Alec {NAME} and 'Rust' Armorer Charges Downgraded; Can an Oscar Snub Be a Blessing in Disguise?; How James Cameron Executed Complex VFX in 'Avatar 2'; 'Golda' Review

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( February 21, 2023 What's news: Don Lemon will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday. Simon Rex joins the cast of The Leader. Rihanna and Beyoncé were the big winners on the first night of the NAACP Image Awards. — [Abid Rahman]( {NAME} and 'Rust' Armorer Charges Downgraded ►"In order to avoid further litigious distractions." The charges against Alec {NAME} and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have been downgraded, removing a potential five-year prison sentence for both in the case involving the fatal shooting of the film’s cinematographer. The Santa Fe District Attorney formally downgraded the second of two charges, which included a firearm enhancement. That charge, lawyers for {NAME} and Gutierrez-Reed argued, was based on New Mexico law that passed following Halyna Hutchins’ death on set in October 2021. [The story.]( —"I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation." Embattled CNN This Morning anchor Don Lemon will return to the show on Wednesday, CNN CEO Chris Licht told staff in a memo Monday night. Licht added that Lemon, who stepped away from the news network’s nascent morning show amid controversy over his comments about Nikki Haley, will participate in "formal training." [The story.]( —Why Wall Street is divided. Despite ballooning operating losses and an advertising downturn, Roku’s stock soared a day after it reported fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 15. THR's [Caitlin Huston]( writes that the company is dependent on both the ad market and now a lower-margin push into home TVs, and that's why analysts disagree on how long its flagship media player can stand out in a crowded streaming space. [The analysis.]( Can an Oscar Snub Be a Blessing in Disguise? ►When a snub isn't a snub. As Oscar rituals become ever more calcified, the biggest news when the annual nominations are announced is not necessarily who’s made the cut but rather who’s been snubbed. THR's [Gregg Kilday]( writes that sometimes missing a nomination can be an asset, motivating Academy voters to make up for a film’s omission in one category by rewarding it in another. [The story.]( —🏆 "Black women are the CEOs of home, culture and community" 🏆 Essence revealed its honorees Monday for the 16th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards. This year's honorees are Freeform and Onyx Collective president Tara Duncan, The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood, Till star Danielle Deadwyler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress Dominique Thorne and Abbott Elementary's Sheryl Lee Ralph. The event will take place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on March 9. [The story.]( —🏆 Bey goes big 🏆 Night one of the 2023 NAACP Image Awards took place on Monday night, with Beyoncé, Rihanna and Chris Brown among the big winners in the outstanding recording categories. Beyoncé took home the most awards, including outstanding female artist, outstanding soul/R&B song for “Cuff It” and outstanding album for Renaissance. The NAACP will continue to recognize winners in non-televised categories virtually at 5 p.m. PT through Thursday, and at an awards dinner and program on Friday. [The winners.]( Why Ireland Has Been "Punching Above Its Weight" ►The pluck of the Irish. While The Banshees of Inisherin and The Quiet Girl may have helped break new ground for Ireland at the Academy Awards, shows such as Bad Sisters are flying the flag for Irish TV and recent Sundance hit Flora and Son suggests there's much more to come, writes THR's [Alex Ritman](. [The analysis.]( —"Wow honestly had the best time today." The Back to the Future gang — Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Tom Wilson — all reunited over the weekend at FAN EXPO Portland. Thompson, who played Lorraine Baines-McFly in the film trilogy, took to social media on Saturday to share photos of her former co-stars. [The story.]( —🎭 Another follower 🎭 Simon Rex has joined the real-life crime drama The Leader, the upcoming biopic about the Heaven’s Gate cult set to star Tim Blake Nelson and Vera Farmiga. Rex will play a key devotee of the religion who faces devastating consequences when he falls in love with a fellow cult member. The film was unveiled earlier at the European Film Market in Berlin, where The Exchange is introducing the project to buyers. [The story.]( How James Cameron Executed Complex VFX in 'Avatar 2' ►"There were people that told us it wasn’t even possible." THR's [Carolyn Giardina]( spoke to Avatar: The Way of Water director James Cameron about the extensive performance-capture underwater scenes in the sequel. The legendary filmmaker also discusses the sizable VFX challenges that his team had to overcome to create water simulation and emotive digital characters. [The interview.]( —"I don’t want to have to make the same movie over and over again." THR's [Brian Davids]( spoke to Happy Death Day and Freaky filmmaker Christopher Landon about his new supernatural family dramedy, We Have a Ghost. Landon also discusses last year’s impassioned rant against day-and-date releases and why he doesn’t ultimately fault the studios for trying to find their way during the pandemic. [The interview.]( —"It was a bit like playing Elizabeth." THR's [Scott Roxborough]( spoke to Helen Mirren and the creative team behind Yom Kippur War drama Golda. The Oscar-winning actress discussed the parallels of playing Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and Queen Elizabeth II. [The interview.]( Film Review: 'Golda' ►"A lumps-and-all showcase for Mirren and makeup." THR film critic [Leslie Felperin]( reviews Guy Nattiv's Golda. Helen Mirren stars in this historical drama about the former prime minister of Israel, Golda Meir, that doesn't skimp on period fixtures and makes sure everyone smokes all the time. [The review.]( —"No noble Romans in this lame historical lampoon." THR's Stephen Farber reviews Robert Schwentke's Seneca — On the Creation of Earthquakes. The German filmmaker directs a strong international cast that includes John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Geraldine Chaplin, Alexander Fehling and Todd Xander, in this historical fantasy film. [The review.]( —"A touching reminder of music's ability to change the world." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Nenad Cicin-Sain's Kiss the Future. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are among the producers of this documentary about the underground music scene during the Siege of Sarajevo and U2's 1997 concert there. [The review.]( Film Review: 'Inside' ►"Gripping at first, then just distancing and draining." THR's chief film critic [David Rooney]( reviews Vasilis Katsoupis' Inside. Willem Dafoe stars in the Greek director's first dramatic feature, a high-concept thriller about a master art thief trapped in a luxury New York penthouse that turns on him. [The review.]( —"Lots for fans to pore over, but also a missed opportunity." David reviews Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudano's Love to Love You, Donna Summer. The HBO film is an archive-based portrait of the artist whose ageless hits with producer Giorgio Moroder can still pack a dance floor. [The review.]( What else we're reading... —Allegra Frank has the entirely correct opinion that Marvel movie end-credit scenes aren’t worth it anymore [[Daily Beast]( —Ben Child isn't convinced by Hollywood’s addiction to live action remakes of animated classics [[Guardian]( —Adam Serwer on why Fox News lied to its viewers about 2020 election fraud [[Atlantic]( —Saloni Gajjar considers the Velma backlash and how South Asian women are represented on TV [[A.V. Club]( —Reflecting on Richard Belzer's live shows, Jason Zinoman writes that the late comic had a spontaneity and physicality that meant he could keep up with Robin Williams [[NYT]( Today... ...in 1996, Wes Anderson’s R-rated feature debut Bottle Rocket, starring Owen and Luke Wilson, hit theaters. [The original review.]( Today's birthdays: Elliot Page (36), [Jordan Peele]( (44), Aunjanue Ellis (54), Jennifer Love Hewitt (44), Sophie Turner (27), Joe Alwyn (32), Billy {NAME} (60), William Petersen (70), Tituss Burgess (44), Anthony Daniels (77), Kelsey Grammer (68), Mélanie Laurent (40), Callie Haverda (16), Ashley Greene (36), Tuppence Middleton (36), Kim Coates (65), Scout Taylor-Compton (34), Hayley Orrantia (29), Christopher Atkins (62), Christine Ebersole (70), Tyne Daly (77), Corbin Bleu (34), Joel McKinnon Miller (63), Ella-Rae Smith (25) Barbara Bosson, who received Emmy nominations in five consecutive years for her turn as the divorcee Fay Furillo on the acclaimed NBC drama Hill Street Blues, co-created by her then-husband Steven Bochco, has died. She was 83. [The obituary.]( Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at [tips@thr.com](mailto:tips@thr.com?subject=). This email was sent to {EMAIL} by Penske Media Corporation. 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