News

Desi Trill has released “Higher Love” (from Paramount Animation’s Smurfs Movie Soundtrack) featuring DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania and Subhi. “Higher Love” is the first single off the forthcoming Smurfs Movie Soundtrack. Check out the video above!

Synopsis: When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

About The Film

Genre: Starring: Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell, John Goodman Director: Chris Miller Screenplay: Pam Brady Produced by: Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Ryan Harris, p.g.a.

Smurfs is in theaters on July 18, 2025!

For More Information,...

Paramount Animation wants to start the weekend by adding some pep to your step with the first single, “Higher Love,” from the forthcoming Smurfs movie. The joyous track hails from Desi Trill and features DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania, and Subhi. You can listen to the track by watching the video posted above, which includes new footage of the Smurfs.

Desi Trill is a new genre of music that celebrates South Asian music with an emphasis on collaborations with other artists. “Higher Love” begins with a spin on Belinda Carlisle’s 1987 hit “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” before rolling into fresh lyrics and beats from Cardi B, Natania, and Subhi. The lyric video features the Smurfs mugging for the camera and getting into mischief. It also features fuzzy creatures similar to the Kakamora from Disney’s Moana movies.

“I’m excited to be a part of this iconic collaboration,...

Today, Prime Video revealed the first-look images and premiere date for the upcoming adult-animated series, #1 Happy Family USA. All eight episodes will premiere in more than 240 countries and territories on April 17 exclusively on Prime Video.

From Amazon MGM Studios, A24, and Cairo Cowboy, #1 Happy Family USA is a provocative and comedic tale on the Muslim-American experience, co-created by Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady.

The series follows the maniacally upbeat Husseins – the most patriotic, most peaceful, and most definitely not suspicious Muslim family in post-9/11 “Amreeka.”

With satire and absurdity, the series redefines finding humor in hardship as they navigate the early 2000s under the watchful eyes of their terrified neighbors – starring Ramy Youssef, Alia Shawkat, Mandy Moore, Chris Redd, Salma Hindy, Randa Jarrar, Akaash Singh and Whitmer Thomas.

Youssef and Brady serve as co-showrunners for the series. The executive producers alongside Youssef and Brady include Mona Chalabi, Andy Campagna, Josh Rabinowitz,...

Amazon Prime Video has released a premiere date and first look images for “#1 Happy Family USA,” a new adult comedy series from Ramy Youssef and A24. All eight episodes of the new series will premiere April 17 on Prime Video.

Co-created by Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady, “#1 Happy Family USA” follows “the maniacally upbeat Husseins – the most patriotic, most peaceful, and most definitely-not-suspicious Muslim family in post-9/11 ‘Amreeka,'” according to a press release. “With satire and absurdity, it redefines finding humor in hardship as they navigate the early 2000s under the watchful eyes of their terrified neighbors.”

The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, A24 and Cairo Cowboy, and stars Youssef, Alia Shawkat, Mandy Moore, Chris Redd, Salma Hindy, Randa Jarrar, Akaash Singh and Whitmer Thomas.

Also in this week’s TV News Roundup:

First Looks/Trailers

The new trailer for the Apple TV+ series “Dope Thief” has been unveiled,...

Here’s A Look At The Smurfs Trailer Ft. Pop Icon Rihanna ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The Smurfs are back in a bigger, bolder, bluer, and never-before-seen avatar! Per the new official trailer, the tiny blue heroes are all set for a new adventure, bringing their signature charm, laughter, and magic to the real world. Packed with action, humor, and an all-star cast, the film blends nostalgia with a fresh, modern twist.

The Smurfs is based on Peyo’s original creation. It is directed by Chris Miller, written by Pam Brady, and produced by A Ty Ty and Jay Brown Production. The new movie will introduce a star-studded voice cast to the screen, with pop icon Rihanna making her debut in the world of animation. The songstress is lending her iconic voice to Smurfette, one of the beloved characters in the franchise, and adding a new dimension to the Smurfs’ universe.

The trailer for the upcoming Smurfs has just been released by Paramount Animation (check it out above). The film stars Rihanna and will be in theaters on July 18, 2025!

When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe. Smurfs features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña with Kurt Russell and John Goodman.

About The Film

Genre: Adventure, Animation Starring: Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd,...

Rihanna introduces the official Smurfs trailer which gives fans of the weird blue creatures their first good look at the nine-time Grammy winner as Smurfette. The trailer shows the Smurfs coming to our world, landing in Paris, and searching for the kidnapped Papa Smurf.

In addition to Rihanna, the cast includes James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, and Sandra Oh. Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman also star.

“When Papa Smurf (Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him,” reads Paramount Animation’s synopsis. “With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.”

Chris Miller directs from a screenplay by Pam Brady, based on the characters created by Peyo.

Rihanna goes blue as Smurfette in the new trailer for the upcoming Smurfs movie, in which she not only debuts her new character, but also sings “Don’t Stop the Music” and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.”

After an introduction from Rihanna, the clip begins with a mash-up of the original Smurfs theme and “Don’t Stop the Music” as the “coolest Smurf in the whole village” dances alongside her buddies. Their idyllic existence gets shattered, however, when Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is kidnapped and Smurfette must lead them into the real world.

A sleepy cover of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” — which gets rudely interrupted by DJ Khaled yelling over it — soundtracks their journey, which results in a somewhat amusing introduction to Papa Smurf’s irascible brother (Nick Offerman) and the Paris Neighborhood Watch Smurfs. Check out the full trailer below.

While announcing her...

Rihanna goes blue as Smurfette in the new trailer for the upcoming Smurfs movie, in which she not only debuts her new character, but also sings “Don’t Stop the Music” and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.”

After an introduction from Rihanna, the clip begins with a mash-up of the original Smurfs theme and “Don’t Stop the Music” as the “coolest Smurf in the whole village” dances alongside her buddies. Their idyllic existence gets shattered, however, when Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is kidnapped and Smurfette must lead them into the real world.

A sleepy cover of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” — which gets rudely interrupted by DJ Khaled yelling over it — soundtracks their journey, which results in a somewhat amusing introduction to Papa Smurf’s irascible brother (Nick Offerman) and the Paris Neighborhood Watch Smurfs. Check out the full trailer below.

While announcing her...

The trailer for Paramount's Smurfs reboot is now online, giving us a first glimpse of some footage from the animated/live-action hybrid musical.

The teaser begins with a little Superman nod, before we're introduced to the eponymous blue creatures living happily as ever in Smurf Village. When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is captured by the villainous Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) steps up to lead a rescue mission to the real world.

Chris Miller and Matt Landon direct, while Pam Brady wrote the screenplay. The voice cast also features Natasha Lyonne, Nick Offerman, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, Daniel Levy, Octavia Spencer, Sandra Oh, Hannah Waddingham, Xolo Maridueña, James Corden, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, and Kurt Russell.

“The DNA in Peyo’s original drawings guide so many creative choices in the film,” Miller said at a presentation at the Annecy Animation Festival last June. “It’s the blueprint for the kind of film I want to make.

The trailer for the new Smurfs movie just dropped – and it is filled with a star-studded cast!

Rihanna plays Smurfette, who goes on an adventure to save Papa Smurf (John Goodman) after he is mysteriously taken from Smurf Village by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

Keep reading to find out more…

James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, and Kurt Russell will also have roles.

Written by Pam Brady and directed by Chris Miller, Rihanna also has a producer credit.

Rihanna also wrote new, original songs for the movie, per Variety. The trailer also features her singing a cover of “Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle.

Smurfs will...

"To save their world, they must come to ours." Huh? Why? Paramount Pictures has revealed the first trailer for Smurfs (that's the title), the next animated-hybrid Smurfs movie arriving in theaters this summer. This is now the fourth Hollywood movie featuring the little blue guys created by Belgian artist Peyo, following The Smurfs (2011) and its sequels. This new reboot is directed by Chris Miller from a screenplay written by "South Park" writer Pam Brady. This musical brings them into the real world for an adventure. When Papa Smurf is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Smurfette leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. This fun new Smurfs features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna as Smurfette, of course, plus James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd,...

Rihanna introduces the first trailer for Paramount Animation’s upcoming musical film Smurfs, only fitting since her character Smurfette is front and center in the trailer released today by Paramount.

Based on the characters and works of Peyo, written by Pam Brady and directed by Chris Miller, Smurfs hits theaters July 18.

Along with Rihanna the voice cast includes James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña with Kurt Russell and John Goodman.

The synopsis: When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

Producing are Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, Robyn Rihanna Fenty,...

Are you feeling a little blue today? Paramount Pictures has something that could have you feeling Smurfy in no time! The studio that brought us the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise will tap into another nostalgic property this July with Smurfs, an animated adventure based on characters created by Belgian comic artist Peyo. Paramount shared a little trailer tease yesterday, but now smurf on over to smurf the new trailer for the animated/live-action hybrid, Smurfs.

Rihanna gives a little intro as the new voice of Smurfette, as well as contributing to the soundtrack of the movie with her cover of “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” formally by Belinda Carlise. Smurfs combines the style of the classic Saturday morning cartoons with more modern 3D animation. Smurf village is devastated when a mysterious force abducts Papa Smurf and it’s up to a small group of ragtag Smurfs to get him back.

Paramount Animation has revealed the first trailer and the Super Bowl spot for Smurfs, which is coming to theaters on July 18, 2025. The film was written by Pam Brady and directed by Chris Miller.

When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

Based on the characters and works of Belgian artist Pierre Culliford, also known as Peyo, Smurfs is a Ty Ty and Jay Brown production. It is produced by Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, Robyn Rihanna Fenty and Ryan Harris.

Smurfs features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine,...

It’s been a few years since they last blue up, but the Smurfs are back. Paramount Pictures has unveiled the first full trailer for its upcoming musical film “Smurfs,” which features a starry cast that includes Rihanna as the voice of Smurfette.

Along with starring, Rihanna is producing the Paramount Animation production. She also penned original songs for the film.

“I tried to get the Papa Smurf role, but it didn’t work out,” Rihanna joked back in 2023 to tease the new film at the annual exhibitor event CinemaCon.

“Smurfs” will touch on questions of identity among the Smurfs. Chris Miller and Matt Landon are the film’s directors, while Pam Brady wrote the screenplay. The voice cast features Natasha Lyonne, Nick Offerman, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, Daniel Levy, Octavia Spencer, Sandra Oh, Hannah Waddingham, Xolo Maridueña, James Corden, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Kurt Russell and John Goodman.

This...

Rihanna feels like she’s the only Smurfette in the world in the first trailer for the new movie Smurfs.

Director Chris Miller’s feature is set to hit theaters July 18 from Paramount Animation. Smurfs is based on the characters and work of artist Peyo.

The film’s voice cast includes Rihanna as Smurfette, along with Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell and John Goodman.

The trailer shows the Smurfs setting out on a mission after Papa Smurf disappears, leading the group to land in Paris.

“Come on, we gotta rescue Papa,” Rihanna says in the footage.

“The DNA in Peyo’s original drawings guide so many creative choices in the film,” Miller said at a presentation at the Annecy Animation Festival in June. “It’s the blueprint for the...

From James Gunns Superman to Jurassic World Rebirth, there are some really huge movies that are scheduled to hit theaters during the 2025 summer blockbuster season. Ever since Jaws became the highest-grossing movie ever made in the summer of 1975, Hollywood studios have been releasing their high-concept tentpole films in the summer in the hope of recapturing its success. Summer tends to be when the highest-grossing movies of a given year come along. This year, it was Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. Last year, it was Barbenheimer. The year before, it was Top Gun: Maverick.

The summer blockbuster season typically starts in May (even though summer itself doesnt start until June) and runs until September. 2025s summer blockbuster season is shaping up to be a great one. Marvel Studios is releasing not one, but two highly anticipated superhero movies. Liam Neeson is inheriting the role of Frank Drebin from the late,...

There really just isn't another movie on this planet quite like "Team America: World Police." Directed by "South Park" co-creator Trey Parker from a script by Parker, fellow "South Park" co-creator Matt Stone, and Pam Brady, "Team America" is loosely a riff on the 1960s British TV series "Thunderbirds," using marionettes and various other forms of puppetry to create the entire movie. It's weird, it's vulgar, and the vast majority of the jokes have aged like milk, but there is some incredible craftsmanship on display and it's an interesting time capsule for the "edgy" comedy of 2004 and global politics at the time. "Team America" is about an international counterterrorism team taking on North Korean dictator Kim Jung Il, who himself is represented in a cartoonish puppet form. There's lots of swearing, some puppet-on-puppet violence, and even an explicit puppet sex scene, and somehow it's also apparently Jodie Foster's favorite movie.

When taking on established animated franchises, you can’t just “listen to nostalgia,” according to Jeff Rowe, director of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.”

“That’s when things get stale,” he said during Variety’s “Innovation and Inspiration in Global Animation” panel at Annecy Animation Festival, moderated by international editor Elsa Keslassy. Rowe was joined by “Transformers One” director Josh Cooley, “The Smurfs Movie” helmer Chris Miller and María Trénor, the director of “Rock Bottom.”

“It’s important to look at things with fresh eyes and ask, ‘Does this make sense? Does a man who was a sensei turning into a rat make sense?'” Rowe continued. “Our goal was to make a film that those who have never heard of ‘Ninja Turtles’ – or hated it and hated that the movie was even happening – were still able to enjoy.”

Therefore, the team hired many people who had “no familiarity with the franchise.

Rihanna now has a host of blue pals to join her journey as Smurfette in the animated The Smurfs Movie for Paramount Pictures and Paramount Animation.

During the studio’s presentation at CinemaCon on Thursday, Paramount chief Brian Robbins announced that an all-star cast has been set for the film including Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, Jp Karliak, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña with Kurt Russell and John Goodman. Or, as Robbins put it, “Pretty much the rest of the Screen Actors Guild.” He also praised Rihanna as “the most legendary Smurfette ever.”

The news comes one year after Rihanna turned up to surprise CinemaCon attendees on the Colosseum stage inside Caesars Palace to announce that she had signed on to tackle the project as a triple threat by providing the voice of Smurfette, producing alongside Ryan Harris,...

The humble beginnings of Matt Stone and Trey Parker's "South Park" are nothing short of inspiring, with two friends crafting a stop-motion short film that would evolve into one of the most popular and longest-running shows in television history. "The Spirit of Christmas" was first released in 1992 (colloquially referred to as "Jesus vs. Frosty") and again in 1994 as a Christmas card (colloquially known as "Jesus vs. Santa" to differentiate) Fox executive Brian Graden had commissioned to send to his friends. Parker and Stone then developed the characters and the mountain town setting into what would become "South Park," and the rest is history.

This timeline certainly makes "South Park" sound like one of those dreamy Hollywood Cinderella stories in which two unknown comedy animators were plucked from obscurity to become billionaires and one award shy of earning Egot status. However, this narrative ignores the countless other projects -- both...

Pictures: Illumination / DreamWorks Animation

Netflix in the United States and several other regions will be getting several high-profile DreamWorks and Illumination movies in the first window in the coming year and beyond. Below, we preview what movies are on the way and when they’ll likely be on Netflix.

Please note: This list primarily covers Netflix in the United States. Other region’s availability of DreamWorks and Illumination titles will vary. We also won’t be covering back catalog DreamWorks and Illumination titles that will regularly rotate on and off of Netflix. Use our coming soon section for more on those.

In case you missed it, since 2022, Netflix has shared the first window rights to Universal’s animation lineup with its own streaming service, Peacock. The terms of this deal means that, in the United States, a movie will spend four months in theaters before heading to Peacock for four months,...

To celebrate the release of Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken available to Download & Keep September 25 and the Make A Splash Edition on DVD on October 9 2023, we are giving away Blu-Rays to 2 lucky winners!

Dive into the turbulent waters of high school with this heart warming action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. Learning to be an all-powerful sea creature while hiding among humans is hard enough for Ruby, but to make matters worse, her super popular new bestie, Chelsea, is secretly a mermaid! Mermaids have been battling the Krakens for eons to rule the ocean, but Chelsea has come to land to finally put an end to that conflict. However, when Chelsea double-crosses her, Ruby will ultimately need to embrace who...

Prom is a pivotal moment in every high schooler’s life. For Ruby Gillman (voiced by To All the Boys’ Lana Condor) and her friends, the plan was to pivot away from prom night entirely and enjoy a group hang instead. Shunning the formalwear rite of passage also meant Ruby could obey her mum’s rule of staying away from the ocean. A school dance on a boat would mean sailing dangerously close to the line she must never cross and Ruby determines to stay on dry land.

But teens are contrary creatures and as Ruby’s friends pair off it becomes increasingly obvious that the lure of prom is too strong to resist. And Ruby’s crush on fellow mathlete and effortlessly cool skateboarder Connor (Jaboukie Young-White) is compelling her to don a cute gown and follow the crowd…

Ruby’s parents are divided on how much freedom to give their girl.

You’ve encountered Ruby Gillman, the protagonist of DreamWorks’ latest venture, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, before: She’s a nerdy teen (math is her favorite subject), who survives the cliquishness of high school with her close friends (they call themselves “the squad”). She frets about the usual affairs of adolescence, like asking her crush to prom and evading her mother’s watchful gaze. Her parents love her, but could stand to dial back their overprotective instincts. And, oh, Ruby has a big secret: She’s a kraken.

Like a host of supernatural creatures and people before her (Miles Morales of Spider-Man, which would make a pleasant double bill with this film; Darby of Darby and the Dead; and Wei-Chen in American Born Chinese), Ruby lives a double life. She can’t tell her friends that she’s a squid-like creature who, legends say, destroys ships and their sailors. Her parents moved to Oceanside,...

Audiences might bemoan the lack of original thinking at the movies these days — all those sequels, remakes, and reboots! — but even new ideas can feel suddenly played out when faced with the horrifying specter of parallel thinking. Consider everything from “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” to “Dante’s Peak” and “Volcano,” “Capote” and “Infamous” to “No Strings Attached” and “Friends with Benefits,” and those are just contemporary examples of the phenomenon. If you’ve got an idea for a movie — hopefully, a good one to boot — chances are, someone else has it, too. And they may even have it at the exact same time.

Such is the case with Kirk DeMicco and Faryn Pearl’s “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,” which arrives on the heels (fins? paws?) of some very similar other animated adventures, like Pixar’s superior “Turning Red” and the studio’s less thrilling entry “Luca,” both of which use monstrous...

Kirk DeMicco’s Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken feels torn between being a story of racial difference and offering a compelling vision of teenage growing pains. Sweet but narratively thin and didactic, the latest from DreamWorks Animation always seems as if it’s trying to find its footing, which is apt insofar as its main character, a 15-year-old champion mathlete named Ruby (Lana Condor), is trying to understand her place in the world.

Ruby goes through high school wondering why her parents, Agatha (Toni Collette) and Arthur (Colman Domingo), are so strict about keeping her away from sea water. And, unfortunately for Ruby, that includes not being able to attend her high school prom, as it’s set to take place on a massive cruise ship in the ocean. One day, while flirting with Connor (Jaboukie Young-White), Ruby accidentally pushes her would-be paramour into the ocean, and upon diving in after...

Enter the contest below for the chance to win a four-pack of passes to attend an advance screening of Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken on Saturday, June 24th at 11:00am at the Mjr Troy Grand Digital Cinema 16!

This summer, DreamWorks Animation dives into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed.

Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible. She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush (Jaboukie Young-White), who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom (Toni Collette), has forbade...

If you’re going to make a movie about a kraken — those giant multi-tentacled sea monsters believed to wrestle ships from below — then computer animation is hands down the way to go. The trouble with doing so at a major American studio is that it comes with the imperative to turn these fantastical creatures into cutesy-wootsy kid-movie fodder, which is precisely what DreamWorks Animation does with the reasonably clever myth-twisting toon “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.” The creative team’s high-concept take suggests “Twilight” as a (literal) fish-out-of-water comedy, wherein a family of blue-skinned squid-things attempt to pass as human.

Fifteen years ago, Agatha (voiced by Toni Collette) and Peter (Colman Domingo) abandoned the ocean to raise their kids on land. Despite the obvious hurdles — their conspicuous cerulean tint, floppy limbs and invertebrate status — they’ve been reasonably successful at blending in. Anytime someone looks suspicious, Ruby (Lana Condor) just says she’s from Canada,...

A new trailer for Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken has just been released, and you can check it out above. The film will be in theaters on June 30, 2023!

This summer, DreamWorks Animation dives into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed.

Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible. She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush (Jaboukie Young-White), who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom (Toni Collette), has forbade Ruby from ever getting in the water.

But when she breaks her mom’s #1 rule,...

In the animated fantasy Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken it’s the mermaids that are the big baddies while the krakens are the protectors of the ocean’s creatures. Who knew mermaids are evil? Also, does this trailer give anyone else Turning Red vibes?

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before‘s Lana Condor voices Ruby the reluctant kraken princess. The voice cast also includes Toni Collette, Annie Murphy, Sam Richardson, Jaboukie Young-White, Liza Koshy, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, and Jane Fonda. Nicole Byer, Liza Koshy, Ramona Young, Eduardo Franco, Echo Kellum, and Emma Chamberlain also lend their voices to DreamWorks Animation’s family-friendly comedy.

Oscar nominee Kirk DeMicco (The Croods) directed from a screenplay by Emmy winner Pam Brady (South Park), Brian C. Brown, and Elliott Diguiseppi. Faryn Pearl co-directed and Kelly Cooney Cilella served as a producer. Mike Mitchell (director of Kung Fu Panda 4) executive produced.

Ruby Gillman,...

This summer, DreamWorks Animation dives into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed.

Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible. She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush Jaboukie Young-White, who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom Toni Collette, has forbade Ruby from ever getting in the water.

But when she breaks her mom’s #1 rule, Ruby will discover that she is a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmother Jane Fonda,...

Rihanna will voice Smurfette in 'The Smurfs Movie'.The 'Diamonds' hitmaker - who is pregnant with her and A$AP Rocky's second child - made a surprise appearance during Paramount Pictures' CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas on Thursday (27.04.23) to reveal she will be playing "a little blue bad a**" in the comedic musical adventure, which will be released in February 2025.She joked: “I tried to get the Papa Smurf role but It didn’t work out."Rihanna will also produce the film - which is being directed by Chris Miller and Matt Landon - and is providing original songs.Other producers include Ryan Harris, Laurence 'Jay' Brown, and Tyran 'Ty-Ty' Smith, while Pam Brady has written a script inspired by the characters and works of Peyo.Fellow pop star Katy Perry previously voiced Smurfette in 2011's 'The Smurfs' and the 2013 follow-up 'The Smurfs 2', while another singer, Demi Lovato,...

The upcoming Smurfs movie has found its Smurfette in Rihanna. The latest film version of Peyo's The Smurfs will be the fourth overall adaptation of the source material in the U.S., after Sony Pictures Animation's The Smurfs, The Smurfs 2, and Smurfs: The Lost Village. While all three movies weren't critically well-received, they were box office hits. Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies' take on The Smurfs was announced in February 2022, hoping to launch a film franchise. However, details on the latest version of The Smurfs have been kept secret, aside from Pam Brady writing the screenplay and Puss in Boots' Chris Miller directing, with Matt Landon co-directing.

At CinemaCon, Paramount and Nickelodeon announced that Rihanna will be voicing Smurfette in the upcoming film. Rihanna was there to reveal she'll also be writing and recording original songs for the movie, alongside producing it.

The New Smurfs Movie Could...

Rihanna will star as Smurfette in an upcoming untitled Smurfs animated movie from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, the artist announced at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 27th.

In addition to the voice role, Rihanna will write and perform original music for the film, which she will also produce. “I tried to get the Papa Smurf role, but it didn’t work out,” she joked on stage (via Variety).

Not much else is known about the movie besides its release date of February 14th, 2025. However, Paramount Animation head Ramsey Naito said it will explore themes of identity and ask the central question, “What is a Smurf?”

The Chris Miller-directed movie is based on Belgian artist Peyo’s comic books and will be co-directed by Matt Landon. Pam Brady wrote the script. Besides Rihanna, Jay Brown, Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith, and Ryan Harris will serve as producers.

Rihanna previously lent her voice...

Rihanna will star as Smurfette in an upcoming untitled Smurfs animated movie from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, the artist announced at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 27th.

In addition to the voice role, Rihanna will write and perform original music for the film, which she will also produce. “I tried to get the Papa Smurf role, but it didn’t work out,” she joked on stage (via Variety).

Not much else is known about the movie besides its release date of February 14th, 2025. However, Paramount Animation head Ramsey Naito said it will explore themes of identity and ask the central question, “What is a Smurf?”

The Chris Miller-directed movie is based on Belgian artist Peyo’s comic books and will be co-directed by Matt Landon. Pam Brady wrote the script. Besides Rihanna, Jay Brown, Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith, and Ryan Harris will serve as producers.

Rihanna previously lent her voice...

In her third trimester, Rihanna showed up at Paramount Pictures’ CinemaCon presentation on Thursday in Las Vegas to say she’s playing “a little blue badass” — that being Smurfette in Par and Nickelodeon Movies’ The Smurfs Movie. Rihanna also is producing the movie and providing original songs.

Related: Paramount’s CinemaCon Presentation Brings Laughs; Seth Rogen On Distrib Boss Chris Aronson ‘Tmnt’ Stunt: “First Time I’ve Seen An Executive Emerging From A Sewer!”

The comedic musical adventure sets out to answer one of life’s biggest questions: What is a Smurf? The Chris Miller-directed movie comes out on February 14, 2025. Co-director is Matt Landon. Pam Brady wrote the script inspired by characters and works of Peyo. Producers also include Ryan Harris, Laurence “Jay” Brown and Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith.

Related: Martin Scorsese Unveils Teaser From ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’, His Apple & Paramount Movie Bound For Cannes

Multiple Smurfs films,...

Rihanna has been cast in the voice role of Smurfette in a new live-action hybrid feature from Paramount Animation, “The Smurfs Movie.” The superstar made a surprise in-person appearance at CinemaCon, Las Vegas’ annual convention of movie theater owners, to make the announcement on Thursday.

“I tried to get the Papa Smurf role but It didn’t work out,” the singer joked on stage at Caesar’s Palace Hotel and Casino, alongside Paramount Animation head Ramsey Naito. It was revealed that Rihanna will star, write and record original songs, and produce the upcoming project. Clad in a stonewash denim cape, she also confirmed she is in her third trimester of pregnancy with her second child.

The film, according to Naito, will explore themes of identity and ask the central question, “What is a Smurf?”

Rihanna previously lent her voice to the DreamWorks animated feature “Home,” which grossed over $380 million at the worldwide box office.

Step aside Trolls: Rihanna is here to slay as a Smurf.

With Universal’s animated musical “Trolls” franchise going strong with the upcoming “Trolls Band Together,” Paramount Pictures during Thursday’s CinemaCon presentation unveiled an untitled “Smurfs” animated film starring Oscar-nominated Grammy winner Rihanna as Smurfette.

Rihanna is creating and performing original music for the film and also serving as a producer. The “Smurfs” movie will debut in theaters February 14, 2025, from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies.

Chris Miller and Matt Landon co-direct the “Smurfs” film, based on characters created by Peyo. “South Park” producer and “Team America: World Police” writer Pam Brady penned the screenplay. In addition to Rihanna, Ryan Harris, Laurence “Jay” Brown, and Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith produce.

“Getting to do animation is a fun journey for me,” Rihanna said at CinemaCon. “I’m usually front and center with everything with my likeness…but this was fun, I got to imagine,...

Ramy Youssef’s upcoming Amazon animated series has set its main cast, Variety has learned exclusively.

The series, which was originally ordered for two seasons in March 2022 under Youssef’s first-look deal with Amazon, is now titled “#1 Happy Family USA.”

The series regulars are Youssef along with Alia Shawkat, Salma Hindy (“Roast Battle”), Randa Jarrar (“Ramy”), Mandy Moore, Chris Redd, Akaash Singh, and Whitmer Thomas. Full character descriptions can be found below.

The series logline describes “#1 Happy Family USA” as an exploration of “the experiences of a Muslim-American family that must learn how to code-switch as they navigate the early 2000s: a time of fear, war, and the rapid expansion of the boy-band industrial complex.”

Youssef co-created the series with Pam Brady. Both serve as executive producers along with Mona Chalabi, a journalist and illustrator whose work has been featured in publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times,...

Chris Miller, the director of “Puss in Boots” and “Shrek the Third,” will direct the upcoming animated “The Smurfs” movie and musical set at Paramount and Nickelodeon.

The studio has already set a Dec. 20, 2024 release date for the film, which was announced back in February.

“The Smurfs” movie remains untitled, and Pam Brady of “South Park” and “Team America” fame is writing the script. The animation houses Lafig Belgium and Imps are producing the film.

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Miller’s announcement will formally be made at the ongoing Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Thursday by Ramsey Naito, president, Animation & Development, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, during the studio’s presentation.

“We’re thrilled to have such a talented group of people bringing audiences this latest rendition of the beloved Smurfs universe,” Naito said. “We can’t wait for fans...

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Chris Miller, the Oscar-nominated helmer of 2011’s Puss in Boots, is set to direct Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation’s untitled Smurfs musical, which is slated for a Dec. 20, 2024 theatrical release. The studios plan to highlight the announcement this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.

Earlier this year, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation announced a partnership with Smurf worldwide licensors holders Lafig Belgium and Imps to produce multiple movies based on the Smurfs property created by Belgian artist Pierre Culliford, known as Peyo. This untitled musical, from a screenplay by Pam Brady (Team America: World Police), is the first of those projects.

>Miller is also director of Shrek The Third, and his voice acting credits includes the penguin Kowalski in the Madagascar franchise.

Latifa Ouaou, executive vp of movies and global franchises for Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation (who...

Exclusive: Netflix has unveiled a new mockumentary about the making of Cliff Beasts 6: Battle for Everest: Memories of a Requiem, the movie at the center of Judd Apatow’s recently-released comedy, The Bubble.

Apatow’s latest centers on a group of spoiled actors and actresses stuck inside a pandemic bubble at a hotel, while attempting to complete the sequel to an action franchise film about flying dinosaurs. The mockumentary has its actors speaking in-character about what it was like to film Cliff Beasts while in quarantine.

The Bubble was released in select theaters on March 25th, debuting on Netflix on April 1st. Its star-studded cast includes Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Fred Armisen, Maria Bakalova, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann, Pedro Pascal, Peter Serafinowicz, Vir Das, Rob Delaney, Galen Hopper, Samson Kayo, Guz Khan, Nick Kocher, Ross Lee, Harry Trevaldwyn and Danielle Vitalis.

Apatow directed from the script he wrote with Pam Brady.

Filmmaker Judd Apatow contends that his new film “The Bubble” is not based on the challenging production of “Jurassic World: Dominion” – even though his movie is about a group of actors coming together to make a sequel to a blockbuster franchise about dinosaur-like beasts in London. “It really isn’t based on it at all, other than it seemed fun to do comedic dinosaurs,” Apatow told TheWrap in a recent interview.

And yet, when he showed “Jurassic World: Dominion” star Laura Dern his comedy he was relieved that she found it funny. “That was very important to me that everybody got a kick out of it, because it really is an exaggeration of how bad could this get? Luckily this didn’t actually happen like this to anybody.”

Indeed, while “The Bubble” starts out with an air of familiarity – not just with “Jurassic World” and Keegan Michael-Key playing the committed...

Filmmaker Judd Apatow is known for assembling casts for his projects filled with both known talents (like Amy Schumer and Adam Sandler) and up-and-comers on the cusp of breaking out. This much is true for his latest film, “The Bubble.”

Apatow co-wrote with Pam Brady and directed the Netflix original film, which takes place during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic and follows a group of actors and filmmaker assembling to make the sixth installment in a blockbuster franchise called “Cliff Beasts.”

The cast is robust and wildly talented, so below we’ve put together a handy cast and character guide to keep things straight.

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Read original story ‘The Bubble’ Cast and Character Guide: Who’s Who in the Netflix Comedy? (Photos) At TheWrap...

Unpleasant as it is to watch one of the greatest comedy directors of the 21st century grin their way through the kind of leaden and disjointed mess that manages to feel oppressively self-amused even as it swears its making fun of itself, Netflix seems determined to keep cranking them out. At least until “one of the greatest comedy directors of the 21st century grinning their way through the kind of leaden and disjointed mess that manages to feel oppressively self-amused even as it swears its making fun of itself” describes enough movies to become its own category on the streamer’s homepage.

. That element of surprise doesn’t work to Apatow’s advantage. It’s not meant to be a compliment when I say that “The Bubble” is depressing in a way that modern comedies rarely are — that it’s depressing in as novel a way as the coronavirus that inspired it.

The Exterminating Sound Stage: Apatow Skewers Hollywood’s Pandemic Age in Moderately Amusing Satire

Straddling a blurry line between satirizing Hollywood’s franchise cupidity and a queasy self-awareness of becoming the subject of its own indignation, Judd Apatow hurls himself (purposefully) into streaming with the Netflix original The Bubble. In short, it’s a modern take on an old scenario when a cast and crew find themselves in an isolated pandemic bubble at a swank hotel where they’re eventually held hostage as the shoot extends indefinitely. Apatow’s particular brand of comedy isn’t well suited for the sort of razor sharp satire necessary to subvert the strenuousness and ridiculousness of film production during the height of a pandemic, though he does have Pam Brady, “South Park” producer and “Lady Dynamite” writer on hand as co-scribe.…...

Two years into the pandemic, filmmakers will either ignore our current reality entirely, subtly weave it in (such as the latest from Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Joachim Trier), or approach head-on. With The Bubble, a movie about making a movie that barely feels like a movie, Judd Apatow leaves no stone unturned in mining comedy from each and every new Covid-induced social peculiarity. But rather than prove provocatively daring in its humor––Radu Jude perhaps left little else on the table in such regard––the film ends up feeling like a halfwitted, slighter version of Tropic Thunder, delivering a scattershot barrage of humor through thinly sketched characters that jump from skit to skit with very little to grasp.

Inspired by the real-life pandemic production of the forthcoming Jurassic World Dominion, the movie-within-the-movie is Cliff Beasts 6: The Battle for Everest: Memories of the Requiem, a payday for all involved. Set amongst...

Judd Apatow has hammered a multi-year production film and TV pact across NBCUniversal including Universal Pictures and Universal Studio Group. The parties’ working relationship began with 2005’s $177 million-plus grossing comedy blockbuster The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Apatow’s movies have grossed close to $3 billion around the world, the studio’s most successful original comedies.

Apatow is currently in post-production on the Billy Eichner-starring, Nick Stoller-directed Bros, which he produced. The movie is the first major studio film to feature an all LGBTQ+ principal cast. The movie hits theaters on September 30.

On the TV side, the new deal will cover Apatow’s work for both internal and external networks, including NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock. Multiple projects are in development including Dystrophia, a co-production between Utv and A24, starring comedian Steve Way (Ramy) and co-written with Jonathan Braylock and Ramy Youssef. Youssef is also producing with Apatow through his Cairo Cowboy production company.