‘Dune 2’ and Demi top Saturn Awards, ‘Buffy’ reboot in the works, ‘M3GAN 2.0’ teaser, and more of today’s top stories
Gold Derby’s top news stories for Feb. 3, 2025
California band Dawes follows Grammys performance by releasing “I Love L.A.” cover as charity single
After losing their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires, Dawes opened the 2025 Grammys with support from Grammy-winning musicians St. Vincent, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Brittany Howard, and John Legend. Their rendition of Randy Newman‘s classic “I Love L.A.” was one of the most memorable moments during the music kudos. Now they’ve released the song, with proceeds going to the Recording Academy and MusiCares’ Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort. You can also contribute to wildfire relief efforts here.
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Dune: Part Two, Demi Moore among winners at 2025 Saturn Awards
Presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, the 52nd Annual Saturn Awards honored the best achievements in genre films and TV shows, and the big winner of the night was Dune: Part Two, which claimed Best Science Fiction Film, Best Film Direction (Denis Villeneuve), Best Supporting Actress in a Film (Rebecca Ferguson), and Best Film Visual/Special Effects.
Meanwhile, Demi Moore won Best Actress in a Film for her Oscar-nominated turn in the body horror film The Substance, which also claimed an award for its makeup, but lost Best Independent Film to Late Night With the Devil. Best Fantasy Film went to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Best Horror Film was awarded to Alien: Romulus, the Best Thriller Film was Strange Darling, the Best International Film was Godzilla Minus One, and Best Animated Film was won by The Wild Robot. Acting awards also went to Nicolas Cage (Best Actor in a Film for Dream Scenario) and Hugh Jackman (Best Supporting Actor in a Film for Deadpool and Wolverine).
The Saturns spread the wealth on the TV front, giving top series prizes to Fallout (Best Science Fiction Series), House of the Dragon (Best Fantasy Series), From (Best Horror Series), Agatha All Along (Best Superhero Series), Cobra Kai (Best Action/Thriller Series), and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Best Adventure Series), while The Penguin picked up a pair of acting awards for Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti.
Honorary prizes went to William Shatner (Lifetime Achievement Award), Laurence Fishburne (Lance Reddick Legacy Award), Back to the Future (George Pal Memorial Award), Fallout (Spotlight Award), Hiroyuki Sanada (Robert Forster Artist’s Award), and Superman and Lois (Dan Curtis Legacy Award).
Buffy the Vampire Slayer followup series in the works at Hulu
The classic series is the latest to get the reboot treatment, and Sarah Michelle Gellar is attached to the project to reprise her role as supernaturally strong slayer of the undead Buffy Summers. But this series won’t focus primarily on Buffy. Gellar would play a recurring role while a younger slayer takes the spotlight. The new series will be penned by Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman, whose previous credits include Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Poker Face.
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Blumhouse unveils M3GAN 2.0 at the Grammys
The cult hit horror film M3GAN is back for round 2.0. The sequel is coming to theaters on June 27, and Blumhouse unveiled a trailer for the new film at the 2025 Grammy Awards on Feb. 2 (see Blumhouse’s tweet below). The first film in what could become a lengthy franchise focused on an engineer who invents what turns out to be a robotic dancing AI doll that turns out to be homicidal.
The original 2022 film grossed $95 million at the domestic box office and $180 million worldwide against a budget of just $12 million. Director Gerard Johnstone is back in the driver’s seat for M3GAN 2.0, but this time he also penned the script based on the characters created by previous writers Akela Cooper and James Wan. Actors Allison Williams and Violet McGraw reprise their roles. M3GAN is once again played by Amie Donald, with Jenna Davis providing her voice.
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2025 Oscars name production team
Executive producer and showrunner of the Oscars telecast Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan announced who’s joining their team for the Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for March 2. Joining them will be returning co-executive producer Rob Paine. Taryn Hurd and Sarah Levine Hall are back as producers. Emmy-winning choreographer Mandy Moore will also be on hand again, as will lighting designers Bob Dickinson and Noah Mitz. Producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will be onboard as producers for the first time. Ross and Sweeney have worked extensively with Conan O’Brien, who’s hosting this year’s Oscar telecast for the first time.
The writing team will consist of Amberia Allen, José Arroyo, Josh Comers, Dan Cronin, Jessie Gaskell, Skyler Higley, Berkley Johnson, Ian Karmel, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Carol Leifer, Jon Macks, Conan O’Brien, Matt O’Brien, Agathe Panaretos, and Mike Sweeney. Hamish Hamilton was previously announced as the show’s director, as were production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley and music director Michael Bearden.
Last year’s Oscars won four Primetime Emmy Awards including Best Variety Special (Live) as well as recognition for Buckley and Billingsley’s production design, Hamilton’s direction, and Rickey Minor‘s music direction. This year’s show will face the challenge of celebrating the best films of the year while also paying respects to those who lost their lives, homes, and businesses in January’s Los Angeles wildfires and honoring the first responders who saved lives and property from the blazes.
Artios Awards announce presenters for 40th annual event
The Casting Society (CSA) announced who will present when the Artios Awards are handed out on Feb. 12 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, the Edison Ballroom in New York City, and White City House in London.
In Los Angeles, presenters include Marissa Bode (Wicked), Garcelle Beauvais (Survival of the Thickest, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Joel Kim Booster (Loot), Sasha Colby (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Ethan Herisse (Nickel Boys), Frankie Grande (Henry Danger: The Movie), Nava Mau (Baby Reindeer), Wendi McLendon-Covey (St. Denis Medical), Parvati Shallow (Deal or No Deal Island) and Brandon Wilson (Nickel Boys). Also, filmmaker Jason Reitman will present the Hoyt Bowers Award to casting vet John Papsidera.
New York presenters are Michael Cyril Creighton (Only Murders in the Building), Dagmara Dominczyk (Succession), Noma Dumezweni (Presumed Innocent), Ray Fisher (The Piano Lesson), John Magaro (The Agency), Jinkx Monsoon (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Ethan Slater (Wicked) and Patrick Wilson (Insidious).
In London, Susan Wokoma (Cheaters) takes over as host after Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer) became unavailable. Creator and producer of Mamma Mia Judy Craymer will present the Creative Collaboration Award to David Grindrod. And filmmaker Luca Guadagnino will introduce Juliette Ménager, recipient of the Capelier-Shaw Award for Excellence in Casting.
SEE2025 Oscars race scorecard: ‘The Brutalist,’ Zoe Salda?a win at London Film Critics’ Circle Awards
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