Pre-production is underway on Barry Jenkins’ sequel to the “The Lion King.” If I had to bet, Jenkins is being payed a mighty sum of money to make this movie.

Damien Chazelle is in Toronto where he’ll be having an “in conversation …” with Festival boss Cameron Bailey.

I’m not saying it’s a bad movie, au contraire, Jafar Panahi’s “No Bears” is probably a worthy addition to the Iranian filmmaker’s impressive oeuvre. But did anyone really expect this film to not be well-received at the Venice Film Festival?

Sensing out my very best wishes for a quick recovery to Paul Schrader, who has had his fair share of health issues these last few years.

I have no idea what to expect from Lila Neugebauer’s “Causeway,” starring Jennifer Lawrence.

Sometimes a performance just elevates mediocre material. Exhibit A: Jeremy Pope in Elegance Bratton’s “The Inspection.”

Last month, I reported some surprising, but VERY welcome news from Los Angeles. Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” was test-screened to positive reactions.

There were women sobbing all around me during the press & industry screening of Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking,” so, I assume, the film will work with a contingent of people, but it fell flat for me.

Robert Zemeckis’ “Pinocchio” is getting panned by critics. Not that shocking. I screened it last week and turned it off after about an hour. It’s pretty bad.

Last year’s Fremaux-led committee choosing Julia Ducournau’s “Titane” over Audrey Diwan’s “Happening” was a controversial one. Ducournau won the Palme d’Or and Diwan won the Golden Lion at Venice.

Despite the controversies, I don’t think we were even ready for Andrew Dominik’s “Blonde.” It’s everything we thought it would be and then some.

Word around the campfire is that the Juliane Moore led jury at Venice has favorited three movies for potential Golden Lion recompense.

If an algorithm existed that could create the most Spielberg-ian movie poster imaginable then this would be the result.

UPDATE: The Wrap, THR, Screen, The Times, The Playlist are mixed-to-negative. However, Variety is very positive.

A trailer for Tobias Lindholm’s “The Good Nurse” has been unveiled by Netflix. It looks grim and genre-y. Nothing wrong with that.

Vanity Fair has a first-look at Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon.” No trailer, but some beautiful photos.

A reader asked about the most essential critics poll for the Venice Film Festival. As you know, Cannes has a tradition for having numerous polls every year, with the Screen International being the most famous one.

Joanna Hogg’s cinema is most definitely for acquired tastes. I’m more inclined to like her earlier stuff, like “Exhibition,” and “Archipelago,” but she really broke through with the ‘Souvenir’ movies — that second one was quite good, actually.