BANG Showbiz - Aug 7, 2023 / 7:37 am | Story: 440524
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Dua Lipa is set to ditch her disco pop era in favour of music informed by "1970s-era psychedelia."
A New York Times profile on the Grammy-winning pop star, 27, has claimed the 'Physical' hitmaker is reinventing her sound for her follow-up to 2020's dance record 'Future Nostalgia', and is getting help from psychedelic act Tame Impala's Kevin Parker.
Asked if the rumour is true, she coyly replied: “I don’t know what you’re talking about."
The profile noted: "She doesn’t want to “alienate” them [her fans], although she’s developing a new sound that may be informed less by the house and disco beats beneath songs like 'Physical' and 'Hallucinate' than by 1970s-era psychedelia."
Last month, Mark Ronson revealed that he has already heard "some" of Dua's new album.
The studio wizard - who brought Dua on board for the hit 'Dance The Night' for the 'Barbie' soundtrack - has hinted at what fans can expect from her third studio effort.
He told Vulture: "I've heard some of it and it's incredible."
Referencing the music video for 'Dance The Night', he suggested that one key moment could be a big hint of what's to come.
He added: "I think that’s why there’s the disco ball that smashes in the video, right?
"This feels like her triumphant stomp on that era of her music into whatever she does next.”
Fans are still waiting for a release date for the upcoming record.
Dua backtracked after telling Sir Elton John the collection was "50 per cent done" in March last year.
However, in December she admitted the record had "taken a complete turn."
She told Variety: "When I was speaking to Elton, I really felt like I was halfway done.
"But it’s taken a complete turn as I’ve carried on working, and I really feel now that it’s starting to sound cohesive.
"So I’m going to keep writing in the early months of the new year and see where that takes me.”
She admitted the record is "different sonically" from what's come before and teased that the title would make "everything" clearer to her fans.
She added: "The album is different – it’s still pop but it’s different sonically, and there’s more of a lyrical theme.
"If I told you the title, everything would make sense – but I think we’ll just have to wait.”
BANG Showbiz - Aug 7, 2023 / 7:32 am | Story: 440523
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Ed Sheeran stopped a gig over the weekend to help a couple announce the gender of their unborn baby.
The 32-year-old pop star was performing at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday when he spotted the parents-to-be in the audience holding up a sign asking him to help them announce their big news - and he stopped his song 'Perfect' and asked them to hand over the envelope which contained the gender reveal.
He told the audience: "I will go back to singing 'Perfect', but I feel like this is the first time, sort of thing."
In a video posted on Instagram, Ed was seen tearing open the envelope and telling the stadium: "It's a girl!"
The reveal prompted huge cheers from the audience and the delighted couple were seen embracing as they celebrated.
Ed then went on to tell them: "Can I just say as a father of two daughters, it's very awesome. It's very awesome," before resuming his set.
The singer is dad to two girls - Lyra Antartica and Jupiter - with his wife Cherry Seaborn.
Ed previously admitted his life totally changed when he became a dad and he is now healthier and happier.
During an appearance on 'The Late Late Show With James Corden', he explained his days are now much more structured. He said: "I became a dad and I feel like my lifestyle shift has changed. Instead of going to bed at six [a.m.], I'm getting up at four. It just feels like what life was meant to be. It's great.
"I'm healthier than I've ever been. I'm exercising every day ... I'm spending so much time at home making the record. Yeah, I feel like a human being. It's good."
BANG Showbiz - Aug 7, 2023 / 7:29 am | Story: 440522
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Sophia Bush has filed for divorce after just 13 months of marriage.
The former 'One Tree Hill' star tied the knot with Grant Hughes in June 2022 but have decided to go their separate ways just seven weeks after celebrating their first anniversary, though they are still on good terms.
A source told People magazine: "Sophia and Grant were friends for 10 years and bonded during COVID through their love of community service.
"They continue to run their nonprofit together and remain good friends.”
In June, Sophia described marrying Grant - who proposed less than a year before they tied the knot - to be the "best decision" of her life.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, the 41-year-old star shared a black and white photo from their wedding and wrote: "Today marks 365 days of calling you ‘husband'.
“Best decision of my life. It still feels just like this. Ecstatic. Running toward the future, grinning and laughing, together. I love you, my favorite. Happy Anniversary."
Sophia has had a difficult few weeks, as on July 21, she revealed she was "crushed" to have to leave her role in '2:22' on London's West End after contracting a virus that had been going through the company.
She said in a statement: "I am truly gutted that my time in '2:22 A Ghost Story' has come to an unexpected and early end. I came down with a virus in June and have not been able to bring my body back to a baseline.
"After weeks of being intermittently pulled off stage, visiting multiple doctors and spending a night in the emergency room, I've been advised by expert healthcare specialists that I needed to end my time on stage and be under the care of my doctors at home in the U.S.
"I owe a debt of gratitude to my incredible cast mates and to every member of our extraordinary company, who became fast family. It means the world to me that so many fans travelled to London to see the show."
BANG Showbiz - Aug 7, 2023 / 7:26 am | Story: 440521
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to produce a new movie for Netflix.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are believed to have paid up to $3 million for the rights to Carley Fortune's novel 'Meet Me At The Lake', which follows a couple who meet in their 30s, one of whom has, like the prince, lost a parent in a car crash as a child, and features themes including alcohol, drug use, and mental health issues.
The drama will be the first off-camera joint project for the couple as part of their rumoured $100 million deal with the streaming service, which they signed three years ago.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "The themes of the book gripped the couple and it was chosen for their first adaptation with Netflix...
"This is their biggest and most significant as producers.”
It was recently revealed the couple - who have so far only made the Harry + Meghan' fly-on-the-wall docuseries and another documentary programme, 'Live to Lead', for Netflix - will be making a 'Great Expectations' spin-off series for the streaming giant.
According to the Wall Street Journal, their Archewell company are working on 'Bad Manners', a prequel based on Charles Dickens' classic character Miss Havisham but with the lonely spinster reimagined as a strong woman living in a patriarchal society, though the show has yet to be greenlit.
Harry's documentary series about the Invictus Games is also near completion, however, Meghan's animated children's series 'Pearl' was cancelled last May, and the couple have also had a number of other proposals quashed.
The outlet reports their suggestions seemed designed to replicate already-successful shows on Netflix, including a sitcom "described as 'Emily in Paris', but about a man" and an LGBTQ+ show that would be family-friendly, which was seen as too similar to 'Heartstopper'.
Despite the knock-backs, both Harry and Meghan - who have Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, together - and Netflix remain happy with the deal.
A spokesperson for Archewell said: “New companies often make changes in their start up phase, both with people and strategy, and we are no exception. We’re more equipped, focused and energised than ever before.”
She also noted the company had recently hired actress and producer Tracy Ryerson as head of scripted content.
Meanwhile, Netflix's representative highlighted the fact 'Harry + Meghan' had been their biggest documentary debut and insisted they valued the partnership with Archewell.
The spokesperson added: "We’ll continue to work together on a number of projects."
BANG Showbiz - Aug 7, 2023 / 7:19 am | Story: 440520
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The Kinks' John Gosling has died at the age of 75.
The rock band have taken to social media to announce the passing of the keyboard player, who joined the group in 1970.
The band said on Instagram: "We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of John Gosling. We are sending our condolences to John's wife and family."
Gosling's former bandmates have also paid glowing tributes to the musician.
Ray Davies - the band's lead vocalist - said: "Condolences to his wife Theresa and family. Rest in Peace dearest John."
Dave Davies has admitted to having a "deep affection" for his former bandmate.
He said: "I’m dismayed deeply upset by John Gosling’s passing. He has been a friend and important contributor to the Kinks music during his time with us. Deepest sympathies to his wife and family. I will hold deep affection and love for him in my heart always. Great musician and a great man."
Meanwhile, Mick Avory has hailed Gosling as a "great musician" and revealed that he also had a "fantastic sense of humour."
The 79-year-old drummer said on Instagram: "Today we lost a dear friend and colleague, he was a great musician and had a fantastic sense of humour... which made him a popular member of the band, he leaves us with some happy memories. God Bless him...."
Gosling left The Kinks in 1977 and in 1994, he became a founding member of the band The Kast Off Kinks, which also included Avory, Jim Rodford, John Dalton and Dave Clarke.
The keyboard player stayed in the band until he retired in 2008.
BANG Showbiz - Aug 7, 2023 / 7:17 am | Story: 440519
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Rebel Wilson required stitches after being injured on the set of her new movie.
The 43-year-old actress has taken to social media to reveal that she suffered a facial injury while filming 'Bride Hard', a new comedy movie that's shooting in Savannah, Georgia.
Alongside a photo of her painful-looking injury, Rebel wrote on her Instagram Story: "NOT the way I wanted to end this movie! 3 stitches and in hospital last night after a stunt accident at 4 a.m."
'Bride Hard' has continued filming amid the ongoing actors' strike, after the film was granted an Interim Agreement to continue shooting.
The movie was given an Interim Agreement because it's an independently produced project.
Rebel is perhaps best known for starring in the 'Pitch Perfect' film franchise, and the actress previously revealed that her contract for the series actually prevented her from losing weight.
The Hollywood star played Fat Amy in the franchise between 2012 and 2017, and Rebel claimed that her contract stopped her from shedding weight.
She told the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast: "I couldn't lose a massive amount of weight, because I was in the contracts for that movie.
"I think it's not more than ten pounds [you can lose] and not gain more than ten pounds. You have to kind of stay at the weight that's in your contract."
Rebel embarked on a so-called year of health in 2020, as she made a determined effort to lose weight.
However, the actress had been thinking about adopting a healthier lifestyle for years.
Rebel - who ultimately managed to lose 60 pounds - said: "I was stereotyped in playing that fat, funny friend. I love doing those roles, I love those characters, but then I did want to do more things. But then I felt like being the bigger girl, you're just more pigeonholed."
BANG Showbiz - Aug 7, 2023 / 7:14 am | Story: 440518
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Busta Rhymes’ 100-pound weight loss was sparked by a post-sex asthma-like attack.
The rapper, 51, real name Trevor George Smith Jr, weighed around 340 pounds in 2019, but started to lose the pounds after the incident convinced him he needed to overhaul his lifestyle.
He told Men’s Health: “One night I was getting ready to have, make, you know … I was getting ready to have an intimate moment with my ex.
“I had a breathing issue after the intimate interaction.”
Busta added he was having a “really difficult time breathing” so he “got up and walked out of the bedroom” so his ex “wouldn’t panic seeing me trying to keep myself calm.”
He went on: “I was trying to inhale, and it felt like it wasn’t working. I felt like I was having like, an asthma attack – but I don’t have asthma.
“So I walked out of the bedroom and went into the living room, and I was forcing myself to inhale, to relax.”
After the rapper walked back into the bedroom, he said his ex said something to him that “really f*****” him up.
He said: “She was like, ‘Yo, this is not who I fell in love with.’
“She didn’t know what had happened outside, but she was looking at my body and the weight.
“She was like, ‘You gotta lose this weight. This breathing is scaring me.’”
Busta’s dramatic weight gain started after he lost his father, Trevor Smith, in 2014.
He said: “I drowned myself in work. I just kept drinking, smoking, eating bad – the whole nasty – and recording a bunch of songs just to escape the pain.”
After his breathing troubles, which were caused by polyps on his vocal cords, the dad-of-six said he got in the gym and altered his eating habits.
He is now preparing to go on tour with 50 Cent and told Men’s Health he works out twice a day as he doesn’t want to be the “weak link” on stage.
BANG Showbiz - Aug 6, 2023 / 1:12 pm | Story: 440447
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Bella Hadid is "finally healthy" after more than a decade of health troubles.
The 26-year-old model - who was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in 2012 - has taken to social media to reveal that she's recovering after "almost 15 years of invisible suffering".
Alongside photos of her medical records and her various treatments, Bella wrote on Instagram: "the little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself [heart emoji]
"Thankful to my mommy for keeping all of my medical records, sticking by me , never leaving my side, protecting, supporting , but most of all, believing me through all of this
"Living in this state, worsening with time and work while trying to make myself, my family and the people who support me, proud, had taken a toll on me in ways I can’t really explain. To be that sad and sick with the most blessings/privilege/opportunity/love around me was quite possibly the most confusing thing ever. one thing I want to express to you all is that 1: I am okay and you do not have to worry, [heart emoji] and 2:I wouldn’t change anything for the world. If I had to go through all of this again, to get here, to this exact moment I’m in right now, with all of you, finally healthy, I would do it all again. It made me who I am today. (sic)"
Bella - who is the younger sister of model Gigi Hadid - has also offered some words of encouragement to people going through similar struggles.
She said: "The universe works in the most painful and beautiful ways but I need to say that if you are struggling- it will get better. I promise. take a step away, stay strong, have faith in your path, walk in your truth and the clouds will start to clear up. I have so much gratitude for and perspective on life , this 100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease , co infection treatment, almost 15 years of invisible suffering, was all worth it if I’m able to, God willing, have a lifetime of spreading love from a full cup, and being able to truly be myself, for the first time ever.
"I tried to pick the most positive pictures I could because as painful as this experience was, the outcome was the most enlightening experience of my life filled with new friends, new visions and a new brain (sic)"
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press - Aug 6, 2023 / 8:59 am | Story: 440425
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Margot Robbie arrives at the premiere of "Barbie" on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Greta Gerwig should be feeling closer to fine these days. In just three weeks in theaters, “Barbie” is set to sail past $1 billion in global ticket sales, breaking a record for female directors that was previously held by Patty Jenkins, who helmed “Wonder Woman.”
“Barbie,” which Gerwig directed and co-wrote, added another $53 million from 4,178 North American locations this weekend according to studio estimates on Sunday. The Margot Robbie-led and produced film has been comfortably seated in first place for three weeks and it’s hardly finished yet. Warner Bros. said the film will cross $1 billion before the end of the day.
In modern box office history, just 53 movies have made over $1 billion, not accounting for inflation, and “Barbie” is now the biggest to be directed by one woman, supplanting “Wonder Woman’s” $821.8 million global total. Three movies that were co-directed by women are still ahead of “Barbie,” including “Frozen” ($1.3 billion) and “Frozen 2” ($1.45 billion) both co-directed by Jennifer Lee and “Captain Marvel” ($1.1 billion), co-directed by Anna Boden. But, “Barbie” has passed “Captain Marvel” domestically with $459.4 million (versus $426.8 million), thereby claiming the North American record for live-action movies directed by women.
New competition came this weekend in the form of the animated, PG-rated “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and the Jason Statham shark sequel, “Meg 2: The Trench,” both of which were neck-in-neck with Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” also in its third weekend, for the second-place spot.
“Meg 2” managed to sneak ahead and land in second place. It overcame its abysmal reviews to score a $30 million opening weekend from 3,503 locations. The Warner Bros. release, directed by Ben Wheatley, currently has a 29% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a B- CinemaScore from audiences. The thriller was released in 3D, which accounted for 22% of its first weekend business.
Third place went to “Oppenheimer," which added $28.7 million from 3,612 locations in North America, bringing its domestic total to $228.6 million. In just three weeks, the J. Robert Oppenheimer biopic starring Cillian Murphy become the highest grossing R-rated film of the year (ahead of “John Wick Chapter 4”) and the sixth-biggest of the year overall, surpassing “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”
“Oppenheimer” also celebrated a landmark, crossing $500 million globally in three weeks. Its worldwide tally is currently $552.9 million, which puts it ahead of “Dunkirk,” which clocked out with $527 million in 2017 and has become Nolan's fifth-biggest movie ever. It's now among the four top grossing biographies ever (company includes “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Passion of the Christ" and “American Sniper”) and the biggest World War II movie of all time.
Paramount’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” was close behind in fourth place with an estimated $28 million from 3,858 theaters in North America. Since opening on Wednesday, the film, which is riding on excellent reviews and audience scores, has earned $43.1 million.
BANG Showbiz - Aug 6, 2023 / 7:43 am | Story: 440418
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Harry Styles future with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is in doubt.
The 29-year-old megastar made a cameo appearance at the end of the 2021 movie 'Eternals' as Eros/Starfox and was set to pocket up to $10 million for reprising the role in a spin-off titled 'Eros and Pip', but the project has reportedly been shelved amid Disney's plans to scale back the various offshoots of the franchise.
A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper's No Filter column: "Marvel bosses were openly talking about Harry in a lead role but that talk has cooled.
"The whole business and Marvel franchise is being rethought. The focus is on creating the biggest projects with the biggest revenues.
"Harry's character is a fun and beloved role but it is not realistically the number one choice to get the Marvel franchise bouncing back".
The update comes a few months after Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore teased Harry had a strong future with the franchise because of Eros' "fascinating" character and "really interesting" connection to the villainous Thanos.
During an interview on the Deadline Crew Call podcast, he said: "We certainly didn't cast Harry for a tag. I mean, again – And a character (that) maybe I have too much affection for, 'cause he's had some problematic runs in publishing. But there are more stories to be told with the character.
"He has a really interesting connection with Thanos; they're half-brothers and share the same father. He has an interesting power set.
"He's a complicated character, but a really fun character. And I think... having met Harry Styles, he is as charming as you want him to be. And I think there's no limit to how good that character's going to be once we get to bring him back."
'Eternals' director Chloe Zhao revealed that she was the driving force behind the decision to give the 'As It Was' hitmaker a role in the MCU.
She said: "Long story short, with that depressing ending, at some point he was going to be one of the Eternals on that ship.
"And that didn't quite work out.
"But I had been wanting to bring Eros into the MCU.
"So I kept mentioning [casting Harry Styles] to Kevin [Feige] at every chance I had in the hallway, because I love the idea of Eros being another Eternal, another Ajak."
BANG Showbiz - Aug 6, 2023 / 7:38 am | Story: 440417
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Madonna is ready to reschedule her world tour following her recent hospitalisation.
The singer's 'Celebration' concerts were postponed in June after she was taken ill with a "serious bacterial infection" but she's revealed she's ready to get back to work and promised fans there will be information coming soon as to when the dates will now take place.
She tweeted: “Thank you again for your incredible support and patience over these past few weeks! I’m happy to report that the re-routed tour schedule will be coming in the next few days!
“See you soon for a well deserved Celebration!! [party, rainbow and heart emojis] (sic)"
The 64-year-old star's update came a few weeks after it was reported Madonna had reportedly battled with her management team about her plans to rush back to work.
A source told the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column: "Madonna told everyone she wants to do the whole thing (soon) – but her management team and her insurance company kicked back.
“There was a bit of a battle raging.
“While she has some rehearsing still to do, she has been working at it for months and knows exactly what needs to be done.
She is just eager to get out there – as eager as her fans are to see her.”
Madonna’s upcoming greatest hits tour – for which she was said to be rehearsing 12 hours a day before she collapsed last month – had been set to start on 15 July at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
The 'Material Girl' singer's manager, Guy Oseary, had announced the 'Celebration' tour would be "paused" when he revealed Madonna was in hospital.
He said on 28 June: “On Saturday June 24, Madonna developed a serious bacterial infection which led to a several day stay in the ICU.
“Her health is improving, however she is still under medical care. A full recovery is expected.
“At this time we will need to pause all commitments, which includes the tour.
“We will share more details with you as soon as we have them, including a new start date for the tour and for rescheduled shows.”
BANG Showbiz - Aug 4, 2023 / 12:45 pm | Story: 440217
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‘Breaking Bad’ actor Mark Margolis has died aged 83.
Best known for his role as the wheelchair-bound, bell-ringing drug kingpin Hector ‘Tío’ Salamanca on the hit show – for which he earned an Emmy nomination in 2012 – he passed away on Thursday.
His son Morgan Margolis said his dad died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City after battling a short illness.
Mark reprised his ‘Breaking Bad’ role for five seasons of the spin-off series ‘Better Call Saul’ alongside Bob Odenkirk.
His final role was starring in his ‘Breaking Bad’ co-star Bryan Cranston’s Showtime series ‘Your Honor’, according to his IMDB profile.
Along with his son Morgan – who is CEO of Knitting Factory Entertainment – Mark is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, to whom he was married for 61 years and three grandchildren.
Movies he is credited with include ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ and ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2’.
He was also a notable stage actor and appeared as Gus in Tony Kushner’s ‘The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures’ in 2014.
Born in Philadelphia, he studied acting under Stella Adler at the Actors Studio.
His career kicked off in the mid-1970s before he landed his breakout role as Alberto the Shadow in 1983’s ‘Scarface’ starring Al Pacino.
Years later he appeared as a maths teacher in director Darren Aronofsky’s 1998 psychological thriller ‘Pi’
It was the start of a long working relationship, with Mark also starring in Darren’s films ‘Requiem for a Dream’, ‘The Fountain’, ‘The Wrestler’, ‘Black Swan’, and ‘Noah’.
Mark joked to The Hollywood Reporter about why Darren kept casting him: “He thinks he has an obligation!”
He added: “I started with him on his first movie, the $60,000 ‘Pi’, when he was unknown.
“I chased him for three months because he kept lying to me about when I’d get my money.
“I finally threatened to call his mother, who was craft services on the film. Then he finally paid me.”
