Month: October 2022

Sydney Sweeney is set to star in a new “Barbarella” movie for Sony Pictures. Adapted from French writer and illustrator Jean-Claude Forest’s comic series and directed by Roger Vadim, the original 1968 “Barbarella” starred Jane Fonda as the space-traveling heroine. The film has garnered ‘cult film’ status over the years, with Barbarella widely seen as one of Fonda’s most iconic on-screen roles.

The new project for Sony is in early development, with no director, producer or writer currently attached; however Sweeney seemed to confirm the project through an Instagram post, sharing an image of original artwork from the original 1968 film with a caption: “time to save the universe.”

Sweeney has a slate of projects lined up with Sony Pictures — she is co-starring alongside Dakota Johnson in the Marvel Comics adaptation “Madame Web,” and will star in “The Registration,” an adaptation of Madison Lawson’s thriller of the same name. Additionally, Sweeney’s acclaimed performances in the first season of HBO’s comedy series “The White Lotus” and the network’s “Euphoria” earned her two Emmy nominations for both programs.

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20th Century Studios announced the ensemble cast of director Kenneth Branagh’s third film in the Hercule Poirot series based on Agatha Christie novels, titled “A Haunting in Venice.”  Branagh reprises his role as Poirot, with Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh, Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly and Riccardo Scamarico rounding out the cast.

The film – set in post-WWII Venice on All Hallows’ Eve – follows another mystery featuring the celebrated sleuth Poirot, and is inspired by Christie’s “Hallowe’en Party.” Branagh said of the new film: “This is a fantastic development of the character Hercule Poirot, as well as the Agatha Christie franchise. Based on a complex, little known tale of mystery set at Halloween in a pictorially ravishing city, it is an amazing opportunity for us, as filmmakers, and we are relishing the chance to deliver something truly spine-chilling for our loyal movie audiences.”

Production on the film will begin in November, with filming in London and location work in Venice. A Haunting in Venice will open in theaters nationwide in 2023.

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Michelle Yeoh and Pete Davidson have joined the cast of Paramount’s upcoming film Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts, based on Hasbro’s Transformers action figures. The latest film in a franchise chronicling the war between factions of alien robots, and will ‘take audiences on a ’90s globetrotting adventure, introducing the robot tribes known as the Maximals and Terrorcons to the existing battle on earth between the Autobots and Decepticons.’

Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback will lead the cast of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, set for release on June 9, 2023. Yeoh will voice the Maximal Airazor, with Davidson voicing the Autobot Mirage. Announcing the news today via behind-the-scenes videos with the actors in the recording booth was director Steven Caple Jr.: “Pete Davidson in disguise.  @transformersmovie cast is amazing, man. Sneak peek of Pete voicing Mirage & @michelleyeoh_official blessing us as the voice of Air Razor #rotb 2023.”

Yeoh will soon be seen in Avatar: The Way of Water and three more films in the James Cameron franchise, as well as Netflix’s The School for Good and Evil and The Witcher: Blood Origin.

SNL alum Davidson recently starred opposite Kaley Cuoco in Peacock’s rom-com Meet Cute, and will soon be seen in David Michôd’s A24 pic Wizards!, James DeMonaco’s horror-thriller The Home, Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money and the Peacock series, Bupkis.

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Freevee, the streaming service backed by Amazon, has ordered a pilot for Jessica Simpson’s memoir, ‘Open Book.’  The half-hour scripted comedy will star singer/songwriter/actress Katelyn Tarver, and Fuller House’s John Stamos.

Open Book is described as ‘a propulsive, music-soaked coming-of-age story that is inspired by Jessica Simpson’s best-selling memoir.’  The show follows pop star Sadie Sparrow (Tarver) from her mid-20s rise from ingenue to mogul, introducing viewers to the family, friends and lovers she collects along the way.  Stamos will play Butch Thorn, a divorced former singer-songwriter and alcoholic with self-destructive tendencies who is attracted to Sadie, making things awkward when he realizes she’s the young pop star he’s been hired  to write songs with.

Simpson’s memoir sold half a million copies and was the highest-grossing memoir from a female entertainment personality in history at the time of its debut.  In 2020, Simpson signed a multimedia rights deal with Amazon which also included a series of short stories published by Amazon Original Stories. The next project from that deal — ‘Movie Star: They Always Say They’re Single — A True Story ‘— will debut in February.

Katelyn Tarver & John Stamos To Star In Amazon Freevee’s ‘Open Book’ Pilot Inspired By Jessica Simpson Memoir

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The Emmy Award-winning musical competition series ‘The Voice’ will return next spring, with NBC announcing that Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan will join returning coaches Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton for Season 23, with Carson Daly back as host.

Just after the Season 23 coaches were revealed, Shelton announced his plans to leave the show after his appearance on Season 23. The 46-year-old Shelton took to social media to share in a statement: “I’ve been wrestling with this for a while and I’ve decided that it’s time for me to step away from ‘The Voice’ after season 23. This show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me. It’s been a hell of a ride over these 12 years of chair turns and I want to thank everyone at ‘The Voice’ from NBC, every producer, the writers, musicians, crew and catering people, you are the best. It takes a lot of work, passion, and adult beverages (Ha!) to pull off a live show twice a week. I’ve made lifelong bonds with Carson and every single one my fellow coaches over the years, including my wife, Gwen Stefani! I have to give a huge shoutout to the singers – the ‘Voices’ who come on this stage season after season and amaze us with their talent and a special thanks to those who chose me to be their coach. Lastly, it’s about y’all, the fans, who watch and support these artists, us coaches and everyone at ‘The Voice’ chasing their dreams. It wouldn’t happen without you!”

Shelton has been a coach on The Voice since its premiere in 2011, becoming a mainstay since its inception and holding the title for the longest running coach. He has earned the most overall wins on The Voice with eight wins under his belt; and he’s also coached 15 artists whose songs have hit No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart.

Fans can watch Shelton on the current Season 22 of The Voice airing on NBC every Monday and Tuesday at 8/7c, along with fellow coaches Camila Cabello, John Legend, and wife Gwen Stefani.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com