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UPI
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
'Zombies 4' reminded Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly to be present
1 of 5 | From left, Meg Donnelly, Malachi Barton, Freya Skye and Milo Manheim, seen at the 2025 Disney Upfront in New York City, star in "Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo LOS ANGELES, July 7 (UPI) -- Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly say Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, on Disney Channel Thursday, reflects life lessons and how far they've come since the original 2018 movie Zombies. The sequel finds high school sweethearts Zed (Manheim) and Addison (Donnelly) contemplating different paths the summer after their freshman year in college. Through the events of the film, they realize their friends and loved ones are most important. In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Manheim, 24, and Donnelly, 25, said they related to the film's theme of being present in the moment. Zed realizes he's been neglecting Addison to focus on football, and vice versa for Addison's cheerleading. "I wouldn't be lying if I said that I think about the fact that I'm getting older every day," Donnelly said. "I try to be as present as possible and try to tell myself that I don't have to have anything figured out." When Zombies premiered in 2018, Donnelly already had five years of acting credits. The Disney Channel film was Manheim's first lead role, having performed in stage musicals since he was 7. "I also feel like if you are like I need to get all this done before it's too late, then you can't enjoy the ride," Manheim said. "So I think the best thing we can do for ourselves is just be gratefully present." Passing the torch Before they go their separate ways, zombie Zed and alien/human hybrid Addison stumble into a feud between Vampires and Daywalkers, which closely resembles the divisions they faced between humans and zombies as teens. The Vampires and Daywalkers are battling over a fruit grove that nourishes each of their superpowers. Sure enough, a romance blooms between Daywalker Nova (Freya Skye) and Vampire Victor (Malachi Barton). In one of Zombie 4's new songs, Zed and Addison literally sing that it's up to Nova and Victor to carry on their message of tolerance. "I remember looking at that lyric like, 'Oh,'" she said. "'It feels like forever since we were your age. We're passing you the torch so don't hesitate.'" Manheim laughed at the spinoff possibilities for a Vampires film. "We literally said 'we pass you the torch,' if it wasn't clear enough," he said. Barton and Freya were ready to step up. Barton, 18, has been working with Disney Channel since he joined the cast of Stuck in the Middle in 2016, following several Nickelodeon projects. Barton met Manheim and Donnelly prior to Zombies 4 through events Disney held for its young stars. He was excited to join the pair in what is Barton's first musical. "Disney Balls were these little proms for all the homeschool kids that were on Disney that didn't get an actual prom," Barton said. "I randomly saw Meg at one of the softball games. We used to have a softball league for Stuck in the Middle." Zombies 4 is 15-year-old Freya's first movie, after appearing in video games Dragon Quest Treasures and Final Fantasy XVI. Though she practiced ballet before, she trained in hip-hop dance and martial arts for her role as Nova. "I was doing a couple hours every day of stunt training," Freya said. Now I feel like I've got those skills which is really cool. I feel very tough." The Vampire clan includes Vera, played by Sway Bhatia, who previously appeared in Disney's Mighty Ducks: Game Changers series. In a separate phone interview with UPI, Sway, 17, said Donnelly and Manheim were also integral to her career. Sway appeared on stage with Donnelly in New York when Sway was six. She met Manheim at the 2023 premiere of his Disney film Prom Pact, where he predicted she'd be cast in Zombies 4. "I had no words when he said that," Sway said, adding that, though she still had to audition, co-starring together took them "from fan to friend and family." Appearing in a musical also took Sway back to the beginning of her career. As a 2-year-old in Dubai, Sway danced in a Priyanka Chopra-Jonas televised concert. "It was for, I believe, 16 and above," Sway said. "I think they just saw how excited I was to just be in that room surrounded by artists and surrounded by dancers, that they gave me the job." Three years ago, Sway met Chopra-Jonas again at an event for South Asians in Hollywood. "I got to show her the photo because I had it in my camera roll," Sway said. "She got emotional just thinking about how long ago it was and how I got to be in this industry so many years later." Dance challenges Disney-style dancing required different moves from Sway's Bollywood-style dance background. Sway added that choreographer Dondraico Johnson gave each character dance moves specific to their character. "For Vera, I think she's such a spunky and sassy character that a lot of me was vamping out to be honest," Sway said. "You have to find that perfect medium of not too scary, slight friendliness in there but still a little bit scary." The Zombies 4 dances included added challenges like dancing on the beach. Going from studio rehearsals to the sand was a challenge for Freya. "I struggle carrying my towel and my beach bag down to the place I want on the beach, let alone doing full choreography," Freya said. "In the rehearsal studio we were all like, 'Yeah, we've got this. This is going to be a breeze filming.' I got there, I was sorely mistaken." Barton said he struggled to nail his steps on the beach. "Your feet feel like they're 10 pounds heavier than they actually are when you're on sand," Barton said. "You also can't spin around on sand." The 'Zombies' legacy One thing that has not changed across four Zombies films is Zed and Addison's love for each other. While another franchise might have broken Zed and Addison up, a believable plot twist for high schoolers, the conflicts in the Zombies films came from adding new monsters each film. "The more important thing was what they were fighting for," Manheim said, which typically meant Zed and Addison "tried to unite people." Donnelly said a couple's one or two year anniversary are the biggest hurdles, and Zed and Addison have made it through four movies over seven years. "In Zombies 4 for sure I think they're solidified which is really cool to see," Donnelly said. Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires streams on Disney+ Friday.
New York Post
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Aaron Rodgers signing is ‘worst-case scenario' for Steelers: Ryan Clark
One former Steelers star is not too thrilled about Pittsburgh landing Aaron Rodgers. Ryan Clark thinks that the Steelers are making a mistake in signing Rodgers, saying that fans should look it as a 'worst-case scenario.' 'This is the worst-case scenario for Pittsburgh Steelers fans. It continues to keep you mired in mediocrity,' Clark said Thursday during an appearance on ESPN's 'SportsCenter.' 'Will this team be better? Have they gotten better in the quarterback room? Absolutely. Will they contend for that championship that Pittsburgh Steelers people, and fans, and organization think is the standard? Advertisement 'No, they won't. … They'll be fighting for a wild card spot. They'll probably be home week one of the playoffs and again be looking for a franchise quarterback. If you told me you were gonna pair one of this era's greatest coaches with one of this era's greatest quarterbacks, I'd expect greatness. That is not what we'll get.' 3 Ryan Clark at the 2025 Disney Upfront. WireImage Rodgers, 41, agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers pending a physical, the team announced Thursday night. Advertisement Details of the contract have yet to be released. Clark, who spent eight years of his NFL career in Pittsburgh, has criticized his former team going after Rodgers in free agency multiple times, saying in April that he was disappointed in how the Steelers were handling the situation. 3 Aaron Rodgers in a New York Jets uniform. AP 'It makes me sick, to be honest,' Clark said during an appearance on ESPN's 'Get Up.' Advertisement 'Unless Omar, the general manager, Omar Khan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has some sort of promise or some sort of lean on Aaron Rodgers believing that he is going to come back and play football, and if he does make that decision, he's going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,' Clark said. 'I feel like this has been mishandled already.' Clark also said he believes the Steelers were being 'held hostage' by the 10-time Pro Bowler who has 'actually never done anything for you.' 3 Aaron Rodgers, wearing a New York Jets uniform, walks off the field. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST 'What has Aaron Rodgers done in the last two years or since leaving Green Bay that says he should be afforded this type of time that says you should give him the sort of respect that keeps your franchise at bay?' Clark said.' Advertisement 'It's been a bad play by the Pittsburgh Steelers already,' Clark added. Rodgers, after playing one full season with the Jets after an Achilles injury in 2023, will now hope for better fortunes in Pittsburgh.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Bonkers!': Ginnifer Goodwin Reflects on Once Upon a Time Musical Episode Anniversary — WATCH
When I most unexpectedly reunited with the age-defying Ginnifer Goodwin on the Disney Upfront's blue carpet earlier this month, I had recently gotten a Facebook 'memory' about the Once Upon a Time musical episode, which aired eight years prior (and for which I was on-set, in March 2017). So after talking a bit about her voice acting encore as police rabbit Judy Hopps in Disney's Zootopia 2 (due in theaters Nov. 26!), I had to invite Ginny to reflect on OUAT's 'The Song in Your Heart,' which aired May 7, 2017, saw her duet with husband Josh Dallas' Charming, and teed up that season's two-part finale. More from TVLine As Doctor Odyssey's Fate Hangs in the Balance, Joshua Jackson Thanks John Oliver for Viral Season 2 Renewal Plea The Librarians: The Next Chapter Sneak Peek: Jacob Stone Teaches the New Team a Magic Lesson (Exclusive) General Hospital Recasts Michael: Former Y&R Actor Rory Gibson Replaces Chad Duell 'That's bonkers!' is Goodwin's knee-jerk reaction to the eight-years-ago milestone, as seen in the video below. For one, she had a nine-year-old at her hip (her and Dallas' second-born child, Hugo). Plus, 'I was terrified' about singing on-camera, she admits. 'It was a big deal for me to not go running.' We then give props to Dallas' own pipes, which were put to good use in the musical episode's opening number, 'Powerful Magic.' For 'The Song in Your Heart,' OUAT creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis enlisted songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner to hash out the grand plan, which led to seven original tunes being penned: 'Powerful Magic,' 'Love Doesn't Stand a Chance' (led by Lana Parrilla), 'Revenge Is Gonna Be Mine' (led by Colin O'Donoghue), 'Wicked Always Wins' (Rebecca Mader), 'Charmings vs. Evil Queen' (Goodwin, Dallas and Parrilla), 'Emma's Theme' (Jennifer Morrison), and the #CaptainSwan wedding song 'A Happy Beginning' (ft. Morrison, O'Donoghue, Goodwin, Dallas, Parrilla, Mader and kinda-sorta Jared Gilmore). 'I said that in theory I was keen' on doing a musical episode, Goodwin told me on-set back in 2017, 'but the truth is when it became a reality I grew terrified, and asked if I could be a doo-wop girl in the background. Jazz hands and all!' TV's 20 Best Musical Episodes, Ranked (Plus the One Absolute Worst) View List Best of TVLine Yellowjackets' Tawny Cypress Talks Episode 4's Tai/Van Reunion: 'We're All Worried About Taissa' Vampire Diaries Turns 10: How Real-Life Plot Twists Shaped Everything From the Love Triangle to the Final Death Vampire Diaries' Biggest Twists Revisited (and Explained)
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jimmy Kimmel Is a Grandpa! Late Night Host's Daughter Katie Welcomes First Baby, a Girl
Jimmy Kimmel is officially a grandpa! The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host, 57, became a grandparent after his daughter Katie welcomed her first baby — a girl — with husband Will Logsdon. Their happy news was shared by Kimmel on Tuesday, May 20, during his talk show's opening monologue. 'The baby's very healthy," he said, before revealing his granddaughter's name. "Her name, they gave her a very cute name. Her name is Melania,' he joked, adding, 'It's Melanie Thee Stallion…" He went on to give his granddaughter's real name: Patti Joan. The newborn's first name is "like the melt, but with an 'I' not a 'Y,' " Kimmel said, while her middle name, Joan, comes from his mother's name. Kimmel had been absent from Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday, May 19, the day Katie's gave birth. 'We were supposed to have a show last night, but we didn't because my daughter had a baby last night," Kimmel explained at the top of the show. "My oldest daughter – you know, people don't realize, people that know I have two little kids, they don't know I have to older kids. My oldest daughter, she's 83-years-old. Her name is Katie. Katie and her husband Will had a baby girl right at the time we shoot our show last night. So I decided to be there instead here." It was the second time Kimmel had skipped a show in 22 years. The last was when he had his appendix out. Plenty of people were by Kimmel's side for his daughter's big day. "We had an army of people at the hospital, it was bigger than Coachella," Kimmel teased. He gave extra praise to longtime sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez. "You were such a great doula," he joked. "You were reassuring, you were calm, your hands were soft, you were perfect. Thank you so much, on behalf of the whole family." Kimmel shares daughter Katie, 33, and son Kevin, 31, with ex-wife Gina Maddy. He is also dad to son Billy, 8, and daughter Jane, 10, whom he shares with wife Molly McNearney. At the Disney Upfront on Tuesday, May 13, Kimmel revealed that his daughter was pregnant and about to give birth to his first grandchild. "My daughter, my oldest daughter, is about to have a baby. I'm holding for applause," Kimmel said in the pre-recorded sketch. "I assume I'm getting applause, applause, applause, thank you. I'm going to be a grandfather." He joked that his grandchild's naming rights were up for offer at the event. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Katie tied the knot with her husband Logsdon in September 2021. Kimmel opened up about Katie's ceremony when he stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "She actually turned 30 two weeks ago, which is strange to have a 30-year-old daughter," he said. "And she is getting married this weekend, as a matter of fact, which is a big deal." As host Ellen DeGeneres congratulated him, Kimmel said: "Yeah, I guess." "People keep saying congratulations," he continued. "I don't know what I'm being congratulated for. Congratulations on raising a human that is attractive enough to be taken by one person. It's not like we were trying to get rid of her, you know? It's not like we're selling a houseboat on eBay or something like that. But I guess congratulations is the thing." Kimmel also confirmed that he does indeed like Katie's spouse Logsdon. "People ask that too like, 'How's the guy?' And I'll tell you, the guy is great," he shared. "His name is Will and he's a great guy. And if he wasn't, he'd be dead right now." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Zootopia 2' teaser trailer shows Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps solving a new case
The teaser trailer for "Zootopia 2" has arrived. Disney released the teaser trailer for the animated sequel on Tuesday, which finds Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, voiced by Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin, hanging out with a new character named Gary De'Snake. He is a mysterious pit viper voiced by Ke Huy Quan. "Judy and Nick find themselves on the twisting trail of a great mystery when Gary De'Snake arrives in Zootopia and turns the animal metropolis upside down," according to the film's official synopsis. "To crack the case, they must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before." 'Zootopia' Tops the Box Office Again ABC Audio spoke with Goodwin at the 2025 Disney Upfront, where she said it was amazing to get to return to the character of Judy Hopps. "She's the best," Goodwin said. "I can't generally watch myself. I think a lot of actors are like this. 'Zootopia' is one I can watch again and again, and had to, having children. And I have to say, that made it easier to slip right back in, because I was like, oh, I really get who this character is now. I've seen the movie a hundred times." Disney Animation chief and creative officer Jared Bush wrote and directed "Zootopia 2." He promises a larger world for fans to explore. "We are beyond excited to welcome everyone back to the outrageous, expansive animal metropolis of Zootopia," Bush said. "Whether it's the marshes of semi-aquatic mammals, the vast desert dunes or even greater mysteries beyond, our heroes, Judy and Nick, will meet a lot of new friends, and discover even more about the world, themselves and a brand-new snake in town." Ke Huy Quan joins cast of 'Zootopia 2' Shakira returns to voice Gazelle in the sequel, while Fortune Feimster and Quinta Brunson join the cast. "Zootopia 2" arrives in theaters on Nov. 26. 'Zootopia 2' teaser trailer shows Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps solving a new case originally appeared on
