Movies

Austin Butler ‘Danced And Danced And Danced’ At A Janelle Monáe Concert, He Admits

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The 17th season of Variety‘s “Actors On Actors” series has already included the likes of Viola Davis and Jennifer Lawrence and has fans impatiently awaiting the episode with Joe Alwyn and Paul Mescal. The latest installment dropped on Sunday, featuring Austin Butler with Janelle Monáe. The crux of the conversation was Butler’s leading man turn in Elvis and Monáe’s standout performance in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. But there was room for Butler to make an endearing admission.

At one point Butler asked Monáe about their upbringing in the Baptist church, and Monáe noted they appreciated that Elvis made clear that its titular icon borrowed heavily from Black artists. Butler then shared that he went with director Baz Luhrmann to a Nashville church after he was cast to observe gospel singers, which taught him about “what movement means in music when you can’t help but move because your spirit is being moved.”

“I’ve only had a couple moments before filming Elvis where I danced in public because I was very, very shy. I’d always be a wallflower at party,” Butler told Monáe. “One of them was at that gospel church, and another was at one of your shows. You moved me in such a way that I couldn’t help but move. [I was with] some of my friends, they said, ‘Austin, I didn’t know you could dance.’”

He continued, “But you were up on stage and I was in the audience, and I just couldn’t help but dance. It was so beautiful.”

Monáe was visibly flattered and asked which of their shows Butler had attended. After coyly calling Coachella “the music festival that shan’t be named,” Butler said it was Coachella and recalled, “I danced and danced and danced. I couldn’t stop.”

Monáe played Coachella’s main stage in 2019 as part of their Dirty Computer Tour. The acclaimed set featured a twerk-off with Lizzo.

Watch Butler and Monáe’s full “Actors On Actors” above and see outtakes below.

Emily Blunt Recalls Tom Cruise Telling Her To “Stop Being Such A P***y”

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Emily Blunt says that Tom Cruise told her to stop being “a pussy” on the set of Edge of Tomorrow. Blunt recalled working with Cruise during an appearance on the SmartLess podcast.

“We had to wear these enormous suits, which I think would’ve been great if we had CGI’d them, but we wanted to do it in a tactile way,” Blunt told hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 04: Emily Blunt attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Blunt explained that the costumes they had to wear were unbearably heavy.

“When you hear the word ‘tactile,’ you think that sounds nice and cozy. There was nothing cozy about these suits. It was like 85 pounds. It was so heavy,” she further said. “The first time I put it on I started to cry, and [Cruise] didn’t know what to do.”

“I was like, ‘Tom, I’m not sure how I’m going to get through this shoot,’ and just started to cry,” she admitted. “I said, ‘I’m feeling a bit panicky about the whole shoot.’”

Afterward, Blunt said Cruise just “stared at her” for a while, before making her laugh with his next remark.

“He just stared at me for a long time, not knowing what to do, and he goes, ‘Come on, stop being such a p—y, OK?’” Blunt said.

Edge of Tomorrow premiered back in 2014. In addition to Crusie and Blunt, the film starred Bill Paxton and Brendan Gleeson. Doug Liman directed the movie. The film is set in a future where aliens are occupying most of Europe while Cruise and Blunt’s characters fend off the invaders.

Check out a trailer for Edge of Tomorrow below.

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“Rush Hour 4” Confirmed By Jackie Chan

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Jackie Chan made an appearance at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on Thursday (December 8). During a speech he made on stage, he revealed that talks to film Rush Hour 4 are currently underway. In fact, he said he was going to meet with the director this evening to discuss the fourth installment.

This is where it gets interesting though. Filmmaker Brett Ratner served as the director for the franchise’s first three movies, but it can be expected that he won’t return for the fourth film.

Jackie Chan attends the Li-Ning Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 18, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)

He hasn’t directed since 2014. The last movie he did direct was the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-starring Hercules. Ratner was accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by seven different women in 2017. Warner Bros went on to sever their ties with the producer and director.

Chan has starred in all three Rush Hour films alongside Chris Tucker. The first of which was released in 1998 and the last was 15 years ago, in 2007. 

Fans React To Rush Hour 4

This doesn’t mean that fans aren’t interested in the fourth movie. Since the announcement, fans all over social media have begun to express their excitement. 

The original film reportedly grossed $244 million worldwide. It’s credited with largely being the series that made Chan a North American action and comedy star.

Since then, the Hong Kong-born actor has kept busy, starring in a number of movies including the Kung Fu Panda series and The Spy Next Door. 

He also told the Saudi Arabia crowd that this year marks his 60th anniversary as a member of the film industry.

In a rather shocking announcement, the star also stated that he plans on shifting the focus of his career. Rather than continuing to play roles in action movies, he plans to act in “more love stories.” 

The 68-year-old is currently working on preparing for a project that he described as a “drama film for women.”

Are you excited for Rush Hour 4? When do you think it will officially arrive? Comment down below.

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Janelle Monáe Had A Completely Topless Birthday Party And Has Now Explained The NSFW Video On ‘Kimmel’

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Janelle Monáe dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! to dish on their appearance in Netflix’s upcoming blockbuster, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery… as well as the backstory behind a video of them posing topless at a friend’s birthday party.

Much like the mystery in the movie, this friend takes Monáe on a secret vacation destination each year, with past places including Jamaica and Las Vegas. This year’s party spot was Mexico — and each night of the trip had a different theme.

The first night of Monáe’s birthday trip was “Intergalactic,” where they channeled an extraterrestrial in a pink wig and lots of fluorescent sparkles. From there, the friends organized a “hot sexy tea party” (with a lingerie dress code) and a murder mystery party night. (It’s unclear if Monáe won this game, considering their recent experience in the genre.)

However, Monáe decided to let their creativity shine when the friends organized a “wine night where […] your clothes need to match your favorite white wine or your favorite red wine.” They opted for neither.

“Earlier in the day they had told me the theme and I was like, you know what, it’s my birthday, I just want to be free!” they explained. “I want to be, like, so free and I want to let it all hang out. So they were all dressed and I was topless.”

Monáe uploaded a video from that night to Instagram, where they are dancing around in just a skirt as a band plays and fireworks set off from the beach. “Still floating. Thank you all for the bday love. This is just a small glimpse of how I spent it,” the caption read. “Fully honoring the present. Thank you to my loved ones for planning such a magical experience + each of them adorning my body with temp tats so I could have a bday suit that matched how i felt.”

HER Is Pumped To Be Making History As The First Filipina Belle In The ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Anniversary Special

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R&B sensation HER (real name Gabriella Wilson) is making history again. As the singer prepares for her musical special debut as part of Disney’s 30th celebration televised special of Beauty And The Beast, Wilson becomes the first Black and Filipina woman to play the role of Belle.

For clarity, singer Toni Braxton was the first Black woman to star as Belle on Broadway in 1998. But Wilson’s portrayal will mark the first time a woman of color has played the character on the small screen. During a stop at Good Morning America, the “Back Of My Mind” singer shared with host Michael Strahan what this opportunity means to her.

Wilson confessed, “I never thought I could be a Disney princess.” She later added, “Of course, every little girl wants to be a Disney princess, but I’ve never seen one that looks like me — so I get to be that to little girls now.”

When asked about her experience as Belle, Wilson replied, “Being a Disney princess is fun!”

Striving for the coveted EGOT status, Wilson could very well earn an Emmy as she also serves as a producer of the special. Wilson discussed the production side of the special, stating, “that’s such a huge deal on top of being a producer on Beauty And The Beast, which is crazy. I got to do a lot of the new arrangements and work with Alan Menken, the original arranger and producer. It’s been an amazing experience just learning so much about myself, and it’s been a lot of fun, honestly.”

Without giving too much away vocally, Wilson sang a teaser of the production’s opening number, “Belle,” and let’s say viewers are in for a treat.

@gma

@herofficial singing ‘Belle’ is the highlight of our week! 😍❤ #HER #Belle #BeautyAndTheBeast #Disney #Princess

♬ original sound – Good Morning America

Other notable names joining Wilson in the production include Shania Twain (in the role of Mrs. Potts), Josh Groban (in the role of Beast), Martin Short (in the role of candlestick Lumière), Joshua Henry (in the role of Gaston), and David Alan Grier (in the role of Cogsworth, the clock). Rita Moreno will narrate the special.

The Beauty And The Beast: A 30th Celebration television event will air on ABC on December 15 and on Disney+ the next day.

Watch the full interview above.

The Weeknd’s Upcoming Song ‘Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)’ Will Be On The ‘Avatar 2’ Soundtrack

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The long-awaited (by some, I guess) sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar, Avatar 2: The Way Of Water is coming to theaters this month and today, we learned some intriguing news about the film’s accompanying soundtrack. In addition to the film’s score, the soundtrack will also feature a new song from The Weeknd, titled “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength).” Produced by Swedish House Mafia and the film’s composer Simon Franglen, the song is due for release on December 15 at 12 pm PT. The film itself will hit theaters the next day.

The Weeknd previously teased his connection to the upcoming sequel, leading to speculation about his role in the film’s soundtrack. The whole arrangement may give music fans deja vu after a similar rollout for Rihanna’s new song “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. If this is the new trend, here’s a free idea for any movie studios out there looking to release any more sequels to decade-old blockbusters: we haven’t heard from Ariana Grande in while. Just saying.

“Nothing Is Lost” provides quite the cap for The Weeknd’s major 2022, which included the After Hours stadium tour, the announcement of a new HBO show, The Idol, coming in 2023, and even his own maze at Universal Studios’ Hollywood Horror Nights on Halloween.

Sacha Baron Cohen Brings Out Borat To Roast Ye, Joe Biden, And U2

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Sacha Baron Cohen has cemented himself as an icon of Hollywood. While he may have retired his most beloved character from street work, he wasn’t afraid to revive him for a bit at Sunday’s Kennedy Center Honors.

While his purpose at the event was to pay tribute to U2, everyone knows Borat can’t be controlled that easily.

Sacha Baron Cohen attends a screening of the Oscars on Monday, April 26, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Rick Rycroft-Pool/Getty Images)

As soon as Cohen’s character took the stage he wasted no time in turning his focus to current events. Firstly, he targeted Joe Biden, who was in the audience.

“I know the president of US and A is here,” Borat said to the crowd. Among them were celebrities such as George Clooney, Amy Grant, and Gladys Knight.

“Where are you, Mr. Trump? You don’t look so good. Where has your glorious big belly gone? And your pretty orange skin has become pale,” the comedian jokingly mistook Biden for the former president, before turning his attention to the first lady.

“But I see you have a new wife. Wa wa weee wa! She is very erotic. I must look away before I get a Bono.”

Cohen made no attempt to hold back on his comedy. Next, he took aim at Kanye West. “Before I proceed, I will say I am very upset about the antisemitism in US and A,” Borat said.

“It not fair. Kazakhstan is number one Jew-crushing nation. Stop stealing our hobby, stop the steal! Stop the steal!”

The entertainer was, of course, referring to the rapper’s recent anti-Semitic posts which got him banned from Twitter. The Kazakhstan character then went on to poke more fun at Ye.

“Your Kanye, he tried to move to Kazakhstan and even changed his name to Kazakhstan-Ye West. But we said no. He’s too anti-semitic, even for us.”

Borat then turned his gaze to U2 and decided to read them a letter from his mother. Written in the Kazakh language, it translated to “Please remove your wretched album from my new iPhone 6.”

This was a reference to when U2 uploaded one of their albums to all iTunes users without their consent.

The actor ended his skit by telling Biden he hoped he liked his speech, with the final remark, “It is my wish to pleasure you with my mouth.”

Awards host Borat poses in the Awards Room at the 12th annual MTV Europe Music Awards 2005 at the Atlantic Pavilion on November 3, 2005 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for MTV)

Do you think Sacha Baron Cohen hit the mark with his jokes? Or was he too out of pocket? Let us know in the comments and check out Trump’s latest request to terminate the U.S. Constitution.

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Margot Robbie Admits She Improvised Brad Pitt Kiss In “Babylon”

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Margot Robbie says that she improvised a kiss scene in Babylon to sneak in a kiss with her co-star Brad Pitt. Robbie recalled the moment during an interview with E! News on Monday.

“That wasn’t in the script,” Robbie admitted. “But I thought, ‘When else am I gonna get the chance to kiss Brad Pitt? I’m just gonna go for it.’”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Margot Robbie attends the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Sayles/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images)

So, Robbie spoke with director Damien Chazelle about whether a kiss would be fitting for their characters.

“I said, ‘Damien, I think Nellie would just go up and kiss Jack,’” Robbie recalled. “And Damien was like, ‘Well, she could — wait, hold on. You just wanna kiss Brad Pitt.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, so sue me. This opportunity might never come up again.’ And he was like, ‘It does work for the character,’ and I was like, ‘I think so.’”

Chazelle ended up being on board with the addition: “He was like, ‘No, do it again. That really works.’ I was like, ‘Oh, great.’”

Pitt wasn’t the only celebrity Robbie kissed on set either. She revealed that she also got one in with Katherine Waterston.

“I actually kissed Katherine [Waterston] as well,” Robbie said. “But I don’t know if that made the cut.”

Babylon hits theatres everywhere on December 23. In addition to Robbie and Pitt, the film stars Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Tobey Maguire, and Li Jun Li. The story follows multiple characters during Hollywood’s transition from silent to sound films in the late 1920s.

Check out the trailer for Babylon below.

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Cardi B Called Casey Anthony A ‘Disgrace Of A Mother’ After The Release Of Anthony’s Peacock Docuseries

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A lot has changed about Cardi B since entering the limelight, but her love for her family is not one of those things. Although the Grammy winner is an anchor of emotional support to her husband Offset (following the passing of his cousin and former group member, Takeoff), the mother of two is not happy with Casey Anthony re-entering the public eye.

In Peacock’s new docuseries, Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies, Anthony revisits the circumstances surrounding the 2008 death of her daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony.

After news of the series hit the internet, Cardi B took to Twitter to write, “I don’t give a damn how they flip it, switch it, turn it, toss it Casey Anthony is a disgrace of a mother, and she shouldn’t have a uterus. I don’t feel bad for her or for the daddy YALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED to that baby!!!!”

The Bronx native is no stranger to the court system. Although Cardi B has appeared in front of a judge several times over the past two years, the “Up” rapper draws the line at children. Although many followers agreed with her statement, some felt the rapper was out of line for sharing her seemingly harsh opinion. This isn’t the first time the rapper’s addiction to historical television landed her in hot water. Last month, her binge fest of Netflix’s The Crown ended in a chaotic series of live tweets challenging the monarchy.

If you are interested in watching Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies, head here.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Kehlani Was Seen Grinding On Letitia Wright At A London Club And It Left Fans Quite Flustered

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R&B star Kehlani is (apparently) single again after sharing a brief relationship with fellow musician 070 Shake, and that means fans watching like hawks for any sign of a new relationship. So, when Kehlani was spotted dancing with Black Panther star Letitia Wright at a party in London, fans of the singer (who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns) naturally flipped out on Twitter. Clearly, fans were already enamored of the seemingly unlikely pairing — although it still remains to be seen what their connection actually is.

The two stars have both had a great year individually. Despite their breakup, Kehlani appeared to be having the time of their life on the Blue Water Road Tour with Rico Nasty while promoting the album of the same name. Kehlani was also a highly-demanded feature artist, popping up on projects from the likes of Syd, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, and Babyface. Wright, meanwhile, stepped into the “sneakers” of Marvel’s Black Panther in the sequel to the 2018 original, Wakanda Forever. Her character, Shuri, the original Black Panther’s younger sister in the first movie, stole the show for fans, who praised her unique chemistry with Tenoch Huerta’s antagonist Namor. And while she took some flak during the filming of the movie over her vaccine views, she has since apologized and defended herself after a story in Hollywood Reporter questioned her awards chances over them.