Entertainment Tonight reports Meg Ryan is making a return to rom-coms for the first time since 2008.
The When Harry Met Sally star is set to direct and star opposite David Duchovny in the upcoming film, What Happens Later, based on Steven Dietz‘s play, Shooting Star.
The movie adaptation, which she co-wrote with Dietz and playwright/novelist Kirk Lynn, follows Ryan and Duchovny as Willa and Bill, an ex-couple “who are reunited when they find themselves snowed in at an airport overnight.” Through the course of the evening, Willa, a free spirit, and Bill, who’s coping with a recent separation, “look back on their shared past and revisit any feelings that still linger between them.”
The producers, in a statement obtained by the outlet, say the rom-com takes “a look at life and love that audiences the world over will relate to and hunger for in these uncertain times when connection and reconciliation feel more important than ever.”
Wednesday is May 4th, known the world over as Star Wars Day, as in “May the Fourth be with you” — a punny salutation created by fans who chose the date to celebrate George Lucas‘ galaxy far, far away.
The Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm in 2012, and has officially observed the holiday since 2013. And this year, Disney+ is helping fans celebrate with a new trailer for its forthcoming new series, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The new coming attraction shows the desperate state Ewan McGregor’s titular Jedi Knight is in following the events of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith and the rise of the Empire, as he fights to keep himself — and a young Luke Skywalker, now with his aunt and uncle on Tattooine — out of the Empire’s clutches, while the Empire also hunts him. We also get another glimpse of Kenobi’s former student, Anakin Skywalker, now transformed into the evil Darth Vader.
As reported, Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin/Vander for Obi-Wan Kenobi, and for the follow-up, Ahsoka. Obi-Wan Kenobi debuts May 27 with two episodes on Disney+.
Speaking of which, Disney+’s Star Wars channel has a different look for Star Wars Day, and new content, including a behind the scenes look at the making of The Book of Boba Fett; Star Wars Biomes, described as “a virtual vacation” to some of the franchise’s fictional locations like Hoth and Tatooine; Star Wars: A Galaxy of Sounds, an ambient noise channel for the vehicles and locations from the movies; and more.
Of course, you can also find all of the Star Wars films, as well as all of its live-action and animated spin-off shows, on Disney+.
For the record, here are the five highest-grossing Star Wars movies at the time of their release, according to FinanceBuzz:
Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (2015) — $936,662,225
Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (2017) — $620,181,382
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) — $532,177,324
Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019) — $515,202,542
Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999) — $431,088,295
And here are the five highest-grossing Star Wars movies, adjusted for inflation:
Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (1977) — $1,340,662,479
Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens — $1,041,106,174
Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace — $682,414,475
Star Wars: Episode V (1980) — The Empire Strikes Back — $673,343,092
Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983) — $669,547,048
Paramount+ announced that the Bryan Cranston/Annette Bening comedy Jerry & Marge Go Large will be coming to the streaming service on June 17. The film, which will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, has the pair starring in the real-life story of a couple who hit it big gaming the Massachusetts lottery. They then use their windfall to help their Michigan town. The film also stars Michael McKean, Larry Wilmore, Rainn Wilson, and Anna Camp…
A spin-off to the hit Jackass: Forever is coming to Paramount+. The Hollywood Reporter says Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish revealed the news after an earnings call on Tuesday. “…[W]e’re working with the creators to continue the partnership with a new series, bringing even more ridiculous antics straight to Paramount+,” the exec said. To date, the modestly-budgeted Jackass: Forever has made more than $80 million in theaters, making it one of the highest grossing films of 2022…
(NOTE LANGUAGE)Dead to Me, Netflix’s dark comedy starring Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini and James Marsden, will return for its third and final season in the fall. “And… that’s a wrap on @deadtome Season 3!” series creator Liz Feldmantweeted next to a photo of a director’s chair sitting alone on a beach. “Filming is complete. Editing is underway. The final season is coming. And holy. f******. s***. @1capplegate & @lindacardellini knocked it out of the park. Can’t to share it with you.” Netflix also announced Feldman’s next project for the streamer, the dark comedy titled, No Good Deed…
David Birney, the actor best known for playing Dr. Ben Samuels on season one of the 1982 NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere, as well as CBS’ short-lived, controversial 1972 sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie, has died of Alzheimer’s disease at his home in Santa Monica, His life partner Michele Roberge tells The New York Times. He was 83. Birney appeared on St. Elsewhere for just one season, before leaving due to a Broadway commitment. Bridget Loves Bernie, an interfaith sitcom that met with criticism from Jewish groups due to accusations of stereotypes, lasted just one season, but also introduced him to his co-star Meredith Baxter, to whom was married from 1974-1989. They shared three children. Birney also had guest spots and recurring roles on many classic TV shows, including Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat and Hawaii Five-0…
Mom alum Allison Janney has been tapped to star alongside Kristen Wiig in Apple TV+ comedy series Mrs. American Pie, according to Deadline. Mrs. American Pie revolves around Palm Beach high society in the 1970s. Wiig plays Maxine Simmons, “an outsider” trying to “cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots,” according to the streaming service. “Mrs. American Pie asks the same questions that still baffle us today: ‘Who gets a seat at the table?” Janney will play Evelyn, a full-time Palm Beach resident and member of the high society. Executive producer Laura Dern is also “eyeing a key role” in the comedy…
It’s no joke: Dave Chappelle was tackled on stage while playing the Netflix Is A Joke festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles Tuesday night.
According to KABC-TV, the unidentified man rushed the stage when Chappelle was performing, and shoved Dave to stage floor, where the comic tussled with the unknown assailant. The suspect then ran away behind a screen on stage, where he was tackled by security.
The 48-year-old comedian and Mark Twain Award winner was apparently uninjured in the altercation, and actually ran towards the scrum with security, where it appeared the suspect was getting “stomped.” Chappelle repeatedly demanded he be ejected from the historic venue, according to the ABC News affiliate.
Authorities say the suspect, who was wheeled out of the venue in a hospital gurney, was reportedly armed with a gun and a knife.
The show continued, with Chris Rock joining Dave after the attack, joking, “Was that Will Smith?” — of course a callback to the slap he suffered at the hands of the star during this year’s Oscars telecast.
Matt Winkelmeyer/MG22/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
After keeping silent for months, Sophie Turner officially confirmed to Elle UK that she is expecting her second child with husband Joe Jonas.
The Game of Thrones alum, who already shares 10-month-old daughter Willa with Joe, reveals in the magazine’s June edition, “We’re so excited to be expanding the family. It’s the best blessing ever.”
“It’s what life is about for me — raising the next generation,” she continues. “The greatest thing in life is seeing my daughter go from strength to strength.”
Turner, 26, and Jonas, 32, began dating in 2016 and tied the knot in 2019.
The actress’ baby bump was on full display at Monday’s Met Gala in New York City.
ABC’s new true-crime show Who Do You Believe? premieres Tuesday night.
The show lets viewers play armchair detective, analyzing real cases presented from dual perspectives.
“In order to find the actual truth, you need to hear all sides. And when it comes to crime, too often the sides of, you know, you don’t really get the full picture,” executive producer Ben Crompton explains to ABC Audio. “Because everyone’s truth is different.”
He adds, “What we set out to do is to speak to people who were close to a really twisty, turny, true-crime story on either side of it. And what we found is their stories, their truth is often directly incongruent to the other person’s truth.”
Executive producer Alex Weresow says Who Do You Believe? isdifferent than other true-crime shows. “Yes, there are some murders, but the range of stories are pretty different, too,” he notes. “We have a conservatorship battle…You know, it’s mothers versus daughters, sons versus mothers…They’re not all bloody, gory murder.”
Since the show deals with court cases, ABC Audio asked Weresow about the fascination over coverage of Johnny Depp‘s lawsuit against Amber Heard.
“[Y]ou get to see her reaction to him on trial as he’s [testifying],” Weresow points out. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing in our show, utilizing split screen and kind of putting them in the same rooms. You can watch this person as that person is making the accusations against them, and they have the right to rebut everything as well.”
He adds, “So it is very much just like that, that trial. But hearing Amber being able to respond right away instead of having to bite her tongue.”
Who Do You Believe? airs at 10 p.m. Tuesday on ABC.
Fans can now get their first look at WEIRD, the “untold true story” of “Weird Al” Yankovic — and, on brand for the famed parodist, it seems to be something of a spoof of the genre.
As stage lights ignite, and throngs of concert fans scream, serious-looking title cards appear into frame, listing Yankovic’s very real accolades — “6 Platinum Records, 5 Grammys” — before the keyboard open to Al’s Madonna-spoofing “Like a Surgeon” begins.
“Hope you guys are ready for this,” a shirtless Radcliffe tells the crowd as Al, before a shot shows him jumping back up into frame with an accordion.
The clip also shows a fight scene straight out of a kung-fu movie, and apparently another face-off that has Al saying, “Does anyone have an accordion?” before unseen hands shove three into frame.
So it’s safe to say the film isn’t going to be a straight-up biopic — or, as Al says in the teaser, “What can I say? I’m full of surprises.”
Stephen Colbertwas back at The Late Show Monday night, following having COVID. The talk show host used a planned week off to recover, with his wife Evie, who was also infected.
Colbert noted that while he’s back on his feet, the “first three days sucked,” and now, although he’s negative, he’s got a “serious head cold.” He also thanked “science” for providing the vaccines and boosters he’d taken before coming down with the virus.
The late show host also offered well-wishes to Jimmy Kimmel, who announced yesterday that he’s down for the count with the virus. “TV is down a Jimmy!” Colbert joked in a “broadcast emergency.”
“I’m calling on President Biden to open the United States’ Strategic Jimmy Reserve!” Colbert snarked.
That said, Colbert insisted he didn’t infect his late-night colleague. “Of course, I’m on the East Coast, Jimmy’s in LA, there’s no way I could have given it to him,” Colbert said.
“And yes, last week, I did lick a lot of things and FedEx them to his office. But I only paid for two days: gotta be sterile by the time he opens it.”
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Ashley Judd is taking a walk down memory lane as she reflects on the passing of her mother, Naomi Judd.
The actress took to Instagram following The Judds‘ induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame to share how the family has been honoring the memory of Naomi, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 76 due to mental illness.
In the loving post, Ashley shared a photo of her and sister Wynonna Judd with their backs to the camera, looking at the bronze plaque of The Judds that sits in the rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with a photo of Carly Pearce performing at the ceremony.
Ashley then takes viewers inside the Judds’ home, sharing a photo of the altar she created in her mother’s honor that includes a picture of her silhouette from when she was 11 years old, surrounded by flowers and a book titled Grief Therapy. She also shares a video of Naomi’s husband, Larry Strickland, singing “How Great Thou Art,” along with a throwback photo from childhood of the sisters with their mom at Little Cat Creek in their home state of Kentucky.
“Speechless,” Ashley begins in the caption. “Your outpouring is reaching me. Thank you for every thought, prayer, message, text, email, post, expression. We each are alone and we are in fellowship, broken and held, protected from nothing and sustained in everything. It’s the beginning of an old story, life and death, loss and life. Be free, my beautiful mother. Be free.”
Ashley and Wynonna were both present at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Nashville Sunday, where they paid a tearful tribute to their late mother, who died one day before the event.
(NOTE CONTENT)In a Virginia courtroom today, attorneys for Amber Heard were unsuccessful in their motion to lobby Judge Penny Azcarate to dismiss the $50 million defamation lawsuit leveled against the actress by her ex-husband Johnny Depp.
As reported, Depp is alleging a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post that obliquely accused the actor of physical and sexual abuse, was not only false, but it devastated his reputation and career.
Attorneys for both parties took turns in oral arguments to the judge without the jury present, with Depp’s attorneys mounting a longer, point-by-point defense of why the case should proceed, including a recap of the testimony detailing how the ACLU helped Heard craft her controversial op-ed, and the abuse the Pirates of the Caribbean star allegedly suffered at the hands of the Aquaman actress.
“She even lied about the final insult left on the marital bed,” one of Depp’s attorneys added, regarding the testimony about the poop Depp’s camp says Heard left in their bedroom.
In the end, Judge Azcarate ruled for the plaintiff, Depp, noting, “if there is a scintilla of evidence that a reasonable juror could weigh, then the matter survives a motion to strike.”
She added, there is, “evidence that jurors could weigh that the [op-ed] statements were about the plaintiff, that the statements were published and that the statement was false,” and “that the defendant made the statement knowing it to be false or…made it so recklessly as to amount to willful disregard for the truth…”
The judge then declared the case will resume following a lunch break.
