News

Charlie’s Angels star Lucy Liu will be honored with a Career Achievement Award at the 78th Locarno Film Festival in August.

The lakeside festival will also host the international premiere of Eric Lin’s Rosemead, featuring a critically acclaimed performance by Liu.

The award ceremony and screening will take place on Locarno’s Piazza Grande on August 14. The following day, Liu will participate in an on stage conversation about her career.

With a career spanning over three decades, actress and filmmaker has starred in films that have collectively grossed over $3.7 billion worldwide, with credits including Kill Bill, Charlie’ s Angels, Chicago, Set It Up, Presence, and Red One.

Rosemead stars Liu as an ailing woman racing against time to protect her son from his violent obsessions in a drama inspired by true events. Liu also serves as a producer.

Liu first broke out with her performance as ambitious Chinese-American lawyer Ling Woo in Ally McBeal,...

The latest entry in the “Karate Kid” franchise brings back familiar faces and introduces new ones.

“Karate Kid: Legends” drops in theaters Friday, May 30 and brings back both Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han as they team-up to train a young prodigy in an upcoming tournament in New York. The official synopsis reads:

“After kung fu prodigy Li Fong relocates to New York City, he attracts unwanted attention from a local karate champion and embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition with the help of Mr. Han and Daniel Larusso.”

Here’s who you need to know in the film.

Ralph Macchio in “Karate Kid: Legends” (Credit: Sony) Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso

Ralph Macchio plays Daniel Larusso in “Karate Kid: Legends.”

Macchio has been enjoying the fruits of the “Karate Kid” franchise. He most recently wrapped the sixth and final season...

The Karate Kid franchise continues with a new installment slated to hit theaters at the end of the month, titled Karate Kid: Legends. The movie will bring back Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han.

Karate Kid: Legends will also have a new lead: kung fu prodigy Li Fong. The character is played by actor Ben Wang, who rose to fame for his role as Jin Wang in Disney+ series American Born Chinese and as Bo in Chang Can Dunk. Speaking about his new role, where he had to do stunt work for the first time, and praised the team when speaking to Cbr's Grae Drake.

Asked how he surprised himself for his abilities while filming the martial arts film, Wang replied, "How I surprised myself? I mean, I didn't."

To this, Macchio jumped in, "Did you think you'd be as good as you are?...

//TV shows status included: 1883, 1932, 1944, 2024, 6666, 61st Street, A Classic Spy, A Gentleman in Moscow, Act Your Age, The Acolyte, Aftermath, The After Party, Agatha All Along, The Agency, Alex Rider, Alias Grace, Alien, All the Light We Cannot See, All the Queen's Men, All Rise, All's Fair, Almost Paradise, American Born Chinese, American Classic, American Crime, American Dad!, American Gigolo, American Horror Story, American Horror Stories, American Love Story, American Hostage, American Rust, American Sports Story, American Tragedies: Waco – The Trials, American Princess, Anansi Boys, And Just Like That …, Andor, The Angel of Darkness, Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, Anne Rice’s The Talamasca, Apples Never Fall, Archer, The Archer Connection, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, The Ark, Armor Wars, A Small Light, The Artful Dodger, Art Detectives, The Assassin, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Backstage,...

“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” has found its Wyatt Callow in “Karate Kid: Legends” star Ben Wang, Lionsgate announced on Thursday.

He joins previously announced co-stars Mckenna Grace, Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jesse Plemons, Maya Hawke and Lili Taylor in the Haymitch-focused prequel film from author Suzanne Collins.

The fifth film in the franchise will be written by Billy Ray and directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed all but the very first “Hunger Games.”

Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Robert Melnik negotiated the deal for the studio.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” is set for release on Nov. 20, 2026.

Wang will star for Lionsgate later this summer in the feature “The Long Walk,” based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, directed by Francis Lawrence. He is best-known for his starring role of Jin Wang in the Disney+ series “American Born Chinese.

Ben Wang has been cast as District 12 Tribute Wyatt Callow in “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” an adaptation of the bestselling book by Suzanne Collins. He joins previously announced cast members Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee and Lili Taylor as Mags.

Wang is best known for his starring role of Jin Wang in the Disney+ series “American Born Chinese,” in which he starred opposite Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. He will next be seen in the titular role for Sony Pictures’ “Karate Kid: Legends,” which is releasing in theaters worldwide May 30. Wang was cast in the role after an extensive worldwide search where over 10,000 submissions were received. This summer, he will star in Lionsgate’s feature “The Long Walk,” based...

It all started with cat sick.

Having moved with his family from Shanghai to Minnesota when he was six, Ben Wang learned English by consuming nine hours of television a day. Most helpful of all? Infomercials. “There would always be the same ones,” he says now, “with a guy carefully explaining what he was doing. Like, ‘Watch how the chamois absorbs your cat’s puke,’ doing the motion. And I’m like, ‘Ah, absorb. Yes, absorption.’” Fluency followed, as did debut forays into filmmaking: with his grandfather’s camcorder, he’d make his own infomercials. “I’d sell garbage,” he explains. “Because there was garbage around the house. So those were the first pieces of media I created. It wasn’t good!”

Today, at 25 years old, Wang is involved in more significant pieces of media: he was one of the stars of Disney+ drama series American Born Chinese, and is...

Lisa Lu is a tremendously accomplished person. Born in Beijing in 1927, she gradually became one of the world's most successful Chinese-American actresses. Now, she's getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Lu is well-known to Western audiences as well as Chinese ones. She played the formidable matriarch Ah Ma in box office hit Crazy Rich Asians, and more recently appeared in the TV show American Born Chinese and Death and Other Details. And she also so happens to be one of the oldest actors working today. Lu is 98 years old now.

When she receives her Walk of Fame star, she'll be the oldest person ever to receive one, beating out James Hong. Hong, who is still alive today, was 93 years old when his star was unveiled. He got the 2,723rd star, and Lu will get the 2,811th one. Lu was offered the accolade of a star earlier in her career,...

Lucy Liu, born on December 2, 1968, is an American actress known for her versatile career. The Trouble with Bliss actress stands at 5 feet 1 ½ inches (156.2 cm), although she has humorously claimed to be 5 feet 3 inches tall.

Despite her petite stature, Liu has achieved significant success in her acting career, earning accolades such as a Critics’ Choice Television Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Seoul International Drama Award. She was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.

In the photo below, where all three are wearing high heels, Drew Barrymore, at 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm), stands in the middle height-wise.

Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu reunite in effortlessly chic spring ensembles—Drew in a billowy printed maxi with sky-high platform heels, Cameron in a tailored blouse and jeans with strappy sandals, and Lucy in a floral satin gown paired with metallic peep-toe heels (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)

Petite Power: Lucy Liu’s Height,...

CinemaCon has lined up its cast of annual honourees for the 2025 Big Screen Achievement Awards on April 3, with former Screen Star of Tomorrow David Jonsson joining Channing Tatum, Ana de Armas, Lindsay Lohan and previously announced Glen Powell among the recipients.

Jonsson has starred in Alien: Romulus and Rye Lane and will collect the Next Generation Award. He will soon be seen in Lionsgate’s Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk, and upcoming projects include Wasteman, Colman Domingo’s Scandalous,and an untitled film by Frank Ocean. Jonsson was a 2023 Screen Star of Tomorrow.

Tatum, who has Derek Cianfrance’s...

Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us, and to celebrate, “Love Hurts” is now in theaters. And you’re definitely familiar with its cast.

The film centers on realtor Marvin Gable, who loves his job and very ordinary life. But when he suddenly gets an unexpectedly valentine from his crazy ex-girlfriend, he gets ripped back into his old life — one of violence and crime.

We won’t get into spoilers, we’re just running down the basics of the “Love Hurts” cast and where you’ve seen them before.

“Love Hurts” (Credit: Allen Fraser/Universal Pictures) Marvin Gable (Ke Huy Quan)

“Love Hurts” marks Ke Huy Quan’s first-ever leading role, as realtor Marvin Gable. It also marks his first film role since his Oscar-winning turn in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Of course, you might also recognize him from “The Goonies” or “Indiana Jones.”

Ariana DeBose as Rose Carlisle...

Exclusive: O-t Fagbenle and Sian Clifford have joined as series regulars and Ronny Chieng in a recurring role in Peacock’s upcoming comedy, The Miniature Wife. Details regarding their characters are under wraps.

They join series leads and executive producers Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen and cast Zoe Lister-Jones and Sofia Rosinsky in the series created and executive produced by Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner, who also serve as showrunners.

Based on the short story written by Manuel Gonzalez, The Miniature Wife is a high-concept marital comedy examining the power (im)balances between spouses, Lindy (Banks) and Les (Macfadyen), after a technological accident induces the ultimate relationship crisis.

Greg Mottola will direct the first two episodes and serves as an executive producer alongside Banks, Macfadyen, Ames, Turner, Michael Aguilar and Michael Ellenberg and...

There is a wildcard at every wedding, but in the case of “You’re Cordially Invited,” there are two. And they are played by Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon.

Now streaming on Prime, the film directed by Nicholas Stoller centers on two families who unknowingly double book their weddings at the same small inn — an inn that can really only accommodate one wedding. For Jim (Ferrell), it is his daughter’s, and for Margot (Witherspoon), it is her sister’s. Naturally, the two immediately go insane, trying to force the other to back down.

Somehow, Ferrell and Witherspoon have never led a comedy together, but they are doing it now with a very familiar cast.

Here are the major players you need to know.

Will Ferrell in “You’re Cordially Invited” (Prime Video) Jim (Will Ferrell)

Jim is Jenni’s dad, who has been raising her on his own for years since his wife’s death.

Action movie icon Jackie Chan joins forces with ‘80s icon and Cobra Kai star Ralph Macchio in the first trailer for Karate Kid: Legends. The sequel sees the pair teaming up to take a kung fu prodigy under their wings, who finds himself in trouble when he enters a karate competition to help his friend. The only way to succeed? Chop the original The Karate Kid from 1984 together with the 2010 reimagining to create what promises to be the perfect nostalgic martial arts drama. You can check out the newly released trailer for Karate Kid: Legends below.

Alongside the first footage from the martial arts movie, a new synopsis has also been revealed which you can check out below.

“In Karate Kid: Legends, after a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother.

After a strike-filled 2023, a number of TV shows are still waiting to be renewed or canceled by their respective networks and streamers in 2024.

As broadcast and cable networks — as well as their streaming counterparts —double down on their impending decisions for on the bubble series, the fate for both freshman shows and longrunning series hangs in the balance.

This year TV fans will say goodbye to several beloved favorites, including Chuck Lorre’s CBS sitcoms “Bob Hearts Abishola” and “Young Sheldon,” HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” ABC’s “Station 19,” Disney’s “Bunk’d” and Freeform’s “Good Trouble,” to name a few.

Get latest on the future of your favorite shows below:

“3 Body Problem” (Netflix) – Renewed & Ending

The sci-fi adaptation, which launched its first season in March, is officially set to air second and third installments before coming to a close, offering clarity to the streamer’s previous statement...

In recent years, Disney has faced some trouble in attracting and maintaining a loyal audience for original shows outside of Marvel and Star Wars, leading them to cancel multiple series including The Muppets Mayhem, Willow, and National Treasure. But among all, it was the shocking cancellation of American Born Chinese, after just 1 season, that left a lot of viewers scratching their heads.

A still from American Born Chinese | image: Disney

Considering how the show had a high Rotten Tomatoes rating and positive reviews for its action, humor, and fresh take on Chinese-American culture, it left fans baffled about why it was suddenly canceled. So, let’s dive into the mystery behind the quick exit of American Born Chinese, and learn what the future holds for the show.

Why Was American Born Chinese Canceled After 1 Season?

Created by Kelvin Yu, based on Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel by the same name,...

The streaming bubble has burst, and we're now seeing the industry reckon with it. Every major streamer has shifted gears, going from over-expanding and green-lighting the unlikeliest of shows and movies (all the while giving them ludicrously high budgets) to canceling project after project almost arbitrarily. Not only that, but many of these canceled titles are then removed from their original platform and made virtually inaccessible, like in the case of the "Willow" TV show.

While it is still available to watch on Disney+, the short-lived "American Born Chinese" is another series that was unceremoniously canceled by the streamer before getting a chance to find its audience. The series boast an impressive 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an even more impressive cast that includes "New Police Story" star Daniel Wu, as well as "Everything Everywhere All At Once" actor Stephanie Hsu and her Oscar-winning co-stars Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh.

One year after “Everything Everywhere All at Once” became the third film to ever merit three acting Oscars, the recipients of those trophies all have their sights set on Emmy glory. As candidates in three separate 2024 races, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ke Huy Quan are headed for an exciting reunion that could very well lead to one or more of them winning the TV academy’s favor in September.

Curtis, whose Oscar victory caught more predictors by surprise than those of her two cast mates, is now the strongest Emmy contender of the three according to our racetrack odds. Indeed, her guest stint as alcoholic mother Donna Berzatto on the FX comedy series “The Bear” is widely expected to bring her her first Emmy win, even in the face of formidable opponents from the same show (like Olivia Colman and Sarah Paulson) and returning champion Maya Rudolph (“Saturday Night Live...

“Goosebumps” Season 2 at Disney+ is adding six new recurring cast members.

Variety has learned that Sakina Jaffrey, Eloise Payet (“The End of the Party”), Kyra Tantao (“Zombies 3”), Arjun Athalye (“Are You Afraid of the Dark?”), Christopher Paul Richards (“The Kids Are Alright”), and Stony Blyden (“American Born Chinese”) have all joined the second season of the series based on the R.L. Stine books.

They will appear alongside previously announced cast members David Schwimmer, Ana Ortiz, Sam McCarthy, Jayden Bartels, Elijah Cooper, Galilea La Salvia, and Francesca Noel. It was previously announced that “Goosebumps” would be going the anthology series route in Season 2, meaning it will feature an entirely new cast and storyline than Season 1.

Athalye, Payet, Richards, and Tantao will star as Sameer, Hannah, Matty, and Nicole, described as “four teenagers who mysteriously vanished in, becoming a central secret to the present-day characters.” Blyden will play Trey, Frankie’s (La Salvia) boyfriend.

In case you did not know, a Blade Runner series is in the works and has been shooting since April. Titled Blade Runner 2099, the series was revealed to be in the works in 2021, when Ridley Scott himself confirmed that a pilot and the series’ bible (a reference book for a series with relevant plot and character data) had been written. The series was officially announced in 2022 when the title was also revealed. Filming was set to begin in 2023 but was postponed to April 2024 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, which paralyzed the entertainment industry for a longer period of time. Now, knowing that the series is currently being filmed, we can also confirm that we have some exciting casting updates.

The Blade Runner franchise wasn’t a franchise initially. It started off as a standalone movie directed by Scott, which starred Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer in the main roles.

Michelle Yeoh is dreaming of electric sheep.

The “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Oscar winner is set to star in “Blade Runner 2099,” Amazon Prime Video’s limited series follow-up to the 2017 film “Blade Runner 2049,” according to Deadline.

“2049” was itself a sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic “Blade Runner,” which was based on legendary writer Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”

“Blade Runner 2099” has started production in Prague. Plot and character details are being kept under wraps, and no other cast members have been announced. A release date has not been set.

Silka Luisa (“Shining Girls”) serves as writer and showrunner. She serves as executive producer alongside Ridley Scott, Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson, Ben Roberts, David W. Zucker and Clayton Krueger, Tom Spezialy, Richard Sharkey, Michael Green, Cynthia Yorkin, Frank Giustra and Isa Dick Hackett. Jonathan van Tulleken (“Shōgun”) is directing the first two episodes,...

The “Blade Runner” series in the works at Amazon Prime Video has cast Michelle Yeoh in a lead role, Variety has learned.

The series, titled “Blade Runner 2099,” was ordered at Amazon in September 2022. It serves as a sequel to both the original “Blade Runner” film and the followup film, “Blade Runner 2049.” Exact plot details are being kept under wraps, but sources say Yeoh will play a character named Olwen, described as a replicant near the end of her life.

Amazon declined to comment on specific character details.

Yeoh won the Academy Award for best actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” in 2023, making her the first Asian person to win the award. She also picked up wins at the SAG Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and the Golden Globes for her work in the film. She is also known for her roles in films like “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Crouching Tiger,...

One of the highly anticipated projects in the MCU that has been generating buzz among fans is ‘Wonder Man.’ This Hollywood satire features Williams as an actor-turned-superhero in Tinseltown.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is set to portray Simon Williams (Wonder Man), alongside Ben Kingsley, Demetrius Grosse, and Ed Harris. Recently, amidst speculation surrounding the fate of ‘Wonder Man,’ which had endured a prolonged period in development with minimal updates, rumors circulated about its potential cancellation, particularly before the historic SAG-AFTRA project concluded.

Nexus Point News has uncovered new details about the production team. A crew member’s resume lists director Tiffany Johnson, recognized for her work on ‘Poker Face’ and ‘Dear White People,’ alongside Destin Daniel Cretton and Stella Meghie, hinting at Johnson potentially directing an episode of ‘Wonder Man.’

Additionally, Cindy Chao and Michele Yu, previously Emmy-nominated, are credited as production designers, as per another crew member’s resume. They...

One of the upcoming projects in the MCU that fans were often buzzing about was ‘Wonder Man.’ ‘Wonder Man’ is a Hollywood satire featuring Williams as an actor-turned-superhero in Tinseltown.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will star as Simon Williams alongside Ben Kingsley, Demetrius Grosse, and Ed Harris. Just recently, before the historic SAG-AFTRA project was over, ‘Wonder Man’ was heavily rumored to be canceled, which at the time made sense considering that the show spent a lot of time in development hell, with little to no news regarding it.

Now Nexus Point News uncovered some information regarding production members. A crew member has listed director Tiffany Johnson, known for her work on ‘Poker Face’ and ‘Dear White People,’ alongside Destin Daniel Cretton and Stella Meghie. It suggests Johnson may direct at least one episode of ‘Wonder Man.’

Cindy Chao and Michele Yu, previously Emmy-nominated, are credited as production designers, according to a crew member’s resume.

From “Ally McBeal” to “Elementary” “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” “Charlie’s Angels” and Steven Soderbergh’s

“Presence,” Lucy Liu has created memorable characters, and the actor is also an accomplished artist. But, as Gold House readies to bestow her with the Legend award May 11 at the Gold Gala, she says, “It’s so moving. To be honored among your peers and the Asian community, in general, is a destination. It’s a little bit like your family and your family that you may not know. There’s a feeling of pride, and this extension of culture, which is different from the people that you work with that are not necessarily from the same place. I know from my life, my parents were not really that into this career, so it’s very touching.”

Liu spoke with Variety ahead of the Gold Gala to reflect on her recent and upcoming projects, painting...

The theatrical release date for the highly-anticipated Karate Kid movie has officially been delayed by Sony Pictures. The project was first announced back in September 2022, following the success of Netflixs Cobra Kai series.

Per Deadline, Sony Pictures Karate Kid has been pushed back for over five months. Originally scheduled to debut on Dec. 13, 2024, the coming-of-age martial arts movie will now be arriving in theaters on May 30, 2025. Its previous 2024 release date will be occupied by the long-delayed Kraven the Hunter movie. At the moment, the newest Karate Kid movie wont have any direct box office competitor with its new 2025 release date. However, it will still be debuting in the same month as three other high-profile movies, including Thunderbolts*, M3GAN 2, and Mission: Impossible 8.

Related The Karate Kid Gets VHS-Style 4K Uhd Release in Honor of 40th Anniversary Coinciding with its 40th anniversary, The Karate Kid is getting a new 4K Ultra...

Jay Duplass and Kelvin Yu are the latest additions to the cast of FX’s limited series adaptation of “Dying for Sex,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The series is based on the podcast of the same name. Duplass and Yu join previously announced series lead Michelle Williams and cast members Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, David Rasche, and Esco Jouléy.

The official description of the series states “Molly (Williams), a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, leaves her husband of 15 years and begins to explore her sexuality. She gets the courage and support to go on this adventure from her best friend (Slate), who stays by her side all the way to the very end.”

Duplass will play Steve, Molly’s husband. Yu will play Noah, described as “a talented musician with genuinely earnest, big feelings about his girlfriend Nikki that he isn’t shy about sharing.”

As an actor, Duplass...

Exclusive: American Born Chinese star Daniel Wu is set to join Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose in 87North’s With Love for Universal Pictures. The film is Quan’s first starring role since winning the Supporting Actor Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

87North’s Kelly McCormick and David Leitch, who also produced Atomic Blonde, Nobody and the upcoming summer pic The Fall Guy, will produce. Universal has set a release date of February 7, 2025.

With Love is written by Josh Stoddard, Luke Passmore and Matthew Murray. Guy Danella is also producing for 87North. Making his feature film directing debut is veteran stunt coordinator and fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio. Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Universal’s EVP Production Development Jay Polidoro and Director of Production Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.

Wu is a renowned Hong Kong-American actor, director and producer...

Actress Michelle Yeoh has faced a career resurgence ever since she starred in the A24 sci-fi comedy-drama Everything Everywhere All At Once. The actress was universally lauded for her performance as Evelyn Quan in the film by the Daniels and even won the Oscar for Best Actress, making her the first Asian to win in the category.

Despite her amazing reputation, Yeoh’s presence was reportedly not enough for the Netflix show The Brothers Sun to continue into the second season. The action comedy was reportedly canceled after the first season recently much to the dismay of Yeoh and lead actor Justin Chien. This was the second instance where a show starring Michelle Yeoh had been canceled after one season.

Netflix Canceled Michelle Yeoh Starrer The Brothers Sun Michelle Yeoh in The Brothers Sun

The Netflix series The Brothers Sun was created by Brad Falchuk, who was known for co-creating the shows Glee,...

Joshua Jackson is putting on his dogi.

In his first feature film role in almost 10 years, the actor has joined the cast of Sony Pictures’ latest installment of Karate Kid.

Ben Wang, who led the cast of Disney+ series American Born Chinese, is starring in the coming-of-age martial arts drama, which also has Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio reprising their iconic characters to continue the mythology of the original franchise.

Plot details are being kept under the mat, but the new installment will bring the story to the East Coast and focus on a teen from from China (Wang) who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor (or two).

Details on Jackson’s role were unavailable but he is described as one of the main characters in the piece.

Jonathan Entwistle, known for the teen television dramas I’m Not Okay With This and...

Destin Daniel Cretton is leaving the world of superheroes and comic books behind for a land of ninjas and manga. The “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” director will write a live-action adaptation of “Naruto,” one of the most popular manga series of all time, IndieWire has confirmed.

Created by mangaka Masashi Kishimoto, “Naruto” is set in an unnamed world where ninjas act as the primary warriors and political forces. In the Hidden Leaf Village, main character Naruto Uzumaki is a loudmouthed, hyperactive, and boisterous orphan who dreams of becoming the greatest ninja, or the Hokage. His attempts to grow are complicated by the fact that he unknowingly serves as the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox, a dangerous beast that grants him enormous power but makes him a target for rival ninja clans. The series follows Naruto as he joins a training squad consisting of friends Sasuke and...

Dr. Sleech and Dr. Klak lead an ensemble cast of talented stars in Amazon's The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy. Stephanie Hsu shines as the cool and confident Dr. Sleech, while Keke Palmer embodies the anxious and reserved Dr. Klak in the animated sci-fi show. Kieran Culkin's Dr. Plowp adds charm as a love interest for Dr. Sleech, while Nurse Tup, played by Natasha Lyonne, brings a disgruntled presence.

The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy is Amazon's new animated sci-fi series, which is reminiscent of shows like Rick & Morty and Solar Opposites, just with a medical twist — and its talented cast helps it strike that balance well. The show follows Dr. Sleech and Dr. Klak, two surgeons who work at the second-best hospital in the galaxy. The characters are best friends, and they have a penchant for breaking the rules to get their jobs done. Their...

On Sunday, February 18, CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” won Best Hairstyling for Daytime Television during “The 11th Annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Awards” at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Hairstylists Lauren Mendoza, Justin Jackson, Michelle Corona and Diana Santana received the award for their work on the daytime drama series. Melissa Peterman hosted the awards show which honors members of the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (IATSE Local 706)

“The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” were also nominees in the Best Make-Up for Daytime Television category, but both shows lost out to “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula,” with make-up artists Swanthula Boulet and Dracmorda Boulet taking home the award.

Kate Linder, John Brotherton

Emma McIntyre/Getty (Courtesy)

That said, there was a mix-up with the hairstylist and make-up categories as “The Young and the Restless” was initially announced as the winner for make-up,...

American Born Chinese star Ben Wang has been cast as the titular karate kid in the upcoming Karate Kid movie. Wang's standout audition showcased his deep connection to the character and his impressive skills in various forms of martial arts, including karate, wing chun/kung fu, gumdo, kempo, and taekwondo. The new Karate Kid movie will star both Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan, bringing together the two separate franchises.

The new Karate Kid has been found. The upcoming installment in the franchise, which will star both Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan, has recruited American Born Chinese star Ben Wang as the titular karate kid, following an extensive search. The casting news comes courtesy of THR, with sources revealing that Wang won the role due to his “deep emotional connection to the character as well as his fluency in Mandarin.”

The same insiders went on to reveal that Wang “delivered...

Sony’s new Karate Kid movie will see Ben Wang star alongside Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. More here:

After a lengthy search which saw a quite frightening number of actors apply for the role, the next Karate Kid film has cast its title star. According to The Hollywood Reporter’s exclusive, it’s Ben Wang, previously known for his work on the series American Born Chinese.

As it turns out, Wang is quite spectacularly suited for the role, given that he’s well versed in a number of martial arts forms, including kung fu, kempo, taekwondo as well as karate. We wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him, frankly.

Sony’s Karate Kid film is the first since the 2010 reboot, in which Jaden Smith took over from Ralph Macchio as the bullied teenager taken under the wing of a martial arts sage, played in that...

The upcoming Karate Kid movie has found its lead star.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, it has been revealed that American Born Chinese star Ben Wang has been cast as the titular fighter-in-training in the upcoming Karate Kid reboot. The new film will unite the previous Karate Kid movie timelines, as Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan will both be featured to reprise their franchise roles. The two actors had announced that they were searching for a Chinese actor to play the role, and it's reported that Wang landed the casting after thousands of hopeful actors had submitted auditions.

Related Cobra Kai Season 6 Officially Kicks Off Production With New Sneak Peek In a sneak peek video, Cobra Kai's cast reveals the return to production for the Netflix show's final season.

Reportedly, Ben Wang secured the coveted casting with a "standout audition that demonstrated his deep connection to the character." He sealed the...

Even though Disney+ series American Born Chinese has just recently been canceled, it seems like series star Ben Wang didn't stay out of a job for long. The Hollywood Reporter revealed today that the young actor has been cast in the upcoming movie — and crossover event — Karate Kid, which will make franchise veterans Ralph Macchio (Cobra Kai) and Jackie Chan (The Foreigner) share the screen as well. Details of the movie are yet to be revealed.

The Peak TV era is officially over.

FX CEO John Landgraf, the so-called “Mayor of Television” who coined the term “Peak TV” in 2015, released his network’s annual research on the volume of U.S.-produced scripted original series for 2023, and the numbers are in line with what the industry had anticipated. The total number of broadcast, cable and streaming shows (made for adults) clocked in at 516, down a whopping 14 percent from the 600 comedies and dramas produced in 2022.

The 14 percent decline is the largest decrease since FX began tallying originals. The 516 shows are the lowest since 493 in 2020 when the pandemic halted productions for months and forced media companies to re-evaluate their financials.

The decline in the total volume of originals comes as no surprise as media companies canceled a wave of shows, some as a result of production delays caused by the dual strikes and others because they wouldn’t...

Update 2/9 with IATSE statement: A fundraiser organized on behalf of rigging technician Juan “Spike” Wu Osorio, who died on the set of Marvel’s “Wonder Man” TV series on February 6, has raised over $110,000 in less than 24 hours. At this latest update, the fundraiser surpassed $162,000 and the goal has been increased to $200,000.

Bill Martel, a production sound mixer and president of Impact Av, organized the GoFundMe. He wrote that the incident at Radford Studio Center may have been “due to a potential structural failure.” When reached by IndieWire, Martel declined to comment in more detail about the nature of the accident.

“We are hoping the Production Company, The Facility, Mbs, Marvel Studios handles things properly, but expect a long road,” Martel wrote. “In the mean time, bills will be mounting and the widow, Boom Operator Joanne W., will be left to deal with everything. Help if you’re able, it’s greatly appreciated.

Stephanie Hsu is heading back to television in a brand new comedy series!

The 33-year-old Oscar nominated actress will lead the upcoming TV show Laid, which was given a straight to series order at Peacock.

In addition to starring, Stephanie will executive produce alongside EPs and writers Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna.

Keep reading to find out more…

Here’s a synopsis: A woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward – Laid is a f**cked up rom-com where the answer to “Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?” is a resounding “Yes. There is. The problem is definitely you.”

The upcoming new show is based on the Australian series of the same name, which was created by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher, and produced by Liz Watts,...

Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to the comedy “Laid” with Stephanie Hsu attached to star, Variety has learned.

The series was first reported as being in development in June 2022. It hails from Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna. Based on the Australian series of the same name, the official logline for “Laid” states, “A woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward.”

Khan and Bradford McKenna serve as writers and executive producers, with Hsu also executive producing. Khan executive produces along with Jennifer Carreras under their Fierce Baby Productions banner. John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment also executive produce, as do Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts for Porchlight Films. All3Media International is also an executive producer. Universal Television is the studio behind the series.

Hsu...

Pictured: Fool Me Once and Society of the Snow – Credit: Netflix

It’s time for another weekly rundown of the biggest stories from Netflix’s top 10 hourly figures drop for the week ending January 6th, 2024. This week, we’ll be covering Fool Me Once, The Society of the Snow, Bitconned, The Brothers Sun, and another deep dive into Netflix Engagement Report covering the first half of 2023.

Every Tuesday, Netflix updates its top 10 stats page with 40 new hourly figures of the top movies and shows of the past seven days. If you want to browse the top 10 hourly data, you can use our tool, which we’ve finally just incorporated the views metric that Netflix has been using. We’ve also built a tool that allows you to browse all the data from the Netflix Engagement Report.

Note: In this report of Netflix’s hours viewed from January 1st, 2024 to January 6th,...

The Directors Guild of America announced the nominees for television, commercials and documentary for its 76th annual DGA Awards today, a list headed by three-time winner Bill Hader and installments of the third and final season of HBO’s “Succession,” which claimed four of the five Drama Series nomination slots – the fifth going to an episode of fellow HBO hour “The Last of Us.”

The Comedy Series nomination lineup features the directors of a pair of episodes of Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” along with two installments of FX’s “The Bear” (including a repeat nomination for showrunner Christopher Storer – the acclaimed “Fishes” edition from Season 2 of the series – and a first for comedian and actor Ramy Youssef).

SEEBill Hader will set multiple SAG Award records with win for ‘Barry’

The Apple TV+ limited series “Lessons in Chemistry” also scored multiple bids in the Movies For Television/Limited Series category with three.

“Succession,” “Lessons in Chemistry,” “The Bear,” “Ted Lasso” and “American Born Chinese” are among the frontrunners as the Directors Guild of America has announced the 2024 nominees in television categories, including Dramatic Series; Comedy Series; Movies for Television and Limited Series; Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming; Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials; Reality Program, as well as for children’s programs, commercials and documentary.

“Succession” led all series with four nominations, dominating the drama category with all but one entry. “Ted Lasso” and “The Bear” each took two comedy slots, while “Lessons in Chemistry” grabbed three of the five TV movie/limited nominations.

This year’s DGA Awards take place on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Here are this year’s nominees

Dramatic Series

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

Peter Hoar — The Last of Us, “Long,...

American Born Chinese has been canceled by Disney+ after one season, likely due to low viewership numbers. The show is unlikely to be picked up by another streaming platform due to its large scale and licensing issues. Season 2 could have expanded on the mythological origins of the story and introduced other Chinese figures, but it will not happen.

The Disney Plus original series American Born Chinese presented an action-comedy experience unlike anything else on the streaming service, but season 2 isn't happening. Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese follows high school student Ben Wang who finds himself thrust into the middle of an epic battle between mythical Chinese gods. Touching on themes like identity, bullying, and a host of other coming-of-age topics, American Born Chinese season 1 stood out because of its stellar cast and unique approach to storytelling

Reflecting author Yang...

Disney+ has lost yet another show after the company recently revealed it is not moving forward with a second season of the critically-acclaimed series American Born Chinese.

The series is an adaptation of Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel of the same name and follows teenager Jin Wang, who finds himself entangled in a battle between humanity and ancient Chinese gods and mythology. Starring Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, American Born Chinese ran for only eight episodes in its first season and despite its highly-praised, award-winning cast, failed to make it among the top performing series on the platform. Its cancelation was reported by Variety.

Related American Born Chinese Uses Ke Huy Quan's Hollywood Life as a Major Turning Point American Born Chinese Season 1 has Ke Huy Quan emoting on a very personal and professional issue, which helps evolve Jin Wang's character journey. Will American Born Chinese Find Another Home?...

The Brothers Sun debuted on Netflix with an impressive cast led by Michelle Yeoh, receiving positive reception. The series combines drama-comedy with action scenes, showcasing the talented actors who bring their characters to life. The supporting cast, including Justin Chien, Sam Song Li, Joon Lee, and Highdee Kuan, add a unique dynamic to the story.

The Brothers Sun debuted on Netflix with a fantastic cast led by Michelle Yeoh. The drama-comedy follows a Taiwanese Triad family who must unite after patriarch Big Sun is shot by an assassin. Yeoh is an Oscar-winning actress whose film resume is quite impressive and has covered most genres. She’s joined by a cast of lesser known actors for The Brothers Sun, though they are no less talented.

The Brothers Sun is one of the first series to hit Netflix this year, and it’s already received a positive reception from critics and audiences alike.

This is why we can’t have nice things. Disney+ announced today that it will not move forward with a second season of the action-fantasy series American Born Chinese. The decision to cancel the series comes seven months after Disney debuted the eight-episode series on its streaming service, Disney+. The cancelation is raising a red flag for fans of the series, as Disney tends to purge content from Disney+ to save money and digital real estate. We’ve seen the mouse-eared streamer purge content before, with shows like Willow, Turner & Hooch, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and more. According to Deadline, options on the cast expired yesterday. However, there could be a silver lining to this disappointing news. 20th Television still plans to shop the series to other outlets, giving the show a chance to live again through another platform.

Per Disney+, here’s the...

Disney+ cancels American Born Chinese after one season. The show, based on Gene Leun Yang's graphic novels, follows teenager Jin Wang in a battle with Chinese mythical gods. Despite receiving rave reviews with a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the series will not continue on Disney+.

Disney+ cancels American Born Chinese after just one season. Starring Ben Wang, Ke Huy Quan, and Michelle Yeoh, the Disney series follows teenager Jin Wang who finds himself in a battle with Chinese mythical gods after meeting a foreign exchange student at his high school. American Born Chinese received rave reviews, holding a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney+ has canceled American Born Chinese after just one season.

More to come…

Source: THR

American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese is a Disney+ original series that is based on graphic novels from author and illustrator Gene Leun Yang. The show follows Jin Wang,...

“American Born Chinese” has been canceled after one season at Disney+, Variety has learned.

According to an individual with knowledge of the decision, Disney was high on the creative of the series, but its viewership did not justify greenlighting a second season. The producers plan to shop the series to other outlets.

“American Born Chinese” debuted on Disney+ on May. The Disney Branded Television series was based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang. The official logline states that the show “chronicles the trials and tribulations of a regular American teenager whose life is forever changed when he befriends the son of a mythological god.”

The cast of the series included Ben Wang, Michelle Yeoh, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Jimmy Liu, Ke Huy Quan, Sydney Taylor, and Daniel Wu. The show received positive reviews from critics, with the first season holding a 94% approval rating based on 51 reviews.