March 5, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Alex Panagopoulos – Courtesy of Netflix(LOS ANGELES) — They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in the case of a famous one — an illustration of a brave little teddy bear wielding a wooden sword to protect a sleeping child — it’s worth turning into a movie.

Greek fantasy artist Alex Panagopoulos’ illustration, which shows the little bear defending his young owner from a toothy monster as the little girl sleeps, has become grist for a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-produced family adventure for Netflix called Teddy and the Guardians of the Night.

Seven Bucks Productions President of Production Hiram Garcia first noticed the picture years ago, and it sparked the idea for the project. 

“In Teddy and the Guardians of the Night, stuffed teddy bears from around the world secretly come to life in order to protect children everywhere from all the things that go bump in the night,” according to Netflix.

“From the moment I saw Alex’s incredible drawing, I knew there was something special there that our global audiences could respond to,” Garcia said in a statement. “We’re excited to add to our growing slate with Netflix and share this story with the world.”

Johnson’s company, co-founded with partner Dany Garcia, has co-produced projects for the big and small screens, like their latest Young Rock on NBC, the Jumanji movies, and Disney’s upcoming Jungle Cruise — as well as high-profile content for Netflix including Red Notice, which will also star the former wrestling star and Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.

Evan Almighty writing team Bobby Florsheim and Josh Stolberg are re-writing the script, based on a screenplay by Luke Passmore.

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

March 5, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Shane Mahood/USA Network(LOS ANGELES) — Ahead of Oprah’s much-hyped sit-down with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Sunday, the Duchess of Sussex’s former Suits love interest, Patrick J. Adams is coming to her defense. 

Markle was recently accused of bullying by former Royal aides, in what some, including Adams, think was royal revenge for the Oprah tell-all. 

For his part, Adams was having none of it. In a lengthy Twitter chain, the actor let Buckingham Palace have it, claiming, “It’s OBSCENE that the Royal Family, whose newest member is currently GROWING INSIDE OF HER, is promoting and amplifying accusations of ‘bullying.'”

“Meghan Markle and I spent the better part of a decade working together on Suits,” the actor continued, claiming he was “sickened” by, “endless racist, slanderous, clickbaiting vitriol spewed in her direction from all manner of media across the UK and the world.”

He added of his friend, “She fell in love, moved to a new country, became a household name across the entire globe and began the difficult work of trying to find her place in a family dynamic that can at best be described as complicated and at worst, seemingly archaic and toxic.”

Adams said, “IMO [in my opinion], this newest chapter and it’s timing is just another stunning example of the shamelessness of an institution that has outlived its relevance, is way overdrawn on credibility and apparently bankrupt of decency.”

He warned the haters, “Meghan [is] stronger than people realized or understood and they would regret underestimating her.”

Oprah with Meghan and Harry airs at 8 p.m. Eastern time Sunday on CBS.

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

March 5, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Marc Piasecki/GC Images(LOS ANGELES) — Kim Kardashian is the latest celebrity to come out in support of Britney Spears after watching the New York Times unauthorized documentary, Framing Britney Spears.

In her Instagram Stories Friday, the reality star said after watching the doc, she felt “empathy” for the pop singer and related it to her own experiences with tabloids and the paparazzi.

“The way the media played a big role in her life the way it did can be very traumatizing and it can really break even the strongest person,” Kim writes. “No matter how public someone’s life may seem, no one deserves to be treated with such cruelty or judgment for entertainment.”

Kim goes on to reference a time in her life when she felt similarly mistreated by the media — when she was pregnant with her first child, North, and gained 60 pounds due to preeclampsia.

“I was shamed on a weekly basis with cover stories that made my insecurities so painful I couldn’t leave the house for months after,” she says. “It really broke me.”

She adds that she was able to ultimately turn her feelings into motivation, but that it took a toll on her mentally. Kim concludes by encouraging everyone to show “understanding and compassion.”

“You just never fully know what someone is going through behind the scenes and I’ve learned through my own experiences that it’s always better to lead with kindness,” she writes.

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

March 5, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Anthony Russo – AppleTV+(NEW YORK) — After spending the better part of a decade keeping secrets for their Marvel Studios projects, including two Captain America movies and Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, directors Joe and Anthony Russo say they were clueless about WandaVision. 

And they tell ABC Audio that’s exactly how they like it.

“It’s been a great joy, to be honest with you, for Joe and I to be fans again,” Anthony Russo admits.

“For seven years it was our responsibility to figure out where we were, where the [MCU] story was going next. And now, you know, with Endgame, we got to lay that down.”

He explains, “And I think that’s allowed us to become fans again.”

Anthony adds, “So, yeah, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying WandaVision, watching it with my 14-year-old daughter and having no more knowledge than she does about what’s going to happen or why.”  

The Russo Bros.’ latest film is the gritty drug drama Cherry, starring Tom Holland. It’s in theaters and hits Apple TV+ next Friday.

The finale of WandaVision is now streaming on Disney+.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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

March 5, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Courtesy of Amazon Studios(NEW YORK) — It took Eddie Murphy roughly three decades to do Coming 2 America, the sequel to his 1988 hit comedy. Looking ahead, Murphy tells ABC Audio that fans won’t have to wait so long for another installment.

“We have a story for part three of this movie that would be really funny and clever, but… I have to be seventy-five,” he jokes. “I’m dead serious. Sixteen years and we’ll do part three.”

While Murphy, who reprises his role as Prince Akeem, promises it will take half the time to put out another Coming to America, he shares that the Queens barbers won’t be in the film because no one would ever believe they’re “still alive.”

However, one character that will be back is Murphy’s infamous “Sexual Chocolate” band leader — Randy Watson. 

“He’ll be terribly old and I’ll be 75,” he quips. Murphy’s co-star Arsenio Hall laughs, adding that the potential sequel will have “Morgan Freeman playing [Eddie’s] son.” 

Jokes aside, some of the cast are seriously contemplating the third installment.

“It would [be] so awesome to just be in the market and watch Zamundan locals,” says Nomzamo Mbatha, who plays royal groomer Mirembe. “Because that’s how you’re going to get all the drama and all the comedy as well. It would be funny to see Eddie and Arsenio as locals.”

Jermaine Fowler, who plays Prince Akeem’s long lost son, agrees, adding he’d also love to see a story around Kiki Layne’s character Princess Meeka.

“Her character has so much depth there that I would love to see what the third Coming to America would look like for her,” he says. “I think they built such a beautiful foundation for all of these characters and you can go anywhere with them.”

Coming 2 America is now available on Amazon Prime.

By Candice Williams
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.