Celebrity Status: Wicked, Gladiator, Reba, And Samuel L. Jackson

IN THEATERS AND STREAMING

WICKED — Tells the story of how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch. “Wicked” is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz.” Part 2 comes out next November.

GLADIATOR II — The Gladiator sequel’s story will center on Lucius, the son of Lucilla and the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus.

THE PIANO LESSON (Netflix) – Adapted from August Wilson’s 1987 play of the same name, this film is about one family’s unraveling because of an heirloom piano. Willie Charles (John David Washington) is on a mission to sell the prized possession, but his sister Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler) will not budge. The film also stars Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins, Erykah Badu, and Skylar Aleece Smith.

SPELLBOUND (Netflix) – This new animated adventure film is about a girl named Ellian (voiced by Rachel Zegler), the daughter of the rulers of a land known as Lumbria. After a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters, Ellian must go on a quest to find a way to reverse it. The voice cast also features Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane and Tituss Burgess.

BLITZ (Apple TV+) – The German bombardment of Britain during World War II is the backdrop for this film. Saoirse Ronan stars as Rita, who escapes London for the relative safety of the English countryside, only for her young son George (Elliot Heffernan) to run away and try to find his way home. Following both mother and son, this historical drama also deals with the complexities of race and racial identity in mid-century Britain. English rocker Paul Weller makes his acting debut as Rita’s musician father.

BREAD & ROSES (Apple TV+) – This new documentary, from Jennifer Lawrence and Malala Yousafzai, looks at the seismic impact that the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021 had on women’s rights and livelihoods. The documentary film follows three women in real time as they fight to recover their autonomy.

JIM GAFFIGAN: THE SKINNY (Disney+) – This new comedy special features Jim Gaffigan taking on everything from appetite suppressants to raising teenagers in his 11th comedy special.

OUT OF MY MIND (Disney+) – This film adaptation of the bestselling novel stars Phoebe-Rae Taylor as Melody, a non-verbal 12-year-old girl (voiced by Jennifer Aniston) with cerebral palsy navigating the challenges of sixth grade. The movie was made with help from members of the cerebral palsy and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication device) community. The film also stars Rosemarie Dewitt, Luke Kirby, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor, and Judith Light.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON IN TALKS TO STAR IN J.J. ABRAMS NEW MOVIE _ Samuel L. Jackson is in negotiations to star in the latest film from director J.J. Abrams. The movie, which is still untitled, will also feature Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, and Emma Mackey. Abrams is writing and directing the film, which is expected to begin production in the UK this spring. Warner Bros.

NBC PICKS UP REBA MCENTIRE’S COMEDY “HAPPY’S PLACE” FOR FULL SEASON _ NBC has given a full season order to its new comedy series “Happy’s Place,” starring country music legend Reba McEntire. The show, which premiered on October 18, follows McEntire’s character, Bobbie, who inherits her father’s tavern and discovers she has a new business partner, a 20-something half-sister she never knew she had.

MUSICIAN BEHIND SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS DIES AT 72 _ Andy Paley, a musician and composer, has died at the age of 72 after a short battle with cancer. Paley was best known for his work on the popular animated TV show SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as his collaborations with artists such as Elton John, Madonna, and Little Richard.

ELLEN DEGENERES LEAVES US, MOVES TO ENGLAND _ Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi have relocated to rural England, putting their California estate on the market. According to a source close to DeGeneres, the election was the primary motivation for their move. DeGeneres has already settled in the Cotswolds, a region in south-central England. The Montecito mansion, which DeGeneres purchased in 2019, is expected to be listed soon.

Categorised in: Mornings, The Daily Scoop

This post was written by Nick Sawicki