November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Paramount Pictures(NEW YORK) — Margot Robbie both stars in and produced the new Depression-era drama Dreamland, now available for digital download and via Video-On-Demand. She plays Allison, an injured robber on the run after a bank heist turns bloody, who’s discovered by a young man in a small town who must decide whether or not to turn her in or help her escape.

Robbie tells ABC Audio why she decided to back the “unexpected love story,” which also stars Finn Cole, and why she tapped newcomer director Miles Joris-Peyrafitte to bring it to life.

“…It felt like it had scope and real emotion to it,” says Robbie.  “And at the same time, saw Miles’s film [2016’s As You Are], we all fell in love with it. I was like, ‘I have to meet this director.'”

‘Robbie recalled with a laugh, “… I said, “How old are you?’ He said, ‘I’m 23.’ I was like, ‘I’m normally the young one when we do these meetings!'”

The Academy Award nominee adds, “You kind of looking for someone who has that vision who can elevate what you already have on the page. And he did that.”

Dreamland is a far cry, budget-wise, from Robbie’s last go ’round as a producer, the film Birds of Prey. She gushed, “I love it, honestly, I feel so fortunate that in my career I get to…do indie films and studio films.”

“And I love what we had on this…an intimate set and like a small crew,” Robbie adds.  “Sometimes on the bigger films…you don’t really necessarily get to sit down and chat to everyone every day. But the upside to that is you get to see crazy cool sets and like giant pyrotechnics and all that kind of stuff.”

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

November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — After the death of Alex Trebek earlier in the month, millions of Jeopardy! fans are wondering who will succeed him behind the podium of the popular quiz show. 

Tens of thousands of fans have already made their choice, via the petition site Change.org — Emmy-winning Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton. The children’s TV mainstay, director and Star Trek: The Next Generation cast member is apparently tickled by the nearly 88 thousand people and counting who have volunteered him to fill Trebek’s shoes.

“Between hosting 21 seasons of the educational Reading Rainbow, playing the brainiac engineer Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: the Next Generation, and filling the roll [sic] of Kunta Kinte in the ever important mini-series Roots, LeVar Burton has inspired and shaped the minds of several generations of trivia-loving nerds,” the petition reads.

“Even if nothing comes from it, I can’t tell how much how I appreciate all y’alls love and support!” Burton recently tweeted in response.

Also favored by fans to succeed Trebek is former contestant Ken Jennings, who holds the record for the most consecutive Jeopardy! wins, with 74.

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

November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Courtesy of TV One(NEW YORK) — Rayven Ferrell is taking on a role like never before in the new TV One thriller, Blood on Her Badge.

Ferrell stars as Dee, a troubled young woman who joins the police force in hopes of a better life. After meeting a charming young criminal named Trey, Dee’s life goes into a downward spiral. Ferrell tells ABC Audio that she believes the film shows why it’s important to address mental health issues before you get into a serious relationship.

“Just put yourself first,” she says. “Realize where you are struggling as a person and fix it because a lot of times it’s too late once we realize it.”

Ferrell says it’s also important to “acknowledge” those mental health struggles and think about how it affects you.

“Let me try and seek help. Let me try and do this and try to do that,” she advises. “Because if you don’t, then it is easy for you to fall in love for the wrong reasons with the wrong person. And then, you’re wrong in life in general.

Ferrell’s co-star, Tequan Richmond, agrees, and notes another important takeaway from the film: empathy.

“I would say… with what’s going on in 2020, in between the police and the black community, [that we should] not normalize the behavior that’s going on, but let’s humanize the people doing it,” he says. “And understand that the police are people just like we are. They’re not perfect people.”

“A level of understanding is what we should come to,” he continues. “I hope a lot of people can see Dee Johnson’s character and see themselves in that character. Even though they don’t agree with her occupation.”

Blood on Her Badge airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on TV One.

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

November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has an idea why his song “You’re Welcome” from the Disney animated film Moana went 4x platinum.  It’s because, according to the actor, he’s been singing it nonstop all year long.

Ever since his baby girl Tiana listened to “You’re Welcome,” she’s been mercilessly begging her father to sing it over and over again — all while refusing to believe her father voiced Maui in the 2016 movie.

And, just as Tia has a hard time believing that her father sang the original song, Johnson is also struggling to understand how “You’re Welcome” hit such a major milestone.

Admitting that he usually has “a cool and calm demeanor when I hear good news,” the announcement from the Recording Industry Association of America about his now-4x platinum song made him freak out.

“Thank you to my brother – the one and only iconic maestro, Lin Manuel Miranda for writing this classic for me to sing and the world to sing along to,” the Jumanji star gushed on Saturday. “Thank you to all of you around the world who love the song and the swaggy, fun it brings.”

However, he says there is one person above all else who deserves the credit — his toddler, Tia.

“A huge daddy thank you to the real reason this song is 4Xs Platinum and growing – my 2 year old boss, Baby Tia who LOVES hearing me sing this song to her,” he smiled, but confirmed to fans that she still “has no idea I’m actually, Maui – which kinda makes this whole thing that much more awesome.”

To prove that the two-year-old remains obstinate, Johnson posted a new video of him singing the song before asking little Tia, “Is Daddy Maui?”

“No,” she adorably replied, wanting to hear the song again.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Netflix(LOS ANGELES) — Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman died in August following a silent four-year battle with colon cancer.  While his final film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, isn’t due out until December 18, the Gotham Awards have already nominated Boseman for Best Actor.

The late actor’s big brother, Kevin Boseman, emotionally reacted to the nomination on Saturday and expressed why it is so meaningful.

“I had to sit with this for a couple days,” the elder Boseman commented on Instagram. “After screening this with [Chadwick,] I told him he was about to get all the nominations and… I was so faithful he’d be here to experience this moment.”

He closed out the announcement with, “Congratulations, Baby Brother.”

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is based off the 1982 play written by August Wilson about a pivotal recording session where “Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey, played by Viola Davis, went to bat with her white manager and producer over who had the right to control her music.  

Boseman plays aspiring trumpeter Levee in the movie, who uses the tension mounting during the recording session to make a name for himself in the music industry.

The Denzel Washington-produced movie has garnered serious awards buzz due in part to Boseman’s electrifying performance. 

By Megan Stone 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.