Entertainment

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday, June 28, it had added some 398 new voters to its membership.

The additions include dozens of performers, including newly minted Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan and his Oscar-nominated Everything Everywhere All at Once co-star Stephanie Hsu, as well as her fellow nominee Austin Butler from Elvis and Aftersun‘s Paul Mescal.

Barry‘s Emmy-winning creator Bill Hader also got the tap, as did Emmy-winning comedian and The Kominsky Method actor Paul Reiser. Keke Palmer from Nope was one of the new additions, as was The Woman King co-star Lashana Lynch.

Hundreds of other voters were added, too, among them those working behind the scenes, from casting directors to cinematographers, to film editors to makeup artists and publicists.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang welcomed the new members, noting, “They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide.”

The new voters will have their say before the 96th Oscars take place on Sunday, March 10.

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Shortly after news broke about the submarine accident that took the lives of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 19-year-old Suleman Dawood and British billionaire Hamish Harding, Netflix subscribers noticed James Cameron‘s Titanic was slated to return to the streaming platform July 1.

Users were quick to call foul, with one noting, “People died in a tragic accident [at] the Titanic site and now to capitalize on the moment to garner viewers is beyond distasteful.”

However, it appears the “poor timing” many complained about may have just been an unfortunate coincidence: The movie appeared in the streamer’s upcoming movie slate that was posted two weeks ago — before the sub was lost.

Further, it takes time to work out rights and other legal matters to get a movie to stream to a platform, The Hollywood Reporter argues.

On Sunday, June 18, the 21-foot Titan submerged at 8 a.m. ET bound for the famous wreck. About an hour and 45 minutes later, the sealed craft lost contact with its operator, OceanGate Expeditions.

On Thursday, June 22, a remote-operated vehicle found debris from the sub. A senior U.S. Navy official confirmed to ABC News that day that an underwater acoustic system detected the sound of an implosion the day the missing submersible began its descent.

Incidentally, Cameron, a veteran of many underwater missions to study and film the doomed luxury liner, told ABC News he was “struck” by unfortunate echoes between this tragedy and the deadly 1912 sinking of the “unsinkable” ship.

“[T]he captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night and many people died as a result,” he said. “It’s a very similar tragedy where warnings [about Titan] went unheeded.”

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John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are now a family of six.

Taking to Instagram Wednesday, Legend shared a sweet photo of himself with all five children: their new baby boy, Wren Alexander Stephens, born June 19 via surrogate; Esti Maxine Stephens, the couples’ other infant, who was born in January; Luna, 7; and Miles, 5.

Teigen announced the news in a much more lengthy Instagram post, detailing their surrogacy process, revisiting her pregnancy loss in 2020 and explaining her longtime desire of having four children. 

“Our hearts, and our home, are officially full,” she said in the post, which included photos of Wren nuzzling against her chest and moments she shared with her surrogate, Alexandra.

Teigen went on to describe how she didn’t think she could carry anymore children after the loss of her third baby, Jack, so the surrogacy search began. At some point during that journey, she says, she told Legend she wanted to “try to carry just one more time.”

“If it doesn’t work, we will be okay. We’ve already seen the worst,” she wrote. “I remember saying I just couldn’t go on wondering my whole life if I should have tried again.” 

Teigen went on to say she restarted the IVF process, and during that time she and Legend met Alexandra, saying “she was a perfect match for us the moment we spoke to her.”

“We want to say thank you for this incredible gift you have given us, Alexandra,” Teigen said in her post. “And we are so happy to tell the world he is here, with a name forever connected to you …”

Teigen ended her post with a tribute to Jack, saying, “We know both their angel kisses are from you.”

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Movie star and movie fan Tom Cruise took to Instagram on Wednesday to promote … everybody else’s summer movies. 

In the post, the lead and producer of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is shown with that movie’s director, Christopher McQuarrie. They’re both grinning and holding their purchased tickets to Friday’s release, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. 

Cruise wrote, “This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters” before listing “just a few that we can’t wait to see on the big screen.”

He added, “Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indiana Jones and creating one of the most iconic characters in cinema history. You have given us countless hours of joy.”

Tom also added, “I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig‘s Barbie.”

Cruise has been a vocal proponent of maintaining the theatrical experience in this age of streaming, and he put his money where his mouth is: He delayed releasing Top Gun: Maverick to streaming throughout the pandemic until theaters reopened.

The gamble paid off: The movie became one of the biggest hits of 2022 and, with a haul of more than $1.49 billion, the highest grossing of his career. 

The movie’s success also “saved Hollywood’s a**” and indeed “the entire theatrical industry” in the eyes of Tom’s pal Steven Spielberg, according to a comment overheard during a conversation between the pair at an Oscars get-together.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning hits theaters July 12; Oppenheimer and Barbie both come out July 21.

Who knows, Tom Cruise may just be at a theater near you. 

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Actor and comedian Jim Gaffigan is returning to Prime Video with Dark Pale, his third stand-up special for the streamer and his 10th overall.

A new teaser shows him riffing on fatherhood, a common theme for the father of five. In the snippet, he admits, “We have too many kids. But if I did anything about it now, people would get so upset.”

The special will premiere on Prime Video worldwide on July 2

Gaffigan, who recently announced a five-city arena tour with Jerry Seinfeld, can also be seen as Mr. Smee in Disney+’s Peter Pan & Wendy, opposite Jude Law‘s Captain Hook.

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On Wednesday, June 28, Peacock released a teaser to its three-part series Orlando Bloom: To The Edge. 

The Lord of the Rings star is seen skydiving with a wing suit, hiking up a mountain and free-diving. After free-diving, the actor is seen speaking into a phone. “I felt about as close to death as I could possibly get,” he confesses. 

According to the streaming service, “Bloom takes viewers on a thrilling journey of self-discovery as he pushes his limits physically and mentally in order to reach his personal edge of what is possible.”

Peacock continues, “Through fear defying adventures and spiritual awareness, Bloom overcomes his fears and learns more about himself, while inspiring the audience at home to explore and expand their own limits in everyday life.”

The streamer adds, “With family, friends and his spiritual Buddhist practice guiding the way, Orlando is trained by experts who help him overcome obstacles, face his fears and discover valuable lessons about himself.”

A release date for the series, which was co-executive produced by the actor, has yet to be announced.

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With her eponymous talk show now on its summer hiatus, Drew Barrymore has had a little time to relax.

The actress recently passed along to ABC Audio some recommendations for what to watch and where to go as the weather heats up. 

When it comes to pressing play on your remote, Drew “can’t say enough” about Beef, the Netflix series starring Steven Yuen and Ali Wong. 

The show shows how a chance display of road rage in a parking lot turns the lives of two people from two completely different walks of life totally upside down.

“I know everybody knows it now, but if there’s someone out there who hasn’t watched it,” do so, she recommends. “I watched it when it was still new and quiet and under the radar, and I felt like I made the world’s greatest discovery…I don’t know if it’s news anymore, but if somebody hasn’t seen it, I can’t recommend it more. I love it so much.”

As for what to do, Drew’s got some ideas there, too. 

“My favorite thing right now to do is go on the Eater heat map and just go somewhere that’s like the closest arrow, or little whatever that teardrop shape, is near you,” she explained.

The website allows users to look up local restaurants they might not know are in their area, no matter where they happen to live. 

“The other day I went to Oodles of Noodles in Bayside, [Queens, New York] and I had the greatest meal!…It was a mother and daughter establishment, and I met the whole family and I hung out with them,” Drew enthused.

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Kevin Spacey made an appearance at London’s central Southwark Crown Court related to multiple sexual assault charges made against him by four men.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor arrived around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28, and the charges he’s facing were read aloud. After a jury was sworn in, court was adjourned until Friday, June 30.

Spacey faces 12 charges from four accusers, including seven for sexual assault, three counts of indecent assault and counts of sex acts performed without consent. The incidents occurred between 2004 and 2013, when he was acting as the artistic director of London’s famed Old Vic Theatre.

Spacey has maintained his innocence. As reported, he recently granted an interview with the German publication ZEITmagazin, in which he said of the accusations, “The moment scrutiny is applied, these things fall apart. That’s what happened in the [Anthony] Rapp trial, and that’s what will happen in this case.”

In 2022, a New York City jury cleared Spacey in a civil trial from Rapp, who claimed Spacey made sexual advances on him in 1986, when the Rent veteran was 14.

In the article, Spacey said he’s plotting a career comeback after the U.K. trial, which is expected to last four weeks, according to THR. “…I know that there are people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges in London,” Spacey told the magazine. “The second that happens, they’re ready to move forward.”

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The final season of the beloved comedy series Grown-ish begins Wednesday, but the show is determined to go out with a bang. At least that’s how actor Marcus Scribner, who plays Andre “Junior” Johnson, describes the series’ end.  

Scribner’s particularly excited about the celebrity guest lineup and the actors’ contributions to the final episodes. From Omarion to Latto and even the “legend” that is Kelly Rowland, Scribner says fans are in for a special treat.

“I was starstruck,” he said of working with Rowland. “I’ve met her before but even just getting to see her on set — unfortunately, Junior doesn’t really have too many scenes with her [but] getting to see her work on set and interacting with her between takes was insane. Dream come true.”

Scribner did work alongside Memphis rapper NLE Choppa, someone he says came ready to work. 

“Just a joy to work with,” he said of the music star. “I always love when somebody is ready to work and ready to learn because I think that’s what the acting’s always about.” 

Scribner says he enjoyed working alongside Lil Yatchy and that he’s happy the rapper is included in multiple episodes. And, like NLE, Yatchy is “also somebody who was really excited to be there and just throw himself fully into the characters.”  

Fans may say the same about Scribner, who’s played the role of Junior for a decade, starting at the young age of 13. Now 23, he’ll say goodbye to the beloved character.

“A beautiful experience” is how Scriber describes the end of the series; the first half of the final season kicks off June 28 on Freeform.

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Extraction 2 was the most viewed title on Netflix from June 19 to June 25, the streamer reported on Tuesday. The sequel, once again starring Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, the mercenary who survived being “clinically dead” at the original’s climax, only to take on another risky mission, had over 85 million views in the first 10 days since it premiered. Meanwhile, its predecessor, the 2020 film Extraction took second place with 13.8 million views…

Deadline reports that on the heels of being pulled from Paramount+ this week, comes word on Tuesday, June 27 that Comedy Central, will not air Inside Amy Schumer‘s fifth season, as previously announced. The sketch comedy series, created and hosted by the titular comedian, was first unveiled as part of Paramount+’s lineup in February 2021. Season 5 featured guest appearances from Olivia Wilde, Ellie Kemper, Bridget Everett, Jesse Williams and Yamaneika Saunders, among others…

Nicolas Coster, the soap opera star best known for playing wealthy patriarch Lionel Lockridge on NBC’s Santa Barbara, passed away on Monday from complications of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) following a long battle with cancer, his daughter Dinneen Coster announced on Facebook, according to Entertainment Weekly. He was 89. Coster also starred in the soaps Another World, As the World Turns, One Life to Live and All My Children, along with appearances in the primetime series Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels and Star Trek: The Next Generation, among others. On film, he appeared in 1976’s All the President’s Men and 1981’s Reds…

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