brightlight Archives

Mar172025 by cineverseNo Comments

‘Journey to the West’ Animated Film Trilogy Set at Stars Collective (EXCLUSIVE)

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By Naman Ramachandran According To The variety Stars Collective Film Entertainment Group is mounting an ambitious animated film trilogy based on “Journey to the West,” one of China’s four great classical novels, the company revealed on the first day of Hong Kong FilMart. The trilogy — comprising “Bajie,” “Monkey King” and “Nezha” — aims to introduce and expand Eastern mythology to global audiences, building on recent successes in the space. The project comes as Eastern mythology continues gaining traction in entertainment, with video game ”Black Myth: Wukong,” which is based on Chinese mythology, hitting record-breaking sales of 28 million copies ($1.25 billion in revenue) since its August 2024 release, while Lunar New Year release “Ne Zha 2” has passed $2 billion ...

Mar162025 by cineverseNo Comments

Jenna Ortega Says One of Her ‘First Jobs’ Was on ‘Iron Man 3’ But Marvel ‘Took All My Lines Out’: ‘They Even Took My Name Away’

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By Jack Dunn According To The variety If you blinked, you may have missed Jenna Ortega‘s MCU debut in 2013’s “Iron Man 3.” In a sit down with Entertainment Tonight, Ortega briefly discussed her small role in the film after the interviewer told her, “I’m hoping that we can get Jenna Ortega into the Marvel Universe.” “I did it once,” Ortega replied. “It was one of the first jobs I ever did. They took all my lines out. I’m in ‘Iron Man 3’ for a quick second. I take up the frame, I have one leg and I’m the vice president’s daughter.” Paul Rudd, who was interviewed alongside Ortega, then interjected, hopeful that the “Scream” star could one day return to the MCU. Marvel is very good at like, kind of laying those bread crumbs,” Rudd, an MCU veteran, said. “And ...

Mar162025 by cineverseNo Comments

Inside Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Premiere With Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot

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By Katcy Stephan, Angelique Jackson According To The variety When Rachel Zegler stepped onto the red carpet at the world premiere of Disney’s “Snow White” on Saturday afternoon in Hollywood, the newest Disney princess was greeted by a smaller-than-usual assembly of photographers to capture her light pink ballgown and dazzling diamonds. Zegler’s co-star Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, soon followed, also smiling dutifully for the cameras assembled in the center of the tented venue outside the El Capitan Theatre that hosted the pre-party celebration ahead of the 3:30 p.m. screening. Instead of the usual lineup of dozens of red carpet reporters, the only interviewers they encountered were employed by Disney, like Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the studio’s 1989 ...

Mar152025 by cineverseNo Comments

Slanted’ Review: Extreme Makeover Satire Critiques Lopsided Beauty Standards Through Asian Eyes

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By Peter Debruge According To The variety If high school is a popularity contest — the mistaken-priorities assumption that drives writer-director Amy Wang’s SXSW-winning assimilation satire “Slanted” — then Chinese American senior Joan Huang (Shirley Chen) could be justified in ditching her heritage for a shot at being crowned prom queen. That’s the devil’s bargain Wang entertains in a provocative comedy-cum-thought-experiment that veers hard into “The Substance” territory when Joan agrees to a radical racial overhaul so thorough, Wang substitutes a different actor (Mckenna Grace) as her new persona for the rest of the movie. Staring tricky identity issues in the face, “Slanted” draws from Wang’s upbringing as it identifies the social pressures that might drive Joan to go t...

Mar152025 by cineverseNo Comments

Ted Lasso’ Renewed for Season 4, Jason Sudeikis Returning

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By Joe Otterson Well, we can believe again. According To The variety Apple TV+ has officially renewed “Ted Lasso” for Season 4, with series lead Jason Sudeikis onboard to return as the titular pun-happy, mustachioed football coach. No other castings are officially confirmed at this time, though it had previously been reported that options had been picked up for Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, and Jeremy Swift. “As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to ‘look before we leap,” Sudeikis said in a statement. “In season four, the folks at AFC Richmond learn to LEAP BEFORE THEY LOOK, discovering that wherever they land, it’s exactly where they’re meant to be.” Jack Burditt (“Nobody Wants This,” “Modern Family,” “30...

Mar122025 by cineverseNo Comments

Netflix Crew Member Settles Suit After Near-Fatal Fall at Sunset Gower Studios

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By Gene Maddaus According To The variety A crew member on the Netflix film “Me Time” has settled a lawsuit over a near-fatal fall that left him with a traumatic brain injury. Michael Oronoz was working as a grip at Sunset Gower Studios in September 2021, when he fell from the catwalk to the floor 33 feet below. He was in a coma for three weeks, and had to relearn how to talk and how to walk over the course of a long recovery. He sued Hudson Pacific Properties, the facility owner, in 2023, alleging that the company had failed to properly maintain the 1957 building. The suit was dismissed on Monday. Attorneys on both sides declined to comment on the resolution, and terms were not disclosed. Netflix, which was not a party to the suit, also declined to comm...

Mar112025 by cineverseNo Comments

Joburg Film Festival Pays Tribute to ‘Art of Storytelling’ While Looking to Amplify African Voices, ‘Unearth New Talent

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By Christopher Vourlias According To The variety The Joburg Film Festival returns to the heart of South Africa’s entertainment industry from March 11 – 16, with a seventh edition that organizers say is designed to celebrate “the shared experiences and emotions that unite us through the art of storytelling.” Building on Johannesburg’s reputation as the “city of gold,” the festival is organized around the theme of a “golden thread” running through its selection of nearly 100 feature-length and short films and documentaries. Among them is a mix that includes festival hits from the likes of Sundance, Berlin and Cannes, alongside films from the host nation and the African continent that will be reaching audiences for the first time. I wanted to find films that would resonate ...