Entertainment

In a teaser that only features two lines of dialogue, but more glowing critical quotes and film festival bona fides to already land the film in next year’s Oscar race, Netflix has revealed Angelina Jolie as opera great Maria Callas. 

In Maria, which was directed by Pablo Larraín, who helmed the movies Jackie and Spencer, Jolie portrays no less than “one of the greatest artists who ever lived,” according to the teaser.

She’s first shown striding onto a stage in an empty performance venue, with a pianist asking her, “Maria: What do you want to sing?”

What follows is montage of the film, Callas in various costumes standing before sold-out crowds; being crushed by adoring fans; and sobbing by herself. 

Back to that empty space, Maria waves her hand to the musician and tells him “Not today” before striding away. 

According to Netflix, “The film follows the American-Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye,” adding the film “reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days as the diva reckons with her identity and life.”

The premiere of the film was met with an eight-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival in August that left Jolie in tears.

Maria debuts in select theaters in November and on Netflix Dec. 11.

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Lionsgate has debuted the action-packed trailer to the John Wick spin-off Ballerina. 

Officially titled From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, the action movie stars Ana de Armas as a young woman with vengeance on her mind. 

The trailer opens with the Wick series’ Winston (Ian McShane) asking a bloodied little girl, “Do you like to dance? I know a school that teaches dancers.”

However, it’s more than a ballet school. It’s an assassin training academy glimpsed in John Wick: Chapter 3, led by Anjelica Huston‘s The Director.

It’s there that de Armas’ Eve undergoes a master class in killing. “You will always be weaker. You will always be smaller,” her class is told. 

“You want to win? Improve. Adapt. Cheat.” To that end, she’s shown dispatching a much larger male foe with strikes to his nethers. 

The trailer brings Eve to New York City’s Continental Hotel, where she is greeted at the front desk by the concierge, Charon, played again by the late Lance Reddick. 

“What a pleasure it is to see you again,” Winston tells the now-grown assassin. 

De Armas dispatches enemies in all manner of ways — including one with an ice skate and another with a grenade stuffed into his mouth — as she works her way up the chain to her father’s killers.

Co-star Norman Reedus warns her, “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.” 

The action culminates with the assassin fighting a flamethrower-wielding baddie with a raging firehose, but the trailer saves the best for last. 

A train pulls up, and a mysterious figure descends. “You’re him,” Eve says. “The one they call the Baba Yaga. How do I start doing what you do?”

Keanu Reeves is then revealed as John Wick. “Looks like you already have,” he says. 

Ballerina comes out in 2025. 

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On Sept. 26 — or Outbreak Day, as fans of the post-apocalyptic game know it — HBO debuted the second-season trailer to its video game adaptation The Last of Us. 

One of its new cast additions, Catherine O’Hara, is featured prominently, apparently conducting a therapy session with one of the show’s main protagonists, Pedro Pascal‘s Joel. “Let’s try something different,” she advises in voice-over. “You can’t heal something unless you’re brave enough to say it out loud.” 

Music plays a big part in the trailer, particularly Pearl Jam‘s 2013 track “Future Days,” which Joel plays for Ellie in The Last of Us Part II, the video game’s hit sequel. 

And while the trailer begins with a respite from the show’s zombie outbreak, things pick up considerably by its end, with a horde of zombies rushing a fence, which collapses under their weight, leaving Kaitlyn Dever‘s Abby Anderson crawling on her hands and knees to escape.

The trailer also gives a glimpse of another new cast member, Oscar-nominated American Fiction actor Jeffrey Wright, reprising his role as Isaac, the former Marine-turned-resistance group leader that he played in the game. 

Season 2’s cast also includes Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Spencer Lord as Owen and Danny Ramirez as Manny.

The Last of Us season 2 will premiere in 2025. 

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On Thursday, Apple TV+ dropped a trailer to the second season of its Emmy-nominated dramedy Shrinking, which returns on Oct. 16.

The sneak peek of the sophomore season shows recent widower Jimmy (Jason Segel) trying to reconnect with his daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell). 

“I think that Alice is worried about me,” he confides in Harrison Ford‘s Dr. Paul Rhoades. “That’s rough to realize your kid knows how fragile you are,” Ford deadpans. 

Alice says about her dad, “I can’t help thinking he’s gonna go back to the way he was after mom died.” 

Rhoades warns, “If you don’t truly deal with your past, it comes back for you, and then ‘Boom!'”

The trailer also shows Saturday Night Live‘s Heidi Gardner behind bars. “I pushed my husband off a cliff,” she says. “I’m a psycho with good hair.”

“I like the ‘good hair’ part,” Jimmy offers cheerfully.

Rhoades, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, is facing his fears as he continues his relationship with his neurologist, played by Wendie Malick. 

Later, Jimmy tells Rhoades they should be working together, “Like Batman and Robin,” offering, “You even sound like him!” 

Christa Miller and Jessica Williams also star in season 2, as do Luke Tennie, Michael Urie and Ted McGinley. As reported, Ted Lasso co-star and Shrinking co-creator Brett Goldstein will appear as a special guest star in season 2.

The 12-episode second season will premiere with two episodes on Oct. 16, followed by one new episode every Wednesday until its finale on Dec. 25.

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Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is finally here, and Good Morning America gave fans an exclusive preview of the new season Thursday morning.

The dramatic opening scene of the season’s first episode, which airs Thursday night on ABC, will leave fans waiting anxiously for the plot to unfold.

The new season picks up in the aftermath of the season 20 finale, with Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) trading barbs with Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), who is standing up for the interns.

“I can have all of you replaced by tomorrow,” Catherine tells the group.

“What about me? Can you replace me?” Miranda says as she walks into the scene.

Catherine stands her ground, saying, “Do you know how many doctors I have replaced in my career? Your rejects can stay, but your salary will pay for the lawyers who will fix their mistakes. You’re done here, Dr. Bailey. Goodbye.”

Miranda isn’t going without a fight, though, as she tells the boss, “I refuse to allow my job to be taken by someone who only operates on spite and greed. You don’t see faces, you see dollars.”

Catherine retorts that Miranda’s leadership is costing her money, and the scene ends with Miranda reminding Catherine that “this profession is a calling — not a business.”

A synopsis for the episode, which is titled “If Walls Could Talk,” teases more drama ahead for our favorite TV doctors.

“After firing some of Grey Sloan’s best, Catherine continues to interfere with Meredith and Amelia’s research. Accidents at a climate change protest bring unique cases to the hospital, and Bailey encounters a blast from the past,” the synopsis reads.

This season will also see the return of Kali Rocha as Sydney Heron and Jesse Williams as Catherine’s son Jackson Avery.

Grey’s Anatomy season 21 premieres Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

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With the movie raking in $1.3 billion worldwide since its release on July 26, Marvel Studios is reportedly hoping to add some Oscar gold to the red and yellow color scheme of Deadpool & Wolverine.

According to Variety, Marvel Studios, which is owned by ABC News’ parent company, Disney, plans to submit the smash hit for consideration come awards season, with a push for producer and star Ryan Reynolds at the Golden Globes in the Outstanding Performance in an Actor in a Comedy category for playing Wade Wilson/Deadpool. 

But the trade says Marvel Studios also has their sights set on Oscar consideration for Hugh Jackman in the Supporting Actor category.

While his screen time was significantly longer than Angela Bassett‘s was in Marvel’s first Oscar-nominated film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, one scene in particular where Jackman’s Logan/Wolverine verbally rages at Reynolds’ character is a turning point in the film, and one could easily see the studio using that scene to bolster its case.

In fact, sources tell Variety that Marvel Studios plans to submit Jackman in the supporting actor category “across all key awards shows, including the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics Choice.” 

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Reese Witherspoon is searching for a new Elle Woods for a prequel series to Legally Blonde.

On Wednesday, the actress, who starred in the iconic film franchise as Woods, shared an Instagram Reel announcing that the casting process is starting for the project titled Elle, and they are having an open casting call for the role of a young Woods.

“This is an open casting for the young Elle Woods when she was in high school,” Witherspoon said.

“Send your submissions to the link in my bio,” she added. “I cannot wait to see all the Elle Woods out there. This is going to be really fun.”

Witherspoon said that her company Hello Sunshine is partnering with Amazon on the casting search.

Prime Video announced the news of Elle during its upfront presentation in May.

The series will follow Woods during her high school years “as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde film,” according to the streamer.

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Joan Vassos‘ season of the Golden Bachelorette continued on Wednesday night with a fun ’80s prom-themed date and an epic talent show.

The episode featured Vassos going on a romantic one-on-one date and two group dates.

The men immediately had Vassos on their mind when host Jesse Palmer met with them at the mansion to explain the dates up ahead.

For the first group date, Vassos chose Gary, Bob, Jonathan, Charles L., Mark A., Jordan, Guy and Keith and surprised them with an ’80s prom-themed date, complete with looks inspired by the theme.

While getting ready, the men reminisced about their own prom memories from back in the day. They were picked up at the mansion by Vassos, who arrived in a white stretch limo.

Their date, which was held in a school, featured a live performance by singer Taylor Dayne of her iconic song “Tell It to My Heart.” The night was also filled with a dance-off and all the nostalgic prom details, like a photo booth, games, snacks and more.

At the end of the night Jonathan was named prom king and received the first group date rose.

After the two group dates, one-on-one date and a fun barbeque at the mansion, Vassos said goodbye to four men.

Here are the men who remain:

Mark, 67, an army veteran from Leesville, Louisiana
Dan, 64, a private investor from Naples, Florida
Chock, 60, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas
Jonathan, 61, a shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa
Gary, 65, a retired finance executive from Palm Desert, California
Pascal, 69, a salon owner from Chicago, Illinois
Jordan, 61, a sales manager from Chicago, Illinois
Charles K., 62, a portfolio manager from Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Gil, 60, an educator from Mission Viejo, California
Keith, 62, a girl dad from San Jose, California
Charles L., 66, a retired financial analyst from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kim, 69, a retired navy captain from Seattle, Washington
Gregg, 64, a retired university VP from Longboat Key, Florida
Guy, 66, an ER doctor from Reno, Nevada

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Hoda Kotb made a surprise announcement on Thursday morning: She’s leaving the Today show on January 1.

Kotb has been at NBC since 1988, working as a correspondent for Dateline, and has co-anchored the morning show alongside Savannah Guthrie since 2018, after Matt Lauer‘s tenure as anchor ended following a sexual harassment scandal.

She’s been a part of Today since 2007.

Today shared a heartfelt message Kotb sent to the show’s staff, which said in part, “They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.”

Hoda continued, “I’ve been weighing this decision for quite a while — Am I truly ready? — But, my sixtieth birthday celebration on [New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza] felt like a shift. Like a massive, joyful YES, you are!” 

Calling the decision the “hardest thing in the world,” Hoda said her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, factored into her choice.

“Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have,” she expressed, adding, “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time.”

Kotb said, “my broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie.”

Kotb closed by saying, “Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family,” adding, “I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.”

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All aboard! It’s time to set sail on The Odyssey, where a new doctor has just hit the deck.

Joshua Jackson stars in the new ABC procedural Doctor Odyssey, where he plays Max Bankman, the on-board doctor of a luxury cruise ship. The show is the brainchild of TV powerhouse Ryan Murphy, who Jackson said he’s been trying to work with for years.

“Truthfully, we’ve tried to work together several times over the years,” Jackson told ABC Audio during the Disney Upfront event back in May. “I have had the desire to work on one of his shows for a long time, and this one came around at the exact right moment. I read it and that was that.”

Jackson said he categorizes Murphy shows into two different boxes.

“I guess you can break the Ryan Murphy universe into the outrageous side and the scary side,” Jackson said. “We are very much on the outrageous side. So, it is a show built for fun to be enjoyed. It’s gonna look beautiful.”

According to Jackson, that kind of energy made it easy to have a good time on set.

“I mean, that kind of dialogue, those kind of scenarios. You have to be kind of a curmudgeon not to enjoy yourself,” he said.

Doctor Odyssey premieres Thursday on ABC. It streams on Hulu the next day.

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