The second teaser trailer for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie has been released. It should lay to rest any doubts that viewers may have had about the movie. The 2-minute-long teaser is campy, chaotic, and fun in all the right ways. The film was officially announced several years ago. Margot Robbie stars in the film and was attached before Barbie had even found its director. In Barbie, the titular character will go on a journey of self-discovery, leaving her home for the real world. The trailer tells us little about why she must leave. The extremely short film synopsis simply alleges it is because she is “less than perfect.”
The production of Barbie took quite some time to get the ball rolling. The idea was first presented by Universal Studios all the way back in 2009. However, production did not begin until Sony acquired the rights to the film in 2014. Rumors swirled about the actresses in negotiations for the lead role. Both Amy Schumer and Anne Hathaway supposedly eyed the part. When Sony failed to put Barbie into production, Warner Bros. acquired the rights to it. Shortly after, Margot Robbie was announced as both the lead actor and producer. Additionally, WB announced Greta Gerwig had stepped into the role of director. Noah Baumbach acts as screenwriter for the film, who many may know as the writer of the divorce drama, Marriage Story, starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. Over the months that followed, the film added an almost staggering number of top actors and actresses.
Come On, Barbie, Let’s Go Party
In the newest trailer for Barbie, we are introduced to the neon-tinged world of the famous Mattel doll. It opens on a beach with pastel pink sand as a chorus of different Barbies say hello to one another. We see two Kens vie for the attention of Robbie’s character before she takes off in her car. She waves at passers by, hilariously taking her hands off of the wheel of her car completely. Eventually, Barbie and Ken are seen leaving their home for the real world. The end of the trailer shows off Noah Baumbach’s comedic writing chops as two Kens argue on the beach, vowing to “beach each other off.”
Humorous and lights, Barbie looks like it is going to be the perfect summer movie. It boasts an all-star cast, with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, and Will Ferrell taking on lead roles, among many others. We can expect more from the film in the coming months, but for now check out the trailer above. Barbie releases on July 21.
Dua Lipa debuts as a Barbie you never knew you wanted. The “Levitating” singer takes on her first acting role in the new movie based on the famous Mattel doll. The film, simply called Barbie, is directed by Greta Gerwig. The director is best known for her work on the recent films, Lady Bird and Little Women.Both were nominated for Academy Awards. As such, it’s unlikely that we will be looking at a straightforward film about living dolls. The first teaser didn’t provide much information, but it did give us a look into the neon world created for the movie.
For those unfamiliar with her previous work, Dua Lipa is a British singer, songwriter, and model. Dua’s career began in 2015 when she signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records and released her debut single “New Love.” Then, in 2016, she had a breakthrough hit with “Be the One”. Her debut album was released the following year, featuring the viral single “New Rules.” Dua has won multiple awards for her music, including two Grammy Awards. Her second album, Future Nostalgia, was released in 2020. It gave birth to the chart-topping hits “Levitating” and “Don’t Start Now.” Subsequently, it seems that Dua is making her way into acting.
In a tweet from the official Barbie movie account, character posters introducing the cast were shared. “Meet our Barbies and Kens,” the account says in the tweet. The post includes pictures of cast members like Margot Robbie, who plays the titular character. Other cast members with their own posters were Kingsley Ben-Adir, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Ana Cruz Kayne, Scott Evans, Sharon Rooney, Emerald Fennell, and of course, Dua Lipa herself.
In her poster, Dua appears as a blue-haired mermaid Barbie adorned in pearls and shells. Fans had previously speculated that the pop star would appear in the film, and now it seems they were correct. The tweet gives little more information about her part in the film. Still, it offers fans the confirmation they’ve been looking for. Dua definitely delivers in her music, but how will she fare in her new role as an actress? Overall, we’ll have to wait until Barbie releases on July 21 to find out.
No, that’s not Kid Cudi in the new Barbie cast image reveals… but Ncuti Gatwa could be a dead ringer for the Man On The Moon thanks to his Ken doll-inspired dye job. The outfit in the Rwandan-British actor’s photo, complete with jean vest, red cowboy hat, and guitar, does look a lot like something Cudi would have worn a few years ago during his own bleach-blonde phase, and Cudi good-naturedly pointed out the resemblance on Twitter.
“This me,” he joked, reposting the photo with a sobbing emoji.
As far as why Kid Cudi isn’t in Greta Gerwig’s ode to the most popular girls’ toy of the past 60 years, it’s probably just because he’s looking extremely busy for the remainder of the year. After musing that he might be considering retirement, he got super productive, finishing up an album, plotting a world tour for next year, and booking a string of festival appearances including HARD Summer and the Hive Festival. And that’s just music!
Cudi told a fan on Twitter that in addition to his musical endeavors, he’s launching a clothing line, directing his first movie, starring in a bunch of movies, and even some TV. He even joked — maybe — that he’s getting into stand-up comedy.
Miles Morales is back as Spider-Man in the new trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The animated film is the much-anticipated sequel to 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That film followed Miles Morales on his journey to becoming Spider-Man while also attempting to save his universe from the villainous Kingpin. It was a huge success for the franchise, earning over $300 million on a budget of just $90 million. Praised by critics and fans alike, it even went on to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. This was likely quite a relief for Sony, who had already greenlit a sequel before the first film’s release due to the buzz surrounding it.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse isn’t the only companion to the 2018 film in development. To begin with, the film is only part one of a two part sequel. Beyond that, Sony has also greenlit a film surrounding the female Spider-people, tentatively titled Spider-Women. Gwen Stacy, a staple in the Spider-verse films already, would appear as the lead in the film. Additionally, there have been murmurs of an animated television series based on the Spider-Verse films. With the film industry still very much focused on universe-expanding properties, the many rumored projects connected to the Spider-Verse films come as no surprise.
Spider-Man vs. Spider-Man
The new trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse shows Miles Morales struggling to balance his day-to-day life with his heroic duties. The character, voiced by Shameik Moore, leaves a parent-teacher conference to stop a villain. Soon, all hell breaks loose after Gwen Stacy, voiced by Hailee Stanfield, introduces him to “the lobby”. In it, there are hundreds of Spider-people, including Miguel O’Hara, otherwise known as Spider-Man 2099, played by Oscar Isaac. For much of the trailer, Morales and O’Hara are embroiled in some sort of disagreement. Morales is told that he must choose between saving one life and saving every universe. It’s a moral conundrum that almost every iteration of the hero has had to face.
The animated sequel to the hit 2018 film will be released on June 2, 2023. Part 2, titled Beyond the Spider-Verse, will be released next year. It will feature a host of heavy hitters as different versions of Spider-people. Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, and Jason Schwartzmann are all featured, adding to the already impressive cast. What do you think of the new trailer? Sound off in the comments!
Things have been a bit rocky for the Harry Potter franchise as of late, but it looks like that isn’t stopping Warner Bros. from pushing forward on new projects. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was a critical and commercial failure. As such, it was announced that WB had no plans to pursue the production of any further Harry Potter film projects. Previously, it had been announced by J.K. Rowling herself that the Fantastic Beasts series would span five films. However, after plenty of behind-the-scenes drama and an incredibly disappointing box office and audience response, it looked as though WB wanted to cut its losses and move on.
It’s difficult to pinpoint a definitive reason for the failure of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The second film in the Harry Potter spin-off franchise was already poorly received. Still, the box office was still good enough for WB to have moved forward with the sequel. The production, however, was plagued with negative headlines from the very beginning. First, Johnny Depp was booted from his role as the villain of the series due to abuse allegations. Then, J.K. Rowling was almost universally condemned for comments made that were deemed “transphobic”. Additionally, Ezra Miller had made headlines for their insane antics. So much was working against the film to begin with. So, when it was released to fairly negative reviews, it was the final nail in the coffin. Surprisingly, that was not enough to deter WB completely.
A Second Chance For Harry Potter
Posters for the ” Harry Potter And the Order Of The Phoenix” film are seen on in Gare du Nord railway station in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Although it seemed that the world of Harry Potter might finally be coming to a close, WB isn’t ready to give up so easily. Instead, they are exploring other avenues. The film studio is apparently in talks to make a deal with HBO Max for a Harry Potter TV series. Rather than developing further spin-offs, however, it would be based directly on the original series. It appears that WB might have faith in Harry Potter but not in J.K. Rowling’s ability to write further in-universe material.
This is not the first time that a Harry Potter TV series has been teased. For years, a potential series has been talked about. However, as much of the film industry moved towards universe expansion, WB decided to focus on developing other Harry Potter properties. That avenue has proven to be a dead end for the studio, so it appears they are returning to their original plan. While the deal is said to still be in preliminary stages, it’s likely to come to fruition given the success of other Harry Potter properties like Hogwarts Legacy. If there’s money to be made, WB isn’t going to leave it on the table. What do you think of the idea of a Harry Potter TV series? Are you excited or is it time to put the franchise to rest? Let us know in the comments.
Teyana Taylor is a woman of many talents. She’s a singer, a dancer, a choreographer, and an actress. Her career has spanned more than a decade. In that time, she has worked with artists like Beyoncé, Pharrell, Jay-Z, and more. While she may not be a household name as an actress, she has certainly been in her fair share of films and TV shows. Now, it seems that she is set to play the legendary Dionne Warwick in a new biopic that Taylor herself is helping to develop.
Oddly enough, Teyana Taylor got her start in film on the now-defunct MTV reality show, My Super Sweet Sixteen. The show featured extremely rich teens planning and executing their perfect sixteenth birthday parties. It was certainly a product of its time, as the flaunting of extreme wealth is generally frowned upon these days. Since then, Taylor has worked in many artistic mediums and proven herself to be a talented, multi-faceted artist. Through a friendship with Pharrell Williams, she was able to begin her music career and has now released three albums. Taylor has also continued to act, albeit mainly in more independent films. However, she recently starred in the drama A Thousand and One, a film that gives her talent a chance to really shine. With the new biopic in the works, it appears that Taylor might be setting herself up to be one of the new leading ladies in Hollywood.
Taylor Doing Right By Dionne Warwick
Teyana Taylor wears a long blazer with different patterns in red/blue/white and gold jewelry with rhinestones, outside before Thom Browne show. (Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)
Teyana Taylor isn’t just winging it when it comes to playing the iconic Dionne Warwick. In an interview with The TamronHall Show, Taylor makes it clear that she wants to do right by Warwick and tell the story as it should be told. In fact, she says that she and Warwick talk all the time. “We talk almost every day,” said Taylor. “That’s my girl.”
In contrast to many biopics, Teyana Taylor wants to make sure nothing is more dramatized than it needs to be. She believes the story should be a truthful representation of the events of Warwick’s life. “A lot of these stories get misconstrued or dramatized to an extent,” Taylor clarified. “That’s not really where we want to go.” What do you think about this casting? Is Teyana Taylor the right choice to play the iconic Dionne Warwick? Let us know in the comments!
Harley Quinn is back, but not quite as you remember her. In set photos from Joker: Folie à Deux, Harley looks like a completely different person than that of other recent film portrayals of the character. The internet erupted when Lady Gaga was cast in the iconic role. The news received everything from excitement to flat out hatred and vitriol. Additionally, the film was announced to be a musical. That news was met with lots of trepidation from fans. However, as images have started to be released both officially and from the set, it seems that fans can put their fears to rest. At the very least, the role is in the hands of a very talented performer.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, has already established herself as an iconic singer. Now, she’s begun to establish herself as a household-name actress, as well. In 2015, she made her acting debut in the fifth season of the TV show American Horror Story. She received favorable reviews for it and even snagged the Best Actress Golden Globe. A Star is Born, in which she co-starred with Bradley Cooper, saw her nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Gaga also starred in House of Gucci, for which she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. She is well known for being a gifted and versatile performer, and her reputation as an actor is no different.
New video has surfaced on Twitter from the set of Joker: Folie à Deux. The footage shows the same Bronx staircase that was featured in the first Joker film. Though it is difficult to see much since it was filmed from so far away, you can see Lady Gaga at the top of the stairs, singing and dancing to herself before a large group of police officers descend upon her. It seems that this iteration of Harley Quinn will still have an obsession with the Joker or “Mr. J”, as she so often calls him. Lady Gaga will no doubt bring a fresh new perspective to the character.
Unsurprisingly, when the footage was posted on Twitter, fans went crazy. They expressed both excitement and impatience. “In agony until I can watch this scene,” said one fan. “Nahhh fr this movie is gonna be fire tho,” commented another. Sadly, fans will have to wait quite some time still. The movie is still more than a year away, as it’s slated to be released in October of 2024. Until then, we’ll have to make do with fan-filmed videos of the set.
Last week, after the season finale of Law & Order:Gwyneth On The Slopes, it quickly became apparent that we, as a society, need more celebrity trials, if only for the spectacle that is rich people interacting with normal folks. Well, we didn’t have to wait long for another star-studded courtroom appearance (not including James Marsden’s mockumentary Jury Duty) as Leonardo DiCaprio took the stand today, though not for any winter sport-related injury, but for art!
DiCaprio was called to the stand in the trial of Pras Michel of the Fugees, who was allegedly part of a multimillion-dollar conspiracy in which Jho Low, a Malaysian businessman, reportedly gifted DiCaprio with paintings that had been bought with embezzled funds.
The actor said in court that he and Low attended “a multitude of lavish parties” while working on The Wolf Of Wall Street, which Low possibly paid for with those illegal funds. “I understood him to be a huge businessman with many connections,” DiCaprio said of Low in court, according to BBC. “He was a prodigy in the business world.” Do you know who else was a business prodigy at one point?
DiCaprio also testified that Low had once expressed interest in donating a “significant” contribution of $20-30 million to the Democratic Party ahead of the 2012 election. DiCaprio recalled, “I basically said ‘Wow, that’s a lot of money.” Legally, this checks out as a lot of money to most people. Prosecutors claim that Michel funneled money from Low into Obama’s 2012 campaign and hide the source of the funds which would be, as you might have guessed, not legal.
While Prais Michel denies any wrongdoing, there still haven’t been any elaborate stick figure diagrams to help the audience understand how this alleged embezzlement went down. How are we supposed to understand what’s happening when it isn’t drawn out in the simplest of terms? And when will Margot Robbie show up to take the stand?!
Samuel L. Jackson is the most wanted person on the planet. Well, in the new Secret Invasion trailer, he is. The series was announced more than two years ago, in December of 2020, and is set to be released on June 21. Marvel has kept much of the story under wraps. Little information has been released, as is always the case. What we do know, however, is that Secret Invasion will revolve around a war being fought in the shadows with an alien race. Jackson’s Nick Fury will be at the center of the action, having returned to earth after being “off planet” and allowing one of the Skrulls to act as a stand-in for him. Fans of the comics have noted a large shift in the story in that the Skrulls have been made peaceful. In the comics, however, they are quite the opposite.
In the Marvel comics, the Secret Invasion plot was a large crossover event that began in 2008. The story revealed that the Skrulls, a species of shape-shifting aliens, had been infiltrating Earth for years and had replaced important people with their own operatives. The Skrulls were able to duplicate the memories and personalities of the individuals they were replacing in addition to their external features. The plot line had major implications for the entire superhero community. It showed that many cherished characters in the Marvel universe had been supplanted by Skrulls.
A Return To Fighting Form For Marvel?
The Secret Invasion trailer features a noticeably darker tone than much of the recent material we’ve seen from the MCU. The gritty cinematography and color grading gives the air of an espionage thriller, much in the same vein as Captain America: Winter Soldier. While the trailer is promising, is Secret Invasion a return to fighting form for Marvel? In recent years, fans and critics alike have noted a sharp drop in quality in the MCU, both in storytelling and filmmaking. The newest phase seems to lack direction and focus. As such, it’s unclear what the future holds for Marvel, particularly with the poor box office performance of Ant-Man: Quantamania. The film was supposed to be the big introduction of the newest Avengers villain, Kang. However, it appears that very few actually cared. Still, with Jackson’s Fury as the protagonist, we can at least expect great character work.
In addition to Jackson’s Nick Fury, the show will feature other recognizable characters like Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill and Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes. The show adds some new faces into the mix, as well. In typical Marvel fashion, they have cast some of the top talents in the industry in the roles. Two notable additions are Olivia Coleman and Emilia Clarke. Coleman, an Oscar winner and all-around celebrated actress, portrays an old ally of Fury’s named Sonya Falsworth. Clarke, who played Danaerys on HBO’s Game of Thrones, is G’iah, a member of the Skrull species. With top-tier talent rounding out the roster, Secret Invasion is shaping up to be one of Marvel’s best outings yet.
Oscar and Grammy Award-winner Will Smith is one of the highest-paid actors of all time and deserving of it, too. Grossing more than $9.3 billion globally for his iconic roles in television and film, the decorated actor Is credited as a “bankable star.” This means Smith is guaranteed to bring box-office success by merely appearing in the film. Born in Philadelphia, Smith began his career as a rapper, creating music with his best friend, DJ Jazzy Jeff. After releasing multiple chart-toppers between 1984 to 1994, Smith ultimately ventured into his solo career. The duo didn’t split, as DJ Jazzy Jeff appeared in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show featured Smith’s most iconic role as a fictional embodiment of himself.
Smith premiered his acting career in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990 as a teenager adjusting to his extended family. He raked in $2.8 million within his first three years on the show but didn’t see much of it due to owing money in back taxes. Smith’s skills would eventually make him one of the wealthiest actors, with a reported net worth of $350 million.
From Drama to Comedy and Action, Will Smith’s Many Acting Roles
LOS ANGELES – 1996 actor Will Smith poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
Staring in multiple films in the ‘90s, like Independence Day (1996), Enemy of the State (1998), and Wild Wild West (1999), Smith was able to use his experience acting to mold a multifaceted career. Smith has taken on comedy, action, drama, and just about every film genre. He has even voiced for multiple animated roles like Shark Tale (2004)and Spies in Disguise (2019). He’s also long exhibited his ability to transform into a relatable role model for anyone of any age. In 2019, he even landed a part as the Genie on Disney’s live version of Aladdin. Taking on multiple roles at a time in varying genres, Smith epitomizes the hustle of a true actor with a genuine devotion to their work.
His passion for action is evident, as many of his iconic roles fit within the genre. Starring as a detective in theBad Boys franchise alongside Martin Lawrence, Smith shows fans his recognizable comedic banter. However, movies like I Am Legend portray him as a survivor with the power to do anything he sets his mind to. Other notable performances by Smith are his roles in Ali, Hitch, Gemini Man, I, Robot,Concussion, and Seven Pounds. In the latter, his character seeks out people to share vital parts of himself, displaying Smith’s highly favored ability to evoke emotion in any given film.
Men in Black (Trilogy)
Based on the Marvel comic book, this plot surrounds a conspiracy theory that an elite undercover group of men has had their identities wiped to investigate extraterrestrial life on Earth. Men in Black is also loaded with science fiction theories and people with powers unheard of. Smith’s character, Agent J Darrell Edwards III, investigates the criminal activity of extraterrestrials. The films’ plots center around the MIB (men in black) who uncover evil plans to take over the world. In Men in Black III, Agent J (Smith) seeks more information about his partner, Agent Kevin Brown, played by Tommy Lee Jones. Additionally, all three films have grossed over $1 billion at the box office, while Men in Black III earned $654.2 million. This makes Smith one of the only four actors in the world to earn $100 million from a role in a film.
Emancipation (2022)
Whipped within an inch of his life, an enslaved man named Peter flees by foot from a Louisiana plantation. This thrilling drama is arguably one of Smith’s most moving roles yet. He ravishes his way through horrifying treachery to return home to his family. Based on the true story of “Whipped Peter,” Smith also had to take control of himself in this role to embody the history of the message. Justifying his part with complete dedication to the role, Smith gave all of himself in this Oscar-worthy performance.
King Richard (2021)
Winning an Oscar for his standout performance as the father of tennis’ most elite, Serena and Venus Williams, Richard Williams motivated his two daughters toward their professional careers. This is also an extraordinarily inspirational role played by Smith. He depicts the father’s love and support with patience, power, and perfection. It was Richard’s idea to have his two daughters begin the sport, and Smith takes on the role of molding two champions impeccably with his experience of being a father himself. In real life, Smith also shows his kids Jaden, Willow, and Trey equal love, just as Richard did with Serena and Venus.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
This film was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe. Smith transcended his role, giving an emotionally raw performance of Chris Gardner in this true story. Smith delivered the role with all he had, which also permeates on screen. Displaying depth and intensity, Smith’s character is a homeless single father who struggles to find work. He and his young son face the adverse streets of San Francisco with hunger and a yearning to survive. Jaden Smith also appears in this film as his father’s on-screen son.
Suicide Squad (2016)
Based on the popular DC comic, this superhero film is jam-packed with an epic cast. Smith’s character, Deadshot, is an expert marksman and assassin who hunts but vows never to kill a woman or child. Though his job is to kill off the evil prey of the world, he is just as focused on his relationship with his daughter. When he’s approached by Batman, he has to decide to either work or protect. Deadshot’s ability to maintain and balance his stern and affectionate demeanor under the control of the government as an obedient criminal makes for an entertaining film.
Collateral Beauty (2016)
In this moving drama, Smith embodies an NYC advertising executive, Howard Inlet, who tragically loses his daughter. He stops working and communicating with his friends but turns his pain into a plan to restore his life. To heal, he writes individual letters to Love, Time, and Death. Then, he starts to experience synchronicities that end up as lessons. He learns that what you go through affects everyone, so it’s best to have a grateful heart to receive life’s blessings despite an inevitable death.
Upcoming Work from Will Smith
What’s to come from Smith in the nextcoupleofyearsshould be highly anticipated. His ability to take on multiple roles simultaneously makes him more focused than ever. I Am Legend 2: Last Man on Earth will star Smith alongside Michael B. Jordan in its 2024 November premiere. At the same time, Bad Boys IIII is due to be released by 2025.
