News

Rihanna es Pitufina en la versión original de esta nueva aventura azul. © Paramount Pictures

¡A pitufear se ha dicho! Paramount Pictures ha desvelado el primer tráiler de la película musical Pitufos, dirigida por Chris Miller (El gato con botas) y Matt Landon, que trae de vuelta a los personajes más azules (con el permiso de Avatar).

En Pitufos, cuando Papá Pitufo es secuestrado misteriosamente por los malvados brujos Razamel y Gargamel, Pitufina, dispuesta a todo para salvarlo, lleva a los Pitufos en una misión al mundo real. Con la ayuda de nuevos amigos, deberán descubrir qué define su destino para salvar el universo.

La película, que combina animación y live-action, cuenta con un elenco de voces de primer nivel en su versión original: Rihanna presta su voz a Pitufina, mientras que el reparto lo completan nombres como James Corden, Nick Offerman, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer,...

No Name (James Corden) and Smurfette (Rihanna) in Smurfs from Paramount Animation.

When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

Smurfs features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña with Kurt Russell and John Goodman.

The Smurf movies have been a hit with audiences. The first Smurfs movie was the most commercially successful, grossing over half a billion dollars worldwide. The totals for the live-action films are, The Smurfs (2011) $563,749,323 and The Smurfs 2 (2013): $347,434,178, while the animated films brought in respectively The Smurfs and the Magic Flute...

The trailer for Paramount's Smurfs reboot is now online, giving us a first glimpse of some footage from the animated/live-action hybrid musical.

The teaser begins with a little Superman nod, before we're introduced to the eponymous blue creatures living happily as ever in Smurf Village. When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is captured by the villainous Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) steps up to lead a rescue mission to the real world.

Chris Miller and Matt Landon direct, while Pam Brady wrote the screenplay. The voice cast also features Natasha Lyonne, Nick Offerman, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, Daniel Levy, Octavia Spencer, Sandra Oh, Hannah Waddingham, Xolo Maridueña, James Corden, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, and Kurt Russell.

“The DNA in Peyo’s original drawings guide so many creative choices in the film,” Miller said at a presentation at the Annecy Animation Festival last June. “It’s the blueprint for the kind of film I want to make.

How many “Smurfs” movies have there been at this point, and what’s the continuity, if any, with previous films? I guess there have only been three so far with one sequel, but doesn’t it feel like they are always rebooting these films, hoping they’ll catch on? “Smurfs: The Lost Village” was the last version in 2017, but it clearly did not move the needle enough to warrant a continuation.

Continue reading ‘Smurfs’ Trailer: Rihanna Tries To Smurf It Up In New Animated Film at The Playlist.

The Smurfs are heading back to the big screen. Eight years after Sony's Smurfs: The Lost Village, Paramount is taking a crack at the lovable blue cartoon characters with a new live-action/animated movie.

"When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe," reads the official logline for Smurfs. Check out the trailer below.

Smurfs features an all-star voice cast including Goodman, Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, and Kurt Russell.

Smurfs opens in theaters on July 18

Source: Paramount...

Are you feeling a little blue today? Paramount Pictures has something that could have you feeling Smurfy in no time! The studio that brought us the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise will tap into another nostalgic property this July with Smurfs, an animated adventure based on characters created by Belgian comic artist Peyo. Paramount shared a little trailer tease yesterday, but now smurf on over to smurf the new trailer for the animated/live-action hybrid, Smurfs.

Rihanna gives a little intro as the new voice of Smurfette, as well as contributing to the soundtrack of the movie with her cover of “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” formally by Belinda Carlise. Smurfs combines the style of the classic Saturday morning cartoons with more modern 3D animation. Smurf village is devastated when a mysterious force abducts Papa Smurf and it’s up to a small group of ragtag Smurfs to get him back.

It's time to hit the music because The Smurfs are back. Over eight years since the little blue creatures last graced the big screen in Smurfs: The Lost Village, they're finally marching back to theaters with a new film this summer under Paramount's banner after three adventures with Sony. Announced in 2022 and titled The Smurfs Movie, it's an entirely animated, star-studded musical affair with Grammy winner Rihanna—in her first film role since 2019—playing the iconic Smurfette. Now, ahead of the Super Bowl, the first trailer has finally been released that lets the "Umbrella" and "Diamonds" singer shine bright in blue.

Paramount Animation has revealed the first trailer and the Super Bowl spot for Smurfs, which is coming to theaters on July 18, 2025. The film was written by Pam Brady and directed by Chris Miller.

When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

Based on the characters and works of Belgian artist Pierre Culliford, also known as Peyo, Smurfs is a Ty Ty and Jay Brown production. It is produced by Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, Robyn Rihanna Fenty and Ryan Harris.

Smurfs features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine,...

Rihanna feels like she’s the only Smurfette in the world in the first trailer for the new movie Smurfs.

Director Chris Miller’s feature is set to hit theaters July 18 from Paramount Animation. Smurfs is based on the characters and work of artist Peyo.

The film’s voice cast includes Rihanna as Smurfette, along with Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell and John Goodman.

The trailer shows the Smurfs setting out on a mission after Papa Smurf disappears, leading the group to land in Paris.

“Come on, we gotta rescue Papa,” Rihanna says in the footage.

“The DNA in Peyo’s original drawings guide so many creative choices in the film,” Miller said at a presentation at the Annecy Animation Festival in June. “It’s the blueprint for the...

Fans get their first sneak-peak at the world of The Smurfscourtesy of Rihanna.

In a February 5 Twitter post, Rihanna gave audiences a glimpse into the upcoming The Smurfs feature film from Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Studios. The short video showcases the Smurf Village with a television set seated between two houses. As the camera closes in, the TV turns on, just long enough for Rihanna's Smurfette to blow audiences a kiss as the promise of "Trailer Tomorrow" appears on-screen.

Related'i'm Happily Retired': Chris Evans Shuts Down Rumors of MCU Return in Avengers: Doomsday

Chris Evans continues to dispel rumors that he will be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the next Avengers movie.

in my blue era 👀💙 pic.twitter.com/n44TmKwcHO— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 5, 2025

New that Rihanna had signed on for the role of Smurfette was confirmed back in mid-2023. Paramount and Nickelodeon President Brian Robbins...

From James Gunns Superman to Jurassic World Rebirth, there are some really huge movies that are scheduled to hit theaters during the 2025 summer blockbuster season. Ever since Jaws became the highest-grossing movie ever made in the summer of 1975, Hollywood studios have been releasing their high-concept tentpole films in the summer in the hope of recapturing its success. Summer tends to be when the highest-grossing movies of a given year come along. This year, it was Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. Last year, it was Barbenheimer. The year before, it was Top Gun: Maverick.

The summer blockbuster season typically starts in May (even though summer itself doesnt start until June) and runs until September. 2025s summer blockbuster season is shaping up to be a great one. Marvel Studios is releasing not one, but two highly anticipated superhero movies. Liam Neeson is inheriting the role of Frank Drebin from the late,...

Goth icon Emily the Strange is finally getting the feature film treatment thanks to producer J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot. Emily the Strange was created by Rob Reger and first appeared in 1991 on professional skater Ross Goodman's skateboard. In 2001, the first Emily the Strange graphic novel was published, which launched a merchandising empire that included additional graphic novels, a popular clothing line, and various other items featuring Emily and her four black cats. If you were a young kid or teenager in the 2000s to early 2010s and passed by a Hot Topic, you are likely familiar with Emily the Strange.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Warner Bros. Animation is developing a feature film based on Emily the Strange. The movie will be a partnership between Warner Bros. and J.J. Abrams' production company Bad Robot. Emily the Strange will be written by Pamela Ribon, whose credits include...

Rihanna is proving to be a powerful force for Paramount Animation’s upcoming feature The Smurfs Movie.

Director Chris Miller led the film’s presentation at the Annecy Animation Festival on Tuesday, where he was joined on the stage by Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation president Ramsey Naito. The Smurfs Movie is based on the characters and work of artist Peyo and is set to hit theaters Feb. 14, 2025.

Miller (Puss in Boots) debuted work-in-progress footage from the movie’s opening sequence, along with a demo version of original music. The filmmaker went on to describe how Peyo’s art laid the groundwork for the film’s vision.

“The DNA in Peyo’s original drawings guide so many creative choices in the film,” Miller said. “It’s the blueprint for the kind of film I want to make. All of the action lines and thought bubbles from the comics are going in the movie,...

The Netflix special roasting NFL great Tom Brady made it onto the streaming charts for the week it premiered — despite it only being up for a few hours of that week.

The Roast of Tom Brady racked up 279 million minutes for the week of April 29-May 5, good for 10th place among original series in Nielsen’s rankings. The special streamed live on May 5, meaning it tallied those viewing minutes in under 12 hours. (With a running time of almost three hours, the 279 million minutes equate to about 1.6 million complete runs of the special.)

Bluey moved back into the top overall spot with 1.18 billion minutes of viewing on Disney+, adding to its total as the most streamed title in the United States so far this year (21.73 billion minutes and counting). Fallout, which had led the previous three weeks, slipped to third overall with 1.08 billion minutes of viewing on Prime Video, while Grey’s Anatomy...

The finale of Shōgun pushed the series to its best showing so far on Nielsen’s streaming charts.

The FX-produced Hulu series had 608 million minutes of viewing time for the week of its finale, April 22-28. That’s a 45 percent jump from the prior week and Shōgun’s highest total in the nine weeks it has made the top 10. Its previous best was 513 million minutes for its premiere week, which featured the debut of two episodes.

Fallout claimed the overall No. 1 spot for the third straight week, the first such streak for a show on Amazon’s Prime Video. The series had 1.53 billion minutes of viewing, down by about 41 percent week to week. Its three-week total is now a little over 7 billion minutes.

Netflix’s water-cooler drama Baby Reindeer saw a 36 percent jump in viewing, climbing to 915 million minutes from 673 million a week earlier. Several original series also made...

The controversial movie Miller's Girl made it to the Netflix Top 10 despite a 29% Rotten Tomatoes rating. The movie bombed at the box office, but surged in popularity on Netflix. Ortega's bold career choices, like in Miller's Girl, may secure a strong legacy, despite its poor performance.

Jenna Ortega's controversial erotic thriller Miller's Girl has hit the US Netflix Top 10 charts despite its poor 29% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Ortega has risen to prominence in the last few years, with guest roles in TV shows like You, before achieving global stardom for her leading roles in the movies Scream & Scream 6, and the supernatural black-comedy Wednesday, which has been renewed for season 2 by Netflix. Starring Ortega and Emmy-winning actor Martin Freeman, Miller's Girl focuses on the complicated and inappropriate relationship between a teacher and student, following a creative writing assignment.

The movie has been mired in controversy and bombed at the box office,...

The Great Wall, starring Matt Damon, has made it to the Netflix top 10 in the US, ranking No. 4 for the week. The movie faced criticism for promoting a white savior narrative and whitewashing the cast, among other issues. Despite making $334.9 million worldwide on a $150 million budget, The Great Wall is considered a flop in Matt Damon's career.

Matt Damons The Great Wall has made it onto the Netflix top 10 in the US. Released in 2016, The Great Wall is a Zhang Yimou movie about a group of European mercenaries who are imprisoned in China and are conscripted to help out a secret army that maintains and defends the Great Wall from fantastical enemies. In addition to Damon, The Great Wall features an ensemble cast that includes Willem Dafoe, Pedro Pascal, Tian Jing, Andy Lau, Zhang Hanyu, Lu Han, and Kenny Lin.

Now, Netflix has calculated their Top 10 most-watched movies in the...

After three years, Will Smith's Oscar-winning film King Richard is now in Netflix's US Top 10 chart. The film's success on streaming platforms contrasts with its box-office disappointment at release. Despite the controversy surrounding Smith's Oscar win, King Richard still offers an inspiring viewing experience.

Will Smith's Oscar-winning movie, King Richard, ascends to Netflix's Top 10 chart in the United States three years after its release. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin, King Richard tells the true story of Richard Williams, the father and coach of Venus and Serena Williams, who elevated his daughters into tennis superstars through intense planning and unconventional training methods. Other than Will Smith, who won an Academy Award for his performance, the King Richard cast also includes Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, and Jon Bernthal.

Now, three years after its release, Will Smith's Oscar-winning film has ascended to...

Home viewing charts inspire deja vu: “Anyone but You,” a hit as a PVOD release, just debuted at Netflix. It knocked out Netflix’s expensive “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver” from first place after two weeks, falling to #6.

Similarly, “Dune: Part Two” returned for its second week as #1 at both iTunes (ranking by transactions) and Fandango (which calculates by revenue).

The “Dune” sequel fended off challenges by two recent theatrical releases. Dev Patel’s “Monkey Man” (Universal), once intended as a Netflix original, is #2 at iTunes, third at Fandango. The family-oriented “Arthur the King” (Lionsgate) took second at Fandango, but only #6 at iTunes. Both initially are available to rent for 48 hours for $19.99.

Two new home-play debuts also made top 10 lists. “Cash Out” (Saban) is #9 at iTunes, renting at $6.99; starring John Travolta, the critically reviled title may be getting as much attention for its little-known director Ives. That’s...

Paramount‘s new animated The Smurfs Movie announced its voice cast at CinemaCon on Thursday. Rihanna will be joined by a star-studded cast in her journey as Smurfette.

Headlining the ensemble is none other than the multi-talented Rihanna, who is set to lend her voice to one of the beloved characters. Joining her are renowned actors Nick Offerman (The Last of Us), Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face), Jp Karliak (X-Men '97), Daniel Levy (Schitt's Creek), Amy Sedaris (Yo Gabba Gabba!), Nick Kroll (Big Mouth), James Corden (Cats), Octavia Spencer (Onward), Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Sandra Oh (Invincible), Alex Winter (Bill & Ted franchise), Billie Lourd (Scream Queens), and Xolo Maridueña (Blue Beetle). Adding to the excitement, veteran actors Kurt Russell and John Goodman have also been announced as part of the cast.

Related Ernie Hudson to Star in Horror Movie About a Killer Cartoon Rabbit Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire actor Ernie Hudson...

Pictures: Paramount, Sony, 20th Century Fox

We’re only a handful of days into the New Year, but we’re already receiving news of what movies and TV shows will leave Netflix UK in February 2024.

In case you missed it, we’re also keeping track of all of the movies and TV shows leaving Netflix UK in January 2024. If you’re looking for the US removals list, you can find all the departures for those in our February list here.

As a reminder, we typically get word of Netflix removals around 30 days before they’re due to happen. Netflix removes titles because much of its library consists of licensed titles. These licensed titles are essentially rented to Netflix for a fixed period of time, and when that time is up, they’re removed from the platform.

Unlike the United States, Netflix UK doesn’t confirm or publicize its own list of removals,...

Some movie franchises, like Despicable Me and Smurfs, start out with a solid premise but quickly grow dull with repetitive installments. Characters like Lightning McQueen from the Cars franchise and Princess Poppy from Trolls follow predictable character arcs, resulting in unoriginal storylines. Franchises like Alvin and the Chipmunks and Ice Age suffer from an overwhelming addition of characters, diluting the charm of the original trio and resorting to lazy slapstick humor.

Movie franchises are built-in moneymakers for studios, especially if their intellectual property is already well known. Some franchises, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, churn out action-packed spectacles that feel brand new every single time. But not every franchise has the same luck with consistent creativity.

There are some franchises, like Despicable Me, which started out with a solid premise but quickly grew dull as more and more installments were released. In these situations, the same tired gimmicks are used,...

Rainn Wilson is opening up about his mental health during the years he was filming The Office.

The actor who gave life to Dwight Schrute throughout the nine seasons of the U.S. remake of the British sitcom created by Ricky Gervais was on the Bill Maher podcast Club Random where he revealed that being on the show felt like “wasn’t enough” to him professionally.

“When I was in The Office, I spent several years really mostly unhappy because it wasn’t enough,” Wilson said.

He added, “I’m on one of the great TV shows. People love it. I wasn’t enjoying it. I was thinking about, ‘Why am I not a movie star? Why am I not the next Jack Black or the next Will Ferrell? How come I can’t have a movie career? Why don’t I have this development deal?'”

Wilson noted that...

The 2014 Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a modern adaptation of the famed segment from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends and stars a voice cast of well-known actors. Like the animated show, Mr. Peabody & Sherman follows Mr. Peabody, an anthropomorphic genius dog, and his adopted son, Sherman as they go back in time to learn about history. This time around, Mr. Peabody and Sherman must deal with time-jumping hijinks as well as their own complex father-son relationship. Mr. Peabody’s aptitude to be a father is called into question and a child protection agent is called to separate the pair, for good.

Like any good Mr. Peabody & Sherman story, the two historians travel through multiple periods in history and meet a variety of legendary and original figures from the past. The movie was directed by the prolific Rob Minkoff whose vaunted filmography includes directing The Lion King and Stuart Little.

Polygram Entertainment, the film and television division of Universal Music Group, has announced that Daniel Inkeles will become the new senior vice president of film and television development and production.

Prior to his promotion, Inkeles was the vice president of scripted film and television for Umg. In that role he served as executive producer of NBC’s musical comedy “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” During the series’ two-season run, it was nominated for seven Emmys, winning one for Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming. Inkeles was also an executive producer for Alison Ellwood’s Critics Choice-winning documentary “The Go-Go’s,” which centered around the American rock band of the same name, as well as the 2019 film, “Billie,” James Erskine’s documentary about Billie Holiday.

Inkeles is based in Los Angeles and will report to David Blackman, the executive vice president and head of film and television development and production for Umg.

Also Read:

‘Louis Armstrong...

“The Help” is coming to Freevee on June 1. The top-notch cast includes Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Jessica Chastain. The plot focuses on two black maids who work in white homes in Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1960s. Stone plays a writer who wants to help the women chronicle the hardships they face, so their injustices are exposed nationwide. “The Help” chronicles real-life conditions in the Deep South, while celebrating female friendship and empowerment.

Watch the trailer for “The Help”:

Also streaming on June 1 is the hit dystopian thriller “The Hunger Games,” turned into a four-film franchise, starring Jennifer Lawrence. In the first, the nation of Panem pits one girl and one boy from 12 tribes to fight to the death each year in the games. There can be only one survivor. The story is written from the perspective of a 16-year-old girl, who takes her sister’s place...

Composer Christopher Lennertz was declared a BMI Icon at Broadcast Music Inc.’s 39th annual Film, TV and Visual Media Awards Wednesday night (May 10) in Beverly Hills.

Lennertz, a two-time Emmy nominee, veteran film composer and game-music creator, was honored for his 30-year career in media music-making.

BMI president and CEO Mike O’Neill presented the award, noting that Lennertz was “legendary for his diverse and distinct impact across the worlds of film, television and gaming” and telling the 51-year-old composer, “your captivating scores have taken us on a thrilling ride.”

Added BMI’s VP creative, film, TV and visual media Tracy McKnight: “His compelling body of work, from blockbuster films to hit TV shows and gaming, highlights Christopher’s passion for all styles of music and has made him one of the industry’s most sought-after composers. He is also dedicated to giving back through philanthropic work and advancing the next generation of composers.

The Office cast is one of the most beloved ensembles in television history and it is hard to believe it has been a decade since they were last seen together on the show. Luckily for fans, they live in a day and age where they can still binge-watch old episodes at any time. This allows fans to look back on The Office cast as they began their journey on the show and how they compare to today.

When The Office first aired on NBC in 2005, many people weren’t sure how this remake of a quirky British mockumentary-style sitcom was going to translate for wider audiences. Well, it turns out it was a sleeper hit, and it has gone down in history as one of the most successful and most loved TV series of all time. Thanks to this show, many great actors that fans love and respect today got their big starts,...

The upcoming Smurfs movie has found its Smurfette in Rihanna. The latest film version of Peyo's The Smurfs will be the fourth overall adaptation of the source material in the U.S., after Sony Pictures Animation's The Smurfs, The Smurfs 2, and Smurfs: The Lost Village. While all three movies weren't critically well-received, they were box office hits. Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies' take on The Smurfs was announced in February 2022, hoping to launch a film franchise. However, details on the latest version of The Smurfs have been kept secret, aside from Pam Brady writing the screenplay and Puss in Boots' Chris Miller directing, with Matt Landon co-directing.

At CinemaCon, Paramount and Nickelodeon announced that Rihanna will be voicing Smurfette in the upcoming film. Rihanna was there to reveal she'll also be writing and recording original songs for the movie, alongside producing it.

The New Smurfs Movie Could...

Rihanna is about to be the only girl in the world.

The beloved popstar has been cast as Smurfette, the only Smurf in The Smurf Village, in the upcoming “Untitled Smurfs Animated Film”.

Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies announced the news today during the final day of CinemaCon 2023, where Rihanna appeared on stage at a Paramount Pictures Presentation.

Read More: Rihanna, Second Time Mom-To-Be, Posts Son’s Picture In A Cute Fendi Jacket

The “Lift Me Up” hitmaker, 35, also announced that she will write and perform original music, plus serve as a producer on the film.

“On behalf of our studio and our creative partners at Lafig [the company that owns the Smurfs brand], we couldn’t be more excited to have found our Smurfette in one of the most beloved stars in the world,” said Brian Robbins, President and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, and Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation. “With...

Rihanna will star as Smurfette in an upcoming untitled Smurfs animated movie from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, the artist announced at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 27th.

In addition to the voice role, Rihanna will write and perform original music for the film, which she will also produce. “I tried to get the Papa Smurf role, but it didn’t work out,” she joked on stage (via Variety).

Not much else is known about the movie besides its release date of February 14th, 2025. However, Paramount Animation head Ramsey Naito said it will explore themes of identity and ask the central question, “What is a Smurf?”

The Chris Miller-directed movie is based on Belgian artist Peyo’s comic books and will be co-directed by Matt Landon. Pam Brady wrote the script. Besides Rihanna, Jay Brown, Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith, and Ryan Harris will serve as producers.

Rihanna previously lent her voice...

Rihanna will star as Smurfette in an upcoming untitled Smurfs animated movie from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, the artist announced at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 27th.

In addition to the voice role, Rihanna will write and perform original music for the film, which she will also produce. “I tried to get the Papa Smurf role, but it didn’t work out,” she joked on stage (via Variety).

Not much else is known about the movie besides its release date of February 14th, 2025. However, Paramount Animation head Ramsey Naito said it will explore themes of identity and ask the central question, “What is a Smurf?”

The Chris Miller-directed movie is based on Belgian artist Peyo’s comic books and will be co-directed by Matt Landon. Pam Brady wrote the script. Besides Rihanna, Jay Brown, Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith, and Ryan Harris will serve as producers.

Rihanna previously lent her voice...

In her third trimester, Rihanna showed up at Paramount Pictures’ CinemaCon presentation on Thursday in Las Vegas to say she’s playing “a little blue badass” — that being Smurfette in Par and Nickelodeon Movies’ The Smurfs Movie. Rihanna also is producing the movie and providing original songs.

Related: Paramount’s CinemaCon Presentation Brings Laughs; Seth Rogen On Distrib Boss Chris Aronson ‘Tmnt’ Stunt: “First Time I’ve Seen An Executive Emerging From A Sewer!”

The comedic musical adventure sets out to answer one of life’s biggest questions: What is a Smurf? The Chris Miller-directed movie comes out on February 14, 2025. Co-director is Matt Landon. Pam Brady wrote the script inspired by characters and works of Peyo. Producers also include Ryan Harris, Laurence “Jay” Brown and Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith.

Related: Martin Scorsese Unveils Teaser From ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’, His Apple & Paramount Movie Bound For Cannes

Multiple Smurfs films,...

Step aside Trolls: Rihanna is here to slay as a Smurf.

With Universal’s animated musical “Trolls” franchise going strong with the upcoming “Trolls Band Together,” Paramount Pictures during Thursday’s CinemaCon presentation unveiled an untitled “Smurfs” animated film starring Oscar-nominated Grammy winner Rihanna as Smurfette.

Rihanna is creating and performing original music for the film and also serving as a producer. The “Smurfs” movie will debut in theaters February 14, 2025, from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies.

Chris Miller and Matt Landon co-direct the “Smurfs” film, based on characters created by Peyo. “South Park” producer and “Team America: World Police” writer Pam Brady penned the screenplay. In addition to Rihanna, Ryan Harris, Laurence “Jay” Brown, and Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith produce.

“Getting to do animation is a fun journey for me,” Rihanna said at CinemaCon. “I’m usually front and center with everything with my likeness…but this was fun, I got to imagine,...

Tubi originals for April include “Dead Hot,” co-starring Vanessa Hudgens and Gg Magree. They play witchcraft students who long to connect with the spirit world. But when a ghost hunt goes wrong, they head to Salem, Massachusetts, for a masterclass.

“A Good Man,” another streamer original, lands on April 13. A man enters a new relationship in the aftermath of his wife’s affair. But soon, things go awry when he notices familiar signs of betrayal.

The four movies that comprise “The Scorpion King” arrive April 1. A prequel and spinoff of “The Mummy,” the first movie, in 2002, is a sorcery action-adventure film starring starring Dwayne Johnson, Steven Brand, Kelly Hu, Grant Heslov, and Michael Clarke Duncan. An evil ruler wants to conquer the tribes of the desert.

Jim Carrey fans will want to revisit the two “Ace Ventura” comedies. Carrey shows off his gift for physical comedy, while creating a wacky...

Paramount Pictures has unveiled a release date for its third Sonic the Hedgehog film, at the same time pushing back the date for its Untitled Smurfs Animated Musical. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will open wide on December 20, 2024, with the newest Smurfs pic going wide on February 14, 2025, having previously been set to unspool on the date now claimed by the former film.

While Sonic will open against James Cameron’s Avatar 3, it’s not yet clear what kind of box-office competition the new Smurfs pic has in store.

Based on the beloved video game franchise from Sega, Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise launched with a 2020 film of the same name, in which a small-town police officer (James Marsden) helped the titular blue hedgehog (Ben Schwartz) contend with Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), an evil genius looking to make him the subject of his experiments. Jeff Fowler directed from a script...

Exclusive: Singapore-based Indian financier Vistas Media Capital has launched a North American division to be run by film industry vet Ben Waisbren.

The division will look to originate and underwrite investments in entertainment and IP under the stewardship of North America President Waisbren who has been an executive producer on dozens of studio movies including Smurfs: The Lost Village, The Emoji Movie, 300, The Equalizer, and 22 Jump Street.

Waisbren’s expertise is in managing and structuring investments in studio co-financing partnerships, indie production and distribution deals and media private equity. He was a long-time member of the board of directors at Wild Bunch.

The former Winston & Strawn lawyer was previously on the board of Vistas Media Acquisition Company, which is a Nasdaq-listed Spac that recently reverse merged (de-spac) with the leading music streaming platform in the Middle East & North Africa (Mena) region, Anghami, resulting in the first Arab...

Exclusive: Maya and the Three creator Jorge Gutiérrez has set I, Chihuahua as his first animated feature for Netflix, with actor and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias coming aboard to produce and star. (Check out never-before-seen concept art created for the feature below.)

Written by Gutiérrez, Doug Landale and Candie Kelty Langdale, I, Chihuahua is billed as the ultimate underdog tale of Chacho—a scrappy masked Luchador Chihuahua, who embarks on a hilarious and action-packed journey around the world to fight for his family. After learning his beloved home is in danger, Chacho dons a Lucha Libre mask to become Luchacho. Our masked underdog then enters an international fight tournament, competing against a hilarious and eclectic mix of animal fighters from all over the world, in the lead-up to a final, epic fight against the nefarious beast known as Chamuco, The Widow Maker. Iglesias will produce alongside Tim Yoon.

“I cannot...

Paramount and Nickelodeon are set to begin production on a new animated movie musical based on “The Smurfs,” the first of what will be multiple theatrical feature films starring the beloved blue characters.

Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation are teaming with Lafig Belgium and Imps on the “Smurfs” films, tapping Pam Brady, the co-writer of “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” and “Team America: World Police,” to write the first film. And the studio has also set the first of the movies to be released on Dec. 20, 2024, with production kicking off later this year.

As part of the announcement, Nickelodeon has also picked up the CG animated TV series “The Smurfs” for a second season of 26 episodes after the show first launched in September. Season 2 will follow Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Hefty, Clumsy and others as they time travel, invent a magic camera, accidentally swap bodies and more.

“The Smurfs...

Mike Ford has been promoted to chief technology officer at Sony Pictures Imageworks.

Ford, who previously served as senior vp, systems engineering and software development, will report to Imageworks’ exec vp Michelle Grady and continue overseeing the software development and the systems engineering teams.

As a visual effects supervisor at Imageworks, Ford has supervised on movies including Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation and Smurfs: The Lost Village. His credits also include features such as Open Season, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Stuart Little 2 and Oscar-nominated Surf’s Up.

“I’m thrilled with the opportunity,” Ford, said, noting that Imageworks would continue a “series of major initiatives”...

Mike Ford has been promoted to chief technology officer at Sony Pictures Imageworks.

Ford, who previously served as senior vp, systems engineering and software development, will report to Imageworks’ exec vp Michelle Grady and continue overseeing the software development and the systems engineering teams.

As a visual effects supervisor at Imageworks, Ford has supervised on movies including Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation and Smurfs: The Lost Village. His credits also include features such as Open Season, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Stuart Little 2 and Oscar-nominated Surf’s Up.

“I’m thrilled with the opportunity,” Ford, said, noting that Imageworks would continue a “series of major initiatives”...

Exclusive: Ariel Winter (Modern Family) and Mason Gooding (Booksmart) have joined the cast of the indie feature Pools, which begins production in Chicago later this month.

They’ll star opposite previously announced cast members Odessa A’zion (Grand Army), Michael Vlamis and Tyler Alvarez (American Vandal).

Written and directed by Sam Hayes, Pools follows Kennedy (A’zion), who is stuck at summer school after flunking her sophomore year of college. Amidst a heat wave, she rallies a ragtag crew for a pool-hopping adventure through the wealthy estates of Lake Forest, on the north shore of Chicago. But as the secrets spill, a wild night of fun becomes a cathartic journey of self-discovery.

Winter will play Delaney, who is one to stir the pot, and becomes the focal point of a love triangle. The character plays tough and always knows how to win, but she really just wants her best friend back.

The filmmakers behind Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Mitchells vs. the Machines will participate in a free, virtual PreVIEW talk on Friday, May 14, beginning at 10 a.m. Pt., presented by the View Conference.

The 90-minute discussion, moderated by Variety’s Steven Gaydos, will feature writer-director Michael Rianda, co-director and writer Jeff Rowe, production designer Lindsey Olivares, head of story Guillermo Martinez, VFX supervisor Mike Lasker and head of character animation Alan Hawkins.

“They say it takes an entire village of people to make a film,”says View Conference Director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “We are delighted to welcome six of the talented villagers behind ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines’ into the View Conference family for this free PreVIEW event exploring the craft behind the film. We’re bringing so much creative energy together in one place, I know this is going to be a session to remember.”

“The Mitchells vs. the...

Meghan Trainor is now all about the laughs. The singer has sealed a major overall deal with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Entertainment that includes a comedy series in development.

Trainor will star in and help develop the sitcom for NBC, but there is no concept or writers attached just yet. The comedy is the first project under the cross-platform deal, which is the first of its kind under the new NBCU Television and Streaming Entertainment structure under Susan Rovner.

The deal will also include other potential projects across scripted and unscripted content for NBCU’s various network, cable, streaming and syndication programming outlets, including Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA and Peacock, in addition to NBC.

NBCU is set to announce the deal on Friday. “In addition to being a phenomenally talented performer, Meghan is a vibrant and hilarious ray of light who is the perfect fit for NBC’s brand,...

Joe Manganiello plays Max Fist, a super powerful fighter for good from another world, in a colourful sci-fi-adjacent film

Small, imperfectly formed but quite entertaining all the same, this wacky sci-fi-adjacent feature stars Joe Manganiello as an intense, homeless man with a cut torso who calls himself Max Fist. Max has a taste for hooch and crystal meth but also claims to be a super powerful fighter for justice from a parallel universe – a realm that just so happens to be accessible through an abandoned shopping mall in grotty Edge City where the action is set. While all that unfolds in a real enough looking US city, shot on film stock, the stories Max narrates about his previous life in the other universe are illustrated with some groovy looking animation and a mix of stylised drawings and computer renderings, mostly in a hypersaturated palette of electric blue and magenta pink.

Kelly Asbury, an animator who directed Oscar-nominated films such as “Shrek 2” and “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” has died. He was 60.

Asbury died Friday morning in Los Angeles following a long battle with abdominal cancer, a representative for Asbury, Nancy Newhouse Porter, told Variety.

Asbury, who started his career at Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1983, directed five animated feature films during his career: “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” which was released in 2002; “Shrek 2″ in 2004, which he co-directed with Conrad Vernon; 2011’s “Gnomeo & Juliet”; 2017’s “Smurfs: The Lost Village”; and his final directorial effort was 2019’s “Ugly Dolls,” which starred Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe, Blake Shelton and Pitbull.

His other work includes credits on “The Little Mermaid,” Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “The Prince of Egypt,” “Chicken Run,” “Shrek,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Frozen” and “Sherlock Gnomes.”

In addition, the Texas native...

Kelly Asbury, an animation writer-director and voice actor whose credits include Shrek 2, Smurfs: The Lost Village and Beauty and the Beast, died today after battling cancer for several years. He was 60. His rep Nancy Newhouse Porter of Newhouse Porter Hubbard confirmed the news to Deadline.

“He was one of the most admired and beloved people in the industry,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking for everyone.”

A three-time Annie Awards nominee for helming 2004’s Shrek 2 and writing and directing 2011’s Gnomeo & Juliet, Asbury also was nommed twice by the Cannes Film Festival: He was up for the Palme d’Or for Shrek 2 and the Camera d’Or for best debut feature for 2002’s Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

His also directed last year’s UglyDolls, and his writing credits included co-penning the story for Disney’s 1991 animated classic Beauty and the Beast.

Born on January 15, 1960, in Beaumont,...

Take that, Gargamel: The Smurfs are getting a brand-new series at Nickelodeon, the children’s cable network announced Thursday.

The blue crew will populate The Smurfs, a CG-animated reboot that will introduce a new generation of kids to Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Clumsy, Hefty, Brainy and the rest of the the popular cartoon characters who live in mushroom-shaped homes in the forest.

More from TVLineNickelodeon, MTV and Other Viacom Networks Air Powerful 'I Can't Breathe' Tribute to George Floyd -- WatchKeke Palmer Hints at True Jackson, VP Reboot in 2021 -- Watch VideoNFL Postseason Expands to 14 Teams, Adds a Wild Card Telecast for Kids

The original series,...

The Smurfs are coming to Nickelodeon. The ViacomCBS-owned network has partnered with Lafig Belgium and Imps, the worldwide licensors for The Smurfs, on a new original CG-animated series based on the iconic property, along with a consumer products line. Under the deal, Nickelodeon has licensed the global rights to The Smurfs, which follows the beloved characters–Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Hefty, Clumsy and others on “all-new adventures packed with humor, heart and high-stakes action,” Nick says. The series is slated to debut in 2021 in the U.S., followed by Nickelodeon channels internationally.

In addition to the content partnership, ViacomCBS Consumer Products will manage consumer products licensing for The Smurfs property across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia. Vcp will seek new merchandising and promotional partners for The Smurfs classic brand, in addition to a new product line for the new animated series, including toys,...

In today’s film news roundup, Lionsgate’s new studio is getting final financing, “American Nurse’ is getting re-released, Sony is launching Kid Zone and the SAG-aftra Foundation’s relief fund has given out $1 million.

Studio Financing

Lionsgate, Great Point Capital Management and real estate company National Resources have secured a $40 million loan from Cit Bank to complete financing for Lionsgate’s film-tv studio complex in Yonkers, N.Y.

Plans for the 100,000-square-foot production center were unveiled last year with Gpc and National Resources building for Lionsgate, which will be the long-term anchor tenant and will retain naming rights.

At least one of the three 20,000-square-foot stages is expected to be operational later this year. The production facility will also comprise two 10,000-square-foot stages, offices and parking space.

“Cit is a leader in community-driven projects and our financial support for this development will help bring jobs and revenue into Yonkers at a critical time,...