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Has Amber Heard been fired from 'Aquaman 2'?

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures & © DC Comics(LOS ANGELES) — Rumors are swirling that Amber Heard has been fired from Aquaman 2, but the situation is something like an underwater mission in the Hudson River: murky. 

The 34-year-old actress stars as Mera, the protagonist’s main love interest.

Australian entertainment site SausageRoll was first to report that Heard was quietly dismissed from the movie and that her exit was fueled by health concerns and not by her ongoing legal battles against ex-husband Johnny Depp.

For their part, fans of Depp have been burning up Twitter, with the hashtag #FireAmberHeard trending occasionally since it was revealed in court that she allegedly abused Depp.

The court case, which alleged abuse on both sides of the rocky marriage, led Depp to step away from Warner Bros. Fantastic Beasts threequel. Hannibal and Doctor Strange actor Mads Mikkelsen eventually replaced him.

The abuse allegations against Heard also sparked a petition demanding her removal, of which over 1.8 million people have signed. 

In Heard’s stead, it was reported that Emilia Clarke would take over the role and reunite with her Game of Thrones co-star Jason Momoa, who stars as the King of Atlantis.

However, a journalist for The Hollywood Reporter journalist cast doubt on the report and tweeted out Sunday, “Told by a reliable source that reports of Amber Heard being fired off ‘Aquaman 2’ are inaccurate.”

Aquaman 2 is expected to hit theaters by Christmas 2022.

By Megan Stone and Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Flooding in Kentucky sparks rescues, evacuations for seniors

• No Comments • National News

welcomia/iStockBy EMILY SHAPIRO and MAX GOLEMBO, ABC News

(NEW YORK) — Up to 5 inches of rain has slammed parts of Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee, leaving residents stranded, roads washed out and buildings flooded.

In London, Kentucky, the London-Laurel County Rescue Squad used a raft to rescue a woman trapped in her car Sunday night.

In Salyersville, Kentucky, a nursing home evacuated its residents due to a high risk of flooding, the staff told local station WYMT-TV.

In Powell County, Kentucky, all learning is remote on Monday due to the flooding.

Thunderstorms also brought damaging winds to Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, knocking down power lines and trees.

Officials are urging residents to drive with extra caution.

The flooding rain is expected to subside Monday.

To the north, a snowstorm brought up to 1 foot of snow to the Dakotas and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, causing numerous accidents.

In the Northeast, after a mild and rainy weekend for millions in the Northeast, arctic air is returning.

By Tuesday morning, the wind chill — what it feels like — will plunge to -13 degrees in Boston, 2 degrees in New York City and 9 degrees in Philadelphia.

The National Weather Service warned that frostbite on exposed skin can occur in as little as 10 minutes for those in New England.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

'Tom and Jerry' earns second-best opening in box office during COVID era

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures(LOS ANGELES) — With more than half of the nation’s movie theaters closed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the newly released Tom and Jerry performed surprisingly well in the box office this weekend.

The hybrid live action and animated children’s movie raked in $13.7 million in its opening weekend — officially earning the second-best opening weekend behind Wonder Woman 1984 since the onset of the global pandemic.  That movie took in a $16.7 million haul opening weekend.

Tenant and The Croods: A New Age earned roughly $9.5 million on their respective opening weekends — the only other two movies to come close to Tom and Jerry‘s opening number.

Tom and Jerry opened in 2,475 North American theaters — which is 42 percent of the nation’s theaters — in addition to being available now for streaming on HBO Max.

In addition, the children’s movie earned $25.1 million in the international box office, bringing its global haul to $38.8 million.

The movie, which stars Chloë Grace Moretz — could serve as a barometer for next week’s box office, as another major animated movie is expected to hit theaters March 5 — Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon.

Slipping into second place this week was The Croods: A New Age, earning an additional $1.2 million across 1,912 venues.  To date, the movie has raked in $52 million.

In third was The Little Things, starring Denzel Washington, Jared Leto and Rami Malek.  The thriller, now in its fifth week of release, made $925,000 in 1,853 locations.

Wonder Woman 1984 hovered in fourth with a grand total of  $710,000 in 1,538 theaters while Liam Neeson’s The Marksman rounded the top five with $700,000.

Wonder Woman has earned $43.6 million during its box office run while The Marksman has tallied $12.3 million.

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

'The Voice' returns for its 20th season with Kelly, John, Blake & Nick Jonas, who's "here to win"

• No Comments • Entertainment News

NBCUniversal(LOS ANGELES) — Tonight, The Voice returns to NBC for an incredible 20th season, kicking off as usual with the Blind Auditions. Kelly Clarkson, back for another round as a coach, believes the Blinds — where the contestants sing without the coaches seeing them — is the reason the show has lasted for 10 years.

“The Blinds…really does make it about the voice,” says Kelly. “I think sometimes we can’t remember a time before Auto Tune or just listening to really great singers…people that really move you and don’t need help from anything else: It’s just their God-given gift. And the Blinds really supports that.”

Kelly also thinks the fact that the contestants are mentored by the coaches is another unique aspect of the show — and something she wishes she could have had on American Idol.

“It would have been a really cool thing to have someone in the industry, helping me on my way,” she explains. “That would have really…boosted my confidence. So I love that we get to do that for people.”

But Nick Jonas, who’s returned to join Kelly, Blake Shelton and John Legend as a coach, believes the show’s longevity is down to something else.

“It’s really hopeful, it’s incredibly wholesome, and it makes you feel good when you watch it,” he explains, adding, “It’s just one of those shows that means a lot to people, and the longer it’s on TV, the more they love it.”

This season, Nick, who says “I’m here to win,” believes John Legend is his biggest competition. But Kelly Clarkson admits he’s caused her to lose out on some promising contestants.

“It is funny when you turn around and it’s a young girl and you’re up against Nick Jonas,” she laughs. “You’re like, ‘So…I am losing here!'”

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous: The Double Album' makes country music history on Billboard 200

• No Comments • Country Music News

Ed Rode/Getty Images for CMTEmbattled country artist Morgan Wallen shattered a Billboard chart record.  With his sophomore effort Dangerous: The Double Album notching its seventh consecutive week atop the Billboard 200, his album is the only country outing to spend its first seven weeks at number one.

Wallen’s album continues to enjoy robust sales despite the ongoing controversy where the young singer was filmed shouting racial epithets during a party.  

Dangerous was streamed an additional 110.7 million times the previous week and sold an additional 7,000 albums, which is 31 percent down from the previous chart.

With those numbers, the album is officially the first country album to notch seven consecutive weeks at number one — but it is not the only other country effort to spend seven weeks, albeit non-consecutively, at the top spot.

Garth Brooks’ EP, The Chase went to the top in 1992.  Other acts include Billy Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift and The Eagles.

Country music aside, Wallen accomplishes a feat not seen in almost five years.  The last album to spend seven consecutive weeks at number one was Drake‘s Views, which reigned supreme in 2016 — spending nine weeks total at the top.

When looking at non-consecutive wins, only one other album notched at least seven weeks at number one since 2016 — which is Taylor Swift‘s Folklore. 

Wallen’s controversy has proven to have no effect on his music’s success, even though he was swiftly condemned by his fellow country artists after a video surfaced of him last month hurling racial slurs.  Big Loud Records and WME have since dropped him as a client.

Wallen has since addressed and apologized for the video in a lengthy video message, in which he instructed his fans to stop defending his actions and admitted he was in the wrong.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.