Harry Potter Director Has Idea For Perfect Voldemort casting

HBO’s Harry Potter Must Include This Crucial Neville Longbottom Story

Summary

Chris Columbus supports a Harry Potter TV series for better capturing book details. The series will offer a more comprehensive exploration of characters and plots. Cillian Murphy’s potential casting as Voldemort receives Columbus’s approval.

Chris Columbus, the director who brought the first two Harry Potter films to life, has expressed his enthusiasm for Max’s forthcoming television adaptation of the beloved series. In a recent interview, Columbus described a Harry Potter series as “a spectacular idea,” highlighting the advantages of a multi-episode format in capturing the rich details of J.K. Rowling’s novels.

Columbus noted the challenges of condensing extensive source material into feature-length films by reflecting on his experience with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He mentioned that despite efforts to include as much content as possible, the limitations of a two-hour and forty-minute runtime meant certain scenes had to be omitted. The episodic structure of the upcoming series, he believes, will allow for a more comprehensive exploration of the books’ narratives. And it’s possible that certain characters will get a deeper look. Including villains like Voldemort.

Related

Harry Potter’s Two-Way Mirror’s Original Purpose, Explained

There is another purpose for the two-way mirror in the Harry Potter movies that wasn’t explained.

Posts

Another Vote For Harry Potter Series’ Voldemort

Close

In a new interview with People, Columbus also addressed the discussions he’s heard about the series progress, and casting choices that have become a focal point of speculation. One possibility that’s popped up more than once is the casting of Cillian Murphy as the dark wizard Voldemort. Columbus expressed his support for this idea, stating, “Cillian is one of my favorite actors, so that would be amazing.” Murphy’s intense performances in roles such as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders and the titular character in Oppenheimer showcase his capacity to embody complex, formidable characters, making him a compelling choice for the Dark Lord. Columbus’s comments echo the man who originally played the character, Ralph Fiennes.

While the original Harry Potter film series featured memorable portrayals by actors like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, the new adaptation is expected to introduce a fresh cast to inhabit these iconic roles. This decision underscores a commitment to reimagining the series for a new generation, while also honoring the legacy of the original films. Columbus’s positive outlook on the project reflects a broader excitement within the creative community about the potential for television to offer a more expansive storytelling canvas.

Columbus’s positive outlook on the project reflects a broader excitement within the creative community about the potential for television to offer a more expansive storytelling canvas.

Chris Columbus’s endorsement of the Harry Potter television series highlights the potential for this adaptation to explore the depths of the Wizarding World in ways previously constrained by film runtimes. With thoughtful casting and a commitment to faithful storytelling, the series holds promise for both longtime fans and newcomers to the magical universe.

There has been quite a bit of discussion of actors that could step into the roles of some of the more well known characters, but there are also going to be some new hires for characters that haven’t been seen that much in the movies. So far, even characters like Dumbledore are up in the air. However, sooner or later the Harry Potter cast is going to start to get nailed down. So far, there’s been quite a few votes for Cillian Murphy to be among them when things are made official.

Harry Potter

When Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard, he enters a world beyond belief. Aside from continuing his studies at Hogwarts with best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must also face Voldemort and his dark wizarding forces. The Harry Potter franchise is a worldwide phenomenon, spanning seven books, eight movies, three spinoff movies, a stage play, and numerous video games.

More

HBO’s Harry Potter Must Include This Crucial Neville Longbottom Story

HBO needs to focus on one crucial Neville Longbottom story that the Harry Potter films neglected.

Posts

Sting, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform at FireAid benefit concert

Sting, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform at FireAid benefit concert

MARIA SHERMAN

Updated January 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM

1 / 5

FireAid – 3×2 for APNews

This combination of photos shows Sting, from left posing for photographers upon arrival for the premiere of the film ‘Emancipation’ in London, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, Lady Gaga attending the Critics Choice Awards celebration at The Savoy Hotel on Sunday, March 13, 2022, in London, and Billie Eilish arriving at the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Photos by Vianney Le Caer/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Invision/AP

NEW YORK (AP) — Sting, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are among the performers slated to take the stage at FireAid, a benefit concert for Los Angeles-area wildfire relief.

Announced last week, FireAid was originally scheduled to take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It will now take place in two venues: the Intuit Dome and the adjacent Kia Forum on Jan. 30.

It will be broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music, Apple TV+, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudum, Paramount+, Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps and YouTube. It will also be shown at select AMC Theatre locations in the U.S.

According to a press release, contributions to FireAid will “be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation, for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters … All proceeds from the FireAid benefit concert at Intuit Dome and Kia Forum will go directly to the event’s designated beneficiaries.”

The lineup also includes Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lil Baby, Pink, Rod Stewart, Gwen Stefani, Green Day, Jelly Roll, Gracie Abrams, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, Tate McRae and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Dave Matthews and John Mayer will perform live together for the first time.

On Sunday night, it was announced that Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Alanis Morissette, Anderson .Paak, Dawes, Graham Nash, John Fogerty, Stevie Wonder and the Black Crowes have also joined the lineup.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday at 12 p.m. PDT via Ticketmaster. Additional details about each venue’s lineup will be announced at a later date.

The event is being produced by Shelli, Irving, and the Azoff family with Live Nation and AEG Presents.

Since the wildfires started, celebrities and entertainment organizations have pledged millions to help those who have been displaced or lost their homes, including a $2.5 million contribution from Beyoncé to a newly launched LA Fire Relief Fund created by her charitable foundation, BeyGOOD.

Last week, the Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort with a $1 million donation. Thanks to additional contributions, they’ve already distributed $2 million in emergency aid.

The 67th annual Grammy Awards will still take place Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, though the Recording Academy has refocused the event to support relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires.

James Gunn Explains How DC Studios Will Differentiate DC Elseworlds From the DCU

When DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran announced their slate of films and TV series, the dynamic duo revealed an interconnected cinematic universe: the new DCU. While upcoming projects like Superman, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Clayface, The Brave and the Bold, Peacemaker, and Lanterns all exist and are set within the same shared universe as Creature Commandos, there’s something else: DC Elseworlds.

“The DCU’s a multiverse, but we’re going to be focusing on one universe from that multiverse,” Safran explained when unveiling Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters in 2023. “And if something isn’t DCU, we’re going to make that very clear.”

That includes films like Joker: Folie à Deux (which did not involve DC Studios) and HBO’s The Penguin, a spinoff of The Batman movie that takes place in its own continuity (along with its DC Studios-produced sequel, The Batman: Part II). The Max adult animated series Harley Quinn is under the DC Studios umbrella starting with its just-launched fifth season, but is not set in the same continuity as the animated Creature Commandos (and thus the DCU). Confused?

“All DC television & film projects are now under DC Studios. Because Harley Quinn was developed long before us we didn’t think it was fair to put the DC Studio fanfare on there,” Gunn wrote on Threads when asked why the animated DC Studios logo and fanfare — which depicts the Joe Shuster-designed Superman bursting free from chains — doesn’t precede episodes of The Penguin and Harley Quinn. “On Penguin, which we had a small hand in developing, we have a different DC Studios [animation] at the end.”

Gunn added that the studio is “currently working on the DC Studios Elseworlds opening” that will be attached to out-of-continuity projects like The Batman 2 and potential future spinoff series set in Matt Reeves’ Batman Epic Crime Saga. “Elseworlds” takes its name from the DC imprint that publishes standalone stories set outside regular DC comic book canon like Kingdom Come and Superman: Red Son.

In a recent interview, Gunn said DC Studios is “committed” to telling DC Elseworlds stories while also telling a “big, huge central story” across DCU movies and series.

“I want the freedom to tell Elseworlds stories. We want to be able to tell a story in which Superman is very different [from his DCU counterpart],” Gunn told the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “We want to play with these characters in different ways. One of the things I love about DC over Marvel comic books is that those things are much more plentiful — there’s many more Elseworlds stories, there’s many more presentations of Wonder Woman, and Batman, and Superman, especially, that you see them showing up in different ways in different Elseworlds stories.”

“I think that’s part of the fun of DC,” he continued. “Watchmen is the result of DC telling a story that’s outside of the continuity of DC Comics.”

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren defend land in 1923 season 2 trailer

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren are seen going to extraordinary lengths to defend their land in the new trailer for season 2 of 1923.

The preview for the hit Yellowstone prequel also gave viewers a glimpse of the chilling origin story of the fictional Dutton family’s ranch, which was passed down for seven generations.

In the latest teaser for 1923, it is clear that their home is being threatened by a group of wealthy elites trying to make ‘Montana a playground for the elite.’

‘I will destroy everything they’ve fought for,’ one man says, referring to the Dutton family’s legacy.

Later, Mirren declares that ‘anything worth having is worth fighting for’ as she steps up to protect what is hers.

The line was seemingly a nod to a line in Yellowstone, in which Kevin Costner, who plays John Dutton, says: ‘It’s the one constant in life. You build something worth having, someone’s gonna try to take it.’

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren are seen going to extraordinary lengths to defend their land in the new trailer for season 2 of 1923

Social media users were quick to react to the trailer, with many expressing their excitement and others admitting they were wary how the prequel will unfold after Yellowstone’s controversial final season.

‘Excited for this! February can’t get here fast enough,’ one X user tweeted.

Read More Harrison Ford films 2nd season of 1923 in Montana after long delay

Another wrote: ‘It looks SO good!!!!’

‘We already know the ending and that the family loses the land. Whats the point of watching 1923?’ a third questioned.

Another upset viewer wrote that they were not planning on watching because of ‘how poorly Yellowstone was treated.’

‘Do you think I’m gonna invest one second of my time into this? Mark this tweet, this show will fail because of how fouled up you treated your fans of Yellowstone,’ they tweeted.

While Yellowstone follows the current generation of the Dutton family and their control of the immense Yellowstone-Dutton ranch, the prequel shows 1883 and 1923 showcase previous generations of the family.

In December, following the Yellowstone finale, fans were treated to a preview for 1923’s upcoming second season, which returns on February 23 on Paramount+.

Ford (who plays Jacob Dutton) and Mirren (who stars as his wife Cara) are seen bracing for war over their land

Mirren pulled out a shotgun to protect her property

While Yellowstone follows the current generation of the Dutton family and their control of the immense Yellowstone-Dutton ranch, the prequel shows 1883 and 1923 showcase previous generations of the family

Ford (who plays Jacob Dutton) and Mirren (who stars as his wife Cara) are seen bracing for war over their land.

At one point Cara issues a gloomy prophecy as she tells her husband ‘this ranch will drive you to your death.’

‘This ranch is under attack,’ Jacob states, adding, ‘Our whole way of life is under attack.’

The trailer starts out with Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) — a nephew of the Dutton family patriarch — stating, ‘In Montana, there’s a war over my family’s land, and they’re losing it.’

Social media users were quick to react to the trailer, with many expressing their excitement and others admitting they were wary how the prequel will unfold after Yellowstone’s controversial final season

‘Excited for this! February can’t get here fast enough,’ one X user tweeted

Another upset viewer wrote that they were not planning on watching because of ‘how poorly Yellowstone was treated’

Cara is then pictured loading her rifle and looking outside, before the trailer cuts to a gun fight.

Spencer then informs someone on the phone that he is ‘coming home.’

The scene then shifts to Cara and Jacob, as she tells him, ‘Bring him home. Promise.’

‘I promise,’ he reassures her.

Meanwhile Timothy Dalton, who stars as evil land baron Donald Whitfield, tells his henchman Jerome Flynn (who plays Banner Creighton), ‘It’s time to build an army.’

In the next scene Creighton tells a friend, presumably about Whitfield, ‘I’ve never met a man who scares me. He scares me to death.’

He and two other men are then seen throwing a dead body into a rock quarry.

Meanwhile Jacob confronts Whitfield in his office, telling him, ‘I think this is about as far as I feel like being pushed.’

A quick montage of gun fights follows, before the trailer ends with Jacob stating: ‘We all sacrificed a lot, but this fight ain’t over.’

The show also stars Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra, Spencer’s love, along with Darren Mann, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, Sebastian Roché, and Jennifer Carpenter

The official description of Season 2 reads: ‘With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana’

The show also stars Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra, Spencer’s love, along with Darren Mann, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, Sebastian Roché, and Jennifer Carpenter.

While 1883 only ran one season, starring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as James Dillard Dutton and Margaret Dutton, 1923 is getting a second season.

The second season is set during, ‘a cruel winter,’ which leads to, ‘new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob and Cara back at Dutton ranch.’

‘With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana,’ the official description of Season 2 adds.

For fans who haven’t caught up with the first season, Paramount Network will broadcast a, ‘special linear airing,’ of 1923 Season 1

1923 is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor, David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Ben Richardson, Michael Friedman and Keith Cox

Paramount+ also recently gave the green light for a new spin-off that will feature Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), with Beth and Rip getting a new ranch of their own… after Beth kept her promise and killed her brother Jamie (Wes Bentley) for his involvement in their father John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) murder

‘Meanwhile, Alexandra sets off on her own harrowing trans-Atlantic journey to find Spencer and reclaim their love,’ the description concludes.

For fans who haven’t caught up with the first season, Paramount Network will broadcast a, ‘special linear airing,’ of 1923 Season 1.

1923 is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor, David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Ben Richardson, Michael Friedman and Keith Cox.

Paramount+ also recently gave the green light for a new spin-off that will feature Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), with Beth and Rip getting a new ranch of their own… after Beth kept her promise and killed her brother Jamie (Wes Bentley) for his involvement in their father John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) murder.

Keke Palmer comedy One of Them Days edges Mufasa in close race for No. 1

The Keke Palmer buddy comedy One of Them Days opened in first place on the North American box office charts on a particularly slow Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

The R-rated Sony release earned $11.6 million from 2,675 theatres, according to studio estimates Sunday, beating Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King by a hair. By the end of Monday’s holiday, Mufasa will have the edge, however.

One of Them Days cost only $14 million to produce, which it is expected to earn by Monday. The very well-reviewed buddy comedy stars Palmer and SZA as friends and roommates scrambling to get money for rent before their landlord evicts them. Notably it’s the first Black female-led theatrical comedy since Girls Trip came out in 2017 and it currently carries a stellar 96 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

But the marketplace was also quite weak overall. The total box office for Friday, Saturday and Sunday will add up to less than $80 million, according to data from Comscore, making it one of the worst Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekends since 1997.

“For an individual film like One of Them Days this was a great weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “You can still find success stories within what is overall a low grossing weekend for movie theatres.”

The Walt Disney Co.’s Mufasa was close by in second place with $11.5 million from the weekend, its fifth playing in theatres. Globally, the Barry Jenkins-directed prequel has made $588 million. It even beat a brand-new offering, the Blumhouse horror Wolf Man, which debuted in third place with $10.6 million from 3,354 North American theatres.

Writer-director Leigh Whannell’s monster tale starring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner did not enter theatres with great reviews. It currently carries a 53 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews don’t generally affect the success of horror movies in their first weekend, but audiences also gave it a lacklustre C- CinemaScore in exit polls. The Blumhouse production and Universal Pictures release cost a reported $25 million to make and is expected to reach $12 million by the close of Monday’s holiday.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was in fourth place with $8.6 million and Den of Thieves 2 rounded out the top five with $6.6 million.

In specialty releases, Brady Corbert’s 215-minute postwar epic The Brutalist expanded to 388 screens where it made nearly $2 million over the weekend. A24 reported that it sold out various 70mm and IMAX showings. The studio also re-released its Colman Domingo drama Sing Sing in theatres and prisons, where over 1 million incarcerated people in 46 states were able to view the film.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend has seen major successes in the past. Dergarabedian noted Bad Boys for Life, which had a three-day opening of $62.5 million in 2020, and American Sniper, which earned $89.3 in its first weekend in wide release in 2016.

“This is a year that’s going to get a big boost starting with Captain America: Brave New World and Paddington in Peru in February,” Dergarabedian said.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren Take on an ‘Army’ to Save Their Ranch in ‘1923’ Season 2 Trailer

The legacy of the Dutton family ranch led by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren is under threat in season 2 of 1923.

On Sunday, Jan. 19, the official trailer for the second installment of the Yellowstone prequel debuted during the NFL AFC Division Championship game. Amid harsh winter weather, a group of wealthy men are seen plotting to transform “Montana into a playground for the elite.”

Spencer (Brandon Sklenar, 34) finds himself in a race against time to get home to save his family, while Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer, 29) is on a quest of her own to reclaim their love, according to the official synopsis.

As the trailer begins, two men are sitting at a bar describing Spencer as a “war hero and stone killer” before vowing not to let him stop their plans for Montana. “I will destroy everything they’ve fought for,” one man says referring to the Dutton’s.

The elites gather to unveil their plans to transform the area into a ski resort in an increasingly tense situation.

Teasing that it won’t be possible to negotiate a deal, a man says: “I’m trying to prevent a war here,” with Jacob, played by Ford, 82, replying, “It ain’t preventable.”

Soon, a gun is pointed at Spencer during his arduous journey back to Montana, and the family is seen having to comfort themselves amid the challenges.

“I pray Spencer can get here,” Cara, played by Mirren, 79, says before a member of the elite turns to someone not shown on screen saying, “Time to build that army you promised me.”

Guns are at the ready at the Dutton ranch as the situation escalates. “Anything worth having is worth fighting for,” Cara says as the trailer concludes.

The spinoff series is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creators Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Ben Richardson, Michael Friedman and Keith Cox.

Harrison Ford confirmed that he would be returning for season 2 back in February 2023. However, production on the series was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Alongside the veteran actor, season 2 of 1923 stars Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, Sebastian Roché, Timothy Dalton and Jennifer Carpenter.

Sklenar gushed about his experience working with Ford and Mirren again while speaking to PEOPLE last month.

“To see people at their level and to be able to maintain such a deep level of humility and humanity and kindness is something that I’ll take with me forever because they are both just really special human beings and I think that that’s reflective in their work and how they’re revered by audiences and have been revered for so many years,” he said.

I, A Latina, Finally Watched Emilia Pérez After All The Controversy, And I Have To Talk About Its Glaring Issue

God… I really didn’t want to talk about Emilia Pérez, but here we are.

I am one of the biggest supporters of creating a movie that authentically represents certain groups of people. There are some great examples of representation out there, movies that really hit the mark and explore race and social justice or the complexities of gender or some other cause.

Other times, they don’t, and Emilia Pérez is a clear example of that.

There’s been a lot of rage over Emilia Pérez’s win at the 2025 Golden Globes, and as someone who hadn’t seen the film yet, I knew I needed to check it out. I’m a proud Latina and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and since a big part of the discourse revolved around that, I wanted to see the movie.

Yeah, those parts weren’t very well represented, in my opinion, and they also lacked a glaring issue of this film, and I have to talk about it.

Let me preface this by saying I am not Mexican, nor am I transgender. I am a proud Puerto Rican and bisexual. Still, I at least feel I can comment on this as part of the community in general – and I have to say that this movie is not properly representative of either of those communities.

I am the first person you could come to with a recommendation for the best Latino shows to watch, the best LGBTQ+ movies out there, or whatever it is that you are craving that truly represents these communities in such beautiful, artistic ways. Emilia Perez really tried and failed.

I’ll give the studio credit, at the very least, for casting a transgender actress to play Emilia. Personally, I really think the entire cast did well. Their acting was quite good. As a fan of Zoe Saldaña’s best movies, I think she did kill it in this film.

But that brings me to the next issue – Zoe Saldaña isn’t Mexican; she is mainly Dominican. Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays Emilia, is from Spain. Selena Gomez, with all due respect, is half-Mexican-American, and she is probably the closest any of these main stars are to being Mexican. There are so many amazingly talented Mexican actors out there, and while I’m sure there’s a reason why they went with these three, it just didn’t feel like it was as represented as it could have been.

Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto spoke to Deadline about how he feels this is not authentic Mexican portrayal.

There are just things they could have done better.

The same goes for representing the transgender community. Again, I can’t really make that much of a comment on that, as I am not a part of it. But from my outside perspective, it felt like the sensitivity of that subject wasn’t handled well. Even the LGBTQ+ organization GLADD said it wasn’t a great representation.

Emilia’s story felt as if it could have had heart, but it was lessened for cheap thrills towards the second half of the movie and essentially made the experience of transitioning almost into a joke.

Yeah, I can’t stand the music in this movie. Oh my god, someone tear off my ears.

Look, I know we’re all trying to make catchy musical music and it feels like most movie musicals (unless you’re Wicked breaking the box office) don’t do that well. But they can’t all be the best Lin Manuel-Miranda songs and be super catchy.

Emilia Pérez ‘s music is just fast-talking. There aren’t any real harmonies — half the music felt like words thrown at you with no real depth. The lyrics were not memorable, and the only part that everyone does know is that singular line when Rita (Saldaña) is in a hospital asking about how much it will cost for a gender transitioning surgery.

Yes, the only catchy part of this music is the line that degrades an entire community, and that is a problem.

I understand what they were going for — I really do — but I just can’t get behind it. The songs aren’t good, and the treatment of them makes the subject matter of this film even worse.

I honestly, deep down, believe this could have been a good movie — a great one, even.

The idea of a mafia boss wanting to leave their life behind and become a woman, something they always wanted and feel is their true body, is a story that could really work if given the proper treatment. Instead, it’s replaced by poor casting decisions and a storyline that is not handled with heart, mixed in with songs that are somehow trying to catch your attention but fail miserably.

This movie could have been good if it had the proper people behind it. But I personally think that the director (who, by the way, isn’t even of Latino descent) did a terrible job of accurately portraying Mexico (which he apologized for) and used a topic as sensitive as transitioning in probably one of the worst ways possible. All of it is topped off by songs that I feel were more to cause a stir than to actually entertain and serve the story.

And that’s the real shame – the potential of what could have been. But sadly, we’ll never know now.

Look, there are some out there to watch, but trust me when I say you should leave Emilia Pérez out of it. While I’m not sure what award-givers see in this film… but I’ll gladly skip it the next time I see it on my recommended page on Netflix.

Bobbi Arlo announced as first Eurosong contestant ahead of Eurovision 2025 | Hotpress

The rest of the Eurosong contestants will be revealed during The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 this week.

Alt-pop artist Bobbi Arlo has been announced as the first act in contention to represent Ireland at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

The Dubliner, who was a New Local Hero 2024 finalist during Irish Music Month in October, will go up against five other artists on the Late Late Eurosong Special on February 7. The winner will go on to fly the Irish flag in Basel, Switzerland, in May.

Entering with her song ‘Powerplay’, Arlo already has a flurry of hits to her name – like her 2021 single ‘Feel It’, which was nominated for Choice Prize Song of the Year and boasts hundreds of thousands of streams. Alongside her older brother and producer Adam, Arlo has made a healthy habit out of conjuring up juicy synth-crushed hyper-pop tracks, selling-out shows in Dublin and performing at festivals like Primavera Sound.

Bambie Thug represented Ireland at least year’s competition, finishing sixth with performance of ‘Doomsday Blue’. Switzerland’s Nemo was the overall winner with their track ‘The Code’.

The 2024 event, taking place in Malmö, Sweden, was also the source of controversy, much of which stemmed from organisers’ decision to allow Israel to take part and prevent Palestinian symbols from being displayed. The contest was ultimately reviewed by an “independent expert,” after the disqualification of the Netherlands’s contestant Joost Klein over an incident where he was alleged to have made verbal threats to a female production worker.

Theatre director Claire van Kampen dies on actor husband’s birthday

Daughter Juliet confirmed her mother’s death on behalf of her family.

READ MORE: One of Australia’s most recognisable stars blends in with crowds at AO

“Claire Louise van Kampen, Lady Rylance, has died this morning, Saturday the 18th of January at 11.47, in the ancient town of Kassel, Germany, surrounded by her family,” statement to People read.

“Claire has died of cancer on Mark Rylance’s 65th Birthday. Her youngest daughter having died in 2012, she leaves her eldest daughter, Juliet Rylance, her two husbands, and countless beloved friends in England and America.”

They described van Kampen as “one of the funniest and inspiring women we have ever known”.

READ MORE: Royal’s ‘dark’ admission after double cancer diagnosis

The statement ended by saying: “We thank her for imbuing our lives with her magic, music, laughter, and love.”

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

van Kampen joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1986 and became the first female musical director, according to BBC.

She met her husband at the Royal National Theatre a year later. The couple married in 1989.

READ MORE: When Amanda met Thomas, he was married. But one thing stood out to her

At the time van Kampen was mother to two daughters with her late ex-husband Christopher van Kampen.

Her youngest daughter Nataasha died in 2012 aged 28 from a suspected brain haemorrhage on a flight from New York.

In recent years, van Kampen worked as an associate and senior research fellow for early modern music at the Globe Theatre.

READ MORE: ‘Taboo’ link between these royals that has lasted centuries

Rylance said his late wife “completely changed [his] life” when they met, telling The Guardian she introduced him to “that world of classical and modern music, and it was very much around music that we fell in love”.

“Claire came to me with two children whom I raised with her and Chris, but we never had children of our own so, to some degree, our projects have been our children.

“They are incredible,” he said, adding that she’s “the rock of my life”.

In 2015 he won an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Rudolf Abel in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies.

The actor was knighted by Prince William in 2017 for his work in theatre and films alongside Victoria Beckham

Ted Lasso season 4 could start filming soon according to a mysterious statement from one of the actors

We have *potentially* good news for Ted Lasso fans, as one of the show’s main actors has seemingly teased season 4 of Apple TV+’s beloved show. Now, let’s not rush to conclusions, since the new episodes have not been officially confirmed, and season 3 is still considered the end of the series.

The statement that has fans assuming filming of the new season is imminent came from Nick Mohammed, who played AFC Richmond’s ambitious assistant coach Nate Shelley in the show. The actor teased his return to Ted Lasso in a video while announcing rescheduled dates for his Show Pony comedy tour.

When he explained the reasons for the scheduling conflict, Mohammed explained he has “some filming I have not been able to shift for love of money.” He added: “I cannot say what that filming is. But it will be announced shortly.”

“In the meantime, I would really appreciate if people just didn’t speculate as to what they think it might be. The last thing I want is for people to be going mad,” Mohammed continued, while holding up the iconic blue-and-yellow “BELIEVE” sign from Ted Lasso.

Of course, this cannot be considered an official confirmation for the show’s renewal, as it might have been a joke from Mohammed, or it could be referring to some other Ted Lasso-related project. However, this playful tease has now fans hoping for the show’s return.

Rumours for a new Ted Lasso season are not new, with Deadline reporting last summer that the show is hoping to be greenlighted along with three returning actors — Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Walton, Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, and Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins.

Ted Lasso season 3 ended with Roy Kent becoming AFC Richmond’s new coach, and Ted going back to the US, so Goldstein could become the new lead in the show. For now, we’ll have to wait and see.

Ted Lasso season 4 has not yet been confirmed. Seasons 1-3 are available to watch now on Apple TV Plus. For more check out the best Apple TV Plus shows, or keep up with new TV shows heading your way soon.