Afghanistan Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Emily Tannenbaum Fans of FX’s popular Cold War drama “The Americans” will undoubtedly check out “The Diplomat” in the hopes that Keri Russell’s next political thriller can fill the heart-pumping void the hit series left behind in 2018. They shouldn’t — at least, not for that reason. Though “The Americans” and “The Diplomat” share a star, as well as a similar focus on marital power struggles, the new series from “Homeland” executive producer Debora Cahn is less gritty spy thriller and more soapy workplace drama. Throughout the show’s eight, hour-long episodes, I found myself thinking of “The Diplomat” as a Shondaland-inspired take on “The West Wing,” which makes sense considering Cahn cut her teeth as a writer on both “Grey’s Anatomy” and Aaron Sorkin’s NBC series.

Spanish Screenings Goes to Cannes,  a selection of five pix in post which underscores the ever broadening compass – in genre, setting, protagonists, production bases and models – of film production in Spain. “Sima’s Song,” for example, is set in 1979 Kabul, “Jumping the Fence” on the Morocco-Spain border in Africa.  Many titles, though still in post production, come laden with prizes as projects, prestige deals or rich talent. “Sima’s Song,” from Afghan director Roya Sadat, whose “A Letter to the President” was shortlisted for an Oscar, won the Taicca Award at Busan’s Asian Project Market and the IFI-Pas Award at Mumbai’s Film Bazaar. Its producer, Alba Sotorra, was nominated for an International Emmy as a director for “The Return: Life After ISIS.”

I’m not sure why director Guy Ritchie has his name in the title of his latest film, but because this is I think the best Ritchie movie I have seen, I will pass up the chance to snark at the only misstep in Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant. It about as exciting, gripping and moving as war films get — especially one set in the murky Afghanistan conflict in which the U.S. found itself immersed for more than two decades.

Jake Gyllenhaal knows all about those «Jacked Gyllenhaal» memes. The actor — who is currently in intense UFC training for the upcoming remake — recently sat down with ET's Cassie DiLaura to discuss his new film,, and weigh in on the internet's unquenchable thirst for his movie muscles.«That's a wonderful nickname,» he joked. «It's been an incredible experience and it is [amazing] working with actual real fighters, working with the UFC, reimagining a classic. There's been a lot of the physical [work].»That's not to say that filming was a walk in the park.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic Last month, to my great surprise, I raved about a Guy Ritchie movie, “Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre,” as an exhilarating exception to the rule of Ritchie’s style-over-substance, more-frosting-than-cake school of crime-thriller grandiloquence. The film bombed, and more critics than not disagreed with me. But I stand by my assessment of “Operation Fortune” as a diabolically entertaining screwball action-espionage caper. If you want to talk about exceptions to the rule, though, that movie has nothing on the new Guy Ritchie film, which is called (wait for it) “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant.” Ritchie’s name was reportedly added to the title because there is already a film in existence called “The Covenant.” But that sounds like an awfully thin reason to suddenly convert Ritchie into a marquee legend, and, in fact, there’s a better reason. Against all odds, he has become one of the best directors working. “The Covenant” isn’t another Ritchie underworld caper. It’s an Afghanistan war drama, and if you’re wondering whether he has made a combat film in some version of the Ritchie style (jazzy violence, fast-break comic-strip dialogue, needle drops), the answer is no. He has put his confectionary flamboyance on hold. “The Covenant” unveils something new: Ritchie the contempo classicist. We’re seeing a born-again filmmaker.

Jamie Lee Curtis has labelled herself as “proud AF” of her godson Jake Gyllenhaal ahead of the release of his new film.The pair hit the red carpet together on Monday night, 17 April, and Academy Award winner Jamie, 64, couldn’t help but show her love for the 42 year old frontman. In one photo, Jake and Jamie stood hand in hand at the premiere of his new movie The Covenant – which is due to hit cinemas this Friday. Another snap showed Jamie lovingly planting a kiss on the Southpaw actor’s cheek as he appeared to blush at his godmother’s affection.

Prince Harry's security will be assessed on a “case-by-case basis” amid a “huge policing operation" for King Charles’ Coronation. Policing minister Chris Philp said he hopes the high profile crowning of the King and the Queen Consort Camilla in just over three weeks’ time will be similar in success to the “fantastic” handling of the late Queen’s funeral.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Jake Gyllenhaal is determined to star in another Broadway musical. “There are so many musicals I love so deeply,” Gyllenhaal, who starred in a revival of “Sunday in the Park With George” with Annaleigh Ashford in 2017, told Variety at the Los Angeles premiere of his new action drama “The Covenant” on Monday evening. “At some point, I’ve always loved ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’ I’d love to do that.” Gyllenhaal’s godmother, Jamie Lee Curtis, was at “The Covenant” premiere and recalled how the actor was supposed to star as Tevye in a school production of “Fiddler” when he was a high school senior. He left the show when he was offered the lead in the 1999 drama “October Sky.”

EXCLUSIVE: Range Media Partners on Monday announced its signing of award-winning actor, producer, writer and director Ben Foster for management.

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The Vagrant Trilogy, a piece that would later move to New York’s Public Theater and earn the highly coveted New York Times Critic’s Pick. She’s now back at Mosaic for the third professional production of Unseen, a play she describes as “a bit of a thriller.”“It starts with a question, which is ‘How did this American photographer, Mia, end up at the site of a massacre?'” she says. “With her Turkish ex-girlfriend, Derya, the pair piece it together.

King Charles III may be the new monarch, but not even his new power is enough to get his little brother to listen to him!

Queen Elizabeth II wanted both Prince William and Prince Harry to go to war during their service in the military, but it was deemed too dangerous for the Prince of Wales, a former British army head has said.  "It was decided that William as heir to the heir, the risk is too great," retired British army Gen. Sir Mike Jackson said in an upcoming ITV documentary "The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor," according to Sky News.

Prince Harry said his family treated him differently because he was the spare! But if anything he may have been understating it!

The Real Crown, Ex-Army General Sir Mike Jackson alleged that the monarch “was very clear” in her words, saying: “My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty.” However, Jackson noted that because William, 41, was “heir to the throne, the risk is too great” for him to go to war.But as for Harry, 38, “the risk was acceptable” due to him being the younger — and the “Spare” — brother.Mark Cann, who was the director of the British Forces Foundation, appeared on the show and gave more insight into William’s desire to go to combat. “William was very keen to go.

The late Queen Elizabeth wanted Princes William and Harry to fight for their country against the Taliban in Afghanistan, but ultimately decided it was too risky to send future King, William.The claim was made by ex-Army chief General Sir Mike Jackson, who revealed details of his conversation with the late monarch in what is considered a breach of protocol. Sir Mike was speaking in a new five-part ITVX documentary called The Real Crown, which will air on 20 April, where he discusses his audience with the Queen. He said: "What goes on in those audiences and who says what to whom remains for the two people involved, and I will break the rule about not divulging what goes on on this one occasion.

Ryan Martinez, formerly a staff writer on Netflix’s Manifest and a graduate of the Warner Bros Television Writers’ Workshop, is a Harvard grad, a lieutenant in the U.S. naval reserves, and a combat vet who served in the war in Afghanistan. But now he says he’s returning to active duty in the Navy this summer “just to pay the bills,” which is why he’s voting “Yes” to authorize a WGA strike.

Gerard Butler is starring in the new thriller Kandahar and a trailer has been released!

A five-year-old boy and a girl aged nine were rushed to hospital this evening after a road traffic incident in the Govanhill area of Glasgow.

Police are appealing for the public’s assistance in an effort to trace a 30-year-old man who has been reported missing in Glasgow.

A major emergency response is in place in Glasgow this evening, with at least 20 police officers reportedly on the scene in Govanhill.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and 13-Time Grammy winner Pharrell Williams will be honored by the Recording Academy at its annual Grammys on the Hill Awards, taking place on April 26. The event is intended to bring together congressional leaders and music makers to recognize those who have led the fight for creators’ rights, and the three will be honored for their contributions to support music creators. Special guests and attendees will be announced in the coming weeks.  “Grammys on the Hill is a celebration like no other, spotlighting music’s unifying power as we bring together our nation’s leaders with some of the most renowned artists in the world,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “It’s a privilege to honor Pharrell alongside Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Cassidy, all of whom have fought tirelessly for pro-music policy that protects the creatives that make up our community.”

Hundreds of Afghan refugees who have been living in Manchester since fleeing the Taliban's takeover of the country nearly two years ago are now facing uncertainty as the hotels where they are being housed are set to close. The government announced last week that refugees who arrived under the Afghan Resettlement Programme will no longer be allowed to live in hotels.

Police have launched a fresh appeal to help trace a Scots teen who has been missing for more than two weeks.

Guy Ritchie’s newest film shows audiences the lengths one man will go to in order to keep his promise.

Afghan refugees living in hotels across the UK could be forced out of hotels and pushed into homelessness under new government plans, campaigners have warned.

Prince Harry congratulated a disabled veteran saying he is “the definition of inspiration” and “fully deserved” his improved vehicle as he made a surprise appearance on Car S.O.S. On Thursday, an episode of the National Geographic car renovation show saw former Lance Corporal Stephan Van Niekerk, 36, have his Jeep Grand Cherokee taken in for persistent mechanical problems.The former serviceman, from Taunton in Devon, joined 3rd Battalion, the Rifles, at the age of 21 before he was hit seven years later by an improvised explosive device. After the vehicle restoration was shown to Stephan, Harry said in a video message: “Stephan, congratulations.

The State Department’s annual human rights report that was released on Monday details the prevalence of so-called conversion therapy and the treatment of intersex people around the world.

BAFTA has pulled the curtain back on its Television Awards nominations, and This Is Going To Hurt and The Responder are leading the chase for a famous bronze mask.

Brian Cox is opening up about his support for the women of Iran.

Michael Winterbottom has devoted much of his filmmaking career to revisiting real-life events through works blurring the boundaries between documentary and drama to various degrees.  

Marta Balaga “Succession” star Brian Cox gushed about wife Nicole Ansari-Cox at Series Mania, after she expressed solidarity with women of Iran at the fest’s opening, demonstrating the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom” to the photographers.   “My wife is half Iranian and she was one of the first people to cut her hair as part of the protest. We are living in such a difficult, dangerous time, particularly for women. In Afghanistan, in Iran. It’s unacceptable. I am very proud of my wife: She is a very strong woman with very strong opinions, and she taught me so much,” Cox told Variety during a roundtable interview.  

Ithaka,” which details their efforts to pressure the US to drop espionage charges against Assange. The documentary, screenings, and a speaking tour are the latest episode in the sprawling saga that started when Assange published Wikileaks in 2010, revealing deeply-held American secrets — about the conduct of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — which shocked the world but infuriated the agencies from which they were hacked and leaked. The documentary shows Shipton and Gabriel, who didn’t meet his half-brother Julian until he was nearly 20, trying to rally international support in Europe, Mexico, and the US for the freedom of Assange.

Marta Balaga French TV festival Series Mania started out playfully with a slew of humorous digs directed at its starry guests during the opening ceremony, including Brian Cox, back in town to hold a masterclass and introduce the latest episode of his smash hit “Succession.” “I didn’t have time to watch Season 3. I have to see my children grow up, Brian!,” exclaimed host Daphné Bürki, before introducing this year’s opening show “Greek Salad” by Cédric Klapisch: “A prequel to ‘Norwegian Omelette,’ always starring Romain Duris,” Bürki joked. Series Mania general director Laurence Herszberg joined in on the fun, giving a shoutout to “Emily in Paris’s” Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, attending with co-star Arnaud Binard: “She became a symbol of a Parisian woman. I hope there isn’t too much weight on your shoulders, Philippine!”

War is brewing in Netflix’s new series “The Diplomat”.

A Perth Black Watch soldier with a life-limiting condition is preparing to trek 54 miles to raise funds for other soldiers, veterans and their families.