take a step back and engage in meaningful dialogue with those most affected: community publishers, small and independent outlets and the readers we serve. The Skanner, The Portland Observer, and The Portland Medium do not have national corporate parents or large investors. And they, like many smaller, community-trusted outlets, rely on traffic from search engines and social media to boost advertising revenue, drive subscriptions, and raise awareness.

Let’s work together to build a better future for Black-owned newspapers and community journalism that is fair, local,l and representative of all Oregonians.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President & CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

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Hate and Chaos Rise in Trump’s America

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Tactics ranged from local policy manipulation to threats of violence. The SPLC documented bomb threats at 60 polling places in Georgia, traced to Russian email domains.

Published

5 days ago

May 23, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The Southern Poverty Law Center has identified 1,371 hate and antigovernment extremist groups operating across the United States in 2024. In its latest Year in Hate & Extremism report, the SPLC reveals how these groups are embedding themselves in politics and policymaking while targeting marginalized communities through intimidation, disinformation, and violence. “Extremists at all levels of government are using cruelty, chaos, and constant attacks on communities and our democracy to make us feel powerless,” said SPLC President Margaret Huang. The report outlines how hard-right groups aggressively targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives throughout 2024. Figures on the far right falsely framed DEI as a threat to white Americans, with some branding it a form of “white genocide.” After the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, a former Utah legislator blamed the incident on DEI, posting “DEI = DIE.”

Tactics ranged from local policy manipulation to threats of violence. The SPLC documented bomb threats at 60 polling places in Georgia, traced to Russian email domains. Similar threats hit Jewish institutions and Planet Fitness locations after far-right social media accounts attacked them for trans-inclusive policies. Telegram, which SPLC describes as a hub for hate groups, helped extremists cross-recruit between neo-Nazi, QAnon, and white nationalist spaces. The platform’s lax moderation allowed groups like the Terrorgram Collective—designated terrorists by the U.S. State Department—to thrive. Militia movements were also reorganized, with 50 groups documented in 2024. Many, calling themselves “minutemen,” trained in paramilitary tactics while lobbying local governments for official recognition. These groups shared personnel and ideology with white nationalist organizations.

The manosphere continued to radicalize boys and young men. The Fresh & Fit podcast, now listed as a hate group, promoted misogyny while mocking and attacking Black women. Manosphere influencers used social media algorithms to drive youth toward male-supremacy content. Turning Point USA played a key role in pushing white nationalist rhetoric into mainstream politics. Its leader Charlie Kirk claimed native-born Americans are being replaced by immigrants, while the group advised on Project 2025 and organized Trump campaign events. “We know that these groups build their power by threatening violence, capturing political parties and government, and infesting the mainstream discourse with conspiracy theories,” said Rachel Carroll Rivas, interim director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project. “By exposing the players, tactics, and code words of the hard right, we hope to dismantle their mythology and inspire people to fight back.”

Click here for the full report or visit http://www.splcenter.org/resources/guides/year-hate-extremism-2024.