Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée, whose work included Dallas Buyers Club and Wild has died aged 58. The Oscar-nominated director also won an Emmy award for his work on the HBO series Big Little Lies. He died over the weekend in Quebec City, his long-time producing partner Nathan Ross confirmed in a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, though no cause of death was given. Ross said Vallée “stood for creativity” and “authenticity”. “He was a true artist and a generous, loving guy,” he wrote. “Everyone who worked with him couldn’t help but see the talent and vision he possessed. “He was … Continue reading Jean-Marc Vallée the Canadian filmmaker dies aged 58

The last movie to reach $1 billion at the box office worldwide was Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which was released in December 2019. The film has become the first to make $1 billion at the box office worldwide since the Covid-19 pandemic began.  Spider-Man: No Way Home which stars Tom Holland, Zendaya and Benedict Cumberbatch is also the third-fastest movie to reach the billion-dollar milestone: In 2019, Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War did so in five days and 11 days, respectively. The last movie to garner $1 billion at the box office was Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which hit theaters in December 2019. Many countries began … Continue reading Spider-Man movie ‘No Way Home’ becomes first movie to make $1 billion at the Box office in Covid pandemic era

Actor James Franco has admitted having sex with students from his acting school, almost four years after sexual misconduct allegations were made. He agreed to pay $2.2m (£1.6m) in July after being sued for engaging in “sexually-charged behaviour towards female students”. Speaking on The Jess Cagle Podcast, he said that while teaching, he “did sleep with students, and that was wrong”. He said he had not started the school to lure women for sexual purposes. The actor said he had remained quiet for such a long period because “there were people that were upset with me and I needed to … Continue reading James Franco admits sleeping with students from his acting school

Jussie Smollett hatched a “secret plan” to concoct a hoax hate crime against himself, a court has heard on the opening day of the US TV actor’s trial. Mr Smollett, 39, told police in January 2019 that he was attacked by two men who shouted pro-Trump slogans and tied a noose around his neck. But his defence lawyers told the trial their client was “a real victim”. Mr Smollett has denied wrongdoing. Fifteen jurors were chosen earlier on Monday to hear the case. Authorities allege that Mr Smollett paid two Nigerian-born brothers $3,500 (£2,630) to carry out the attack to … Continue reading Lowlifer: US actor hatched ‘secret plan’ for hate hoax

Actor Eddie Redmayne has said playing a transgender character in 2015 film The Danish Girl was “a mistake”. The British star was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Lile Elbe, one of the first people in the world to have gender reassignment surgery. The film was praised by some at the time but others felt a trans actor should have been cast in the role. “No, I wouldn’t take it on now. I made that film with the best intentions, but I think it was a mistake,” he said. “The bigger discussion about the frustrations around casting is … Continue reading Eddie Redmayne says it was a mistake to play trans role in The Danish Girl

“Eternals,” the 26th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, conquered multiplexes over the weekend, grossing $71 million at the North American box office. The superhero epic also earned $90.7 million in international markets for a $161.7 million global debut, according to estimates from Disney, which owns Marvel Studios. The movie scored the fourth-best domestic debut of the pandemic era, just behind Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” which nabbed $75.3 million over Labor Day weekend. “Eternals,” directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) and starring a sprawling ensemble, introduces a new team of Marvel film heroes. The eponymous … Continue reading Oh Yeah: Marvel’s ‘Eternals’ soars to $71 million at the North American box office

The late Hollywood actress Natalie Wood was sexually assaulted as a teenager by the actor Kirk Douglas, a new book has claimed. Ms Wood’s sister, Lana, makes the allegations in her memoir “Little Sister”, due for release on 9 November. According to extracts from the book published by the Associated Press, Mr Douglas attacked Ms Wood in the summer of 1955. The assault allegedly took place while Ms Wood was filming The Searchers. Lana Wood says that the Hollywood stars’ meeting at the famed Chateau Marmont hotel had been arranged by her mother, Maria Zakharenko, who hoped Mr Douglas could … Continue reading Kirk Douglas assaulted Natalie Wood, her sister alleges

A woman has died and a man has been injured after actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on a New Mexico film set. Police in the US state said Mr Baldwin discharged the weapon during filming for the 19th Century western Rust. The woman was taken to hospital but died of her injuries. The man, the film’s director, was receiving emergency care. Detectives are investigating the incident at Bonanza Creek Ranch, a popular filming location. The woman has been named as 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins, who was working as director of photography. The man being treated is Joel Souza, 48, … Continue reading Tragic: Alec Baldwin fatally shoots woman with prop gun on movie set

Ed Asner, best-known for playing fictional TV newsman Lou Grant, has died aged 91. The actor, whose roles also included voicing the lead in the Pixar film Up, passed away “peacefully” on Sunday morning, his family said. “Words cannot express the sadness we feel. With a kiss on your head-Goodnight dad. We love you.” The character Lou Grant was first introduced as Mary Richards’s boss on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s. Grant, the irascible editor of the fictional Los Angeles Tribune, then became a character in a show in his own right from 1977 to 1982. The … Continue reading Lou Grant and Up actor dies aged 91

Actress Letitia Wright was treated in hospital after an accident on the set of the upcoming Black Panther sequel. The star, who plays Shuri, Princess of Wakanda, received minor injuries in what was described as a “stunt rig accident”. The film shoot was happening overnight in Boston, separate to the main production in Atlanta. Although the nature of her injuries was not disclosed, the actress was released from hospital after several hours. The incident is not expected to have an impact on the shooting schedule for the superhero sequel. Wright is one of several stars returning in the film, titled … Continue reading Letitia Wright treated for injuries after Black Panther 2 accident

Francis Mossman Francis (Frankie) Mossman, a New Zealand-born actor who appeared in Starz series Spartacus, died at his home in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 14. He was 33. Mossman’s representative, Kathryn Rawlings, confirmed the actor’s passing to The Hollywood Reporter. A cause of death was not cited. The actor played Vitus in Spartacus: Vengeance Unleashed and Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Mossman’s additional credits include NZ soap opera Shortland Street and kids series Amazing Extraordinary Friends. More recently, Mossman appeared in LGBTQ web series The Horizon, which was made into a television movie from Australian director Stephan Elliot. In a message posted to Mossman’s talent agency, a … Continue reading So Sad: Francis ‘Frankie’ Mossman, actor in Spartacus and The Horizon dies at 33

Plans for a £700m “world-class” film and TV studios facility in the UK have been announced by a Hollywood studio. The owners of Sunset Studios in Los Angeles and an investment firm have bought a 91-acre site in Hertfordshire for £120m. Subject to planning permission, the production centre would be built in Broxbourne. The government said it was “supporting” the development of such stage spaces across the UK. Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “This new studio is yet another vote of confidence in the UK’s booming film and TV industry. “Through the British … Continue reading Movie Meets Money: Hollywood plans £700m film and TV studios in UK