January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) — Lucie Arnaz has a message for fans who weren’t exactly thrilled about the idea of Nicole Kidman portraying her mother, Lucille Ball, in the upcoming biopic Being the Ricardos: “It’s a done deal.”

In a recent video shared to Facebook, Arnaz addressed the debate surrounding the choice to cast Kidman in the role of the late actress, when others felt that Debra Messing or Carole Cook would be better suited. 

“It’s a done deal, but the contracts aren’t actually signed, which is why I haven’t said anything publicly about it. But I felt I should just at least try to calm the waters here,” she revealed. 

Arnaz, who is also set to executive produce the film, added, “Here’s the deal. You should understand we are not doing a remake of I Love Lucy. No one has to impersonate Lucy Ricardo nor do the Vitameatavegamin routine or the chocolate factory routine or any of the silly things… It’s the story of Lucille Ball, my actual mother, not Lucy Ricardo, and her husband, Dezi Arnaz, my dad, not Ricky Ricardo.”

“So I hope I can set the record straight here, and just say stop arguing about who should play it, she doesn’t look like her, her nose isn’t the same, she isn’t as funny,” she continued. “Just trust us, it’s going to be a nice film, and P.S. the voting is over. I love all of you.”

In addition to Kidman, E! News reports the movie, which is being written and directed by The Trial of the Chicago 7‘s Aaron Sorkin, is also in negotiations with Javier Bardem to star as Ball’s husband, Dezi Arnaz. 

By Danielle Long
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — As part of Variety‘s ongoing “Actors on Actors” series, Oscar-nominated Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya sat down — virtually — with his fellow Marvel movie star Tom Holland and discussed the cultural impact Black Panther had. 

Brit actor Kaluuya played W’Kabi, the friend who betrays the peaceful ideals of the late Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, after Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger appears to take the Wakandan throne.

Spider-Man star Holland asks, “You must have been aware that you guys were sitting on one of the biggest, most cultural enriching blockbuster movies of all time.” 

Kaluyya didn’t disagree. “I think it’s something that we were aware that was bubbling,” the actor replied. “There was one day, we did the waterfall scene, and obviously in between takes, everyone just stays on set, and there were hundreds of people on set,” Kaluuya recalled.

“And we had actual drummers in between the takes. They would play the beat for Snoop Dogg’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot.’ And then everyone would go ‘Snoooooop!'” Kaluuya sings, imitating one of the hooks.

“Like, hundreds of people would literally do that, and when I saw that, I was like, ‘Yeah, this isn’t going to be quiet.’ There was just an energy. Everyone was so privileged to be part of this moment.”

He added, “It felt like a moment,” Kaluuya adds. “We’re able to show this world in a way that we see us, and [because it’s] a Marvel film — you’re bringing something into the world that doesn’t exist, and that’s just really difficult because…there’s no template. And there’s some pain in that. But when people…take it as their own, and kids and families are going dressed to the cinemas, it makes everything worth it.”

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, parent company of ABC News.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — With gyms closed because of COVID-19, Marvel star Jeremy Renner admits he had to get creative in order to prepare for his upcoming role in the Disney+ series Hawkeye.

Renner, 50, plays Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who hung up the bow and arrow and retired from the hero life following the events of Avengers: Endgame.

The archer’s story will continue, however, in a brand new series set to premiere later this year.  The story is believed to center around Kate Bishop, Clint’s protege in the comics, who eventually takes on the Hawkeye mantle.

With production underway, the Oscar nominee revealed how he’s keeping his archery skills sharp while abiding by all health and safety measures in light of the pandemic.

As it turns out, Renner has been running around his household while firing off a toy bow and arrow.

“Quarantine training at home … like an 8 year old,” the actor joked while sharing a video of him striking several heroic poses while letting the little suction-cup arrows fly.

While little is known about the Hawkeye series, a major casting decision was unofficially announced in December.

Hailee Steinfeld confirmed that she will be playing Kate Bishop in the upcoming series.  When asked by ABC Audio about her new gig, she expressed that she is “honored to be part of the MCU.”  

The announcement was still under wraps at the time, said Steinfeld, but photos of her dressed in costume on the Subway leaked online and forced her hand.

“We were just trying to get somewhere and a couple of pictures were taken and now here we are,” she laughed at the time. 

Hawkeye is slated to premiere on Disney+ in the fall.

Marvel is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

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

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Peacock(LOS ANGELES) — Peacock’s Saved by the Bell sequel has graduated to a second season, the streamer has announced. 

In Peacock’s reimagining of the classic ‘90s high school sitcom, Zack Morris — played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who returns in a recurring role — is now the governor of California, who, after getting into hot water for shutting down too many low-income high schools, proposes sending students from the affected schools to the highest performing schools in the state, including his alma mater, Bayside High. 

The cast includes Haskiri Velazquez, Josie Totah, Alycia Pascual-Peña, Mitchell Hoog, Belmont Cameli, Dexter Darden and John Michael Higgins.  Original cast members Elizabeth Berkley Lauren and Mario Lopez are also regulars.

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

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) — (NOTE LANGUAGE) Donnie Darko celebrated its 20th anniversary Tuesday and star Jake Gyllenhaal voiced his appreciation for the cult hit that launched his career.

Taking to Instagram to celebrate the movie’s milestone, the 40-year-old Oscar-nominee reflected, “Pulled out my script and some artifacts from Donnie Darko… It was released 20 years ago today.”

“It’s a film that changed my life and my career and it’s been unreal to watch this story find afterlives with new audiences and new generations, and yet, what Donnie said to Roberta Sparrow is still true: ‘there is so much to look forward to,'” continued Gyllenhaal, adding the movie still brings him joy.

He laughed, “Thank you to all the fans who’ve come up to me over the years with that confused look on their faces and asked me: ‘what the f*** is Donnie Darko about??'”

“Happy 20th Donnie! Let’s keep confusing people. Here’s to 20 more,” the Spider-Man: Far From Home star concluded.

Gyllenhaal shared a snap of the movie’s original script that has some of his notes scribbled across the title page. Several pieces of papers, including envelopes and tags, are shoved into the binder’s pocket.

Donnie Darko, released January 19, 2001 at the Sundance Film Festival, was not a box office hit.  When it was slated to hit theaters in October, commercials for Donnie Darko were limited in light of the 9/11 attacks because they featured a crashing jet.

Donnie Darko went onto earn $7.5 million in the global box office despite touting an impressive cast, like Patrick Swayze and Drew Barrymore.  It also starred Jake’s sister Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The film went onto achieve critical acclaim and has since developed a major cult following.

Empire also lists the movie as the 2nd greatest independent film of all time.

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