Mahershala Ali is set to star in sci-fi movie "Sovereign".
The announcement comes days after the actor bagged his career's second Oscar in Best Supporting Actor category for racial drama "Green Book".
According to Deadline, the film will be directed by Marc Munden but details about the plot are being kept under wraps.
eOne along with 21 Laps Entertainment's Shawn Levy, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen are producing the movie.
"A Quiet Place" scribes Scott Beck and Bryan Woods are penning the screenplay.
"We have long loved this project and have been patiently waiting until we found the right leading actor, which we no doubt have found in the incredibly talented Mahershala Ali," said Nick Meyer, eOne's President of Film, in a release.
Levy, Levine and Cohen of "Stranger Things" fame said the coming together of Munden and Ali is a "dream pairing".
"Marc Munden has been an exceptional collaborator in shaping this singular story into one that jumps off the page and with the phenomenally talented .

Mahershala Ali to feature in sci-fi movie 'Sovereign'

PTI Automatic

The sequel to James Wan-directed "Aquaman" is set to bow on December 22, 2022, Warner Bros studios has announced.
The development comes barely a fortnight after "Aquaman" co-writer David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick was tapped in to pen the new installment.
According to Variety, Wan and Peter Safran are attached as producers.
It is currently unclear whether Wan would come back to direct.
Johnson-McGoldrick co-wrote "Aquaman" with Will Beall, with Geoff Johns receiving a story by credit along with Beall and Wan.
The film, which last November, turned out to earn USD 1.12 billion globally. It is Warner Bros.' first DC movie to pass the USD 1 billion mark since 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises".
"Aquaman" had Jason Momoa play the title role, with Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman in supporting parts.
The studio is also developing horror spin-off from the "Aquaman" series, titled "The Trench".

'Aquaman 2' locks December 2022 release date

Days after the widely discussed, passionate musical performance at the recently concluded Oscars that has people around the world 'convinced' that Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are dating, the pop diva quashed the rumours, saying it was all part of the act.
While the social media fixated with "A Star is Born" co-stars as a couple, Gaga said it what was they "wanted you to see" as they crooned to "Shallow", which won Best Original Song.
Late show host Jimmy Kimmel prodded the singer: "You had such a connection with Bradley that, instantly, and I guess this is a compliment, people started saying, 'Oh, they must be in love'."
Giving a massive eyeroll, the Oscar-winning songwriter, who also brought her statue along for the interview, said, "First of all, social media, quite frankly, is the toilet of the internet. And what it has done to pop culture is abysmal. And people saw love, and guess what, that's what we wanted you to see."
"This is a love song, 'Shallow'. The movie, 'A Star Is ...

Lady Gaga dismisses Bradley Cooper romance rumours

Actor Bhumi Pednekar says she was left shattered by the commentary filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey has done in "Sonchiriya", from patriarchy to casteism, and feels it's an extremely topical project.
Helmed by Abhishek and co-written by Sudip Sharma, the film chronicles the story of dacoits during the time of emergency.
"Sonchiriya" had its premiere at a special screening at MAMI, Wednesday night, which was attended by the cast, Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi, Ranvir Shorey, and Abhishek along with producer Ronnie Screwvala.
"The first time I heard the script, I was honestly shattered. You have these characters on their journey to find their own truth and through the narrative, Abhishek sir has commented on so many things that are still very relevant and prevalent in our society," Bhumi said at the screening.
The film uses the backdrop of Chambal valley and makes a strong commentary on the inherent casteism and the strong patriarchy which runs deep.
For Bhumi, playing her character, which is a 

I was shattered when I heard 'Sonchiriya' script: Bhumi

There might be a conversation around mid-budget films doing exceptionally well at the box office but filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia believes such cases should be considered as an exception as films with "trash and filth" still continue to make money.
The filmmaker, who has helmed acclaimed films like "Paan Singh Tomar" and the "Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster" franchise, says contrary to popular belief, the taste of the audiences has deteriorated.
"I've seen the taste of the audience has changed. It's also segregated a bit. Earlier, we used to make one film and it catered to everybody. Now certain films will only be seen by a certain kind of people.
"The taste of the general audience, including the middle class and the upper middle class has deteriorated drastically," Tigmanshu told PTI.
The director said the change in audiences' liking is a reflection of the societal upheavals.
"There used to be a director called Dada Kondke, who was a super hit filmmaker. All his films used to do really well ...

Audience taste deteriorating, trash films earn Rs 200 cr: Tigmanshu Dhulia

Filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, whose "Roma" missed out on Best Picture Oscar to "Green Book", says people may have been sceptical initially about Netflix's involvement but the conversation has changed because it connected with people the way "usually only mainstream films do".
"Roma" was the clear front-runner in the race and bagged three Oscars -- Cinematography, Best Foreign Language Film and Best Director nods -- but stopped short of claiming the top prize, which went to Peter Farrelly's racial drama "Green Book".
The choice by the Academy members drew sharp reactions both from the film fraternity and in the media, with critics pointing out at Hollywood's hostility towards Netflix, which is being seen as a market disrupter.
When asked to comment about the perception that Netflix's involvement may have cost the film its Best Picture Oscar by Variety, Cuaron had a carefully-worded answer.
"In the beginning, when I started this process, I felt that. I had friends and other filmmakers say, .

Cuaron does not believe Netflix pushback cost 'Roma' its Best Picture Oscar

Rami Malek, who recently won an Oscar for Best Actor, is in final negotiations to play the antagonist in the latest installment of James Bond franchise.
The film will be directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who came onboard as a director after Danny Boyle exited the project over "creative differences".
It was being reported earlier that Malek was being eyed for the villain role, but his schedule on the last season of his breakout show "Mr. Robot" which shoots from March through July, was a hindrance.
According to Collider, the actor's team has successfully managed his shooting schedule to accommodate the Bond film.
The yet-untitled film will mark Daniel Craig's fifth and possibly the last outing as the famed British spy.
Actor Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw will also reprise their roles in the new film.
French star Lea Seydoux, who played psychologist Madeleine Swann in Sam Mendes' "Spectre", is also returning.
MGM will distribute the film in partnership with Annapurna ...

Rami Malek in final talks for 'Bond 25'

Actor Ellen Page, who came out in support of "Empire" star Jussie Smollett after his alleged hate attack, says she had no reason to doubt his story as LGBTQ people are always prone to such violence.
The 32-year-old actor penned a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, where she said she supported Smollett as she has encountered many such stories from the people she interacted with.
"The conversation around Jussie Smollett has led us all to examine hate violence and its implications and aftermath. I had no reason to doubt Jussie..." she said.
The Chicago Police has charged Smollett for filing a false police report after it was revealed that the investigators believe that he may have paid two Nigerian brothers to stage the January 29 hate incident.
In the attack, the actor had claimed that he was beaten up by the two men, who also shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him.
In her column, Page said it will be a blow to the LGBTQ community if the allegations against Smollett are ...

Ellen Page breaks her silence on Jussie Smollett investigation developments

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has reportedly tied the knot with his fiancee Cherry Seaborn.
According to EOnline, Sheeran, 28, and Seaborn, 26, got married in a low-key ceremony at their home in December in Suffolk, England.
The wedding was attended by close friends and family members of the "Shape of You" hitmaker.
The couple had announced their engagement in December 2017.
"Got myself a fiancee just before new year. We are very happy and in love, and our cats are chuffed as well," Sheeran had shared on Instagram along side an adorable picture of him and Seaborn.
The couple were childhood friends who attended school together in Suffolk, but only became romantically involved years later.

Ed Sheeran marries Cherry Seaborn: Reports

Actor Ray Liotta is the latest star to join the cast of the prequel film to hit HBO series "The Sopranos".
The film, titled "The Many Saints of Newark", will be directed by Alan Taylor. It has been written by show creator David Chase and Lawrence Konner.
The prequel will be set against the backdrop of the Newark riots of the 1960s when African-Americans and Italians clashed.
According to Deadline, Liotta, 64, joins Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen, Corey Stoll, and Michael Gandolfini.
"I am thrilled to be working with David Chase and Alan Taylor on 'The Many Saints of Newark'. David's talent is unmatched and the directing of Alan Taylor makes this even more exciting. I respect them both immensely and look forward to making this special project with New Line," the actor said.
The film will feature Nivola as Dickey Moltisanti, who in the HBO series is the deceased uncle of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), and father of Christopher Moltisanti (Michael ...

Ray Liotta joins 'The Sopranos' prequel 'The Many Saints of Newark'

Director Luca Guadagnino is reportedly working on a new drama series for HBO.
According to IndieWire, the 47-year-old filmmaker, known for movies such as "Call Me By Your Name" and "Suspiria", is in negotiations with the network for the show, "We Are Who We Are".
The show will consist of eight hour-long episodes with the first two and the finale being directed by Guadagnino. He will also pen the script alongside Paolo Giordano and Francesca Manieri.
Set in Italy, the show centres on Fraser and Caitlin, a pair of teenagers discovering themselves while living on a military base.
The show will be executive produced by Lorenzo Meili and Riccardo Neri. It is expected to start filming in late May.

Luca Guadagnino in talks for new HBO drama series 'We Are Who We Are'

Warner Bros is in talks with director Gavin O'Connor for its new action thriller, "Fast".
O'Connor, who has films such as "Warrior", "The Accountant" and "Jane Got a Gun" to his credit, began negotiations for helming the project with the studio after writer-director Taylor Sheridan, who penned the script, failed to strike a deal with it.
The story is about a former special forces commando who's recruited by the DEA to lead a black ops strike team targeting drug dealers who are protected by the CIA.
Chris Pratt was earlier being in talks for the lead role but it is not yet known whether the actor will star in the film.
David Heyman and Jeff Clifford will produce the project through their Heyday Films.

Gavin O'Connor in talks to direct 'Fast' for Warner Bros

Will Smith will not be returning for the sequel of his 2016 DC-Warner Bros film "Suicide Squad".
The 50-year-old actor, who played Deadshot in the David Ayer-directed film, exited  the sequel due to scheduling issues. His departure from the project was amicable, reported Variety.
The sequel, which is being branded as a relaunch, will be directed by James Gunn.
The film would mark Gunn's return to the director's chair after Disney sacked him from "Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3" last July when his old offensive tweets resurfaced on social media.
"Suicide Squad" featured the characters of Deadshot, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Captain Boomerang and Killer Croc, who are forced into the service of the government in exchange for lighter prison sentences.
Charles Roven and Peter Safran are attached as producers. Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder are acting as executive producers.
The Warner Bros film is slated to be released in August 2021.

Will Smith not returning for 'Suicide Squad' sequel

Actor Emma Thompson, who pulled out of the production of "Luck" over the hiring of John Lasseter by Skydance, has written a letter, explaining why she found it difficult to work with someone with a history of sexual misconduct.
Lasseter, a co-founder of Pixar and former chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, had to quit from his post after a number of women came forward with allegations of sexual exploitation against him.
He was hired to head Skydance animation in January this year, prompting Thompson to quit the the film.
"It feels very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr Lasseter's pattern of misconduct given the present climate in which people with the kind of power that you have can reasonably be expected to step up to the plate," the Oscar-winning actor wrote in her letter, sent to the Los Angeles Times.
The 59-year-old actor said while she understood that the "situation was complicated" because it involved too many people, .

Why should John Lasseter be given a second chance, asks Emma Thompson

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar will donate Rs one crore to the Indian army to honour the soldiers who were martyred in Pulwama terror attack, her brother Hridaynath said in a statement.
Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Charitable Trust will also donate Rs five lakh, he announced.
"We salute the sacrifice of those who stand at the borders for our welfare. This is our humble contribution," Hridaynath said.
The cheque will be given at the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Awards ceremony at the Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai on April 24.
Forty CRPF soldiers were killed and five others critically injured when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle laden with explosives into their bus on February 14.
The Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the attack on the convoy of 78 vehicles that was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar.

Lata Mangeshkar announces Rs 1 crore help to Indian Army

"Aquaman" star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is in negotiations to star in filmmaker Jordan Peele's new "Candyman" film.
Peele, who won an Oscar for his directorial "Get Out", will co-write and co-produce the new project which will be a "retelling" of the 1992 horror film, reported Variety.
The original film featured Tony Todd as the hook-weilding supernatural killer who, according to a legend, appears after his name is called five times.
The film was directed by Bernard Rose from Clive Barker's script that the scribe adapted from his short story "The Forbidden".
MGM has partnered with Peele's Monkeypaw Productions and Win Rosenfeld to produce the new project.
The new film, being called a "spiritual sequel" to the original, will be directed by Nia DaCosta from a script by Rosenfeld and Peele.
The story of the film returns to the same neighbourhood where the legend of Candyman began, a section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood.
The new film has a release date of ...

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in talks for Jordan Peele's new 'Candyman' film

Sony Pictures International Productions is joining hands with Mahesh Babu for Telugu film, "Major" based on the life of 2008 Mumbai terror attack martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.
The bilingual film, which is the studio's foray into Telugu industry, will be made under the South star's production house G Mahesh Babu Entertainment (GMB).
"Major" is inspired by the life of Major Sandeep, the brave NSG commando, who saved several hostages during the 26/11 attack at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and sacrificed his life for the nation. Major Sandeep was decorated with the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest military honour in peacetime.
Actor Adivi Sesh will play the lead and has also penned the film.
"Major" will be directed by Shashikiran Tikka. The actor-director duo have already collaborated on 2018's hit "Goodachari".
Vivek Krishnani, MD, Sony Pictures Entertainment in India, said the team is looking forward to the project.
"We are excited to partner with Mahesh and Namrata who are such ...

Sony Pictures collaborates with Mahesh Babu for its first Telugu film

Zoya Akhtar says "Made in Heaven" is more of a satire on the "hoopla" around weddings in India than the institution of marriage.
Zoya, who is having a great run at the movies with the box office and critical success of "Gully Boy", has co-created Amazon Prime Video's latest India original with longtime collaborator Reema Kagti.
"Made in Heaven" had its world premiere at MAMI Tuesday, which was followed by a Q&A session.
"It's not as much a satire on marriages as it is on weddings because in India, people give prominence to your wedding day, there's a lot of projection involved. It can be a beautiful and a sacred union if you are with the person you want to spend your life," she said.
"But I don't understand the hoopla around it. It's the behind the scenes for the event that we borrow money for, go into debt... It's more that than actual marriage," she added.
The drama reflects the lives of upscale modern India, narrated through the eyes of two wedding planners, set against the ...

'Made in Heaven' more a satire on Indian weddings than marriage: Zoya Akhtar

Producer-director Dinesh Vijan is a man with a plan.
Vijan, who last year produced Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer "Stree", hopes to build cinematic universe in the horror-comedy genre.
After "Stree", the producer on Wednesday announced horror-comedy, "Rooh-Afza", which he will follow-up with "Munjha", another project in the same space.
"There are three horror comedies which are being developed and then they will start meeting (at some point). There will be 'Stree 2', after 'Rooh-Afza' and 'Munjha'.
"After that there will be 'Rooh-Afza 2' and 'Munjha 2'. The sequels will kind of meet each other, just cross paths," Vijan told PTI in an interview.
The producer says while shooting for "Stree", which was one of the major hits of 2018, they started developing "Rooh-Afza", about a singing ghost who puts grooms to sleep on their wedding nights to possess their brides.
He said the third film, "Munjha", will revolve around a male ghost looking for his bride. "Stree" was about a ...

Dinesh Vijan's vision: Creating a horror comedy universe in Bollywood

Actor Amrita Puri says collaborating with Rajkummar Rao for "Mental Hai Kya" after "Kai Po Che" felt like homecoming.
The actor will be seen in the upcoming Kangana Ranaut starrer, penned by "Manmarziyaan" writer Kanika Dhillon.
"I've worked with Raj before in 'Kai Po Che' so I was so excited to be paired up with him again. It just felt like home coming. We had a great rapport earlier and had the same again in 'Mental Hai Kya'. I've always admired Kangana's work as well," Amrita told PTI.
The actor was recently seen in "Four More Shots Please" and next stars in Amazon's "Made In Heaven".
"This is a fun time for me because whatever I shot last year, it's coming out together. 'Made in heaven', 'Four More Shots', 'Mental Hai Kya' are all very different stories. You'll see me in a variety of roles," she says.
Amrita, who made her debut in 2010 with "Aisha", believes opportunities for strong women roles are few in the industry.
"You have to try and find a way around. You've to look for ...

Working with Rajkummar felt like homecoming: Amrita on 'Mental Hai Kya'

Michael Jackson's family has defended the singer days before the premiere of the explosive HBO docuseries "Leaving Neverland", which focuses on longtime accusations of child sex abuse against Jackson.
The family said the documentary, which had its premiere at Sundance to great critical reviews, is an attempt at cashing in money from the late singer's estate.
The kin -- elder brothers Jackie, Marlon and nephew Taj -- came forward in Jackson's support and said his "naivete was his downfall" in a clip from an interview with Gayle King on "CBS This Morning".
The four-part documentary, directed and produced by Dan Reed, revolves around Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 40, who were close to Jackson and had sleepovers at his Neverland ranch when they were minors.
Taj said the singer's "sleepovers" with children had nothing odd about them.
"You know, I think, to the outside world, yes, I think it can be odd. I mean, I'm not oblivious to what it sounds like. But when you're actually there 

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