New superhero film “The Marvels” is making history, and not in a good way: its estimated $47 million North American take over the weekend marks the lowest debut ever for a movie from Disney’s normally money-cranking Marvel Cinematic Universe. “This opening is an unprecedented Marvel box office collapse,” said analyst David A. Gross. Second superhero episodes normally outperform the originals, he said, but this one is down 67 percent from its predecessor, “Captain Marvel,” and […]
Entertainment
Hollywood celebrates strike end as actors get back to work
By Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, Nov 9, 2023 (AFP) – Hollywood celebrated Thursday after actors agreed to end a crippling months-long strike, kicking off a race to get the cameras rolling and salvage next year’s movies and television shows. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) called off its 118-day strike after reaching a tentative agreement with studios for a new contract including higher pay and protections against the use of artificial intelligence. While the deal needs […]
Disney+ adds subscribers amid cost-cutting campaign
By Julie JAMMOT SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 8, 2023 (AFP) – Disney’s streaming service has attracted nearly seven million new subscribers, the company said Wednesday, reversing a period of decline that had raised doubts about its rivalry with industry leader Netflix. Disney has been under significant pressure ever since CEO Bob Iger left the company only to be brought out of semi-retirement a year ago after his replacement no longer had the confidence of executives and […]
Nintendo announces new ‘Zelda’ movie
LOS ANGELES, Nov 8, 2023 (AFP) – Nintendo is developing a film based on its hugely popular “The Legend of Zelda” franchise, the Japanese gaming giant announced, as it bids to capitalize on the blockbuster success of its recent “Mario” movie. The new, live-action “Zelda” movie will be directed by Wes Ball, who made the “Maze Runner” trilogy, and co-produced by Avid Arad, who has overseen several major “Spider-Man” films. Legendary Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto, […]
Actors’ union says no agreement on studios’ ‘final’ offer
By Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, Nov 7, 2023 (AFP) – The union representing striking actors said Monday it could not agree to studios’ “last, best and final offer” issued over the weekend in a bid to end a months-long stalemate that has crippled Hollywood. Negotiators for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) have been mulling the proposal since Saturday, as studios seek to halt a damaging stoppage that has brought TV and movie production to a […]
‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry laid to rest in Los Angeles: media
LOS ANGELES, Nov 4, 2023 (AFP) – American actor Matthew Perry of the hit sitcom “Friends” was laid to rest at a Los Angeles cemetery on Friday during a private funeral attended by family and co-stars, US media reported. The 54-year-old, known for his role as Chandler Bing in “Friends,” which aired from 1994-2004, was found dead on October 28. “The service was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles near Warner Bros. […]
Blackpink star Lisa removed from Chinese social media after cabaret show
SHANGHAI, Nov 3, 2023 (AFP) – K-pop singer Lisa of megastar girl group Blackpink has been banned from China’s Weibo social media platform, sparking speculation among fans Friday that the censorship was tied to a burlesque performance she gave in Paris. Lisa, whose full name is Lalisa Manobal, disappeared from Weibo this week, with her personal page replaced by an error message saying her account was “not viewable due to being reported for violating laws […]
New Beatles single ‘Now and Then’ released
By Stuart GRAHAM, Helen ROWE LONDON, Nov 2, 2023 (AFP) – A new Beatles song produced with a little help from artificial intelligence and including the vocals of John Lennon was released on Thursday — to lukewarm reviews. The song comes more than four decades after it was originally recorded as a demo, but despite the hype left critics distinctly underwhelmed. “‘Now and Then’ is not terrible… But ultimately, it’s kind of mundane,” wrote Geoff […]
‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry dies aged 54
By Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, Oct 29, 2023 (AFP) – Matthew Perry, troubled star of the smash hit TV sitcom “Friends,” was found dead at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday, US media reported. He was 54. First responders found Perry unconscious in a hot tub at his house and were unable to revive him, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times. “We responded at 4:10 pm… It is a death investigation for […]
Richard Roundtree, America’s ‘first Black action hero,’ dead at 81
WASHINGTON, Oct 25, 2023 (AFP) – American actor Richard Roundtree, heralded as “the first Black action hero” for his starring role in the iconic 1971 hit “Shaft,” died Tuesday at 81, US media reported. Hollywood publication Deadline said that the actor, known for opening doors for other Black artists in the industry, died with his family at his bedside, “after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.” “Shaft,” in which Roundtree played the eponymous private eye […]
Netflix and Spielberg combine for nature doc ‘Life on Our Planet’
By Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, Oct 24, 2023 (AFP) – “Life on Our Planet,” the new natural history series from Netflix and Steven Spielberg, sets out to tell the entire, dramatic story of life on Earth in a serialized, “binge watch” format. Streaming globally from Wednesday, the show’s eight episodes transport viewers through Earth’s five previous mass extinction events, each recreated with computer-generated visual effects. As Morgan Freeman’s narration reminds us, life has always found […]
French geeks plan world’s biggest video game museum
By Quentin TYBERGHIEN, avec Mathias CENA à Tokyo BUSSY-SAINT-GEORGES, France, Oct 19, 2023 (AFP) – French gaming nerds are planning to open the world’s biggest video game museum near Disneyland Paris. The Odyssey Project — named after the first ever console designed by Magnavox in 1972 — will house one of the biggest collections of games ever assembled. The complex, which will also include a “Japanese village” dedicated to the country’s popular culture and cuisine, […]