Category: Entertainment Daypop

Netflix has released thee first trailer for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s upcoming feature film Tick, Tick…Boom! featuring Andrew Garfield as ‘Rent’ creator Jonathan Larson. The film also stars Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light and Bradley Whitford.

Tick, Tick… Boom! is based on Larson’s autobiographical musical of the same name. The original Tick, Tick… Boom! musical featured music, lyrics and a book by Larson, who died at age 35 in 1996. An official description reads: “the film follows Jon (Garfield), a young theater composer, as he navigates love, friendship and the pressures of life as an artist in New York City in 1990. With the clock ticking, Jon is at a crossroads and faces the question everyone must reckon with: What are we meant to do with the time we have?” 

Tick, Tick… Boom! is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature-length directorial debut; it will debut in select theaters on Nov. 12, and begin streaming on Netflix on Nov. 19. You can view the trailer – here.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Netflix and Howard University are honoring Chadwick Boseman’s memory; Boseman passed away in August 2020 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streaming service and Boseman’s alma mater is establishing a $5.4 million scholarship in his name. The Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial Scholarship will provide four years of tuition at Howard’s College of Fine Arts, which was renamed after the actor back in May. Netflix is the first donor for the scholarship, which will begin this year with one award for each class year. In subsequent years it will be awarded to one incoming freshman per year. The scholarship will consider student’s who embody that late actor’s values described as his drive for excellence, leadership, respect, empathy and passion.

Howard president Wayne A.I. Frederick said in a statement: “This scholarship embodies Chadwick’s love for Howard, his passion for storytelling and his willingness to support future generations of Howard students. I am thankful for the continuous support and partnership of Chadwick’s wife, Mrs. Simone Ledward-Boseman, and to Netflix for this important gift.”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Jeff Bezos’ space travel company, Blue Origin, announced that “Star Trek” actor William Shatner will blast off from West Texas on Oct. 12. The 90-year-old Shatner tweeted: “Yes, it’s true; I’m going to be a ‘rocket man! It’s never too late to experience new things.” He added: “I’ve heard about space for a long time now. I’m taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle.”

Bezos, the founder of Amazon, invited Shatner to fly as its guest. At 90-years-old, Shatner will become the oldest person to go to space. He’ll join three others — two of them paying customers — aboard a Blue Origin capsule. The flight will last just 10 minutes and reach no higher than about 66 miles (106 kilometers). The capsule will parachute back to the desert floor, not far from where it took off.

This will be Blue Origin’s second launch of a crew. Bezos was on the debut flight July 20, taking along his brother, an 18-year-old from the Netherlands and 82-year-old aviation pioneer Wally Funk — the youngest and oldest at the time to fly in space.

Shatner played the role of the USS Enterprise’s commander Captain Kirk for three seasons on Star Trek, from 1966 to 1969. He also portrayed Kirk in seven movies. He’s currently the host and executive producer of a History Channel show, “The UnXplained.”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Natalie Morales is officially joining CBS’ daytime show “The Talk,” after announcing last week she was leaving NBC News after 22 years with the network. Morales will join the “The Talk” alongside hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood. The addition of Morales follows several recent departures, including Sharon Osbourne and Elaine Welteroth.

The 49-year-old Morales, the West coast anchor of “Today” and “Dateline NBC” correspondent, said in a note to colleagues last week that she would be leaving the network in order to “pursue a new adventure.” She joined “Today” in 2006 and became the morning show’s news anchor five years later, replacing Ann Curry, who had been named to replace Meredith Vieira as a main anchor. Morales went on to anchor “Access Hollywood” and became West coast anchor for “Today.”

Morales said in a statement: “It’s an extraordinary opportunity to be joining this team at ‘The Talk.’ I love the new energy and direction and couldn’t be more excited to join Sheryl, Amanda, Jerry and Akbar. I’m looking forward to many good times while talking about the days’ topics, and I can’t wait to get going.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Damian Lewis will exit Showtime’s drama Billions after five seasons. Lewis tweeted  Monday: “Thank you @SHO_Billions thank you @briankoppelman @DavidLevien. A pleasure and a privilege to play Axe for 5 seasons with some of the smartest, funniest most talented cast and crew I’ve worked with. I’ll miss the Billions family. Yep, some jobs are more than just a job…. Love,” 

Showtime said Season 6 of Billions is scheduled to debut in January. The cable television network tweeted:  “Chuck Rhoades and Mike Prince can’t wait to sink their teeth into each other, and we won’t keep you waiting long either.”  The post included a minute-long trailer showing U.S. Attorney General Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) vowing to continue his war against the “criminally rich.”

Lewis’ wife, Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter actress Helen McCory, died of cancer in April at the age of 52. The couple share two children.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

The producers of the Broadway musical Aladdin have announced performances of the show will be canceled through Oct. 10 because of breakthrough cases of COVID-19 among the show’s vaccinated cast and crew. The next planned performance is Oct. 12.

A post on the Aladdin Twitter feed said: “We will continue to provide support to the affected Aladdin company members as they recover. We apologize for the disappointment and inconvenience this causes ticket holders, but we trust that audiences will agree that safety must be at the forefront of our return to Broadway.”

Aladdin resumed performances just last Tuesday, after Broadway recently reopened after being shut down for more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The cast, crew and adult members of the audience have to be fully vaccinated to take part of the show, and audience members also must wear masks in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Children too young to be vaccinated must show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.

Editorial credit: Resul Muslu / Shutterstock.com

The original ‘Law & Order’ series is being revived by NBC, returning to the network for Season 21. Law & Order first launched in 1990 and ran for 20 seasons on NBC before it was canceled in 2010. The franchise, from Dick Wolf, spawned spinoffs including the long-running Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the newer Law & Order: Organized Crime. “There are very few things in life that are literally dreams come true. This is mine,” Wolf in a statement.  Season 21 will continue where the original series left off as it follows police and district attorneys.

Studio Wolf Entertainment also uploaded to Twitter a video featuring Law & Order’s signature logo and theme song with the caption: “Eleven years later. The stories continue.”  No premiere date or cast has been announced. Law & Order featured different stars throughout its run including Sam Waterson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Steven Hill, Leslie Hendrix, Fred Thompson, Chris Noth, Angie Harmon and many more.

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

Sony Pictures’ Marvel sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage, starring Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams, was the No. 1 movie in North America; earning $90.1 million it its debut weekend and making it the best film opening since the pandemic. Before Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the top pandemic openings had been the Walt Disney’s “Black Widow” ($80 million), “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” ($75 million) and Universal Pictures’ “Fast and Furious” sequel “F9” ($70 million).

Coming in at No. 2 is The Addams Family 2 with $18 million, followed by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings at No. 3 with $6 million, The Many Saints of Newark at No. 4 with $5 million and Dear Evan Hansen at No. 5 with $2.5 million.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

The NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation announced Thursday that Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will perform for the first time on stage together at the 2022 Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show, scheduled to be held on Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Lamar are Southern California natives.

Dre said in a statement: “The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career,” adding that their halftime performance will be an “unforgettable cultural moment.”

The Super Bowl returns to the Los Angeles area for the first time since 1993. It’s the third year of collaboration between the NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation. Roc Nation and Emmy-nominated producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-producers of the halftime show, which will air live on NBC.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

The latest Star Wars series The Book of Boba Fett will be coming to Disney+ on Dec. 29. The official Star Wars Twitter page made the announcement alongside a new poster featuring the titular bounty hunter sitting on a throne with a blaster in his hand.

The Book of Boba Fett was teased during an after-credits scene that appeared at the end of The Mandalorian Season 2 in December 2020. Fett, portrayed by Temuera Morrison, returned to Jabba the Hutt’s palace and shot up the place before taking Jabba’s throne during the after-credits scene. Mercenary Fennec Shand, portrayed by Ming-Na Wen, will be joining Fett in the new series.

Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Robert Rodriguez, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson will executive produce, with Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck named co-executive producers.

Editorial credit: Willrow Hood / Shutterstock.com