#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TEASER FOR “HIM”

What would you sacrifice to become the greatest of all time?

From Oscar® winner Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, producers of the landmark horror films Get Out, Us, Candyman and Nope, comes a chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry and the pursuit of excellence at any cost, featuring an electrifying dramatic performance from Marlon Wayans (Air, Respect).

HIM stars former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers (Atlanta, the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer) as Cameron Cade, a rising-star quarterback who has devoted his life, and identity, to football. On the eve of professional football’s annual scouting Combine, Cam is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma.

Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox; Uncut Gems, No Sudden Move). But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker, sending his protégé down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.

The film features a dynamic supporting cast including alternative comedy legend Tim Heidecker (First Time Female Director, Us) and Australian comic Jim Jefferies (The Jim Jefferies Show), plus MMA heavyweight fighter Maurice Greene and hip hop phenoms Guapdad 4000 and Grammy nominee Tierra Whack, all three in their feature film debuts.

HIM is directed by Justin Tipping (Kicks) from an acclaimed Black List screenplay by Zack Akers & Skip Bronkie (creators of the sci-fi crime series Limetown) and by Justin Tipping. The film is produced by Ian Cooper (Nope, Us), Jordan Peele (Candyman, BlacKkKlansman), Win Rosenfeld (Candyman, Lovecraft Country) and Jamal M. Watson (Hala, Sprinter) for Monkeypaw Productions and is executive produced by David Kern and Monkeypaw’s Kate Oh.

Genre: Horror

Cast: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies

Director: Justin Tipping

Screenplay by: Zack Akers & Skip Bronkie and Justin Tipping

Producers: Ian Cooper, Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Jamal M. Watson

Executive Producers: David Kern, Kate Oh

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW FX SERIES “ADULTS”

Today, Disney+ announced the premiere date for FX’s “Adults,” a new comedy series created by Ben Kronengold & Rebecca Shaw. The series, formerly titled “Snowflakes,” will debut on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX Canada and stream the next day on Disney+ in Canada. The premiere of the eight-episode season will include the first two episodes, followed by two new episodes for the following three weeks.

The series features a creative team loaded with FX comedy veterans, including Nick Kroll (“The League”), Stefani Robinson (“Atlanta,” “What We Do in the Shadows”) under her overall deal with FX, Sarah Naftalis (“What We Do in the Shadows”) and Jonathan Krisel (“Baskets,” “English Teacher”).

FX’s “Adults” is an ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to be good people, despite being neither “good” nor “people” yet. “Samir” (Malik Elassal), “Billie” (Lucy Freyer), “Paul Baker” (Jack Innanen), “Issa” (Amita Rao) and “Anton” (Owen Thiele) are five friends crashing together in Samir’s childhood home, where they share their meals, anxieties and, occasionally, toothbrushes.

Disney+ also released the key art and shared that Charlie Cox, Julia Fox, D’Arcy Carden, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, John Reynolds and Ray Nicholson will guest star in the first season.

Created by Ben Kronengold & Rebecca Shaw (“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”), the show puts a slightly heightened twist on the wins, losses and humiliations of starting out in the adult world. Whether they’re trying to get ahead at work, navigating the healthcare system, hosting a dinner party or dating in the age of Find My Friends, the group is finding that nothing about the real world is simple, and all their best intentions tend to make things worse.

FX’s “Adults” is executive produced by Ben Kronengold & Rebecca Shaw, Nick Kroll (“Big Mouth,” “The League”), Stefani Robinson (“Atlanta,” “What We Do in the Shadows”), Sarah Naftalis (“What We Do in the Shadows”) and Jonathan Krisel (“Baskets,” “English Teacher”). Alicia Van Couvering (“Tiny Furniture,” “Drinking Buddies”) also serves as an executive producer under Kroll’s Good At Business banner. “Adults” is produced by FX Productions.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

#TIFF24: “PRESENCE” REVIEW

By Nicholas Porteous

We open on a particularly bland overhead shot as a car pulls into a driveway. It’s a reserved choice to serve as the opening for Steven Soderbergh‘s latest–but wait. The camera twists and turns and hovers down the stairs, revealing an empty house and an anxious realtor (Julia Fox–be warned: this is her only scene). There’s clearly something more to this strange, drifting perspective. Indeed, there’s a Presence in this house. A ghost. And for whatever reason, among the family of new occupants in this otherwise lovely abode, their young daughter Blue (captivating newcomer Callina Liang) shares some kind of connection with the spirit.

What follows is entirely from the ghost’s perspective, and it turns out to be a fantastic parameter for Soderbergh to play within. How does a non-speaking entity reveal its motivations? What kind of phantom are we dealing with here? And how will a family contend with the unknown force? You won’t hear another word about the plot from me, but if you’re looking for a good little ghost story, you’ve come to the right place. Presence is another small-scale, experimental gem from Soderbergh that moves at a clip and kept me intrigued–both as a narrative and as a technical act of storytelling–for its lean, 85-minute runtime.

David Koepp‘s Screenplay is occasionally guilty of tripping over the line into schlock and cheese, which plays at odds with Soderbergh’s relatively naturalistic approach. But all in all, Presence is a brilliant blend of family dramedy and supernatural suspense, anchored by a strong ensemble–featuring Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan as spiritually discordant parents–that imbues the camera with a perfectly calibrated sense of fear and wonder. Presence could be considered a minor work from a master Filmmaker, but its slender format and otherworldly themes have staying power. Don’t let this one pass you by.

Presence screens at TIFF ’24:

Friday, September 13 at 6:15 PM at The Princess of Wales Theatre

Saturday, September 14 at 7:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre

#FIRSTLOOK: TEASER FOR “PRESENCE” FROM STEVEN SODERBERGH

Today we get a new Tease for Steven Soderbergh’s PRESENCE, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year. Cast includes Julia Fox and Lucy Liu!

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

#SPOTTED: JULIA FOX IN TORONTO FOR “SOMETHING YOU SAID LAST NIGHT”

After its premiere at TIFF ’22, Luis De Filippis’ debut feature SOMETHING YOU SAID LAST NIGHT has patiently waited in the wings for its moment. In late June, it was announced that Actress/Model Julia Fox would come aboard as Executive Producer of the Film which centers on 20-something aspiring trans Writer Ren (Carmen Madonia) and her younger sister Siena (Paige Evans), reluctantly joining their parents on a family vacation. The Drama already has swept awards on the Festival Circuit, including the Shawn Mendes Change Maker Award at TIFF.

Toronto is so incredibly lucky to have Fox in-town appearing two nights at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Friday night was a screening of the Film, moderated by Fox with De Filippis and the Film’s Principal Cast. Saturday night is an extended one-hour conversation following the Film with Fox and De Filippis.

So thrilled to catch-up with Fox after meeting her in L.A. during Awards Season for her breakout role UNCUT GEMS. The New Yorker attended a dinner with Cast, Crew and influencers at new Financial District Hotspot DAPHNE. She wore an eye-catching ensemble, sporting her daring signature style and was so sweet to stop for a couple Snaps. Adore her, and am waiting for her next power play, but this is huge that she came to town to support this important Film from Elevation Pictures. It is playing right now exclusively at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Some Snaps. What an Ensemble! Check-out the Bible Bag made from actual re-purposed bibles, by Aylah Gallardo!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Elevation Pictures/The Image Direct)

#FANTASIA: “PVT CHAT”

By Amanda Gilmore

After online gambler Jack’s (Peter Vack) roommate dies, he becomes fixated on San Francisco Camgirl, Scarlet (Julia Fox). One night Jack spots Scarlet walking on an NYC Chinatown street. Is his obsession contorting his reality? Or is she lying about where she lives?

This Erotic Drama is shot with unflinching honesty on what it means to be lonely and craves connection. Writer-Director Ben Hozie has crafted an authentic look at the disconnected technology has created while reminding us of what we truly need: human contact with someone who understands us. Hozie manages to have many erotic scenes that don’t become unduly gratuitous. He achieves this by infusing those scenes with the characters’ longing for emotional connection and a growing desire for each other. The Film is anchored by two mesmerizing performances from Vack and Fox. Whether they are video chatting or in the same room, their chemistry is intoxicating.

PVT Chat screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Fri. Aug. 21 at 9:30 PM and Tue. Aug. 25 at 11 PM.