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The premiere of Dan Harmon’s new adult animated series “Krapopolis” has launched as the most-watched animation series to debut over the past decade.
As viewers tuned in to watch Hannah Waddingham, Richard Ayoade and Matt Berry take on roles within a dysfunctional family of mortals, gods and monsters, the Sunday evening premiere of “Krapopolis” on Fox drew in 3.6 million total viewers and scored a 1.2 rating in the key broadcast demographic among adults 18-49, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day figures.
Standing as the most-watched telecast from a Harmon animated series, exceeding telecasts of “Rick and Morty” and “Strange Planet,” the premiere also became the most-watched entertainment telecast (excluding award ceremonies) since the premiere of “Next Level Chef” on Feb. 12, which followed the 2023 Super Bowl.
The Sunday airing also boosted “Krapopolis” to the most-watched original comedy telecast of the year, as it exceeded the debut viewership of NBC’s “Night Court” reboot in January.
The series launch likely benefited from its NFL doubleheader lead-in before it debuted its first two episodes at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Beginning Oct. 1, “Krapopolis” will move to its permanent time slot at 8:30-9 p.m. ET/PT, following episodes of “The Simpsons” at 8 p.m.
The debut also secured the “Krapopolis” premiere as the highest-rated entertainment program in the key demo during the week of Sept. 18-24, breaking a record first set by the “Family Guy” series premiere in 1999 that saw an animated series debut become the week’s highest-rated entertainment program.
Fox has displayed its commitment to “Krapopolis” since the start, when the network first picked up the show to series based on just the pilot script, and later into its development when the show scored an early renewal for its second and third installments before the Season 1 premiere.
“I’m so appreciative of Fox for giving us the space to create and breathe in this world,” EP Steve Levy told TheWrap of the renewals for Season 2 and 3. “I think we really push the boundaries of what Fox typically allows or explores in their animated programming, so this is all fun new territory for them, and it’s all fun new territory for us.”
Bravo’s long-running series erupted in chaos earlier this month when a physical altercation brought filming to a halt.
Page Six reports that Jennifer Aydin and Danielle Cabral have been suspended following the incident.
The women were embroiled in a heated argument during an event hosted by OG star Teresa Giudice.
“Jennifer pushed Danielle during the argument and Danielle retaliated by crumpling her plastic cup and hurling it towards Jennifer’s face, drawing blood,” one insider alleges.
Another source claims that Aydin’s injuries were not as described above and that she sustained “nothing more than a scratch when Cabral threw her beverage.”
Moreover, the same source says that Jennifer didn’t receive medical attention on-site.
“Jennifer only pushed Danielle because Danielle got in her face,” another source told the outlet.
While details are sketchy about what was the topic of conversation that resulted in violence, we’re surprised to report that Bravo has suspended both cast members.
If you watch The Real Housewives of New York City online, you know that Ramona Singer once threw a glass at costar Kristen Taekman’s face and continued to be a series regular for eight more years… until Bravo realized the once-hot show needed the reboot treatment.
The franchise is a hotbed for toxic behavior, so forgive us for trying to comprehend that the network is stepping up to investigate this incident.
Neither Aydin nor Cabral are allowed to film — even solo scenes — until the results of an investigation into the incident by the network and production company Sirens Media are revealed.
However, the pair became fast friends, so we’re sure plenty of footage will explain how the relationship broke down between them.
The news comes around the time NBCUniversal is looking to update and bolster its workplace conduct guidelines for its ever-expanding roster of reality TV series.
RHONY alum Bethenny Frankel was reportedly working with lawyers earlier this year on a campaign for fair conditions for reality stars, which she dubbed a “reality reckoning.“
As for the RHONJ incident specifically, there’s a good chance we won’t hear much about it until the series returns in 2024.
It’s rare for the network’s iron-clad NDAs to allow its cast to spoil storylines in advance.
With the increased pressure on reality TV, there’s a chance the incident won’t even see the light of day.
Only time will tell.
What are your thoughts on the two cast members getting suspended?
To celebrate Moschino’s 40th anniversary, four celebrated stylists were asked to create a collection inspired by Franco Moschino’s iconic designs in the period between 1983 — when the designer’s flair and creative genius broke into the monotony of Milanese fashion with his innovative and unusual clothes — and 1993, the year of the last fashion show before his untimely death.
Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele, Katie Grand, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson and Lucia Liu are the creative souls who were given the task of putting together the collection, after the departure of previous creative director Jeremy Scott. Sitting in the front row was an attentive and vigiliant Alberta Ferretti — founder of the Aeffe group, the brand owner’s — enjoying the fruits of their labor, on such an important anniversary and with a fitting tribute to the brand’s founder.
For the show, titled “40 Years of Love,” each stylist brought 10 personal interpretations of Moschino’s unmistakable style. “There is no freedom without chaos” was Franco Moschino’s favorite claim. And that is what Cerf de Dudzeele, Grand, Karefa-Johnson and Liu faithfully did with their show during Milan Fashion Week. The presentation was divided into four acts, each with its own mood, soundtrack, models and finale. All original, all different, but all with a common denominator: having fun and surprising as in the best of traditions when dealing with a brand like Moschino.
First to open the huge red curtain of the set design was the legendary Cerf de Dudzeele, formerly the powerful fashion director of U.S. Vogue and considered a pioneer of bringing street style to fashion magazines. It fell to her to reinterpret Franco’s most beloved classic garments, being the only one of the four to have collaborated with him. Cerf de Dudzeele chose suits, monochromatic total black or total white looks, pearls on a pair of jeans, crystal tops, mini skirts and head wraps à la Erykah Badu.
Moschino fashion show. Milan Fashion Week Women’s Collection SS 2024. Milan (Italy), Sept. 21, 2023.
Matteo Rossetti/Archivio Matteo Rossetti/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
The second to take the stage was Karefa-Johnson, a powerful advocate for inclusive fashion. She sent only Black models down the runway, who wore her reinterpretations of garments from the early 1990s. Hers, as she explained, was a nostalgia moment with items including the brand’s iconic shopping bag, cowboy hats, maxi earrings, polka dots, chains and crocheted garments. The third, Liu, former styling director of Harper’s Bazaar China, sent out a T-shirt with the words “Protect me from the Fashion System” and to close the section a pink evening dress adorned with bows and roses with a gray top with the words “Good taste does not exist.”
A model walks the runway at Moschino’s Spring 2024 fashion presentation.
Moschino
The fourth, Grand, London-based founder of Perfect Magazine, took from the past the use of slogans that the founder liked to draw on garments to send important messages. Grand invented one, “Loud Luxury,” brought to the runway by dancers choreographed by Wayne McGregor of Britain’s The Royal Ballet.
A fifth act was entrusted to Laura Marzadori, first violin of the Teatro alla Scala, who, in her elegant black evening gown, played Gloria Gaynor’s masterpiece “I Am What I Am,” a manifesto of freedom and many civil rights battles, a song beloved by Franco Moschino, who used it for the finale of the 1986 Fall-Winter fashion show.
The show’s finale was a recognition of the struggles and charitable campaigns that the maison’s founder supported throughout his artistic journey. T-shirts with nonconformist slogans were always a central element of his philosophy, with raising awareness about AIDS a constant commitment. Therefore, the grand finale was dedicated to a limited edition T-shirt that reads, “Borrow me – Wear me – Hug me – Love me.” One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
It sounds like Sophia Loren is going to pull through after a scary fall she suffered on Sunday. Per Variety, the Academy Award-winning Italian movie star, who just turned 89, fell in her home in Geneva, Switzerland over the weekend, leaving her with “serious fractures” to her hip and femur.
Why Christian Bale would love to be friends with Burt Berendsen
Loren was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery Sunday afternoon, per an Italian news outlet. “Sophia was operated with positive outcome and will now have to undergo a brief period of convalescence followed by a complete rehabilitation,” they wrote (via Variety). Representatives for Loren also confirmed that her two sons, Carlo and Edoardo Ponti, were by her bedside.
Loren recently missed two public appearances due to the fall—a celebration for a restaurant named after her (which first announced the news) and a ceremony in an Italian port city called Bari, where she shot her most recent film (2020’s The Life Ahead, directed by her son Edoardo for Netflix) and was set to receive an honorary citizenship. Her most recent public appearance was at September 2’s Armani “One Night Only” fashion show, which she watched from the first row along with Jessica Chastain, Sydney Sweeney, Ava DuVernay, Luca Guadagnino, and others.
Born in Naples in 1934, Loren first broke onto the scene twenty years later when she appeared in Vittorio De Sica’s The Gold of Naples as a pizza seller. After moving to Los Angeles with husband and producer Carlo Ponti a few years later, Loren went on to star in films in both countries, alongside mega-stars like Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, and Cary Grant. She made history after taking home the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in 1961’s Two Women, making her the first performer to ever win for a non-English-language movie. In 1991, she also received an Honorary Academy Awardfor Lifetime Achievement.
NOW IN THEATERS! Based on the 2021 book The Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich, Craig Gillespie’s Big Money tells the story of the normie retail traders who dare to take on the monolith that is the corporate finance industry. One of the greatest Robin Hood stories of the current era, so Hollywood needs to make money off the story.
At the center of Big Money is Keith Gill (Paul Dano), a YouTube influencer and Reddit r/WallStreetBets contributor known as Roaring Kitty. Gill is committed to the idea that GameStop is a solid investment. Yet, when the pandemic hits, it puts the storefront retail chain into collapse. Taking advantage of GameStop’s imminent demise are hedge fund managers Gabe Plotkin (Seth Rogen), Steve Cohen (Vincent D’Onofrio), and Ken Griffin (Nick Offerman), who decide to short the stock (bet that its price will plummet) and stand to make billions in the process.
Seeing those billionaires are about to make billions on the video game store, Gill goes to the net and inspires small-dollar investors to buy GameStop and hold. The gamble paid off as the stock rose from $3.77 to $486. Dumb Money quickly becomes a chess game between Gill and his WallStreetBets army and the evil hedge fund managers.
Dumb Money also takes us into the lives of a few of these investors who put their faith in Keith Gill. Jenny (America Ferrera) is a nurse who lives off credit cards daily. Harmony (Talia Ryder) and Riri (Myha’la) are a college couple in deep with student loans, and Marcus Barcia (Anthony Ramos) is a Game-Stop employee just trying to make it as a sales clerk under the brutal reign of his manager Brad (Dane DeHaan).
“Gill goes to the net and inspires small-dollar investors to buy GameStop and hold. The gamble paid off…”
We also peer into the controversial Robinhood app CEOs Vlad Tenev (Sebastian Stan) and Baiju Bhatt (Rushi Kota), who built an online platform that allowed normies like us to invest in the stock market without paying exorbitant transaction fees. They also famously prevented its users from buying GameStop stock for a brief moment in time.
I’ll admit. I have a beef with Dumb Money. The story of Keith Gill and WallStreetBets is one of legend. A large group of inconsequential investors took down the system, exploiting the downfall of companies like GameStop for pure financial gain. This story is better told in documentary form, including GameStop: Rise of the Players and Diamond Hands: The Legend of WallStreetBets.
This is a real-life David and Goliath story, and Dumb Money tries to tell this story with very little nuance. It is loaded with cinematic emotional manipulation…all with the goal of patting the filmmakers and stars on the back and not of the real-life Gill and WallStreetBets. In fact, if you watch the two documentaries mentioned above, WallStreetBets is criticized by the same Hollywood folks in this film as toxic internet trolls and MAGA disciples.
In the end, we have Hollywood’s attempt to hijack an everyday person’s story that, ironically, corporate Hollywood wishes never happened in real life. Look, as a film, it’s typical Hollywood with good and mixed performances from some of its greats. Paul Dano does sympathetic low-status very well. Shailene Woodley plays the loyal wife equally well. Pete Davidson does what he does best and attracts a young female audience. Seth Rogen does slimy like the great method actor. Nick Offerman can do no wrong. Lastly, with this and Barbie, America Ferrera is the new face of injustice.
Again, there’s just no nuance here. Good is good. Evil is evil. We have seen the story of the hero’s rise and the giant’s downfall many times. Hollywood plays with our emotions very well…almost too well. Dumb Money is a masterclass in audience emotional manipulation. If you felt inspired by Dumb Money, let me ask you two questions. What does it mean to short a stock, and what’s a hedge fund?…thought so.
In the end, thanks, Dumb Money. You appropriated a story of the little guy, and now you own it. Well done.
With an excitement in the air of the WGA and AMPTP’s tentative deal and scribes poised to return to daytime and late-night TV talk shows, the new agreement’s impact on the motion picture side may not be as immediate given how those unfinished feature productions hinge on studios settling with SAG-AFTRA.
THE GREAT, L to R: Nicholas Hoult, Elle Fanning.
With the possibility of writers’ rooms returning to work during the ratification vote by the guild before the contract is sealed, there could be situations where a TV series in the works will take precedence over a film project once actors return, and vice versa. It’s a situation on par with what occurred during Covid: Scheduling conflicts with actors are bound to ensue once the industry is fully back up in running. Read, there was a situation during Covid where Nicholas Hoult had to drop out of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning -Part One due to its duties on Hulu’s The Great. We could see similar situations where a project loses an actor due to their commitment on a first priority project as TV rooms will be pumping out scripts much faster than those scribes on the feature side.
As Peter White reported today, there is optimism that the majority of network dramas and comedies will be able to launch in the new year thanks to news of a pending deal last night. Should the SAG-AFTRA strike end in the near future, most feature productions are eyeing a 2024 start or re-start date. That also gives studios plenty of time to get their below-the-lines crews together, in addition to cast, which could resolve potential scheduling conflicts with actors.
‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One’ & ‘Deadpool 3’
Paramount/Ryan Reynolds Instagram
As expected due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, the 2024 theatrical release schedule remains in great flux. One motion picture marketing source over the weekend characterized next year’s release calendar as “not real,” meaning it remains in question whether movies which haven’t completed production, i.e. Marvel Studios/Disney’s Deadpool 3 (currently dated for May 3, 2024) and Mission: Impossible 8 (June 28, 2024), and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (TBD), the latter which requires plenty of voiceover work, even meet their release dates.
That said, the silver linings for motion picture studios given the tentative agreement are that scribes can now huddle with directors if needed should uncompleted movies require any polishing. In addition to the movies above, we understand that Warner Bros.’ Jenna Ortega Beetlejuice movie has a few more days left of production before it’s 100% wrapped. Paramount’s Gladiator sequel from Ridley Scott also requires more shooting.
In addition, any screenplays that weren’t delivered prior to the strike, those writers would soon be able to finish them.
A photo from the animated ‘Batman Brave and the Bold’, the new feature version from DC will be live-action.
Also, studios can start meeting with candidates and putting offers out on open writing assignments (OWAs) on films, i.e. the new DC’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which has Andy Muschietti set as director.
As for the spec market, while there may be a pickup as writers’ reps can now submit original scripts from clients to studio execs. Some sources with writing clients believe the immediate market will be slow, and that there’s apt to be a bigger uptick after SAG-AFTRA ends their strike. The reason being that actors are being cautious about attaching to packages due to the optics during the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Also, with the deal points of the tentative agreement not public yet, it remains to be seen what the precise gains were for feature writers. We could learn as soon as tomorrow when the WGAE and WGAW vote on the approval of the new deal, or in the next few days when it’s sent for ratification. In the Aug. 11 proposal from AMPTP to scribes, made public on Aug. 22, an offer was made for feature scribes, who are employed on the first draft of an original screenplay, to receive the first opportunity to perform a rewrite at no less than the applicable minimum compensation. Also offered at that time by studios were increases for feature writers of SVOD movies with writers on projects of 96 minutes or more with a budget of $40M or more made for an SVOD platform with 20M or more subscribers seeing an increase of $100K (+18.3%). Also studios proposed that the residual base would increase by 25.7% to $75K.
We’ll update you as we learn more about feature writers’ benefits, and the motion picture industry’s maneuvers, from the new deal.
Lil Yachty’s latest album, “Let’s Start Here,” did just that: It gave the rapper’s career a new starting point by setting aside his hip-hop origins and rebooting into psychedelic rock. Yachty 2.0 stopped by Central Park’s SummerStage and showed off his new sound, while also giving original fans a healthy dose of his classic bangers.
This year marked a massive shift for Yachty. After his last studio album, 2020’s “Lil Boat 3” and a mixtape the following year, he had stayed mostly quiet. He hadn’t yet fully broken out of the SoundCloud, mumble-rap boom of the late 2010s: The red hair, AutoTuned voice and comical lyrics had made a name for him, but at the same time almost painted him into a niche corner, unable to break out. But by 2023, Yachty had reinvented himself.
He started last year with “Poland,” a simple, yet massively viral rap hit that put him back on everybody’s radar. With his new album, though, Yachty defied expectations and released a completely non-rap record that had more in common with the classic psychedelia of Pink Floyd and Funkadelic (or more recent iterations like Tame Impala) than anything in his previous discography.
The new chapter of Yachty had begun with this surreal, spacey production, and fans flooded into New York’s Central Park on Friday night to see it for themselves. Yachty’s band and singers appeared on stage first, all dressed in white, while trippy, dream-like visuals projected onto a huge screen behind them. The funky tunes of “drive ME crazy!” opened the show, with Yachty gliding in singing the soft vocals of “the ride” and “pRETTy.”
The typical 808s and bass of a normal rap concert wouldn’t be heard for a few more songs, as the band played an electric guitar-assisted rendition of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” before Yachty transitioned into the hip-hop portion of the night. It was as if the concert was divided into Act I and II, and finally the old Yachty came out to play some of his bangers. After the indie rock start, fans opened up the crowd to mosh along with “Yacht Club,” “Flex Up” and “Coffin.” Strobe lights and lasers illuminated the stage as Yachty jumped around screaming his lyrics as his braids and beads danced wildly in the air.
Fans of the new and old Yachty were treated equally throughout the night. The crowd sang along to his summery verses on “Broccoli” and “iSpy” and catchy classics like “One Night” and “Minnesota.” The band came back out for one final rock sesh to close out the show, and within minutes the crowd switched from jumping up and down and shouting rap lyrics to jamming out to “the BLACK seminole.” Although the crowd was livelier when he played the hits, they stayed with him through the entire show — a testament to Yachty’s reinvention of his brand.
After the release of “Let’s Start Here,” Yachty got a shoutout from Questlove for “pushing the envelope” and being an example of “music’s future,” beyond just the rap genre. Whatever may come next, (he’s supposedly developing an action movie based on Uno — yes, the card game) fans will want to keep an eye on where Yachty sails to next.
“A Million Miles Away” director Alejandra Márquez Abella still has a hard time believing she made a studio feature film.
“I never thought I was going to become a filmmaker,” Márquez Abella told TheWrap shortly after the release of her latest feature — a Prime Video biopic of astronaut Jose Hernandez (Michael Peña), the first migrant farmworker to travel to space. “I never thought I was going to make one film. This is my fourth.”
Her career started over 15 years ago, writing and directing shorts in her native Mexico. And though it was just north across the border, Hollywood seemed very far away.
“I think I’ve crossed through the Hollywood doors, as Jose crossed NASA’s,” Márquez Abella said, drawing comparisons with her film subject, who was rejected to the space program 11 times. “I had to find the confidence in myself to just not die of a panic attack every day. I don’t undermine my achievement; I think it’s huge. It’s been huge for me, learning how to work in a different environment. The studio system, everything, has been different from what I knew before. It has been a difficult path for me, but a very enjoyable one.”
Alejandra Márquez Abella directing Michael Peña “A Million Miles Away”
When asked to elaborate on the difficulties she has faced, Márquez Abella admitted she had self-doubts.
“I’m a female, Mexican director,” she said. “It’s like when I heard ‘migrant farmworker astronaut.’ To me, that sentence is as impossible as my own. It’s a matter of not being able to imagine yourself in a place. That’s why, maybe to me, it’s easier just to take it one step at a time and let it grow slowly and not be too ambitious about the whole thing because that’s too much for me. It’s an impossibility that’s become true.”
Another challenge was integrating with a studio as big as Prime Video.
“When you don’t have a big budget and you’re in an independent system, you have a lot of obstructions that have to do with money and with those limitations,” the director explained. “But when you have a big studio behind you, and you have a big budget, those people that take care of that money want to have a say. So that’s another type of obstruction. And I don’t see it as a bad thing. I don’t see it as a limitation. I see it as a creative opportunity — but it’s a different one. It’s a very different one.”
One thing that grounded Márquez Abella was shooting “A Million Miles Away” in her home country.
Alejandra Márquez Abella directing in a field for “A Million Miles Away”
“We shot in Mexico City and San Luis Potosi, which is my hometown with all the fields there, which was a very heartwarming thing for me,” she explained. “Everyone [back home] has felt important — an important piece of this machinery.”
For her next project, Márquez Abella is adapting the story of another migrant figure — her grandmother. But unlike “A Million Miles Away,” the film will be a “sad story.”
“It’s a story about a woman who follows a man to the States, thinking that she’s going to get her partner back when she gets in,” she explained. “And we see another kind of migration — Chicago in the ’70s — which was factories and slaughterhouses, not the fields. It’s different, but it’s another light on the same subject.”
“A Million Miles Away” is currently streaming on Prime Video. Check out the trailer below:
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Becca Kufrin is a proud new mom! The Bachelorette alum and her fiancée Thomas Jacobs took to Instagram just one day after announcing the birth of their first child, to introduce their little guy with first photos! Even better, they revealed his name. “Benson Lee Jacobs Kufrin cracked our hearts wide open on September 21, 2023,” they wrote in the Monday, September 25 joint post. “No amount of words can begin to capture the amount of love and awe we have over this tiny man. We are forever changed with this one’s abundance and can’t believe we are parents to this gift.”
They went on to share the special familial meaning behind the newborn’s name. “Benson, Benny for short, is after the town where my father was born and raised,” they continued in the caption. “Lee is for Thomas’s father who sacrifices so much for this country and others. And Jacobs Kufrin is pretty self explanatory but we wanted both parts of us to make this little one whole. Now we’re off to go cry again over how much we love him,” they wrote, alongside a red heart emoji.
The first photo showed Benson’s little arms and feet snuggled into a blanket. Another photo showed the proud parents holding their infant as a newly formed family, Becca still in the hospital bed. In another photo, Thomas held the baby’s hand as Becca stared lovingly down at him. The final pic showed Benson’s name, birthdate of September 21, and healthy weight of eight pounds even!
Fans of the couple couldn’t contain themselves, and many took to the comments thread to gush over the new arrival. “Congratulations to your precious family! I love his name!!” fussed a follower, while another wrote, “So happy for yall congratulations he’s perfection.” “Welcome Benny boo!!!!” enthused a third, along with black heart and crying emojis.
Got right: Naturally, with the source material being so solemn, the writers were required to stick to the facts here, and that’s what they did. Also, with the characters being journalists who needed to fact-check, the revelations and coverups that the Globe Spotlight team uncovered were all accurate.
Dramatized: One dramatization was to do with Baron’s start to his position at the globe. In the film, he was seen as an outsider, but in reality, he was liked and respected from the offset. There were also made-up composite characters who represented groups of different people. One of these was Sullivan, who represented six lawyers that the Spotlight team consulted with. Another one was Conley, who represented various people involved in the church’s cover-ups.
Ahead of her highly-anticipated comeback in Guardians 3, Saldana was open and honest with fans, announcing this movie would be her last in the MCU.
While this didn’t come as too big of a shock with audiences realizing that this movie would be the last time these Guardians teamed up, emotions would run high thanks to the impact they had on the MCU for almost a decade.
Zoe Saldana Gets Real About Marvel Experience
Marvel
As part of the Marvel Studios Assembled episode for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gamora star Zoe Saldana gave her candid thoughts about her time with the role in the MCU.
Her experience playing Gamora became “part of [her] legacy,” highlighting how big of an impact it’s had on her children:
“To live within the Marvel universe has been nothing but a treat. It’s a part of my legacy that I will so proudly take on with me, and I hope that my children are proud. I have three little boys, and they are already becoming die-hard fans of these characters.”
Using words like “lucky” and “proud,” she shared how great it felt to have so many people alongside her for the Marvel ride:
“It makes me feel really good. It makes me feel lucky. It makes me feel fortunate. It makes me feel proud, to know so many people that I look up to and I respect deeply that live also in this universe, among me.”
In a video from her final day on the Guardians 3 set, Saldana offered her thanks to director James Gunn for his belief in her while also saying she’d miss the role but not “the four-hour makeup” process:
“Every time I feel like I’m about to fall out of my sorts, I look around and I see people that I’ve up so much to be here because they have a true passion, a genuine, sincere love for what we do, and that always reminds me that we are very blessed and very lucky and very fortunate to be here. And I want to thank you because you have been a wonderful person. You believed in me before I even believed in myself. So thank you for sticking by me, and…I’m gonna miss Gamora, but I’m not gonna miss the four-hour makeup.”
Saldana previously spoke with Games Radar, confirming this would be her last movie as well; however, she made it clear she didn’t want “Gamora to go away” after her exit:
“I think the time has come for me to step down, and for the next generation to come forward. The one thing I would not want is for Gamora to go away. She’s been such an impactful character for fans, and especially female fans, and young female fans.”
She noted she initially “signed up for one” movie before Guardians of the Galaxy and got a decade out of the role, giving her the chance to move on feeling satisfied with the experience:
“But me, per se? I mean, I signed up for one, and I got 10 years. Lucky me, man. I have no complaints. And I’m moving on with so much grace and gratitude in my heart.”
Will Gamora Return to the MCU?
With Saldana having admitted to feeling “stuck doing…franchises” like the MCU and the Avatar movies, seeing her finish her time with the Guardians series isn’t too big of a shock.
Gunn also admitted during the same special that Saldana was his dream choice to play Gamora, making her retirement decision even more emotional as the franchise comes to a stop for the time being.
But with fans already picturing where other Guardians characters could return in the future, many will be curious to see whether Saldana is recast along with when or where Gamora may show up again.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now streaming on Disney+.
We associate very few things with Batman more than his slick ride, the Batmobile. While there have been many, many iterations of the Batmobile over the decades, a few specific Batmobiles have risen to the top as the most iconic. And now, DC is releasing a series of commemorative pins celebrating the Dark Knight’s legendary vehicles via the DC Shop. You can check out images of these new pins and their creative packaging in our gallery below:
Click To View Gallery
DC Comics/DC Shop
This new limited-edition Gotham City Classics Batmobile pin set comes packaged inside the stylized wheel with hubcap in a set of five (5) collectible enamel pins. Each pin is black nickel plated. There are moving wheels on the Batmobiles and a glow-in-the-dark feature with the Batman Forever Batmobile. The fan-favorite Batmobiles included in this set include the one from the Batman TV series (1966), Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), Batman: The Animated Series (1992), and Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever (1995).
DC Comics
The fifth pin in this set is a chase limited-edition of 495. It’s the Batmobile Communicator from the 1989 film, which slides out the “microphone.” There is also a special super chase pin of the fifth pin. That one is a limited edition of 5—a gold version of the Batmobile Communicator from Tim Burton’s 1989 film, which slides out the “microphone.” Below are the specifications for each separate pin in the set.
Batman (1966) Batmobile: H: 0.78” W: 2.75” Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) Batmobile: H: 0.66” W: 2.875” Batman: The Animated Series (1992) Batmobile: H: 0.55” W: 2.75” Batman Forever (1995) Batmobile: H: 1.12” W: 3” (glow-in-the-dark) Batmobile Communicator: H: 1.89” W: 1.06” Gotham City Classics Batmobile pin set box: 12” x 12” and about 2” deep Gotham City Classics Batmobile pin set box weight: 1 lbs.
Don’t hold your breath for a new Last of Us game reveal or updates on Season 2 of the HBO series tomorrow. Developer Naughty Dog is trying to manage expectations ahead of Last of Us Day, which occurs on September 26 each year.
On Twitter/X, the official Naughty Dog account shared that a special stream will start at 9 AM PT/ 12 PM ET tomorrow “featuring announcements focused on art, merch, and more.” That “more,” however, doesn’t mean new info on The Last of Us Season 2 or updates on the multiplayer title. The studio stated it “will not be discussing any future game or TV show projects.”
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That said, Naughty Dog has been relatively open about the state of the franchise this year. Earlier this month, Neil Druckmann told Entertainment Tonight that HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 is “ready to go” once the Hollywood writers strike ends. A tentative agreement means it may be over soon. And showrunner Craig Mazin confirmed with The Los Angeles Times recently that Abby has already been cast for the sophomore season.
In May, the studio disclosed that The Last of Us multiplayer game would need more time in development before getting an official unveiling. In the same social media post, Naughty Dog noted it’s working on a new single-player experience presumably within the franchise.
The Last of Us originally launched in 2013, so this year marks the franchise’s 10-year anniversary. The game was remade as Part I for PS5 last year and became available on PC earlier this year.
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EXCLUSIVE: Jeannie Koenigsberg has joined Blumhouse as SVP, Physical Production, overseeing physical and post production for television. In the Head of TV Physical Production role, Koenigsberg succeeds Tevin Adelman who left over the summer. Reporting to Lisa Niedenthal, Blumhouse’s Head of Physical Production, Koenigsberg joins the department which includes Jon Romano, who oversees production for theatrical and streaming feature films.
“Jeannie brings a wealth of experience in television production; a deep bench of relationships; and will be a great leader, for TV Production and Post, as we continue to scale our business,” said Niedenthal. “We’re lucky to have her join the team.”
Jeannie Koenigsberg joins Blumhouse from SK Global, where she served as EVP, Television Production, overseeing production for the company’s television division. Prior to that, she headed up scripted production at Quibi and served as VP, Production at Paramount Television. Koenigsberg spent over a decade at HBO, running production on films. She started her TV career in the unscripted genre, working on cable series and Miss Universe live shows for NBC.
Blumhouse Television recently launched series The Horror of Dolores Roach, starring Justina Machado, on Prime Video; and has the upcoming original film Totally Killer, from director Nahnatchka Khan, the series The Sticky, produced by Jamie Lee Curtis; and The Bondsman, starring Kevin Bacon, also for Amazon. The company also produces a slate of horror/thriller films for MGM+, including: The Passenger, There’s Something Wrong with the Children, and Torn Hearts, among others.
The countdown to Survivor 45 is nearly over, which means excited fans will soon be seeing a brand-new season of one of the most intense reality TV shows in existence. Survivor takes people out of their lives and, most importantly, their comfort zones, and drops them into the middle of nowhere with a few simple goals: brave the odds, outsmart the competition, survive, and win the big bucks.
Survivor‘s payout is $1 Million, and the money is well-earned; from challenging competitions to experiencing a total disruption in any level of living comfort participants have ever felt, they’re working hard to win and to stay alive. In fact, one of the contestants this season is someone we’re familiar with, as he came out to compete last season, but was diagnosed with a concussion during the first challenge and had to be removed from the competition altogether.
Despite the ups and downs, viewers love sitting down on Wednesday nights to watch Survivor, and with the news that a long-forgotten part of the game show is making a resurgence, our interest is certainly piqued.
What lost piece of Survivor is making a comeback? The auction, of course, but if you’re scratching your head wondering exactly what that is, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.
What is the auction?
Simply put, in the Survivorverse, the auction was a ceremony that the winning tribe would attain instead of an immediate reward. Contestants would be given money they could use to bid on items such as food, baths/hygiene products, letters from home, and more. The auction started as something lighthearted and looked forward to — until Probst, and other contestants, saw that it became about winning advantages and getting ahead.
Instead of contestants buying food or a note of love and confidence from their friends and loved ones back home, they would hold onto their money to bid on game advantages, and it became less about receiving a reward and turned into another cutthroat aspect of gameplay.
Of course, that’s to be expected in a game like Survivor, but it’s not what the auction’s intended purpose was; it was initially supposed to provide new and exciting rewards for competitions that aren’t just physically exhausting, but mentally and emotionally taxing.
There are specific instances of gameplay that made Probst’s decision to remove the auction a much easier one, and a few of those are discussed in this Reddit thread. Overwhelmingly, people blame Shirin, a season 30 contestant, whom many blame for breaking the reward system altogether.
With the auction coming back, we’re curious as to what will be different about it this go around and what measures will be put in place to prevent a failing system from happening again.
What did Jeff Probst say about the Survivor 45 auction?
As integral a part of the Survivor realm as any, host Jeff Probst is part of the game; he’s the man we rely on to navigate us through anxiety-inducing challenges and give his perfect commentary at each tribal council.
In a chat with Entertainment Weekly, Probst talked about the re-introduction of the auction for season 45, and how it will look different than you might remember; that being said, he isn’t giving away any teasers, and for a good reason:
“Well, we brought the auction back. And the reason that falls into this is the 26-day season does have certain limitations. And doing something like the auction is a lot of work for us. It requires many departments to contribute. We felt like this is a good season to do it, but we didn’t really have an idea. And this was because we felt like we broke the auction once we put advantages into the mix because players would just hold their money with the idea that there would be an advantage at the end, and then it would be a race to buy it.
So the auction became about reinvention, and this was a situation where I actually just sat down one day with a blank piece of paper, determined to come up with a new idea. And once I had something, I called my buddy Elan Lee of Exploding Kittens. As always, he added another great layer and brainstormed with me, and the new auction was born. And since it will only be new the first time you see it, I’d rather not tease it anymore. But it was directly related to having 90 minutes and thinking this would be a really fun thing to bring back, and this is the perfect season to do it.”
While we might not know exactly how it’s going to work, fans can rest assured that Probst spent a lot of time figuring out how to bring it back with a new set of ideas.
Longer episodes are another thing fans are really looking forward to, and as someone who has watched Survivor since I was a little girl with my mom, I can’t wait to see the auction come back; here’s hoping it’s with a system that makes it an enjoyable experience for everyone.
After nine years, Gordon Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares” is back on Fox, with Season 8 seeing the chef once again giving struggling restaurants across New York and New Jersey much-needed makeovers.
While most of the unscripted series is about Ramsay dishing out tough love to restaurant owners and their staff in order to teach them how to run a successful business, each episode sees the eatery at hand also getting a physical transformation.
“The real problems are usually the leadership and what’s going on in the kitchen. Our renovations are there to elevate the places and help them fix it in that way,” production designer Brian Crabb told IndieWire, revealing that the execution of those changes — which are only seen by the owner and staff after completion — typically takes place in 18 hours.
Responsible for the design of all the remodels on “Kitchen Nightmares” and leading the team through the entire renovation process, the department head, who previously worked on “Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back,” added, “We go in with a battle plan. Every hour, every 15 minutes is planned out.”
While a seemingly short amount of time to elevate a restaurant — like the premiere’s Bel Aire Diner, which seats 150 customers and is located in New York City’s Astoria neighborhood — to its highest potential, Crabb explained those 18 hours are actually the culmination of nearly two months of planning, designed to highlight a restaurant’s cultural identity and make sure it’s fully up to date.
“Each restaurant requires different things. But within that, we always want to stay true to the culture,” Crabb said. And in the case of the diner, which actually had been renovated prior to appearing on the show, it was a matter of elevating it beyond just another typical restaurant.
However, the Bel Aire Diner is not typical of the makeovers on “Kitchen Nightmares.” Crabb teased, “You’ll see throughout the season that some of these places we walk into are just an absolute trash dump nightmare of a restaurant. And that’s where our renovations really shine.”
In order to maximize the potential of these renovations, the planning stage is key, with Crabb working with 22 artists, coordinators and production managers during this time to figure out the final designs before an expanded team of 50, which includes tradesmen on-site, making these dream makeovers a reality.
Gordon Ramsay at the end of a successful restaurant renovation on “Kitchen Nightmares”Pete Dadds
That process starts with research, with Crabb and his team “digging into these people’s stories” in order to connect their personal stories to the restaurants at hand. “That way, they have a space that makes sense to them,” he said.
From there, they physically scout each location — from measuring to photographing the space — to identify what isn’t working or what needs fixing before everything is put into CAD (software for optimizing and simulating designs), “so we know it’s all going to work and fit,” Crabb said.
He added that once the renovations are finalized they start ordering products and pre-build things before they head back to the restaurant. (Although the approvals “go all the way to the top,” Crabb said that aside from Ramsay having “very specific thoughts about how to fix” each restaurant, the main design and execution are left up to him.)
And this is the same process and timeline for each restaurant, no matter if it has 180 or 26 seats. With the latter, the final execution just became more tricky — a “technical dance,” as Crabb put it — that required more coordination on site.
“There would be times where we’d have fully 35 to 40 people working at once in a restaurant. I remember in the small restaurant, we had wallpaper, paint, electrical and vinyl graphics guys going and carpentry going all at the same exact time,” Crabb said. “It was something to behold.”
He added that filming this season of “Kitchen Nightmares” “was just pure kismet magic. Everything came together flawlessly.”
And once “we’re done, it’s done,” Crabb said, explaining that after the execution is complete, “it’s good to go. We’re inspected and ready to go. Like, it’s a new restaurant, new day. Nothing is left. There’s no camera trickery.”
Not only that, but Crabb and his team waste no time getting out of there, with the production designer admitting that he didn’t stay for any of the reveals.
“I’m exhausted and I’m just ready to go because, again, we’ve already worked really long hours to get everything done,” he said, with the filming at that point focused on Ramsay training the staff on the new layout and the new menu (which is also something updated by Crabb’s team, with graphic designers handling that as well as signage and logos; the culinary department works with Ramsay on the food selection).
“I actually haven’t seen any reveals and I’ll be surprised as anyone to see if anyone liked it,” Crabb continued, adding, “I’m told that everyone’s very pleased. But I literally have not seen or spoken to anyone about it yet. So, I’ll be following along closely.” That said, he stands by his makeovers. “I really love a lot of these restaurateurs and these restaurants — and I know so many people just really gave their all to them. I’m very proud of what we accomplished.”
“Kitchen Nightmares” Season 8 premieres September 25 at 8 p.m., with new episodes airing every Monday.
It’s almost October and some stars are getting an early start to the spooky season. The weather is getting cooler, so why not start celebrating Halloween now? While most like to start the decor after September ends, Kourtney Kardashian decided it was time to bring in the holiday with some spooky home decor. The reality star shared the sweet reason why she was decorating early and it has to do with husband Travis Barker.
If this family is going to decorate, they are going to go all out, and always bring out all the stops for their elaborate Halloween costumes, not to mention the Kardashians’ massive Christmas trees on display. Kourtney Kardashian’s home Halloween decor was no exception this year, as she filled her California house with scary (and adorable) decorations fit for a haunted mansion. Her dining room turned into a gothic extravaganza, as you can see in the table set up she shared on her Instagram Story:
(Image credit: Kourtney Kardashian Instagram)
The black and white skull theme didn’t stop there, as she also shared a color-coordinated spread of skulls and black pumpkins on the credenza. It perfectly suits the occasion, while also fitting Kardashian and Barker’s style and aesthetic. You can see another picture of the decor below:
Their home entranceway was not to be neglected, as she lined the hallway with white pumpkins along the walls. The choice is an elegant take on the creepy holiday, showing one can be festive while also being classy. You can see the feng shui below:
Kardashian took a similar approach with the walkway outside her house, showing a cohesiveness with the decor. She used the opportunity to explain why she was decorating so early, and it had to do with Barker’s touring schedule with his band Blink 182. Kardashian said on social media:
My husband is gonna be on tour for the first 2 weeks of October so had to surprise him and make sure we got all the Halloween vibes in now
This is so sweet, and she did such a wonderful job capturing all the ghostly vibes ahead of the season. Based on what fans have seen of their relationship, Barker probably loved the chic style that Kardashian was able to infuse into the holiday. The Poosh mogul said that her drummer husband would only be gone the first two weeks of the month, so hopefully he will be able to spend the actual Halloween day with Kardashian, who’s expecting their first child together. Last year the couple dressed up as Pamala Anderson and Tommy Lee for the occasion, so I’m curious to see if they will channel punk rock icons again in 2023.
You can see both Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker on the upcoming fourth season of the family reality series, The Kardashians, which is set to premiere on September 28 for those with Hulu subscriptions. Fans who are also excited for all the scariness October has to offer should also consult our feature on upcoming horror movies that are set to hit theaters and streaming this year.
It took a while but Krapopolis, Fox’s new animated series, performed well in its opening.
Fox said that the Sunday night premiere of the Dan Harmon-created series delivered a 1.2 Live+ Same Day rating among adults 18-49 and 3.6M total viewers.
The network said that this made it the most-watched animation series to debut over the past decade and Rick and Morty co-creator Harmon’s most-watched animated series telecast ever.
Krapopolis was helped by Fox airing it after a Sunday NFL game that not only saw the Kansas City Chiefs blow out the Chicago Bears, but a game that saw Taylor Swift make headlines for turning up to support her new friend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Fox added that it became the number one original comedy telecast of 2023, beating the debut of the Night Court reboot and the number one entertainment program among adults 18-49 for the week of September 19.
While this marked the first time in 25 years an animation series debut was the week’s highest-rated entertainment program, since Family Guy’s series debut in 1999, it was also helped by being the only new show on the air as a result of the writers and actors strikes.
The comedy, which is set in mythical ancient Greece, stars the voice talent of Hannah Waddingham, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Pam Murphy and Duncan Trussell. It moves to its regular timeslot as part of Fox’s Animation Domination block that also includes The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy on October 1.
Fox’s President of Entertainment Michael Thorn told Deadline that it “feels like a moment” for the network, in terms of animation.
Created and exec produced by Rick and Morty co-creator Harmon, the series is produced by Fox’s Bento Box Entertainment. Jordan Young serves as showrunner and exec producer for the first season.
The lengthy — and messy — custody battle between Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde is finally over.
The exes, who have had a contentious custody battle over the last year and a half, agreed to share joint custody of their two kids, Otis, 9, and Daisy, 7. Sudeikis will have to pay a total of $27,500 a month in child support, and the two will switch off custody with a “week-on, week-off” schedule.
Along with the child support payment, the Ted Lasso actor is set to cover an additional 25% of childcare costs that Wilde incurs. The documents, posted byDaily MailMonday, also gave an inside look at the former couple’s finances: Sudeikis’ estimated income was 10.5 million, while Wilde’s was $500,000.
“The parties agree that child support for the minor children in the amount of $27,500 per month is sufficient to maintain the needs of the minor children considering Jason’s station in life,” the document read. “[It] is consistent with each child’s best interest, and application of the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate in this case.”
Last year, footage went viral of Wilde being served custody papers while on stage during an appearance at CinemaCon back in April 2022. Later that year, Wilde said the entire situation was “vicious” but “not something that was entirely surprising to me.”
“It was my workplace. In any other workplace, it would be seen as an attack. It was really upsetting,” she told Variety. “It shouldn’t have been able to happen.”
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While Wilde’s ex Jason Sudeikis claimed he had “had no prior knowledge of the time or place that the envelope would have been delivered” — as the actor previously said in a statement — Wilde noted in the interview that the ambush was premeditated.
Back in March, Wilde’s legal team said that Sudeikis was trying to “litigate her into debt” as the former couple worked out where their children would live. The following month, Wilde’s legal team claimed Sudeikis was not “paying child support,” per People.
Incendiary Spanish director Isabel Coixet (“The Secret Life of Words”) heads to San Sebastian for the international premiere of her latest drama “Un Amor,” a take on devouring love starring Laia Costa (“Lullaby”) and Hovik Keuchkerian (“Money Heist”) that sets Coixet up to compete on the festival’s main stage for the first time.
“Un Amor” is produced by Buenapinta Media’s Marisa Fernández Armenteros (“The Mole Agent”) alongside “Society of the Snow” producers Sandra Hermida and Belén Atienza, here producing out of Perdición Films. World sales are handled by Film Constellation (“Return to Reason”).
The film is based on its namesake novel by Sara Mesa, branded Spain’s 2020 book of the year by Spanish newspaper El País. The script was written by Coixet and Laura Ferrero (“Empty Pools”).
Tormented by occupational hazards and the hustle of city living, protagonist Nat ventures to the countryside town of La Escapa to start fresh. Unpartnered and saddled with a wayward dog, she stands fiercely in her solitude, existing just outside societal bounds while quietly infuriating the residents of her increasingly inhospitable new home.
Longing for more than surface-level niceties, she evolves and devolves in tandem after a bewildering proposal from the brusque and towering Andreas unravels into an unfettered obsession that holds her captive as she clumsily attempts to collect her pride.
“Her tragedy isn’t being an outsider. Her tragedy is that, in a way, she wants to belong a little bit,” Coixet told Variety.
The director admits an affinity for Nat, a character that Mesa says was named the most hated protagonist in contemporary Spanish literature on account of her motives, the irrational nature of her actions. Upon a second perusal of the text the story coaxed Coixet into an adaptation.
“I have this absolute identification with Nat. In a way, it was so difficult to do justice to this character, and at the same time, easy, because I’ve been there. I behaved like that, I felt all these things. I’ve felt this contradiction.”
Though harnessing an innate power, Nat comes to find country living isn’t the peaceful endeavor she’d imagined and at every turn she’s faced with the disingenuous nature of a society not trusting of a woman striking out on her own.
“We suffer micro aggressions in our daily lives as women. When we go to a new place, the first question someone asks is, ‘are you going to live here alone?’ ‘This was your first night here, you weren’t afraid?’ Why, as a woman, do we have to justify ourselves about every single thing going on in our lives?” Coixet asked.
“I wanted to portray that. I also wanted to show what happened with people, let’s say, with ‘normal lives.’ The woman who has two kids and implies you’re not as good as her because you don’t have kids, you don’t have a partner or your house is crumbling or dirty, or you have a dog and the dog looks strange. Yet, all of those set standards she represents have made the life of women miserable,” she added.
Coixet film alum Costa runs with the ambitious character study, from her strident independence through the film’s obsessive bent and on toward an absolving and defiant culmination.
“I love Laia, we had a blast shooting my series, ‘Foodie Love.’ We’ve become friends, we’re very open with each other,” Coixet relayed. “Sometimes you get lazy as a director, because I’m sure there are a bunch of actresses who could play Nat, but Laia’s going to shine because she’s extraordinary. I’ve said I have a deep connection with Nat, but Laia is so opposite to that character yet she really understood her, became her.”
Costa and Hovik were stripped down for their roles. Incredibly vulnerable and raw, each sex scene worked to advance the narrative. Not over stylized but stumbling, wanton, brutal. Something Coixet credits to wide-open communication and a keen eye for the mood on set. She recalled the influence of the first cinematic sex scene she saw that felt real, which focused on the passion-flecked face of Meryl Streep’s title character in “Sophie’s Choice.”
Isabel Coixet
Credit: Zoe Sala Coixet
“People must talk and rehearse, a director must be present and create an atmosphere of trust, that’s what we did. It’s the duty of the director, a very important part of your job, to be there for them, notice if they’re not telling you something, guide them. Because, that’s what you are asking of them, to be present in that scene, in that moment,” she opined.
“I don’t want to say it was easy, nothing is easy. But I’ve shot many scenes like this in my life, and I have to say that if I had to shoot a guy flying, destroying a city, I would probably have more problems than shooting a sex scene. I don’t like the idea of choreography because sex is clumsy, it’s dirty. Sometimes you don’t know exactly what you’re going to do and we have to play with that too,” Coixet added.
“The representation of sex in our movie was key because what makes this something unique from other stories about sexual obsession is how this story begins, how the sex specifically acts as a token in a capitalistic system,” she continued.
“Un Amor” is an alluring anti-romance at every turn, full of brutal honesty and ill intent veiled in painted-on grins and unsolicited advice. A woman’s body plays currency – on offer for trade, barter and payment in full – as even the most self-sufficient among us require connection and assistance at a certain juncture.
The narrative turns on the mystifying act of human relation and all that’s said and left unsaid of our truths and furtive desires and proves a twisted rumination on love, belonging and the mind’s fragility as it settles the self-kept score of our cumbersome transgressions.
“All this about being very comfortable in your skin and accepting yourself, what is this? I don’t accept myself. I’m not good in my skin, I’m not comfortable. Maybe the day I’m comfortable in my skin, I’ll die. I’d rather be uncomfortable,” mused Coixet.
“One of the things about films? They don’t have to be comfortable. They don’t have to be sweet. They have to challenge you. If there’s no challenge, there’s also no confrontation. In one of my films, one of the characters said, ‘Understanding everything makes the mind lazy’ and I think that’s the truth.”
Three men and a minor face assault and kidnapping charges after a 19-year-old man was allegedly attacked in a southeast Calgary neighbourhood and forced into a car.
Officers were called to the 9300 block of Almond Crescent Southeast, in the neighbourhood of Acadia, shortly before 1 p.m. on the afternoon of Sept. 19 for reports someone was being assaulted and dragged by four people in the alleyway.
CPS officials say the victim was forced into a car with some of his assailants and the group drove away prior to the arrival of officers.
Police units, including HAWCS, tracked two suspect vehicles to southbound Bow Bottom Trail near Canyon Meadows Drive Southeast. Both vehicles eventually stopped in the 200 block of Deerpoint Lane Southeast, in the neighbourhood of Deer Ridge, and officers arrested three of the suspects.
The assault victim was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries.
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According to police, a search of the two vehicles resulted in the seizure of:
Police have not indicated where the fourth suspect was arrested.
Four people — 21-year-old Dobuol Kang Gathuoth, 20-year-old Yusuf Mohamed Aboud, 18-year-old Micias Luelseged Cherie and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named — have all been charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault in connection with the investigation.
Cherie was also charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking while Aboud was charged with wearing a disguise with intent. The 17-year-old was also charged with possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.
All four of the accused were scheduled to appear in court this week.
Saturday Night Live season 49 is expected to premiere in October.
The cast for SNL season 49 hasn’t been announced.
Saturday nights just aren’t Saturday nights without, well, Saturday Night Live. The sketch comedy series has become a cultural touchstone since its premiere in 1975. Creator Lorne Michaels has helmed SNL for nearly all of its historic run, and the show is now inching closer to a milestone season 50.
However, there’s still another season to go. Since SNL season 48 was cut short, everyone’s been wondering about the status of Saturday Night Live season 49. SNL is always at its strongest during an election year, and season 49 will undoubtedly embrace the 2024 presidential election cycle with epic and hilarious commentary. From what we know about a possible premiere date to how the writers’ strike ending will impact the show, here’s a full rundown of all the latest updates about season 49.
Colin Jost and Michael Che during ‘Weekend Update.’ (NBC)
Is SNL Season 49 Happening?
Saturday Night Live season 49 is a sure thing. The iconic series is a staple for the network, and the show is so close to celebrating 50 years on the air.
Saturday Night Live season 49 does not have a set premiere date yet, but we’ll learn more soon. The show usually premieres in September as part of NBC’s fall lineup. Since the writers’ strike is coming to an end, SNL will likely return on either October 7 or 14, according to Deadline. NBC will likely announce a premiere date once WGA votes to certify their new deal.
Chloe Fineman on ‘SNL.’ (NBC)
Hosts for SNL season 49 have also not been announced. The majority of actors will not be allowed to host since SAG-AFTRA is still on strike. Until the SAG strike ends, SNL will have to explore their options with musicians, sports stars, and more as hosts.
NBC already revealed its fall lineup for 2023, and Saturday Night Live wasn’t originally on it. However, the sketch comedy series could easily be added back in. The show’s Saturday night timeslot is usually reserved for reruns when the show isn’t airing live.
Who Is Returning for Saturday Night Live Season 49?
The cast list for SNL season 49 hasn’t been officially revealed. Over the past few seasons, Saturday Night Live has seen newbies arrive at Studio 8H and beloved veterans depart. SNL boss Lorne Michaels dubbed season 48 a “transition year” after the exits of Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney, Alex Moffat, Chris Redd, Melissa Villaseñor, and Aristotle Athari.
Since the SAG-AFTRA strike is still ongoing, some of the cast members could bow out of returning until a new deal is made. James and Sarah, who became breakout stars of season 48, are expected to be promoted to repertory players for season 49. As for any potential new cast members, Lorne has been looking at some people but “hasn’t made any final verdicts.”
Following the departure of SNL vet Cecily Strong during season 48, there’s now an open spot for a new repertory cast member. One of the featured players could be bumped up in season 49. The show could also add new featured players in the upcoming season, especially if any of the season 48 featured players decide to leave. As of now, it’s highly likely Colin and Michael will return to the “Weekend Update” desk.
The Please Don’t Destroy trio. (NBC)
Comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, consisting of Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy, joined the show in season 47 to produce digital shorts. They’ve had viral hits like “Three Sad Virgins” with Taylor Swift and “Road Trip” with Jenna Ortega. The trio’s debut film, The Treasure of Foggy Mountain, will debut on Peacock in 2023. No word yet about whether or not they’ll return for season 49.
Is Saturday Night Live Ending After Season 50?
Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels has been candid about possibly retiring after season 50. “I think I’m committed to doing this show until its 50th anniversary, which is in three years. I’d like to see that through and I have a feeling that’d be a good time to leave,” he said on CBS Mornings in 2021.
He added, “I won’t want the show ever to be bad. I care too deeply about it. It’s been my life’s work. So I’m gonna do everything I can to see it carry on and carry on well.” When Gayle King asked if there can even be a Saturday Night Live without him, he responded, “Yeah, of course.” She also quizzed him about who could possibly take over for him. “I have a sense of where we’re headed with that,” he said.
Tina Fey was a veteran cast member for nearly a decade. (Adela Loconte/Shutterstock)
However, Lorne told The New York Times in 2022 that he had “no plans to retire.” He was still looking ahead to celebrating 50 years of SNL. “The 50th will be a big event. We’ll bring everyone back from all 50 years and hosts and all of that. It will be a very emotional and very strong thing. There won’t be as many plus-ones, I can tell you that much,” he said.
In July 2023, The New York Post reported that SNL vet Tina Fey was “being courted” to take over as executive producer of SNL when Lorne decides to leave. Lorne and Tina have yet to respond to the report. A spokesperson for NBC told ET Canada that there was “no truth” to the claim about Tina taking over. Tina was a head writer and cast member of SNL from 1997 to 2006.
Kenan Thompson is the show’s longest-running cast member. He joined the show in 2003 and has become the leader among the cast members. When asked about ending SNL at season 50, Kenan told Charlamagne tha God, “There could be a lot of validity to that rumor because 50 is a good number to stop at. That’s an incredible package.”
Kenan Thompson on ‘SNL.’ (NBC)
The comedian also hinted that he was unsure the show could survive without Lorne. “He’s the one that’s had his touch on the whole thing,” Kenan continued. “It opens the opportunity for a lot of bulls**t to come into the game because he’s such a legend that he keeps off those corporate wolves.”
The daytime talk shows sidelined by the WGA strike are making moves to resume production now that a tentative agreement has been reached between the writers and the AMPTP.
Of the enterprises impacted by their WGA ties — The Talk, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Jennifer Hudson Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show — sources indicate that all are looking into October returns. Barrymore being back on air will likely be the most notable. The host and veteran actress was the target of unprecedented flack over the past few weeks when she announced plans to return to work and then quickly shifted gears in one of multiple apologies.
One benefit to the false starts for these shows — The Talk and The Jennifer Hudson Show had also planned September premieres before nixing their start dates — is that they had all resumed the production machine after the hiatus. With that in mind, it’s considered likely that some will be back on the air before the late-night shows. Those, including hours fronted by Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers, have been dark for so long that writers and crew may justifiably need a longer runway before tapings resume.
Of course, neither the daytime nor the late-night landscape will be back to business as usual until both the WGA and the SAG-AFTRA strikes are resolved. These shows can proceed with a new writers contract, but actors remained barred from all promotion (i.e.: talk shows’ bread and butter) until their own deal is made. There is at least some president for how that will look. Daytime shows, including Live With Kelly and Mark, doesn’t employ WGA writers and has already been back on the air. Sherri Shepherd’s Sherri, in a similar boat, was set to come back until the star tested positive for COVID.
In late-night, Bravo’s WGA-free Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen has been the lone late-night talker of note to air original episodes since May — leaning on its network’s deep bench of reality stars and Cohen’s famous friends for guests.
Talk shows, particularly those in daytime, aren’t often the object of much attention. But that shifted quickly in recent weeks when a few stepped out with plans to return early. Barrymore’s backlash was swift and dominated the strike news cycle for days. The same went for Bill Maher, HBO’s late-night gadfly (and a WGA member). After making critical comments about the strike during an early September episode of his podcast, including calling the guild’s demands “kooky,” he announced plans to return to the air without his WGA staffers. He also capitulated, though for different reasons, citing the renewed talks between the guild and studio as reason for optimism. “Now that both sides have agreed to go back to the negotiating table I’m going to delay the return of Real Time, for now, and hope they can finally get this done,” he wrote on X.
Though the anticipated end of the strike has been greeted with relief and glee across the entertainment industry, the early return of talk shows will be of particularly well-received by their linear platforms. As streamers have been able to strategically release banked content during the five-month labor stoppage, broadcast networks and their local affiliates have suffered by a more immediate drop in original content.
Other live and live-ish shows will be on the air even sooner. In light of the tentative agreement, Dancing With the Stars (a reality show long covered by WGA) will return on Sept. 26 as originally planned after a considered delay. ABC announced the news earlier on Monday.
New York Post columnist Jon Levine thought he’d try out the Sen. John Fetterman “look” at New York City’s finest restaurants as something of a social experiment-slash-political commentary, but there was a problem: Levine is not a sitting U.S. senator.
In the wake of the chamber relaxing its dress code so Fetterman can look like a complete slob at all times, Levine thought he’d see if the Big Apple’s front-of-the-house hosts would stoop to the new Senate standard. Predictably, Levine was not allowed past the gatekeepers while wearing an oversized hoodie, gym shorts and frumpy trainers over the weekend.
“The Senate is the world’s greatest deliberative body,” Levine said Monday, modeling his Fetterman ‘fit on “Fox & Friends.” “I wanted to see if I could walk into the – into restaurants in New York City dressed like you can now apparently walk into the world’s greatest deliberative body.”
Host Steve Doocy asked: How’d it go?
“The answer was a resounding no,” Levine said, suggesting his schtick “immediately put everyone in a bad mood.”
“Did anyone take a look at your getup and say, ‘Get Out?’” Doocy asked.
“People were generally, I would say, polite – there was no open hostility,” Levine said. “I think at lot of people thought I was crazy. … Generally I was very politely told like, ‘Sir, you can’t have athletic wear, the whole thing is not going to work. Please leave quietly.”
Though the experiment was a deeply flawed false equivalency – being John Fetterman and walking into the Senate is not the same as being an unknown columnist walking into a Manhattan fine dining establishment – the point was clear.
“Civilization is a choice that we make every single day,” Levine said. “You [meaning Doocy] woke up today and you put on a suit and tie, and I have only ever seen you on this show in suit and tie. You have great respect for yourself and your audience. In the United States you can just march in like you came out of a pilates class.
Levine did suggest that at least one group was especially hostile to his look: The security guards at Fox’s New York studios: “I was nearly tackled by some of the guys there when I tried to walk in.”
Andrew Jeffrey joined Realscreen in 2021 as its news editor. Here, he helps to oversee assignment, reporting and editing for Realscreen’s daily newsletter. Prior to his work covering documentary and non-fiction film and TV, he worked as a reporter and associate producer for CBC Edmonton, and as a reporter for The Star Calgary, where he covered daily news on beats such as local and provincial politics, health care and harm reduction, sports and education. His work has appeared in other Canadian news outlets such as TVO, the Edmonton Journal and Avenue Magazine.
Parineeti Chopra gets married; Swara Bhasker welcomes a baby girl
From Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha sharing dreamy wedding photos to Swara Bhasker welcoming a baby girl, here are the biggest headlines of the day.
Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra and AAP politician Raghav Chadha are married now. The couple tied the knot at The Leela Palace in Udaipur on Sunday, September 24. Their wedding was an intimate affair with family members and close friends in presence. For her special day, Parineeti opted for a pastel colour lehenga designed by Manish Malhotra. Raghav complemented his bride in a traditional sherwani.
Swara Bhasker recently welcomed a baby girl with husband Fahad Ahmad. The proud parents named her Raabiya. As they embark on their journey into parenthood, the couple is over the moon. A source close to their family informed paparazzo Viral Bhayani, “Swara and Fahad are delighted to announce the arrival of their greatest joy & blessing : a baby girl born on 23rd September 2023 . She’s the cutest, most precious thing & they cannot take their eyes off her.”
Salman Khan’s niece, Alizeh Agnihotri, is all set to make her film debut, confirming previous rumours. In a recent social media post, many celebs, including Salman himself, shared the title of Alizeh’s debut film, Farrey, and the teaser is out now. It was reported in November last year that Alizeh had begun shooting for award-winning director Soumendra Padhi’s film. Reports claimed that the film is slated for a 2023 release. Alizeh is the daughter of Salman’s sister Alvira Khan and producer Atul Agnihotri.
Akshay Kumar finally unveiled the highly anticipated trailer of ‘Mission Raniganj’ and it has not only lived up to it’s promise and hype but has exceeded all expectations! In the film, the actor essays the role of Jaswant Singh Gill who played a significant role in rescuing surviving miners trapped inside a flooded coal mine in Raniganj in November 1989 which was a successful rescue mission in Bharat against all odds.
Actress Amy Jackson recently made headlines when she took to Instagram to share her new look. The photo quickly went viral on social media platforms as netizens said that the actress looked like Hollywood sensation and Oppenheimer headliner Cillian Murphy. Some even said that the actress looked unrecognisable and trolled her. In a new interview, Amy addressed expressed that she was hurt by the comments she came across. However, she felt “over the moon” by the comparisons made with Cillian.
Aditi Giri, Senior Sub-Editor at News18. She is a Bollywood and Biryani enthusiast. She loves talking to your favourite BTown celebrities, and brings …Read More
Emma Heming Willis has opened up about the moment her husband, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia — a breakthrough she called “a blessing and a curse.”
The skincare and wellness influencer stopped by NBC’s “Today” show on Monday to raise awareness about FTD seven months after the “Die Hard” and “Sixth Sense” star was diagnosed with the disease. Heming Willis referred to FTD as a “family disease” and reflected on how her husband’s ailment has affected their loved ones.
“We’re a very honest and open household, and the most important thing was to be able for us to say what the disease was, explain what it is,” Heming Willis told “Today” co-anchor Hoda Kotb.
“Because when you know what the disease is, from a medical standpoint, it sort of all makes sense. … I don’t want there to be any stigma or shame attached to [the] diagnosis or for any form of dementia.”
Willis, 68, and Heming Willis, 45, have been married for about 14 years and share two young daughters. The “Pulp Fiction” actor also has three adult daughters with his ex-wife and fellow actor Demi Moore.
When Willis’ family received the official diagnosis, after witnessing how it had altered his ability to understand and communicate with others, it was “a blessing and a curse to finally understand what was happening,” Heming Willis explained.
“It doesn’t make it any less painful,” she said. “But just being in the acceptance [stage] and being in the know of what is happening to Bruce makes it a little bit easier.”
Asked if the actor is aware of “what’s going on” with his health, Heming Willis said, “It’s hard to know.”
“It’s really important for me to look up from the grief and the sadness so that I can see what is happening around us,” she said.
“Bruce would want us to be in the joy of what is — he would really want that for me and our family.”
Miles’ last Spider-Verse appearance saw him go toe-to-toe with a terrifying new big bad in Jason Schwartzman’s The Spot after 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse highlighted Liev Schreiber’s Kingpin.
And thanks to a new release from Sony, fans now know that Miles’ next villain/enemy in the short will actually be a surprising one – “anxiety.”
The outlet shared a new synopsis for this short confirming that Miles will have to deal with “responsibilities as a student, friend, and city savior” all piling up on top of each other, leading to Miles having a full-blown panic attack:
“In the short film, Miles has to fight a silent but deadly enemy that many people across the world (and ‘Across the Spider-Verse’) have to deal with as well: Anxiety. In the story, the teenager starts getting anxious when his responsibilities as a student, friend, and city savior start to pile up. The pressure ends up making Miles have a panic attack – which in turn forces him to have to confront manifestations of his anxiety.”
How Will Miles Tackle New “Villain?”
With Miles Morales having tackled plenty of challenges across his first two movies, seeing him look inward at the anxiety building up in his personal life will be something fresh for the superhero genre.
Especially with this project being a short rather than a movie, it will allow Miles to move even further along in his own personal journey before he comes across more tangible enemies.
The Batman’s interrogation scene with The Riddler was meticulously executed, with 70-80 takes to capture Paul Dano’s exploration of the character’s deeper layers.
The scene showcases The Riddler at his most unhinged and has become an iconic Batman movie scene.
The attention to detail in capturing the darker elements of the film highlights the seriousness of The Batman production.
An element of The Dark Knight’s method acting was tackled in The Batman as Matt Reeves goes deeper into the movie’s interrogation scene. While initially meant to be a DCEU movie for Ben Affleck’s Caped Crusader, The Batman morphed into a reboot for the DC icon, existing in its own continuity with Robert Pattinson as the titular lead. One of the major Batman villains to get reimagined for the big screen was The Riddler, played by Paul Dano, becoming one of the character’s best-received live-action interpretations.
One of the pivotal moments for The Riddler was after Edward Nashton was arrested and taken in for interrogation, which became one of the best scenes in the DC movie. It turns out there was more work put into that scene, as Reeves recently talked about working with Dano in an interview with The Guardian. According to the filmmaker, they went through “70 or 80 takes,” as Dano went deep into exploring the deeper layers behind The Riddler, with Reeves sharing the following:
Paul loves doing a lot of takes, as do I. We took two days on the final scene between him and Robert Pattinson as Batman, and we must have easily done 70 or 80 takes. Paul loves exploring. He’s obsessive that way. There were all these moments as the Riddler where he’d be tickled by something and then fly into a rage, and you never knew from take to take where that switch would come. I’d be sitting there with the headphones on, trying to stifle my laughter because he’d always do something surprising. Paul would ask me: ‘Was that crazy? Was that too much?’ I’d say: ‘No it’s fantastic. Let’s do another.’
How The Batman’s Interrogation Scene Repeats Paid Off
Throughout The Batman’s story, The Riddler is seemingly always in control and a step ahead of the Gotham City vigilante, which is what makes his defeat that much more satisfying in the end. For much of the movie, The Riddler thinks that he and Batman are fighting for the same side. That is why when Batman rejects The Riddler’s philosophy, Edward snaps, which becomes a crucial moment for The Batman’s final act and sets up an even more compelling story in The Batman – Part II if Dano is back for the sequel.
Clearly, the immense number of takes for this important scene paid off. Not only does it show The Riddler at his most unhinged, but it is also one of the more discussed scenes from all of the Batman movies over the last decade. It also demonstrates how serious The Batman production was when it came to nailing some of the darker elements of the movie.
Time will tell if there are more stories for The Riddler in The Batman universe, as he is currently locked up at Arkham Asylum. Hopefully, there is a way for Reeves to bring back The Riddler in an organic way, whether that happens to be in The Batman – Part II or a later sequel. For now, anyone who wants to relive Dano’s performance as The Riddler in The Batman can do so through streaming on Max or on Blu-Ray/DVD.
With Payday 3’s release in full swing, players are naturally wondering when some of Payday 2’s most beloved features and heists will come out. While many of these features have been ported over nicely, and some have even seen significant upgrades (thank god for sliding), certain aspects are missing. The Payday 2 safehouse is one of them, though all hope of its return isn’t lost. During a recent developer livestream, the team discussed many highly-discussed topics in the community, including the potential return of the safehouse.
During the stream, Payday 3 developers Almir Listo and Andreas Hall-Penninger were asked about the possibility of the Payday 2 safehouse. In response, they said that while there’s currently no safehouse feature for Payday 3, the team sees the post-launch content drops for the game as an “opportunity” for them to create a new safehouse for players to engage with and explore. However, that’s no guarantee that it will return. They further said that whether it will be an exciting feature or not “is up to us, the development team, to think about properly.”
Currently, the Payday 2 safehouse serves as a hub for players to explore and learn more about their favorite heisters. Most of the rooms in the house are dedicated to specific heisters and showcase themselves, while there’s also a vault for all of the cash you’ve accumulated when playing. It isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but it can host the Safehouse Raid heist, with cops actively assaulting the safehouse and attempting to take down the heisters. While I found it a bit annoying after a while, I always enjoyed that extra touch of personality the safehouse brought forth.
While it’ll likely be a while before we see the safehouse added if we ever do, it’s good to see that it’s at least on the Payday 3 team’s radar. For now, at least, we have a handful of heists to work through. If you’re getting started yourself, check our Payday 3 No Rest for the Wicked stealth guide.
About the Author
Shawn Robinson
Shawn is a freelance gaming journalist who’s been with Prima Games for a year, writing mainly about FPS games and RPGs. He even brings several years of experience at other sites like The Nerd Stash to the table. While he doesn’t bring a fancy degree to the table, he brings immense attention to detail with his guides, reviews, and news, leveraging his decade and a half of gaming knowledge. If he isn’t writing about games, he’s likely getting zero kills in his favorite FPS or yelling at the game when it was 100% his fault that he died.
An exact premiere date has not been set. A spokesperson for “The Drew Barrymore Show” declined to comment.
Barrymore found herself in the eye of a storm when when she announced her talk show would be returning amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The actor was roundly criticized for saying that the show would premiere on Sept. 18 in compliance with WGA guidelines and without writers — but then, she made matters worse by doubling down in another video that was not received well by writers on strike, or the public.
Her choice to bring back the show stemmed from wanting to keep her staff at work, as well as contractual obligations with station partners across the daytime TV business, insiders explained to Variety. As long as hosts or guests didn’t discuss or promote struck work, she wouldn’t have been violating SAG-AFTRA rules, with the Network Code agreement allowing daytime hosts to perform hosting duties. However, the show operates with union writers, so new episodes would have required moving forward without their writers on staff.
The WGA had condemned Barrymore’s decision in a statement, saying, “Drew Barrymore should not be on the air while her writers are on strike fighting for a fair deal. In reality, shows like this cannot operate without writing, and that is struck work.”
In addition, fellow actors and writers slammed the decision on social media and pickets against the show were planned. A week after that, Barrymore backtracked and decided not to bring the show back during the strikes after all.
“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore wrote on Instagram. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon.”
ABC has decided to premiere “Dancing With the Stars” Season 32 as originally scheduled on Tuesday, the network announced.
The debut of the show, which will air at 8 p.m. ET and simulcast live on Disney+ and be available next day on Hulu, was put in doubt after “Veep” actor Matt Walsh rethought his involvement after learning it was being picketed by WGA.
“I am taking a pause from ‘Dancing with the Stars’ until an agreement is made with the WGA,” Walsh said in a statement last week. “I was excited to join the show and did so under the impression that it was not a WGA show and fell under a different agreement. This morning when I was informed by my union, the WGA, that it is considered struck work I walked out of my rehearsal.”
Walsh added that he supports “union members of the WGA, SAG and DGA.” On Sunday, the WGA reached a tentative deal with the AMPTP, which has yet to be ratified by guild members.
While SAG-AFTRA remains on strike, they have reassured the other actors on the series, including Jamie Lynn Spears, Alyson Hannigan and Mira Sorvino, that they were not crossing the picket line by participating in the show.
“The majority of our members on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producer exercises their option, which the producer has done,” the guild’s statement read.
“Our members are also subject to a ‘No Strike Clause’ in the Network Code Collective Bargaining Agreement,” the statement continued. “This means our performers agree not to strike during the term of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and to show up to work during this term (the Network Code runs through June 30, 2024.) By not showing up to work, our performers can be held in breach of contract and the Union is prohibited from advising them not to work.”
Kylie Minogue just covered Vogue Australia (Kylie Mi-vogue?) and opened up about the honor and responsibility of guiding so many Aussies, for so many years, through the pop landscape.
Is she ever confronted by the largeness of this responsibility? “I don’t find it confronting, I find it inspiring and moving and it makes a lot of what I do real. There’s a cost for a lot of what I do, to myself. But hearing real, actual stories of people’s lives, it’s amazing!…It’s like a cosmic thing because you can’t touch it, you can’t bottle it. There’s a magic, you’re affecting someone, you’re part of their memories and in their being. It’s a truly wondrous thing and I’m so grateful.”
She also spoke about how fashion is part of her self-expression, or as the writer put it, “storytelling.” Minogue is a visuals gal. “I get really into the details, certainly on all the graphics, everything I can get my hands on. I’ll get completely forensic about it…If I had a different job from the beginning, it would’ve been a linguist … or a graphic designer.”
Cool, for sure, but then we wouldn’t have “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head!”
Wish directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn say that even they aren’t completely sure how many Disney references will be in the upcoming animated movie.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Buck said the upcoming animated Disney movie has a number of “legacy nods” to other films from the studio. The movie has so many of these legacy nods, in fact, that Buck believes there are some he and Veerasunthorn don’t even know about.
“They’re all over the movie,” Buck explained. “We are compiling a list, and I couldn’t tell you how long it is now. Each department puts things in and there’s some that we don’t even know are there yet, and we may not know until they tell us.”
What is Disney’s Wish about?
Announced in September 2022, Wish tells the origin story of the iconic wishing star that first appeared in 1940’s Pinocchio, the second movie ever made by Walt Disney Pictures. Produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes, the movie features the voices of Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, and Alan Tudyk.
“Wish is an all-new story set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, an optimist with a sharp wit and a deep caring for her community, turns to the sky in a moment of need, and makes a wish,” the official synopsis reads. “Asha’s plea is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy, Star. Together, they will face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars — wondrous things can happen.”
Wish is intended to commemorate Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration. It will be released in theaters alongside Once Upon a Studio, a short film that sees various Disney characters come to life within the company’s studio building.
“We wanted to make a movie that celebrates the joy of Disney and make a movie for the fans,” Buck said. “It’s a hundred years. The Disney audience has kept us going and kept this studio going, and so there’s so much of that.”
Less than 24 hours after the WGA reached a tentative deal to end the 146-day strike, Variety has learned that “Dancing With the Stars” is moving ahead with its planned premiere date, after all.
ABC confirmed that “Dancing With the Stars” will premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 26, and will be simulcast live on Disney+.
Over the past few days, the heat had been on “Dancing With the Stars,” and ABC put a plan in place to postpone the show’s premiere amid backlash from the WGA. Celebrity cast members were feeling heightened pressure and had growing concerns about participating on the show, as WGA members were picketing “Dancing With the Stars” rehearsals, in an effort to delay the show or have celebrities bow out.
Amid the backlash last week, one cast member, “Veep” actor Matt Walsh announced that he would pause his participation in the show amid the ongoing WGA strike. But now, Variety has learned he will now be back on the dance floor. (Walsh is a WGA member, as well as a member of SAG-AFTRA and the DGA.)
“With the hopeful resolution and vote with the WGA, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ would no longer be a struck show therefore all cast would be able to return. This includes WGA member Matt Walsh,” a spokesperson for Walsh tells Variety in a statement.
Though the WGA has reached a tentative agreement to end the strike, SAG-AFTRA is still on strike. However, SAG-AFTRA backed the cast of “Dancing With the Stars,” stating that its members who are on the show are not violating union rules by participating in “DWTS.”
“They are required to go to work, are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules, and we support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said.
The performers on “DWTS” — which include the celebrity cast members, two hosts, three judges and pro dancers — are all cleared to work on the show under SAG-AFTRA’s “Network Code” agreement, which is not part of the current strike. (The “Network Code” was ratified in 2022, and does not expire until June 2024.) The hosts, judges and professional dancers are all members of SAG-AFTRA, and much of the celebrity lineup for Season 32 are part of the union, including Alyson Hannigan, Jamie Lynn Spears, Barry Williams, Matt Walsh, Mira Sorvino, Ariana Madix and Xochitl Gomez.
Though “Dancing With the Stars” is a reality show, it is covered by the WGA because it employs one WGA writer. Had the show moved forward without that writer before the WGA reached a deal, the writer would have been re-hired when the strike was over, sources previously told Variety. However, voting on the deal takes place on Tuesday, and WGA members have been instructed not to return to work until the strike order against the AMPTP has been formally lifted. “To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then,” WGA members were told on Sunday night.
“Dancing With the Stars” employs a crew of roughly 500 staff members in total, and a large concern when monitoring whether the show would have returned during the strike was keeping the large team employed, individuals close to production said.
“Dancing With the Stars” Season 32 is key to ABC’s fall schedule, which is largely unscripted this season, given production shut-downs during the strike. Aside from buzzy new series “The Golden Bachelor,” the reality dance show is the network’s marquee show on the schedule, which already boosted its strike-impacted lineup by recently adding more Monday Night Football games this fall.
“Dancing With the Stars” was one of many unscripted shows that faced blowback from the WGA in the final week of the strike, as WGA members said that cast members who participated in any daytime or unscripted WGA-covered show would be scabbing to cross the picket line to work. Talk shows, including “The Drew Barrymore Show,” “The Talk” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” all opted to delay their fall premieres last week after being targeted by the WGA, and have yet to announce their new return dates as the strike officially ending is on the horizon.
During the 2007-2008 writers strike, “Dancing With the Stars” remained in production, and the show re-hired its WGA writer once the strike was over.
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2023 REVIEW! Former president Barack Obama is an executive producer of director George C. Wolfe’s biopic celebrating civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, Rustin, written by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black. The 1963 March on Washington was a pivotal moment in civil rights history that helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It will always be remembered for Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech.
But the most influential person in making it all happen, Bayard Rustin (the wildly charismatic Colman Domingo), remains relatively unknown. That’s because he was a gay man who was sidelined in the movement because of his sexuality. Rustin has a long list of civil rights accomplishments, only some of which are detailed in the movie. In 1942, thirteen years before Rosa Parks did the same, he refused to move to the back of a bus in Louisville. He was arrested and beaten.
Later, Rustin helped put forward his friend Martin Luther King Jr. (Aml Ameen) as a civil rights leader and helped to found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with him. When politicians started to circulate rumors that King and Rustin were lovers to sideline King, Rustin stepped aside. Years later, he’d return to help conceptualize, plan, and lead the March on Washington.
Chris Rock takes a decidedly uncomedic turn as Roy Wilkins, the head of the NAACP. He initially did not favor the march and against Rustin having a leadership role. It is interesting casting, and the actor does a fine job; although he is so iconic as a comedian, it is almost impossible for him to disappear into the character. Jeffrey Wright shines, as always, as Representative Adam Clayton Powell, another leader who attempted to smear Rustin and have him step aside. And finally, Glen Turman brings incredible gravitas to Rustin as the man’s mentor.
“…a gay man who was sidelined in the movement because of his sexuality.”
The character is established via some of his earliest work in the movement, though the story spends the bulk of its runtime on the planning and lead-up to the march. Thus, it avoids most of the “everything but the kitchen sink” pitfalls that most biopics suffer from and provides plenty of drama. A highlight is that the film isn’t afraid to take a magnifying glass to the inner struggles of the civil rights movement, warts and all, even when there were substantial blind spots regarding sexual orientation and the role of women.
Of course, Rustin is also a magnifying glass to America in the early 1960s. We’re reminded that advances in rights aren’t inevitable. Moving public opinion is often a calculated affair, requiring hard work for decades on end. In the moment, it can be hard to know which strategies will succeed and which will fail, and it is that conflict that gives the drama its vitality.
Breece and Black deserve a lot of credit for distilling the complexities of Bayard Rustin’s life into a compelling and dramatic narrative. Wolfe delivers a movie that feels so much more fun, interesting, and full of life than his last film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. But the real heart and soul of Rustin is the astounding performance of Colman Domingo. He’s captivating every second he’s on screen and seems to inhabit the character completely. This kind of part and performance doesn’t come around very often, and I fully expect him to be nominated as Best Actor for the role.
In fact, I expect plenty of awards chatter because Rustin is an important story well told, with an outstanding must-see lead performance. That’s quite a coup for Netflix, which will release Rustin in theaters on November 3 and then on the streaming platform on November 14. It turns out this new producer in town, Barack Obama, might be pretty good.
Jonathan Van Ness, Dax Shepard.Jason Bollenbacher/Getty Images for SXSW
Jonathan Van Ness passionately defended the rights of transgender kids during a heated interview with Dax Shepard.
Van Ness, 36, appeared on the Monday, September 25, episode of Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast to discuss his own podcast, “Getting Curious.” The interview began with the pair mutually praising one another, but things started to get tense when Shepard, 48, said it was “insane” that President Joe Biden is the country’s “best option.”
The duo then clashed over the question of whether The New York Times is a left-leaning newspaper, with Van Ness arguing that it isn’t because of several recent articles about gender-affirming care that some readers interpreted as anti-trans. In response, Shepard said he thinks the paper was simply “challenging” the idea that preteens and teens should be allowed to take puberty blockers and hormones.
“Some people are very uncomfortable about teenagers transitioning,” Shepard said. “How do we know that the person’s not gonna change their mind? Then there’s another counterargument. If they kill themselves, then that’s really f–king permanent. … To even question it makes you an enemy. I don’t think that’s the way forward.”
Ilana Panich-Linsman/Netflix
Van Ness wasn’t convinced, telling Shepard, “I feel like I’m talking to my dad.” The Queer Eye host went on to explain why transgender athletes don’t actually have the competitive advantage that detractors like to claim they do.
“There’s just so many things that are so much more important and we’re over here being like, ‘Well, there’s legitimate concerns [about transgender athletes],’” Van Ness said. “All I’m saying is what we know about misinformation and disinformation is when you have an outsized reaction to something, there’s a good chance that you’re being exposed to misinformation and disinformation. And a lot of the rhetoric around the anti-trans backlash does have a lot of misinformation and disinformation in it.”
Changing the game! Harry Styles, Billy Porter and more major stars have sparked important conversations about the gender binary, inspiring a generation of fans to be their most authentic selves. The former One Direction member caused a stir when he posed on the cover of Vogue magazine’s December 2020 issue in a lace-trimmed Gucci dress. […]
As Shepard continued to push back against Van Ness’ arguments, Van Ness pointed out that as a nonbinary person himself, he finds it “disappointing” to realize how many people “think they’re really fighting” for women when they exclude trans kids from sports.
“I’m a nonbinary f–king trans person. When I talk to my dad or people who say similar things, it’s hard to be cool through that,” he said. “I’m not calling you a transphobe. You can not be transphobic and still have thoughts that espouse trans misogyny and espouse transphobic ideologies or beliefs and not be transphobic.”
After Shepard apologized and said he “did not intend at all” to start a debate on the subject of trans rights, Van Ness broke down in tears as he explained why the topic is so important to him.
Take a look back at LGBT celebrities’ emotional, inspiring coming out stories from over the years — including Wentworth Miller, Ellen Page, Jodie Foster and more
“I could just cry because I’m so tired of having to fight for little kids because they just want to be included,” Van Ness told Shepard. “I wish that people were as passionate about little kids being able to be included or grow up as they were about fictitious women’s fairness in sports. I have to tell you I am very tired.”
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Van Ness went on to describe the conversation as “trigger city,” adding that he’s “emotionally exhausted” from having to defend transgender rights as a person who still struggles with his own gender expression. “I don’t know that I don’t live like this because I’m scared of the vitriol that trans people feel every day,” he explained. “For people who are like, ‘You’re so authentic and you’re so brave, I’m not.’”
The debate finally ended with Shepard and cohost Monica Padman apologizing to Van Ness before changing the subject. “It is what it is,” Van Ness concluded.
Amazon said on Monday that it would invest up to $4 billion in the artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic, as the world’s biggest technology companies race to benefit from A.I. breakthroughs that could reshape parts of their businesses — and the economy as a whole.
Amazon is trying to keep pace with rivals such as Microsoft and Google, which have each poured billions of dollars into A.I. research. Anthropic, seen as one of the most promising of a batch of A.I. start-ups, will use Amazon’s data centers, cloud-computing platform and A.I. chips.
The tech giants have been partnering with up-and-coming A.I. start-ups by providing them with computing power and cash to help them develop new models and applications. Google has also invested in Anthropic, while Microsoft backed OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.
Amazon’s investment of up to $4 billion would give it a minority stake in Anthropic, it said.
Like OpenAI, Anthropic is a developer of so-called generative A.I., the technology capable of learning from vast amounts of data to create humanlike texts and images. These tools are seen as possessing the potential to automate many tasks, reshaping aspects of the global economy.
Anthropic, which operates a chatbot called Claude, has sought to position itself as one of the industry’s more responsible actors. Its executives have warned that A.I. could cause tremendous damage to society if not developed carefully. The company’s co-founder, Jack Clark, attended a recent meeting on Capitol Hill to discuss A.I. policy, including the risks and potential of the rapidly evolving technology.
Partnering with Anthropic is a win for Amazon, which is competing against Microsoft and Google in cloud computing and has been trying to establish itself more deeply in A.I. Amazon is also battling Nvidia as a provider of the chips needed to run complex A.I. systems.
The huge amounts of money and computing power needed to run A.I. models have made it nearly impossible for smaller companies to remain independent from established tech giants with deep pockets. Yet while Microsoft has backed OpenAI and Google has partnered with companies including Cohere, Amazon has not been as active in the field until its deal with Anthropic.
“We can help improve many customer experiences, short- and long-term, through our deeper collaboration,” Andy Jassy, Amazon’s chief executive, said in a statement.
EXCLUSIVE: Deadline can reveal the first clip for French director Xavier Legrand’s drama The Successor ahead of its world premiere in Competition this week at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
The film is Legrand’s second film after his critically acclaimed feature debut Custody – exploring issues of domestic abuse – which won Best Director and the Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best First Feature at Venice in 2017 and went on to play at a raft of festivals.
That film expanded on Legrand’s 2013 Oscar-nominated short film Just Before Losing Everything.
Canadian actor Marc-André Grondin (C.R.A.Z.Y., Richelieu) stars in The Successor as the newly-announced artistic director of a famous Parisian fashion house.
As he grapples with the stresses of the role, he starts experiencing chest pain. Out of the blue he is called back to Montreal to organize his estranged father’s funeral and discovers that he may have inherited much worse than his father’s weak heart.
“Here, we have a man who can’t cope, who struggles, who is riddled with fear, who loses control and is completely crushed by disaster,” says Legrand of his choice of Grondin.
“It takes a solid actor to be able to delve into these kinds of meanderings, a performance full of fear, tears, snot, suffocation, incontinence and breathlessness. Marc-André was the obvious choice. With his childlike eyes and his vibrant, feverish, fiery, moving, concrete, charismatic, strong, solid, delicate and precise body, as well as being very intelligent and truthful, Marc-André possessed all of the power and contradictions needed for such a part.”
Legrand says the film leads on from his last feature Custody in its explorations of issues surrounding patriarchy.
“Nowadays, we often speak of ‘violence against women’; I’ve often used this expression when promoting Custody. But it somewhat bypasses the main element of the issue. In fact, when talking about ‘violence against women’, we’re quite obviously forgetting to mention the main protagonist from which the problem stems: Men,” he says.
“First and foremost, The Successor focuses on ‘male violence’. How is it that men are also their own worst enemy? It’s fairly easy nowadays to see how patriarchy subjugates women and children, but what perhaps isn’t as obvious and more difficult to admit, because it is handed down and trans-generational, is that it also crushes men, brothers and sons.”
The Successor is a French-Canadian-Belgium co-production lead produced by Paris-based KG Productions, Montreal production house Metafilms and Brussels-based Stenola Productions.
Paris-based mk2 films is handling international sales.
President Joe Biden once told African American voters “You ain’t Black” if you don’t vote for him, but due to his lack of awareness about LL Cool J … Biden’s alleged Black Card is now being called into question.
The Rock the Bells pioneer was honored at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual Legislative Conference over the weekend, and the Prez pulled one of his worst teleprompter gaffes … calling him “LL J Cool J.”
To make matters worse, as Biden tried to recover from that flub, he referred to LL as “boy” … making everyone in the crowd cringe … even though he quickly tried to fix that screw-up, too.
It came out like this, “By the way that boy — that man’s got biceps bigger than my thighs.” Good grief, Joe?.
Republicans are using the verbal blunder as a political strike, but Charlamagne thinks it’s a cultural one … giving the Commander-in-Chief, and his writing staff, the “Donkey of the Day,” and that’s not a Democratic compliment!!!
As CTG notes, Joe will be 81 years old in a couple of months and his writers should stop attempting to have him come across as hip … but he’s still old enough to remember the days when the term “boy” was a racist term used to belittle Black men.
LL’s also been a superstar rapper since the ’80s — one of the genre’s first — and has been spelling out his name in songs just as long — a slice of American history CTG says the Prez should know.
8/8/23
TMZ.com
Last time we spoke to LL, he expressed gratitude he and his fellow legends’ contributions to Hip Hop made it a globally scaled art form … something you can’t exactly gauge from a teleprompter.
If Tom Hanks is America’s Dad, then Will Smith is the cool big brother.
Smith has been a favorite of audiences and awards voters during his impressive three-decade career. He’s explored multiple genres, such as drama (“The Pursuit of Happyness”), comedy (“Hitch”), action (“Bad Boys”), science-fiction (“Independence Day”), horror (“I Am Legend”) and animation (“Spies in Disguise”). To celebrate Smith’s birthday, Variety is ranking the 13 best performances of his film career so far.
With three career Academy Award nominations to his credit, which also include Michael Mann’s “Ali” (2001), as famed boxer Muhammad Ali, and Gabriele Muccino’s “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006), as single father Chris Gardner the Philadelphia-born actor and producer was a respected figure in the Hollywood biz.
As one of the producers of “King Richard,” he made history as the second Black man to be recognized in both categories in the same year, following Denzel Washington for “Fences” in 2017.
While this list focuses solely on Smith’s film performances, we can’t mention his finest acting moments without mentioning his iconic television role as the titular “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Smith nabbed his first Emmy nomination in 2021 in outstanding comedy series as one of the producers for Netflix’s “Cobra Kai.”
Despite being a movie star for three decades, Smith’s legacy may confined to his actions at the Oscars where he slapped Chris Rock on the evening of his Academy Award win for best actor. Whether he’ll be able to fully bounce back still remains to be determined, but his contributions to Hollywood will always be undeniable.
Read Variety’s list of Smith’s best performances below.
Honorable mentions: “Wild Wild West” (1999), “Hancock” (2008) and “Spies in Disguise” (2019)
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Directed by: Francis Lawrence Written by: Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman (based on “I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson and “The Omega Man” by John William Corrington and Joyce H. Corrington)
The scene that proves it: “Let me save you.”
The post-apocalyptic thriller hinges on the shoulders of Smith’s commanding performance. As a scientist who finds himself as the last man in a world ravaged by “zombies,” Smith’s portrayal of isolation and desperation is a standout in a genre often resigned to its effects and jump scares. He conveys a man on the brink of despair and effortlessly transitioning between moments of intense action and heart-wrenching drama. $585 million later, a sequel is in the works with Smith reprising his role and Michael B. Jordan set to star.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Directed by: Andy Tennant Written by: Kevin Bisch
The scene that proves it: “Don’t ever do that again.”
I can recall seeing “Hitch” with some friends during college, and they reveled in Will Smith’s athletic prowess. This time felt like the transitional period for Smith as an acclaimed actor, who can be a box office juggernaut and still elevate pretty standard material. With Kevin James and Eva Mendes by his side, he brings an effortless approach to his role as a love doctor.
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures Directed by: Tony Scott Written by: David Marconi
The scene that proves it: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
The late Tony Scott is one of the masters of the 90s thrillers, and his high-octane thriller boasts a stellar ensemble cast with Smith at the helm. In the gripping and action-packed flick, Smith plays an attorney who unwittingly becomes embroiled in a dangerous government conspiracy.
Calling on all of Smith’s natural charisma, his chemistry with his co-stars, particularly Gene Hackman and Regina King, his versatility is nothing short of electrifying.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Directed by: Michael Bay Written by: Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland, Doug Richardson, George Gallo
The scene that proves it: “Don’t ever say I wasn’t there for you.” (running chase through Miami)
As “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was gearing up for its final season, and the world still hadn’t learned about his box office draw, Will Smith partnered with Martin Lawrence for the action classic “Bad Boys” from Michael Bay. In Smith’s new memoir, he speaks about the famous scene of running through Miami, the film’s highlight, and how Bay felt he made him “a movie star” with that run, which he trained for with a track coach. Bay was right.
Independence Day (1996)
Role: Steven Hiller
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) Directed by: Roland Emmerich Written by: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich
The scene that proves it: “Now that’s what I call a close encounter.”
One part of a dynamite cast that includes Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and Vivica A. Fox, Will Smith was king of the movies after the success of the alien-invasion film. Funny one-liners, intoxicating allure and a good enough sense to not come back for the sequel, is everything that makes Smith so great.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Directed by: Fred Schepisi Written by: John Guare (based on “Six Degrees of Separation” by John Guare)
The scene that proves it: “I was wondering if I could fuck you.”
Will Smith’s work in the adaptation of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning play is often overlooked and underseen in his filmography. As Paul, a skillful con artist claiming to be the son of actor Sidney Poitier, Smith held his own against Donald Sutherland and Stockard Channing in her sole Oscar-nominated performance.
Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures Directed by: Guy Ritchie Written by: John August, Guy Ritchie (based on “Disney’s Aladdin” by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp” from “One Thousand and One Nights”)
The scene that proves it: “Prince Ali”
On paper, this live-action remake of the children’s animated classic, with Will Smith taking on the role that Robin Williams voiced (and should have been nominated or won an Oscar for), should have been a disaster. Don’t underestimate the charm of Smith, along with a diverse and beautiful cast that includes Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Nasim Pedrad. Smith was able to own the role, show off his vocal chops, and help make the ninth-highest-grossing movie of 2019.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld Written by: Ed Solomon (based on “The Men in Black” by Lowell Cunningham)
The scene that proves it: “He’s just really excited and he has no clue why we’re here.”
The box office smash was heightened by the sensational chemistry between Smith and Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones (“The Fugitive”). With an Oscar-worthy comedic performance from Vincent D’Onofrio as a bug in a human suit, Smith brought his charm, comedic sensibilities and wit to the film.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Directed by: Peter Landesman Written by: Peter Landesman (based on “Game Brain” by Jeanne Marie Laskas)
The scene that proves it: “God did not intend for us to play football.”
Will Smith’s portrayal of Nigerian physician Dr. Bennet Omalu was risky, considering the film’s subject matter. Going head-to-head with the NFL can have dire consequences on your career (ask Colin Kaepernick), and despite the film not being received as warmly by critics, his performance was still praised. Despite a Golden Globe nomination, he didn’t receive an Oscar nod, one of the snubs that sparked the #OscarsSoWhite social justice campaign.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Directed by: Gabriele Muccino Written by: Steven Conrad
The scene that proves it: “Sleeping in the bathroom.”
Smith’s portrayal of a single father and homeless salesman was ahead of its time in many ways. Two years before the financial recession, a role and film like this probably would have struck a greater chord with audiences, critics and voters. Despite that, he nabbed his second Oscar nomination for best actor, introducing his real-life son Jaden Smith to cinema-goers everywhere. He ultimately lost the prize to Forest Whitaker for “The Last King of Scotland” (interestingly, Smith is the only former Black nominee to lose all his nominations to a Black winner).
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green Written by: Zach Baylin
The scene that proves it: “The most dangerous creature on this whole earth is a woman who knows how to think.”
Smith’s Oscar-winning role is one he can be proud of (aside from the evening of his win). His incredible ability to tap into the complexities and emotions of real-life figures has always been his strong suit. He’s unafraid to portray Richard Williams as a flawed man, not necessarily trying to redeem his past misgivings but showing that human behavior is not just black and white. Questionable actions can have the best intentions. His performance is heightened by the works of his glorious co-stars, particularly Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney and Jon Bernthal, with stunning direction by Reinaldo Marcus Green and crisp editing by Pamela Martin.
Distributed by: Apple Original Films Directed by: Antoine Fuqua Written by: William N. Collage
The scene that proves it: “Reuniting with his family.”
After slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Oscars, the actor resigned from AMPAS and was banned from attending the ceremony or other Academy-sponsored events for 10 years. I believe his actions contributed to the film’s mixed reception and made him an easy target for media outlets to overly criticize. His take on “Whipped Peter” in Antoine Fuqua’s slavery epic is a soulful inhabitation of the man who traverses the rigorous terrain is reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The Revenant” (2015), as he braves the elements. Paired with two dynamic turns from Ben Foster and Charmaine Bingwa, the turn stands as one of his finest and could have a second-life in the years to come.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Directed by: Michael Mann Written by: Michael Mann, Eric Roth, Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson
The scene that proves it: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Rumble young man, rumble.”
Visionary director Michael Mann’s take on 10 years of the life of the famed boxer Muhammad Ali, gave Will Smith the role that would let everyone know he was one of the most talented actors of his generation. While not drawing the massive box office numbers that usually mark a Smith-headlining film, it was well-received by critics and brought him his first Oscar nomination. He ultimately lost to Denzel Washington, whose historic win for “Training Day” came alongside Halle Berry’s victory for “Monster’s Ball.” While the race might have been between Russell Crowe (“A Beautiful Mind”) and Washington, looking back, he arguably might have been a formidable spoiler in that race (alongside Tom Wilkinson for “In the Bedroom”). Nonetheless, his navigation of a complex man, with no impersonation in sight, is his greatest gift (for the moment).
The best films you can watch are those that leave a mark on your soul. Some of these stories can hit you so deeply that they make you reflect on your life and past experiences. Most creatives in Hollywood draw from their own experiences to tell compelling tales filled with human emotion that reflect our lives at some point or even make us long for something we’ve yet to have on our terms.
There are many cinematic experiences with the power to challenge our capacity to endure heartache. Some of these movies can help us deal with uncomfortable truths about ourselves, while others can leave us pondering the depths of our emotions and feelings about specific issues. The best movies are the ones that can make us laugh, cry, reflect, reflect, and even feel rage. These are the films that challenge our worldviews.
Some of these movies can break our spirits after a single view, leaving lasting impressions we might not want to revisit anytime soon. Have you seen any of these?
20 Marley & Me (2008)
20th Century Fox
Marley & Me is a wholesome story about the life of a man, his pet, and the family he forms along the way. The movie is directed by David Frankel and written by Scott Frank. This tearjerker features the talents of Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, and Alan Arkin.
The story is focused on the journey of a couple who adopt a lovable but mischievous Golden Retriever named Marley. We see life unfold as the family grows in size, and Marley eventually comes to old age to pass away. It’s something every pet owner has faced at some point, and it paints a truthful portrait of the meaning behind having an animal in our lives.
19 Precious (2009)
Lionsgate
Precious is an award-winning drama that deeply touches upon the subject of abuse, especially among the black communities living in the suburbs. The film, written by Geoffrey S. Fletcher and directed by Lee Daniels, is an adaptation of the novel Push written by Sapphire. The heavy drama features a standout performance from Gabourey Sidibe as Precious and Mo’Nique as her abusive mother.
It’s a raw tale full of tragedy reflecting on the struggles of a young, uneducated woman and the things she must endure only because she doesn’t know any better. The story is a testament to perseverance and how a single helping hand is needed to help someone overcome hardships.
18 Atonement (2007)
Universal Pictures
Atonement is a book designed to break your spirit, and the film goes one step beyond by making all the experiences more heartbreaking after realizing the happily ever after ending of the story is only the figment of the imagination of the wrongdoer. The movie, directed by Joe Wright and based on Ian McEwan’s novel, boasts an all-star cast with Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, and Saoirse Ronan.
It’s a story about unrequited love, betrayal, lies, and long-gestating consequences of a false accusation. The story hurts more when you realize all the lost chances the main couple never got to have after World War 2 swept away their brief romance and how the igniter of the conflict never got her due.
17 Irreplaceable You (2018)
Netflix
Love is always the greatest motivator to make the most baffling decisions in life. Love is called the force that moves the world for a reason, as love makes us do the craziest things for those who love us back. Irreplaceable You is a movie directed by Stephanie Laing and penned by Bess Wohl. It’s a romantic drama starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michiel Huisman, and Christopher Walken.
In this story, we follow the touching journey of a young woman who, after being diagnosed with terminal Cancer, embarks on a quest to find a new partner for her fiancé, a man she’s been with since childhood. It’s a powerful story exploring themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of saying goodbye, something we all get to do at some point in life.
16 Other People (2016)
Vertical Entertainment
One of the worst lies we tell ourselves daily is “I’m okay” or “I’m doing fine.” Despite making considerable advances in the field of mental health, we still choose to play the stoic part, even when our life is coming apart. Other People is a film written and directed by Chris Kelly, starring Jesse Plemons, Molly Shannon, and Bradley Whitford.
Struggling comedy writer David Mulcahey returns home to care for his ailing mother after she’s diagnosed with Cancer. Over a year, we see his relationship evolve as her mom accepts her fate while his dad fails to connect with him due to his sexual preferences. It’s a film that weighs in your soul, especially if you’ve cared for a sick family member and keep telling yourself everything is okay when it’s not.
The story told in Revolutionary Road could very well be the life of any middle-class American family at any stage. Although the film is set in the 1950s, when the American dream was ripe for the pickings of a newly industrialized country, the film’s events could very well take place in the present day.
The movie, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Justin Haythe, is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Yates. Starring Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael Shannon, it’s a heart-wrenching portrayal of a couple struggling with the weight of conformity, the baggage of unfulfilled dreams, and a failing marriage marked by the birth of children who are brought to the world only to keep the couple together.
14 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
Fox Searchlight
What would you do if you ever had to care for someone because you were asked to? Would you go along with it? Could you grow a lasting relationship from such a unique situation? Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a film directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, based on Jesse Andrews’ novel.
It’s a coming-of-age drama starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, and Olivia Cooke. The story chronicles the bond between a high school filmmaker and a girl with leukemia as they cultivate an unlikely relationship, where the boy learns to care for others and let go of his selfishness. It’s a beautiful film exploring the depth of friendship and morality mixed with teen angst.
13 Dead Poets Society (1989)
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Have you ever had a teacher that left a mark on your life for good? Not everyone gets to have such a blessed experience, but it’s certainly great when it happens. Dead Poets Society is a movie directed by Peter Weir and written by Tom Schulman, starring Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, and Robert Sean Leonard.
The story is set in an elite all-boys prep school where John Keating, an extravagant English teacher, compels the students to live extraordinary lives with unorthodox methods. Each student takes their lessons to heart and begins pursuing their true passions, such as asking the unreachable girl out or pursuing artistic endeavors. It’s a beautiful film that showcases the power of a great teacher in life and how following individuality can lead to heartbreaking but valuable lessons.
12 Sophie’s Choice (1982)
Universal Pictures
Have you ever wondered about the importance of every choice you make? How can a single decision change your life forever? Sophie’s Choice is the type of movie that will have you reeling at the matter of choice and its moral implications when facing impossible odds. The film, directed by Alan J. Pakula, is adapted for the big screen by William Styron from his own novel. It features the acting talents of Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Peter MacNicol.
A young writer is about to begin a new novel when he meets Sophie and Nathan, a couple he would befriend, only to learn they are holocaust survivors who have relocated to Brooklyn. Through flashbacks, we get a deep exploration of the suffering imposed on the common folk during the days of the final solution and the physiological scars left on the people who lived to tell the tale.
11 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Sony Pictures Releasing
While most Hollywood films work as escapism, many reflect life and how brutal it can be for some people who try to get by every single day of life. The real-life story of Chris Gardner is an inspiring journey, as the single father must overcome a failing marriage and provide for his kid at a time when life tests his mettle as a man.
Directed by Gabriele Muccino and written by Steve Conrad, The Pursuit of Happyness stars Will Smith, Jaden Smith, and Thandie Newton. It follows the story of a man who sinks to the bottom and must bring himself back to the surface by facing homelessness while pursuing a career in stock brokerage. It’s an emotional ride that proves Will Smith has the acting chops to pull great dramatic performances.
It’s always great when a foreign film leaves a mark with American audiences. Life is Beautiful is the breakout hit of 1997, written and directed by Roberto Benigni with the assistance of Vincenzo Cerami. The cast includes Benigni himself alongside Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini. It’s a heartrending tale of a father’s unwavering love and imagination to shield his son from the horrors of a concentration camp in the days of the Holocaust.
It’s a story that blends humor, drama, and tragedy as the man is separated from his wife and must protect his son at all costs, which he masterfully masks as nothing more than a game in the eyes of his son, with a great reward at the end of the road for enduring all the pain they go through while prisoners. It’s a story about sacrifice and the price we pay to safeguard those we love in the face of adversity.
9 Marriage Story (2019)
Netflix
Marriage was a simpler contract between a man and a woman to love each other until death did them apart. Times have changed, and the dynamics of marriage are very different. That’s the point Noah Baumbach seeks to illustrate with Marriage Story. The film, written and directed by the filmmaker, features the talents of Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, and Laura Dern.
It’s a complex story exploring the emotional toll failing marriages have on all the parties involved. The film follows a steady pace when we see each stage of the couple’s separation. From the moment they realize they no longer love each other to the entire portrayal of the legal woes of divorce. It’s a sad tale that reflects the reality of one too many people in modern times.
8 The Whale (2022)
A24
Certain critical voices sought to diminish the impact of this movie due to superficial and empty reasons. However, The Whale is easily the best film Darren Aronofsky has made. The story written by Samuel D. Hunter is based on a play of the same name. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, and Ty Simpkins. It’s a deep exploration of depression and feelings of abandonment.
A morbidly obese man making a living as an online tutor is in the twilight of his life and wishes to make amends with the people he’s hurt over the years due to his life choices. He wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter and help others reach their full potential while asking forgiveness from his former wife for realizing his true nature as a homosexual man after marrying her. It’s a hard watch that can hit close home if you’ve ever struggled with depression.
7 Carol (2015)
StudioCanal
Not many films chronicle the stigma it meant to be gay just 70 years ago. In the recent past, being in love with someone of the same sex was a taboo subject that brought shame to family circles. Carol is a movie directed by Todd Haynes with a screenplay by Phyllis Nagy from Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name. It features the acting talents of Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Sarah Paulson.
The movie tells the story of the forbidden love between an aspiring photographer and an older woman in New York in the 1950s. It’s a gut-punching tale about societal constraints and the prejudices they must face constantly that threaten to tear apart their passionate yet clandestine affair. It can hit hard to those who still struggle to be open with their sexuality due to their surroundings.
6 Christine (2016)
The Orchard
One of the harshest facets of corporate America is the need to prove yourself worthy of the job you have. The need for validation is nothing new. If anything, it simply has become more widespread, with social media slowly displacing legacy media and more people than ever competing for attention. Such is the story of Christine Chubbuck, a Florida news reporter who tragically committed suicide live on air in the 1970s after being denied a promotion.
Directed by Antonio Campos and written by Craig Shilowich, the movie features the talents of Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, and Tracy Letts. The story of Christine is pretty sad, and it’s likely a reflection of the ongoing happenings in the entertainment industry. Christine was damn good at her job, but the need for ratings made her drift away from her intended path. When she seeks to play the game as instructed, she’s still overlooked in favor of less talented people, thus denying her the chance to advance her career.
Imagine for a moment what must be living with a disease such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF), which is a progressive genetic disorder that damages organs and makes you vulnerable to any type of infection. Now imagine finding the love of your life while enduring the disease and being unable to be more than five feet closer to her due to your illness, ever. That’s the kind of story we get in the movie Five Feet Apart.
Directed by Justin Baldoni and written by Mikki Daughtry, the film stars Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse, and Moises Arias. Two teenagers suffering from CF meet and fall in love, but they must keep a safe distance from each other at all times to prevent cross-infection. It’s an emotional journey as we can feel these lovers yearning for closeness while witnessing the challenges they have to face to defy the limitations of their condition.
4 One Day (2011)
Random House Films
Finding love is never easy. Humanity has learned to find meaning in each relationship, especially when there’s bound to be a longstanding commitment. One Day is a movie directed by Lone Scherfig, based on the novel by David Nicholls, who also wrote the screenplay. For this story, we have the acting talents of Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, and Patricia Clarkson.
It’s a story told across two decades, exploring the evolving relationship between Emma and Dexter, a couple of friends who meet on the same date each year. After each meeting, they fail to see how they desperately long for each other until finally caving in and finding fulfillment. Sadly, it’s not meant to be, as life has a funny way of ending things between them.
3 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Focus Features
Have you ever loved someone so much that you wish you could erase this person from your life and memories if they ever leave you? Such a premise is presented in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The movie, directed by Michel Gondry and penned by Charlie Kaufman, features the talents of Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo.
It’s a crippling story about unrequited love as former lovers Joel and Clementine undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories after a nasty breakup. It’s a painful movie exploring the realization that even our most painful memories are integral to who we are, which is why Joel and Clementine eventually end up together again.
2 Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)
Focus Features
Picture a world where the news breaks about our imminent death. An asteroid is cruising through space and ready to blow the planet to smithereens, but the only thing in your mind is regret for not having a meaningful relationship to share your final moments. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World explores such a premise. The movie, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, stars Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, and Melanie Lynskey.
It’s a story exploring the final days of humanity before an asteroid collision from the single point of view of a character named Dodge, whose wife leaves him after the announcement of the asteroid is made. After her neighbor Penny delivers a letter from a former childhood sweetheart, Dodge embarks on a quest to find the love of his life, only to realize he’s likely had it alongside him all along.
1 Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
Stage 6 Films
Our number one spot goes to a remake of a Japanese film named Hachikō Monogatari. Titled Hachi: A Dog’s Tale for the American Market, this film, directed by Lasse Hallström and written by Stephen P. Lindsey, is the top tearjerker for the ages. The film stars Richard Gere, Joan Allen, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and it’s based on a real-life story of a loyal Akita dog named Hachiko.
Parker Wilson finds the Akita dog and welcomes him to his family. Hachinko becomes a beloved fixture in the family, even making a habit of walking to the train station to send Parker off and welcome him back after his return. When Parker dies, Hachinko waits for his return for years, faithfully and loyal to the end, with the kind of devotion only pet owners can describe. It’s a beautiful story that’s bound to make you tear up.
It looks like Square Enix is doing its best to keep the momentum going with the Final Fantasy Remake trilogy. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is definitely more of what made the last game good, but it’s also been expanded in a few key ways that’ll further enhance players’ experiences.
There’s something special about learning the history of literary devices that have been used throughout the ages. They’re so fun to adapt into film and TV, and it feels like they hold the secrets of storytellers who existed long ago.
Anastrophe is a rhetorical device as old as the art of storytelling itself. It can lend a unique and memorable touch to dialogue and voiceover.
In this article, we will explore the definition of anastrophe and delve into some compelling examples from the world of film.
Anastrophe, derived from the Greek word “anastrephein,” meaning “to turn back,” refers to the inversion of the typical word order in a sentence.
It is a literary device in which words are put out of order. The best example of this is how Yoda talks, in lines like, “The greatest teacher, failure is.”
How Does Anastrophe Work?
If you want to get into the grammatical nitty gritty, anastrophe is formed in a very specific way, where instead of following the customary subject-verb-object structure, it rearranges words to emphasize certain elements or to create a specific rhythm, tone, or emphasis in the sentence.
The reason you do this is to draw attention to a particular word or idea, highlight the emotional state of a character, or reinforce a theme.
Examples of Anastrophe in Film and TV
‘The Dark Knight’
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
In film and TV, anastrophe is used to make dialogue more memorable, to convey a character’s unique voice, or to create a poetic or lyrical quality in the script.
In these visual storytelling mediums, anastrophe is used to achieve various effects and enhance the overall impact of the narrative.
The only way to actually grasp this is to look at some examples.
Character Distinction: Screenwriters often use anastrophe to give unique voices to their characters. By having certain characters speak with unconventional word order or sentence structure, writers can make them more distinctive and memorable. This is especially common in dialogue-heavy genres like comedy and drama.
Example: In the TV series Sherlock, the character Sherlock Holmes often employs anastrophe in his rapid and brilliant deductions. For instance, “The game is afoot” instead of “The game is on.”
Emphasis and Drama: Anastrophe can be a powerful tool for creating emphasis and drama in both dialogue and narration. By placing key words or phrases at the beginning or end of a sentence, filmmakers can draw attention to important plot points or emotional moments.
Example: In the film The Dark Knight, the Joker says, “Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos.” The inversion of “chaos” to the end of the sentence emphasizes its significance.
Poetry and Lyrical Quality: Filmmakers sometimes use anastrophe to infuse poetic and lyrical qualities into their work. This is particularly common in films that aim to evoke strong emotions or explore thematic depth.
Example: In the French movie Amélie, the narrator says, “Amélie has a strange feeling of absolute harmony. It’s a perfect moment. A soft light, a scent in the air, the quiet murmur of the city.” The inversion of “A soft light” and “A scent in the air” creates a lyrical, almost dreamlike quality.
Historical and Period Settings: When a film or TV series is set in a historical or period context, anastrophe can be used to mimic the speech patterns of that era. This helps immerse the audience in the time and place depicted on screen.
Example: In the series The Crown, characters often speak in a more formal and structured manner, using anastrophe to reflect the language of their respective eras.
Character State of Mind: Filmmakers may use anastrophe to reflect a character’s state of mind, especially in moments of stress, confusion, or heightened emotion. The non-standard word order can convey disorientation or intensity.
Example: In Memento, the main character suffers from short-term memory loss. The use of anastrophe in certain scenes mirrors his fragmented perception of reality.
Incorporating anastrophe into film and TV scripts can add depth, character development, and emotional resonance to the storytelling. It allows filmmakers to play with language and structure in creative ways, contributing to the overall impact and uniqueness of their work.
Why Do Writers Use Anastrophe?
‘Memento’
Credit: Newmark Films
So you know I’m a writer, and I’m always looking for the angle of what can help me in my screenplays.
Anastrophe allows writers to create impact, emphasize specific elements, and convey various nuances in their writing.
Emphasis and Highlighting: Anastrophe allows writers to emphasize particular words, phrases, or ideas by placing them at the beginning or end of a sentence. This rearrangement draws attention to the emphasized elements, making them more prominent and memorable. It can be especially effective when writers want to underscore a central theme or message.
Example: Yoda’s voice saying, “Great is the power of the Force in you.”
Characterization: Writers use anastrophe to give characters distinct voices and speech patterns. This can help readers or viewers identify and remember characters more easily. By having characters speak with unique sentence structures, writers can convey personality traits, backgrounds, or dialects effectively.
Example: Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben saying, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Rhetorical Effect: In persuasive writing or speeches, anastrophe can be used for rhetorical effect. By rearranging words to create a specific order of ideas, writers can make arguments more persuasive and convincing.
Example: JFK’s “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
Anastrophe is a versatile rhetorical device that filmmakers can employ to enhance the impact, depth, and memorability of their films.
By rearranging words and playing with sentence structure, filmmakers can create dialogue that resonates with audiences, defines characters, and reinforces the central themes of their stories.
Let me know if you’ve played with this in your writing in the comments.
“I realized that I couldn’t work if I had to make films that way ever again,” Scorsese told GQ in a cover story. “If that was the only way that I was able to be allowed to make films, then I’d have to stop. Because the results weren’t satisfying. It was at times extremely difficult, and I wouldn’t survive it. I’d be dead. And so I decided it was over, really.”
Only two years later, Scorsese reunited with Weinstein on 2004’s “The Aviator” which also starred “Gangs of New York” lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
“And I was against that,” Scorsese said of working with Weinstein again. “There was a meeting, and I was forced into that position. I’d already been, uh, made pregnant, as they said. And there’s no way you’re getting out of it.”
He continued, “But the shoot went well, the editing went well until the last couple of weeks of editing. And they came in and did some things that I felt were extremely mean.”
As GQ reported, Warner Bros. and Weinstein’s Miramax cut off funding for the film, forcing Scorsese to use $500,000 of his own private funds to finish it.
“I just said, ‘I’m no longer making films,’” Scorsese said of the experience. Yet it was “The Departed” in 2006 that led Scorsese to realize “I can’t work here anymore” after Warner Bros. tried to make it into a “franchise.”
The “Killers of the Flower Moon” director is, however, revisiting “Gangs of New York” 20 years later with a long-awaited TV adaptation. Scorsese is executive producing and will direct the first two episodes of a series based on rival gangs in late-1800s New York City. The show was developed internally at Miramax TV and written by playwright and TV writer Brett Leonard (“Taboo,” “Fear the Walking Dead”).
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Unless you’re like Michael Cera, just about everyone has a smartphone nowadays. These mobile devices are very handy for everyday life, but they’re also very expensive and can be cumbersome to carry. Why not go for a two-for-one and protect your phone with a durable case that’s easy to tote around when you’re out and about?
We rounded up the best crossbody phone cases and straps for the Apple iPhone and Android smartphones. These options all come with sturdy and stylish straps that are long enough to wear like a purse or a sling. In fact, some of these cases are large enough to carry your phone along with your credit cards, cash and other essentials, while others also serve as kickstands for your device. We’ve also included crossbody chains that can be added to your existing phone case.
Ahead, you’ll find our picks for the best iPhone and Android strap cases and chains, including from brands seen on celebrities.
Best Crossbody Cases for iPhone
1. Bandolier Kimberly Crossbody iPhone Wallet
Seen on Blake Lively, Rumer Willis, Ariana Madix, Martha Stewart and many other stars, Bandolier was one of the first to create stylish cross-body phone cases. The Kimberly iPhone wallet is made of luxe leather and features a snap pocket and Gucci-esque removable buckle strap. The label offers cases, straps and carryalls for other iPhone models, from the 6 to 15.
The Lameeku Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case is designed for phones that are 6.1 inches in size, which fits most iPhone and iPhone Pro models. The faux leather case features a safe and secure zipper with a compartment for your credit cards and cash, and it’s made from RFID-blocking materials, so would-be thieves and scammers don’t steal your personal data.
Meanwhile, the crossbody strap is made from a rose gold chain (or singular faux leather) that’s stylish and sleek. It comes in black, beige and burgundy.
Amazon
LAMEEKU Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case $36.99 on Amazon.com
Case-Mate’s chunky tortoiseshell crossbody chain clips onto any smartphone case, including iPhone, Samsung and Google devices. Made of lightweight plastic, the link chains measure 54 inches and come in black, lavender and tortoiseshell as well as in gold metal. Paris Hilton, Lucy Hale and Selena Gomez have protected their tech in the brand’s cases.
The Bocasal Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case comes with an adjustable and removable shoulder strap that reaches up to 55 inches in length, while the iPhone rests inside of a case with a built-in wallet folio. It’s made from faux leather and leather materials in a diamond pattern that looks cute and exquisite.
Amazon
Bocasal Crossbody Wallet Case for iPhone $29.99 on Amazon.com
For a stylish and trendy finish, add Casetify’s pearl crossbody strap to your smartphone case. If pearls aren’t your thing, the company also offers other designs, including silver chains, utilitarian lanyard straps, metal ball chain cross-body straps and more. The brand has been spotted on Jessica Alba, Emma Roberts, K-pop superstar Taeyeon and many other stars.
If you’re looking for a slim design, the Hoggu Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case is for you. It features a sleek profile with precision cutouts for the iPhone’s cameras, buttons and display, while its crossbody strap is removable to suit just about any occasion and a magnetic wallet folio for additional security when closed.
Amazon
Hoggu Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case $15.99 on Amazon.com
7. ZVE Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case with Small Pouch
Looking for more storage? This ZVE Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case comes with a small pouch on its removable crossbody strap to carry around small items, like lipstick, keys and more. It also has a zippered wallet folio for slots for credit cards, a driver’s license and cash. The case even comes with an extra strap for your wrist that’s handy and chic.
Amazon
ZVE Crossbody iPhone Wallet Case $49.99 on Amazon.com
Do you have a Samsung smartphone? The Jaorty Crossbody Samsung Phone Case is designed for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and features an adjustable and removable strap, a wallet folio for bank cards and cash and a 360-degree ring holder for your index finger to steady the phone when in use. It also doubles as a kickstand, if you’re watching videos on a table.
It comes in a wide range of colors and styles, including pink, black leopard, purple, rose gold and much more.
Amazon
Jaorty Crossbody Samsung Phone Cases $17.99 on Amazon.com
If you already have a favorite case for your Samsung or Google phone but want to add a hands-free option, Casetify’s range of crossbody chains and lanyards are a stylish upgrade. Choose from utilitarian nylon styles like this one, or opt for fashion-forward straps with pearls, ’90s-inspired ball chains and more.
Made from leather, the ZVE Crossbody Samsung Wallet Case has a slim profile, so it doesn’t add a lot of bulk to the Samsung Galaxy S23. It features a removable strap and a zippered pouch on its rare for your ID, bank cards, cash and more. This bumper case also has a stylish and minimal design.
Amazon
ZVE Crossbody Samsung Wallet Case $32.99 on Amazon.com
This eMorevalue phone holder is more of a pouch than a case with its multiple compartments for your phone, credit cards, cash, driver’s license and more. It’s a small, cute and versatile crossbody bag that can protect your Android smartphone, while also all of your items can be placed in one convenient spot.
It can even be worn in as a crossbody, over-the-shoulder, around your neck, on your wrist and other ways. There’s even cutouts for a pair of wired earbuds too, when a phone is inside.
eMorevalue Android Phone Purse $9.93 on Amazon.com
Made for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Zcdaye Crossbody Samsung Phone Wallet Case is slim and cute with a horizontal case design instead of the usual vertical straps. It’s made from faux and real leather, while the case opens like a billfold with your phone, bank cards, cash, driver’s license and other items resting inside. The case even unfolds backwards to create a handy kickstand, so you can prop it up when watching videos on a flat surface, like a table or desk.
It comes in five colors, such as red, rose gold, green, black and brown.
Amazon
Zcdaye Crossbody Samsung Wallet Case $14.99 on Amazon.com
WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for American Horror Story: Delicate episode 1 and the book Delicate Condition.
Summary
American Horror Story: Delicate might feature a crossover with Coven, exploring the connection between witches and the new season’s storyline.
The book Delicate Condition, which the season is based on, hints at a coven of witches and a shocking twist ending that could be included in the show.
While Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters won’t be returning, there are ways for American Horror Story: Delicate to connect to the Coven season, such as referencing characters through conversation or flashbacks. The show has handled dual casting before, so Emma Roberts playing two characters could be plausible.
American Horror Story: Delicate could feature a crossover with the show’s third season, American Horror Story: Coven. The 12th installment of the anthology series is based on the book Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine. The plot follows a young actress named Anna Alcott and her experience trying to conceive a child with her husband, and there may be a strong connection between the new season and a character from Coven.
American Horror Story: Delicate‘s premiere episode borrowed many elements of Valentine’s book, hinting it will continue to follow the same storyline. If this is the case, it won’t be long before the topic of witches and covens comes up in the Emma Roberts-led season. Since Ryan Murphy seems to be a fan of crossover seasons, American Horror Story: Coven may play a role in the latest season.
Delicate Condition Hints American Horror Story Season 12 Is A Coven Crossover
Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine has a pretty shocking twist ending that connects the mysterious occurrences in the book to a coven of witches. In the book, it turns out Anna’s friend, Siobhan, is actually a part of a coven, and this is how she saves Anna’s baby after she has a miscarriage. Since American Horror Story: Delicate is based on the book, it will likely feature this ending, and it isn’t the first time American Horror Story has tackled covens or witches.
The show’s third season, American Horror Story: Coven, centered on a group of witches, so there’s a good chance Ryan Murphy might be doing another crossover this season. American Horror Story has featured several crossovers since its premiere, such as including the character Pepper in both American Horror Story: Asylum and American Horror Story: Freak Show. However, the biggest crossover occurred during American Horror Story: Apocalypse, which featured characters from Murder House, Coven, and American Horror Story: Hotel.
With the latest season of the horror series having a connection to covens, it wouldn’t be surprising if Murphy decided to connect it to season 3 and bring back some of the characters from that season. Though it’s been confirmed Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters won’t be returning for American Horror Story season 12, there are other ways to connect the seasons. The show could name-drop the characters or have new actors come in and play new witches that are a part of the same coven from season 3, even if they didn’t appear in the show back then.
American Horror Story Season 12 Already Teased A Big Coven Connection
The idea that Ryan Murphy might have a Coven crossover planned is not something new and predates the premiere episode. An American Horror Story: Coven crossover looked like a possibility back in August when the season posters were revealed. In the posters, Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian are posed with giant spiders on them, which might be a reference to Taissa Farmiga’s character Zoe Benson, who was known for her “Black Widow” powers.
There has been no news that Farmiga might return to the show, and she hasn’t made an appearance on American Horror Story since the eighth season. However, even if she doesn’t make an appearance in American Horror Story: Delicate, the other characters could reference her through conversation or flashbacks to season 3. There are rarely any coincidences when it comes to American Horror Story‘s complex plots, so it’s likely the spider is an Easter egg for Farmiga’s Coven character.
How American Horror Story Could Handle Emma Roberts’ Dual Casting
One of the major contradictions that would occur if American Horror Story: Delicate did a Coven crossover is how Emma Roberts could play both Anna and Madison from Coven. This would be especially difficult since Roberts is playing the main character in the season. However, American Horror Story has had actors play dual roles before. In American Horror Story: Apocalypse, Farmiga played her Murder House character Violet Harmon and her Coven character Zoe Benson. There is even a scene where Madison goes to the Murder House to speak to Violet and never acknowledges the striking similarities between her and Zoe.
While it may have felt weird to see one actress play two characters and have no one acknowledge they look like the same person, it worked for Apocalypse, and it could work again in American Horror Story: Delicate. However, it would be even more interesting if somehow American Horror Story connected Anna to Madison’s character. The series has done a lot of jumping around on timelines in the past, and there may be a way they could justify how Anna and Madison look the same and are both a part of a coven.
New episodes of American Horror Story: Delicate premiere Wednesdays on FX.
“I had been given a deadline, and I kind of misunderstood what that meant,” Fox said. “I had to turn it in in, like, three months or something. I thought I had six months. The book swallowed my life. Everything became book, book, book. I didn’t go out. I didn’t take other jobs.”
Fox called it “offensive” that fans are assuming she hired a ghostwriter for the book.
“Well, I’ve had people be like, ‘Off record, between you and I, did you use a ghostwriter? Did somebody help you?’ It’s kind of offensive,” Fox said, citing that she has previously been public about writing “every word” of the book. “I wouldn’t make that statement if there were some ghostwriter out in the world — that feels really stupid. It goes back to people always underestimating me or not taking me seriously. What else is new?”
Now, with the memoir being published by Simon and Schuster, Fox is working on an upcoming film, which she co-wrote with Sara Apple. It’s been billed as “Weekend at Bernie’s” meets “Spring Breakers.” She is also starring in “The Trainer” co-starring Bella Thorne and Stephen Dorff.
“I’m doing a movie this month. I have my upcycling fashion show that I’m so excited to do because I love young designers. It’s a dream to be able to give them a platform. I also wrote a movie with my friend Sara,” Fox said. “It’s about these two girls that go on a bender — they’re in and out of A.A. — and they accidentally kill one of the girl’s sugar daddies. It’s really funny and crazy and, I think, very empowering. It’s ditsy. It’s dark.”
“There are really no movies about female friendship, unless it’s like some lesbian thing,” Fox said of her script. “I think female friendship is a great topic to explore because when it’s that intense, it can move mountains. At least for me, they’re the strongest, most beautiful, trusting relationships I’ve ever had, and they are the ones that stand out in my mind way over any boyfriend I’ve ever had.”
She continued, “One of the constants in my life is that I’ve had a girl bestie, and we’re obsessed with each other, like super-codependent. It’s maybe unhealthy but still so much fun — laughter and tears, just very raw and authentic. You can’t really have that with a guy, at least I can’t. Maybe with a gay guy.”
As for what’s next, Fox summed up, “Ultimately my goal is to fade into obscurity and write scripts, develop movies, TV shows, maybe children’s books. I would like to be able to hole up somewhere and write at my leisure.”
