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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Oscar-nominated Canadian filmmaker Villeneuve to direct next James Bond film
Denis Villeneuve, fresh off his "Dune" success, will direct the next James Bond film, as announced by Amazon MGM Studios. Villeneuve, a lifelong Bond fan, aims to honor the franchise's tradition while paving the way for new missions. Amazon gained creative control after a financial agreement with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson. FILE PHOTO: Denis Villeneuve poses on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 2, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Fresh from his success with the "Dune" saga, Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the next movie in the storied James Bond franchise Amazon MGM Studios announced Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie , Amazon MGM Studios said on Wednesday (June 25, 2025). Mike Hopkins, head of Amazon MGM Studios, hailed Villeneuve's track record and praised him for "immersive storytelling." "We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond 's next chapter," he said in the Canadian filmmaker Villeneuve, who recently enjoyed the success of the "Dune" saga, said he grew up watching Bond films with his father. "I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory.'"I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor," he further stated. There is, however, no word yet on who will play Her Majesty's MGM Studios, the online retail giant, has tapped a filmmaker very much in vogue in Hollywood as he makes his first foray into the world of the now-iconic British agent 007, first brought to life seven decades ago by writer Ian Craig's final portrayal of James Bond came in 2021 following the release of "No Time to Die." Since then, 007 has seen many twists and turns. Amazon paid nearly $8.45 billion to buy legendary Hollywood studio MGM in 2022, which included distribution rights to Bond's extensive back for the subsequent three years, the retail behemoth was met with resistance from Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, the franchise's historic producers who for decades had jealously guarded the governance of one of cinema's most valuable company run by Jeff Bezos finally reached a financial agreement with the pair in February to take creative control of the franchise.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Venice divided ahead of billionaire Bezos' 'wedding of the century'
FILE PHOTO: Protesters display a banner reading \"No Space for Bezos!\" on the Rialto Bridge during a protest against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' upcoming wedding to Lauren Sanchez being held in Venice, Italy, June 13, 2025. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscars party after the 97th Academy Awards, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., March 2, 2025. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Protesters display a banner reading \"No Space for Bezos!\" on the Rialto Bridge during a protest against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' upcoming wedding to Lauren Sanchez being held in Venice, Italy, June 13, 2025. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri/File Photo ROME - Venice is divided ahead of next week's celebrity wedding of U.S. tech-tycoon Jeff Bezos and Laura Sanchez, with some looking forward to the glitz and glamour, while others fear it will turn the scenic city of gondolas and palazzi into an amusement park. Many details of the wedding are still under wraps - including the precise day it will happen - but it is certain that scores of stars from film, fashion and business will arrive to see Bezos tie the knot - provided they can get past the protesters. One group has plastered banners on the city's famous Rialto Bridge reading "No space for Bezos!" and threatened peaceful blockades, complaining that the medieval and Renaissance city needs public services and housing, not celebrities and over-tourism. "Bezos arrogantly believes he can take over the city and turn it into his own private party venue," said Tommaso Cacciari, a leading light of the "No space for Bezos" campaign. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and regional governor Luca Zaia, on the other hand, argue that the wedding will bring an economic windfall to local businesses, including the motor boats and gondolas that operate its myriad canals. Eleven years ago actor George Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in Venice, turning the city into Hollywood on the Adriatic with a weekend of lavish celebrations. Then, locals and tourists alike were excited to witness a memorable moment in the city's long history of hosting stars for its film festival, the world's oldest. Bezos, 61, the founder of e-commerce giant Amazon and the world's third-richest man, got engaged to journalist Sanchez, 55, in 2023, four years after the collapse of his 25-year marriage to Mackenzie Scott. After a swirl of media speculation about the venue of what has been dubbed "the wedding of the century" Brugnaro confirmed in March that it would take place in Venice, which last year began charging tourists a fee to enter the city. The date is expected to be some time between June 23-28 in the midst of three days of stylish celebrations. In the face of early protests from residents who feared the arrival of thousands of celebrities and hangers-on, the city issued a statement clarifying that it would involve around 200 guests and would not disrupt Venetians' everyday life. Bezos and Scott had four children together, while Sanchez was previously married to Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She also has a son with NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Europe's 'Ant and Dec but with brains' produce feel-good film of the summer
Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson are a Swedish television duo who have scored a big hit in the Nordic country with their film The Last Journey, which is now coming to the UK "We are the Swedish Ant and Dec, but with soul and brains. They would never be able to pull anything off like this." So claims Filip Hammar, who makes up half of the Nordic TV duo with his long-term pal Fredrik Wikingsson. It's likely that every European country has its own version of the comedy sidekick partnership - a trusted duo that can be airdropped onto Saturday night shiny floor shows at a moment's notice to deliver an evening of safe laughs. The reason Filip and Fredrik are making waves in the UK, or at least attempting to, is that they've recently broken out of their televisual moulds onto the silver screen. The Last Journey is their first feature film, which tells the story of Filip's relationship with his father Lars, a retired secondary school teacher who is struggling to throw himself into post-work life. Filip worries his father has lost the lust for life that burned so brightly during his younger years, and so decides to scoop him up out of his home in Köping (widely known as the most boring town in Sweden) and take him on a road trip. With light relief coming from the backseat in the form of Fredrik, the father and son head out of middle Sweden towards southern France - the destination of cherished family holidays of Filip's youth, and where Lars was in his anecdote-sharing, joke cracking pomp. The film proved a huge hit with the Swedish public, quickly becoming the most-watched documentary in the country's history and being chosen as Sweden's official submission for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards. On its surface, the film is a classic road trip caper, filled with the kind of comic relief you'd expect from a caustic duo stuffed into an orange Renault 4 to cheer up an 80-year-old who seems a little lost in life. They employ their whole box of comedic tricks to do so, including staging an empassioned traffic spat for the benefit of Lars, whose steady Swedish heart has long loved the spiritedness of French road ragers. By the film also goes deeper. It is, at its core, an exploration of how one has to reinvent oneself post-retirement, and how relationships between adult children and their parents become more complicated as life goes on. For Filip, who goes to great, quite absurd lengths to carve out spaces in which his dad can relive his younger years and flourish, the journey taught him a powerful lesson. "It made me realise there is a value in just hanging out with him, even if he is sitting in a Belgian armchair at home. That is one of the important messages in the film. Now, I try to avoid talking to him in a certain way. We have more meaningful conversations now," Filip tells the Mirror from his home in America. Fredrik, who is talking on loudspeaker while, appropriately, on a long drive, adds: "We told ourselves, maybe this is going to work. Maybe he will get his zest for life back. Then we realised it would be more about his acceptance of a new life." Even though Fredrik has been on this journey with Lars and Filip, he is not prepared for his own version. He is not referring to the journey from Sweden to the Mediterranean, but to seeing his parents change in their later years. "I'm not prepared for it. You can think you are, but when it hits, it will, it will be devastating," he opines a little mournfully. The soulfulness of the duo, and how inappropriate the Ant and Dec comparison might be, comes through the more time you spend with Filip and Fredrik. "You cannot be prepared for it. It is the death before death. When you see your parents slipping away. It is quite common that you lie to yourself," Filip says. The Last Journey has connected with viewers in Sweden because of its exploration of this uncomfortable and universal truth, which is as funny and unflinching as it is tender and earnest. They hope that when it arrives in British cinemas on June 20, it will connect with viewers in the UK. "I am trying not to be cynical for once, and to embrace some real feelings. We are humbled about it, but our expectations are not that high," Filip admits ahead of the film's UK launch. Their big hope is that a significant chunk of the 45,000 Swedes living in the country turn up. If they don't, then perhaps Brits will find some joy in a particularly unusual but thoroughly uplifting road trip flick. Or at least some use in their top travel tip. "Wherever you go, try to experience the gas station culture of the country. In Italy, they are incredible," Filip advises.
Mint
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
A Complete Unknown OTT release: Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothee Chalamet to stream from THIS date
Timothée Chalamet's much-talked-about Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown is set to release on OTT in India on May 31, 2025. The film will be available to stream on JioHotstar, following its theatrical premiere on December 25, 2024. Directed by James Mangold, A Complete Unknown explores the early life of iconic singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, focusing on his rise to fame and the cultural shift he brought to the music scene. The film will be available to stream on JioHotstar from May 31. Chalamet's performance as Dylan has been widely praised, with reviews highlighting his dedication to capturing the singer's unique voice and stage presence. He reportedly performed all his own singing for the film, adding authenticity to the role. The film's title comes from Dylan's famous song 'Like a Rolling Stone', which includes the lyric: 'How does it feel to be on your own, with no direction home, a complete unknown...' The story dives into Dylan's move from folk to rock music and his complicated relationship with fellow folk legend Joan Baez, played by 'Top Gun: Maverick' star Monica Barbaro. The film also stars Elle Fanning in a supporting role. Since its Christmas Day release in cinemas, A Complete Unknown has received attention for its detailed portrayal of Bob Dylan's transformation from a shy Minnesota musician to a global cultural icon. With strong performances, period-accurate styling, and a powerful soundtrack, the film promises to be a must-watch for fans of Dylan, Chalamet, or anyone interested in the evolution of modern music. The film earned eight nominations at the 97th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (James Mangold), Best Actor (Chalamet), Best Supporting Actor (Norton), and Best Supporting Actress (Barbaro). It also received three nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards (including Best Motion Picture – Drama), four at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards (winning Best Actor for Chalamet), and six at the British Academy Film Awards (including Best Film).
News18
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Bihar Content Creator Recreates Laapataa Ladies Scenes, Nitanshi Goel Reacts
Last Updated: Ankit Jha, a Bihar-based content creator, has recreated some of the popular scenes from Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies. Kiran Rao's critically acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies is garnering praise even over a year after its release. Recently, a Bihar-based content creator paid tribute to the comedy-drama by recreating a few scenes from it. The viral video has caught the attention of the film's lead actor Nitanshi Goel. Digital creator Ankit Kumar recently shared a video on his handle @pixel_wale_jhaji on Instagram. The clip shows a recreated version of several scenes from the film, which was released in theatres in March last year. The video soon gained significant attention on the social media platform, receiving more than 1 lakh views and over 2,000 likes. It opens up with a popular line from the film, 'English bol ke dikhaiye". Thereafter fans get to witness a recreation of some of the scenes from the film and it looks almost identical to the original. In the comments section, many highlighted how the costume, expressions and tone in the video look quite similar to the scenes from the film. 'We recreated the chaos, courage & charm of Laapataa Ladies," Jha wrote on Instagram. Nitanshi Goel, who essayed the lead role in the film, admired the effort and responded with a flower and sparkle emoji. Besides her, several others have praised the work and dedication of the content creator and his team. 'Great one. Keep creating," one user wrote. Another one added, 'Dear team, I want to take a moment to say — truly outstanding work! You've done an amazing job." One user stated that every take, acting as well as make-up of people in the video was done 'perfectly" and it 'doesn't look like" a recreated version. Someone even commented that the video 'felt like something straight out of a proper indie film". Released on March 1 last year, Laapataa Ladies was co-produced by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao and Jyoti Deshpande under the banners Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures and Jio Studios. It was presented by Yash Raj Films. The film was based in the fictional state of Nirmal Pradesh and narrates the journey of two brides as they get mistakenly swapped in a mix-up during a train journey. Besides Nitanshi Goel, the film also features Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan. Laapataa Ladies was India's official entry for the Best International Feature film category at the 97th Academy Awards, held in March this year. First Published:
