Posts

Don’t mention the m-word: are mutant X-Men about to show up en masse in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

An intriguing chat about warped DNA in the record-breaking trailer for the new Spider-Man movie could mean a host of long-awaited arrivals in the MCU There was a time when the mere mention of the term “mutant” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was frowned upon. Rival studio 20th Century Fox owned the rights to the X-Men and with it the whole idea of a parallel branch of humanity, which meant superheroes were contractually obliged to have received their powers from somewhere else. Radioactive accidents, experimental serums, infinity stones, the bite of an unusually committed arachnid: Marvel tried them all, but left the mutation thing alone. Occasionally, comic book icons such as Scarlet Witch were retconned in the MCU to remove their X-gene origins, but for the most part, the very notion of mutation seemed to be placed under narrative quarantine – as if this were a door the studio had quietly agreed not to open. This week saw the record-breaking release of the debut teaser trailer fo...

‘Arms and legs are very expressive, especially with bruises’: the absurdist photography of Yorgos Lanthimos

Ditched washing machines, a woman’s bare leg, the back of Willem Dafoe’s head … the Oscar-nominated director talks us through his new photography show in Athens – made with his darkroom assistant Emma Stone In the centre of Athens, a brand new temple has popped up. Walk around the tall white columns surrounding it and you’ll eventually find the entrance to its inner sanctum. It might not be quite as old as the nearby Parthenon but it does hold a unique kind of treasure: the personal photographs of director Yorgos Lanthimos. Taken over the last few years as he wandered his home country, they offer a glimpse of Greece through the auteur’s absurdist eye. We see a coffin resting against a wall next to a mop, and a couple of horses with their heads chopped off by foregrounded trees. A roadside memorial is shown underneath a sign warning of danger ahead – the wiggly road symbol points directly upwards, as if suggesting the route to the next life for the poor victim. This last image is poig...

Conan O’Brien jokes about Ted Sarandos, Timothée Chalamet and ‘frightening times’ in Oscars monologue

Host bobs and weaves through a number of third-rail topics in Academy Awards speech that’s at turns silly and sincere Oscars 2026 – follow the action live! The winners: the full list – updating live Conan O’Brien’s opening monologue at the 98th Academy Awards cheekily paid tribute to many nominated films – and then some – while acknowledging the tense US political situation and cracks at Timothée Chalamet, Amazon and US healthcare. After a snappily edited, old-school montage in which O’Brien, dressed as best supporting actress winner Amy Madigan ’s character in Weapons (“I look like Bette Davis with lupus,” he joked), stormed through each of the nominated films trailed by children à la Weapons, the second-time host bobbed and weaved through a number of pressing topics, from political divides to AI to Jeffrey Epstein. “I am Conan O’Brien, and I am honored to be the last human host of the Academy Awards,” he quipped. “Next year it’s going to be a Waymo in a tux.” Continue read...

Oscars 2026 red carpet: Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti and more – in pictures

The best looks from the red carpet at the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles Oscars 2026 liveblog – follow the action Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/jh8ItuN via IFTTT

Oscars 2026: the red carpet, the ceremony, the winners – follow the action live!

Will Sinners beat One Battle After Another to the big prize? Will Timothée Chalamet get pelted with tutus? Can the Academy Awards wrap in under four hours? Join us to find out Felcity Jones has arrived in lemon-coloured Prada proving old Hollywood – sleeveless, a sprinkle of crystals, a little tulle train, hair in a soft side wave – is bomb-proof if you stick to the formula One of the most miraculous aspects of the night is that Conan O’Brien will once again host. His turn last year saved what had the potential to be a very dull evening, and it is very exciting to think about what he’ll do this year, with films that people have actually heard of. And, for that matter, what he’ll do about Train Dreams; a film so lacking in comedic potential that O’Brien tore into it during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel last week. What makes this even more miraculous is that it’s been reported that O’Brien will earn $15,000 for tonight’s duties, a figure that simultaneously seems quite high and extre...

Anshuman Jha unveils teaser poster of Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business; announces Diwali 2026 release

First Ray Films has unveiled the teaser poster of the much-anticipated action thriller Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business, marking a special moment for the franchise and its creator. The announcement coincides with the birthday of actor-director Anshuman Jha, making the reveal both a celebration of the film and a personal milestone for the artist. The film centres around the endangered Celebes crested macaque, a rare primate native to Indonesia, also known as the North Sulawasi ‘Yaki Monkey’. Along with the teaser poster drop, the makers have officially announced the film’s worldwide theatrical release for Diwali 2026, positioning the sequel as one of the festival season’s big action spectacles. The film will be having a high profile film festival run between June-November prior to its Worldwide release. Directed by Anshuman Jha, Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business continues the story of Kolkata based Arjun Bakshi — the animal-loving vigilante who, once again, will go the distance to...

Neetu Kapoor denies news about Kapoor family copyrighting Rishi Kapoor's name

A recent news report claims that the Kapoor family obtained the necessary permission to copyright the actor’s name posthumously. The decision, according to the report, ensures that any individual or organisation seeking to use Rishi Kapoor’s name in commercial, professional, or public contexts must first obtain approval from the family. However, when this writer contacted the late actor Rishi Kapoor’s wife Neetu Kapoor, she admitted she had no knowledge of any such move by the family. Mrs Kapoor replied, “Hi Subhash, I am not aware of this.” When I asked if this was false news, she replied. “I think so. I am not sure.” Close family friend and singer Nitin Mukesh said, “I don’t think this can be true. I mean Chintu, who was like my brother, didn’t have a stylized personality, unlike Raj uncle (Rishi Kapoor’s father Raj Kapoor) who was known for his mannerisms that were universally copied. Chintu was….how do I put it…inimitable.” Of late, there have been some actors known for thei...

Haryana Women’s Commission seeks Badshah’s arrest

The Haryana State Commission for Women has directed the Haryana police to seize Badshah’s passport, so he cannot leave the country and that he be arrested immediately. These harsh steps have been evoked after Badshah’s song ‘Tateeree’ provoked strong reactions. On March 6, Badshah skipped the hearing at the Women’s Commission. Calling for his immediate arrest, the Commission has accused Badshah of denigrating the women and girls of Haryana. It would be hard for rappers-singers like Badshah and Yo Yo Honey Singh to get away with problematic lyrics in the future. Also Read: Sona Mohapatra slams Badshah over ‘Tateeree’ controversy: “This isn’t creativity. It’s the laziest trope in pop culture” from Latest Bollywood News | Hindi Movie News | Hindi Cinema News | Indian Movies | Films - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/adAckb0 via IFTTT

Sharvari leads her generation's biggest film line-up; 2 massive theatrical releases set to arrive in just 28 days

Sharvari is fast emerging as one of the most exciting talents of her generation, and her growing filmography is proof that the industry’s biggest filmmakers and banners are betting big on her. The young actress has built an enviable line-up that includes Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga, Aditya Chopra’s Alpha, Sooraj Barjatya’s Yeh Prem Mol Liya, and YRF and Ali Abbas Zafar’s untitled next, in which she is paired opposite Ahaan Panday. What makes her upcoming slate even more remarkable is that Sharvari has two major theatrical releases within a span of just 28 days. While Main Vaapas Aaunga is set to arrive on June 12, Alpha will hit cinemas on July 10, giving her a huge opportunity to consolidate her place among the most promising young stars in the industry. Sharvari has already sparked a strong conversation with the teaser of Main Vaapas Aaunga, where her innocence and screen presence have stood out instantly. In fact, many on the internet are already calling her the “best-kept sur...

Anil Kapoor reveals he turned down cameo in Dhurandhar: The Revenge: “It’s my loss, but…”

Veteran actor Anil Kapoor recently revealed that he was approached for a cameo in Dhurandhar: The Revenge but had to decline the offer due to prior professional commitments. The film is the sequel to Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, which released on December 5, 2025 and went on to emerge as a major box office success. The scale of the first installment and its ensemble cast have contributed significantly to the anticipation surrounding the sequel. Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Kapoor shared that Dhar had approached him for a small role in the upcoming film. However, the actor said he had already committed his dates to another filmmaker. “Yes, Aditya came to me for Dhurandhar 2. He wanted me to do a small cameo in the film. But the reason I am what I am today is because of my professionalism and my commitment. That’s very important—only talent cannot make you what you are,” Kapoor said. Explaining why he declined the role, the 69-year-old actor added, “At that time, I h...

Sinners or One Battle: what can we learn from this year’s anonymous Oscar ballots?

While Academy voters are supposed to keep their picks secret, another batch of anonymous ballots have leaked – giving us some insight on a hard-to-call race Oscars 2026: how to watch, nominations, what to read and predictions It took a great deal of blood, sweat and tweets, but in 2016 the Academy finally took notice and started to embrace both diversity and modernity. The # OscarsSoWhite furore over two straight years of all-white nominees (Michael B Jordan’s Creed snub was in my opinion the cruelest) led to a dramatic shake-up and one that has continued ever since with more women, people of colour and international voters added to what had been an overwhelmingly homogenous base. It has all led to an Oscars race that is increasingly harder to predict using old-fashioned thinking in ways that have become rather thrilling over time, the idea of an “Oscar movie” now far more slippery. Films such as Parasite, Anora, Moonlight, Anatomy of a Fall, Nomadland, Get Out and The Zone ...