Actress Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star and director Justin Baldoni recently alleging sexual harassment. Following this, the latter has been ousted from his talent management agency, William Morris Endeavor (WME). WME has severed ties with Justin following the explosive lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. WME expels Justin Baldoni following Blake Lively's lawsuit According to Deadline, the decision was made due to the extreme accusations in Blake Lively's complaint. Lively claimed intrusive behaviour to smear campaign in her lawsuit. The agency has yet not issued any official statement confirming the same. On the contrary, Baldoni's legal team has strongly denied these claims and has called them, "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious." As of Saturday, December 21, Justin Baldoni, the American actor and filmmaker is no longer a client of WME. His 'It Ends With Us' co-star Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment among other accusations. The lawsuit targets prominent figures from the production house also including lead producer Jamey Heath, Wayfarer co-owner Steve Sarowitz, and several others. Blake's lawyers have presented text messages between PR professionals Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel which includes one message where they seem to flex the success of their campaign to discredit Blake Lively. The attorneys have obtained messages through subpoena. Blake Lively accuses co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment According to sources, the row between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is not new. It emerged on the sets of 'It Ends With Us'. The failure of the film and being the center of controversies before its release fuelled up their fight. Baldoni's team blames Blake Lively for the film's failure. This comes after the Gossip Girl has filed an 80-page lawsuit against the 'It Ends With Us' director. In the complaint, Lively accused Justin created a "hostile work environment" on the sets of the film, including instances of “unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, and attempts to control her appearance.” She further adds that the director's team tried to discredit Lively in the public eye after she pointed out his unacceptable behaviour. Lively also mentions ‘intrusive behaviour on set including digging into Lively’s personal life with husband Ryan Reynolds’ and alleged that Baldoni intentionally "improvised" kisses and other sexual scenes and added "unnecessary intimate scenes". She also mentioned that the director made several sexually charged and inappropriate comments.
22 December,2024 10:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Tabu's role as Sister Francesca in the web series 'Dune: Prophecy' has been praised by fans and critics alike. Behind the scenes, her co-star Josh Heuston, who plays her on-screen son Constantine Corrino, opened up about their off-screen bond, crediting Tabu for helping him connect with his character and bringing warmth to their relationship. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Max (@streamonmax) In a video shared by Max on Instagram, Josh called Tabu a queen while reminiscing about their time together on set. He said, "Tabu used to, like, hang out with me at the front of the trailer. And she'd bring me, like, authentic Indian dishes to set every day. So we kind of built a little bit of rapport because she kept me alive and fed me." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Josh Heuston (@jheuston) Just a couple of days back, Josh shared behind-the-scenes photos on social media, including a candid picture with Tabu, which received love from fans. The series, set 10,000 years before the events of the Dune films, explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit, blending politics, power, and prophecy. 'In Dune: Prophecy', Tabu plays Sister Francesca, a powerful Bene Gesserit and former lover of Emperor Javicco Corrino, portrayed by Mark Strong. The series also explores the past of her character, with Charithra Chandran playing a younger Francesca. Josh Heuston's Constantine is the illegitimate son of Francesca and the Emperor. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 08:35 AM IST | Washington | ANINetflix recently announced that the production of Stranger Things season five has officially wrapped. The cast of the film became teary-eyed as their journey for the final season of 'Stranger Things' came to an end. The co-creator Ross Duffer took to his Instagram handle to share his experience and the relations built between crew members, as per the report of The Hollywood Reporter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ross Duffer (@rossduffer) "We've been telling this story for nearly a decade now. Many of our cast members joined us when they were kids, just ten or eleven years old. It wasn't just a show for them--it was a defining part of their childhood. They've grown up before our eyes, becoming more than actors--they've become family." He further talked about the crew members who played prominent roles in the making of the series. "But it's not just the cast we consider family. Our crew--many of whom have been with us from the very beginning--holds a special place in our hearts. Their dedication and passion have been the backbone of this journey." adds co-creator Ross Duffer. Duffer wasn't the only Stranger Things team member to take to social media and share thoughts after filming had ended. Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, also posted a bunch of photos on Instagram with a lengthy caption, reflecting on his time as one of the show's main characters. "Two days ago, I wrapped my final scene as Will Byers, and I'm feeling very emotional," he began. "As I close this chapter of my life, I can't help but be forever grateful for the incredible people that I've met and valuable life/career lessons I learned through this decade's journey." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Noah Schnapp (@noahschnapp) He then went on to share the top 10 things he learned from the crew and his fellow castmembers, including Shawn Levy, the Duffer brothers, Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink and Charlie Heaton. Stranger Things season 5 will stream next year on Netflix. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 08:33 AM IST | Washington | ANIComedy superstars Jack Black and Paul Rudd are teaming up for a Christmas treat with their upcoming film Anaconda, a blend of horror and comedy, set to hit theatres during the festive season of 2025. The duo took to Instagram to announce the release date, accompanied by a humorous video featuring Black and Rudd exchanging hugs and cracking jokes. "Hey, what's up, people? We're making a movie! Paul Rudd and Jack Black star in The Anaconda. There's gonna be a big fu**ing snake, and it's gonna rip!" Jack said in the video. Paul Rudd added with his trademark humour, "You wanna get scared. You wanna laugh. You wanna celebrate with your friends. Or maybe you're alone, feeling sad, but just want to forget about that. The Anaconda is coming out on Christmas 2025." Check out the fun video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anaconda Movie (@theanacondamovie) The film will be directed by Tom Gormican, best known for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Gormican is also co-writing the script with Kevin Etten. While plot details remain under wraps, early reports suggest the story will follow a group of friends facing mid-life crises as they attempt to remake their favourite childhood movie. However, their jungle adventure takes an unexpected and terrifying turn, according to Variety. Though it shares the title Anaconda, the movie is unrelated to the 1997 cult thriller starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight. Instead, it promises a fresh, meta take, combining comedy and horror in a style reminiscent of Gormican's previous work. The project is being produced by Brad Fuller and Andrew Form under their Fully Formed banner. Black and Rudd, both closely linked to Sony through their roles in the Jumanji and Ghostbusters franchises, are also actively involved in the production. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 08:32 AM IST | Washington | ANIIn a very shocking turn of events, Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. It is being said that the actor has sued Baldoni for allegedly giving her severe distress on the sets of the film. For the unversed, for months since the release of the film and sometime before that, it was said that there was severe discord between Blake and Justin, who also serves as the director of the film. This is now finally confirmed as Blake has taken the legal route and filed a lawsuit against Justin. Blake Lively sues Justin Baldoni The lawsuit, cited by TMZ, says there was a meeting held by the team to address Blake Lively’s demands to work in the movie. This meeting was also attended by Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. Some of the demands that were addressed, according to the lawsuit, included "no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni's alleged previous 'pornography addiction,' no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew's genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake's weight, and no further mention of Blake's dead father." "No more adding of sex scenes, oral sex, or on-camera climaxing by BL outside the scope of the script BL approved when signing onto the project" were also the demands mentioned in the lawsuit filed by Blake Lively. The lawsuit confirms that Sony, who produced the movie, agreed to the demand, but Justin Baldoni soon became part of a "social manipulation" campaign to "destroy" her reputation soon after. Justin Baldoni’s lawyer reacts However, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has now said that the lawsuit filed by Blake Lively is to "fix her negative reputation." He also said that her allegations are "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt." Bryan claims Lively caused problems on the sets of their film that is now on streaming, "threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release.” About It End With Us It Ends With Us is based on Colleen Hoover's novel. The news about Justin Baldoni’s alleged chauvinistic behavior surfaced early this year when reports claimed he was borderline abusive on sets and made the atmosphere of the entire set very difficult to work on. There is no direct comment on the row from Justin or Blake at this point.
21 December,2024 08:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentHollywood star Dwayne Johnson has revealed his younger daughters' adorable reaction after he surprised them with painted toenails. The actor had posted a hilarious video on Instagram of his morning spent with his mother Ata, his wife Lauren Hashian and their two daughters, Jasmine, 8, and Tiana, 6. The clip starts with the girls giggling as Johnson said: "This is crazy. I wake up in the morning and my toes are painted!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock) "Oh dad, there's a lot more than just that!" one of Johnson's daughters says while leading her father over to their group of Elf on the Shelfs, one of which was seen holding a bottle of red nail polish. Hashian said: "I have goosebumps," and adding, "Look, you and your mom are matching!" Ata then sweetly showed off her matching red manicure to the camera. The family laughed at the elves' prank until Johnson did the unimaginable: touched the elf. "Don't touch it!" both girls scream, with one explaining "it will lose its magic." Off-camera, one of the girls runs far away from her dad while yelling, "He touched the elf!" Johnson assured his children: "Only adults can touch it," before joking, "At least they're all bigger than Kevin Hart." In his caption, Johnson wrote, "These Christmas Elves are really getting under my skin!! And now on my toes while I was asleep — forcing me to wake up to this VERY unfunny surprise." He added, "If I’m being honest, I think red polish actually brings out even more hyper masculinity and undeniable sexiness, no?" "Or maybe I’m just an …. for even picking up the Elf to begin with, putting its magic in jeopardy," he continued. "And I love you @kevinhart4real." Johnson’s latest work is “Moana 2”, the sequel of “Moana”, which first released in 2016, is an American animated musical fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, and is based on a story conceived by Clements, Musker, Williams, Hall, Pamela Ribon, and the writing team of Aaron Kandell and Jordan Kandell. The film also stars Auliʻi Cravalho in her film debut as the voice of the eponymous character and also features the ensemble voices of Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, and Alan Tudyk. The second installment picks up where the first film left off, Moana returns home from a three-day journey, only to discover a mysterious object that holds the key to an ancient island with "angry gods." “Moana 2” released in theatres in India on November 29. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 02:47 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Courteney Cox has finally signed in for 'Scream 7', the new instalment in the long-running meta horror franchise from Spyglass Media Group and Paramount, reported Deadline. Cox originated the role of reporter Gale Weathers in 1996's 'Scream' and has appeared in its five sequels. 'Scream 7' will be directed by 'Scream' creator and writer Kevin Williamson. The other cast that are returning for the film include Neve Campbell as scream queen Sidney Prescott and Mason Gooding as her fellow Ghostface survivor, Chad Meeks-Martin. The new addition to the star cast is Isabel May, with Celeste O'Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner and Anna Camp. The plot of the new film is being kept under wraps. 'Scream 7' is set to hit theatres worldwide on February 27, 2026, reported Deadline. The project has been revamped following the departure of star Jenna Ortega, the firing of actor Melissa Barrera and the exit of director Christopher Landon last year. Scream launched in 1996 with the late Wes Craven going on to direct three sequels known for skewering horror genre tropes. In 2022, the fifth film re-invented the franchise under the direction of directing team Radio Silence, with Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette returning alongside a crew of new actors. The makers followed it up with Scream 6, which in 2023 became the franchise's top-grossing movie. Kevin Williamson, architect of the Scream franchise who scripted the original Wes Craven film, will direct from a script by Guy Busick. Also aboard, following collaborations with the scribe on 2022's Scream reboot and Scream VI, are James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, and Paul Neinstein, who will produce for Project X Entertainment, as per the information shared by the outlet. Cox was recently seen starring opposite Greg Kinnear in Starz's Shining Vale, according to Deadline. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 December,2024 03:25 PM IST | Washington | ANITom Holland and Zendaya are one of the adorable couples of Hollywood. They have starred in three 'Spider-Man' movies and will spend much of 2025 on film sets together as the stars of a fourth 'Spider-Man' film and Christopher Noplan's untitled film. Tom Holland opened up about his experience of working with his girlfriend Zendaya. "Studios love it. One hotel room. Separate drivers. We're not crazy now. Listen it's work, alright?" said Tom Holland as quoted by Variety. "Oh God, yeah. It's a saving grace. Yeah, the best thing that's ever happened to me," he added on a more serious note. "It's just that perfect thing when you're on set and a director will give you a note that maybe you don't agree with, or I know that she doesn't particularly like, and it's just that, like, familiar glance at each other of like, can't wait to talk about that later." said Tom Holland in 'Dish' podcast. Zendaya also feels the same when asked about her working bond with Tom Holland, Zendaya shared, "Not really. It's actually strangely comfortable. It's like second nature if anything. You feel extra safe with the person you're acting beside. I love working with him," as per Deadline. Zendaya also praised Holland's dedication to his craft, noting his intense passion and unwavering commitment to his work. "He's so talented and so passionate about what he does. He always gives things one thousand per cent, even if he's absolutely worn down. I really appreciate that about him," she said in a recent interview, as per Deadline. Their connection isn't just personal; it's also professional. Zendaya continued, "It feels pretty normal. That's how we met. Literally, at a chemistry read." Their shared history in the 'Spider-Man franchise including their appearances in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (2017), 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' (2019), and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021) has clearly contributed to their comfort level on set. Zendaya and Holland are set to reprise their roles as MJ and Peter Parker in the upcoming 'Spider-Man 4'. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 December,2024 03:21 PM IST | Washington | ANIZoe Kravitz has spoken highly of her ex-fiance, Channing Tatum, and his remarkable performance in the psychological thriller 'Blink Twice', just two months after their breakup. The actress, who also directed the film, explained in a recent interview with Variety that Tatum's portrayal of tech billionaire Slater King was intentionally crafted to showcase his "charisma." Kravitz, 36, reflected on casting Tatum, 44, for the role, saying, "Channing was the first person I thought of for Slater King, and I don't know where that came from," as per Variety. Despite the couple's split in October, Kravitz maintains that Tatum was the perfect choice for the character. "I knew that the character needed to be somebody who we think we trust, especially because you don't believe Naomi [Ackie], who played Frida, is getting on that plane if it's someone who is immediately insidious," she explained, as per Variety. She also described her intention to "weaponize" Tatum's natural charm, as the audience has never seen him in such a role. Kravitz praised her ex-fiance's ability to play a villainous character, adding that it allowed him to explore a new side of his acting. "He was doing such a good job, and as an actor, I'm like, 'This is delicious stuff that he's never gotten a chance to do,'" Kravitz told Deadline in an earlier interview. Kravitz had previously expressed her admiration for Tatum, revealing in June 2021 that he was her first choice to star in her directorial debut. "I just knew from Magic Mike and his live shows, I got the sense he's a true feminist and I wanted to collaborate with someone who was clearly interested in exploring this subject matter," she reportedly said. Although the couple's romantic relationship ended, they remain professionally linked, with plans to continue working together. Kravitz and Tatum were engaged in October 2023, but they decided to part ways a year later, citing differing life stages. Despite the breakup, an insider shared that both stars are excited about their upcoming project 'Alpha Gang', a comedy they will continue to collaborate on. At the premiere of 'Blink Twice' in Los Angeles, the two spoke about their shared experience working on the film. As per People magazine, "To get to create something with someone that you love is probably one of the most gratifying things," Tatum said. Kravitz added, "We got to work together and go through hard things together and support each other, and it was beautiful." 'Blink Twice', which is available to stream on Prime Video and MGM+, marks a new chapter in Tatum's career, as he plays a villain in a departure from his usual roles. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 December,2024 03:20 PM IST | Washington | ANIFilm: Boy Kills World (lionsgate)Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, Yayan Ruhian, Andrew Koji, Isaiah Mustafa, Famke Janssen, Brett Gelman, Sharlto CopleyDirector: Moritz MohrRating: 2/5Runtime: 111 min. This is an action spectacle set in a dystopian fever dream reality. The narrative heralds a hyper-action movie about a media-addicted killer who wants to avenge his family’s deaths. The titular Boy is a deaf-mute with a vibrant imagination. When his family is murdered, the Boy escapes to the jungle and is trained by a mysterious shaman to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death. The main character, known only as “Boy” though unable to speak has an internal voice which frequently offers up one-liners and sarcastic commentary, in the voice of H. Jon Benjamin. The movie transpires in a Dystopian Future (TM) where everything is controlled by the fascist dictator Hilda Van Der Koy (Famke Janssen) and the members of her family – sister Melanie (Michelle Dockery), brother Gideon (Brett Gelman), and Melanie’s husband, Glen (Sharlto Copley). The Van Der Koys maintain a tradition called “The Culling.” Once per year, a dozen of Hilda’s “enemies” are executed on national television. You guessed it right. The Boy’s family was also a victim of the Culling. His life was saved by the mysterious Shaman (Yayan Ruhian), who teaches him to become a killing machine with one single goal: to avenge his family. This movie may seem refreshingly different but it doesn’t make much narrative sense. The stylistic, chaotic splurge of blood, gore, and action that characterizes Mortiz Mohr’s feature debut, comes at you from hallucinatory origins. Its a comedy that fails to draw laughs, a hyper-actioner that spikes up the adrenaline intermittently and a dystopian saga that feels like it originated in a video game. The momentum flags and the final half-hour is devoted to finding narrative-based resolutions. This is indeed a bizarre experience. Though Mohr keeps things moving at a frantic pace for most of the runtime, the film fails to grip you. It feels more like a regurgitation of ‘Kill Bill’ without the fancy storytelling craft to back it.
20 December,2024 01:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasFilm: Mufasa: The Lion KingCast(voice): Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie JamesDirector: Barry JenkinsRating: 3/5Runtime: 118 min. This “live-action” animated origin story about the young cat Mufasa(Aaron Pierre) who becomes Simba’s royal father, is rather scattered and jumpy. Disney continues to mine its IP’s for greater gains and this is another example of that avaricious trend. In this follow-up to Jon Favreau’s 2019 live-action remake of the beloved 1994 film, Mufasa’s life as an orphan and the origins of his feud with Scar are explained in biopic fashion. This Barry Jenkins-directed project though photo-realistically captured, is quite a strain on the eyes and ears. Mufasa opens in the aftermath of the 2019 movie. A storm approaches the kingdom, as Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) prepares to give birth. Simba (Donald Glover)wanting to be by her side, tasks Pumbaa (Seth Rogan) and Timon (Billy Eichner) to watch over his daughter, Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter). This is basically a set up for Rafiki (John Kani) to tell Kiara the story of her grandfather, Mufasa. The mandrill’s tale introduces a young Mufasa (Braelyn Rankins) caught up in a flood that violently separates him from his parents. He eventually finds friendship with Taka (Theo Somolu), who saves his life and takes him into his Royal fold despite Taka’s father Obasi’s (Lennie James) disapproval. The older Mufasa (now voiced by Pierre) and Taka (Harrison Jr.), demonstrate some affecting moments. Jenkins uses close-up shots of their faces to emphasize on their close bonding. Pierre and Harrison Jr. do a good job in conveying that camaraderie with a natural playfulness. In Favreau’s 2019 film there were obvious hints of a history between Scar(Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Sarabi (Alfre Woodward). There were conversations that hinted at a complicated past. Jeff Nathanson’s screenplay basically expands on this lore. Jenkins tries hard to generate warmth and tactility in his narration using close-ups, low-level pans and sweeping views but the clunky narrative is a tough one to overcome. DP James Laxton and editor Joi McMillon make sincere efforts to allay the deficiencies but its not all smooth sailing. The CGI work is still impressive though. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs, though original, fail to rouse you like in the previous film. There’s not a single hummable tune working in some magic here. Mufasa: The Lion King is entertaining in fits and spurts. The flashback approach and scattered focus does try your patience though!
20 December,2024 01:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasADVERTISEMENT
