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Horsegirl are riding back into town in 2025. The indie trio announced today that their second LP, Phonetics On and On, will be released on Feb. 14, 2025, via Matador Records. This is terrific news for anyone who likes unusual guitar tones and sneakily catchy DIY songcraft.

Formed when singer-guitarists Penelope Lowenstein and Nora Cheng and drummer Gigi Reece were all in their teens, Horsegirl quickly emerged as one of the most notable acts in a thriving Chicago underground that also includes bands like Lifeguard, Friko, and Twin Coast. Their debut LP, Versions of Modern Performance,...

Here are all the details about Ice Age 6 (Photo Credit – Instagram)

After what feels like an Ice Age of waiting, our favorite prehistoric crew is gearing up for another frosty adventure; you heard it right, Ice Age 6 has officially a release date. Disney is shaking things up by breaking the franchise’s usual spring and summer release by sliding into the winter slot previously reserved for an untitled Star Wars movie.

Now, fans can expect more hijinks from Manny, Sid, and Diego, in addition to Scrat’s struggle to score the elusive acorn in Ice Age 6. Well, it’s been long eight, chilly years since the last big-screen installment, and excitement is at the top.

Ice Age 6 Release Date

Ice Age 6 will be released on December 18, 2026, which means fans will see the trio—Manny, Sid, and Diego—once again after more than ten years.

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Disney hat einen für einen Start im Dezember 2026 geplanten „Star Wars“-Film vom Startplan genommen. Auf den frei gewordenen Termin wurde nun der erst in dieser Woche angekündigte sechste „Ice Age“-Teil gesetzt.

„Ice Age 6″ startet im Dezember 2026 in den Kinos (Credit: Disney)

Disney hat den erste in dieser Woche angekündigten „Ice Age 6“ für einen US-Kinostart am 18. Dezember 2026 eingeplant. Wie US-Branchenmedien berichten, hat das Studio dafür einen noch titellosen „Star Wars“-Film, dessen Start für diesen Tag nominiert war, vom Startplan genommen.

Über das Projekt hatten bis dato nur vage Informationen vorgelegen. So sollte Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy nach einem Drehbuch von Steven Knight Regie führen. Wie zuvor schon Damon Lindelof und Justin Britt-Gibson, die ursprünglich als Drehbuchautoren vorgesehen waren, stieg Knight im vor wenigen Wochen aus dem Projekt aus.

Als nächster „Star Wars“-Film wird Jon Favreaus „The Mandalorian and Grogu“ im Mai 2026 in die Kinos kommen.

In a surprising move, Disney has reshuffled its 2026 film schedule, replacing an untitled “Star Wars” movie with the next installment in the “Ice Age” franchise. Here’s what this change could mean for both iconic series.

Disney fans were surprised today when the company announced that an untitled “Star Wars” film, previously slated for release in December 2026, will no longer be part of the schedule. Instead, Disney is bringing “Ice Age 6” to the big screen, with the film set to debut on December 18, 2026.

“Ice Age 6” was only recently announced at D23 Brazil.

The Return of “Ice Age”

This marks the first theatrical “Ice Age” film since the closure of Blue Sky Studios, the original creators of the franchise. While Blue Sky was shut down in 2021, Disney’s 20th Century Animation will take the reins for this latest installment. Fans can expect to see beloved characters like Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie,...

The saga continues. To add to the constant confusion around the “Star Wars” franchise, Disney has removed an untitled “Star Wars” movie it had earmarked for a December 2026 release.

Disney has instead replaced it with…”Ice Age 6.” It now opens in theaters December 18, 2026.

No word on which of the seemingly dozens of potential “Star Wars” movies it was supposed to be in that release date. Still on the calendar for May 2026 is “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which will be the first big screen “Star Wars” movie since “The Rise of Skywalker” opened in 2019. Another “Star Wars” untitled movie still has a placeholder date for December 2027.

It was also reported that Simon Kinberg would be writing and producing a new trilogy of “Star Wars” films, so the advent of those could have thrown off the prior plans for any other standalone movies. Among those in the works is one directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (“Ms.

Disney has pulled the second Star Wars movie dated for December 18, 2026, off the calendar. We hear it wasn’t certain that one pertained to the continuing adventures of Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker.

Going in that spot is Ice Age 6, which was announced at D23 Brazil a week ago.

As Deadline first reported, Simon Kinberg is now developing a trilogy of Star Wars movies that he’ll produce with Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy. The trilogy will comprise Episodes 10-12 of The Skywalker Saga that began with George Lucas’ original 1977 film. Kinberg’s project is brewing alongside percolating Star Wars projects by James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi and Donald Glover.

There’s already a Star Wars movie in 2026 — that’s The Mandalorian & Grogu on May 22. It would have been to have two Star Wars movies opening in the same year, specifically within a six month-ish frame. Box office history...

Sixth time’s the charm for The Herd.

Disney and 20th Century Animation has unveiled that Ice Age 6 is now in production. The announcement was made during Disney’s D23 Brazil with a video featuring several of the original voice cast members Ray Romano, Queen Latifah and John Leguizamo. Denis Leary and Simon Pegg were also reported to return.

The hit animated series had been Blue Sky Studios’ flagship franchise, having accumulated $3.2 billion worldwide and skyrocketing the studio to success. The last Ice Age movie, Collision Course from 2016, gained a global gross of $408.5 million. Critical reception for the movies has been mixed, with Collision Course gaining an 18% Rotten Tomatoes score.

After Disney’s acquisition of Fox, which included Blue Sky, the studio made it a priority to expand the franchise. As a result, Disney released the spin-off The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, which was first conceived as a...

A sixth instalment of the Ice Age franchise – we’ll call it Ice Age 6 – is in development, with all the original cast returning! Sing hosannas.

Scrat the squirrel scrambling to cling on to his cherished acorn in the Ice Age films is one of the funniest running cinematic gags of the early 2000s. The sheer number of imaginative ways the writers and animators came up with to deny Scrat his prize was extremely impressive, with the set pieces gradually getting bigger in scale. They became a highlight of each film.

According to Deadline, a sixth Ice Age film is in development at Disney and 20th Century Animation.

The film seems to be moving forward at quite a pace too, with many of the original cast – Romano, Leguizamo, Latifah, Leary and Pegg – already signed on. (Read on to discover what all their first names are.)

There’s currently no writer or director attached.

It was in 2004 that the world was introduced to The Incredibles. Kids were readily drawn to the family of supes flexing their muscles. 2 decades later, the franchise is all set to release its third installment.

Disney animated flicks have proved timeless, with the sequels managing to retain the core fans who loved the prequel when they first hit the theatres, be it Toy Story, Inside Out or Cars. But the case might be different for Incredibles 3.

Disney confirms that Incredibles 3 is in the works The Incredibles are all set to return to action || Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures

Disney has had quite the experience when it comes to making movies which revolve around its old characters, be it Woody and his buddies, or the adventures of Manny & co. in Ice Age. They have proved timeless over the years.

Following in the footsteps of a template that has reaped...

Acht Jahre nach „Ice Age 5 – Kollision voraus!“ ist ein sechster Teil des Erfolgsfranchises in Arbeit.

Disney bereitet derzeit einen sechsten „Ice Age“-Teil vor (Credit: Disney)

Für „Ice Age“-Fans hat das Warten (bald) ein Ende. Wie Disney und 20th Century Animation jetzt bekannt gegeben haben, ist acht Jahre nach „Ice Age 5 – Kollision voraus!“ ein sechster Teil des erfolgreichen Franchises in Arbeit.

Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary und Simon Pegg, die zuletzt dem Mammut Manni, dem Faultier Sid, Mannis Frau Ellie, dem Säbelzahntiger Diego und dem Wiesel Buck im Original ihre Stimmen geliehen hatten, verkündeten in einem Video bei X, dass sie auch in Teil sechs wieder mit von der Partie sein werden.

Ein Starttermin für “Ice Age 6“ steht noch nicht fest.

Die bisherigen fünf Teile des Franchises haben zusammen am weltweiten Boxoffice gut 3,2 Mrd. Dollar eingespielt.

The Ice Age franchise has come a long way from a simple story about pre-historic animals. Over the years, the series has transformed into something better, turned from three characters to so many more. Changing animal bachelors into fathers, fans have grown alongside their characters.

A still from Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | Credit: 20th Century Fox

However, there is something to be said about knowing when enough is enough. Recently, it was announced that a sixth part coming from the series. Upon hearing this news, fans have a lot of feelings, with some bringing up the very first storyline that the series followed.

Ice Age 6—Historically Accurate or a Cash Grab?

The first Ice Age film came out in 2002, being a simple concept about three friends who try to aid a human child to help him find his family. Since then, a lot has changed for the franchise.

Calling all Ice Age fans!

The animated film franchise is returning with a new sequel, according to castmembers Ray Romano, Queen Latifah and John Leguizamo, who announced the news on Friday. The actors, who all lent their voices to previous films in the franchise, revealed that Ice Age 6 is in the works from Disney, in a video shown at D23 Brazil.

In the clip, which was shared on Disney’s social media accounts, Romano is shown shivering in winter clothes and a blanket as he says “Ray Romano here with some big news! Wow, it’s cold in here. Did the AC break or something?”

The video cuts to Latifah, who calls Romano and says, “Hey Ray, ready to give the big announcement? I see you got my gift. I thought it would be fun,” as snow begins to fall on the soundstage. Romano then reveals that “Ice Age 6 is coming to theaters.

It’s been nearly a decade since the last Ice Age movie, but Manny, Diego, Ellie, Sid, Scrat, and Baby Scrat are coming back for more. It was announced at D23 Brazil that Ice Age 6 is officially in production. Will Scrat finally get his acorn?

The audience at D23 Brazil was treated to a short video announcing Ice Age 6, with cast members Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Simon Pegg returning for the sequel. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but fans of the franchise will doubtlessly be thrilled at its return.

Just announced at #D23Brasil: Ice Age 6 is now in production! Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, and Simon Pegg are returning for an all-new big screen adventure. pic.twitter.com/b0lCN3tew5

— Disney (@Disney) November 8, 2024

Ice Age was Blue Sky Studios’ first movie. It was cheap to...

A sixth Ice Age is officially in the works!

On Friday (November 8), Disney revealed that they were developing a new movie in the franchise, which kicked off in 2002. The fifth movie – Ice Age: Collision Course – premiered in 2016.

Now, the series is being reinvigorated, and many stars are set to reprise their roles.

Keep reading to find out more…

According to reporting by Deadline, Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary and Simon Pegg are all back for the new movie, which was revealed during D23 Brazil.

A timeline for release has not been revealed yet, and it is not clear if the project will premiere in theaters on on Disney+. However, it “is currently being made.”

We will update you as we learn more.

Of course, this is not the first legacy project that Disney is reviving. A sequel to Moana is due in theaters later this month, and...

Updated: Disney and 20th Century Animation announced Friday at D23 Brazil that Ice Age 6 is happening. The sixthquel will get a theatrical release. The original franchise was created by Blue Sky Studios, which Disney acquired through the 20th Century Fox merger, later shuttering the Oscar-winning animation division.

Original castmembers Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary and Simon Pegg are returning. The pic is currently being made.

Through five movies, the Ice Age pics have grossed $3.2 billion worldwide, but like all franchises, the weight of gravity weighs down at the box office with each sequel. The most recent movie, 2016’s Ice Age: Collision Course, grossed $408.5 million globally.

There were various short pics and series starring a woolly mammoth, sloth, saber-toothed tiger and other pre-historic animals. There was also the 2022 spinoff The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild.

This Ice Age is the first pic in the franchise since Disney bought Blue Sky.

Fans of the Ice Age franchise can rejoice: the beloved animated series is making a comeback with Ice Age 6, which is currently in production, Disney and 20th Century Animation confirmed in a recent announcement. In a video shared with fans, Disney revealed that the familiar voices of Manny, Sid, Diego, and the rest of the herd will return for the new sequel. The voice cast will include Ray Romano…

Source...

Get ready to head back to the Pleistocene era!

Disney and 20th Century Animation announced Friday that “Ice Age 6” is in the works, which means that Manny, Sid, Diego and the rest of the herd will soon return to screens. In a video announcing the sequel, Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, and Simon Pegg, who have all led the voice cast of the family franchise, announced that they are coming back for a new adventure. The film is currently in production.

The last “Ice Age” film, “Collision Course,” opened in theaters in 2016, grossing $408.5 million globallly. It’s a franchise that’s had legs — the first film, “Ice Age,” bowed in 2002. There have also been several shorts and series featuring various woolly mammoths, ground sloths, saber-tooth tigers and other prehistoric creatures who populate the films, as well as a 2022 spin-off, “The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild.

Ready to enter a new “Ice Age?”

Disney has announced that a sixth “Ice Age” film, the first proper installment in the franchise since 2016’s “Ice Age: Collision Course,” will arrive in theaters in 2026. And what’s more, original cast members Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Queen Latifah are set to return. (It’s unclear if Denis Leary will be back; let us pray.)

The news comes out of D23 Brazil, the first South American version of the Disney fan convention that had previously been held at the Anaheim Convention Center across the street from Disneyland.

One of the most successful animated franchises in history, the series has amassed more than $6 billion over those original five movies.

One of the bigger question marks surrounding a sixth “Ice Age” is who will be animating the feature. Famously, the earlier films were done by Blue Sky Studios, an animation studio in Greenwich,...

Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro’s CG-animated family feature “Night of the Zoopocalypse” is making its market premiere at this year’s AFM, co-represented globally by Anton and Charades.

Viva Pictures handles distribution in the U.S. and will release the film on March 7, 2025. Elevation Pictures will release the film next year in Canada, and Apollo Films will release it in France.

In the incandescent family horror comedy, a meteor unleashes an alien virus that transforms the animals of Colepepper Zoo into slobbering zombie mutants. Featuring all the trademarks of the zombie genre, “Zoopocalypse” is expertly animated and features sharp, entirely original character designs. Artists working on the film use clever lighting and the fog associated with low-budget horror films to elevate the film’s aesthetic far beyond traditional indie CG fare.

“Zoopocalypse” stars David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall...

"Lost Verizon" is a very 2008-style "Simpsons" episode. It takes place during that period where cell phones were becoming the norm, even among kids Bart's age, and bases its first act around Bart trying (and eventually succeeding) to get his hands on one. The fact that the cell phone's a flip phone immediately dates the episode, which is a shame because flip phones were very cool in the 2000s, and they allowed you to hang up angrily with dramatic, cinematic gusto. Nevertheless, the episode's main storyline ages perfectly: It's about Marge deciding to use Bart's phone to track his every move, a prescient commentary on the way cell phones have restricted kids' privacy despite their original promise of freedom.

But before "Lost Verizon" can deal with all of that, it must first introduce us to Denis Leary, the famous Massachusetts actor from "Rescue Me" and "Ice Age." Leary shows up at the Springfield golf course,...

The Producers Guild of America is honoring Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination, with the 2025 David O. Selznick Achievement Award for his “extraordinary producing accomplishments.” Melendandri is the second animation producer to receive this recognition in the 36 years the awards have been running. The ceremony will take place at the annual Producers Guild Awards on Feb. 8 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Meledandri founded Illumination Studios in 2007. Before then, he was president of 20th Century Fox Animation. His credits include “Despicable Me,” “The Lorax,” “Hop,” “Minions,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Sing,” “The Grinch,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Ice Age” and more.

“The extraordinary vision and innovation Chris brings to animated feature films has not only captivated audiences of all ages but also been instrumental in reshaping the entertainment landscape,” said Producers Guild of America Presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Allain in a joint statement.

Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri is set to receive the Producers Guild of America’s David O. Selznick Achievement Award.

Meledandri will be honored at the 2025 PGA Awards, set for Feb. 8 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The boss of the animation company behind the Despicable Me franchise is only the second animation producer to receive the Selznick Award after John Lasseter received the honor in 2009.

Earlier recipients of the David O. Selznick Award also include Steven Spielberg, Barbara Broccoli, Mary Parent, Charles Roven, Brian Grazer, David Heyman, Kevin Feige and, most recently, Martin Scorsese. Meledandri, who launched Illumination in 2007, in a statement paid tribute to the filmmakers that came before him and paved the way for his own career.

“Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to work with legendary filmmakers who taught me the intricacies of storytelling, production and connecting with an audience. Their...

Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of animation powerhouse Illumination, is set to receive the David O. Selznick Achievement Award at the 36th Annual Producers Guild Awards, taking place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 8.

The PGA’s Selznick Achievement Award recognizes a producer for their outstanding body of work in motion pictures, and with his recognition this season, Meledrandi will become just the second animation producer ever to receive the honor. Past recipients include such legendary producers as Steven Spielberg, Barbara Broccoli, Mary Parent, Charles Roven, Brian Grazer, David Heyman, Kevin Feige, and most recently Martin Scorsese.

Reflected PGA Presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Allain in a joint statement, “The extraordinary vision and innovation Chris brings to animated feature films has not only captivated audiences of all ages but also been instrumental in reshaping the entertainment landscape. His hands-on, meticulous approach to producing has...

“Night of the Zoopocalypse,” the spooky animated family comedy featuring the voices of David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”) and Gabbi Kosmidis (“Unicorn Academy”) has been picked up by Viva Pictures for the U.S. The deal was brokered with Charades and Anton, who were handling sales, ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Sitges Film Festival on Oct. 6.

“Night of the Zoopocalypse” will be released across North America on March 7, 2025. Elevation Pictures will distribute theatrically in Canada.

Inspired by a concept from best-selling genre author Clive Barker (“The Thief of Always”), the film sees a meteor unleash a virus that turns zoo animals into mutants. A mountain lion (Harbour) and wolf (Kosmidis) must lead a team of surviving animals to stop the virus and rescue their zoo.

The film was directed by veteran animators Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro.

Ben Affleck was never encouraged to become a full-time actor despite deeply admiring the world of arts and theater. The actor’s mother wanted him to become a teacher. Either way, she allowed Ben and his brother Casey to explore the entertainment field.

But when Affleck developed a bond with Matt Damon, things began taking a serious turn. Between the ages of 8-15, Affleck starred in children’s shows produced by PBS and ABC, casting him to play roles in Wanted: A Perfect Man and Hands of a Stranger.

Ben Affleck in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) | Credits: Mutant Enemy Productions

In 1990, he graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Between 1991 and 1995, Affleck would take on minor roles in movies, most notably Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992).

In the meantime, Affleck and Damon had something brewing between themselves, the script of Good Will Hunting. What initially was supposed to be Damon’s...

Attention: The Following Report Is A Rumor. Please Take The Following Story With A Grain Of Salt.

Three years after its shutdown, the legacy of BlueSky Studios is somewhat being forgotten within the animation community. Originally the successor to the defunct Fox Animation Studios, BlueSky Studios was one of the earliest companies to work with 3D animation. Founded in 1987, they worked on multiple commercials and short films. They made movies like Robots, Epic, the Rio series, and The Peanuts Movie. But perhaps they were best known for the Ice Age series.

From 2002 – 2016, the Ice Age series consisted of five theatrical films with over $3.2 Billion in profit, making it one of the most successful animated movie franchises of all time.

The series technically finished with the fifth film, Collision Course, when it performed far lower than previous entries.

However, the original series ended when Disney acquired BlueSky’s parent company, 20th Century Fox,...

One of the most underrated classics in animation history has to be the Ice Age films. Despite its impact on pop culture, the millions of dollars it made Fox, or the multi-film saga that spanned over the years, it is constantly counted out time and time again. In the face of the massive and flashy productions of Disney, this series was more grounded in reality, so much so that it had talking animals.

A still from Ice Age | Credit: 20th Century Fox

However, it was not an easy task for the creators of the movie to get it made. With conversations about a sixth part being in the works, let’s take a look back at how the first film got greenlit in the first place. During an interview, the director of the film talked about how he was able to get it approved by the studio.

Fox Had One...

Hank Steinberg, a veteran writer and producer who created CBS’ “Without a Trace,” TNT’s “The Last Ship” and ABC’s “For Life,” has entered into a broadcast direct deal with Fox Entertainment.

Under the terms of the pact, Steinberg will develop new, Fox-owned scripted dramas for the network. He currently executive produces “Doc,” an upcoming medical drama based on the globally acclaimed Italian series, “Doc – Nelle tue mani” that will debut in Fox’s midseason lineup.

The series, which stars Molly Parker, follows Westside Hospital’s chief of internal and family medicine Dr. Amy Larsen, who must navigate an unfamiliar world after a brain injury erases the last eight years of her life, leaving her with no recollection of patients she’s treated, colleagues she’s crossed, the soulmate she divorced, the man she now loves and the tragedy that caused her to push everyone away. She can...

Because of its current dominance in the world of kiddie entertainment, it may take a moment's reflection to recall that Chris Renaud's and Pierre Coffin's 2010 animated film "Despicable Me" once felt the slightest bit subversive. The main character of "Despicable Me" was the Eastern European supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) who aimed to commit visible acts of spiteful villainy. His latest plan was to steal the moon out of the sky, merely for the infamy it would garner him. 

"Despicable Me" takes place in a world that's overrun by villains, thieves, and superpowered monster people, but is seemingly absent of heroes. It won't be until later sequels that a crime-fighting Mi-6-type organization would come into play. Later still, Gru would renounce his villainy and become a dippy suburban dad to a trio of precocious girls. In "Despicable Me 4," Gru also has a wife and an infant son.

Iceage lead singer Elias Rønnenfelt is set to release his first album under his given name. Titled Heavy Glory, it’s out October 25th via Escho and features the new single, “No One Else.” Stream it below.

Work on the new album began in the spring of 2022, when Rønnenfelt announced he would play shows anywhere in Europe because he was “sick and tired of not being able to do what I do” during the tail end of the pandemic. While on the road, he would write new songs and play them the next day.

Rønnenfelt later recorded Heavy Glory in Copenhagen, sharing co-producer duties with longtime collaborator Nis Bysted. Danish punk veteran Peter Peter and singers Fauzia and Joanne Robertson contributed to the album.

The acoustic guitar-driven “No One Else” is a wistful, contemplative tune in which Rønnenfelt laments a missed romantic connection: “I’m taking sleeping pills to shut...

Mitzi McCall, the trailblazing comedian, actress and half of the comedy duo McCall and Brill, died Thursday in Burbank. She was 93.

Born on Sept. 9, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her comedic talents were evident early in life, leading to a distinguished career that spanned over seven decades. She emerged as a prominent voice in the male-dominated comedy world, paving the way for future generations of female comedians.

McCall’s legacy is perhaps most enduringly marked by her work with her husband, actor and comedian Charlie Brill, as part of the comedy duo “McCall and Brill.” The pair became television staples, gracing numerous variety shows, including a memorable appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” during The Beatles’ American debut in 1964 — a moment that has since become television history.

Mitzi’s career began in the late 1940s with a stage debut at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in “Strange Bedfellows” in 1948. In the early 1950s, she...

Comedian and actress Mitzi McCall of comedy duo McCall and Brill died Thursday at 93 years old, according to a statement from her representative. She died in Burbank at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, surrounded by loved ones.

McCall began in the 1950s and made a name for herself on the comedy scene. She was best known for her work as a team with her husband, Charlie Brill. They became mainstays on the era’s variety shows, including “The Ed Sullivan Show” — and were even on the episodes where The Beatles made their American debut.

“Mitzi McCall’s life was a testament to the power of laughter, and her influence on the world of comedy will be remembered for years to come,” the statement from her representative reads. “Her legacy will live on through the countless laughs she inspired and the doors she opened for future generations.”

She appeared on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In...

Mitzi McCall, the delightful actress and sitcom writer who partnered with her husband, Charlie Brill, in a sketch comedy act that famously floundered between sets by The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, has died. She was 93.

McCall died Thursday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, her family announced.

The pint-sized Pittsburgh native also played the dry cleaner’s wife who wears a fur coat owned by Jerry’s mom on the 1994 Seinfeld episode “The Secretary,” and she was the mother of Carol Leifer’s optometrist character on the 1997-98 WB sitcom Alright Already.

McCall had a thriving career as a voiceover artist; she played Mother Goose on Mother Goose and Grimm and worked on other animated projects including The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, Paw Paws, Darkwing Duck, Yo Yogi! and Ice Age (2002).

And she wrote for shows including 13 Queens Boulevard, Eight Is Enough, One Day at a Time,...

Apple TV+ subscribers have been enjoying the fantasy adventure Time Bandits. The series premiered earlier this summer and the finale is quickly approaching. When is the last episode of Taika Waititi co-created series? We share everything you need to know so you don’t miss out!

Time Bandits premiered on Apple TV+ on July 24, dropping the first two episodes. The series is based on the 1981 movie of the same name, which was directed by Terry Gilliam. The movie starred John Cleese, Sean Connery, Katherine Helmond, and others. If you’re interested in watching the movie the Apple TV+ series is based on, it is streaming on Max and Prime Video.

It is not necessary to watch the movie, but it is a lot of fun. I also enjoyed comparing and admiring just how much has changed thanks to new, modern technology. Not to mention, the Apple TV+ series features a fun,...

Comedy animation Harold And The Purple Crayon heads the new releases at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, opening in 595 cinemas through Sony.

The live-action/animation fantasy comedy is adapted from Crockett Johnson’s 1955 children’s book of the same name, with the film serving as a sequel to the book.

Harold And The Purple Crayon follows a character in a book who can make anything come to life by drawing it; and who draws himself off the book’s pages and into the physical world.

Zachary Levi leads the cast, which also includes Lil Rel Howery, Zooey Deschanel, Jemaine Clement,...

The dog days of summer have arrived, but as we wind down the summer of 2024, movie theaters are already looking to the spookiest month of all: October. This August, studios are doubling down on horror with new movies from M. Night Shyamalan and a biopic about Ronald Reagan starring Dennis Quaid.

Crockett Johnson’s classic children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon has enchanted generations with its lyrical simplicity. Readers of all ages gravitate to the playful wonder of a young boy creating entire worlds with just a colorful writing utensil and his fertile mind. Filled with hand-drawn illustrations that beautifully capture the joy and innocence of early childhood, it’s easy to understand why filmmakers have long dreamed of bringing Harold’s story to the screen.

However, transferring such a minimalist children’s tale to a big-budget live-action/animation hybrid proved creatively challenging. Multiple directors took a stab at an adaptation over the decades, including celebrated talents like Maurice Sendak and Spike Jonze. Their visionary approaches likely would have remained true to the original’s spirit of unfettered imagination. But compromises had to be made for this to reach audiences at the box office.

Enter veteran animator Carlos Saldanha,...

After two fantastic months at the summer box office, things are looking to slow down for August, although we have a few more weeks before the official “Dog Days of Summer.” Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

Before we get to the new movies out this weekend, we need to address Marvel’s “Deadpool and Wolverine” and how it might fare in its second weekend after setting all sorts of R-rated records last weekend. With $38.5 million of its $211 opening weekend coming from Thursday previews, we have to expect a decent-sized drop, but barring a 64%+ drop, which is doubtful, it should be able to bring in over $75 million in its second weekend.

Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan is back with his 16th movie, the high-concept thriller “Trap,” starring Josh Hartnett as a father who brings his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert by pop star Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan...

The problem with adapting books written for tiny children is that there’s typically no real plot to work with — and what there is, by definition, is meant to last about five minutes right before goodnight kisses and sleepy time. Adapting this Crockett Johnson classic from 1955 therefore involves taking all sorts of liberties, and only a handful of them pay off for director Carlos Saldanha (the Ice Age movies) and his stars.

In fact, this film races through the original book about a boy who can draw anything and make it come to life in a charming opening scene, and then goes off on its own adventure. Zachary Levi voices a grown Harold, who is still hanging out in a purple world with his friends Moose (Lil Rel Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds) when the voice of his narrator (Alfred Molina) goes suddenly silent. Harold resolves to find him, and...

Growing up, I loved the children’s novel “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” So when the Hollywood film version came along, you’d better believe I was primed. Like the book, the movie was about a family with a father who builds a magical flying car. But any similarity ended there. The book’s tone was cool and dry and deadpan irreverent — the author, after all, was Ian Fleming of James Bond fame — but the movie was a wacked piece of ersatz-Disney musical kitsch. Fleming’s debonair absurdist saga of gangsters and hair’s-breadth escapes was replaced by a broad fairy tale featuring a kidnapper called the Child Catcher. Watching the movie, I kept wondering when the real story — the one I’d loved — would start; somehow, it never did. What happened to it? By the time the movie was over, I had suffered the 9-year-old’s once-upon-a-time equivalent of Ptsd.

Zooey Deschanel says she remembers the late actor and comedian Bob Newhart as “kind and generous” from her time working with him on “Elf.” Newhart died July 18, and the pair worked on the 2003 Christmas movie alongside Will Ferrell and James Caan.

“I always say the best actors are very generous people,” Deschanel told Variety on the purple carpet at Sunday’s premiere of “Harold and the Purple Crayon” at The Culver Theater in Culver City. “He was really such a kind and generous man and so funny, but not wrapped up in himself or anything. He was just kind, and sweet and wonderful to work with.”

Although Ferrell recently said Caan didn’t enjoy his performance as Buddy the Elf on set until he saw the final cut of the film and called him “not funny,” Deschanel said she “probably wasn’t there for that part,” as they usually weren...

People just love the Minions. With "Despicable Me 4" continuing to tear it up at the global box office, the franchise has crossed a major milestone, making a bit of history in the process. Illumination's signature series of films has now collectively crossed the $5 billion mark worldwide, making it the first animated franchise in history to do so. What's more, if things continue to go the way they're going, that number will be $6 billion and counting in just a few years.

"Despicable Me 4" once again topped the charts over the weekend, pulling in $44.6 million domestically in its second weekend. That represents just a 40% drop week-to-week following the sequel's record-setting opening weekend. Internationally, Gru and the Minions held strong as well, pulling in another $87.9 million from overseas markets. That puts the movie's running total at $437.8 million worldwide, with a lot of gas left in the tank. More importantly, it was...

Exclusive: Natalie Bjelajac has been set as Netflix’s new VP of U.S. publicity, events and publishing. Bjelajac joined Netflix 6 1/2 years ago. Before that she was at Fox for 10 years and Sony Entertainment for six years. She began her career in personal publicity at Bwr.

Campaigns she has played a big part of at Netflix over the years have included Don’t Look Up, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Damsel, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Hit Man. At Fox, she worked on The Martian, Avatar, the Planet of the Apes franchise and several Ice Age films. At Sony, she worked on campaigns from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace to The Da Vinci Code.

Bjelajac has been nominated for the Les Mason Award for Career Achievement in Publicity by the Icg Publicists the past two years.

“I am thrilled that Natalie will now be leading our publicity,...

Sustaining the magic of a franchise is not an easy feat for filmmakers and producers, especially in the ever-evolving and competitive landscape of Hollywood. But few film series like the Despicable Me franchise are doing wonders, even after being animated films with a compact audience base.

Gru (Steve Carell) and Gru Jr. in Chris Renaudʼs Despicable Me 4 | Universal Studios, Illumination

Therefore, after releasing their fourth installment recently, the Despicable Me 4 director offered an intriguing update about the future of the franchise. During a recent Variety interview, filmmaker Chris Renaud stated the possibility of another sequel, after the whirlwind opening for Illumination’s latest.

Despicable Me 4 Director Hinted at Another Potential Sequel

Following the iconic opening for Illumination’s latest installment Despicable Me 4, filmmaker Chris Renaud sat for an interview with Variety. Addressing the franchise’s roots in France, especially after introducing a French villain in the latest sequel,...

Actors Seann William Scott, Tara Reid, and more had their breakout roles in the teen comedy American Pie. Following the lives of a group of seniors in high school who hoped to lose their virginity before college, the raunchy teen comedy became a global phenomenon and spawned a $900 million franchise.

However, the actors who starred in the films have had varying degrees of success. While actors like Seann William Scott have continued to work frequently as actors, others such as Natasha Lyonne have gone to work behind the camera as well. On its 25th anniversary, here is where the stars of American Pie are after gaining fame with the s*x comedy franchise.

Where Are the American Pie Stars After 25 Years? The cast of the original American Pie films | Credits: Universal Pictures

American Pie became a global phenomenon and became an anthem of sorts to awkward teens of the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

“100 Days,” a buzzy Brazilian project Variety first unveiled in 2021, will begin shooting next month, led by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Carlos Saldanha.

Up-and-comer Filipe Bragança will topline the film’s cast, joined by Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, who will also produce.

“100 Days” is billed as an adventure drama for family audiences. It will tell the extraordinary but true story of Brazilian Amyr Klink, who, in 1984, at the age of 29, became the first person to cross the South Atlantic in a rowing boat after many had died in the attempt.

Amyr Klink, Filipe Bragança,

Said Saldanha, “I’m so excited to be able to tell this incredible story about this Brazilian hero to the world. I’m so happy to have this amazing cast, both Brazilian and international. Filipe Bragança as Amyr and Philippine, as the mother of Amyr, will bring the perfect depth and heart to this incredible true story.”

Echoing a similar sentiment,...

Since Selena Gomez confirmed that she was dating Benny Blanco, it has sparked a wave of online uproar from fans but not because of their relationship dynamics. Blanco has come under fire from her fans following his outward appearance, as some netizens stressed that he’s not good-looking enough to be engaged with the I Can’t Get Enough singer.

As for Blanco, it seems he hasn’t let the backlash get under his skin, but once again his looks came under heavy fire during his appearance on Whiskey Ginger with Andrew Santino.

Calling Himself Hot Didn’t End Well for Benny Blanco

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco | Credit: Ig/selenagomez

Joining comedian Andrew Santino in his podcast, Benny Blanco recalled that he believed he was so ugly and his features were so grotesque but he popped out of the other side as a hot guy.

I believe that, like,...

An adorable black cat with luminous amber eyes fends for itself in “Flow,” snatching a fish from a pack of distracted mutts and dashing off with its loot while the dogs chase just a few seconds behind. Visionary animator Gints Zilbalodis’ virtual camera swoops after the cat, revealing a crisp, computer-generated world where humans are oddly absent, but their influence can be acutely felt.

Perhaps that explains what happens next, as a near-biblical flood of water — which may well be the result of human-made climate change, though Zilbalodis never specifies — brings a herd of wild animals stampeding in its direction. The cat’s ears flatten, and it crouches low to the ground, much like the Lion King did in that film’s iconic wildebeest scene, as a giant wave comes thundering after the deer. Seconds later, the forest is underwater, and the cat is desperately trying to stay afloat.

This...

We’re not making this true story up: “Baby Reindeer” has officially booted “The Witcher” from Netflix’s Most Popular TV (English) list.

The Richard Gadd limited series has amassed 84.5 million views globally since its release on April 11. Season 1 of “The Witcher” snagged 83 million views over its first 91 days of availability, which is Netflix’s cutoff for the all-time Top 10 list. “Baby Reindeer” has about a month left, so expect it to climb higher in the ranks. “Bridgerton: Season 2,” “Stranger Things 3,” “Fool Me Once,” and “The Night Agent”: Donny and Martha are coming for you.

Yet “Baby Reindeer” is no longer making Netflix’s weekly Top 10. Just last week it spent its eighth week on the Top 10 weekly list, clocking in at No. 10, while “Bridgerton: Season 2” has spent a whopping 19 weeks in the Top 10 as the third season of “Bridgerton” has inspired a lot of rewatches.

On the film side,...

Actor John Leguizamo is known for playing Aurelio, the chopshop owner in Keanu Reeves’ John Wick. The actor has a legacy of over thirty years in the industry and has featured in films such as Super Mario Bros., Die Hard 2, Summer of Sam, Ice Age, and more. The actor has also had a prolific career on stage.

Leguizamo recently took out a front-page ad in The New York Times and wrote an open letter to the TV Academy, urging them to consider more non-white actors to be nominated for the Primetime Emmys this year. The awards show honoring the talent in television has been known for its diversity but has recently been accused of whitewashing.

John Wick Star Urges TV Academy To Stop Whitewashing Award Shows A still from John Wick | Credits: Thunder Road Pictures/87Eleven Productions/Mjw Films/DefyNite Films

Tony-award nominated actor John Leguizamo recently took...