News

Experience

A “Friends”-themed exhibition and experience is setting up home permanently in London. Inspired by the iconic sitcom, The Friends Experience is set to open in a purpose-built location at London’s ExCel center this summer ahead of the show’s 30th anniversary this year.

The experience features full-scale recreations of the show’s sets, from Monica and Rachel’s apartment to the infamous “Pivot!” scene complete with couch, as well as costumes, backdrops, props and memorabilia. Guests can recreate some of their favorite on-screen moments and enjoy themed food and drinks as well as exclusive merch.

It has been created by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, Original X Productions and Warner Bros. Television Group and is operated by U.K.-based The Luna Entertainment Group. Tickets can be purchased at www.FriendsTheExperience.com/London.

Homecoming

Philippines-born filmmaker Isabel Sandoval (Venice title “Lingua Franca”) has wrapped principal photography on her new film “Moonglow.

Japanese actor Ken Takakura, a veteran of more than 200 films who became famous by starring in popular yakuza gangster movies and then aged into an actor who personified the strength and dignity of his country, has died. According to the Associated Press, the 83-year-old suffered from lymphoma and died in Tokyo on Nov. 10. Because of that career arc—evolving from action outlaw to stoic authority figure—Takakura was often compared to Clint Eastwood. He stumbled into the movie industry, plucked from a random audition to star in his 1956 debut, Denko Karate Uchi (Lightning Karate Blow) and quickly became a yakuza-film star,...

Word has just come over the news wires in Tokyo that legendary Japanese actor Takakura Ken has died. Probably most recognisable to Western audiences for his role as an Osaka cop assigned to babysit Michael Douglas in Ridley Scott's 1989 flick Black Rain, Takakura had a career spanning close to 50 years in Japan, creating numerous legendary screen characters and appearing nearly 150 films.Born Oda Goichi, Takakura became famous for his brooding, stoic portrayals of yakuza, samurai and detectives. Among his most famous films are Brutal Tales of Chivalry (Showa Zankyo-den, 1965), Abashiri Prison (Abashiri Bangaichi, 1965) and Too Late The Hero (1970). He worked with Yamada Yoji in 1977's brilliant road movie The Yellow Handkerchief, as well as in big budget action films such...

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