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Chiwetel Ejiofor & Cristin Milioti Eyed To Star In ‘The Backrooms' At A24

Chiwetel Ejiofor & Cristin Milioti Eyed To Star In ‘The Backrooms' At A24

Yahoo21-05-2025
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Cristin Milioti are in talks to star in The Backrooms, A24's sci-fi horror flick based on the viral series of found-footage videos from Kane Parsons, Deadline can confirm.
Reps for the studio declined to comment. No word on the roles to be played by the duo, and their deals may not make in the end, as it's still early days here. We were first to report on the project back in 2023, and while its plot remains a mystery, the '90s-set original short watches as a young filmmaker's fall into another dimension leaves him wandering through an unsettlingly yellow, empty and labyrinthine office space, which may or may not be home to otherworldly beings. The film's title and setting draw inspiration from the imagery of a creepypasta (or internet urban legend) published to the website 4chan in 2019.
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A prodigy of a filmmaker and VFX artist barely out of high school, Parsons shot his YouTube following into the stratosphere with the viral success of his mysterious short, 'The Backrooms (Found Footage).' It's the first in a series of found-footage horror videos which have garnered many, many millions of views online and will now be adapted for the big screen by A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin Entertainment and 21 Laps.
Parsons will direct from a script by Roberto Patino. Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen and Dan Levine will produce for 21 Laps, along with James Wan and Michael Clear for Atomic Monster, and Patino. Alayna Glasthal is overseeing for Atomic Monster, with Judson Scott exec producing for the company alongside White.
Most recently seen starring in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Ejiofor is part of the cast of Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck, which Neon releases in June, as well as Scarlett Johansson's Cannes-premiering debut feature Eleanor the Great. Upcoming, he'll also be seen in The Old Guard 2 at Netflix and Children of Blood and Bone from Paramount.
Coming off of rave reviews for her work in The Penguin and another stand-out Black Mirror turn in USS Calister: Into Infinity, Miloti most recently boarded the FX pilot Seven Sisters.
The InSneider's Jeff Sneider was first to the news on the actors in talks for The Backrooms.
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‘Bend It Like Beckham 2' Is Reportedly ‘In the Works'
‘Bend It Like Beckham 2' Is Reportedly ‘In the Works'

Elle

time8 hours ago

  • Elle

‘Bend It Like Beckham 2' Is Reportedly ‘In the Works'

Lace up your cleats, fans! This week, writer and director Gurinder Chadha announced she is working on a sequel to the hit soccer film Bend It Like Beckham, released in 2002 and starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley. 'I'm excited to revisit the original characters and revive the enduring story and build on the legacy we helped to create for the women's game,' Chadha told Deadline in an interview. Here's everything we know about the project so far. In the original film, Nagra plays a teen girl named Jasminder who loves both soccer and Manchester United's David Beckham. Unfortunately, her parents are very unenthusiastic about her engaging in sports. She ends up joining a girls's soccer team in secret, where she meets Jules, played by Knightley. There, she discovers just how great she can be while also learning to navigate first romances and friendship. Her success ultimately brings her closer to her family in an uplifting story about following your dreams. Since it's 23 years later, everyone would obviously be in a new time in their lives. Chadha says a sequel will also address the changes in women's sports. 'I didn't want to do anything because I didn't have a story,' she said of the time gap since the first film. 'And then I came up with a great story, really super-cool story. So now I'm inspired. Literally came up with it just about a month ago. It's my very clear wish to bring the characters back very, very soon. Women's football is more competitive, more exciting, and more global than ever. It is an honor for me to be a small part of it.' She wrote the original screenplay with Guljit Bindra and husband Paul Mayeda Berges. Aside from Nagra and Knightley, fans would expect the return of Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the Hounslow Harriers team manager and Jasminder's love interest. But so far, no one is officially confirmed. Chadha stated that Nagra, Knightley, as well as cast members Archie Panjabi and Juliet Stevenson 'are aware that a sequel is being developed, but they obviously want to see a script before they commit.' 'I'm pretty certain that everyone's going to want to come back,' she added. 'Everything hinges on the script and if the original cast likes it. I am working really hard to make sure every character I bring back has a decent arc and scenes.' The goal for Chadha is to have the sequel out by 2027 for the original film's 25th anniversary, which will coincide with the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament in Brazil that year. This post will be updated.

Actors Who You Forgot Are Singers Too
Actors Who You Forgot Are Singers Too

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Actors Who You Forgot Are Singers Too

In the golden days of American cinema, actors were expected to be masters of their crafts — catch that? Not craft, but crafts. If they harbored dreams of seeing their name in lights, then they had better be prepared to act, dance, and sing for their supper. Nowadays, things have definitely changed, and we don't expect our actors to be delivering Grammy-winning performances or our singers to be dipping their toes in the dramatic — which makes it all the more impressive when they do. From Scarlett Johansson to Robert Downey Jr., we'd forgotten these stars had singing talent to match their acting skills, and it's a blast from the past to revisit their musical stylings. There are plenty of working actors today, famous and not-yet-so-famous, who call themselves multi-hyphenates — Lady Gaga has proudly crossed over from singing into acting with her lead role in A Star Is Born, and recent rumblings indicate Selena Gomez is hoping to make a similar transition. Stars like Emily Blunt or Nicole Kidman, on the other hand, seemed perfectly happy to hide their singing talents away for their long, successful acting careers before dazzling us with a final act reveal. It's fun to discover new talents in celebrities we're already excited about watching, and we guarantee you'll want to check out these music careers you forgot existed. Read on for all the actors whose singing skills you may have overlooked. A version of this article was originally published in February 2021. More from SheKnows John Legend, Reese Witherspoon, & More Stars Whose Kids Don't Like Their Parent's Singing Best of SheKnows All About Conor Kennedy, RFK Jr.'s Private Son Who Was Once Linked to Taylor Swift 16 Times the Celebrity Death Rule of Threes Actually Happened The Best Photos of Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne's Kids Growing Up Over the Years Margaret Qualley Margaret Qualley: she can dance, she can act, and yes, she can sing. With the help of her music producer husband Jack Antanoff, QUalley released music in July 2025 under the alter ego of Lace Manhattan. She released the songs 'ODDWADD' and 'In the Sun She Lies,' both of which will be in Ethan Coen's upcoming film Honey Don't! Angelina Jolie Did you know that Angelina Jolie will be singing opera for her role in Maria? This'll be the start of her singing career, and we can't wait. Kristen Wiig For co-writing 'Harper and Will Go West' with Sean Douglas, Kristen Wiig is earning Oscar buzz for being a songwriter, and singer now. Along with that, she's written numerous songs on Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, some of which she sang. Keke Palmer Keke Palmer has shown off her vocal chops in a few movies over the years including her work in Joyful Noise and Grease! Live but fans might still be surprised to know she's released a few albums too. Her first was in 2007 titled So Uncool and it charted at number 85 on the Billboard R&B charts, per NBC. Over the years, she's continued to release new music, including her two EPs in 2020 titled Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 1 and Virgo Tendencies, Pt 2. Most recently, Palmer announced her new girl group, Diva Gurl, alongside three other singers. 'Pre-Save our 1st single #SOB today!' Palmer wrote on Instagram. 'Prepare to be slayed on June 21st #DivaGurl.' Tiffany Haddish Tiffany Haddish surprised her followers this week when she announced her new single, 'Woman Up.' 'Really, it's an all-the-way-around song because everybody has their dual sides,' Haddish told Entertainment Tonight. 'I'm like an onion; sometimes you catch me out in public and put a camera in my face, I'm like, 'La da.' Sometimes you put a camera in my face and catch me outside [and] I'll be like, 'Listen, I'm not in the mood right now.' There's different levels to it.' Haddish has also released a few singles over the years, including 2023's 'Till The Club Close' and 'Too Much' in 2020. Kate Hudson Kate Hudson first dabbled in music in her 2021 appearance in musical-movie Music, which was written by Sia. The actress, who is perhaps best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in Almost Famous or her iconic rom-com hit How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, officially stepped into music in 2024 with two singles, Talk About Love and Live Forever. Shortly after, on May 18, she released her first-ever album, Glorious. Zendaya Acting, dancing, singing, being a fashion icon; we don't think there's anything Zendaya can't do. Most recently, the Emmy-winning actress made everyone gasp as she surprised fans with a performance of 'All for Us' and 'I'm Tired' with Labrinth at Coachella. She can really do it all! Lily James Lily James, who already showed off her singing chops in Cinderella and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, just released a new single for her upcoming movie What's Love Got To Do With It? 'It was an absolute pleasure working in the studio with both [composer] Nitin [Sawhney] and Naughty Boy,' James told Daily Mail. 'Music plays a huge part in the film, and I'm thrilled to contribute to this amazing single alongside some incredible artists.' Could this be the start of a new career direction for James? Jeremy Renner Marvel's very own Hawkeye can do much more than throw arrows, he can sing too! In addition to a few singles, Jeremy Renner's first EP The Medicine dropped in March 2020. Hailee Steinfeld At just 14 years old, we knew Hailee Steinfeld was the real deal when she was nominated for an Oscar for her role in True Grit. Since then, Steinfeld's proved she can do much more than acting and that she's an incredible singer too! In addition to some hit singles like 'Let Me Go,' 'Love Myself' and most recently 'Coast,' she also released her EP, Half Written Story, in 2020. Hugh Laurie After learning how talented Hugh Laurie is, you'll be left wondering why House never had a musical episode. Laurie has released two blues albums over the years: Let Them Talk and Didn't It Rain. Robert Pattinson Following his stint in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Robert Pattinson was sure he was going to head into the music business. 'I really thought I was gonna do music at that point,' he shared with GQ in 2022. 'I don't know where I had the, kind of, belief in that because there was absolutely no one saying that there's a music career on the table. But I was doing a lot of gigs, constantly doing open mics all the time. And then…I ran out of money, basically.' Fortunately, Pattinson was cast in the Twilight films, for which he got to show off some of his music talents with two songs on the movie's soundtrack. Jared Leto Jared Leto rose to fame on the '90s teen drama My So-Called Life. But once the series wrapped, he and his brother, Shannon, formed the group Thirty Seconds to Mars. The band has put out albums since the early 2000s, all while Leto's been building his impressive acting career, winning an Oscar for his role in Dallas Buyers Club along the way. One of the band's most famous songs is their 2009 single 'Kings and Queens.' Emmy Rossum Long before she was Fiona Gallagher on Shameless, Emmy Rossum was training at Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus. Once her acting career took off, Rossum was still able to put her singing skills to use with her role as Christine Daaé in the 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera. Three years later, she released her first album, followed by another in 2013. Emily Blunt Oppenheimer's Emily Blunt has captivated us with her work in period pieces, modern romances, and adventure films — but where she really shined the brightest is when she sang in the cinematic adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods as the Baker's Wife and as the titular character of our collective youth, Mary Poppins, in Mary Poppins Returns. Eddie Murphy One of, if not the, most successful comedic actor of our time, Eddie Murphy has a repertoire filled with modern day classics. The man who brought us Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop (I, II, and III), 48 Hours (I and II), Boomerang, the Shrek trilogy, iconic stand-up specials that set the bar for what comedy could be, and years on SNL, can also sing. He's released five (music) albums starting in 1985 with single 'Party All the Time' which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It's still very much a non-guilty pleasure. Robert Downey Jr. Oscar-winning Oppenheimer star Robert Downey Jr. released an album of eight original compositions and two covers back in 2004. We're partial to the opening track, 'Man Like Me.' Kristen Bell Kristen Bell is really known for her voice (her acting voice, that is), and for good reason. She voiced the hidden narrator on Gossip Girl, she's acted in TV hits like The Good Place and Veronica Mars, and in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall…but back to that whole voice thing. She's also the voice of Anna from Frozen and Frozen 2, the mega-popular film series that finally brought her singing chops to light. Nicole Kidman This Australian megastar is such a talent that it's really not all that surprising that she can also sing. I mean, we challenge you to name a film or TV mini-series she's been a part of where you weren't blown away by her performance. Go ahead. We'll wait. In her HBO monster hit The Undoing, she sang the theme song, a haunting cover of The Mama and The Papa's 'Dream A Little Dream of Me.' David Hasselhoff No list of actors who sing would be worth its weight in salt without the inclusion of The Hoff. Yes, he's a legend because of The Young and the Restless, Knight Rider, and Baywatch, but with his 1988 single 'Looking for Freedom' he reached new heights of fame, particularly in Germany, with a song so big he performed it live at the Berlin Wall on New Year's Eve in 1989. Rita Wilson Surely you know Rita Wilson as an actor from films such as Sleepless in Seattle, It's Complicated, and Volunteers, or as a one of the producers of the highest grossing independent film of all time, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She's also a singer-songwriter who's released four country-tinged albums starting with 2012's covers project AM/FM which includes a lovely version of Glen Campbell's 'Wichita Lineman.' Scarlett Johansson She's won a Tony (in 2010 for her performance in the revival of A View From the Bridge), is a bonafide superhero (thanks to her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), and has been appearing in critically acclaimed films since she was 12 years old. But did you know she also has two albums? Yup. Her solo LP Anywhere I Lay My Head (an album of Tom Waits covers) came out in 2008 and the following year she and Pete Yorn released their collaborative collection Break Up which is 100% worth checking out. Zooey Deschanel You probably know Zooey Deschanel from her Globe-nominated performance as Jess in the TV hit New Girl and in films such as 500 Days of Summer, Almost Famous and Failure to Launch. But, in addition to acting, Zooey is one half of indie pop band She & Him (She's the She, M. Ward is Him). They've released six albums in total – three original, one of covers, and two for Christmas (A Very She & Him Christmas and Christmas Party). Zoë Kravitz It was inevitable that Zoë Kravitz would become not just a star but a multi-hyphenate by virtue of her parentage (Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz) but she has proven herself to be a formidable actress with commendable performances on TV in Big Little Lies and High Fidelity and in films like the Divergent series. She's also the frontwoman of R&B electropop duo Lolawolf, named for her younger half siblings (awww), Lola and Wolf, who have released two albums, including 2020's Tenderness. Donald Glover From writing on TV for 30 Rock to starring in Community and Atlanta to films such as Magic Mike XXL and a little-known series called Star Wars where he portrayed a young Lando Calrissien, Donald Glover has proven to be a serious talent. He records under the pseudonym Childish Gambino and has released six albums to date. 'This Is America,' his Grammy Award-winning single and music video, is a poignant critique of gun violence and racism in the U.S. that debuted at number 1 on the Billboard charts. Jada Pinkett Smith She's been acting in TV and film for 30 years (Menace to Society, Set It Off, the Madagascar films) and is most recently known for hosting The Red Table Talk on Facebook Watch with her mom and daughter. But did you know she's also the lead singer in a nu metal band? Yup. Jada's band Wicked Wisdom has been around since 2002 and has toured with Britney Spears and Ozzy Osborne. Know anyone else that can say that? William Shatner To one generation, he will always be Captain Kirk. To another, he's Denny Crane of Boston Legal. And yet to another, he's the Priceline spokesman. He is all of these things, but he is also a man who has released what might be the strangest set of spoken word albums ever, starting in 1968 and continuing to his latest album, Blues, which was released in 2021. Included in his catalog are covers of U2's 'In A Little While' with Lyle Lovett, Robert Johnson's classic 'Sweet Home Chicago' with Brad Paisley, and the unforgettable opening to his 2004 William Shatner Has Been LP which opened with Pulp's 'Common People.' Solve the daily Crossword

Rachel Zegler returns to ‘Evita' — one day after suffering health scare mid-performance
Rachel Zegler returns to ‘Evita' — one day after suffering health scare mid-performance

New York Post

timea day ago

  • New York Post

Rachel Zegler returns to ‘Evita' — one day after suffering health scare mid-performance

The show must go on. Rachel Zegler, 24, returned to her role in 'Evita' on Friday, July 25, after abruptly leaving the London Palladium one day earlier due to a mystery illness. The actress marked her surprising return on her Instagram Stories, where she shared several photos of herself back on stage at the West End theater. 10 Rachel Zegler returned to her role in 'Evita' on Friday after abruptly leaving the London Palladium one day earlier due to illness. Instagram/@lulukener 10 Rachel Zegler marked her return on Instagram, where she shared several photos of herself back on stage at the West End theater. Instagram/@loesnikken Zegler also shared a clip of herself taking a final bow at the end of Friday night's show. 'An incredible performance,' one fan captioned a photo that Zegler later posted. 'Me walking into the Palladium for a two-show day here at Evita,' the actress added in another pic shared Saturday morning. 10 The actress also shared a clip of herself taking a final bow at the end of Friday night's show. Instagram/@joshhopkins Although the 'Snow White' actress suddenly left 'Evita' on Thursday evening due to an unspecified illness, People reported that her departure was not announced until intermission. Bella Brown, Zegler's understudy, took over during the musical's second act and performed the production's signature song, 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina.' The London audience was so pleased with Brown's performance that they gave the young starlet an almost five-minute standing ovation. 10 tktk Instagram/@rachelzegler 'Today really showed just how important swings and covers are within this industry,' the actress wrote on her Instagram Stories after Thursday night's show. 'They are pillars of a show! A proud day to be at 'Evita.'' 'What a lucky audience getting to see both me and MY ANGEL REG ZEG!' Brown added in a follow-up post. The Post reached out to Zegler's rep for comment. 10 Rachel Zegler and cast attend the press night after party for 'Evita' at the London Palladium on July 1, 2025, in London, stars as the former first lady of Argentina, Eva Perón, in director Jamie Lloyd's revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. The production, which kicked off in June and is scheduled to run through September, marks Zegler's London stage debut. 'I couldn't be luckier,' the actress wrote on Instagram before the musical's opening night. 'I have such a deep love for everyone who has touched this production.' 10 Rachel Zegler attends the press night after party for 'Evita' at the London Palladium on July 1, 2025 in London, England.'I never thought I would get to live my dream this way. Surrounded by the most amazing people. I feel so held,' she added. Zegler also revealed that starring in Jamie Lloyd's 'Evita' had always been a dream of hers. ''Evita' has been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl, when my dad and I would sing 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' together on my back patio,' she told Deadline in March. 'The opportunity to bring Jamie Lloyd's singular, visionary ideas to life onstage is an honor unlike any other.' 10 Rachel Zegler out and about in London during a break from 'Evita.' BACKGRID 'The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can't wait to make my West End debut in such great company,' she said. Still, the 'West Side Story' star's 'Evita' performance has not been without criticism. During the iconic tune 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina,' Zegler leaves the London Palladium stage and performs the song from an outdoor balcony while those in the audience stay inside and watch from a screen. 'I'm excited to see her, but not sure how I feel about paying that much to watch the most iconic moment on a screen,' one person complained. 10 Rachel Zegler performing 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' from a balcony outside the London Palladium. John Rainford / 10 Rachel Zegler performing 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' from a balcony outside the London Palladium. John Rainford/INSTARimages 'Sorry, are you saying I've paid that much for 2 tickets and she's singing the biggest number outside at people who haven't paid?' another paying theatergoer fussed. However, others praised the 'incredible' and 'emotional' balcony scene. 'Absolutely stunning idea and a beautiful symbol – while the rich sit inside the theatre watching from the screen, Evita is outside on the balcony of the theatre addressing all those who can't afford to go to the theatre and/or are living on the streets of London,' one attendee gushed on X. 10 Rachel Zegler and backup dancer Nathan Louis-Fernand at a Sabrina Carpenter concert together on July 6. BACKGRID Meanwhile, Zegler has been enjoying her time behind the scenes of 'Evita.' She was spotted kissing backup dancer Nathan Louis-Fernand at Hyde Park earlier this month, and the pair were pictured holding hands at a Sabrina Carpenter concert on July 6. Zegler previously faced backlash while promoting Disney's live-action 'Snow White,' which flopped at the box office earlier this year. After slamming those who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, she allegedly butted heads with co-star Gal Gadot over their differences regarding the Israel-Palestinian war in Gaza.

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