Film
How Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Landed Those Incredible Cameos
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is packed with more cameos than you can count on first viewing, as the “Weird” Al Yankovic-style approach to creating a musical biopic (i.e. — a parody of biopics) was able to lean heavily on the iconic musician’s address book to bring in big names. “All of the ridiculously famous legends came from Weird Al, but it was really fun, going out to all those people,” director Eric Appel tells Consequence. “It was Al personally reaching out to all of them, just showing me this list and saying ‘Hey, here’s all these people that are on my holiday card list — pick from them, I can call them personally.” Appel’s initial engagement with Yankovic began in 2013, when he made a trailer version of Weird as a Funny or Die exclusive — leaning hard into the tropes of dark and gr...
Julia Roberts Reveals Martin Luther King Jr. Paid Hospital Bill for Her Birth
Julia Roberts has revealed her special connection with Martin Luther King Jr., telling Gayle King (no relation) at a recent HISTORYTalks event that the late civil rights activist and his wife, Coretta Scott King, paid the hospital bill after she was born. “The King family paid for my hospital bill… Martin Luther King and Coretta,” Roberts said at the late September event held in Washington, DC. “My parents had a theater school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers Workshop, and one day Coretta Scott King called my mother and asked if her kids could be part of the school because they were having a hard time finding a place that would accept their kids. And my mom was like, ‘Sure, come on over.’ And they all became friends, and they helped us out of a jam.” Gayle King responded by praisin...
Shelley Duvall Returning for First Film Role in 20 Years
Shelley Duvall is returning for her first on-screen role in 20 years. As Deadline reports, The Shining actress is set to appear in the upcoming indie horror thriller The Forest Hills. She’ll play the mother of a man named Rico (played by Chiko Mendez), who is tormented by nightmarish visions after enduring head trauma while on a camping trip. Directed by Scott Goldberg, the film also stars Edward Furlong and Dee Wallace. Goldberg told EW that Duvall “was so sweet and kind. She was in great spirits and a true professional.” He also said she was “happy to be on camera.” Related Video Duvall previously announced her retirement from film in 2002 following an appearance in Manna from Heaven. Advertisement She later resurfaced for a 2016 appearance on Dr. Phil’s talk show, where she spoke candid...
Director Phyllis Nagy on Releasing Call Jane in a Post-Roe v. Wade World: “Women’s Rights Are Always Under Attack”
Phyllis Nagy knew it was coming. When the director was initially doing press for her new film Call Jane last January, during the Sundance Film Festival, she had a good sense that a looming Supreme Court decision would be bad news for American reproductive justice. “If you were in a sort of political activist space at all regarding women’s rights, you did know that something not very good was coming of that decision,” she tells Consequence on the eve of the film’s release. “What we didn’t know — what I certainly didn’t know was the violence with which it would be dispatched and the number of states that moved to implement already draconian reproductive rights laws. So this did send me reeling, and probably a whole lot of other people who worked on this, too.” Call Jane is a period piece tha...
Harvey Weinstein Defense Focuses on His Abnormal Testicles
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers are arguing during his Los Angeles sexual assault trial that his accusers are unreliable because their accounts failed to mention his abnormal testicles. The topic has already come up several times, Variety reports, and is expected to remain a focus of ensuing testimony. During opening statements to the jury, the prosecutor, deputy D.A. Paul Thompson, spoke about a 1999 surgery that relocated portions of Weinstein’s genitalia. “Because of an infection, his testicles were actually taken from his scrotum and put into his inner thighs,” he said. On October 24th, Jane Doe #1 took the stand. A European model who spoke with the help of a translator, she accused Weinstein of a violent hotel room assault in 2013. She said Weinstein forced her to perform or...
Animation Legend Henry Selick on What He’s Learned From The Nightmare Before Christmas to Wendell & Wild
Director Henry Selick clearly has a soft spot for the spookiest time of year, having brought The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, and now the new Netflix animated adventure Wendell & Wild to the screen. But here’s his favorite part of Halloween these days: getting to see trick-or-treaters in familiar costumes while distributing candy at his home. “I was delighted when more and more kids start showing up as Nightmare Before Christmas characters and then some Coraline characters,” he tells Consequence. “That’s my favorite, is kids dressed up as characters from films that I’ve worked on.” The best part is that the kids don’t know whose house they’ve arrived at, and, says Selick, “I’ve got a lot of puppets and memorabilia from all the films. So if the kids are dressed up like Nightmar...
Ariana Grande Debuts Blonde Hair Ahead of Playing Glinda in ‘Wicked’ Movie: See the Photo
Ariana Grande is becoming even more “Popular” thanks to her wicked new look. In a Wednesday (Oct. 26) Instagram post, the 29-year-old musician unveiled her newly blonde hair — dyed to match the golden tresses of Wicked character Glinda, whom Grande is set to play in an upcoming film adaptation of the musical — and her friends and fans alike are freaking out about it. In her latest IG photo, Grande poses with her eyes closed, head turned to the side to show off her brand new, soft yellow ponytail. Her eyebrows appear to be dyed to match the shade of her hair, mimicking the Good Witch of the North’s naturally blonde look. In spite of her gravity-defyingly big reveal, however, the “Positions” singer played coy in her caption. “New earrings,” she simply wrote. Nevertheless, people in the comme...
The Guardians of the Galaxy Kidnap Kevin Bacon in Trailer for Holiday Special: Watch
Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is depressed and his friends decide to bring him a very special present in the new trailer for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. James Gunn, who wrote and directed the script, announced the trailer on social media with the words, “Our holiday gift to you.” The Holiday Special airs November 25th on Disney+, and features some literal-minded Guardians attempting to procure one of Star-Lord’s favorite things: the actor Kevin Bacon. Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista) hope that Bacon’s presence will be a nice present, establishing Bacon as a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and leading to a madcap chase you can check out below. Advertisement Related Video It’s unknown how The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will...
James Cameron Says Marvel and DC Characters “Act Like They’re in College”
James Cameron has joined the ranks of esteemed directors who have criticized comic book movies. In a New York Times interview, he said Marvel and DC characters don’t weigh the risks like the heroes in his new movie, Avatar: The Way of Water, who are now parents. According to Cameron, they instead “act like they’re in college” regardless of their personal lives. “When I look at these big, spectacular films — I’m looking at you, Marvel and DC — it doesn’t matter how old the characters are, they all act like they’re in college,” Cameron said. “They have relationships, but they really don’t. They never hang up their spurs because of their kids. The things that really ground us and give us power, love, and a purpose? Those characters don’t experience it, and I think that’s not the way to m...
James Gunn Named Co-Head of DC Studios with Peter Safran
DC Studios’ long search for a creative leader has come to an end, as James Gunn, the quippy filmmaker behind Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and DC’s The Suicide Squad, has been tapped as co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He’ll divide responsibilities with Peter Safran, a longtime talent manager turned producer who not only worked on DC films such as Aquaman and Shazam!, but also helped build up the Conjuring universe. Gunn and Safron said in a joint statement, “We’re honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children. We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual...
Leslie Jordan Killed in Car Crash After Suffering Medical Emergency
Leslie Jordan, the beloved actor, writer, and singer, has died at the age of 67. TMZ reports that Jordan died Monday (October 24th) after suffering a medical emergency and crashing his car into the side of a building. “The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,” said Jordan’s agent David Shaul in a statement confirming his death. “Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner, and human being. Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today.” A native of...
20 Stars Who Almost Have an EGOT
Awards and the entertainment industry go hand in hand, as celebrating the accomplishments of people within the industry and recognizing entertainment legends is now an ingrained part of the culture. While winning multiple awards for one’s achievements is seen as evidence of exemplary talent, winning awards at the four most prominent ceremonies — to EGOT — is an entirely different story. EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winners are seen as the best of the best within their respective crowds. First coined by actor Philip Michael Thomas in 1984, its an accomplishment that many within the entertainment industry strive for. However, as of 2022 only 17 people have ever achieved the status, including John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Robert Lopez, Mel Brooks, Alan Menken, Whoopi Goldberg, and Audrey ...
