December 3, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Apple TV+(NEW YORK) — After a veil of secrecy worthy of his master assassin character from The Avengers, it has been revealed that Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton has a new partner in Hailee Steinfeld. 

A spy caught the pair on a New York City subway platform shooting Hawkeye, the upcoming spinoff that will air on Disney+. With her purple outfit and bow in hand, it appears Steinfeld will be playing Kate Bishop, Barton’s archer apprentice who eventually takes his superhero mantle.

Officially, Marvel Studios is still mum on the casting but if true, Hawkeye will be Hailee’s second role in Marvel’s world.  She also voiced Gwen Stacy in Sony’s Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but the Disney+ show will be her first official entry into Marvel Studios’ cinematic universe. 

Steinfeld currently stars in Apple TV+’s Dickinson, which kicks off its second season next month, with a third season already greenlighted.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 3, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Bravo(LOS ANGELES) — The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled production on the upcoming season of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, with several of the show’s stars reportedly testing positive for the virus.

Insiders tell TMZ that RHOBH stars Kyle Richards, Kathy Hilton and Dorit Kemsley have tested positive for the virus and are all recovering at home, though none are reported to have serious symptoms.

Incidentally, the shutdown comes weeks after The Real Housewives of Atlanta was shuttered for two weeks after a member of the production staff tested positive for the virus.

However, a source speaking to Variety would not confirm identities due to privacy concerns.

TMZ’s source says Kyle, Kathy and Dorit did not contract COVID on set, explaining that Kathy and Kyle — who are sisters — “were hanging out together.” Dorit was “along for the ride.”

All three ladies are in the end stages of the virus, according to the gossip website, and should be ok.

Production on season 11 of the hit reality series began at the end of October with statewide COVID-19 protocols in place, including frequent testing of cast and crew members, and temperature checks on set.

In spite of those safety measures in place, production halted last week after a crew member tested positive for the virus.

December 3, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Amy Sussman/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Jessica Simpson revealed for the first time on Monday that she has dyslexia and why that didn’t stop her from releasing an audiobook of her memoir Open Book.

While celebrating  Open Book being named by Apple as one of the best audiobooks of the year, the “Without You” singer revealed on Tuesday why releasing it at all was such a major triumph. 

“I’m dyslexic and this was the first time I have ever read out loud without hesitation,” revealed Simpson on her personal Instagram, adding that, this time, she had a reason to overcome the fear of making a mistake.

“I did it for the listener. I did it for my family. I did it for myself,” the 40-year-old singer affirmed. 

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities in the United States, which affects the ability to read, write and speak, according to Mayo Clinic. Dyslexia is a life-long problem and there is no known cure.  While early detection grants a better chance at success, those who struggle with dyslexia can also improve their reading skills by adopting certain educational techniques.

As for Simpson, she is thankful that she chose to use her voice to turn her memoir into an audiobook.

“I appreciate the power of this praise with all of my heart,” she added. “Turning my fears into wisdom has been a soulful journey to say the least.”

December 2, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

People(LOS ANGELES) — Oscar winners George Clooney and Regina King, as well as singer, actress and activist Selena Gomez, and Dr. Anthony Fauci have been unveiled as the faces that will grace a four-cover special edition of People magazine’s annual People of the Year issue.

Clooney was singled out for his advocacy and financial support of COVID-19 relief and his half-million-dollar donation to the Equal Justice Initiative in the wake of the police-involved death of George Floyd.

Fellow Oscar-winner Regina King was also hailed not just for her onscreen work but also for her advocacy for racial justice. King’s 2020 saw her winning an Oscar for her role in the romantic drama If Beale Street Could Talk, and an Emmy for HBO’s Watchmen. The Emmy ceremony saw King wearing a t-shirt with the face of Breonna Taylor on it, the 26-year-old Black woman who was shot and killed in her own bed by Louisville, Kentucky police in a raid gone wrong in March.

Gomez, one of the most followed people on Instagram, gave her global social media voice to Black activists during protests against police brutality, and was also praised for her inclusive makeup brand, Rare Beauty, which is dedicated to raising $100 million to give people access to mental health services. Oh, and she also release a hit record, Rare.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 2, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Fast & Furious fans can finally rejoice: the beef between Tyrese Gibson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has finally been squashed.

During an interview on Stir Crazy with Josh Horowitz, Gibson shared an update on his very public feud with The Rock. The spat, which started in 2017, came after it was revealed that Johnson’s character, Luke Hobbs, would be receiving his own FF spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw. In a series of social media posts after the announcement, Gibson explained he wasn’t pleased about the spinoff, saying it would delay the upcoming Fast & Furious film, F9.

“Congratulations to The Rock and your brother in law aka 7 Bucks producing partner for making The Fast and the Furious franchise about YOU,” he wrote in part. “It’s about #TeamDewayne. 3 yrs will it be worth the wait?”

Now, the singer-actor says it’s all good between them.

“Me and ‘The Rock’ peaced up, by the way,” Gibson revealed. “We talked for like four hours about three weeks ago.”

“It was great,” he added.

However, Gibson did note that he still felt the Fast & Furious franchise films weren’t about just one individual.

“What’s interesting about the Fast and the Furious is: It’s not about any of us individually,” he said. “We’re like the U.N. at this point. Everyone gets to go to the theater and say ‘he and she looks like me.’”

“I just could not make it about me,” Tyrese said of a potential spin-off for his character, Roman. “That’s been really strange.”

F9, which was scheduled to be released in 2020, has been pushed back to May of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Candice Williams
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.