Entertainment

Will Ferrell has joined the cast of the upcoming Greta Gerwig-directed live-action Barbie movie, alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as the titular doll, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ferrell will reportedly play the CEO of a toy company that may or not be Mattel. Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey and America Ferrera also star. Plot details are being kept under wraps. Barbie will mark Ferrell’s first feature film since Netflix’s 2020 musical rom-com Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga…

Back to the Future’s Christopher Lloyd and She’s All That star Rachael Leigh Cook have been tapped to star in Spirit Halloween, based on the titular North American costume and prop store chain, according to Variety. The plot revolves around three middle school friends who brush off trick-or-treating to spend Halloween night locked in the store and discover it’s full of creepy animatronic characters haunted by an evil spirit who wants to possess them, as well. Spirit Halloween is set to open in October…

Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to the comedy-thriller Based on a True Story, from The Boys executive producer Craig Rosenberg and Ozark‘s Jason Bateman, according to Deadline. The series, inspired by real events, follows “a realtor, a plumber and a former tennis star whose lives unexpectedly collide, exposing America’s obsession with true crime, murder and the slow-close toilet seat,” according to the streamer…

Peacock is also developing a new live-action series based on Casper the Friendly Ghost. Per Variety, the “horror/adventure show” is a “coming-of-age story that explores what it means to be alive. When a new family arrives in the small town of Eternal Falls, Casper finds himself entangled in a mystery uncovering dark secrets that have been buried for over 100 years.” The first live-action film, based on the the 1940s cartoon and Harvey Comics character, was released in 1995 with Malachi Pearson voicing Casper and Devon Sawa playing him in human form, alongside Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty and Eric Idle. It grossed over $287 million worldwide and was followed by the live-action films Casper: A Spirited Beginning and Casper Meets Wendy, and the animated films Casper’s Haunted Christmas and Casper’s Scare School in 2000 and 2006, respectively…

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The journey to find the next American Idol continued Monday night with the remaining half of the Top 24 taking the stage in hopes of winning America’s votes.

Before taking the stage, though, they were mentored by pop star Bebe Rexha, who offered guidance and words of wisdom to talented singers. While no eliminations were scheduled this week, a shocking departure came from Platinum ticket winner Kenedi Anderson who withdrew from the competition for “personal reasons.” Her show-stopping performance of Christina Perri‘s “Human” was still aired, followed by a quick announcement from host Ryan Seacrest. 

“You might have noticed that there was no voting information during Kenedi’s performance just now,” he said from a studio. “Since we taped these shows in Hawaii earlier, Kenedi has decided to withdraw from our show for personal reasons. We send her well wishes.”

On social media, Kenedi issued a lengthier statement explaining, “I’m unable to continue on American Idol. This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I know it’s necessary.”

“I’m so grateful to American Idol, the judges, the producers, the amazing contestants, and all the fans who have supported me,” she continued. “Thank you for giving me such an amazing opportunity to share my voice, chase my dreams, feel so much joy and happiness doing what I love, and make lifelong friends along the way.”

Here are the remaining 11 contestants and their song choices:

Cadence Baker: “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” Etta James
Sir Blayke: “Breakeven” The Script
Allegra Miles: “Adore You” Harry Styles
Lady K: “Before He Cheats” Carrie Underwood 
Ava Maybee: “Tell Me Something Good” Rufus and Chaka Khan
Noah Thompson: “Blue Side Of The Mountain” The Steeldrivers
Leah Marlene: “Call Me” Blondie 
Cameron Whitcomb: “Bad Moon Rising” Creedence Clearwater Revival 
Christian Guardino: “Leave The Door Open” Silk Sonic
Katyrah Love: “Blame It on the Boogie” The Jacksons
Fritz Hager: “Waves” Dean Lewis

The Top 24 will be narrowed down to the Top 20 when American Idol returns Sunday, April 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Lady Whistledown might just run out of ink, thanks to a real-life behind-the-scenes scandal on the spin-off to Netflix’s hit Bridgerton.

The upcoming series centers on the younger days of Golda Rosheuvel‘s Queen Charlotte and other characters from the popular bodice-ripper series. 

However, in a kerfuffle worthy of the show’s resident gossip maven, an anonymous whistleblowing hotline has led to the dismissal of design chief Dave Arrowsmith, according to The Sun.

Apparently, Arrowsmith was accused of “bullying” co-workers on the set, prompting producers to start the tip line to gather evidence after “several incidents” on the show. 

The head production designer, tasked with decorating the Regency-era show’s settings, was a veteran of BBC series like Doctor Who and Cold Feet, and ABC’s romantic action show Whiskey Cavalier.

Netflix had no official comment to the publication, but confirmed that Arrowsmith was no longer a part of the show.

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Warner Bros. has announced that director Matt Reeves‘ hit The Batman is swinging home on digital release on April 18, the same day it premieres for subscribers to HBO Max. 

Robert Pattinson‘s debut as the Caped Crusader/Bruce Wayne then will be released as a feature-packed 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on May 24, a day after the film debuts on HBO. 

Included in the disc release will be deleted scenes and making-of featurettes, including one on Colin Ferrell‘s transformation into The Penguin; a closer look at Pattinson’s new Batmobile; a feature on Zoë Kravitz‘s Selena Kyle/Catwoman; and more. 

The film, which also stars Jeffrey Wright as Lt. James Gordon and Paul Dano as Edward Nashton/The Riddler, has made more than $735.1 million worldwide.

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If fans attending Chris Rock‘s comedy shows lately are hoping to hear what the comedian might say about being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars, they’re in for disappointment.

Those in attendance of his Friday show in Indio, California, were the latest group to be let down, after the 57-year-old entertainer told them right out of the gate that he wasn’t going to talk about the incident. 

“I’m OK, I have a whole show and I’m not talking about that until I get paid,” Rock joked, according to the Palm Springs Desert Sun. “Life is good. I got my hearing back,” he added.

While it’s unclear what kind of compensation Rock is seeking, he did decide not to press charges against Smith, who stormed the Oscar stage on March 27 and slapped Rock across the face, after the latter made a joke referencing the movie G.I. Jane and Jada Pinkett Smith‘s bald head. Oscar producer Will Packer told ABC News’ TJ Holmes later that LAPD officers told Rock during the Oscars, “This is battery,” and that he could move forward with pressing charges against Smith, but Rock was “dismissive” of those options and insisted that he was “fine.”

Rock’s first public appearance following the slap was at his sold-out show in Boston the Wednesday following the Oscars. Upon receiving a standing ovation and a warm welcome he told fans he wasn’t prepared to talk about the event and “still processing what went down.” 

“I don’t have a bunch of s*** about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend,” he said then.

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Ryan Coogler has been tapped as the executive producer of Ironheart, the upcoming Marvel Studios series bound for Disney+, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

As previously reported, the show will center on Riri Williams, a brilliant student who creates her own Iron Man suit in her MIT dorm.

Coogler’s involvement is a logical bit of synergy, as Dominique Thorne will reportedly make her debut as the character in his upcoming sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which takes place after the death of Robert Downey Jr.‘s Tony Stark/Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame.

Ironheart does not yet have an official premiere date, but could debut later this year. Black Panther: Wakanda Foreveris set to hit theaters on July 8, 2022.

Marvel is owned by Disney, parent company of ABC News.

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Marvel movie star Chris Pratt told his 36.5 million Instagram followers that he is “blown away” by his “little film that could,” the “incredible documentary” Alaskan Nets.

The documentary is set in the remote Alaskan island town of Metlakatla. For more than a century, two sacred traditions have defined the home of Alaska’s last remaining native reserve, producers tease: fishing and basketball.

The “proud” executive producer gushed that the film, about the Metlakatla Chiefs, the local high school’s home team, “is more than just a basketball movie,” adding, “[I]t’s a story of hope during tough times, and we all need stories like that.”

Pratt explained that there have been 1,100 schools across the U.S. and Canada participating in a Movie Night tour boosting the film. The events helped pad the bottom lines of the schools’ concession stands — many of which were forced to shut down during the pandemic — and those stands help fund the schools’ teams.  

The actor also urged people to stream the “empowering, beautiful” story, which “brings people together and can inspire us to keep going.”

The movie was the Audience Choice Award winner at last year’s Santa Barbara film festival.

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Disney+ has found its Percy Jackson.

Walker Scobell, the 13-year-old whose movie debut was playing a young Ryan Reynolds in Netflix’s recent hit The Adam Project, will play the title role in the Disney+ show based on Rick Riordan‘s bestselling books.

The series follows the titular hero, a 12-year-old who finds out he’s actually the son of Greek god Poseidon. Accused of stealing a lightning bolt from Zeus himself, Percy goes on a quest to recover it.

In January, ABC Audio reported the book series would be coming to Disney+.

The wait is over, demigods,” bestselling book series creator Rick Riordan delared in a video. “I am thrilled to be the first to tell you that Percy Jackson and the Olympians is really, truly, and for sure coming to your screens.”

While a pair of films were made from the books — Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief in 2010 and 2013’s Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters — casting Scobell checks the necessary box of choosing a hero closer to Percy’s age in the books than the movies did.

While the films were financial successes, Riordan was not a fan, to put it mildly.

James Bobin is directing the pilot Riordan is writing. Riordan told fans, “James knows the Percy Jackson books well, his kids are fans,” adding the show is “in great hands.”

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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Larry David‘s Emmy-winning Seinfeld follow-up Curb Your Enthusiasm will be back for season 12 on HBO.

The network, and all involved in the show, have always left it up to the mercurial David when it comes time to renew the program.  That may be why HBO appears to be playing catch-up, and has yet to issue a press release about the news.

Instead, David confirmed Sunday at a Directors Guild of America that the series would return, according to Deadline.

The show dropped its eleventh season last September, and its finale was in December.

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Jada Pinkett Smith showed up to support friends Shonda Rhimes and Debbie Allen on the opening of the Rhimes Performing Arts Center over the weekend, marking the actress’ first public appearance since her husband, Will Smith, slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars over a joke Rock made about her.

The Red Table Talk host shared a picture of herself on Instagram on Sunday, wearing a glittery, gold strapless dress and congratulating Allen on her Debbie Allen Dance Academy, which will be housed in the performing arts center.

“@therealdebbieallen said wrap it all in gold and come let the kids fill your soul,” Jada captioned the image. “You are the legacy that so many other legacies will stand upon. Thank you for ALL that you do.”

In a follow-up post, Pinkett posed with both Allen and Rhimes and recognized the Bridgerton producer for “helping the dreams of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy become a reality.”

The new performing arts center, which is open to students eight and older and will teach them a variety of dance genres, is a two-story, 24,000 square foot complex that includes five dance studios and an aerial studio named after Will and Jada, according to Broadway World.

Saturday served as Jada’s first red carpet event since Will Smith was banned from the Motion Picture Academy for ten years for slapping Rock two weeks ago. The day after the incident, Smith posted an apology to his Instagram account, saying in part, “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable.”

Smith later resigned from the Academy and, after learning of the consequences of his actions, including being banned from all future Academy events for ten years, including the Oscars, he said, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”

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