There’s always some kind of holiday movie in production somewhere, with someone. And now it’s Lukas Gage’s turn. And it’s not just another Hallmark joint — this one has history behind it. It’s called “Clashing Through the Snow,” and it’s purported to be a Gen Z update of the Steve Martin-John Candy ’80s classic “Planes Trains and Automobiles,” about two men struggling against weather and flight delays to get home in time for Thanksgiving. We don’t know the specifics of the plot yet (Thanksgiving like before? Christmas? New Year’s Eve?) but queer “White Lotus” star Gage will be joined by Michelle Randolph (“Scream 7”) and Christopher Briney (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), and all of it in the hands of actress-turned-director Carlson Young (“Upgraded”). Assuming it drops by the end of this year, we’ll keep a plate warm.
Connor Storrie has ‘Peaked’
Sorry for the misleading headline. Connor Storrie, now known to all of you for his Russian accent and sex scenes with Hudson Williams on “Heated Rivalry,” has far from peaked, but he is in talks to co-star in a new comedy from A24 called “Peaked.” What’s it about? Two mean girls attend their 10-year-reunion and try to relive their glory days, except those glory days traumatized everyone else, so it appears a comeuppance might be due. And what’s Storrie’s role? That’s currently under wraps. But — and this is equally exciting — it will star Molly Gordon (“The Bear”), who is also directing, and “SNL” writer Allie Levitan, who is also handling the script. Rounding out the cast: Laura Dern, “Sex Education” alum Emma Mackey, “Bridgerton” star Simone Ashley, and queer “Bachelorette” cast member Gabby Windey. They could have just led with Laura Dern — sorry, Storrie, nothing personal — and we’d already be in.
‘The Ballad of Judas Priest’ is going to be loud
You’ve got another thing coming when “The Ballad of Judas Priest” storms onto big screens after its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. In case you’re unaware, Judas Priest is a legendary British metal band fronted by Rob Halford. Until the 1990s they were most famous for their music and an unsettling, headline-making lawsuit brought against the band accusing them of encouraging teenage suicide (it was dismissed). Then Mr. Halford made metal history by coming out as gay — which some fans predicted, as he was already quite the leather daddy — which only endeared them to their audience all the more. The doc comes from Canadian filmmaker Sam Dunn (“Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey”) and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, and it features appearances from metal enthusiast Jack Black alongside an impressive roster of music royalty: the late Ozzy Osbourne, the members of Metallica, Run-DMC and Smashing Pumpkins co-founder Billy Corgan. No U.S. release date is set yet but stay tuned.
Romeo San Vicente always wants seconds.