Entertainment

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was a presenter at Sunday night’s Oscars, alongside his Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt, but before he took the stage, Variety asked him about the fate of Black Adam.

As reported, DC Studios and its co-CEOs, James Gunn and Peter Safran, announced that Johnson’s hero wouldn’t be a part of the Warner Bros.-owned studio’s superhero film universe after the movie underperformed.

But the stickier widget was Henry Cavill as Superman. Johnson brought Cavill back to play the Man of Steel in a Black Adam after-credits scene. The former Witcher star happily told his fans he was back — until he wasn’t; Gunn and Safran are recasting the role for Superman: Legacy.

On Sunday night, Johnson was diplomatic, explaining, “All that I can do, and all that we could do when we were making Black Adam, was to put our best foot forward and surround ourselves with the best people and deliver the best movie we could. Our audience score was in the 90s. Critics took a couple shots, but that’s just the business of it,” he continued.

Johnson said, “It’s almost like when you have a pro football team and your quarterback wins championships and your head coach wins championships and then a new owner comes in and says, ‘Not my coach, not my quarterback. I’m going to go with somebody new.'”

Last December, Johnson explained while Adam won’t be part of the hero slate for now, “DC and [his company] Seven Bucks have agreed to continue exploring the most valuable ways Black Adam can be utilized in future DC multiverse chapters.”

For his part, Gunn tweeted at the time, “Love the Rock, and I’m always excited to see what he and Seven Bucks do next. Can’t wait to collaborate soon.”

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As most know by now, newly minted Everything Everywhere All at Once Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan was a former child star, first breaking through with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and following it up with The Goonies.

However, opportunities became scarce as he got older and he transitioned to a career behind the camera. That said — and as fans of Goonies might have hoped — the cast from the beloved 1985 film have stayed close over the years.

That’s what Quan said backstage at Sunday night’s Oscars, when he revealed his former childhood pals have been rooting for him.

“You know, right before this night started, Corey Feldman, one of my Goonies brothers, called,” Quan said of the guy who played Mouth. “I was talking to Kerri Green (Andy). And of course, tonight, Jeff Cohen (Chunk), who is my entertainment lawyer, is here tonight with me. He was in the audience. And that’s why I wanted to thank him, because I love all of them so much.”

Ke continued, “And every single one of them was so happy: Sean (Astin, who played Mikey) reached out. Josh (Brolin/Brand), Martha (Plimpton/Stef), you know, we are always bonded.”

“You know, we’re family forever,” Ke said, adding the kids’ slogan from the movie, which brought the house down backstage. “Goonies never say die!”

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The first teaser for Only Murders in the Building‘s third season arrived Sunday, which shared a first look at Meryl Streep joining the Hulu comedy. The clip also provided a look at Paul Rudd, who made a cameo in the season two finale. A release date for the show’s third season was not announced…

Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson will make her Saturday Night Live hosting debut on April 1. She will be joined by musical guest Lil Yachty…

Elizabeth Banks is lending her voice to a new adult comedy animated series for The Flintstones. The revival, titled Bedrock, stars an adult Pebbles that will be voiced by Banks and has been greenlit for a pilot presentation. Deadline reports other names attached to the series include Stephen Root as Fred, Amy Sedaris as Wilma, Manny Jacinto as Bamm-Bamm, Nicole Byer as Betty and Jo Lo Truglio as Barney. The series takes place two decades after the original series, when the Stone Age gives way to the Bronze Age…

Netflix reportedly acquired the 22-page sci-fi thriller short story I Am Not Alone for an on-screen adaptation. Deadline says the streamer spent either a high six figures or mid seven figures at auction, elbowing out five other bidders including Warner Bros. The deal includes Lovecraft Country‘s Misha Green to pen the script and will star Jessica Chastain…

Elizabeth Olsen teased a potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Deadline asked her about the upcoming Disney+ series, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, which stars her character Wanda Maximoff’s nemesis. Olsen replied, “I think I’ll be back.” The upcoming series stars Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha, who debuted in the Disney+ series WandaVision. Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, parent company of ABC News…

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Saturday Night Live took aim at the Academy Awards in its cold open.

Marcello Hernández pretended to be Mario Lopez while Heidi Gardner played Maria Menounos or Kit Hoover, joking, “They haven’t told me yet.”  The bit saw them interviewing various celebrities, like Chloe Fineman‘s Jamie Lee Curtis and Keenan Thompson‘s Mike Tyson, for Access Hollywood.

They joked Tyson was hired to handle security amid the fallout over last year’s infamous slap between Will Smith and Chris Rock. Thompson, as Tyson, also warned that things like clapping or statues of gold “will set me off.” He also joked that “all the nominees have been given tasers and all the seat fillers have been given guns and [host] Jimmy Kimmel has been given a flame thrower.”

The cold open also took another jab at disgraced representative George Santos, who was played by Bowen Yang. The politician pretended to be Tom Cruise in order to get on the red carpet and insisted, “I’m definitely Thomas Q. Cruise, star of this year’s blockbuster film Top Gun 2: Top Bottom.”

When Lopez called out his lies, Santos came clean but reminded everyone he is in Congress before walking away so he can “be everyone, everywhere all at once.”

Scream VI star Jenna Ortega hosted the show, with musical guest The 1975.

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) Everything Everywhere All at Once was the big winner at Sunday night’s 95th Annual Academy Awards, snagging almost everything: The film from Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert nabbed seven Oscars out of its leading 11 nominations, including Best Picture.

Backstage, its star Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian woman to win a Best Actress trophy, explained, “This is actually a historical moment, so I really have to thank the Academy for acknowledging [and] embracing diversity and true representation.”

She added, “I think this is something that we have been working so hard towards for a very long time. And tonight we frigging broke that glass ceiling!”

Everything‘s Best Supporting Actress Jamie Lee Curtis explained it was a “surreal and proud” moment, but she added she would have loved to see more female representation in other categories. “I think we’re getting there. We’re not anywhere near there,” she cautioned. “I think the most important thing is inclusivity and more women. I mean, basically just f***ing more women anywhere, anytime, all at once!”

Ke Huy Quan was as emotional backstage as he was on the podium accepting Best Supporting Actor for the film. The former child star of Steven Spielberg‘s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom expressed, “During one of the commercial breaks, I ran up to Steven…and he gave me a big hug…and he says, ‘Ke, you are now an Oscar winning actor.’ And hearing him say that meant the world to me. And I still cannot believe it.”

Brendan Fraser‘s career comeback was complete with an Best Actor win for The Whale. He explained filming during COVID influenced all the nominated films. “We all lived under an existential threat, we didn’t know if there would be a tomorrow,” he said, adding the cast performed, “as if it’s the first and last time you ever will.”

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Scream VI knocked out Creed III for the weekend box office’s top spot.

The Scream franchise’s sixth installment scared up $44.5 million in the domestic box office, which is an improvement over how the series’ fifth offering fared during its 2022 domestic debut. Scream V earned $30 million in its opening week. Overseas, the new film amassed an additional $22.6 million in ticket sales, which boosted its overall haul to $67.1 million. Scream VI sees the return of Courteney Cox, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere and Melissa Barrera.

Falling to second place was Creed III, which is in its second week in the box office. The Michael B. Jordan film earned $27.1 million, which is a 53 percent decline from its opening numbers. Despite that, the film has surpassed the $100 million mark after factoring in its overseas totals. The movie has made $179 million in the global box office.

Landing in third place was 65 with a modest $12.3 million debut. The film, which stars Adam Driver as a futuristic pilot who crash lands on an unknown, primitive planet, was filmed on a $45 million budget.

Rounding out the top five was Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Cocaine Bear, with a respective $7 million and $6.2 million global haul in the box office.

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The champagne-colored carpet was in full effect at the 2023 Oscars Sunday night.

Celebrities wore their biggest, brightest and fiercest looks for the celebratory affair. A-listers donned everything from modernized styles to elegant classics and everything in between.

There was an unforgettable look from Florence Pugh, who wore a stunning Valentino ensemble that included black shorts. Rihanna also turned heads in a black Alaïa dress that featured a sheer panel revealing her growing baby bump.

Here are some other standouts:

Michelle Yeoh: The Best Actress winner stunned in a white Dior Haute Couture gown with a mesh illusion neckline and layers of feather fringe.

Austin Butler: He kept it classy in a black velvet tux by Saint Laurent and heeled boots.

Angela Bassett: Bassett glowed in a royal purple curve-hugging gown and diamond snake necklace. 

Jamie Lee Curtis: The Best Supporting Actress winner wore a long-sleeve nude embellished with sparkle and shimmer.

Mindy Kaling: She stunned in a white Vera Wang gown on the carpet, then changed into an identical version of the dress in black while presenting.

Cate Blanchett: The actress opted for a two-tone black-and-blue Louis Vuitton ensemble. 

Tems: Tems looked like a cloud in an all white gown, with a thigh-high slit by Lever Couture. The sweeping headpiece stirred up criticism online, though, for blocking the view of the attendees seated behind her.

Paul Mescal: Mescal spiced up his black trousers with a white shirt and jacket, black bow tie, and red rose boutonnière. 

Malala Yousafzai: Malala rocked a silver shimmery hooded gown designed by Ralph Lauren. 

Nicole Kidman: Kidman wore an Armani Privé one-sleeve black dress with a thigh high split and rosettes at the top of her shoulder and thigh. 

Hong Chau: Chau wore an elegant blush pink high neck, sleeveless Prada gown with a black sequined feather train. 

Janelle Monae: The singer and actress wrote a playful orange Vera Wang gown with a black deep plunge top and black-studded choker. 

 

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The 95th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, was held Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Everything Everywhere All at Once was the big winner, winning seven Oscars out of its leading 11 nominations, including Best Picture. Star Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress, while Brendan Fraser won Best Actor for his starring role in The Whale.

Here are the winners from Sunday night’s broadcast:

Best Picture
Everything Everywhere All at Once, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang, Producers

Best Director
Everything Everywhere All at Once, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Best Actor
Brendan Fraser, The Whale

Best Actress
Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Supporting Actor
Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Supporting Actress
Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Adapted Screenplay
Women Talking, Sarah Polley

Best Original Screenplay
Everything Everywhere All at Once, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Best Animated Feature
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley

Best Animated Short
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud

Best Live Action Short
An Irish Goodbye, Tom Berkeley and Ross White

Best Cinematography
All Quiet on the Western Front, James Friend

Best Costume Design
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ruth E. Carter

Best Documentary Feature
Navalny, Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller and Shane Boris

Best Documentary Short Subject
The Elephant Whisperers, Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga

Best Editing
Everything Everywhere All at Once, Paul Rogers

Best International Feature Film
All Quiet on the Western Front, Germany

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
The Whale, Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Anne Marie Bradley

Best Production Design
All Quiet on the Western Front, Christian M. Goldbeck; Set Decoration: Ernestine Hipper

Best Original Score
All Quiet on the Western Front, Volker Bertelmann

Best Original Song
“Naatu Naatu” from RRR, Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose

Best Sound
Top Gun: Maverick, Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor

Best Visual Effects
Avatar: The Way of Water, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett

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Everything Everywhere All at Once won Best Picture Sunday night at the 95th Academy Awards.

The film won over fellow nominees All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Banshees of Inisherin, Elvis, The Fabelmans, Tár,  Top Gun: Maverick, Triangle of Sadness and Women Talking. 

“This feels incredible,” said producer Jonathan Wang. “There is no movie without our brilliant and big-hearted cast and crew. But not just these beautiful souls here, also up there and in little Tokyo, we see you. So, this award is ours.”

“But this is for my dad, who like so many immigrant parents died young and he is so proud of me, not because of this, but because we made this movie with what he taught me to do, which is no person is more important than profits. And no one is more important than anyone else,” he continued. “And these weirdos right here supported me in doing that. Memory eternal.”

Wang also shouted out the film’s directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as The Daniels.

“I love you guys. You just won Best Picture,” he concluded. 

Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven Oscars: Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Picture.

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Brendan Fraser is an Oscar winner. The 54-year-old took home the trophy for Best Actor at the 95th annual Academy Awards Sunday night for his role as a 600-pound man in The Whale.

“So this is what the multiverse looks like,” Brendan said as he accepted his award, holding back tears. He then thanked his director Darren Aronofsky “for throwing me a creative lifeline and hauling me aboard the good ship The Whale.” He later thanked his sons for all their support.

Fraser added, “I started in this business 30 years ago and things, they didn’t come easily to me, but there was a facility that I didn’t appreciate at the time until it stopped.”

Fellow nominees for Best Actor included Austin Butler for Elvis, Colin Farrell for The Banshees of Inisherin, Paul Mescal for Aftersun and Bill Nighy for Living.

Holding dual Canadian/American citizenship, Brendan’s win makes him the first-ever Canadian to win the Oscar for Best Actor.

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