LADY GAGA Intense in First TRAILER for MGM’s “HOUSE OF GUCCI”

 

Few are the dedicated singing and recording artists who can convincingly make the break into acting. In recent years, one of the surprise stories in this vein is that of Lady Gaga. Her role as an aspiring singer mentored by a troubled country music star in Warner Bros.’ “A Star is Born” (2018) was positively received. Audiences were captivated by Gaga assuming a characterization somewhat removed from her “Mother Monster” image, and were convinced that she could go for it again. And so it is that Gaga is starring in a film by MGM, but as a flamboyant character with similarities to her iconic stage persona and a murderous streak.

Lady Gaga is one of the lead stars for “House of Gucci,” a film directed by versatile filmmaker Ridley Scott for MGM. Its first trailer was released this past Thursday, July 29 according to Entertainment Weekly. This crime biopic will depict the dramatic 1995 assassination of Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), then head of the Gucci fashion house in Italy, under orders from his bitter ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani, who will be played by Lady Gaga. Say goodbye to the earnest Alley that she was in “A Star is Born.” As Reggiani, Gaga is a believable monster.

The cast, as can be seen in the trailer marquees, is a veritable ensemble of Academy Award winners and nominees, with Gaga and Driver respectively being just the first. Jared Leto flexes his character acting chops anew as Maurizo’s uncle Paolo Gucci, the family label’s former design boss. The rest of the Gucci clan is ably represented by Al Pacino (Aldo) and Jeremy Irons (Rodolfo). Other notables include Jack Huston as former Gucci president and CEO Domenico de Sole, and Salma Hayek as Guiseppina Auriemma.

The “House of Gucci” trailer frames a tale of love formed and lost, of how a marriage between Maurizio and Patrizia would deteriorate as the latter jockeys for influence over the former from the rest of his powerful fashion family the House of Gucci, culminating in their divorce and her eventual masterminding of her ex-husband’s murder. It also follows Gucci’s journey from family business to a mere luxury brand subsidiary. The film will be released this coming November 24, by United Artists Releasing in the US and Universal Pictures internationally.

Image courtesy of IndieWire

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JK SIMMONS Playing COMMISSIONER GORDON Again for WARNER-DC, HBO MAX’s “BATGIRL”

 

In superhero films, we tend to see an actor or actress cast as a certain character to be “locked” to that role, but that has never been ironclad. Take Chris Evans, introduced in the genre as the goofball Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20^th Century Fox’s “Fantastic Four” (2005), only to break out as Captain America in the MCU. Next we have JK Simmons, iconic for playing J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy for Sony-Columbia, the reprising as an alternate version for the MCU. Before that, he played Commissioner Gordon in Warner-DC’s “Justice League” (2017). And now he is coming back as the top cop of Gotham for “Batgirl.”

Deadline has it that Warner Bros. Pictures is in talks with JK Simmons to join the cast of their upcoming HBO Max movie exclusive “Batgirl,” as Commissioner Jim Gordon of the Gotham Police. His is definitely a key role for the movie considering his character is the father of the main character, to be portrayed by Leslie Grace. The actress herself was confirmed to star just last week, in what could be her next big gig after Warner’s cinematic adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights,” which premiered last month.

The “Batgirl” project will likely see Simmons carrying the Commissioner Gordon role for a good majority of the narrative, not like the one-scene cameo he got from “Justice League” (original and Snyder cuts). Gordon after all has been the archetypal friend on the force, the highest police authority to provide information and assistance to Batman in his crusade against Gotham City crime. And the dynamics of his relationship with daughter Barbara, who secretly joins Batman as Batgirl or Oracle (depending on comics continuity) is one of the major potential problem flashpoints in a “Bat-Family” adventure.

While appearing briefly in “Justice League,” JK Simmons was brought into the project by original director Zack Snyder, with a provision to reprise the Commissioner Gordon role in at least two more films within the DCEU franchise. Elsewhere, he portrayed the father of Chris Pratt’s lead character in Amazon Studios’ original film “The Tomorrow War,” and might possibly return as J. Jonah Jameson in the MCU’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

Warner-DC’s “Batgirl” on HBO Max will be co-directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, with Kristin Burr producing from a screenplay by Christina Hodson (2020’s “Birds of Prey” and “The Flash on The CW).

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MANG INASAL Introduces CHICKEN OIL in 250g POUCH, READY-TO-COOK Chicken; Available for TAKEOUT and FOODPANDA

 

Those who have eaten chicken from Mang Inasal would know: their servings of inasal-style barbecued chicken (and pork, etc.) comes with generous helping of chicken oil, that golden-colored garnishing grease that when applied to the meat gives it a glossy savoriness that is equal parts appetizing and queasy. When customers were forced to do more takeout in the wake of the COVID pandemic, their orders might be provided with a few sachets of soy sauce and chicken oil. For those who have developed a taste for it, that may not be enough. Good thing Mang Inasal has got you covered.

As The Manila Bulletin puts it, Mang Inasal has taken the chicken oil aficionados into consideration when developing their newest product offering. It is…Mang Inasal’s famous chicken oil in a pouch, 250 grams of golden greasy flavor with a re-sealable cap. That is no joke; the barbecue fast food chain (one of many under the Jollibee Foods banner, in case you forget) just announced their chicken oil pouch on their social media this past Thursday, July 29. If your order of Mang Inasal Family Size chicken batch is too much for just any old chicken oil sachet add-on, this item would solve your garnishing problems.

But do not think a pouch of chicken oil is the only new thing on Mang Inasal’s takeout menu. Well, this is not exactly new, as last year during the height of the pandemic lockdown some Inasal branches began offering takeout ready-to-cook chicken. They are apparently reintroducing that package once more. And where originally the RTC Chicken Inasal came with only sachets of chicken oil, this one gets the 250g pouch mentioned above. What more can you ask if you are a Mang Inasal foodie?

Mang Inasal’s Chicken Oil in a 250g pouch can be order for restaurant takeout or Foodpanda delivery, at a suggested price of P99, although that may vary depending on which Inasal branch in the country you are ordering from. The Ready-to-Cook chicken also has a varying price somewhere in the suggested retail neighborhood of P360.

Image courtesy of Abante TNT

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JODIE WHITTAKER, Executive Producer CHRIS CHIBNALL Leaving BBC’s “DOCTOR WHO” After SERIES 13 and 2022 SPECIALS

 

Way back in 2018, BBC One shook up the fan base of one of the longest-running British sci-fi franchises by announcing that the nigh-immortal Time Lord called the Doctor, will “regenerate” into a female form for the 11^th series in the revival of “Doctor Who.” In context, previous Doctor actor Peter Capaldi passed the torch to actress Jodie Whittaker, the current “13^th Doctor” who has travelled from one adventure to another aboard her TARDIS for three series under a new creative team. However, after the present 13^th series concludes so will Whittaker’s time headlining “Doctor Who.” But there are still some specials airing next year.

BBC tells us that Jodie Whittaker is now sure to retire from the role of the titular Doctor from BBC One’s “Doctor Who” after completing the post-series specials that will follow the conclusion of the current show. Leaving with her from the production is current executive producer Chris Chibnall, who replaced Steven Moffatt in 2018 in time for production of the 11^th series with Whittaker. The two apparently have an informal agreement to exit the long-running show at the same time, and the network confirmed as such Thursday, July 29.

In interview, Chibnall notes that he had a “once-in-a-lifetime blast” working on “Doctor Who” with Whittaker in the role, although they also promised each other “three series and out.” In his words, the EP remarked, "So now our shift is done, and we’re handing back the TARDIS keys." It was Chibnall who made the last push to recast the Time Lord as a female, and he described Whittaker’s casting as exceeding all expectations. “[Jodie] captured the public imagination and continues to inspire adoration around the world, as well as from everyone on the production,” adds Chibnall. “I can’t imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I’m not going to!”

In the “Doctor Who” main character’s regeneration as characterized by Jodie Whittaker, the time-and-space-travelling alien was portrayed as being light-hearted, with a more pronounced inventive streak, highly valuing her friendship with her various human companions aboard the TARDIS, and prioritizing non-violent solutions to most problems. The actress herself has begun to make her farewells to the fandom saying, "I know change can be scary and none of us know what’s out there. That’s why we keep looking. Travel Hopefully. The Universe will surprise you. Constantly."

“Doctor Who” series 13, the third and final series featuring the 13^th Doctor, will premiere on BBC UK and BBC America sometime later this year. It will carry on through to 2022, to be followed by the specials which would, in keeping with tradition, conclude with the Doctor regenerating to a new, yet undecided, actor.

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METRO MANILA Ramps Up GCQ Restrictions Ahead of AUGUST 6 ECQ

 

In the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, there are times when it seems that all progress takes a step forward, before moving two or even three steps back. The gradual loosening of extra restrictions on top of the General Community Quarantine over Metro Manila this month alone was initially held up as a ray of hope. But health experts warned on the coming of the dreaded Delta variant of COVID from overseas, which has over 100 cases in the Philippines now. Small wonder then that heightened restrictions have returned to the National Capital Region, ahead of going back to Enhanced Community Quarantine next month.

CNN Philippines reports that heightened additional restrictions have been put back on the original GCQ status for Metro Manila. It will last until next week on August 5. ECQ status will kick back in the following day, August 6, and will continue until the 20^th of the month. This was the official policy pushed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19, as announced this Friday, July 30, by Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. The IATF’s position was prevailed upon by the Mayors of the constituents of the NCR which met with them the day before.

The specifics of the IATF Resolution 130-A have it thus: this Friday is the last day for outdoor dining for a time, as it will be prohibited again starting Saturday, July 31, under the heightened GCQ restrictions. No indoor sports venues and tourist attractions will be allowed to operate; the same goes for Department of Tourism specialized marketplaces. Personal care services and outdoor tourist spots are dialed back to 30% max capacity. Religious gatherings are strictly virtual again. And while public transport will be unaffected, only authorized persons (APORs) will be allowed to travel out of the NCR Plus bubble.

Once Enhanced Community Quarantine returns in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, affected families will be able to avail of social amelioration according to the NCR Mayors, plus an additional 4 million doses of COVID vaccine prioritized for the bubble. It is here that Sec. Roque notes some divergences with the Mayors’ wishes, in that only 2 million new vaccine doses are guaranteed earmarked for Metro Manila, and that the national government may not have enough funds to add to the cities’ “ayuda” for those affected by the impending ECQ lockdown.

At the latest, Quezon City in Metro Manila has returned to be the top COVID hotspot in the country, the last time of which it peaked was back in May. As of Thursday, there are now 216 cases of Delta variant COVID throughout the Philippines.

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SCARLETT JOHANSSON, DISNEY in LAWSUIT Battle Over “BLACK WIDOW” Release

 

It took a good long while, but earlier this month what should have been the opening shot of Phase 4 of the MCU franchise was released. “Black Widow,” an interquel starring Scarlett Johansson as super-spy Natasha Romanov, premiered simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access streaming. While its opening weekend was solid as far as mid-pandemic cinema releases go, over the next few weeks the film’s box office tanked compared to the premieres of newer movies, and opinions point to the streaming premiere eating into moviegoers’ share. Lead star Johansson seems to agree with this, and for other reasons, has sued Marvel Studios’ parent Disney for alleged contract breaches.

The Hollywood Reporter tells us that Scarlett Johansson has filed a lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company this past Thursday, July 29, for adding the Disney+ Premier Access streaming option along with the planned theatrical release for “Black Widow.” The actress and her legal counsel noted that her contract with Marvel Studios for the film stipulated that the initial premiere must be exclusive to cinemas, as her salary for the project was stated to be dependent on the box office returns, which steeply diminished after its first week in theaters.

Outside analysts have theorized that the streaming option was too convenient that it discouraged viewers from going to theaters to watch “Black Widow.” Johansson’s lawyer John Berlinski remarks that Disney may have forced Marvel Studios to allow the film to go on Premier Access despite the potential cutting into the box office take. Not only does this construe a breach of contract according to Berlinski, but also serves to further increase its streaming subscribers at the expense of his client.

For their part, Disney has released a response describing Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit as meritless, in addition to being “sad and distressing” in its disregard for people who might be trying to avoid the ongoing COVID pandemic by skipping cinemas entirely and just watching “Black Widow” on Disney+. A company spokesperson insists that Disney did not violate their contract with the actress, and that the Premier Access option only serves to bring her additional compensation on top of the $20 million she has gotten from box office returns so far. The Disney position seems to echo that of other media giants like Warner Bros. doing similar theater-streaming releases via HBO Max, in a move that capitalizes on audiences preferring home viewing.

It is just as well that the solo “Black Widow” film is the last on Johansson’s contract with Marvel Studios, and she may just wash her hands of it altogether.

Image courtesy of Vanity Fair

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HIDILYN DIAZ to Receive FIRST CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE from HOR

 

This past Monday, Philippine Olympic history was made. For the first time since the country began participating in the international multi-sport athletic event in 1928, a Filipino Olympian managed to bag a Gold Medal. This stunning achievement by weight-lifter and four-time Olympic participant Hidilyn Diaz was cited as having buoyed spirits during the ongoing pandemic and inspired her fellow athletes at Tokyo to push just a bit further. Diaz has already returned to the Philippines since Wednesday afternoon, having received a hero’s welcome and a promotion in the Air Force where she serves, with more incentives coming. Now, Congress will have its accolade as well.

Inquirer.net reports that next to award a commendation to Hidilyn Diaz for being the first Philippine Gold Medalist at the Olympics is the House of Representatives. Furthermore, it will be a new award outside of the existing two types of Congressional Medals that the House is empowered to give out. It is called the Congressional Medal of Excellence, the fruit of two House Resolutions filed by a group of legislators led by House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and both the House Majority and Minority leaders. House Resolution No. 1981 institutionalizes the Medal of Excellence while HR 2041 would give the first such medal to Diaz.

The text of HR 1981, which was formulated by Speaker Velasco, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Minority Leader Joseph Paduano, Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy III and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Dalipe, states the need for a specific Congressional Media that the House of Representatives can award to athletes who win Gold in the Olympic Games, describing them as modern national heroes. HR 2041, granting the first Medal of Excellence to Hidilyn, states that her “fighting heart and indomitable spirit” gave honor and pride to all Filipinos at home and overseas, welcome news in the face of the pandemic and economic troubles.

It is the latest in acts of recognition being feted to Hidilyn Diaz, who is already assured of P35.5 million in cash incentive and private sector donors, plus a new house and lot in her native Zamboanga City, P3 million more from President Rodrigo Duterte, a Presidential Medal of Merit (her being only the fourth recipient after Flash Elorde, Manny Pacquiao and Paeng Nepomuceno), and a promotion to Airwoman Staff Sergeant in the Philippine Air Force (PAF), among many perks.

Before the newly-institutionalized Congressional Medal of Excellence, the House of Representatives only gives out the Congressional Medals of Distinction (business, science, arts/culture and sports achievers in general) as well as Achievement (lifetime work commendation for politics, economy and cultural leaders).

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SONY Announces PLAYSTATION 5 Has MORE than 10 MILLION UNITS SOLD Since NOVEMBER 2020 Launch

 

In the videogame scene, Sony truly has come well into its own, from originally supplying the sound chip for Nintendo’s Super Nintendo console in the early 1990s, to launching the disc-based PlayStation console a few years later. And the PlayStation console line simply continues to get bigger, more powerful, pricier, and despite that last one, a better seller than the model that came before. The PlayStation 5 which released in November of last year was an expensive behemoth, but believe it or not as of this July that console has already sold more than 10 million units around the world.

The Verge tells us that Sony’s PlayStation 5 may have now become the new fastest-selling Sony videogame console. This was revealed by the Japanese game company this past Wednesday, July 28, or 249 days after the official launch of the console on November 12, 2020. The last update by Sony on PS5 units sold was this past April, where the figure stood at 7.8 million. This underlines the sheer speed that the console is flying off shelves compared to its predecessor the PlayStation 4. A past Sony update in 2014 notes that the PS4 surpassed 10 million units sold only 271 days after its launch.

Sales figures like these are interesting considering that PS5-related news might mention that Sony’s latest console was incredibly hard to find and purchase. Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan acknowledges that the global chip shortage has been a contributing factor to how slow the company has been shipping PS5 units worldwide. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us as demand for PS5 continues to outstrip supply,” says Ryan, but adds that SIE is determined to improve inventory levels, citing it as merely a challenge of the gaming industry to overcome.

For further comparisons, the Sony PlayStation 2, considered the best-selling all-time console, took more than a year to have 10 million units sold. The PlayStation 3 was even worse, releasing in 2006 while Sony expected the milestone to be reached only in 2009.

The speed by which a new console could break 10 million in unit sales has been considered an unofficial benchmark to gauge whether the game system was successful with gamers. Interestingly, it was first proposed by Microsoft in 2008, announcing that their Xbox 360 had surpassed the goal just a month prior. Nowadays, Microsoft is mum on hardware statistics for the Xbox Series X and S, while independent analysts reckon that the total units of both variants sold stands at 6.5 million.

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INDIE Film “KUN MAUPAY MAN IT PANAHON” with CHARO SANTOS DANIEL PADILLA to Screen on 2021 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST

 

Setting a film in the backdrop of a historical event always has the potential for a good story. That goes even if no real-life persons are depicted in the screenplay; in fact, it might work even better. The independent film “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon” from Cinematographica and Quantum Films, and director Carlo Francisco Manatad, chronicles the trials and tribulations of a mother and son (Charo Santos and Daniel Padilla) trying to survive in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, or known in the Philippines as Super-typhoon Yolanda. It has been lined up to premiere in North America at the Toronto International Film Festival this year.

According to Inquirer.net, Quantum Films and Cinematographica’s “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon” (“Whether the Weather is Fine”) is an entry to the upcoming 2021 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The news was announced on the movie’s official Twitter page this past Wednesday, July 28. The tweet even showcased the official “Kun Maupay” movie poster, with abstract imagery created by Justin Besana. How else to explain Charo Santos’ character standing torso-deep in Yolanda floodwaters while a mini-storm cloud shoots lightning down on her? Then there is Daniel Padilla behind her, standing on a large chicken, while a giant face looms in the background like an island.

We’re thrilled to announce that "Kun Maupay Man It Panahon" (Whether The Weather Is Fine) is heading to Toronto International Film Festival for its North American Premiere.

Official poster by Justin Besana#KunMaupayManItPanahon #WhetherTheWeatherIsFine #TIFF21 pic.twitter.com/hfpSvlzTZy

— Kun Maupay Man It Panahon (@theweatherfilm) July 28, 2021

“We’re thrilled to announce that ‘Kun Maupay Man it Panahon’ (Whether The Weather Is Fine) is heading to Toronto International Film Festival for its North American premiere,” read the post on @theweatherfilm Twitter account. The TIFF Twitter page expounds on this further, in that its screening during the film festival will be its official North American premiere. The July 28 tweet also has a short summary, about the characters trying to survive the onslaught of Yolanda and wondering whether to evacuate to Manila or not.

The North American Premiere of WHETHER THE WEATHER IS FINE from Carlo Francisco Manatad follows three characters who must decide whether to stay home or escape to Manila after a devastating typhoon. Starring Charo Santos and @imdanielpadilla. #TIFF21 https://t.co/szxe59c3N8 pic.twitter.com/yN3O8RKZrn

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) July 28, 2021

“Kun Maupay” will be screen on the 2021 TIFF as part of the Contemporary World Cinema entries, 20 movies from around the world including this one. Produced back in 2019, it is only in 2021 that it seems fit to be shown. The lead stars Charo Santos and Daniel Padilla, both Kapamilya talents, were said to have bonded during filming, with Santos calling Padilla “one of a kind” after production wrapped back in February 2020. Aside from the Toronto Film Fest, which will run Setember 9-18, “Kun Maupay” is also slated to be screened at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, running on August 4-14.

Image from @theweatherfilm Twitter page

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ADAM DRIVER Drives SOCIAL MEDIA CRAZY with BURBERRY HERO Commercial

 

When “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” brought actor Adam Driver to the mainstream consciousness, people took notice of his intensity in portraying the sinister First Order agent Kylo Ren. The following films only served to cement Driver as a Mister Fanservice to fans. It especially helps that he is a very skilled actor, as seen in the 2019 Netflix film “Marriage Story” where he held his own against costar Scarlett Johansson, and got nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 2020. But the hotness of Adam Driver only reached incredible heights this week following a commercial he did for Burberry where he becomes a centaur.

You read right. As USA Today puts it, a new ad for cologne from the British luxury brand Burberry that came out this past Wednesday, July 28, has got fans of Adam Driver screaming their lungs out with glee. And who can blame them? The “Burberry Hero” commercial is one minute of Driver in dark athletic pants and nothing else, racing a horse across a beach and into the water. The camera alternates cuts between actor and horse as they swim through the waves, and with a camera trick or two, it was as if the two have combined on the way back to shore.

Social media in that corner of the internet exploded with discussion and praises sung for the lean but fit Driver as seen in the Burberry commercial. Some joked that this ad might actually win him an Academy Award or something, while the Twitter page of HBO satire late-night talk show “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” comically hinted that the program’s host, British-American comedian John Oliver who has publicly admitted a man-crush on Driver, may be too distracted to tape new episodes of the show.

Burberry’s official product blurb on the Burberry Hero fragrance calls it a "new masculine spirit exploring the house codes of duality and the power of the animal kingdom." And Adam Driver turning into a centaur after his race with the horse can be interpreted as metaphor, in which those who use Burberry Hero would undergo a personal transformation into a new man: a Hero. While the real-life effects will not even come close to this commercial, this must be some powerful cologne indeed. The actor did say he was happy to do the ad for Burberry, so he must have confidence in the Hero fragrance.

Image courtesy of The Independent.uk

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GMA7’s “LOLONG” to be TV COMEBACK of 90s “TF” Stars PRISCILLA ALMEDA and LEANDRO BALDEMOR

 

Back in the 1990s, Philippine cinema saw the heyday of multitudes of films produced for mature audiences, featuring hot and hard-bodied young men and women in invariably sexually-charged storylines. Among the actors and actresses who became stars of these movies nicknamed “TF” (titillating films) are Leandro Baldemor and Priscilla Almeda. When the TF genre petered out both of them moved on to other things, but in a 2020 interview Almeda, who lived overseas for a time, expressed interest in returning to showbiz alongside Baldemor, who had been her TF costar several times. That wish may have come true with news that both of them are part of the “Lolong” cast.

GMA News has it that Priscilla Almeda and Leandro Baldemor, two prominent names of the old Filipino TF scene from decades past, are making their significant showbiz comeback in supporting roles for the upcoming Kapamilya urban fantasy drama series “Lolong.” Now significantly older than their steamy looks from so long, they are instead bring some grown-up energy in the characters they play, photos of which have been shared from within their locked-in taping location. Based on the clothes they are wearing, Baldemor appears to be cast as a farmer and father figure, while Priscilla is a teacher or public servant.

While the two stars enflamed the R-rated movie-going audiences in their heyday with TF titles such as 1996’s “Sariwa” and “Tukso, Layuan Mo Ako Part 2,” those days were not going to last forever. After a stretch of not receiving any projects, Priscilla Almeda departed for overseas, while Leandro Baldemor retired from acting and became a skilled woodcarver in Laguna. He was even featured in a November 2020 episode of a GMA7 morning talk show. Almeda for her part returned to the Philippines in 2020 with plans to get back in front of the camera. Now, both of them are.

And they are joined by a formidable supporting cast for “Lolong,” including Christopher De Leon, Jean Garcia, Malou De Guzman, Bembol Roco, Maui Taylor, Mikoy Morales and more. The main cast of the show however are Ruru Madrid as the titular Lolong, a youth with a mysterious connection to the gigantic crocodile called Dakila, plus Shaira Diaz and Arra San Augustin. Locked-in taping for the series only commenced this month, and the Kapuso network has yet to provide a specific premiere date for “Lolong,” other than a coming soon blurb.

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From DELOREAN to NINJA TURTLES, “HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED” Videogame Features LICENSED Franchises in Car LINEUP

 

One uncommon sort of licensed videogame is the game that features multiple licensed properties at the same time. Nintendo’s “Super Smash Brothers” series is at its core not like these games, at least until they began adding characters and series from other companies. Bandai-Namco’s “Super Robot Wars” is a more textbook example, with its mashing multiple mecha anime into a single game narrative. While not impossible, such games are even rarer in Western markets due to more stringent licensing issues between IPs. Many were surprised with the recent announcement of “Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.” Now, even Mattel is getting into the groove with a videogame featuring its die-cast “Hot Wheels” toys.

IGN tells us that a new videogame based on the Hot Wheels die-cast toy car line from Mattel is coming to multiple platforms this coming September. Developed by Italy-based Milestone Team, “Hot Wheels Unleashed” is a frantic high-speed stunt-racing game much in the vein of similar gimmick racers like those created by Nintendo. While at first look it might only imply that the game will feature CG recreations of vehicles depicted in Hot Wheels over the decades, it does have some licensed franchises increasing their available rides for the players.

As seen in the trailer above, “Hot Wheels Unleashed” has some interesting additions to its racing garage. Fans from the 1980s will appreciate having AI-powered supercar K.I.T.T. from “Knight Rider” as a selectable vehicle, or the DeLorean time machine from “Back to the Future.” Cartoon viewers will go “Cowabunga!” at the sight of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Party Wagon/Turtle-van, and for more oldie content Snoopy is also present with his hot-rod doghouse. Of course, being Hot Wheels there are some toy replicas of actual real-life cars in there, from the 1932 Ford Deuce to the limited-edition 2020 Koenigsegg Jesko.

Much like most racing videogames in this vein, players of “Hot Wheels Unleashed” would probably start their new games with a limited initial pool of cars, with more being unlocked by racing through all game modes, in fantastical environments such as a full-scale home interior. There is even the possibility that more cars will be added via DLC. Hot Wheels enthusiasts can probably check out more once “Hot Wheels Unleashed” is released on September 30, for PlayStations 4-5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and on Steam or Epic Games Store for PC gamers.

Image courtesy of Echo Boomer

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KAPAMILYA Singer JK LABAJO Calls on IG Followers to Support GF MAUREEN WROB in MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES 2021 Online Poll

 

One new addition to the minutia of activities related to a beauty pageant came about due to the rise of social media in the everyday lives of the community. Where before, the winners of the titles and special prizes are decided by votes from the judges, and even the organizers and stuff, online polls have become one of the norms, sometimes deciding its own categorical winners and sometimes being added to the judges’ scores. The same goes for Miss Universe Philippines. And in this 2021 edition, a celebrity boyfriend of a celebrity contestant is mobilizing his social media fandom to campaign for his girlfriend’s win.

As the Philippine Star would have it, some Kapamilya Power is being called for in the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 pageant. ABS-CBN singer JK Labajo of “Buwan” fame has begun enjoining his followers on Instagram to participate in the competition’s online poll. The candidate to push: JK’s girlfriend, German-Filipina model-actress Maureen Wroblewitz, also known as Kapamilya talent Maureen Wrob. Online votes will factor into the placement of the candidates towards the top spots, so Labajo’s online fandom could just make a difference. It also feels hard to say no to him, not with the way he worded his IG post.

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A post shared by Jack Cole (@karloslabajo)

On his entry dated July 27, JK writes his request of support for Maureen as if he himself were a run-of-the-mill fan-boy and Wrob as merely his crush, in hopes that she would “notice” him. He even adds a hilarious put-down of people uninterested in helping out, calling them “pangit/ugly.” Wroblewitz already commented on the ad hoc campaign, greeting Labajo as “crush,” much to the glee of the other fans commenting on things. JK just played up the ensuing social media fun by telling Wroblewitz that he was already “taken.”

That aside, Maureen Wrob has some pretty solid perks going into her bid to be Miss Universe Philippines. Being the first Filipina winner of “Asia’s Next Top Model” is nothing to sneeze at, after all. And becoming a Kapamilya this year would have tapped her into a solid fan base too, with a showbiz boyfriend “managing” the online poll efforts to boot. Time will tell if the gambit by JK Labajo works out as MWP 2021 heads towards its coronation night this coming September 25, on ABS-CBN’s KTX.ph streaming platform.

Image from Philippine Entertainment Portal

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New “GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE” Trailer Reveals New CHARACTERS’ ORIGINS, Dangerous SUPERNATURAL Threat

 

As if in apology for the 2016 reboot that was built on a concept deemed unacceptable by the fan base, Sony and Columbia Pictures announced back in 2019 a new “Ghostbusters” film that would have an actual tie to the original 1984 and 1989 installments. The first trailer for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” was positively received, although expectant fans were disappointed that the original July 2020 release date was scrubbed because of the pandemic. Now, with just around four months left before the new premiere date this November, a new trailer was released that finally sheds light on some character backgrounds, while casting a supernatural shadow over the setting that fans love.

CNN tells us that Columbia Pictures dropped the second big trailer for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” this past Tuesday, July 27 or well over a year after the first one in December 2019. While the original preview dropped heavy hints on what the main characters – a single mother and her son and daughter – have to do with the titular paranormal investigators of decades past, now the truth is spelled out. And that only serves to excite audiences, while giving a taste of the threat in the town that this family must face on account of their legacy.

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” trailer 2 lays out that Callie (Carrie Coon), who moves with sociable son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and antisocial daughter Phoebe (McKenna Grace) to rural Summerville, Oklahoma is the daughter of Dr. Egon Spengler, one of the original Ghostbusters (and whose actor, Harold Ramis, passed away in 2014). The rickety Summerville farmhouse she inherited seems to hold all the equipment and gadgets the Ghostbusters used, mostly rusty from long misuse. There is also the matter of the nearby abandoned mine, which when explored by Phoebe, Trevor, their new friends and teacher Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd), appears to be a wellspring of malevolent spectral activity.

“Afterlife” is really integrally connected to the franchise of the first two films, as evidenced by Annie Potts reprising her role as GB ex-secretary Janine talking to Callie in one scene. Another sequence sees Trevor and Phoebe watching a 1980s TV commercial of their late grandfather promoting their “business.” The money shot comes at the end when a scene from inside an occult bookstore sees an unseen Ray Stantz (Dan Ackroyd) answering the phone. Ackroyd is confirmed returning alongside Bill “Peter” Murray, Ernie “Winston” Hudson and Sigourney “Dana” Weaver, under the direction of Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman who directed “Ghostbusters” and “Ghostbusters II.”

Here is hoping the current November 11 release date for “Afterlife” will not be altered.

Image courtesy of Deadline

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Once-Leery JAPANESE Gradually Supporting TOKYO OLYMPICS Again Amidst Ongoing PANDEMIC

 

One of the more dramatic one-eighty-degree turns in national opinion in recent years could be found in Japan, host of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. When the previous Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil concluded in 2016, the Japanese were enthusiastic about becoming the next hosts to the global multisport competition, having done so in 1964. When the COVID pandemic hit, they were relieved that the Olympics were postponed. When the IOC and national organizers tried to push the Games through this 2021 despite no significant downturn in the pandemic, the Japanese became loud critics calling for the current Olympics to just be cancelled.

But as Inquirer.net notes, after the delayed Tokyo Olympics finally began this past July 23, the harsh opposition to the event in Japan seems to have softened. While the naysayers remain, some citizens in the pandemic-ridden country now have a positive opinion of hosting the Games even as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Now-confident fans, while still denied access to most of the event venues, have tried to cheer for the athletes as much as they could. And outside of the Games themselves, interest in themed memorabilia and merchandise have begun to show surprising highs.

The new Japanese mood for the Tokyo Olympics can be best demonstrated by Hirochika Takeda, 42, an IT professional and Tokyo resident who happened to look out the window and cheer on the women’s triathlon participants as they passed outside his apartment in rainy weather. “I had questions about holding the Olympics right up until the opening ceremony,” says Takeda. “But once the sport began, I started to feel that maybe this is a good thing.” In his view, once you see Olympians you cannot help but cheer for them.

And if catching the athletes in person is a no-go, then watching on TV has become the trending new Japanese pastime. Local statistics show that over half of all Tokyo households have tuned in to watch the Olympics live at some point or other. Even Tokyo 2020 souvenirs have been getting a sales surge, with stores selling official Olympic merchandise are becoming busy according to Tokyo 2020 licensing head Hikari Iinuma. A notable factor in the change of attitude Japan holds for the Games might spring from the splendid performance of their national athletes, which presently matches the total medal frontrunner China in the amount of Gold medals won (11).

On the other hand, concerns about a COVID super-spreader at the Olympics remain tangible, particularly as 2,848 new cases were reported just this Tuesday, July 27. While their protests are subdued for the moment, they ask fellow Japanese not to forget the pandemic even now.

Image courtesy of Yahoo News

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“STAR WARS” Spinoff “AHSOKA” Lead Star Fans Speculation of LIVE-ACTION EZRA and THRAWN Actors for Series

The 2014-18 Lucasfilm 3D-animated series “Star Wars Rebels” is considered to be one of the best spinoffs of the space opera franchise. Not only did it have a likeable main character (Ezra Bridger), it also brought in popular personages from previous similarly-popular series “Star Wars: Clone Wars” (Ahsoka Tano) but also from the now de-canonized “Star Wars” sequel novels (Grand Admiral Thrawn). Ezra and Thrawn “disappeared” in the series finale of “Rebels” with Ahsoka journeying in the end to find them, a plot point picked up with her live-action appearance in “The Mandalorian” season 2 on Disney+. Perhaps she might find them in her own upcoming live-action Disney+ spinoff series?

While there is still much work to be done on pre-production for live-action “Star Wars” series “Ahsoka” following its announcement December last year, speculation on its plot intensified according to Screen Rant, after its lead star hinted that fan-cast suggestions for Ezra and Thrawn might be on to something. Rosario Dawson, who headlines as the titular Ahsoka Tano in reprise of her appearance in “The Mandalorian,” hints that Danish actor Lars Mikkelsen, who voiced Thrawn in “Star Wars Rebels,” could reprise the character in the flesh for her series, while Ezra Bridger could be portrayed by Mena Massoud (2019’s “Aladdin”).

It started earlier this week when Dawson shared an Instagram post suggesting the casting of Massoud and Mikkelsen as Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn respectively, giving hearty approval to the proposal in the caption. While this is not an official update from the mouth of Lucasfilm itself, the fact that the star of “Ahsoka” has voiced her piece on the matter might just have the pull needed to make the production consider. And while Massoud is not exactly lacking for casting calls after starring in Disney’s live-action “Aladdin” remake, he could work as cast member in another major franchise.

Rosario Dawson, who has expressed interest in portraying “Star Wars: Clone Wars” breakout character Ahsoka Tano since 2017, finally realized her dream when she played the former Jedi padawan of Anakin Skywalker on “The Mandalorian” season 2 episode 5: “The Jedi,” where she reveals she is continuing to search for Grand Admiral Thrawn, who disappeared along with “Star Wars Rebels” main character Ezra at the end of that series. Initial blurbs about the “Ahsoka” show claim that it starts sometime after “Rebels,” which might explain why the character Ahsoka confronts in “The Mandalorian” claims Thrawn as her master, for starters.

Lucasfilm is juggling multiple plates of “Star Wars” stuff for Disney+ in the coming months and years. Coming much sooner for streaming than “Ahsoka” is “The Book of Boba Fett” with Temuera Morrison. Other productions include “Rogue One” prequel “Andor,” the anime anthology “Star Wars Visions,” and an “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series with Ewan McGregor reprising.

Image courtesy of Nerdist

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NESTHY PETECIO Advances to WOMENS FEATHERWEIGHT SEMIS in TOKYO; Guaranteed BRONZE Finish, MULTIPLE PH Medals

 

For the Philippines at the Olympic Games, it is already a successful campaign if one athlete from the delegation manages to snag a single medal. The drought periods in many successive Olympics have gotten to the point that one medal can be considered a triumph. But Filipinos should not forget Los Angeles of 1932, the country’s third Olympics appearance (as a US commonwealth). That delegation walked home with three bronze medals. That had been the only time Team PH claimed more than one Olympic medal…until Tokyo 2020/21. Hidilyn Diaz may have already won the first Filipino Olympic gold, but now a female boxer has ensured Filipinos will have more than one medal for these Games.

The Manila Bulletin reports that Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio continues to wow at the women’s featherweight boxing event for the Tokyo Summer Olympics this year. During the quarterfinals held this Wednesday, July 28, the 29-year-old fighter from Santa Cruz, Davao Del Sur made mincemeat of her opponent Yeni Arias Castañeda (age 30) from Colombia. In doing so she advances to the women’s featherweight semifinals, guaranteeing that she will at least leave the event with an Olympic bronze medal…unless she advances to possible silver or Gold.

Impressing the five judges at ringside with her inspired combination attacks, Petecio earned a victory by unanimous decision. Three of the judges scored 29-28 in her favor, with the other two scoring 30-27 likewise. As a quarterfinalist Nesthy is assured of a bronze finish. But if she can beat her semifinals opponent, Italian Irma Tesla, then she will advance to the women’s featherweight finals for an assured silver medal placing even if she loses. But with her earlier wins against Marcelat Matshu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (5-0) and Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei (3-2), her prospects are some of the strongest yet for a Philippine Olympic boxer.

But even if this is as far as Nesthy Petecio goes, she has already gone further in revisiting earlier Filipino Olympic glory, by guaranteeing that the country has more than one medal to show for these Tokyo Summer Olympics. That is just one medal away from equaling the quantity won by the 8-man Team PH for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, all of which were bronze (high-jumper Simeon Toribio, bantamweight boxer Jose Villanueva, and swimmer Teofilo Yidefonso who won an earlier bronze in Amsterdam 1928).

Petecio’s fellow boxers Irish Magno (women’s flyweight), Carlo Paalam (men’s flyweight) and Eumir Marcial (men’s middleweight) are yet to face their opponents in the Round of 16 for their respective weight divisions for this week.

Image courtesy of Tatler Philippines

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Long-running PBS Animated Series “ARTHUR” ENDING After 25 SEASONS and Years

 

In the 1970s, American illustrator Marc Brown began writing the children’s book series that would make him famous on television a few decades later. Why TV? That is because his books, detailing the everyday adventures of young boy Arthur Read in a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, would be adapted into an animated series by WGBH and Canadian studio Cinar (WildBrain today) for PBS. Since premiering in 1996, “Arthur” became the longest-running US children’s animated program, second-longest US animated program period (behind “The Simpsons”) and a definitive part of many 90s kids’ childhoods. Unfortunately, all good things must eventually end.

Comicbook.com drops the bombshell that has actually been hinted at for as far as a couple years or so earlier, the PBS animated series “Arthur” is coming to an end after 25 seasons and about as many years in broadcast. The kicker was that the finish was a done deal back in 2018 or so. This was revealed by the show’s writer Kathy Waugh, on the podcast “Finding DW” hosted by voice actor and former “Arthur” voice cast member Jason Szwimer. "Arthur is no longer in production,” Waugh said in the reveal. “We had our wrap party two years ago."

The news was confirmed by “Arthur” executive producer Carol Greenwald. IGN has it that Greenwald has charted the broadcast schedule for the series, with season 25 set to premiere on PBS in October of 2021. Once that is run through, there will be no more new episodes of “Arthur,” but the series with its multiple seasons will continue to rerun on the public broadcaster’s separate PBS Kids network. By this past Monday and Tuesday, July 26-27, social media denizens who grew up in the 1990s with “Arthur” have begun expressing their dismay at the quiet cancellation of the show, which they equate to the ending of a children’s TV era.

I was just working on a video for Arthur so this is a bit of a bombshell. One of the few shows that was able to stay consistently good during its runtime. Nothing but respect and gratitude for this pillar of my childhood https://t.co/0XzJHI9AFx

— Saberspark (@Saberspark) July 27, 2021

While primarily a child-focused animated series, “Arthur” was beloved by a wider demographic for its willingness to tackle a wide variety of subjects about childhood and life in general. Episodes of its many series have touched on subjects ranging from age-appropriate problems like bed-wetting, to all-ages issues like bullying, health problems like asthma or cancer, and even LGBT topics. The show also featured celebrity guests, sometimes voicing animated anthropomorphic animal versions of themselves like the late Mister Fred Rogers or the Backstreet Boys. Suffice to say, “Arthur” will be missed when it ends; but until then, what a wonderful kind of day for the fans.

Image courtesy of PBS

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MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES Appoints MWP 2021 Candidate DINDI PAJARES of BATAAN as MISS SUPRANATIONAL PHILIPPINES 2021

 

The usual practice in international beauty pageants is that the candidates representing the participating countries are the winners of national-level pageant competitions. Not all nations could do that annually, but they tend to be exceptions. Sometimes however, a national candidate has to be fielded for a pageant quickly. This was the case when Miss Grand International 2020 pushed through its competition despite the pandemic that year; Binibining Pilipinas 2019 2^nd Runner-Up Samantha Bernardo was sent (1^st Runner-Up Maria Abesamis assumed Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2019 after the winning titleholder resigned). This year, the early staging of Miss Supranational 2021 has forced local franchise-holder Miss World Philippines to appoint a representative.

The Philippine Star reports that Miss World Philippines has appointed one of its 45 candidates for the 2021 edition of the pageant to act as Miss Supranational Philippines 2021, as the coronation night of August 8 falls well behind the pre-pageant activities of Miss Supranational 2021 beginning in August 3. The 45 entrants were put to poll for one of their own, and with added votes from MWP organizers, candidate #22, Dindi Pajares of Onari, Bataan was crowned Miss Supranational Philippines in a simple ceremony at Quezon City’s Red Hotel this past Monday, July 26.

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A post shared by Dindi Pajares (@dindipajares)

Pajares, one of three MWP 2021 candidates from Bataan province, was considered in final selection alongside fellow entrants Kathleen Pakton of Aklan, Boholana Ruffa Nava, and Cebuana Megan Deen Campbell from Lapu-Lapu City. The 28-year-old might thank the IATF-re-imposed heightened GCQ restrictions that bumped the Miss World Philippines pageant night from its original date of July 25, as it spurred the vote that gave her the country’s representation for the pageant to be held in Poland. In her coronation speech the strikingly beautiful Philippine Army reservist gushed, "Thank you to my co-candidates. Thank you for making my dreams come true."

The Miss World Philippines 2021 pageant night will be held at the Okada Manila on August 8, to be broadcast by GMA7 starting 10:15 PM that evening. Pay-per-view live-streaming options are also available at Globe Upstream, iFlix, KTX.ph and WeTV. The Polish-organized Miss Supranational pageant will be held in Nowy Sacz, Poland this August 21, with GMA7 also airing it.

Image from GMA News

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DISNEY Mystifies TWITTER Followers by Promoting BLANK Page of TheStreamer

 

In late 2019, Disney launched its exclusive streaming program Disney+; and while its international scope has yet to reach the levels of longtime global go-to platforms such as Netflix, it is slowly but surely getting there. With an expansive library filled with content from Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, National Geographic and Disney itself, Disney+ is certain never to be lacking for most subscribers in terms of stuff to watch. Promoting the streaming service and all it has to offer must be a pretty big deal too, so one must wonder what approach Disney is taking by drawing attention to a seemingly random social media account.

As Comic Book Resources would have it, Disney+ raised eyebrows on its official Twitter page this past Monday, July 26, when it advertised another (blank) Twitter account called “thestreamer” (@TheStreamer). Following the link to the streamer page sees that it was created just this July, and has no tweets yet, nor images such as a profile picture. It follows no accounts, yet at the same time its possession of a “Verified” blue Twitter check mark seem to hint that this is no random blank account. And Disney+ is not talking further, which may explain the reaction of their Twitter followers.

👀 @TheStreamer 👀 pic.twitter.com/7fkZ5opprb

— Disney+ (@disneyplus) July 26, 2021

While nobody still has any idea what @TheStreamer on Twitter is all about, the fact that it was promoted by Disney+ felt reason enough to give the page a follow. As of now, @TheStreamer has over 8,500 followers while the Disney+ tweet that mentioned it has been liked over 3,400 times plus over 200 re-tweets and more than 400 quote tweets. Speculation of what this blank Twitter account really is have spanned theories ranging from side-promotions of MCU films and series, the reveal of new features in the Disney+ platform, or even to announce a secret mature-subscribers-only section of the streaming library for Rated-R content.

Which one will it actually be? Or did Disney+ pull an actual red herring on its Twitter followers? This @TheStreamer account must bear further observation.

Image courtesy of @disneyplus Twitter

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RYAN AGONCILLO, JUDY ANN SANTOS Both OK for Making PART 3 to STAR CINEMA’s “KASAL, KASALI, KASALO”

 

Looking at Pinoy showbiz power couple Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos, particularly when they share social media tidbits of their family life, one can only feel impressed at how they once acted as one of the most troubled cinematic couples (comedy-wise) in a 2006 Star Cinema film. “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo” from director Jose Javier Reyes chronicled the side-splitting adventures of a couple trying to survive parents sabotaging their wedding, and the allure of another woman when pregnancy mood swings hit. It sequel “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo” the following year only seemed to up the stakes. But now, some 15 years after the original’s premiere, plans for a third are percolating.

According to Inquirer.net, Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos are all up for reprising their roles as Jed and Angie Valeriano in a third installment to the matrimonial/family romantic comedy “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo” (“KKK” for short) to form a trilogy with the follow-up “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo” (SSS). The idea for making another sequel came in the wake of the streaming re-release of “KKK” restored and re-mastered for KTX.ph, ABS-CBN’s digital streaming platform. This and other films directed by Jose Javier Reyes are undergoing restoration via the Sagip Pelikula Film Festival.

Agoncillo says that he was asked during a virtual by Leo Katigbak, head of the ABS-CBN Film Restoration and Archive, if he and Santos were up for a complete trilogy. The actor noted that he was surprised at how long the first film had premiered a decade and a half ago, and he was curious as to imagine what live for Jed and Angie have been in the same period of time. “Their journey, if you ask me, is now something that we also go through in our marriage,” remarks Ryan on this. “We could relate to them, although our experiences aren’t exactly the same.”

His wife agrees in her interest. “I imagine the story to still have a lot of funny, as well as dramatic moments,” adds Juday. “As our captain, it will really depend on which direction Direk Joey [Reyes] will choose to steer the ship.” The filmmaker himself reveals that a part 3 was always in his mind, to the point that he even has a working title. However the onset of the pandemic prevented further development. Jose Javier Reyes is thus leaving things to Star Cinema if or when they might begin brainstorming prior to production.

Star Cinema’s “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo” was an entry to the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won nine awards and grossed about P187 million at the Philippine box office.

Image from Rappler

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“LUCIFER” Show-runner Planning LIVE-ACTION “POKEMON” Series for NETFLIX

 

Ever since its home network premiere in 1997, just over a year after the Nintendo Gameboy titles it was based on were released, the “Pokémon” anime series has inspired children in Japan and the rest of the world to want to be the very best, like no one ever was. Interest in the monster-catching franchise arose for every new game, and new anime season or film. In 2016 it got a huge boost from Niantic’s mobile spinoff “Pokémon GO,” and in 2019 it proved to work in live-action with Legendary Pictures’ “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu.” So how about a live-action series, streaming on Netflix to boot?

The Hollywood Reporter tells us that a live-action series based on the massive “Pokémon” franchise is being considered for development at global streaming giant Netflix. Brainstorming on the project began about a month ago according to inside sources, with the plans being forwarded by Joe Henderson, show-runner of DC-based urban fantasy superhero series “Lucifer,” formerly on Fox and currently on Netflix where its sixth and final season is soon to premiere. No further details are available beyond that work on conceptualizing the series has already begun, and Netflix themselves have no comment on the matter.

Several factors may have led to the possible development of a live-action “Pokémon” series for the streaming giant. First, the Netflix anime library already contains several seasons of the long-running anime. Next, as Henderson had originally come over to Netflix from Fox with the “Lucifer” series, the streaming platform might hope to keep him on as a show-runner for new original content, more so if it ties up a major IP like “Pokémon” and its rights owners to work with Netflix. They have recently announced development of other live-action adaptations of videogames – mostly mature titles – and a live-action “Pokémon” show might just balance the demographics.

In fact, Joe Henderson already has a Netflix project lined up since March this year, another adaptation of a comic-book titled “Shadecraft,” which he himself wrote alongside Lee Garbet providing the artwork. Even as “Lucifer” completes its series run once its final season premieres on Netflix this coming September, a working creative partnership between him and the major streaming giant would have already been formed.

The first live-action foray of “Pokémon,” 2019’s “Detective Pikachu” movie, managed to pull a box office coup of $430 million against a $150 million budget, proving that mixing live-action actors with CGI Pokémon can work to the audience’s approval. Such effects may be a degree more complex perhaps that what “Lucifer” has, but one never knows. A series premiering on Netflix might just soften the blow should the planned “Detective Pikachu” sequel fails to materialize.

Image: TVLine

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LUCASFILM Hires YOUTUBE DEEPFAKER Who "IMPROVED" on DIGITAL Recreations of Actors in Their “STAR WARS” Films

 

When Lucasfilm released the “Star Wars” original trilogy prequel “Rogue One” in 2016, it caught some critical flak for their use of canon characters portrayed by dead/aged actors. Scenes with Grand Moff Tarkin (long-late Peter Cushing) and young Princess Leia (Carrie Fischer) employing live stand-ins with superimposed digital likenesses got slammed by reviewers as an indignity. Such arguments would be revisited in December 2020 when “The Mandalorian” on Disney+ had its season 2 finale feature Mark Hamill reprising as Luke Skywalker, but with his face digitally de-aged. One YouTuber recently gained online notoriety for showing these scenes redone in his own “Deepfake” technique. Did Lucasfilm (and parent company Disney) sue?

Apparently not; in fact, the studio did one better by bringing him into the fold according to The Verge. The YouTuber, known by his username Shamook, has been impressing viewers of the video-sharing platform with his Deepfaking of key scenes from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” as well as “The Mandalorian” season 2 finale “The Rescue.” His videos could have been flagged by Lucasfilm or The Walt Disney Company itself as copyright infringement, but it seems his Deepfake efforts have impressed the higher-ups enough that they offered him work.

Using the Deepfake suite “DeepFaceLabs” and the processing power of cloud computing platform Paperspace, Shamook “fixed” certain criticism in the digitally-recreated features of the aforementioned “Star Wars” characters to make them appear more natural. Digital Grand Moff Tarkin was thought by critics to look too “malnourished” compared to live-action Peter Cushing, and the Deepfake makes the CGI look more “healthy.” In the same film, digital Princess Leia looks more like 1977 Carrie Fischer reshot the scene herself. And the de-aging of Mark Hamill as Luke in “The Mandalorian” looks like how the MCU does things. Surely, this Shamook has mad digital art skills, thinks Lucasfilm.

A spokesperson for the studio admitted as much in their official statement saying, “[Industrial Light and Magic is] always on the lookout for talented artists and have in fact hired the artist that goes by the online persona ‘Shamook.’” And while Shamook himself did not reveal his true name yet on his YouTube channel with its library of Deepfake videos, he did edit his profile to reflect what is now his apparent job with Lucasfilm and it ILM team: Senior Facial Capture Artist. Only time will tell what digital wonders he will do as part of the official “Star Wars” production posse from now on.

Image courtesy of MCUTimes

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