<p>In a recent interview with <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>, actor Dan Stevens confirmed that he is in talks to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel to <em>Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire</em> (2024). Stevens played Trapper, a veterinarian who works for the top-secret organisation Monarch.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/neil-gaimans-the-sandman-to-end-with-season-2-8680583">Neil Gaiman's The Sandman to end with season 2</a></strong></p>
<h2>Godzilla x Kong Sequel</h2>
<p>The film will be the eighth entry in Legendary Studios&rsquo; Monsterverse. It was initially set to be directed by Adam Wingard, who helmed <em>New Empire</em>, but he has since been replaced by <em>I Am Mother </em>director Grant Sputore.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/im-feeling-super-positive-about-it-showrunner-of-netflixs-the-recruit-on-season-3-renewal-8680994">&lsquo;I&rsquo;m feeling super positive about it&rsquo;: Showrunner of Netflix&rsquo;s The Recruit on season 3 renewal</a></strong></p>
<p>The sequel will be written by David Callaham, known for his work on projects such as <em>Mortal Kombat, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, </em>and <em>Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.</em></p>
<h2>Kaitlyn Dever Joins the Cast</h2>
<p>Recently, it was announced that actress Kaitlyn Dever has been cast in a leading role in the sequel. While plot details remain under wraps, it is clear that Godzilla and Kong will once again face off against one of the many terrifying monsters from their vast rogues&rsquo; gallery.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/captain-america-4-anthony-mackie-addresses-reshoots-and-says-they-are-a-marvel-movie-staple-8678568">Captain America 4: Anthony Mackie addresses reshoots and says they are a Marvel movie staple</a></strong></p>
<h2>The Monsteverse</h2>
<p>The franchise began in 2014 with Godzilla and now includes six theatrical releases. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the films have collectively grossed over $2.5 billion worldwide.</p>
<p>Legendary Pictures has expanded the franchise with two TV spin-offs, <em>Skull Island</em> and <em>Monarch: Legacy of Monsters</em>. While Skull Island received mixed reviews, Monarch was a hit, and its second season is expected to stream on Apple TV+ later this year.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/legal-battle-with-superman-estate-may-stall-james-gunns-new-movie-8680433">Legal battle with Superman estate may stall James Gunn's new movie</a></strong></p>

Entertainment | Hollywood: Dan Stevens revealed in a recent interview that he is in talks with Legendary Pictures to reprise his role from Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actor Dan Stevens confirmed that he is in talks to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Stevens played Trapper, a veterinarian who works for the top-secret organisation Monarch. Also Read: Neil Gaiman's The Sandman to end with season 2 Godzilla x Kong Sequel The film will be the eighth entry in Legendary Studios’ Monsterverse. It was initially set to be directed by Adam Wingard, who helmed New Empire, but he has since been replaced by I Am Mother director Grant Sputore. Also Read: ‘I’m feeling super positive about it’: Showrunner of Netflix’s The Recruit on season 3 renewal The sequel will be written by David Callaham, known for his work on projects such as Mortal Kombat, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Kaitlyn Dever Joins the Cast Recently, it was announced that actress Kaitlyn Dever has been cast in a leading role in the sequel. While plot details remain under wraps, it is clear that Godzilla and Kong will once again face off against one of the many terrifying monsters from their vast rogues’ gallery. Also Read: Captain America 4: Anthony Mackie addresses reshoots and says they are a Marvel movie staple The Monsteverse The franchise began in 2014 with Godzilla and now includes six theatrical releases. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the films have collectively grossed over $2.5 billion worldwide. Legendary Pictures has expanded the franchise with two TV spin-offs, Skull Island and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. While Skull Island received mixed reviews, Monarch was a hit, and its second season is expected to stream on Apple TV+ later this year. Also Read: Legal battle with Superman estate may stall James Gunn's new movie

Godzilla x Kong sequel: Dan Stevens in talks to reprise leading role

<p>Walt Disney Co&#39;s&nbsp;live-action adaptation of &quot;Beauty and the Beast,&quot; one of the most anticipated movies of the year, will feature a gay character for the first time in Disney`s history, according to the film&#39;s director.</p>

<p>Director Bill Condon said in an interview with Attitude, a British gay lifestyle magazine, that LeFou, the goofy sidekick to the film&#39;s primary villain, Gaston, will come to terms with his sexuality. The character is played by actor Josh Gad.</p>

<p>&quot;LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston,&quot; Condon said.</p>

<p>&quot;And that&#39;s what has its payoff at the end, which I don&#39;t want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie,&quot; he told Attitude.</p>

<p>Social media reaction was mixed. While some people welcomed Disney&#39;s move to be more inclusive, many were disappointed with the choice of Disney`s first gay character.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Twitter user Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) wrote: &quot;Disney&#39;s making its first gay character with LeFou and he&#39;s a clownish sidekick who exists to prop up his straight best friend. Great job.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Disney&#39;s making its first gay character with LeFou and he&#39;s a clownish sidekick who exists to prop up his straight best friend. Great job.</p>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/837027818064117760">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LeFou has a confused, unrequited crush for Gaston, who treats him badly. I&#39;m not sure anyone should be celebrating this as a diversity win.</p>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/837028466419621888">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>User Jessica(@xwithmywoes) wrote: &quot;In regards to LeFou being Disney&#39;s first openly LGBTQ character, it is bittersweet.&quot;<br />
Disney was not immediately available for a comment.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In regards to Lefou being Disney&#39;s first openly LGBTQ character, it is bittersweet.</p>
&mdash; Jessica (@xwithmywoes) <a href="https://twitter.com/xwithmywoes/status/837028019608895490">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is a step and it is progress. But we need strong and heroic characters to represent the LGBTQ community.</p>
&mdash; Jessica (@xwithmywoes) <a href="https://twitter.com/xwithmywoes/status/837028671995195392">March 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The remake of Disney&#39;s 1991 animated movie, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, hits US&nbsp;theatres on March 17.</p>

<p>There are already hundreds of sold-out showtimes, according to movie ticketing service Fandango.</p>

<p>(Reuters)<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


LeFou, the goofy sidekick to the film's primary villain, Gaston, will come to terms with his sexuality

Walt Disney Co's live-action adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast," one of the most anticipated movies of the year, will feature a gay character for the first time in Disney`s history, according to the film's director. Director Bill Condon said in an interview with Attitude, a British gay lifestyle magazine, that LeFou, the goofy sidekick to the film's primary villain, Gaston, will come to terms with his sexuality. The character is played by actor Josh Gad. "LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston," Condon said. "And that's what has its payoff at the end, which I don't want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie," he told Attitude. Social media reaction was mixed. While some people welcomed Disney's move to be more inclusive, many were disappointed with the choice of Disney`s first gay character. Twitter user Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) wrote: "Disney's making its first gay character with LeFou and he's a clownish sidekick who exists to prop up his straight best friend. Great job." Disney's making its first gay character with LeFou and he's a clownish sidekick who exists to prop up his straight best friend. Great job. — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 1, 2017 × LeFou has a confused, unrequited crush for Gaston, who treats him badly. I'm not sure anyone should be celebrating this as a diversity win. — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 1, 2017 × User Jessica(@xwithmywoes) wrote: "In regards to LeFou being Disney's first openly LGBTQ character, it is bittersweet." Disney was not immediately available for a comment. In regards to Lefou being Disney's first openly LGBTQ character, it is bittersweet. — Jessica (@xwithmywoes) March 1, 2017 × This is a step and it is progress. But we need strong and heroic characters to represent the LGBTQ community. — Jessica (@xwithmywoes) March 1, 2017 × The remake of Disney's 1991 animated movie, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, hits US theatres on March 17. There are already hundreds of sold-out showtimes, according to movie ticketing service Fandango. (Reuters)

'Beauty and the Beast' to feature Disney's first gay character

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has been heavily criticised for its handling of information relating to a doctor who was allegedly supplying athletes with banned substances.<br />
<br />
The agency, a national organisation committed to drug-free sport, commissioned an independent review after claims aired in the Sunday Times that Dr Mark Bonar had provided more than 150 elite athletes with performance-enhancing drugs.<br />
<br />
Amateur cyclist Dan Stevens turned whistleblower in the hope of reducing his suspension after he was banned for two years for breaching anti-doping rules in 2014.<br />
<br />
But the review&#39;s report censured UKAD for failing to pursue claims against Bonar and for not contacting his professional body, the General Medical Council.<br />
<br />
While praising UKAD staff for their &quot;transparency&quot; and commitment to clean sport, the report was scathing about certain parts of the investigation into Bonar.<br />
<br />
&quot;It is difficult to understand why no contact was made with the GMC when that course of action was suggested on at least seven occasions either by members of UKAD, the athlete (Stevens) and his legal representatives,&quot; said the review&#39;s chairman, former Merseyside assistant chief constable Andy Ward.<br />
<br />
He added that &quot;as a minimum standard of investigation, a simple check&quot; with the GMC should have been made to find out if it, as Bonar`s regulatory body, had any information that could &quot;support or negate&quot; Stevens claims.<br />
<br />
UKAD was also criticised for not giving Stevens a more lenient sentence after his cooperation, with Ward highlighting the &quot;confusion and lack of clarity&quot; as to how the agency deals with dopers seeking to reduce their sanction in return for &quot;substantial assistance&quot;.<br />
<br />
He described UKAD&#39;s dismissal of Stevens request for a lesser punishment as &quot;harsh&quot; and &quot;subjective&quot;.<br />
<br />
That dismissal prompted Stevens to take his story to the Sunday Times, which then filmed the London-based Bonar claiming he had supplied prohibited drugs to more than 150 top-level athletes.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Those claims, which were published by the newspaper in April, have now been investigated by UKAD, and the agency did eventually share its findings with the GMC. Bonar has since denied any wrongdoing.<br />
<br />
&quot;It is clear that opportunities to gather intelligence, secure evidence and investigate Bonar have been missed,&quot; Ward concluded.<br />
<br />
(AFP)

A review set up by the agency has censured it for failing to pursue claims that a doctor supplied drugs to more than 150 athletes

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has been heavily criticised for its handling of information relating to a doctor who was allegedly supplying athletes with banned substances. The agency, a national organisation committed to drug-free sport, commissioned an independent review after claims aired in the Sunday Times that Dr Mark Bonar had provided more than 150 elite athletes with performance-enhancing drugs. Amateur cyclist Dan Stevens turned whistleblower in the hope of reducing his suspension after he was banned for two years for breaching anti-doping rules in 2014. But the review's report censured UKAD for failing to pursue claims against Bonar and for not contacting his professional body, the General Medical Council. While praising UKAD staff for their "transparency" and commitment to clean sport, the report was scathing about certain parts of the investigation into Bonar. "It is difficult to understand why no contact was made with the GMC when that course of action was suggested on at least seven occasions either by members of UKAD, the athlete (Stevens) and his legal representatives," said the review's chairman, former Merseyside assistant chief constable Andy Ward. He added that "as a minimum standard of investigation, a simple check" with the GMC should have been made to find out if it, as Bonar`s regulatory body, had any information that could "support or negate" Stevens claims. UKAD was also criticised for not giving Stevens a more lenient sentence after his cooperation, with Ward highlighting the "confusion and lack of clarity" as to how the agency deals with dopers seeking to reduce their sanction in return for "substantial assistance". He described UKAD's dismissal of Stevens request for a lesser punishment as "harsh" and "subjective". That dismissal prompted Stevens to take his story to the Sunday Times, which then filmed the London-based Bonar claiming he had supplied prohibited drugs to more than 150 top-level athletes. Those claims, which were published by the newspaper in April, have now been investigated by UKAD, and the agency did eventually share its findings with the GMC. Bonar has since denied any wrongdoing. "It is clear that opportunities to gather intelligence, secure evidence and investigate Bonar have been missed," Ward concluded. (AFP)

UK Anti-Doping criticised for handling of doping claims

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Godzilla x Kong sequel: Dan Stevens in talks to reprise leading role

'Beauty and the Beast' to feature Disney's first gay character

UK Anti-Doping criticised for handling of doping claims