Jack Black said he’s down for a “School of Rock” sequel — but that “The White Lotus” is standing in his way.That’s because Mike White, who wrote the original 2003 “School of Rock” movie, also created HBO’s breakout hit “The White Lotus” — and he’s working on Season 3 of that series right now.“You know Mike White wrote the the first one and he’s a genius,” Black told Variety. “And we’d have to have Mike White back in the saddle, but he’s real busy right now with ‘The White Lotus,’ the best show on TV.“I wish there’d be a ‘School of Rock 2 Electric Boogaloo,” Black joked, referring to “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo,” the 1984 sequel to the dance musical “Breakin’.”“I’m ready.”Season 3 of “The White Lotus” will take place in Thailand, where White is currently hunkered down in production on the Emmy-winning series.White wrote the screenplay for “School of Rock,” directed by Richard Linklater, in which Black played Dewey Finn, a guitarist who’s thrown out of his rock group No Vacancy — and then assembles a makeshift band of kid musicians while substitute-teaching at a prep school.The movie co-starred White, Sarah Silverman and Joan Cusack; child actors included future “iCarly” star Miranda Cosgrove.It was adapted into a hit Broadway musical from 2015 to 2019; kid’s network Nickelodeon also adapted “School of Rock” into a series that aired for three seasons from 2016 to 2018 and starred Tony Cavalero as Dewey Finn.In 2022, Black told Entertainment Tonight that the movie is the high point of his career.“My best memories are just that group of kids, and how funny and great they were,” the “Kung Fu Panda 4” actor said at the time.
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Star Jack Black on His Viral Britney Spears Cover and Singing With Danielle Brooks in ‘Minecraft’
04.03.2024 - 21:57 / variety.com
Jaden Thompson Outside Los Angeles’ AMC Grove the afternoon of March 3, entertainment professionals and mall-goers alike were treated to a unique Hollywood spectacle as Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Ke Huy Quan, Kyle Gass and more showed off their best martial arts moves on the “Kung Fu Panda 4” red carpet. Tenacious D’s cover of “…Baby One More Time,” which recently went viral on social media and is featured in the film’s end credits, played as bandmates Black and Gass shot scenes for the song’s forthcoming music video.
On the carpet, Black explained to reporters how the cover and video shoot came to be: “The director Mike [Mitchell] said, ‘Hey, we’d love to have a Tenacious D song at the end, will you do a song?’ And I was like, ‘Can we do Britney Spears?’ and he was like, ‘Yes,’ and he said that he wanted to do ‘…Hit Me Baby One More Time’ because it’s kind of in the vein of kung fu…And then we’re like, ‘Hey, let’s do a music video on the red carpet.’ So that’s what we’re doing.” The music video was not the only performance on the carpet. A spirited Chinese dragon dance set the tone for the bustling event, which celebrated the release of the fourth film in DreamWorks’ hugely successful franchise about a panda named Po with a passion for kung fu and dumplings.
Other cast members in attendance included Awkwafina, Ronny Chieng and James Hong. Chieng told Variety that his favorite memory from production was seeing his character design for the first time, which he doesn’t want to spoil, but call “very unique.” “I actually asked them for a cel shade of the character because I loved it so much.
And they told me that they don’t do cel shades anymore because everything’s 3D. So [directors] Mike and Stephanie drew one for me.
‘School Of Rock’: Jack Black Is “Ready” For A Sequel To The 2003 Comedy, Wants ‘The White Lotus’ Creator Mike White To Return To Write
Jack Black thinks it’s time to reprise one of his breakout starring roles. THR reports (via JOE) that the comedic actor said he’s “ready” to do a sequel to Richard Linklater‘s “School Of Rock,” the comedy from 2003.
Jack Black to read for CBeebies ‘Bedtime Stories’ over Easter weekend
Kung Fu Panda star Jack Black is set to read for CBeebie’s Bedtime Stories, followed by Joanne Froggatt, Justin Fletcher and Tom Hardy.Black will kickstart the Easter weekend editions of the show on Friday, March 29, with a reading of Pom Pom Is Super, written by Sophy Henn.Per an official description, the book “tells the story of Pom Pom the panda, who is excited to have his friends come round to play. When they arrive in superhero costumes, Pom Pom thinks he would like to be super too – but he’s not quite sure what he’s super at! With the help of his friends, he soon finds his talents.”Following on from Black on Saturday, March 30, Downton Abbey actress Joanne Froggatt will read Like A Girl by Lori Degman and illustrated by Mara Penny.
Jack Black is “ready” to make ‘School Of Rock 2’
Jack Black has said that he would be interested in making a School Of Rock sequel should the opportunity arise.Black, well-known for playing rock musician turned substitute teacher Dewey Finn in the 2003 comedy, confirmed in a recent interview that he would like to do a second movie.Speaking with JOE, the Kung Fu Panda star said: “I wish there’d be a School Of Rock 2 Electric Boogaloo,” referring to the title of a sequel to the film Breakin’.“I’m ready,” added Black.He explained how he’d like to have the original film’s writer, Mike White, working on the hypothetical sequel. White, who starred in the film as Dewey’s roommate Ned Schneebly, is known for creating, writing and directing the hit HBO series, The White Lotus.Black explained: “You know Mike White wrote the first one and he’s a genius.”He continued: “And we’d have to have Mike White back in the saddle, but he’s real busy right now with [The] White Lotus, the best show on TV.”The series, which has starred Jennifer Coolidge, Sydney Sweeney and Theo James among others has been renewed for a third season, set to premiere in 2025.
Inside This Morning's Cat Deeley and husband Patrick Kielty’s London home ahead of huge transformation
This Morning's Cat Deeley has a lot on her plate. From joining the ITV show as the new permanent host alongside Good Morning Britain's Ben Shephard, the 47 year old is also currently overseeing a huge home renovation project. According to reports, Cat and her husband, Irish comedian Patrick Kielty, paid £4.9 million for a rundown property in Hampstead, intending to transform it into a mid century Malibu style home.
‘Kung Fu Panda 4′ tops box office with $58M opening, while ‘Dune: Part Two’ stays strong
LOS ANGELES — As Universal Pictures prepared for a big night at the Academy Awards with “Oppenheimer,” the studio also celebrated the No. 1 debut of “Kung Fu Panda 4,” which collected $58.3 million in domestic theaters over the weekend, according to estimates Sunday.“Kung Fu Panda 4,” the first film in the DreamWorks Animation franchise since the third installment in 2016, got off to a better start than all but the 2008 original.
Box Office: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Chopping Up $55 Million Opening Weekend, ‘Dune 2’ Rising Above $150 Million Domestic
J. Kim Murphy It’s been nearly three months since an animated wide release hit theaters, the last being Illumination’s “Migration” over the holidays. That’s a little bit frightening, but with some expert timing “Kung Fu Panda 4” has arrived, benefitting from a lack of competition for family audiences to score some strong numbers in its debut.
Oscar Nominees Danielle Brooks & Jeffrey Wright Attend Women in Film Party with Eva Longoria & Many More Celebs!
Danielle Brooks and Jeffrey Wright were among the Academy Award nominees who stepped out for the 2024 Women in Film Oscar Nominees Party!
Colin Jost and Michael Che Talk First-Ever Brand Partnership With Jameson and Their Plans on Co-Hosting an Awards Show Again: ‘The Short Answer Is No’
Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. When Colin Jost and Michael Che are together, whether it’s as co-hosts of “SNL’s” Weekend Update or in the real world outside the confines of the famed 30 Rock stage, they are rarely serious. Like the comedic characters they broadcast on NBC, their teasing, banters and pranks are incessant — and their chemistry is palpable.
Oscar Nominee Danielle Brooks Wears a Halo to Accept Honor at Essence's Black Women in Hollywood Event
Danielle Brooks is ready for Oscars weekend!
Tenacious D go viral with rock cover of Britney Spears’ ‘…Baby One More Time’
Tenacious D have covered Britney Spears‘ classic song ‘…Baby One More Time’ – check out the clip below.The comedy duo – aka Jack Black and Kyle Gass – recorded a rock rendition of Spears’ 1998 debut single for the new film Kung Fu Panda 4, in which Black reprises his role of giant panda Po.A video of Black and Gass dancing and lip-syncing to their take on Spears’ hit track – titled ‘Tenacious B!’ – has now gone viral on TikTok. Currently, the clip has earned over 53million views and registered 5.7million ‘likes’ on the platform.During a recent interview at the premiere of Kung Fu Panda 4, Black told Entertainment Tonight: “Britney, if you’re watching, I love you.
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ review: Cute, but it’s time to put this bear to bed
after 16 years and a quartet of films, where else is there for Po to go? “4,” while nice enough, suggests that the smartest move would be to let the fuzzy guy retire to a calming bamboo forest rather than embark on yet another predictable adventure.The decent animated film still boasts the formidable voice talent of Black, Dustin Hoffman, Bryan Cranston, James Hong and Ian McShane. Now they’re joined by Awkwafina, Viola Davis and Ke Huy Quan. Not too shabby.This go-round, Po is reveling in his mini celeb status — swanning around town, posing for (hand-drawn) pictures with fans and cutting the ribbon at the Dragon Warrior Noodle and Tofu restaurant.
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Review: Jack Black Is Back As Lovable Dragon Warrior On A New Mission In This Winning DreamWorks Sequel
Since its debut in 2008, DreamWork’s kickass charmer, Po aka Kung Fu Panda has racked up nearly $2 billion at the global boxoffice over the course of three films, the most recent however being 8 years ago. A lot has changed in the world of animation in that time, as well as in the life of Po as witnessed by the storyline screenwriters have cooked up for this rich and energetic fourth entry into the franchise. Visually this one tops them all, and pound for pound the whole movie from director Mike Mitchell, taking the helm of the KFP series for the first time, is another winner bound to add to the impressive legacy of this lovable Chinese bear.
Jack Black & Awkwafina Are Ready to Fight at 'Kung Fu Panda 4' L.A. Red Carpet Premiere!
Jack Black and Awkwafina give their best fighting pose while walking the red carpet at their Kung Fu Panda 4 premiere!
Sam Asghari Gets Candid About Divorce From Britney Spears: ‘People Grow Apart’
Sam Asghari made a rare comment about the end of his marriage to Britney Spears!
Sam Asghari Opens Up About His Divorce from Britney Spears
Sam Asghari is sharing some new rare comments about the end of his marriage to Britney Spears.
Prime Video To Premiere ‘Friends In Low Places’ Docuseries With Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood
Blame it all on his roots and how he showed up in boots: Garth Brooks, together with his wife Trisha Yearwood, are launching a new docuseries for Prime Video called Friends in Low Places.
Jackie Loughery Dies: First Miss USA, Abbott and Costello Co-Star & Early Johnny Carson Sidekick Was 93
Jackie Loughery, the first Miss USA who segued from the pageant world to a career in film and television in the 1950s and ’60s, died Friday in Los Angeles. She was 93.
Britney Spears honors Janet Jackson as reignited feud with Justin Timberlake continues
circus. Britney Spears paid tribute to Janet Jackson on Saturday proclaiming that the singer had kept her “dreams and heart alive” amid her renewed feud with Justin Timberlake.
Britney Spears Celebrates Janet Jackson Amid Ongoing Feud With Justin Timberlake
Britney Spears is showing love to another pop legend – Janet Jackson.