Berlin International Film Festival lineup unveiled, Ryan Gosling in talks for ‘Star Wars,’ and more of today’s top stories

Gold Derby’s top news stories for Jan. 21, 2025.

Berlin International Film Festival lineup revealed

The Berlin International Film Festival unveiled its full 2025 lineup Tuesday, which includes new films from Richard Linklater and Michael Franco in competition. Linklater’s Blue Moon, starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, and Andrew Scott, follows the final days of Lorenz Hart, half of the Rodgers & Hart songwriting team.

Franco’s Dreams, about a Mexican ballet dancer pursuing his dream in San Francisco, reunites him with Jessica Chastain and also stars Isaac Hernández, Rupert Friend, and Marshall Bell. Other competition highlights include What Does That Nature Say to You from four-time Silver Bear winner Hong Sang-soo, screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s directorial debut Hot Milk, and Mary Bronstein‘s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which stars Rose Byrne, A$AP Rocky, Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, and Ivy Wolk.

See the full lineup here. The 75th Berlin International Film Festival runs from Feb. 13 through Feb. 23.

Ryan Gosling in talks to join Star Wars movie

Ryan Gosling is in negotiations to star in Shawn Levy‘s upcoming Star Wars film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Details are scarce on the project, which Levy has been developing since 2022, but sources tell THR that it will be a stand-alone movie. Gosling can next be seen in Project Hail Marry from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

Vince Gilligan to receive WGA’s Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award

Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan will receive the Paddy Chayefsky Lauren Award for Television Writing at the Writers Guild of America Awards on Feb. 15. The honor is given to a member who has “has advanced the literature of television through the years, and who has made outstanding contributions to the profession of the television writer.” Past recipients include Aaron Sorkin, Garry Marshall, Shonda Rhimes, Larry David, David Chase, Jenji Kohan, Diane English, John Wells, and David E. Kelley.

“‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,'” Gilligan said in a statement. “Cribbing from a better writer is about all I can think to do right now, preoccupied as we all are by what has happened to beautiful Southern California. But this award is a true honor, and I appreciate it deeply.”

William Shatner, Back to the Future, and Fallout to be honored at Saturn Awards

William Shatner, Back to the Future, and Prime Video’s Fallout will be recognized with special honors at the 52nd Annual Saturn Awards. Shatner will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The George Pal Memorial Award will be given to Back to the Future, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Stars Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson, composer Alan Silvestri, and writer and producer Bob Gale, will be on hand to accept. Fallout will receive the Spotlight Award, to be presented by Ron Perlman. In addition, the ceremony will incorporate fundraising efforts for wildfire relief and rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles. The Saturn Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 2 and will be live-streamed for free on ElectricNOW and The Roku Channel.

Ayo Edebiri investigates celebrity cults in Opus trailer

A24 dropped the trailer for Opus, its new horror film starring Ayo Edebiri as Ariel, a magazine writer investigating a celebrity cult. Ariel receives an invite to the listening party for the new album from Moretti (John Malkovich), a pop legend who disappeared from the spotlight 30 years ago and is now mounting a comeback. Things, of course, then get weird. As the logline touts: “Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.”

The cast includes Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means. Written and directed by Mark Anthony Green, Opus hits theaters Friday, March 14.

Abbott Elementary renewed for Season 5

ABC has renewed Abbott Elementary for a fifth season. It’s the first series ABC has picked up for the 2025-26 season. The renewal comes up two weeks after the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning comedy returned from its winter hiatus with its crossover episode with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show is currently halfway through its 22-episode fourth season. New episodes air Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

Dexter: Resurrection recruits Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman has joined the cast of Dexter: Resurrection as a series regular. The Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner will play Charley, the head of security for mysterious billionaire Leon Prater. Charley, a former Special Ops office, has “worked various high-level private security jobs before taking on her position as the resourceful and meticulous right-hand woman for Prater,” according to her character description. The sequel series, which picks up after Dexter: New Blood, sees Michael C. Hall reprising his role as the titular serial killer. The cast also includes franchise regulars David Zayas, James Remar, and Jack Alcott. Production started earlier this month in New York. Dexter: Resurrection will premiere this summer on Paramount+ with Showtime.

The Lincoln Lawyer renewed for Season 4

Netflix has picked up The Lincoln Lawyer for a 10-episode fourth season that will be based on the sixth book Michael Connelly‘s series, The Law of Innocence. In addition, Neve Campbell will appear in every episode of Season 4 after recurring for the past two seasons. Production is set to begin in February.

Garth Hudson, last surviving original member of the Band, dead at 87

Garth Hudson, the last surviving founding member of the Band, has died. He was 87. The keyboardist and saxophonist died “peacefully in his sleep” on Tuesday at a nursing home in Woodstock, N.Y., Hudson’s estate executor told the Toronto Star. Born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Hudson was renowned for his mastery of the Lowrey organ. He joined the Hawks, which later became the Band, in 1961 after being approached by Ronnie Hawkins and Levon Helm. After backing Bob Dylan on his 1966 tour — his first with an electric band, the group rebranded itself as the Band and released its debut album Music From Big Pink in 1968. The Band played its farewell show in 1976, chronicled in Martin Scorsese‘s The Last Waltz. Hudson, who later released three solo albums, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Band in 1994. In 2008, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2008.

“Today, we sadly say goodbye to Garth “Honey Boy” Hudson, the last living original member of The Band. A musical genius and cornerstone of the group’s timeless sound, Garth once said, ‘I found some true enjoyment in helping people get to the bottom of their feelings.’ Through his music, he did just that—helping us all feel more deeply and connect to something greater. Rest easy, Garth,” read a post on The Band’s Instagram.

Nosferatu gets extended cut for home release

Robert Eggers‘ Nosferatu will be yours to own soon — and with unseen footage. The gothic horror film will arrive on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD on Feb. 18 with “an extended cut never-before-seen in theaters.” The extended version is four minutes longer than the theatrical cut. Additional special features included a feature commentary from Eggers, deleted scenes, and a multipart behind-the-scenes featurette. As of Tuesday, Nosferatu has grossed $90 million domestically and $156 million worldwide.

Emilia Pérez dominates France’s Lumière Awards

Emilia Pérez swept the 30th Lumière Awards, France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes, on Monday, winning five awards from its six nominations. The Oscar favorite won Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay for Jacques Audiard, Best Actress for Karla Sofía Gascón, and Best Music for Camille and Clément Ducol. The only category it lost was Best Cinematography, to The Count of Monte Cristo.

Other Oscar hopefuls that triumphed were Dahomey (Best Documentary), Flow (Best Animated Film), and The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Best International Co-Production).

The other winners were Abou Sangaré (Souleymane’s Story) for Best Actor, Clément Faveau (Holy Cow) for Best Male Revelation, Ghjuvana Benedetti (The Kingdom) for Best Female Revelation, and Holy Cow for Best First Film.