China Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Facebook parent Meta posted solid quarterly financials today with revenue and EPS beating Wall Street expectations, but investors dinged the stock on high expenses and lower than anticipated revenue for the current quarter. Shares are down 10% in after-market trading.

When did Columbia become Kanye State? Bill Maher asked that question at the top of Friday’s Real Time on HBO, setting the tone for a show that focused on the national campus unrest and what’s behind it.

NewDad‘s album cover has gone viral in China, with many fans taking to social media to share their own interpretations of the artwork.The Irish band announced the news on social media, where they shared some photos of fans recreating their ‘Madra’ cover: “We woke up this morning to find our album cover (photo by Joshua Gordon) going viral in China. so so surreal to see so many people creating their own interpretations”.‘Madra’ and its cover features a morose porcelain doll looking down.

TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance has said that it has no intention of selling the business, and would rather see the platform shut down.The news comes after the US passed a law forcing the company to sell the hugely popular social media platform, or see the app banned in America.The sell-or-ban measure was issued into law by US President Joe Biden earlier this week (April 24), following a long-running dispute over claims that the company’s ownership structure could allow the Chinese government to gain access to the data of its millions of American users.To date, over 30 American states, Canada, and the European Union have separately banned the app from use on government-owned devices over concerns it could be a security risk. India banned the app nationwide in January 2021, while Taiwan and Afghanistan did the same in 2022.The bill was first brought up last month, when the US House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 24 to 16 to give President Joe Biden the power to enforce a ban on the social media app over concerns that the app is a national security threat and a Chinese espionage tool.This week’s ruling was voted for with an overwhelming majority of 79 to 18, and was signed by President Joe Biden.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Asian TV channels operator Celestial Tiger Entertainment and myTV SUPER, the OTT platform of Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) are to launch PopC, a movie channel dedicated to Chinese online films, with content supplied by mainland China streamer iQiyi. It launches in Hong Kong from May 1. “The idea of PopC first came about when we saw the amount of great, high quality movies that were being produced for the online space in China.

Soulja Boy has shared his interest in purchasing TikTok after US Congress passed a bill that could lead to the app’s potential ban.This week (April 23), US Congress passed the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act that could force TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the platform within nine months. If not, TikTok will be banned from US markets and removed from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store nationwide. US President Joe Biden signed the legislation yesterday (April 24).After the news broke, the Atlanta rapper took to X/Twitter to show his frustration around the decision.

Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez have many things in common, and one is their taste in food. While Blanco is known for his music, he has made a name for himself with his online cooking videos as an at-home chef and even has a debut cookbook, Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends, on the way.It’s no secret that Gomez, who recently wore a leather corset, appreciates her boyfriend’s skills in the chicken.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent French sales powerhouse Charades has boarded Constance Tsang’s migrant drama “Blue Sun Palace” which is set to world premiere at Cannes’ Critics’ Week. WME Independent is representing domestic rights for the movie in North America.

Meta (formerly called Facebook) pretty much ignored the social media elephant in the room today on a post-earnings conference call, with chief financial officer Susan Li saying it’s too early to discuss what just happened in Washington, D.C. President Biden has signed into law a bill that would force TikTok’s Chinese parent company to divest the hugely popularU.S. app within about nine months or risk it being banned.

TikTok.Yesterday (April 23), US Congress voted to pass the bill that will ban TikTok in the United States unless Chinese parent company ByteDance sells the platform’s US stakes. The vote came three days after it cleared the House of Representatives.Today (April 24), Biden signed the bill hours after Congress dealt the video-sharing platform’s Chinese ownership a historic rebuke following years of failed attempts to tackle the app’s alleged national security risks (per The Washington Post).Biden had previously indicated that he would approve of the legislation once it had hit his desk.

New Order’s Bernard Sumner has made a rare public statement to condemn Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the government at large.The frontman took to his website to share a message, beginning his statement: “I don’t normally post much and don’t normally post about stuff like this – but I do care about it.” He went on to highlight two news stories: firstly, the announcement that the government looking to overhaul Personal Independence Payments for people with mental health issues, which Sumner branded as “a disgusting way to cut costs.”Sumner went on to suggest the move was “probably an attempt to recoup some of the money they wasted on ineffective personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid pandemic,” calling it “a scandalous waste of money.”“According to the government’s own figures the Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) lost 75% of the £12 billion it spent on PPE in the first year of the pandemic to inflated prices and kit that did not meet the required standards – including fully £4 billion of PPE that will never be used by the NHS and needs to be disposed of, ie burnt,” he wrote. “A scandalous waste of money and, as usual, it’s the sick and vulnerable who suffer for it.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor TikTok could be banned in the U.S. as soon as January 2025. Here’s what the new law means for users of the popular short-form video app.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic rights to Valiant One, a military action thriller starring Chase Stokes (Outer Banks) and Lana Condor (To All the Boys franchise), slating it for release in theaters nationwide on January 24, 2025. Check out a first-look still above.

TikTok in the United States unless Chinese parent company ByteDance sells the platform’s US stakes.The bill – which was voted for 79 to 18 – is next expected to be signed by President Joe Biden, who has previously indicated that he will approve of the legislation once it hits his desk. Tuesday’s vote comes three days after it cleared the House of Representatives.Should the bill be passed, ByteDance will have an estimated nine months to sell TikTok.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to approve a bill that would ban TikTok nationwide unless Chinese parent company ByteDance sells its stake in the popular app. The development will likely result in a court battle between the U.S.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Abramorama has acquired North American theatrical rights to Vanessa Hope‘s feature-length documentary “Invisible Nation.” The 85-minute doc investigates the election and tenure of Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan. The docu follows Tsai as she seeks full international recognition of Taiwan’s right to exist.

(G)I-DLE singer Yuqi has dropped the music video for her new solo single, ‘Freak’.In the music video for ‘Freak’, (G)I-DLE’s Yuqi finds herself haunted by characters from horror music such as Scream, Saw, The Shining and more. But as the weeks go on, she gets used to living with these “freaks”, and soon befriends them and goes on to form a band.“She’s a certified freak / Ten days a week / The way she’s movin’ got me crazy, got me weak,” the Chinese K-pop idol sings on ‘Freak’.

Refresh for latest…: For the fourth weekend in a row, Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was the top studio movie at the global and international box office. While it’s true there have not been a whole lot of wide releases on a worldwide level since the start of the year, it’s heartening to see continued play for the big titles. 

New ITV drama Red Eye is set between an all-night flight from London to Beijing, the streets of London and the corridors of power within Whitehall. The series has been described as a "brilliantly addictive thriller" by ITV bosses.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor A bill that would ban TikTok — unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its ownership stake — could soon become a U.S. law. TikTok is gearing up a legal fight against the measure if that happens, with plans to challenge it in court on First Amendment grounds.

as the Emcee in “Cabaret” — which includes weekly bouts of “torture.”“It’s quite full-on,” he told The Post exclusively at the show’s opening Sunday.“There is this amazing man named Greg, who is kind of a genius, body-work human being who punishes me once a week,” the actor, 42, explained. “My wife [Hannah Bagshawe] thinks it’s massage, but it’s actually a kind of borderline torture.

Fans who want to become a tour guide in Harry Styles' hometown have to take on a 80-question quiz on the popstar to prove themselves to be the ultimate superfan. Holmes Chapel, the Cheshire village where the former One Direction star grew up, is recruiting for tour guides after an influx of fans have visited the area.

EXCLUSIVE: Li Jun Li (Babylon) is the newest addition to the cast of Ryan Coogler‘s untitled supernatural thriller, starring Michael B. Jordan, for Warner Bros.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Fantasy action movie “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” retook the top spot at the mainland China box office from Studio Ghibli animation title “The Boy and the Heron” during the latest weekend. “Godzilla x Kong” recorded earnings of $7.3 million (RMB51.5 million) between Friday and Sunday, a 32% week-on-week drop, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. But it returned to the top spot on the box office charts in its fourth weekend of release and overtook “The Boy and the Heron” in the process.

Rebecca Rubin Senior Film and Media Reporter Box office sands continue to flow for “Dune: Part Two,” which is nearing $700 million worldwide. Director Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic has grossed $276 million in North America and $419 million overseas, bringing its global tally to $695.8 million after eight weeks of release. It’s an impressive benchmark in post-COVID times; only five movies in 2023, eight in 2022 and five in 2021 managed to cross the $700 million mark.

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Geri Horner attended Victoria Beckham's milestone 50th birthday bash alone, leaving hubby Christian at home amidst the Red Bull scandal. The 51 year old former Spice Girl, turned heads as she graced Victoria's exclusive soiree without husband Christian. She looked stunning in a strapless white dress with bow detailing, whilst her red hair was pulled back into an elegant up-do.

The fate of TikTok in the United States is even more uncertain as the House today voted on a package that requires that parent ByteDance divest its popular social media platform or face a ban on app stores.

It’s a very exciting day for Jodie Foster!

Lise Pedersen Sporting a warm smile and a pair of sunglasses – “Sorry, I’ve been busy editing and my eyes hurt,” he explained – one of China’s leading indie directors Jia Zhangke, whose upcoming film “Caught by the Tides” will be vying for the Palme d’or in Cannes next month, was guest of honor at the 55th edition of Swiss doc festival Visions du Réel this week. Finished just in time for submission to Cannes, the film features his wife Zhao Tao, his muse over the last two decades, and tells the story of a couple spanning 20 years.

The cast of Pulp Fiction is back together to celebrate its 30th anniversary!

Sheynnis Palacios, the current Miss Universe who won the crown in November. She thoroughly enjoys all the trips and experiences that have come her way after this significant victory.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Netflix made a surprise announcement in reporting its (very good) first-quarter 2024 results this week: The streaming TV powerhouse will stop reporting quarterly subscriber figures starting in 2025. In response, Netflix shares have taken a hit: The stock is down 8.7% Friday on the news, as investors fret that the lack of visibility into the streamer’s customer numbers signals a looming slowdown in the company’s growth.

EXCLUSIVE: US-Bangladeshi action movie MR-9: Do or Die, starring ABM Sumon, Michael Jai White and Frank Grillo, has been picked up by Quiver Distribution for a North American VOD/digital release this month.

Todd Gilchrist editor John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson and Harvey Keitel reunited at the TCM Classic Film festival on Thursday for a 30th anniversary screening of Quentin Tarantino‘s “Pulp Fiction” to reflect on the film’s impact on their careers — and upon the medium itself. “It changed cinema, so it’s almost hard to have it sink in,” observed Uma Thurman, who joined Samuel L.

Pulp Fiction stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and Harvey Keitel reunited Thursday to celebrate the movie’s 30th Anniversary as part of this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival.