In this segment, we will delve into the inside dirt on some of the latest and upcoming LRF releases and the studio's stars....
FINN WOLFHARD
Finn Wolfhard took a big swing this season - and it might’ve missed the page entirely. When approached to star in the R-rated, adult-targeted adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (yes, really), Wolfhard wasn’t sold on the idea.... unless he could also direct. Fresh off his co-directing debut with Hell of a Summer, the young actor-turned-filmmaker reportedly offered to take a pay cut on his starring fee if allowed to continue developing his directorial skills on the project. The studio agreed, and the result was a raunchy stoner comedy about Greg Heffley as a disillusioned twenty-something - a film that baffled longtime fans and never found its audience. Though the project bombed at the box office and was savaged for its concept and script, critics were oddly kind to Wolfhard himself. “The movie’s bad, but not his fault,” one review read. “He directed the hell out of a terrible idea.”
MONICA BARBARO
Monica Barbaro went back to her roots - en pointe. The Top Gun: Maverick headlined Pirouette, a Paris-set ballet drama from French director Maïwenn, and sources say the role felt like a full-circle moment. Before she was an actress, Barbaro trained in ballet and dance, and while she’s no stranger to the barre, she reportedly pushed herself harder than ever to meet the film’s exacting demands. Working with elite choreographers and shadowing real dancers inside the Paris Opera Ballet, Barbaro trained daily to capture the physical toll and artistic rigor of the role.
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET & LUCA GUADAGNINO
When Timothée Chalamet and Luca Guadagnino reunite, expect beauty, desire… and apparently, chaos. Their latest collaboration, Gray - a sleek, modern reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray set in present-day New York - has already become one of the most talked-about films of the season, for all the right and wrong reasons. With the duo’s indie prestige and creative clout, Last Resort Films reportedly gave the team near-total freedom - only to be blindsided when the final cut arrived drenched in graphic violence, explicit sexuality, and scenes that made multiple executives audibly gasp in the screening room. Still, LRF president Phil Dolan chose to stand by his artists, greenlighting a wide release for the version that the MPAA slapped an NC-17 rating on. One insider put it bluntly: “It’s not for the faint of heart, but it might be a masterpiece." Predictably, the rating was a box office handicap, but even with limited marketing and theater access, Gray became one of the highest-grossing NC-17 films ever, falling just short of Lust, Caution's long-held record.
JAMIE FOXX
Jamie Foxx isn’t just playing President Barack Obama - he’s becoming him. In the upcoming political thriller Kill Bin Laden, which chronicles the tense behind-the-scenes planning of the 2011 raid that brought down Osama Bin Laden, Foxx reportedly dove headfirst into the role with the kind of dedication he brought to Ray. Despite the cloud of mystery still surrounding his recent medical scare last year, sources say Foxx’s commitment never wavered. He worked with dialect coaches to master Obama’s calm, measured delivery, studied hours of archival footage and press conferences, and even consulted former White House staffers. “He came back focused, sharp, and totally locked in,” one crew member shared. “Whatever happened health-wise, it didn’t slow him down for a second.”
SYDNEY SWEENEY
Sydney Sweeney is stepping out of her comfort zone and into rock legend territory, taking on the role of Stevie Nicks in the hotly anticipated Fleetwood Mac biopic The Chain. Known for her seductive screen presence and emotionally raw performances, Sweeney is reportedly going all-in to portray the witchy, tambourine-toting icon - studying old concert footage, perfecting Nicks’ smoky vocals, and even working with a dialect coach to master her breathy, ethereal tone. Sources say Sweeney has been spotted around L.A. in flowing shawls and platform boots, staying in character between rehearsals and music sessions. “She’s not doing a parody - she’s trying to become Stevie,” one crew member shared. With vocal training, live performance scenes, and plenty of backstage drama on deck, The Chain could be Sweeney’s biggest artistic gamble yet. We won't know until the end of the season as The Chain is set to close out Season 36.
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