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Netflix’s animated musical KPop Demon Hunters has been the newest obsession of anime and K-pop stans. The film took a bold step of developing into a more mature action film that was neatly sewn together with bright colors, addictive music, and dance moves that resonated with the bubbly characters. Thus, it became the ultimate animated supernatural film that has left everyone impressed.

Amidst the claps and praises, the project was immensely delayed by Wish Dragon, another animated flick featuring the big guns of Hollywood. The voice-acting cast featured stars like Jackie Chan, John Cho, Jimmy Wong, and many more.

However, the star-studded cast was not good enough because Chris Appelhans, the director of the 2021 movie, states how the film was plagued with complex issues that ensured that the project had to be a hit.

Wish Dragon’s Chris Applehan Set Back KPop Demon Hunters

With the ability to utilize...

Back in 2010 in Hong Kong, Wong Ching-po shot the cult “Revenge: A Love Story”, about a man that kills pregnant women, taking away their unborn babies. His later works, however, were mostly martial arts/action movies that definitely did not reach the standards of the aforementioned. That is until this year and “The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon” which seems to bring him back to the Cat III space that he thrived, this time, though, in a Taiwanese production.

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The film shows its colors from the beginning. Chen Kui-lin, a notorious hitman in the criminal underworld, infiltrates a funeral and shoots down a high-ranking gang boss, amidst a huge crowd of his ‘underlings'. As he runs to escape, he stumbles upon detective Chen Hui, who was surveilling the boss, and ends up chasing the perpetrator. The two engage in a brutal fight,...

On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.

First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.

Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.

The Pitch: Boy, Girl, or Bro — Pledge Delta Bi

There may be no greater false equivalence in American culture than that of fraternities and sororities.

For most men, the undergrad Greek system is a four-year “Wolf of Wall Street” homage featuring sticky floors, over-priced ambulance rides, and the occasional Title IX investigation. For most women, it’s a cultish reinforcement of sexist ideals requiring expensive uniforms, ritualistic dance, and performative crying over handmade crafts.

That was my experience as a pretentious college kid in the mid-2010s, anyway. Despite having never earnestly...

Inspector Sun, an upcoming animated movie from Viva Pictures, follows the detective as he tries to solve a murder that occurs during a flight to San Francisco. Ronny Chieng, known for his role in Crazy Rich Asians, stars as Inspector Sun in the film, which will hit theaters on October 27. The movie is set in the world of insects and promises to provide children with their own detective story for Halloween.

Ronny Chieng solves a murder in the trailer for Inspector Sun, the upcoming animated movie from Viva Pictures, coming to theaters on October 27. While fans of Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot can enjoy a new installment of the film saga starring Kenneth Branagh, children will have their own detective on the big screen this Halloween. After debuting at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Inspector Sun will finally hit theaters next month.

The movie is set in the world of insects,...

The Burned Over District: "After a fatal car accident causes him to lose his wife. Will is left to pick up the pieces in his new small-town home. The grieving man soon becomes overwhelmed by a dark presence that surrounds him, and he soon discovers that the seemingly quiet town he and his wife fell in love with is hiding a very terrifying dark secret. Now he must find a way to overcome his grief and fight back against the darkness that has consumed the town and its people before it consumes his soul.

The Burned-Over District refers to a large area in Western and Central New York. During the 19th century religious revivals and the formation of new religious movements took place during the Second Great Awakening. During this time evangelical religious fervor swept the country, and found its way to the Burned-Over District via the Erie Canal. From...

Photo: ‘Wish Dragon’/Netflix “You’re the peasant. She’s the princess. It’s a tale as old as time!” ‘Wish Dragon’ is an animated comedy film written and directed by Chris Appelhans in his directorial debut. The story follows Din (played by Jimmy Wong), a working-class college boy who comes across a magic teapot that holds an all-powerful “wish dragon” named Long (John Cho). Long offers Din three wishes to use, and with this newfound power, Din aims to win back his long-lost best friend, Lina (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), who he hasn’t seen since childhood. It’s a story of friendship and hope, and finding what’s really important in life. Related article: A Tribute to Cannes Film Festival: A Celebration of Cinema, Glamour, and Humanity | Statement From Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase Related article: Netflix Conjures Up ‘Trese’, A Gorgeous New Anime Series That Has Both...

“Wish Dragon” is well aware that “Aladdin” got there first. Making his spirited feature debut, dream-big animation director Chris Appelhans pretty much assumes you’ll be thinking of Disney’s blue genie when his humble Chinese hero rubs a jade teapot and produces a fluorescent flamingo-pink dragon, ready to grant his wildest dreams — or three of them at least. And you know what? He doesn’t care, because “Wish Dragon” delivers a whole new world, a new fantastic point of view, and that’s plenty.

Technically, China’s ancient wish dragon legend predates even “Arabian Nights,” a detail that gives Appelhans license to update the folk tale for the modern world, while stripping it of so many of the tired clichés that now come with the territory in practically any wish-granting fable — like the wet-blanket “be careful what you wish for” trope, where an unlucky so-and-so’s poorly worded request inevitably backfires,...

When visual development artist Chris Appelhans (“Coraline”) realized that “Aladdin” was originally a Chinese folk tale while visiting Shanghai 20 years ago, he had an aha moment about writing and directing an animated genie-in-a-bottle retelling set in modern Shanghai. The result is “Wish Dragon” (streaming Friday on Netflix), an American-Chinese co-production with Sony Pictures Animation, in which working-class college student, Din (Jimmy Wong), teams up with pink, fluffy, snarky genie, Long (John Cho), to reunite with his long-lost childhood friend, Lina (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), now a famous model.

As Appelhans watched a friend in Shanghai “struggling with family and class and concepts of success, it seemed like that timeless [‘Aladdin’] story… about a peasant boy who lives with his mother, meets a wish-granting genie, falls in love with a princess, loses himself, and finds himself again, could have newfound relevance today,” he said. “It made me think a lot about the world.

John Cho, Constance Wu and Jimmy Wong voice characters in the new animated fantasy film, Wish Dragon. As Entertainment Weekly reports, the movie was released theatrically in China earlier this year. It makes its Netflix debut on June 11th.

The Chris Appelhans-directed film follows a similar arc to Aladdin, where a mythical figure grants three wishes to the person who has unleashed it from its confines.

In the new Wish Dragon trailer, Wong voices Din, a college student of meager means who is in search of his long-lost friend,...

Do you want to see John Cho doing his best Robin Williams? Well, the new Sony Animation movie Wish Dragon is granting your…wish. Cho voices the titular wish-granting magical dragon, Long, who is unleashed from an ancient teapot by a working-class college student (Jimmy Wong), sending the two of them on a hijinks-filled adventure through contemporary Shanghai. Netflix, […]

The post ‘Wish Dragon’ Trailer: It’s ‘Aladdin,’ But With a Magical Dragon Played by John Cho appeared first on /Film.

"That's my wish – I want my friend back." Netflix has released an official US trailer for the animated movie Wish Dragon, a Sony Animation production that is being released by Netflix coming up this summer. We already posted the teaser a few weeks ago. Based on a story by children's book illustrator Chris Applehans (who also wrote / directed), it's described as a "genie-in-a-bottle retelling set in contemporary China" that "picks up the moral challenges that emerge from the encounter between a boy and a dragon who is able to make wishes come true." A working-class college student meets a dragon and the two go off on an adventure through modern day Shanghai. "A tale of discovering the greatest wish of all." The voice cast includes John Cho as the dragon, Jimmy Wong as his new friend, plus Constance Wu, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Will Yun Lee, Bobby Lee, Jimmy O. Yang,...

"How long have you been in that teapot?" Netflix has debuted a new teaser trailer for the animated movie Wish Dragon, a Sony Animation production that is being released by Netflix in a few countries coming up this summer. This Chinese co-production already opened in China earlier this year. Based on a story by children's book illustrator Chris Applehans (who also wrote / directed), this is a "genie-in-a-bottle retelling set in contemporary China" that "picks up the moral challenges that emerge from the encounter between a boy and a dragon who is able to make wishes come true." A working-class college student meets a dragon and the two go off on an adventure through modern day Shanghai. "A tale of discovering the greatest wish of all." The voice cast includes John Cho as the dragon, Jimmy Wong as his new friend, plus Constance Wu, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Will Yun Lee, Bobby Lee,...

A popular meme of Luke Skywalker handling a lightsaber very dangerously makes Mark Hamill himself cringe every time he sees it. In the Star Wars meme, which chances are you've already seen shared a time or two on the internet, Luke looks directly into a lightsaber as Obi-Wan Kenobi watches on. The caption reads: "Handed the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy. Immediately point it at face."

On Twitter, one Star Wars fan posted the image while tagging Mark Hamill. "This makes me laugh every time I see it," the fan wrote. In response, Hamill tweeted that his reaction to the meme is far different, but he clarifies that the image is likely taken from behind the scenes as Luke Skywalker doesn't actually do that in the movie.

This makes me cringe every time I see it.

The Los Angeles-based East West Players, the nation’s first professional Asian American theatre organization, is teaming with musician Aj Rafael again for the holiday edition of Crazy Talented Asians, the ninth edition of the live show celebrating represenation of Asians in the arts. This year will feature performers Isa Briones, Josh Dela Cruz (Blues Clues), Dante Basco, Deedee Magno Hall, among others. The event is set to take place virtually on December 13 starting at 5:30pm Pt via Rafael & East West Players’ Facebook Pages and YouTube channels.

After being inspired by the groundbreaking box office hit Crazy Rich Asians, Rafael launched Crazy Talented Asians in September 2018 to put a spotlight on Asian Americans in media. The live show of muscial performances, dancing and poetry started at the Rockwell Table & Stage in Hollywood before it partnered with East...

Jimmy Wong, who stars as Ling in Disney’s live-action “Mulan,” is calling out popular streaming series such as Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy” and Amazon’s “The Boys” for featuring prominent Asian characters that have barely any dialogue. “Suicide Squad” actress Karen Fukuhara stars in “The Boys” as a mute superhero named Kimiko, while Justin H. Min is featured in “The Umbrella Academy” as a super-powered ghost named Ben.

“Least favorite acting thing I’ve noticed during pandemic binge watching: incredibly sexy and good looking Asian actors playing characters with barely Any dialogue because it’s supposed to be…mysterious?” Wong wrote on Twitter.

While fans replied to Wong noting there are reasons why Fukuhara and Min’s characters don’t have much dialogue, Wong said the characters are two examples of a larger trend of near-silent characters of color. The actor directed his followers to a Twitter thread...

Jimmy Wong is just happy to be here. In just his third feature film, the Chinese-American actor found himself acting opposite Donnie Yen, Gong Li — some of the biggest names in the Hong Kong movie industry. And he’s playing a character from a beloved Disney animated movie, the laidback Imperial Army recruit Ling, in […]

The post ‘Mulan’ Star Jimmy Wong on Putting His Own Twist on a Beloved Animated Character [Interview] appeared first on /Film.

Disney’s live-action take on its 1998 Oscar-nominated animated classic Mulan has finally been set for a China release on September 11. A new poster with the date was released today on the studio’s official Weibo account with a note that said, “Looking forward to meeting you and witnessing the blooming of Mulan together!” The Niki Caro-directed film will screen in 2D, 3D and IMAX (see the full poster below).

The September 11 date falls one week after the China release of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet on September 4 which is also when Disney+ gets Mulan in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and the major European markets where the streaming service is up and running. In markets where the studio currently has no announced launch plans for Disney+, Mulan will go theatrically. That includes Eastern and Central Europe as well as some parts of Asia and elsewhere.

Disney originally held a...

#GoldOpen — the movement created by nonprofit collective Gold House to ensure the opening weekend success of multicultural films — has announced #GoldOpen Premier Access for the release of “Mulan” on Disney Plus on Sept. 4.

“Mulan” will be the first film to debut on the streaming platform with Premier Access, making it possible to watch the film before other Disney Plus subscribers — and as many times as viewers want to thereafter — for $29.99.

“We miss being together — and know the power communities unlock when they come together. As sheltering-in-place continues, it’s incumbent on us to uncover new methods of producing premium, communal experiences from our homes,” #GoldOpen head of operations Brian Nemes said. “What better way to start than with one of the boldest Asian legends, ‘Mulan’; a cross-continental cast; and a legion of partners devoted to reimagining the theatre experience while doing good for the community.”

#GoldOpen Premier Access will provide...

Gold House, which helped bolster inclusive films such as Parasite, The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians and Just Mercy with its #GoldOpen movement, has set its first #GoldOpen Premier Access event for Disney’s forthcoming live-action Mulan, which drops on Disney+ on September 4. The highly anticipated adaptation of the 1998 animated feature is also set to open in select markets.

Directed by Niki Caro, Mulan stars Yifei Liu as the titular hero who risks everything to become the greatest warrior in China. As audiences prepare to welcome the adventure and inspiration of Mulan into their homes #GoldOpen will continue their spotlighting of inclusive narratives — but virtually. The #GoldOpen Premier Access will bring theatergoing experiences into households. This includes:

Live Twitter screening parties each day of opening weekend followed Q&As with the cast from the live-action film as well as the original animated feature. Those will be streamed on Gold House and...

"You will die... pretending to be something you're not." Disney has released another 60-second trailer for Niki Caro's live-action Mulan movie, finally set for release in early September. It was initially supposed to open in March, but has been delayed all summer due to the pandemic. Disney finally announced that they'll be releasing it streaming on Disney+ for a "premium" purchase price of $29.99 (which will give you access to it permanency). Unfortunately it won't be playing in theaters (not this year at least). Based on the original 1998 animated movie, the story is about a young Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a male warrior to fight and save her father. Set during the Han dynasty, she takes her father's place to fight an incoming Hun invasion. Liu Yifei stars as Hua Mulan, with Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Yoson An, Gong Li, Jason Scott Lee, Tzi Ma, Ron Yuan, Jimmy Wong,...

As traditional cable programmers struggle, startup Venn is stepping up to the plate with a business model the founders of the live-streaming video-game entertainment network say is custom-built for the over-the-top era.

For the Aug. 5 launch, Venn will make its 24-hour, free-to-watch linear network available on Amazon’s Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Gaming and Twitter. In addition, the company says, it will be coming to dedicated channels on connected-tv platforms representing more than 30 million U.S. households, including Vizio’s smart TVs, Comcast’s Xumo streaming service, Sinclair’s Stirr and DistroTV.

Venn, the Video Game Entertainment and News Network, is in talks for additional distribution deals with Ott platforms as well as traditional and internet pay-tv providers, said Ben Kusin, co-founder and co-ceo. Venn’s programming, totaling 21 hours of original shows per week at launch, will also be available directly on its website (at venn.tv).

“TV is having a crisis moment.

Magic: The Gathering Commander format players who can’t wait to hit their local game stores for some multiplayer action are in for a treat, thanks to a new partnership between Wizards of the Coast and MagicFest organizer Cfb Events. Cfb announced that a CommandFest Online charity event will take place on June 6th. It’ll be completely free to enter and instead of an entrance fee, the organizers encourage participants to make a donation to the Red Cross.

Participants will be able to play Commander games from the comfort of their own homes, thanks to the website SpellTable.com and with a webcam set up. The event will broadcast live from Channel Fireball’s Twitch channel and will feature matches and commentary from guests like Jimmy Wong, Josh Lee Kwai, Gavin Verhey, Olivia Gobert-Hicks, LoadingReadyRun, PleasantKenobi, Eric Levine, Riley Knight and more.

SpellTable.com is a website designed...

In Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of “Mulan,” the Chinese characters for “loyal,” “brave” and “true” are emblazoned on the titular character’s sword — and those three words certainly resonate with the stars of the film.

“Loyal, brave, true to her family and also to her true self,” Yifei Liu, who makes her international debut starring as Mulan, told Variety of what the words meant to her at the movie’s red carpet premiere Monday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Liu looked every bit the Disney warrior princess for the big event, echoing old-school Hollywood glam with side-parted curls and a strapless gold Elie Saab gown with a flowing train. The 32-year-old is a superstar in her native China, where she is referred to as “fairy sister.”

When asked what the motto means to him, martial arts star Donnie Yen (Commander Tung) nodded to his three red carpet companions,...

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton, and Prince William all stepped out for Commonwealth Day on Monday, but the world premiere of Mulan in La could have easily doubled as a royal event. That same day, Liu Yifei - who plays the title role of Mulan in the live-action film - was a real-life princess in a gorgeous gold gown, while her costars Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Yoson An, Jimmy Wong, and Jason Scott Lee all suited up for their big night on the red carpet. The premiere brought out several other stars including Christina Aguilera, Sofia Wylie, Lana Condor, and Jordin Sparks.

Disney's live adaptation of Mulan hits theaters on March 27 and follows the original story of Mulan struggling to become the person her family expects her to be instead of who she truly is. See more of the star-studded premiere ahead.

Related: Christina Aguilera Is Bringing Honor to...

On Monday night, Disney had the world premiere of their forthcoming live-action version of the classic animated feature Mulan in Los Angeles and while some were expecting it to follow the lead of major festivals and events closing due to coronavirus fears, the premiere went on as planned and it was filled with red carpet glam and enthusiasm as any Hollywood premiere — but there were discreet precautions taken by the Dolby Theater as well as the attendees.

There were the normal security checks around the Hollywood and Highland center including officials randomly inspecting cars as they entered the garage and metal detectors. On top of that, there were hand sanitizing stations placed throughout the red carpet area and the Dolby Theater.

As attendees greeted each other, many were shaking hands and hugging, but you can overhear people asking permission to hug or shake hands. There were just as many attendees...

"You will know take the oath of the warrior!" Disney has released the final official trailer for the live-action Mulan movie opening at the end of March in theaters everywhere. This trailer was teased during the Super Bowl as a shorter TV spot and the full-length version can be seen below. This live-action update of Mulan is directed by Niki Caro and stars Liu Yifei as the legendary Hua Mulan. Based on the original 1998 animated movie, about a young Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a male warrior to fight and save her father. Set during the Han dynasty, she takes her father's place to fight an incoming Hun invasion. Also starring Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Yoson An, Gong Li, Jason Scott Lee, Tzi Ma, Ron Yuan, Jimmy Wong, Rosalind Chao, and Utkarsh Ambudkar. This looks like it's going to be very entertaining. Action is awesome! A bit of Crouching Tiger,...

"Ancestors, please protect her..." Disney has debuted another new TV trailer, only 60 seconds long, for their live-action Mulan movie opening at the end of March in theaters everywhere. This latest preview plays like a cut down version of the most recent full-length trailer, with just a few extra shots throw in. This live-action update of Mulan is directed by Niki Caro and stars Liu Yifei as the legendary Hua Mulan. It's adapted directly from the original 1998 animated movie, about a young Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a male warrior in order to fight and save her father. Set in China during the Han dynasty, she takes her father's place to fight off an incoming Hun invasion. The cast includes Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Yoson An, Gong Li, Jason Scott Lee, Tzi Ma, Ron Yuan, Jimmy Wong, Rosalind Chao, and Utkarsh Ambudkar. This continues to look better than everyone expected.

It seems “Star Wars” fans are not happy with the direction of Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” and they’re calling for Disney, with its billions of dollars and sparkly new Disney+ streaming service, to give the character more screen time.

We’ve come to accept that the “Star Wars” community will always find something to debate, complain about, or criticize, but in the case of Rose Tico’s presence in the latest and final film (so they say) in the Skywalker saga, maybe they have a point?

“Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu, who is also helming the upcoming movie musical “In the Heights,” tweeted directly at the Disney+ and “Star Wars” accounts and calling on them to give Rose Tico her own series.

Also Read: 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' - We Need to Talk About This Rose...

In the lead-up to the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, director J.J. Abrams offered repeated hints that his film was going to serve as a “course correction” of sorts in the wake of 2017’s divisive The Last Jedi, and sure enough, once the Skywalker Saga finale reached theaters, the movie was every bit as apologetic as fans either dreaded or hoped.

We can see Abrams’ attempts to reach out to the detractors in the way his flick essentially undoes one of the boldest twists of The Last Jedi. But more controversial still is how the new movie reduces Rose Tico to a minor supporting player after her major role in the previous film.

After the release of The Last Jedi, actress Kelly Marie Tran was subject to vicious online abuse, ultimately prompting the star to seek therapy and leave social media with no intention of returning. With this backlash in mind,...

There has been much discussion over the last week regarding The Rise of Skywalker. That discussion will surely rage on for months, if not years, but talk at this moment has turned to Rose Tico. The character, played by Kelly Marie Tran, who was introduced in The Last Jedi, returned for the finale of the Skywalker saga. However, Rose was given very little screen time in this installment and that is not sitting very well with quite a few fans.

According to a new report, all told, Rose Tico has just one minute and 16 seconds of screen time in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Just 76 seconds in a movie that clocks in at 2 hours and 22 minutes. Considering that Rose became a major player in the Resistance in The Last Jedi, that paltry amount of time dedicated to her in Episode IX has helped lead #RoseTicoDeservedBetter to trend on Twitter.

"Loyal, brave, and true - it is my duty to protect my family." Disney has just debuted the official full-length official trailer for their live-action Mulan movie, following the initial teaser reveal earlier this summer. This live-action update of Mulan is directed by Niki Caro and stars Liu Yifei as the legendary Hua Mulan. It's still based on the 1998 animated movie, about a young Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a male warrior in order to fight and save her father. Set in China during the Han dynasty, she takes her father's place to fight off a Hun invasion. The cast includes Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Yoson An, Gong Li, Jason Scott Lee, Tzi Ma, Ron Yuan, Jimmy Wong, Rosalind Chao, and Utkarsh Ambudkar. I almost don't want to admit it, but this looks great! Yes, it's more Disney product but I'll be damned, it looks like a thrilling story...

"Quiet... Composed... Graceful... Disciplined... These are the qualities we see in Mulan." Disney has unveiled the first official teaser trailer for the next live-action update of one of their animated classics - Mulan. This new live-action Mulan is directed by Niki Caro and stars Liu Yifei as the legendary Hua Mulan. This is based on the 1998 animated movie, and is about a young Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father. It's set in China during the Han dynasty, and she takes her father's place to fight off a Hun invasion. The cast includes Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Yoson An, Gong Li, Jason Scott Lee, Tzi Ma, Ron Yuan, Jimmy Wong, Rosalind Chao, and Utkarsh Ambudkar. This is an exciting teaser, with a nice slice of action to whet our appetites for more. Looks even better than I was expecting - maybe it...

Yesterday we passed along the news that the trailer for Disney and director Niki Caro's live-action remake of the animated classic Mulan starring Liu Yifei and Donnie Yen would be hitting today. And low and behold, that's just what we have For you guys this evening. You can go ahead and check it out below!

I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to checking out this live-action take on Mulan. After all, while it seems like every classic Disney animated movie is getting the remake treatment these days, Mulan was the only Disney flick I watched growing up and actually thought, "This would make a great live-action movie!' For some reason, I never said that about The Lion King. Not sure why.

While it's sad that fan-favorite character Mushu (who was voiced by Eddie Murphy in the original movie) has been replaced with a phoenix this time around,...

It was just a day or so ago that we passed along the news that Disney's live-action remake of the animated classic Mulan is possibly ditching the Mushu character from the original film and replacing him with a phoenix. While that was some pretty weak news, we'll all be able to see if it works in the movie's favor sooner rather than later as today we have word that Fox has announced they will debut the trailer this Sunday.

I can only imagine Disney is finally unleashing the trailer for their Mulan remake because their other "live-action" animation remake of The Lion King will be hitting theaters in a few weeks on July 19, 2019. And considering that Iron Man and The Jungle Book director Jon Favreau's retelling of the classic tale is looking to snatch up All the money at the box-office, it makes sense that the trailer for...

Exclusive: Mike Liotta has stepped down from his role as VP at True Public Relations to launch PR Machine. The newly formed boutique agency will be based in Los Angeles and focus on personal publicity.

Working in PR for 14 years, Liotta joined True Public Relations in 2005 as an assistant and quickly rose through the ranks before stepping into the position of VP.

Joining Liotta at PR Machine is Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Regina King as well as Emmy-nominated actors Tim Matheson and Melora Hardin.

Others on his client roster include NAACP Image Award-nominated actress Logan Browning, Jon Huertas (This Is Us), Cress Williams (Black Lightning), Elizabeth Tulloch (Grimm), Byron Mann, Radha Mitchell (The Romanoffs), Summer Bishil (The Magicians), Anthony Alabi (Family Reunion), Adrian Martinez, WWE Superstar Cj “Lana” Perry (Total Divas), Allen Maldonado (The Last O.G.), Celina Jade (Wolf Warrior 2), Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural), Paul Ben-Victor (The Wire), Jocko Sims (New Amsterdam), Tzi Ma, Peter Macon (The Orville), Denim Richards, Osric Chau (Supernatural), Joseph Gatt (Dumbo), Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite), Josie Ho (Contagion), Adam Korson (The Twilight Zone), Dakota Shapiro (Valley of the Boom), Mark Gagliardi (Blood & Treasure), Lily Ji (Pacific Rim: Uprising), Juliet Landau (Bosch), Jimmy Wong (Mulan), Malcolm Freberg (Survivor), Johann Urb (Arrow), Madeline Zima (Californication).

His roster also includes on-air personalities Jillian Barberie and Carly Steel; as well as Apple TV+ series co-creator/showrunner Dara Resnik (Home Before Dark). Liotta also represents Movie Trivia Schmoedown and the annual Dreamer Dinner charitable fundraiser for the “I Have a Dream” Foundation – Los Angeles.

YouTube star Jimmy Wong isn’t the only digital creator to make his big-screen debut in a highly-anticipated remake.

The iconic director Steven Spielberg, who is readying a reboot of the classic Broadway musical-turned film, West Side Story, has tapped 17-year-old high school student Rachel Zegler in the starring role of Maria. The New Jersey-born, Columbian-American actress, who frequently posts covers on her YouTube channel (95,000 subscribers) and Instagram account, reportedly beat out 30,000 other hopefuls for the coveted role.

Rounding out the cast are Ansel Elgort as Tony, Deadline reports, as well as theater stars Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, and Josh Andrés Rivera. Spielberg was committed to finding actors who hailed from the Latinx community, given that the Romeo And Juliet-inspired story follows two rival gangs -- one Puerto Rican, one white -- on New York’s Upper West Side.

Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.

In this edition of Casting Bits: Benicio del Toro is set to star in Oliver Stone‘s next drama, White Lies. Mark Hamill joins Knightfall as it’s renewed for season 2. Disney’s live-action Mulan remake adds Jimmy Wong and Doua Moua. Roland Emmerich‘s Midway enlists Patrick Wilson, Aaron Eckhart, Nick Jonas, Tadanobu Asano, and Keean Johnson. Jesse Plemons to co-star with Keri Russell in Scott Cooper‘s Antlers. […]

The post Casting Bits: Benicio del Toro, Mark Hamill, Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Remake, Roland Emmerich’s ‘Midway,’ And More appeared first on /Film.

Longtime YouTube star and actor Jimmy Wong has just landed a massive role in Disney’s forthcoming live-action adaptation of Mulan -- inspired by its classic animated feature, which debuted in 1998.

The film, which is currently in production and which is set to hit theaters in 2020, stars Chinese-American actress Yifei Liu as the titular character -- a fearless young woman who impersonates a man in order to take her father’s place in the army during a fight against invaders. Wong will portray a character named Ling, per Deadline -- another soldier in the army who is a weaker warrior but serves as the joker of the troupe.

"Back in December, I found out I got the role of a lifetime, and eight months later I can finally tell you all about it,” Wong tweeted today. “Thank you all so, so much for the incredible support and congratulations. Y'all are...

Exclusive: Digital star Jimmy Wong and Doua Moua have landed the roles of Ling and Po, respectively, in Disney’s live-action Mulan adaptation, which is currently in production. Starring Yifei Liu as Mulan, the Niki Caro-directed film follows a fearless young woman who masquerades as a man to fight Northern Invaders attacking China.

Disney releases the popular animated version of the Chinese folktale in 1998. Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Elizabeth Martin, and Lauren Hynek adapted the screenplay for the film, which will be released March 27, 2020.

Wong, best known for the web series, Video Game High School, lends his voice to Sony’s animated film Wish Dragon, which features an all Asian cast. He’s repped by Gersh and The Green Room. Moua, who appeared in Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino, is an Academy Nicholl semi-finalist for his script The Harvest. He is repped by Creative Talent Company.

Production is now under way on “Wish Dragon,” a major animated feature being made in China for Sony’s Columbia Pictures Film Production.

The film is a first feature for Base Animation, the new animation studio that is part of Beijing-based VFX firm BaseFX, and for Chinese super star Jackie Chan. Chan’s Sparkle Roll Media is a producer and co-investor, and Chan will voice characters in both the Chinese- and English-language versions of the finished picture.

The family-oriented film is being directed by Chris Appelhans (illustrator on “Coraline”) from his own original screenplay. The modern-day fairy tale picks up the moral challenges that emerge from the encounter between a boy and a dragon who is able to make wishes come true. Production is focused at Base’s new animation studio in Xiamen, southern China. The movie is targeting a 2019 theatrical release in China.

The U.S. voice cast includes...

Jackie Chan and Constance Wu will voice-star in Sony Pictures Animation's Wish Dragon, a contemporary retelling of the classic genie-in-a-bottle tale from One Thousand and One Nights.

Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jimmy Wong and Bobby Lee will also voice-star, with John Cho and Jimmy O. Yang in talks to join the cast.

The feature, which is aiming for a 2019 theatrical release in China, is a Chinese co-production with Chan's Beijing-based Sparkle Roll Media Corporation and Base Animation. A U.S. and international release are also planned. 

Chris Appelhans will direct, with Aron Warner (the Shrek franchise) and Chris Bremble producing. Ian Sugarman will...

Exclusive: Jackie Chan, Fresh Off the Boat star Constance Wu, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Will Yun Lee (The Good Doctor), Nico Santos (Superstore), Jimmy Wong, and Bobby Lee are set as the U.S. voice cast of Wish Dragon, an animated film from Sony Pictures Animation, Beijing Sparkle Roll Media Corporation, and Base Animation. John Cho and Silicon Valley‘s Jimmy O. Yang are also in talks to join the feature which is begin directed by Chris Appelhans.

The pic is a modern re-telling of the classic Genie in a bottle tale from 1001 Nights. The core of the story reminds us that the most important things in life – hard work, honesty, friends, and family – cannot be wished for.

Shrek franchise and The Book of Life producer Aron Warner is producing the film with Chris Bremble, while Ian Sugarman will serve as exec producer.

The studio is aiming for a 2019 theatrical...

Jackie Chan and Constance Wu will voice-star in Sony Pictures Animation's <em>Wish Dragon,</em> a contemporary retelling of the classic genie-in-a-bottle tale from <em>One Thousand and One Nights.</em>

Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jimmy Wong and Bobby Lee will also voice-star, with John Cho and Jimmy O. Yang in talks to join the cast.

The feature, which is aiming for a 2019 theatrical release in China, is a Chinese co-production with Chan's Beijing-based Sparkle Roll Media Corporation and Base Animation. A U.S. and international release are also planned. 

Chris Appelhans will direct, with Aron Warner (the<em> Shrek</em> franchise) and Chris Bremble ...

The foods made famous by fictional franchises are the backbone of Jimmy Wong and Ashley Adams' long-running collaboration. Wong and Adams are the co-hosts of Feast Of Fiction, a YouTube channel that recently surpassed one million subscribers. By combining Wong's "nerd cred" with Adams' "culinary wisdom," the two co-hosts are able to cook up sensational dishes inspired by films, TV shows, video games, and more. We caught up with Wong to get his thoughts on what his and Adams' channel has achieved so far.

Tubefilter: How does it feel to have more than one million YouTube subscribers? What do you have to say to your fans?

Jimmy Wong: It's a crazy feeling. We made this show over six years ago and just passed a million. I remember when my brother first surpassed a million before our show even started! It's been a wild journey and I think the most...

Polaris, the gaming editorial division within Disney’s recently-formed Digital Network, has announced a daily summer programming block that will bring a slew of top YouTube stars -- including Jacksepticeye and ParkerGames -- to TV via Disney Xd. The block, dubbed D|Xp, will debut on July 15 and feature shows produced in collaboration with Espn, IGN, Vice, and more.

Original shows will include: Polaris Primetime, a weekly one-hour gaming variety show hosted by Rocketjump’s Jimmy Wong and Meghan 'Strawburry17' Camarena -- with guest appearances from MatPat, Joey Graceffa, and sWooZie; Parker Plays, a daily half-hour comedic gameplay commentary series hosted by Parker 'ParkerGames' Coppins; and Polaris: Player Select, a ‘greatest hits’-style compilation series featuring top videos from YouTube creators Jacksepticeye, Luzugames, LordMinion777, and LDShadowLady, and more. Each of the aforementioned shows is being produced by the Disney Digital Network and Digomind Productions.

Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.

A kind of peculiar entry in the grotesque thriller category, as it makes an effort to “justify” a man that kills pregnant women taking away their unborn babies.

The film starts with this particular man, Kit, performing the aforementioned action on cop’s wives and subsequently, killing their husbands. Eventually he is caught while trying to get away from a crime scene and as he is interrogated in the police station, the film makes a flashback to the past to explain his life story. Months earlier, Kit was selling steamed dumplings in front of a small neighborhood grocery store. Eventually he meets a young woman named Wing, which is actually a mentally challenged high school girl. The two of them form a relationship despite her grandmother’s protests and after some time they run away. Not having anywhere to live, they end up in a prostitute’s apartment where an...

A movie starring two YouTubers will make its money back in iTunes sales, regardless of its quality. That may sound like a good thing, but it’s not if you’re an online content creator looking to transition into traditional Hollywood projects and shake your reputation as a one-trick pony. Speaking from the sixth VidCon, the annual convention for digital content creators and their fans, creator Jimmy Wong is uncertain about his and others’ crossover prospects.

“It’s really hard to transition YouTube stars into traditional acting roles,” says Wong, who rose to YouTube fame with his viral hit “Ching Chong! Asians in the Library Song” — a timely response to an ugly, racist video rant.

Read More: Diversity is Thriving on YouTube and Four More Reasons to Be Excited for VidCon 2016

Wong is a filmmaker at RocketJump, a digital movie studio and YouTube channel that also hosts original content on its website.

Screaming tweens. Boy bands singing Drake. People talking to video cameras. VidCon, the annual convention for all things YouTube, vlogging, and digital media, is certainly a sight to behold. The term “content creator” is rarely thrown around quite so often as it was in the hallways of the Anaheim Convention Center last weekend. If one thing is certain, digital culture is a lot more advanced than it was a few years ago. What can we surmise from VidCon about the future of the industry that has better numbers than the views on “David After Dentist?” This is real life for the digital age.

The Freshmen Online Stars Are All Grown Up

Grace Helbig, Jenna Marbles, and Hannah Hart each began vlogging in 2008, 2010, and 2011, respectively. In Internet years, they’re ancient. Now, they’re credited with shaping the style and creating a language for a form of digital media that is now over ten years old.

It looks like Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris are never, ever, ever getting back together. The pop star and British actor Tom Hiddleston collectively broke the Internet when pictures surfaced of them kissing in Rhode Island - just weeks after Swift's breakup from Harris after 15 months together. Swifties and Hiddlestoners were quick to react, dubbing the pair "#Hiddleswift" on social media. But are they in support of their fearless leader's maybe rebound? Twitter is divided. Some users weren't impressed by the timeframe between Swift and Harris' breakup and her assumed new romance. wow, she only split up with Calvin Harris yesterday,...

It looks like Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris are never, ever, ever getting back together. The pop star and British actor Tom Hiddleston collectively broke the Internet when pictures surfaced of them kissing in Rhode Island - just weeks after Swift's breakup from Harris after 15 months together. Swifties and Hiddlestoners were quick to react, dubbing the pair "#Hiddleswift" on social media. But are they in support of their fearless leader's maybe rebound? Twitter is divided. Some users weren't impressed by the timeframe between Swift and Harris' breakup and her assumed new romance. wow, she only split up with Calvin Harris yesterday,...