Latest news with #Rideback
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Washington Black' Trailer: Sterling K. Brown and Ernest Kingsley Jr. Travel the World in Coming-of-Age Story (TV News Roundup)
Hulu has released the official trailer for its latest limited series, 'Washington Black,' starring Ernest Kingsley Jr. ('The Sandman,' 'War of the Worlds') and Sterling K. Brown ('American Fiction,' 'This Is Us.') The eight-episode series is set to release on July 23 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. The series, based on Esi Edugyan's best selling novel of the same name follows George Washington 'Wash' Black, an eleven-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, whose prodigious scientific mind sets him on a path of unexpected destiny in the 19th century. After an accident forces him to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love. As Wash begins to navigate his journey into uncharted lands and impossible odds, he finds the courage to imagine a future beyond the confines of the society he was born into. More from Variety How to Watch 2025 NCAA Men's College World Series Live With Hulu + Live TV Advocate Originals to Launch on Hulu for Pride Month (EXCLUSIVE) 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Season 17 Trailer Teases 'Abbott Elementary,' 'Golden Bachelor' Crossovers Additional cast members for 'Washington Black' include Tom Ellis, Rupert Graves, Iola Evans, Edward Bluemel, Charles Dance, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Eddie Karanja, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Blaine Dorey, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, and Billy Boyd. Selwyn Seyfu Hinds and Kimberly Ann Harrison will serve as showrunners for the series, with Esi Edugyan as a co-producer. 'Washington Black' will be executive produced by Brown, Hinds, Harrison, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wanuri Kahiu, Mo Marable, Rob Seidenglanz, Jeremy Bell, Lindsay Williams, D.J. Goldberg, Jennifer Johnson, and Anthony Hemingway. The series is produced by 20th Television Production in association with Indian Meadows Productions and The Gotham Group. Watch the trailer for 'Washington Black' below. CJ ENM America has announced Courteney Tarantin as the company's new Vice President of Scripted TV. Tarantin will be have a key role in the production and development of original scripted series for audiences, while working behind the scenes in adapting IP from CJ ENM's content library. Tarantin will also serve as a creative lead for various scripted projects from CJ ENM, working between the company's international production partners and studios around the United States. Before joining CJ ENM, Tarantin was Vice President at Rideback, where she contributed to the sales of scripted series to Amazon, Paramount+, Hulu, Showtime, CBS, The CW, ABC, and NBC. Tarantin worked on projects such as 'Walker' and its prequel series, 'Walker: Independence.' Before working at Rideback, Tarantin previously worked at Sony Pictures Television's TriStar TV, contributing to projects such as 'Shut Eye,' 'Good Girls Revolt,' and 'The Last Tycoon.' 'Courteney brings an exceptional blend of creative instincts, strategic thinking, and deep industry experience to CJ ENM America at a pivotal time in our scripted expansion,' says Elsie Choi, the Executive Vice President of Head of Scripted TV at CJ ENM America. 'Her track record of championing distinctive voices and delivering compelling series across platforms aligns perfectly with our mission to build global stories that resonate. I'm thrilled to welcome her to the team.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
News18
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Lilo And Stitch Becomes 2nd Highest Grosser Of 2025 After Sinners, Mission Impossible 8
Last Updated: Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch, starring Maia Kealoha, surpassed Sinners to become the second highest-grossing movie of 2025 with $280. It's official! Lilo & Stitch is winning big at the box office. Disney's latest live-action take on the beloved animated classic has now overtaken Sinners to become the second highest-grossing movie of 2025. The film, starring newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo Pelekai, along with Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis, pulled in a strong $63 million over the weekend from 4,410 theatres across the U.S. That pushed its domestic total to a whopping $280.1 million, while its global earnings now stand at $610.8 million. Lilo & Stitch is an American science fiction comedy film directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Rideback, the film is a live-action animated remake of Disney's 2002 traditionally animated film Lilo & Stitch, with some elements also based on that film's animated sequel films and TV shows. #LiloAndStitch keeps surfing the family tsunami at US #BoxOffice, crushing newcomers grossing 3x more on 2nd weekend!63M 2nd 3-day weekend, with a strong -56.8% drop from #MemorialDay holiday boosted Opening weekend! TOP5 BIGGEST 2nd FRI OF ALL TIME for #MemorialDay releases:… — Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) June 1, 2025 On the other hand, Sinners, which had a great run so far, still held up decently in its seventh weekend with $5.2 million. The Ryan Coogler film now has a domestic total of $267.1 million and $350.1 million worldwide. Sinners is a supernatural horror film produced, written, and directed by Ryan Coogler. Set in 1932 in the Mississippi Delta, the film stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as criminal twin brothers who return to their hometown to start again where they are confronted by a supernatural evil. The film co-stars Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo. As for other new releases, they're no slouch either. Karate Kid: Legends opened strong with an estimated $21 million, and Bring Her Back also brought in big numbers. Together, all new films released post-Memorial Day brought in $149 million — that's 120 per cent higher than the same time last year. Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning kept its grip on the No. 2 spot this weekend with $27.3 million from 3,861 locations. The film has made $122.6 million in the U.S. so far. But given its massive $400 million production cost, it still has a long way to go. Its release in China added another $25.2 million, bringing its worldwide total to $353.8 million. Final Destination: Bloodlines followed in fourth place with $10.8 million during its third weekend. Interestingly, this fourth installment is now the most successful entry in the horror franchise. First Published:
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lilo & Stitch Post-Credits: How Many Scenes Are at the End?
Wondering if Lilo & Stitch (2025) features a post-credits scene? This action-comedy adventure follows a lonely Hawaiian girl who forms a bond with a runaway alien resembling a dog, aiding in the healing of her broken family. Many fans are curious whether director Dean Fleischer Camp included any post-credit scenes, a trend that has gained popularity in films. Discover whether Lilo & Stitch (2025) has a mid- or post-credits scene waiting for you at the end. Yes, Lilo & Stitch does contain one mid-credits scene. A recent tweet on X reveals that there will be a mid-credit scene, and viewers should stick around during the credits to see it. The announcement came before the movie's release. It sounds like waiting for this exciting scene will be worth it. Post-credits scenes have become an essential part of modern filmmaking, especially when it comes to setting up sequels or expanding cinematic universes. Audiences now eagerly stick around after the credits roll. All in hopes of an extra tease of what's to come or a humorous gag to wrap things up. Thankfully, fans of Lilo & Stitch can expect something special, as the upcoming live-action film features a mid-scene designed to delight them. While full reviews haven't been released yet, the first wave of social media reactions presents an incredibly promising outlook. According to early social media reactions have responded with glowing praise. Some critics have even gone so far as to call it Disney's best live-action adaptation yet. This seems like a bold claim considering the studio's track record. Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes wrote this live-action animated reimagining of Disney's 2002 classic Lilo & Stitch. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Rideback, it combines heartfelt storytelling with modern visual effects. The story follows Lilo, a lonely girl who adopts an alien named Stitch to fix her broken family. Unaware, Stitch is a genetically modified being designed for destruction, pursued by aliens and social workers. As their adventure unfolds, Lilo teaches Stitch about family, strengthening their bond and highlighting the importance of never abandoning anyone. Being primarily filmed in Oahu, Hawaii, it follows a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. Lilo & Stitch has a budget of $100 million. It features performances by Sydney Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Tia Carrere, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, Chris Sanders, Hannah Waddingham, and more. The PG-rated sci-fi action-drama comedy film Lilo & Stitch is scheduled for nationwide theatrical release on Friday, May 23, 2025. The post Lilo & Stitch Post-Credits: How Many Scenes Are at the End? appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Pink Villa
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Lilo & Stitch Exclusive: Sydney Agudong Reveals How She Connected with 'Spunky' Maia Kealoha Who Praises Her 'Artsy' Character
Disney's live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch has finally arrived in Indian cinemas this Friday, and early reactions suggest it's the perfect summer family film. With heart, humor, and high-quality visuals, this remake of the 2002 animated classic delivers a big-screen experience filled with both fun and emotion. The film, directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, brings a fresh take on the beloved original. Newcomer Maia Kealoha plays Lilo, while Chris Sanders reprises his iconic voice role as Stitch. Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, who plays Nani, praised her young co-star in an exclusive quote to Pinkvilla, saying, 'We connected from the start. I love that kid with all my heart. She is extremely talented and precocious and beautifully embodies Lilo's fascination with the world. She is this little, spunky, adorable child, is very friendly and loves to play on set. We played around with the ukulele and sang 'Aloha 'Oe' together. There was an instant sense of trust, sisterhood, and love.' At its core, Lilo & Stitch is about family, especially the raw and real relationship between sisters Lilo and Nani. The movie explores love, loss, and how family means no one gets left behind. Speaking to Pinkvilla, Kealoha described her character, saying, 'Lilo has lots of energy, and she is very artsy, but she also enjoys having playtime as well. And she really likes doing crafts, too. Her best friend is Stitch, but he is always getting into trouble, so I have to teach him to try and be good.' Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Rideback, this 2025 version blends live-action with CGI to reimagine the original story. The plot closely follows the events of the animated classic, with a few modern updates and emotional twists. From Stitch's crash-landing on Earth to his chaotic yet touching bond with Lilo, the film delivers a story that's both nostalgic and fresh. Fans will also spot familiar faces like Zach Galifianakis, Courtney B. Vance, and returning original cast members Tia Carrere, Amy Hill, and Jason Scott Lee.
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Cheehoo Raises $10 Million To Build AI Tools For 3D Animation
Los Angeles-based startup Cheehoo has raised $10 million to build what it describes as a "creative engine" for animation and interactive storytelling, putting advanced AI-enhanced workflows into the hands of artists, animators, and IP owners. The company was incubated at production company Rideback ("The LEGO Movie," "Avatar: The Last Airbender"). The round was led by Point72 Ventures with participation by Greycroft, Basis Set, Headline Asia, and others. Cheehoo's founding leadership team blends Hollywood and Silicon Valley experience, including former DreamWorks Animation President Chris deFaria, AI scientists from Apple and Stanford, and Rideback Co-CEOs Michael LoFaso and Jonathan Eirich. Rideback founder Dan Lin is also a co-founder. The company's early focus is on professional studios, IP holders, and select artists participating in a closed pilot program. Cheehoo is building a modular platform designed to reduce the time, friction, and cost associated with animated content production. LoFaso, who remains co-CEO of Rideback while helping lead Cheehoo, described it as a flexible and nimble animation pipeline that maintains compatibility with industry-standard tools like Maya and Unreal Engine, while incorporating AI to accelerate processes that typically bog down production. "Our sole focus is empowering artists," LoFaso told me in an interview. "We're trying to give them better tools — to eliminate the friction points that slow down iteration and prevent them from spending more time on the creative aspects of their work." Rather than scraping the internet for training data — a controversial tactic among some AI firms — Cheehoo generates its own proprietary 3D assets in-house and allows clients to retain ownership of anything they contribute. The system applies metadata to models and animation files, making it easier to search, repurpose, and build upon assets across projects. Over time, as studios and creators produce more with the platform, they generate a growing "data flywheel" that fuels further automation. Cheehoo's system can train mini-models on specific characters or projects using relatively small datasets compared to the massive corpuses typically needed to train pixel-based video generators. By focusing on 3D asset-based workflows, rather than pure video synthesis, the platform offers greater control and fidelity — a critical requirement for professional animation. The company is initially targeting enterprises but has a long-term vision of opening the platform to smaller studios, prosumers, and eventually, user-generated content creators. In LoFaso's view, the biggest immediate opportunity isn't replacing traditional studios but helping creators meet the ever-increasing demand for frequent, serialized content across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and streaming services. "Studios spend years and tens of millions to produce one major animated feature," LoFaso said. "But building a franchise today increasingly requires consistent, high-quality output — in addition to the big tentpole events." Cheehoo plans to announce its first creative partners and project slate later this year.
