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The film tells the story of three black women who were instrumental in getting America's space race off the ground, using their mathematics and computer genius during a time of prejudice and segregation.

Octavia Spencer in Hidden Figures

Actress Octavia Spencer thinks that the film is catching audiences by surprise. "I think there will be some people who think that this is some sort of conjecture," she says. "I thought it was fiction. But it's an embarrassment that these women were omitted from the annals of history. I've seen just about every movie about the space race, and not only have they not mentioned women, they definitely haven't mentioned African-American women. I'm excited because the world will finally know these names. They will no longer be obscure."

Continue reading: Octavia Spencer Sees Political Relevance In Hidden Figures

Unless you had read the book, last year's hit 'Divergent' probably left you scratching your head about the story set in post-war Chicago, where people are segmented into factions according to their personalities (Dauntless, Candor, Amity, Erudite and Abnegation), plus the factionless rebels and multi-factioned divergents. Basically it all felt rather contrived, and director Neil Burger's movie had to spend too much time trying to explain how it worked.

Maggie Q and Shailene Woodley in 'Divergent'

Now we move into the second chapter, 'Insurgent', and director Robert Schwentke can just get on with the story, playing down the odd structure of this closed-off city. So it's a much more involving movie that centres on the characters themselves, weaving the action into their personal situations while building a much more urgent sense of suspense up to another cliff-hanger ending. This also lets the female-dominated cast members shine, including Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet and Naomi Watts, plus Octavia Spencer in a key cameo, and Ashley Judd in recurring flashbacks.

Continue reading: 'Insurgent' Spends More Time On Shailene Woodley And Characterisation

The cast of Divergent sequels Insurgent and Allegiant is already taking shape with Naomi Watts being the latest A-lister to join the lineup. The actress joins Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Zoe Kravitz and a number of other celebrities for the remaining movies of the young adult franchise. Watts willplay the mother of James’ character Four, appearing in three movies in total, since the final book, Allegiant will be split into two films a la every teen fantasy franchise of the past five years. Watts’ character, Evelyn, is the ruthless leader of the factionless in the books, aka those, who do not belong into any of Divergent’s five castes and have therefore been shunned from society.

Is Watts right for the part of a ruthless rebel leader?

Back in May, Summit also announced the casting of Octavia Spencer as Amity leader Johanna Reyes and the return of Kate Winslet as the main antagonist of the first two books, Jeanine Matthews. According to The Hollywood Reporter, production on Insurgent is already underway in Atlanta. The second film from the series has been given a tentative release date of March 20, 2015 – nine whole months ahead of the other big YA movie coming out in 2015 – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I.

Continue reading: Naomi Watts To Join "Insurgent" Cast Straight Away, As Rebel Leader

More Insturgent cast news this week. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Suki Waterhouse and Johnny Weston have been added to the growing cast of the teen dystopia. The British model has signed on to play Marlene, a member of the Dauntless faction. This is Waterhouse’s first big studio production, however she has seen some success in her modeling career. She is the current face of Burberry and has worked on campaigns for Swatch, H&M and Max Studio. As for Weston, the 23-year-old actor, also a relative unknown, is still in final negotiations and his role in the sequel to the 2014 YA adaptation is yet to be announced.

Suki Waterhouse [l] and Jonny Weston [r] complete this round of Divergent castings (blonde edition).

Much of the cast will remain the same for Insurgent, as it was for Divergent. Most notably, we will see the return of stars Shailene Woodley and Theo James, as well as Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Kate Winslet, Zoe Kravitz and Jai Courtney in supporting parts. Earlier this month, Summit also announced that Octavia Spencer had been cast as Johanna Reyes, the de facto leader of the Amity faction.

Continue reading: British Model Suki Waterhouse Cast In Summit's 'Insurgent'

Snowpiercer isn’t new. Joon-ho Bong’s adapation of the popular French comic book Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob. Walking around Paris last October, posters for the movie where everywhere, and without the laboured ‘delayed train’ play on words, it’s finally coming to the U.S on June 27. What’s more, there’s a ridiculously good red band trailer for it, too.

Tilda Swinton, Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer in 'Snowpiercer'

In it, Tilda Swinton’s character – the evil, maniacal tyrant, Mason – dominates. Her words provide the backdrop for the struggle faced by those on board and their battle for freedom. “Know your place. Keep your place,” advises Mason, before suggesting that exactly killing exactly 74% of the rebellious population in front of her would be “fun”. 

Continue reading: Finally, Red-Band Trailer For 'Snowpiercer' Arrives [Trailer + Pictures]

In recent years, besides the glamour, celebrities and red carpet fashion at the Oscars, the show’s ethics have also been put into the spotlight. This year, The Night Before The Oscars, the biggest charity event related to the ceremony, has pulled out of the Beverly Hills Hotel because the venue is owned by the Sultan of Brunei. The event is being held by the Motion Picture And Television Fund, and the decision to stop collaborating with the hotel comes directly from the organization. The charity event does not want to appear to support or endorse the Sultan’s recently instated anti-LGBT penal code, based on Sharia law.

Supporters of the event include Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Officials from MPTF, have met with executives from both the hotel and the Dorchester Collection, owner of the Beverly Hills Hotel, to inform them of the decision, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Night Before party, which draws Hollywood’s biggest stars and every top executive in town, has been held at the Beverly Hills Hotel since its inauguration in 2003. It was originally started by Dreamworks’ CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and has since raised over $60 million since its beginning. The party is regularly attended and supported by A-list talent – the 2013 committee, for example, included Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, Camila and Matthew Mcconaughey, Jamie Foxx, Sandra Bullock and Octavia Spencer.

Continue reading: MPTF's Night Before The Oscars Pulling Out Of Partnership With Beverly Hills Hotel

'Murder, She Wrote' won't be returning to our television screens after all.

This past October (2013), it was announced that NBC will air a reboot of the famed TV crime series, starring Octavia Spencer in the role Angela Lansbury made famous.

However, even though the remake received a pilot commitment from NBC, the network has decided to shut production down, Deadline reports.

Continue reading: NBC's 'Murder, She Wrote' Reboot, Starring Octavia Spencer, Gets Shut Down

One of television's most popular crime shows, Murder, She Wrote is to be revived by NBC in a new series that will offer a fresh take on the long-running Angela Lansbury drama with the casting of The Help star, Octavia Spencer. Desperate Housewives' executive producer Alexandra Cunningham will reportedly pen the script whilst Six Feet Under's David Janollari will act as producer.

Octavia Spencer Will Take Centre Stage In The 'Murder, She Wrote' Reboot.

Spencer will play a hospital worker who moonlights as a writer of mystery novels and amateur detective. The show will focus on her character's obsession with true crimes reported in the news which compels her to become part of the investigations, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Continue reading: New Take 'Murder, She Wrote' With Octavia Spencer In The Works

CBS’s Murder, She Wrote, might be getting a much needed revival to NBC, according to the network’s announcement. NBC has ordered a pilot of the long-running series, Deadline reports. The series will benefit from the talents of writer Alexandra Cunningham and producer David Janollari. Cunningham’s previous work includes the series Desperate housewives. She will write and executive produce the series alongside Janollari.

Octavia Spencer has been selected as Angela Lansbury's successor.

In addition, Oscar winner Octavia Spencer is set to succeed Angela Lansbury in the lead role of a cunning amateur detective. Despite Spencer’s Oscar win for The Help, this will be the actress’ first series regular contract. She previously worked with NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt and Janollari on the 2001 Sci Fi Channel series The Chronicle, which the two exec produced and she recurred on. This might be an exciting opportunity for Spencer to make a name in television, as her predecessor, Angela Lansbury, earned herself twelve Emmy nominations for the part.

Continue reading: NBC Producing Pilot For The Revival Of "Murder. She Wrote" Starring Octavia Spencer

Fruitvale Station is released on Friday 12th July. The movie follows 22-year-old Oscar as he encountered acquaintances around San Francisco Bay on New Year's Eve 2008. His day ended in tragedy when he was accidentally shot by police officers. The film has been widely praised by critics.

Michael B. Jordan at a screening of Fruitvale Station, at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

The film is based on the true story of Oscar Grant III who was shot by police officers at a railway station in Oakland, California. Grant was restrained by police officers who believed him to be armed; the death caused controversy throughout the US.His death appears to be accidental with Police Officer Mehserle using his gun instead of his Taser.

Continue reading: Critics Say Ryan Coogler's Debut 'Fruitvale Station' Is "Magnificent"

Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station is emerging as one of the leading movies of the year.

Based on a true story, it stars The Wire's Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant - the 22-year-old Bay Area resident who was shot dead by BART officers on New Year's Day.

Coogler's direction appears slick and well-constructed, Jordan and co-stars Octavia Spencer and Melonie Diaz put in natural performances, though it's the story that takes centre stage here.

Continue reading: Why The Weinstein's 'Fruitvale Station' Might Be The Finest Movie Of 2013