Entertainment

Universal and Illumination dropped the first trailer for Despicable Me 4, the latest installment in the animated franchise. The film once again features Steve Carrell voicing the now reformed Gru, who welcomes a new member to the family — Gru Jr. — and a new nemesis, Maxime Le Mal, voiced by Will Ferrell. Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Chris Renaud, Dana Gaier, Pierre Coffin also return for the fourth installment, joined by newcomers Joey King, Sofia Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman and Madison Polan. Despicable Me 4 opens in theaters July 3 …

Wizards of Waverly Place alum Jake T. Austin is returning for the reboot of Disney Channel series, joining David Henrie and Selena Gomez. “Wow! Am looking forward to getting together with my Wizards family,” he shared on Instagram, alongside a photo of him posing with David DeLuise and Maria Canals-Barrera, who played the their onscreen parents, according to Entertainment Tonight. Austin played the youngest Russo sibling, Max, alongside Henrie and Gomez, who play Justin and Alex Russo, respectively. Henrie has been confirmed as a series regular, while Gomez is set to appear on the pilot episode, per the outlet …

Fox announced Friday that JoJo Siwa will return as a judge for season 18, of So You Think You Can Dance, replacing longtime judge and series creator Nigel Lythgoe, who stepped down earlier this month. Siwa, who previously served as a judge on the show’s 17th season, will join choreographer and former SYTYCD All-Star Allison Holker and former Dancing with the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy on the judges panel. Cat Deeley will continue to serve as host …

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The Plastics may rule North Shore High, but they couldn’t stave off The Beekeeper at the box office. The Jason Statham-led action thriller’s estimated $7.4 million beat out Mean Girls‘ estimated $7.3 million for the top spot in what proved to be another anemic weekend at the domestic box office.

After three weeks, The Beekeeper has earned a total of $42.2 million in North America and $104.2 million globally, while Mean Girls increases its domestic box office tally to $60.8 million and $83.4 million worldwide.

Wonka took third place, grabbing an estimated $5.9 million in its fifth week of release. That brings its North American box office gross to $195.1 million and $552 million globally.

The animated feature Migration took fourth place, with an estimated $5.1 million, increasing its five-week domestic haul to $101.2 million and its worldwide tally to $206.1 million.

Rounding out he top five was the Sydney Sweeney/Glen Powell-led rom-com Anyone but You, earning an estimated $4.8 million. Its six-week totals now stand at $71.1 million in North America and $126.5 million worldwide.

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Before he became an Oscar nominee for Elvis, Austin Butler was a star on the rise. And as those lucky enough to be in that position sometimes find themselves, he had to pick between two huge projects.

According to People, Butler told the Happy Sad Confused podcast, “I ended up having to choose between going to the screen test for Top Gun: Maverick or saying yes to Quentin Tarantino.”

After wanting to work with the Pulp Fiction Oscar winner “for so long,” he chased the dream of working with Tarantino in Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood.

Butler played Charles Watson, a member of Charles Manson‘s murderous cult — whose nether regions meet their end thanks to Brad Pitt‘s hungry dog.

Variety reports Butler was up for the role of Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick, but while Cruise and company liked the actor, they thought he was too young for the role that eventually went to Miles Teller.

However, the same casting director for Maverick, Denise Chamian, recommended Butler for Elvis, so it’s safe to say everything worked out for Butler, who now stars in Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air.

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While his character was ultimately redeemed in the original Star Wars trilogy, Billy Dee Williams says it was rough going in real life after his Lando Calrissian sold out Harrison Ford‘s Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back.

To Entertainment Weekly‘s Dagobah Dispatch podcast, the cinematic scoundrel says “for a lot of years” after the events of 1980’s Episode V — in which Lando cut a deal with Darth Vader that landed Solo in a block of carbonite — fans weren’t shy about sharing their anger.

“When I would pick my daughter up from school, the kids would run up to me and say, ‘You betrayed Han Solo!'” the 86-year-old actor said. “I’d go on an airplane and the airplane stewards would say, ‘You betrayed Han Solo!'”

Billy Dee continued, “So finally, I said, ‘Look, think about the whole situation. You’re up against a pretty formidable character in Darth Vader. And then there’s, of course, Boba Fett. And these people were invading my space and I had to bargain with them.'”

Of the “pivotal, classic, dubious hero moment,” he said, “the bargain at least prevented the complete demise of Han Solo and his friends.”

As fans know, Lando eventually made good, helping rescue his old card-playing frenemy from Jabba the Hutt and leading the successful attack on the second Death Star in 1983’s Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.

Williams later reprised his role in 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.

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After picking up eight Oscar nominations earlier this week, Barbie is back in theaters.

The exclusive one-week engagement kicks off Friday, January 26.

In an announcement, Warner Bros.’ president of domestic distribution, Jeff Goldstein, and the studio’s head of international distribution, Andrew Cripps, said, “We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, we’ve never seen anything like the absolute cultural phenomenon that is Barbie.”

Their joint statement continues, “This masterful vision for Mattel’s doll could only have come from the creative minds of [director and co-writer] Greta Gerwig and [co-writer] Noah Baumbach, and in Greta’s hands Barbie became a must-go, must-see, must-wear-pink cinematic experience that was a brilliantly subversive commentary on our society, couched in an undeniably entertaining story.”

Their statement continues, “Greta and the film’s producers, artisans and cast, especially Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera, delivered a one-of-a-kind film that we know will be viewed and talked about for years to come.”

They conclude of the highest-grossing movie of 2023, “We’re proud to have it as part of the Warner library of classics, and are excited to give moviegoers another chance to experience Barbie on the big screen.”

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Alyssa Milano is being dragged on Twitter after she posted Thursday that she’s started a GoFundMe to raise $10,000 so her 12-year-old son’s baseball team could go to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. 

“Any amount would be so greatly appreciated,” posted the former Charmed star, who has been a TV and movie actress since she was a child.

As one might imagine, the internet wasn’t having it. 

“Please help the Bad News Bel Airs,” snarked one.

Another added, “Just a reminder: Alyssa Milano and her husband are both multi-millionaires. They could pay for the entire trip for the whole team without batting an eye!”

Milano’s husband is David Bugliari, a talent agent with the superstar reps at Creative Artists Agency.

“Why is she asking for money for people who can barely buy groceries [?]” another vented.

Milano limited replies to her post so that only supportive ones appeared immediately, like the one that read, “You’ve done so much for so many.”

This isn’t the first time Milano has been dunked on after a social media post. Back in 2022, she let the world know she was trading in her Tesla, saying Elon Musk‘s company is in “alignment with hate and white supremacy.” Instead, she explained, “I bought the VW ev. I love it.”

Twitter users immediately clowned on the actress, noting that Volkswagen was started as the “people’s car company” by one Adolf Hitler. 

Another of her posts, back in 2020, showed her family “proudly” wearing COVID masks — except, as many quickly pointed out, hers was crocheted.

She got so many comments from “a******” about how ineffective it would be, she later claimed she had a filter behind the decidedly not airtight covering. 

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Have no fear, your reality roundup is here! Here’s a look at what happened in the world of reality television this week:

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo)
Given the shocking ending of season 4, it’s probably no surprise that Monica Garcia will not be returning to the show for season 5. Producers confirmed to Variety that the controversial cast member is leaving the show after she was revealed to be the identity behind Reality Von Tease, a blogger who frequently posted negative things about RHOSLC stars. The third and final part of the RHOSLC reunion special also aired this week, in which Garcia failed to explain her actions or win back any trust from the other ladies.

Love Is Blind (Netflix)
Marshall Glaze has found love again. The season 4 contestant, who previously got engaged to Jackie Bonds in the pods but didn’t make it to the altar, is now engaged to Dr. Chay Barnes. He revealed on Instagram this week that the two got engaged on December 23. He received congrats in the comments from his fellow season 4 contestants Brett Brown, Micah Lussier, Chelsea Griffin and Kwame Appiah.

Queer Eye (Netflix)
The show premiered its eighth season this week – Bobby Berk’s last. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the interior design expert cleared up rumors about his departure, including speculation it had to do with a feud between him and Tan France. Berk admits he and Tan did have a fight, after which he unfollowed Tan on Instagram, but he says it had nothing to do with the show. The real reason he left came down to the show’s contract. He says the show was intended to only run seven seasons, but Netflix offered them a contract for four more seasons – which Berk decided not to sign.

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Kingsman franchise director Matthew Vaughn‘s upcoming espionage action comedy Argylle features stars of the human variety — including Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard and Oscar winner Sam Rockwell — but ever since the trailer debuted, their four-legged co-star has become a celebrity on his own.

Chip is the cute Scottish Fold kitty that appears in the movie as Alfie, who becomes an unwitting part of a global spy adventure, toted along in a stylish carrier, complete with a little domed window.

The cat graces the movie’s posters and stole the show at the movie’s recent London premiere.

The nepo fur baby is actually related to the director: He belongs to supermodel Claudia Schiffer, Vaughn’s wife.

And like many nepo stars, the kitty has cultivated an Instagram following and his own fashion line.

Chip has been named the creative director at the feline accessory company Travel Cat, which is now selling real-life versions of the Argyle-patterned carrier seen in the movie as well as other themed accessories, like harnesses and cat collars.

On the website, Chip explains some would say the movie is responsible for the tie-ins, “But honestly, this ready-to-wear collection, which is so good it should be a crime, could only come from one place: ME.”

“I’m so proud of what I did and whatever it was Travel Cat did to make my vision come to life. I’m sure they did something. Look around. Buy everything. Love it endlessly, and thank me profusely for it later,” he continues.

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Robert De Niro recently opened up about his 9-month-old daughter Gia, whom he shares with girlfriend Tiffany Chen.

In an interview with AARP The Magazine, the Academy Award winner discussed what fatherhood has been like since welcoming his seventh child last April.

“I’m an 80-year-old dad and it’s great,” he said. “Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about or this and that just goes away when I look at her. So that in itself, is, you know, wondrous.”

He continued, “She has a very sweet way of looking at you and just taking you in, and my other daughter Helen had that too, she just looks at you and takes it in … I don’t know where it’s gonna go later when she gets older, but she’s thinking, she’s observing everything and watching, really interesting.”

“I wanna be around for as long as I can to enjoy it, enjoy her,” he added.

In addition to Gia, Robert De Niro is also a father to six other children: Drena De Niro, 52, and Raphael De Niro, 47, whom he shares with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott; twin sons Julian De Niro and Aaron De Niro, 28, whom he shares with former girlfriend Toukie Smith; and Elliot De Niro, 25, and Helen Grace De Niro, 12, whom he shares with ex-wife Grace Hightower.

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Peacock announced on Thursday, January 25, that The Traitors has become the #1 unscripted series in the U.S. across all streaming platforms, according to Nielsen. The reality competition series, hosted by Alan Cumming, also ranked as the #9 streaming original series for overall minutes viewed in its first full week on the platform. Additionally, The Traitors season 2 debut on January 12 became the most-watched reality series debut on Peacock. Streaming reach is also up 75% from season 1. New episodes of The Traitors are available to stream every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET …

Neon dropped the first trailer for Immaculate, the forthcoming horror film starring Anyone but You‘s Sydney Sweeney. Immaculate stars Sweeney as Cecilia, an American nun who embarks on a new journey in a convent in the Italian countryside. However, the journey becomes a nightmare when her miraculous pregnancy takes a terrible turn …

Paramount+ has canceled Wolf Pack after just one season. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the streaming service was initially on board with giving the sci-fi drama, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, a sophomore season, but due to the delay in production caused by last year’s writers strike, the second season wouldn’t be ready until 2025. That, according to insiders, would have resulted in increased marketing costs due to the show being off the air for an extended period of time …

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