Movies

The Weeknd Sets Off ‘Avatar 2’s Release With The Uplifting ‘Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)’

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The Weeknd’s Avatar 2: The Way Of Water soundtrack single “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” is now available to stream after being teased a few weeks ago.

It’s a big, dramatic, epic song, full of tribal chants and drums, soaring strings, and emotive, uplifting lyrics — as befits the centerpiece song of the big, dramatic, epic comeback sequel of a big, dramatic, epic hit movie from visionary director James Cameron. Thematically, it follows what we know of the movie’s plot so far, emphasizing loyalty, togetherness, and faith in the connections between people to overcome any obstacle. That appears to be what the film’s protagonists will be relying on as militaristic factions pursue the Na’vi implant Jake Sully and his family across the surface of Pandora — and apparently, into its oceans.

As for Abel himself, he recently wrapped the North American leg of his world tour after avoiding disaster when his voice gave out during his Los Angeles show. He’ll be headed overseas for the European swing next summer. Meanwhile, he said he’s been contemplating pulling his 2012 compilation Trilogy from streamers, citing a desire to replace it with the breakout mixtapes (House Of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes Of Silence) of which it was comprised. Certainly, it’d be a fun way to get fans of his over-the-top pop-leaning output from the past few years familiar with the drugged-out, ominous vibes he once embraced. Who’d ever have thought that guy would be contributing to an Avatar soundtrack (or that Avatar would have a sequel)?

Check out “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” above.

André 3000 Is Back… In A Trailer For The New A24 Film, ‘Showing Up’

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How many time do we have to see “Andre 3000” trending on Twitter before it finally bears some fruit? Well, the time is nigh, but it’s not that unicorn of an album that everyone would love. It’s not even a song — sorry! Not trying to bring everyone down right off the bat, but rest assured this is still good news: André 3000 has been spotted in a trailer for the new A24 film, Showing Up, so rest assured that 3 Stacks is staying busy on the acting side of things.

“I saw some of Jo’s work at a studio yesterday. Wow it just gives me such a lift. Pretty amazing,” André says to star Michelle Williams in the trailer (he’s credited as André Benjamin in the film). Starring Williams, Showing Up is a comedy drama about a community of artists in Portland (sculptors to be exact) and André is presumably one of those artists.

The film is directed by Kelly Reichardt, who has worked with Williams on multiple films in the past like Certain Women and Wendy And Lucy. Showing Up also stars actos Hong Chau, Maryann Plunkett, John Magaro, James Le Gros, and Judd Hirsch. It competed for the Palme D’or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and the release date is still currently listed as “coming soon.”

Watch André 3000 in the trailer for Showing Up above.

How To Watch Whitney Houston’s Biopic, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’

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In recent years, it has paid off to land the leading role in a musician biopic. Rami Malek won his first Oscar for playing the late Freddie Mercury in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Jennifer Hudson was hand-selected by the late Aretha Franklin to portray her in last year’s Respect. Austin Butler is enjoying a career breakthrough in 2022 because of his titular star turn in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. Naomi Ackie is next up.

It’s been two years since Ackie was cast as Whitney Houston for I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the long-gestated Houston biopic. The first official trailer was released by Sony in mid-September, showing Ackie as Houston wowing Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci) and ascending as the voice of a generation. The two-minute teaser ends with Houston’s famed 1991 performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV. A second trailer arrived in early November, which spotlighted Houston standing against unjust criticism for not being “Black enough” and meeting resistance after starting her tumultuous relationship with Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders). But when and where will we be able to watch the Kasi Lemmons-directed film in its full glory?

I Wanna Dance With Somebody will almost undoubtedly be available to stream at some point, but to start, it’s set for an exclusive theatrical release beginning on December 23. Tickets are available here.

The world premiere happened on Tuesday, December 13, in New York City.

“When I first found out I got the part, I think this was actually the scariest part for me, knowing that everyone would see it at some point,” Ackie told Vogue ahead of the premiere. “But I’ve been with it long enough now that I’m really ready to share it with the world. I’m so proud of what we achieved with it, and there’s a lot of love in there. It’s a lot of pressure, and you can’t help but feel slightly stressed by the magnitude of it, but this is the last piece of the puzzle, in a way.”

Houston tragically passed away on February 11, 2012, at 48. Her official cause of death was an accidental drowning in a Los Angeles hotel bathtub. The beloved icon was in LA ahead of that year’s Grammys and had been expected to attend Davis’ annual pre-Grammys party that night.

Who Sings As Whitney Houston In Her Biopic, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody?’

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Baz Luhrmann is back with his latest biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody. The film will trek through the rise and fall of pop superstar Whitney Houston.

Former Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker actress Naomi Ackie has been tasked with Houston’s performance. Joining her are Ashton Sanders, Stanley Tucci, and Law And Order: Special Victims Unit alum Tamara Tunie.

While Ackie’s portrayal seems spot on, judging by the trailer released this past September, the actress won’t be singing in the movie. Clive Davis, Houston’s longtime producer, and collaborator, recently shared that only Houston’s vocals will be used in the film.

“When it came to Whitney, we just didn’t think anyone could capture her vocal genius, so it will be the Whitney voice in the film,” Davis told USA Today.

Davis will serve as the film’s executive producer. Alongside him are Kasi Lemmons (Harriet), who will direct, and Oscar-nominated Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody).

Here is the film’s synopsis, per Sony Pictures:

“I Wanna Dance With Somebody is a powerful and triumphant celebration of the incomparable Whitney Houston. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, written by Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten, produced by legendary music executive Clive Davis, and starring BAFTA Award winner Naomi Ackie, the film is a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice. From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant — and so emotional — journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before. Don’t you wanna dance?”

I Wanna Dance With Somebody will be in theaters on December 23.

Janelle Monáe Reckons The Grinch Ought To Have An Illegitimate Child In A New Movie Reboot

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When it comes to Halloween, Janelle Monáe is one of the best to ever put on a costume. Her high-effort looks wow every year, like when she came through with a Fifth Element-inspired get-up this past October. Monáe sat down for an interview on Late Night yesterday (December 14) and Seth Meyers went through some of her best costumes, including her pitch-perfect The Grinch from 2021. Here’s that in case you need a refresher:

Meyers brought that up and Monáe referred to it as “Johnny Grinch,” then revealing that she had an idea for a Grinch reboot movie. After Meyers’ prompting, she explained, “If you go on my page, you’ll see the Johnny Grinch is, like, this sort of hipster. Like, you know, vegan and green eggs and ham… or wait, not really a good vegan. Anyway, forget that, forget that, forget that, I’m off course. But the pitch is: What if the Grinch had an illegitimate child? Like, he didn’t know that he had Johnny and she somehow brings him back.”

The host, ever the writer, had some valid concerns about plot logistics, like when he noted, “I also want to hear this story about how he’s like, ‘I had no idea.’ I’m like, ‘Alright, Grinch. You lived alone in a cave and you’re like, ‘I don’t know how I’m a dad.’ You know.”

Check out the full interview above.

Margot Robbie Knew She’d Made It Big When Jack Harlow Rapped About Her In ‘Side Piece’

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Don’t underestimate the power Jack Harlow’s lyrics hold. To start this week, Page Six reported that Harlow is dating Dua Lipa, which would be notable on its own but is especially so because the 24-year-old Louisville rapper named one of his Come Home The Kids Miss You tracks “Dua Lipa.” His Atlantic labelmate gave her blessing for the song’s release, and allegedly, Harlow manifested with, “I’m tryna do more with her than do a feature.”

Margot Robbie, meanwhile, once thought she would “slip under the radar” in Wolf Of Wall Street but instead became a global movie star — most recently starring in Babylon and generating tons of buzz for next year’s Barbie. But Robbie didn’t cite her acting achievements — not even the two Oscar nominations — as validators that she was an A-lister when chatting with Carey Mulligan for the latest installment of Variety‘s “Actors On Actors.”

She nodded toward Harlow’s Come Home track “Side Piece.”

Toward the end of the 47-minute conversation, Robbie admitted to Mulligan that she never thought she’d be able to get her for Promising Young Woman because she held Mulligan in the same rarefied air as Meryl Streep and “prestige actors.” (Robbie was a producer, and Mulligan earned an Oscar nomination for her leading role.) Mulligan shared a recent instance when she’d been recognized as her Promising Young Woman character at her husband Marcus Mumford’s show, which led to Robbie asking what Mulligan’s “I know I’ve made it when” moments have been.

“I’ve always thought to myself, I was like, ‘I’ll know I’ve really made it when a legit rapper uses my name in a rap,” Robbie added. “Jack does mention my name in a song. I was very excited. My friends all sent it to me because they were like, ‘It’s happened! You’ve made it!’”

In the second verse of “Side Piece,” Harlow raps, “I need somethin’ besides the inside of these hotel rooms and lobbies / Maybe I should pick up a hobby / More like probably / More like Margot Robbie.”

Watch Mulligan and Robbie’s full “Actors On Actors” conversation below.

Jack Harlow and Dua Lipa are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Doja Cat’s ‘Vegas’ Is Not Eligible For An 2023 Oscars Nomination And An Academy Awards Rule Seems To Indicate Why

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Doja Cat cracked the top 10 of Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart and hit No. 3 on the Radio Songs chart with “Vegas,” her contribution to the Elvis soundtrack, but the song unfortunately will not earn her an Oscar, according to Variety.

“The lead single from the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s Presley biopic, it was written by Doja Cat and producers Roget Chahayed and Yeti Beats, but its interpolation of the Presley classic “Hound Dog” (by Mike Stoller and the late Jerry Lieber) apparently doomed it for consideration,” the publication reported. “Oscar rules demand that both words and music must be ‘original, and written specifically for the motion picture’ and must be the result of ‘creative interaction between the filmmakers and the songwriters who have been engaged to work directly on the motion picture.’”

The same report published today (December 12) relayed that the Tár score has also been disqualified from Oscar contention: “While some sources claimed that the dramatic score exceeded the minimum 35% of total music in the film, as called for by Academy rules, it may have run afoul of another rule that states ‘a score shall not be eligible if it has been diluted by the use of pre-existing music.’”

The full nomination field for the 95th Academy Awards will be unveiled January 24, and the ceremony is slated for March 12. See the full 2023 Oscars timeline here.

“A New Diva’s Christmas Carol” Trailer Stars Ashanti, Vivica A. Fox & Eva Marcille: Watch

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Christmas is right around the corner. As the most wonderful time of the year quickly approaches, a new festive movie will soon be available for your viewing pleasure.

A New Diva’s Christmas Carol is a new holiday-themed comedy picture. According to ThatGrapeJuice, it tells the story of a “mean-spirited singer.” In an attempt to change her attitude, three ghosts take her on a journey through Christmas’ past, present and future.

The flick is a modern twist on the classic 1843 film, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

A newly released trailer shows off the star-studded cast. “Foolish” singer Ashanti, actress Vivica A. Fox and TV personality Eva Marcille lead the stacked crew.

Furthermore, Spice Girls member Mel B and Head of the Class actress Robin Givens will also appear in the flick.

None of these personalities are new to providing entertainment tailored to this festive time of year. Ashanti previously starred in Christmas Winter Song, while Fox starred in this year’s Holiday Hideaway.

Additionally, this won’t be Marcille’s first festive role this year either. A few months back she starred in A Christmas Fumble.

In other recent news, Ashanti has been stirring conversations about her intimate performance with ex-lover Nelly. The duo appeared on stage together for Power 98.3 and Power 96.1‘s “Under The Mistletoe” concert just over a week ago.

The production for their collaborative 2008 hit, “Body On Me” was rather steamy. It subsequently caused some fans to take to social media to gossip about their potential reunion.

Even though she’s over two decades into her career as an entertainer, the 42-year-old is certainly staying relevant.

Ashanti’s latest project is finally set to premiere on VH1 on Wednesday (December 14). English actor Idris Elba serves as the executive producer and Rusty Cundieff is directing.

Will you be tuning in to watch A New Diva’s Christmas Carol this holiday season? Let us know in the comments.

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Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, And Others Represent The Music World With Their 2023 Golden Globes Nominations

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Rihanna ended her six-year music hiatus in late October with the powerful ballad “Lift Me Up” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack — and tacked on “Born Again” for good measure. Taylor Swift clocked the biggest first-week tallies since 2015 and monopolized the top 10 of Billboard‘s Hot 100 with Midnights. Lady Gaga won another Grammy with Tony Bennett and set out on her Chromatica Ball tour. And now, the powers that be at the 2023 Golden Globes are supposed to choose between them.

The Best Original Song, Motion Picture category is stacked: “Carolina” by Taylor Swift for Where The Crawdads Sing; “Ciao Papa” by Roeben Katz and Guillermo del Toro for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio; “Hold My Hand” by Lady Gaga and BloodPop for Top Gun: Maverick; “Lift Me Up” by Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, and Tems for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; and “Naatu Naatu” by Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani, and Rahul Sipligunj for RRR.

Elsewhere in the nomination field, Selena Gomez is up for Best Actress In A TV Series, Musical Or Comedy for her role in Hulu’s Only Murders In The Building, co-starring alongside Martin Short and Steve Martin for two seasons with a third on the way. The category is rounded out by Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant), Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), and Jean Smart (Hacks).

The films that make up the Best Original Score category are Babylon, The Banshees Of Inisherin, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, The Fabelmans, and Women Talking.

Other loosely music-related nominations of note are Donald Glover’s (sometimes known as Childish Gambino) for Best Actor In A Television Series, Musical Or Comedy; Austin Butler for Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture, Drama for his portrayal in Elvis; and four nods for Pam & Tommy, Hulu’s limited series revisiting everything surrounding the 1995 sex tape made by Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee.

The 2023 Golden Globes are scheduled for January 10, 2023 and will broadcast live on NBC with Jerrod Carmichael hosting.

Todd Phillips Shares 1st Image From “Joker 2”

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Todd Phillips has shared the first image from his upcoming Joker sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. The picture shows Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck while being shaved by a barber at Arkham Asylum.

“Day 1. Our boy,” Phillips captioned the post.

PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 23: Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips attend the “Joker” Premiere at cinema UGC Normandie son September 23, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

The new image doesn’t seem to reveal any new information about the story. However, Phillips has previously confirmed that the sequel will be a musical. Lady Gaga has also been cast as Harley Quinn.

Gaga’s performance as Quinn will exist completely unrelated to Margot Robbie, who has played the character in three films. They include Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad, as well as Birds of Prey.

“It makes me so happy because I said from the very beginning that all I want is for Harley Quinn to be one of those characters — the way Macbeth or Batman, always gets passed from great actor to great actor,” Robbie said of the casting.

In addition to Gaga, Joker: Folie à Deux will star Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, as well as Harry Lawtey.

The first Joker was released back in 2019, depicting the titular character as a failed stand-up comic who descends into madness. It later became the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion at the box office. It ended the year as the sixth-highest-grossing film.

The newest Joker: Folie à Deux update comes following James Gunn and Peter Safran’s appointment as CEOs of the new DC Studios. The two are tasked with building up films, animation, and television projects for the rebrand.

Joker: Folie à Deux will hit theaters on October 4, 2024.

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