Category: Entertainment Daypop

Samantha Jones is back. Kim Cattrall will be reprising her role as Samantha Jones for the Season 2 finale of Max’s ‘And Just Like That…’, the revival of HBO’s hit sitcom, Sex and the City. Max confirmed the news on social media, retweeting an article from the New York Post with the caption: “Secret’s out…”

Cattrall starred as publicist Samantha Jones for six seasons on the HBO series — alongside Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes and Kristin Davis as Charlotte York Goldenblatt. She also reprised the character for two subsequent films.  Cattrall’s return comes as a surprise since she has repeatedly said that she would never return to the series, due in part to her very public feud with former Sex and the City co-star Sarah Jessica Parker. In May 2022, Cattrall spoke with Variety about leaving behind the character of Samantha Jones, saying: “It’s a great wisdom to know when enough is enough… I also didn’t want to compromise what the show was to me.”

Cattrall is set to make a cameo appearance in the cliffhanger finale for the second season of  ‘And Just Like That…’ Variety reported that Cattrall reportedly shot only one scene for the episode, filming it in one day back in March. The new season of the spinoff series will also feature John Corbett’s anticipated return as Aidan; and showrunner Michael Patrick King confirmed that Candice Bergen, who played Carrie Bradshaw’s Vogue editor, Enid Frick, on SATC and in the first of the franchise’s films, is officially reprising her role in the new season as well.

Season 2 of ‘And Just Like That…’ officially debuts on Max on June 22.

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HBO has shared the trailer for the HBO Original drama series The Idol, co-created by Sam Levinson and starring Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp. The series debuts Sunday, June 4th at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. The series also stars Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, Jennie Ruby Jane, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Rachel Sennott, Ramsey, Suzanna Son, and Hank Azaria.

A series synopsis reads: “After a nervous breakdown derailed Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) last tour, she’s determined to claim her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America. Her passions are reignited by Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye), a nightclub impresario with a sordid past. Will her romantic awakening take her to glorious new heights or the deepest and darkest depths of her soul?”

Take a look at ‘The Idol” trailer – here.

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Actor Danny Masterson was convicted on Wednesday on two counts of rape during his retrial in Los Angeles. The Associated Press reported that the seven-woman, five-man jury deadlocked on the third count after deliberating for over a week. The actor has been free on bail since his June 2020 arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division.

Wednesday’s verdict was delivered nearly six months after Masterson’s first trial ended with a mistrial, with jurors leaning towards acquitting the now 47-year-old star of “That ’70s Show”. Masterson was accused of raping three women he met through the Church of Scientology (to which Masterson still belongs) – identified at trial as Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2 and Jane Doe #3 — at his Hollywood Hills home from 2001 to 2003. He faced up to 45 years in prison if he was convicted on all three counts.

Masterson has denied all the allegations leveled against him by the women. Masterson never took the stand in either the first trial or retrial, and his defense attorneys declined to call any witnesses. The actor also denies assaulting a fourth woman, identified as Jane Doe #4, who told the court during his first trial he had raped her; Masterson has not been criminally charged with raping her. Both of Masterson’s trials have focused on the Church of Scientology, which Masterson’s accusers all said tried to cover up the allegations against the actor. The judge again allowed witnesses to testify how they were pressured by church officials not to talk to police about the rape allegations. Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw has denied the allegations, saying that church doctrine requires members to “abide by all the laws of the land.”

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Food Network announced in a press release that Selena Gomez will launch two new series at network. The singer/actress stars with Steve Martin and Martin Short on the popular Hulu series Only Murders in the Building.

The 30-year-old Gomez is developing two new projects, including a celebration-focused series for the holidays. She will launch a second series in 2024 that will see her meet up “with some of the best chefs in the country in a quest to cook their most popular dishes when she visits their kitchens.”

Warner Bros. Discovery chairman Kathleen Finch said in a statement: “The holidays are always huge for Food Network, reaching nearly 60M P2+ viewers, and having Selena kicking off the nearly 100 hours of new and returning holiday programming will certainly make this coming season one to celebrate.” Gomez previously collaborated with Warner Bros. Discovery on the cooking series Selena + Chef for Max, (formerly known as HBO Max).

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NCIS: Los Angeles star LL Cool J will reprise his role of Sam Hanna on Season 3 of NCIS: Hawai’i. The actor tweeted along with a photo of him with his new co-star Vanessa Lachey: “Let’s do this!!!”  The cast of Hawai’i also includes Alex Tarrant, Noah Mills, Yasmine Al-Bustami and Jason Antoon.

LL Cool J had a cameo in the Season 2 finale NCIS: Hawai’i on CBS. Executive producers Matt Bosack, Jan Nash and Christopher Silber said in a joint statement: “All of us at NCIS: Hawai’i have been huge fans of LL Cool J for years and couldn’t be more thrilled or honored to be adding his spectacular talent to our ohana for Season 3” 

NCIS: Los Angeles wrapped up its 14-season run this year; CBS announced in January that it was not renewing the series for a 15th season.  Los Angeles starred Chris O’Donnell, Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, Eric Christian Olsen, Medalion Rahimi, Caleb Castille and Gerald McRaney.

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The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards returns to New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Tuesday, September 12, airing live at 8 p.m. ET and PT. The VMAs will air across MTV linear and digital platforms in more than 150 countries and territories, the network said.

Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+ said in a statement: “Celebrating one of our biggest nights in music with the Garden State’s incredible fans has been our goal since last year’s highly successful event.”

Last year’s show was hosted by Nicki Minaj, who was honored during the show with the Video Vanguard Award, while the Global Icon Award was given to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Performers for last year’s show included Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Blackpink, Bad Bunny, Anitta, Jack Harlow, Kane Brown and others.

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Warner Bros. Studios have shared the new official trailer for “Barbie”, set to hit theaters on July 21.

In the trailer, Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken venture out beyond the borders of their homeland ‘Barbieland’.  The new footage shows Barbie and Ken exploring the modern world; while people in our world are starting to freak out that a real-life Barbie is walking the streets of L.A.

Greta Gerwig serves as director and co-writer of “Barbie” alongside her husband, Noah Baumbach. Alongside Robbie and Gosling, “Barbie” features a star-studded cast including Will Ferrell, Connor Swindells, Nicola Coughlan, Emerald Fennell, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Sharon Rooney, Ana Cruz Kayne, Ritu Arya, Jamie Demetriou, Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Simu Liu, Scott Evans and Ncuti Gatwa.

Watch the trailer for “Barbie” – here.

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Disney’s live-action film version of The Little Mermaid film topped the Memorial Day weekend box office with $118 million in its opening weekend.

Directed by Rob Marshall and starring Halle Bailey, the film broke the record for the fifth-highest Memorial Day opening in history. Tony Chambers, Disney’s head of distribution, said: “It’s a classic. You ask a lot of women or men of my age and it’s ‘Little Mermaid’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ that rank as their favorite animated movie. It’s a story that takes them back to their respective childhoods and this movie is the perfect opportunity for a lot of people to pass that love on to the next generation.”

Bailey’s performance as Ariel has drawn praise from critics; the cast also includes Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni and Art Malik.

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Indiana native Adam Driver will wave the green flag as the honorary starter for the 107th Indy 500 on May 28.  The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced: “The force will be with us on Race Day. Indiana native and former Marine Adam Driver will serve as honorary starter for the 107th #Indy500 presented by @gainbridgelife on Memorial Day Weekend.#INDYCAR | #ThisIsMay”

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles said in a release: “Adam is going to experience one of the most exhilarating, powerful and exciting moments in all of sports as he stands atop the flag stand and waves the green flag to officially start the world’s greatest race. Indy 500 Race Day is full of meaning for our drivers, our fans across the globe and most especially our active-duty military members and veterans. Adam is not only a star recognized across the world but also a former U.S. Marine who will be a very fitting addition to ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”

Driver, a Julliard graduate and former Marine, attended the University of Indianapolis for a year. He co-founded Arts in the Armed Forces, a non-profit organization that staged theatrical and musical performances for members of the military. Driver is perhaps best known for playing Kylo Ren in the last three “Star Wars” movies. He has been nominated for two Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards and a Tony Award.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway previously announced that singer-songwriter Jewel will perform the National Anthem, while ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ actress Stephanie Beatriz will serve as grand marshal. Coverage of the 107th Indy 500 will begin Sunday, May 28 at 9 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. At 11 a.m., NBC and Peacock will broadcast pre-race through post-race interviews.

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Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg have reunited to create a musical remake of The Color Purple, nearly 40 years after the original film was released. The new remake stars Fantasia, making her big feature film debut, as well as Halle Bailey, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, H.E.R., Corey Hawkins, Ciara and more.

Winfrey, who played Sofia in the original film, shared what makes the forthcoming project so special: “The reason this moment is so important is as long there is a need for self-discovery, self-empowerment, as long as there is a need for victory in someone’s life as long, as there is a need for people to know what it feels like to be loved up and to be made full and hold to somebody else’s love, there will be a need for ‘The Color Purple.’”

The Color Purple will premiere on December 25.
Watch the trailer – here.

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