Category: Entertainment

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Webtoon Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation to co-produce adaptations of 10 popular webcomics

Webtoon Entertainment will bring a batch of stories that originated on mobile phones to life as animated projects under a new deal with Warner Bros. Animation. The companies intend to enter into an agreement to co-produce 10 fan-favorite Webtoon webcomics series for global distribution.

The collaboration is a “significant expansion of Webtoon Entertainment’s animation pipeline,” according to the company. Projects are to be selected from the company’s Korean- and English-language platforms, with development support from Webtoon Entertainment’s U.S.-based Webtoon Productions and Japanese intellectual-property business teams.

The projects Webtoon plans to co-produce with Warner Bros. Animation could be films or series, but right now it’s early in the process — and no release dates have been targeted yet. The creators of the original Webtoon webcomics own the IP and, under their agreements with the company, will receive a share of revenue generated from the animation projects, said Yongsoo Kim, Webtoon Entertainment’s chief strategy officer and head of global.

“Our creators are building franchises that Gen Z audiences love, and working with Warner Bros. Animation gives us an incredible opportunity to take those stories further alongside one of the most respected names in animation,” said Kim.

Other Webtoon Entertainment adaptations are available on Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Sony’s Crunchyroll and other platforms. The company’s content partners include Disney, Discord, HYBE and DC Comics. Webtoon, a pioneer in the webcomic format, has about 155 million monthly active users globally.

Warner Bros. Animation is home to animated characters from the DC, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. WBA recently released original anime feature film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” with New Line Cinema and “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” released on March 14, 2025, with Ketchup Entertainment.

“Bringing together the world-class artistry of Warner Bros. Animation and the vibrant storytelling of Webtoon creates an awesome combination and opportunity to build something special,” said Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe.

Sinbae Kim, chief growth officer of LINE Digital Frontier, leads Webtoon’s global animation efforts and was involved in inking the Warner Bros. Animation deal. According to Kim, Webtoon has a “unique ability to discover original voices, nurture global fandoms and build the next generation of franchise storytelling from the ground up… This partnership with Warner Bros. Animation is an exciting next step in that journey — one that expands what’s possible for our creators, our studios and our fans.”

“From hits like ‘True Beauty,’ ‘Clevatess’ and ‘Tower of God’ to many more adaptations in progress, we’re proving that great stories can start on a phone screen and grow into global entertainment phenomena,” said Kim. (Variety)

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Tom Cruise receives honorary Oscar

Tom Cruise accepted an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night, delivering an emotional speech about his lifelong passion for filmmaking.

The Academy Honorary Award was presented by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who is directing Cruise in an unnamed film slated for release next year.

The four-time Oscar-nominated actor described filmmaking as not just a job, but “who I am”.

“It takes me around the world,” Cruise told the audience in the Ray Dolby Ballroom.

“It helps me to appreciate and respect differences. It shows me, also, our shared humanity, how alike we are in so, so many ways.

“And no matter where we come from, in that theatre, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together, and that is the power of this art form. And that is why it matters; that is why it matters to me. So, making films is not what I do; it is who I am.”

The Mission: Impossible star was honoured alongside singer Dolly Parton, choreographer Debbie Allen, and Do the Right Thing production designer Wynn Thomas.

Historically, many recipients of the prize have not yet won a competitive Academy Award themselves.

Cruise has been nominated twice for Best Actor in Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire, once for Supporting Actor in Magnolia, and once as a producer for Best Picture with Top Gun: Maverick.

He told the crowd his love for cinema began at a young age.

“My love for cinema began at a very early age, as early as I can remember,” Cruise said.

“I was just a little kid in a darkened theatre, and I remember that beam of light just cut across the room, and I remember looking up, and it seemed to be just exploding on the screen. Suddenly, the world was so much larger than the one that I knew.”

Dolly Parton was recognised with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long charitable endeavours.

Parton, who could not attend due to health concerns, sent her thanks via video.

When Cruise’s award was announced in June, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Janet Yang hailed Cruise’s “incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community”.

“This year’s Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact,” she said.

The Oscar nominations will be announced on 22 January 2026. The Academy Awards will take place on 15 March. (RTE)

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Jim Carrey in talks to star in ‘Jetsons’ live-action movie for Colin Trevorrow

Jim Carrey is zooming toward a live-action feature version of The Jetsons.

The actor is in talks to star in the project from Warner Bros. Pictures that has Colin Trevorrow attached to direct. Trevorrow and Joe Esptein are in talks to pen the script.

The Jetsons, which debuted as an animated comedy series on ABC in 1962, centered on a futuristic family comprised of George Jetson, wife Jane, their two kids, robot housekeeper Rosie and dog Astro. Hanna-Barbera produced the Space Age show that counted William Hanna and Joseph Barbera as co-creators.

Back in 2017, ABC ordered a pilot for a live-action television version from executive producer Robert Zemeckis. The project did not end up going to series.at counted William Hanna and Joseph Barbera as co-creators.

Carrey’s recent film credits have mostly been limited to his portrayal of Dr. Robotnik in Paramount’s live-action Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, with the actor playing a dual role in last year’s third theatrical installment. Carrey’s last movie outside of the Sonic series was the drama Dark Crimes that made its festival premiere in 2016.

Trevorrow’s latest feature as a director was 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion. Epstein served as showrunner and executive producer of the HBO series The Idol.

The Wrap was first to report on Carrey’s involvement. (THR)


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Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton dead at 79 –  Report

Actress Diane Keaton, known for her Oscar-winning performance in 1977’s “Annie Hall” and her role in “The Godfather” films, has died at age 79, People magazine reported Saturday.

Details were not immediately available, and Keaton’s loved ones have asked for privacy, a family spokesperson told People, which confirmed that the actress died in California.

Keaton, a style icon, was a frequent collaborator of director Woody Allen , portraying the titular character in “Annie Hall,” the charming girlfriend of Allen’s comic Alvy Singer.

The film also garnered Oscars for best picture, best director and best original screenplay, cementing Keaton’s place as one of the industry’s top actresses and an offbeat style icon as well.

The actress made her mark co-starring in eight Allen movies, from “Play in Again Sam” (1972) to “Manhattan” (1979) and “Manhattan Murder Mystery” (1993).

As the Hollywood sexual harassment scandals detonated in late 2017, cascading from producer Harvey Weinstein to heavyweight actors like Kevin Spacey, old accusations of child sex abuse against Allen by his adoptive daughter Dylan, resurfaced.

“Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him,” Keaton tweeted in January 2018.

A BAFTA and Golden Globe winner, Keaton scored Oscar nominations three other times for best actress, for “Reds,” “Marvin’s Room” and “Something’s Gotta Give.”

In “The Godfather” films, she played Kay Adams, the girlfriend and eventual wife of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone.

Late in her career, Keaton starred in two movies about ageing women: “Book Club” (2018), with its message that love has no age, and “Poms” (2019).

“Poms” is the story of Martha, a terminally ill woman who moves to a retirement community to die, but winds up forming a cheerleading squad made up of female senior citizens.

As for ageing, Keaton said in a 2019 interview with AFP that life actually got easier.

“I think so, because what have you got to lose? It’s like it’s the truth. That’s what it is. You face it, we talk about it,” she said.

Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles on January 5, 1946, Keaton was romantically involved with Allen, Pacino and Warren Beatty, but never married.

“Most people in the movies get married at some point, and then they divorce. But I’ve never even got married. I am (a) failure,” she joked in the 2019 interview.

Did she regret it? “I don’t think about it a lot, but I’m aware of the fact that I’m unusual in that regard, and maybe I did miss out on something — but then, nobody can have everything, right?”

She is survived by her two children, Dexter and Duke. (Punch)

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Fela influenced me, but didn’t inspire my music — Burna Boy

Nigerian music star Burna Boy, born Damini Ogulu, has clarified the role of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti in shaping his career in a recent interview with tennis icon Roger Federer on Complex’s GOAT Talk.

The episode, titled “Burna Boy & Roger Federer Debate The Best & Worst Things Ever”, originally aired on YouTube on September 24 and has recently resurfaced online, giving fans an intimate look at the superstar’s influences, personal tastes, and the cherished traditions that shaped him.

During the conversation, Federer asked Burna Boy about the albums he considers the greatest of all time.

The Afro star listed a wide range of classics, including Joe’s My Name Is Joe, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III, and 2Pac’s Makaveli.

He also emphasised all of Fela Kuti’s albums. However, when pressed on which of these works inspired him the most, Burna Boy said, “Honestly, none. I promise you. But, well, Fela was a big influence on me.”

He explained that Fela’s records were part of the soundtrack of his childhood, shaping his environment and awareness of Afrobeat, even if they did not directly guide his own music.

Burna Boy also shared that his first albums included the Joe album he received for his 10th birthday, alongside Fela’s full collection from his grandfather, emphasising that every Fela album remains a “goat album” in his eyes.

“First album, I got the Joe album for my 10th birthday gift… I got all Fela albums from my granddad. So every Fela album is a goat album. Lil Wayne’s The Carter III. Tupac’s Makaveli.”

The interview offered fans a peek into Burna Boy’s broader musical taste, listing rappers like Tupac, Big Pun, J-Hus, and DMX across generations, and citing singers, including Fuji artists like Saeed Osupa, as well as global icons such as Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Freddie Mercury.

He also recounted how Freddie Mercury and Queen were part of his father’s musical influence, showing a blend of both African and international inspirations in his upbringing.

Beyond music, Burna Boy delved into more personal aspects of his life. He revealed the origin of his stage name, linking it to a comic-book persona he created as a child, endowed with fire powers and the ability to fly.

“That’s actually how I got the name Burna Boy, because I wanted to be a character in the comic book,” he explained.

He also talked about family traditions, particularly Christmas, which he described as a sacred time to be home with loved ones.

Despite the demands of a professional schedule, he emphasised the importance of spending the day together.

Burna Boy painted a vivid picture of family Christmas celebrations, sharing how they prioritise presence over plans. He noted the challenge of juggling careers and traditions, but highlighted that the holiday remains a time for reconnecting, sharing meals, and creating lasting memories with extended family.

Food was another nostalgic topic, as Burna Boy reflected on his childhood favourites. He fondly remembered, “Fried yams and stew with all the meats you can get… Like beef or sausage… When I was a kid, I used to eat yams and sleep off on the bench.”

While Fela Kuti’s music played a formative role in his upbringing, Burna Boy makes it clear that his artistic journey has been guided by his own vision and experiences. (Punch)

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Diddy apologises for ‘disgusting, shameful’ actions

Sean “Diddy” Combs has apologised in court on Friday ahead of his sentencing on prostitution charges, telling a federal judge he has “changed for the better.”

“I can’t change the past, but I can change the future,” Diddy apologised for his actions and told Judge Arun Subramanian at the U.S. District Courthouse in Manhattan.

According to CNN, the music mogul apologised to former girlfriends Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another woman identified as “Jane,” both of whom accused him of abuse.

“My actions were disgusting, shameful and sick. I was sick from the drugs. I was out of control. I needed help, and I didn’t get the help.

“I lost all of my businesses and lost my career and destroyed my reputation, and most of all, I lost my self-respect,” he said.

“I have been humbled and broken to my core. I hate myself right now. I’ve been stripped down to nothing,” he added.

Combs broke down in tears as he addressed his mother, Janice Combs, who was seated in the courtroom. “You taught me better,” he said. “You raised me better.”

Prosecutors are seeking more than 11 years in prison, arguing that Combs is “unrepentant” and poses a risk to others. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told the court his behaviour is “something the public must be protected from.”

His lawyers painted a different picture, with attorney Nicole Westmoreland describing him as an entrepreneur who has supported social justice and the Black community. Lead counsel Marc Agnifilo said, “I don’t think he needs any more punishment.”

Combs’ children also spoke in his defence. Quincy Brown described him as a “changed man,” while Christian Combs asked the judge to “please give us grace and please give him mercy.”

Federal prosecutors last year accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise and organising drug-fuelled events. He denied wrongdoing but was convicted in July on two prostitution charges after a seven-week trial. The jury cleared him of racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

His legal team argued that he never led a criminal scheme and that his accusers participated willingly in the events.

(Punch)

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Lionel Richie reveals nickname for Michael Jackson due to poor hygiene

Lionel Richie has revealed details about the late Michael Jackson’s hygiene habits, which he said led to the singer earning the unsavory nickname “Smelly.”

The 76-year-old “All Night Long” singer made the revelation in his debut memoir, Truly, published Tuesday.

In the book, Richie wrote about how Jackson was “very close with his siblings and his mom,” but once he went solo, “making these monster albums, movies and videos, he was in charge of his own ship.”

“His day-to-day life was what you could call eccentric,” he said of his friend. “Like an absent-minded professor but still a kid.”

Richie noted that fellow music icon Quincy Jones would often tease Jackson by calling him “Smelly.”

“Michael would laugh too, realizing that he was oblivious to the fact that he hadn’t changed or washed his clothes for a couple of days or so,” the Grammy winner added. “We all have our quirks.”

Richie suggested that Jackson’s poor hygiene was a byproduct of his significant level of fame, as the King of Pop was constantly touring and had little time to run errands like visiting a department store.

“He was on tour performing in the elaborate costumes made for him by his stylists, or he was in his pajama bottoms and slippers in the studio or he was in his going-out attire,” he penned. “Or he was at home in something loose and comfortable so he could practice his dance moves and play with his menagerie of pets.”

Whenever Jackson “came to visit me, he was wearing whatever — jeans and a t-shirt,” Richie recalled. “And the jeans were either falling off him or too short to even be jeans and, well, smelly.”

Richie once asked the superstar about his pants, only to have him respond: “Lionel, I walked by a store in the Valley. The owner came out and gave me a free pair.”

The “Endless Love” singer further explained that Jackson couldn’t simply send his clothes to get drycleaned, because more often than not, his items wouldn’t be returned.

“Everybody kept something for a souvenir,” Richie said. “He just got into the habit of wearing the same pants until they were unwearable.”

Jackson has previously been described as “the dirtiest, most unsanitary person in Hollywood” by five of his former housekeepers.

In a 2014 interview with the New York Post, they claimed the singer “lived in a house of filth and urinated on the floor.”

“Michael sometimes ran around where the animals were, and he’d track… Poop throughout the house and think nothing of it,” Anonymous Maid 1 alleged. “Then, if you said something, he’d threaten to make doo-doo snowballs and throw it at you.” (Independent)

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AFRIMA lauds Tinubu, CBN for National Theatre revamp

The All Africa Music Awards has commended President Bola Tinubu, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Bankers’ Committee for their role in the successful revamp and unveiling of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

AFRIMA, in a Wednesday statement, described the restoration of the cultural landmark as a bold step in safeguarding Nigeria’s creative heritage and empowering the arts sector.

The historic edifice, originally opened in 1976, has been revamped and upgraded as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s creative economy. The project, undertaken by the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee as part of their commitment to giving back to the nation, was unveiled during the country’s 65th Independence anniversary celebrations on Wednesday.

The Bankers’ Committee had in July announced the completion of the renovation and upgrading of the facilities at the theatre.

The renovation covered different spaces, including the 4,000-seater main bowl, over 3,000-seater banquet hall, exhibition halls, cinemas, VIP spaces, actors’ changing rooms, industrial kitchen, over 300 new toilet cubicles, clinic, fire station, lobbies within the four National Theatre entrances and extensive roof repairs.

AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, described the development as a milestone for Nigeria’s cultural industries and a symbol of renewed confidence in the creative sector.

“The National Arts Theatre has played a crucial role in nurturing African creativity, serving for decades as a hub for music, theatre, film and cultural festivals. Its revival speaks volumes about Nigeria’s vision and the dedication of stakeholders like the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee to supporting the creative economy. This is not just a building restored, but a renewal of cultural confidence and an investment in future generations of Nigerian and African talent,” Dada said.

Beyond the theatre, AFRIMA used the occasion to congratulate Nigeria on its 65th Independence Anniversary. Dada hailed the country’s resilience and influence in shaping Africa’s creative and cultural industries, pointing to its leadership in music, film, fashion and digital culture.

“On behalf of the International Executive Committee of AFRIMA, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Nigeria as the country marks 65 years of independence. Nigeria remains a vital partner to AFRIMA and a key pillar of Africa’s cultural identity. Its creative energy continues to inspire not just the continent but the world,” he added.

He further noted that Nigeria’s role as host of the 9th AFRIMA had amplified African music on the global stage while promoting unity across the continent.

AFRIMA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting African music, nurturing young talent and using culture as a tool for continental pride and development. (Punch)

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Burna Boy, Wizkid, Ayra Starr top Spotify’s 2025 Afrobeats list

Spotify has named Afrobeats star, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, as one of the top Afrobeats artists of the year.

The list, unveiled by the streaming service in an Instagram post on Monday, is dominated by Nigerian artists.

Ranked alongside Burna Boy are Divine Ikubor, known as Rema; Balogun Ayodeji, popularly called Wizkid; Ahmed Ololade, Asake, and Ayra Starr, as the only female artist on the latest ranking.

Spotify posted:  “Afrobeats continues to expand its reach, with fans streaming artists such as #heisrema, #wizkidayo, and #burnaboygram from Nigeria to Brazil.

“Check out some of the top songs, artists, and countries fuelling the genre’s discovery and growth globally.”

The platform also unveiled the top Afrobeats songs on Spotify for 2025.

Accordingly, top songs are Santa by Ayra Starr; Rauw Alejandro; and Rvssian; Shake It To The Max (FLY) – Remix by MOLY, Shenseea, Silent Addy, and Skillibeng; Calm Down (with Selena Gomez) by Rema, featuring Selena Gomez, WE PRAY by Burna Boy, Coldplay, Elyanna, Little Simz, and TINT; and People by Libianca.Spotify also said Afrobeats songs were most discovered in 2025 in the US, Brazil, France, the UK, Germany, and Nigeria. (Vanguard)

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Jane Fonda relaunches Cold War-era Hollywood free speech movement

Jane Fonda and hundreds of Hollywood celebrities have relaunched a Cold War-era free speech protest movement, warning that the Trump administration is engaged in a coordinated campaign to silence critics.

Actors Natalie Portman, Sean Penn and Anne Hathaway are among the more than 550 signatories to the revived “Committee for the First Amendment,” along with director Spike Lee and “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin.

“This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs,” said a statement published on Wednesday.

It added: “Those forces have returned. And it is our turn to stand together in defense of our constitutional rights.”

U.S. actor and activist Fonda is spearheading the effort.

Her father, actor Henry Fonda, was an early member of the first “Committee for the First Amendment” in the 1940s.

Back in the early days of the Cold War, Senator Joseph McCarthy led draconian measures in the United States to stifle supposedly “Un-American” dissent, with a particular focus on Hollywood.

The original committee, which also featured Golden Age icons Judy Garland, Humphrey Bogart and Frank Sinatra, called out government repression and harassment, sending delegations to Washington and delivering radio broadcasts to highlight the threat.

The relaunch of the committee “is not a warning shot. This is the beginning of a sustained fight,” said its website.

It comes in the wake of Disney’s decision to briefly pull late-night show Jimmy Kimmel off-air following pressure from the U.S. government and its broadcast regulator.

Kimmel — who had made remarks about the killer of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk — was restored to the airwaves last week following widespread outrage over alleged government censorship.

The comedian described the efforts to silence him as “un-American.”

But President Donald Trump has described domestic media coverage of him as unduly negative and therefore “illegal.”

The newly reconstituted committee’s statement pledges to “stand together — fiercely united — to defend free speech and expression from this assault,” and warned Hollywood companies against succumbing to government pressure in future.

“And to those who profit from our work while threatening the livelihoods of everyday working people, bowing to government censorship, and cowering to brute intimidation: we see you and history will not forget,” it said. “This will not be the last you hear from us.” (JapanToday)