News

Disney is sharing new details about Villains Land!

Back in August, it was announced that Disney will be adding a new Villains Land to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park in Orlando, Florida.

While attending the D23 Brazil convention on Saturday (November 9), Disney Parks head Josh D’Amaro shared more details about the upcoming Magic Kingdom expansion, including the 13 villains that will be featured in Villains Land.

Keep reading to find out more…“Their evil ambitions give us endless possibilities to tell new stories. This new land will be home to the villains you know and loathe,” D’Amaro told attendees, via EW, while standing in front of an image of the 13 villains from iconic Disney movies.

The villains that will be featured at Villains Land are the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Jafar from Aladdin, Lady Tremaine from Cinderella, Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove, Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians,...

Disney Cruise Line’s latest ship, the Disney Treasure, left to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Eemshaven, Netherlands to Port Canaveral last week. Now Disney is sharing a look, and listen, to one of the seven new ship horn musical numbers the Treasure can “perform.” Although, we only know three of the seven songs so far.

What songs with the Disney Treasure horn play?

Among the new arrangements for the ship are the Haunted Mansion’s “Grim Grinning Ghosts” song. Which is in honor of the ships Haunted Mansion Parlor.

Pixar’s “Remember Me” from “Coco” for the new Plaza de Coco restaurant.

“A Whole New World” from “Aladdin” which is meant to tie back to the Disney Treasure’s Grand Hall.

Here is an example of “A Whole New World.”

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While we don’t know what the other four arrangements are,...

Naomi Scott is best known for her work in Aladdin and Charlie’s Angels. She was recently seen in the horror film Smile 2, which has reportedly received positive acclaim from critics and has earned $109 million at the box office. Scott has a long lineup of films, including her debut as a producer in Eternal Return.

Ever since her Aladdin days, Scott’s ethnicity has been under scrutiny. While Disney’s live-action adaptation sought to correct the racial stereotypes propagated by the animated original, Scott’s casting was controversial due to Princess Jasmine being largely believed to be Middle-Eastern or Indian. However, Scott’s ethnicity is actually pretty interesting.

What Is Naomi Scott’s Ethnicity? A still from Power Rangers | Credits: Lionsgate Films

Naomi Scott hails from London and was born on May 6, 1993. According to Empire, the actress’s father Christopher Scott was British with possible Scottish roots while her mother,...

Writer/director Parker Finn’s sequel to his 2022 horror film Smile (read our review Here, watch the movie Here) reached theatres last month, with JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray praising the film as “one of the year’s best horror movies” in his 9/10 review. The movie has been doing well at the box office, pulling in $110 million worldwide so far, and now Paramount has decided to pull a new marketing stunt: as reported by Deadline, Paramount will let you watch the first 7 minutes of Smile 2 on this website – but to do so, you’ll have to smile into your webcam for the duration. As Deadline notes, “anywhere between a light smile to a full-out Cheshire Cat leer” will do. “If you’re thinking that you can somehow outsmart the tech, think again: The webpage, which flashes your image green upon smiling, expeditiously changes to flash a red outline at the drop of the smile.

Pete Davidson returned to “Saturday Night Live” on Nov. 2 to appear in a rollicking sketch with his good friend and host, John Mulaney.

The sketch zeroed in on a person asking to buy milk from the cashier at the Port Authority Duane Reade, which locals would consider something to avoid. The bit then erupted into a full-cast celebration parodying several showtunes and New York City-centric topics.

The musical numbers began with a “Lion King” parody about the milk from Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim; the shampoo being locked up in a “Sound of Music” spoof from Marcello Hernandez and Mulaney; Bowen Yang as a twisted Greyhound bus driver to the tune of “Master of the House” from “Les Miserables”; “All the twinks arriving for the Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest,” fronted by Chloe Fineman’s impression of the actor, singing a version of “Willkommen” from “Cabaret”; mayor Eric Adams’ potentially illegal associations with Turkey,...

For his film debut in “Blitz,” Elliott Heffernan had a tall order.

He had to perform in perilous scenes that found his character running through WWII battlefields as bombs dropped, leaping from a moving train and getting caught in a flash flood. But when the now 11-year-old actor faced his most challenging moment – having to cry on cue – he was able to use his greatest fears to pull it off. “I pretended my mom was taking away my PlayStation,” Heffernan reveals.

It worked; the young actor is earning raves for his turn in the Steve McQueen epic, playing George, the mixed-race son of Saorise Ronan’s single mother Rita. As WWII rages on and London endures an aerial bombardment, Rita makes the agonizing decision to send George away to safety in the country, despite his pleas. George ends up fleeing and, in his effort to return to his family, encounters a series of new threats.

At some point or another, most children view their parents as monsters — but for Princess Ellian (Rachel Zegler), a spell really did transform her royal parents (Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem) into monsters in the upcoming animated Netflix film “Spellbound” (streaming November 22). Watch the new trailer below.

The second animated feature from John Lasseter-led Skydance Animation (part of the impending Paramount-Skydance Media merger), the musical fantasy from director Vicky Jenson (“Shrek”) is a modern fairy tale that takes place in the mythical kingdom of Lumbria as Princess Ellian embarks on “an invigorating quest” to break the spell. Boasting bright, eye-catching animation from Skydance Animation Madrid, the look of Lumbria (production designed by Brett Nystul) was influenced by the iconic architecture of ancient Spain, known for its domed rooftops and Moorish arches.

There is a decidedly Disney-esque musical spectacle propelling this modern fairy tale, led by eight-time Oscar...

CBS announced the final cast for its upcoming daytime drama series “Beyond the Gates” on Tuesday.

Leading the final casting announcement is veteran actor Clifton Davis who joins the series as Vernon Dupree, the Dupree family patriarch married to Anita (Tamara Tunie) and father to Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix) and Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley), respectively.

Joining Davis are actors Alex Alegria, Lauren Bugliogli, Ben Gavin, Jibre Hordges, Jen Jacob and Mike Manning.

Rounding out the series cast are previously announced actors Brandon Claybon, Timon Kyle Durrett, Sean Freeman, Marquita Goings, Maurice Johnson, Trisha Mann-Grant, RhonniRose Mantilla, Ambyr Michelle, Colby Muhammad and Arielle Prepetit.

Set to premiere in early 2025 on CBS, “Beyond The Gates” tells the story of the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty.

Set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington D.C., and in one...

Beyond the Gates revealed the last wave of casting for the upcoming soap opera, which is slated to begin filming in November. This is the final casting announcement for the original cast of the daytime drama from CBS Studios and NAACP, which will premiere on CBS in early 2025.

Btg Casting News

Veteran television and stage actor Clifton Davis will star as Vernon Dupree, the Dupree family patriarch and husband of Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie). Alex Alegria, Lauren Buglioli, Ben Gavin, Jibre Hordges, Jen Jacob, and Mike Manning are also joining the new daytime series.

Character Breakdown

Clifton Davis stars as Vernon Dupree, the Dupree family patriarch married to Anita and father to Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson and Dani Dupree. A venerable former senator, Vernon is gentle, humble, and generous with his knowledge and experience. Retired now, Vernon was at the forefront of the civil rights movement.

Davis is a veteran...

Could Mufasa Have Saved Himself in The Lion King? Exploring Alternative Outcomes! (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Mufasa’s tragic death in The Lion King is one of the most gut-wrenching moments in Disney’s history. But could things have turned out differently? What if he’d seen through Scar’s plan, escaped the stampede, and survived? It’s a fun thought experiment, but let’s face it—if he’d survived, it would have reshaped Simba’s life, and The Lion King would have been a different movie.

Imagine it: Mufasa, alive and on Scar’s betrayal, would likely have exiled his treacherous brother. Lesson learned about family loyalty—the hard way. Simba, meanwhile, would have kept learning the ropes of royalty from a living, breathing king. No tragic father loss, no haunting ghost visions—just a dad teaching his cub how to be a good leader. With Scar gone, the...

Billy Magnussen is used to playing a beefcake. His first big job was on the soap opera As the World Turns. In Into the Woods, his version of Rapunzel’s Prince wore leather pants even when riding a horse. He served as the resident hunk among the ensembles in Game Night and The Big Short. These castings, flattering as they might be, haven’t always reflected the man himself, a classically trained actor who has a Tony nomination (for 2013’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike).

But in his latest role, Magnussen, 39, finally has found something a little more relatable, one that simultaneously fuels his character’s ego and leaves him plagued by self-doubt.

The satirical series The Franchise centers around the ill-fated production of a fictional superhero film whose big-budget snafus (an emergency pro-feminism rewrite, disputes over which actors get the biggest superpowers) poke fun at Hollywood’s IP obsession.

Smile 2 Box Office (Worldwide): 2nd Weekend Update( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Naomi Scott’s Skye Riley, a famous pop star in Smile 2, is being praised online after the film’s theatrical release. Fans are calling her character one of the best fictional pop stars of the years. The film is also performing well at the box office despite the release of Venom: The Last Dance. Keep scrolling for the deets.

Scott began her with Disney Channel’s Life Bites. In 2019, she featured in the action comedy Charlie’s Angels, the fantasy film Aladdin, and has featured in the Netflix thriller Anatomy of a Scandal. She has gained wider recognition with this 2024 release. Besides Scott, the film also featured a dynamic cast comprising Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Peter Jacobson, Ray Nicholson, Dylan Gelula, and more. It also featured Drew Barrymore as herself interviewing Skye on her talk show.

Naomi Scott’s film costs $28 million,...

In the paperwork identifying which tunes should be considered for the best original song Oscar for Disney’s forthcoming animated musical Moana 2, the company could have chosen any number of high-quality options featured on the film’s soundtrack, but, The Hollywood Reporter has learned, the studio is submitting just two: “Beyond” and “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?”

Both numbers feature music and lyrics by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. “Beyond,” which also includes Pacific choral vocals written and arranged by Opetaia Foa’i, is essentially this film’s version of the first Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go” (the only song submitted for the 2016 film, and one which wound up with a nomination). “Beyond” is the classic Disney “I want” anthem and is performed in the film by the actress who plays the title character, Auli’i Cravalho (alongside Rachel House in the 2024 film). Meanwhile, “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?...

The Broadway stage musical adaptation of Back To The Future will play its final performance on Sunday, January 5, producers announced today, bringing an end to its 18-month run at the Winter Garden Theatre.

When it closes, the musical will have performed more than 500 shows at the Winter Garden and, according to producers, sold $80 million in ticket sales. Producers have not announced a recoupment.

In recent months, attendance and sales have been slipping. Last week, the show took in $896,423 in weekly grosses, down considerably from the $1 million-plus figures from as recently as this past summer. Attendance last week was 86% of the venue’s capacity, while more recent Broadway arrivals – Cabaret, Sunset Blvd., Tammy Faye, The Outsiders – and even some longer-running shows like & Juliet, Aladdin, Hadestown and others – were in the 90% or more territory.

Directed by John Rando, the Broadway production, which opened on August 3, 2023, stars Casey Likes, Roger Bart, Evan Alexander Smith,...

Disney is continuing to explore its classic characters with new live-action takes on its animated films, as this has been a lucrative business for the studio for some time. We recently learned that Paul King ("Paddington") is now set to direct a "Prince Charming" movie for the Mouse House which, on the surface, seems like a purely money-driven idea. Today, however, we also learned that none other than Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, is in talks to star in the lead role, which changes the game.

According to Deadline, Hemsworth is being eyed to place the titular character in the "Prince Charming" movie. Hemsworth is coming off of "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" and the animated "Transformers One." He is, however, best known for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thor, having most recently appeared in the relatively disappointing "Thor: Love and Thunder" in 2022 (his "cameo" in "Deadpool & Wolverine...

The 2025 Epcot International Festival of the Arts is set to run from January 17 to February 24, offering a celebration of visual, performing, and culinary arts at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.

Disney fans and art lovers alike, mark your calendars! The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is returning for its 2025 edition, running from January 17 through February 24, 2025. This beloved annual event celebrates the blending of art forms that make Epcot so unique, from jaw-dropping visual art to amazing live performances and culinary creations that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the taste buds.

The Disney on Broadway Concert Series will also be back, bringing the magic of Broadway to the heart of Epcot. These performances will feature talented Broadway stars singing some of the most iconic Disney songs, giving guests a taste of New York right in Florida.

The festival features a variety of experiences that make it a must-see for park-goers,...

Last week’s “Dedication Night” on “Dancing with the Stars” was a tough night of competition in which almost all of the celebrities stepped up their game and improved their scores, just as you’d hope for at this stage of the competition. Unfortunately, that also means the show is starting to send people home despite good dances. So who will be on the chopping block tonight on “Disney Night,” when the celebs and their professional partners will perform routines inspired by Disney properties as wide-ranging as “Encanto” and “Deadpool and Wolverine”? Scroll down for our minute-by-minute live blog with all the developments and commentary throughout the night.

With last week’s elimination of model Brooks Nader and her partner Gleb Savchenko, there are eight couples remaining in contention for the Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy: Super Bowl champion Danny Amendola and pro Witney Carson, “The Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson,...

Hey, "Dancing With The Stars" fans. We're back with another brand new preview session for you guys. In this one, we're going to fill you in on what's going down in the next, new episode 6 of this current season 33, which is scheduled to hit the air tonight, October 22, 2024. The ABC folks put out an official press release for tonight's new episode 6. So, that is what well be working from in this preview session. Let's get to it. To start, ABC let us know that the theme for tonight's new episode 6 is called, "Disney Night." That means you guys are going to see the remaining eight couples dance only to songs from Disney movies. There will be an opening number to the song titled, "Friend Like Me" from the Aladdin movie. It will feature a special appearance from Michael James Scott from the hit Broadway musical titled, "Genie." A brand new...

“Dancing with the Stars” is back tonight with one of its fan-favorite theme nights: “Disney Night,” in which the stars and their professional partners will perform routines celebrating different Disney properties. And because Disney owns so much intellectual property, those movies being celebrated range all the way from “The Little Mermaid” to “Deadpool and Wolverine.” Here are the individual dances that will be performed by the eight remaining couples.

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Super Bowl Champion Danny Amendola and pro Witney Carson will perform a Jazz to “Bye Bye Bye” from “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

“The Bachelor” Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson will perform a Samba to “Trashin’ the Camp” from “Tarzan.”

NBA Champion Dwight Howard and pro Daniella Karagach will perform a Tango to “When Can I See You Again?” from “Wreck It Ralph.”

TV star Chandler Kinney and pro Brandon Armstrong will...

Gayle King may not want to leave her day job anytime soon, based on her attempt to replicate a creepy look from a movie.

Earlier this week, Gayle joined CBS Morning co-anchors Vladimir Duthiers and Tony Dokoupil to interview actress Naomi Scott.

Scott stars in Smile 2, the sequel to the 2022 horror movie that premiered in theaters on Friday.

During the interview, Gayle praised Scott for her role as Princess Jasmine in the live-action remake of Aladdin and asked about her going “to the dark side” for her role in Smile 2.

Scott said she’s incredibly “proud” of the film and loves everyone who contributed to its creation.

“We put literal blood, sweat, and tears,” she said on CBS Mornings.

Gayle’s co-star remarked about her ‘cringing’ face

During the interview, Gayle King admitted that when she saw the movie, she had to watch a lot with her hands covering her eyes.

Kim Kardashian and her huge family attended a spooky Halloween event. She shared some pictures and videos with her fans to make them feel like they were there with them.

The Kardashians Have An Extensive Family History

The Kardashian girls are the daughters of Oj Simpson’s lawyer and their TV personality mom, Kris Jenner. Kim Kardashian is an American media personality, socialite, and businesswoman. Her name reached the headlines due to her friendship and stylist job for Paris Hilton. However, her true rise to fame came with the sex tape she made in 2003 and released in 2007 with her now ex-boyfriend Ray J.

All the Kardashians have a high net worth due to their fame. They also have millions of followers on Instagram alone, which makes sense given the viewership of their reality TV show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Kourtney and Khloé, along with their sister Kim, are also media personalities and socialites.

As denizens of Blockbuster Video will be able to attest, the mid-1990s to early 2000s saw a massive glut of animated straight-to-video sequels and prequels to many of Disney's known animated features. There were sequels to "The Fox and the Hound," "Bambi," "Cinderella," "The Little Mermaid," "The Lion King," "Lady and the Tramp," "Atlantis: The Lost Empire," "The Emperor's New Groove," "Mulan," "Pocahontas," "Tarzan," "The Jungle Book," and even "Brother Bear." The sequels all came when there was a change of leadership at Disney, and the studio tripled-down on the mandate to make as much money as possible. 

The only people who watched these movies were nostalgic Disney-obsessed adults who viewed them as a scientific curiosity, and sought to use them as talking points in long-form online articles. Very occasionally, the films were rented from Blockbuster by anyone who happened to be seven years old when the sequel in question was released.

Smile 2 star Naomi Scott has added her name to the growing list of recent genre performances that deserve(d) awards consideration. From James McAvoy (Split) and Toni Collette (Hereditary) to Lupita Nyong’o (Us) and Mia Goth (Pearl), Scott is the latest example of an actor whose committed work in a highly difficult role shouldn’t be overlooked just because of the genre in which it resides. It’s well past time to have more than a half-dozen exceptions who managed to take home Oscar statuettes via the horror genre, such as Ruth Gordon (Rosemary’s Baby), Kathy Bates (Misery) and Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs).

In Parker Finn’s sequel to his 2022 smash hit, Scott plays Skye Riley, a troubled pop star who’s attempting to mount a comeback after surviving a car accident that took the life of her equally famous boyfriend, Paul Hudson (Ray Nicholson). Skye’s return...

Disney is set to reimagine yet another classic character with a live-action twist, this time bringing Prince Charming into the spotlight. With Paul King, the visionary behind “Paddington” and “Wonka,” in the director’s seat, fans can expect a fresh and whimsical take on one of Disney’s most famous fairy-tale heroes.

Paul King will also be co-writing the script along with Simon Farnaby and Jon Croker, making it a creative collaboration between familiar names. The film aims to reintroduce Prince Charming—typically a supporting figure overshadowed by the princess—to center stage, giving audiences a deeper insight into his story. The details on plot specifics are still largely under wraps, but it’s anticipated that Disney will try to add more complexity and depth to the character’s well-worn archetype.

The decision to cast Paul King suggests Disney wants to lean into a blend of humor, heart, and family-friendly charm.

The DC Universe has numerous projects in the pipeline, including a TV series centered on Booster Gold. Currently, we have little information about the show other than its announcement, but James Gunn has stated that just because something is announced doesn’t guarantee it will be released.

A few months ago, credible sources began reporting that Eternals star Kumail Nanjiani was cast in the role, which disappointed some fans who felt he didn’t physically match the character.

This speculation is particularly heightened given that fans have favored actors like Antony Starr and Chris Pratt for the role. Nanjiani has frequently been seen with James Gunn and the Superman cast at various events, fueling further rumors.

Recently, James Gunn shared an image showcasing the confirmed roles for the DC Universe, which included Nanjiani as Booster Gold. When asked if this was a confirmation of Nanjiani’s casting, Gunn responded with a clear “no.

Dcu has plenty of projects in development, just one of many is a TV series focusing on Booster Gold. We know nothing about the show at this point, only that it’s been announced. However, James Gunn recently said that just beacuse something was announced, doesn’t mean it’s going to get released.

A couple of months ago, credible sources started reporting that ‘Eternals’ actor Kumail Nanjiani has been cast in the role. Fans were disappointed since Nanjiani doesn’t physically fit with the role.

Especially in light of the fact that actors such as Antony Starr and Chris Pratt have been put as the favorites for the role by fans. Nanjiani has been often seen with James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman’ at other events which further strengthened the speculations.

A few days ago James Gunn shared an image with all confirmed roles for the Dcu so far,...

There’s really one true one wide release this weekend and it’s Paramount’s sequel Smile 2, which currently sees presales pointing toward a high-teens-millions opening. Tracking earlier this week indicated higher, in the $20 million-plus range, but that all depends on whether Latino and Hispanic moviegoers send this $28M-priced sequel to the 2022 original to another stratosphere.

The original movie is the stuff of post-Covid legends, an example of how a Hollywood major studio with a streaming service shifted a film away from a home release to a mega theatrical release after testing; Smile debuted to $22.6M at the box office and legged out to $105.9M domestic and $217.4M worldwide. Some studios couldn’t do that — re Disney with Hocus Pocus 2, which was confined to its Disney+ release despite great test scores.

Smile 2 sees its original director-writer architect Parker Finn returning. The first movie followed a psychiatrist, Dr.

"Smile 2" is relentless. It's a non-stop spookshow that just keeps increasing in madness, building towards a grand finale that pretty much absolves the film of any negative issues you might have. Don't worry, I'm not dipping into spoiler territory here, other than to say that this is a film that seems to be living proof of the age-old adage that the last 10 minutes make a movie. If you pull off a killer ending, everyone is going to overlook your flaws. And yes, "Smile 2" has some flaws. For one thing, the film stretches on way too long — did this thing need to clock in at over 2 hours? For another, director Parker Finn, who also wrote and directed 2022's "Smile," has a bag of tricks he reuses way too often: easy-to-predict jumpscares and a fondness for frequently flipping the camera upside-down as if to say "Get it??! Things are weird!

Broadway grosses shot up close to 16 percent last week, as prices and demand increased leading into the holiday weekend.

Wicked and The Lion King, two family-friendly offerings, topped the weekly industry grosses, with Wicked bringing in more than $440,000 than the prior week to reach close to $2.5 million. The Lion King made close to $2.2 million.

Hamilton, another stalwart of the top five, had the highest average ticket price in the industry last week, at $189.26, with grosses reaching close to $2 million and the show playing to 98 percent capacity.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical shot up more than $260,000 to reach $1.6 million, as Aaron Tveit and Joanna “JoJo” Levesque ended their runs in the show. Rounding out the top five, best musical winner The Outsiders added close to $100,000 over the prior week to reach $1.5 million.

Other popular offerings include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which saw grosses leap more than $300,000 to reach $1.2 million, and Aladdin,...

Writer/director Parker Finn’s sequel to his 2022 horror film Smile (read our review Here, watch the movie Here) is aiming for an October 18th theatrical release date, and with that date just a few days away, the final trailer for Smile 2 has just dropped online. You can watch it in the embed above.

Smile was based on Finn’s short film Laura Hasn’t Slept (watch it Here), which won the Special Jury Recognition Prize in SXSW’s Midnight Short category. Caitlin Stasey (Neighbours) played the title character in that short, and reprises the role in Smile, making it a follow-up of sorts. Smile has the following synopsis: After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order...

Writer/director Parker Finn’s sequel to his 2022 horror film Smile (read our review Here, watch the movie Here) is aiming for an October 18th theatrical release date, and with that date just a few days away, a new featurette has arrived online to give us another behind-the-scenes look at Smile 2. In this featurette, which is embedded above, we get some insight into how the film’s star, Naomi Scott of Aladdin and Charlie’s Angels, brought her pop star character Skye Riley to life. Speaking of Skye Riley, her EP has been released and is available Here.

Smile was based on Finn’s short film Laura Hasn’t Slept (watch it Here), which won the Special Jury Recognition Prize in SXSW’s Midnight Short category. Caitlin Stasey (Neighbours) played the title character in that short, and reprises the role in Smile, making it a follow-up of sorts. Smile has...

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The first feature film to be released by Walt Disney animation was, as most know, David Hand's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in 1937. Walt Disney himself, of course, had been working in animation for over 15 years at that point, having founded Laugh-o-Gram Studios in 1921. It was at that studio where Disney developed his taste for well-worn fairy tales, making shorts based on "Little Red Riding Hood," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," "Cinderella," and "Alice in Wonderland." That last film provided fodder for a long series of Alice Comedies that launched Walt Disney Production in 1923. The first 56 films made by Disney were Alice Comedies before he shifted to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, making dozens for him as well. In 1928, he debuted Mickey Mouse, and the rest is history. 

When it came to shorts, Disney clearly...

Jada Pinkett Smith was embarrassed when her separated husband Will Smith allegedly asked strangers for money. She revealed that it was something the Men in Black actor did all the time. However, when Smith got to tell his version of the story, he made the clarification that he tried to borrow money from strangers but his wife stopped him.

Will Smith in a still from King Richard | Credits: Warner Bros.

Will Smith has a staggering $350 million net worth in 2024 and he easily brings in $200 million in annual revenue. Combined with Jada Smith’s $50 million net worth, the Aladdin actor certainly didn’t need to borrow money from strangers. So, why did he do it?

Jada Pinkett Smith Did Not Approve Of Will Smith Borrowing Money From A Stranger Jada Pinkett Smith in a still from Girls Trip | Credits: Universal Pictures

When Jada Pinkett Smith appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in...

Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan are all now associated with “The Associate,” as the trio of British actors are in final talks to star in the Paramount+ series from Guy Ritchie and Ronan Bennett.

The project had initially been developed with the title “The Donovans,” with plans to function as an across-the-pond spin-off of the Showtime series “Ray Donovan,” which was led by Liev Schreiber for seven seasons and a film adaptation. However, it has been reworked into a standalone series with no connections to that franchise.

The one-hour gangster drama series comes from Showtime, MTV Studios and 101 Studios. As reported by Variety in February, Bennett is fully writing the series and Ritchie will direct. Both also serve as executive producers, alongside David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin and Ivan Atkinson.

Bennett is the creator of the British crime series “Top Boy” and has written novels including “The Catastrophist,...

Ahsoka Star Eman Esfandi Reveals How He Got Cast as Ezra Bridger - Main Image

Ahsoka star Eman Esfandi recently opened up about his casting as Ezra Bridger in the hit Star Wars series.

The actor notably made his debut in the franchise as the fan-favorite Rebels character, who was revealed to be stuck in Peridea during the later episodes of the first season of Ahsoka.

The character's return was celebrated by many fans as it also marked his live-action debut. Esfandi's performance was also praised and considered to be one of the highlights of the first season.

Eman Esfandi on Getting Cast as Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka

In a recent interview, Esfandi shared how he got cast as Ezra Bridger in the first season of Ahsoka.

He admitted that he was not hugely familiar with the Star Wars franchise, but he took notice of the character after seeing an...

2014’s Boyhood took 12 years to make. Some of these films make Boyhood look like an episode of South Park.

14 ‘Kill It and Leave This Town’: 14 Years

Polish animator Mariusz Wilczyński set out to make a short animated film about a person whose entire family dies, so they run off to a land of memories where time doesn’t exist and everyone is alive. At some point, Wilczyński decided it should actually become a feature length psychological horror, which took just a smidge longer to animate.

13 ‘The Evil Within’: 15 Years

Writer/director Andrew Getty self-financed this horror film, which was based on his childhood nightmares, for about $6 million. He filmed his deepest fears inside his own mansion, toiled away for years on special effects, and died before he could finish. The producer had to do the final editing to get it across the finish line.

12 ‘Pakeezah’: 16 Years

The...

Freeform is giving big Disney energy all November long with so much goodness one can’t afford to miss a night. 30 Days of Disney returns with themed weeks that make it easy to kick back and enjoy the magic of Disney with friends and family.

The programming event features a lineup of beloved films from the entire Walt Disney catalog, including Disney Animated classics like Lilo & Stitch, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast and Disney-Pixar titles, including a Toy Story movie marathon, Wall-e, Inside Out, and modern fan favorites Soul and Turning Red.

Disney’s most beloved musicals will have viewers singing along to favorite songs this Nov. 4-8, with films like Aladdin, Moana, Encanto, and Frozen/Frozen 2. Favorite Disney villains will take evil to new heights, and they are beloved for it. From Nov. 11-15, watch out for Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Scar from The Lion King, and...

It takes more than a village to make a movie; it’s more like a small army. And in the case of “The Franchise,” that army has a lot of faces you’ll recognize.

Streaming on Max and airing on HBO on Sundays, the comedy series tells the story of a film crew working to put together the next installment in a major (fictional) superhero franchise. Along the way, they run into the many hurdles of Hollywood, with the show lovingly poking fun at how real superhero films seem to be made.

Like we said, you’re going to see a lot of familiar actors, some of whom have actually starred in real-life franchises. We’ve rounded them up for you below.

Here’s who’s who in “The Franchise.”

Colin Hutton/HBO Daniel (Himesh Patel)

Daniel is the First Ad on the fictional movie “Tecto,” and he basically keeps things afloat in the series.

Writer/director Parker Finn’s sequel to his 2022 horror film Smile (read our review Here, watch the movie Here) is aiming for an October 18th theatrical release date, and with that date just a couple of weeks away, a new featurette has arrived online to give us a behind-the-scenes look at Smile 2. To find out what Finn and the film’s star, Naomi Scott of Aladdin and Charlie’s Angels, had to say about this follow-up, check out the video embedded above.

Smile was based on Finn’s short film Laura Hasn’t Slept (watch it Here), which won the Special Jury Recognition Prize in SXSW’s Midnight Short category. Caitlin Stasey (Neighbours) played the title character in that short, and reprises the role in Smile, making it a follow-up of sorts. Smile has the following synopsis: After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon...

Plot: Follows the crew of an unloved franchise movie fighting for their place in a savage and unruly cinematic universe. The comedy series shines a light on the secret chaos inside the world of superhero moviemaking, to ask the question — how exactly does the cinematic sausage get made?

Review: HBO has certainly struck gold with The Penguin, once again cementing the cable network as a powerhouse of original series in the age of streaming saturation. But for every great HBO drama, there are iconic comedies that the network has needed since the end of Veep. Blending the insider knowledge of acclaimed filmmaker Sam Mendes and the biting satirical wit of Armando Iannucci, HBO has their next hit series in The Franchise. Mocking the world of Marvel and other studio intellectual property, The Franchise looks at the behind-the-scenes tension while filming a comic book adaptation. Teasing the conflicting personalities, actor foibles and quirks,...

Ken Page was best known as a stage actor, with Deadline referring to him as one of Broadway’s most familiar character actors, but he did earn several film credits over the decades as well, appearing in films like Torch Song Trilogy, The Kid Who Loved Christmas, I’ll Do Anything, and Dreamgirls, as well as TV shows like Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, Touched by an Angel, and more. Page also did a good amount of voice acting work – with his most popular credit coming when he provided the voice of Oogie Boogie in the Henry Selick / Tim Burton stop-motion classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. Page would go on to voice Oogie Boogie again for the Kingdom Hearts video games, the video game The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge, and the ride walk-through short Haunted Mansion Holiday. Sadly, it’s being reported that Page passed away in his sleep...

“The Wild Robot” director Chris Sanders was feeling a little lost himself.

In 2020, he ventured into live-action filmmaking with “The Call of the Wild,” an ambitious, imperfect adaptation of Jack London’s 1903 novel. Sanders got to work with Janusz Kaminski, Steven Spielberg’s regular cinematographer, and it allowed him to direct Harrison Ford as a grizzled frontiersman. But the film opened a few weeks before the pandemic shut down movie theaters.

For the first time in his career, Sanders had delivered a disappointment.

Then DreamWorks Animation, the studio where the filmmaker had made “How to Train Your Dragon” and “The Croods,” wooed him back. He looked at the projects the studio had in development or owned the rights to and quickly zeroed in on “The Wild Robot,” a book by American author and illustrator Peter Brown about a high-tech machine that washes up on an island inhabited by animals.

Sanders...

The Golden Bachelorette star, Joan Vassos is showing how she has fun with the process of dating multiple suitors at once. While the upcoming episode teases a fantastic first date, Joan doesn’t sugarcoat that it is also hard. She reflects on watching the premiere and the feelings that bubbled up. Furthermore, she discusses just how difficult it is to date at her age.

Joan Vassos Talks About Watching The Premiere

In an interview with Extra, Joan Vassos discusses how she felt watching The Golden Bachelorette season premiere. She was in New York for her Broadway debut in Aladdin so she celebrated with a small group. Although she only had a few people at her watch party in her hotel, she felt phenomenal FaceTiming into several other parties. Furthermore, her 92-year-old mom got to host a big party at the nursing home and was thrilled. And she was getting many...

When some fans hear the name of Jay Pharoah’s new YouTube special Jared, they ask a simple question: “Who’s Jared?”

“A lot of people didn’t even know that was my real damn name,” Pharoah laughs when we talked about his comedy career this week. “‘Who’s Jared?’ Shut up. Okay, it’s me. Jared is me. Jared is just a metaphor for everything that people haven’t really gotten a chance to see. You can just expect the tumultuous trail of life that I’ve been going on in this past decade.”

The special, which premieres September 22nd, is “free for everybody to see. You don’t need a subscription. You can watch it anywhere,” he tells me. “I want y’all to enjoy it — growing-up stories, some pop-culture references in there, it’s pretty much a buffet of comedy.”

Get amped for Jared with Pharoah’s...

Joan Vassos premiered in the first season of The Golden Bachelorette this week, and she’s already doing the rounds with big media exposure. And, it was revealed during a recent interview that the school administrator just landed an exciting gig. .

Joan Vassos Looks So Happy And Attractive

Obviously, at the moment, the Golden Bachelorette lead can’t spoil how her season ended. But, there’s no hiding her excitement and her joy, despite interviews trying to trip her up to dish spoilers. Hopefully, after the disappointing ending for Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, she gets her happy ever after.

Joan Vassos, hopefully, emerges from her season on ABC without the scandal and ugliness of Jenn Tran’s season on The Bachelorette. For sure, the franchise could use a happy pairing for a change. In the meantime, Joan is so lit about a gig that got her all excited this week.

Near the top of the list of the most famous actors on Earth over the last four decades, sits Will Smith. Since his breakout in the 1990s, the multitalented star has conquered the music industry, television comedy with NBC’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and blockbuster movies thanks to “Independence Day” and the “Bad Boys” and “Men in Black” franchises. In 2021, as Smith turned 53 years old, he also scored critical acclaim that has frequently eluded his grasp. His performance in “King Richard” as Richard Williams, father to Venus and Serena Williams, gave Smith the best reviews of his career and a Best Actor trophy at the Oscars.

His successes wherever he goes have resulted in an impressive number of awards, including winning four Grammy Awards (from eight nominations) for his recording work. For his acting in television, Smith has earned two Golden Globe nominations (for “The Fresh Prince”) plus...

Recently, The Golden Bachelorette aired its first episode showing off the studs that will be vying for star, Joan Vassos’ heart. Although Joan is embarking on the journey of her life with Bachelor Nation, in real-time, she revealed she is breaking out of her shell in her hot new gig.

Joan Vassos Is Navigating Through Life After Loss

In the first-ever episode of The Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos shows she is ready to take on the world. Undeniably, she is a genuine class act. As she searches for new love, she is adding to a life lived with vigor. Notably, she credits her late husband, John Vassos, for the best 32 years any wife could ask. Although she is actively still grieving her loss, she shows strength as she learns to make room for more joy. Furthermore, her gentlemen callers are characters that seem like a good crew to discover love.

Are Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith divorced for real?

Longtime fans of the celebrity pair have expressed confusion over their complex relationship. Things have intensified since the couple have been out of the spotlight for over a year.

Yes, Will Smith and his family are Hollywood royalty. But are he and Jada still family?

What is the actual status of his marriage to Jada? Here, we break down the rumors and the truth

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith attend the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022. (Photo Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images) Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith: Are They Still married?

In the time since Will famously slapped Chris Rock across the face at the Oscars, he and wife Jada Pinkett Smith have kept a low profile.

That all changed in late 2023, when Jada set out on her press tour to talk about her memoir,...

Ahead of the series debut of The Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos has discussed how the first night is very chaotic. Undoubtedly, the process of dating multiple men in front of a camera is difficult. Likewise, she is overcoming feelings of guilt for dating someone new. But during an interview promoting the show she reveals to fans why she is “glowing” now.

Joan Vassos Prepares For The Golden Bachelorette To Air

The Golden Bachelorette is setting the stage for the big opening night debuting the series spinoff. Tonight, September 18, Joan Vassos’ journey to new love will begin. While Bachelor Nation has gotten backlash for The Bachelorette, Jenn Tran’s season, fans hope to see Joan get a beautiful and inspiring story. In the preview, Joan says she doesn’t feel “invisible now.” During an interview promoting the premiere, Joan talks about why she is currently “glowing.”

Joan Vassos – Good Morning America...

The Disney Animation studio is a pioneer when it comes to delivering successful animated films. Especially the decade from 1989 to 1999 was dubbed as Disney Renaissance, due to the release of several record breaking movies.

A still from The Little Mermaid (1989) | Credits: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

The Little Mermaid (1989) was a phenomenal success and later movies only strengthened Disney’s winning streak. Some initially didn’t have faith in the female-led big-budget film, like the then-Disney President, Jeffrey Katzenberg. Not only did the film create a lasting impression, but it also went on to inspire a 2023 live-action adaptation centered around controversy.

The movie which changed the animation world

The massive financial failure of The Black Cauldron (1985), an adaptation of Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain series, forced Disney to re-evaluate. They had to produce a project which could reinstall people’s faith in the animation studio.

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