China Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Lagi Demetriou, best known for his performances on Britain's Got Talent as one half of Stavros Flatley, has undergone a remarkable transformation since his days on the ITV talent show. Alongside his father Demi, Lagi captured the hearts of audiences with their Greek-infused Lord of the Dance routine, complete with leather trousers and comical blonde wigs, back in 2009. Despite their unforgettable audition, Lagi and Demi fell short of clinching the top prize, losing out to dance troupe Diversity.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Oscar-winning Japanese animation film “The Boy and the Heron” earned a chart-topping $34.9 million between Friday and Sunday at the mainland China box office. Over its full five-day opening run, it took an even more spectacular $73 million. China was the last major territory to play the Studio Ghibli-produced fantasy in cinemas – it released in its native Japan in July and is imminently headed to streaming in many other territories – but that did not stop Chinese audiences from lapping it up. While most films release in China on a Friday, “The Boy and the Heron” was given a Wednesday outing in order to capture momentum from the Thursday-to-Saturday Qingming public holiday. Consultancy firm Artisan reports that it earned RMB248 million ($34.9 million) over the conventional Friday-to-Sunday weekend.

Refresh for latest…: A busy holdover weekend for wide studio releases was led by the trio of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Kung Fu Panda 4 and Dune: Part Two. And, in a soaring performance, Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar winner The Boy and the Heron swooped into China helping the market set a new Qingming holiday record. 

Following a slightly stronger than projected first quarter at the international box office, and with some titles added to the release calendar later in the year, Gower Street Analytics has increased its global box office projection for 2024 to $32.3B.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Worldwide box office is headed for a marginal decline of 3% in 2024, a setback that follows three years of recovery from a pandemic era low in 2020. Gower Street Analytics, a distribution and exhibition industry consultancy, forecasts that worldwide box office this year will aggregate at $32.3 billion, down by more than $1 billion from the $33.9 billion earned in 2023. “A $32.3 billion global box office in 2024 would represent an approximate 5% decrease year-on-year (a 3% decrease at current exchange rates) from 2023. The 2024 revised estimate is 18% lower than an average of the last three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019),” Gower Street said. The forecast comes on the eve of CinemaCon, the annual National Association of Theater Owners convention, being held in Las Vegas April 8-11. While Gower Street’s forecast is for a marginal decline, it actually represents a more than $1 billion improvement on its previous $31.5 million forecast for 2024.

With the popularity of women’s basketball on the rise, Prime Video and the WNBA have reached an extension of their current rights deal through the next two seasons.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Women’s pro hoops are coming back to Amazon‘s Prime Video for at least two more years. Prime Video and the WNBA on Friday announced a rights renewal deal under which Prime Video will continue to be the exclusive U.S. streaming partner for a package of 21 games each season, including the Championship Game of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Naman Ramachandran Kung Fu superstar Sammo Hung will deliver a masterclass on May 4 as part of the 12th Singapore Chinese Film Festival. He will also attend a mini-retrospective of his films.

Naman Ramachandran For veteran Bollywood filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, his latest film “12th Fail” is the gift that keeps on giving. Based on the 2019 book of the same name by Anurag Pathak, the film tells the true story of Manoj Kumar Sharma who conquered extreme familial poverty to pass one of the world’s toughest examination processes and become an Indian Police Service officer. Distributed by Zee Studios, the modestly budgeted “12th Fail” released theatrically in October 2023 in a Bollywood market where only big-budget action spectacles were working and many smaller films were taking the easier route to bowing directly on a streamer.

EXO‘s Lay will be releasing a new album sometime this month, which will be released alongside a Korean-language version.The Chinese idol’s label, n.cH Entertainment, made the announcement earlier today (April 5), per Korea JoongAng Daily. According to the company’s statement, Lay is set to drop the album sometime in mid-April, although a specific date has yet to be specified.It also announced that a Korean version of the album will be released concurrently, and that he will be promoting the album on Korean music broadcast shows.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and EventsApril kicked off with Beyoncé being presented with the Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Awards in Los Angeles.

Monkey Man was originally expected to stream on Netflix — but Jordan Peele gave Dev Patel‘s feature directorial debut a different fate, and sent it to the big screen.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Oscar-winning Japanese animation “The Boy and the Heron” opened its wings in mainland Chinese theaters in midweek and soared to the top of the box office. Data from multiple local tracking sources show the Miyazaki Hayao-directed fantasy-adventure accounting for more than half of all cinema revenues on both Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday it garnered $13.8 million, according to estimates from Ent Group. By 6.30pm on Thursday, ticket sales firm Maoyan was showing the title as having grown its two-day running total to RMB254 million or $35.2 million. While films mostly open on Fridays in China, “The Boy and the Heron” was given a Wednesday outing in order to play into the three-day Qingming public holiday.

Dev Patel has the support of his longtime love on his big night!

Prince Louis moment.For the first time ever, Buckingham Palace in London will allow visitors to take guided tours of the royal residence’s east wing — including the famed balcony room where the family gathers to wave at citizens on the Mall during special occasions. Royals have waved on the palace balcony for decades for occasions like weddings and jubilees, and King Charles’ coronation in May 2023.A limited number of East Wing Highlights Tours go on sale on April 9.

EXCLUSIVE: Showrunner and screenwriter Trey Callaway (The Messengers) has taken on new reps at Independent Artist Group and Echo Lake Entertainment.

Marco Mueller, who over the past decades has headed both the Venice and Rome fests – among several other events – is back in Italy where he is expected to be appointed artistic director of Sicily’s storied but troubled Taormina Film Festival. According to several sources Mueller, who in more recent years relocated to China, is expected to sign a contract on Thursday to become Taormina fest chief. The event is run by the Fondazione Taormina Arte Sicilia foundation currently being managed by Sergio Bonomo.

Harry Styles fans are flocking to his UK hometown, hoping it’s “As It Was” when the 30-year-old star was growing up. Over the past year, over 5,000 devotees — known as “Harries” — have visited Holmes Chapel, England, walking in One Direction to hit all the spots the singer has frequented.

Harry Styles grew up are hiring superfans to give new guided tours of the area.The village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire has seen over 5,000 visitors in the last year who have come to see where the artist spent his early life. As such, Holmes Chapel Partnership, a community group, will be holding an audition day for tour guides later this year.One popular spot visited by Styles fans is the bakery where he worked part-time before he became part of One Direction, which has a lifesize cardboard placard of Styles holding a white loaf.Tours will also have stops at Styles’s former schools, the terraced cottage where he grew up, and a nearby Chinese restaurant where he once took Taylor Swift.Another site frequently visited by fans is the supposed location of his first kiss – a railway bridge called Twemlow Viaduct, which some have “risked life and limb” to visit as it is next to a notoriously busy road.

Selome Hailu “Descendants: The Rise of Red” is set for a July 12 premiere, as revealed in a new teaser. The Disney+ film stars Kylie Cantrall as Red, princess of the hostile kingdom of Wonderland and the newest Villain Kid (aka VK) at Auradon Prep. When her mother, the tyrannical Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora), incites a coup against Auradon, Red must join forces with Chloe (Cinderella and King Charming’s daughter played by Malia Baker) to travel back in time and undo the traumatic event that set the queen down her villainous path.

NME also previously spotted social media accounts for a potential Waterbomb Festival Singapore back in March.

Ellise Shafer “The Killing” star Sofie Gråbøl will serve as the president of this year’s Canneseries competition jury, it was announced on Tuesday. The Danish actor kickstarted her career with the 1986 film “Barndommens gade” (“The Streets of My Childhood”) and is known for her TV roles including “The Killing,” “Nikolaj og Julie” and “Taxa.” Joining Gråbøl on the jury are “Madame Hollywood” director, screenwriter and producer Olivier Abbou; “Four Daughters” composer Amine Bouhafa; “City of God” actor Alice Braga; “Blancanieves” actor Macarena García; and “Samber” actor Alix Poisson.

This spring, Tattu, the modern Chinese restaurant group, welcomes Blossom Season with enchanting floral installations, a fresh spring menu, terrace takeovers and bespoke cocktails.

EXCLUSIVE: The Hallyu march continues this week, as a major Korean content streaming service continues its global rollout.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Legendary Entertainment’s “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” had the best opening in China of any Hollywood film this year. It scored $44.6 million (RMB317 million) in mainland Chinese cinemas between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. That was a nearly 70% share of the country’s weekend box office. Nationwide, cinemas enjoyed $64.1 million of business, a significant leap from the $39.5 million they earned in the previous weekend.

Married comedians Jon and Lucy – aka the Richardsons – are back for another hilarious mockumentary series about their lives. From career highlights to failures and arguments, Jon and Lucy aren’t afraid to cover it all.The 10-parter sees Lucy very busy with Taskmaster, Bake Off and Celebrity Chinese Whispers, all of which have come off the back of her Bafta nomination for Meet The Richardsons. Meanwhile, Jon is plotting his escape from telly – a theme that’s appropriate as Lucy predicts the show is coming to an end.

EXCLUSIVE: American Born Chinese star Daniel Wu is set to join Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose in 87North’s With Love for Universal Pictures. The film Quan’s first starring role since winning the Supporting Actor Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is huge!

Selena Kuznikov Although Fala Chen teams up with the massive Kong to battle against a humongous hidden creature in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” a minuscule monster snuck up on her at the premiere. “I got stung by a bee, but it’s okay,” Chen said. “I saw it on the carpet and was like ‘Oh there’s a bee, I should try to get rid of it,’ and then it stung me.” The TCL Chinese Theater and a portion of Hollywood Boulevard was transformed into a jungle wonderland on Monday for the premiere of the film.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Want to learn a new language for your next big trip or just to improve your skillset? You’re in luck.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter After three days of release, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” stands as the third-highest-grossing movie of the year. It has collected a mighty $194 million globally in its opening weekend, ranking behind only “Dune: Part Two” ($626 million after five weeks of release) and “Kung Fu Panda 4” ($347 million after four weeks of release) in terms of overall ticket sales. The monster mashup, from Warner Bros.

A former executive at Yoozoo Games was sentenced to death on Friday in the 2020 poisoning of the company founder. The Chinese gaming company has links to Game of Thrones and the new Netflix series, The 3-Body Problem.

Disney’s Freaky Friday sequel, teased for a number of years, is finally a go movie, Deadline has confirmed, as the project has found its director in Nisha Ganatra (Late Night), with stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in talks to return.

Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is out and roaring at the international box office, generating $15.9M from 49 markets through its first two days overseas (Wed/Thurs). Not included in that total is the strong China opening day today which came in at an estimated RMB 96.9M ($13.4M).

Ivanka Trump is celebrating her son’s birthday. To commemorate the occasion, Ivanka shared a loving and sweet post celebrating her youngest son Theo, sharing photos of and with her son and calling out some of his best attributes. Ivanka Trump speaks out after Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnoses: ‘disheartening to see the speculation’Ivanka Trump supports Drake and Lil Wayne at ‘It’s All A Blur - Big As The What? Tour’ concertA post shared by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump)The post is made up of various photos of Theo, including ones taken on his eighth birthday celebration.

The Serbian President has prompted concern after making a stark comment regarding the future of his country.