Emma Stefansky
Because We’re in the Future Now, A.I. Is Starting to Choose Our Movies for Us
Growing up means realizing that we don’t live in the Jetsons’ version of the future, with instant meals and flying cars, but one that’s run by data and analytics. Hollywood has been inching into the data game, as companies develop software that has the ability to use information from a screenplay or a trailer to predict box office ticket sales. In the future, robots might be choosing our movies for us. It’s already happening now.
‘Coming to America’ Sequel in the Works at Paramount, With the Original Writers
Fans of romantic comedies, vintage Eddie Murphy and the wave of ’80s/’90s nostalgia we’re all riding, listen up: Coming to America is officially getting a sequel at Paramount. Today, the studio announced that the original writers — Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield — are coming back to pen part two, but there’s no word yet on whether Murphy will be back to reprise his role as the African prince.
What, You Thought Meryl Streep Wasn’t Going to Be an Oscar Presenter?
Meryl Streep is getting another opportunity to spit some political fire all over the Dolby Theatre on Sunday. Today the Academy revealed that yes, of course Streep would be among the presenters at this year’s ceremony, probably hoping for another rousing speech from the actress who’s made it known that she won’t take any nonsense from anyone, not even from the highest office in the land.
Former President Barack Obama Watched Everything from ‘La La Land’ to ‘Monster Trucks’ in the White House
It’s no secret that Barack Obama is a total cinephile — last year he and Michelle named their favorite films of 2015 (The Martian and Inside Out, respectively), and a few months ago he even listed his favorite sci-fi movies (mostly the agreed-upon classics). Being the President comes with its fair share of perks, including first access to any new releases he wants to watch. Now we know what was on the list he requested for his swanky White House screening room.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ Featurette Asks the Question: Why Remake Something That’s Perfect?
There}s one big question surrounding the upcoming live-action take on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: Why remake something that’s considered by most to be Disney’s most perfect movie? We can write all the Stockholm syndrome thinkpieces that we want, but Beauty and the Beast still holds up as one of the studio’s animation and storytelling high points during the Disney renaissance of the ’90s (which includes The Lion King, Pocahontas, Aladdin, and Mulan). So why bother to even try to come close?
‘Fifty Shades Darker’ Stars Forbidden From Making Sex Jokes During the Press Tour
Apparently the press tour for Fifty Shades of Grey in 2015 was just much too sexy, because Universal has slapped a gag order right onto the faces of the Fifty Shades Darker stars, forbidding them from making any sorts of innuendoes while promoting a movie about sex, lies, and BDSM.
Celine Dion Will Sing an Original Song for Disney’s Live-Action ‘Beauty and the Beast’
If anything, the live-action Beauty and the Beast will give us all the urge to curl up with some nice, cozy nostalgia for a few hours. With its faithful-to-the-cartoon costumes and songs, it’ll be like a leveled-up version of the classic, and today Disney has doubled-down on the nostalgia factor: Celine Dion, who recorded her own version of the title tune “Beauty and the Beast” for the original movie, is returning to the story with a new original song “How Does a Moment Last Forever.”
‘Fifty Shades Darker’ Releases Star-Studded Official Tracklist For Your Inner Goddess to Dance Along With
Say what you will about Fifty Shades of Grey, that movie had some veritable bangers on its soundtrack: from The Weeknd’s “Earned It” to Beyonce’s sultry “Crazy in Love” cover, that movie’s tracklist practically outdid the movie itself. If only the Fifty Shades series was a trilogy of jukebox musicals featuring all of today’s Top 40 hits. Alas. Today, the Fifty Shades Darker official soundtrack was released, and it has even more big names listed on it than the first.
New ‘Beauty and the Beast’ TV Spot Shows How Charming the Beast Can Be (Not Very)
Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast hits theaters a little more than two months form now (!!!), and they’re already rolling out the TV spots. We’ve seen Belle meet the Beast and try to talk to a hairbrush, and now the Beast is getting a little bit of dating advice from his animate inanimate pals.
Oscar Isaac’s Touching Tribute to Carrie Fisher Comes From the Set of ‘Episode VIII’
With Carrie Fisher’s death came an overwhelming amount of tributes and love from her friends and co-stars. A ton of celebrities took to social media to share their grief and funny anecdotes with the rest of us, including many who had known her in a galaxy far, far away. Oscar Isaac, who plays Poe Dameron in the new Star Wars trilogy, shared a photo of Fisher and Mark Hamill on his Facebook page.
Listen to a Soundbite of Emma Watson Singing in ‘Beauty and the Beast’
With the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast officially one of the most anticipated movies of next year, and a trailer that looks just like the original cartoon (except with, you know, real people) we’ve all been dying to know what they sound like singing those iconic songs. I, for one, am most excited for Luke Evans to belt “Gaston” with as much gusto as the song allows for (a lot), but a ton of other classics will make their way into the picture, from the furniture and cutlery ensemble number “Be Our Guest” to the theme “Beauty and the Beast.” There’s been no official soundtrack release yet, but today we’ve gotten our first listen to Emma Watson’s Belle singing her part of the movie’s opening number.
Pennywise Floats Awkwardly Inside a Sewer Pipe in a New ‘It’ Remake Image
’Tis the season for images of movies that none of us will be able to see until months from now! The latest was a kind of Christmas present from the folks over at the remake of Stephen King’s It, but unfortunately it’s more awkward than scary. The image shows Pennywise — who else? — lurking inside a larger-than-life sewer pipe, seemingly floating somehow above the ground.