Entertainment

With the troubling state of affairs that is 2021, why not take a peek back at a time when an American hero could even get the Soviet Union to chant “USA! USA!”…onscreen, at least.

To that end, Slyvester Stallone will be releasing a brand-new director’s cut of 1985’s Rocky IV.

Titled Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago, the movie celebrates what MGM is calling “the greatest fight in cinematic history” — Stallone’s Rocky Balboa against the seemingly unbreakable Soviet menace, Dolph Lundgren‘s Ivan Drago. 

Promising 40 minutes of never-before-seen footage from the blockbuster that Stallone wrote, directed and, of course, starred in, the film is coming to Fathom Events theaters for one day only — November 11 — before it’s released to digital on demand the following day.

As part of the screenings, Stallone himself will appear in a live Q&A session about the making of the film, and restoring it for release in 2021.

Tickets can be purchased online at FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices today. A complete list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website.

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Jay Leno knows a thing or two about being cancelled after past offensive jokes he made came to light, and he’s using that as a warning to his fellow comedians.

In March, during a discussion with the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), Leno said that using Asians as a punchline in his old jokes were “wrong” and he has since apologized. The Tonight Show alum also called his past material “a legitimate wrong that was done on my part.”

Speaking to the People Every Day podcast, Leno says cancel culture is a product of the changing times and comics have to adapt with the times.

“I think it’s like any other thing, you either change or die,” the 71-year-old said. “In football, you have certain rules. And when the rules change, if you don’t conform to them, you’re out of the game.”

Leno further explained that homophobic, sexist and racist jokes may have been tolerated back in the day, but his fellow stand-up comedians need to stop living in the past by including that controversial material in their routines.

“Now, everybody has a voice. You have to change the material to the times you live in,” Leno continued. “My attitude is, ‘Look, these are the new rules. You want to adapt. If you don’t, fine. Don’t get up and tell jokes then.'”

Following his March discussion with MANAA, Leno told Variety, “I do not consider this particular case to be another example of cancel culture but a legitimate wrong that was done on my part. MANAA has been very gracious in accepting my apology. I hope that the Asian American community will be able to accept it as well, and I hope I can live up to their expectations in the future.”

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Newly-minted Ted Lasso Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham is looking back at her time on Game of Thrones, where she played the reviled character Septa Unella.

Septa appeared in seasons five and six of GoT, but is best known for parading a naked Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey, through the streets of King’s Landing, while ringing a bell and chanting, “Shame!”

During her Wednesday appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the British actress revealed that she took home a little souvenir that fans closely associate with Septa — the bell she rang while humiliating Cersei.

Clarkson expressed her shock that Waddingham kept the prop, noting it was “kind of messed up” because of what it symbolized.

Waddingham disagreed, however, noting that the prop had sentimental value because it was symbolic of her part in the show.  “That’s when you know your character is really dead; when they give you the hero thing. ‘And thank you very much and goodbye.'”

Whe 47-year-old actress said she’s thankful for the time she spent on Game of Thrones and told Clarkson, “I feel like I’ve been very lucky that these huge shows have just gone ‘Come in and do this.'”

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Tyrese Gibson has apparently broken up with his girlfriend, Zelie Timothy, six months after making their relationship public.

The Fast & Furious star made the announcement Wednesday on Instagram. He posted a video of her naked, covered with soap suds in a bathtub to the music of Jhené Aiko‘s “On My Way.” The singer/actor commented, “We had so much potential. We really did. I wish you well, ending on a good note is a good thing….. I will forever love you @zelietimothy cheers to you!!”

She reposted his video on her page and responded, “You can’t force a man to respect you. But you can refuse to not be disrespected. I wish the very best for you I hope you figure it out.”

Ironically, Tyrese recently surprised Zelie with a vacation in Cancun. She posted a 24-minute video of the trip, also on Wednesday, and commented, “I’m FINALLY back on Youtube with my first ever Baecation Vlog. My baby Tyrese really made this 6 Day Baycay special and I want you guys to join us. Enjoy.”

Gibson encouraged his followers to view the video, using Bible quotes, and a few suggested that the breakup announcement was a publicity stunt to promote Timothy’s YouTube channel.

One person commented, “People who see through the smoke signals won’t hit the link because why TF are u lying and faking it to make it. Just a simple follow my girl would be sufficient enough. It’s the corny lies and acting then using scriptures smh come on u better than this.”

Tyrese and his estranged wife, Samantha Lee, are in the process of divorce. They married in February 2017 and have a daughter, Soraya, who turns three years old on Friday.

 

 

 

 

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When that recently announced remake of The Bodyguard hits theaters, a “young Latina” character will appear in the role Whitney Houston played in the 1991 original.

“When Warner Bros. approached me about the idea, I quickly said I would but I wanted the protagonist to be Latina. They agreed to that,” Matthew López, who made history at Sunday’s Tony Awards as the first Latino playwright to win for Best Play, for The Inheritance, told Variety following the ceremony on Sunday.

He added, “There’s been a lot of speculation about what I’d bring to the remake and some people were assuming that there’d be a gay storyline to it.” López is gay, and The Inheritance follows a group of gay men.

“But I wanted the protagonist to be Latina,” López continued. “Instead of focusing on an established star like the one Whitney Houston played, this is about a young Latina performer who has just become famous… It was important to me to use this opportunity to get Latin faces up on that screen and to get their stories told in a big way.”

“It’s about how her life has changed because she is an overnight sensation,” López told Variety. “In the 21st century, that means she’s in immediate need of protection.”

None of the roles have been cast as of yet and a release date has not been set.

The Bodyguard, originally released in 1992, grossed $411 million during its global box office run.  Its soundtrack was nominated for four Grammys and won three: Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for the title track, the monster hit “I Will Always Love You.” Two other singles, “I Have Nothing” and “Run to You,” were nominated for the Best Original Song Academy Award.

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To commemorate the 50th anniversary of his founding of Lucasfilm, Hasbro has immortalized Star Wars creator George Lucas as part of its hyper-detailed Hasbro Black Series line of collectables. 

The six-inch figure shows the legendary filmmaker “in disguise” in the iconic white armor of an Imperial Stormtrooper. His white hair and beard can be covered by a removable helmet, and he also comes with a standard-issue Imperial blaster to complete the ensemble.

Although the toy tribute to Lucas doesn’t come out until 2022, it’s already sold out.  

This isn’t the first time The Maker was idolized in plastic. In 2002, he was envisioned as a Rebel X-Wing pilot named Jorg Sacul — the surname an anagram of Lucas — which was a limited-edition figure initially sold only at the second Star Wars Celebration expo in Anaheim, California. It now fetches a pretty penny on eBay. Eventually, the exclusive figure was mass-marketed, and the non-Celebration version can be bought at retailers like Walmart. 

Lucas was previously turned into a Stormtrooper back in 2006, initially as part of a mail-away offer. That version, too, is prized by collectors.

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The Addams Family 2 opens on Friday, and this time, everyone’s favorite spooky family is taking it on the road.

The sequel to the 2019 CGI-animated comedy finds the clan on a road trip while dealing with teenage angst and young love. It’s a time-honored tradition, and Nick Kroll, who voices Fester, has fond memories of his.

“I don’t know if anyone else can relate to your dad putting his hand into the back seat to grab a knee when he’s heard me do annoying voices for hour number five,” he recalls. “Little did he know that I would figure out a way to monetize those annoying voices into a career…now I grab his leg very, very, very hard.”

It’s a familiar scenario but with a super-weird twist, which is one of the reasons, director Conrad Vernon tells ABC Audio, that The Addams Family has endured for decades. 

“There is a relatability to them…they run into the same problems and the same internal conflicts that any family might have. But they handle it…in a really kind of creepy way. And I think people kind of like to be creeped out every once in a while.”

One familiar situation to which people can relate is the difficulty Wednesday Addams — voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz — has relating to her clan.  However, Vernon says it gets a twist when viewed through the Addams Family lens.

“You realize that when you’re hanging out with a family and you’re so much like them, you want to separate yourself from that,” he suggests. “And that separation, it can get sticky. And I think that that’s something that, you know, every teenager can relate to. But…Wednesday Addams does it [in a] very interesting and creepy and funny way.  

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Wendy Williams will not be returning to her purple chair on Monday, October 4 as planned.

In a statement posted on Instagram Thursday morning, The Wendy Williams Show announced that due to Wendy’s ongoing health issues, the season 13 premiere date has once again been pushed back.

“Wendy will not be returning with new shows on Oct. 4,” the message begins. “She has been and continues to be under a doctor’s care and is still not ready to return to work.”

The statement reveals that the new season will now premiere two weeks later on Monday, October 18.

The rescheduled premiere date comes less than two days after The Wendy Williams Show released a promotional video stating that “the wait is over” and new episodes would start on Monday. However, the premiere had already been pushed back from its September 20 premiere due to Williams’ numerous health issues, which included testing positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19.

While the statement notes that Williams COVID-19 diagnosis “is no longer an issue” because she’s tested negative, it adds that Wendy is “still dealing with some ongoing medical issues.”

 

 

 

 

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Is Tom Hardy the next James Bond?

As Daniel Craig‘s reign as 007 comes to an end with the forthcoming No Time to Die, many have wondered who will be next to embody the secret agent. Among the names being tossed around for the role is Hardy’s, who didn’t have much to say when asked about it. 

“I don’t know about that,” the Venom: Let There Be Carnage actor told Entertainment Tonight. 

Hardy’s co-star, on the other hand, thinks the actor would be a great fit. 

Naomie Harris, who also has played Miss Moneypenny in the Bond films since 2012’s Skyfall and reprises the role in No Time to Die, exclaimed, “He would be amazing.”

“He’s such a phenomenal actor. I’m such a huge fan of his and then working with him on Venom, I have even more respect for him,” Harris continued. “He’s just like, incredible, the physicality that he brings to the role is just extraordinary. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Only time will tell if Hardy will be the successor to Craig’s Bond. Until then, though, fans can catch No Time to Die when it hits theaters on October 8. 

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Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Cheryl Burke had to sit out Monday night’s episode because she contracted COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated.

Speaking with E!’s Daily Pop, Burke opened up about how her diagnosis mentally affected her.

“I had all types of feelings,” she expressed. “There was a lot of shame behind it for some reason, disappointed, sad, just hopeless, because you can’t really control the situation.”

Burke and her partner, Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby, were unable to perform live on Monday and, instead, were judged based on a recording of one of their rehearsal dances. The judges praised their routine and the audience voted them through to the next round.

Burke is thankful to have been given a second chance, saying,” I would hate for it just to end, so I’m hoping that I’ll be cleared very soon and maybe just go back to the way it was. I don’t know, we’re taking it day by day.”

Burke also revealed that she’s using every moment of her off-time to make sure she and her “talented” partner stay in the competition. “I’m going to be a dance mom officially and Zooming into those rehearsals, you better believe it,” she laughed.

While she’s still unsure how she contracted COVID-19, Cheryl stressed that her mild symptoms are a testament of the effectiveness of the vaccine.

“I’m thankful that I got my vaccinations and I’m fully vaccinated, so that’s maybe, definitely, probably the reason I’m not in the hospital, god forbid,” she said. “I wanted to be able to share it because I wanted people to understand that it’s still out there. Even if you’re fully vaccinated, just stay safe and be careful and mask up.”

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