‘Snowdrop,’ ‘Rookie Cops’ Help Disney Plus Join Top Five Streamers in Korea – Study

Marta Balaga “Face Off” helmer John Woo will receive a Career Achievement Award during Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, about to celebrate its 26th edition. The Hong Kong filmmaker is currently working on “Silent Night,” starring Joel Kinnaman and Kid Cudi.“I defy anyone to watch ‘Bullet in the Head,’ ‘Hard Boiled’ or ‘The Killer’ and not walk away wanting to break down the shots and make a movie.

Powell will play an undercover cop who disguises himself as a hitman to catch individuals attempting to order assassinations. When the cop discovers a woman (Adria Arjona) who is desperate to escape her abusive boyfriend, he breaks protocol and risks his cover to save her. Linklater and Powell previously worked together on the 2016 college comedy “Everybody Wants Some!!’ and this year’s animated SXSW film “Apollo 10 1/2,” which is now streaming on Netflix.

AleXa has shed light on how her mother’s search for her biological family became her motivation to pursue a career as an idol in South Korea.Earlier this year, while speaking to Korea JoongAng Daily, the Korean-American K-pop singer revealed that her mother had been adopted by a family in the United States at age 5. Since then, her mother has spent years looking for ways to connect with her biological parents.AleXa has since opened up about the search in a new interview with St.

MONSTA X’s six members have yet to renew their contracts with Starship Entertainment, the company as revealed.Yesterday (May 9), the K-pop entertainment company shared that it was still in talks with half the members of MONSTA X – namely vocalist Minhyuk, and rappers I.M and Joohoney – regarding the renewal of their contracts, which are set to expire later this year.“We are carrying out in-depth discussions to find out what the best direction is for both the group and the members,” Starship Entertainment shared in a statement, per Korea JoongAng Daily. The fate of MONSTA X, should any of the members choose to leave the agency, is not yet known.Meanwhile, the agency also confirmed that members Shownu, Kihyun and Hyungwon have already agreed to renew their contracts, and promised to “continue to support them with faith and trust.”The news comes shortly after the arrival of the boyband’s 11th mini-album ‘Shape Of Love’ late last month.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” opened with a stunning $14.4 million debut weekend in South Korea, far in excess of any film this year at the Korean box office. Its five-day opening score was $29.1 million.Data from the Korean Film Council’s Kobis tracking service shows the film garnered an 87% market share over the weekend, as it lifted nationwide box office to pre-COVID levels for the first time in more than two years.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefK-pop superstars BTS could be given exemption from compulsory military service in South Korea.“It’s time to create a system for incorporating popular culture-art figures as art personnel,” said Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee, at a press briefing on Wednesday, according to reports by the Yonhap news agency. Hwang said he aims to push a new law through parliament that would allow the stars of popular culture to serve their country outside the military.Under the present Military Service Act all able-bodied Korean men must enlist for roughly two years of military service before they reach age 30.

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.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” topped the box office in South Korea over the May Day weekend, beating a handful of minor local titles which released in hope of catching a rising market.The latest Friday-Sunday period appeared to represent a turning point – a $4.86 million nationwide aggregate was the biggest weekend haul since January – but a slow and uncertain one. Theatrical box office in Korea has been severely depressed all year due to government-imposed COVID restrictions, audience caution and a paucity of new release local titles.

Apple TV+'s ambitious generations-spanning drama, adapted from the 2017 best-selling novel by Min Jin Lee, has been renewed for season 2, the streaming service announced Friday ahead of the season 1 finale.«Words cannot express my joy in being able to continue telling the extraordinary story of this indomitable family,” said creator, writer and executive producer Soo Hugh in a statement. “I'm grateful to the amazing team at Apple and Media Res studio for believing and supporting this show and to our passionate fans who have cheered us on.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentNetflix has dropped the trailer for “Money Heist: Korea — Joint Economic Arena,” a remake of its hit Spanish crime drama. The streamer also announced that the show will premiere on June 24.The 12-episode series is directed by Kim Hong-Sun (Voice, Black) and is headlined by high-profile actors, including Yoo Ji-tae (“Oldboy,””Healer”), Kim Yunjin (“Shiri,””Lost”), Park Hae-soo (“Squid Game,””Prison Playbook”) and Jeon Jong-seo (“Call,””Burning”).

PURPLE KISS have paid homage to K-pop veteran IU with their rendition of her 2019 single ‘Blueming’.On yesterday’s (April 26) episode of South Korean weekly music programme The Show, PURPLE KISS’ vocalists Na Goeun, Chaein and Swan, took the stage to perform their version of IU’s ‘Blueming’, which remained largely faithful to the original track.“Our rectangular chat screen is in bloom / With my thumbs I make roses bloom / I think I’m going to get intoxicated off this scent / This is our secret garden,” the trio croon in the chorus.Last month, PURPLE KISS made their comeback with their third mini-album, ‘memeM’ and its lead single of the same name. The septet are now on the second leg of their promotional cycle for the album, performing the track ‘Pretty Psycho’ on weekly music shows.‘memeM’ also marked the rookie girl group’s first official comeback in over six months, and follows the release of their sophomore mini-album ‘HIDE & SEEK’ and its lead single ‘Zombie’, which was co-written by rapper Yuki and CyA.PURPLE KISS first debuted in March 2021 with their first mini-album ‘Into Violet’, which featured the lead single ‘Ponzona’.

A new Japanese Korean restaurant serving everything from katsu curry to gyoza dumplings is set to open in Arndale’s new food quarter, Halle Place.

MLD Entertainment, the company behind K-pop girl group MOMOLAND, is gearing up to launch a brand-new group soon.Today (April 26), CEO Lee Hyung-jin spoke to South Korean news outlet Star News in new interview, where he revealed that the agency is preparing to debut a new girl group sometime in June. The upcoming act, named LAPILLUS, will include members who speak Spanish, English, Tagalog, Chinese and Japanese.Two members of the forthcoming group have since been revealed, and they are Japanese trainee Nonaka Shana, who recently appeared on Mnet’s reality TV competition show Girls Planet 999, along with Chantal Videla (known as Chanty), a Filipino-Argentinian model and actress.The duo have been active on MLD Entertainment’s YouTube ‘NADOL’ series, where they had introduced themselves as foreign trainees hoping to becoming K-pop idols in Korea.

Big Hit has responded to reports concerning the reported seizure of Jimin’s home. On Sunday, Korean news outlet Biz Hankook claimed that South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service took over the BTS member’s Seoul apartment on January 25.

Big Hit Music is clearing up reports.

BTS’ Jimin and former Wanna One member Ha Sung-woon have shared the collaborative track ‘With You’ from the OST of the Korean drama Our Blues.The track, which was initially announced last month, marks the first time that Jimin has worked on a soundtrack release.All but one verse of ‘With You’ is sung in English, with Jimin and Ha Sung-woon swapping lines filled with dedication and love. “I wanna be with you / And I wanna stay with you,” Jimin sings in a low register in the first verse.