Derek Lawrence

Los Angeles

Writer and Editor at Freelance

Writer for hire. Currently working on a book (and my Hitch 2 script), but bylines include EW, Vanity Fair, Vulture, Esquire, GQ. [email protected]

Articles

Prabal Gurung Recalls His First Met Gala, When Zoe Saldaña Was at His Side

1 month ago | vanityfair.com | Derek Lawrence

On the morning of April 26, 2010, I awoke to a buzzing phone. The stream of texts pouring in read, “OMG! CONGRATULATIONS!YOU DID IT!”I clicked the link a friend sent and slowly saw the First Lady’s face appear and as the rest of her image downloaded, I caught a glimpse of the “Prabal red” at her neckline, and then my dress filled the screen. Michelle Obama was walking into the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, holding President Obama’s hand, wearing my dress.
‘Last of Us’ Star Isabela Merced Thinks Dina “Doesn’t Even Know the Word ‘Bisexual’”

1 month ago | vanityfair.com | Derek Lawrence

“What the fuck is wrong with Seattle?” It’s a fair question for Dina (Isabela Merced) to ask in Sunday’s jam-packed—and gory—episode of The Last of Us, “Day One.” On their first day in Seattle, Dina and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) discover two separate groups of dead bodies, including soldiers with their guts literally hanging out; escape a horde of zombies in the subway system; and have to cope with Ellie taking a bite to protect Dina, and Dina subsequently preparing to kill Ellie, not knowing that...
Sinners Star Delroy Lindo on What Happened to Blade, His Other Vampire Movie

1 month ago | vulture.com | Derek Lawrence

“I’m not drawn to vampires, per se.” One day Delroy Lindo received an unexpected text from Creed and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler: “Do you play piano?” Technically, the answer was no, but Lindo mentioned that he had done some practice three decades earlier for Spike Lee’s 1994 film Crooklyn, in which he played a struggling musician. “There were a couple other texts back and forth,” recalls the 72-year-old actor.
Sinners’ End Credits Explained: A Vampire’s Shocking Return, and a Little Light

1 month ago | vanityfair.com | Derek Lawrence

This post contains spoilers from Sinners. Perhaps inspired by his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther writer-director Ryan Coogler saved a surprise or two for those who stayed through the credits of his new film, Sinners. Set in 1932 Clarksdale, Mississippi, the supernatural horror thriller stars Michael B. Jordan in the dual roles of twins Smoke and Stack—who, after sharpening their criminal skills in Chicago, return home to open a juke joint.
Sinners’ End Credits Explained: A Vampire’s Shocking Return, and a Little Light

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Derek Lawrence

7 hours agoCelebrities React to Pope Francis’s DeathOn Monday, Pope Francis died at the age of 88. The Argentinian pope — born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires — was elected to the papacy in 2013 …2 hours agoKristen Stewart and Dylan Meyer Marry in Intimate Los Angeles CeremonyThe pair have been dating since 2019. Wedding bells for Bella! Kristen Stewart and her partner Dylan Meyer have officially tied the knot.
Chet Hanks Is Entering His Chet Hanks Era

Feb 27, 2025 | flipboard.com | Derek Lawrence

1 hour agoReview | ‘Running Point’ delivers classic sitcom energy in a nepobaby packageKate Hudson charms in Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen’s sweet show about billionaire siblings trying to run a basketball team. Imagine “Ted Lasso” barreling into “Arrested Development” at the concessions stand in a classic romcom meet-cute.
Chet Hanks on Netflix's 'Running Point,' Sobriety, New Music

Feb 27, 2025 | esquire.com | Derek Lawrence

Chet Hanks isn’t afraid to admit it: he has no game. He can hardly dribble or shoot a basketball. Those lack of skills might seem likely to eliminate him from starring on Netflix’s new basketball comedy Running Point as Travis Bugg, the star point guard for the Los Angeles Waves. And yet, as written, Travis is a tattooed troublemaker, an aspiring rapper, and someone known for social media controversy. Sound familiar? "I said, 'If I don't get this role, I'm just going to quit acting,'" Hanks tells me.
Chet Hanks Is Entering His Chet Hanks Era

Feb 27, 2025 | yahoo.com | Derek Lawrence

Chet Hanks isn’t afraid to admit it: he has no game. He can hardly dribble or shoot a basketball. Those lack of skills might seem likely to eliminate him from starring on Netflix’s new basketball comedy Running Point as Travis Bugg, the star point guard for the Los Angeles Waves. And yet, as written, Travis is a tattooed troublemaker, an aspiring rapper, and someone known for social media controversy. Sound familiar? "I said, 'If I don't get this role, I'm just going to quit acting,'" Hanks tells me.
Adam Driver on ‘Megalopolis’ & Working with Francis Ford Coppola

Sep 18, 2024 | backstage.com | Derek Lawrence

No matter the accolades he receives or the countless iconic filmmakers who seek him out, Adam Driver can’t quite fathom how far his career has taken him. “Even now, it doesn’t get less surreal,” he says. But the proof is in the pudding: To date, the actor has earned two Academy Award nominations, four Emmy nods, and a Tony nom. He’s headlined projects from cinema legends including Michael Mann, Ridley Scott, Spike Lee, Steven Soderbergh, and Martin Scorsese, to name just a few.
Every 'Fast & Furious' movie, ranked from worst to best

Sep 6, 2024 | ew.com | Derek Lawrence |Darren Franich |Kevin Jacobsen

From the highs of Fast Five to the Hobbs/Shaw spinoff to the direct-to-video short film directed by Diesel himself, we've ranked every entry in the Fast & Furious series from worst to best. The family is still going strong. The long-running Fast & Furious franchise kicked off in 2001 with the (comparatively simple) story of an LAPD officer going undercover with a crew of street racers suspected to be hijackers.