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Updated: Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King continued its reign at the top of the international box office pride this weekend with an additional $53.5M from 52 material markets. This lifts the overseas cume to $307.8M and global to $476.4M as it approaches the half-a-billion mark.

Speaking of major milestones, Disney’s Moana 2 is now on course to join the billion-dollar club worldwide, with $960.5M through Sunday; Universal/Focus’ Nosferatu topped $100M global this session; and, as we noted earlier, Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has exceeded $1B across three films (more on those below).

The offshore drop on Mufasa was 31% with strong holds in Japan (+13%), Germany (-22%), France (-23%), UK (-24%), Australia (-26%), Brazil (-26%), Mexico (-30%) and Spain (-31%). Overall overseas, Mufasa is now the No. 9 studio release of 2024.

The Top 5 markets to date are France ($30.9M), UK ($25.9M), Mexico ($21.4M), Germany ($20.5M) and Italy ($19.6M).

The...

In December, the UK and Ireland box office made £115.5 million ($143.5 million), a good end to 2024. This number is a big 21% rise compared to December 2023. The region kept its annual total of £1.06 billion ($1.31 billion), 8% more than in 2022, thanks to a strong performance in December.

Jon M. Chu’s version of “Wicked” was the biggest hit at the box office in December, making £23.2 million to stay on top for the second month. With this win, the movie made a total of £55.6 million, making it the third most successful movie of 2024. Only “Inside Out 2” ($59.2 million) and “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($57.8 million) have made more. “Wicked” is now the third most successful musical ever in the region, after “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!” (£65.6 million) and “Wonka” (£63.5 million).

Disney also showed its strength at the box office with “Moana 2,” which came in second place in December and made £21.8 million. The total lifetime gross...

December 2024 delivered a robust close to the year for the U.K. and Ireland box office, generating £115.5 million ($143.5 million), a 21% increase compared to December 2023’s £95.5 million ($118.6 million), according to numbers from Comscore. The year’s total stands at £1.06 billion ($1.31 billion), matching 2023 and showing an 8% growth over 2022. The month’s success was driven by strong performances across multiple titles, with “Wicked” leading the charge.

Holding the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive month, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the Broadway hit “Wicked” brought in £23.2 million in December, boosting its total gross to £55.6 million. The film is now the third-highest release of 2024, behind “Inside Out 2” (£59.2 million) and “Deadpool & Wolverine” (£57.5 million). It also ranks as the third-highest-grossing musical of all time in the U.K. and Ireland, trailing only “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!” (£65.6 million) and “Wonka” (£63.5 million).

Disney’s “Moana 2” claimed the No. 2 spot for December, earning £21.8 million.

Universal’s Wicked has overtaken the studio’s own Mamma Mia! to become the biggest stage musical adaptation of all time worldwide. The global cume through Sunday is an estimated $634.4M, of which $424.2M is from domestic and $210.2M from the international box office.

Overseas, the current weekend brought in another $13.7M from 81 markets. The Jon M Chu-directed Wicked is also the top stage musical adaptation ever in 46 of those. It had earlier become the biggest Broadway adaptation of all time domestically.

The current offshore performance is ahead of Mamma Mia 2, Maleficent, The Little Mermaid and The Greatest Showman (excluding China) at the same point in release.

Because of the festive period, holds varied as some markets close cinemas on Christmas Eve and/or Day. Across all of international the Cynthia Erivo/Ariana Grande-starrer was up 1% with particular strength (+7%) in the Europe Middle East Africa region.

The...

Worldwide box office December 13-15 RankFilm (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l)Cume (int’l)Territories 1. Moana 2(Disney) $83.8m $717m $57.2m $379.5m 53 2. Wicked(Universal) $44m $525m $21.5m $165.9m 82 3. Pushpa: The Rule - Part 2 (various) $29.2m $166.8m $27.6m $154m 37 4. Kraven The Hunter(Sony) $26m $26m $15m $15m 61 5. Gladiator II(Paramount) $17.5m $398.5m $9.7m $252.6m 66 6. The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim(Warner Bros) $8.6m $10.3m $4m $5.7m 73 7. Her Story(various) $7.1m $88.1m $7.1m $87.7m 8 8. Red One(Warner Bros) $6.8m $175.3m $2.3m $82.6m 76 9. The Last Dance(various) $6.6m $29.6m $6.6m $29.3m 8 10. Cells At Work!(Warner Bros...

Amanda Seyfried is to lead the cast of the musical 'Ann Lee'.The 39-year-old actress has signed up to star in the movie that has been put together by the team behind the Golden Globe-nominated historical drama film 'The Brutalist'.Mona Fastvold – co-writer of 'The Brutalist' – serves as the director, co-screenwriter and producer on the new movie with her collaborator Brady Corbet also involved in penning the screenplay. Composer Daniel Blumberg has also written and produced the original music for the picture.The movie is described as an "epic fable" about the religious leader Ann Lee, the founding member of the Shaker Movement, who was proclaimed by followers as the female Christ and ended up building one of the largest utopian societies in the history of the United States.Lee, a rare female religious head at the time, and her followers worshipped through the exuberant mediums of song and dance.

After missing out on playing Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked,” Amanda Seyfried is teaming up with the makers of another buzzy 2024 film for a musical: “The Brutalist” co-writer Mona Fastvold directs the musical “Ann Lee,” which she wrote with “Brutalist” co-writer and director, and her partner, Brady Corbet.

Seyfried stars in the title role in the historical film, which shot in Hungary right after “The Brutalist” and features original songs by Golden Globe-nominated “The Brutalist” composer Daniel Blumberg. Choreography comes from Celia Rowlson Hall, the dancer who played the adult Sophie in “Aftersun.” The secret indie film has already wrapped production and is looking for a 2025 premiere, with sales and distribution yet to be set. Deadline first reported the news. IndieWire confirmed the project.

“Ann Lee” centers on the religious leader Ann Lee, who founded the Shaker Movement in the late 1770s. Lee’s followers deemed her the female Jesus Christ,...

Exclusive: The team behind seven-time Golden Globe nominee The Brutalist have been quietly working on a starry musical called Ann Lee, which has now wrapped, with Oscar nominee Amanda Seyfried (Mank) in the lead role.

Mona Fastvold (The World To Come), Golden Globe-nominated co-writer of The Brutalist, serves as director, co-screenwriter, and producer. Venice Silver Lion winner Brady Corbet co-wrote with his Brutalist collaborator and partner, Fastvold. Golden Globe-nominated composer Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist) wrote and produced the original music.

The film, inspired by real events, is described to us as “an epic fable” about religious leader Ann Lee, the founding leader of the Shaker Movement, who was proclaimed by her followers as the female Christ and went on to build one of the largest utopian societies in American history. Lee–one of the rare female religious heads at the time– and her followers worshipped through exuberant song and dance.

Worldwide box office December 6-8 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. Moana 2(Disney) $155.7m $600m $103.7m $300m 53 2. Wicked(Universal) $61.7m $455.6m $26.9m $135m 80 3. Pushpa: The Rule - Part 2 (various) $57.6m $92.5m $52.7m $83.2m 38 4. Gladiator II(Paramount $29.5m $368.4m $17m $235.7m 66 5. Her Story(various) $12.2m $74.9m $12.2m $74.9m 7 6. Red One(Warner Bros) $10.5m $163.9m $3.5m $78.2m 76 7. Burning Star (various) $6.6m $6.6m $6.6m $6.6m 1 8. Interstellar re-release (Paramount) $4.4m $29.1m – $24.7m 12 9. The Firefighters (BY4MS) $4.3m $4.4m $4.3m $4.4m 1 10. Solo Leveling - ReAwakening(Sony) $3.5m $4.1m $1.1m $1.7m 33

Credit: Comscore. All figures are estimates...

Refresh for latest…: It was smooth sailing for Disney’s Moana 2 this weekend as it reached $600M global following last frame‘s record-breaking bow. The running split is even for the splashy sequel, with $300M domestic and $300M from the international box office.

The full overseas frame was $103.7M in 52 markets, repping a 41% drop. Japan was new this weekend with $6.5M (including previews), for the market’s biggest non-local opening of 2024; biggest December opening ever for an animated title and the No. 3 biggest launch weekend for Walt Disney Animation Studios (behind Frozen and Frozen 2).

Some other key stats here — before we dig into further detail below — include Moana 2 becoming the No. 5 movie of 2024 worldwide, surpassing the entire run of the first Moana at current rates and charting as the No. 8 studio release of the year overseas (and sans holidays).

In another milestone,...

Monday Update with Moana 2 actuals: Now that Sunday’s actuals are in, Disney’s Moana 2 has surfed even higher across its launch frame domestically, swelling the global start to $389M. That’s a new milestone as Disney confirmed the phenom has posted the highest ever reported animated opening weekend at the global box office, overtaking the previous record held by The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

We understand that Dis didn’t call out the record yesterday because the studio wanted to wait until the actuals were tallied, particularly given there were no holidays overseas and that estimates were dependent on family weekend play.

International came in slightly lower than estimated, at $163.8M, but this has not affected the host of Moana 2 milestones (see below for the weekend roundup).

Previous, Sunday: Disney’s Moana 2 has shattered expectations with a $386.3M global opening.

Worldwide box office November 29-December 1 RankFilm (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l)Cume (int’l)Territories 1. Moana 2(Disney) $300.8m $386.3m $165.3m $165.3m 51 2. Wicked(Universal) $109m $359.3m $29m $96.9m 62 3. Gladiator II(Paramount) $57.9m $320m $27.2m $208.8m 65 4. Red One(Warner Bros) $17.9m $148.7m $5m $72.6m 76 5. Her Story(various) $17.5m $38.8m $17.5m $38.8m 6 6. Venom: The Last Dance(Sony) $6m $468.2m $3.8m $330.3m 67 7. Heretic(various) $3.3m $38.7m $2.4m $11.9m 28 8. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever(various) $3.3m $32.1m $10,000 $145,000 3 9. Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Our Dinosaur Diary(China) $3.3m $33.3m $3.3m $33.3m 1 10. Good Luck(various) $2.8m $2.8m $2.8m $2.8m 1

Credit: Comscore. All figures are estimates...

Worldwide box office November 29-December 1 RankFilm (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l)Cume (int’l)Territories 1. Moana 2(Disney) $300.8m $386.3m $165.3m $165.3m 51 2. Wicked(Universal) $109m $359.3m $29m $96.9m 62 3. Gladiator II(Paramount) $57.9m $320m $27.2m $208.8m 65 4. Red One(Warner Bros) $17.9m $148.7m $5m $72.6m 76 5. Her Story(various) $17.5m $38.8m $17.5m $38.8m 6 6. Venom: The Last Dance(Sony) $6m $468.2m $3.8m $330.3m 67 7. Heretic(various) $3.3m $38.7m $2.4m $11.9m 28 8. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever(various) $3.3m $32.1m $10,000 $145,000 3 9. Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Our Dinosaur Diary(China) $3.3m $33.3m $3.3m $33.3m 1 10. Good Luck(various) $2.8m $2.8m $2.8m $2.8m 1

Credit: Comscore. All figures are estimates...

Worldwide box office November 22-24 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. Wicked(Universal) $164.2m $164.2m $50.2m $50.2m 62 2. Gladiator II(Paramount) $106m $221m $50.5m $165.5m 65 3. Red One(Warner Bros) $22m $117.1m $8.7m $64.2m 76 4. Her Story(Taop) $16.6m $20.8m $16.6m $20.8m 1 5. Venom: The Last Dance(Sony) $11.8m $456.4m $7.8m $322.6m 67 6. Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Our Dinosaur Diary(China) $8.4m $29.8m $8.4m $29.8m 1 7. The Wild Robot(Universal) $5.8m $317.4m $3.8m $176.7m 81 8. To Gather Around(various) $5.4m $21.2m $5.4m $21.2m 3 9. Paddington In Peru(Studiocanal) $5.4m $30.8m $5.4m $30.8m 1 10. Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin(various) $5.1m $5.1m $260 $260 2

Credit: Comscore.

Worldwide box office November 22-24 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. Wicked(Universal) $164.2m $164.2m $50.2m $50.2m 62 2. Gladiator II(Paramount) $106m $221m $50.5m $165.5m 65 3. Red One(Warner Bros) $22m $117.1m $8.7m $64.2m 76 4. Her Story(Taop) $16.6m $20.8m $16.6m $20.8m 1 5. Venom: The Last Dance(Sony) $11.8m $456.4m $7.8m $322.6m 67 6. Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Our Dinosaur Diary(China) $8.4m $29.8m $8.4m $29.8m 1 7. The Wild Robot(Universal) $5.8m $317.4m $3.8m $176.7m 81 8. To Gather Around(various) $5.4m $21.2m $5.4m $21.2m 3 9. Paddington In Peru(Studiocanal) $5.4m $30.8m $5.4m $30.8m 1 10. Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin(various) $5.1m $5.1m $260 $260 2

Credit: Comscore.

Exclusive: Ol Parker will direct Jennnifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein in the Netflix romcom, Office Romance.

We hear the production will be shooting in New Jersey this March.

Deadline told you first that Lopez was set to continue her mass-appealing movie streak with the streamer on this irreverent comedy project that 2x Ted Lasso Emmy winning Goldstein co-wrote with Joe Kelly.

Producers are Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company; Goldstein, Joe Kelly; and Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Benny Medina for Nuyorican Films. EP is Courtney Baxter for Nuyorican Films.

Parker directed such Universal hits as Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again which grossed close to $400M, as well as the studio’s Juilia Roberts and George Clooney romcom, Ticket to Paradise, which at close to $170M WW repped a comeback for the genre post Covid, as well as older moviegoers. Parker wrote the $240M grossing Best Marigold Hotel franchise for Searchlight Pictures.

BAFTA TV Award winner Chris Cottam is set to direct The Light Fantastic, a new ballroom dance comedy movie starring Jeremy Irvine, Rupert Everett, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Layton Williams. Cornerstone will launch worldwide sales for the film at the American Film Market (AFM) in Las Vegas.

Inspired by a true story, The Light Fantastic follows Jason (Irvine), a gay firefighter in his 30s who aspires to become a professional ballroom dancer. Set in Blackpool, the story chronicles his journey of self-discovery as he challenges ballroom traditions under the watchful eye of his traditional instructor Reynolds (Everett).

The film will feature choreography by famed mother-and-son dance duo Mark and Shirley Ballas. He’s a three-time Dancing with the Stars winner, she’s head judge on the British version of the show, Strictly Come Dancing. Debbie Gray (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) will produce for Genesius Pictures, with principle photographer set to begin in the U.

The New York Times bestselling thriller novel The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is finally getting a film adaptation, and two amazingly talented actresses are set to star. A well-known filmmaker is also attached to the project to direct.

Lionsgate is behind this upcoming thriller. The entertainment company has reportedly finalized an agreement for Emmy Award-nominated actress Sydney Sweeney to star in the film. The company is also reportedly in the last stages of negotiations for Golden Globe Award-winning actress Amanda Seyfried to join the cast as another lead.

Sweeney is best known for starring as Cassie Howard in the hit HBO teen drama series Euphoria. She's also known for her roles in other shows such as The Handmaid's Tale, Sharp Objects, Everything Sucks! and The White Lotus. Her most recent acting gigs were starring in the rom-com Anyone but You, the superhero film Madame Web and the horror flick Immaculate.

Ever since the first Mamma Mia! film came out back in 2008, fans have been captivated by the outlandish storytelling and the timeless music of Abba. The original film wound up being a global hit. After all, the musical charmed audiences with its vibrant musical numbers, picturesque Greek island setting, and an all-star cast led by Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried. Its success even prompted the 2018 sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which continued the story while exploring the backstory of the character, Donna.

Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper in Mamma Mia! 2 | Credits: Universal Pictures

With the success of both films, the producers of the franchise revealed that part 3 was in the making. Now, Seyfried has opened up about who she wants to work with her in the upcoming musical: the rising pop star, Sabrina Carpenter.

Amanda Seyfried wants Sabrina Carpenter in Mamma Mia 3

In the Mamma Mia! franchise, Amanda...

As Amanda Seyfried anticipates a return to one of her most beloved roles, the fantasy casting for her new co-stars has begun.

While sharing an update on a potential third installment in the Mamma Mia! movie musical franchise, the Oscar nominee addressed the likelihood that Sabrina Carpenter could join the cast.

“Mamma Mia 3, let’s go baby,” Seyfried told ABC News, crossing her fingers for luck. “Everybody says it’s gonna happen. But I mean, I haven’t seen a script.”

After Carpenter sang the musical’s title track by Abba at a recent Madison Square Garden concert, Seyfried agreed the Short n’ Sweet artist could “technically” play her character Sophie’s daughter in an upcoming followup.

Although Seyfried is only 13 years older than Carpenter, the interviewer noted that “age is sort of a forgettable construct” in the franchise after Cher played Meryl Streep‘s mom in the previous film,...

Amanda Seyfried has revealed that her daughter is a fan of her work!

On Thursday (Sept. 26), the 38-year-old Oscar-nominated actress stepped out for the 2024 Best Friends Animal Society Gala at The Glasshouse in New York City.

While on the red carpet, Amanda revealed which of her movies that her 7-year-old daughter Nina is currently “obsessed” with.

Keep reading to find out more…Little Nina, whom Amanda shares with husband Thomas Sadoski, is as big fan of Mamma Mia! Amanda and the 48-year-old Life in Pieces actor also share 3-year-old son Thomas.

“My mom showed my daughter, and my daughter is now obsessed, and so she’s 7, so she’s in second grade, and all her friends are obsessed,” Amanda told People. “So now they’re starting to recognize me as Sophie, which is a little weird, but how beautiful.”

“I don’t think she quite understands it, but she loves it.

Exclusive: After tapping Emily Bunt to star in May, Steven Spielberg looks to have found another A-lister for his next event film as Deadline is hearing Colin Firth is in early talks to join the cast. The Amblin and Universal pic is based on a story by Spielberg and has the filmmaker’s longtime collaborator David Koepp penning the script.

Universal and Amblin had no comment.

Kristie Macosko Krieger is producing. Plot details have been kept under lock and key.

Related: Blood In The Water: Dueling ‘Jaws’ Docs Circle Distribution Ahead Of Blockbuster’s 50th Anniversary

Universal has dated the film for May 15, 2026, landing it in the summer tentpole zone Spielberg practically created decades ago with such films as Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark. It would mark his fist major summer release in quite some time.

Related: Nat Geo Greenlights ‘Jaws @ 50’ Feature Documentary Marking 50th Anniversary of Film & Book,...

‘Extrapolations,' Apple TV+’s television series, follows several different stories of people’s lives before, during, and after climate change affects the world. Through director Scott Burns, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the unknown of the earth’s future. Through each character, ‘Extrapolations’ explores the complexities of love, hate, fear, and family as worlds collide into a masterpiece of storytelling. The cast of this series includes Diane Lane, Simon Deonarian, Eiza González, Marion Cotillard, Tobey Maguire, Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker, Daveed Diggs, Douglas Hodge, Kit Harington, Sienna Miller, Tahar Rahim, Matthew Rhys, Heather Graham, Peter Riegert, and Yara Shahidi. ‘Extrapolations’ will be premiered on Apple TV+ on March 17th, 2023, and is set to run for eight episodes. Follow along with the unique and relatable characters of the series as they experience trials and joys throughout the future of our planet. Curious to know more about the creation of the series?...

Meryl Streep has appeared in many classic movies, but many fans are most familiar with her through the famous musical Mamma Mia!, based on the songs of Abba. During an interview, Streep said she became fascinated with the stage musical after the events of 9/11. Streep’s agent thought his client would have no interest in the long-awaited movie version of the musical, but he was horribly wrong. She had a very easy time getting the lead role in the film.

Meryl Streep said ‘Mamma Mia!’ brought her joy after 9/11

During a 2023 interview with Vogue, Streep discussed her history with the stage musical Mamma Mia! “My little kids were all in school in New York in September of 2001, and 11 parents from their school were killed in the attacks,” she said. “It was an extremely traumatic event for everyone in the city, and Mamma Mia! became an important piece for me and my family at the time.

Back in 2020, it was announced that Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again director Ol Parker would be following that film up by taking the helm of The Thursday Murder Club, an adaptation of the debut novel by Richard Osman (creator and co-presenter of the BBC quiz show Pointless), for Amblin. Given that Parker’s involvement was announced just days before the pandemic lockdowns, it’s not surprising to hear that iteration of the project didn’t hold together… but The Thursday Murder Club is still moving forward. A couple months ago, word came out that Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye), Helen Mirren (The Queen), and Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3) were being eyed for lead roles in the film, which is now coming our way from Home Alone and Harry Potter director Chris Columbus. Now Deadline confirms that Brosnan, Mirren, and Kingsley are on board to star in the film alongside Celia Imrie...

There was talk that Brotherhood of the Wolf and Silent Hill director Christophe Gans’ new Silent Hill movie Return to Silent Hill, which is said to be “totally independent from the two previous movies,” would be having its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month, but that’s not exactly what happened. What actually happened was that there was a private screening of the film for potential distributors. We don’t know how that went, but we are benefiting from the film’s search for distributors. The first image made its way online a couple weeks ago (that can be seen above), and now a teaser trailer has made its way online. You can check that out right here:

Take a look at the gripping new trailer of #Returntosilenthill directed and produced by Christophe Gans with music composer @AkiraYamaoka.

Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/1gTcSAapnc

— Konami (@Konami) May...

In the world of blockbuster entertainment and critical success, no one rivals the mastery of Steven Spielberg. Notwithstanding the technical ingenuity of James Cameron and the interstellar scientific imagination of George Lucas, Spielberg stands – to this day – as the only Hollywood director to spread out his wings across (almost) every genre and master it without leaving any room for doubts.

Steven Spielberg at the 2017 Sdcc [Photo: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons]Starting with the aquatic creature horror in Jaws, his xenomorphic explorations via E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the Nazi-hunting adventurer in Indiana Jones, the World War biopic in Schindlerʼs List, the awe-inspiring age of dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, sci-fi dystopia in Minority Report, and musical theater adaptation of West Side Story – no one does variety better than Steven Spielberg.

As such, it came as a surprise when the visionary director decided to compose a three-part story stretching over 20 years revolving around...

Brotherhood of the Wolf and Silent Hill director Christophe Gans’ new Silent Hill movie Return to Silent Hill, which is said to be “totally independent from the two previous movies,” is set to make its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this month – and in anticipation of that premiere, Variety has gotten their hands on the first image from the movie, which features the iconic character Pyramid Head from the video game series! You can check it out at the bottom of this article.

Gans directed the 2006 version of Silent Hill from a screenplay he wrote with Roger Avary and Nicolas Boukhrief, and directed this new film from a screenplay he wrote with Sandra Vo-Anh and Will Schneider. Based on the video game Silent Hill 2, Return to Silent Hill follows James, a man broken after being separated from his one true love. When a mysterious letter calls him back...

Meryl Streep has been one of the most prolific actresses working in Hollywood. The actress has often been regarded as one of the best of all time and has won three Academy Awards and eight Golden Globe Awards to prove it. The actress also has a record 21 nominations for the Oscars and has featured in multiple successful films and shows.

One of her most beloved films is the musical Mamma Mia!. The film, which was based on a musical of the same name, was released in 2008 and opened second at the box office, behind the Christian Bale starrer The Dark Knight. The musical ended with $694M at the box office. Streep recently revealed that she was open to working on another sequel to the 2008 hit.

Meryl Streep Is Open To Work On A Mamma Mia! Sequel Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!

The legendary Meryl Streep was reportedly honored with the...

With its list of May 2024 releases, Amazon Prime Video is giving us the kindest gift of all: cougar Anne Hathaway.

May 2 sees the premiere of The Idea of You, a romantic-comedy that features Hathaway as a 40-year-old mom finding romance with a 24-year-old boy band singer (Nicholas Galitzine). Having saved the medium of film forever, Prime Video is celebrating with some big time library titles this month as well. American Fiction and BlacKkKlansman arrive on May 14 and will be followed by Creed and Pearl: An X-traordinary Origin Story on May 16.

For its TV offerings, Prime is leading off with Outer Range season 2 on May 16. This James Brolin sci-fi Western will continue the mysteries of the strange happenings on Thanos’ ranch. Reality TV fans will be able to enjoy the Daniel Tosh-hosted competition series The Goat on May 9.

Here’s everything coming to Prime Video and Freevee in April – Amazon...

The prequel series to Starz’s Outlander has found its lead actors and is heading into production.

Filming has begun in Scotland on Outlander: Blood of My Blood, a show that will focus on the parents of the leads in the main series. Starz previously said the prequel would center on Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) mother and father; the premium cabler now confirms that Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) parents will also be part of the story.

Harriet Slater (Pennyworth) and Jamie Roy (Lifetime’s Your Boyfriend Is Mine) will play Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser, who will eventually become Jamie’s parents in 18th century Scotland. Hermione Corfield (We Hunt Together) and Jeremy Irvine (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) will play Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp, Claire’s parents, whose story unfolds in World War I-era England.

“We’re thrilled to be telling the stories of these two couples,...

Back in 2020, it was announced that Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again director Ol Parker would be following that film up by taking the helm of The Thursday Murder Club, an adaptation of the debut novel by Richard Osman (creator and co-presenter of the BBC quiz show Pointless), for Amblin. Given that Parker’s involvement was announced just days before the pandemic lockdowns, it’s not surprising to hear that iteration of the project didn’t hold together… but The Thursday Murder Club is still moving forward. Home Alone and Harry Potter director Chris Columbus is now attached to direct the film, and Variety reports that Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye), Helen Mirren (The Queen), and Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3) are being eyed for three of the four the lead roles!

The Thursday Murder Club will tell the story of four septuagenarian friends who live in a retirement community and solve cold cases for fun.

Amblin’s film adaptation of Richard Osman’s novel “The Thursday Murder Club” is finally taking shape, with “Harry Potter” and “Home Alone” filmmaker Chris Columbus set to direct.

Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley are being eyed for three of the four lead roles in the project.

The book, released in 2020, tells the story of four septuagenarian friends who live in a retirement community and solve cold cases for fun. When a shady property developer is found dead, the four find themselves in the middle of their first live crime.

Publishing rights for the book were sold in the biggest debut novel deal for a decade. Amblin Partners scored worldwide rights to the film after a competitive auction that attracted interest from 14 studios.

It’s been a strong year for Amblin, whose series “Masters of the Air” launched with more viewers in its opening weekend than any Apple...

Exclusive: Judy Craymer would just love it if Barbie filmmaker Greta Gerwig could just make herself available to complete the Mamma Mia! movie trilogy.

“Hey, Greta, if you’re free to do anymore projects…” jokes Craymer, the driving force that has kept the “Money, Money, Money” pouring into the box office for musical Mamma Mia!, featuring the songs of Swedish pop stars Abba, for a quarter of a century.

Saturday night will mark an incredible milestone for a show that has taken over $5.685 billion at the box-office worldwide in ticket sales and is responsible for a further $17 billion in supplementary expenditure from spending on hotels, restaurants, transport and merchandising globally in the 25 years since opening night at the Cameron Macintosh-owned Prince Edward Theatre on April 6, 1999.

Those figures do not include the hundreds of millions of dollars that movie offshoots Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again have amassed.

The latest round of Outlander spinoff casting includes an Easter Egg for a subset of the book-loyal fandom.

Starz on Wednesday announced the addition of four roles to the forthcoming prequel, Blood of My Blood. Among them: Watchmen‘s Sara Vickers in the part of Brian Fraser’s mother (and, therefore, Jamie Fraser’s grandmother). The character is a housekeeper in the Lovat household, which is good and all, but we’re super into how she’s also named after someone many devotees of author Diana Gabaldon will recognize: Davina Porter, who narrates the audiobook versions of Gabaldon’s Outlander book series.

Three Oscar winners on stage together!

Cher received the Icon Award at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards and she was honored by friends Meryl Streep and Jennifer Hudson!

The legendary performer was joined by Jennifer for a special performance on Monday (April 1) at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

Meryl kicked off the segment by giving a speech to honor Cher and she talked about what the singer meant to her as a kid. Then, Jennifer performed “If I Could Turn Back Time” with Cher joining in for “Believe.”

For those who don’t know, Meryl and Cher worked together in the 1983 movie Silkwood and again in the 2018 film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, in which the pop star played the three-time Oscar winner’s mom.

Fyi: Cher is wearing Dolce&Gabbana. Jennifer is wearing a Taller Marmo dress, Alevi shoes, and Anabela Chan earrings on the carpet. She’s wearing...

While nothing has been officially announced, the hype surrounding Mamma Mia 3 is undeniable.

The main story of Mamma Mia! centers around a young bride who invites three men to her wedding, without knowing which one is her father.

Mamma Mia! and 2018's Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again smashed the box office, with both movies earning more than 1 billion dollars. As a result, some have claimed that a third movie is a no-brainer. 

Read full article on The Direct.

Come April, it will be time to say goodbye to some big titles on Netflix!

If you don’t know, each and every month, Netflix has to remove certain titles from the streaming service, likely due to the expiration of various deals with studios. Meaning, you won’t be able to stream some of these hits for much longer!

We’ve compiled the list of every show and film that is leaving the streamer, plus, what date it’ll be removed. So be sure to note which titles you want to watch Asap!

Head inside to see the full list of Netflix’s movies & TV shows that won’t be available to stream anymore…

Netflix Titles Expiring in April 2024

Leaving 4/4/24

Day of the Dead: Bloodline

Imposters: Seasons 1-2

Leaving 4/7/24

Marshall

Leaving 4/8/24

The Nice Guys

Leaving 4/9/24

Horrible Bosses 2

Leaving 4/11/24

Deliver Us from Evil

Leaving 4/15/24

Rush

Synchronic

The Zookeeper’s Wife

Leaving 4/22/24

The Meg...

Over the past decade, Lily James has distinguished herself by building one of the most varied resumes as any film actor her age. After getting her start on British television, James first became known to American audiences in 2012 when she joined the cast of “Downton Abbey” as the love-struck Lady Rose MacClare, a role that earned James two Screen Actors Guild Awards as a member of the show’s ensemble cast.

The actress quickly followed up that television triumph with one on the big screen in the title role of Disney’s live-action “Cinderella,” directed by Kenneth Branagh, which clearly proved her appeal to audiences of all ages. One of the most reliable screen presences in recent years, James showed enormous range in choosing her projects, from such crowd pleasers as “Baby Driver” and “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” to more intimate films as “The Dig” and “Little Woods,...

Stellan Skarsgard is getting candid about Mamma Mia!

The 72-year-old actor has been promoting his new movie Dune: Part Two, in which he returns as Baron Harkonnen.

One of Stellan‘s previous film roles includes that of Bill in 2008′s Mamma Mia! He starred alongside Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, and Colin Firth.

Stellan returned as the character in 2018′s sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

During a recent interview, Stellan reflected the goofiness of his Mamma Mia role.

Keep reading to find out more…

It was absurd to ask me to be in a musical,” he told Vanity Fair. “I can’t sing, I can’t dance. And then I saw it was also Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, and they can’t sing and dance either, so I felt a little safer there.”

Stellan also spoke on the purpose his and the other male actors’ roles served in the movie.

Stellan Skarsgard revealed that he was hesitant to star in Mamma Mia!, but once he realized he just had to “look cute and be silly,” he was all in.

The veteran actor recently admitted to Vanity Fair that he was initially taken aback when asked to be in the 2008 movie musical with Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried because he can’t sing or dance.

“It was absurd to ask me to be in a musical,” Skarsgard said. “I can’t sing, I can’t dance. And then I saw it was also Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, and they can’t sing and dance either, so I felt a little safer there.”

In Mamma Mia!, Sophie (Seyfried) sets out to find her real father before her wedding day as her mother Donna (Streep) had been intimate with three men (Skarsgard, Brosnan and Firth), right before she got pregnant with Sophie.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth produced a script for a Cher biopic – but the star has rejected the screenplay. More here.

If we go all the way back to May of 2021, it was reported that Cher had given the idea of a biopic of her life story the go ahead. It was being set up at Universal Pictures, and was being produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, along with Cher. Craymer and Goetzman had produced Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, in which Cher has a memorable cameo.

At that point it was announced that Cher’s “dear dear friend”, screenwriter Eric Roth, had been recruited to pen the screenplay. That’s the Eric Roth who won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Forrest Gump, and who recently matched the record for penning the most films nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.

Eric Roth is also the latest guest on the Film Stories podcast,...

One of the most acclaimed movies of 2023 is coming home: A24 has announced that "The Iron Claw" will be available on Blu-ray and DVD next month. But for those who aren't committed to picking up a physical copy of the film, it is also available to rent on VOD from a variety of digital retailers right now. So there are plenty of options, with even more on the way in the coming months (we'll get to that in a moment).

A24's wrestling drama about the Von Erichs "The Iron Claw" (read /Film's review here) is currently available to rent from retailers such as Apple TV+, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube, among others. It is priced at $19.99 for a 48-hour rental, which is the standard premium VOD price that studios began running with a few years ago. That price typically drops several weeks after the initial Digital release date.

Starz has revealed new details about the upcoming Outlander prequel, including the show’s core cast.

Jamie Roy will play Jamie Fraser’s father Brian Fraser in Outlander: Blood of My Blood. Harriet Slater will play his mother, Ellen Mackenzie. The show’s focus has also shifted a bit. While it was originally set to focus on Jamie’s parents, the Outlander prequel will now also explore the story of Claire Fraser’s mother and father. They’ll be played by Jeremy Irvine and Hermione Corfield.

“​​So excited!!! What a cast!!” Outlander star Sam Heughan commented on Instagram after the news was announced.

Meet the ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’ cast [L-r]: Harriet Slater, Jamie Roy, Hermione Corfield, Jeremy Irvine | Gerry McCabe/Kristia Knowles/Starz

Scottish actor Jamie Roy will play Jamie Fraser’s father Brian in the Outlander spinoff. He grew up in Glasgow and has previously been seen in Condor’s Nest,...

The original Doughtlander may not be over, but Outlander: Blood of My Blood hopes to close the gap.

For sure, it will be taking over where Outlander leaves off, even if it explores a story long before Jamie and Claire were figments of their parents' imagination.

Here’s what we know bout Blood of My Blood Season 1 so far.

What is Outlander?

It’s best to start with what we know, which is what came before. Outlander is based on a series of books by author Diana Gabaldon.

Outlander is a time-traveling love story between 20th-century (married) nurse Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser and 18th-century Jamie Fraser.

When visiting the ancestral home of her husband, Frank, Claire stumbles through the rocks at Craigh na Dun, which takes her back in time.

Unable to easily find her way back, the sassy lady leans on handsome laird Jamie for protection, and soon, they are in love.

Plans have been in development for a prequel series to the Starz hit, Outlander, and as the show got the season eight renewal, the network would almost simultaneously greenlight the prequel show. Now, Blood of My Blood is announcing its new cast of actors. The premium movie network has confirmed that the prequel will follow the parents of both Jamie and Claire. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Blood of My Blood has started filming in Scotland.

The main cast that have been announced include Harriet Slater, seen in Pennyworth, and Jamie Roy, known for Lifetime’s Your Boyfriend Is Mine), who will play Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser, and will eventually become Jamie’s parents in 18th century Scotland. Additionally, Hermione Corfield, whose credits include We Hunt Together, and Jeremy Irvine who was featured in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, are on board to play Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp,...

Production has officially begun on the long-awaited Outlander: Blood of My Blood, an Outlander prequel series that follows the parents of both Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp.

Yes, you read that right. As part of the start of production note, it was revealed that the 10-episode Starz series will explore the lives and relationships of Jamie’s parents as well as the origin story of his devoted wife’s parents.

Harriet Slater, Jamie Roy, Sam Heughan in Starz’s “Outlander”

For Jamie, his mother Ellen MacKenzie will be portrayed by Harriet Slater and his father Brian Fraser will be brought to life by Jamie Roy. For Claire, her parents Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp will be played by Hermione Corfield and Jeremy Irvine, respectively.

The Starz series,...

Pictures: Netflix / Warner Bros. Pictures / Lionsgate / Sony Pictures

As 2023 is put into the history books, it’s time your comprehensive look at what’s coming to Netflix in the United States throughout January 2024. Below, we’ll be looking through all the licensed and Netflix Original movies, series, and games on the way.

Want to see more of what’s on the way throughout 2024? We’ve got you covered with the current calendar of every known Netflix Original confirmed for 2024.

As always, you’ll want to watch anything set to expire throughout January, too – you can keep track of all the movies and series leaving Netflix US here.

Note: This list is a work in progress. It’ll continue to be updated throughout January 2024 as we learn of new titles coming to the service. All release dates are subject to change.

Full List of New Releases Coming to Netflix US in...

A nearly unrecognizable Sofia Vergara playing a cartel boss, a new retelling of the story of the Uruguayan rugby team that crash-landed in the Andes in 1972, Kevin Hart assembling a team for a daring heist and Dan Levy dealing with loss and grief are among the standout projects hitting Netflix this January.

Spanish director J.A. Bayona’s Society of the Snow lands on Netflix on Jan. 4. The film is the latest cinematic retelling of the miraculous story of the Uruguayan rugby team that crash-landed on a glacier in the heart of the Andes in 1972, with the survivors being forced to resort to extreme measures to stay alive. After debuting in Venice, Society of the Snow has picked up plenty of awards on the international film festival circuit, and it recently made the shortlists in four categories for the 2024 Academy Awards, including best international feature film.

On Jan. 5, Netflix debuts Good Grief,...

It’s a quiet month on Netflix in January, but the streamer still has some good stuff lined up for the new year, including an interesting documentary about the Centra Tech cryptocurrency scam. Bitconned arrives on the first of the month alongside Netflix’s latest Harlan Coben adaptation, Fool Me Once, which sees an ex-soldier called Maya witness her husband’s murder on a nanny cam. The crime then leads her down a deadly path where she uncovers a deadly conspiracy.

Schitt’s Creek star Daniel Levy will also debut his first film as writer and director with Good Grief on Netflix this month. The movie follows Levy’s character Marc as he does some soul-searching after the death of his husband.

Kevin Hart has a new movie called Lift hitting the platform this month, too. He plays the leader of a heist crew looking to rob $500 million in gold from...