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Mark Wahlberg is making a grand comeback to the small screen in Peacock’s Ted: The Animated Series, a spinoff of the commercially successful movie franchise as well as the prequel series. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, the actor has been confirmed to reprise the role of John Bennet in a voice role.

Wahlberg was asked to return for the Peacock TV series, but due to his hectic schedule, the network ultimately decided to create a prequel show with a new cast.

The actor has not been seen on any scripted television shows since 1993, when he starred in the television drama The Substitute and made cameo appearances in The Ben Stiller Show and Out All Night. Since then, the former rapper-turned-actor has only appeared as himself on several variety shows.

Ted Franchise Proves to Be Mark Wahlberg’s Most Successful Project to Date Mark Wahlberg in Ted...

On Wednesday May 21 2025, Vice broadcasts The Grudge!

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Season 1 Episode 9 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Grudge” titled “Mayweather vs. Pacquiao” promises to take viewers on a thrilling journey through one of boxing’s most intense rivalries. Set to air on Vice, this episode will delve into the buildup to the highly anticipated 2015 Fight of the Century. Fans of boxing will not want to miss this exploration of two of the sport’s biggest stars.

The episode will highlight the contrasting styles of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather, known for his defensive skills and tactical approach, will be compared to Pacquiao, who is celebrated for his speed and power. This clash of styles created a unique tension that captivated boxing fans around the world. The show will cover how their rivalry developed over the years, filled with drama and excitement.

Viewers can expect to see interviews,...

The boxing world came to a standstill in 2015 for the “Fight of the Century,” the long-awaited showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Vice TV’s “The Grudge” revisits this clash of titans, exploring the drama, the hype, and the ultimate question of boxing supremacy. This episode examines the years-long build-up to the fight, […]

The Grudge: Mayweather vs Pacquiao...

Recently, The Rock spoke highly of his cousin Jacob Fatu, who appeared in his WrestleMania debut in Las Vegas. Fatu is a part of the Anoa’i family and the son of wrestler Sam Fatu, aka Tonga Kid. He is also the cousin of Roman Reigns, Jimmy & Jey Uso, and Solo Sikoa. Fatu was trained by his uncle, Rikishi, and he began his career in independent promotions.

Before he pursued professional wrestling as his career path, Fatu had faced legal troubles and spent time. He later revealed it was during these dark times in his life that Jimmy and Jey Uso’s appearance on TV prompted him to turn around his life. He found his way to the Major League Wrestling and later to the WWE.

Before his wrestling career, The Rock’s cousin Jacob Fatu spent time in jail Jacob Fatu entering the ring | Credits: WWE

Jacob Fatu is...

Ever since the P Diddy controversy blew up, a lot of names connected to him have been making rounds on the internet. These very names have been getting embroiled in the same fire as the scandalous and now-disgraced music mogul, thanks to their connection to him, and somehow, Mark Wahlberg seems to be one of the names thrown around in the mix.

For those unversed, Wahlberg used to not only be friends with Diddy for years but he was also his reported business partner. But business and friendships set aside, there was also a time when the 53-year-old actor lost $250,000 to his 55-year-old friend after betting on the wrong guy. And the most amusing part? This didn’t happen once, but twice!

Mark Wahlberg.| Credits: Flight Risk / Lionsgate. Mark Wahlberg lost $250,000 to P Diddy after betting on the wrong guy

While Wahlberg may be trying now to keep himself away...

Netflix has unveiled the lineup of new TV shows and movies that will arrive on the platform in April 2025.

Among the highlights will be the April 10th premiere of Black Mirror’s seventh season, named by Consequence as one of the most anticipated TV shows of 2025. Other notable titles classic films like The Breakfast Club, Psycho, Field of Dreams, Heat, and Rudy; new episodes of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman; and documentaries like Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing and Carlos Alcaraz: My Way;

Find what other movies and shows are streaming on Netflix beginning in April 2025 below.

Titles Coming To Netflix In March:

*This list may not be comprehensive and is subject to change

April 1

The Age of Innocence

Big Daddy

Bonnie & Clyde

The Breakfast Club

Conan the Destroyer

Couples Retreat

The Croods

Draft Day

Field of Dreams

For Love of the Game...

The Netflix April 2025 Originals, movies, and TV series have been revealed and can be viewed below. The streaming service has also announced the list of movies and TV series leaving next month.

The Netflix April 2025 schedule includes Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight, Black Mirror Season 7, Chef’s Table: Legends, The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, Devil May Cry, Havoc, and How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) Season 4.

You Season 5

Also coming to the service are Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Season 3, Love on the Spectrum Season 3, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman Season 5 Part 2, Pokémon Horizons Season 2, Pulse, You Season 5, and more.

Available April Tba

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins (In) — Netflix Film

In this high-octane battle of wits and wills, ingenious con artist Rehan devises a diamond heist while trying to outsmart Rajan, his sadistic adversary.

Weak Hero Class 2 (Kr) — Netflix Series

Black Mirror...

If you were to recall your younger days watching wrestling, do you remember the impact when wrestlers were called by their nicknames? It was a whole different energy when announcers used to scream fighters’ nicknames before they entered the ring. Whether it’s “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, or “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, these monikers often carry a deeper meaning.

These names do not just happen in a day; most of the time, it’s an acknowledgment of the wrestlers’ in-ring personality and, other times, a call out to a personal history, legacy, or a memorable moment. They become as iconic as the wrestlers when the commentators emphasize it when narrating a match or when fans chant their names. And if we are looking into iconic fighters and their names, one such notable mention would be the legend Cody Rhodes or, better yet, “The American Nightmare.

Constance Zimmer is headed to the courtroom.

The UnREAL vet has joined Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer in a significant role for Season 4, our sister site Deadline reports.

More from TVLineFBI: International Just Bid a Fly Team Member Adieu - Will You Miss [Spoiler]?The Cleaning Lady and Alert: Missing Persons Unit Returning to Fox in MarchDoctor Odyssey Plots Shark Attack-Themed Midseason Premiere - Exclusive First Look

Zimmer will play Dana Berg, a relentless prosecutor featured in author Michael Connelly’s sixth book in the Lincoln Lawyer series, The Law of Innocence. Dana will go up against Mickey Haller in...

2015 was a good year for fans of the sport when two legendary boxers competed in the ring for the win – Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. While the highly anticipated fight ended up being somewhat of a letdown, fans, including P Diddy and Mark Wahlberg, were excited to see it all unfold. The two top names in the industry released a video betting on their preferred boxer and let’s just say that it didn’t end too well for Mark Wahlberg.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao | Credits: Showtime

When they sat down to place their bets, it went without saying that they were going to go big. While the value began at $100,000, Mark Wahlberg wasn’t convinced with the “little” amount Diddy had proposed. Unfortunately, the actor’s confidence backfired.

Mark Wahlberg and P Diddy’s insane bet on the Fight of the Century Diddy and Mark Wahlberg place...

Frank Grillo is experiencing quite the career surge, as the in-demand veteran tough guy actor just wrapped the second season of “Tulsa King,” has “Creature Commandos” premiering Thursday on Max, and the theatrical release of old school horror film “Werewolves” on Friday.

In a wide-ranging interview with TheWrap, Grillo revealed he’s in early talks to return alongside Sylvester Stallone for a potential third and fourth seasons of “Tulsa King,” while also discussing his expanding role in James Gunn’s DC Universe. He offers a refreshingly candid approach to the use of performance enhancers in movies.

First off, Grillo stars as Rick Flagg Sr. in DC Studios’ animated and highly entertaining “Creature Commandos” and will reprise the character in upcoming live-action DC Studios projects, including “Superman” and the second season of “Peacemaker,” which just recently wrapped.

Both Gunn and Grillo are Marvel veterans and hit it off early on. “James...

Jimmy Fallon used Thursday night’s “Tonight Show” monologue to take aim at the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, which gets underway on Netflix on Friday night. But he kicked off with a joke that doubled as a piece of NBCUniversal synergy for the upcoming “Wicked” movie.

“Tomorrow night on Netflix 58-year-old boxing legend Mike Tyson is coming out of retirement to fight 27-year-old YouTuber Jake Paul. And to make sure people watch, one will be dressed as Glinda and the other will be dressed as Elphaba.”

Fallon then cracked one about the fight streaming on Netflix as a live event: “The fight is on Netflix so around the fifth round I think we’re gonna find out that Mike Tyson is actually made of cake.”

The host turned his ire towards the 30-year age gap between Tyson and Paul, making a pretty striking comparison.

“I’m...

One of the biggest questions UFC fans have when it comes to Conor McGregor is whether or not he will ever make a return to the octagon to compete in the sport that made him a household name. However, based on the most recent updates making the rounds, it looks like he is doing something else instead.

Conor McGregor Has Been Out Of The Octagon A Long Time

One of Conor McGregor’s last notable wins in the UFC was all the way back in January of 2020, when he defeated Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone by Tko. Following that victory, McGregor had two defeats in 2021 at the hands of Dustin Poirier.

Conor was going to fight against Michael Chandler in 2024 as part of UFC 303. However, that fight never came to fruition. McGregor has been dealing with injuries for the last few years, and the pandemic also took a shot at his momentum.

Spoilers are ahead for Borderlands' ending.

The Borderlands movie sets up a potential sequel with the introduction of The Destroyer in its closing minutes. The Destroyer, a crucial figure in the video game franchise, could serve as the final boss in Borderlands 2. The movie's focus on the Eridians and Lilith's role as Pandora's protector are further evidence that the team will take on The Destroyer in a future film.

While it's hard to imagine the Borderlands movie receiving a follow-up film, Eli Roth's adaptation of the beloved video game series did introduce a final boss for its potential second movie. A sci-fi action-comedy romp based on the Borderlands video games, the latest entry in Roth's filmography didn't succeed by any metric. Aside from Borderlands' dismal (and rare) Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie made less than $10 million over its opening weekend. Before Borderlands became a box office flop,...

Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service, has revealed its May highlights. The Pluto TV May 2024 schedule includes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month programming, more anime content, new channels, and new film additions.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience.

The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with hundreds of international media companies. It offers a wide array of genres, languages, and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids, and much more.

Pluto TV can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web, and connected TV devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TV’s growing international footprint extends across three continents and over 35 markets.

Pluto TV May 2024 Programming

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage Month

To pay tribute, Pluto TV...

Essentially a sequel, or a companion one could say to the excellent “A Thousand Cuts”, “And So It Begins” follows the 2022 Philippine Presidential elections, with Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos, Jr and former Vice President Leni Lobredo being opponents. At the same time, it also reserves space for the “protagonist” of the previous movie, Maria Ressa.

And So It Begins is screening at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival

In that fashion, the documentary begins with Leni Lobredo's term as Vice-President to Rodrigo Duterte (President and vice-president elections are separate in the Philippines) and the bullying she essentially received from him, with the public speaking scene where both are present, being highly indicative. Nevertheless, and one could say because of this attitude, Lobredo decides to run for President in 2022, and is actually considered one of the favorites for some time, particularly due to her promises to do things rather differently than the autocratic, intensely populist practices of Duterte.

Showtime is hanging up its gloves.

After 37 years of boxing action, Showtime Sports has signed off for the final time. Paramount Global confirmed in October that the network’s sports operation will be dissolved by the end of the year, with future sports programming falling under the CBS Sports banner. Sports chief Stephen Espinoza and his team will depart at the end of the year.

Now Showtime Boxing’s four decades chronicling the sport, the athletes involved and some of its greatest bouts has been documented in End of an Era, a 38-minute special produced by multi-time Emmy-winner Sam Shouvlin and Emmy-nominated All Access director Nick Manning.

Among those bouts are “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler’s defeat of John “The Beast” Mugabi, both of Mike Tyson’s epic battles with Razor Ruddock, Evander Holyfield bouts with Buster Douglas and Michael Morrer, Tyson-Holyfield I and II, Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez,...

The Master Chief, a film by Chris Soriano, explores the camaraderie among Filipino sailors in the U.S. Navy, highlighting their heritage and service The trailer hints at a story of racial tension and the close-knit community within the Navy's 'Filipino Mafia'. With promises of thrilling action and emotional depth, The Master Chief is expected to be as impactful as Soriano's previous work, Almighty Zeus.

The Master Chief is a new film by writer, director, and actor Chris Soriano. Soriano is known in part for his work writing, directing, and starring in the Manny Pacquiao-produced Almighty Zeus, a film about a young boxer who finds a path to stardom after stepping in to defend an old Asian man who is being attacked. With The Master Chief, Soriano explores a strong camaraderie between Filipino sailors in the U.S. Navy.

Timed perfectly to Filipino Heritage Month and boasting a Veteran’s Day Weekend release date,...

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Quick Answer: The best way to watch Canelo vs. Charlo is to purchase the fight’s PPV livestream through Fite.tv or PPV.com for $84.99.

Buy Now Canelo vs. Charlo PPV Livestream

Boxing history is being made tonight. For the first time in the four-belt era, two undisputed champions will face off when Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Jermell Charlo clash in Las Vegas. At 33 years old, both fighters are...

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Quick Answer: The only way to watch Spence vs. Crawford live is to purchase the PPV livestream, which we recommend doing through PPV.com.

Buy Spence vs. Crawford PPV $84.99

Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford will finally enter the ring together this weekend, marking one of the most anticipated events of boxing’s modern era.

The undefeated fighters will be looking to unify Spence’s Ibf, Wba, and...

Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya dives deep into how insecurities prevented him from being a present father to his daughter Atiana when she was young.

“I basically ran away. I was scared. I was fearful,” he admitted on the “Allison Interviews” podcast. Ultimately, his absence left Atiana to be raised by her mother, Shanna Moakler and stepfather, Travis Barker, whom Moakler was married to from 2004 to 2008.

“I did try to be a father full-time for a few years, and it was beautiful,” he clarified before explaining how deep feelings of unworthiness led to distancing himself from Atiana. “It was amazing to raise a little girl, but there came a point where it’s like, you ask yourself, ‘Wait a minute, you’re not worthy of this.'”

De La Hoya, 50, believes that the lack of love he received from his parents as a child impacted his decision to remove himself from Atiana’s life.

Here’s a piece of trivia for you: There are two female Marvel superheroes who have starred in their own movies, yet have not appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The very first was Red Sonja, who got a spin-off sequel from Conan the Destroyer way back in 1985. The second was Elektra, who got a spin-off sequel from Daredevil back in 2005. But one of them will be entering the MCU. It’s not Red Sonja — although there is a new Red Sonja movie in the works, it is outside the MCU. It’s Elektra that will be making an appearance in Deadpool 3, due to be released next year. And the new Elektra? Well, it’s the old Elektra — Jennifer Garner will be returning to the role she originated 20 years ago. When she first appeared in Daredevil, she told us that she’d been unaware of the Elektra character prior to making the movie.

The battle of the billionaires may soon be getting bloody, as Mark Zuckerberg has accepted Elon Musk’s challenge to a cage fight, with the Facebook founder ready to hit Musk where it hurts the most – and we’re not talking about the wallet.

This particular part of the Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg storyline stems from Zuckerberg apparently planning a “Twitter rival” called Threads. Musk took to, well, Twitter to address the situation with, “I’m sure Earth can’t wait to be exclusively under Zuck’s thumb with no other options. At least it will be “sane”. Was worried there for a moment.” This quickly spiraled, with Musk responding to learning of Zuckerberg’s love of jiu-jitsu with, “I’m up for a cage match if he is lol.” Uh, Elon, do you have any idea what a bow and arrow choke feels like?

This is Zuck’s story on insta right now.

In April 2023, Netflix is welcoming a comedy TV series starring Steven Yeun, a TV series about a struggling cop, the movie sequel to The Last Kingdom, a new Power Rangers movie, part 2 of the second season of a drama TV series, season 2 of a fantasy drama based on a comic book, and a lot more. March saw the addition of part 2 of You season 4, the movie Luther: The Fallen Sun, season 2 of Shadow & Bone, the animated movie The Magician’s Elephant, the animated series Agent Elvis, the documentary Waco: American Apocalypse, and the comedy movie Murder Mystery 2.

April will bring a variety of movies and TV shows to add to Netflix’s extensive catalog of licensed content, such as the black comedy American Hustle, the action thrillers The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum, the animated movies Hotel Transylvania and How to Train Your Dragon, Christopher Nolan’s Inception,...

Asian American actor Vanessa Hudgens, who gained stardom with her work in Disney’s ‘High School Musical’ series, is set to shoot a travel documentary in the Philippines, the country of her mother’s birth.

The untitled project will shoot in Palawan and Manila in March, reports ‘Variety’.

Paul Soriano, who is attached as the director, is known for directing the 2019 film ‘Mananita’ and Manny Pacquiao biopic ‘Kid Kulafu’.

The documentary is said to showcase the relationship between Hudgens and her Filipino mother, Gina, who emigrated to the US at the age of 25, as well as Hudgens’ sister, Stella.

Since “High School Musical,” Hudgens has notched up key roles in ‘Spring Breakers’, ‘Gimme Shelter’, ‘Bad Boys for Life’, and the Oscar-nominated Lin-Manuel Miranda-directed musical ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’.

Hudgens executive produced and starred in the film ‘The Knight Before Christmas’ and all three installments of ‘The Princess Switch’ series for Netflix.

Vanessa Hudgens, the Asian American actor whose career kicked off in Disney’s “High School Musical” series, is set to shoot a travel documentary in the Philippines, the country of her mother’s birth.

The untitled project will shoot in Palawan and Manila in March. Paul Soriano is attached as a director, producer and executive producer. Mark A. Victor of TEN17P will also serve as executive producer. No distributor, broadcaster or streaming platform has yet been disclosed.

Soriano’s recent credits include directing the 2019 film “Mañanita” and Manny Pacquiao biopic “Kid Kulafu.”

The documentary is said to showcase the relationship between Hudgens and her Filipino mother, Gina, who emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 25, as well as Hudgens’ sister, Stella.

Since “High School Musical,” Hudgens has notched up key roles in “Spring Breakers”, “Gimme Shelter,” “Bad Boys for Life,” and the Oscar-nominated Lin-Manuel Miranda-directed musical “Tick,...

Actress Vanessa Hudgens is heading to the Philippines to explore her family history as the star of a new travel documentary. The film will capture Hudgens’ first trip to the country of her mother’s birth, showcasing her close relationship with her family and her personal trajectory as an American-born, half-Filipino woman who has become one of the world’s most recognizable stars.

The project is set to begin shooting in the Philippine cities of Palawan and Manila later this month. Hudgens will be accompanied on the journey and in the film by her mother, Gina Guangco, and her sister, Stella Hudgens. The actress has often spoken with pride about the biography of her mom, who left the Philippines for the U.S. at age 25.

“I feel like ours is such a relatable story to so many women all over the world,” Hudgens says. “The more that we can share,...

Warning: This post contains very strong language and racial slurs used onstage: “Anybody that says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” Chris Rock said with a well-timed figurative wink tonight right at the start of his live Netflix special Selective Outrage.

Starting off with a backstage montage of a Prince pendant-wearing Rock heading toward the stage, the special from Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre quickly launched into the comic taking pretty standard swings at the selective outrage of the woke crowd, “everybody scared and full of shit,” corporate charity, and “yoga pants politics.” Only with a swipe at “the kind of people who play Michael Jackson songs, but not R. Kelly,” did Rock venture from his Joe Rogan playlist

“Same crime — one has better songs.”

As somewhat less skillful than usual, but masterfully paced as Rock’s routine was from the get-go and his poignant if dated take...

Powerhouse law firm Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump Holley has promoted Kate Mangels and Allen Secretov to partners.

Joining the 17 other partners in the Santa Monica-based firm, the Harvard and UCLA Law graduates have both been with Kwikh for five years

“it is a pleasure to welcome Kate and Allen to the partnership,” the firm’s Managing Partner Lawrence Iser told Deadline today. “They are both exceptional people and accomplished litigators. We have utmost faith that they will continue to be integral members of the firm and the Bar, now as our Partners.”

“It is a true privilege to work with Kwikh’s all star bench of attorneys, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow with this group,” exclaimed Secretov of the top agency, studio, streamers and talent representing firm. “More than anything, I am excited to continue counseling and serving the needs of our clients, especially...

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special follows Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista) as they try to get the perfect Christmas present for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), and this short adventure finally fixed Drax’s power level. After bringing a Halloween special with Werewolf By Night, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has now added to the Christmas spirit with The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, written and directed by James Gunn, which is serving as the closing chapter of the MCU’s Phase 4.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special sees the remaining members of the title team preparing for Christmas, with Mantis worrying about giving a perfect Christmas present to Peter as he’s still struggling with the loss of Gamora. Mantis and Drax decide that the best thing they can give Peter is his childhood hero Kevin Bacon. As expected, Mantis and Drax create fun chaos...

Click here to read the full article.

When Easter Sunday writer Ken Cheng recalls how the Universal film got to the big screen, the story feels oddly similar to the movie itself: celebrity cameos, narrative turns and lots of food.

“The movie’s origin story starts at a very Asian place — around food. Jo Koy and Dan Lin, the primary producer on the movie, just randomly met at a sushi bar, struck up a conversation and decided they would love to work together,” Cheng tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Sort of simultaneous to that, Steven Spielberg while on break from shooting West Side Story, is just hanging out in his trailer and turns on Jo Koy’s Netflix comedy special and falls in love with it.”

The screenwriter says that soon after, Spielberg emailed the entire Amblin partners and family entertainment staff, expressing his desire to work with Koy, resulting in a meeting between the three.

One of the most successful stand-ups in the country with multiple Netflix specials to his name, Jo Koy has entertained millions with tales of his Filipino upbringing. He regales sold-out crowds with stories of his delightful, somewhat overbearing mother, unpacks the intricacies of Filipino food and lifestyle, and analyzes the differences between various Asian cultures.

Now, he has lent his perspective to “Easter Sunday,” a new comedy starring Koy as Joe Valencia, a version of himself, who returns to the Bay Area for the eponymous holiday to deal with his extended Filipino family. It’s the first major studio comedy about a Filipino-American family featuring a nearly-all Filipino cast, and was shepherded to the screen with the help of Steven Spielberg, an avowed fan of Koy’s, whose DreamWorks Pictures co-produced the film.

Billed as a “love letter to the Filipino-American community,” “Easter Sunday” certainly earns its bona fides for...

Jo Koy can be hilarious, riotously so at times. He has no trouble filling auditoriums with his spot-on standup act. Much of what makes him so funny are his observations about his Filipino American family: his aunts, his uncles, his cousins, his sisters and, most of all, his mom. Koy’s gift for deft comedy is too easily forgotten watching the well-intentioned but underwhelming “Easter Sunday,” his first starring vehicle.

Koy plays actor Joe Valencia. Living in Los Angeles, Joe is starting to feel he’s dancing on the razor’s edge between success or failure. He’s got an agent, portrayed by the movie’s director Jay Chandrasekhar. He’s got a beer commercial with a sticky tagline — “Let’s get this party started, baybay!” — that long ago became an albatross. Strangers in stores and family members quote it at him.

When we meet him, Joe has an important audition for a TV show,...

Inside the corny chaos of the going-back-home lark “Easter Sunday,” starring comedian Jo Koy, is the point that families are messy. Of course, one doesn’t need to belong to a big Filipino clan like the movie’s onscreen Valencias to grasp that, and it’s almost quaint how that message is articulated for us at the end as some fresh bit of wisdom when, since scene one, relatives in various states of bickering aggravation have been the comedy’s go-to note.

A more lasting takeaway from “Easter Sunday” about what’s messy has to do with vehicles for stand-ups trying to break into movies. Koy, who’s been packing arenas for years with his rabbity energy and humorous windows into family eccentricities and Filipino culture, seemed as natural a fit as any to get some of his act’s lasting characters into a movie. Steven Spielberg certainly thought so...

Click here to read the full article.

Filipino Americans receive welcome screen representation in stand-up comedian Jo Koy’s starring cinematic debut about a family holiday celebration. As well they should, since similar films have revolved around Jewish, Black, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Italian and families of virtually every other group you can imagine. It seems only fair that Easter Sunday should provide them the opportunity to take center stage in the sort of chaotic-family-gathering comedy that simultaneously inspires howls of recognition and cringes of embarrassment.

The film, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, The Dukes of Hazzard), revolves around Koy’s character, Joe Valencia, a struggling L.A.-based actor who’s managed to score at least one success, becoming known for the catchphrase, “Let’s get this party started!” in a beer commercial that everyone seems to have seen. Joe is now up for a starring role in a sitcom,...

Exclusive: TriCoast Worldwide has locked down international sales rights to the coming-of-age film Dear Zoe, starring Stranger Things‘ Sadie Sink, with plans to screen the pic for potential buyers and festival reps at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

The indie from director Gren Wells (The Road Within) is based on Philip Beard’s novel of the same name, which was selected by Booklist, a magazine of the American Library Association, as one of the ten best debut novels of 2005. It centers on Tess (Sink), who suffers an unimaginable loss alongside her family, and finds support from two surprising sources: her biological father (Theo Rossi)—a lovable slacker from the wrong side of the tracks—and the charming but dangerous juvenile delinquent next door (newcomer Kweku Collins).

Marc Lhormer and Melissa Martin adapted the screenplay for the film, which also stars Jessica Capshaw (Grey’s Anatomy), Justin Bartha (Godfather of Harlem) and Vivien Lyra Blair...

Universal and Dreamworks have released the first trailer for Jo Koy’s “Easter Sunday.” The film stars the comedian in his first feature film role and is set around a family gathering to celebrate Easter Sunday. The trailer first debuted at CinemaCon.

The film. opening Aug. 5, is a love letter to the Filipino community and is the first studio film to star an all-Filipino main cast. Jimmy O. Yang, Tia Carrere, Brandon Wardell, Tony nominee Eva Noblezada, Lydia Gaston, Asif Ali, Rodney To, Eugene Cordero, Jay Chandrasekhar, Tiffany Haddish and Lou Diamond Phillips star alongside Koy, who returns home for an Easter week of eating, laughing, drinking and riotous fun.

The trailer shows how Koy draws from both personal experience and his standup comedy routine, as it features Koy’s on-screen mother commenting on how he should have been a lawyer. Another family moment reveals how they all have the...

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It’s a big weekend for boxing fans as Errol Spence and Yordenis Ugas unify welterweight titles tonight in a 12-round bout airing live from Texas.

Here’s what you need to know about watching Spence vs. Ugas in person and streaming the fight online.

When Is the Spence vs. Ugas Fight? Date, Time, Location

The Spence vs. Ugas fight takes place tonight, Saturday, April 16 live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington,...

Leading Hollywood screenwriters Bruce McKenna and John Fusco have been tapped by U.S-based Inspire Studios to write two Asian-themed war features. One will go into production this year, the other in 2023, Variety has learned.

McKenna, who co-wrote and co-produced the Emmy-winning mini-series “The Pacific,” and wrote part of “Band of Brothers,” is attached to the company’s debut release, Filipino-Hollywood feature “Angel Warrior” as scriptwriter. Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Stoning of Soraya M”) is already attached a writer.

The picture is being produced by Inspire Studios’ founder and CEO Francis Lara Ho and executive produced by John Shepherd (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”), Thailand’s Buranasompod Pongrapee and Manny Pacquiao, the renowned Filipino boxing champion, politician and media personality.

Based on a real WWII story, “Angel Warrior” stars Philippines actor Bea Alonzo as Tala, a pre-war era Filipina whose near-death experience transforms her into an underground fighter, described as a “she devil.

From its opening minutes, Martika Ramirez Escobar’s meta-prank “Leonor Will Never Die” aims to scramble the viewers. Leonor Reyes (Sheila Francisco), an elderly retired action film director in Manila who, the title assures us, must have some claim to immortality, pads into view from the knees-down and steps onto a trunk – the universal film cliché for suicide. Not so fast, but it is true that awful things have happened to Leonor. Her ex-husband Valentin (Alan Bautista), a former movie star, has left. Her favorite son Ronwaldo (Anthony Falcon) is dead. And her least-favorite son Rudie (Bong Cabrera) is hounding her to pay the electric bill, which is three months past due and would have already been shut off if Leonor hadn’t helmed the meter reader’s mother’s favorite shoot-em-ups.

If life was one of Leonor’s films, she could write a happy ending. Instead, Leonor consoles herself...

Following a recipe that looks much more like “Alpha: The Right to Kill” than “Mindanao”, Brillante Mendoza got inspiration from the biography of Naozumi Tsuchiyama, a Japanese boxer with a prosthetic leg who went to the Philippines to train in Gensan, a famous boxing quarter which has spawned worldwide stars such as the legendary Manny Pacquiao.

Gensan Punch is streaming on HBO Asia

The story starts with the aforementioned Nao failing to get a permit to become a professional boxer, since the Japanese Boxing Committee considers his prosthetic leg a safety hazard. Frustrated but resolved, Nao decides to leave for General Santos City in the Philippines, in order to train in the Gensan Punch gym and acquire the permit from a country that seems to be a bit more lenient towards his situation. While the gym looks like a dystopian setting, and the communication is somewhat difficult from the beginning,...

Okinawa-born actor Shogen used to be told that he didn’t look Japanese enough for the Japanese film industry. Now he is not only one of the most in-demand rising stars, he is also the instigator, co-producer and star of triumph over-adversity movie “Gensan Punch” which has just premiered at the Busan and Tokyo film festivals and has been picked up for HBO.

Directed by Brillante Mendoza the fact-based tale sees Tsuchiyama Naozumi, a Okinawan man with a prosthetic leg, relocate to The Philippines to become a professional boxer, after being repeatedly blocked in his home country.

Shogen’s recent work has taken him all over Asia, giving him credits on Eric Khoo’s “Ramen Shop,” the “Death Note” TV series and Chinese blockbuster “Detective Chinatown 3.”

Training for the film landed Shogen in the Gensan Quarter gyms of General Santos City used by Philippines boxing superstar and presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao.

From award-winning Cannes / Venice / Toronto selected director Brillante Mendoza, “Gensan Punch” is based on a true story and follows Nao Tsuyama, a disabled athlete who refuses to let his artificial leg hinder his dream to become a professional boxer. His remarkable journey takes him from Japan to the Philippines, and specifically the celebrated ‘Gensan’ quarter which has spawned worldwide stars such as the legendary Manny Pacquiao.

Philippines actor Bea Alonzo will play a “she-devil” female lead in upcoming Filipino-Hollywood feature “Angel Warrior” by Inspire Studios. Principle photography will commence in mid-2022 and the film is slated for a U.S. and worldwide release in late 2022, Variety has learned.

Based on a fact-based WWII story, “Angel Warrior” will be produced by Inspire Studios’ founder and CEO Francis Lara Ho and executive produced by John Shepherd (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”) and Manny Pacquiao, the renowned Filipino boxing champion, politician and media personality. The screenplay is penned by Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”).

A previous recipient of the Asian Stars: Up Next prize from the International Film Festival & Awards Macao and Variety, Alonzo will portray Tala, a pre-war era Filipina whose near-death experience transforms her into an underground fighter aiding the poorly-equipped Filipino and American guerillas on the island of Panay that was part of the...

“Gensan Punch,” the upcoming film by celebrated Filipino director Brillante Mendoza, has been set as an HBO Asia Original movie. It will become available on regional streaming service HBO Go in the next few months.

Ahead of that, the film will have its world premiere next month at the Busan International Film Festival, and follow that with an out-of-competition gala selection at November’s Tokyo International Film Festival. In Busan, it appears in the Window on Asian Cinema” section and is also one of seven Asian films nominated for the festival’s Kim Jiseok Award.

The Japan and Philippines coproduction film is a fact-based story about a Japanese man with a prosthetic leg who seeks to become a professional boxer. He did his training in the so-called Gensan Quarter of General Santos City, which has long been known for producing athletes, including former champion boxer and current presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao.

I had a great time speaking to Chris Soriano, the director of the new boxing drama “Zeus.” Executive produced by Manny Pacquiao, Soriano also stars in the title role as Zeus Ortega, a young boxer with a dream forced to take a stand against hate. In our interview, Soriano talks about the making of

The post “Zeus” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

One of the greatest boxers of all-time may have reached the end of his career. Manny Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, lost to unheralded Yordenis Ugas on Saturday night by unanimous decision. At age 42, it was a disheartening loss for Pacquiao, who was the heavy favorite.

Fans attempting to tune in to the PPV event from Las Vegas also were disheartened. A massive technical glitch on Spectrum cable in at least the Los Angeles area had techs scrambling. There were two big events going on at the same time, with the WWE Summer Slam also competing for customers.

Pacquiao, who has been boxing for 26 years, now faces a decision. But unlike most fighters, his future is far from dim. He has long been rumored as the next president of his native Philippines, which has an election coming up next year after the expiring term of current President Rodrigo Duterte. His term expires next June.

Boxing great Manny Pacquiao makes his highly-anticipated return to the ring tonight in a Wba super welterweight title bout against Yordenis Ugas. This is the Filipino star’s first bout since his win over Keith Thurman in July 2019, while the Cuban-born Ugas heads into the fight as a last-minute replacement for Errol Spence, who had to drop out due to injury.

The Pacquiao vs. Ugas fight is an exclusive pay-per-view (PPV) event that you can stream on Fite.tv. Pricing for the Pacquiao vs. Ugas PPV is $74.99.

Buy:

Pacquiao vs.

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Pac Man is returning to the ring for the first time since defeating Keith Thurman in 2019. Filipino boxer-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao and Cuba’s Yordenis Ugás will fight for the Wba welterweight belt this weekend in one of the most highly-anticipated bouts of the year.

At 42, Pacquiao is the oldest welterweight champion in history, while Ugás (a.k.a. “54 Milagros”) is the last-minute replacement for Errol Spence Jr., who dropped out as a result of an eye ...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission.

Pac Man is returning to the ring for the first time since defeating Keith Thurman in 2019. Filipino boxer-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao and Cuba’s Yordenis Ugás will fight for the Wba welterweight belt this weekend in one of the most highly-anticipated bouts of the year.

At 42, Pacquiao is the oldest welterweight champion in history, while Ugás (a.k.a. “54 Milagros”) is the last-minute replacement for Errol Spence Jr., who dropped out as a result of an eye ...