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Brandy Corbet’s The Brutalist from A24 hammered its way into theaters this weekend with one of the best limited openings of 2024 (no. 3 after Anora and Kinds of Kindness). It sold out nearly 30 showtimes in New York and Los Angeles for a gross of $266.8k on four screens for a per screen opening of $66.7k.

The majority of audiences were under 35 and almost half heard about the film via Letterboxd as the online film-centric social network continues to be a defining force for indie word-of-mouth in the post-Covid era.

Corbet’s third feature centers on Adrien Brody’s László Toth, a Brutalist architect from Hungary attempting to rebuild his life in postwar America. Initially forced to toil in poverty, Toth soon wins a contract that will change the course of the next 30 years of his life.

The sweeping film premiered in Venice where Corbet won Best Director and has built throughout the fall season.

Most people can’t conceive of the hardships and strife inflicted on others. It’s not entirely their fault. Television places onlookers behind a screen while horrors lurk outside their door, and news outlets are questionable these days at best. What I’m trying to say is oppression is omnipresent, and Los Frikis, the latest film from The Peanut Butter Falcon directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, is ready to throw audiences into a mosh pit of drama for a story about breaking the chains that bind us. What? You don’t believe me? Watch today’s emotionally charged trailer for Los Frikis and then decide.

Inspired by true events, Los Frikis is a coming-of-age story set in early 90s Cuba, where a group of punk rockers in search of freedom deliberately inject HIV to live at a government-run treatment home so they can create their own utopia. Produced by...

Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" was a pop-cultural powerhouse, attracting a mass audience larger than any of the CBS executives expected. While many critics and audience members criticized the show for being silly, unrealistic, and simplistic, it nonetheless lasted for three hit seasons, and was put into eternal syndication, staying alive in reruns for decades. What's more, the series warranted numerous TV movie sequels and spinoffs, including a 1981 TV movie wherein Gilligan (Bob Denver) and the other castaways met the Harlem Globetrotters -- called, helpfully, "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island" -- and an animated series wherein the castaways became stranded on a distant planet (!). Yes, "Gilligan's Planet" is a thing.

The spinoffs retained all the original cast members, with the exception of Tina Louise, whose character, Ginger, was played by various other actors. Curiously, the Globetrotters movie was the last time an original "Gilligan's Island" project graced the screen.

Tucked away in Tarzana is a stately home designed as a style and social haven, where any customer who needs a fashion fix or wants to learn or engage in thoughtful ideas is welcome to participate. That’s been the plan of star stylist Zerina Akers since she first saw her new headquarters.

“In addition to wanting this to be a creative space, I wanted to forge a community in which everyone would feel welcome,” says Akers of Saint Helen’s House, a social-club space that includes a sustainable fashion-rental showroom she has dubbed “The Show Must Go On.”

“It was a simple decision to open the doors to everyone. It’s not just celebrities and styling; every woman can come in and enjoy a celebrity styling experience.”

Counting Beyoncé, Chloe x Halle, Megan Thee Stallion and Niecy Nash among her high-wattage clientele, Akers had been working out of ever-expanding...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSBlazing Saddles.With on-location filming in Los Angeles on the steep decline, Mayor Karen Bass has launched the Entertainment Industry Council, which plans to lobby the state to subsidize productions in the city.FESTIVALSViet and Nam.The Toronto International Film Festival (September 5–15) has added a number of titles to its lineup, including Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, bringing the total to 276. The Wavelengths slate will feature Truong Minh Quý’s Viet and Nam, Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich’s The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire, and Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias’s Pepe, among others. Festival attendees are encouraged to use this nifty tool, lest they be lost forever in the scheduling labyrinth.

Connie Chiume, the South African actor known for her role as tribal leader Zawavari in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther and 2022 sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, died Tuesday at a Johannesburg hospital. She was 72.

Her family announced the death on social media. A cause has not been disclosed.

The South African government paid tribute to Chiume on X: “Our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of multi-award winning and legendary actress Connie Chiume. Her outstanding work will always be remembered.”

Deadline Related Video:

Born June 5, 1952, as Gabisile Connie Chiume in South Africa’s Free State province of Welkom. She later studied to be a nurse and then a teacher – two of the limited options open to Black South Africans under apartheid.

In the late 1970s she joined a traveling musical group before being cast in the South African stage musical Ipi Ntombi. Subsequent stage credits would include roles in...

Connie Chiume has died at the age of 72.The actress - who was best-known for her roles in Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ flicks and Beyonce’s musical picture ‘Black is King’ - passed away on Tuesday (06.08.24) at the Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, following a “medical procedure”, her family have confirmed.In a statement posted to Instagram, the actress’ loved ones wrote: “The Chiume Family regrets to inform you of the passing of the internationally acclaimed award-winning actress Connie Chiume. Connie Chiume, 72, passed on at Garden City Hospital today on 6 August 2024. “The Family asks for privacy during this difficult period. The family will communicate further details.”Born in Welkom, South Africa, Chiume initially trained as a nurse until she began her acting career in 1977 when she moved to Greece to join the cast of the musical ‘Sola Sola’. Chiume later gained popularity in South Africa after playing Thembi...

Connie Chiume, a South African actress who appeared in Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Beyoncé’s Black Is King, has died. She was 72.

Chiume died Tuesday at the Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, her family announced on Instagram. Her cause of death wasn’t immediately available.

“The Chiume Family regrets to inform you of the passing of the internationally acclaimed award-winning actress Connie Chiume,” they wrote in a statement. “The Family asks for privacy during this difficult period. The family will communicate further details.”

Born on June 5, 1952, in Welkom, South Africa, Chiume trained as a nurse and graduated with a teaching degree prior to finding her way into the movie and television industry, The Independent reported. It wasn’t until 1977 that she started her career as an actor, moving to Greece to join the cast of the musical Sola Sola.

She later became more recognized among...

Shogun celebrates 25 Emmy noms, explores turbulent 1600s Japan with a standout ensemble cast led by Sanada and Jarvis. Shogun's success marks historical TV milestones, including first Japanese-language show nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. Editors Gonzales and Miyake discuss the show's cultural authenticity, iconic deaths, and hint at what's to come in seasons 2 & 3.

As development on the next two seasons of the show gets underway, Shogun is celebrating a new milestone of success with 25 Emmy nominations. Serving as the second adaptation of James Clavell's novel of the same name, the show is set in 1600s Japan and explores the life of John Blackthorne, a Protestant English pilot who is marooned in the country during a turbulent era of multiple lords vying for ultimate power. One such figure is Yoshii Toranaga, the lord of Kant who has been condemned to death by the other regents of the country, but has his own mysterious plans.

Tiwa Savage has long held a unique position in African music as the leading female artist in the Afrobeats genius. After headlining global tours, collaborating with Beyoncé and Brandy and championing newcomers, Savage Tiwa is embarking on her next venture: starring in and executive producing her debut full-length feature film, “Water and Garri.”

The film, slated for global debut on Prime Video on May 10, follows Aisha, a successful fashion designer, as she returns to Nigeria after a decade in the United States. She’s taken aback by the profound changes that have swept through her homeland and the people she once knew. Set to the evocative soundtrack of the same name, Aisha’s journey unfolds to reveal poignant cultural shifts. The accompanying soundtrack is a key component of the experience, as the film’s tracklisting mirrors Aisha’s interactions and feelings throughout.

The soundtrack makes heavy use of live instrumentation...

El elenco de voces incluye a Beyoncé y a su hija. © Disney

Ya se ha publicado el primer tráiler y póster de “Mufasa: El Rey León”, la nueva película, la precuela de animación fotorrealista del remake de la película de 1994 “El Rey León”, que se estrenó en 2019.

En “Mufasa: El Rey León”, Rafiki debe transmitir la leyenda de Mufasa a la joven cachorro de león Kiara, hija de Simba y Nala, con Timón y Pumba aportando su estilo característico. La historia se cuenta en flashbacks y presenta a Mufasa como un cachorro huérfano, perdido y solo hasta que conoce a un simpático león llamado Taka, heredero de un linaje real. Este encuentro fortuito pone en marcha el viaje de un extraordinario grupo de inadaptados que buscan su destino y sus lazos se pondrán a prueba mientras trabajan juntos para escapar de un enemigo amenazador y letal.

Las voces que dan...

Blue Ivy Carter's movie debut in Mufasa: The Lion King is a perfect choice for Beyonc and Jay-Z's daughter's first film role. Scheduled for release on December 20, 2024, Mufasa promises stunning visuals and an epic backstory. Carter will be voicing Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala, in the prequel/sequel to The Lion King.

Blue Ivy Carter is making her movie debut with a voice role in Mufasa: The Lion King and its the perfect part for Beyonc and Jay-Zs daughter to kick off her acting career. Mufasa: The Lion King is Disneys follow-up to its wildly successful live-action remake of The Lion King. Itll act as both a sequel and a prequel, with a framing narrative set after the events of The Lion King and a main storyline set before it. Directed by Moonlights Barry Jenkins, the movie will fill in the origin story of Simbas late father,...

In a competitive situation, Warner Bros. has landed “The Color Purple” director Blitz Bazawule’s next project, which takes on the legendary Yasuke, an African warrior who became the first Black samurai.

Sources tell Variety that Warner Bros. beat out three other studios and streamers’ bids on the script, tentatively titled “Black Samurai,” which Bazawule wrote on spec and will direct and produce under his Inward Gaze banner.

After impressing the industry with his 2018 debut “The Burial of Kojo,” helming episodes of Ava DuVernay’s “Cherish the Day” and working with Beyoncé on her feature-length visual album “Black Is King,” Bazawule made his major studio debut with 2023’s “The Color Purple.”

The Ghanaian filmmaker, who brought his unique visual language to the Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg-produced musical movie, is said to have done the same with his take on Yasuke, an African warrior who served under Japanese daimyo...

When Beyoncé unveiled the American flag-bearing cover of her latest album, Act ii: Cowboy Carter, some heralded the imagery as a “reclamation” of the flag’s symbolism, while others pointed to its connection to Texas’ Black Cowboys and Rodeo culture. Others, however, saw the flag as a symbol of America’s history of racism and imperialism, particularly fraught with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The sentiment trails the outrage stoked by her silence on “Break My Soul” being adopted as a war cry by pro-Idf Israelis in December.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film breaks records with 4.5 million views in 3 days on Disney+. The film features unreleased songs like 'Cardigan' and grossed $261.7 million worldwide. Swift gears up to direct her first feature film after signing a deal with Searchlight Pictures.

To the surprise of no one, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film has become the most watched music film ever on Disney+. Released on March 14, 2024, in just its first three days, Swifties everywhere propelled the record-breaking celebration of Swift’s music to 4.5 million views, for a total of 16.2 million hours streamed. The film, which boasts a 3.5 hour runtime, beat out other musical numbers such as Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium, Black Is King: A Film by Beyoncé, and Swift’s own folklore: the long pond studio sessions.

As per Deadline, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour on Disney+ features songs previously unreleased during the film’s theatrical and VOD run,...

The NAACP Image Awards announced its fifth round of winners in non-televised categories on Friday, which were presented amid a fashion show hosted by Brandee Evans.

Warner Bros.’ The Color Purple swept all three categories, with Francine Jamison-Tanchuck winning outstanding costume design; Lawrence Davis, Tym Wallace, Andrea Mona Bowen, Angela Renae Dyson and Jorge Benitez Villalobos winning outstanding hairstyling; and Carol Rasheed, Saisha Beecham, Ngozi Olandu Young, Manny Davila and Milene Melendez winning outstanding makeup.

June Ambrose was also honored at the event with the NAACP Vanguard Award for Fashion. The costume designer is known for her work across over 200 music videos by artists including Missy Elliott, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Busta Rhymes and Jay-Z; she also designed wardrobes for the latter during the On the Run tours and in Beyoncé’s Black Is King. She also notably served as a costume designer for Hype Williams’ feature directorial debut Belly in...

Kelly Rowland has endured a disappointing acting career trend, with most movies receiving negative reviews, except those with Beyoncé. Mea Culpa, directed by Tyler Perry, combines legal drama and erotic thriller elements, and stars Rowland and Trevante Rhodes. Despite criticism of unrealistic plot twists and lack of chemistry, some critics praised Rowland and Rhodes' chemistry in the movie.

Kelly Rowland's 2024 Netflix project Mea Culpa has been negatively received by most critics, continuing a disappointing career trend for the singer-turned-actress. At the time of writing, the movie only holds a 20% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting a wider tendency in Rowland's screen career. However, while the 43-year-old's portfolio as a whole has arguably not lived up to expectations, it's important to note that there is a catch behind her movies' reputations.

Directed by Tyler Perry, Mea Culpa is part legal drama, part erotic thriller centered on the conflict between a high-flying lawyer's personal and professional lives.

By the mid-2010s, Daymé Arocena had become a household name in her native Havana. She’d been called “the world’s next jazz phenomenon,” and her work with the Cuban-Canadian jazz band Maqueque helped win a 2015 Juno Award. When she’d walk down the street, people would stop her, recognizing her as the singer with the powerful, heart-atomizing voice. At restaurants, fans would come up to her and greet her enthusiastically. “I’d built a reputation there,” she remembers. “But I started to feel like I’d hit a ceiling in Cuba.

Tyler Perry's upcoming legal drama on Netflix, Mea Culpa, promises gripping storytelling and stellar performances, with Kelly Rowland taking on a leading role to showcase her acting prowess. Perry aims to take viewers on a "crazy, unexpected ride" that will leave them questioning what's next, creating a thrilling experience for the audience. Mea Culpa marks Rowland's first collaboration with Perry, a partnership that promises to bring a fresh dynamic to the screen, as she portrays an ambitious attorney facing a career-defining case.

Tyler Perry's upcoming legal drama on Netflix, Mea Culpa, promises gripping storytelling and stellar performances. Perry shared his vision for Mea Culpa and his excitement about giving Kelly Rowland a platform to showcase her acting prowess.

Rowland, the Grammy and Billboard Music Award winner, is poised to lead an ensemble cast that includes Trevante Rhodes, Sean Sagar, Nick Sagar, and Ron Reaco Lee. Perry told Movieweb:

"For me,...

Directed by Blitz Bazawule from a script by Marcus Gardley, Alice Walker’s novel comes to life on the big screen once again with this stage-to-screen adaptation of the classic coming-of-age story. Fantasia Barrino leads the cast in her feature film debut as Celie, who, despite a life of hardships (from personal to societal), finds strength and solace in sisterhood. Featuring an A-list ensemble including Danielle Brooks, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., and more, the Oscar-nominated “The Color Purple” makes its streaming debut on Max on Friday, Feb. 16. You can watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max.

How to Watch 'The Color Purple' When: Friday, February 16, 2024 Where: Max Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com About 'The Color Purple'

“The Color Purple” takes on a new hue as Brenda Russell, Allee Willis,...

Event cinema title Dear England is the widest new release at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, playing in 716 UK venues through National Theatre Live.

The play first screened in 694 venues yesterday (Thursday 25), grossing £541,000 with several venues still to report. As well as cinemas, it is screening in many non-cinema venues such as community centres and village halls.

Dear England is a recording of James Graham’s play, following the fortunes of the England men’s football team across three tournaments: the 2018 World Cup, the 2020 European Championships, and the 2022 World Cup.

Directed by Rupert Goold and starring Joseph Fiennes as England manager Gareth Southgate,...

Event cinema title Dear England is the widest new release at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, playing in around 800 UK cinemas through National Theatre Live.

The play first screened in 694 cinemas yesterday (Thursday 25), grossing £541,000 with several venues still to report. The exact weekend location number is to be confirmed; should it be above the 777 sites of James Bond film No Time To Die from 2021, it would be the widest opening ever in UK-Ireland cinemas.

Dear England is a recording of James Graham’s play, following the fortunes of the England men’s football team across three tournaments: the 2018 World Cup,...

Jennifer Lopez's upcoming movie This Is Me... Now: A Love Story will blend documentary and fantasy, exploring her high-profile love life. The movie will be released on February 16, 2024, along with Lopez's new album of the same name. This Is Me... Now will be told from Lopez's own perspective, incorporating mythological storytelling and personal healing.

The This Is Me... Now: A Love Story trailer unveils Jennifer Lopez's genre-defying new movie. The feature-length project is designed to tie in with her upcoming album This Is Me... Now, with both projects dropping on February 16. The movie will blend documentary and fantasy, exploring Jennifer Lopez's high-profile love life, including her relationship with her two-time boyfriend, now husband, Ben Affleck, who is also set to appear in the movie. Described as being "steeped in mythological storytelling and personal healing," the movie will tell Lopez's story from her own perspective.

Prime Video has now unveiled...

Experience the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond when “The Color Purple” arrives for purchase Digitally at home on January 16. This bold new take on the beloved classic is directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones. The film will also be available to purchase on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray and DVD on March 12. “The Color Purple” is directed by Blitz Bazawule from a screenplay by acclaimed playwright and WGA Award winner Marcus Gardley (“The Maid”). Bazawule is a Ghanaian multimedia artist who ... Read more...

It's that time of year again: the fuzzy window between Christmas and New Year's Eve where nobody really knows what they're supposed to be doing. Fortunately for the box office, some people have decided that the thing they're supposed to be doing is going out to see a movie. And fortunately for Timothée Chalamet's whimsical titular chocolate-maker, the plurality of those people have decided that the movie they should go and see is "Wonka."

The musical prequel film from "Paddington"/"Paddington 2" director Paul King premiered two weekends ago in the U.S. (and a week earlier internationally). It was knocked down to second place at the box office by "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" over the Christmas weekend, but now it's back on top heading into the four-day New Year's weekend. Per Variety, "Wonka" added another $8.6 million to its domestic gross on Friday -- an increase of 32% from...

Venerated TV host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey will sit down with Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino — who star in the big-screen musical adaptation of The Color Purple — for a trio of OWN Spotlight specials set to air in January.

Each hour-long presentation will feature a candid conversation centered around the actress’ respective roles as Shug Avery, Sofia and Celie in the new film executive-produced by Oprah and directed by Blitz Bazawule (Black Is King, Cherish the Day). “The women reflect on the making of the highly anticipated movie,” the logline reads, “how it changed their lives...

Christmas weekend at the box office was looking potentially disastrous for some movies, with no fewer than nine wide releases over the extended four-day period. Turns out that some movies did far better than others, and Warner Bros. had an especially good weekend. Read on for the weekend box office report.

Considering that 2018’s “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa, grossed $1.1 billion worldwide after an opening weekend of $67.9 million in 4,125 theaters, there were hopes that its sequel “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” might be one of the weekend’s big movies.

See‘The Sting’ turns 50: Robert Shaw stole the picture from Paul Newman and Robert Redford

It was indeed the number-one movie of the weekend, but with lousy advance tracking and poor reviews, expectations were lowered considerably, and it failed even to achieve those. “The Lost Kingdom” ended up making just $4.5 million in Thursday previews and $27.7 million over the three-day weekend...

The winter holiday season can be a lucrative one at the box office, but this year's was on uncertain ground. 2021 brought us "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and 2022 brought us "Avatar: The Way of Water," both of which now rank amongst the highest-grossing movies in history. 2023 has no such clear-cut smash hit, with "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" ultimately disappointing in its opening frame. Luckily, another Warner Bros. movie has emerged to provide the Christmas box office with a much-needed jolt: "The Color Purple."

Directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced by Oprah Winfrey, the musical adaptation of the classic book of the same name lit up the charts on Christmas Day, taking in a massive $18.1 million, per The Numbers. That made it easily the number one movie of the holiday ahead of "The Lost Kingdom" ($10.6 million) and "Wonka" ($10.3 million). Interestingly, all three of these are Warner Bros. releases.

Circling back to the movie at hand,...

Blitz Bazawule could care less about The Color Purple’s recent award nominations. The film’s director isn’t worried about the movie-musical’s Best Picture snub at the Golden Globe or wowed by the musical’s five Critics Choice nominations and three mentions on the Oscars’ shortlist for its music. He understands the significance of such accolades, but says he prefers to focus on how viewers will receive the Broadway musical adaptation.

“I honestly do not pay attention to any of it,” Bazawule tells Rolling Stone, the day the Critics Choice nominations were announced.

Every year, Christmas comes along to bring a big new release or two to the box office. Often, it's a major awards season contender. Other times, it's a big-budget tentpole from a studio looking to capitalize on the holiday window. In some cases, it's both. "The Color Purple" firmly falls into the "both" category as it is unquestionably a movie that Warner Bros. wants in the Oscar conversation, but also one they spent a great deal of money on. So, can the movie become the big Christmas season hit the studio is banking on?

Directed by Blitz Bazawule ("Black Is King"), the big-budget musical opens on Christmas Day this year, which falls on a Monday. It will be facing quite a bit of competition as "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" (also a Warner Bros. release) opens on December 22, with A24's "The Iron Claw," Illumination's animated "Migration," and Sony's...

When you watch a movie like "The Color Purple," it's almost more difficult to criticize because of how well-meaning it is, and how good its intentions are. The story of the Black woman Celie as she grows up in the still extremely harsh and racist American South in the 1900s started as an Alice Walker novel before being adapted for the big screen by Steven Spielberg in 1985, eventually leading to a Broadway musical that's now being dramatized all over again on the big screen for a Christmas Day release. It's not that this story is new, per se, though a new generation may yet be discovering it through its musical version as opposed to Spielberg's '80s-era take. The concepts and ideas at the core of this story remain arresting, vital, and heartbreaking, but the way those concepts are executed in this big, sometimes splashy and sometimes grim musical are messy at best,...

From left: Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, and Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple Photo: Warner Bros. About 70 minutes into The Color Purple, there’s a scene that doesn’t appear in many Hollywood studio musicals. A big number set on a gorgeous soundstage with a full brass band showing...

Where do you stand on the 1985 film version of “The Color Purple,” which was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, but won none? Some feel it wasn’t Steven Spielberg’s story to tell. Others marvel at how a director of the upbringing depicted in “The Fabelmans” managed to recognize and reflect so many aspects of Black culture: the music, the spirituality, the multiple catharses to which it builds. Looking back, Spielberg did justice to Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-winning novel, but he also left room to expand and improve.

Now, nearly four decades later, a rousing new version arrives from director Blitz Bazawule, who collaborated with Beyoncé on her 2020 visual album “Black Is King.” Instead of rejecting what came before, the Ghanian filmmaker embraces and builds upon it, collaborating with Spielberg, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey to update the material for the next generation (all three serve as producers). The main change,...

From left: Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, and Danielle Brooks in The Color PurplePhoto: Warner Bros.

About 70 minutes into The Color Purple, there’s a scene that doesn’t appear in many Hollywood studio musicals. A big number set on a gorgeous soundstage with a full brass band showing two...

Alice Walker started the phenomenon with her Pulitzer-winning 1982 book, and three years later Steven Spielberg turned it into a movie that got 11 Oscar nominations. In 2005, it took on new life as a Broadway musical, and in 2015 that musical got a Tony- and Grammy-winning revival.

Along the way it made big film and stage stars out of Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino, the latter now making her feature starring debut as Celie in the new film version of the musical she led 18 years ago on Broadway. The Color Purple is indestructible, and that is also a good word to describe director Blitz Bazawule’s and screenwriter Marcus Gardley’s take that breathes exciting life into the story for new and older generations but also, to quote an original song from this film, really finds a way to “Keep It Movin’.”

Musicals have gone through a tough time recently.

Warner Bros. has debuted another new trailer for the reimagining of the classic movie ‘The Color Purple.’

Based on the novel by Alice Walker and the musical stage play by Marsha Norman, experience the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond

This bold new take on the beloved classic is directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones.

The cast includes Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Fantasia Barrino (in her major motion picture debut).

Also in trailers – “It’s complicated…” Trailer drops for ‘Good Grief’

The film will be released across the UK and Ireland on January 26, 2024.

The post Third trailer lands for the reimagining of ‘The Color Purple’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

One more trailer has arrived for the musical version of The Color Purple ahead of its theatrical release next month in the UK.

To date, the only major cinematic interpretation of The Color Purple is the fondly-remembered 1985 adaptation by Steven Spielberg.

However, the story (which of course began life as a 1982 epistolary novel by Alice Walker) has since been adapted for Broadway and that musical version has now been turned into an upcoming film starring Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures), Danielle Brooks (Orange Is The New Black) and singer Fantasia Barrino, which is set to be released on 26th January.

The Color Purple ‘tells of the struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s. It’s also about the strong bond shared by three friends.’ Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation saw Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery in the leading roles. Winfrey is involved in...

Taraji P. Henson and Fantasia Barrino with director Blitz Bazawule The Color Purple has had a fascinating journey through popular culture over the past four decades. Ever since Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was published in 1982, the story of a young Black woman struggling to find her voice in...

From left: Taraji P. Henson , Fantasia Barrino, and Danielle Brooks in The Color PurpleImage: Warner Bros.

The Color Purple has had a fascinating journey through popular culture over the past four decades. Ever since Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was published in 1982, the story of a young Black woman...

Max is nothing if not a goldmine of content, with basically something to watch for everyone, and today we are making a list of the best new movies coming to Max in December 2023 that you can watch in the upcoming month. The movies in this list are ranked according to their availability dates.

Paranormal Activity (December 1)

Synopsis: After a young, middle-class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially while they sleep. Paranormal Activity builds suspense all the way to the shocking ending.

Skyfall (December 1)

Synopsis: Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her.

"Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé," along with her previous documentaries, highlights her range as an artist, showcasing her talents as a writer, producer, and director. With a rare box office record, Beyoncé proves there's no ceiling to her success. She continues to outdo herself in her historic career. Through her documentaries, Beyoncé has provided personal looks into her life as a performer, wife, mother, and businesswoman.

Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé is currently playing in theaters, marking the sixth documentary Beyoncé has made throughout her historic career. Renaissance is a concert film that chronicles the making of the album and the world tour of the same name, with a mixture of footage from behind-the-scenes footage and high-quality concert performances. Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé features every song from the album and also includes some of her most famous past songs, such as “Crazy In Love” and “Run The World (Girls...

This story about “The Color Purple” composers Nova Wav first appeared in the Race Begins issue of TheWrap magazine.

As far back as Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker’s game-changing novel, “The Color Purple” has always had a musical legacy. In addition to being scored by none other than Quincy Jones, the film boasted an earworm of an original song, “Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister),” that was co-penned by Lionel Richie. So it wasn’t shocking that “Purple” would spring to life in Broadway musical form, first in 2005 and then in a multi-Tony-winning revival 10 years later, which would launch the career of an exciting upstart named Cynthia Erivo.

When the prospect of an adaptation of the musical into an all-singing, all-dancing major film bloomed into reality, it was clear the team would need some new tunes to goose the already-rousing ones in the two-act musical. Enter Nova Wav,...

The upcoming release of “The Color Purple” musical film marks a full circle moment for Oprah Winfrey, who is producing the new adaptation 38 years after playing Sofia in Steven Spielberg’s take on Alice Walker’s seminal novel. Oprah earned an Oscar nomination for supporting actress, and now “The Color Purple” musical could earn her another one as a producer if it lands a best picture nomination. Oprah produced the film along with Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones.

In a new Essence cover story with the musical film’s cast — Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, H.E.R. and Fantasia Barrino — Oprah revealed the salary she earned for her Oscar-nominated role in Spielberg’s “The Color Purple.” It was low, but it was the only shot Oprah had at achieving her life goal of starring in the film.

“I can’t even begin to tell you what it means to me...

Alice Walker's acclaimed novel "The Color Purple" is being adapted once more. Decades after Steven Spielberg's 1985 adaptation received accolades, a film inspired by the similarly lauded stage musical - which originally ran from 2005 to 2008, then again from 2015 to 2017 - is finally hitting theaters this December with an A-list cast for the ages.

On Feb. 3, 2022, during an "ABC News" special, Oprah Winfrey, who starred in Spielberg's film, unveiled the official lineup of lead actors in the forthcoming adaptation: Fantasia Taylor, Halle Bailey, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo. Others who were later announced to join the star-studded cast include H.E.R., Taraji P. Henson, Ciara, Corey Hawkins, David Alan Grier, and newcomer Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, who plays young Celie.

During a May 22 press conference for "The Color Purple" trailer's debut, which Popsugar was present for, director Blitz Bazawule - who served as co-director for Beyoncé's "Black Is King" -...

The newest adaptation of The Color Purple debuts its latest trailer as the Warner Bros. musical drama draws closer to its Christmas premiere.

Warner Bros. released the preview on Oct. 10, giving fans a closer look at the anticipated remake featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood and the music industry. Centered around the story of Celie Harris-Johnson, played by former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino in her film debut, the trailer further explores Celie and her struggles as a Black woman living in the segregated South during the 1900s. The preview also shows more of another key character in Celie's sister Nettie, with The Little Mermaid's Halle Bailey featuring as her younger self while fellow award-winning singer Ciara plays the grown-up version. Celie is yearning to reunite with Nettie after Nettie runs away from home due to her abusive father.

Related: Halle Bailey's Little Mermaid Training Involved Lifting Weights...

Warner Bros. has launched a brand new trailer for the reimagining of the classic movie ‘The Color Purple.’

Based on the novel by Alice Walker and the musical stage play by Marsha Norman, experience the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond

This bold new take on the beloved classic is directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones.

The cast includes Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Fantasia Barrino (in her major motion picture debut).

Also in trailers – Teaser trailer drops for 6th & final season of ‘The Crown’

The film will be released across the UK and Ireland on January 26, 2024.

The post New trailer drops for ‘The Color Purple’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

The new revival of The Wiz will begin Broadway previews on March 29, 2024, at the Marquis Theatre, with an opening night set for Wednesday, April 17.

The musical will feature Wayne Brady in the title role. The Broadway dates and venue were announced today by producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker.

The limited engagement on Broadway follows a pre-Broadway national tour that launched in Baltimore yesterday with a sold-out show (and five standing ovations). Baltimore was the site of the musical’s original world premiere nearly 50 years ago.

Related: Emmy-Winning Super Bowl Halftime Music Director Adam Blackstone Joins Broadway-Bound ‘The Wiz’ Creative Team

In addition to Brady as the Wiz, the Broadway cast will feature Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, Deborah Cox as Glinda and Melody A. Betts as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman,...

Beyoncé's 2009 film Obsessed has the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of her cinematic catalog at 19%, due to its slow pacing and clichéd writing. Despite the negative reviews, Obsessed still made $73.8 million worldwide, proving Beyoncé's star power and ability to attract audiences. The appeal of Obsessed lies in Beyoncé herself, as her performance salvages the movie and makes it an entertaining watch, showcasing her talent and popularity.

For proof that Beyoncé can do no wrong, viewers may look no further than her divisive 2009 psychological thriller, Obsessed, the $73 million box office hit that's fielded relentlessly bad reviews from audiences and critics for over a decade. Ordinarily, it's hard work to find a stain on Beyoncé's entertainment career. A certifiable queen of the music industry, Beyoncé harbors hundreds of awards, founded her own entertainment company, produced highly cinematic and award-winning music videos, and has built a most zealous fanbase. Beyoncé's acting career must also not be overlooked.

Nichelle Lewis will portray Dorothy in the upcoming Broadway revival of The Wiz.

The Virginian actress, who was discovered on TikTok and chosen following more than 2,000 submissions for the role, was also announced by producers on Monday as the lead in the upcoming National Tour. Kicking off in Baltimore at the Hippodrome Theatre and running from Sept. 23-30, the tour will continue to previously announced cities across the U.S. before its limited run in New York.

Wayne Brady was previously announced for the role of the Wiz on Broadway, following appearances in San Francisco Golden Gate Theatre and Los Angeles (Feb. 13 – March 3), with Alan Mingo Jr. portraying the role in additional tour cities additional including Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, Des Moines, Tempe and San Diego.

The musical also stars Deborah Cox as Glinda; Melody A. Betts as Aunt Em and Evillene; Kyle Ramar Freeman as...

Blue Ivy Carter is in formation — and her viral dance cameo on the Renaissance world tour is helping one of her mother’s songs reach new heights.

Carter first made a surprise appearance at Beyoncé’s May 26 show in Paris, performing the choreography to the beat driven-track “My Power,” which lit up social media. TikTok users quickly hopped onto the trend and performed the dance as well.

The 11-year-old Grammy winner continued to perform the dance at more shows, and streams and sales of the 2019 Beyoncé song are soaring.

Luminate — which tracks music sales, streaming and airplay — says the week after Carter’s appearance, U.S. on-demand streaming for “My Power” jumped 190 percent, while digital sales for the track increased by 189.8 percent. It performed stronger globally: On-demand streaming increased by 218.2 percent, and digital sales were up by 212 percent.

And the week after — as Carter continued to perform at more shows — the song earned more attention.