Latest news with #TheRighteousGemstones'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How ‘The Studio,' ‘Yellowjackets,' ‘Monsters' and ‘White Lotus' Make Bad Behavior Appealing
If you analyze the list of reprehensible acts committed by Shauna on 'Yellowjackets' – from everyday betrayals of those closest to her (e.g., sleeping with her best friend's boyfriend in the series' first episode) to serious crimes – you can safely say that she is an objectively horrible person who should be serving a long stretch in prison. But not if you're Melanie Lynskey, the actor who's played the character on the Showtime series for the past three seasons. More from Variety Emmy Voters Don't Forget: The Powerful Women of 'The Righteous Gemstones' 'Handmaid's Tale' and 'Day of the Jackal' Producers on Rewriting Literary Worlds With TV Adaptations 'The White Lotus': How Editing and Sound Helped Make Thailand a Character in the Story 'I feel so the opposite of that,' says Lynskey when confronted with the idea that Shauna is a horrible person. 'It's so easy for me to find the humanity in her.' Finding the humanity in a character, no matter how morally objectionable, is a core task of an actor's job. And since Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) bada-binged his way on to TV screens in 'The Sopranos' in 1999, that task has become increasingly more daunting for both actors and audiences as they've been confronted by a growing horde of emotionally toxic and downright dangerous anti-heroes, from Walter White in 'Breaking Bad' to virtually every character in 'Succession.'In comedy, that's the case too. It's not easy to craft a character who both causes audiences to yell at the screen and root for at the same time. Yet 'The Studio' does just that with Seth Rogen's Matt Remick, who after getting a major promotion seems to make every wrong decision he can. Still, it's impossible not to hope he finds a way to succeed. Often, actors can't help but feel protective of their characters. Lynskey says she's been bewildered by the fans who've directed online vitriol at Shauna this season, while seemingly forgiving the sins of Shauna's husband Jeff (Warren Cole) and the heinous crimes committed by Misty (Christina Ricci). It's suggested to Lynskey that the difference is that Misty's brand is cuckoo, while Shauna is effectively the eyes and the ears of the viewer. 'Yeah, I guess there is a difference,' concedes Lynskey, who plays the character as an adult, while Sophie Nélisse plays her as a teen. 'I think that that the reason why people feel so upset and betrayed is because [Shauna] is like the audience surrogate who we all relate to. She seems like moms that I know. She seems like my mom. She thinks like me and then she's actually somebody who's capable of doing very crazy and really vicious things.' As Lyle Menendez in Netflix's 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,' Nicholas Alexander Chavez is that arrogant, spoiled rich kid we've all known – right up until the moment he and his brother Erik (Cooper Koch) kill their parents Jose and Kitty (Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny). But unlike Shauna in 'Yellowjackets,' if you take away the cold-blooded murder, Lyle is still, well … a privileged douche. Right? 'I would have a really tough time calling him that, only because it's impossible for me to put that kind of judgment on him,' insists Chavez. 'I see him more so as a wounded boy whose emotional and psychological development was probably stunted around the age of 8 or 9 or 10, but who ultimately felt like he had to behave like his dad. And I think that if you asked any 10-year-old to act like a 40-year-old record label executive, they would have a lot of anger and feel a lot of inadequacy because they don't have the means by which to actually do that job.' For Season 3 of HBO Max's 'The White Lotus,' Michelle Monaghan looked deep into the soul of not a murderer, but a famous actress like herself – specifically, a fictitious TV star named Jaclyn who manipulates and betrays her two childhood friends (Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon) while on girls' trip to a luxury resort in Thailand – a process she admits she felt 'confronted' by. '[As actors], 'a lot of our self-worth is dependent on external validation,' observes Monaghan. 'I think because that's the way in which [Jaclyn] lives her life and that that's where she places her value, when she's not getting that validation or that stimulation that she needs, she goes looking for it in all the wrong places. And at the end of the day, what I hope we see is someone who probably really needs authentic connection. And I don't think she's malicious; I don't think she's manipulative, I think she's naughty.' Monaghan believes that, instead of turning viewers off, a character's bad behavior can actually draw them in. 'I think it allows for audiences to be seen in a way, because maybe [the character's] moral compass is a little off in a way that can oftentimes mirror their own,' she says. 'I like that feeling of being able to kind of take the audience on a ride that feels maybe a little confronting for them and one that they're emotionally invested in.' Getting inside the head of Menendez and staying there was a less pleasant experience for Chavez at times, particularly when he had to shoot a scene where he was was locked in a closet, naked and covered in simulated feces. 'When I'm working on a role, it'll work on me in almost a subconscious way,' says Chavez. 'There will be subtle drifts in my personality towards a certain behavior pattern over the course of two or three or four months. I do this almost unknowingly, which makes a lot of sense because you're filming five days a week for anywhere between eight to 14 hours a day. Now, it's not to the point where I'm out to dinner with my friends after a day of shooting and I'm introducing myself as Lyle. I think that that sort of stuff is a bit ridiculous. But I'd say I was about four months out, like late January of this year, is when I started to actually let go [of Lyle] and feel like myself again.' But, just as often, it's good for an actor to be bad. Lynskey points to her stunt-filled fight scene from Season 3 of 'Yellowjackets' where she bites off a piece of Melissa's (Hillary Swank) arm and forces her to eat it as being particularly enjoyable. 'It's very fun when the stakes are high and there's a really dangerous element to it,' says Lynskey. 'And it's fun to play someone who's unpredictable. Honestly, I don't know what the scripts are going to give me.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
J.K. Rowling Explains Why She Won't Fire ‘Harry Potter' Snape Actor Paapa Essiedu
Are the wands coming out behind the scenes of HBO's Harry Potter reboot? J.K. Rowling has reacted to an article speculating about whether she will 'sack' actor Paapa Essiedu, who has been cast in the upcoming series as Potions Professor Severus Snape. More from The Hollywood Reporter Danny McBride Talks 'The Righteous Gemstones' Finale and His Note for Suburban Movie Theaters John Oliver Mocks Trump for Believing Edited Tattoo Photo Was Real, Says ABC News' Terry Moran Was "in Hell" During Oval Office Interview 'The Gilded Age' Teases Marriage and Upheaval in Season 3 Last week, Essiedu — along with Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne and Harry Potter film series actor Katie Leung — signed an open letter along with more than 400 others which called upon the United Kingdom's entertainment industry to commit to protecting the trans community after the U.K. Supreme Court ruled that trans women should not be recognized as women and that 'sex' should legally mean biological sex. Initially, Rowling seemed to only vaguely and possibly reference the Harry Potter actors in a post on X on Sunday where the author criticized petition signers without naming names ('Some argue that signatories of these sorts of letters are motivated by fear: fear for their careers, of course, but also fear of their co-religionists, who include angry, narcissistic men who threaten and sometimes enact violence on non-believers; back-stabbing colleagues ever ready to report wrongthink,' Rowling wrote). But on Monday morning, Rowling tweeted an image of a U.K. tabloid report that cited anonymous sources which predicted Rowling — who is an executive producer on the HBO series — won't fire Essiedu and 'won't care at all' about his 'defiance.' Rowling then clarified her position: 'I don't have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn't exercise it if I did. I don't believe in taking away people's jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.' Essiedu is a British actor who has previously appeared in shows such as I May Destroy You and Black Mirror. Rowling's tweet follows HBO's The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal slamming Rowling for 'Heinous LOSER behavior' after the author celebrated the court ruling (Rowling had posted, 'I love it when a plan comes together,' and noted to a critic, 'I get the same royalties whether you read [my books] or burn them'). It also follows Harry Potter star John Lithgow, who has been cast as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, dismissing concerns about Rowling's views. 'I thought, why is this a factor at all?' said the 79-year-old Lithgow, who earned an Oscar nomination for his pioneering role as a trans ex-football player in the 1982 film The World According to Garp. 'I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her and I'm curious to talk to her.' When asked if criticism over him taking the role in the series has discouraged him, Lithgow replied, 'Oh, heavens no.' HBO chief Casey Bloys has previously shrugged off concerns about backlash, pointing to the success of Hogwarts Legacy video game, which also faced boycott calls over Rowling's trans views, and went on to become the biggest selling game of 2023. Bloys recently added during an interview with The Town podcast that Rowling is entitled to her own political standpoint. 'It's pretty clear that those are her personal, political views,' Bloys said. 'She's entitled to them. Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything. And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter. The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us. We've been in business for 25 years.' HBO's Harry Potter reimagines the seven-novel book series into a TV series with each book being adapted into a separate season. The show recently announced its core adult cast, and is expected to soon reveal who is playing the show's key child roles. Last year, HBO said it expected to begin filming in mid-2025. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise 'Yellowstone' and the Sprawling Dutton Family Tree, Explained
Los Angeles Times
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
One Shot: The origin story behind ‘The Righteous Gemstones'' original sin
'The Righteous Gemstones' turns back the clock to the Civil War in its final season premiere to reveal the origin story of the televangelist family, with Bradley Cooper guest starring as Elijah Gemstone, a drifter turned charlatan preacher. 'I always had the idea that we would show a beginning of this connection to religion with this family,' says creator Danny McBride, who directed the episode. 'Prepped to within an inch of its life' in order to capture the period setting convincingly, the episode owes much to an Oscar-winning referent, 1989's 'Glory,' and to production designer Richard A. Wright, says cinematographer Paul Daley. Catapulting Eli down a new path is a deadly church robbery. Its visual storytelling is near-monochromatic, juxtaposing light and darkness. 'There's this idea of this false sense of holiness and that this guy doesn't belong here,' says McBride. 'We came from the idea that instead of him emerging from the shadows, he rises from a pew.' After stealing the priest's Bible and fabricating a letter to clear his name, Eli stands ominously over the dead body — an angelic glow bursting behind him. It's a moment where fortune, or in this case fate, favors the bold.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Righteous Gemstones' star performing in improv show at Charleston theater
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A star of HBO hit 'The Righteous Gemstones' is set to perform next month at a downtown Charleston theater. Edi Patterson, who plays Judy Gemstone, will improvise scenes in 'Doozy' based on audience suggestions alongside Dan O'Connor, Brandy Sullivan, and Greg Tavares at Theatre 99. If you're interested in attending the show, which will be held June 4 at 8 p.m., tickets are available online at the link below. The theater company on Meeting Street is known for its improv comedy shows on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Classes are available year-round. Guests should arrive 30 minutes before showtime as seating is first-come, first-served. There is no parking lot, but Charleston offers free street parking after 6 p.m. Nearby garages include the Charleston Place garage, Marion Square, and the Gaillard Auditorium. Theater 99 is at 280 Meeting Street above the Bicycle Shoppe. The entrance stairs are at the back of the building. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bobby Flay, Serena Williams and Green Day headline BottleRock Napa Valley 2025 culinary stage
Culinary heavyweights like TV food competition master Bobby Flay, 'Top Chef' host Kristen Kish, tennis legend Serena Williams and actress/singer Kate Hudson are among the stars set to appear at the BottleRock Napa Valley culinary stage. Known for bringing together celebrity chefs, musicians and sports figures, the 2025 Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage also plans to present festival performers including Green Day drummer Tré Cool as well as musicians Noah Kahan and Benson Boone throughout the Memorial Day weekend event from May 23-25. 'We've got a great cross section of talented chefs, musicians, world-class athletes, celebrities and engaging personalities ready to literally and figuratively mix it up,' said Dave Graham, partner at BottleRock Napa Valley, in a statement. 'Fans will surely experience some fun, crazy moments.' Well-known chefs like Andrew Zimmern, Antoni Porowski and Marcus Samuelsson, alongside celebrities such as comedian and 'The Righteous Gemstones' star Adam Devine, also top the bill. They'll share the stage with musicians like Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, R&B singer Bobby Brown, and rappers Chuck D, Flavor Flav and E-40. Other notable celebrities set to appear include San Francisco Niners George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk, and former San Francisco Giants players Evan Longoria and George Kontos. While BottleRock Culinary Stage veteran José Andrés, who launched the new cooking competition show "Yes Chef!" with Martha Stewart earlier this year, isn't on the list, other returning culinary stars include Brooke Williamson, Masaharu Morimoto, Trisha Yearwood, and Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, among others. Emmy Award-winning TV personality and KCBS 'Foodie Chap' Liam Mayclem will once again host each food demonstration, with music provided by Bay Area DJ Umami. BottleRock Napa Valley, which takes over the Napa Valley Expo, again promises to deliver a unique fusion of food, music and celebrity in the heart of downtown Napa. Headlined by Green Day, Justin Timberlake and Kahan, the three-day event will feature more than 75 musical acts spanning rock, pop, electronica and hip-hop. In addition to the headliners, BottleRock's musical stages will showcase an eclectic mix of artists, including Kaskade, Ice Cube, Rebelution, Sublime, Khruangbin, Public Enemy, Flo Rida and more. Single-day ticket prices start at $233 for general admission, $598 for VIP access and $864 for the exclusive VIP Viewing Suite.
