Fans have been given a first taste of what to expect from the unmasked Peter Parker, with the release of the first trailer for upcoming Christmas sequel, "Spider-Man: No Way Home." Part of Marvel Studio's MCU Phase 4, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is set for release exclusively in theaters from 17th December.

Teaser trailer launched for 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'

<p>At the age of nine, Avantika Vandanapu—who goes by her first name on social media—won the dance reality show, 'Dance India Dance Lil Masters North America'. But, deep within, she was reeling under the stress of racial profiling and a sense of insecurity that came with incessant bullying. "The racial discrimination I faced was when I was younger and that did kind of set the tone for my growth and the kind of insecurities I would have," Disney’s 'Spin' lead actress tells WION during&nbsp;a conference call from America.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
In this&nbsp;exclusive conversation with us, on the day of her big musical release 'Spin', the dancer- &nbsp; &nbsp;turned-actor—all of 16—recounts the horrid details of racism she had to face in the hands of 'fellow kids', her dreams and hopes for the future and how an unorthodox move by Disney shaped her career, hopefully for the better.</p>

<p><br />
Excerpts from the chat:</p>

<p><br />
<strong>WION: You are Disney’s first Indo-American lead. How did you land a gig like that?</strong></p>

<p><br />
<strong>AVANTIKA:</strong> I actually auditioned for this role when I was 12 years old and it was my first Hollywood audition ever and I was still working in India at the time. But I still auditioned and got a call back, and that was my ticket to Los Angeles, ticket to Disney to see Hollywood for the first time. Unfortunately, after that, the project (referring to 'Spin') went on hold. Actually, not unfortunately though, it was going on hold for further development for authenticity and make it as well-rounded as possible. But, it came back (to life) at the beginning of last year and I re-auditioned for it again and here, the audition process is pretty standard and it lasts about four months for a feature film. You have to do an audition, a call back and a producer session and then you perform in front of the entire network and in this case, it was Disney. So, this is the same process that i went through and Disney actually told me in the (audition) room—which is a bit unorthodox, that rarely happens—that I was booked and that was so exciting! It was like a full-circle project for me that I auditioned for and also the first big project that I booked.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Avantika in  Disney's 'Spin' posters" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5128d534-3a0f-4258-b004-065bd9afde9b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-15T123108.162.jpg" /></p>

<p><br />
<strong>WION: As an Indian-American, what kind of racial discrimination have you faced so far, if at all?</strong></p>

<p><br />
<strong>AVANTIKA: </strong>As an Indian-American, the kind of racial discrimination I have faced has mostly ever come up when I was younger. When I was younger, I had comments like 'Go back to your country', calling me a Paki (a slang for Pakistani immigrants living in America). I think it was common a lot for kids my age and people of South Asian descent faced, and making fun of me putting oil in my hair and making fun of the fact that I eat curry. It was just really disappointing comments and things that were being said by, unfortunately, kids my age which I think is even more hurtful to see. You know, a child spout that kind of hateful things. But, as I have grown up and seen the rise of social media, bring awareness to how these words can impact people, I have been fortunate to experience less of this racial discrimination and it’s helped my confidence a lot more. So, predominantly the racial discrimination I faced was when I was younger and that did kind of set the tone for my growth and the kind of insecurities I would have. But, I am finding that my confidence is growing because of how social media has made other South Asians and I feel less alone in our struggles and they are bringing awareness and bringing to light how these comments are affecting us. People are being a little bit more considerate and a little bit more sensitive, which I think is good.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="'I was made fun of for putting oil in my hair, eating curry': Avantika, Disney actor" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7982f9c2-9f9e-4875-8f91-ede8742c3801" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-15T122456.474.jpg" /></p>

<p><br />
<strong>WION: Through 'Spin', what are the most common stereotypes about India that you wish to shatter?</strong></p>

<p><br />
<strong>AVANTIKA: </strong>I would like to shatter through ‘Spin’ that, you know, Indians can only be in STEM because we have so much talent and our culture is specially so art-centric as well. We teach our kids Carnatic music and instruments and dance. So I hope that at least the American perception of us Indians would be that we are equally as talented and equally as capable in artistic fields as well in STEM. So that is one stereotype I would like to shatter I would also like to shatter (the belief) that all of our parents are rigid and super strict because even though they may be hesitant to send us to artistic fields for career-wise—STEM comes from a sense of protectiveness, and a sense of ‘we want to keep our kids safe and make sure they have a comfortable life’—but it doesn’t come from a hyper sense of control even though that maybe a by product. I hope this movie conveys the nuances of that kind of a relationship and enlighten the public.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Indians are artistically inclined, feels the 'Spin' actor-dancer" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6af7393d-c5b0-4f2c-a5ca-d9bd6e75b2fd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-15T122606.457.jpg" /></p>

<p><br />
<strong>WION: India turns 75 today, what are your dreams and hopes for the Indian youth?</strong></p>

<p><br />
<strong>AVANTIKA:</strong> My dreams and hopes for the Indian youth is that we show the world how amazing we are. I think India is so underestimated in so many ways and I hope our youth is able to show everyone their power and all the things we are capable of, and I also hope that we make India a safe place for people from different walks of life. I hope that the Indian youth is able to change the mindset that India has had and begins to turn us into a more progressive direction and allow for LGBTQ+ youth to be themselves and for women to be themselves. I hope we are able to promote that kind of a direction and I feel like for such a beautiful country, we need to have a sense of beautiful sense of diversity for our community as well. That’s my hope!</p>

<p><img alt="Avantika hopes to be a leading lady in Hollywood" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a650c861-1ef1-4bd9-86df-51f1125d831a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-15T122402.963.jpg" /></p>

<p><br />
<strong>WION: What are your aims and aspirations for your acting career? Do you see yourself being a full-blown lead in Hollywood movies, even as a grown up woman?</strong></p>

<p><br />
<strong>AVANTIKA: </strong>My aims and aspirations are that I&nbsp;would love to be a lead in a Hollywood movie even as a grown up. I chose this career seeing myself doing this for a very, very long time. Probably, for the rest of my life. I would absolutely love to do it and I am working really hard. Hopefully, it will happen for me. But, no one can tell the future, right&nbsp;<em>(laughs!)</em>?<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><em>'Spin' is streaming on Disney + Hotstar.&nbsp;</em></strong></p>

<p><strong><em><img alt="Avantika was bullied when she was younger. She is 16 now" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="03abacf7-b779-42ca-a63b-174dcec30c97" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-15T122714.726.jpg" /></em></strong></p>


At the age of nine, Avantika Vandanapu—who goes by her first name on social media—won the dance reality show, 'Dance India Dance Lil Masters North America'. But, deep within, she was reeling under the stress of racial profiling and a sense of insecurity that came with incessant bullying.

At the age of nine, Avantika Vandanapu—who goes by her first name on social media—won the dance reality show, 'Dance India Dance Lil Masters North America'. But, deep within, she was reeling under the stress of racial profiling and a sense of insecurity that came with incessant bullying. "The racial discrimination I faced was when I was younger and that did kind of set the tone for my growth and the kind of insecurities I would have," Disney’s 'Spin' lead actress tells WION during a conference call from America. In this exclusive conversation with us, on the day of her big musical release 'Spin', the dancer- turned-actor—all of 16—recounts the horrid details of racism she had to face in the hands of 'fellow kids', her dreams and hopes for the future and how an unorthodox move by Disney shaped her career, hopefully for the better. Excerpts from the chat: WION: You are Disney’s first Indo-American lead. How did you land a gig like that? AVANTIKA: I actually auditioned for this role when I was 12 years old and it was my first Hollywood audition ever and I was still working in India at the time. But I still auditioned and got a call back, and that was my ticket to Los Angeles, ticket to Disney to see Hollywood for the first time. Unfortunately, after that, the project (referring to 'Spin') went on hold. Actually, not unfortunately though, it was going on hold for further development for authenticity and make it as well-rounded as possible. But, it came back (to life) at the beginning of last year and I re-auditioned for it again and here, the audition process is pretty standard and it lasts about four months for a feature film. You have to do an audition, a call back and a producer session and then you perform in front of the entire network and in this case, it was Disney. So, this is the same process that i went through and Disney actually told me in the (audition) room—which is a bit unorthodox, that rarely happens—that I was booked and that was so exciting! It was like a full-circle project for me that I auditioned for and also the first big project that I booked. WION: As an Indian-American, what kind of racial discrimination have you faced so far, if at all? AVANTIKA: As an Indian-American, the kind of racial discrimination I have faced has mostly ever come up when I was younger. When I was younger, I had comments like 'Go back to your country', calling me a Paki (a slang for Pakistani immigrants living in America). I think it was common a lot for kids my age and people of South Asian descent faced, and making fun of me putting oil in my hair and making fun of the fact that I eat curry. It was just really disappointing comments and things that were being said by, unfortunately, kids my age which I think is even more hurtful to see. You know, a child spout that kind of hateful things. But, as I have grown up and seen the rise of social media, bring awareness to how these words can impact people, I have been fortunate to experience less of this racial discrimination and it’s helped my confidence a lot more. So, predominantly the racial discrimination I faced was when I was younger and that did kind of set the tone for my growth and the kind of insecurities I would have. But, I am finding that my confidence is growing because of how social media has made other South Asians and I feel less alone in our struggles and they are bringing awareness and bringing to light how these comments are affecting us. People are being a little bit more considerate and a little bit more sensitive, which I think is good. WION: Through 'Spin', what are the most common stereotypes about India that you wish to shatter? AVANTIKA: I would like to shatter through ‘Spin’ that, you know, Indians can only be in STEM because we have so much talent and our culture is specially so art-centric as well. We teach our kids Carnatic music and instruments and dance. So I hope that at least the American perception of us Indians would be that we are equally as talented and equally as capable in artistic fields as well in STEM. So that is one stereotype I would like to shatter I would also like to shatter (the belief) that all of our parents are rigid and super strict because even though they may be hesitant to send us to artistic fields for career-wise—STEM comes from a sense of protectiveness, and a sense of ‘we want to keep our kids safe and make sure they have a comfortable life’—but it doesn’t come from a hyper sense of control even though that maybe a by product. I hope this movie conveys the nuances of that kind of a relationship and enlighten the public. WION: India turns 75 today, what are your dreams and hopes for the Indian youth? AVANTIKA: My dreams and hopes for the Indian youth is that we show the world how amazing we are. I think India is so underestimated in so many ways and I hope our youth is able to show everyone their power and all the things we are capable of, and I also hope that we make India a safe place for people from different walks of life. I hope that the Indian youth is able to change the mindset that India has had and begins to turn us into a more progressive direction and allow for LGBTQ+ youth to be themselves and for women to be themselves. I hope we are able to promote that kind of a direction and I feel like for such a beautiful country, we need to have a sense of beautiful sense of diversity for our community as well. That’s my hope! WION: What are your aims and aspirations for your acting career? Do you see yourself being a full-blown lead in Hollywood movies, even as a grown up woman? AVANTIKA: My aims and aspirations are that I would love to be a lead in a Hollywood movie even as a grown up. I chose this career seeing myself doing this for a very, very long time. Probably, for the rest of my life. I would absolutely love to do it and I am working really hard. Hopefully, it will happen for me. But, no one can tell the future, right (laughs!)? 'Spin' is streaming on Disney + Hotstar.

Exclusive! Disney's first Indo-American protagonist Avantika: I was asked to go back to my country; called a Pakistani

Hollywood star Matt Damon and Oscar-winning director Tom McCarthy say the story of Amanda Knox, the American woman who was tried and acquitted of murder in Italy more than a decade ago, served as the inspiration for their new movie "Stillwater", but that the film is not based on her case.

Matt Damon says 'Stillwater' based on idea, not actual Knox case

<p>Big boss Mike Wazowski (voice by Bily Crystal) makes a small mistake and is now huffing and puffing at the office floor. Irate with all the paperwork that’s pushed down his throat, in a moment of weakness, Mike challenges his arch nemesis Gary (voice by Gabriel Iglesias) to a bowling face-off at the upcoming Bowl-off-a-thon at Monsters Inc. Only hindrance? He neither knows how to throw a ball nor does he know anyone who does.</p>

<p><br />
Meanwhile, Tyler Tuskman (voice by Ben Feldman) is desperate to move away from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-monsters-at-work-s1-ep-1--2-review-tussle-between-the-monster-and-jokester-within-396666">MIFT team</a> and ‘get in good’ with his boss, Mike, with the hope that the latter would finally promote him to the role of a jokester. Mike’s in a limbo, Tyler finds the perfect pitch to impress. What happens next—leading up to the Bowl-off-a-thon tournament—constitutes the rest of this 22-minute long episode, titled ‘The Big Wazowskis’</p>

<p><img alt="Tyler and Val: a couple in the making?" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86fc7e43-a7f5-485f-8426-9201a8621dd5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20%2839%29_1.jpg" /></p>

<p>Kaitlyn Ritter’s approach towards this episode is of heightening the drama: she focuses more on the preparation revolving around the face-off than the main event itself. Through blink-and-you-miss-it jokes and the power of animation, Ritter makes you one and all roll on the floor… literally!&nbsp;</p>

<p>‘The Big Wazowskis’ also serves as a behavioral insight into office politics, the innate quality of betrayal humans posses—brought to light through the eyes of cutesy creatures like ‘No Gutter Cutter’ and ‘No Splitz Fritz’—all the while staying true to its central theme: of love and laughter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Unlike <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-monsters-at-work-s1-ep-3-review-of-love-and-human-connections-398229">episode three</a>, the Monsters Inc. team deviates from high-octane emotions. Instead, the off-beat gang exhibits team spirit with panache as they vow to win the competition for their boss by ‘stinking their way to victory’.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="From being monsters to jokesters" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1222978-a2bd-4232-ba54-9d37bf468528" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Monsters%20at%20work%20cover.jpg" /><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Big boss Mike Wazowski (voice by Bily Crystal) makes a small mistake and is now huffing and puffing at the office floor. Irate with all the paperwork that’s pushed down his throat, in a moment of weakness, Mike challenges his arch nemesis Gary (voice by Gabriel Iglesias) to a bowling face-off at the upcoming Bowl-off-a-thon at Monsters Inc.

Big boss Mike Wazowski (voice by Bily Crystal) makes a small mistake and is now huffing and puffing at the office floor. Irate with all the paperwork that’s pushed down his throat, in a moment of weakness, Mike challenges his arch nemesis Gary (voice by Gabriel Iglesias) to a bowling face-off at the upcoming Bowl-off-a-thon at Monsters Inc. Only hindrance? He neither knows how to throw a ball nor does he know anyone who does. Meanwhile, Tyler Tuskman (voice by Ben Feldman) is desperate to move away from the MIFT team and ‘get in good’ with his boss, Mike, with the hope that the latter would finally promote him to the role of a jokester. Mike’s in a limbo, Tyler finds the perfect pitch to impress. What happens next—leading up to the Bowl-off-a-thon tournament—constitutes the rest of this 22-minute long episode, titled ‘The Big Wazowskis’ Kaitlyn Ritter’s approach towards this episode is of heightening the drama: she focuses more on the preparation revolving around the face-off than the main event itself. Through blink-and-you-miss-it jokes and the power of animation, Ritter makes you one and all roll on the floor… literally! ‘The Big Wazowskis’ also serves as a behavioral insight into office politics, the innate quality of betrayal humans posses—brought to light through the eyes of cutesy creatures like ‘No Gutter Cutter’ and ‘No Splitz Fritz’—all the while staying true to its central theme: of love and laughter. Unlike episode three, the Monsters Inc. team deviates from high-octane emotions. Instead, the off-beat gang exhibits team spirit with panache as they vow to win the competition for their boss by ‘stinking their way to victory’.

Monsters At Work S1, EP4 review: A meld of promise and politics

<p>On hoardings, Instagram, sister’s WhatsApp Status, an acquaintance’s Facebook Story… a sensuous—but within the acceptable limits of Indian sensibilities—Deepika Padukone rollicking to ‘<em>Koi Yahan Aha Naache Naache</em>’ in the basement of some abandoned establishment, caught my attention. The fact that it is an ad for the global brand Levi’s—then in troubled waters in India, financially—dawned on me about 30 seconds later. Curious, I hurriedly searched for the company’s IG handle to see more of her; the new global brand ambassador. While scrolling through pictures of the lady in jeans of all shapes and sizes—boyfriend, skinny and what not—I chanced upon Levi’s rather untimely—to me, at the time—‘Stop Asian Hate’ campaign. “Why would they promote this now? What’s the context,” I thought to myself. The date was February 26, I vividly remember. Well, Asians were about to be left gob-smacked even further with&nbsp;what was to follow—good, bad and the ugly.</p>

<p><br />
In a parallel universe, a little film called ‘Minari’ was making big noise—142 nominations across award shows, big and small—and people couldn’t stop gushing over Alan Kim’s ‘I'm not pretty, I'm good looking’ shenanigan or the fact that he sobbed uncontrollably after having won the Best Young Actor at Critic’s Choice Awards. The boy was all of eight and the last time white folks mollycoddled a (white) kid on the internet was when Oscar-winning ‘Room’ presented a raw, fine actor, Jacob Tremblay. But this is a Japanese-American boy with epicanthic folds. So, what happened? Turns out, a lot!</p>

<p><br />
‘Minari’ was also the doorway to a ‘sweet, sweet’ revelation in grandma Youn Yuh-jung. The actress’s late-blooming appeal of&nbsp;the 'Wild West' is evident when the mere sight of Glenn Close leaves her trembling with joy, in the middle of a red-carpet interview, “Oh! It’s Glenn Close!” she screams with excitement. At 73, Hollywood must really look like a spaceship showing up, unannounced, and Glenn Close, a goddess of an alien.</p>

<p><br />
Childlike glee is Jackie Chan’s forte, and the famous alter ego that gets him instant recognition. Somehow ‘the funny man’ image stuck, not his body of work. On Google, there are numerous listicles on his ‘Ten Most Brutal Injuries’ or ‘Five Most Brutal Injuries’. And yet,&nbsp;it is only in 2016, Chan’s boundless contribution to cinema and his&nbsp;world of kicks-and-punches was finally recognized by Oscars Honorary Award committee. The&nbsp;award was bestowed upon him for ‘charming audiences with his dazzling athleticism, inventive stunt work and boundless charisma’. "I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to the Oscars for giving me this award of encouragement and recognizing my achievements while I'm still 'young'. I'm absolutely honoured to be the first Chinese in history to receive this award," Chan had said in response. If he was being sarcastic, they had it coming. Jackie Chan began his career in 1962, he is&nbsp; 67 now. You do the math.</p>

<p><br />
Just two days ago, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ matriarch—Mama Young, played by Michelle Yeoh—landed a mainstream role in James Cameron’s ‘Avatar 2’. No, she did not bag this role like a Hollywood royalty would—she is 58, not that it’s relevant here—and had self-admittedly made desperate pleas to Cameron to cast her. “I said to James, 'I don't (know) why I'm here, I'm here because you're a genius and I am your biggest fan. I mean, I would be your coffee lady. I would just come here and sit down and watch you (sic).’” Understandable; after all, why would James Cameron hire a ‘Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur’ awardee for his money-devouring ‘Avatar’ franchise. Of course, she had to beg!</p>

<p><br />
Straight out of&nbsp;‘Crazy Rich Asians’ muzzle&nbsp;is the jaw-droppingly beautiful Gemma Chan. If good looks—slender, glossy, expensive—sells in Hollywood, Gemma should have been ‘sold out’ by now. Yes, for those of you frowning, Chan has appeared in ‘a brief role’ in one of the Marvel projects and has flashed her pretty smile a few times at Cannes and this fashion show and that red carpet event. But God forbid an Asian actor gets a full-length, meaty, central role in whitewashed Hollywood…</p>

<p><br />
<strong>SOUTH-EAST ASIANS: A LONG WAY HOME…</strong></p>

<p><br />
My theory on selective representation of <em>desi</em> distinction in cinema stems from these ideas: it is an offshoot of prejudices against immigrants, a brainchild of the propagators of ‘our land, our rent, our jobs’ dogma. “Oh, yes, I do know him. That&nbsp;dude… ‘Sound Of Metal’, right?” was someone’s social media reaction to a post on Riz Ahmed. It is appalling that&nbsp;Ahmed, a longtime British-Pakistani actor-rapper, a Primetime Emmy Award winner, and this, in 2021—Oscars nomination for ‘Best Actor In A Leading Role’— is his only claim to fame? A line from Ahmed’s own song—‘<em>Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)'</em> from ‘The Hamilton Mixtape’—lingers on my mind as I try to put a fitting conclusion to his segment:</p>

<p><br />
<em>&nbsp;“It's a hard line when you're an import/ The credit is only borrowed/ Look how far I come.” &nbsp;</em>Isn’t that always the case, eh?</p>

<p><br />
There’s a fresh wave of zeal for being global stars in Bollywood—‘the world is your stage’, like they say—which is marvelous, in all honesty. The Priyankas, and maybe even the Deepikas, of India will hold the black ladies and golden statues of America someday—hey, Nick Jonas has made that&nbsp;prediction about his wife already, and a flurry of GenZ material will suit, too. But is it worth the agent fees and expensive tickets and all that jazz for being, let’s say for example, a taxi driver in some future installment of ‘Deadpool’ where South-East Asians are a Karan Soni, and Ryan Reynolds, still the Deadpool?</p>

<p><br />
There’s a joke among my peers about Dev Patel every time an Indian or Pakistani role&nbsp;goes to some actor that is not Mr. Patel himself—which, between us, is rarely the case. “<em>Abbe</em>, Dev Patel busy <em>hoga</em>… <em>Abbe</em>, Dev Patel <em>zyada </em>charge<em> kar rahaan hoga</em>… (Man, Dev Patel must be busy…. Dev Patel must be charging more). Actors from this side of the globe have&nbsp;been synonymous to small, insignificant, nameless characters in Hollywood for so long that even Indians struggle to comprehend how—on Earth—did a new, promising actor even make it to Hollywood, or just Netflix? Isn’t that just brutally sad?</p>

<p><br />
Probably the least known controversy surrounding Steven Spielberg—and we get why; the man, the mystery, the whole shebang—is that he lifted the basic idea of ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ from Indian masterpiece-deliverer, the late Satyajit Ray’s unreleased&nbsp;film ‘The Alien’. Like Chan, Ray did get an honorary Oscar in 1992 for his outstanding contribution to cinema—but he was given the award in haste, while&nbsp;on his death bed, and not half as ‘young’ as Chan. Even in death, Ray’s thunder was stolen by a white man—it is believed that Spielberg, along with his other high-brow industry friends, pushed for Ray’s honorary award. For obvious reasons, you get it.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<strong>WHAT CHANGED?</strong></p>

<p><br />
Although some of us are puffed with pride for making Asian artists—and rightly so—a part of the global fabric that forms the very essence of cinema, a question that needs to be pondered upon: If #OscarsSoWhite triggered more nominations, and subsequent wins, for the black community, then has the unfortunate #stopasianhate played a catalyst in putting Asians on a pedestal?</p>

<p><br />
True, between haters ‘busting <em>bindis</em>’ (South-East Asian reference) and #IAMNOTAVIRUS &nbsp;hashtags, Asians have broken many artistic barriers. But, has recognition become the new form of appeasement? Hope not. No, after all these years, this better not be a fad. &nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<em>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</em></p>


On hoardings, Instagram, sister’s WhatsApp Status, an acquaintance’s Facebook Story… a sensuous—but within the acceptable limits of Indian sensibilities—Deepika Padukone rollicking to ‘Koi Yahan Aha Naache Naache’ in the basement of some abandoned establishment, caught my attention.

On hoardings, Instagram, sister’s WhatsApp Status, an acquaintance’s Facebook Story… a sensuous—but within the acceptable limits of Indian sensibilities—Deepika Padukone rollicking to ‘Koi Yahan Aha Naache Naache’ in the basement of some abandoned establishment, caught my attention. The fact that it is an ad for the global brand Levi’s—then in troubled waters in India, financially—dawned on me about 30 seconds later. Curious, I hurriedly searched for the company’s IG handle to see more of her; the new global brand ambassador. While scrolling through pictures of the lady in jeans of all shapes and sizes—boyfriend, skinny and what not—I chanced upon Levi’s rather untimely—to me, at the time—‘Stop Asian Hate’ campaign. “Why would they promote this now? What’s the context,” I thought to myself. The date was February 26, I vividly remember. Well, Asians were about to be left gob-smacked even further with what was to follow—good, bad and the ugly. In a parallel universe, a little film called ‘Minari’ was making big noise—142 nominations across award shows, big and small—and people couldn’t stop gushing over Alan Kim’s ‘I'm not pretty, I'm good looking’ shenanigan or the fact that he sobbed uncontrollably after having won the Best Young Actor at Critic’s Choice Awards. The boy was all of eight and the last time white folks mollycoddled a (white) kid on the internet was when Oscar-winning ‘Room’ presented a raw, fine actor, Jacob Tremblay. But this is a Japanese-American boy with epicanthic folds. So, what happened? Turns out, a lot! ‘Minari’ was also the doorway to a ‘sweet, sweet’ revelation in grandma Youn Yuh-jung. The actress’s late-blooming appeal of the 'Wild West' is evident when the mere sight of Glenn Close leaves her trembling with joy, in the middle of a red-carpet interview, “Oh! It’s Glenn Close!” she screams with excitement. At 73, Hollywood must really look like a spaceship showing up, unannounced, and Glenn Close, a goddess of an alien. Childlike glee is Jackie Chan’s forte, and the famous alter ego that gets him instant recognition. Somehow ‘the funny man’ image stuck, not his body of work. On Google, there are numerous listicles on his ‘Ten Most Brutal Injuries’ or ‘Five Most Brutal Injuries’. And yet, it is only in 2016, Chan’s boundless contribution to cinema and his world of kicks-and-punches was finally recognized by Oscars Honorary Award committee. The award was bestowed upon him for ‘charming audiences with his dazzling athleticism, inventive stunt work and boundless charisma’. "I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to the Oscars for giving me this award of encouragement and recognizing my achievements while I'm still 'young'. I'm absolutely honoured to be the first Chinese in history to receive this award," Chan had said in response. If he was being sarcastic, they had it coming. Jackie Chan began his career in 1962, he is 67 now. You do the math. Just two days ago, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ matriarch—Mama Young, played by Michelle Yeoh—landed a mainstream role in James Cameron’s ‘Avatar 2’. No, she did not bag this role like a Hollywood royalty would—she is 58, not that it’s relevant here—and had self-admittedly made desperate pleas to Cameron to cast her. “I said to James, 'I don't (know) why I'm here, I'm here because you're a genius and I am your biggest fan. I mean, I would be your coffee lady. I would just come here and sit down and watch you (sic).’” Understandable; after all, why would James Cameron hire a ‘Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur’ awardee for his money-devouring ‘Avatar’ franchise. Of course, she had to beg! Straight out of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ muzzle is the jaw-droppingly beautiful Gemma Chan. If good looks—slender, glossy, expensive—sells in Hollywood, Gemma should have been ‘sold out’ by now. Yes, for those of you frowning, Chan has appeared in ‘a brief role’ in one of the Marvel projects and has flashed her pretty smile a few times at Cannes and this fashion show and that red carpet event. But God forbid an Asian actor gets a full-length, meaty, central role in whitewashed Hollywood… SOUTH-EAST ASIANS: A LONG WAY HOME… My theory on selective representation of desi distinction in cinema stems from these ideas: it is an offshoot of prejudices against immigrants, a brainchild of the propagators of ‘our land, our rent, our jobs’ dogma. “Oh, yes, I do know him. That dude… ‘Sound Of Metal’, right?” was someone’s social media reaction to a post on Riz Ahmed. It is appalling that Ahmed, a longtime British-Pakistani actor-rapper, a Primetime Emmy Award winner, and this, in 2021—Oscars nomination for ‘Best Actor In A Leading Role’— is his only claim to fame? A line from Ahmed’s own song—‘Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)' from ‘The Hamilton Mixtape’—lingers on my mind as I try to put a fitting conclusion to his segment: “It's a hard line when you're an import/ The credit is only borrowed/ Look how far I come.” Isn’t that always the case, eh? There’s a fresh wave of zeal for being global stars in Bollywood—‘the world is your stage’, like they say—which is marvelous, in all honesty. The Priyankas, and maybe even the Deepikas, of India will hold the black ladies and golden statues of America someday—hey, Nick Jonas has made that prediction about his wife already, and a flurry of GenZ material will suit, too. But is it worth the agent fees and expensive tickets and all that jazz for being, let’s say for example, a taxi driver in some future installment of ‘Deadpool’ where South-East Asians are a Karan Soni, and Ryan Reynolds, still the Deadpool? There’s a joke among my peers about Dev Patel every time an Indian or Pakistani role goes to some actor that is not Mr. Patel himself—which, between us, is rarely the case. “Abbe, Dev Patel busy hoga… Abbe, Dev Patel zyada charge kar rahaan hoga… (Man, Dev Patel must be busy…. Dev Patel must be charging more). Actors from this side of the globe have been synonymous to small, insignificant, nameless characters in Hollywood for so long that even Indians struggle to comprehend how—on Earth—did a new, promising actor even make it to Hollywood, or just Netflix? Isn’t that just brutally sad? Probably the least known controversy surrounding Steven Spielberg—and we get why; the man, the mystery, the whole shebang—is that he lifted the basic idea of ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ from Indian masterpiece-deliverer, the late Satyajit Ray’s unreleased film ‘The Alien’. Like Chan, Ray did get an honorary Oscar in 1992 for his outstanding contribution to cinema—but he was given the award in haste, while on his death bed, and not half as ‘young’ as Chan. Even in death, Ray’s thunder was stolen by a white man—it is believed that Spielberg, along with his other high-brow industry friends, pushed for Ray’s honorary award. For obvious reasons, you get it. WHAT CHANGED? Although some of us are puffed with pride for making Asian artists—and rightly so—a part of the global fabric that forms the very essence of cinema, a question that needs to be pondered upon: If #OscarsSoWhite triggered more nominations, and subsequent wins, for the black community, then has the unfortunate #stopasianhate played a catalyst in putting Asians on a pedestal? True, between haters ‘busting bindis’ (South-East Asian reference) and #IAMNOTAVIRUS hashtags, Asians have broken many artistic barriers. But, has recognition become the new form of appeasement? Hope not. No, after all these years, this better not be a fad. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Asian representation in Hollywood: Better now than later

<p>We have often seen Hollywood movies using desi songs. Now, Marvel's immensely popular web series 'Loki' also used a popular Bollywood song in the finale episode.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
If you have watched the finale episode of the series then you must have noticed a&nbsp;Bollywood song playing in the background in one of the scenes. The series episode 6 on Wednesday surprised Indian fans as it featured the song 'Swag Saha Nahi Jaye' starring Sonakshi Sinha from the 2018 movie 'Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi'.<br />
<br />
The series finale episode opens with multiple incidents happening&nbsp;around the universe, and we hear lines spoken by our favourite MCU characters Thor, Falcon, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Star-Lord, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Loki. Apart from Marvel heroes, we also hear some words spoken by real-life personalities like Alan Watts, Neil Armstrong, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai and others. In the same sequence with heavy beats, if you listen carefully it includes&nbsp;the song 'Swag Saha Nahi Jaye'<br />
<br />
The Bollywood twist was not a mistake but it was actually added on purpose and Marvel even gave&nbsp;the end credits to the makers of the Bollywood song. Penned by Mudassar Aziz, the song is sung by Sohail Sen, Shadab Faridi, Neha Bhasin.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Naturally, Indian Marvel fans took to Twitter to express their excitement.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Moved me to the core. 😭 The references to Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai were amazing. Then the Bollywood music! (Was that about the Eternals? Can someone explain this?) 😍😍😍 It just kept getting better and better! <a href="https://t.co/BeekKLO3kp">https://t.co/BeekKLO3kp</a></p>
— Ava Y | LOKI Spoilers (@hawasahary) <a href="https://twitter.com/hawasahary/status/1415511348843253761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Me hearing the 1 second of Bollywood music in the Loki season finale <a href="https://t.co/RhT3zcttlT">pic.twitter.com/RhT3zcttlT</a></p>
— Tara Sim ☾ (@EachStarAWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/EachStarAWorld/status/1415498171212451852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yo they really added a Bollywood song in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LOKI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LOKI</a> finale...</p>
— tysonc (@briefperfection) <a href="https://twitter.com/briefperfection/status/1415488070086840321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The first season of 'Loki' concluded recently on Disney Plus Hotstar in India. The series has been renewed for a second season.&nbsp;</p>


We have often seen Hollywood movies using desi songs. Now, Marvel's immensely popular web series 'Loki' also used a popular Bollywood song in the finale episode.

We have often seen Hollywood movies using desi songs. Now, Marvel's immensely popular web series 'Loki' also used a popular Bollywood song in the finale episode. If you have watched the finale episode of the series then you must have noticed a Bollywood song playing in the background in one of the scenes. The series episode 6 on Wednesday surprised Indian fans as it featured the song 'Swag Saha Nahi Jaye' starring Sonakshi Sinha from the 2018 movie 'Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi'. The series finale episode opens with multiple incidents happening around the universe, and we hear lines spoken by our favourite MCU characters Thor, Falcon, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Star-Lord, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Loki. Apart from Marvel heroes, we also hear some words spoken by real-life personalities like Alan Watts, Neil Armstrong, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai and others. In the same sequence with heavy beats, if you listen carefully it includes the song 'Swag Saha Nahi Jaye' The Bollywood twist was not a mistake but it was actually added on purpose and Marvel even gave the end credits to the makers of the Bollywood song. Penned by Mudassar Aziz, the song is sung by Sohail Sen, Shadab Faridi, Neha Bhasin. Naturally, Indian Marvel fans took to Twitter to express their excitement. Moved me to the core. 😭 The references to Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai were amazing. Then the Bollywood music! (Was that about the Eternals? Can someone explain this?) 😍😍😍 It just kept getting better and better! https://t.co/BeekKLO3kp — Ava Y | LOKI Spoilers (@hawasahary) July 15, 2021 × Me hearing the 1 second of Bollywood music in the Loki season finale pic.twitter.com/RhT3zcttlT — Tara Sim ☾ (@EachStarAWorld) July 15, 2021 × Yo they really added a Bollywood song in #LOKI finale... — tysonc (@briefperfection) July 15, 2021 × The first season of 'Loki' concluded recently on Disney Plus Hotstar in India. The series has been renewed for a second season.

Loki: Did you notice the Bollywood connect in the finale episode?

A somewhat true story of French-Canadian singer Celine Dion's life is told in French filmmaker Valerie Lemercier's new movie "Aline", which received it's world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday (July 13).

Unofficial Celine Dion biopic 'Aline' gets Cannes outing

<p>Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson says she can`t find time to use the bathroom, being a mother to a six-year-old.<br />
<br />
The actress, who is rumoured to be pregnant with husband Colin Jost`s child, is yet to comment on reports. She has a daughter Rose, with former husband Romain Dauriac.<br />
<br />
"She shadows me all the time, which is wonderful...," Johansson said on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show', reports aceshowbiz.com.<br />
<br />
She added,&nbsp;"I`m sure in a few years she`s not going to want anything to do with me and so I should soak it all up but there`s definitely times where she`s on the other side of the bathroom door and I`m like, `Rose, you`ve got to give me a minute, you`ve got to give me a minute. Mummy needs her time`."<br />
<br />
"But she means well and I`d rather have it that way than her winding up wanting nothing to do with me," said the actress, who married 'Saturday Night Live'&nbsp;actor and writer Jost in October 2020.<br />
<br />
During the interview, Johansson also spoke about why she shied away from watching "Saturday Night Live".<br />
<br />
"I now rarely watch the show without having a sense of not overwhelming panic, just like a slight underwhelming panic because I just feel like at any moment something`s going to fall apart. And that`s the excitement of `SNL` and for all audiences, right? Because it`s absolutely live," she said.<br />
<br />
The actress added: "But when you`re emotionally invested in it and not just entertained by it, it takes on a little bit of a different life."<br />
<br />
--IANS<br />
<br />
dc/vnc<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson says she can`t find time to use the bathroom, being a mother to a six-year-old. The actress, who is rumoured to be pregnant with husband Colin Jost`s child, is yet to comment on reports.

Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson says she can`t find time to use the bathroom, being a mother to a six-year-old. The actress, who is rumoured to be pregnant with husband Colin Jost`s child, is yet to comment on reports. She has a daughter Rose, with former husband Romain Dauriac. "She shadows me all the time, which is wonderful...," Johansson said on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show', reports aceshowbiz.com. She added, "I`m sure in a few years she`s not going to want anything to do with me and so I should soak it all up but there`s definitely times where she`s on the other side of the bathroom door and I`m like, `Rose, you`ve got to give me a minute, you`ve got to give me a minute. Mummy needs her time`." "But she means well and I`d rather have it that way than her winding up wanting nothing to do with me," said the actress, who married 'Saturday Night Live' actor and writer Jost in October 2020. During the interview, Johansson also spoke about why she shied away from watching "Saturday Night Live". "I now rarely watch the show without having a sense of not overwhelming panic, just like a slight underwhelming panic because I just feel like at any moment something`s going to fall apart. And that`s the excitement of `SNL` and for all audiences, right? Because it`s absolutely live," she said. The actress added: "But when you`re emotionally invested in it and not just entertained by it, it takes on a little bit of a different life." --IANS dc/vnc

Scarlett Johansson opens up on being shadowed by daughter

<p>Hollywood star Matt Damon got emotional at the screening of his new film 'Stillwater' at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The film was screened under out-of-competition section at the film festival.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Helmed by Tom McCarthy, the screening of the film brought the assembled crowd to its feet in the Grand Theatre Lumiere as the lights came upon the film`s team, and brought tears to Damon`s eyes.<br />
<br />
The story of `Stillwater` focuses on Damon`s Bill Baker, an Oklahoma oil-rig roughneck with a shoddy past as a father who heads to Marseille, hellbent on freeing his daughter (Abigail Breslin), an exchange student imprisoned for murdering her girlfriend, a crime she says she didn`t commit.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tp4yVhdbfy0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Damon`s character is the proverbial fish out of water who finds an ally in a local single mother (Camille Cottin) and her daughter (Lilou Siauvaud).<br />
<br />
Given that the film is largely set in Marseille, just about a two-hour drive from Cannes, the local crowd was particularly keyed into certain references in it, and McCarthy further charmed the audience when he was asked to say a few words.<br />
<br />
Starting off with his thank-yous in French, he then added the impromptu speech, and said, "I didn`t prepare my French. I`m overwhelmed to be here. I have been so greatly influenced by the cinema of this country and of Europe. It has had a huge impact on my career and life. To be here is a dream come true."<br />
<br />
The screenplay of `Stillwater` has been penned by McCarthy and Marcus Hinchey along with Thomas Bidegain and Noe Debre.<br />
&nbsp;The late Steve Golin has produced the movie alongside McCarthy, Jonathan King and Liza Chasin.<br />
<br />
The film opens in the United States on July 30. &nbsp;</p>


Hollywood star Matt Damon got emotional at the screening of his new film 'Stillwater' at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The film was screened under out-of-competition section at the film festival.

Hollywood star Matt Damon got emotional at the screening of his new film 'Stillwater' at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The film was screened under out-of-competition section at the film festival. Helmed by Tom McCarthy, the screening of the film brought the assembled crowd to its feet in the Grand Theatre Lumiere as the lights came upon the film`s team, and brought tears to Damon`s eyes. The story of `Stillwater` focuses on Damon`s Bill Baker, an Oklahoma oil-rig roughneck with a shoddy past as a father who heads to Marseille, hellbent on freeing his daughter (Abigail Breslin), an exchange student imprisoned for murdering her girlfriend, a crime she says she didn`t commit. Damon`s character is the proverbial fish out of water who finds an ally in a local single mother (Camille Cottin) and her daughter (Lilou Siauvaud). Given that the film is largely set in Marseille, just about a two-hour drive from Cannes, the local crowd was particularly keyed into certain references in it, and McCarthy further charmed the audience when he was asked to say a few words. Starting off with his thank-yous in French, he then added the impromptu speech, and said, "I didn`t prepare my French. I`m overwhelmed to be here. I have been so greatly influenced by the cinema of this country and of Europe. It has had a huge impact on my career and life. To be here is a dream come true." The screenplay of `Stillwater` has been penned by McCarthy and Marcus Hinchey along with Thomas Bidegain and Noe Debre. The late Steve Golin has produced the movie alongside McCarthy, Jonathan King and Liza Chasin. The film opens in the United States on July 30.

Matt Damon tears up at Cannes as his film 'Stillwater' recieves a standing ovation

<p><strong>Veteran Hollywood filmmaker Robert Downey Sr</strong>, who made the classic film 'Putney Swope' died aged 85. His son, popular actor Robert Downey Jr shared the the news on social media on Tuesday.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The actor revealed in a emotional tribute that his father passed away in his sleep at home in New York City.<br />
<br />
The actor also revealed that Downey Sr had Parkinson's disease for more than five years.<br />
<br />
"He was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout. According to my stepmom's calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years," he wrote.<br />
<br />
Born on June 24, 1936 in New York City as Robert Elias Jr, the filmmaker changed his name in honour of his stepfather James Downey and also to get enlisted in the US Army early.<br />
<br />
After completing his service, Downey Sr lived with his sister in Greenwich Village, where he fell in love with the underground cinema of that time.<br />
<br />
He started his career with 1961 short film 'Ball's Bluff' which he wrote and directed.<br />
<br />
<strong>Downey Sr followed up the movie </strong>with offbeat indies like 1964's 'Babo 73', 'Chafed Elbows' (1966) and 'No More Excuses' in 1968.<br />
But it was the 1969 movie 'Putney Swope' that brought him recognition.<br />
<br />
An anti-establishment satire, the movie was set in the world of advertising. It featured Arnold Johnson as a Black advertising executive who upends his firm after winning a board election no one expected him to achieve.<br />
<br />
'Putney Swope' was praised for its take on the portrayal of race in Hollywood films, the white power structure, and the nature of corporate corruption.<br />
<br />
Downey Sr then directed 1972's acid western 'Greaser's Palace', which featured actor Allan Arbus as Jesse, a man with amnesia who heals the sick, resurrects the dead and tap dances on water in the American frontier.<br />
<br />
Not just direction but Downey Sr also dabbled in acting and appeared in films like 'To Live and Die in L.A.' and 'Magnolia'.&nbsp;<br />
The veteran director was married three times.<br />
<br />
He married actor Elsie Anne Downey in 1962 and they had two children - Allyson Downey and Robert Downey Jr.<br />
<br />
After his divorce from Anne Downey in 1975, the filmmaker went on to marry actor Laura Ernst, who died in 1994. He later married Rosemary Rogers, the best-selling author.</p>


Veteran Hollywood filmmaker Robert Downey Sr, who made the classic film 'Putney Swope' died aged 85. His son, popular actor Robert Downey Jr shared the the news on social media on Tuesday.

Veteran Hollywood filmmaker Robert Downey Sr, who made the classic film 'Putney Swope' died aged 85. His son, popular actor Robert Downey Jr shared the the news on social media on Tuesday. The actor revealed in a emotional tribute that his father passed away in his sleep at home in New York City. The actor also revealed that Downey Sr had Parkinson's disease for more than five years. "He was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout. According to my stepmom's calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years," he wrote. Born on June 24, 1936 in New York City as Robert Elias Jr, the filmmaker changed his name in honour of his stepfather James Downey and also to get enlisted in the US Army early. After completing his service, Downey Sr lived with his sister in Greenwich Village, where he fell in love with the underground cinema of that time. He started his career with 1961 short film 'Ball's Bluff' which he wrote and directed. Downey Sr followed up the movie with offbeat indies like 1964's 'Babo 73', 'Chafed Elbows' (1966) and 'No More Excuses' in 1968. But it was the 1969 movie 'Putney Swope' that brought him recognition. An anti-establishment satire, the movie was set in the world of advertising. It featured Arnold Johnson as a Black advertising executive who upends his firm after winning a board election no one expected him to achieve. 'Putney Swope' was praised for its take on the portrayal of race in Hollywood films, the white power structure, and the nature of corporate corruption. Downey Sr then directed 1972's acid western 'Greaser's Palace', which featured actor Allan Arbus as Jesse, a man with amnesia who heals the sick, resurrects the dead and tap dances on water in the American frontier. Not just direction but Downey Sr also dabbled in acting and appeared in films like 'To Live and Die in L.A.' and 'Magnolia'. The veteran director was married three times. He married actor Elsie Anne Downey in 1962 and they had two children - Allyson Downey and Robert Downey Jr. After his divorce from Anne Downey in 1975, the filmmaker went on to marry actor Laura Ernst, who died in 1994. He later married Rosemary Rogers, the best-selling author.

Robert Downey Sr, veteran filmmaker and father of Robert Downey Jr, dies at 85

Film fans young and old, some dressed as their favourite "Avengers" characters, walked and posed on a red carpet in London's Leicester Square for a special screening of superhero story "Black Widow".

'Black Widow' screening rolls out the red carpet for London film fans

<p>Actor Mads Mikkelsen, who has replaced Johnny Depp in upcoming film 'Fantastic Beasts' has said that he wished he could have spoke to Depp about playing dark wizard Grindelwald.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Depp played the character in the previous two films of the popular franchise and was replaced in the third part after he lost a major libel suit relating to domestic abuse allegations by his former wife Amber Heard against a UK newspaper last November.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In a recent interview Mikkelsen spoke about the film and stepping into Depp's shoes. The Danish star steered away from commenting on whether Depp losing the role was fair or not but mentioned that he would have loved to talk to the American actor about the character.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"I mean, obviously, they were going to do the film, and obviously he was not involved any more. But I didn't have a dog in that fight. And I don't know what happened (in his private life), and I don't know if it was fair, him losing the job, but I just knew that the show was going on, and I would've loved to have talked to him about it if I had the chance, but I just don't know him in that sense," Mikkelsen, 55, told The Times.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-johnny-depp-to-get-full-salary-for-fantastic-beasts-3-despite-being-fired--342136">Johnny Depp to get full salary for 'Fantastic Beasts 3' despite being fired &nbsp;</a><br />
<br />
Rumours of Mikkelsen playing Grindelwald started floating soon after it was reported that Depp had been asked to leave the project. A week after the reports surfaced online, Warner Bros Pictures confirmed his casting.<br />
<br />
Mikkelsen revealed the makers were in a 'hurry' to get the project going.<br />
<br />
"But they called me and they were obviously in a hurry, and I loved the script and so said yes. And I know it was controversial for many people, but that's just the way it plays out once in a while," he added.<br />
<br />
The actor reiterated that he wants to add his own touch to the character of Grindelwald while retaining a few links with how Depp played the role.<br />
<br />
"I didn't want to copy what Johnny had done. I think he's a masterful actor, so copying him would've been creative suicide," he said.</p>

<p><br />
"I had to figure out something that was definitely my own, and yet also act as a bridge to what he had done. My take is different, and the look is a little different, but we'll have to wait for the film's release (next year) to find out," he added.<br />
<br />
Mikkelsen is currently working on 'Indian Jones 5'. Fronted by Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford, the fifth film in the popular action adventure franchise is set to be released in the summer of 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>'Fantastic Beasts' features Eddie Redmayne in the lead role and is based on JK Rowling's writing. It is part of the 'Harry Potter' universe.&nbsp;</p>

<p title="title"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-vanessa-paradis-to-amber-heard-a-look-at-johnny-depps-dating-history-312251">From Vanessa Paradis to Amber Heard: A look at Johnny Depp's dating history</a></p>


Actor Mads Mikkelsen, who has replaced Johnny Depp in upcoming film 'Fantastic Beasts' has said that he wished he could have spoke to Depp about playing dark wizard Grindelwald.

Actor Mads Mikkelsen, who has replaced Johnny Depp in upcoming film 'Fantastic Beasts' has said that he wished he could have spoke to Depp about playing dark wizard Grindelwald. Depp played the character in the previous two films of the popular franchise and was replaced in the third part after he lost a major libel suit relating to domestic abuse allegations by his former wife Amber Heard against a UK newspaper last November. In a recent interview Mikkelsen spoke about the film and stepping into Depp's shoes. The Danish star steered away from commenting on whether Depp losing the role was fair or not but mentioned that he would have loved to talk to the American actor about the character. "I mean, obviously, they were going to do the film, and obviously he was not involved any more. But I didn't have a dog in that fight. And I don't know what happened (in his private life), and I don't know if it was fair, him losing the job, but I just knew that the show was going on, and I would've loved to have talked to him about it if I had the chance, but I just don't know him in that sense," Mikkelsen, 55, told The Times. Johnny Depp to get full salary for 'Fantastic Beasts 3' despite being fired Rumours of Mikkelsen playing Grindelwald started floating soon after it was reported that Depp had been asked to leave the project. A week after the reports surfaced online, Warner Bros Pictures confirmed his casting. Mikkelsen revealed the makers were in a 'hurry' to get the project going. "But they called me and they were obviously in a hurry, and I loved the script and so said yes. And I know it was controversial for many people, but that's just the way it plays out once in a while," he added. The actor reiterated that he wants to add his own touch to the character of Grindelwald while retaining a few links with how Depp played the role. "I didn't want to copy what Johnny had done. I think he's a masterful actor, so copying him would've been creative suicide," he said. "I had to figure out something that was definitely my own, and yet also act as a bridge to what he had done. My take is different, and the look is a little different, but we'll have to wait for the film's release (next year) to find out," he added. Mikkelsen is currently working on 'Indian Jones 5'. Fronted by Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford, the fifth film in the popular action adventure franchise is set to be released in the summer of 2022. 'Fantastic Beasts' features Eddie Redmayne in the lead role and is based on JK Rowling's writing. It is part of the 'Harry Potter' universe. From Vanessa Paradis to Amber Heard: A look at Johnny Depp's dating history

Mads Mikkelsen on replacing Johnny Depp in 'Fantastic Beasts': I would've loved to talk to him about the character

<p>On Thursday, Universal Pictures dropped the trailer of their latest horror film ‘Candyman’ on social medial. &nbsp;The 2021 American horror film, is the reboot of the 1992 film by the same name and also the fourth film in the series.</p>

<p>The movie stars Colman Domingo in the shoes of William Burke who explains the legend of the Candyman to Anthony McCoy (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). The myth revolves around a black man, with a hook for a hand, who goes out distributing candies all around Chicago's Cabrini Green neighborhood. He is then eventually murdered, tortured and beaten by the police who claim that the Candyman puts razors in the candies.<br />
<br />
As the trailer progresses, we learn that more razor blades were found in more candy, proving the dead man’s innocence. Burke then remarks, “Candyman isn’t a he, Candyman is the whole damn hive.” The movie appears to be an out and out contemporary incarnation of the cult classic.<br />
<br />
Watch the trailer here:<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LXZRPphOB1k" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Based on the novel 'The Forbidden Mark' by Clive Barker, the movie is directed by Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) and written by Jordan Peele (Get Out). The movie has 'Aquaman' fame Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the lead and also stars Teyonah Parris (WandaVision), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Utopia), and Colman Domingo (Euphoria) in the supporting cast. Add to that, Tony Todd and Vanessa Estelle Williams will reprise their roles from the original version of the film.</p>


On Thursday, Universal Pictures dropped the trailer of their latest horror film ‘Candyman’ on social medial. The 2021 American horror film, is the reboot of the 1992 film by the same name and also the fourth film in the series.

On Thursday, Universal Pictures dropped the trailer of their latest horror film ‘Candyman’ on social medial. The 2021 American horror film, is the reboot of the 1992 film by the same name and also the fourth film in the series. The movie stars Colman Domingo in the shoes of William Burke who explains the legend of the Candyman to Anthony McCoy (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). The myth revolves around a black man, with a hook for a hand, who goes out distributing candies all around Chicago's Cabrini Green neighborhood. He is then eventually murdered, tortured and beaten by the police who claim that the Candyman puts razors in the candies. As the trailer progresses, we learn that more razor blades were found in more candy, proving the dead man’s innocence. Burke then remarks, “Candyman isn’t a he, Candyman is the whole damn hive.” The movie appears to be an out and out contemporary incarnation of the cult classic. Watch the trailer here: Based on the novel 'The Forbidden Mark' by Clive Barker, the movie is directed by Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) and written by Jordan Peele (Get Out). The movie has 'Aquaman' fame Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the lead and also stars Teyonah Parris (WandaVision), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Utopia), and Colman Domingo (Euphoria) in the supporting cast. Add to that, Tony Todd and Vanessa Estelle Williams will reprise their roles from the original version of the film.

'Candyman' trailer: Revisit the cult horror once again

<p>Chris Pratt plays a school teacher turned soldier in the futuristic sci-fi 'The Tomorrow War'. The makers unveiled the trailer of the film recently which has Pratt playing a family who time travels to future to save his present.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The film has been directed by Chris Mckay and starrs Yvonne Strahovski, JK Simmons, Betty Giplin, Sam Richardson and Edwin Hodge alonh with Pratt. Produced by, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Jules Daly, David Goyer and Adam Kolbrenner, 'The Tomorrow War' is set to premiere globally exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on July 2, 2021.</p>

<p>In the film, the world is stunned when a group of time travelers arrive from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: Thirty years in the future mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight. Among those recruited is high school teacher and family man Dan Forester (Chris Pratt). Determined to save the world for his young daughter, Dan teams up with a brilliant scientist (Yvonne Strahovski) and his estranged father (J.K. Simmons) in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet.<br />
<br />
Watch the trailer here:&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wfmu_VZt5Oo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>The film will be available in English as well as in 3 dubbed languages, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in India on Prime Video.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Chris Pratt plays a school teacher turned soldier in the futuristic sci-fi 'The Tomorrow War'. The makers unveiled the trailer of the film recently which has Pratt playing a family who time travels to future to save his present.

Chris Pratt plays a school teacher turned soldier in the futuristic sci-fi 'The Tomorrow War'. The makers unveiled the trailer of the film recently which has Pratt playing a family who time travels to future to save his present. The film has been directed by Chris Mckay and starrs Yvonne Strahovski, JK Simmons, Betty Giplin, Sam Richardson and Edwin Hodge alonh with Pratt. Produced by, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Jules Daly, David Goyer and Adam Kolbrenner, 'The Tomorrow War' is set to premiere globally exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on July 2, 2021. In the film, the world is stunned when a group of time travelers arrive from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: Thirty years in the future mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight. Among those recruited is high school teacher and family man Dan Forester (Chris Pratt). Determined to save the world for his young daughter, Dan teams up with a brilliant scientist (Yvonne Strahovski) and his estranged father (J.K. Simmons) in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet. Watch the trailer here: The film will be available in English as well as in 3 dubbed languages, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in India on Prime Video.

'The Tomorrow War' trailer: Chris Pratt time travels to future to save his present

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have been pictured exchanging passionate kisses, apparently confirming weeks of fevered rumours that they have rekindled a romance that dominated celebrity media almost 20 years ago.

'Bennifer' returns - Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck seen kissing

She has nine Grammy Awards, eight multi-platinum albums, two Academy Award nominations and millions of fans across the world. And now Mary J. Blige has a plaque on the Apollo Theater's Walk of Fame.

"It means everything": Mary J Blige inducted into the Apollo Walk of Fame

<p>The year 2020 has triggered a paradigm shift in the way films are made, shown and received by the viewers. &nbsp;We all know about the lockdown effect on the Bollywood blockbusters &amp; superstars and the effect the STATUE game wreaked on Masala-land. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Salman Khan – Bollywood’s Most&nbsp;Wanted&nbsp;– with trademark swag and dare did something no production house or star dreamt of doing. He released his ambitious Radhe across several digital platforms &amp; theatres, at home &amp; abroad. While reports everywhere indicate that it probably was the DABANGG dasher's most disappointing release in years, to the critical eye and astute Bollywood observer, does this signal the beginning of the end for our star-system?</p>

<p>Is the unconditional love and support from their fans, across decades, suddenly on tricky ground? &nbsp;Has the combination of the lockdown [out-of-sight out-of-mind] and enriching OTT fare [vigorous, vibrant, varied] altered perceptions, taste &amp; choice of what is good and what-is-not? Will Radhe be an example for Bollywood to pull back and deeply introspect about their traditional, rock-solid affair with stars &amp; content? &nbsp;Has the rising chorus mirrored the fact that their moment of truth, litmus test and hour of reckoning has indeed arrived?&nbsp;</p>

<p>And finally, has the time come for mainstream Bollywood to unleash their [forever in the dark] brilliant galaxy of actors &amp; celebrate them through powerful, attention-worthy storm-centre roles that portray, with passion &amp; purpose, the linear truth, not glamorously inane armpit rhetoric &amp; hysterical posturing dramabaazi?</p>

<p>For some time now, powered by a magnificent mafia of young, new, daring, exciting directors &amp; story-tellers, this new lot has served notice that to ring out the old and ring in the new is their agenda. &nbsp;It was never about confronting, challenging or competing with the superstars or the movie moguls. &nbsp;It was about not being slung out as lonely sentries against the gated Bollywood border. About not being perceived as a one-off curiosity without garnering a decent audience base. This they did by clearly defining the difference between the mainstream and their content profile.</p>

<p>Bollywood manufactured movies. OTT made films. Bollywood sold fantasy and escapism, OTT was into realism with engagement. Bollywood avoided controversy, OTT embraced it. Bollywood strip-mined genres and made movies out of cookie-cutters OTT was passionate about expressing personal vision. &nbsp;</p>

<p>If Bollywood made movies by committees, their product was the result of individual sensibilities. While Bollywood hired directors to do a job, they worshipped at the altar of a process that popularised art in intelligent and relatable fashion. While Bollywood went for spectacle, action and special effects, OTT worked on an intimate scale focussing on misc-en-scene. If Bollywood pandered to popular taste, OTT worked without any set audience in mind, only inner calling. If Bollywood products were embedded in a system that cushioned risk, OTT films flew without a safety net. &nbsp;</p>

<p>So, basically, the OTT films exist in the huge and available space between the shots of Bollywood movies!</p>

<p>To the evolved lover of both Hollywood &amp; European cinema, the similarities are striking. While the world’s most glamorous movie industry Hollywood – like our Bollywood – was&nbsp;preoccupied with all that is grand and big, offering seductive star dazzle that paralysed the senses, European films – like OTT – worked with small budgets, outside hierarchies, producing content that was visually &amp; thematically innovative. Harking back to the older times like our present-day powerhouse actresses, [Neena Gupta, Rasika Duggal, Tisca Chopra, Divya Dutta, Tilottoma Shome, Sahana Goswami and of course the amazing Konkona Sen Sharma, among others] before Simone Signoret’s Room at the Top, could a head honcho imagine that a middle-aged, plump woman could also be desirable?</p>

<p>Before Jeanne Moreau, the idea of a sexy woman with small bosom and experience written on her face was unthinkable! Individuality was the key and names like Anouk Aimee, Monica Vitti &amp; gang were names to reckon with.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Not typically STAR types, they were womanly in their luminous and unique personalities. Wasn’t American society flexible in allowing women alternates to traditional role–playing and life-styles? How does one account for discrepancies in cultural association, myths and movie images? Did Americans polarise their women as Good or Evil? Or in their exuberant lack of introspection did Hollywood caricature and categorise, overplay &amp; overdress?&nbsp;</p>

<p>European films [like our OTT films] didn’t give such easy signals because they broke barriers and silos to reveal themselves as complex creatures containing &amp; combining every element of unpredictability. Audiences thus, saw a range of emotions – not histrionics or performance – and were a riveted party to her fears &amp; fantasies. Nothing stagnated and no one was readable at a glance &amp; yet movies like those compelled us by expanding &amp; sharing the female complex identities, rather than limiting them. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Sophia Loren was a dazzling example. Had it not been for Two Women, - and despite both American &amp; British Academy awards - she would still be wandering about in tattered blouses flashing a tempestuous surface [Boy on a Dolphin, El Cis, Lady L] ignored by the establishment despite the European made Boccacio 70, Yesterday, Today &amp; Tomorrow, Marriage Italian Style, Sunflower, The Priest’s Wife. &nbsp;</p>

<p>At the end of the day, OTT- like European heroines- present her like a woman, not a little girl and refused to surrender to clichés. Since its less sugar n’ spice and more fire n’ ice, viewing it could be – for the uninitiated – like undergoing surgery without anaesthesia! Its cathartic because it cuts you while it cures, enriches and empowers you, re-focusing on the human viscera, probing the dynamics of women’s relationship with each other [Ajeeb Dastans, Lipstick under my Burkha] giving it a vitality &amp; magic, unknown in mainstream fare. &nbsp;Their perception, conversation and gestures indicate an intelligence which star-driven projects can never dream of because introspection without snappy wit or glibness leans heavily on their concept of mass-entertainment &amp; femininity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These actors&nbsp;represent anti-box office intellect. They care two hoots for designer clothes, exotic locales or big box-office leading men/directors. Bollywood, like Hollywood, therefore continues to &nbsp;be totally zapped about how to use these amazingly gifted stars just like the sublime Moreau and Liv Ullman were used as “imported products for exotica appeal” in Monte Walsh &amp; 40 Carats.</p>

<p>So what’s the future? Have these heroines fighting for liberation [equality, choice, opportunity] brought on their own quarantined isolation? They refuse to be fantasy friends and refuse to confuse fame with talent. For them, Cinema is the best way at getting back at life. Everyone creates their own signposts. For these OTT stars the invisible frontier has been lowered, no matter how little. Let’s hope and pray, the angels are on their side.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The year 2020 has triggered a paradigm shift in the way films are made, shown and received by the viewers. We all know about the lockdown effect on the Bollywood blockbusters & superstars and the effect the STATUE game wreaked on Masala-land.

The year 2020 has triggered a paradigm shift in the way films are made, shown and received by the viewers. We all know about the lockdown effect on the Bollywood blockbusters & superstars and the effect the STATUE game wreaked on Masala-land. Salman Khan – Bollywood’s Most Wanted – with trademark swag and dare did something no production house or star dreamt of doing. He released his ambitious Radhe across several digital platforms & theatres, at home & abroad. While reports everywhere indicate that it probably was the DABANGG dasher's most disappointing release in years, to the critical eye and astute Bollywood observer, does this signal the beginning of the end for our star-system? Is the unconditional love and support from their fans, across decades, suddenly on tricky ground? Has the combination of the lockdown [out-of-sight out-of-mind] and enriching OTT fare [vigorous, vibrant, varied] altered perceptions, taste & choice of what is good and what-is-not? Will Radhe be an example for Bollywood to pull back and deeply introspect about their traditional, rock-solid affair with stars & content? Has the rising chorus mirrored the fact that their moment of truth, litmus test and hour of reckoning has indeed arrived? And finally, has the time come for mainstream Bollywood to unleash their [forever in the dark] brilliant galaxy of actors & celebrate them through powerful, attention-worthy storm-centre roles that portray, with passion & purpose, the linear truth, not glamorously inane armpit rhetoric & hysterical posturing dramabaazi? For some time now, powered by a magnificent mafia of young, new, daring, exciting directors & story-tellers, this new lot has served notice that to ring out the old and ring in the new is their agenda. It was never about confronting, challenging or competing with the superstars or the movie moguls. It was about not being slung out as lonely sentries against the gated Bollywood border. About not being perceived as a one-off curiosity without garnering a decent audience base. This they did by clearly defining the difference between the mainstream and their content profile. Bollywood manufactured movies. OTT made films. Bollywood sold fantasy and escapism, OTT was into realism with engagement. Bollywood avoided controversy, OTT embraced it. Bollywood strip-mined genres and made movies out of cookie-cutters OTT was passionate about expressing personal vision. If Bollywood made movies by committees, their product was the result of individual sensibilities. While Bollywood hired directors to do a job, they worshipped at the altar of a process that popularised art in intelligent and relatable fashion. While Bollywood went for spectacle, action and special effects, OTT worked on an intimate scale focussing on misc-en-scene. If Bollywood pandered to popular taste, OTT worked without any set audience in mind, only inner calling. If Bollywood products were embedded in a system that cushioned risk, OTT films flew without a safety net. So, basically, the OTT films exist in the huge and available space between the shots of Bollywood movies! To the evolved lover of both Hollywood & European cinema, the similarities are striking. While the world’s most glamorous movie industry Hollywood – like our Bollywood – was preoccupied with all that is grand and big, offering seductive star dazzle that paralysed the senses, European films – like OTT – worked with small budgets, outside hierarchies, producing content that was visually & thematically innovative. Harking back to the older times like our present-day powerhouse actresses, [Neena Gupta, Rasika Duggal, Tisca Chopra, Divya Dutta, Tilottoma Shome, Sahana Goswami and of course the amazing Konkona Sen Sharma, among others] before Simone Signoret’s Room at the Top, could a head honcho imagine that a middle-aged, plump woman could also be desirable? Before Jeanne Moreau, the idea of a sexy woman with small bosom and experience written on her face was unthinkable! Individuality was the key and names like Anouk Aimee, Monica Vitti & gang were names to reckon with. Not typically STAR types, they were womanly in their luminous and unique personalities. Wasn’t American society flexible in allowing women alternates to traditional role–playing and life-styles? How does one account for discrepancies in cultural association, myths and movie images? Did Americans polarise their women as Good or Evil? Or in their exuberant lack of introspection did Hollywood caricature and categorise, overplay & overdress? European films [like our OTT films] didn’t give such easy signals because they broke barriers and silos to reveal themselves as complex creatures containing & combining every element of unpredictability. Audiences thus, saw a range of emotions – not histrionics or performance – and were a riveted party to her fears & fantasies. Nothing stagnated and no one was readable at a glance & yet movies like those compelled us by expanding & sharing the female complex identities, rather than limiting them. Sophia Loren was a dazzling example. Had it not been for Two Women, - and despite both American & British Academy awards - she would still be wandering about in tattered blouses flashing a tempestuous surface [Boy on a Dolphin, El Cis, Lady L] ignored by the establishment despite the European made Boccacio 70, Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, Marriage Italian Style, Sunflower, The Priest’s Wife. At the end of the day, OTT- like European heroines- present her like a woman, not a little girl and refused to surrender to clichés. Since its less sugar n’ spice and more fire n’ ice, viewing it could be – for the uninitiated – like undergoing surgery without anaesthesia! Its cathartic because it cuts you while it cures, enriches and empowers you, re-focusing on the human viscera, probing the dynamics of women’s relationship with each other [Ajeeb Dastans, Lipstick under my Burkha] giving it a vitality & magic, unknown in mainstream fare. Their perception, conversation and gestures indicate an intelligence which star-driven projects can never dream of because introspection without snappy wit or glibness leans heavily on their concept of mass-entertainment & femininity. These actors represent anti-box office intellect. They care two hoots for designer clothes, exotic locales or big box-office leading men/directors. Bollywood, like Hollywood, therefore continues to be totally zapped about how to use these amazingly gifted stars just like the sublime Moreau and Liv Ullman were used as “imported products for exotica appeal” in Monte Walsh & 40 Carats. So what’s the future? Have these heroines fighting for liberation [equality, choice, opportunity] brought on their own quarantined isolation? They refuse to be fantasy friends and refuse to confuse fame with talent. For them, Cinema is the best way at getting back at life. Everyone creates their own signposts. For these OTT stars the invisible frontier has been lowered, no matter how little. Let’s hope and pray, the angels are on their side. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion: OTT stars are to Bollywood what European actresses were to Hollywood

<p>Hollywood movie studios on Wednesday promised a summer of high-octane car chases, epic explosions and edge-of-your-seat scare to lure crowds back to cinemas after they were devastated by extended closures during the coronavirus pandemic.<br />
<br />
Repeating the slogan "the big screen is back," actors, directors and executives previewed upcoming films in an industry-wide effort to promote movie-going as vaccinations increase and safety restrictions ease.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-watch-makers-release-new-teaser-from-marvel-studios-loki-386143" hreflang="en">Watch: Makers release new teaser from Marvel Studios' 'Loki'</a><br />
<br />
"Just being back in the theater again feels so powerfully good," 'Star Wars'&nbsp;director JJ&nbsp;Abrams said, standing in front of a giant screen at an AMC Entertainment theatre in Los Angeles. "Being in a big, dark room with strangers - screaming and laughing and experiencing the power of that - is a human, natural need," he added. "I think it`s going to come back in a pretty roaring way."<br />
<br />
Skeptics worry, however, that viewers who devoured streaming content during the COVID crisis might be reluctant to get off the sofa and head to a box office. To entice them, Hollywood will unleash a boatload of films including Walt Disney's 'Cruella'&nbsp;and 'Black Widow',&nbsp;Universal's 'Fast &amp; Furious' movie 'F9',&nbsp;Warner Bros. musical 'In the Heights'&nbsp;and many others just in the coming weeks.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/black-widow-to-loki-new-trailers-released-at-the-mtv-movie-tv-awards-2021-385564" hreflang="en">'Black Widow' to 'Loki': New trailers released at the MTV Movie &amp; TV Awards 2021</a><br />
<br />
Many of the films were held back by studio executives who hoped they could wait out the pandemic and generate blockbuster ticket sales once movie-going returned. The studios need box office receipts to help recoup the costs of big-budget movies.<br />
<br />
Executives said they were encouraged by recent box office tallies overseas. In China, buddy-cop comedy 'Detective Chinatown 3'&nbsp;opened in February with $398 million in ticket sales, a record debut in a single country.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/friends-reunion-trailer-is-out-and-it-will-fill-your-heart-with-nostalgia-386115" hreflang="en">'Friends' reunion trailer is out and it will fill your heart with nostalgia</a><br />
<br />
"When the story is great, the audience definitely will come," said horror filmmaker Jason Blum. "I think we have to trust them to do that." Industry leaders are planning the first-ever Cinema Week in the United States in June, in the vein of Restaurant Week with special events and promotions. Part of the message, according to organizers: "It`s time to break up with your couch."<br />
<br />
'Terminator'&nbsp;star Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking at Wednesday's event, offered a similar sentiment. "Now is the time to wind down this pandemic period," Schwarzenegger said. "Now it`s time to get back to the big screen."</p>


Hollywood movie studios on Wednesday promised a summer of high-octane car chases, epic explosions and edge-of-your-seat scare to lure crowds back to cinemas after they were devastated by extended closures during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hollywood movie studios on Wednesday promised a summer of high-octane car chases, epic explosions and edge-of-your-seat scare to lure crowds back to cinemas after they were devastated by extended closures during the coronavirus pandemic. Repeating the slogan "the big screen is back," actors, directors and executives previewed upcoming films in an industry-wide effort to promote movie-going as vaccinations increase and safety restrictions ease. Watch: Makers release new teaser from Marvel Studios' 'Loki' "Just being back in the theater again feels so powerfully good," 'Star Wars' director JJ Abrams said, standing in front of a giant screen at an AMC Entertainment theatre in Los Angeles. "Being in a big, dark room with strangers - screaming and laughing and experiencing the power of that - is a human, natural need," he added. "I think it`s going to come back in a pretty roaring way." Skeptics worry, however, that viewers who devoured streaming content during the COVID crisis might be reluctant to get off the sofa and head to a box office. To entice them, Hollywood will unleash a boatload of films including Walt Disney's 'Cruella' and 'Black Widow', Universal's 'Fast & Furious' movie 'F9', Warner Bros. musical 'In the Heights' and many others just in the coming weeks. 'Black Widow' to 'Loki': New trailers released at the MTV Movie & TV Awards 2021 Many of the films were held back by studio executives who hoped they could wait out the pandemic and generate blockbuster ticket sales once movie-going returned. The studios need box office receipts to help recoup the costs of big-budget movies. Executives said they were encouraged by recent box office tallies overseas. In China, buddy-cop comedy 'Detective Chinatown 3' opened in February with $398 million in ticket sales, a record debut in a single country. 'Friends' reunion trailer is out and it will fill your heart with nostalgia "When the story is great, the audience definitely will come," said horror filmmaker Jason Blum. "I think we have to trust them to do that." Industry leaders are planning the first-ever Cinema Week in the United States in June, in the vein of Restaurant Week with special events and promotions. Part of the message, according to organizers: "It`s time to break up with your couch." 'Terminator' star Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking at Wednesday's event, offered a similar sentiment. "Now is the time to wind down this pandemic period," Schwarzenegger said. "Now it`s time to get back to the big screen."

Hollywood says 'the big screen is back' to rally movie-goers

"Nomadland" is the bookies' favorite to win best picture at the Oscars, when they take place on April 25. Director Chloe Zhao has already made history as the first female director of color to be nominated in the best director award. Zhao is up for four Oscars, including directing, adapted screenplay, editing and of course, best picture. However, she is keen to point out the production was a group effort.

Will "Nomadland" extend its winning streak to the Oscars?

<p>As Hollywood prepares to celebrate the Oscars on Sunday, movie theatres are trying to lure back audiences that have been streaming films at home for over a year. Some cinemas have closed permanently while others are trying to recover and hope that a string of delayed blockbusters will produce a moviegoing rebound.<br />
<br />
Reuters asked actors, directors, writers and producers what they see for the future of cinemas. Their replies have been edited for length and clarity.</p>

<p>DIRECTOR JAMES CAMERON<br />
"I do think what we`ll see when we do return to the cinema is that films that celebrate that particular art form of sitting in a dark room with a bunch of strangers and looking at a very large screen with a very loud sound system is going to become a more focused and ritualized thing. It`s the only place where the art dominates. When you watch something on streaming, the other people in the room with you are welcome to interject, to pause, to go to the bathroom, to text, to do other things."<br />
<br />
DIRECTOR CHLOÉ ZHAO<br />
"For 300 people to laugh and cry at the same time, strangers, not just your family in your house, that`s a very powerful thing that I don`t think we`re ever going to give up. The question is, are the theatres actually going to be there? I`m actually more worried about those original theatres, those little small theatres in small towns. They are so beautiful, and they`re so important for the community."<br />
<br />
ACTRESS GAL GADOT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
"I don’t think that the theatres are going away. I think that, just like with live concerts that we all love to go to, the theatres, they just give us a different experience. "</p>

<p>WRITER AND DIRECTOR AARON SORKIN<br />
"As convenient as watching a move on a streaming service like Netflix may be, it is not a substitute for the shared experience of being part of an audience, when a whole group of strangers laughs at the same time, is silent at the same time, gasps at the same time, cries at the same time. Going to the movies is what we do on a date. It`s what we do with our friends on a Friday night, with our families on Saturday. We are not going to stop going to the movies. I can`t wait to be part of an audience again."</p>

<p>ACTRESS AND DIRECTOR ROBIN WRIGHT<br />
"Once this pandemic starts to lift and everybody gets vaccinated and we can get back to the new norm, I think the world`s going to open up the way it was and so will theaters. I pray, because there`s nothing like the experience of sitting in the cinema and watching a movie with others next to you. That`s an energy that I think just fuels the experience."</p>

<p>FILMMAKER EDDIE HUANG<br />
"I do think that there is going to be a movement back to theaters. ... It`s not the same to watch a film at home. That`s not why we make it, you know? It`s like eating food without a plate. And it`s cool, you can stand and eat. But it`s better with a plate and a fork and a knife."</p>

<p>WRITER SUZAN-LORI PARKS<br />
"I`m not sure what the future might look like. It might depend on money. I think a lot of decisions these days, maybe fortunately or unfortunately, are driven by money. How much money do people want to make? Where do they want to put their resources? I think it`s really important for people to be able to come together and experience things as a community."</p>

<p>ROMANIAN DIRECTOR ALEXANDER NANAU<br />
"I`m not afraid that people will not return to the cinemas, I think that is a need that we all have and it will come back. Maybe not in the numbers we knew before because it becomes a commodity that we have faster access to the films in your own home."</p>


As Hollywood prepares to celebrate the Oscars on Sunday, movie theatres are trying to lure back audiences that have been streaming films at home for over a year.

As Hollywood prepares to celebrate the Oscars on Sunday, movie theatres are trying to lure back audiences that have been streaming films at home for over a year. Some cinemas have closed permanently while others are trying to recover and hope that a string of delayed blockbusters will produce a moviegoing rebound. Reuters asked actors, directors, writers and producers what they see for the future of cinemas. Their replies have been edited for length and clarity. DIRECTOR JAMES CAMERON "I do think what we`ll see when we do return to the cinema is that films that celebrate that particular art form of sitting in a dark room with a bunch of strangers and looking at a very large screen with a very loud sound system is going to become a more focused and ritualized thing. It`s the only place where the art dominates. When you watch something on streaming, the other people in the room with you are welcome to interject, to pause, to go to the bathroom, to text, to do other things." DIRECTOR CHLOÉ ZHAO "For 300 people to laugh and cry at the same time, strangers, not just your family in your house, that`s a very powerful thing that I don`t think we`re ever going to give up. The question is, are the theatres actually going to be there? I`m actually more worried about those original theatres, those little small theatres in small towns. They are so beautiful, and they`re so important for the community." ACTRESS GAL GADOT "I don’t think that the theatres are going away. I think that, just like with live concerts that we all love to go to, the theatres, they just give us a different experience. " WRITER AND DIRECTOR AARON SORKIN "As convenient as watching a move on a streaming service like Netflix may be, it is not a substitute for the shared experience of being part of an audience, when a whole group of strangers laughs at the same time, is silent at the same time, gasps at the same time, cries at the same time. Going to the movies is what we do on a date. It`s what we do with our friends on a Friday night, with our families on Saturday. We are not going to stop going to the movies. I can`t wait to be part of an audience again." ACTRESS AND DIRECTOR ROBIN WRIGHT "Once this pandemic starts to lift and everybody gets vaccinated and we can get back to the new norm, I think the world`s going to open up the way it was and so will theaters. I pray, because there`s nothing like the experience of sitting in the cinema and watching a movie with others next to you. That`s an energy that I think just fuels the experience." FILMMAKER EDDIE HUANG "I do think that there is going to be a movement back to theaters. ... It`s not the same to watch a film at home. That`s not why we make it, you know? It`s like eating food without a plate. And it`s cool, you can stand and eat. But it`s better with a plate and a fork and a knife." WRITER SUZAN-LORI PARKS "I`m not sure what the future might look like. It might depend on money. I think a lot of decisions these days, maybe fortunately or unfortunately, are driven by money. How much money do people want to make? Where do they want to put their resources? I think it`s really important for people to be able to come together and experience things as a community." ROMANIAN DIRECTOR ALEXANDER NANAU "I`m not afraid that people will not return to the cinemas, I think that is a need that we all have and it will come back. Maybe not in the numbers we knew before because it becomes a commodity that we have faster access to the films in your own home."

Hollywood ponders post-pandemic future of cinemas

<p>The biggest cliffhanger at Sunday`s Oscars may not be who wins the top prizes - or even if Netflix can finally snag a coveted best picture trophy - but how the movie industry`s biggest night reinvents itself after a tumultuous year.<br />
<br />
Forced to rethink the ceremony because of the pandemic, and with a slate of diverse but mostly smaller films, organisers are promising a show unlike anything seen in the 93-year history of the Academy Awards. Staged for the first time in a working train station in downtown Los Angeles, albeit a striking Art Deco building, Oscar producers have been vague on details of the limited in-person ceremony, which will be aired on ABC television.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/oscars-2021-heres-a-look-back-at-posthumous-oscar-winners-379235">Oscars 2021: Here's a look back at posthumous Oscar winners</a><br />
<br />
But they say the tone will be optimistic and the show will act as a love letter to the battered movie industry after a year of theatre closures and delays in releasing dozens of potential blockbusters.<br />
<br />
"We are here to make a case for why cinema matters," said Stacey Sher, one of the trio of Oscars producers.<br />
<br />
Netflix Inc`s 1930s Hollywood drama "Mank" leads nominations with 10 nods in a best picture list that includes 1960s courtroom saga "The Trial of the Chicago 7," also from Netflix. The other nominees are recession drama "Nomadland," revenge tale "Promising Young Woman," immigrant family story "Minari," civil rights biopic "Judas and the Black Messiah," dementia tale "The Father," and "Sound of Metal," about a deaf drummer.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The winners are chosen by the 9,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "This year, these movies are not well known, but oddly enough are more accessible than ever before when they are on all the streaming platforms. Nevertheless, there are lot of downer topics (and) many of them are smaller films, slower films," said Pete Hammond, chief film critic for Deadline Hollywood.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/oscars-2021-nominees-who-broke-records-and-can-make-history-with-their-win-378635">Oscars 2021: Nominees who broke records and can make history with their win</a><br />
<br />
The TV audience on Sunday is expected to fall sharply, in line with other scaled-down award shows during the pandemic. Those largely virtual affairs saw viewership plummet by as much as 60%.<br />
<br />
<strong>YEAR OF DIVERSITY</strong></p>

<p>Even with a small red carpet event on Sunday, organizers face a challenge in striking the right balance between escapism and the pain inflicted by the coronavirus.<br />
"The reason why we watch these enormous, bloated affairs is for the promise of the electricity of a live event, of everyone being in the same room, and those last vestiges of spontaneity and glamour," said Alison Willmore, film critic at New York magazine.<br />
<br />
While Netflix clinched a leading 35 nominations, awards watchers say it may again end up seeing the top prize - best picture - slip away. "Netflix has the volume but in the end it can`t win that big one, and it seems to be the way it`s going with the Oscars again," said Hammond.<br />
<br />
"Nomadland," the Searchlight Pictures film about the American van-dwelling community, has picked up most of the big awards leading up to the Oscars.<br />
"`Nomadland` feels like a film that offers both incredibly beautiful sweeping landscapes and a cinematic language that recalls Westerns, while at the same time being grounded in pressing ideas about the lack of a social safety net, labor, aging, and the fragmenting of the social fabric," said Willmore.<br />
<br />
Hollywood`s drive for diversity over the past five years could reap rewards.<br />
<br />
The best director field for the first time includes two women - Chloe Zhao for "Nomadland" and Emerald Fennell for "Promising Young Woman" - who were among a record 76 women to be nominated for Oscars this year.<br />
<br />
Nine of the 20 acting nominees - including front-runners Chadwick Boseman, Daniel Kaluuya and Youn Yuh-jung - are people of color.</p>


The biggest cliffhanger at Sunday`s Oscars may not be who wins the top prizes - or even if Netflix can finally snag a coveted best picture trophy - but how the movie industry`s biggest night reinvents itself after a tumultuous year.

The biggest cliffhanger at Sunday`s Oscars may not be who wins the top prizes - or even if Netflix can finally snag a coveted best picture trophy - but how the movie industry`s biggest night reinvents itself after a tumultuous year. Forced to rethink the ceremony because of the pandemic, and with a slate of diverse but mostly smaller films, organisers are promising a show unlike anything seen in the 93-year history of the Academy Awards. Staged for the first time in a working train station in downtown Los Angeles, albeit a striking Art Deco building, Oscar producers have been vague on details of the limited in-person ceremony, which will be aired on ABC television. Oscars 2021: Here's a look back at posthumous Oscar winners But they say the tone will be optimistic and the show will act as a love letter to the battered movie industry after a year of theatre closures and delays in releasing dozens of potential blockbusters. "We are here to make a case for why cinema matters," said Stacey Sher, one of the trio of Oscars producers. Netflix Inc`s 1930s Hollywood drama "Mank" leads nominations with 10 nods in a best picture list that includes 1960s courtroom saga "The Trial of the Chicago 7," also from Netflix. The other nominees are recession drama "Nomadland," revenge tale "Promising Young Woman," immigrant family story "Minari," civil rights biopic "Judas and the Black Messiah," dementia tale "The Father," and "Sound of Metal," about a deaf drummer. The winners are chosen by the 9,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "This year, these movies are not well known, but oddly enough are more accessible than ever before when they are on all the streaming platforms. Nevertheless, there are lot of downer topics (and) many of them are smaller films, slower films," said Pete Hammond, chief film critic for Deadline Hollywood. Oscars 2021: Nominees who broke records and can make history with their win The TV audience on Sunday is expected to fall sharply, in line with other scaled-down award shows during the pandemic. Those largely virtual affairs saw viewership plummet by as much as 60%. YEAR OF DIVERSITY Even with a small red carpet event on Sunday, organizers face a challenge in striking the right balance between escapism and the pain inflicted by the coronavirus. "The reason why we watch these enormous, bloated affairs is for the promise of the electricity of a live event, of everyone being in the same room, and those last vestiges of spontaneity and glamour," said Alison Willmore, film critic at New York magazine. While Netflix clinched a leading 35 nominations, awards watchers say it may again end up seeing the top prize - best picture - slip away. "Netflix has the volume but in the end it can`t win that big one, and it seems to be the way it`s going with the Oscars again," said Hammond. "Nomadland," the Searchlight Pictures film about the American van-dwelling community, has picked up most of the big awards leading up to the Oscars. "`Nomadland` feels like a film that offers both incredibly beautiful sweeping landscapes and a cinematic language that recalls Westerns, while at the same time being grounded in pressing ideas about the lack of a social safety net, labor, aging, and the fragmenting of the social fabric," said Willmore. Hollywood`s drive for diversity over the past five years could reap rewards. The best director field for the first time includes two women - Chloe Zhao for "Nomadland" and Emerald Fennell for "Promising Young Woman" - who were among a record 76 women to be nominated for Oscars this year. Nine of the 20 acting nominees - including front-runners Chadwick Boseman, Daniel Kaluuya and Youn Yuh-jung - are people of color.

Hollywood loves a reboot - now Oscars show gets its turn amid pandemic, calls for diversity

<p>He may not have officially joined politics, but the people of Texas are keen to have Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey as their governor.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The actor recently outpolled the incumbent governor Greg Abbott in a speculative poll published by the Dallas Morning News. While the actor has not officially made the plunge in politics yet, the result -where McConaughey is significantly ahead of Abbott.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While it isn't fair to judge by a single poll, the result though signifies that the actor will get massive support whenever he decides to run for office.&nbsp;</p>

<p>McConaughey has earlier shown interest in contesting for elections on several occasions. When he was asked on a podcast last week, he said he wanted to take on a leadership role in society.</p>

<p>"I'm looking into now, what is my leadership role, because I do think I have some things to teach and share, and what is my role, what is my category in my next chapter of life that I'm going into now?" he said.<br />
<br />
When he was asked if he was considering running for the governor's post, the actor said,"I hear you. It's a true consideration."</p>

<p>The actor is a native of Texas and has previously made critical comments on both the major parties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The actor maintains he is "aggressively centrist" and if he decides to contest- he would do so as an independent candidate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>45 percent of the votes went to the actor when Texas voters were asked who they were likely to support in a race between sitting Republican governor Greg Abbott and McConaughey.&nbsp;</p>


He may not have officially joined politics, but the people of Texas are keen to have Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey as their governor. The actor recently outpolled the incumbent governor Greg Abbott in a speculative poll published by the Dallas Morning News.

He may not have officially joined politics, but the people of Texas are keen to have Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey as their governor. The actor recently outpolled the incumbent governor Greg Abbott in a speculative poll published by the Dallas Morning News. While the actor has not officially made the plunge in politics yet, the result -where McConaughey is significantly ahead of Abbott. While it isn't fair to judge by a single poll, the result though signifies that the actor will get massive support whenever he decides to run for office. McConaughey has earlier shown interest in contesting for elections on several occasions. When he was asked on a podcast last week, he said he wanted to take on a leadership role in society. "I'm looking into now, what is my leadership role, because I do think I have some things to teach and share, and what is my role, what is my category in my next chapter of life that I'm going into now?" he said. When he was asked if he was considering running for the governor's post, the actor said,"I hear you. It's a true consideration." The actor is a native of Texas and has previously made critical comments on both the major parties. The actor maintains he is "aggressively centrist" and if he decides to contest- he would do so as an independent candidate. 45 percent of the votes went to the actor when Texas voters were asked who they were likely to support in a race between sitting Republican governor Greg Abbott and McConaughey.

Texas wants actor Matthew McConaughey as their governor over incumbent Republican Greg Abbott

<p>Even Wonder Woman has to fight for equal pay. Hollywood star Gal Gadot says her biggest struggle as a woman has been against pay disparity between her and her male co-stars.<br />
<br />
Gadot, who rose to fame with the 2017 superhero blockbuster Wonder Woman, is not new to the conversation around pay disparity. After the film’s box office success, there were stories that the actor was paid less than what her male counterparts earned in similar roles. It reignited the debate around the gender pay gap, something that several female Hollywood actors– from Jennifer Lawrence, Salma Hayek to Emma Watson– have spoken about.<br />
<br />
During a virtual global press conference for her latest National Geographic series Impact With Gal Gadot, the actor was asked about her biggest struggle as a woman.<br />
<br />
“My biggest struggle as a woman has been equal pay as my male co-stars, (all of) whom I love so much. As a woman, that has been the biggest thing. As a human being, I have struggled with many other problems. But the thing that I fought for the most, was equal pay with my male stars,” Gadot replied.<br />
<br />
The 35-year-old actor, now an influential Hollywood star, has come on board for National Geographic’s Impact With Gal Gadot as an executive producer.<br />
<br />
The six-part short-form documentary series will highlight stories of resilient women around the globe. The series, Gadot said, was born out of her desire to steer her massive global reach towards issues that needed attention which the “cameras won’t necessarily aim to cover.”<br />
The team decided it was the perfect opportunity to tell female-driven stories to inspire others to contribute towards the progress of society.<br />
“There’s something so refreshing to surround yourself and to hear, to see stories that are driven by good and goodwill… What makes the show unique is that you see women who come from problematic backgrounds- whether it’s discrimination, natural disasters, or loss. Whatever it might be, they don’t let it put them down. They use the pain that they are struggling with and turn it into something positive that can affect other people,” she said.<br />
<br />
According to the makers, Impact follows inspiring women living in “communities marred by violence, poverty, trauma, discrimination, oppression and natural disasters, and yet against all odds, they dare to dream, stand out, speak up.”<br />
<br />
The series will chronicle stories of six women- from a 19-year-old college student in Puerto Rico, a ballet dancer in Brazil, a trauma therapist from California to a formally homeless transwoman in Tennessee, fighting against odds and helping the community grow.<br />
<br />
Gadot said when the team started researching for stories of courage of different women three years ago, the show was not limited to only the United States.<br />
“Then COVID hit. Then we thought to go back to the sketch board and figure out domestic stories that will be strong enough to have an effect, inspire people. The amount of stories we found were mind-blowing…,” she said.<br />
<br />
While the show aims to put the spotlight on unsung women, Gadot’s credits her mother and grandmother as her earliest role models. Growing up in Israel, Gadot said her mother. a teacher. taught her and her younger sister to be “confident, to love ourselves, dream and dare.”<br />
<br />
The episodes will go live on Nat Geo Global YouTube channels, with the first one titled Ice Breakers scheduled to premiere on April 26. These episodes will go live on the India YouTube channel, two days after the episodes have been published on the global YouTube channel.<br />
The series would then premiere on National Geographic Channel India in the coming months.<br />
<br />
Ahead of the premiere, Gadot hoped that the docu-series serves as a reminder to people that they hold the power to bring about a change, even if it looks daunting in the beginning.<br />
<br />
“Over time, what I would love to be to happen, is to create a community of people who want to do good. The thing about doing good and making a change is that everyone wants to do it but we feel ‘Where do we start?’ The thing about the show and what it shows you is that it starts small. That you can start with small actions and actually have great impact,” she added.</p>


Even Wonder Woman has to fight for equal pay. Hollywood star Gal Gadot says her biggest struggle as a woman has been against pay disparity between her and her male co-stars.

Even Wonder Woman has to fight for equal pay. Hollywood star Gal Gadot says her biggest struggle as a woman has been against pay disparity between her and her male co-stars. Gadot, who rose to fame with the 2017 superhero blockbuster Wonder Woman, is not new to the conversation around pay disparity. After the film’s box office success, there were stories that the actor was paid less than what her male counterparts earned in similar roles. It reignited the debate around the gender pay gap, something that several female Hollywood actors– from Jennifer Lawrence, Salma Hayek to Emma Watson– have spoken about. During a virtual global press conference for her latest National Geographic series Impact With Gal Gadot, the actor was asked about her biggest struggle as a woman. “My biggest struggle as a woman has been equal pay as my male co-stars, (all of) whom I love so much. As a woman, that has been the biggest thing. As a human being, I have struggled with many other problems. But the thing that I fought for the most, was equal pay with my male stars,” Gadot replied. The 35-year-old actor, now an influential Hollywood star, has come on board for National Geographic’s Impact With Gal Gadot as an executive producer. The six-part short-form documentary series will highlight stories of resilient women around the globe. The series, Gadot said, was born out of her desire to steer her massive global reach towards issues that needed attention which the “cameras won’t necessarily aim to cover.” The team decided it was the perfect opportunity to tell female-driven stories to inspire others to contribute towards the progress of society. “There’s something so refreshing to surround yourself and to hear, to see stories that are driven by good and goodwill… What makes the show unique is that you see women who come from problematic backgrounds- whether it’s discrimination, natural disasters, or loss. Whatever it might be, they don’t let it put them down. They use the pain that they are struggling with and turn it into something positive that can affect other people,” she said. According to the makers, Impact follows inspiring women living in “communities marred by violence, poverty, trauma, discrimination, oppression and natural disasters, and yet against all odds, they dare to dream, stand out, speak up.” The series will chronicle stories of six women- from a 19-year-old college student in Puerto Rico, a ballet dancer in Brazil, a trauma therapist from California to a formally homeless transwoman in Tennessee, fighting against odds and helping the community grow. Gadot said when the team started researching for stories of courage of different women three years ago, the show was not limited to only the United States. “Then COVID hit. Then we thought to go back to the sketch board and figure out domestic stories that will be strong enough to have an effect, inspire people. The amount of stories we found were mind-blowing…,” she said. While the show aims to put the spotlight on unsung women, Gadot’s credits her mother and grandmother as her earliest role models. Growing up in Israel, Gadot said her mother. a teacher. taught her and her younger sister to be “confident, to love ourselves, dream and dare.” The episodes will go live on Nat Geo Global YouTube channels, with the first one titled Ice Breakers scheduled to premiere on April 26. These episodes will go live on the India YouTube channel, two days after the episodes have been published on the global YouTube channel. The series would then premiere on National Geographic Channel India in the coming months. Ahead of the premiere, Gadot hoped that the docu-series serves as a reminder to people that they hold the power to bring about a change, even if it looks daunting in the beginning. “Over time, what I would love to be to happen, is to create a community of people who want to do good. The thing about doing good and making a change is that everyone wants to do it but we feel ‘Where do we start?’ The thing about the show and what it shows you is that it starts small. That you can start with small actions and actually have great impact,” she added.

Equal pay as a woman has been my biggest struggle: Gal Gadot

<p>'Drivers License'&nbsp;singer Olivia Rodrigo has hit another milestone- getting what is likely to be her very first parking ticket.</p>

<p>The young singer-songwriter found herself with a City of Los Angeles parking violation notice and shared that moment with her fans via an Instagram Story on Sunday (April 11).<br />
<br />
<img alt="Olivia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6177a019-dcee-4e31-9d8d-7d580912a839" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/olivia_0.JPG" /></p>

<p>“damn this driving s— isnt all fun and games,” she quipped in a a captioned for the snapshot.</p>

<p>Earlier this month, it was reported that Rodrigo’s runaway hit single&nbsp;had become the first song to surpass 1 billion global streams in 2021, according to figures from MRC Data.</p>

<p>She recently released the new single 'Deja Vu,' and her debut studio album is scheduled to arrive on May 21.</p>


'Drivers License' singer Olivia Rodrigo has hit another milestone- getting what is likely to be her very first parking ticket. The young singer-songwriter found herself with a City of Los Angeles parking violation notice and shared that moment with her fans via an Instagram Story on Sunday (April 11).

'Drivers License' singer Olivia Rodrigo has hit another milestone- getting what is likely to be her very first parking ticket. The young singer-songwriter found herself with a City of Los Angeles parking violation notice and shared that moment with her fans via an Instagram Story on Sunday (April 11). “damn this driving s— isnt all fun and games,” she quipped in a a captioned for the snapshot. Earlier this month, it was reported that Rodrigo’s runaway hit single had become the first song to surpass 1 billion global streams in 2021, according to figures from MRC Data. She recently released the new single 'Deja Vu,' and her debut studio album is scheduled to arrive on May 21.

When Olivia Rodrigo found out driving 'isn’t all fun and games'

<p>Regé-Jean Page has stirred the Hollywood corridors once and again, and this time it has nothing to do with his departure from Netflix's Bridgerton. While the actor has already signed up for an upcoming Russo brothers spy thriller, The Gray Man, for Netflix and a big-screen adaptation of Dungeons &amp; Dragons, there was one project that didn't turn up for&nbsp;Page for a shocking reason.<br />
<br />
According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources say that Page auditioned for the role of Superman’s grandfather in Syfy’s Krypton series. The show’s creators were reportedly “passionate about doing some nontraditional casting” in the series, according to the outlet. But former DC Films co-chairman Geoff Johns apparently nixed Page’s casting because he is Black.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Johns’s rep denied that Page lost the role specifically because of his race in a statement to E! News. “Geoff never said Superman can’t have a Black ancestor or be Black—there have been diverse versions of Superman throughout the comics for decades so he does and can be diverse,” the statement began. “However, the expectation for KRYPTON was that it would initially be perceived as a possible prequel to Man of Steel by the fans and the lead was expected to invoke a young Henry Cavill.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then,” Page tweeted in response to the report&nbsp;“The clarifications almost hurt more tbh.” Despite the rejection, Page maintained that he’s “Still just doing my thing. Still we do the work. We still fly.”<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then. The clarifications almost hurt more tbh.<br />
<br />
Still just doing my thing.<br />
<br />
Still we do the work.<br />
<br />
We still fly.<br />
<br />
👊🏽</p>
— Regé-Jean Page (@regejean) <a href="https://twitter.com/regejean/status/1379852635143090179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
Superman’s grandfather, Seg-El, was eventually played by Cameron Cuffe for the duration of the show’s two-season run, which ended in 2019. Cuffe tweeted in support of Page, writing, “Regé is an inspiration to me and thousands of other artists. No one should feel okay benefiting from individuals or institutions that treat their fellow humans so unjustly. Change must happen.” Page responded in kind, replying, “You were awesome as Seg, and you are an absolute gift to us all.”</p>

<p><br />
After sweeping the world off its feet as the dashing Duke of Hastings, Page hosted Saturday Night Live, won an NAACP Image Award for outstanding actor in a drama series, and was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild awards.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Page ultimately walked away from the role after a single season. He even declined an invite to guest star in three to five episodes of Bridgerton’s second season, sources told THR. Per the outlet, the actor was offered $50,000 an episode to reprise his role. Instead, Page is leaving both Bridgerton and the Krypton casting scandal behind him in favor of his flourishing film career. As he put in an interview with Variety, “I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit, and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.”</p>


Regé-Jean Page has stirred the Hollywood corridors once and again, and this time it has nothing to do with his departure from Netflix's Bridgerton. While the actor has already signed up for an upcoming Russo brothers spy thriller, The Gray Man, for Netflix and a big-screen adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons, there was one project that didn't turn up for Page for a shocking reason.

Regé-Jean Page has stirred the Hollywood corridors once and again, and this time it has nothing to do with his departure from Netflix's Bridgerton. While the actor has already signed up for an upcoming Russo brothers spy thriller, The Gray Man, for Netflix and a big-screen adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons, there was one project that didn't turn up for Page for a shocking reason. According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources say that Page auditioned for the role of Superman’s grandfather in Syfy’s Krypton series. The show’s creators were reportedly “passionate about doing some nontraditional casting” in the series, according to the outlet. But former DC Films co-chairman Geoff Johns apparently nixed Page’s casting because he is Black. Johns’s rep denied that Page lost the role specifically because of his race in a statement to E! News. “Geoff never said Superman can’t have a Black ancestor or be Black—there have been diverse versions of Superman throughout the comics for decades so he does and can be diverse,” the statement began. “However, the expectation for KRYPTON was that it would initially be perceived as a possible prequel to Man of Steel by the fans and the lead was expected to invoke a young Henry Cavill.” “Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then,” Page tweeted in response to the report “The clarifications almost hurt more tbh.” Despite the rejection, Page maintained that he’s “Still just doing my thing. Still we do the work. We still fly.” Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then. The clarifications almost hurt more tbh. Still just doing my thing. Still we do the work. We still fly. 👊🏽 — Regé-Jean Page (@regejean) April 7, 2021 × Superman’s grandfather, Seg-El, was eventually played by Cameron Cuffe for the duration of the show’s two-season run, which ended in 2019. Cuffe tweeted in support of Page, writing, “Regé is an inspiration to me and thousands of other artists. No one should feel okay benefiting from individuals or institutions that treat their fellow humans so unjustly. Change must happen.” Page responded in kind, replying, “You were awesome as Seg, and you are an absolute gift to us all.” After sweeping the world off its feet as the dashing Duke of Hastings, Page hosted Saturday Night Live, won an NAACP Image Award for outstanding actor in a drama series, and was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild awards. However, Page ultimately walked away from the role after a single season. He even declined an invite to guest star in three to five episodes of Bridgerton’s second season, sources told THR. Per the outlet, the actor was offered $50,000 an episode to reprise his role. Instead, Page is leaving both Bridgerton and the Krypton casting scandal behind him in favor of his flourishing film career. As he put in an interview with Variety, “I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit, and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.”

Regé-Jean Page shares his thoughts on losing the role of Superman's grandfather due to his race

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has filed an appeal on his rape and sexual assault conviction, saying the trial judge made several errors that denied him an impartial jury.

Harvey Weinstein appeals against sex crimes conviction, seeks new trial

<p>Henry Golding is now a father!<br />
<br />
The 'Crazy Rich Asians'&nbsp;actor and his wife, yoga instructor Liv Lo have become parents to their first child.<br />
<br />
Lo, 35, shared the news Monday on Instagram, saying the baby was born on March 31, without sharing their name or gender.<br />
<br />
The blogger said she is taking maternity leave for 40 days. "I'll prob be up during midnight breastfeeds checking in on you, but otherwise 'I'll be back (sic)," she wrote.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p><br />
<br />
Golding, also known for films like "A Simple Favor" and "Last Christmas", posted a black-and-white photo of the trio huddled around a bed, with his baby's head out of focus.<br />
<br />
"This woman right here. Beyond anything, I could have ever imagined. Your strength brought us our greatest joy. Thank you, I love you," the 34-year-old actor wrote in the caption.</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNTwMsfBpia/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Henry Golding (@henrygolding)</a></p>
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<p><br />
<br />
The couple met on New Year's Day 2011 and got married in Sarawak, Malaysia, in August 2016.</p>


Henry Golding is now a father! The 'Crazy Rich Asians' actor and his wife, yoga instructor Liv Lo have become parents to their first child. Lo, 35, shared the news Monday on Instagram, saying the baby was born on March 31, without sharing their name or gender.

Henry Golding is now a father! The 'Crazy Rich Asians' actor and his wife, yoga instructor Liv Lo have become parents to their first child. Lo, 35, shared the news Monday on Instagram, saying the baby was born on March 31, without sharing their name or gender. The blogger said she is taking maternity leave for 40 days. "I'll prob be up during midnight breastfeeds checking in on you, but otherwise 'I'll be back (sic)," she wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mama + Wife + Instructor (@livlogolding) × Golding, also known for films like "A Simple Favor" and "Last Christmas", posted a black-and-white photo of the trio huddled around a bed, with his baby's head out of focus. "This woman right here. Beyond anything, I could have ever imagined. Your strength brought us our greatest joy. Thank you, I love you," the 34-year-old actor wrote in the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Henry Golding (@henrygolding) × The couple met on New Year's Day 2011 and got married in Sarawak, Malaysia, in August 2016.

Henry Golding and his wife welcome their first child

<p>Ashley Judd is all set to enter the young adult drama scene.<br />
<br />
The 'Double Jeopardy'&nbsp;star has booked her next project in the upcoming drama '#FBF'. According to Variety, Cree Cicchino, Kylee Russell, Emily Skinner, Ciara Riley Wilson, David Barerra and Maria Canals-Barerra are also part of the cast.<br />
<br />
The movie takes place almost entirely on smartphones and computer screens, thus allowing the actors to be filmed in their homes remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
his format was initially seen in films like the 2018 mystery thriller "Searching", starring John Cho and Debra Messing. "#FBF" follows teenager Annie (Cicchino), who accidentally takes her mother's (Judd) laptop instead of her own to visit her father in New Jersey.<br />
<br />
Annie soon realises the laptop is everything she needs to pose as her mom for the day, repair her parents' marriage and encourage them to move back from Florida. Ilyssa Goodman, known for 'A Cinderella Story', is directing the film from a screenplay that she wrote with Ashley Peter, a co-producer on "The Morning Show". The film is being produced by Bazelevs, MarVista Entertainment and Particular Crowd.</p>


Ashley Judd is all set to enter the young adult drama scene. The 'Double Jeopardy' star has booked her next project in the upcoming drama '#FBF'. According to Variety, Cree Cicchino, Kylee Russell, Emily Skinner, Ciara Riley Wilson, David Barerra and Maria Canals-Barerra are also part of the cast.

Ashley Judd is all set to enter the young adult drama scene. The 'Double Jeopardy' star has booked her next project in the upcoming drama '#FBF'. According to Variety, Cree Cicchino, Kylee Russell, Emily Skinner, Ciara Riley Wilson, David Barerra and Maria Canals-Barerra are also part of the cast. The movie takes place almost entirely on smartphones and computer screens, thus allowing the actors to be filmed in their homes remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic. his format was initially seen in films like the 2018 mystery thriller "Searching", starring John Cho and Debra Messing. "#FBF" follows teenager Annie (Cicchino), who accidentally takes her mother's (Judd) laptop instead of her own to visit her father in New Jersey. Annie soon realises the laptop is everything she needs to pose as her mom for the day, repair her parents' marriage and encourage them to move back from Florida. Ilyssa Goodman, known for 'A Cinderella Story', is directing the film from a screenplay that she wrote with Ashley Peter, a co-producer on "The Morning Show". The film is being produced by Bazelevs, MarVista Entertainment and Particular Crowd.

Ashley Judd to star in young adult drama '#FBF'

<p>Actor-writer Donald Glover's critically-acclaimed series 'Atlanta'&nbsp;has started production on its third season.<br />
<br />
Glover, who has also created the show, shared the news on Instagram. "'Day 0' S3 ATL," he captioned a photograph featuring him and his co-stars Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p><br />
<br />
"Atlanta" follows two cousins navigating the Atlanta rap scene in an effort to improve the lives of their families. The first season of the dramedy premiered in 2016, while season two came out in March 2018.<br />
<br />
Upon its debut, the first season won two Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, an AFI Award and a Peabody.</p>


Actor-writer Donald Glover's critically-acclaimed series 'Atlanta' has started production on its third season. Glover, who has also created the show, shared the news on Instagram.

Actor-writer Donald Glover's critically-acclaimed series 'Atlanta' has started production on its third season. Glover, who has also created the show, shared the news on Instagram. "'Day 0' S3 ATL," he captioned a photograph featuring him and his co-stars Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Donald Glover (@childishgambino) × "Atlanta" follows two cousins navigating the Atlanta rap scene in an effort to improve the lives of their families. The first season of the dramedy premiered in 2016, while season two came out in March 2018. Upon its debut, the first season won two Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, an AFI Award and a Peabody.

Donald Glover starts production on 'Atlanta' season 3

<p>Joe Alwyn is set to star in&nbsp; Lena Dunham's directorial venture.<br />
<br />
Titled 'Catherine, Called Birdy', the film will also star '1917'&nbsp;actor&nbsp;Dean-Charles Chapman. The two actors join Andrew Scott, Bella Ramsey and Billie Piper in the film, reported Deadline.<br />
<br />
The movie, which hails from Working Title and Amazon Studios, is said to be a passion project for Dunham, who has been a fan of the 1994 book of the same name from author Karen Cushman.<br />
<br />
The coming-of-age film, also penned by Dunham, is set in 13th century England and follows a 14-year-old girl named Catherine (Ramsey) who "bucks against convention", namely the arranged marriage her father (Scott) has planned out for her.<br />
<br />
Chapman will essay the role of Catherine's older brother, while Alwyn will play her uncle. Working Title, in association with Dunham's Good Thing Going banner, is producing the project along with Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Jo Wallett. Liz Watson and Michael P Cohen are serving as executive producers.</p>


Joe Alwyn is set to star in Lena Dunham's directorial venture. Titled 'Catherine, Called Birdy', the film will also star '1917' actor Dean-Charles Chapman. The two actors join Andrew Scott, Bella Ramsey and Billie Piper in the film, reported Deadline.

Joe Alwyn is set to star in Lena Dunham's directorial venture. Titled 'Catherine, Called Birdy', the film will also star '1917' actor Dean-Charles Chapman. The two actors join Andrew Scott, Bella Ramsey and Billie Piper in the film, reported Deadline. The movie, which hails from Working Title and Amazon Studios, is said to be a passion project for Dunham, who has been a fan of the 1994 book of the same name from author Karen Cushman. The coming-of-age film, also penned by Dunham, is set in 13th century England and follows a 14-year-old girl named Catherine (Ramsey) who "bucks against convention", namely the arranged marriage her father (Scott) has planned out for her. Chapman will essay the role of Catherine's older brother, while Alwyn will play her uncle. Working Title, in association with Dunham's Good Thing Going banner, is producing the project along with Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Jo Wallett. Liz Watson and Michael P Cohen are serving as executive producers.

Joe Alwyn to star in Lena Dunham's directorial venture 'Catherine, Called Birdy'

<p>Emma Stone is not here for a villainous comparison.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The Oscar-winning&nbsp;actress recently shot down the comparison between her upcoming movie 'Cruella'&nbsp;and Joaquin Phoenix-starrer 'Joker'.<br />
<br />
Post its trailer released in February, many fans have been comparing the Disney film&nbsp;with 'Joker'.&nbsp;Many noticed the thematic similarities between the films as both the stories deal with iconic villains coming from mysterious background.<br />
<br />
'Joker'&nbsp;chronicled the story of Arthur Fleck who goes on to become the classic DC comics villain The Joker.<br />
Whereas 'Cruella'&nbsp;tells the story of Cruella De Vil, the antagonist of the 1961 animated classic '101 Dalmatians'.<br />
<br />
In an interview, Emma Stone opened up about the comparisons and said, "It's very different from 'Joker' in many ways... I would never even remotely compare myself to Joaquin Phoenix. I wish I was more like him."<br />
<br />
The movie is set in 1970s London during the punk rock revolution and follows young grifter Estella (Stone), an ambitious, unfettered, and arguably unhinged designer determined to make a name for herself in the ruthless fashion business.<br />
<br />
The events and revelation during the course of the film will see Estella embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable, and revenge-bent Cruella.<br />
<br />
Director Craig Gillespie said there might be few similarities between the two movies but stressed that "Cruella" is its "own thing".<br />
<br />
"There are some really deep, emotional things that Cruella's dealing with that send her to the villainous darker side. So in that sense, it is (similar)," the filmmaker said. "But it's definitely its own thing. Just to sort of reframe Cruella, I thought it was important to show this darker side of her. But there's going to be a lot of fun, a lot of humour in it.<br />
<br />
There's a lot of absolutely delightful banter and rhythm to the style of it, which is different from 'Joker'," he added.<br />
<br />
"Cruella", which also feature Emma Thompson, Paul Walter Hauser and Mark Strong, is scheduled to be released in US cinemas and on streamer Disney Plus on May 28.</p>


Emma Stone is not here for a villainous comparison. The Oscar-winning actress recently shot down the comparison between her upcoming movie 'Cruella' and Joaquin Phoenix-starrer 'Joker'.

Emma Stone is not here for a villainous comparison. The Oscar-winning actress recently shot down the comparison between her upcoming movie 'Cruella' and Joaquin Phoenix-starrer 'Joker'. Post its trailer released in February, many fans have been comparing the Disney film with 'Joker'. Many noticed the thematic similarities between the films as both the stories deal with iconic villains coming from mysterious background. 'Joker' chronicled the story of Arthur Fleck who goes on to become the classic DC comics villain The Joker. Whereas 'Cruella' tells the story of Cruella De Vil, the antagonist of the 1961 animated classic '101 Dalmatians'. In an interview, Emma Stone opened up about the comparisons and said, "It's very different from 'Joker' in many ways... I would never even remotely compare myself to Joaquin Phoenix. I wish I was more like him." The movie is set in 1970s London during the punk rock revolution and follows young grifter Estella (Stone), an ambitious, unfettered, and arguably unhinged designer determined to make a name for herself in the ruthless fashion business. The events and revelation during the course of the film will see Estella embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable, and revenge-bent Cruella. Director Craig Gillespie said there might be few similarities between the two movies but stressed that "Cruella" is its "own thing". "There are some really deep, emotional things that Cruella's dealing with that send her to the villainous darker side. So in that sense, it is (similar)," the filmmaker said. "But it's definitely its own thing. Just to sort of reframe Cruella, I thought it was important to show this darker side of her. But there's going to be a lot of fun, a lot of humour in it. There's a lot of absolutely delightful banter and rhythm to the style of it, which is different from 'Joker'," he added. "Cruella", which also feature Emma Thompson, Paul Walter Hauser and Mark Strong, is scheduled to be released in US cinemas and on streamer Disney Plus on May 28.

Emma Stone shoots down comparison between 'Cruella' and 'Joker'

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