Ramona Sarsgaard was recently arrested in a protest in of Palestine in the Israel-Palestine conflict at Columbia University. If that name does not ring a bell, she’s the 18-year-old daughter of Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal and niece to Jake Gyllenhaal. 5z6q54

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s daughter was reportedly served with a notice to appear in court for criminal tresing according to Page Six. Just like her mother and uncle Jake, who also attended Columbia University — Ramona, too, followed in their footsteps and is currently a student there. The students marched in the university’s Butler Library donning keffiyehs, which have long been associated with Pro-Palestine protests — partly to try and prevent repercussions for being seen and getting accused of ing the terrorist group Hamas. But for some protestors, keffiyehs are just to show solidarity with Palestinians.

Regardless, the protests reportedly caused two safety officers to face harm, and for that reason, multiple publications are not showing them any empathy for their cause. Trump’s Swiss Army knife Marco Rubio has already commented on the situation, calling the protestors Pro-Hamas thugs and declaring them “no longer welcome in our nation.” Secretary Rubio has promised to review the visa status of all the tresers.

We are reviewing the visa status of the tresers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library.

Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 8, 2025

However, it’s not all black-and-white as it once was. Protesting for a “Free Palestine” no longer invites a mean face from the general American public. The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates and even Louis Theroux’s documentary on BBC showcasing life in the West Bank have gone far to create a more nuanced public perception of what exactly is going on in Israel. So Sec Rubio might not get the public he expects for this move.

And as far as Ramona Sarsgaard getting in trouble with her famous parents — well, that’s complex too. Gyllenhaal is very political in her outlook on life. And while in an interview with TIME magazine all the way back in 2014 she refused to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when discussing her mini-series The Honorable Woman, the show itself was a canvas that shows in this conflict, there are no heroes and villains — just victims. It was moderately received and critically acclaimed at its time, but as years have gone by, it’s perhaps more relevant now than ever.

Celebrity nepo babies have been involved in controversies far much worse than this. Gyllenhaal will probably just deal with this and go back to the post-production of her movie The Bride.

Gyllenhaal, over the years, has shared her very complicated feelings about sharing her political views as a public figure. She was much more vocal when younger; now she’s silent but very prolific as an artist and would rather people read into that. But she has been clear on one thing — she believes there’s a possibility of reconciliation. Because at the end of the day, these are all people. And the more people argue about this, the more people die.

And as far as the Trump istration’s role in this, trying to silence and intimidate protestors through name-calling and threats rarely works. Especially coming from a man who once called white nationalists “some very fine people.”

For her second feature film, The Bride!, Maggie Gyllenhaal is changing directions entirely and going for a Frankenstein horror movie that’s been described as “punk.”

The actress first branched off into directing in 2021 with her Netflix Oscar-nominated debut The Lost Daughter — an intense psychological drama about mothers and their daughters based on an Elena Ferrante novel. After a successful first attempt, she’s now focusing on her self-described “baby number 2,” this time at Warner Bros, after Netflix allegedly ed on in favor of Guillermo del Toro’s own Frankenstein movie.

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The cast for Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! is star-packed and filled with reunions for the director and the actors. Jessie Buckley, whose career received a considerable boost after starring in Gyllenhaal’s first film, is back working with the director as the titular character — the bride of Frankenstein. ing her is Christian Bale as the monster. This will be Bale and Gyllenhaal’s first time working together since she played Rachel Dawes to his Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight.

Gyllenhaal’s husband, Peter Sarsgaard, is also part of the cast. The two have worked together recurrently in the past. First in the unreleased indie In God’s Hands, then in 2007’s High Falls, and in an off-Broadway production of Uncle Vanya. The director also cast her husband in her short film Penelope in 2020 and in The Lost Daughter.

Hollywood legends Annette Bening and Penélope Cruz, as well as actress-dancer Julianne Hough round up the high-profile ensemble.

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The Bride!‘s title indicates the movie will be focused on the bride of Frankenstein rather than the monster himself. According to its official logline, the film starts when “a lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to seek the aide of a Dr. Euphronius in creating a companion for himself. The two reinvigorate a murdered young woman and the Bride is born. She is beyond what either of them intended, igniting a combustible romance, the attention of the police and a wild and radical social movement.”

The description is strikingly reminiscent of Yorgos Lanthimos’ recent Oscar-winning Emma Stone vehicle Poor Things, which in itself had major Frankensteinian elements. Sarsgaard has spoken a bit about the film, calling it a “big, romantic, deeply romantic, wild, punk monster movie” in an interview with The Independent, so that at least offers some distinction from the 2023 movie.

Bride! has been labeled a Horror/Romance/Drama on platforms like IMDb and Mubi. A camera test for the film was done in April of 2024, with Gyllenhaal sharing an exciting first look at her leading duo. In the pictures, a pensive Buckley sports a bleached blonde hairdo and matching eyebrows, dark make-up and a big black spot on the right side of her face. Meanwhile, “punk monster” Bale has Hope tattooed across his chest and a blazer combo reminiscent of ‘70s punk fashion.

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The Bride! is slated for an October 3, 2025 premiere, including an IMAX release, just in time for Halloween.

The movie is being produced by Emma Tillinger Koskoff (Joker, The Irishman), Talia Kleinhendler (The Lost Daughter), Osnat Handelsman-Keren (The Lost Daughter), and Gyllenhaal, and executive produced by Carla Raij (Maestro, The Fablemans).

Update: June 13 2023, 10.57 CST: In a previous version of this article we referred to the Ted Chiang short story that Arrival was based on as “The Entire History of You,” when the actual title of the story in question is “Story of Your Life.” We regret the error.

Bizarre, creepy, and with plenty of cultish fans — the daring Donnie Darko is widely considered one of the best surrealist, reality-bending films of our time, and it’s easy to see why. Following the titular Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) as he meets a mysterious and horrifying bunny named Frank and discovers the world is about to end, the movie messes with conceptions of time and space in a way that most wouldn’t dare, blending the esoteric with a huge dollop of sci-fi. There are a few films that have a similar vibe, but if you want to know the best of them, check out our list of the 10 best movies like Donnie Darko!

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The title of this film says it all, really. Undoubtedly inspired by Ray Bradbury’s iconic short story ” A Sound of Thunder,” Ashton Kutcher stars in this brilliant flick about a man who discovers he can go back in time and change certain moments in his life, although when he returns to the future he doesn’t know how his new actions have altered not just his life, but the entire world.

Part love story, part dark sci-fi movie, and part thriller, The Butterfly Effect explores all sorts of deep themes, from how much of our life is predetermined, to how the smallest change can have the most wide-reaching consequences. Kutcher and his co-stars are brilliant, capturing all manner of emotions on screen and making you really empathize with them. The Butterfly Effect spawned a couple of sequels, but none compare to the original. Very Darko-esque in a number of ways, but especially thematically.

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Not as supernatural as Donnie Darko, but still with plenty of strange elements that make the characters question reality, Under the Silver Lake is the darkest shade of comedy. The movie melds surrealism and realism to create an addictive film that’s spawned quite the cult following, with thousands online convinced that (like Donnie Darko) there are countless hidden messages in the film. It follows Sam (Andrew Garfield), a disenchanted, conspiracy theory-obsessed man who runs into the mysterious Sarah. After they spend a romantic but strange night together, he discovers Sarah and her roommates have all moved out of their home, and embarks on a quest through Los Angeles to find them, meeting an odd bunch of characters on the way.

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Surreal, odd, and a bit creepy: these are the three things that seem to define every David Lynch film, and Mulholland Drive is no different. Like Donnie Darko, the movie really messes with the notion of reality and memory and is buoyed by a standout performance from Naomi Watts.

The plot follows an amnesiac woman who’s just been in a car crash trying to recall what happened before her accident. She teams up with a budding Hollywood actress to follow a trail of clues, only for things to get even weirder as the plot unfurls. Full of mystery and surprises (as well as one of the best audition scenes in history), like Donnie Darko, this film demands your attention, and even then you might be left with more questions than answers.

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Though this film isn’t quite as critically acclaimed as Donnie Darko, like the film that inspired this list it begins with an accident, and dives deep into the idea of reality and delusion overlapping. The film chronicles the attempts of Sam (Ewan McGregor), a psychiatrist, as he tries to help his suicidal patient Henry (Ryan Gosling).

However, as he learns more about Henry’s life, fact and fiction begin to meld into a confusing mess, leaving Sam grasping at what’s real and what’s just his brain trying to make sense of the strange situation he’s in. Like Donnie Darko, the film is suffused with intriguing visual clues and callbacks to that lay out the truth of what happened, but it’s a little too confused to reach the heights of the Jake Gyllenhaal movie.

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Tim Robbins stars as Jacob Singer, a Vietnam vet who is traumatized before and during his stint as an infantryman in the brutal war, leading to bizarre, confusing visions and strange hallucinations haunting him as he tries to make sense of what happened to him on the battlefield. The movie jumps between realities (or Jacob’s mind does, we never quite know until the shocking end), and as things unravel in increasingly confusing ways, the soldier is left grasping at anything he can to ground himself.

Robbins is excellent, showing a wide range that helps the audience feel everything from confusion to happiness to utter despair. A great watch that supposedly inspired Silent Hill, and has rightfully earned itself a cult following. Just make sure you don’t accidentally watch the truly terrible 2019 remake.

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Like Donnie with Frank the Bunny, the main character in this film has visions of a strange thing following him everywhere that nobody else seems able to see. The Machinist is not one for the faint-hearted and follows Trevor (Christian Bale), an insomniac machine operator who finds his lack of sleep is making him experience strange occurrences at home and work. Memory, the fragility of reality, and the overhanging presence of death inform this brilliant film, which will linger long in your memory after you’re done watching.

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Another film that delves into amnesia and the fallibility of memory, The Jacket stars Adrien Brody as a Gulf War veteran named Jack, who’s found at the scene of a murder but can’t explain why. He’s then ordered to a psychiatric institution, where a strange doctor orders him an unusual and sadistic treatment plan, involving unexplained injections, confinement in a straitjacket, and sensory deprivation. As Jack is left alone, he discovers he can travel into the future, where he tries to investigate his own fate and help an old friend along the way. With its sci-fi, time travel plot, and exploration of the ease with which reality can alter, The Jacket has very strong Donnie Darko vibes.

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Inspired by the excellent sci-fi short story “‘—All You Zombies—'” by Robert A Heinlein, this time-bending film stars Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook, and manages to be both smart, logically consistent, and highly watchable, a combination that’s incredibly rare. Hawke stars as a government agent who’s sent back in time to stop a bomb attack, only to find that fate won’t let him. As in Donnie Darko, the notion of destiny plays a huge theme, as does confusion caused by not knowing what’s real and what isn’t. However, unlike Donnie Darko, this film is a little neater with its shocking but satisfying ending.

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A large part of Donnie Darko‘s appeal is the concept of alternate and occasionally intersecting timelines, and that theme is well explored in the 2013 film Coherence. The movie charts the confusion of eight friends who have reunited for a dinner party, only for a ing comet to start a chain of unsettling and deeply bizarre events. Despite its low budget, the film is an aesthetic and narrative success, building tension in all the right places, and tying up in a way that feels both real to the world the film is set in but also leaves some questions for the audience. A great watch that puts a spin on the reality-bending genre.

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Much like how author Ted Chiang studied linguistics for years to write “Story of Your Life,” the short that inspired Arrival, writer, director, and producer of Primer Shane Carruth studied physics to make this script as authentic as possible. And, while the plot of Primer might need a diagram to be explained, this time travel film makes complete sense when you finally get to grips with its rules. The movie follows two students who accidentally stumble upon time travel technology, and end up altering various timelines as they discover the limits of what they can do with it. A little confusing? Yes. But still an engaging watch? You bet.

Sometimes actors are unavailable—or hostile—for sequels, so rather than scrap their characters altogether, filmmakers find replacement stars and pretend that nothing changed.

Citing arguably the most famous instance of this, Katie Holmes was substituted for Maggie Gyllenhaal between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, inspiring Redditor moopey to ask people to find other examples of actors getting swapped out for sequels with “no explanation.”

The entreat has garnered 300-plus responses, the highest upvoted of which mentions James Rhodes being played by Terrence Howard in Iron Man, and then by Don Cheadle throughout the rest of the MCU; Fandral being played by Josh Dallas in Thor and by Zachary Levi in the two sequels; and Victoria being played by Rachelle Lefevre in the first two Twilight movies, but by Bryce Dallas Howard in the third.

Other examples include:

Even though it’s a discussion about movies, Redditors couldn’t help but mention Aunt Viv’s original actor Janet Hubert being replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. That show rivals Batman Begins/The Dark Knight for most memorable actor change.

It’s also worth noting that, although these replacements aren’t explained in their respective fictional universes, virtually every one has been explained by the actors and/or their directors.

Scheduling conflicts are a common reason, as cited by Zachary Levi’s frustrations at being in, out, in, and out of the MCU again, but others are due to pay, like Terrence Howard famously blasting Marvel for failing to deliver on the promise of an increased salary for Iron Man sequels.

It turns out having no explanation is much more pleasant.

Director Maggie Gyllenhaal has decided against a classic evening gown for this years Academy Awards ceremony, sporting instead a bizarrely shaped dress that has taken the internet’s attention.

Gyllenhaal was in attendance as her directorial debut The Lost Daughter saw three nominations at the ceremony, including Best Actress for Olivia Colman, Best ing Actress for Jessie Buckley, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Attending the 2022 ceremony alongside her husband Peter Sarsgaard, Gyllenhaal has truly gone for attention in her T-shaped black dress with golden buttons. The dress is a Schiaparelli custom which may have been better left in the wardrobe at home – but it certainly has people talking.

Twitter was ruthless with the dress, and it looks like this years’ ceremony already has its first meme. People went from referencing The Simpsons, to Roblox, and even a door knocker.

Gyllenhaal’s look, however outlandish, only has rivals this year with the likes of Kodi Smit-Mhee’s baby blue suit, and Timothée Chalamet’s shirtless blazer look. It’s been a great year already for outlandish displays from Hollywood’s A-listers.

Gyllenhaal will take great pride in her directorial debut receiving such lavish praise from the Academy, and is likely already thinking about her next gig. Her godmother Jamie Lee Curtis was also in attendance at the Oscars, and said she was most looking forward to seeing Gyllenhaal again.

Note: In this article, I speculate on how The Dark Knight Rises will conclude the Batman story. I do so not having seen the film, nor having any knowledge about its content beyond what the officially released trailers have provided. There are absolutely no spoilers here, and if my predictions turn out to be correct, this is purely coincidental. Thank you, and enjoy: Whether or not The Dark Knight Rises lives up to all possible expectations when it arrives next week, Christopher Nolan’s three-part saga will go down in history as one of the most celebrated and influential cinematic efforts in the history of the medium. On a technical level, the changes Nolan and company have wrought upon the modern filmmaking landscape are incalculable, from bold tonal choices and risks, to massive innovations in cinematography, to music so audacious and iconic that it has given birth to entirely new styles of film composition. But Nolan’s work with Batman will be primarily ed in the annals of film history for the trilogy’s vast sociopolitical themes and the clarity with which these concepts are realized. Where previous comic-book films tended to address the trials of individuals and singular emotions, Nolan tackles macrocosmic musings on the nature of crime, the failings and limits of law enforcement, and the citizen’s role to affect change in damaged communities. Nolan’s exploration of such themes is grounded in the notion that a widespread irresponsibility to the importance of public issues has led to a steady crumbling of modern society. That Gotham resembles recognizable American cities more and more with each ing film is no coincidence; the films are set in our world, and in Nolan’s view, our world is falling out beneath us. Criminals run the streets, officers look the other way, politicians act in their own self-interest, and though ordinary citizens pay the price time and time again, even they are not without blame. A profound apathy has settled over Gotham; so long as individuals avert their eyes and allow an increasingly flawed system to perpetuate itself, the destruction will continue unchecked. This is the world Bruce Wayne is born into, and the murder of his parents prevents him from ever keeping his eyes closed to the truth of his culture’s status quo. Thomas and Martha Wayne were good, intelligent people, perceptive of Gotham’s trouble and active in attempts to forge a better future. Yet in Nolan’s brutal vision of Gotham City, the efforts of two people, no matter their influence, will never be enough to enact change; the Wayne’s are murdered by a petty criminal, a member of the same hopeless, disenfranchised class they tried so hard to save. The dark irony of his parents’ murder is never lost on Bruce Wayne; throughout his life, he carries the knowledge that individuals can be destroyed, and the best of efforts may ultimately be for naught. In Batman Begins, Bruce internalizes this as simple nihilism until experiences abroad make him think otherwise. Training with and confronting Ra’s al Ghul’s League of Shadows leads Bruce to a philosophical breakthrough, one that forever changes his life and the fate of Gotham. It also happens to be the thesis behind everything Nolan has to say in these films: Though the lives of individuals – be they criminals, heroes, or ordinary citizens – are temporary, the effects they leave behind fleeting and forgotten, symbols and the ideas they represent are eternally powerful. Symbols cannot be destroyed, corrupted, or diluted, and as such, they can inspire change in ways individuals cannot. Or, as Bruce puts it to Alfred on the plane trip back to Gotham: “People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy, and I can’t do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I’m flesh and blood; I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol…as a symbol I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting.” This is the most important piece of dialogue in the franchise, nothing less than Nolan’s thesis statement. It outlines how we are to view Bruce and Batman in a larger societal context, and establishes the core debate of the franchise: Can the symbol Bruce speaks of save Gotham? Can it truly overcome barriers an individual could never sur? Continue reading on the next page…

Variety is reporting that Maggie Gyllenhaal has ed Roland Emmerich‘s film, White House Down. Though she’s never really been one for the blockbuster scene, she’ll Channing Tatum and possibly Jamie Foxx in what is sure to be a fairly large scale production. Gyllenhaal will play a Secret Service agent tasked with defending the President, along with Tatum. ittedly, it doesn’t seem like the ideal role for her and I can’t exactly see her kicking ass but who knows, it could turn out to be successful. At the very least it will be interesting to see her getting her fight on in an action flick. Being described as in the vein of Die Hard, and scripted by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man), the film follows “a single father and Secret Service agent (Tatum) who is tasked to protect the president when baddies invade the White House with little chance of escape.” White House Down will head into production soon as it’s aiming for a November 1st, 2013 release date. We’ll keep you posted on more casting news as it arises.

People have often set out to bring even the slightest beneficial change to areas they believe in. Their whole lives and purpose can drastically and unexpectedly change by just one person, however. As a result, they’re influenced to create even bigger radical changes than they ever expected. Such is the case with the main characters in the new comedy-drama Hysteria, in which a young doctor looking to revolutionize medicine and a woman looking for equal rights inspire each other to live up to their true potential. Set in 1880’s London, Hysteria follows dedicated young doctor Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), who s modern medicine, despite the hesitance by more established doctors. While preaching sanitation and germ theory, he faces difficulty in finding a hospital or practice that will help establish his career. Mortimer’s luck begins to change when he is given a job at the private offices of Dr. Robert Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce), who treats women with hysteria. Mortimer’s life also improves when he begins courting Robert’s daughter Emily (Felicity Jones), as he ires her artistic and intellectual accomplishments. Her older sister, Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is the complete opposite, as she’s a social reformer who argues for women’s rights, much to Robert’s dismay. However, when Robert discovers Mortimer is suffering from hand cramps and can’t perform his job, he quickly fires the younger doctor. Mortimer seeks refugee with his wealthy friend Edmund St. John Smythe (Rupert Everett), whose ion is new technology. While holding one of Edmund’s electric feather dusters, Mortimer realizes how pleasurable the machine’s vibration feels in his hands and so he sets out to create the world’s first electric vibrating massager to help treat women’s hysteria. The idea of basing an entire film on the inadvertent invention of a sex toy may initially drive away viewers who are uncomfortable with the topic. However, director Tanya Wexler didn’t solely rely on Mortimer’s invention to tell the story; she also visually creates an exhilarating commentary on the Victorian lifestyle of the late 1800s through authentic sets and costumes. Wexler showcases Mortimer’s dedication to improving medicine, and Charlotte’s desire to help the poor, by using the Luton Hoo estate in Bedfordshire, one of the last English locations that still has 19th century characteristics. The estate, which has been in existence since the Middle Ages, offers beautiful, versatile and elegantly understated locations for Robert’s office and the settlement house Charlotte runs. Wexler also fills the movie with daring and impressive costumes, particularly the Dalrymple sisters’ clothing. Costume director Nic Ede proved Charlotte’s rebellion against the expectations placed upon women from higher classes by wearing revealing clothing. The most intriguing and provocative outfit Charlotte wore was a strapless black dress to Mortimer and Emily’s engagement party, which deeply contrasted her sister’s conservative, Merchant-Ivory style dresses common to the times. The contrast between Emily staying true to cherished tradition and Charlotte ing revolutionary, modern changes is also seen through their interactions with the diverse characters. Their beliefs were most intensified through their respective relationships with Mortimer. Darcy brought an understated, quite amusing humor, to the role, especially when Mortimer’s ideals are being challenged by Charlotte. But he still appreciates her versatility and contemporary ideas, and isn’t afraid to listen to her ideas. Dancy also shows the character’s sophistication through his engagement to Emily. She motivates him to provide modern medicine to all women. However, while she is intelligent in several areas, including music and art, she is happy to stick to her traditional Victorian views and marry her father’s choice of husband. She allows Mortimer to think, and make decisions for her. Hysteria acts as a riveting commentary the Victorian lifestyle of the late 1800s, showing how revolutionary ideas in medicine and women’s rights were disregarded by many people wanting to stay true to their traditional ideas. Through costumes and sets authentic to the time period, and characters committed to bringing on change, Hysteria isn’t just about the invention of the world’s most popular sex toy; it also showcases how even the most radical ideas can positively change and influence people’s lives.

Hysteria, a period romcom about the invention of the vibrator in Victorian England, has a new trailer that had me laughing out loud. The film stars Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal, and though it doesn’t have distribution yet, it will hopefully be picked up at Toronto International Film Festival. Hysteria looks hysterical. Dancy (Confessions of a Shopaholic) will play a doctor in over his head, and Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) plays the cheeky daughter of his colleague. The story revolves around some doctors and some “hysterical” women, and the little gizmo said doctors think up to treat these ladies’ malady. Of course the little gizmo does more than they at first assumed, and since the story is based in the sexually repressive Victorian era, no doubt hilarity ensues. Tanya Wexler directed this irreverent romp, and co-stars include Rupert Everett, Jonathan Price and Felicity Jones. Check out the trailer below and tell us what you think.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is set to star in Eric Howell’s supernatural thriller Voice from the Stone. Variety reports that the haunted tale is currently looking for distribution at Cannes, with K5 International shopping it around. Voice from the Stone is the film adaptation of a novel by Italian scribe Silvio Raffo. The story sounds like an old-fashioned haunted house scenario, with Gyllenhaal playing a nurse in charge of a young boy who complains of malevolent forces lurking in the walls of an old house in the Italian countryside. As she becomes more involved with the family (particularly the father), she ends up the target of the evil entity and must save herself and the family. This haunted house/spook story is a theme that has seen a resurgence recently. There’s Juan Carlos Fresnadillo‘s  tale of posession in Intruders, and yet another remake of classic evil house pic Amityville Horror from Dimension Films. This could be due to the fact that haunted house films can be made on relatively small budgets, with the possibility of huge returns. The primary example would be James Wan’s indie horror pic Insidious, which had a budget of just over a million dollars, but earned over $50 million domestically when it came out in theatres. The same business model was followed by the filmmakers and producers behind the Paranormal Activity franchise; low-cost scare effects (aka old-fashioned haunting story), huge monetary returns. Gyllenhaal has a full plate at the moment with current film Still I Rise in production, and set to star opposite Hugh Dancy in the romantic comedy Hysteria. She’s been an indie darling over the years, with a few co-starring roles in big budget films like Dark Knight. Though she’s done some laudable work in quirky roles such as Lee in Secretary, I thought her lack-luster, dour-faced Rachel in Dark Knight was disappointing. Hopefully this role in Voice from the Stone will play to her strengths. Produced by Dean Zanuck and Stefano Gallini, Voice from the Stone has yet to announce a shooting schedule.

No movie can match the intrigue and fan hype as Christopher Nolan’s next Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. We all knew it was coming after the massive success The Dark Knight had both critically and financially, and now with a final release date looming in the summer of 2012 the real speculation can begin. Plot questions, casting choices, villain hopefuls were on the minds of everyone who loved Nolan’s take on the Caped Crusader. With every little detail that emerged from the internet, either true or false about the film, it provoked a reaction from the fans similar to that of feeding fresh meat to a hungry pack of wolves. Only recently has the biggest news regarding The Dark Knight Rises finally surfaced, confusing people just as much as it pleased them. Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway have officially signed on to play the characters of Bane and Catwoman. Now this is the type of news to keep people talking up until a set photo emerges of Hathaway in costume. Let the pot stirring begin! First off you don’t have to be Christopher Nolan to know that his third and final Batman movie was always meant to involve the Joker. Even if his role was reduced to cameo status, Heath Ledger would return again and affect the storyline. That’s obviously changed now and the rumors that Nolan will use another actor to portray the Joker or even include a CGI version of Ledger shouldn’t even be considered. Joker may be referenced or used as a back story in The Dark Knight Rises but no one would dare to attempt ruining the work Ledger did, and Nolan knows this more than anyone else. The Joker in Nolan’s universe is locked up in a padded room inside Arkham Asylum and even off screen his presence has set the stage for Gotham and Batman in the final movie. As for Two-Face, Nolan has stated before that he is dead. As a continuing storyline  The Dark Knight Rises wouldn’t make sense having him alive, after all Batman is wanted by the police for a reason. The announcement of Bane was huge as far as villain assumptions went. Only some of the Dark Knight’s classic enemies could appear onscreen in Nolan’s movies, this isn’t the Joel Schumacher versions. Clayface, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and Killer Croc don’t fit well with the tone of realism displayed in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Most were banking on thugs like the Penguin, the Riddler or Black Mask to make appearances because of their logical (somewhat) origins and simple (again, somewhat) appearances. Bane was one of the front-runners as well but his massive size kept him from truly being a contender to appear in Nolan’s rational settings. Now that he has officially been announced to star in The Dark Knight Rises one has to wonder how he can work in the movie. If anyone has seen the film Bronson they’ll know that Tom Hardy can bulk up. But for the character of Bane, bulking up means………well, this…… Nolan has multiple ways to present Bane either using CGI, prosthetics, a mixture or both, or just having Hardy in incredible shape. It’s an interesting decision that will ultimately rely on what looks and works the best for a character like this in a realistic manner. Pray and hope that the Bane, who appeared in the horrific Batman and Robin, will be altered in a very drastic way. Catwoman was a likely candidate because of the romantic void that existed for Bruce Wayne after Rachel Dawes’ death in The Dark Knight. Her character has been around for a long time in the comics and over the years her wardrobe may change slightly but in the end it usually involves tight leather. Michelle Pfeiffer did a commendable job in Batman Returns where she wasn’t overly campy. Catwoman’s existence in the Nolan universe is enticing, presenting ample opportunities to take advantage of her femme fatale features. As for the actors themselves taking on the new roles, it doesn’t get better than this. Other then Katie Holmes in Batman Begins, Nolan’s films feature the best available talent for blockbusters since…pretty much ever. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Nolan knows his actors and who will work in the roles he requires for them. Hardy is hot property after Inception, where everyone finally realized how talented he is. His ability to handle action scenes convincingly is good news as Bane is someone who likes to get his hands dirty, often. Hathaway has grown into a mature actress who has more range than any other young female in Hollywood today. It’s exciting to imagine how she’ll interpret Selina Kyle, who ultimately is someone that copies what Batman does only in an extreme alternative. There isn’t much to fear when it comes to actors doing their job in Nolan’s films, they are given the chance to create their own role from the ground up even when it comes to a character as timely as the Joker. Hardy and Hathaway are excellent additions to an already impressive cast and you couldn’t ask for two better actors to tackle Bane and Catwoman.

Of course the unknown is the hardest part now for fans. We know the new characters involved but how will they fit into the movie’s storyline? Apparently a leaked script was released online consisting of a surprising coherent plot and key scenes explained in detail. The recent announcement of Bane and Catwoman (who were no one to be found in the script) disregard this as another form of gossip circulating online. The best suggestion of what will be in the final script most likely lies in the bits of comics and graphic novels featuring Bane and Catwoman. Nolan and writer David S. Goyer used numerous ideas and inspirations for the last two Batman films from classic printed storylines like Batman: Year One and Batman: The Long Halloween. Bane’s famous origin story Knightfall will surely have some impact on the script regarding Bane as a physical threat to Batman. As of right now there is only speculation which is understandable since the movie hasn’t even started filming yet. Characters are still to be announced in the future and the rumors that Talia al Ghul and Vicki Vale may appear make The Dark Knight Rises even more thought-provoking. It’s best to take each official bit of information released for what it truly is: absolutely nothing, just announcements that make people excited and fanboys flooding the internet with hype. But for such an anticipated movie like The Dark Knight Rises, the wait is too long to endure without talk about it. No comic book movie franchise has been executed like this before, and that’s why everyone is so excited to see what comes next in the series. Stay tuned for more The Dark Knight Rises news.