movie

A ‘Barbenheimer’ Parody Movie Is Officially In The Works 

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This past summer, ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ releasing in theaters on the same day became a pop culture phenomenon known as “Barbenheimer,” with moviegoers embracing the significance of both films and their vastly unique impacts. Some viewers even planned their entire days around seeing both movies back-to-back. 

Producer Charles Band will be creating the movie through his company Full Moon Features, he confirmed to People Magazine. 

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“With the world so divided and with so many genre films focusing on things that depress, with Barbenheimer, I just want to make a fun, cool, witty little weird movie that unites people with laughter and fun — that reminds us movies can simply be escapism.”

Band is known for his films in horror and horror-comedy, and initially spoke on the “Barbenheimer” craze to the Hollywood Reporter. Both Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ received a large amount of press and hype before their release on the same day in July, so much so that the trend to see both movies in one weekend, or back-to-back on the same day, became popular. 

“We’re making a crazy, candy-colored romp that riffs on two movies that literally have nothing in common and yet when placed together, make perfect — and perfectly strange — harmonious bedfellows. Which is what I wish we could do in real life (as opposed to ‘reel’ life),” Band explained. 

Band said that his biographer, Adam Felber, suggested he make the movie after the hype first began, telling him “everyone around the world is having fun with that notion, so we should actually make it.” 

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According to a synopsis reported by the Hollywood Reporter, “the story follows Dr. Bambi J Barbenheimer, a scientist doll from Dolltopia with a boyfriend named Twink Dollman, who ventures into the real world where she experiences humanity at its worst and, naturally, decides to build a giant nuclear bomb to take it all out.”

The movie will reportedly begin production sometime next year, but it’s still in the very early stages of development; they’re still looking for a director and cast. The movie will also feature a slew of original songs, like the ‘Barbie’ movie, written by Brian Wecht. 

“[This project is] an opportunity to have fun with the bizarre coupling of these two movies and the combination of Barbie’s vibe and the darkness of Oppenheimer. You mix that together and you have such an opportunity for dark humor,” Band explained. 

“But it seems like every other feature is dark and depressing, and it’s like, God, we need a little humor going into 2024,” he said.

“On top of Barbenheimer the movie, Full Moon will add some crazy merch to our already robust line of toys, including a Dr. Barbenheimer action figure riding a nuclear missile a la Dr. Strangelove. This is going to be a fun one, and I’m super excited to bring Barbenheimer to life,” Band tells People.

hogwarts

Daniel Radcliffe Produces Film About Paralyzed Harry Potter Stunt Double

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Daniel Radcliffe, renowned for his portrayal of the beloved wizard Harry Potter, is producing a new documentary about his stunt double, David Holmes. While filming The Deathly Hollows—Part 1 in 2009, Holmes suffered a devastating injury on set that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

The documentary, “David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived,” will feature interviews with Radcliffe, friends, family, and former crew, as well as personal footage from Holmes’ life over the last decade.

Its synopsis reads, “The film is a coming-of-age story of stuntman David Holmes, a prodigious teenage gymnast from Essex, England, who is selected to play Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double in the first ‘Harry Potter’ film when Daniel is just 11.”

“Over the next 10 years, the two form an inextricable bond, but on the penultimate film, a tragic accident on set leaves David paralyzed with a debilitating spinal injury, turning his world upside down. As Daniel and his closest stunt colleagues rally to support David and his family in their moment of need, it is David’s extraordinary spirit of resilience that becomes their greatest source of strength and inspiration.”

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In an interview with the Mirror in 2014, Holmes described the “jerk back” stunt that had gone wrong, in which he was to be pulled backward “at speed” by a high-strength wire to simulate the effects of an explosion. Holmes instead was launched into a wall, breaking his neck.

Warner Bros. Discovery released a statement about the documentary, sharing more about what the film will entail.

“Featuring candid personal footage shot over the last decade, behind-the-scenes material from Holmes’ stunt work, scenes of his current life and intimate interviews with David, Daniel Radcliffe, friends, family and former crew, the film also reflects universal themes of living with adversity, growing up, forging identities in an uncertain world and the bonds that bind us together and lift us up.”

On Tuesday, Holmes posted on his Instagram about the documentary, stating, “I can now share with you all the secret project and four years’ hard work that has gone into creating this film: THE BOY WHO LIVED.”

“Being a stuntman was my calling in life, and doubling Harry was the best job in the world. This film tells the story of not just my achievements in front of camera, but also the challenges I face every day, and my overall attitude to life after suffering a broken neck. In the turbulent world we find ourselves living in right now, I would like to quote Harry; ‘We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.’”

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Holmes also thanked medical staff, Radcliffe and Harry Potter author, JK Rowling, for their support. Writing about Radcliffe, he expressed they were both “immensely proud of our time on the Harry Potter films, and the joy and comfort it brings to audiences around the world on a daily basis.”

In 2020, Radcliffe and Holmes teamed up to launch Holmes’ Cunning Stunts podcast, which profiles interviews with other Hollywood stunt performers. While attempting to debunk a common misconception about stunt performers, Radcliffe said in one episode, “I think there’s a myth around stuntmen that they are just superhuman in some way.”

“When the public sees something really painful or horrible, they think it was a visual effect or that there’s some clever, safe way of doing it. Often that’s not the case. There’s no way of faking, for example, falling down stairs. When you get hit by a car, you’re still getting hit by a car, even if it’s going slower than it would. They find the safest way of doing it, but it can still hurt.”

Radcliffe is serving as the documentary’s executive producer. The film, directed by Dan Hartley, makes its premiere on HBO, including HBO Max, on Nov. 15.

Chiefs

Travis Kelce Says NFL Is ‘Overdoing It’ When It Comes To Taylor Swift Coverage

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On Travis Kelce and his brother Jason’s podcast, “New Heights,” the Kansas City Chiefs player stated that the NFL was going a bit overboard when it came to covering his potential relationship with Taylor Swift. 

While Kelce and Swift have not confirmed or denied their relationship, Swift has been seen cheering for the Chiefs for the past two games, and the coverage has been widespread and highly discussed. 

On Travis and Jason’s “New Heights” podcast, Travis stated: “I think it’s fun when they show who was at the game. I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you’re watching. But at the same time…”

“I think they’re overdoing it,” Jason interrupted, which Travis agreed, saying, “They’re overdoing it a little bit for sure, especially my situation, [but] I think they’re just trying to have fun with it.”

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The NFL responded to the claims on their social media, defending how engagement and exposure has been increasing as the world’s of professional sports and pop culture collide. 

“The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we’ve leaned into in real time, as it’s an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we’ve seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport.”

When Swift attended the first Chiefs game, there was a 400% spike in sales for Kelce’s Chiefs jersey, according to Fanatics, a sports retailer. TV ratings for the game were also the “highest among female demographics across various age groups,” according to Variety Magazine.

Swift was seen enjoying the game with Kelce’s brothers’ mom, Donna, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on September 24th, and also attended the game at MetLife Stadium when the Chiefs played, and won against, the New York Jets.

cancelled

Russel Brand’s Comedy Tour Postponed Amid Sexual Assault Allegations 

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This Monday, British police stated that they have received a sexual assault allegation after media outlets published multiple claims made by several women against Russel Brand. Promoters have now postponed the remaining dates of Brand’s comedy tour.

Both a talent agency and a publisher have parted ways with Brand, 48, as well over the allegations and questioning over his abuse of power as a public figure. 

Brand has denied the allegations made by four women in a Channel 4 television documentary as well as The Times and Sunday Times newspapers. The accusers have not been named, and one claims that she was sexually assaulted by him when she was 16 and they were in a relationship. Another woman states that Brand raped her in Los Angeles in 2012. 

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London’s Metropolitan Police force stated that the since the initial reports of the allegations against Brand were made, they have “received a report of sexual assault which was alleged to have taken place in Soho in central London in 2003,” which is three years before the earliest of the initial allegation reports. 

“Officers are in contact with the woman and will be providing her with support. [We’re urging] anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a sexual offense, no matter how long ago it was, to contact us.”

Max Blain, spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said the allegations were “very serious and concerning.” 

“This merits and needs a criminal investigation, because for too long we have seen men — and the perpetrators of these sorts of crimes are almost invariably men — not being held to account for their behaviors and their actions,” Conservative legislator Caroline Nokes, told BBC radio.

The BBC, Channel 4, and the production company behind “Big Brother” spin offs that were hosted by Brand have all said they launched investigations into his behavior and how the complaints were initially handled. 

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Brand’s talent agency Tavistock Wood has also dropped the performer after being “horribly misled” by him. 

Ellie Tomsett, a senior lecturer at Birmingham City University who also studies Britain’s standup circuit, said to the Associated Press that “Brand was a product of a live comedy scene that was riddled with misogyny – and still is, despite progress made by women and others to diversify the comic landscape.

“When we’ve had a rise of popular feminism … we’ve also had a rise in popular misogyny epitomized by the likes of (social media influencer) Andrew Tate, but evident in all aspects of society, and definitely reflected on the U.K. comedy circuit.”

“More and more things are springing up to try and counter this, but the idea that it’s something that happened in the past and doesn’t happen anymore is, quite frankly, nonsense,” she added.

Maestro

Leonard Bernstein’s Family Defends Bradley Cooper’s Portrayal In New Film ‘Maestro’

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Famous composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein is being portrayed by Bradley Cooper in the new film ‘Maestro.’ After the first trailer of the film was released this week, some critics online stated concerns that the makeup worn by Cooper to portray Bernstein in the movie reinforced hurtful anti semitic stereotypes. 

Cooper’s also not of Jewish ancestry while Bernstein was born in Massachusetts to Jewish immigrant parents from Russia. 

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However, the children of the late Bernstein, Jamie, Alexander, and Nina, have voiced their defense of Bradley and the film, taking to Instagram to share a statement about the backlash that Cooper and the film has been facing. 

“Bradley Cooper included the three of us along every step of his amazing journey as he made his film about our father,” their statement said.

 “We were touched to the core to witness the depth of his commitment, his loving embrace of our father’s music, and the sheer open-hearted joy he brought to his exploration. It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts.”

Jamie, Alexander, and Nina also directly addressed the criticism of Cooper’s physical appearance and makeup in the film portraying their father. 

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“It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that,” they said. 

“We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well. Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch — a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father.”

Cooper also co-wrote, co-produced, and directed ‘Maestro,’ marking his first directorial work since ‘A Star Is Born’ in 2018.

The film follows Bernstein and his 25-year marriage to Felicia Montealegre, who’s played by Carey Mulligan. Both Martin Scorsese and Steven Speilberg are part of the film’s production team as well. 

“At all times during the making of this film, we could feel the profound respect and yes, the love that Bradley brought to his portrait of Leonard Bernstein and his wife, our mother Felicia. We feel so fortunate to have had this experience with Bradley, and we can’t wait for the world to see his creation,” the family statement concluded. 

strike

Entertainment Industry Could Collapse If Writer And Actor Strike Isn’t Settled By September, Says Barry Diller 

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Barry Diller, the chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group and former Hollywood studio chief, was recently interviewed by CBS’ ‘Face The Nation’ where he stated that Hollywood executives and top-paid actors should take a 25% pay cut to narrow the gap between their salaries and those on the lower end of the pay scale. 

Diller also discussed that if a deal isn’t settled by September 1st, we could see the industry completely collapse. 

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“There’s no trust. You have the actors union saying, ‘How dare these 10 people who run these companies earn all this money and won’t pay us?’ While, if you look at it on the other side, the top 10 actors get paid more than the top 10 executives. I’m not saying either is right. Actually, everybody’s probably overpaid at the top end,” Diller explained. 

“The one idea I had is to say, as a good-faith measure, both the executives and the most-paid actors should take a 25 percent pay cut to try and narrow the difference between those who get highly paid and those that don’t.”

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May 2nd while SAG-AFTRA joined this past Friday. 

Diller stated: “What will happen is, if in fact, it doesn’t get settled until Christmas or so, then, next year, there’s not going to be many programs for anybody to watch. 

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So, you’re going to see subscriptions get pulled, which is going to reduce the revenue of all these movie companies, television companies, the result of which is that there will be no programs. And at just the time, strike is settled, that you want to get back up, there won’t be enough money. So this actually will have devastating effects, if it is not settled soon.”

“The truth is, this [Hollywood] is a huge business both domestically and for world export.… These conditions will potentially produce an absolute collapse of an entire industry.”

Diller also believes the fears over AI in the industry aren’t as serious as others may be making it out to be during this time, explaining how he doesn’t see a world where AI can logistically and realistically take the jobs of real writers and actors. 

“Yes, you can ingest all this stuff and spit out something that sounds like Shakespeare, but guess what? It is not original Shakespeare, and writers will get assisted, not replaced. Most of these actual performing crafts, I don’t think are in danger of artificial intelligence,” he explained.

Barbie

‘Barbie’ Movie Receives Amazing Reactions And Reviews Following Early Screenings And Premiere 

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Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie has received an amazing initial response after early screenings and the star-studded Los Angeles premiere of the film. 

Katcy Stephan, Variety’s social media editor stated: “Greta Gerwig delivers a nuanced commentary on what it means to be a woman in a whimsical, wonderful and laugh-out-loud funny romp. The entire cast shines, especially Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in roles they were clearly born to play.”

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Joseph Deckelmeier from ScreenRant stated the film was “funny, bombastic, and very smart.” “Greta Gerwig aims for the fences and hits a home run, Margot Robbie is great and Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu – who play Kens – are pure entertainment”

The movie’s cast and crew have been enduring an extensive publicity tour ahead of its worldwide release on July 21st. Noah Baumback, the film’s co-writer, was absent at the Los Angeles premiere this Sunday to stand in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America, who’s on strike. Greta Gerwig spoke on his absence:

“My co-writer, my partner in love and art, Noah Baumbach is not here. He is passionately supporting the fight of the WGA. He is a Barbie girl. Nothing in Barbie happened without him, and nothing in Hollywood happens without writers.”

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Gerwig also told The Observer that she and Baumback were working on the “Barbie” script throughout the pandemic. 

“There was this sense of wanting to make something anarchic and wild and completely bananas, because it felt, like, ‘Well, if we ever do get to go back to cinemas again, let’s do something totally unhinged.’”

Gerwig discussed that she hoped audiences view the film as an “archaic experience, crediting its inspiration to the deep isolation of the pandemic, that feeling of being in our own little boxes, alone.”

The star-studded cast of “Barbie” includes Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, Helen Mirren, Jamie Demetriou, and Emerald Fennell. 

stage

Broadway Makes Inspiring Statements Against Antisemitism At Tonys, ‘Leopoldstadt’ and ‘Parade’ Win In Major Categories 

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During Sunday night’s Tony Awards, Broadway made a defiant statement against antisemitism, as two major shows that thematically embodied the subject pulled in major categories: “Leopoldstadt” and the musical revival “Parade.”

Some of the members of both plays’ casts’ utilized the opportunity to make statements regarding antisemitism, as well as its connection to other forms of bigotry, such as homophobia and transphobia, during a time where, politically, all the groups are under attack. 

“Leopoldstadt” won four of the six Tonys it was nominated for, including best play. Tom Stoppard’s semi-autobiographical play takes the audience through three generations of Viennese Jewish families before and after the Holocaust. 

Brandon Uranowitz of “Leopoldstadt” won for the featured actor category, and thanked Stoppard for writing a show about antisemitism and “the false promise of assimilation,” discussing how members of his family were murdered by Nazis in Poland. 

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“When your child tells you who they are, believe them,” Uranowitz, who is gay, stated.

“Parade” is about the 1915 lynching of Leo Frank, and took home two awards on Sunday, including best revival of a musical. Alfred Uhry, who wrote the book to the original play in 1998, wore the Star of David lapel pin when he came up to accept the award. 

The show’s director, Michael Arden, discussed Leo Frank in his speech, and how he had “a life that was cut short at the hands of the belief that one group of people is more or less valuable than another, which is at the core of antisemitism, of white supremacy, of homophobia, of transphobia, of intolerance of any kind.”

Arden also warned the audience to take in and learn the lessons that these plays are providing, “or else we are doomed to repeat the horrors of our history.”

drummer

Foo Fighters Name Veteran Musician Josh Freese As New Drummer 

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The Foo Fighters have named veteran musician Josh Freese as their new drummer following the death of their former percussionist Taylor Hawkins. 

Freese is an established musician who’s been in the industry for over 30 years now. He’s toured with Weezer, Sting, Paramore, Nine Inch Nails, Guns N’ Roses, and more, as well as being a member of Devo since 1996 and the Vandals since 1989. 

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The news was announced during a livestream titled “Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts,” which was advertised to deliver a “few surprises.” 

Recorded from their studio, the livestream opened with the band teasing that they would reveal the identity of their new drummer, but first, they called in a few other famous faces to make cameos.

Chad Smith, the drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, barged in making a comical entrance only to complain that someone was blocking his car. Tommy Lee from Motley Crew made a surprise food delivery, while Danny Carey of Tool showed up with a pair of poodles. 

In the middle of the show, a voice interrupted in the distance; “Excuse me! Could we just, like, play a song?” with the camera cutting to Freese, who had been waiting off-camera behind a drum kit. 

Overall, the livestream featured an eight-song set which included new songs from Foo Fighters’ upcoming 11th album, “But Here We Are.”

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The announcement comes after the bands January announcement where they stated that they would remain together after the unexpected death of Taylor Hawkins, who died at the age of 50 last year when the band was in Colombia touring. 

In a statement at the time, the band said: “Without Taylor, we never would have become the band that we were, and without Taylor, we know that we’re going to be a different band going forward.”

The band also announced that the band’s first show with Freese as their drummer will take place in New Hampshire on May 24th, which will also mark the opening leg of a global tour that will go into the later half of this year. 

Besides the two memorial concerts the bands held for Hawkins last September, which included a lineup of musicians such as Paul McCartney, Queen, and Mark Ronson, this tour will be the first time the band has toured/performed live together since Hawkin’s death. 

Freese also performed with the band at the two tribute concerts, when he also took to Instagram to make a statement about the honor of playing in Hawkin’s spot. 

“I was asked what drums I’d like to use, without hesitation I said, ‘Taylor’s drums need to be up there and I want to play on his exact set-up.”

rocknroll

Kate Bush ‘Shocked And Honored’ To Be Among New Inductees For Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 

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Kate Bush is “completely shocked and honored” to be included in this years inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside other icons such as George Michael, Rage Against the Machine, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, and Missy Elliot; who’s the first female rapper to be inducted. 

Bush recently spoke to Rolling Stone about the honor: 

“It’s something I just never thought would happen. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. It means a great deal that you would think of me. It’s such a huge honor. Now, as part of the initiation ceremony, I get to find out about the secret handshake … there is one, right?”

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame began in 1983, with a physical museum opening in Cleveland in 1995. There are currently 365 acts in the Hall. Artists become eligible to join 25 years after the release of their first records, and must be voted in by a panel of more than 1,000 industry figures. 

This year, the inductees have been regarded as acts that were taken from a larger pool of acts that were previously shortlisted; this year marks Bush’s third time being nominated. 

Rage Against the Machine had been finalists five times before this year, and thanked the Hall of Fame for the recognition. 

“[We thank the Hall of Fame] for recognizing the music and the mission in a surprising trajectory for a band who is as well known for our albums as we are for our fierce opposition to the US war machine, white supremacy, and exploitation.”

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Willie Nelson, who recently turned 90, is being inducted on his first nomination, as are Michael, Elliot, and Crow. Michael was automatically inducted as a finalist to earn the most votes from a public poll. 

Beyond the inductees, Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin are receiving the musical excellence award. DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray will receive the musical influence awards, and Don Cornelius, who passed away in 2012, will be honored with the Ahmet Ertegun award.

Joel Peresman, the Hall of Fame’s president and chief executive, told Rolling Stone that he hopes Bush will perform at the induction ceremony, which would mark her first live performance since her 2014 residency in London; which at the time was her first live performance in 35 years. 

Bush’s induction into the Hall of Fame is not surprising to fans, old and new, as her song ‘Running Up That Hill’ was used throughout the popular Netflix series, Stranger Things, propelling the single to re-enter the charts. It became Number 1 in the UK and Number 3 on the US charts.