According to The Hollywood Reporter, Watts, who helmed the massively successful Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home for Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios, has withdrawn from the Marvel Cinematic Universe project. “Making three Spider-Man films was an incredible and life-changing experience for me,” Watts said in a statement to THR. I’m eternally grateful to have been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for seven years. I’m hopeful we’ll work together again, and I can’t wait to see the amazing vision for Fantastic Four brought to life.”

In a separate statement, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige said, “Collaborating with Jon on the Spider-Man films has been a true pleasure. We were looking forward to continuing our work with him to bring the Fantastic Four into the MCU but understand and are supportive of his reasons for stepping away. We are optimistic that we will have the opportunity to work together again at some point down the road,” Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios, and Louis D’Esposito, co-president, Marvel Studios, said in a joint statement.

Known as the original Marvel comics superheroes created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Fantastic Four were part of 20th Century Fox’s stable of Marvel superheroes prior to Disney’s acquisition of the studio in 2019. Feige first announced that Watts would direct a Fantastic Four reboot for Marvel Studios in December 2020 but the studio has yet to announce any release date information about the film. Deadline's report notes that Sony wants him to return for the next Tom Holland-led Spider-Man movie

On the work front, Jon Watts is set to write and direct a film reuniting George Clooney and Brad Pitt set at Apple Studios. He’s also producing a new film in the Final Destination horror franchise for New Line Cinema and HBO Max.

Also Read: Disney unveils preview of Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at CinemaCon; shows what the sequel would look like after Chadwick Boseman

Blake Lively is all set to try her hands behind the camera for a film. The Gossip Girl star is set to make her feature film directorial debut with an adaptation of the graphic novel Seconds, by Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O'Malley.

According to Variety, created by Bryan Lee O’Malley and released in 2014 by Random House imprint Ballantine Books, Seconds follows the story of Katie Clay, the owner and head chef of the titular restaurant. One night, a mysterious spirit provides Katie with the ability to alter reality by writing something she wants to change in a notebook, eating a mushroom and falling asleep. As Katie begins abusing the power to alter her past mistakes, her actions slowly cause the fabric of time and space to unravel.

Edgar Wright, who helmed the 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, based on O’Malley’s graphic novels, adapted the screenplay and will produce the new film alongside three-time Oscar nominee Marc Platt. The book was the first work from O’Malley since wrapping up his break-out Pilgrim graphic novel series.

On the work front, Blake Lively is best known for her prominent roles in drama series Gossip Girl and notable films like Green Lantern, The Town, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, All I See is You, The Town, The Age of Adaline, The Shallow, A Simple Favor and The Rhythm Section. She's set to appear in The Husband's Secret, an adaptation of Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name.

The trailer for Kangana Ranaut's upcoming film Dhaakad was released on Friday. At the press conference, Kangana was asked a bunch of questions regarding her project and the entertainment industry. She also chimed in about the ongoing debate on Hindi language that led to Ajay Devgn and Kichcha Sudeepa's Twitter spat when former asked why South language films are being dubbed in Hindi if it is not the national language.

Kangana Ranaut weighed on the controversy. "There is no direct answer to this question. We are a country with a lot of diversity, multiple languages, and cultures. Everybody has a birthright to take pride in their language and their culture. I am a Pahadi, and I take pride in it," Kangana said.

“If you ask me which language should be the national language, then I think it should be Sanskrit. Sanskrit is older than Kannada, Tamil, Gujarati, or Hindi. All these languages have come from Sanskrit. Then why hasn’t Sanskrit become the national language and Hindi? I don’t have an answer to this. These are the decisions taken at that time (when the Constitution was written)," she said.

She continued, “Having said that I do not have the answer to why instead of Sanskrit, why Hindi is chosen as the national language. But now that the decision is made, if you do not obey it, you are denying the Constitution."

"Hindi is our national language, so whatever Ajay sir said is right. But I understand the sentiment of Sudeep and he is not wrong either," she went on to speak on the controversy.

Dhaakad releases in theatres on May 20, 2022.

Also Read: Kangana Ranaut says South films doing well in Hindi has been long due; claims Bollywood should not be surprised

Kangana Ranaut will next star in actioner Dhaakad. The trailer was launched on Friday. The actress spoke about taking on action-packed roles and even took digs at some of the big names in the industry including the Khans and Kumar.

During the trailer launch of Dhaakad, Kangana said that she has reached a stage in her career where she can take big risks and refuse A-lister films. Kangana said, "I have my own fair share of low points when I refused a lot of male-centric films. A Khan lead film or Kumar lead film or all kinds of big hero films, and everyone looked at me like 'why am I wasting my life.' But when you have a vision for your future, and nobody else does, they think that there is something wrong with the person."

Kangana further talked about receiving calls on rejecting calls and attending award functions. She said, "I used to be amazed at them thinking that why do think that I'm wasting my life. I have come here so far, and it wasn't accidental. I always thought that I also deserve as much anybody else, and why should I think of myself as a lesser being. Ranaut further added, "I always have this vision that this day is possible. I did not plan it, but I have the vision. I can't execute it alone, you need a producer like Deepak (Mukut) ji, a director like Razy (Razneesh Ghai), it is a collective effort of teamwork."

The Queen star says, "The world is ready for women to take the lead."

Kangana Ranaut's much-awaited actioner Dhaakad trailer is out. The film stars Arjun Rampal and Divya Dutta. The film is releasing on May 20, 2022.

ALSO READ: Did Karan Johar take an hour-long break from the Amazon Prime Video event to avoid bumping into Kangana Ranaut?

Rohit Shetty & Reliance Entertainment join hands again to produce a biopic on one of Mumbai’s most revered top cops and former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, Rakesh Maria. The biopic will be based on the experiences of his accomplished career and will be mentored by the ace filmmaker, Rohit Shetty himself.

Talking about the announcement, producer & director, Rohit Shetty said, “Rakesh Maria: The man who stared terror in the face for 36 years!! His incredible journey spans all the way from the 1993 blasts in Mumbai, the underworld menace, to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Feel truly honored to be bringing this real-life super cop’s brave & fearless journey to the screen!!”

Rohit Shetty & Reliance Entertainment to produce former Mumbai Top Cop, Rakesh Maria’s biopic.

Media Release: https://t.co/gJSdZsS5Es#RohitShetty #RakeshMaria @RSPicturez pic.twitter.com/c29OJLRkfA

— Reliance Entertainment (@RelianceEnt) April 30, 2022

Rakesh Maria, an IPS officer, cleared his Civil Service Examination from the 1981 batch. As Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) in 1993, he cracked the Bombay serial blasts case, and later moved to DCP (Crime) and then Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), of the Mumbai Police. Maria solved the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case. Maria was also given the responsibility of investigating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008 and interrogated Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, and successfully investigated the case.

Rakesh Maria commented, “It is exciting to re-live the journey, especially when piloted by a brilliant director like Rohit Shetty. More than the nostalgia, it’s also a valuable opportunity to place before the people the extraordinary work of the Mumbai Police when facing tough challenges and working against all odds.”

ALSO READ: Vivek Oberoi joins Sidharth Malhotra and Shilpa Shetty in Rohit Shetty’s action series Indian Police Force

Pop singer Tz from Stereo Nation passed away at the age of 54 on April 29, 2022. The singer, who was reportedly suffering from Hernia, was due to have surgery two years ago for the same but it was postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As his health deteriorated, Taz was reportedly in a coma. In early March 2022, he was out of a coma and showed signs of improvement. His family had even released a statement at the time and thanked everyone for well-wishes.

Real name, Tarsem Singh Saini, Taz also gad Johnny Zee as a stage name. He shot to fame in 1989 with his album Hit The Deck. Some of his popular hits include 'Pyar Ho Gaya', 'Nachenge Saari Raat', and 'Gallan Gorian'.

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Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, who starred together in the Oscar-winning 1996 film The English Patient, are set to reunite in a film that’s a new take on Homer’s epic The Odyssey.

HanWay Films will be selling the feature at the Cannes Film Market next month. According to Variety, the film is an original, gritty take on Homer’s The Odyssey with a script by John Collee and U.K. playwright Edward Bond, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up. It is produced by James Clayton and Pasolini for Red Wave Films, while Roberto Sessa’s Picomedia is providing funding. HanWay Films will handle worldwide sales, and will introduce the pic to buyers at next month’s Cannes Film Festival.

The official description of the feature reads: “After 20 years away Odysseus (Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The King has finally returned home but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan war. His beloved wife Penelope (Binoche) is now a prisoner in her own home, hounded by her many ambitious suitors to choose a new husband, a new king. Their son Telemachus, who has grown up fatherless, is facing death at the hands of the suitors who see him as an obstacle in their relentless pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom.”

Uberto Pasolini, the Academy Award-nominated director behind The Full Monty and Nowhere Special, is on board to helm The Return. “I feel enormously fortunate to be able to bring Homer’s world alive through the great talent of Juliette and Ralph, whose powerful screen presence is matched by the fearlessness they bring to their work,” Pasolini said of the project. The film's producer, James Clayton added, "[t]his is the Odyssey as we've never seen it before, no gods or monsters but instead an elemental thriller with a traumatised veteran forced to return to violence in order to save his loved ones; it's an honour to help Uberto realise his vision of this journey of the soul with such extraordinary actors."

Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes previously starred together in Anthony Minghella’s 1996 adaptation of Michael Ondaatje’s Booker Prize-winning novel The English Patient which won nine Oscars in 1997, include best film, and best supporting actress for Binoche. Fiennes was also nominated for best actor.

Also Read: Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley join Benedict Cumberbatch in Wes Anderson’s Netflix adaptation of Roald Dahl’s ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’

The fourth film in Keanu Reeves-led action franchise, due out on March 24, 2023, showcased its first look trailer during Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation, unveiled by the leading man himself slaying enemies with nun chucks in the footage.

As Variety reports, appearing during the Lionsgate presentation at the annual exhibition trade show, Reeves was greeted with lusty applause and chants of “you’re the man!” from attendees. In the footage screened, Wick is on his perpetual revenge tour, this time taking on a decidedly lone ninja vibe, seen punching a wooden post to the point of his knuckles bleeding as co-star Laurence Fishburne acts as his hype man. “I want you to find peace, John,” an off-screen voice booms as a montage plays of Reeves slaying his enemies, “but the only path this leads to is death.”

In the final moments of the trailer, Reeves takes on two baddies in the lobby of an art gallery, brutalizing them with nun chucks in a relentless, face-busting, merry-go-round motion. Lionsgate Chairman Joe Drake before bringing the duo onstage said, “Chad, as you might know, was a stuntman first. It’s rare that people go from driving off cliffs to sitting in the director’s chair… Usually it’s the other way around. We’d worked with Chad on The Expendables back in 2010. He had the most unique perspective on stunts we’d ever seen. We placed a bet — that Chad’s vision coupled with Keanu’s singular screen presence would rewrite the action genre. And that bet paid off for everybody.

“Moviegoers told us that watching the first Wick was like seeing the genre evolve right before their eyes, with fight scenes crazier and somehow more real than anything they’d ever seen,” Drake said. “Shepherded by Chad in the director’s chair, and the Baba Yaga himself, these incredible filmmakers continue to subvert genre conventions and defy audience expectations. More lore. More inventiveness. Exquisite locations. From the Roman Catacombs, to Halle Berry shooting her way out of Casablanca. From John killing a 7-foot-tall hitman with a library book to horses galloping across the endless sweeping dunes of the Jordan desert”.

The Lionsgate exec added, “That’s how John Wick became more than a beloved franchise, a singular experience and a cultural phenomenon. An original story with no pre-existing fanbase that made it to the big screen, bringing audiences rushing back to the theater for a fourth time.”

Joining Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4 are Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Donnie Yen, Shamier Anderson, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Scott Adkins and Clancy Brown. Franchise mainstay Ian McShane is back as Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel. One person not returning to the franchise is Halle Berry, who debuted as Sofia in Chapter 3. The film opens in theaters on March 24, 2023. Lionsgate also has in the works a John Wick spinoff called Ballerina starring Ana de Armas coming to theaters.

Also Read: John Wick 4: Keanu Reeves braves New York’s freezing snow as he shoots for fourth installment

The Vivek Agnihotri directorial The Kashmir Files was released a while back to a tepid response with its opening day recording just Rs. 3.55 cr coming in. However, over its opening weekend, the film, which received positive reviews and strong audience feedback witnessed an increase in collections and ended its first weekend with a total of Rs. 27.15 cr. Interestingly, what followed the opening weekend was a meteoric rise in collections which has never been seen. In fact, the business of The Kashmir Files witnessed exponential growth in its first-week surprising trade, and far exceeding expectations. Now, the film, which hit screens on March 11, has completed 50 days of running in theatres.

Not surprisingly, The Kashmir Files which was hailed by the audience has continued to hold steady in theatres despite new releases hitting screens. In fact, even the runaway hit KGF – Chapter 2 which was expected to end the box office run that The Kashmir Files was enjoying, seems to not affect the business of the Vivek Agnihotri directorial. Currently still running in theatres, The Kashmir Files has been seeing a steady trickle of collections coming in each day.

Going forward, with this week seeing two new releases viz. Heropanti 2 and Runway 34 hitting screens The Kashmir Files is expected to see its business being affected. However, given the length of time, the film has been running in theatres, and the fact that it still finds patronage among the audience, the business of the film will continue to see collections build.

Also Read: Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files to stream on ZEE5 from May 13

The seventh film in the Tom Cruise-led action spy Mission: Impossible franchise finally gets a title as Paramount Pictures revealed during its presentation at CinemaCon, an annual gathering of movie theater owners worldwide held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The film, set for a July 14, 2023 release, now has a title: Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part 1.

According to Deadline, Cruise appeared in a pre-recorded message with the news during Paramount’s CinemaCon session Thursday morning, filming from the South Africa set of Mission: Impossible 8 from atop a biplane (hinting at the pic’s next big stunt). All of this preceded the drop of Part 7’s trailer which begins with Cruise’s Ethan Hunt getting a dress-down by his former ops boss Kittridge played by Henry Czerny from the 1996 movie.

“Your days of fighting for the greater good are over,” says Kittridge. “This is our chance to control the truth…the concepts of right and wrong for everyone for centuries to come,” continues Kittridge. “You’ve been fighting to save an ideal that doesn’t exist, never did. You need to pick a side.” The footage ended showcasing Cruise's signature, death-defying motorcycle stunt for the seventh installment that was revealed in 2021 at CinemaCon.

Introducing the trailer, Cruise, standing on the biplane flying high above the mountains, said, “Sorry for the extra noise, as you can see, we are filming the latest installment of Mission: Impossible… Making this film for the big screen in your wonderful theaters.” As Deadline cites, director Chris McQuarrie sidled up in his own twin-engine telling Cruise, “We gotta go, we’re losing the light.” With that, Cruise bid CinemaCon farewell, “Let’s all have a great summer,” McQuarrie called “action” and the planes both rolled and dived — with the indefatigable star still atop his own.

The seventh Mission: Impossible is due out July 14, 2023, with an eighth and presumably final Cruise-led Mission due out June 28, 2024. The cast includes Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Henry Czerny, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, Angela Bassett, Cary Elwes, Indira Varma, Rob Delaney and Charles Parnell. Cruise previously revealed in January 2019 that the seventh and eighth Mission: Impossible films will be shot back-to-back with Christopher McQuarrie writing and directing both films.

Also Read: Tom Cruise lawyers up as he and Paramount Pictures are at odds over distribution of $300 million film Mission: Impossible 7; Mission: Impossible 8 production currently underway

The Hunger Games franchise is officially slated to return to the big screen in 2023. Lionsgate is moving forward with its Hunger Games prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, announcing a November 17, 2023 release during its CinemaCon presentation.

As Deadline reports, that date is the same pre-Thanksgiving corridor where The Hunger Games sequels Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part One and Mockingjay Part Two opened. The prequel to the billion-dollar series is set years prior to the original movies where Jennifer Lawrence led the franchise as heroine Katniss Everdeen, while supporting stars included Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Sam Claflin, and Woody Harrelson.“In this return to 'The Hunger Games,' years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12,” Lionsgate synopsis read.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is based on author Suzanne Collins' 2020 novel of the same name. The book serves as a prequel to Collins' original Hunger Games trilogy of novels, which consists of 2008's The Hunger Games, 2009's Catching Fire and 2010's Mockingjay. Francis Lawrence, who directed Catching Fire, Mockingjay - Part 1 and Mockingjay - Part 2, returns to helm The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The screenplay is written by Michael Arndt from a story adaptation by Collins. Collins is also producing the film alongside Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson. No casting information is available at the moment.

Veteran actor Salim Ghouse, who starred in Bharat Ek Khoj, passed away earlier on April 28 at 70 following a cardiac arrest. The actor, who was born in Chennai,  was one of the most popular faces on television in the 80s. He worked in TV, and movies but gained popularity after starring in the TV series Subah on Doordarshan.

Salim's wife Anita Salim confirmed the news of his passing to Indian Express stating that he had complained of chest pain on Wednesday night following which he was rushed to hospital. He passed away on Thursday. In a statement, she said, “We took him to Kokilaben Hospital last night, and he passed away this morning. He hated grieving and wanted life to go on. He didn’t suffer, he wouldn’t have liked being dependent on anyone. He was a man with a lot of self-respect. He was a multifaceted actor, a martial artist, an actor, a director, and a lovely chef in the kitchen.”

In the last couple of years, Salim Ghouse was busy with theatre work. He was also a voice-over artist and dubbed films like The Lion King and 300.

Salim Ghose starred in several projects including Manthan, Kalyug, Chakra, Saaransh, Trikal, Koyla, Soldier, Aks, among others.

Viacom18 Studios’ Shabaash Mithu, is set to hit the silver screen on 15th July 2022! Tapsee Pannu essays the role of an iconic cricketer, Mithali Dorai Raj. The celebrated skipper of the Indian Women's Cricket Team has a career spanning 23 years, 7 consecutive 50s in ODIs and has led India in 4 World Cups. The story tracks her journey from being an 8-year-old girl with a dream to becoming a cricketing legend.

Viacom18 Studios is one of India’s finest fully integrated motion picture studios with a legacy of telling extraordinary stories of extraordinary women. It has emerged as a force to reckon with by delivering a string of critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful movies across languages.

 

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Directed by Srijit Mukherji, written by Priya Aven, the much-anticipated film is releasing in theatres on 15th July.

ALSO READ: “When I got to know about match-fixing I was heartbroken” – Taapsee Pannu on how she stopped being obsessed with Cricket

Unveiling its biggest slate to date in India, at its maiden Prime Video Presents India showcase event in Mumbai, Amazon Prime Video on Thursday announced over 40 new titles, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, across original series, original movies, and co-productions that it plans to launch over the next 24 months. Dialing up its strategy of bringing the best and latest movies to consumers across languages, Prime Video announced new multi-year licensing deals and co-productions with some of India’s biggest and most successful studios. Prime video also announced its foray into original movie production in India with films in Hindi and Telugu, to be released directly on the service. The service recently completed half a decade of super-serving customers in India and announced that it will more than double its investment in Prime Video India over the next 5 years. Karan Johar confirmed exclusive streaming rights for Dharma Productions' next three films and announced four new original series coming on the platform.

Following the success of Shershaah which premiered on Amazon Prime Video, Karan Johar announced that Dharma Productions has signed three-film exclusive streaming deals with the platform for its upcoming slate - Jug Jugg Jeeyo (Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Neetu Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Prajakta Koli), Govinda Naam Mera (Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar and Kiara Advani) and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani (Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Dimple Kapadia.

One of the four series' to be announced is Call Me Bae which is about a billionaire fashionista who is disowned by her ultra-rich family, owing to a salacious scandal and for the first time in her life, has to fend for herself. On this journey, she overcomes stereotypes and discovers who she really is. Produced by digital wing Dharmatic Entertainment, the show is written by Ishita Moitra, Samina Motlekar, and Rohit Nair.

The second series is India Love Project which is a docuseries that shares the inspiring love stories of real people from across the country where each episode tells an unusual yet hopeful story through the eyes of the real couples.

The third one is a film titled Aye Watan...Mere Watan which is inspired by true events, it is the story of a young girl who became uniquely instrumental in the freedom fight for Indian independence. The series is helmed by Kannan Iyer and written by Darab Farooqui.

The fourth project is yet to be announced. Karan took to Instagram to confirm the news, "It’s going to be an entertainment packed year with @dharmamovies & @dharmaticent - in collaboration with @primevideoin. After the success of #Shershaah & #Gehraiyaan, we have a line up of 3 films streaming on your home screens after the big theatres - #JugJuggJeeyo, #GovindaNaamMera & #RockyAurRaniKiPremKahani. Marking the beginning of @dharmaticent relationship - we have 1 thrilling film based on true events called #AyeWatanMereWatan and 4 new series kickstarting with #CallMeBae & #IndiaLoveProject. Exciting times and stories ahead, stay tuned to witness it all! @apoorva1972."

 

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Meanwhile, Karan Johar is directing Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani which is scheduled for February 2023 release.

ALSO READ: Amazon Prime Video announces 41 new titles across languages; Shahid Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, Naga Chaitanya to star in some projects

Disney has finally revealed the title of James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel, Avatar 2, along with a visual treat – the first 3D teaser trailer screened at CinemaCon, the annual gathering of movie theater owners that’s currently taking place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

According to Deadline, now titled Avatar: The Way of Water, the 20th Century Studios sci-fi adventure releases overseas starting December 14 and heads to North America on December 16. Producer Jon Landau came in from New Zealand to make the Disney presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. It was also revealed that Disney will rerelease the original Avatar on September 23 around the globe with remastered audio and sound.

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water will follow the next chapter in the lives of Sam Worthington’s Jake and Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri and begins to tell the story of the Sully family, Jake, Neytiri and their kids, and the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive and the tragedies they endure. “I know one thing,” Sam Worthington’s Jake Sully tells Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri. “Wherever we go, this family is our fortress.”

CinemaCon attendees were reportedly given 3D glasses to watch the minutes-long trailer, which contained almost no dialogue. Instead, exhibitors were immersed into different regions across the magnificent world of Pandora through sweeping visuals of the planet’s crystal blue oceans and lakes. The footage also shows the local tribe of Na’vi interacting with various species resembling whales and pelicans, some of which flew through the screen and into audience member’s faces thanks to the three-dimensional technology.

“One of the strengths of Jim Cameron’s scripts is they are always universal and relatable themes that he weaves into them,” Landau said. “At the center of each of the four sequels will be the Sully family. Each story will be a stand-alone and each will come to its own conclusion.” There will be a “fulfilling resolution to each film, but when looked at as a whole the journey across all four will create a larger epic saga. The journey across all four movies will create a connected saga. To achieve our goals, we need a strong partnership with you and the studio … an end-to-end community,” the Oscar-winning producer added.

#Avatar2 has been officially titled, 'Avatar: The Way of Water'

via @Disney at #CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/NpJ54KZHgO

— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) April 27, 2022

James Cameron beamed in from Wellington, NZ where he’s shooting, expressing sympathy for exhibition about the industry’s hardships during the pandemic. He told exhibition, “I just want you to hear it from me: Jon and I are here to work with you,” he said. “The best way is by delivering content that is a must-see experience at the cinema.” The Oscar-winning filmmaker said he was “hard at work putting the final touches on the film.” He added that the new films are “pushing limits even farther with high frame rate, higher resolution 3D and greater reality in our visual effects. I wanted our return to Pandora to be something really special. Every shot is designed for the biggest screen, highest resolution and most immersive 3D available. I think we pulled it off.”

The upcoming Avatar franchise boasts a star-studded cast of Kate Winslet, Edie Falco, Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, Jemaine Clement, and Oona Chaplin with a slate of young actors alongside returning cast members Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, Stephen Lang, Matt Gerald, and Sigourney Weaver. The trailer will debut exclusively in theaters ahead of Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on May 6. Take a look at the stunning visuals from the trailer below!

Also Read: James Cameron’s Avatar 2 preview expected to screen at CinemaCon; to be released in 3D, 4K formats in 160 languages worldwide

Actor and director Olivia Wilde was reportedly handed child custody documents, from former partner Jason Sudeikis, while introducing footage from her upcoming thriller Don't Worry Darling during Warner Bros' presentation at CinemaCon, the annual movie theater industry gathering.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the mysterious envelope given to Olivia Wilde in the middle of her presentation contained custody documents from Jason Sudeikis, who wasn’t aware the legal paperwork would be served during CinemaCon. “Papers were drawn up to establish jurisdiction relating to the children of Ms. Wilde and Mr. Sudeikis,” the insider told THR. “Mr. Sudeikis had no prior knowledge of the time or place that the envelope would have been delivered, as this would solely be up to the process service company involved, and he would never condone her being served in such an inappropriate manner.”

On Tuesday, while Wilde was presenting the trailer for her new film Don’t Worry Darling at the movie exhibitors convention, a mysterious manila envelope labeled “personal and confidential” was slid to her by someone in front of the stage. At first, onlookers believed the envelope to be a script from someone attempting to gain the Booksmart director’s attention but Deadline reported on Wednesday afternoon that the envelope contained custody documents from Sudeikis.

In response to the incident, CinemaCon said in a statement that it would “reevaluate” their security protocols. “To protect the integrity of our studio partners and the talent, we will reevaluate our security protocols,” NATO managing director and head of CinemaCon Mitch Neuhauser told Variety. “We will act accordingly because it’s the right thing to do. We want to do the safe, proper thing.”

Wilde, who shares two children with the Ted Lasso star, was in the process of promoting her upcoming Warner Bros. film Don’t Worry Darling. The two were formerly engaged but ended their romantic relationship in 2020. The filmmaker is currently involved with popstar and Don’t Worry Darling lead Harry Styles.

Also Read: Don’t Worry Darling star Harry Styles and director Olivia Wilde indulge in major PDA during Italian vacation

Johnny Depp is suing his former wife Amber Heard for $50 million claiming that she ruined his career by fabricating claims of domestic violence. A former agent for the Hollywood star testified that Heard’s abuse allegations had a “traumatic impact” on Depp’s image following which he was dropped from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

According to a Variety report, Christian Carino, a talent agent at Creative Artists Agency, appeared by video deposition at Depp’s defamation trial, which has been underway in Fairfax, Va. since April 11. Carino testified that it became clear, though conversations with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and CAA co-chair Bryan Lourd, that Disney had decided it could not continue to employ Depp. Carino said that the abuse claims were never openly discussed as the reason, but that it was simply “understood” within the industry.

Carino was friends with both Heard and Depp, and represented both of them at various points, though he reportedly said that he no longer has a relationship with either of them. He testified that Depp is “one of the finest actors of his generation,” and that has not changed despite the turmoil of his life in recent years. But he also said that the lawsuits, with his former business manager, his former attorney, and with Heard, have damaged Depp’s off-screen image. “I think what he was known for off-screen was a shroud of mystery of who he was, because he was not visible to the public,” Carino said. “It changed with the exposure that came with the lawsuits.”

Carino was asked about the production of the fifth Pirates film, in 2015, and acknowledged that Depp was routinely late to set. “I’m aware of him being tardy, but he’s been tardy on everything his entire life,” Carino said, adding that the production had figured out how to work around the issue. Carino was vague about when Disney decided not to hire Depp for a potential sixth Pirates film saying at first that he could not specify even the year when it occurred. The timing of that decision is a key issue in the case. Heard’s lawyers told jurors in opening statements that there must be proof that the Post article specifically damaged Depp’s reputation for him to prevail in a libel case.

Carino also testified that Heard twice tried to reconcile with Depp, even after she filed for divorce, once in 2016 and then again in 2017. At one point in 2016 he brokered a meeting between Heard and a reluctant Depp that ended in a fight, per The Hollywood Reporter. He also testified briefly about Heard’s subsequent relationship with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Heard texted Carino in 2017 professing sadness about her breakup with Musk. Carino seemed incredulous, and texted in response to Heard, “You told me a thousand times you were just filling space.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the jurors saw video depositions with two LAPD officers and a front desk employee who works at the Eastern Columbia Building, where Depp used to own several penthouses. The officers were called to the penthouses on May 21, 2016, for a report of domestic violence. Heard refused to make a report, and the officers testified they saw no evidence of injury. Officer Tyler Hadden, one of the officers who responded to the couple’s penthouse apartment that day, said Heard refused to talk to officers and had no signs of an injury, although he acknowledged she’d been crying and was red-faced. “Just because I see a female with pink cheeks and pink eyes doesn’t mean something happened,” he said in a recorded deposition played for jurors Wednesday, as THR cites.

Jurors heard similar testimony Tuesday from an officer who accompanied Hadden to the penthouse. An officer who made a follow-up visit that night, William Gatlin, testified that he saw no injuries either, though he acknowledged that his visit was brief and he got no closer than 10 feet (3 meters) from Heard. The jury saw a bodycam video of Gatlin’s response, which was less than two minutes. Heard could only be seen at a distance. Heard’s lawyers, in their questions, have suggested that Heard could have covered her injuries with makeup, because at that point she still wanted to protect Depp.

Also Read: Johnny Depp’s cross examination spotlights his violent language in texts and angry outbursts captured on audio and video

Over the past week, Aamir Khan had been teasing his fans about a ‘Kahani’ (story) that he will be narrating. The actor raised anticipation around the ‘Kahani’ with fans coming up with various theories on what the announcement could be. While fans speculated that it could be a teaser for his upcoming film Laal Singh Chaddha, a motion poster, or some even speculated that he might be announcing a new project. Well with Aamir Khan, one never knows! The actor is known to come up with unique marketing techniques to promote his films. This time, he has managed to once again surprise everyone with his ‘Kahani’.

Today morning, Aamir Khan unveiled his 'Kahani' on a radio channel. 'Kahani' is the title of the first song from the film Laal Singh Chaddha. What makes it unique is that this is the first time that Aamir has released the song of his film before the trailer release. The first song has also been released over three months before the scheduled theatrical release of the film on August 11.

Laal Singh Chaddha is the official adaptation of the Hollywood film Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks. The film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan. Directed by Advait Chandan, the film will trace the history of India through the eyes of the protagonist.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Atul Kulkarni on writing the script of Laal Singh Chaddha 10 years back, says Aamir Khan and him learned how to be patient

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One of the highly anticipated films of the year is Brahmastra starring the newlyweds Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Marking their first on-screen appearance as a pair, the actors unveiled the first song 'Kesariya' from the film, ahead of their wedding on April 14. Now, music composer Pritam has assured that 'Kesariya' full song starring Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt will be unveiled ahead of the Brahmastra release.

In a statement on Wednesday, Pritam thanked the fans for the overwhelming response to the glimpse of the song. He also assured the fans that the song will be launched ahead of the September release. "We are really excited that just a Teaser of our song 'Kesariya' from Brahmastra is getting so much love from you! I have been receiving many messages to drop the full song and we have even had discussions internally about it," he wrote on Twitter.

He added, "However, we have a plan in place for introducing Brahmastra to the world... and we want to do it right.
So we are focusing on the Trailer as the next big creative release for the movie, and Kesariya - The Full Song will be launched in the months closer to release. So please be patient :) And a big, big thank you to everyone who has liked the Song Teaser! Excited to share the music of Brahmastra with you'll in the coming months !!!"

Helmed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Dharma Productions, Brahmastra also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, and Mouni Roy in pivotal roles. The film arrives in theatres on September 9, 2022.

ALSO READ: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt Wedding: “Always wanted to work with Alia Bhatt” – When Ranbir admitted he wanted to work with his wife in Brahmastra

Yesteryear screen queen Mumtaz’s fans can heave a sigh of relief. She was in hospital with a severe stomach infection. But is now back home and recovering fast. Speaking exclusively to this writer the legendary diva says, “It was a very bad infection and I had to be hospitalized. I was there for a whole week and now I am back home, weak but fully recovered.”

Mumtaz who has been through major health setbacks in the past, counts on her resilience to see her through physical hardships. “I am strong and able to fight back when ill. But what about other more vulnerable people out there who are forever exposed to dangerous infections? I think we need much better health care for the underprivileged.”

Mumtaz who has been in Mumbai for the past few months is surprised to be so widely recognized. “It’s been thirty years since I was last seen on screen. Yet when I go out I am recognized and people approach me with such warmth. God is kind.”

Also Read: Post demise of Dilip Kumar, wife Saira Banu has become a recluse, claim industry friends Shatrughan Sinha, Dharmendra, & Mumtaz

Deepika Padukone will be part of the competition jury at the Cannes Film Festival 2022. French actor Vincent Lindon will be the president of the jury whereas Deepika will be joined by actor-director Rebecca Hall, Noomi Rapace, Italian actor-director Jasmine Trinca, directors Asghar Farhadi, Ladj Ly, Jeff Nichols, and Joachim Trier at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. The Palme d’Or winner will be announced on May 28. Deepika Padukone, who has been regular on the red carpets of Cannes, is expected to be making an appearance on all 10 days.

"It is a great honor and source of pride to be entrusted, in the midst of the tumult of all the events we are going through in the world, with the splendid, weighty task of chairing the Jury of the 75th International Cannes Film Festival. With my Jury, we will strive to take the best possible care of the films of the future, all of which carry the same secret hope of courage, loyalty, and freedom, with a mission to move the greatest number of women and men by speaking to them of their common wounds and joys. Culture helps the human soul to rise and hope for tomorrow," said Vincent Lindon, Jury President.

On the website, the bio for Deepika reads, "Indian Actress, producer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Deepika Padukone, is a huge star in her country. actor, producer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur from India. With over 30 feature films to her credit, she made her English language film debut as the female lead in xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, co-starring with Vin Diesel. She is also the principal of Ka Productions, the production company behind Chhapaak and ‘83, in which she also starred, as well as the upcoming film The Intern. Credits include Gehraiyaan and Padmaavat, as well as the award-winning and critically acclaimed film Piku. In 2015, she set up The Live Love Laugh Foundation, whose programs and initiatives aim to destigmatize mental illness and raise awareness about the importance of mental health. In 2018, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World."

On the work front, Deepika Padukone will next star in Pathaan with Shah Rukh Khan and John Abraham, Fighter with Hrithik Roshan, Nag Ashwin's next with Prabhas, and Amitabh Bachchan, The Intern remake with Amitabh Bachchan, Draupadi and a Hollywood project.

ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone to attend Met Gala 2022 with Louis Vuitton?

Back in March 2022, Netflix announced that Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Vijay Varma were coming together to star in Sujoy Ghosh's untitled film. It is a screen adaptation of one of Keigo Higashino’s most acclaimed works, "The Devotion of Suspect X". Now, the makers plan to kick off the first schedule in Darjeeling next week.

In the first week of May, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Vijay Varma will head to Darjeeling to film key scenes at the hill station. A daily reports that a part of the production unit will erect a set in Mumbai's Mehboob Studios. The schedule for the same will begin in May end.

The film is produced by 12th Street Entertainment, Northern Lights Films in association with Boundscript and Kross Pictures and marks Kareena Kapoor Khan’s streaming debut. Sujoy Ghosh will be producing the film along with Jay Shewakramani, Akshai Puri, and Thomas Kim.

ALSO READ: Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan invite their ‘best squad’, enjoy dinner with Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu

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Nintendo, Illumination and Universal’s animated feature, starring Chris Pratt, has been pushed back to release on April 7, 2023. The highly anticipated film was previously slated to be released on Dec. 21, 2022.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Illumination and Universal announced late Monday that they are pushing back the theatrical release of Super Mario Bros. from Dec. 21, 2022 to April 7, 2023. The computer-animated film stars Chris Pratt as Mario. The star-packed voice cast also includes Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach), Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black (Bowser), Keegan-Michael Key (Toad), Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong), Fred Armisen (Cranky Kong), Kevin Michael Richardson (Kamek) and Sebastian Maniscalco (Spike).

Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto took to the company's Twitter account to share the news of the dela. “This is Miyamoto.” the Mario creator tweeted. “After consulting with Chris-san, my partner at Illumination on the Super Mario Bros. film, we decided to move the global release to Spring 2023–April 28 in Japan and April 7 in North America. My deepest apologies but I promise it will be well worth the wait.”

This is Miyamoto. After consulting with Chris-san, my partner at Illumination on the Super Mario Bros. film, we decided to move the global release to Spring 2023–April 28 in Japan and April 7 in North America. My deepest apologies but I promise it will be well worth the wait.

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 26, 2022

Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri has also shared a statement on Twitter writing, “Miyamoto-San and I have been collaborating on all aspects of the Super Mario Bros. film and, together with our partners at Universal, have decided to move the global release to Spring 2023 - April 7 in North America and April 28 in Japan. We are excited to share this incredible film with you.”

pic.twitter.com/FQMJbaQMwt

— Illumination (@illumination) April 26, 2022

Super Mario Bros. film hails from Nintendo and Illumination, with Universal distributing in North America and co-financing with Illumination. The upcoming Mario movie was announced in 2018. Shortly after Mario’s move was announced, the studio said that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish now opens on Dec. 21, 2022, per the report. Antonio Banderas returns as the marauding feline, co-starring opposite Florence Pugh, Salma Hayek and Olivia Colman.

South Korean pop group ASTRO has officially announced their full group comeback date and title of their forthcoming third full-length album.

Earlier this month, the group’s management label Fantagio confirmed that ASTRO was gearing up for a May comeback. On April 25, the agency unveiled the first look at ASTRO’s new release on their official social media handle. Titled “Drive to the Starry Road,” ASTRO’s third full-length album will drop on May 16 at 6 p.m. KST.

[#아스트로]
ASTRO 3rd Full Album
<Drive to the Starry Road>
Coming Soon ????

2022. 05. 16 RELEASE#ASTRO #Drive_to_the_Starry_Road pic.twitter.com/KhUyCF80ut

— 판타지오뮤직 (@fantagiomusic_) April 25, 2022

ASTRO debuted in 2016 with the single "Hide & Seek" from their debut EP Spring Up, and were subsequently named by Billboard as one of the best new K-pop groups of 2016. The group is composed of six members MJ, Jinjin, Cha Eun Woo, Moonbin, Rocky, and Sanha.

Also Read: ASTRO’s Sanha halts activities after being diagnosed with Covid-19 for second time

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as global superstar Bad Bunny, will star as Marvel antihero comic character El Muerto and will lead the standalone comic book film for Sony Pictures.

The news came out of CinemaCon, the annual gathering of movie theater owners in Las Vegas, during Sony’s panel where Bad Bunny made a surprise appearance. As Deadline notes, the character of El Muerto aka Juan Carlos was a super powered wrestler who originally fought Spider-Man in a charity wrestling match in which he nearly unmasked the webslinger before being stung by Spider-Man with a paralyzing poison. After his oppressor El Dorado came to claim his life, he was saved by Spider-Man, after which the two team up to defeat Dorado. Introduced by Sony Motion Pictures Group president Sanford Panitch at CinemaCon, the Grammy Award-winning artist will be the first ever Latino actor to headline a live-action Marvel movie.

On stage at CinemaCon, Sony brass suggested Ocasio will portray an antihero on the verge of inheriting his father’s power. The film will be released on January 12, 2024, said Panitch. Bad Bunny made a brief appearance at the Monday evening presentation at The Forum at Caesars Palace, where he talked about working on the film. “This opportunity to bring El Muerto to life, it’s amazing. It’s incredible,” he said. “I love wrestling, I grew up watching wrestling and now I’m a wrestler … I think it’s the perfect role for me. It will be epic, I’m sure.” The film comes after Sony recently dated Madame Web, starring Dakota Johnson, which marked the first female character from the Spider-Man universe to get a standalone film.

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny, who soared to global superstardom with chart-topping songs and a Grammy win, last year began making appearances on WWE. The musician, who also appeared in Narcos: Mexico, will make his film debut in another film Sony teased on Monday. In Bullet Train, he’ll star alongside Brad Pitt as an assassin.

Also Read: Brad Pitt and Bad Bunny slap each other in first look of Bullet Train screened at CinemaCon

South Korean singer-songwrite-producer, who is globally recognized for his 2014 smash hit single ‘Gangnam Style,’ is returning with his ninth full studio album Psy 9th and the title track is produced by BTS’ SUGA.

As the singer-songwriter dropped several teasers for his upcoming single, in a series of tweets through his official Twitter account, PSY shared that his brand-new single ‘That That’, which will certainly be the title track of his upcoming full-length album Psy 9th, is produced by BTS’ SUGA.

In a video, both PSY and SUGA shared their opinions on working together as they unveiled more details about the most anticipated track. The song is set to drop this Friday, April 29, with a music video and the rest of “Psy 9th".

The accompanying teaser for the ‘That That’ music video opens with PSY in a Wild West-esque town wearing a cowboy outfit running towards the camera before tripping and falling.

PSY
정규9집 [싸다9]
Full-Length Album [PSY 9th]

Track List:
#2. That That (prod. SUGA of BTS) *Title Track

2022.04.29 (Fri) 6PM KST#PSY#싸이#ThatThat#싸다9#PSY9th#220429_6pmKST#PNATION#피네이션pic.twitter.com/59oOxEKUSz

— PSY (@psy_oppa) April 26, 2022

In another teaser, PSY and SUGA also speak of the time they met each other for the first time and how they feel like they’ve become good friends. “When meeting younger artists, I don’t want to be someone who’s hard to approach,” Psy said. “[SUGA] wasn’t just my junior in the business, but also he truly feels like a friend. It was hard to feel any age gap.”

Meanwhile, SUGA noted that he had initially been “nervous” about working with Psy because “he’s many years my senior and someone so who’s so well-respected in the business”.

However, the BTS member added that it actually “felt like working with a childhood friend, so it made the songwriting process that much more fun. We became besties in a way.”

PSY
정규9집 [싸다9]
Full-Length Album [PSY 9th]

Track List:
#2. That That (prod. SUGA of BTS) *Title Track

2022.04.29 (Fri) 6PM KST#PSY #싸이 #ThatThat#싸다9 #PSY9th #220429_6pmKST#PNATION #피네이션 pic.twitter.com/cP8WNdBmNT

&md
ash; PSY (@psy_oppa) April 26, 2022

Psy 9th marks PSY’s first comeback in about five years, following last album “PSY 8th 4X2 = 8,” which was released in May 2017. The forthcoming album will officially drop on April 29 which includes features with Suzy, HWA SA, Tablo, Crush among others.

Also Read: BTS’ SUGA, Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Hee Sun donate Rs. 62 lakh each to aid wildfire victims

After Sidharth Malhotra and Shilpa Shetty, Vivek Oberoi will now be making his entry into Rohit Shetty’s team in his mega digital series Indian Police Force. Rohit Shetty and Prime Video’s action series is currently filming.

Vivek shared the first look on social media with a caption that read, "Charged to join the best force, “Indian Police Force” and be a supercop in the Rohit Shetty Cop Universe! Thank you bro @itsrohitshetty for trusting me with this amazing role! Loving the kickass action with my other two super cops, the awesome @sidmalhotra & one and only @theshilpashetty #IndianPoliceForceOnPrime, Heroism in khakhi!"

 

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The series will debut on Amazon Prime Video and it will have an eight-episode arc. The series will be jointly directed by Rohit Shetty and his Chief Assistant Director Sushwanth Prakash. The series is currently being shot in Mumbai.

ALSO READ: Rohit Shetty announces his cop thriller series with Sidharth Malhotra for Amazon Prime Video; shares first look