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    'Guardians of the Galaxy' Star Hints at Return for 'Thor: Love and Thunder'

    Marvel Studios

    Pom Klementieff, who joined ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ as Mantis, reveals on Instagram that she has arrived in Sydney, Australia, where the fourth ‘Thor’ movie is currently in production.

    Dec 22, 2020
    AceShowbiz – A “Thor” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” crossover has been hinted in the ending of “Avengers: Endgame”. While many have speculated that it will be part of the storyline in the third “GOTG” movie, it looks like that the crossover will be coming sooner than later.
    “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” star Pom Klementieff has hinted at her character’s return for “Thor: Love and Thunder”. The actress, who joined the space superhero film franchise in the 2017 sequel as Mantis, recently revealed on Instagram that she has arrived Down Under.
    On Thursday, December 17, she shared a cryptic post that included a cropped out picture of her face along with a koala toy that holds the Australian flag. She tagged Sydney as her location, while only captioning it with several emojis.

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    Though Klementieff’s post didn’t say much about her possible involvement in the fourth Thor movie, it’s Taika Waititi’s comment underneath the photo that further convinced fans about the actress’ upcoming appearance in the film. “hurry up,” the director told the actress.

    Taika Waititi commented on Pom Klementieff’s Instagram post.
    Prior to this, Vin Diesel, who voices Groot in the MCU films, said in March of this year that Guardians of the Galaxy would be incorporated in “Thor: Love and Thunder”. Later in November, Variety reported that Chris Pratt would reprise his role as Star-Lord a.k.a. Peter Quill in the Chris Hemsworth-starring movie.
    Filming for “Thor: Love and Thunder” is currently underway in Australia, with Waikiki returning at the helm. Jaimie Alexander is set to make a return as Lady Sif after missing out on “Thor: Ragnarok”, while Christian Bale is confirmed to take on the villainous role of Gorr the God Butcher.
    Plot details are still kept under wraps, but it has been reported that the movie will see Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster battling breast cancer and turning into the female version of Thor. The movie is slated for a May 6, 2022 release in the United States.

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    KJ Apa Recalls Embarrassingly Crashing in Front of Michael Bay During 'Songbird' Stunt

    STX Entertainment

    When appearing on ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’, the ‘Riverdale’ star talks about his excitement working with the ‘Transformers’ filmmaker for the pandemic-themed love story.

    Dec 22, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Actor KJ Apa hoped to really impress “Songbird” director Michael Bay with his first big stunt for the film – but he crashed and burned instead.
    The “Riverdale” star was shooting the pandemic-themed love story over the summer, for which much of the action was filmed remotely as full production was yet to resume in Los Angeles following the spring shutdown due to the coronavirus.
    And he was thrilled when the “Transformers” filmmaker came to the set in person to take charge of the New Zealander’s first action scene.
    “Michael Bay had decided to come in and direct that specific scene,” KJ shared on America’s “Live with Kelly and Ryan”, “and it was the first time I had worked with him. He was operating the camera, we were ready for the first shot.”

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    [embedded content]
    Then things went quickly downhill.
    “I was on the bike,” he continued. “I toppled right over the bike (handlebars), the chain comes off and everything. I get fully run over by the bike.”
    “Huge scrape down my leg, my leg is bleeding, and he’s (Bay) like, ‘Are you good…? You can do another one, right?’ And I was just like, (with a) stone cold face, ‘Yeah I’m good’.”
    But he wasn’t actually feeling so hot: “I just didn’t want to show him any weakness at all – not Michael Bay,” the young star quipped.

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    ‘Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You’ Review: It’s Mutual.

    #masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }The Best of 2020Best ComedyBest TV ShowsBest BooksBest MoviesBest AlbumsAdvertisementContinue reading the main storySupported byContinue reading the main storyStreaming‘Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You’ Review: It’s Mutual.Sometimes it’s enough to adore a pop star from afar, even if you aren’t an Arianator.Ariana Grande in “Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You.”Credit…Alfredo Flores/NetflixDec. 21, 2020Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love YouDirected by Story Syndicate, Paul DugdaleDocumentary, Music1h 37mFind TicketsWhen you purchase a ticket for an independently reviewed film through our site, we earn an affiliate commission.So is there actual footage of Ariana Grande cleaning up dog poop? And why was Kristin Chenoweth on FaceTime with Grande as she was picking it up? You might be asking yourself the same dumb questions after watching the new music documentary “Excuse Me, I Love You,” with the pony-tailed pop star at its performance-driven center.Though the majority of the movie focuses on this singer’s powerhouse vocals during her 2019 Sweetener World Tour, there are glimpses into Grande’s offstage life that are a refreshing contrast to her glam persona.So yes, Grande, not a strict follower of the pop stardom rule book, goes into elaborate detail about the insane 15-minute fiasco that involves her dog Myron’s case of diarrhea, her pet pig using her bed as a toilet, Myron eating what the pig deposited and Grande running out of the room, screaming and crying. That is the last scene you might expect her to revisit amid this slick showcase of sensuality and eroticism. But as weird as it may sound, hearing the tale from Grande made me fonder of her. She can sing and tell a good poop story.[embedded content]For the film, the veteran music documentary director Paul Dugdale captures Grande in a variety of other off-the-cuff moments that give you the impression that this Grammy winner could be your bestie — that is, if your bestie has also harmonized whistle tones with Mariah Carey.Grande serves charming, relatable political realness, dramatizing a fainting fall when she hears the news that the House voted to impeach President Trump. And when Grande learns that Carey, her idol, has asked her to record a solo clip of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” along with other artists, she gets misty-eyed. These light touches mixed in with bops like “Thank U, Next” and “7 Rings,” lend — if only slightly — an endearing, multidimensional human shape to the performer seen strutting the catwalk in thigh-high boots before thousands of adoring fans.Only 2020 could make a straightforward, paint-by-numbers concert doc like this one, which is clearly intended for superfans, seem this nourishing (even for non-Arianators like myself). Even the most casual of fans might find themselves saying, simply, thank you.Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love YouNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 37 minutes. Watch on Netflix.AdvertisementContinue reading the main story More

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    Canada's Entry for 2021 Oscars Gets Rejected

    Netflix

    The Academy bosses have turned down ‘Funny Boy’, Canada’s submission for Best International Feature Film nomination, at the upcoming 93rd annual Academy Awards.

    Dec 22, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Academy Awards bosses have rejected Canada’s submission for Best International Feature Film because the movie features too much dialogue in English.
    Canadian officials submitted Deepa Mehta’s “Funny Boy”, an adaptation of Shyam Selvadurai’s 1994 coming-of-age novel of the same name, for consideration in the category, previously known as Best Foreign Language Film, as both Tamil and Sinhalese are spoken throughout the picture, which was shot on location in Sri Lanka.
    However, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) representatives have declared the movie is ineligible because they believe more than 50 per cent of the lines are in English.
    A spokesperson for Telefilm Canada, the organisation which made the selection, is now submitting “Funny Boy” for a variety of other awards, including Best Picture, while they are awaiting feedback on the eligibility of their second choice for Best International Feature Film.

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    Director Mehta says, “We were surprised that the film was not able to compete in the Academy’s International Feature category, but then were equally surprised and more than thrilled that Telefilm decided to support the submission of the film for Best Picture and other categories at the Academy Awards.”
    “My hope is for Funny Boy to continue to transcend expectations with its story of love, courage and compassion.”
    Adds Christa Dickenson, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada, “Although we were disappointed when informed by the Academy, we are excited to extend our ongoing support for Funny Boy as the journey to the Oscars continue (sic).”
    Nominations for the 93rd annual Oscars, which were delayed by two months due to the coronavirus pandemic, are expected to be announced in March, ahead of the ceremony on 25 April (21).

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    New Beatles Documentary Gets First Sneak Peek

    Walt Disney Pictures

    Director Peter Jackson has given fans the first sneak peek of the upcoming movie ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ which is due to hit theaters in summer next year.

    Dec 22, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Peter Jackson has given fans a sneak preview of the upcoming Beatles film, “The Beatles: Get Back”.
    The hotly-anticipated documentary, which features 56-hours of never-before-seen footage of the iconic Liverpool band, is set to hit cinemas 21 August, 2021. And ahead of its release, which was pushed back from this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the director has shared a five-minute taster of the movie, which will “take audiences back in time to The Beatles’ intimate recording sessions during a pivotal moment in music history.”
    In the preview, Jackson explained that they are “halfway” through the editing process.
    He said, “This film was due to be finished around about now but like the rest of the world it has been effected by the Covid pandemic. The only good thing really is that we are editing the movie in New Zealand and now that our country has largely stamped out the virus we were able to come back into the cutting room and carry on with the editing that we are doing.”
    “So here we are, we’ve got 56 hours of never-before-seen Beatles footage and it’s really great stuff. And we are, I would say, halfway through the edit now.”
    It then cut to footage of the late John Lennon and George Harrison and surviving members Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr in the studio.
    [embedded content]

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    Jackson said in a statement, “We wanted to give the fans of The Beatles all over the world a holiday treat, so we put together this five-minute sneak peek at our upcoming theatrical film The Beatles: Get Back. We hope it will bring a smile to everyone’s faces and some much-needed joy at this difficult time.”
    The film follows the band’s recording of their final 1970 album, “Let It Be”, and McCartney, 78, recently admitted the upcoming flick “reaffirmed” for him that he wasn’t to blame for their split in April of that year.
    Macca said this month, “It was so reaffirming for me. Because it proves that my main memory of the Beatles was the joy and the skill.”
    “The proof is the footage. I bought into the dark side of the Beatles breaking up and thought, ‘Oh God, I’m to blame.’ I knew I wasn’t, but it’s easy when the climate is that way to start thinking so.”
    “But at the back of my mind there was always this idea that it wasn’t like that, but I needed to see proof. There’s a great photo Linda (his late ex-wife) took, which is my favourite, of me and John working on a song, glowing with joy. This footage is the same. All four of us having a ball.”
    Hailing “Lord of the Rings” filmmaker Jackson’s work on the flick, he added, “I love it, I must say because it’s how it was. It just reminds me of – even though we had arguments, like any family – we loved each other, you know, and it shows in the film.”
    “It’s a very warm feeling, And it’s amazing just being backstage with these people, making this music that turned out to be good.”

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    Bono, Halsey, Pharrell Williams Added to 'Sing 2'

    WENN

    The upcoming sequel to the critically-lauded animated movie has added the U2 frontman, the N.E.R.D. member, and the ‘Without Me’ hitmaker among the voice cast ensemble.

    Dec 22, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Rocker Bono, hip-hop superproducer Pharrell Williams, and pop star Halsey are warming up their vocal cords to join the cast of “Sing 2”.
    The artists will voice lead roles in the planned sequel to the hit 2016 animated film, which starred Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, and Taron Egerton as anthropomorphic animals that enter a singing competition. They will all reprise their parts for the follow-up.
    Also planning to harmonise with the group are Bobby Cannavale, “Black Panther actress Letitia Wright, and comedians Eric Andre and Chelsea Peretti.
    Although Bono is a music industry veteran, “Sing 2” will mark his voice acting debut, having previously made onscreen appearances in TV drama “Entourage” and 2007 Julie Taymor film “Across the Universe”.

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    The U2 frontman will play reclusive rock star Clay Calloway in the Illumination Entertainment/Universal project.
    Illumination founder/CEO Chris Meledandri says, “We are thrilled that the Sing franchise attracts such exceptional talent, and we are delighted to announce this extraordinary cast.”
    “The film is a musical celebration of the unrelenting pursuit of one’s dreams, no matter how large the challenges that stand in your way. At its core this movie speaks to the power of optimism and belief.”
    “Sing” director Garth Jennings will also take charge of the sequel.
    The first movie received two nominations at the Golden Globe Awards. It’s deemed one of the Best Animated Feature Films that year and the soundtrack “Faith” by Stevie Wonder featuring Ariana Grande was considered one of the Best Original Songs in a movie.

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    Stimulus Offers $15 Billion in Relief for Struggling Arts Venues

    #masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }The Coronavirus OutbreakliveLatest UpdatesMaps and CasesThe Stimulus DealThe Latest Vaccine InformationF.A.Q.AdvertisementContinue reading the main storySupported byContinue reading the main storyStimulus Offers $15 Billion in Relief for Struggling Arts VenuesThe coronavirus relief package that Congressional leaders agreed to this week includes grant money that many small proprietors described as a last hope for survival.An empty United Palace Theater in New York. $15 billion of a $900 billion coronavirus relief package is designed to help the culture sector survive after a nearly yearlong revenue drought.Credit…George Etheredge for The New York TimesBen Sisario and Dec. 21, 2020, 4:24 p.m. ETFor the music venue owners, theater producers and cultural institutions that have suffered through the pandemic with no business, the coronavirus relief package that congressional leaders agreed to this week offers the prospect of aid at last: it includes $15 billion to help them weather a crisis that has closed theaters and silenced halls.The money, part of a $900 billion coronavirus relief package, is designed to help the culture sector — from dive-bar rock clubs to Broadway theaters and museums — survive. Many small proprietors described it as their last hope for being able to remain in business after a nearly yearlong revenue drought.“This is what our industry needs to make it through,” said Dayna Frank, the owner of First Avenue, a storied music club in Minneapolis. She is also the board president of the National Independent Venue Association, which was formed in April and has lobbied Congress aggressively for relief for its more than 3,000 members.As the news of the deal began to trickle out on Sunday night, a collective sigh of relief ricocheted through group text messages and social media posts. “Last night was the first time I have smiled in probably nine months,” Ms. Frank said.Dayna Frank, the owner of First Avenue in Minneapolis, said, “This is what our industry needs to make it through.”Credit…Jenn Ackerman for The New York TimesBroadway theaters, which have been closed since March, applauded the relief package.“We are grateful for this bipartisan agreement which will provide immediate relief across our industry and a lifeline to the future,” Charlotte St. Martin, the president of the Broadway League, the trade organization for producers and theater owners, said in a statement.Nataki Garrett, the artistic director for Oregon Shakespeare Festival, said that the aid would be crucial for nonprofit theaters. “Our situation was critical and dire,” she said.But the leaders of some large nonprofit cultural organizations worried that the way the bill is structured — giving priority to organizations that lost very high percentages of their revenue before considering the rest — could put them at the back of the line for grants, since they typically get a significant portion of revenues through donations.With the bill set to be approved in both chambers of Congress as early as Monday evening, arts groups around the nation were cautiously celebrating while studying the fine print to see what kind of aid they might qualify for. Most doubt the entertainment industry can fully swing back into action until well into next year, at the earliest.The bill allows independent entertainment businesses, like music venues and movie theaters, along with other cultural entities, to apply for grants from the Small Business Administration to support six months of payments to employees and for costs including rent, utilities and maintenance. Applicants must have lost at least 25 percent of their revenue to qualify, and those have lost more than 90 percent will be able to apply first, within the first two weeks after the bill becomes law.The Coronavirus Outbreak More

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    Steve McQueen's 'Small Axe' Wins Best Film at Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 2020

    Amazon Prime

    Besides Steve McQueen’s five-movie anthology, the members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association have also lauded late Chadwick Boseman’s movie ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’.

    Dec 22, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” movie series has made history as the first group of releases to win the Best Film honour from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
    The director’s five-film anthology, set in London’s black communities over several decades, claimed the top prize when members cast their votes on Sunday (20Dec20) for the best releases of 2020.
    “Small Axe” included the projects “Lovers Rock”, “Mangrove”, and “Red, White and Blue”, but the collection, nor the individual titles themselves, will qualify as motion pictures for Oscars entry, reports TheWrap.com.
    “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” scored two wins – Best Actor for the late Chadwick Boseman, and Best Supporting Actor for Glynn Turman, while Carey Mulligan landed Best Actress for Promising Young Woman, and “Minari” star Youn Yuh-jung picked up Best Supporting Actress.

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    Best Director went to “Nomadland” ‘s Chloe Zhao, Emerald Fennel snagged Best Screenplay for Promising Young Woman, “Wolfwalkers” was declared Best Animated Film, and “Time” was hailed as Best Documentary.
    “Small Axe” was also recognised with Best Cinematography for Shabier Kirchner, Best Production Design was given to “Mank”, and “The Father” was voted Best Editing.
    Rocker Trent Reznor and his movie composing partner Atticus Ross were celebrating too after taking home Best Music/Score for their work on Pixar’s jazz-themed “Soul”.
    LAFCA officials honoured “The Forty-Year-Old Version” director Radha Blank with the New Generation honour, saluting rising filmmakers.

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