Latest news with #Ocean'sEight
GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
'Smurfs:' Rihanna says she draws inspiration from her character Smurfette
Rihanna, who voices Smurfette in the upcoming "Smurfs" film, said she has long related to her character Smurfette's mix of beauty, strength, and all that sass. Growing up in Barbados, the singer-actress said in a press release that "The Smurfs" was her childhood favorite. "So many mornings, I woke up long before I was supposed to get ready for school just to get that dose of 'Smurfs'," Rihanna said, who also served as the film's producer and music contributor. Speaking about her character, she said Smurfette is "a powerful leader, independent, strong, beautiful, sassy, witty and very empathetic." "I was super-inspired by all of that," she added. In the upcoming film, Smurfette leads the Smurfs on a mission to the real world to rescue Papa Smurf (John Goodman), who's been kidnapped by evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe. Directed by Chris Miller and written by Pam Brady, "Smurfs" premieres in the Philippines on July 16. The "Umbrella" hitmaker previously acted in "Ocean's Eight" and "Battleship" among many others. Her most recent song was "Lift Me Up" in 2022 for the film, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." In 2023, she headlined the Super Bowl halftime show. —Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News
Cosmopolitan
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Olivia Munn Claims ‘The Newsroom' Director Tried to 'Ruin' Career
Olivia Munn isn't holding back. On the most recent episode of Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast, the actor and activist revealed she was nearly blacklisted in Hollywood after she disagreed with a male director while she was on HBO's The Newsroom. 'There was a storyline where my character and Tom Sadoski's character are dating and falling in love,' Olivia explained to Dax and his co-host, Monica Padman. Without naming names, she added that the director kept pushing the romantic storyline on her performance rather than Tom's. 'He kept trying to force me to carry that storyline only on my side. He's like, 'Can you look out at him and smile?' And I'm like, 'Why? She's busy doing this?' Or, 'Can you stop and snuggle up to him or flirt with him?' Or, 'Can you give him a kiss?' And I'm like, 'This is in the middle of working,'' she shared, describing the nature of the scene. The Your Friends & Neighbors star also revealed that someone on her team notified her that the director told film studios she was 'difficult' to work with after they disagreed on set. 'I was on the one-yard-line for the movie and my manager calls me and says, 'Hey, you're gonna get the role. But first, I guess there's another director who they know and he says that on The Newsroom, you were late all the time and really combative,'' Olivia said, though she didn't mention the movie in question. She continued, 'I lived seven minutes from there. I was never late. I was like, 'I know who this is.' He just was trying to bash me. And I told my reps, 'Please tell the directors this.' And then I still got the role. But I will always remember that just because of our conflicts of how we approached a role, he wanted to ruin my chances of getting anything else.' Olivia starred on the HBO series as Sloan Sabbith for three seasons from 2012 to 2014 before moving on to projects like X-Men: Apocalypse, Ocean's Eight, and The Daily Show over the years. ICYMI, tune in to Olivia Munn's full conversation with Dax Shepherd on Armchair Expert below.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Olivia Munn claims ‘The Newsroom' director tried to 'ruin' her career: 'He kept trying to force me to...'
Olivia Munn opened up about troubling encounters with a recurring director during her time on HBO's 'The Newsroom,' which went on from 2012 to 2014. She explained that the disagreement centred on her portrayal of Sloan Sabbith, particularly in scenes meant to show romantic chemistry with Don Keefer's performance as Tom Sadoski. Olivia Munn's words On a recent episode of Dax Shepard 's Armchair Expert podcast, Munn recalled, 'He kept trying to force me to carry that storyline only on my side… 'Can you look out at him and smile?' And I'm like, 'Why? She's busy doing this.' Or, 'Can you stop and snuggle up to him or flirt with him?' Or, 'Can you give him a kiss?' And I'm like, 'This is in the middle of working.'' Accusations of unprofessional behaviour Tension escalated off-screen when Munn was on the verge of landing a new film role. She received a call from her manager saying, 'Hey, you're gonna get the role. But… another director… says that, on The Newsroom, you were late all the time and really combative.' Refuting the claims, Munn pointed out practical facts, quoting, 'I lived seven minutes from there. I was never late… He just was trying to bash me.' Thankfully, Munn secured the part despite the director's alleged campaign against her. As she remarked, 'I still got the role. But I will always remember that… he wanted to ruin my chances of getting anything else.' A shift in perspective The ordeal, she shared, led her to rethink her career trajectory. Speaking with The Daily Beast, she reflected, 'This kind of dynamic… has really changed the way that I think about my career and what I want… I truly just wanna do great work that I'm happy with. And I wanna live an easy, happy life. I don't need to get to the next echelon.' Continued success and moving forward Despite the hurdles, Munn remained resilient. Her post-Newsroom projects include 'Office Christmas Party,' 'Ocean's Eight,' and 'X‑Men: Apocalypse,' and she now headlines the dark comedy 'Your Friends & Neighbors' alongside Jon Hamm, which is on Apple TV+.
Express Tribune
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
George Clooney and Brad Pitt offer $20 million to Sandra Bullock for ‘Ocean's Fourteen'
Brad Pitt and George Clooney are reportedly working hard to persuade Sandra Bullock to return for the upcoming 'Ocean's Fourteen'. According to In Touch, the two A-list actors are hoping to convince their longtime friend to reprise her role as Debbie Ocean in the next installment of the hit heist movie franchise. In Touch sources reveal that Pitt and Clooney have been 'schmoozing' Sandra, offering her a tempting $20 million payday to secure her participation. Sandra, now 60, originally played Debbie Ocean, the sister of Danny Ocean (Clooney's character), in 'Ocean's Eight' (2018). Pitt and Clooney, both in their 60s, are well-established figures in the franchise, having appeared together in 'Ocean's Eleven' (2001), 'Ocean's Twelve' (2004), and 'Ocean's Thirteen' (2007). Now, they are eager to bring Sandra back for what insiders are describing as a new chapter in the series. This push for 'Ocean's Fourteen' marks a significant shift, as Pitt and Clooney were reportedly ready to step away from the franchise. Two years ago, the actors planned to pass the torch to a new generation of stars, including Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. However, the success of 'Barbie' and the increasing A-list commitments for Robbie and Gosling led Clooney to take the initiative, revitalizing the project with a fresh plot and an impressive new cast. As part of the new direction, the duo is focusing on honoring the legacy of series veterans Bernie Mac and Carl Reiner, while also accounting for the retirement of guest star Bruce Willis. Pitt and Clooney are reportedly aiming to reunite other original 'Ocean's' cast members, including Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle, and Casey Affleck. Sources close to the project emphasize that Sandra's involvement is key to its success. Despite announcing a break from acting in 2022, Sandra has continued to maintain strong relationships with Pitt, having previously worked with him on 'The Lost City' and 'Bullet Train'. Insiders suggest that Sandra is eager to return to studio films but is balancing multiple offers, including a role in the upcoming 'Practical Magic' sequel. Reports suggest Pitt and Clooney are determined to make 'Ocean's Fourteen' happen, aiming for a Christmas 2025 release.
