Ramón Rodríguez Says Viola Davis 'Kicks Butt' In 'G20'
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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
DC's Peacemaker Sequel Series Isn't Canceled, James Gunn Confirms
A new update has confirmed that James Gunn's DC series is not canceled and remains in active development. Gunn debunked fan rumors on Threads that claimed the show was canceled or reworked. The director confirmed its status after months of silence since the project's original announcement in early 2023. Responding to a fan question on Threads about rumors that the Waller show was being reworked into a Checkmate series, James Gunn replied, 'Yes,' when asked if the rumors were 'B.S.' He also confirmed with a simple 'Yes' that Waller remains in development. Gunn introduced the Waller series in January 2023 as part of the DCU's first slate, which included five films and five shows. Viola Davis leads the cast as Amanda Waller. She stars alongside Steve Agee as John Economos, Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. The show originally targeted a late 2024 release, but the 2023 Hollywood strikes reportedly delayed production. Warner Bros. has not announced a new release date. Meanwhile, Davis has continued portraying Waller in other DC projects. She voiced the character in four episodes of the animated Creature Commandos series, released in 2024. She also appeared in Peacemaker Season 1, which Gunn confirmed is canon within the DCU, excluding the Justice League cameo. Warner Bros. plans to release Waller on its streaming platform, Max, but has not disclosed an official date. In a January 2024 Threads post, Gunn stated Waller does not appear in Superman, but that comment predates the film's production. ARGUS now operates under Rick Flag Sr.'s control, a storyline explored in Peacemaker Season 2. As a result, Waller's role in the DCU could shift significantly. Rumors claimed DC had recently canceled the Waller series. However, Gunn clarified in a separate post that the mystery cancellation did not involve Waller and reaffirmed its active status in the upcoming slate. Superman, the DCU's first live-action film, releases on July 11, 2025. Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype. The post DC's Peacemaker Sequel Series Isn't Canceled, James Gunn Confirms appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Jason Wu Launches Atomic Lab, an E-commerce Platform With Limited-edition Dolls
Jason Wu is in a playful mood. The 42-year-old fashion designer has launched Atomic Lab, an e-commerce platform dedicated to limited-edition dolls inspired by icons in fashion, entertainment and contemporary art. More from WWD Leslie Bibb, Brooke Shields and Jason Wu Ring in New York Design Week Viola Davis Shimmers in Strapless Jason Wu Red Gown at 'G20' Premiere Naomi Scott Goes Strapless in Black Jason Wu Midi Dress for 'Smile 2' Los Angeles Premiere The inaugural release features international drag performer Nymphia Wind, the first East Asian winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' Season 16. The doll will retail for $150 and is available exclusively on Only 1,500 dolls will be produced and the doll is available now for pre-order with estimated delivery on Oct. 30. Atomic Lab will spotlight influential personalities through collectible drops, blending high fashion and pop culture. It's no secret Wu has been fascinated by dolls his entire life. 'I started playing with dolls when I was, like 6. There's something so glamorous about doll playing. And it was so forbidden in Taiwan. My parents bought me dolls anyway,' said Wu, in an interview Monday at his New York headquarters. When Wu moved to Canada at the age of 9, he discovered the world of designer dolls, and his mother bought him a Bob Mackie Barbie. 'I learned fashion through that, and I begged my mom for a sewing machine. I started copying things from Vogue, and made them mini-scale,' and that's how he learned how to sew and design. The designer has been designing fashion for 18 years. At 16 years old, Wu joined Integrity Toys, where he launched the now iconic, 'Jason Wu Dolls.' His early work included the introduction of the RuPaul doll in 2005, celebrating the drag icon long before mainstream recognition. In 2006, he released the first transgender art doll, a limited-edition collaboration with transgender model Amanda Lepore, featuring photography by David LaChapelle and sold exclusively at the New York City retailer Jeffrey. In 2008, Wu partnered with Capitol Records to create a doll inspired by then rising star Katy Perry, just ahead of her chart-topping debut, 'I Kissed a Girl.' Since then, Wu has continued his partnership with Integrity Toys releasing exclusive dolls in partnership with Net-a-porter, Bergdorf Goodman and others. Wu described Atomic Lab as 'a pop culture project. 'It's a project that is more than fashion. It's more than dolls,' said Wu. He said dolls become miniature mementos of the time they're made. 'So it's always been very important, and it reflected what people looked like at the time,' he said. Because of his career as a fashion designer, he's been able to meet so many people from different walks of life. He plans to release one new doll a month, and it will be available exclusively on his website, The dolls are made in China. Wu said he always likes to have his finger on the pulse and figure out who's next. Wu believes that fashion and pop culture are completely intertwined. 'It always was, but now more than ever.' He said the doll could be a living or deceased person 'in a movie, it could be a TV show I like, it could be somebody in music, it could be a cartoon. I have six very different people [so far],' he said. He gets in touch with the people or their foundations to license the doll. 'You know how there's Comic-Con and Marvel and Superman, and people really go crazy. This is the gay version,' he said. 'People love dolls. I don't know any fashion designers who didn't grow up playing with dolls,' he said. Atomic Lab's first doll, Nymphia Wind, is also from Taipei and is famous for her signature color banana yellow and her couture-campy aesthetic. She began her drag career on the stages of Taipei and New York City, before spreading banana fever all across the globe. 'It's kinda surreal and a great honor,' said Wind, when asked what it means to collaborate with Wu. 'Because growing up I knew about Jason Wu from the news as an up-and-coming designer that had a background in doll designing. So to be able to collaborate on a doll years later is so full circle,' she said. Commenting on how the Nymphia doll reflects her personality, Wind said, 'She is obviously in full signature banana yellow. She's bright, she's playful, she's dramatic just like me. 'It's pushing fashion and fantasy forward. Dolls are art, and I always imagined my drag persona as a doll that I'm dressing up. So to have a dollifed version of me is very exciting,' she said. Best of WWD Fashion Meets Cinema: Jaws 50th Anniversary and Calvin Klein Spring 2019 RTW Show Retro Glamour: Giorgio Di Sant'Angelo's Summer 1973 Chic Straw Hat Statement The Story Behind Jackie Kennedy's Cartier Watch: A Royal Gift With 'Traces and Clues of Her Life' Revealed
Forbes
20-06-2025
- Forbes
Ramón Rodríguez's ‘Will Trent' Success Fuels Higher Calling: Elevating Latino Stories In Hollywood
Ramón Rodríguez on the set of "Will Trent," directing the premiere episode of season 3. Years of dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of creative growth are paying off for actor Ramón Rodríguez, whose hard work over the past two decades has paved the way for a breakthrough moment in his Hollywood journey. This year, he starred alongside Viola Davis in Amazon's action thriller G20, and his hit ABC series Will Trent has been renewed for a fourth season — marking the first time Rodríguez has returned to a show for so many years. But for him, this milestone goes far beyond personal achievement. 'It means we get to dive back into these amazing characters in this world, to get to collaborate again, and how can we find ways to continue to elevate the show, to deepen the storylines,' says an elated Rodríguez. "The team is excited. The writers, the showrunners, we've been talking recently, and the wheels are starting to turn as we start sort of putting our gaze towards this next season." As both the star and an executive producer, Rodríguez influences every aspect of the series. 'I get to be as involved as I'd like to be, which is very much. It adds a lot more to my plate. Being the lead of a show takes up a lot of bandwidth,' he says. But it's a challenge he welcomes. 'To be able to get involved in story, concepts and ideas, scenes, story arcs, director conversations, who's going to be directing, the visual look of the show, the cuts, the music — all the fun, creative parts. It's something that turns me on very much.' L to R: ABC's 'Will Trent' stars Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski, Gina Rodriguez as Marion Alba, ... More Ramón Rodriguez as Will Trent, Bluebell as Betty, Sonja Sohn as Amanda Wagner, Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood, and Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell. Rodríguez also made his directorial debut on Will Trent in season three, helming the premiere episode — a role he says he'll reprise next season. "Directing has always been a passion of mine, so to be able to do [that] But the actor is not just shaping a character. He's helping to redefine what's possible for Latino talent in Hollywood. 'It's quite the blessing. I'm really grateful,' he states. During a candid conversation from his home in Los Angeles, Rodríguez reflects on the journey that brought him here. Breaking Stereotypes: The Path to Will Trent Rodríguez began his career in Nike commercials, steadily working his way up in the film and television industry. Early on, he was often cast in Latino character roles on shows like HBO's The Wire and Fox's Gang Related. However, his versatility soon opened doors to more prominent parts, including main roles in series such as Marvel's Iron Fist and The Defenders. He also gained increasing visibility on the big screen, appearing in films like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Need for Speed. But his biggest break came when he landed the lead in Will Trent, whose loyal emotional companion is an adorable chihuahua named Betty, who often steals the show. Ramón Rodríguez in a scene from "Will Trent," with co-star Erika Christensen and his loyal ... More chihuahua, Betty. "Any role I've usually stepped into, especially later in my career, I never viewed them just as a Latino character," Rodriguez reflects. "They're people, they're human beings that have specific circumstances and history. And that, to me, is the compelling interest.' This philosophy has guided his approach to Will Trent, a character originally written without any specific ethnicity in Karin Slaughter's bestselling novels, on which the show is based. In the procedural drama, Rodríguez brings to life a multi-layered and solemn character shaped by a traumatic childhood — abused within the foster care system, with no knowledge of his origins, and struggling with severe dyslexia. Yet, despite these challenges, Will Trent manages to overcome the odds and build a life for himself as a gifted agent in the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, relying on his keen observational skills and unique ability to solve the most complex cases when no one else can. Rodríguez relished the opportunity to play a role defined by depth and humanity, not ethnicity. 'That's exciting when we get to start playing roles that just are people that don't have to be necessarily labeled and also personified as a Latino,' he explains. 'Will is an amazing opportunity for me in that way, because that's the only way I looked at him: as a person that grew up in the South, in Georgia. So that ended up really playing a role in every aspect of him — the way he sounds, the way he dresses, the way he looks, the way he behaves. He's not a Nuyorican like me. He's from the South, and so he should sound like that and feel like that.' Ramón Rodríguez and Gina Rodríguez in a scene from season 3 of "Will Trent." RAMÓN The evolution of Will's backstory and the character's heritage was organic, only revealed in episode 12 of the first season. 'He doesn't know about his history and where he comes from. So when he discovers about his mom, where she comes from, when he goes to Puerto Rico and learns more about where he's from, it's been a beautiful, natural progression of exploration for someone who doesn't know much about himself.' Although Will Trent is a fictional character, there are aspects that resonate with Rodríguez himself: He's Puerto Rican and nd when it comes to his craft, he brings a laser focus and unwavering work ethic. 'I'm a big fan of prep. That's critical. I think that comes from my sports background, the preseason before the season, the practicing before the game day. I've applied that discipline and mentality throughout my life, which has been really wonderful,' he says. 'I know how hard I work. And with this show, I've put in a lot of sweat, along with many other people and the writers and all the directors that come.' Championing Authentic Storytelling and Business Case for Representation Rodríguez is candid about the challenges Latino creators face in Hollywood, but he's optimistic that the success of Will Trent can help shift perceptions. 'I want to continue telling stories — really rich, compelling stories… I want to really shine a light on our community and those stories that aren't being told, that I know are so fascinating. I know the audience is hungry for our stories to be told and to see themselves represented authentically,' although he emphasizes that he wants to "tell great stories in general, regardless of ethnicity." He acknowledges that authentic representation requires creators who can genuinely shape the narratives brought to the screen. 'We have amazing writers and directors and storytellers that I'd love to be able to give opportunities to. For instance, Episode 11 on Will Trent this season was written by a wonderful Puerto Rican writer we brought onto the writing staff, Rebeca Murga. She crushed it! And there are so many more like that,' he shares. 'Knowing the lack of opportunities, if I can be a part of helping expand that and open that door a bit more, that's something I'm really focused on.' Ramón Rodríguez directing the season 3 premiere episode of "Will Trent." He's determined to use the momentum from Will Trent to create new opportunities and find industry partners who see the value in the stories he wants to tell. 'I'm just looking to propel that, accelerate it, and just continue building that out until, hopefully, it's a bit more normalized to see our stories and to see Latino leads and Latino directors, writers, executives, and studio executives.' For the actor, that translates to opportunity, understanding value, and tapping into an under-served market. 'If it's strictly about economics and business,' he argues, 'there is so much money being left on the table.' Rodríguez points to data highlighting how Latinos consistently over-index in entertainment consumption. According to the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and Horowitz Research, Latinos account for 24-29% of box office ticket sales and 24% of streaming users, despite representing only about 19% of the total U.S. population. Aiming Higher with Altura Productions Rodríguez's ambitions extend beyond his own acting career. Through his production company, Altura Productions — 'elevation' in Spanish, embodying his philosophy of rising above expectations, elevating creative standards, and amplifying underrepresented voices — he's determined to create more opportunities for Latino writers, directors, and storytellers. He's currently developing projects that showcase authentic Latino stories and experiences, including a documentary in post-production, as well as a TV series titled Nuyorican and a film in development. One of his most personal projects is a feature film titled Man Child, which he wrote and will direct. He describes it as a heartfelt story about a father and son loosely inspired by his New York - Puerto Rico upbringing. 'It's a drama, but it definitely has comedic elements," he shares. And since he grew up with music, it will play a big role. "My father was a composer, so I want to be able to incorporate salsa to today's present day sounds that are really just everywhere. I just think that's a great opportunity to infuse those worlds." Rodríguez points to how Latino music artists like Bad Bunny have taken the world by storm. "In my opinion, the music industry has really recognized the value," he states. "When you have these artists being number one, number two worldwide - streaming and their record selling or concert selling all around the world - it's almost like the music industry is ahead of the film and entertainment industry, which hopefully that changes. Hopefully we get to show our value in that market as well." As Will Trent continues to gain momentum, Rodríguez could earn his first Emmy nomination this year. Voting is underway and nominations will be announced July 15, 2025. But he remains grounded. 'I don't have any expectations. The one thing I can control — and I've learned that just being in the industry for a while — is my work. I can control the work I do. I know my work ethic and I know how hard I work… If we get a nomination, that would be fantastic. Regardless, I know I'm showing up to work and giving 100%.' For Rodríguez, the journey is about more than personal accolades. It's about opening doors. As he continues to break barriers and create opportunities for others, he's intent on proving that the best way to change an industry is from the inside out, one compelling story at a time. To watch the extended interview with Ramón Rodríguez click here.
