Palm Royale's Kristen Wiig says the series is for anyone who's ever wanted to belong
Kristen Wiig bulldozes her way into the Palm Beach, Florida, country club scene in the new Apple TV+ series Palm Royale, out on Wednesday. She plays a woman who thinks everything will fall into place in her life if she could just hang with the right crowd — and Wiig tells ABC Audio it's a feeling that's very relatable.
"Just that feeling of wanting to belong to a group that you're not in or to be something you're not," she says. "I think everyone has had times in their life where they think, 'If I had that or if I was there, my life would be better, I would be happier.'"
One society woman Wiig's character rubs elbows with is played by the legendary Carol Burnett, though when we meet her character, she's in a coma. Wiig says working with Burnett was a dream come true, and she's someone who definitely influenced Wiig's career.
"Having her own show at that time, doing those characters and having fun with all those people and just showing the world, like, just what she does and had such a good time doing it. And oh my gosh, she inspired me so much, yes!" shares the Saturday Night Live vet.
Another club member is Robert, who is intent on keeping Wiig's character out at all costs. It turns out Robert -- played by Ricky Martin -- has some secrets of his own, something Martin knows a thing or two about.
"Being a gay man in the '60s is something that is really intense," notes Ricky. "But at the same time, it's so relevant because there are many men, gay men today, that are struggling with their identity. So for me to be able to shed some light into that struggle is very important."
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In Brief: New 'Popeye' live action film in the works, and more
CBS has renewed NCIS: Sydney for a second season. The fifth series in the NCIS franchise was the #1 new series of the fall and currently ranks as the #3 new series of the 2023-24 season, behind Tracker and Elsbeth, per the network. NCIS: Sydney, follows "a brilliant and eclectic team of U.S. NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) ... grafted into a multi-national taskforce to keep naval crimes in check in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet," according to CBS. The series stars Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance, Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel and William McInnes ...
Well, blow me down! A new big-budget live-action film adaptation of the Popeye comic character is in development from Chernin Entertainment and King Features, according to Variety. So far, screenwriter Michael Caleo is attached to the project. It would mark the first live-action adaptation of the 1920s comic strip since the Robin Williams-led Popeye in 1980. Though panned by critics, that version, directed by Robert Altman and co-starring Shelley Duvall as Popeye's girlfriend, Olive Oyl, grossed $60 million at the box office and has since gained cult status, per the outlet ...
Damsel, starring Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown, was Netflix's most-watched film of the week for the week of March 11-17, drawing 50.8 million views in its first week of availability, according to the streaming service. On the TV side, The Gentlemen, starring Theo James, took top honors, capturing 20.1 million views in its first full week of availability after launching with 12.2 million in its first three days of release ...
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'X-Men '97' lead director Jake Castorena on the "responsibility" of adapting beloved animated series
The anticipated animated series X-Men '97 debuts Wednesday on Disney+.
The original X-Men: The Animated Series from the 1990s introduced a whole new generation to Wolverine, Magneto, Storm and the rest of Professor Xavier's friends and enemies, and sustained the property long before there was a Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Indeed, the unexpected success of the animated series spurred the creation of the first X-Men movie in 2000, helping open the door for the big screen superhero genre.
"If you are of a certain generation. You can go and hum the theme song in a public place, and you'll get heads turning around, right?" X-Men '97's lead director Jake Castorena laughs to ABC Audio.
The new show takes the fan-favorite characters on new adventures but hews closely to the original, from the theme music to character design, because as Castorena says, you don't mess with a classic.
He adds, "I have the love for the OG show. I mean, that's part of the whole reason why I started drawing. You know, it was either Batman [The] Animated Series or X-Men: The Animated Series."
"We are a revival, not a reboot," Jake explains. "The OG show straight into our show ... should all feel like one cohesive thing."
The veteran animator enthuses, "You know, getting asked to be on any sort of X-Men anything is like, 'Hell yeah,' right? But it's when it's this X-Men show and it's 'Oh, we want to do that X-Men show'... 5, 6-year-old me would be losing his head right now."
Disney is the parent company of ABC News.
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Could Selena Gomez be considering selling Rare Beauty?
Selena Gomez's cosmetics line, Rare Beauty, has been wildly successful, but now there are reports that she's considering selling the company.
Bloomberg cites people familiar with the situation as saying that Selena has hired bankers to consider offers from firms who either want to invest in Rare Beauty or acquire the company outright. According to Bloomberg, the bankers have met with potential buyers, but Selena hasn't -- at least, not yet.
Fans who may be alarmed at this news should be comforted by the fact that, according to Bloomberg, Selena plans to remain involved with Rare Beauty if she does sell the company. Reps for both the company and Selena declined to comment, Bloomberg reports.
The website The Business of Fashion said that Rare Beauty, launched in 2020, is valued at $2 billion and is one of the “most sought-after [mergers and acquisition] targets for 2024.”
One thing that makes Rare Beauty stand out in a sea of celebrity beauty brands is its commitment to reducing the stigma around mental health. Its Rare Impact Fund has pledged to raise $100 million over the next decade to expand access to mental health services and education globally. One percent of all sales are donated to the fund as part of the initiative.
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Jonathan Majors' ex suing for assault, defamation; actor's attorneys "preparing counterclaims"
Jonathan Majors' ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the former Marvel star for alleged assault, battery and defamation from incidents dating between 2021 and 2023.
Majors was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault and one count of second-degree harassment in connection with a March 2023 altercation with his then-girlfriend, Jabbari, in a for-hire SUV in New York City. He was acquitted of two other counts of assault and aggravated harassment.
Marvel Studios severed ties with the Loki actor, who was supposed to play a major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.
The new suit, filed in the Southern District of New York, accuses Majors of making "knowingly false statements" about Jabbari during an interview with ABC News in January following his conviction, in which he said he did not hit her in the vehicle or cause any injuries.
"Put bluntly, Majors's defense to Grace's descriptions of the numerous acts of violence Majors perpetrated against her was to brazenly defame her and label her a liar on all claims," the complaint stated, citing what it called "false and defamatory statements" that were "broadcast around the world."
Jabbari is seeking damages for physical injuries she said she suffered as a result of the incident. She also claimed Majors committed "intentional infliction of emotional distress" against her, according to the civil complaint.
Jabbari's attorney, Brittany Henderson, said in part, "It takes true bravery to hold someone with this level of power and acclaim accountable. ... We strongly believe that through this action, truth and transparency will bring Grace the justice that she deserves."
For his part, Majors' attorneys responded to the filing saying, "This is no surprise. Mr. Majors is preparing counterclaims against Ms. Jabbari."
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Dua Lipa says as a kid, her whole school laughed at her when she tried to sing
Dua Lipa sure has come a long way from that moment when everyone in school laughed at her attempt to sing.
Dua made a video with drag superstar Trixie Mattel in which both of them attempt to paint the cover of Dua's new album, Radical Optimism, in under 30 minutes. While painting, Trixie interviewed Dua about her life and asked her about a choir teacher who didn't think much of her voice.
"It was primary school, and the music teacher ... [at an assembly] was like, 'Right, who wants to sing and try out for the choir?' And I was like, 'Y'know what? I'd actually quite like like to do that,'" Dua tells Trixie.
She continues, "I decided to stand up in front of the whole school and he started playing on the piano. And it was in, like, this crazy high note and nothing came out [of my mouth] -- just 'eehh,' in that moment, and the whole school started laughing. And he was just like, 'Y'know what? Better luck next time.' And that was it."
Dua, who was also going to singing lessons every week in London, says it was one of the teachers there who helped her build up her confidence. When she was 9 he made her sing in front of the whole class, then moved her up into a class with the 14- and 15-year-olds.
"He celebrated me [and] my deeper, lower voice," Dua said of that teacher.
At the end of the session, Trixie and Dua show off their paintings, neither of which are very good.
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Nicole Kidman talks life with 2 teen daughters, 'Big Little Lies' season 3 and that AMC Theatres ad
Nicole Kidman is opening up about her home life and why now is the perfect time for Big Little Lies season 3.
The Oscar-winning actress discussed all of this -- and more -- in her cover story for Elle's April 2024 Impact Issue.
Kidman gushed about being a mom to two teenage girls, daughters Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13, whom she shares with husband Keith Urban.
"I love teenage girls. I just find them exquisite," she told the magazine. "I marvel at that age group and what they're dealing with, but also their ability to handle so much."
Kidman also partly credited her eldest daughter for inspiring her and Reese Witherspoon to discuss a third season of their Emmy-winning show Big Little Lies.
"My daughter is the one who watched both of the series and went, 'OK, there's just no question, there has to be a third.'"
Kidman and Witherspoon have been teasing a new season of the show in recent months, and the Moulin Rouge actress said now is the right time.
"There's the richness of the storylines, which we'd always discussed, but it needed time because there's actual unbelievable depth to the next chapter of these women's lives and their children's lives -- because children grow up, and that's kind of fascinating."
Kidman also teased that she, Witherspoon and their castmates -- Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley and Zoë Kravitz -- are still "very intertwined."
HBO has not confirmed or shared any official updates on a potential third season of the show.
The Expats actress also discussed her AMC Theatres ad, saying her dream is to spoof it herself one day, alongside a drag queen.
She also teased she has "more ideas for the next one."
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Jeffrey Wright reportedly joining Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's adaptation of 'High and Low'
Freshly Oscar-nominated American Fiction actor Jeffrey Wright will reportedly join Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Spike Lee in the latter's adaptation of a famous film from legendary director Akira Kurosawa.
Variety says Wright has stepped into High and Low, a thriller from the BlacKkKlansman filmmaker, which gets underway for Apple Original Films in March.
Based on the novel King's Ransom by author Ed McBain, the original High and Low centered on a company CEO who is led to believe his son has been kidnapped. However, the kidnappers snatch the wrong person, and the wealthy man must decide if paying up and saving the victim is worth losing his company.
The project, Denzel's fifth with Malcolm X director Lee, will have a theatrical run before coming to Apple TV+.
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In August, Miley Cyrus will become the youngest-ever "Disney Legend"
Miley Cyrus is still relatively young, but she's already a "Legend" -- at least in the eyes of Disney.
Miley, who first found fame on the Disney Channel, will be honored as a "Disney Legend" during a ceremony on August 11 in Anaheim, California. The ceremony will be the culmination of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event weekend.
At age 31, Miley is the youngest person ever to be named a Disney Legend. A 2007 episode of her Disney Channel series Hannah Montana still holds the record for the highest-rated basic cable series telecast ever.
The Grammy winner reposted the news on her Instagram Story on March 19.
Miley is just one of the big names who'll be receiving the honor from host Ryan Seacrest this year: Other 2024 Disney Legends include Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kelly Ripa, James Cameron, composer John Williams and Marvel Comics artist Steve Ditko, who co-created Spider-Man back in 1962 with Stan Lee and created Doctor Strange.
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