As a passionate cinephile with a penchant for gripping dramas and captivating performances, I can hardly contain my excitement about Jonathan Majors’ bodybuilding drama “Magazine Dreams.” Despite the tumultuous journey it has taken to reach our screens, this film promises an unparalleled display of acting prowess that rivals Robert De Niro’s iconic work in Taxi Driver.
After initially being removed from distribution by Searchlight Pictures in January due to Jonathan Majors’ criminal conviction, the muscle-bound drama film “Magazine Dreams” featuring him has now secured a route to cinemas.
Briarcliff is set to distribute the project, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, with a planned theater release in early 2025. Known for handling contentious projects, the distributor run by Tom Ortenberg will also unveil the Donald Trump film titled The Apprentice later this month, having been rejected by all major Hollywood studios.
Elijah Bynum’s film “Magazine Dreams” premiered at Sundance in 2023 to acclaim for Major’s portrayal of amateur bodybuilder Killian Maddox, a role that generated early awards speculation. However, following Majors’ conviction for assault and harassment against his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari, Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures decided not to proceed with the project after a competitive bidding war.
The production team, consisting of Jennifer Fox, Dan Gilroy, Jeffrey Soros, and Simon Horsman, were given back the movie by Searchlight, enabling them to find potential distributors.
I poured an arduous 18-month preparation into embodying my character, a dedication that drew parallels to Robert De Niro’s transformative work in Taxi Driver. For a span of 24 days, we filmed across the vibrant landscapes of Los Angeles, and our creative vision was honored with the prestigious jury prize at Sundance.
As a gamer, I was blown away by this epic portrayal that felt raw with both pain and fury. Kudos to Majors for making me empathize not just when Killian is in control, but even more so when he’s at his most unruly. In the eyes of David Rooney, chief film critic at The Hollywood Reporter, this character feels more threatening than the one quaking under his towering presence.
Previously hailed as one of the brightest talents of his time, Majors faced a setback after his legal troubles. Consequently, Marvel Studios replaced him as the antagonist Kang the Conqueror, while Lionsgate scrapped the Dennis Rodman movie “48 Hours in Vegas” before it even started filming. Since then, Majors has yet to secure any studio projects, but an upcoming indie film titled “Merciless,” directed by Martin Villeneuve (the brother of Denis Villeneuve, director of “Dune”), is slated for release.
Deadline first reported the news.
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2024-10-02 18:55