‘Bel-Air’ Star Jabari Banks’ Big Plans: Becoming a Rap Star and Eventually Opening His Own Disneyland

Emmerdale and Waterloo Road star Adam Thomas has launched his second The Spinn restaurant in Stockport's rapidly burgeoning Underbanks district. It follows on from the launch of his first The Spinn restaurant with his best pal Scott Graham in Gatley in 2019.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeSo did a lot of folks. That year’s virtual Emmys experienced a winning streak like no other for “Schitt’s Creek,” which won outstanding comedy, as well as trophies for stars Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy (not to mention wins for writing, directing and more).It was the right show at the right time, and TV Academy voters clearly agreed.

The Walking Dead spin-off Isle Of The Dead, sparking speculation of a crossover.Debnam-Carey, who played Alicia Clark in spin-off Fear The Walking Dead, left the show after seven seasons last month. In her final episode, titled ‘Amina’, Clark is seen venturing out on a new mission after seemingly surviving her walker bite.On Monday (June 6), Morgan, who plays Negan in the main show, praised Debnam-Carey’s performance and invited her to join filming on Isle Of The Dead in New York.“To the incredible @DebnamCarey,” Morgan wrote on Twitter. “You kick ass.

Selome Hailu Jabari Banks is leaning into the comparisons to Will Smith.The 23-year-old stars as Will in Peacock’s “Bel-Air,” which reimagines Smith’s famed ’90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” as a drama, but he began modeling his career goals after Smith’s long before the project’s conception.“It’s cosmic. I don’t know how to explain it,” he says of the uncanny similarities among his story, Smith’s and the fictionalized Will’s. For example, there’s the last name Banks, which he shares with Will’s aunt, uncle and cousins in the show, as well as their shared Philadelphia upbringing.There’s also the breadth of both Banks’ and Smith’s artistry.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeJames Marsden, who starred in the first season of HBO’s “Westworld” and recurred in its second season, is coming back. The network announced the news on Saturday at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, where Marsden made a surprise appearance during a panel promoting the show’s Season 4.Also as part of the panel, HBO released key art for the new season, which returns Sunday, June 26 at 9 p.m.

Not only is that just a 33% drop from the Tom Cruise film’s $126.7 million 3-day opening, but it is also higher than the opening weekend of every other film in Cruise’s career, including every “Mission: Impossible” film. With this result, “Top Gun: Maverick” will see its domestic total soar to $290 million by the end of the weekend, already making it the top domestic grosser of Cruise’s career before inflation adjustment.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeStill not enough? In March, Peacock debuted the comedy series “Bust Down,” which Jay co-created and stars in alongside Chris Redd, Langston Kerman and Jak Knight. With so many gigs all at once, at this year’s WGA Awards, Jay pulled off a triple nomination in the comedy/variety sketch series category for her work on “SNL,” “Michael Che” and “Pause.” But here’s the thing: This all happened mostly during an age of lockdowns, social distancing, quarantines and masks.

Superheroes aren’t the only ones making an impact at the box office. According to Deadline, "Top Gun: Maverick" is ranking $150 million over four days – the best opening for the film’s lead Tom Cruise. Comscore shared that over Memorial Day weekend, the "Top Gun" sequel now takes the place of the highest grossing movie over the holiday weekend.

(CNN)Wynonna Judd has decided to turn what would have been her and her mother's final tour into a tribute to her.Naomi Judd died by suicide in April at the age of 76. Her daughter shared at a public memorial for her last week that she planned to continue on with "The Judds: The Final Tour" in her honor.On Thursday, a revised tour, titled "the Ultimate Girls Night Out," will include appearances by fellow artists Brandi Carlile, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Ashley McBryde, Trisha Yearwood and others to be announced at a later date."I am humbled, once again, by the loyalty of the fans who have been with us for 38+ years, who continue to show up for me when I need them the most," Wynonna Judd said in a statement.

Javier Hernandez has opened up on his heartbreak after a tough few years in his personal life.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe night before HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere” was set to shoot an episode revolving around a tornado, a real one came close to the show’s set. “Somebody Somewhere” star Bridget Everett recounted to Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast how life imitated art that day, and vice versa.“There was a real tornado that ripped through Naperville (Ill.) and also not far from where we were staying in Lamont,” she says.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeVillage Roadshow Television has secured the life rights of civil rights, religious and political leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson to adapt his story into a limited series. The company is working closely with Rev.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThose “specific people” showed up at the Variety offices in costume as the mysterious guards (aka “pink soldiers”) from “Squid Game,” complete with iconic circle/triangle/square masks. They came bearing an invitation to Netflix’s FYSee Emmy events space at Raleigh Studios, along with a box of donuts.The brutal South Korean drama about class, power, wealth and kiddie games clearly remains an awards priority for the streamer — particularly after this year’s SAG Awards garnered wins including male actor (Lee Jung-Jae) and female actor (Jung Ho-yeon).

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeFormer “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett’s directing debut has finally found a home: BET+ has picked up “B-Boy Blues,” which will debut on the streamer on June 9 in time for Pride Month. As part of the pickup, Mona Scott-Young and her Monami Entertainment has joined the film as a producer and was instrumental in getting the deal done with BET+.“B-Boy Blues” reps the first project for Smollett since being found guilty of making false reports about what he alleged to be a hate crime.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeBET+’s “Martin: The Reunion” has been given a premiere date: The special, which reunites the cast of the iconic 1990s Fox sitcom, will debut June 16 on the streamer.That’s one of several summer premiere dates BET+ is set to announce on Wednesday, Variety has learned exclusively. According to BET+, the 90-minute reunion brings back original stars Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold and Carl Anthony Payne II to reminisce about the show’s five seasons.The show even takes place on the iconic “Martin” living room set and is hosted by Affion Crockett.

Niall Matter is all bearded up and deep in character in this shot from his new Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film, Rip in Time.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefLocally-produced action franchise movie “The Roundup” blasted its way into the record books and elevated Korean box office to levels not seen for more than two years.The film enjoyed record levels of pre-sales, significant teaser activity the previous weekend and opened officially on Wednesday.Over the weekend proper it rounded up $21.1 million from 2,500 screens nationwide, according to KOBIS, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).Its five-day cumulative (including the previews) is an astonishing $29.1 million, which makes it the second biggest film of the year, behind only “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and by far the highest grossing Korean film of the year to date. Those figures were earned from 2.5 million spectators between Friday and Sunday, and 3.5 million in five days.