Deadpool 2 opened with a superheroic collection on the first day as it bagged Rs. 11.25 cr on Friday. The movie was released in four languages in India, Hindi, English, Tamil, and Telugu.

Film Critic and Trade Analyst, Taran Adarsh spread the news through his Twitter as he wrote, "#Deadpool2 takes an EXCELLENT START... FOURTH BIGGEST Day 1 - 2018 [Hindi + Hollywood films]... Expect biz to multiply on Sat and Sun... Fri? 11.25 cr NettBOC. India biz... Note: English + Hindi + Tamil + Telugu."

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Hollywood films are strengthening and cementing their reach in India... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Deadpool2?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Deadpool2</a> has an Adults certification, yet the opening day is in double digits [all versions]... Proves, yet again, Hollywood event films/popular franchises are massive crowd pullers.
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The movie became the fourth biggest opening in 2018 with an excellent start. Also, Ranveer Singh has lent his voice for the Hindi version. The film tells the story of an adult superhero with a twisted sense of humor. Based on Marvel Comics` most unconventional anti-hero, `Deadpool` is the original story of a former Special Forces operative who turns into a mercenary.

The sequel also features Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Karan Soni, Zazie Beetz, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapicic and Leslie Uggams.

"The movie became the fourth biggest opening in 2018 with an excellent start

Deadpool 2 opened with a superheroic collection on the first day as it bagged Rs. 11.25 cr on Friday. The movie was released in four languages in India, Hindi, English, Tamil, and Telugu. Film Critic and Trade Analyst, Taran Adarsh spread the news through his Twitter as he wrote, "#Deadpool2 takes an EXCELLENT START... FOURTH BIGGEST Day 1 - 2018 [Hindi + Hollywood films]... Expect biz to multiply on Sat and Sun... Fri? 11.25 cr NettBOC. India biz... Note: English + Hindi + Tamil + Telugu." Hollywood films are strengthening and cementing their reach in India... #Deadpool2 has an Adults certification, yet the opening day is in double digits [all versions]... Proves, yet again, Hollywood event films/popular franchises are massive crowd pullers. — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 19, 2018 × The movie became the fourth biggest opening in 2018 with an excellent start. Also, Ranveer Singh has lent his voice for the Hindi version. The film tells the story of an adult superhero with a twisted sense of humor. Based on Marvel Comics` most unconventional anti-hero, `Deadpool` is the original story of a former Special Forces operative who turns into a mercenary. The sequel also features Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Karan Soni, Zazie Beetz, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapicic and Leslie Uggams.

'Deadpool 2' bags Rs. 11.25 Crore on day 1

Actor Bradley Cooper has been roped in to star in actor-filmmaker Clint Eastwood`s next film 'The Mule'. As reported by Variety, 'The Mule'&nbsp;is Eastwood`s next directing gig that he also plans to star in.

The film is a co-production between Warner Bros and Imperative Entertainment, and will mark Eastwood`s first acting job since the 2012 baseball drama `Trouble With the Curve`.

The film could also be one of his final on-screen appearances. The movie is based on a 2014 New York Times Magazine feature by Sam Dolnick and follows Earl Stone (Eastwood), a man in his 80s who is broke, alone, and facing foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive - easy enough.

But unbeknownst to Earl, he`s signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel, and also hit the radar of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates (Cooper). Cooper and Eastwood last worked together in 2014 film `American Sniper`.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The film is a co-production between Warner Bros and Imperative Entertainment

Actor Bradley Cooper has been roped in to star in actor-filmmaker Clint Eastwood`s next film 'The Mule'. As reported by Variety, 'The Mule' is Eastwood`s next directing gig that he also plans to star in. The film is a co-production between Warner Bros and Imperative Entertainment, and will mark Eastwood`s first acting job since the 2012 baseball drama `Trouble With the Curve`. The film could also be one of his final on-screen appearances. The movie is based on a 2014 New York Times Magazine feature by Sam Dolnick and follows Earl Stone (Eastwood), a man in his 80s who is broke, alone, and facing foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive - easy enough. But unbeknownst to Earl, he`s signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel, and also hit the radar of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates (Cooper). Cooper and Eastwood last worked together in 2014 film `American Sniper`.

Bradley Cooper joins Clint Eastwood in 'The Mule'

Ranveer Singh never fails to surprise his audience through his films.

The actor who was last seen in 'Padmaavat', is now in news for playing 'Deadpool 2' in the Hindi dubbed version.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-ryan-reynolds-deadpool-2-is-outrageously-funny-and-a-bit-exhausting-137872">Read WION's take on Deadpool 2</a>

The actor has given his voice to the superhero which has been played by Ryan Reynolds in the original.&nbsp;

So what made him choose this film?

According to reports, Ranveer chose to dub for 'Deadpool 2' as he found the character interesting and funny at the same time as it would be a lot of fun to use foul Hindi language on screen.&nbsp;

Fans of Ranveer Singh are really excited as the actor never fails to impress. Also, in an interview, Ranveer said that he has gained a lot of respect for all voice over artists after working on 'Deadpool 2'.&nbsp;

All Ranveer Singh fans will be happy to know that he will be seen on the big screen very soon.

His next release will be &nbsp;Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ opposite Alia Bhatt, which will be followed by Rohit Shetty’s ‘Simmba’ opposite Sara Ali Khan as well as Kabir Khan’s ‘‘83’ where he will be essaying the role of Kapil Dev.

Ranveer found the 'Deadpool 2' character interesting and funny

Ranveer Singh never fails to surprise his audience through his films. The actor who was last seen in 'Padmaavat', is now in news for playing 'Deadpool 2' in the Hindi dubbed version. Read WION's take on Deadpool 2 The actor has given his voice to the superhero which has been played by Ryan Reynolds in the original. So what made him choose this film? According to reports, Ranveer chose to dub for 'Deadpool 2' as he found the character interesting and funny at the same time as it would be a lot of fun to use foul Hindi language on screen. Fans of Ranveer Singh are really excited as the actor never fails to impress. Also, in an interview, Ranveer said that he has gained a lot of respect for all voice over artists after working on 'Deadpool 2'. All Ranveer Singh fans will be happy to know that he will be seen on the big screen very soon. His next release will be Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ opposite Alia Bhatt, which will be followed by Rohit Shetty’s ‘Simmba’ opposite Sara Ali Khan as well as Kabir Khan’s ‘‘83’ where he will be essaying the role of Kapil Dev.

What made Ranveer Singh dub for 'Deadpool 2'

Meghan Markle's father overshadowed his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry by sowing confusion about whether he would walk her down the aisle or snub the British royal family by pulling out of the intricately planned celebration at the last minute.

As royal fans convened on the genteel English town of Windsor where Harry is due to wed the American actress on Saturday, the role of her father, Thomas Markle, was still unclear after he issued a flurry of statements to an American news website.

On Monday he was reported by the Los Angeles to be unable to attend due to a heart attack and embarrassment over whether he had staged pictures with a paparazzi photographer. But at the same time on Tuesday he had changed his mind and would go to be part of history.&nbsp;

In an interview, he said that the trip was off due to his need for immediate heart surgery.

On Wednesday it was reported that Markle was out of surgery where&nbsp;Markle had spoken that "he seemed alert and coherent, telling us doctors implanted stents in his blood vessels." It was not known when he would be out of the hospital.

Markle, who lives in Mexico, had been due to walk his daughter down the aisle on Saturday at St George`s Chapel in Windsor Castle in front of 600 guests including all the senior British royals and a smattering of celebrities.

One of the leading newspapers of Britain had to scramble to update its front page to reflect what it called the "Royal Sensation" of Thomas Markle`s absence under the headline: "I`ve got heart op today". It offered four pages of analysis.

"It must be heartbreaking for them because her father can`t come because he is in poor health," said 46-year-old Maria Scott who had travelled&nbsp;from Newcastle to camp out in Windsor to get a glimpse of the couple on Saturday.

"It must be really upsetting but I`m sure her mum will do a fine job," Scott told Reuters.

Harry, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and sixth in line to the throne, and Markle, a star in U.S. TV drama "Suits", will tie the knot at Windsor Castle, home to the British royal family for nearly 1,000 years.

On Windsor`s streets, hundreds of tourists and journalists mingled with dedicated royals fans - some draped with UK flags and holding photographs of Harry and Markle - while armed police patrolled.&nbsp;Some fans are sleeping out on the street until the wedding, seeking to secure the best positions to see the couple.

"I want them to come through those gates. I want them to look at me, wave and smile," Donna Werner, who flew 3,000 miles from New Fairfield, Connecticut, to be in Windsor told Reuters."That will make it all worthwhile. It really will," said Werner, 66, camped outside the Castle, dressed head to toe in a mix of British and U.S. flag-themed attire, including a shirt that read "Prince Harry, I`m still available. Last chance!"

Windsor, which is dominated by the royal castle, was decorated with swathes of red, white and blue "Union Jack" flags. Stalls sold Harry and Meghan scarves for 15 pounds ($20) and commemorative caps for 10 pounds.

More than 100,000 people are expected to descend on the town on Saturday. They will have to clear airport-style security before being allowed near the main venue, said Superintendent Jim Weems, the police`s tactical commander for the day.

Britain is on its second-highest threat level of severe, meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely. Last year 36 people died in four attacks. Despite the tight security, Weems said there was no particular threat against the wedding.

"There`s no intelligence to support that this event is going to be particularly targeted," he told Reuters.

Harry, 33, a former army officer and one-time royal wild child, met his bride-to-be on a blind date in July 2016 after being set up through a mutual friend.

Beyond the pomp of a royal wedding which enthrals millions, the union marries the Hollywood glamour of Markle with one of the royal family`s most popular members.

As a divorcee, with a white father and an African-American mother, Markle`s background has provided a source of huge interest and comment, not all positive.

Details about the wedding have been closely controlled by Kensington Palace but reports of Thomas Markle`s intentions have thrown their intricate plans into flux. Kensington Palace declined to comment on Wednesday.

The bride-to-be`s parents are divorced and while Harry has been pictured with her mother Doria Ragland, 61, there had been speculation about the relationship with Thomas Markle, a former lighting director for TV soaps and sitcoms.

Thousands of journalists are descending on Windsor, and Thomas Markle told a channel earlier this week that the media attention had taken its toll.&nbsp;

He said he had been offered up to $100,000 for interviews and been ambushed by paparazzi whose snaps had shown him buying beer and looking dishevelled. It was also heard that he had agreed to the staged pictures, which showed him looking at images of the couple on a computer and being sized up for a suit because he hoped they would improve his image.&nbsp;

In response to the initial reports on Monday, Kensington Palace said it was "a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle", asking for respect and understanding for her father.

Father unable to attend the marriage due to a heart attack and embarrassment

Meghan Markle's father overshadowed his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry by sowing confusion about whether he would walk her down the aisle or snub the British royal family by pulling out of the intricately planned celebration at the last minute. As royal fans convened on the genteel English town of Windsor where Harry is due to wed the American actress on Saturday, the role of her father, Thomas Markle, was still unclear after he issued a flurry of statements to an American news website. On Monday he was reported by the Los Angeles to be unable to attend due to a heart attack and embarrassment over whether he had staged pictures with a paparazzi photographer. But at the same time on Tuesday he had changed his mind and would go to be part of history. In an interview, he said that the trip was off due to his need for immediate heart surgery. On Wednesday it was reported that Markle was out of surgery where Markle had spoken that "he seemed alert and coherent, telling us doctors implanted stents in his blood vessels." It was not known when he would be out of the hospital. Markle, who lives in Mexico, had been due to walk his daughter down the aisle on Saturday at St George`s Chapel in Windsor Castle in front of 600 guests including all the senior British royals and a smattering of celebrities. One of the leading newspapers of Britain had to scramble to update its front page to reflect what it called the "Royal Sensation" of Thomas Markle`s absence under the headline: "I`ve got heart op today". It offered four pages of analysis. "It must be heartbreaking for them because her father can`t come because he is in poor health," said 46-year-old Maria Scott who had travelled from Newcastle to camp out in Windsor to get a glimpse of the couple on Saturday. "It must be really upsetting but I`m sure her mum will do a fine job," Scott told Reuters. Harry, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and sixth in line to the throne, and Markle, a star in U.S. TV drama "Suits", will tie the knot at Windsor Castle, home to the British royal family for nearly 1,000 years. On Windsor`s streets, hundreds of tourists and journalists mingled with dedicated royals fans - some draped with UK flags and holding photographs of Harry and Markle - while armed police patrolled. Some fans are sleeping out on the street until the wedding, seeking to secure the best positions to see the couple. "I want them to come through those gates. I want them to look at me, wave and smile," Donna Werner, who flew 3,000 miles from New Fairfield, Connecticut, to be in Windsor told Reuters."That will make it all worthwhile. It really will," said Werner, 66, camped outside the Castle, dressed head to toe in a mix of British and U.S. flag-themed attire, including a shirt that read "Prince Harry, I`m still available. Last chance!" Windsor, which is dominated by the royal castle, was decorated with swathes of red, white and blue "Union Jack" flags. Stalls sold Harry and Meghan scarves for 15 pounds ($20) and commemorative caps for 10 pounds. More than 100,000 people are expected to descend on the town on Saturday. They will have to clear airport-style security before being allowed near the main venue, said Superintendent Jim Weems, the police`s tactical commander for the day. Britain is on its second-highest threat level of severe, meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely. Last year 36 people died in four attacks. Despite the tight security, Weems said there was no particular threat against the wedding. "There`s no intelligence to support that this event is going to be particularly targeted," he told Reuters. Harry, 33, a former army officer and one-time royal wild child, met his bride-to-be on a blind date in July 2016 after being set up through a mutual friend. Beyond the pomp of a royal wedding which enthrals millions, the union marries the Hollywood glamour of Markle with one of the royal family`s most popular members. As a divorcee, with a white father and an African-American mother, Markle`s background has provided a source of huge interest and comment, not all positive. Details about the wedding have been closely controlled by Kensington Palace but reports of Thomas Markle`s intentions have thrown their intricate plans into flux. Kensington Palace declined to comment on Wednesday. The bride-to-be`s parents are divorced and while Harry has been pictured with her mother Doria Ragland, 61, there had been speculation about the relationship with Thomas Markle, a former lighting director for TV soaps and sitcoms. Thousands of journalists are descending on Windsor, and Thomas Markle told a channel earlier this week that the media attention had taken its toll. He said he had been offered up to $100,000 for interviews and been ambushed by paparazzi whose snaps had shown him buying beer and looking dishevelled. It was also heard that he had agreed to the staged pictures, which showed him looking at images of the couple on a computer and being sized up for a suit because he hoped they would improve his image. In response to the initial reports on Monday, Kensington Palace said it was "a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle", asking for respect and understanding for her father.

Meghan Markle's father overshadows her wedding to Prince Harry

"The Spy Gone North", the tale of a South Korean who infiltrated North Korea in the 1990s, is full of plot twists, but the movie might be outdone by the news, as efforts to resolve the nuclear stand-off face a real-life cliffhanger.

The spy thriller was shot between January and July 2017, around the time when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered a series of missile and nuclear tests, rattling neighbouring nations and the new US administration.

Since then, relations have thawed and the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival days before the North and South were due to hold high-level talks to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.&nbsp;

But hours before the talks were due to start on Wednesday, the North called them off, complaining that the United States was pushing it for "Libya-style" denuclearization.

One of the Hollywood reporters said: "... for the sheer topicality, the film is hard to beat, and to find a full-blown entertainment yarn in Cannes ... that’s partially set in newsworthy North Korea is rather astounding."&nbsp;

The script is based on the personal notes of a South Korean spy, Park Suk-young, known as "Black Venus", who posed as a businessman to infiltrate the North and get information on its nuclear programme.&nbsp;

For the South Korean cast and crew of "The Spy Gone North", current events were never far from their minds.

"When I read the script for the first time, I made a joke to the director, saying: is it possible to actually produce this movie?" said actor Lee Sung-min who plays an aide to the North`s former leader, Kim Jong Il.&nbsp;"Since then, the relationship has improved, but if tensions had remained as they were before, this movie could have been a very problematic one," he told Reuters in an interview conducted before the cancellation of Wednesday`s talks.

Hwang Jung-min, who plays Black Venus, said he hoped the film would help foreign audiences understand Korean history, and how there is no "fun" in and "no need" for political war games. Asked if he thought Kim would watch his movie, director Yoon Jong-bin replied: "It would be nice".&nbsp;

The Cannes Film Festival runs to May 19.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered a series of missile and nuclear tests while the shoot

"The Spy Gone North", the tale of a South Korean who infiltrated North Korea in the 1990s, is full of plot twists, but the movie might be outdone by the news, as efforts to resolve the nuclear stand-off face a real-life cliffhanger. The spy thriller was shot between January and July 2017, around the time when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered a series of missile and nuclear tests, rattling neighbouring nations and the new US administration. Since then, relations have thawed and the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival days before the North and South were due to hold high-level talks to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. But hours before the talks were due to start on Wednesday, the North called them off, complaining that the United States was pushing it for "Libya-style" denuclearization. One of the Hollywood reporters said: "... for the sheer topicality, the film is hard to beat, and to find a full-blown entertainment yarn in Cannes ... that’s partially set in newsworthy North Korea is rather astounding." The script is based on the personal notes of a South Korean spy, Park Suk-young, known as "Black Venus", who posed as a businessman to infiltrate the North and get information on its nuclear programme. For the South Korean cast and crew of "The Spy Gone North", current events were never far from their minds. "When I read the script for the first time, I made a joke to the director, saying: is it possible to actually produce this movie?" said actor Lee Sung-min who plays an aide to the North`s former leader, Kim Jong Il. "Since then, the relationship has improved, but if tensions had remained as they were before, this movie could have been a very problematic one," he told Reuters in an interview conducted before the cancellation of Wednesday`s talks. Hwang Jung-min, who plays Black Venus, said he hoped the film would help foreign audiences understand Korean history, and how there is no "fun" in and "no need" for political war games. Asked if he thought Kim would watch his movie, director Yoon Jong-bin replied: "It would be nice". The Cannes Film Festival runs to May 19.

Korean spy film screens at Cannes while real-world plot thickens

Hollywood actor John Travolta who is infamous for not giving too many interviews in his entire career spoke at length about his viewpoint on the #MeToo campaign and what is happening in Hollywood right now. At Cannes at the moment, the Oscar-nominated actor sat down for a two-hour conversation as part of the festival’s master class series, "Rendez-vous with." The actor went to Cannes&nbsp;for the premiere of his mob drama "Gotti," in which he plays&nbsp;mafia don,&nbsp;John Gotti.&nbsp;

The event was moderated by a French journalist who asked John various things -- ranging from how he bottled success after “Saturday Night Fever” and if he knew “Pulp Fiction” would become a hit.

On the issue of sexual harassment cases coming up against powerful men in Hollywood and #MeToo, John said, "I honestly don't know a ton about it, because I try my best to keep people equal — men, women, races. My father was brilliant at it. He had a global viewpoint. I'm a citizen of the globe, and I'm a citizen of groups and people."

On whether protest as a form of non-conformance works, John said he viewed it as a “last resort” and questioned its usefulness. He said, "Protest is valid. But how do you measure — how do you differentiate the moment where it becomes invalid?" Travolta asked. "It's an art, almost, to say, 'OK, let's protest, but we've achieved that here and these particular rights. Now, let's get smart about how we use that … protest so it doesn't get into an irrational perspective.' If we go back to the humanities of being each other's friends and wanting and caring at a deep level, then we'll make it. But it's a dwindling spiral out there."

Cannes saw a major change in the attitude of the celebrities who were spotted on various occasions, discussing the dominant sexual abuse culture. 82 women marched on the festival’s red carpet to highlight the lack of female filmmaker representation over the years and festival director Thierry Frémaux signed a charter pledging the festival would, among other things, take steps toward gender parity on its executive board.

The actor added that he thinks a female director has a more "celebratory thing" — championing acting choices, for example, than a male director might.

"I don't really make a lot of difference between the sexes," he said. "I don't really even like it, to be honest. I don't like trying to make the sexes so different from each other. I find it kind of inhuman sometimes because we're all in the same boat together."

The actor is currently in Cannes for the premiere of his mob drama "Gotti," in which he plays embattled mafia don John Gotti,

Hollywood actor John Travolta who is infamous for not giving too many interviews in his entire career spoke at length about his viewpoint on the #MeToo campaign and what is happening in Hollywood right now. At Cannes at the moment, the Oscar-nominated actor sat down for a two-hour conversation as part of the festival’s master class series, "Rendez-vous with." The actor went to Cannes for the premiere of his mob drama "Gotti," in which he plays mafia don, John Gotti. The event was moderated by a French journalist who asked John various things -- ranging from how he bottled success after “Saturday Night Fever” and if he knew “Pulp Fiction” would become a hit. On the issue of sexual harassment cases coming up against powerful men in Hollywood and #MeToo, John said, "I honestly don't know a ton about it, because I try my best to keep people equal — men, women, races. My father was brilliant at it. He had a global viewpoint. I'm a citizen of the globe, and I'm a citizen of groups and people." On whether protest as a form of non-conformance works, John said he viewed it as a “last resort” and questioned its usefulness. He said, "Protest is valid. But how do you measure — how do you differentiate the moment where it becomes invalid?" Travolta asked. "It's an art, almost, to say, 'OK, let's protest, but we've achieved that here and these particular rights. Now, let's get smart about how we use that … protest so it doesn't get into an irrational perspective.' If we go back to the humanities of being each other's friends and wanting and caring at a deep level, then we'll make it. But it's a dwindling spiral out there." Cannes saw a major change in the attitude of the celebrities who were spotted on various occasions, discussing the dominant sexual abuse culture. 82 women marched on the festival’s red carpet to highlight the lack of female filmmaker representation over the years and festival director Thierry Frémaux signed a charter pledging the festival would, among other things, take steps toward gender parity on its executive board. The actor added that he thinks a female director has a more "celebratory thing" — championing acting choices, for example, than a male director might. "I don't really make a lot of difference between the sexes," he said. "I don't really even like it, to be honest. I don't like trying to make the sexes so different from each other. I find it kind of inhuman sometimes because we're all in the same boat together."

John Travolta on #MeToo: I honestly don’t know a ton about it

U.S. actress Meghan Markle confirmed on Thursday her father would not be attending her wedding to Britain`s Prince Harry, the grandson of Queen Elizabeth, putting an end to days of speculation.

Markle`s father, Thomas, had been due to walk his daughter down the aisle at the glittering ceremony at St George`s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday.

But the former lighting director for TV soaps and sitcoms gave a series of contradictory statements this week about whether he would be there, with the Los Angeles saying he had undergone heart surgery on Wednesday.

"Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health," Meghan Markle said in a statement.

"I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday."

Saturday`s wedding will be a sumptuous show of British pageantry, likely to attract a huge world audience.

Supporters hope the union of one of the most popular royals and a glamorous American actress, a divorcee with a white father and an African-American mother, will reinvigorate the monarchy.

However, much of the carefully-planned and choreographed build-up to the ceremony has been overshadowed by confusion over whether Markle`s father.

Her mother, Doria Ragland, a yoga instructor and social worker, has arrived in Britain and is due to meet the 92-year-old queen and her husband Prince Philip, 96, on Thursday.

I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health,says Meghan

U.S. actress Meghan Markle confirmed on Thursday her father would not be attending her wedding to Britain`s Prince Harry, the grandson of Queen Elizabeth, putting an end to days of speculation. Markle`s father, Thomas, had been due to walk his daughter down the aisle at the glittering ceremony at St George`s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday. But the former lighting director for TV soaps and sitcoms gave a series of contradictory statements this week about whether he would be there, with the Los Angeles saying he had undergone heart surgery on Wednesday. "Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health," Meghan Markle said in a statement. "I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday." Saturday`s wedding will be a sumptuous show of British pageantry, likely to attract a huge world audience. Supporters hope the union of one of the most popular royals and a glamorous American actress, a divorcee with a white father and an African-American mother, will reinvigorate the monarchy. However, much of the carefully-planned and choreographed build-up to the ceremony has been overshadowed by confusion over whether Markle`s father. Her mother, Doria Ragland, a yoga instructor and social worker, has arrived in Britain and is due to meet the 92-year-old queen and her husband Prince Philip, 96, on Thursday.

Meghan Markle confirms father will not attend her wedding to Prince Harry

Actor Letitia Wright has said she is "down"&nbsp;with an idea of an all-female superhero ensemble film.

The 24-year-old actor, who played the role of Shuri in Marvel's "Black Panther" and "Avengers: Infinity War", said she is ready to team up with other women characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the film.&nbsp;

"Let's just do it! I think if we're going into the next phase of Marvel, we've gotta completely tick that off the list. An all-female Marvel cinematic experience. I'm down for that," told in an interview

Wright also hoped that her character is given more responsibility in future Marvel films instead of just being confined to her laboratory.

"I would like to see (Shuri) venture out (of Wakanda) a little bit more and go on different missions around the world, and hopefully, she can go on those missions with her brother. I'd like to see her have a bit more responsibility in the land as well," Wright said.

"She is a princess and I think in the first film she's kind of like, 'Yeah, I'm a princess ... But I'm in the lab.' But for her to have a bit more responsibility of having a say in what happens in the land as well, and what goes on, that would be cool because it can show a little bit more of maturity for her," she added.

The actor is excited about an female Marvel cinematic experience

Actor Letitia Wright has said she is "down" with an idea of an all-female superhero ensemble film. The 24-year-old actor, who played the role of Shuri in Marvel's "Black Panther" and "Avengers: Infinity War", said she is ready to team up with other women characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the film. "Let's just do it! I think if we're going into the next phase of Marvel, we've gotta completely tick that off the list. An all-female Marvel cinematic experience. I'm down for that," told in an interview Wright also hoped that her character is given more responsibility in future Marvel films instead of just being confined to her laboratory. "I would like to see (Shuri) venture out (of Wakanda) a little bit more and go on different missions around the world, and hopefully, she can go on those missions with her brother. I'd like to see her have a bit more responsibility in the land as well," Wright said. "She is a princess and I think in the first film she's kind of like, 'Yeah, I'm a princess ... But I'm in the lab.' But for her to have a bit more responsibility of having a say in what happens in the land as well, and what goes on, that would be cool because it can show a little bit more of maturity for her," she added.

Letitia Wright is ready for all-female Marvel movie

Actor Kevin Hart is in negotiations to star in the remake of "Uptown Saturday Night".

The 1974 film was directed by Sidney Poitier, who also starred in it along with Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte, and Calvin Lockhart, and followed two friends as they barely navigate the criminal underworld in order to retrieve a winning lottery ticket stolen during a robbery.

Actor Will Smith and his Overbrook Entertainment partner James Lassiter are producing the new film. The most recent draft of the script has been penned by "black-ish" creator Kenya Barris, reported Variety.&nbsp;

Hart was recently seen in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and will next feature in "Night School", which also stars Tiffany Haddish.

Negotiations begin as Kevin Hart wants to finally remake one of his films with the same stars

Actor Kevin Hart is in negotiations to star in the remake of "Uptown Saturday Night". The 1974 film was directed by Sidney Poitier, who also starred in it along with Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte, and Calvin Lockhart, and followed two friends as they barely navigate the criminal underworld in order to retrieve a winning lottery ticket stolen during a robbery. Actor Will Smith and his Overbrook Entertainment partner James Lassiter are producing the new film. The most recent draft of the script has been penned by "black-ish" creator Kenya Barris, reported Variety. Hart was recently seen in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and will next feature in "Night School", which also stars Tiffany Haddish.

Kevin Hart in talks to star in 'Uptown Saturday Night' remake

This sure will give the whole discussion about pay gap more boost. British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who was recently seen in Avengers: Infinity War has said he will not say yes to a film if the makers are not offering equal pay to his female co-stars.&nbsp; 
 
"Equal pay and a place at the table are the central tenets of feminism," Cumberbatch told Radio Times magazine. 
 
"Look at your quotas. Ask what women are being paid, and say: 'If she's not paid the same as the men, I'm not doing it." 
 
The 41-year-old British actor also said he will be using his position in the industry, and his new production company, SunnyMarch, to support more female-focused dramas. 
 
"I'm proud that (partner) Adam (Ackland) and I are the only men in our production company our next project is a female story with a female lens about motherhood, in a time of environmental disaster.&nbsp; 
 
"If it's centred around my name, to get investors, then we can use that attention for a raft of female projects. Half the audience is female!" he said.

This sure will give the whole discussion about pay gap more boost. British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who was recently seen in Avengers: Infinity War has said he will not say yes to a film if the makers are not offering equal pay to his female co-stars. "Equal pay and a place at the table are the central tenets of feminism," Cumberbatch told Radio Times magazine. "Look at your quotas. Ask what women are being paid, and say: 'If she's not paid the same as the men, I'm not doing it." The 41-year-old British actor also said he will be using his position in the industry, and his new production company, SunnyMarch, to support more female-focused dramas. "I'm proud that (partner) Adam (Ackland) and I are the only men in our production company our next project is a female story with a female lens about motherhood, in a time of environmental disaster. "If it's centred around my name, to get investors, then we can use that attention for a raft of female projects. Half the audience is female!" he said.

Benedict Cumberbatch will turn down films if his female co-stars are not paid the same

Fans of high school musical "Grease" are in for a treat if they can make it to the French Riviera this week.

The movie will be screened on the beach on Wednesday to celebrate its 40th anniversary. And fans might get a glimpse of its star, John Travolta, who is back in Cannes promoting his new film, 'Gotti', about a New York gangster.

In 1978, Travolta, already a global sensation thanks to 'Saturday Night Fever', came to the Cannes Film Festival to promote 'Grease', a huge hit that also made him a music star with songs from the soundtrack dominating the charts.

"The mid-point was `Pulp Fiction`, so it was 40 year, 20 year and now today," Travolta reminisced.

"My mother always told me when I was younger: `Don`t rush things, it`s going to go very fast`, and boom, here I am," he told Reuters.

"I`ve lived a long life but it has really gone fast." Cult crime flick 'Pulp Fiction' won Cannes` Palme d`Or top prize in 1994, giving a second wind to Travolta`s career.&nbsp;

In his new film, Travolta plays John Gotti, a gangster boss who died in 2002. Travolta`s wife, Kelly Preston, co-stars as Gotti`s wife and the mother of their son who refuses to follow his father into the mob.

"He is very different from what I am and who I am and how I think and my values," Travolta said of playing the gangster.&nbsp;"It’s a completely different person - that’s something fun to play."

Getting the film made, he said, was far less fun: "The challenges kept on knocking us down – different directors, different casts, different scripts – one was too shoot-`em-up , one was too family," he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"People like challenges and I was willing to stay with it til we saw it through."&nbsp;The Cannes Film Festival runs until May 19.

Fans of high school musical 'Grease' are in for a treat if they can make it to the French Riviera this week.

Fans of high school musical "Grease" are in for a treat if they can make it to the French Riviera this week. The movie will be screened on the beach on Wednesday to celebrate its 40th anniversary. And fans might get a glimpse of its star, John Travolta, who is back in Cannes promoting his new film, 'Gotti', about a New York gangster. In 1978, Travolta, already a global sensation thanks to 'Saturday Night Fever', came to the Cannes Film Festival to promote 'Grease', a huge hit that also made him a music star with songs from the soundtrack dominating the charts. "The mid-point was `Pulp Fiction`, so it was 40 year, 20 year and now today," Travolta reminisced. "My mother always told me when I was younger: `Don`t rush things, it`s going to go very fast`, and boom, here I am," he told Reuters. "I`ve lived a long life but it has really gone fast." Cult crime flick 'Pulp Fiction' won Cannes` Palme d`Or top prize in 1994, giving a second wind to Travolta`s career. In his new film, Travolta plays John Gotti, a gangster boss who died in 2002. Travolta`s wife, Kelly Preston, co-stars as Gotti`s wife and the mother of their son who refuses to follow his father into the mob. "He is very different from what I am and who I am and how I think and my values," Travolta said of playing the gangster. "It’s a completely different person - that’s something fun to play." Getting the film made, he said, was far less fun: "The challenges kept on knocking us down – different directors, different casts, different scripts – one was too shoot-`em-up , one was too family," he said. "People like challenges and I was willing to stay with it til we saw it through." The Cannes Film Festival runs until May 19.

Forty years after 'Grease', John Travolta's back in Cannes

Vir Das is a name synonymous to some of the&nbsp;finest stand-up acts spread across the world. After successfully exploring 'The Boarding World Tour' spanning across 6 continents and more than 26 countries, Vir is back with another pleasant surprise. Vir Das has been signed on by ABC for a new hour-long weekly dramedy series, Whiskey Cavalier which is being produced by Warner Brothers. 
This marks his second venture into American television series space after Theory was announced last year for another network.

On his new show, Vir said, “I had such a good time shooting the pilot. It’s an exciting time to bring Indian voices to American television. This is a comedy team and a cast that is the right mix of laughs and action. I’m looking forward to saving the world with some hilarious people. It was something that the universe sent my way while I was on tour in the US. I ended up meeting the team and we found this character together.”

It will be an hour-long high octane action dramedy following the FBI super agent, Will Chase who has a code name of Whiskey Cavalier. Vir Das will be seen essaying the role as one of the main leads in the series playing the role of Jai Datta. Vir sneakily shot the pilot earlier this year in Prague for three weeks and now the show has been officially been picked up by one of the leading networks in the US, ABC.&nbsp; 
 
Priyanka Chopra was the first one from Bollywood to get into American TV series and was part of one of the series named &nbsp;Quantico which had three series and now has come to an end. Now Its time for Vir Das to showcase his talent in the Hollywood.

Comedian Vir Das has been signed on by ABC for a new hour-long weekly dramedy FBI series "Whiskey Cavalier", produced by Warner Brothers. He feels it's an exciting time to bring Indian voices to American television.

Vir Das is a name synonymous to some of the finest stand-up acts spread across the world. After successfully exploring 'The Boarding World Tour' spanning across 6 continents and more than 26 countries, Vir is back with another pleasant surprise. Vir Das has been signed on by ABC for a new hour-long weekly dramedy series, Whiskey Cavalier which is being produced by Warner Brothers. This marks his second venture into American television series space after Theory was announced last year for another network. On his new show, Vir said, “I had such a good time shooting the pilot. It’s an exciting time to bring Indian voices to American television. This is a comedy team and a cast that is the right mix of laughs and action. I’m looking forward to saving the world with some hilarious people. It was something that the universe sent my way while I was on tour in the US. I ended up meeting the team and we found this character together.” It will be an hour-long high octane action dramedy following the FBI super agent, Will Chase who has a code name of Whiskey Cavalier. Vir Das will be seen essaying the role as one of the main leads in the series playing the role of Jai Datta. Vir sneakily shot the pilot earlier this year in Prague for three weeks and now the show has been officially been picked up by one of the leading networks in the US, ABC. Priyanka Chopra was the first one from Bollywood to get into American TV series and was part of one of the series named Quantico which had three series and now has come to an end. Now Its time for Vir Das to showcase his talent in the Hollywood.

Vir Das to make his entry in American TV Series 'Whiskey Cavalier' as FBI agent

Discussion around&nbsp;pay disparity has been going on in Hollywood for a long time. Some of the most prominent actresses of our times were not paid equal to the male counter parts insome&nbsp;very iconic films.&nbsp;Experts feel that the entertainment industry has a long way to go when it comes to pay disparity. However, that isn`t the case with popularccouple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem as the actress has revealed that the duo received equal paychecks for their new movie `Everybody Knows.` 
 
Cruz discussed her and Bardem`s salary for the movie at its premiere at the 71st Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, reports Variety. 
 
When asked if the couple both received the equal paychecks for their latest movie, Cruz broke out a sly smile and replied: "Actually, yes." 
 
The Oscar-winning actress then spoke about how she works with her real-life partner, who she first collaborated with in 1992 film `Jamon Jamon`."We don`t take the characters home at the end of the day. We have similar ways of work. The fact that we know each other and trust each other helps," Cruz said. 
 
Cruz, 44, admitted that she had a different approach to roles when she was younger."When I was in my 20s, I thought the more I would torture myself and the more I would stay in character for months, the better the result would be. I learned it`s not really related to that. I have a life and I have a job. That allows me to jump from reality to fiction," she said.

Cruz discussed her and Bardem`s salary for the movie at its premiere at the 71st Cannes Film Festival

Discussion around pay disparity has been going on in Hollywood for a long time. Some of the most prominent actresses of our times were not paid equal to the male counter parts insome very iconic films. Experts feel that the entertainment industry has a long way to go when it comes to pay disparity. However, that isn`t the case with popularccouple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem as the actress has revealed that the duo received equal paychecks for their new movie `Everybody Knows.` Cruz discussed her and Bardem`s salary for the movie at its premiere at the 71st Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, reports Variety. When asked if the couple both received the equal paychecks for their latest movie, Cruz broke out a sly smile and replied: "Actually, yes." The Oscar-winning actress then spoke about how she works with her real-life partner, who she first collaborated with in 1992 film `Jamon Jamon`."We don`t take the characters home at the end of the day. We have similar ways of work. The fact that we know each other and trust each other helps," Cruz said. Cruz, 44, admitted that she had a different approach to roles when she was younger."When I was in my 20s, I thought the more I would torture myself and the more I would stay in character for months, the better the result would be. I learned it`s not really related to that. I have a life and I have a job. That allows me to jump from reality to fiction," she said.

Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem got equal paychecks for their new movie together

Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar was in news yesterday as his colleague from the Pakistani music industry, Meesha Shafi <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/entertainment-pakistani-singer-meesha-shafi-accuses-ali-zafar-of-sexual-harassment-says-she-feels-betrayed-by-his-behaviour-131428">accused</a> him of sexual harassment. Ali Zafar has now responded to these allegations and denied all of them.

In his reply to the accusations, Zafar wrote, “I am deeply aware and in support of the global #Metoo movement and what it stands for. I am the father of a young girl and a young boy, a husband to a wife and son to a mother. I am a man that has stood up for myself, my family, my colleagues and friends countless times in the face of slander, defamation and general unkindness. I will do the same today. I have nothing to hide, silence is not an option.”

He added, “I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi. I intend to take this through the courts of law and to address this professionally and seriously rather than to lodge any allegations here, contesting personal vendetta on social media and in turn disrespecting the movement, my family, the industry and fans. Ultimately, I am a strong believer that the truth, always prevails.”

His full post:&nbsp;

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<a href="https://t.co/j1C34onEXC">pic.twitter.com/j1C34onEXC</a>
— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) <a href="https://twitter.com/AliZafarsays/status/986969628869046272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Shafi, had on Thursday, claimed that Zafar had harassed her on several occasions. She wrote a long post on Twitter explaining how difficult it was for her to open up and speak about this. She mentioned that she did not believe it when it happened to her as they have both shared the stage on several occasions.

She wrote: “Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo.”

She said, “I have been subjected to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young or just entering the industry. This happened to be despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.”

This comes at a time when the entire Hollywood industry came together to support <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/golden-globes-2018-updates-dressed-in-black-hollywood-stars-have-a-message-28820">#MeToo</a> and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-times-up-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-anniston-meryl-streep-and-others-join-hands-to-fight-against-sexual-harassment-28305">Time's Up</a> campaign that started to aid victims of abuse, sexual harassment and rape. Last year opened a can of worms for many producers, actors and other staff of Hollywood who was accused by their peers and subordinates of sexual assault and harassment. The biggest case was that of Harvey Weinstein who was accused by more than 80 women of harassing them over a period of time.&nbsp;

Meesha Shafi, a Pakistani singer accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment in a tweet on Thursday

Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar was in news yesterday as his colleague from the Pakistani music industry, Meesha Shafi accused him of sexual harassment. Ali Zafar has now responded to these allegations and denied all of them. In his reply to the accusations, Zafar wrote, “I am deeply aware and in support of the global #Metoo movement and what it stands for. I am the father of a young girl and a young boy, a husband to a wife and son to a mother. I am a man that has stood up for myself, my family, my colleagues and friends countless times in the face of slander, defamation and general unkindness. I will do the same today. I have nothing to hide, silence is not an option.” He added, “I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi. I intend to take this through the courts of law and to address this professionally and seriously rather than to lodge any allegations here, contesting personal vendetta on social media and in turn disrespecting the movement, my family, the industry and fans. Ultimately, I am a strong believer that the truth, always prevails.” His full post: pic.twitter.com/j1C34onEXC — Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) April 19, 2018 × Shafi, had on Thursday, claimed that Zafar had harassed her on several occasions. She wrote a long post on Twitter explaining how difficult it was for her to open up and speak about this. She mentioned that she did not believe it when it happened to her as they have both shared the stage on several occasions. She wrote: “Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo.” She said, “I have been subjected to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young or just entering the industry. This happened to be despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.” This comes at a time when the entire Hollywood industry came together to support #MeToo and Time's Up campaign that started to aid victims of abuse, sexual harassment and rape. Last year opened a can of worms for many producers, actors and other staff of Hollywood who was accused by their peers and subordinates of sexual assault and harassment. The biggest case was that of Harvey Weinstein who was accused by more than 80 women of harassing them over a period of time.

Pakistani singer Ali Zafar denies sexual harassment allegations, says 'have nothing to hide'

Turner Classic Movies has selected Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio to present ace filmmaker Martin Scorsese with the inaugural Robert Osborne Award as part of the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival’s opening.

DiCaprio has worked with Scorsese in five of his films, starting off with 2002’s “Gangs of New York” and most recently in 2013, “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

DiCaprio will present the Robert Osborne Award on April 26 in Los Angeles to the filmmaker for his decades-long commitment to the legacy and preservation of classic films.

For those who are unaware, Scorsese established the Film Foundation in 1990, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history. The foundation has funded the restoration of over 800 films till date and its World Cinema Project has restored 31 films from 21 countries worldwide.&nbsp;

The Robert Osborne Award will be given out annually at the TCM Classic Film Festival to a recipient whose work has helped keep the cultural heritage of classic films alive.

In another update, DiCaprio and Scorsese have started work on their<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/leonardo-dicaprio-to-play-theodore-roosevelt-in-martin-scorseses-next-20798"> next film together, announced in 2017</a>. In the film, DiCaprio will be essaying the role of former US President Theodore Roosevelt who amongst other things, is famous for carrying out the conservation and preservation of national parks in the States.&nbsp;

The actor-director duo is currently working on a project that will have Leonardo playing former US president Theodore Roosevelt whose efforts to conserve and preserve the country's national parks are considered some of his greatest achievements.

Turner Classic Movies has selected Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio to present ace filmmaker Martin Scorsese with the inaugural Robert Osborne Award as part of the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival’s opening. DiCaprio has worked with Scorsese in five of his films, starting off with 2002’s “Gangs of New York” and most recently in 2013, “The Wolf of Wall Street.” DiCaprio will present the Robert Osborne Award on April 26 in Los Angeles to the filmmaker for his decades-long commitment to the legacy and preservation of classic films. For those who are unaware, Scorsese established the Film Foundation in 1990, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history. The foundation has funded the restoration of over 800 films till date and its World Cinema Project has restored 31 films from 21 countries worldwide. The Robert Osborne Award will be given out annually at the TCM Classic Film Festival to a recipient whose work has helped keep the cultural heritage of classic films alive. In another update, DiCaprio and Scorsese have started work on their next film together, announced in 2017. In the film, DiCaprio will be essaying the role of former US President Theodore Roosevelt who amongst other things, is famous for carrying out the conservation and preservation of national parks in the States.

Leonardo DiCaprio to present ace filmmaker Martin Scorsese with Robert Osborne Award

A new, probably final trailer for upcoming <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/star-wars-the-last-jedi-tops-1-billion-worldwide-28220">Star Wars</a> movie is out and you must watch it.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-new-star-wars-films-on-way-from-tvs-game-of-thrones-creators-32074">Also Read:&nbsp;New 'Star Wars' films on way from TV's 'Game of Thrones' creators</a>

As the date of the movie release comes closer, the trailer release seems a bit late for fans. This happened as there was a director swap last year when Ron Howard took over the reigns in June last year after the film was almost four months into production.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-aamir-khans-secret-superstar-soars-in-china-beats-star-wars-the-last-jedi-at-the-box-office-31081">Also Read:&nbsp;Aamir Khan's 'Secret Superstar' soars in China, beats 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' at the box office</a>

The previous directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (who also directed films like The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and 21 Jump Street) were taken off the project.&nbsp;

Watch the trailer here:&nbsp;

 
<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jPEYpryMp2s" width="970"></iframe>&nbsp;

A new, probably final trailer for upcoming Star Wars movie is out and you must watch it. Also Read: New 'Star Wars' films on way from TV's 'Game of Thrones' creators As the date of the movie release comes closer, the trailer release seems a bit late for fans. This happened as there was a director swap last year when Ron Howard took over the reigns in June last year after the film was almost four months into production. Also Read: Aamir Khan's 'Secret Superstar' soars in China, beats 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' at the box office The previous directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (who also directed films like The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and 21 Jump Street) were taken off the project. Watch the trailer here:

Watch the latest trailer for ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

The forever-witty celebrity couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, known to take a jibe at each other on social media&nbsp;are back at it again.&nbsp;

In another classic case of trolling the husband, Blake Lively posted a sweet photo of her husband who longingly looks at her smiling ear to ear with a caption: "If there’s one thing I’m infinitely proud of in this picture, it’s the incredible hair styling that I did on myself."

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BhUaDarAyzU/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">If there’s one thing I’m infinitely proud of in this picture, it’s the incredible hair styling that I did on myself.</a>

<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 post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blakelively/" style=" color:#c9c8cd font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px" target="_blank"> Blake Lively</a> (@blakelively) on <time datetime="2018-04-08T18:04:43+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px line-height:17px">Apr 8, 2018 at 11:04am PDT</time>
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But did you think that the Deadpool actor would let it go so easily? Ryan responded on the photo and wrote: "I was so happy back then."

This, in the wake of breakup rumours floating in public as the couple, is said to have a problem spending quality time together. Last week addressing this issue, Ryan playing it Mr cool as always, tweeted: "I wish. I could use a little 'me time.'"

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I wish. I could use a little “me time”. <a href="https://t.co/S6kXFsWaMe">https://t.co/S6kXFsWaMe</a>
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) <a href="https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/980106135226212353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have been married since 2012 and are parents to two kids. Joking around and trolling one another, the two were seen with their guards down when photographed for the 'Humans of New York'&nbsp;Instagram account.&nbsp;

Talking about Blake, Ryan said,"She always responds with empathy. She meets anger with empathy. She meets hate with empathy. She'll take the time to imagine what happened to a person when they were five or six years old. And she's made me a more empathetic person. I had a very fractured relationship with my father. Before he died, she made me remember things I didn't want to remember. She made me remember the good times."

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTkliFqATKt/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">“She always responds with empathy. She meets anger with empathy. She meets hate with empathy. She’ll take the time to imagine what happened to a person when they were five or six years old. And she’s made me a more empathetic person. I had a very fractured relationship with my father. Before he died, she made me remember things I didn’t want to remember. She made me remember the good times.”</a>

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The two are known to have fun at each other's expense on social media

The forever-witty celebrity couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, known to take a jibe at each other on social media are back at it again. In another classic case of trolling the husband, Blake Lively posted a sweet photo of her husband who longingly looks at her smiling ear to ear with a caption: "If there’s one thing I’m infinitely proud of in this picture, it’s the incredible hair styling that I did on myself." If there’s one thing I’m infinitely proud of in this picture, it’s the incredible hair styling that I did on myself. A post shared by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on Apr 8, 2018 at 11:04am PDT × But did you think that the Deadpool actor would let it go so easily? Ryan responded on the photo and wrote: "I was so happy back then." This, in the wake of breakup rumours floating in public as the couple, is said to have a problem spending quality time together. Last week addressing this issue, Ryan playing it Mr cool as always, tweeted: "I wish. I could use a little 'me time.'" I wish. I could use a little “me time”. https://t.co/S6kXFsWaMe — Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) March 31, 2018 × Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have been married since 2012 and are parents to two kids. Joking around and trolling one another, the two were seen with their guards down when photographed for the 'Humans of New York' Instagram account. Talking about Blake, Ryan said,"She always responds with empathy. She meets anger with empathy. She meets hate with empathy. She'll take the time to imagine what happened to a person when they were five or six years old. And she's made me a more empathetic person. I had a very fractured relationship with my father. Before he died, she made me remember things I didn't want to remember. She made me remember the good times." “She always responds with empathy. She meets anger with empathy. She meets hate with empathy. She’ll take the time to imagine what happened to a person when they were five or six years old. And she’s made me a more empathetic person. I had a very fractured relationship with my father. Before he died, she made me remember things I didn’t want to remember. She made me remember the good times.” A post shared by Humans of New York (@humansofny) on May 1, 2017 at 6:33pm PDT ×

Blake Lively makes fun of husband Ryan Reynolds, yet again!

Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli who is most famous for having directed “Grave of the Fireflies,” “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” and other animated features, died Thursday in a Tokyo hospital aged 82.

As reported by local media sources, filmmaker Takahata had been in declining health since last summer owing to a weakened heart.

Takahata made his feature debut as a director with the 1968 “Horus: Prince of the Sun.” He gained fame with TV serial “Heidi, Girl of the Alps,” a 1974 series based on the classic novel that he directed for Nippon Animation.

Takahata after having ventured into television co-founded Studio Ghibli with Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki. His first film for the studio, “Grave of the Fireflies,” was released together with Miyazaki’s “My Neighbor Totoro” in 1988. The two films did modest business but later grew in popularity.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

His health had declined since last summer owing to a weak heart.

Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli who is most famous for having directed “Grave of the Fireflies,” “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” and other animated features, died Thursday in a Tokyo hospital aged 82. As reported by local media sources, filmmaker Takahata had been in declining health since last summer owing to a weakened heart. Takahata made his feature debut as a director with the 1968 “Horus: Prince of the Sun.” He gained fame with TV serial “Heidi, Girl of the Alps,” a 1974 series based on the classic novel that he directed for Nippon Animation. Takahata after having ventured into television co-founded Studio Ghibli with Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki. His first film for the studio, “Grave of the Fireflies,” was released together with Miyazaki’s “My Neighbor Totoro” in 1988. The two films did modest business but later grew in popularity.

'Grave of the Fireflies' director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Isao Takahata dies at 82

Prominent Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz has made an announcement lately that she has retired from acting, thus putting an end to her cinematic career.

Diaz recently reunited with her co-stars Selma Blair and Christina Applegate of the 2002 American comedy "The Sweetest Thing" for an interview with Entertainment Weekly to reminisce about the film, reported CNN.

The topic of the trio having not reunited was brought up, when Diaz said, "Maybe I should, you know, I mean, I'm down. I'm literally doing nothing."

After Applegate said she was semi-retired from acting to raise her children, Diaz responded, "I'm semi-retired, too, and I am actually retired, so I would love to see you ladies."

Diaz last appeared in the 2014 remake of musical "Annie," in which she starred alongside Jamie Foxx.

Her big break arrived in 1994 with Jim Carrey film The Mask.Diaz has starred in a number of hit films, from "There's Something About Mary" to "Charlie`s Angels" to "My Sister's Keeper" to "Shrek."

Diaz last appeared in the 2014 remake of musical 'Annie,' in which she starred alongside Jamie Foxx

Prominent Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz has made an announcement lately that she has retired from acting, thus putting an end to her cinematic career. Diaz recently reunited with her co-stars Selma Blair and Christina Applegate of the 2002 American comedy "The Sweetest Thing" for an interview with Entertainment Weekly to reminisce about the film, reported CNN. The topic of the trio having not reunited was brought up, when Diaz said, "Maybe I should, you know, I mean, I'm down. I'm literally doing nothing." After Applegate said she was semi-retired from acting to raise her children, Diaz responded, "I'm semi-retired, too, and I am actually retired, so I would love to see you ladies." Diaz last appeared in the 2014 remake of musical "Annie," in which she starred alongside Jamie Foxx. Her big break arrived in 1994 with Jim Carrey film The Mask.Diaz has starred in a number of hit films, from "There's Something About Mary" to "Charlie`s Angels" to "My Sister's Keeper" to "Shrek."

Cameron Diaz calls it quits, confirms retirement

Christopher Nolan has recently watched legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" and the ace Hollywood director says he is willing to learn more about Indian cinema.

The 47-year-old director, who is in India on a three day trip along with visual artist&nbsp;Tacita Dean to promote the cause of film preservation and restoration, said his aim during his stay is to meet Indian filmmakers and get the better understanding of cinema culture here.

"I have had the pleasure of watching Mr Ray's 'Pather Panchali' recently, which I hadn't seen before. I think it is one of the best films ever made. It is an extraordinary piece of work. I am interested in learning more about Indian film industry and that is the reason why I came.

"Obviously, Tacita and I want to spread our message about reframing the feature films as broadly as possible. And India being the largest film industry in the world is an essential part of that. The other reason why I wanted to come here was from selfish point of view. I wanted to meet Indian filmmakers and learn more about India. I am looking forward to watching more Indian films in future," Nolan said in a group interview.

The director filmed a pivotal sequence of his 2012 film "The Dark Knight Rises" in Jodhpur and he says, "I would love to come back to shoot for longer".

Nolan, who shot his latest release "Dunkirk" on 65mm stock and has been vocal about his fondness for the film as a medium, said it is important to preserve the traditional format for future generation.

"The film culture is always developing in ways we can't predict. The importance of this discussion about films is about preserving it as an option for future filmmakers. We can't say who is going to use or who is not. But one of the things worth pointing out that films as an acquisition medium is still vastly superior to digital imaging technology. Even if you then put out a DCP (Digital Cinema Package)," he said.

The "Inception" helmer met members of the Indian film fraternity today and discussed the various ways of preserving and archiving film as a medium.

Nolan said, "Photochemicals films are a very important cultural medium and it needs to have a place in the future of imaging."

The director believes filmmaking is an emotional process and as he works towards preserving films, he wants people to not analyse cinema on "logical terms".

"Film is a wonderful analogy for how we perceive the world and our dreams. Film is a tool for exploring time and that has always influenced me. It is about the subconscious and the emotional reaction.

"With this conversation of reframing the future of films (we are) trying to get rid of this idea of analysing the film in purely engineering terms or logical terms. The reality is no cinema should be analysed that way. Be it casting or music, these are all emotional decision and they should be that way," he said.

Christopher Nolan has recently watched legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray's 'Pather Panchali' and the ace Hollywood director says he is willing to learn more about Indian cinema

Christopher Nolan has recently watched legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" and the ace Hollywood director says he is willing to learn more about Indian cinema. The 47-year-old director, who is in India on a three day trip along with visual artist Tacita Dean to promote the cause of film preservation and restoration, said his aim during his stay is to meet Indian filmmakers and get the better understanding of cinema culture here. "I have had the pleasure of watching Mr Ray's 'Pather Panchali' recently, which I hadn't seen before. I think it is one of the best films ever made. It is an extraordinary piece of work. I am interested in learning more about Indian film industry and that is the reason why I came. "Obviously, Tacita and I want to spread our message about reframing the feature films as broadly as possible. And India being the largest film industry in the world is an essential part of that. The other reason why I wanted to come here was from selfish point of view. I wanted to meet Indian filmmakers and learn more about India. I am looking forward to watching more Indian films in future," Nolan said in a group interview. The director filmed a pivotal sequence of his 2012 film "The Dark Knight Rises" in Jodhpur and he says, "I would love to come back to shoot for longer". Nolan, who shot his latest release "Dunkirk" on 65mm stock and has been vocal about his fondness for the film as a medium, said it is important to preserve the traditional format for future generation. "The film culture is always developing in ways we can't predict. The importance of this discussion about films is about preserving it as an option for future filmmakers. We can't say who is going to use or who is not. But one of the things worth pointing out that films as an acquisition medium is still vastly superior to digital imaging technology. Even if you then put out a DCP (Digital Cinema Package)," he said. The "Inception" helmer met members of the Indian film fraternity today and discussed the various ways of preserving and archiving film as a medium. Nolan said, "Photochemicals films are a very important cultural medium and it needs to have a place in the future of imaging." The director believes filmmaking is an emotional process and as he works towards preserving films, he wants people to not analyse cinema on "logical terms". "Film is a wonderful analogy for how we perceive the world and our dreams. Film is a tool for exploring time and that has always influenced me. It is about the subconscious and the emotional reaction. "With this conversation of reframing the future of films (we are) trying to get rid of this idea of analysing the film in purely engineering terms or logical terms. The reality is no cinema should be analysed that way. Be it casting or music, these are all emotional decision and they should be that way," he said.

I am interested in learning more about Indian film industry: Christopher Nolan

By&nbsp;Alease A. Brown*

Black Panther director/co-writer Ryan Coogler has given black people throughout the world an imagined Africa that has been wholeheartedly embraced, earning over USD$1 billion dollars globally so far. This embrace is due, primarily, to the presentation of so many beautiful, black bodies onscreen, including an extravagant representation of fierce, and fashionable, black women.

Also appealing is the portrayal of an Africa of independent authority, spiritual alertness, respect and veneration of ancestors and relationship with animals and plants. This is a portrayal of Africa that is hungered for, especially by ancestrally orphaned African Americans. It is deeply satisfying to view.

But at the same time, it raises questions alert black viewers would be doing themselves a disservice to avoid posing.

Black Panther appears within a broad Hollywood tradition, with over 100 years of history, that portrays Africa as wild, weirdly exotic, and mysterious, and Africans as tribal savages, backwards and subordinate. The framing of Africa and Africans in this way has served to provide the world, including Africans themselves, with a perception of Africa and African people that justified the “saving” and “civilising” mission of Westerners who desired to maintain a colonising influence over the continent.

Hollywood’s history of racism triggers the question, why was the first black superhero identified as an African and a quasi-animal? When the original Black Panther comic appeared in the sixties, featuring a black person who was not inferiorised was groundbreaking.

However, creating an African black panther was unusual. Unusual because it was the Black Panther alone who was not American, and who was instead assigned an African identity. And also unusual because the sixties Marvel universe of superheroes consisted of human-modified characters – Hulk, Iron Man, Thor – and insect characters – Ant Man, Wasp and Spider Man – but not animal characters, other than Black Panther.

Almost 20 years ago philosopher Achille Mbembe astutely commented on this troubling and recurring phenomenon. He wrote, in On the Postcolony,

discourse on Africa is almost always deployed in the framework (or on the fringes) of a meta-text about the animal — to be exact, about the beast: its experience, its world, and its spectacle.

Whether well-intentioned or malicious, the imagination that intertwines the African and the beast has become so commonplace in our minds that it’s hardly questioned. However, when white supremacy is again being boldly asserted in the world, people of African descent who have historically been dehumanised and relegated to the status of animal, must question this association. Especially instances, as in Black Panther, when the association of the African and the howling gorilla is made so explicitly.&nbsp;

The not so super superhero

It’s also noteworthy that the first black man superhero was curiously un-superhero like. The character T'Challa did not possess the scientific brilliance of Tony Stark, who is Ironman‘s genius creator and alter ego. T'Challa’s essence was not transformed at the genetic level such that his body, his selfness, became superhuman and superpowerful, like Bruce Banner’s does when he is transformed into the Hulk. T'Challa was not born a god, like blue-eyed, blonde-haired Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder who wields an enchanted hammer that enables him to fly.

Despite T'Challa’s imbibing of the purple flower potion, viewers never witnessed his transformation from human to superhero. He only dons a powerful suit. Why was Black Panther not written in such a way as to imbue a black man with true superhero dynamism?

Then there are the villains. In Hollywood, there are certain villains that must always be villains, such as Nazis. Then there are heroes, such as white men, who must always be depicted as, in some way, heroic.

The story of Western neo-imperialist resource extraction from Africa is well known. However, in Black Panther, the CIA, who is often the true enemy of Africa, has been transformed into the imaginary state of Wakanda’s friend. It is Africans themselves who are depicted as those who hoard mineral wealth to the detriment of the world.

Why in a film about the Black Panther, who is a black African man, must an actual enemy of African life, go unnamed and an alternate enemy, Killmonger, be manufactured?

Does T'Challa not encounter disrespect on European streets, or suspicion on entering high-end shops, or threats from police on US soil like his black brethren? If he does, then why must there be the creation of hostilities between Pan Africans, when their real-life interests against regime changing global capital and white supremacy are aligned?

Trojan Horse

In other words, Hollywood will allow the world of the Black Panther to be black, only if that world defers to white fragility and does not hurt white people’s feelings. Blackness is allowed only if that blackness likes and supports the values that white people like and support. And only to the extent that black people, though they look good, also exhibit deep cultural flaws.

Why are global audiences led to associate the power and strength of black men with black-on-black hostility and violence? Why must there be the implicit suggestion to audiences that African governance inexorably leads to African tribal warfare?

Philosopher Frantz Fanon wrote a generation ago that black people must not only be black, but that they “must be black in relation to the white man”. This necessity of avoiding global black reality, in deference to white sensibilities, is the film’s super problem.

Hollywood has historically adhered to a racist narrative that portrays black people as inferior. Black people dare not believe that they are being presented with a film that proves that Hollywood now, suddenly, holds them in high esteem. Though the Black Panther film is sumptuous, it is a Trojan Horse. Black people must be careful lest black joy at the gift of the film, blinds to the destructive ideologies embedded within it.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

*Alease A. Brown is a Ph.D Candidate at Stellenbosch University, Southern Africa.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

People of African descent who have historically been dehumanised and relegated to the status of animal, must question the instance as in Black Panther, when the association of the African and the howling gorilla is made so explicitly

By Alease A. Brown* Black Panther director/co-writer Ryan Coogler has given black people throughout the world an imagined Africa that has been wholeheartedly embraced, earning over USD$1 billion dollars globally so far. This embrace is due, primarily, to the presentation of so many beautiful, black bodies onscreen, including an extravagant representation of fierce, and fashionable, black women. Also appealing is the portrayal of an Africa of independent authority, spiritual alertness, respect and veneration of ancestors and relationship with animals and plants. This is a portrayal of Africa that is hungered for, especially by ancestrally orphaned African Americans. It is deeply satisfying to view. But at the same time, it raises questions alert black viewers would be doing themselves a disservice to avoid posing. Black Panther appears within a broad Hollywood tradition, with over 100 years of history, that portrays Africa as wild, weirdly exotic, and mysterious, and Africans as tribal savages, backwards and subordinate. The framing of Africa and Africans in this way has served to provide the world, including Africans themselves, with a perception of Africa and African people that justified the “saving” and “civilising” mission of Westerners who desired to maintain a colonising influence over the continent. Hollywood’s history of racism triggers the question, why was the first black superhero identified as an African and a quasi-animal? When the original Black Panther comic appeared in the sixties, featuring a black person who was not inferiorised was groundbreaking. However, creating an African black panther was unusual. Unusual because it was the Black Panther alone who was not American, and who was instead assigned an African identity. And also unusual because the sixties Marvel universe of superheroes consisted of human-modified characters – Hulk, Iron Man, Thor – and insect characters – Ant Man, Wasp and Spider Man – but not animal characters, other than Black Panther. Almost 20 years ago philosopher Achille Mbembe astutely commented on this troubling and recurring phenomenon. He wrote, in On the Postcolony, discourse on Africa is almost always deployed in the framework (or on the fringes) of a meta-text about the animal — to be exact, about the beast: its experience, its world, and its spectacle. Whether well-intentioned or malicious, the imagination that intertwines the African and the beast has become so commonplace in our minds that it’s hardly questioned. However, when white supremacy is again being boldly asserted in the world, people of African descent who have historically been dehumanised and relegated to the status of animal, must question this association. Especially instances, as in Black Panther, when the association of the African and the howling gorilla is made so explicitly. The not so super superhero It’s also noteworthy that the first black man superhero was curiously un-superhero like. The character T'Challa did not possess the scientific brilliance of Tony Stark, who is Ironman‘s genius creator and alter ego. T'Challa’s essence was not transformed at the genetic level such that his body, his selfness, became superhuman and superpowerful, like Bruce Banner’s does when he is transformed into the Hulk. T'Challa was not born a god, like blue-eyed, blonde-haired Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder who wields an enchanted hammer that enables him to fly. Despite T'Challa’s imbibing of the purple flower potion, viewers never witnessed his transformation from human to superhero. He only dons a powerful suit. Why was Black Panther not written in such a way as to imbue a black man with true superhero dynamism? Then there are the villains. In Hollywood, there are certain villains that must always be villains, such as Nazis. Then there are heroes, such as white men, who must always be depicted as, in some way, heroic. The story of Western neo-imperialist resource extraction from Africa is well known. However, in Black Panther, the CIA, who is often the true enemy of Africa, has been transformed into the imaginary state of Wakanda’s friend. It is Africans themselves who are depicted as those who hoard mineral wealth to the detriment of the world. Why in a film about the Black Panther, who is a black African man, must an actual enemy of African life, go unnamed and an alternate enemy, Killmonger, be manufactured? Does T'Challa not encounter disrespect on European streets, or suspicion on entering high-end shops, or threats from police on US soil like his black brethren? If he does, then why must there be the creation of hostilities between Pan Africans, when their real-life interests against regime changing global capital and white supremacy are aligned? Trojan Horse In other words, Hollywood will allow the world of the Black Panther to be black, only if that world defers to white fragility and does not hurt white people’s feelings. Blackness is allowed only if that blackness likes and supports the values that white people like and support. And only to the extent that black people, though they look good, also exhibit deep cultural flaws. Why are global audiences led to associate the power and strength of black men with black-on-black hostility and violence? Why must there be the implicit suggestion to audiences that African governance inexorably leads to African tribal warfare? Philosopher Frantz Fanon wrote a generation ago that black people must not only be black, but that they “must be black in relation to the white man”. This necessity of avoiding global black reality, in deference to white sensibilities, is the film’s super problem. Hollywood has historically adhered to a racist narrative that portrays black people as inferior. Black people dare not believe that they are being presented with a film that proves that Hollywood now, suddenly, holds them in high esteem. Though the Black Panther film is sumptuous, it is a Trojan Horse. Black people must be careful lest black joy at the gift of the film, blinds to the destructive ideologies embedded within it. *Alease A. Brown is a Ph.D Candidate at Stellenbosch University, Southern Africa. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Don't let Black Panther joy mask Hollywood's racism

After weeks of speculating which film could slow Black Panther`s impressive roll, Pacific Rim Uprising took the top spot at the domestic box office. 
 
Universal and Legendary`s Pacific Rim Uprising landed a respectable $28 million opening weekend at 3,708 locations. The monster battle movie has garnered mixed critical response, with a current 46 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Though it opened with a softer debut than Guillermo del Toro`s predecessor Pacific Rim, which saw $37 million in July 2013, the sequel was enough to dethrone Black Panther in the superhero tentpole`s sixth weekend. 
 
Steven S. DeKnight co-wrote and directed Pacific Rim Uprising&nbspwith a reported $150 million budget. The original, which starred Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Charlie Hunnam, and Robert Kazinsky, went on to gross $411 million at the worldwide box office, thanks to a strong international showing, especially in China, where it made $112 million compared to the U.S.` $101.8 million. 
 
The sequel is set 10 years after the Battle of the Breach with a new generation of Jaeger pilots ready to combat the evolving Kaiju monsters and prevent humanity`s extinction. John Boyega plays Jake Pentecost, the son of Elba`s character Stacker Pentecost, who sacrificed his life in the first film. Scott Eastwood, Jing Tian, Cailee Spaeny, Kikuchi, Burn Gorman, Adria Arjona, and Day also star. 
Still, in its sixth weekend, Black Panther&nbspcontinues to be a powerhouse, nabbing the No. 2 spot with $17 million at 3,370 sites. That number lands Black Panther&nbspone of the seven highest sixth weekends in history. To date, the Marvel film has taken in $631 million, making it the fifth-highest all-time domestic grosses ahead of The Avengers. 
 
"It had to happen at some point, and Universal`s Pacific Rim Uprising&nbspnow holds the distinction of being the film that took over `Black Panther`s` long-standing position as king of the weekend box office mountain," Paul Dergarabedian, a box office analyst at comScore, said. "The latest Disney superhero film has been an absolute marvel, holding onto the top spot for a whopping five weeks, while sprinting its way up the all-time charts and now stands as the fifth highest grossing film of all-time in North America and ranks twelfth globally after just 38 days in theatres. 
 
Meanwhile, Roadside Attraction and Lionsgate`s faith-based I Can Only Imagine&nbspremains a force in its second weekend with $13 million from 2,253 sites. Based on the story behind the best-selling Christian song, "I Can Only Imagine" earned a surprisingly strong $17.1 million at the domestic box office, bringing its total up to $38 million. 
 
Following I Can Only Imagine`s&nbspsuccess, biblical drama Paul, Apostle of Christ&nbspopened in line with estimates with $5 million at 1,473 sites over Palm Sunday weekend. The story follows James Faulkner as Saint Paul in his last days awaiting execution by Emperor Nero in Rome. Directed by Andrew Hyatt, the film also stars Jim Caviezel, Olivier Martinez, Joanne Whalley, and John Lynch.

Also opening this weekend was Paramount Pictures and MGM`s animated comedy Sherlock Gnomes,&nbspwhich saw $10 million at 3,662 locations. That`s significantly lower than initial tracking estimates between $13 million to $18 million. The sequel to 2011`s Gnomeo & Juliet,&nbspwhich reeled in $194 million worldwide, sees the petite pair recruiting detective Sherlock Gnomes and his sidekick, Gnome Watson, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of other garden gnomes. Directed by John Stevenson and executive produced by Elton John, it features the voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mary J. Blige, and Johnny Depp. 
 
The second weekend of Alicia Vikander`s Tomb Raider landed $10 million from 3,854 locations, bringing its grosses up to $41 million, while the second weekend of Love, Simon&nbsptook in $7 million with $23 million to date. 
 
Two smaller releases -- Global Road Entertainment`s Midnight Sun&nbspand Bleecker Street and Fingerprint Releasing`s Unsane&nbsp-- debuted with $4 million and $3.6 million respectively. 
 
Young adult romantic drama Midnight Sun&nbspstars Bella Thorne as a teen who has been sheltered at home since childhood due to a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight. Steven Soderbergh`s psychological thriller "Unsane" sees Claire Foy as a troubled woman stalked by her ex. Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah, Juno Temple, Aimee Mullins, and Amy Irving round out the cast. 
 
Rounding out the weekend, Wes Anderson`s Isle of Dogs&nbspopened with $1.5 million in limited release, with a screen average of over $58 thousand in 27 theatres. The stop-motion animated film boasts a star-studded ensemble voice cast that includes Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, and Bob Balaban. Set in a dystopian futuristic Japan, dogs have been quarantined on a remote island due to a canine flu. A boy, Atari, ventures to the island to find his dog, Spots.

Black Panther's dream run at the Box Office has finally been disrupted.

After weeks of speculating which film could slow Black Panther`s impressive roll, Pacific Rim Uprising took the top spot at the domestic box office. Universal and Legendary`s Pacific Rim Uprising landed a respectable $28 million opening weekend at 3,708 locations. The monster battle movie has garnered mixed critical response, with a current 46 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Though it opened with a softer debut than Guillermo del Toro`s predecessor Pacific Rim, which saw $37 million in July 2013, the sequel was enough to dethrone Black Panther in the superhero tentpole`s sixth weekend. Steven S. DeKnight co-wrote and directed Pacific Rim Uprising&nbspwith a reported $150 million budget. The original, which starred Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Charlie Hunnam, and Robert Kazinsky, went on to gross $411 million at the worldwide box office, thanks to a strong international showing, especially in China, where it made $112 million compared to the U.S.` $101.8 million. The sequel is set 10 years after the Battle of the Breach with a new generation of Jaeger pilots ready to combat the evolving Kaiju monsters and prevent humanity`s extinction. John Boyega plays Jake Pentecost, the son of Elba`s character Stacker Pentecost, who sacrificed his life in the first film. Scott Eastwood, Jing Tian, Cailee Spaeny, Kikuchi, Burn Gorman, Adria Arjona, and Day also star. Still, in its sixth weekend, Black Panther&nbspcontinues to be a powerhouse, nabbing the No. 2 spot with $17 million at 3,370 sites. That number lands Black Panther&nbspone of the seven highest sixth weekends in history. To date, the Marvel film has taken in $631 million, making it the fifth-highest all-time domestic grosses ahead of The Avengers. "It had to happen at some point, and Universal`s Pacific Rim Uprising now holds the distinction of being the film that took over `Black Panther`s` long-standing position as king of the weekend box office mountain," Paul Dergarabedian, a box office analyst at comScore, said. "The latest Disney superhero film has been an absolute marvel, holding onto the top spot for a whopping five weeks, while sprinting its way up the all-time charts and now stands as the fifth highest grossing film of all-time in North America and ranks twelfth globally after just 38 days in theatres. Meanwhile, Roadside Attraction and Lionsgate`s faith-based I Can Only Imagine&nbspremains a force in its second weekend with $13 million from 2,253 sites. Based on the story behind the best-selling Christian song, "I Can Only Imagine" earned a surprisingly strong $17.1 million at the domestic box office, bringing its total up to $38 million. Following I Can Only Imagine`s&nbspsuccess, biblical drama Paul, Apostle of Christ&nbspopened in line with estimates with $5 million at 1,473 sites over Palm Sunday weekend. The story follows James Faulkner as Saint Paul in his last days awaiting execution by Emperor Nero in Rome. Directed by Andrew Hyatt, the film also stars Jim Caviezel, Olivier Martinez, Joanne Whalley, and John Lynch. Also opening this weekend was Paramount Pictures and MGM`s animated comedy Sherlock Gnomes,&nbspwhich saw $10 million at 3,662 locations. That`s significantly lower than initial tracking estimates between $13 million to $18 million. The sequel to 2011`s Gnomeo & Juliet,&nbspwhich reeled in $194 million worldwide, sees the petite pair recruiting detective Sherlock Gnomes and his sidekick, Gnome Watson, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of other garden gnomes. Directed by John Stevenson and executive produced by Elton John, it features the voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mary J. Blige, and Johnny Depp. The second weekend of Alicia Vikander`s Tomb Raider landed $10 million from 3,854 locations, bringing its grosses up to $41 million, while the second weekend of Love, Simon&nbsptook in $7 million with $23 million to date. Two smaller releases -- Global Road Entertainment`s Midnight Sun&nbspand Bleecker Street and Fingerprint Releasing`s Unsane -- debuted with $4 million and $3.6 million respectively. Young adult romantic drama Midnight Sun&nbspstars Bella Thorne as a teen who has been sheltered at home since childhood due to a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight. Steven Soderbergh`s psychological thriller "Unsane" sees Claire Foy as a troubled woman stalked by her ex. Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah, Juno Temple, Aimee Mullins, and Amy Irving round out the cast. Rounding out the weekend, Wes Anderson`s Isle of Dogs&nbspopened with $1.5 million in limited release, with a screen average of over $58 thousand in 27 theatres. The stop-motion animated film boasts a star-studded ensemble voice cast that includes Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, and Bob Balaban. Set in a dystopian futuristic Japan, dogs have been quarantined on a remote island due to a canine flu. A boy, Atari, ventures to the island to find his dog, Spots.

'Pacific Rim Uprising' upstages 'Black Panther' at the box office

Veteran actor Michael Caine has once again said he will not work with filmmaker Woody Allen as child abuse for him is the "greatest crime". 
 
The 82-year-old actor previously won an Oscar for his work on Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters but is unsure if he would work with the director again after he was accused of abuse by his daughter Dylan Farrow. 
 
Allen has long denied the allegations made by Dylan, who is one of the star's three children with ex Mia Farrow. Dylan publicly claimed in 2014 that Allen molested her as a child. 
 
"Would I work with Woody Allen again? I see that he's been accused of child abuse. If that's true, I wouldn't. No. But I mean, I read it, but there doesn't seem to be any trials or anything. 
 
"For me, the greatest crime in the world is child abuse. That is worse than anything. I was ill-treated when I was evacuated (from London during World War II) so I am a recipient of child abuse. So I am very, very, very, very critical of anyone who abuses a child," Caine told the Total Film magazine. 
 
The actor had earlier said that he was "stunned" to hear about the claims against Allen. 
 
"I loved Woody, I thought he was a great guy. And I'm stunned. Absolutely stunned," Caine had said.

A number of celebrities have recently come out and expressed regret for working with the Annie Hall&nbspdirector, including Colin Firth, Timothee Chalamet, Mira Sorvino and Peter Sarsgaard.&nbsp

The actor was a victim of abuse as a child.

Veteran actor Michael Caine has once again said he will not work with filmmaker Woody Allen as child abuse for him is the "greatest crime". The 82-year-old actor previously won an Oscar for his work on Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters but is unsure if he would work with the director again after he was accused of abuse by his daughter Dylan Farrow. Allen has long denied the allegations made by Dylan, who is one of the star's three children with ex Mia Farrow. Dylan publicly claimed in 2014 that Allen molested her as a child. "Would I work with Woody Allen again? I see that he's been accused of child abuse. If that's true, I wouldn't. No. But I mean, I read it, but there doesn't seem to be any trials or anything. "For me, the greatest crime in the world is child abuse. That is worse than anything. I was ill-treated when I was evacuated (from London during World War II) so I am a recipient of child abuse. So I am very, very, very, very critical of anyone who abuses a child," Caine told the Total Film magazine. The actor had earlier said that he was "stunned" to hear about the claims against Allen. "I loved Woody, I thought he was a great guy. And I'm stunned. Absolutely stunned," Caine had said. A number of celebrities have recently come out and expressed regret for working with the Annie Hall&nbspdirector, including Colin Firth, Timothee Chalamet, Mira Sorvino and Peter Sarsgaard.

Michael Caine reveals why he does not want to work with Woody Allen anymore

Earlier this week, we came across Ms. Bhattacharyya&#39;s emotionally charged essay, &#39;Why an Indian girl chose to become an American woman&#39; (published in Quartz) on her challenging journey to become a naturalised American citizen. She describes the alienation and disaffection she felt from her home country and how this largely stemmed from the fact that India had failed its women (and by extension her) due to the widespread sexual violence within our society. Finally, this disaffection led her to pursue a strategy of extending her stay in the United States (or literally anywhere else) in an attempt to escape the horrifically morbid fate Indian women are preordained. While we largely share her concerns about widespread violence against women, we find her characterisation of India&#39;s society misinformed, laced with generalities and therefore incredibly problematic.

As Indians studying and working in the United States, we are confronted by a similar array of choices as Ms. Bhattacharyya. The US is inarguably a melting pot of diversity - a country that prides itself as the land of immigrants; attracting the best and brightest from every corner of the world. And yet, this fantastical &#39;land of the free&#39; too suffers its own set of major issues ranging from mass gun violence to racism. The insidious culture of sexual harassment and assault is ubiquitous in the US too, spanning Wall Street, Hollywood and college campuses across the country. It is misleading to suggest that a woman can leave her house and drive for a 100 miles without a single care in the world. If one is to believe economist Amartya Sen, even if we multiply the instances of reported rape by 10 (to account for underreporting), estimates of its occurrence would still be substantially lower than in the UK, US, Sweden or South Africa.

The fight for gender inequality and violence against women has miles to go in India as it does in the rest of the world, but despair and a defeatist attitude is not the way to win any battle, least of all this one. In her essay, Bhattacharyya laments that even change would be unable to undo the damage done by our history of oppression. It seems as if she hasn&#39;t examined the history of the very country she holds in such high regards. If India has a history for regressive practices, Western history is also replete with similar repression of women&#39;s rights right up to the early twentieth century. It was only after a long struggle that women were able to win the right to vote. And yet, if, as the writer herself argues, she feels safe enough to drive across the country at 3am, it is clear that things have changed. India on the other hand, being a relatively younger democracy and several years behind the United States in economic development cannot be dismissed as incapable of change or progress. We may be the world&#39;s &#39;smelliest&#39; and most &#39;interesting&#39; melting pot as frivolously put by Ms Bhattacharyya, but at least we broke the glass ceiling long before any of us even called it that with the reign of Indira Gandhi. As of 2018, this feat is yet to be accomplished by the world&#39;s oldest democracy, a country where she feels safer and more empowered in.

The inscrutable Americans-esque analysis of her personal experience in the United States of feeling &#39;poor&#39; and like an &#39;outsider&#39; goes against the very spirit of why we moved to the US - a country that thrives on its immigrants&#39; confidence and relentless will to stand out. She not only perpetuates the Indian stereotype of being secondary in America, but also reaffirms the superiority of someone up in the West determining just how hipster you had to be to be considered cool, or how much of your intellectual prowess authors like Hegel determine. While it may make for a catchy statement to call India a country that doesn&#39;t know what to do with its women, it&#39;s utterly careless to do so because of how dangerously wrong this narrative is. For starters, the Indian government through one of its landmark schemes MUDRA Yojana, provides small businesses across the country with seed capital in the form of loans, and almost 75 per cent of its beneficiaries are female entrepreneurs, thereby not making India a country that &quot;doesn&#39;t know what to do with its women&quot; as claimed by Ms. Bhattacharya. We are also the first country in the region to have a purely women-led railway station in Rajasthan affirming public female confidence in a state that is traditionally known for nothing but its textiles and rates of child marriage. Further initiatives to boost women participation have also been kickstarted by the private sector. While there are several challenges we need to scale in order to become the country we deserve to be, we are eternally optimistic about our ability to surmount them.

The overall comparison of a global super power with one of the oldest civilisations in the world is not only irresponsible but also blatantly ignorant. Our nation stands at the cusp of awakening and ever growing polarisation, much like the United States. We use our rather fantastical, emotionally charged and inspiring films to inculcate a culture of openness and make big budget movies about periods, homosexuality, and religious tolerance. In her 70 young years, India has kept one finger on the pulse of social change. The transactional approach she has adopted when assessing her loyalty to any country, be it the United States or India, is disheartening and just the kind of spirit a nation that thrives on unconditional patriotism-fueled progress does not need. As Indians living in the United States, the only parting advice we can give her is to continue texting friends and family while being out and about on American streets at 3 in the morning; for these roads too are rife with thorns, some much sharper than the ones in India.

(Mansi has written the piece along with her fellow NYU graduate Abhishek Dalal)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The insidious culture of sexual harassment and assault is ubiquitous in the US too, spanning Wall Street, Hollywood and college campuses across the country.

Earlier this week, we came across Ms. Bhattacharyya's emotionally charged essay, 'Why an Indian girl chose to become an American woman' (published in Quartz) on her challenging journey to become a naturalised American citizen. She describes the alienation and disaffection she felt from her home country and how this largely stemmed from the fact that India had failed its women (and by extension her) due to the widespread sexual violence within our society. Finally, this disaffection led her to pursue a strategy of extending her stay in the United States (or literally anywhere else) in an attempt to escape the horrifically morbid fate Indian women are preordained. While we largely share her concerns about widespread violence against women, we find her characterisation of India's society misinformed, laced with generalities and therefore incredibly problematic. As Indians studying and working in the United States, we are confronted by a similar array of choices as Ms. Bhattacharyya. The US is inarguably a melting pot of diversity - a country that prides itself as the land of immigrants; attracting the best and brightest from every corner of the world. And yet, this fantastical 'land of the free' too suffers its own set of major issues ranging from mass gun violence to racism. The insidious culture of sexual harassment and assault is ubiquitous in the US too, spanning Wall Street, Hollywood and college campuses across the country. It is misleading to suggest that a woman can leave her house and drive for a 100 miles without a single care in the world. If one is to believe economist Amartya Sen, even if we multiply the instances of reported rape by 10 (to account for underreporting), estimates of its occurrence would still be substantially lower than in the UK, US, Sweden or South Africa. The fight for gender inequality and violence against women has miles to go in India as it does in the rest of the world, but despair and a defeatist attitude is not the way to win any battle, least of all this one. In her essay, Bhattacharyya laments that even change would be unable to undo the damage done by our history of oppression. It seems as if she hasn't examined the history of the very country she holds in such high regards. If India has a history for regressive practices, Western history is also replete with similar repression of women's rights right up to the early twentieth century. It was only after a long struggle that women were able to win the right to vote. And yet, if, as the writer herself argues, she feels safe enough to drive across the country at 3am, it is clear that things have changed. India on the other hand, being a relatively younger democracy and several years behind the United States in economic development cannot be dismissed as incapable of change or progress. We may be the world's 'smelliest' and most 'interesting' melting pot as frivolously put by Ms Bhattacharyya, but at least we broke the glass ceiling long before any of us even called it that with the reign of Indira Gandhi. As of 2018, this feat is yet to be accomplished by the world's oldest democracy, a country where she feels safer and more empowered in. The inscrutable Americans-esque analysis of her personal experience in the United States of feeling 'poor' and like an 'outsider' goes against the very spirit of why we moved to the US - a country that thrives on its immigrants' confidence and relentless will to stand out. She not only perpetuates the Indian stereotype of being secondary in America, but also reaffirms the superiority of someone up in the West determining just how hipster you had to be to be considered cool, or how much of your intellectual prowess authors like Hegel determine. While it may make for a catchy statement to call India a country that doesn't know what to do with its women, it's utterly careless to do so because of how dangerously wrong this narrative is. For starters, the Indian government through one of its landmark schemes MUDRA Yojana, provides small businesses across the country with seed capital in the form of loans, and almost 75 per cent of its beneficiaries are female entrepreneurs, thereby not making India a country that "doesn't know what to do with its women" as claimed by Ms. Bhattacharya. We are also the first country in the region to have a purely women-led railway station in Rajasthan affirming public female confidence in a state that is traditionally known for nothing but its textiles and rates of child marriage. Further initiatives to boost women participation have also been kickstarted by the private sector. While there are several challenges we need to scale in order to become the country we deserve to be, we are eternally optimistic about our ability to surmount them. The overall comparison of a global super power with one of the oldest civilisations in the world is not only irresponsible but also blatantly ignorant. Our nation stands at the cusp of awakening and ever growing polarisation, much like the United States. We use our rather fantastical, emotionally charged and inspiring films to inculcate a culture of openness and make big budget movies about periods, homosexuality, and religious tolerance. In her 70 young years, India has kept one finger on the pulse of social change. The transactional approach she has adopted when assessing her loyalty to any country, be it the United States or India, is disheartening and just the kind of spirit a nation that thrives on unconditional patriotism-fueled progress does not need. As Indians living in the United States, the only parting advice we can give her is to continue texting friends and family while being out and about on American streets at 3 in the morning; for these roads too are rife with thorns, some much sharper than the ones in India. (Mansi has written the piece along with her fellow NYU graduate Abhishek Dalal) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: India hasn't failed you, you failed India

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