Here's the Scoop...
Hooray! Filmmaker James Gunn announced Monday he will return to write and direct a third Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is set for release on May 5. It is the sequel to the 2014 blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy.
Gunn confirmed last month that a third chapter in Marvel's space-comedy franchise had been greenlit, but he also said he was still "trying to figure it out" regarding whether he would once again be at the helm.
"I could save this answer for the first, random interviewer to ask me during the press junket but instead I thought I'd share it with the most important people in the Guardiansverse -- you, the fans, who have been so incredibly supportive and enthusiastic over the past five years, it has moved me to tears on a regular basis," Gunn wrote in a Facebook post. "So, yes, I'm returning to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In the end, my love for Rocket, Groot, Gamora, Star-Lord, Yondu, Mantis, Drax, and Nebula -- and some of the other forthcoming heroes -- goes deeper than you guys can possibly imagine, and I feel they have more adventures to go on and things to learn about themselves and the wonderful and sometimes terrifying universe we all inhabit. And, like in both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, we will work on creating the story that goes beyond what you expect."
I cannot wait for 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' and now I can't wait for 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3'! Everything's coming up Milhouse!
Be Well,
Steve
Comments? Questions? Nooz?
Email Steve
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Jay Pharoah on 'SNL' departure: 'They put people into boxes'
Jay Pharoah has spoken out about his exit from Saturday Night Live and what caused him to leave the sketch-comedy series.
"You go where you're appreciated," the comedian said recently on New York City based radio station Hot 97.
"If you have multiple people on the cast saying things like, 'You're so talented and you're able and they don't use you and it's unfair. And it's making us feel bad, because they don't use you and you're a talent,'" he continued.
Pharoah also detailed how his impressions of Jay Z and Ben Carson put him into what he felt was an "impression box" on the show.
"They put people into boxes," the 29-year-old explained. "Whatever they want you to do, they expect you to do. And I'm fiery too... I'm not a 'yes [expletive].' That's not me."
Pharoah left SNL after six years alongside fellow castmate Taran Killam in August. In terms of his relationship with famed executive producer Lorne Michaels, Pharoah says he has "no beef" towards him.
"Ain't no problem with Lorne Michaels," he said. "We on good graces and everything."
Pharoah recently paid tribute to the late Charlie Murphy while performing at Carolines on Broadway for helping him get his start in comedy.
"Charlie brought me with him to this very stage when I was only 19 .?.?. so this is going to be an emotional night for me," he said.
"I will always miss him and thank him," Pharoah continued. "The same way he helped young comedians come up, I know that I should do the same thing, and I am definitely going to try."
Jeff Varner fired following 'Survivor' tribal council, employer speaks out
Jeff Varner, who made headlines for outing fellow Survivor contestant Zeke Smith as transgender during the shows tribal council, has been fired from his real estate job following the incident.
"The Allen Tate Companies were built on core values of honesty, integrity and respect," Varner's former employer, Allen Tate Real Estate CEO Pat Riley said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.
"Those fundamental beliefs led us to end our relationship with Mr. Varner, a real estate agent who had become affiliated with our firm just 17 days earlier," he continued.
Varner, following his termination, stated that he was let go in an "ugly, knee-jerk reaction kind of way," and that he had warned the company that negative reactions to his actions on Survivor were coming before the episode aired.
Riley denies that claim further stating, "To be clear, at no time before the airing of the Survivor episode on Wednesday evening was our management aware of his actions on that episode. We make all decisions such as this one with careful consideration of our clients, employees and our agents."
Varner faced backlash on social media following Wednesday's episode of Survivor: Game Changers as he revealed Smith to be transgender in an attempt to save himself during the tribal council as he felt he was nearing elimination.
"There is deception here. Deceptions on levels, Jeff, that these guys don't even understand," Varner said to Survivor host Jeff Probst. "Why haven't you told anyone that you're transgender?" he continued while looking at Smith.
Varner who had previously appeared on the reality series twice before was then voted off the island before sharing a final hug with Smith.
Smith commented on the moment while penning a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter writing,"Forgiveness does not require friendship. Forgiveness does not require forgetting or excusing his actions. Forgiveness requires hope. Hope that he understands the injury he caused and does not inflict it upon others. Hope that whatever torments his soul will plague him no more."
"I have hope for Jeff Varner. I just choose to hope from afar, thank you very much," he continued.
Varner tweeted an apology stating, "I am deeply saddened at what my mistake unleashed and I promise to use its lessons to do the right thing."
LOOSE LIPS:
"If you're ever fortunate enough to love someone and have them love you back, it's worth protecting that."
--Chris Evans, revealing he stays on good terms with his exes, to Elle
??? Guess Who ???
Which actor, musician and veterans-rights advocate got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Kate del Castillo, Carlos Ponce to host the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards
Actress Kate del Castillo and entertainer Carlos Ponce are to co-host the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards on April 27.
Performers confirmed for the event include Daddy Yankee, Luis Fonsi, Wisin, J. Balvin, Yandel, Ozuna, Luis Figueroa, Pedro Capo, Christian Pagan, Bad Bunny, Reik, Vin Diesel and Blue Man Group. Among the previously announced artists expected to take the stage are Alejandro Fernandez, Banda MS, CNCO, Gente De Zona, Morat, Nicky Jam, Ricardo Arjona and Zion & Lennox.
"The Billboard Latin Music Awards are the only ones that honor the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin music, as determined by the actual sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that informs Billboard's weekly charts," Telemundo noted in a press release. "The awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, which will take place on April 24-27 at The Ritz-Carlton in South Beach, Fla."
Glen Campbell farewell album 'Adios' to release in June
Country star Glen Campbell will release a final album, Adiós, in June.
The record will serve as a farewell for the 80-year-old singer, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2011.
Adiós includes 12 songs, and will debut June 9, according to a press release from UMe. Campbell recorded the album in Nashville following his diagnosis and subsequent Goodbye tour.
"Glen's abilities to play, sing and remember songs began to rapidly decline after his diagnosis in 2011," the star's wife, Kim Campbell, wrote in the album's liner notes, according to People. "A feeling of urgency grew to get him into the studio one last time to capture what magic was left. It was now or never."
Campbell collaborated with banjo player and longtime friend Carl Jackson on the album. The record also features Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, and Campbell and Kim's three children, Cal, Shannon and Ashley.
"What you're hearing ... is the beautiful and loving culmination of friends and family doing their very best for the man who inspired, raised and entertained them for decades -- giving him the chance to say one last goodbye to his fans," Kim said.
Campbell has not performed or recorded since 2012, and was moved to a care facility in 2014. He documented his farewell tour and struggle with Alzheimer's in the 2014 film Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me.
??? Guess Who ???
Which actor, musician and veterans-rights advocate got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Gary Sinise was honored Monday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sinise, 62, is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner known for his work in the films Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Mission: Space, Reindeer Games, Ransom and The Green Mile, as well as in TV's The Stand, CSI: NY and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. He is also the co-founder of the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.
On hand to help the Illinois native celebrate his latest accomplishment were his wife Moira Harris, actress Patricia Heaton, his Criminal Minds co-stars Joe Mantegna, Daniel Henney and Alana de la Garza, members of the military and first responders.
The event kicked off with an honor guard presentation and performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner."