Film

Zendaya in ‘Challengers’ Trailer, Takes Her Fight From the Court and Beyond in New Tennis Drama

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Zendaya in ‘Challengers’ Trailer, Takes Her Fight From the Court and Beyond in New Tennis Drama

Here’s the drop, if you didn’t know: Spider-Man and Dune actress Zendaya is playing a tennis star in Luca Guadagnino’s new film Challengers, and there’s plenty of drama to explore in the new trailer.

The choice of music in the trailer is interesting, with Nelly Furtado’s Maneater controlling the pace. Before we explore the official description, Shadow and Act reported that Zendaya plays a former tennis star and champion who had to leave the game due to an injury – and that happens in real life like any other sport. Now get this, she moves on to coaching, but her new clients aren’t just after her tennis experience and want more than they bargained for. Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist are also starring, but here’s the synopsis:

From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Faist), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (O’Connro) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.

Justin Kuritzkes pen the film. Guadagnino, Zendaya, Amy Pascal, and Rachel O’Connor are producing. Bernard Bellew, Lorenzo Mieli, and Kevin Ulrich serve as executive producers. The music outside of that Nelly Furtado trailer score is from the iconic Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross.

Challengers is coming to theaters on April 26.

The post Zendaya in ‘Challengers’ Trailer, Takes Her Fight From the Court and Beyond in New Tennis Drama first appeared on The Source.

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Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett and Jack Black Team up in New Trailer for ‘Borderlands’

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Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett and Jack Black Team up in New Trailer for ‘Borderlands’

Move over, The Last of Us fans, because the long-awaited film adaptation of the popular video game Borderlands is coming soon. Starring superstar funnyman Kevin Hart, Ariana Greenblatt, Edgar Ramirez, Cate Blanchett, and none other than Jack Black lead the way in the star-studded big-budget film coming to theaters. 

Now get this: Borderlands is a title from Gearbox and 2K and has become one of the top-selling games ever. The trailer top lined by Kevin Hart, gets the ball rolling in the film adaptation. Eli Roth is directing, and he knows how to keep genre fans on the edge of their seats with plenty of action mixed with in-your-face laughs.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett teams up with Kevin Hart in director Eli Roth’s BORDERLANDS. Lilith (Blanchett), an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., Atlas (Ramirez). Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team – Roland (Hart), a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg, Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis (Curtis), the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and Claptrap (Black), a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.

Borderlands is hitting theaters on Aug. 9 but check out the trailer here.

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Tyler Perry Halts $800 Million Studio Expansion Due to AI Advancements

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Movie mogul Tyler Perry has announced a pause in his plans for an $800 million expansion of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. The decision, attributed to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), underscores a transformative shift in the filmmaking landscape.

Over the past four years, Perry had meticulously mapped out a grand expansion that would have seen the addition of 12 soundstages to the sprawling 330-acre property. However, Perry’s vision has been altered by the staggering capabilities of AI, particularly exemplified by OpenAI’s revolutionary text-to-video model, Sora, which recently debuted on February 15.

In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Perry expressed his awe at witnessing the astonishing potential of AI technology firsthand. He highlighted the unprecedented possibilities afforded by AI, such as the ability to create elaborate cinematic scenes without the need for physical sets or extensive location scouting.

Perry’s decision to halt the expansion reflects his dual role as a business owner and a conscientious industry figure. While recognizing the immense opportunities presented by AI, Perry also voices concerns about its potential impact on labor within the filmmaking community.

The acclaimed filmmaker emphasizes the need for regulations to safeguard the interests of industry professionals amidst the disruptive influence of AI. Perry’s apprehension extends to various facets of filmmaking, from actors and crew members to post-production specialists, all of whom could potentially be affected by the widespread adoption of AI technologies.

Notably, Perry has already integrated AI into his filmmaking process, leveraging its capabilities to streamline production workflows and enhance creative possibilities. By incorporating AI-driven solutions, Perry has solved traditional challenges, such as lengthy makeup sessions, thereby revolutionizing the filmmaking experience.

Thoughts?

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Marvel Studios to Cut Kang Story Short, Expected to Move Away from Character

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Jonathan Majors Dropped by Marvel Following Guilty Verdict

It’s a wrap on The Kang Dynasty at Marvel. In a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel Studios decided to pivot away from Jonathan Majors’ Kang character, but the decision was long before his conviction

In a lengthy examination of the Superhero film industry, Marvel is attempting to combat box office superhero fatigue and citing Kang the Conqueror’s “underperformance” in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania by box office standards.

A month after Quantumania, Majors was embroiled in a domestic violence incident, leading to a conviction late last year.

The forthcoming film, The Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, was set to release in 2026. Now, the film will undergo rewrites to “minimize the character or excise him entirely.”

The next film from Marvel will be Deadpool & Wolverine, which is set for this summer.

The bad news continues for Jonathan Majors. As reported by Variety, he was set to play NBA superstar Dennis Rodman in a much-hyped biopic based on the former Chicago Bulls champion. 

As the report says, Majors is in the Lionsgate film entitled 48 Hours in Vegas. The studio further distanced themselves by releasing the film all together and handing the rights back to the producers. Sheesh. 

48 Hours in Vegas was based on a little-known story that followed Rodman’s inconceivable Las Vegas trip that went down during the 1998 NBA Finals.

The film project has been in limbo after Majors was arrested in early 2023 following a domestic dispute with his now ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. Now that he has been convicted on two misdemeanor assault and harassment charges, the studio ultimately dropped the hammer.

The post Marvel Studios to Cut Kang Story Short, Expected to Move Away from Character first appeared on The Source.

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Regina King Plays Political Icon Shirley Chisholm in New Trailer for ‘Shirley’

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Regina King Plays Political Icon Shirley Chisholm in New Trailer for ‘Shirley’

Political icon Shirley Chisholm has a new high-profile biopic coming to Netflix, and the streamer has dropped the first trailer for Shirley, starring Hollywood icon Regina King.

The film is dropping on March 22 and, as reported by Shadow and Act, is being directed and written by John Ridley, who has directed King in the past.

The official logline reads, “SHIRLEY tells the story of the first black Congresswoman and political icon, Shirley Chisholm, and her trailblazing run for president of the U.S. It chronicles her audacious, boundary-breaking 1972 presidential campaign.”

Now get this: Shirley is an ensemble film, and the star-studded cast includes the late, great Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Crossmond Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown, Brad James, Reina King with André Holland and Terrence Howard.

Producers are Regina King, her sister, Reina King; Ridley; Anikah McLaren; Elizabeth Haggard; and John Ridley. Both Jeff Skoll and Ted Gidlow serve as executive producers.

The post Regina King Plays Political Icon Shirley Chisholm in New Trailer for ‘Shirley’ first appeared on The Source.

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Regina King Directing Pilot for Mara Brock Akil’s Adaptation of Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ for Netflix With Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. Set to Star

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Regina King Directing Pilot for Mara Brock Akil’s Adaptation of Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ for Netflix With Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. Set to Star

Academy Award nominee Regina King is directing the pilot for a Judy Blume adaptation of the novel Forever. They just tapped Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. as the leads. The project is a part of Mara Brock Akil’s overall deal.

As reported in Variety, this adaptation was created by Brock Akil, and in addition to directing the pilot, King will serve as executive producer. Officially, the series is described as “an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts, set in Los Angeles, 2018.”

Simone plays Keisha Clark, a “young, confident, smart, and fiery track star with clear dreams for life after high school.” Cooper is playing Justin Edwards, who is described as “a young man who is a nerd at heart disguised in an athlete’s body.” Variety notes that Justin desires to play division 1 basketball and yearns for success beyond “his already successful parents.” The “Love,” says the synopsis, “will lead him to who he truly is.”

The series was picked up by Netflix back in 2022, and this is the first series to come out under Brock Akil’s aforementioned overall deal. In addition to creating the series adaptation of the 1971 Judy Blume book, Brock Akil will serve as showrunner and executive producer along with Blume. The other executive producers are Susie Fitzgerald, Sara White, Reina King, Shana C. Waterman, and Erika Harrison.

Simone is best known as a series regular on Greenleaf for OWN and starring in the Apple TV+ new series Manhunt. Cooper starred in On the Come Up, Sanaa Lathan’s directorial debut. Good for both of them!

The post Regina King Directing Pilot for Mara Brock Akil’s Adaptation of Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ for Netflix With Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. Set to Star first appeared on The Source.

The post Regina King Directing Pilot for Mara Brock Akil’s Adaptation of Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ for Netflix With Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. Set to Star appeared first on The Source.

Bob Marley ‘One Love’ Hits $80M in Opening Weekend

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Bob Marley 'One Love' Hits $80M in Opening Weekend

Paramount’s highly anticipated biopic One Love, depicting the life and music of reggae legend Bob Marley, has exceeded expectations with a stellar $80 million global debut.

The film’s portrayal of Marley’s journey has struck a chord with audiences worldwide, surpassing box office projections and affirming its status as a cultural sensation.

According to Deadline, Bob Marley: One Love has earned an estimated $80 million in its opening week, with $29 million generated from international box office sales. Despite initial doubts from critics, audiences have embraced the film’s depiction of Marley’s life and legacy, joining together to celebrate his music and enduring influence.

The success of One Love highlights the universal resonance of Bob Marley’s music and message, transcending borders to unite audiences globally. With compelling storytelling and captivating performances, the film captures Marley’s essence and the profound impact of his music on generations of fans.

The documentary “Bob Marley: One Love” performed exceptionally well at the box office, surpassing Sunday’s domestic projections with a three-day total of $27.7 million and reaching $51 million over six days. This success underscores the enduring appeal of Marley’s work and his remarkable talent, despite the finite amount of content available following his death. According to an analysis by the Megaways-Casino analytics team, Marley’s streaming figures on music platforms contribute significantly to his legacy’s financial support for his heirs. For instance, on Spotify in the past month, Marley’s tracks were played 12,526 times, with his most popular song “Judge Not” accumulating 4,516,237 streams, translating to approximately $18,064.95 in revenue. However, his popularity on YouTube Music is even more pronounced, with over 4 million subscribers to his channel and the track “Sun Is Shining” amassing 78,653,199 streams, equating to $137,643.10 in earnings.

The post Bob Marley ‘One Love’ Hits $80M in Opening Weekend first appeared on The Source.

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Porn Star Kagney Linn Karter Dead At 36 From Apparent Suicide

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Several news reports have confirmed that adult film actress Kagney Linn Karter was found dead in Parma, Ohio in what authorities say was an apparent suicide. Karter was only 36 years old.

A GoFundMe page was started by Kagney’s friends on behalf of her family. The funds will be used for Karter’s funeral expenses and the excess will be given to a local animal shelter.

Her mother Tina said that despite her achievements in performance and fitness, Karter struggled with mental health issues.

Kagney Linn Karter had a prolific career in the adult film industry, starring in nearly 320 titles and winning two AVN Awards.

The post Porn Star Kagney Linn Karter Dead At 36 From Apparent Suicide first appeared on The Source.

The post Porn Star Kagney Linn Karter Dead At 36 From Apparent Suicide appeared first on The Source.

‘Wonka’ Starring Timothee Chalamet Still Sweet at the Box Office Crossing $600M

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As reported by Variety, Wonka is hitting all the sweet spots at the worldwide box office, having just crossed $600 million. That’s a lot of chocolate bars. The Timothée Chalamet fantasy musical is a remake of the 1971 classic film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder.

So, with about ten weeks in theaters worldwide, Wonka has generated $210 million in North America and $395.1 million internationally for a total of $604.9 million. This is a big deal for obvious reasons, but more notably, since only seven films came out in 2023 broke the $600 million milestone.

Warner Bros. backed the film with a modest $125 million budget. Wonka is from director Paul King, who is his highest-grossing film and has earned more than his 2014 hit Paddington and the sequel from 2017. Wonka is also Chalamet’s biggest international film performance-wise, but watch out when Dune: Part Two releases in March. 

If you didn’t know, Wonka is a family film co-stars Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, and Hugh Grant, who plays an iconic Oompa-Loompa. According to Variety, the story “centers on the early days of Willy Wonka and takes place long before a poor boy named Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to tour the world-famous and heavily guarded chocolate factory.” 

“This achievement is a testament the creative brilliance of Paul King, [producer] David Heyman, Timothée Chalamet and the dedicated cast and crew,” in an official statement from Mike De Luca and Pamela Abdy, co-chairs & CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group. “Together they brought the timeless magic of Roald Dahl’s iconic characters to life in a way that only they could and have turned it into an instant classic for a new generation. Our heartfelt thanks go out to moviegoers across the globe for embracing ‘Wonka’ in such a remarkable way.” 

The post ‘Wonka’ Starring Timothee Chalamet Still Sweet at the Box Office Crossing $600M first appeared on The Source.

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Bob Marley Biopic ‘One Love’ Strikes a Global Chord with $80 Million Opening Week

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bob marley

Paramount’s highly anticipated Bob Marley biopic, ‘One Love’, has made waves in its opening week, raking in an impressive $80 million globally. The film, which brings to life the legendary reggae icon’s journey and music, has resonated deeply with audiences worldwide, surpassing box office expectations and solidifying its place as a cultural phenomenon.

According to reports from Deadline, ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ has garnered an estimated $80 million in its debut week, with $29 million of that total coming from international box office sales. Despite early skepticism from critics, audiences have embraced the film’s portrayal of Bob Marley’s life and legacy, coming together to celebrate his music and enduring influence.

The success of ‘One Love’ underscores the universal appeal of Bob Marley’s music and message, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries to unite audiences around the world. Through powerful storytelling and captivating performances, the film captures the essence of Marley’s spirit and the impact of his music on generations of fans.

In conjunction with the film’s release, The Source Magazine’ Courtney Brown conducted an exclusive interview with Ziggy Marley, the executive producer of ‘One Love’ and son of Bob Marley. In this insightful conversation, Ziggy Marley offers behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the film and reflects on his father’s enduring legacy.

As the film continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, it serves as a powerful tribute to Marley’s legacy and a celebration of his timeless music. ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ is now playing in theaters, offering audiences a chance to experience the life, music, and legacy of one of music’s most iconic figures. As the film’s box office success continues to soar, it reinforces the enduring impact of Bob Marley’s music and the universal message of love, unity, and social justice that he championed throughout his life.

Watch the video below.

Watch the trailer below.

The post Bob Marley Biopic ‘One Love’ Strikes a Global Chord with $80 Million Opening Week first appeared on The Source.

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