Latest news with #LightstormEntertainment
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Classic 80s sci-fi thriller removed from Disney Plus over 'unacceptable' scene
A 1980s sci-fi movie nominated for four Oscars has been taken down from Disney Plus due to a controversial scene. Released in 1989, The Abyss was written and directed by James Cameron, who went on to direct blockbusters like Titanic and the Avatar franchise. The movie followed a US search and recovery team working with an oil platform crew to save people onboard a submarine after it sinks in the Caribbean. At the same time, they are racing against Soviet vessels to recover the boat, but, deep in the ocean they face an unexpected encounter. The Abyss starred Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn. It was met with mixed reviews, but grossed $90million (£66million) and was nominated for four Oscars, winning Best Visual Effects. In 2023 Cameron announced that a 4K remastered version would return to cinemas for a one-night-only event. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A DVD version was then rolled out in March last year, however a UK release for the 4K restoration was cancelled due to production company Lightstorm Entertainment's refusal to cut a scene involving a rat. The scene in question showed the character, Navy SEAL Ensign Monk (Adam Nelson) submerge a rat in a small tub of breathing fluorocarbon liquid, trying to demonstrate how a human might be able to breathe underwater. The film used five real rats for the scene, with the animal shown in the scene struggling and panicking when it thinks its drowning. However it eventually calms down and starts breathing the liquid, which contains oxygen. This scene was banned in the UK by the British Board of Film Classification on animal cruelty grounds. That ruling meant the scene needed to be cut from any theatrical, home video or terrestrial cuts of the film. However, when the remastered movie version was rolled out on Disney Plus in April, it showed the scene, as streaming services were not bound by the ruling. A few months on, the movie has now completely disappeared and can't be found on the platform. Although Disney Plus is yet to comment on why the film has been pulled entirely, the RSPCA has weighed in on what it believes is a wider issue. In a statement, the RSPCA's head of public affairs David Bowles said: 'The RSPCA is really concerned that a loophole currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes. More Trending 'The Abyss' controversial rat scene has long concerned the RSPCA and has always been deemed unacceptable by BBFC – so it's hard to fathom why Disney Plus decided to broadcast it. 'We need to ensure people are not being exposed to content which promotes or showcases cruelty to animals. As the way millions of households consume entertainment changes, it's vital the legal framework is responsive to that.' Despite the backlash, The Abyss has been called a 'totally gripping, claustrophobic thriller, complete with an interesting crew of characters' on review site Rotten Tomatoes, where it holds a score of 89%. Metro has contacted Disney Plus for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Controversial Snow White remake finally hits Disney+ and fans are split MORE: How to get 4 months of Disney+ for £1.99 a month in time for The Bear's new series MORE: Doctor Who is in peril – but I'm not worried
Metro
03-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
James Cameron taking a break from Avatar as he tackles 'new challenge'
Director James Cameron is putting the behemoth that is the Avatar franchise to one side as he takes on a new job. Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third instalment, is 'winding down' production with a trailer expected soon as the film is due out later this year. Instead of starting on the fourth film – due out in 2029 – Cameron has revealed he's going to be adapting a new novel called The Devils. In a statement on social media, the 70-year-old filmmaker has confirmed his production company Lightstorm Entertainment acquired the rights to author Joe Abercrombie's book. Cameron and Abercrombie will be co-writing the script together for the fantasy story which was released just last month and became an instant bestseller. 'I've loved Joe's writing for years, cherishing each new read, throughout the epic cycle of the First Law books, especially Best Served Cold (LOVE IT!), and the 'Age of Madness' trilogy,' the Titanic legend said. He continued: 'But the freshness of the world and the characters in 'The Devils' finally got me off my butt to buy one of his books and partner with him to bring it to the screen. 'I can't wait to dig into this as I wind down on Avatar: Fire and Ash. It will be a joyful new challenge for me to bring these indelible characters to life.' The Devils focuses on a special force of monsters tasked to save Europe from flesh-eating elves – with a plot like that, we're not surprised the esteemed director rushed to get involved. Praising the filmmaker, Abercrombie said: 'I can't think of anyone better to bring this weird and wonderful monster of a book to the screen.' With only four years to go before the as-yet-untitled Avatar 4, it's unclear if Cameron is planning to be hands-on for The Devils' entire production. If he wasn't busy enough, he's also directing another novel adaptation; The Last Train From Hiroshima by Charles Pellegrino. There's also the illusive adaptation of Taylor Stevens' novel The Informationist that Lightstorm Entertainment purchased the rights to in 2012. Dedicated film fans will remember that at the time Cameron said he'd direct it once Avatar was completed – we won't hold our breath on that one. Avatar: Fire and Ash is slated for a December 2025 release with the sequels following in 2029 and 2031 respectively. The previous instalment, Way of the Water, clocked in at three hours and 12 minutes but Cameron is promising that the follow-up will be even longer. He told Empire magazine: 'In a nutshell, we had too many great ideas packed into act one of movie 2. The [film] was moving like a bullet train, and we weren't drilling down enough on character. 'So I said, 'Guys, we've got to split it.' Movie 3 will actually be a little bit longer than movie 2.' Script co-writer Amanda Silver seconded this feeling saying 'the characters needed to breathe.' More Trending She said: 'These movies are a lot more than just propulsive plot and gorgeous spectacle. I mean, these are real characters.' Cameron is feeling 'pretty good' about this next Avatar, having allowed a handful of people to screen the film already. He previously told Stuff: 'I've shown it to a few selected people and the feedback has been … it's definitely the most emotional and maybe the best of the three so far. 'We'll find out, you know, but I feel pretty good about it.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'Unmatched' 80s action movie with 100% rating now available on streaming
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
James Cameron's New Fantasy Movie After Avatar: Fire and Ash Revealed
James Cameron has shared details about his new movie after Avatar: Fire and Ash, revealing a new collaboration on social media. The announcement involves a recent bestselling novel and marks his latest screenwriting partnership. James Cameron announced on Facebook that Lightstorm Entertainment has acquired the rights to Joe Abercrombie's novel The Devils. The book was published on May 6, 2025. It debuted at No. 1 on the Sunday Times bestseller list in the UK and reached No. 5 on the New York Times list. Cameron will co-write the film adaptation with Abercrombie after completing Avatar: Fire and Ash. In his post, Cameron wrote, 'I can't wait to dig into this as I wind down on Avatar: Fire and Ash. It will be a joyful new challenge for me to bring these indelible characters to life.' Describing the book, he said, 'A twisted, stylish, alt-universe middle-ages romp… The twists and turns come at a rollercoaster pace, and with Joe's signature acerbic wit and style.' He praised Abercrombie's storytelling as 'very cinematic,' noting that 'this adaptation will practically write itself.' Joe Abercrombie responded to the announcement, saying, 'James Cameron has been thrilling audiences, including me, by putting the impossible on film for over four decades.' He added, 'No one can balance mind-blowing action and spectacle with gut-wrenching personal stakes and story the way he does.' Cameron said he has followed Abercrombie's work for years but The Devils finally led him to pursue a collaboration. He wrote, 'The freshness of the world and the characters in The Devils finally got me off my butt to buy one of his books and partner with him to bring it to the screen.' Disney plans to release Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash on December 19, 2025.
Perth Now
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
James Cameron will take Avatar break to work on The Devils adaptation
James Cameron will take a break from 'Avatar' to work on an adaptation of 'The Devils'. The 70-year-old filmmaker has confirmed his own production company Lightstorm Entertainment has acquired the rights to author Joe Abercrombie's new novel, and they'll be writing the script together. He said in a statement on Facebook: "I've loved Joe's writing for years, cherishing each new read, throughout the epic cycle of the 'First Law' books, especially 'Best Served Cold' (LOVE IT!), and the 'Age of Madness' trilogy. 'But the freshness of the world and the characters in 'The Devils' finally got me off my butt to buy one of his books and partner with him to bring it to the screen. "I can't wait to dig into this as I wind down on 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'. It will be a joyful new challenge for me to bring these indelible characters to life.' The third 'Avatar' film is set to be released in December this year, with a fourth and fifth instalment planned for 2029 and 2031 respectively. Cameron's next project will be 'The Devils', putting his stamp on the dark fantasy epic which focuses on a special force of monsters tasked to save Europe from flesh-eating elves. Author Abercrombie said: "I can't think of anyone better to bring this weird and wonderful monster of a book to the screen.' Cameron recently admitted he had too many "great ideas" packed into 2022's 'Avatar: The Way of Water' - which clocked in at three hours and 12 minutes - but he's gone even bigger with the upcoming 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'. He told Empire magazine: 'In a nutshell, we had too many great ideas packed into act one of movie 2. The [film] was moving like a bullet train, and we weren't drilling down enough on character. So I said, 'Guys, we've got to split it.' 'Movie 3 will actually be a little bit longer than movie 2.' His co-writer Amanda Silver, who wrote the script with Cameron and Rick Jaffa, stressed the second and third movies are separate films because "the characters needed to breathe". She said: 'These movies are a lot more than just propulsive plot and gorgeous spectacle. I mean, these are real characters.' The director previously declared he feels "pretty good" about the third movie after giving "selected people" an advance screening. He told Stuff: "I've shown it to a few selected people and the feedback has been ... it's definitely the most emotional and maybe the best of the three so far. "We'll find out, you know, but I feel pretty good about it."
Economic Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Trump's 100% tariffs on foreign films: Which recent blockbusters could have been affected — From 'Avatar' to 'Wicked'
US President Donald Trump's weekend announcement about maximum tariffs planned for all movies made outside his country has sparked concerns within and beyond the entertainment industry. The 100 per cent levy reflects the leader's nearly undeterred stance in the face of growing concerns around the international trade war that his economic policies have sparked in the months following his second presidency. A clear picture of how the tariffs would be implemented was missing from the president's declaration. On Monday, a day after Trump made the announcement, the White House said that the government is yet to make a final decision regarding tariffs on films produced however, added that all possible options are being explored to safeguard the "national and economic security" of the US, according to news agency Reuters. Notably, while announcing his plans, Trump had billed the growing trend of foreign film production as a "national security threat". Also Read : When and why did Alcatraz Prison close — and what makes Trump's plan to reopen it so challenging? On Tuesday, Forbes compiled a list of some of this decade's highest grossers that, though, were American-made but filmed in foreign countries. These films could have potentially faced a big impact if they were covered by the tariffs planned by Trump. Here are some of the films from the list: 1. Avatar: The Way of Water, which was released in 2022, was filmed in New Zealand. It grossed $2.3 billion worldwide. The film was produced by James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment, which is based in the US. 2. Barbie, which hit the theatres in 2023, earned a global gross revenue of $1.4 billion. It was filmed in the UK. The movie's producers include US firms Mattel and LuckyChap Entertainment. 3. Deadpool & Wolverine was shot in the UK. The film grossed $1.3 billion globally. The producers of the blockbuster are Marvel Studios, 21 Laps Entertainment, and Maximum Effort -- all US companies, Forbes noted. 4. Jurassic World Dominion, which was released in 2022, managed to earn gross revenues totaling $1 billion. The film was shot in locations spread throughout Canada, Malta, and the UK. All three production companies involved in the making of the movie are US-based. 5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, another Marvel movie, was shot in the UK. Its global gross revenue stood at $955.8 million. Also Read : Why is Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool and planning to join Real Madrid? What has the White House said about Trump's planned movie tariffs? The White House on Monday said that any conclusive decision on President Donald Trump's planned levies on films produced outside the US has not been finalised yet. How much tariff does Donald Trump plan to impose on movies filmed outside the US? He plans to impose a 100 per cent tariff on such films. Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein.
