Justin Lin Exits ‘Fast X’ as Director, Will Stay on as Producer

Mark Schilling Japan CorrespondentJapan’s Tokyo Broadcasting System network is partnering with Naver Webtoon, South Korea’s leading digital comics platform, and Tokyo-based manga production house Shine Partners to launch a new webtoon company. Called Studio TooN and based in South Korea, the joint venture will plan and make webtoons with Japanese and Korean creators for the global market. One of TBS’s aim in launching the company, its first such venture in Korea, is to produce TV dramas, anime and other content from the webtoons.  Studio TooN will begin operations in June of this year with Shine Partners president Keita Iwamoto serving as CEO.     “When webtoon works are visualized, there is a synergy effect as the number of readers increases,” said Naver Webtoon CEO Kim Junkoo.

Tatted up. Kanye West’s girlfriend Chaney Jones got a tattoo of her boyfriend’s name on her wrist. Chaney, who was first linked to Kanye in February 2022, posted a photo of herself on her Instagram Story on May 12, 2022, where fans could see a small tattoo of Kanye’s nickname, “Ye,” inked on her wrist.

Video: Amy Schumer reveals joke she could not tell at the Oscars (Indy 100)Robots That ‘Feel’ Human Emotion…Are We There Yet?Kanye West goes to Tokyo with Chaney Jones, misses son Psalm's birthday . . .

Seeing the world. Kanye West and Chaney Jones were spotted in Tokyo at the same time that Kim Kardashian threw her son Psalm’s 3rd birthday party. Jones posted a picture of her and her boyfriend staring down a busy highway on the other side of the world.

Bad Bunny is excited about becoming a movie star.

Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time has been added to the Video Game Hall Of Fame alongside Ms. Pac-Man, Sid Meier’s Civilization and Dance Dance Revolution.The Strong Museum’s World Video Game Hall Of Fame is based in Rochester, New York and began in 2015.It “recognises electronic games of all types that have enjoyed popularity over a sustained period and have exerted influence on the video game industry or on popular culture and society in general,” says a statement on their website.Since it opened, the museum has inducted 36 games into the Hall Of Fame including DOOM, Pong and Grand Theft Auto 3.Speaking about Ocarina Of Time’s induction, the Hall Of Fame wrote: “Even today, developers throughout the world credit The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time as influencing the way they create games.

TOKYO -- The melancholic sound of Ukrainian violinist Vera Lytovchenko’s music has echoed in subway stations, consoling people, some homeless, huddled in fear of Russian bombings.A new music video called “The Brave Ones” has her in an online collaboration with more than 200 musical artists from various nations, including the U.S., South Africa, Japan and Canada.The video, which includes news footage of neighborhoods reduced to rubble and the mournful but enduring faces of the people of Ukraine, is raising money for humanitarian aid for musicians in Ukraine, so far gathering more than $20,000.Lytovchenko said she believes it’s important for people, especially musicians, to connect.“Maybe I don’t have a choice. I just must do it.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefAcclaimed Canadian nature documentary “Geographies of Solitude” was Wednesday named the best film in the international competition section at South Korea’s Jeonju International Film Festival. The parallel Korean competition was won by “Jeong-Sun,” directed by Jeong Ji-hye.The two previous editions of Jeonju were disrupted by COVID. But this year the festival, with 217 films from 52 countries, was held predominantly as an in-person event.

Fast X following a “major disagreement” with lead star and producer Vin Diesel.In a social media post last Tuesday (April 26), Lin announced he was stepping down as director on the tenth instalment in The Fast And Furious franchise just days after production had started. Lin, who has directed five films in the franchise, will continue to serve as producer.Following the announcement, The Hollywood Reporter has claimed a “major disagreement” took place between Diesel and Lin on April 23 which sparked the director’s decision to leave.According to the publication, the disagreement was over the changing script.

 is bringing in a new member of its creative family. Following Justin Lin's departure from the upcoming 10th installment of the franchise, ET can confirm that French filmmaker Louis Leterrier has been chosen to step in and direct the action-packed film.Leterrier is best known for directing the first two  films, as well as 2008's 2010's 2013's and the Netflix streaming series Lin announced his directorial departure last Tuesday, but shared with fans that he would be remaining on the project as a producer.

 is bringing in a new member of its creative family. Following Justin Lin's departure from the upcoming 10th installment of the franchise, ET can confirm that French filmmaker Louis Leterrier is the top choice to step in and direct the action-packed film.Leterrier is best known for directing the first two  films, as well as 2008's 2010's 2013's and the Netflix streaming series Lin announced his directorial departure last Tuesday, but shared with fans that he would be remaining on the project as a producer.

Last week, disaster struck Universal‘s “Fast & Furious” franchise as director Justin Lin (“Star Trek Beyond“) exited the new “Fast X“ after production had already started. His sudden exit from the film, considering he was a longtime veteran of the franchise, and a writer, director, and producer on the film, left a lot of unanswered questions, such as who will replace him and why he left.

Just days after the news Justin Lin would be parting ways as director of the next Fast and Furious installment, sources tell Deadline Louis Leterrier is the front-runner to step in as director of Universal’s Fast X. Sources add he’s the studio’s top choice but scheduling still had to be worked out with some of Leterrier’s other projects so. a deal has not closed yet. When the shocking news broke that Lin would be leaving a week into production, studio sources were confident a replacement would be made and the pause in filming would brief and clearly that was the cast. Insiders go on to add that Studio Chief Donna Langley has had a great relationship over the years with Leterrier and he was quickly put at the top of the list of directors to approach following Lin’s departure.

reportedly over creative differences. Seth Meyers took a sassy guess at what those differences might be.Lin made the announcement on Tuesday, expressing his gratitude for the franchise, and assuring fans that he will remain a producer.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentLondon-based sales agent SC Films International has boarded  “December,” a Japanese courtroom thriller from India’s Anshul Chauhan whose cast is led by Shogen, star of Brillante Ma Mendoza’s “Gensan Punch.”  SC Films International will handle international sales outside of Japan on “December,” Chauhan’s follow-up to notable family drama drama “Kontora” which scooped the Grand Prix Prize at the Tallin Black Nights Film Festival. The sales agent plans to  launch “December” at May’s Cannes Marché du Film before submitting it to fall festivals, said SC Films co-founder Simon Crowe.   The sales pact was clinched by SC Films’ Fumie Suzuki Lancaster and “December” producer Takahiro Yamashita, also behind “Gensan Punch.” It builds on the companies’ partnership on “Gensan Punch” which sold to HBO for the world and scored the top Asian plaudit, the Kim Jiseok Award, at 2021’s Busan Intl.

Vin Diesel posted a 19-second video to Instagram recapping the first week of production on “Fast X,” the latest entry in Universal’s 21-year-old franchise. In the clip, Diesel sidles up to Justin Lin to ask the film’s director and co-writer how he’s feeling at the end of the first week of production.As Diesel grins into his selfie camera, Lin, seated and seemingly uncomfortable, nods his head as he tries to find the right words.“It feels like the beginning of, uh, of an epic ending,” Lin says flatly.On the surface, Lin was referencing the planned back-to-back filming of the action franchise’s 10th and 11th installments, which are purportedly meant to conclude the saga of Diesel’s Dominic Toretto and his “Fast” family.

Fast X, the forthcoming 10th instalment in the long-running Fast & Furious franchise, shortly after production had started on film.In an announcement made via a statement on social media, Lin wrote: “With the support of Universal, I have made the difficult decision to step back as director of Fast X, while remaining with the project as a producer.”He continued: “Over 10 years and five films, we have been able to shoot the best actors, the best stunts, and the best damn car chases. On a personal note, as the child of Asian immigrants, I am proud of helping to build the most diverse franchise in movie history.“I will forever be grateful to the amazing cast, crew, and studio for their support, and for welcoming me into the Fast family.”#FASTX pic.twitter.com/T0w9LuYS0F— The Fast Saga (@TheFastSaga) April 26, 2022Fast X started production on April 20, and the film had already began shooting, though Lin’s departure from the project is said to be amicable (per Deadline), with the move attributed to creative differences.

Director Justin Lin made huge waves last night when it was announced he was officially exiting “Fast X“ days after production had already started with new additions to the franchise including actors such as Jason Momoa (“Aquaman“), Oscar-winner Brie Larson (“Captain Marvel“), and “The Suicide Squad” breakout Daniela Melchior.