April 21, 2021

Here's the Scoop...

Marvel Entertainment is giving a glimpse of the new film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

The studio shared a teaser trailer for the movie Monday featuring Simu Liu as the titular superhero, Shang-Chi.

The preview shows Shang-Chi's father, Wenwu (Tony Leung), aka the Mandarin, call upon Shang-Chi (Liu) and instruct him to take his place by his side in the mysterious Ten Rings organization. Shang-Chi rejects his father's demands.

Marvel also released a poster featuring Liu as Shang-Chi. The trailer and poster were released on Liu's 32nd birthday.

Awkwafina co-stars as Shang-Chi's friend Katy. Fala Chen, Meng'er Zhang, Florian Munteanu, Ronny Chieng and Michelle Yeoh also appear in the film.

Shang-Chi is written by David Callaham, who co-wrote Wonder Woman 1984 and the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie. The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and produced by Kevin Feige.

Shang-Chi is based on the Marvel Comics character created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. The movie opens in theaters Sept. 3.

Liu is known for playing Paul Xie on Blood and Water and Jung Kim on Kim's Convenience.

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Steve

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'Downton Abbey 2' to open in theaters in December

The Downton Abbey cast will return in a second film in the franchise.

Focus Features announced Monday that Downton Abbey 2 will open in theaters in December.

The new movie is a sequel to the 2019 film and the ITV series, which aired for six seasons from 2010 to 2015.

Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael and other original cast members will return, along with series creator Julian Fellowes.

In addition, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West will join the cast.

Fellowes will write the screenplay and produce with Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge, according to Variety. Simon Curtis will direct the sequel.

"After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead and that next Christmas we will be reunited with the much beloved characters of Downton Abbey," Neame said in a statement.

"There's no place like home for the holidays, and we can't imagine a better gift than getting to reunite with Julian, Gareth, and the entire Downton family in 2021 to bring the Crawleys back home for their fans," Focus Feature chairman Peter Kujawski added.

Downton Abbey 2 is in production and will open in theaters Dec. 22.

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Luke Bryan wins top prize at ACM Awards 2021

Luke Bryan, Maren Morris and Thomas Rhett were the big winners Sunday night during the 56th annual Academy of Country Music Awards that celebrates excellency in the genre.

Bryan was named Entertainer of the Year, beating out Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Luke Combs and Rhett for the night's highest honor.

However, the American Idol judge accepted the award via video from Los Angeles where he's been recuperating since testing positive for COVID-19, which forced him to pull out of performing during the event.

"I'm amazingly surprised," he said in the video. "To the ACM, I'm so sorry I could not be there. I missed certainly being able to do my song."

The show was telecast from the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, The Bluebird Cafe -- three of Nashville's historic music venues -- and was hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton, who is the first Black woman to host the event.

Heading into the event, Morris and Stapleton led with six nominations, with neither ending the night empty handed as Morris won her second-straight Female Artist of the Year accolade and Stapleton took home Album of the Year for Starting Over.

"I kind of consider this category to be who tried their best in a year where it was very weird and nobody could do what they were made to do," Morris said in accepting the award while thanking nominees Gabby Barrett, Caylee Hammack, Ingrid Andress, Guyton and Tenille Arts.

"You've all inspired me so much," she said.

Male Artist of the Year went to Rhett who beat out Dierks Bentley, Stapleton, Church and Combs.

"This is absolutely unbelievable," Rhett said. "It just feels so incredible to be in this category, to be honest with you. It's literally my heroes sitting right here in these seats."

The night was filled by performances with Elle King and Miranda Lambert opening the show with "Drunk (And I Don't Want to Go Home)."

Bentley performed a cover of U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)" with The War and Treaty.

Dan + Shay, who won Duo of the Year, also performed "Glad You Exist."

Other award winners included Carly Pearce and Lee Brice who won Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year for their song "I Hope You're Happy Now," which they also performed during the show.

Kane Brown won Video of the Year for "Worldwide Beautiful," and Barrett and Jimmie Allen won New Female Artist of the Year and New Male Artist of the year, respectively.

Group of the Year went to Old Dominion.

'Mad Max' prequel 'Furiosa' to be 'biggest' film ever made in Australia

Mad Max prequel Furiosa starring Anya Taylor-Joy will film in New South Wales and will receive financial incentives from federal and state governments.

Director George Miller, star Chris Hemsworth and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement on Monday during a press conference.

Production will begin in June.

"The support of the federal and New South Wales governments were pivotal. They made it possible for the film to be greenlit, shot in Australia and for the production to be based in our home state," Miller said in a statement.

"Great news the Mad Max prequel - Furiosa starring Chris Hemsworth - is being filmed right here in NSW. The biggest ever film to be made in Australia, supporting more than 850 local jobs and brining in $350 million to the economy," Berejiklian said on Twitter.

Taylor-Joy will portray the title character Furiosa, who was first brought to life by Charlize Theron in 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II also stars.

The prequel will explore Furiosa's part before she encounters Tom Hardy's Max Rockatanksy in Fury Road.

Miller is also co-writing and producing the film with his producing partner Doug Mitchell. The project is being produced by Miller's Kennedy Miller Michell production company and Warner Bros. Pictures.

Mad Max: Fury Road grossed $375 million at the global box office. The series, which had Mel Gibson star as Max Rockatansky in the first three films before Fury Road was released, takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where a drifter helps those in need.

Furiosa is set to hit theaters on June 23, 2023.

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Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo to write Disney film about Cinderella's evil stepsisters

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo will team up again on a Disney film about Cinderella's evil stepsisters.

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Friday that Wiig and Mumolo will write a live-action musical comedy centering on the characters Anastasia and Drizella.

The new movie is a reimagining of the Cinderella fairytale, which Disney previously adapted as a 1950 animated film.

Deadline said it is unknown whether Wiig and Mumolo will also star in the movie. Sources said the stepsisters will be played by younger actresses.

The film will follow Anastasia and Drizella from their early childhood to Cinderella's marriage and beyond. The sisters will struggle to uphold their family's legacy.

Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum will executive produce.

Disney has released or is developing other standalone projects centering on villains, including Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie, Cruella, starring Emma Stone, and Gaston and LeFou, starring Luke Evans and Josh Gad.

Wiig and Mumolo previously collaborated on the 2011 film Bridesmaids and most recently wrote, executive produced and starred in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.