ABC/Randy Holmes(LOS ANGELES) — (NOTE LANGUAGE) Dwayne Johnson says he once was considered for the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The former pro wrestler made the admission on Sunday alongside a clip from the original 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. “Some cool history – back in the early 2000’s, iconic director, Tim Burton had considered …
‘Dancing With the Stars’ to resume production later this summer
ABC/Eric McCandless(LOS ANGELES) — Good news, fans: Dancing with the Stars will be coming back for its 29th season later this summer and will be making the necessary changes to make sure that all involved can safely produce the show in light of COVID-19. Entertainment Tonight confirms that cameras are slated to start rolling in September, but admits that there is …
‘The Crown’? ‘Watchmen’? ‘Ozark’? Who will lead today’s 72nd Emmy nominations?
HBO/Mark Hill(LOS ANGELES) — Via a virtual ceremony that streaming this morning at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT, Saturday Night Live veteran Leslie Jones will announce the nominations for the 72nd Emmy Awards. Frozen‘s Josh Gad, Orange Is the New Black‘s Laverne Cox, and Orphan Black and Perry Mason star Tatiana Maslany also will present during the event, which will be streaming at Emmys.com. With Emmy magnets like Veep and Game of Thrones out of …
WarnerMedia launches investigation into The Ellen DeGeneres Show following allegations of misconduct
Randy Holmes/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — WarnerMedia will be launching an investigation into The Ellen DeGeneres Show following a Buzzfeed report that contained statements from staffers that allegedly exposed ongoing misconduct and racial prejudice on set. Staffers claimed the show bred a toxic work environment and fostered a “culture of fear.” The Hollywood Reporter says sources confirmed the newly launched investigation despite no official …
‘The Big Short’ Oscar winner Adam McKay developing COVID-19 vaccine drama for HBO
iStock/JONGHO SHIN(LOS ANGELES) — Adam McKay, who won an Oscar for his financial meltdown drama The Big Short, and who executive produces the HBO drama Succession, is looking to the COVID-19 pandemic for his next project. Deadline reports McKay is backing The First Shot, a non-fiction book by The Atlantic and New York Times writer Brendan Borrell, about the frantic, worldwide race to develop a …
Apple TV+ launching ‘The Oprah Conversation’
AppleTV+(LOS ANGELES) — Apple TV+ and Oprah Winfrey on Monday announced they’re partnering on a new series called The Oprah Conversation, which will debut on the streaming service Thursday, July 30. According to a press release, the show will be “Filmed remotely and incorporating audience engagement,” and will see Winfrey, “lead timely and intimate discussions with today’s foremost newsmakers, thought …
‘Tenet’ will debut in theaters after all — but overseas
Melinda Sue Gordon; ©2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.(LOS ANGELES) — The anticipated Christopher Nolan thriller Tenet will come to theaters after all — just not in the U.S. in time for the summer movie season. Variety reports that the time-bending film — which at one point theater chains, and Warner Bros., hoped could salvage the COVID-19-devastated summer movie …
Ryan Reynolds offers $5,000 reward for the safe return of woman’s stolen teddy bear
Jason Mendez/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) — Ryan Reynolds is doing what he can to help reunite a distraught woman with her lost teddy bear, which carries a special recording of her late mother’s voice. Reynolds, 43, alerted fans that the priceless stuffed animal went missing and offered up a hefty award for its safe return — no questions asked. “Vancouver: $5,000 to …
Daisy Edgar-Jones on ‘Normal People’ awards buzz: “It would mean everything”
Enda Bowe/Hulu(NEW YORK) — Since the show Normal People debuted, the life of star Daisy Edgar-Jones has been, well, a bit less normal. The Hulu series, based on the 2018 book by Sally Rooney, has cultivated a devoted fan base, inspired Internet memes and garnered awards buzz ahead of the Emmy nominations. But Edgar-Jones, who plays Marianne in the series, …
Netflix conjuring ‘Blood Origin’ prequel series for ‘The Witcher’
Netflix(LOS ANGELES) — Netflix has announced plans for a six-episode prequel series for its hit Henry Cavill sword-and-sorcery show The Witcher. Blood Origin will be set 1,200 years before the events of the current series, which is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s books that center on supernaturally-empowered beast hunters known as Witchers. In a statement, The Witcher showrunner Declan de Barra said, “As a lifelong …