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The 2024 Global Citizen Festival campaign has resulted in $1 billion in commitments to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity for the world’s most marginalized communities.

Central Park played host to a monumental day of advocacy and action, where 60,000 global citizens gathered to hear world leaders, philanthropists, and the private sector make historic commitments in response to their advocacy, having taken a record-breaking 3.4 million actions on Global Citizen’s platforms.

Underscored by electrifying performances and appearances from the biggest names in music and entertainment, the twelfth festival advanced Global Citizen's mission and saw historic announcements, including that FIFA and Global Citizen are set to work together to help end extreme poverty and to improve access to sport and quality education for children worldwide. The announcement was made on stage by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans and Hugh Jackman, with DJ Khaled and Gayle King also in attendance at the event.

Specialty sales and finance firm Rediance has picked up international sales rights to “Bound in Heaven,” the directorial debut feature of experienced Chinese screenwriter Huo Xin.

The tragic love story will have its world premiere this week in the Centerpiece section of the Toronto International Film Festival. It will subsequently travel to San Sebastian for its European debut.

Adapted from the novel of the same title by Li Xiuwen, the drama centers around a successful young woman who lives in the city with her abusive fiance and a lonely terminally ill man running a noodle shop in Wuhan. A chance encounter sparks an immediate attraction and their connection provides light and lightness in their emotional and dark journeys.

The film stars Ni Ni, who appeared in Zhang Yimou’s “The Flowers of War” and 2022 smash hit “Lost in the Stars.” Zhou You, who also appeared in Jia Zhangke’s Cannes...

China-based sales agent Rediance has picked up international rights to Chinese director Huo Xin’s feature debut Bound In Heaven, which is set to premiere at Toronto before heading to San Sebastian.

Director Huo is a veteran scriptwriter whose credits include acclaimed and hit films such as Shower, Kung Fu Hustle, Sunflower and The Monkey King.

She has assembled a strong cast for her feature debut including Ni Ni of box office hit Lost In The Stars and Zhang Yimou’s The Flowers of War; Zhou You of Jia Zhang-ke’s Caught By The Tides, which also plays at Toronto...

It’s hard to tell how much the recording academy loves Post Malone, but at the very least they seem to like him a lot. He hasn’t actually won an award yet, but he’s regularly nominated in top categories. Now the genre-hopping artist is entering uncharted territory: country music. Will it be his ticket to a win?

Malone has two previous Grammy nominations for Album of the Year: “Beerbongs and Bentleys” in 2019 and “Hollywood’s Bleeding” in 2021. He’s also one of the few artists in history to receive three consecutive noms for Record of the Year: “Rockstar” featuring 21 Savage in 2019, “Sunflower” with Swae Lee in 2020 and “Circles” in 2021. Rounding out his impressive general field track record is a Song of the Year bid for “Circles” in 2021. In all, the eclectic artist has been nominated 10 times, including genre bids in pop and rap categories. Alas, no victories as of yet.

Back in 2021, Post Malone turned the heads of country-music fans when he covered two songs on the opposite ends of the country spectrum during an online telethon: Brad Paisley’s radio hit “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” and Sturgill Simpson’s underground favorite “You Can Have the Crown.” Malone, a pop superstar who has been teasing his country fandom as far back as 2015, delivered the tunes with traditional twang and rough-edged vibes, suggesting a genuine affinity for and deep knowledge of the genre. Bluegrass picker Billy Strings...

The Grand Ole Opry hosted Post Malone’s version of a welcome wagon on Wednesday when he made his debut at the country music institution. After months of overtures to the genre’s tastemakers in preparation for his upcoming Friday release, F-1 Trillion, Malone flanked his performance with appearances by Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson, the War and Treaty, Vince Gill, and John Michael Montgomery.

Paisley took the honor of introducing Malone: “He has a country heart, and he is someone who immersed himself in the Nashville way,” Paisley said, “but...

Take yourself back to 2015 for a second, and imagine someone came up to you and said, “That kid who made ‘White Iverson’ — nine years from now he’s going to be one of the biggest country music stars on the planet.” Maybe it’d seem inconceivable. But even then there was plenty of reason and evidence to believe Post Malone could pull off exactly the kind of country pivot he has in 2024.

So far this summer, he’s had not only the biggest song in country, but the biggest song...

Six first or second-time directors from China take up the majority of the 11 slots in the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talents section.

While family drama is the dominant genre, Variety takes a look what they are serving up:

Adapted from the book of the same name, Wang Xinrui’s “Dreaming of Mother and Home” depicts the drama of an adult daughter and her mother who is struggling through the last stages of life.

Zeng Zhi, previously a commercials director, puts the focus of his debut feature “Friday, Funfair” on the struggles of a young woman who was abandoned by her husband and is left to take care of her entire family and her sick only daughter.

Zhang Xuyu has made a series of short films and documentaries – including 2019 documentary short “Mr. Darcy,” was selected for the Brussels Independent Film Festival – before turning to fiction. His Shanghai feature,...

Many people have tried to make music festivals happen inside the five boroughs of New York over the years, with varying degrees of success. These days, Governors Ball is the one that rules them all. Since moving to Flushing Meadows Corona Park in 2023, it’s come closer than anyone to bringing an expansive, West Coast-style festival experience to the city. The new location has a lot to do with that: Gov Ball now takes place in a verdant, spacious urban park, just a subway ride away from Manhattan or Brooklyn,...

For a fifth year in a row, Spotify House proved to be the go-to spot for special guests and surprises during CMA Fest weekend in Nashville.

The streaming platform’s Hot Country playlist took over Blake Shelton’s Ole Red bar on Broadway for three days, and along with featuring a dozen scheduled performers each day, also hosted some A-list surprises. Jelly Roll made an appearance with Machine Gun Kelly and returned later for a duet with shirtless comedian Bert Kreischer, Keith Urban performed a mashup with rising star Dasha,...

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Post Malone brought the party to the City of Lights last weekend, for a private show at the Louvre that saw the superstar singer shut down the museum’s iconic Cour Carrée for an intimate performance for Visa.

Dubbed “Visa Live at le Louvre,” the event helped to kick off the credit card and financial brand’s activations in Paris leading up to this summer’s Olympic Games.

Exclusive: London-based sales outfit Rapt Films International has acquired worldwide sales rights to Benjamin Howard’s debut US film Riley and will launch sales at the upcoming Cannes Market.

The pic charts the life of a talented teenage athlete who begins to unravel when his burgeoning queer identity competes against his idea of what it means to be a man. The film stars Jake Holley (Wake) as the titular Dakota Riley. Supporting roles are filled by Colin McCalla), Riley Quinn Scott, Connor Storrie, and Rib Hillis.

Based on writer-director Howard’s real-life experiences as a high-school American football player struggling to come out, Riley is a feature expansion of Howard’s UCLA graduate short film Rendezvous. Howard’s other short film Deviant won a Student Emmy Award in 2019.

Riley originally world premiered at September’s Calgary International Film Festival. Additional festival selections have seen...

The Great Indian Kapil Show: Paychecks Of Kapil Sharma & Others Go Viral. ( Photo Credit – Twitter )

Ever since Kapil Sharma and his team have been back on Netflix with a new show titled The Great Indian Kapil Show, it has been under scanner. There have been discussions about how it is old wine in a new bottle, while others have been hinting that the show has had an abrupt end.

The first season has even concluded the shoot, and the salaries of all the comedians from the show have now gone viral, with Kapil Sharma earning the highest and Rajeev Thakur earning the lowest.

However, reports claim a staggering difference between the highest-paid artist, Kapil Sharma, and his almost counterpart in the show, Sunil Grover, who has reunited with the team after a long fallout.

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UK-based sales agent Rapt Films International has acquired international sales rights outside of Australia and New Zealand for Gabriel Carrubba’s debut feature Sunflower.

Sunflower premiered at Sydney Film Festival in June last year, going on to further Australian events including Melbourne the following month.

The semi-autobiographical film follows a teenage boy who struggles to understand and embrace his sexuality as he comes of age in the working-class suburbs of Melbourne. It stars Liam Mollica, alongside Luke J. Morgan, Olivia Fildes, Daniel Halmarick and Elias Anton.

Writer-director Carrubba produced the film alongside Zane Borg for Australia’s Pancake Originals.

Sunflower...

Post Malone is feeling even better now that his song with Taylor Swift has officially dropped.

The singer-rapper, featured on Swift’s track “Fortnight” from her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department, released Friday, shared some sweet words on their collaboration and friendship.

“It’s once in a lifetime that someone like @taylorswift comes into this world,” Malone wrote. “I am floored by your heart and your mind, and I am beyond honored to have been asked to help you with your journey I love you so much. Thank you Tay.”

The “Sunflower” singer also plays Swift’s ex-lover in the song’s music video, which sees her appear trapped, and him trying to save her at one point. The “Cruel Summer” singer also has matching face tattoos as Malone in one scene.

Swift previously praised Malone for his help on the album’s lead single, writing on social media,...

Post Malone solidifies his acting career with a brief but impactful cameo in 2024's Road House remake. Post Malone's impressive acting history includes voice roles in successful animated movies. Dear Santa presents an opportunity for Post Malone to showcase his comedic talents in a Christmas comedy.

Following the success of 2024's Road House, Post Malone will look to follow up on his cameo role in an upcoming holiday movie, which is a lot more exciting now. Working off a $85 million budget, Doug Liman's Road House is a reimagined remake of the Patrick Swayze-led original movie from 1989. Though Jake Gyllenhaal takes on the lead as a former UFC fighter named Elwood Dalton, the rest of Road House's cast has been getting much attention, including Conor McGregor and Post Malone, two names who gained notoriety outside of acting.

Post Malone's cameo in Road House is more than fan...

Sunil Grover, who plays the lead in the black comedy ‘Sunflower’, has opened up on his co-star Adah Sharma, saying she is very serious about her work. The season two of the show stars Adah as Rosie, who is a bar dancer.

Speaking about ‘The Kerala Story’ fame actress, Sunil told Ians: “She has beautifully played the character. She is a professional artist, who is deeply immersed in her work.”

“She is very serious about her work, and the hard work and efforts she puts behind her work cannot be seen, it’s done in a very natural manner,” he said.

Apart from ‘Sunflower’, Sunil has been a part of streaming shows like ‘United Kacche’, and ‘Tandav’.

On one thing, he had to unlearn for Ott, Sunil shared: “I think one should keep aside their experience. Sometimes your experience makes your performance boring. You should have a new approach, come as a new artist,...

Tammy Slaton honors her late husband by wearing sunflower prints, showcasing her love for Caleb Willingham through her clothes. Tammy's weight-loss journey has transformed her physically and emotionally, allowing her to embrace her feminine style and find inner peace. Despite a tragic ending to their love story, Tammy proves that the relationship meant everything to her. She looks wonderful lately and it's so easy to root for Tammy.

1000-Lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton used to weigh 725 pounds, and she now weighs 287 pounds - she's blossoming like a flower, and wearing fun clothes with cute floral prints. Before her drastic weight loss, Tammy's life was tinged with darkness. Things almost faded to black when she couldn't control her emotional eating - Tammy ended up on a ventilator. Thankfully, she survived, but her ex-husband Caleb Willingham wasn't so lucky. He passed away due to health issues linked with super morbid obesity.

Caleb...

Years Before Rekha & Sanjay Dutt’s Linkup Rumors Surfaced, Nargis Called Her A Witch. (Photo Credit – IMDb/Instagram)

Indian actress Rekha ruled the cinema world for years and is considered a legend. On the one hand, she had an illustrious career in showbiz, while on the other, that is, in her personal life, love alluded to the Umrao Jaan star. She has been linked with several actors, and her affair with Amitabh Bachchan is still a hot topic. Her linkups were infamous back in the day, and it once prompted Sanjay Dutt’s mother, Nargis, to pass a controversial statement against the veteran actress.

A few years later, there were rumors about Sanjay and Rekha’s affair, and some even claimed that the duo got married in a secret ceremony. From Akshay Kumar to Shatrughan Sinha, the Silisila actress has been linked with them all. People were left stunned when...

Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri, Ammy Virk team up for Bad Newz. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Calling all comedy fans, buckle up because we’ve got news for you – but the good kind! Hold onto your sides for Bad Newz, a laugh-out-loud new film coming straight from Amazon Prime in association with Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective.

This side-splitting production from Leo Media Collective reunites the dream team behind the box office smash Good Newwz, which tickled audiences with the comedic chemistry of Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Diljit Dosanjh, and Kiara Advani.

But this time, Bad Newz brings a fresh comedic trio to the table! Gear up to see the versatile Vicky Kaushal reunite with director Anand Tiwari, the mind behind the critically acclaimed Love Per Square Foot (2018). Their first collaboration was a hit, and with Tiwari’s talent for weaving witty narratives, we can expect Bad Newz to be comedic gold.

Perfect Match” Season 2. (Photo Credit – IMDb) Synopsis

In its sophomore iteration, “Perfect Match” on Netflix heralds the reunion of previous contenders from renowned dating spectacles such as Love Is Blind, The Ultimatum, and Too Hot to Handle. Under the guidance of host Nick Lachey, participants embark on a journey replete with trials aimed at uncovering enduring romantic connections within a competitive, yet inherently romantic, milieu.

Plot

Contestants from various dating programs are whisked away to a beach retreat where they engage in challenges designed to assess compatibility. Couples become matchmakers for others as connections form, adding a competitive edge. The series incorporates entertaining games and activities while set in an idyllic sandy location.

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Ranvir Shorey recalls his fallout with Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

In the often-glossy world of Bollywood, Ranvir Shorey stands out as a beacon of unfiltered honesty. Unafraid to speak his truth, he navigates the industry on his own terms, even when it comes at a cost.

Sparking fresh conversation within the industry, Ranvir Shorey has again made headlines with his candid remarks. In a recent interview with Ani, the ‘Sunflower’ actor revisited a past relationship and a simmering feud, making some pointed accusations.

Shorey, known for his outspoken nature, didn’t shy away from addressing a complex situation. He revealed, “I had great regard for Mr. Bhatt (Mahesh Bhatt) till the fiasco happened when I was seeing his daughter (Pooja Bhatt).” However, things took a turn, leading him to believe that his respect “was being used to manipulate me.” He described the situation as “very duplicitous behaviour going on.

Briston Maroney made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week to perform the song “Body” from his latest album, Ultrapure.

Taking the stage alongside his band, Maroney delivered an impassioned rendition of the song, singing the chorus’ refrain “Someday, my body will be just a body” in all of its anthemic glory. For the climax, he stepped back to let his guitar do the talking, laying down a chaotic slide guitar solo over the band’s energetic groove. Watch a video of the performance below.

Ultrapure arrived this past September and is the second full-length release from Maroney. His debut album, Sunflower, premiered in 2021, featuring the Manchester Orchestra co-penned song, “Bottle Rocket.” In 2022, he shared the singles “Paradise” and “Harvard,” and last year, he opened for Noah Kahan.

Up next, Maroney has tour dates of his own coming up, including stops in cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and more.

Grey's Anatomy showrunner Meg Marinis addressed Scott Speedman's exit as Nick follows Meredith to Boston. She said that the show has an "open-door policy." Marinis praised the chemistry between Ellen Pompeo and Scott Speedman, telling viewers to stay tuned.

Scott Speedman's Grey's Anatomy exit has been discussed by the medical drama's new showrunner. On the show, Speedman played transplant surgeon Nick Marsh, a character who made a brief appearance in season 14 before returning to join the main cast in season 18 and commence an on-again, off-again relationship with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), who later exited the show midway through season 19. When she returned in the season 20 premiere, Meredith and Nick made up, and it seems that he will also be exiting the show as he follows her to Boston to rekindle their relationship.

Entertainment Weekly recently sat down for an interview with showrunner Meg Marinis to discuss the premiere of...

Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, ‘The Kerala Story’ actress Adah Sharma says she considers herself fortunate to be a woman in the film industry because women are being given “such powerful roles”. Talking on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Adah said: “I feel very fortunate to be a woman in this day and age.”

Adah made her Bollywood debut in 2008 with the successful Hindi horror film ‘1920’ . She was then doing high-octane action in the ‘Commando’ franchise. It was last year, however, when she gained a national following with her performance in Vipul Amritlal Shah’s ‘The Kerala Story’.

Now, she is all set to showcase her acting chops in the upcoming film ‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’, which is based on Maoist insurgency in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. Her ever-expanding filmography is proof that she is here and means serious business when it comes to content.

Kapil Sharma’s Net Worth 1150% Higher Than Sunil Grover (Photo Credit –Instagram)

Kapil Sharma and Sunil Grover are friends! That should be the biggest patch-up on Indian Television after Ekta Kapoor and Smriti Irani’s patch decades ago. Now that Kapil and Sunil are back, they will run a comedy show along with their team that includes Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, and Rajeev Nigam, along with the special woman Archana Puran Singh. The new comedy show is titled The Great Indian Kapil Show.

In a funny teaser of the show, someone says that the budget of the show has increased since Sunil has come on board, and this left us wondering about the net worths of these comedian-turned-actors turned superstars.

However, you’ll be surprised to know that the showrunner Kapil Sharma‘s net worth is 1150% higher than Sunflower 2 actor Sunil Grover. This difference is despite the fact that Sunil...

March 2024 Ott Releases Seem To Be An Interesting LineUp (Photo Credit – Facebook/Youtube/IMDb)

It is an altogether new month, and we have it all planned for you. This month, Hindi films and web series have a lot on their plate to offer, and this platter is too tempting to miss. Right from drama to comedy and thriller to fantasy, you name it, and March 2024 Ott releases have it.

While there is a list of freshly baked web series, the star attraction of this month is Sara Ali Khan’s Ae Watan Mere Watan, a Dharmatic Entertainment film, which is a Netflix original and is dropping on the Ott giant later this month.

On the other hand, a few star releases this year are finally dropping on Ott platforms, including Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone‘s Fighter to Teja Sajja’s HanuMan.

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Mumbai, Feb 15 (Ians) The makers of Sunil Grover-starrer ‘Sunflower’ on Thursday unveiled the riveting trailer of the second season of the crime comedy, offering a tantalising glimpse into the intriguing world of Sunflower, a middle-class housing society in Mumbai teeming with quirky characters.

Sunil, reprising his role as the enigmatic Sonu Singh, once again infuses humour and mystery while Adah Sharma adds her charm as Rosie Mehta to the already stellar cast.

The 2 minute 30 second trailer begins from where we left off–police duo Dg and Tambe, portrayed by Ranvir Shorey and Girish Kulkarni respectively, continue their relentless hunt for Mr Kapoor’s murderer.

As seen in the trailer, the new season will witness the most loved murder suspect coming back, Ahuja’s (played by Mukul Chadda) confession and Rosie’s entry into Sunflower society.

Rosie is a captivating bar dancer, who has inherited Kapoor’s (Ashwin Kaushal) penthouse,...

Brian Wilson is finally set to release his 1970s era country album featuring the vocals of former Beach Boys manager Fred Vail. Titled Cows in the Pasture, the long-lost album is slated to see the light of day sometime in 2025, according to a new feature in Rolling Stone.

As the story goes, Wilson presented Vail with the concept for the project in 1970 despite the manager not having formal training. “I said to him, ‘Have you written any country songs?'” Vail told Rolling Stone. “And he said, ‘Well, no.’ I said, ‘Do you have any idea who you’d like to use as musicians?’ He said, ‘Well, no. I’ve only worked with the Wrecking Crew for the most part. You find the songs. You select the musicians. We’ll go into Wally Heider’s Studio. We’ll start working on the album.'”

From there, Wilson and Vail started...

Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster in the upcoming episode of “1000-Lb. Sisters” as Season 5, Episode 9, titled “Sunflower,” airs at 9:00 Pm on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, on TLC. In this heartfelt reality series, viewers have been following the journey of Amy and Tammy Slaton as they navigate the challenges of weight loss and life’s ups and downs.

In “Sunflower,” Amy is burdened with shame over her behavior during her Florida trip and is determined to make amends. However, she is worried that her sister Amanda won’t accept her apology, setting the stage for emotional confrontations and soul-searching moments.

Meanwhile, Tammy receives devastating news that shakes her world to its core. In this trying time, her family rallies together to provide unwavering support and comfort, showcasing the unbreakable bonds that tie them together.

As the Slaton sisters face their individual struggles and come to terms with their past actions, “1000-Lb. Sisters...

No one would make a better choice to helm the soundtrack to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse than Metro Boomin, the trap whiz with albums like Not All Heroes Wear Capes and Heroes & Villains in his discography. Part of a recent renaissance for blockbuster soundtracks (Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé respectively curated the music for Black Panther and The Lion King of late), this latest lends new meaning to the term “spider verse,” with plenty of web-slinging bars from Offset, A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage, Future and an equally superpowered cast of melodic rappers of the moment.

Brooklyn’s best – Spider-Man himself – returns to theaters on June 2 with the release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The sequel to the critically adored animated film Into the Spider-Verse, the new film once again follows the Miles Morales version of the webhead as he deals with the trials of balancing adolescence and adulthood with some interdimensional travel in between.

Related Here's Where You Can Stream Every 'Spider-Man' And 'Venom' Movie Online 'Into The Spider-Verse' (a Great Movie) Just Sent 'Sunflower' (a Great Song) to...

Mumbai, May 20 (Ians) From ‘Sunflower’ Season 2, ‘Tarla’ and ‘Haddi’ and many more have been included into the expansive line-up of titles for streaming portal ZEE5.

It also features originals in Hindi and regional languages, sequels of cult-favourite series, big-ticket direct to digital releases, blockbuster post-theatrical launches and intriguing docu-series.

For the slate, ZEE5 has partnered with creators such as Dharma Productions, Salman Khan Films, Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment, Bhanushali Studios, The Viral Fever (Tvf), Goldie Behl’s Rose Audio Visuals, Applause Entertainment, Sudhir Mishra, Vikas Bahl, Vivek Agnihotri, and Nagraj Manjule.

Bringing a bouquet of genres, the much-awaited line-up features sequels of prominent original series like ‘Sunflower’ S2, ‘Taj: Reign of Revenge’, Tvf’s ‘Humorously Yours’ S3 and ‘Aam Aadmi Family’ S4, ‘The Kashmir Files’, ‘Unreported’, ‘Duranga S2’, ‘Mithya S2’, ‘The Broken News’ S2, ‘Gyarah Gyarah (11:11)’, Sudhir Mishra’s ‘Crime Beat’.

Direct to digital movies Manoj Bajpayee’s...

South Asian focused streamer ZEE5 has unveiled a 111-strong 2023 slate on the occasion of its fifth anniversary.

The lineup is across the Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bangla, Punjabi and Marathi languages. The content is from top producers including Dharma Productions, Salman Khan Films, Oscar winner Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment, Bhanushali Studios, The Viral Fever, Applause Entertainment, Rose Audio Visuals, Vikas Bahl, Vivek Agnihotri, Nagraj Manjule and Sudhir Mishra.

A-list performers in the shows and films include Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, Huma Qureshi, Arya, Parambrata Chatterjee, Vijay Sethupathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte.

Titles revealed so far include films and series including Manoj Bajpayee’s “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai”; Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s “Haddi” and “Love is Blind,” Pankaj Tripathi’s “Kadak Singh”; Huma Qureshi’s “Tarla”; Sunny Deol’s “Gadar 2”; Vetrimaaran and Vijay Sethupathi’s “Viduthalai – Part 1”; Arya’s “Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam”; Nagraj Manjule...

Isabel May, whose previous credits include Alexa & Katie, Let’s Scare Julie, Run Hide Fight, I Want You Back, and the Yellowstone prequel series 1883, has signed on to join Jurnee Smollett (Birds of Prey) in the thriller Sunflower, which is set to mark the feature directorial debut of writer Misha Green.

Green and Smollett previously worked together on the TV shows Underground and Lovecraft Country. Green created Underground with Joe Pokaski and developed Lovecraft Country from the Matt Ruff novel. Her first directing credit was on an episode of Lovecraft Country.

After spending more than a decade in development hell, Sunflower is finally moving forward at Lionsgate. The screenplay Green wrote for the film was so highly regarded that it was on the Black List back in 2008. The story follows two young women who are held hostage in a prison-like farmhouse by a deranged college professor. As they struggle to survive,...

“Lovecraft Country” creator Misha Green will be making her feature directorial debut with Lionsgate’s Sunflower, and Deadline brings us some more casting news this week.

Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”) will re-team with Misha Green and star in the film, we previously learned, and Isabel May (“1883”) has now also joined the cast.

In Sunflower, two women struggle to escape from a deranged college professor who holds them hostage on a remote sunflower farm.

Green wrote the script and will also produce alongside Craig J. Flores.

“Everyone at our studio was completely drawn in by the way Misha, Jurnee, and the ‘Lovecraft Country’ team worked so confidently to create a compelling genre series – then subverted the genre and reinvented it through a new lens,” said Nathan Kahane, President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “That’s the opportunity with Sunflower. The screenplay is unique, thrilling, and flat-out scary. It’s going...

Exclusive: 1883 breakout Isabel May is set to star opposite Jurnee Smollett in the thriller Sunflower, which Misha Green is directing for Lionsgate, in her feature debut.

In the film, which the studio is fast-tracking for production, two women struggle to escape from a deranged college professor who holds them hostage on a remote sunflower farm.

Green wrote the script and will produce alongside Craig Flores, with Meredith Wieck and Aaron Edmonds overseeing the project for Lionsgate. The deal was negotiated for the studio by Dan Freedman.

Best known for her role as Elsa Dutton in Paramount+’s Yellowstone prequel series 1883 created by Taylor Sheridan, May currently reprises the part as narrator of Sheridan’s follow-up Western drama 1923, which was renewed for a second season earlier this year. The actress otherwise best known for starring opposite Paris Berelc in the Netflix sitcom Alexa & Katie has also previously been...

Exclusive: Alison Oliver (Saltburn), Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country), Marc Maron (To Leslie) and Odessa Young (The Staircase) have closed deals to join The Order, the crime thriller to be directed for Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios by Justin Kurzel, which is heading into production on Wednesday.

No specifics as to roles of the new cast members have been disclosed, but they join an ensemble that Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult and Tye Sheridan will lead, as previously announced.

Based on Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt’s book The Silent Brotherhood, which chronicles the escalating crimes of the titular white supremacist domestic terror group, the film is set in 1983 amongst the series of increasingly violent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations and armored car heists that frightened communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. As baffled law enforcement agents scrambled for answers, a lone FBI agent (Law), stationed in the sleepy, picturesque town of Coeur d’Alene,...

Grammy nominee Metro Boomin has confirmed his voice cameo appearance in Sony Pictures’ upcoming Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Metro Boomin, who is also producing the soundtrack for the animated sequel, re-tweeted one of Across the Spider-Verse’s latest TV spots featuring his character Metro Spider. Unlike most Spider-Man variants, who often don signature red and blue colors, Metro Spider wears a black and white suit. The award-winning DJ and record producer recently gave fans an update about Across the Spider-Verse’s soundtrack, revealing that he’s currently putting his "final touches" on the songs, just in time for its June 2 release. This marks the first time in his music career that Metro Boomin has signed on to curate a movie soundtrack.

Related: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Art Announces the Coming 'Spider-War'

Metro Spider 4real!!!

Participating in the Goes to Cannes initiative for the very first time, Australia’s Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival has unveiled titles selected for its works-in-progress showcase: Four feature films and one documentary.

“It is the first time that Goes to Cannes has a partner from Australia and it’s also the first time when we have a festival dedicated to LGBTQ films and content. It’s also a part of our impACT initiative, which supports diversity, inclusion and sustainability in the film industry,” observes Guillaume Esmiol, executive director at Marché du Film.

Fawzia Mirza’s “The Queen of My Dreams” and Poppy Stockell’s dark comedy-drama “Triple Oh!” – “about a mismatched pair of queer ambulance paramedics who get hands-on with life, death, and each other,” teases the director – will be presented, as well as “Sunflower” by Gabriel Carrubba.

“For me, the mood of the film is sensual. It’s tender,...

Post Malone is this year’s recipient of a distinguished songwriting award.

On June 15, the “Sunflower” singer will receive the 2023 Hal David Starlight Award, an honour for gifted young songwriters making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs.

On Thursday, the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced that Malone, 27, will receive the award at the 52nd Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner, which will take place this summer at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Read More: Mariah Carey, Neptunes, Annie Lennox In Songwriters Hall Of Fame

“Over the last few years I have had the pleasure of watching Posty become one of the biggest artists in the world and he’s done it by writing phenomenal songs,” Shof Chairman, Nile Rodgers, said in a statement. “Way before Post Malone was a superstar, he was a great songwriter, and this is his...

Post Malone has always ricocheted between genres, but his new single “Chemical” — which he co-wrote with Andrew Watt, Billy Walsh, and Louis Bell — takes the rap-rocker all the way into upbeat, sentimental pop. Watch the video above.

This isn’t the first time Post has looked on the bright side of life. His last single, which peaked at number-three on the Billboard Hot 100, was literally called “I Like You (A Happier Song).” And while “Chemical” has a sunny sound, it still tackles darker material with lyrics about being trapped in a toxic relationship: “You break me, then I break my rules / Last time was the last time too / It’s f*cked up, I know, but I’m still / Outside of the party smoking in the car with you.”

SEEWhy Boygenius (‘The Record’) could be dark horse Grammy contenders for Album of the Year

Co-writer and co-producer Watt won the...

CinemaTheatre, television and film actor Sameer Khakhar, who is remembered for his performance as Khopdi in the TV serial Nukkad, passed away in Mumbai.Sameer Khakhar: Twitter/FilmHistoryPicVeteran theatre, television and film actor Sameer Khakhar, who is remembered for his performance as Khopdi in the television serial Nukkad, passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday, March 15. He was 70. A family member said that Khakhar was ailing for long and succumbed to multiple organ failure at a private hospital in Mumbai. His funeral will happen later on Wednesday at the Vazira Naka Crematorium in Borivali West. Khakhar is best known for his role of an alcoholic named Khopdi in the popular comedy show Nukkad directed by Kundan Shah and Saeed Akhtar Mirza that was telecast on Doordarshan in 1986-1987. The actor also played big and small roles in over 40 Hindi films, as well as several Gujarati plays and nearly half a dozen television serials including Naya Nukkad,...

Mumbai, March 15 (Ians) Veteran theatre, television and film actor Sameer Khakhar – who is remembered for his rib-tickler performance as ‘Khopdi’ in the teleserial ‘Nukkad’ passed away here on Wednesday. He was 70.

A family member said that Khakhar was ailing for long and succumbed to multiple organ failure at a private hospital in Borivali suburb early today.

His funeral is scheduled later today at the Vaziranaka Crematorium in Borivali west.

Blessed with a roly-poly personality, large eyes on a roundish face, Khakhar is best known for his role of a drunkard in the popular comedy-serial, ‘Nukkad’ directed by Kundan Shah-Saeed Mirza that was telecast on Doordarshan in 1986-1987.

He also played big and small roles in over 40 Bollywood films, Gujarati theatre plays, half a dozen teleserials including ‘Naya Nukkad’ and the latest a web-series ‘Sunflower’ (2021), working with the top directors and actors of the day.

–Ians

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Misha Green has had some bad luck recently. She was showrunner on the HBO series Lovecraft Country, which didn’t get the second season she had planned out. Then she was hired to write and make her feature directorial debut on a sequel to the 2018 Tomb Raider reboot, a project that fell apart when MGM lost the rights to the property and Amazon picked them up. But Green has also had some good luck recently. Last month, it was announced that she will be making her feature directorial debut on a thriller called Sunflower, based on a script she first wrote 15 years ago. Now Deadline has broken the news that Green will also be writing and direct a sci-fi “terror tale” called I Am Not Alone, with Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) attached to star in the film.

Deadline reports that the rights to the project, which...

Director Misha Green won’t be tackling “Tomb Raider 2” next but is instead focusing on an older original thriller project that she co-wrote with Craig J. Flores. A new report from Deadline reveals that Green will be directing “Sunflower” and will see actress Jurnee Smollett (“Spiderhead“) taking a lead role in the new thriller. As per the logline, the Lionsgate pic will focus on “two women struggle to escape from a deranged college professor who holds them hostage on a remote sunflower farm.” However, it’s a mystery who will take on this key character of the villainous college professor that is keeping these folks captive on this isolated farm but certainly sounds like a meaty part to fill.

Continue reading ‘Sunflower’: Director Misha Green & Jurnee Smollett Reunite For New Lionsgate Thriller at The Playlist.

Misha Green has been wanting to make a thriller called Sunflower for a long time… and after spending more than a decade in development hell, the project is finally moving forward at Lionsgate! Green had been attached to make her feature directorial debut on a Tomb Raider film starring Alicia Vikander, but that fell apart when MGM lost the rights to the Tomb Raider franchise. So Green has now shifted over to making her feature directorial debut on Sunflower – and she has cast Jurnee Smollett (Birds of Prey) in the lead role.

Green and Smollett previously worked together on the TV shows Underground and Lovecraft Country. Green created Underground with Joe Pokaski and developed Lovecraft Country from the Matt Ruff novel. Her first directing credit was on an episode of Lovecraft Country.

The screenplay Green wrote for Sunflower was so highly regarded that it was on the Black List back...

Indian production house Reliance Entertainment, best known in the streaming space for Netflix’s “Sacred Games,” has 10 shows greenlit for development and four in production.

The company, which is a producer on Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” entered the streaming space in 2018 and produced 13 shows in five years. These include “Ghoul” and “Family Tandoncies” for Netflix; “Black Widows” and “Sunflower” for ZEE5; “Masoom” for Disney+ Hotstar and “Dr. Arora” for SonyLIV.

Currently in the works for 2023 are Rohit Shetty’s “Indian Police Force,” revolving around a Delhi police officer, and Vikramaditya Motwane’s Bollywood saga “Jubilee,” both for Amazon’s Prime Video service.

Season 2 of Vikas Bahl’s “Sunflower,” a murder mystery starring Sunil Grover, is in preproduction. An untitled series from “A Dirty Picture” filmmaker Milan Luthria is in post.

Also in the works is a crime thriller from “Paan Singh Tomar” filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia. “Mirzapur” director Gurmmeet Singh,...

Lovecraft Country creator Misha Green is set to make her feature directorial debut with Sunflower, a thriller for Lionsgate set to star Jurnee Smollett.

Green will write and helm the film about two women struggling to escape from a deranged college professor who holds them hostage on a remote sunflower farm. Green and Craig Flores will produce the project unveiled by Nathan Kahane, president of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, which is eyeing a summer start for production.

Besides the HBO series Lovecraft Country, Green’s upcoming credits include writing and producing the feature film The Mother for Netflix. Recent credits for Smollett include Birds of Prey, the Joseph Kosinski sci-fi film Spiderhead, and Lou, which she executive produced on and starred in opposite Allison Janney.

Sunflower reunites Smollett and Green after they worked together on the series Underground and then Lovecraft Country. The latter received 18 Emmy nominations, including nods...

“Lovecraft Country” creator Misha Green will be making her feature directorial debut with Lionsgate’s upcoming thriller Sunflower, Deadline has exclusively reported this afternoon.

Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”) will re-team with Misha Green and star in the film.

In Sunflower, two women struggle to escape from a deranged college professor who holds them hostage on a remote sunflower farm.

Green wrote the script and will also produce alongside Craig J. Flores.

“Everyone at our studio was completely drawn in by the way Misha, Jurnee, and the ‘Lovecraft Country’ team worked so confidently to create a compelling genre series – then subverted the genre and reinvented it through a new lens,” said Nathan Kahane, President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “That’s the opportunity with Sunflower. The screenplay is unique, thrilling, and flat-out scary. It’s going to make a hell of a movie.”

Green added, “Sunflower was the first script I...