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Buzz Feed
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Priyanka Chopra's Third-Wheel Moment With John Cena & Idris Elba
Idris Elba, John Cena and Priyanka Chopra have teamed up for a silly action flick with a side of romance — or Give the trailer a watch: Heads Of State follows US President Will Derringer (played by John) and UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris) after a covert operation goes sideways. The result? Their private Air Force One plane goes down in a hijacking before a critical NATO summit. Despite their hatred for one another, the pair must work together to keep the world's alliances intact. Alongside them is Priyanka's undercover agent character, Noel Bisset. And honestly, she's a certified UNIT. The film is the perfect Friday/weekend night watch (with some takeaway ordered and a bathrobe on). If you love dry jokes, unlikely friendships and "stylistic" fight sequences that'll either make you giggle or make you say "Woah" — add this to your list. There's plenty of chemistry between all three stars and it might make you wonder whose really falling for whom. Don't worry just strap in and keep an open mind. It's seriously just a bit of fun. Ahead of its drop on Prime Video, the trio let BuzzFeed Australia into some action star secrets, what they learned from each other and who was the third wheel on set. Here's what Priyanka, Idris and John had to say about Heads of State. BFOZ: Heads of State was a mix of action and silliness. So, we need to know — who was the biggest goofball on set and who was most likely to mess up a take? BFOZ: Priyanka — John and Idris share what feels like an enemies-to-lovers type of bromance in the film — did you ever feel like a third wheel working with these two unlikely best friends? Idris: That's really kind but, the truth is when Priyanka walked on became the sidemen. We did. John: [Idris and I] had weeks to warm up, we were shooting with each other for weeks, we had a camera dynamic. We got each other's social profile. [Priyanka] walks on in one day and it's like — alright this is a power trio. BFOZ: And finally, you've all had your fair share of action roles, but was there anything that you learnt from each other about playing big, cool action stars? Priyanka: We were thrown a lot of things and retakes many, many times but working with pros is so amazing because everyone knows their job and how to do it safely and do it well. So you're never nervous when you're doing action, that someone's going to get hurt. I never felt that on set and that only comes from that kind of experience. John: A lot of the action in this movie is stylistic, but it's also action comedy. You get notes on how to do the action and I love watching professionals adjust to feedback and not be able to just fight but because it is action comedy, there had to be a lot of emotion with the action. Watching [Priyanka and Idris] take notes and apply feedback were notes and there was a lot of feedback, seeing the choices they make when given the direction — sometimes an ambiguous direction — is interesting. You can watch this power trio in Prime Video's new movie Heads of State — streaming from 5PM AEST on July 2. Need more TV show, movie, anime, and gaming recommendations? Check out Press Play, a column dedicated to reviewing the latest releases, uncovering hidden gems and solving the age-old question of "What do I stream?" (before your food gets cold).
Buzz Feed
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Kacey Musgraves Teases Australian Tour At Anime Awards
The win sparked some debate with fans, following Solo Levelling's eight other awards across multiple categories. One user in the r/SoloLeveling Reddit thread said they were "genuinely surprised" at the sweep, with another defending it — "Let's not pretend that Solo Leveling isn't a fun watch". Country music heavy hitter, Kacey Musgraves hit the stage to announce the award of the night, in a Sailor Moon-inspired outfit no less. Kacey's love for anime isn't known to everyone but listeners of her most recent album, Deeper Well would be familiar with the song "Anime Eyes" — where she references famous Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki and fan-fave, Sailor Moon. The track is inspired by the exaggerated, animated reactions you'd see from anime character in love. Ahead of her Anime Awards appearance, we sat down with the "Rainbow" singer to dive into where her anime obsession started, coming back to her roots at Lost Highway Records and Australian touring plans. BFOZ: Why was it important for you to come to Tokyo and present at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards? BFOZ: Speaking of coming back, you've recently returned to your roots at Lost Highway Records. What can fans expect from the move? Kasey: That was my first label home, and then it got shut down shortly after. So for it to be resurrected and me being a big part of that and recording a song that was written in the 40s, and my grandpa was speaking on the song, it was really special. BFOZ: Some people might find that country music and anime are worlds apart — does it ever feel strange bringing those two universes together? BFOZ: You mentioned this on stage during the Deeper Well tour but we'd love to dig a little deeper. What was the inspiration behind your song "Anime Eyes"? Kasey: I think that American animators tend to, how do I say it? I think they tend to, what the fuck is the word? underestimate. I think American children programs can underestimate the viewer, and I love that with Japanese animation there's just so much emotion and put in moments between moments. It's hard to explain, but it's just so delicate and nuanced and I don't know. It's just special. And I just fell in love with that and yeah, it's awesome. BFOZ: Coming into the anime world very young, what role does it play in your life now? BFOZ: Are there any particular favourites that you gravitate towards to get that escape? BFOZ: And finally, if it were somehow possible to go and live in an anime universe, which one would it be? What were your thoughts on the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards?
Buzz Feed
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
FYI, Rina Sawayama's New Album And Voice Projects OTW
British-Japanese musician and actress, Rina Sawayama has been quietly booked and busy since her acting debut in 2023. In an exclusive chat with BuzzFeed ahead of the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, where she'll be presenting, the singer-songwriter turned actress expressed her excitement for the incoming projects — including new music. Outside of her presenting gig, diehard Sawayama stans have flooded the feeds with questions of where she's been and what she's been up to and now, we know. *Cue roaring applause*. BFOZ: We've loved seeing you taking on so many different types of role in acting — especially in John Wick 4 and you're starring alongside Ayo Edebiri very soon — what's the transition been like between acting and music? BFOZ: So many fans are yearning for new music. Is there any projects in the works that we can hint to them? Rina: And it is also really nice because you get set in your writing ways after a while, so it's nice to revisit Baby Rina who wasn't thinking about all this other stuff. There is new music coming. BFOZ: You're here in Tokyo to present at this year's Anime Awards, if you could pick one of your tracks to be an anime opening song, which one would it be? BFOZ: Anime feels very influential in your music, what was your earliest memory of it? How did it come into your life? BFOZ: What role does anime play in your life now? BFOZ: You've taken on different roles as an artist from making music to acting, would you ever want to add anime voice actor to that list? BFOZ: What was the process for voicing over that character? BFOZ: And finally, if you could voiceover any existing anime character, who would it be? Watch Rina present at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards on Twitch and YouTube on May 25, 2025 — the pre-show kicks off from 6pm AEST.
Buzz Feed
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
How Crunchyroll's Gita Rebbapragada Puts Anime Fans First
The 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards are OTW and fans around the world are gearing up to see which show will take home the BIG "Anime of the Year" title for 2025. With over 50 million votes casted and mountains of discussion online, it's really anyone's guess between Dan Da Dan, Delicious in Dungeon, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Kaiju No. 8, Solo Leveling and Apothecary Diaries. My bet's on Solo Leveling. Anime is (and always has been) watched, adored and discussed around the world. Everyone has a connection to it, whether it be turning on the TV to a random episode of Pokémon as a kid, seeing friends collect trading cards/merch or being a diehard series viewer. The genre has grown up with us and continued growing into something HUGE. But how did it get to where it is now? Ahead of the Awards, we sat down with Gita to answer this very question, chat about what's coming next and living in an anime world. BFOZ: With the wild jump in Anime Awards votes from 30 million+ last year to 50 million+ this year, what do you think has made anime into the global phenomenon that it is today? And I also think it's just deeply resonant with younger audiences and as they start to grow up and talk about it more and have financial independence of bigger allowances. You're also seeing that multi-generational viewing, which is also creating a lot of growth. BFOZ: When you speak to the studios about what's on their slate for the upcoming year, what are the key indicators to success that jump out at you and figuring out what to put onto Crunchyroll next? That is also telling stories from around the world that we think could be a good told in the art form of anime and the storytelling style of anime. We're always looking for those too. Isekai, for example, I think is really popular because the fluidity of different worlds is always very appealing, increasingly plays on gaming references, gaming territories. Solo Leveling, part of why it's so popular is it's a story of essentially leveling up, which I think is super interesting. I think horror also does surprisingly well. A lot of fans are like that. So I think it is a slate approach. It's not just action sequences. There's a lot of art house that does really well too. So it really depends. BFOZ: Working in the anime space, do you have any all-time comfort anime shows or movies? In terms of characters that I just find really endearing, my hero is definitely, especially when we're first introduced to some of the characters in the earlier seasons, found them really relatable. I'm watching One Piece now with my daughter, which is where I would say we're early days in that one. In terms of my favourite character? Might be Spy x Family. There so many, I mean, there's just a lot. I like them all, a lot of different shows for a lot of different reasons. I love Kaiju No. 8, which is, I'm not usually, it wouldn't be one you would describe, you would guess, but I don't know. There's something about it that I just found kind of gripping. BFOZ: Stepping outside of the anime bubble for a moment, as a woman of power, how do you learn to trust and strengthen your gut in an entertainment industry that's ever-evolving and at the mercy of emerging technologies? It's going to change. It has changed in the last five years. It's going to radically change in the next five years. And so being really clear about knowing what that evolution is, what they want, what they don't want, and also taking risks like we are at heart. This is a content. We deliver content. Content is a creative pursuit and making sure we're developing things or giving them things that are very, very exciting and not always playing it safe. I think that's the key. BFOZ: What's the best business advice that anyone has shared with you that you still keep to you till this day, other than know your audience? Because the reality is at the rate of innovation that's happening right now, every company is at the risk of . And so I think what we do as leaders is we have to really challenge ourselves to think, "How would we do things differently, if you started today?".I think I've definitely been in some high growth companies that have been very disrupted, and that's always very top of mind for me is there is someone who is going to have a really great idea and they're going to implement that idea with all the tools that are available to them today without any legacy thinking. So have your experience be your superpower, not your liability. BFOZ: And finally, if there was one anime universe you could live in, which one would it be? Which show do you think will take home "Anime of the Year"? Tune into the Crunchyroll Anime Awards on Twitch and YouTube on May 25, 2025 — the pre-show kicks off from 6pm AEST.
Buzz Feed
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
"Thunderbolts*" Geraldine Viswanathan Confesses Messing Up On Set Was "Scary"
Australian actress, Geraldine Viswanathan, has quietly crept onto Hollywood's radar, in recent faves Miracle Workers (2019), Blockers (2018) and You're Cordially Invited (2025). Now, she's stepping up to the MCU plate as a pivotal character in Jake Schreier's superhero smash, Thunderbolts *. Questions are already being asked of her future involvement in the Cinematic Universe and if she'll be returning as bright-haired hero, Songbird. Geraldine's answer is Marvel media training at its finest — which could really mean anything. Ahead of the cinematic release of Thunderbolts*, we sat down with Newcastle-raised Geraldine Viswanathan to confirm (or deny) her future MCU role, chat about the biggest menace on set and her career "WOAH" moment. Here's everything she told us: BFOZ: Growing up in Australia and pursuing acting over here, when it feels so far away from the big lights of Hollywood, what's the moment that made you realise, "Holy shit, I've made it"? Geraldine: I mean, [ Thunderbolts* ]' is kind of crazy and I'm looking at the poster here and I see my name at the bottom and I'm like, "Wow". I feel like it hasn't dawned on me the massiveness of joining the Marvel universe until I've started doing press. But I think also doing Blockers and having our premiere, was such a pinch me full circle moment because I think it was a couple — five years prior to that, I had gone to that same theatre for the Bridesmaids premiere, just as a fan waiting at the barricades to get autographs. And so to be on the other side and have a movie that's premiering at the same theatre felt like a very cool moment. BFOZ: If Marvel dreamed up a new South Asian-Australian superhero, what backstory and powers would they have? Would grow up in Newcastle just like you did? Geraldine: Woah. What a question. You know what? I've thought about this before. I think I was like, wouldn't it be interesting if there was a mixed race superhero who can live in this liminal space between worlds or something like that? Maybe she could shapeshift or time jump or something. But I definitely, would love to see more superheroes from Newcastle. Samir Hussein / Samir Hussein/WireImage BFOZ: Speaking of new heroes, will we be seeing Mel step into her own hero role in the future? Geraldine: I really can't say, or else I'll be sniped, but all I can say is that... Hey! I would love to. I'm available, and this experience has been such a dream and I would love to do it again, if I could. Just for your visual reference, here's Geraldine's reaction to the question: Anyways... BFOZ: Back to Thunderbolts*, the ensemble is full of absolute characters. Which cast member was the biggest menace on set? Geraldine: Biggest menace? I feel like everyone was pretty well-behaved because it was so scary when you mess up and they have to reset. But I think David Harbour is a big crack and I think was cracking up the team. So, he might win the award for biggest menace. BFOZ: And finally, in today's world, if you could pick one of these Marvel villains — Thanos, Valentina de Fontaine, Loki, The Green Goblin or Killmonger — to rule, who would it be and why? Geraldine: Oh my god, these are terrible options. No, I don't want any of them to rule to the world, but maybe if I had to choose, I guess Val. I'm staying loyal to my boss. I think she's not all bad. There's some nuance, there's some gray area there, and I love to see a woman in charge, so I'll go with Val. BFOZ: How do you think she would change the world? Marvel Studios / Courtesy of Marvel Studios
