Action-adventure Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has officially hit theaters, but the film did not come without drama after the globally publicized Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial. Now that the movie is out, Amber Heard has taken a moment to thank her fans for their love and support, sharing some behind-the-scenes glimpses of her character, Mera.A post shared by Amber Heard (@amberheard)On Instagram, the 37-year-old actress shared a gallery of photos featuring her red-haired character with her 5.2 million followers.

Katcy Stephan SPOILER ALERT: This review discusses minor plot details and gameplay elements from “Rise of the Ronin.” “Rise of the Ronin,” the latest release from “Nioh” developer Team Ninja, is one of the most highly-anticipated game releases of the year, promising a high-octane role-playing story combining eastern and western combat styles. From its announcement, “Rise of the Ronin” drew inevitable comparisons to Sucker Punch’s critically-acclaimed 2020 release “Ghost of Tsushima.” It’s understandable: although “Ronin” takes place about 600 years after “Ghost,” both follow samurai warriors in Japan as they swing their swords in an action-adventure open world.

Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett and Dave Bautista all star in projects at one of the biggest Berlin markets in recent memory, both post- and pre-pandemic. Whether this year’s high rollers will sell is the question that the 2024 European Film Market turns on.

Naman Ramachandran Camelot Media has set action-adventure film franchise “The Lost Book of Creation.” Roel Reine (“Line of Fire,” “Halo”) will direct the first film of the planned three-film franchise. Matt Hookings (“Prizefighter”) has written the script and will also star alongside Madalina Diana Ghenea (“Deep Fear,” “House of Gucci”). The film follows archaeologists Slade (Hookings) and Eve (Ghenea) as they set out to find the legendary lost Book of Creation, which is believed to hold the secrets of the universe and the answer to why and how humankind exists.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Dolph Lundregn recently told ComicBook.com that a “really good” original cut of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” exists, but it’s not the one that fans got to see when the DC sequel opened in theaters over Christmas. To date, the sequel has earned $109 million at the domestic box office and $375 million worldwide — a far cry from the $1 billion the original “Aquaman” crossed to become the highest-grossing DC Universe film. Lundregn appears in the “Aquaman” films as Nereus, the king of the Atlantean tribe of Xebel who also happens to be the father of Aquaman’s love interest Mera (Amber Heard).

Amber Heard reprised her role of Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The actress took to social media to acknowledge all the support she’s been receiving from fans who watched the DC Studios film.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Amber Heard posted to Instagram some behind-the-scenes photos from the making of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and thanked fans for supporting her return to the comic book franchise as Mera. The post is notable considering that Heard claimed in court during her 2022 defamation trial involving Johnny Depp that Warner Bros. “didn’t want to include me” in the “Aquaman” sequel due to the fallout from her divorce from Depp.

Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer are going to be in a new TV series together!

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer are teaming up to kick some butt together on TV. The two actors have signed on to star in an action-adventure series based on an original idea by exec producer Tessa Coates (“Feel Good,” “Ladhood”) for Amazon’s Prime Video. Skydance Television is behind the show, along with Andy and Barbara Muschietti’s Double Dream shingle and Spencer’s Orit Entertainment (which has a first-look deal with Skydance; this is the first project to come out of that pact).

Katcy Stephan What would you do to bring a loved one back to life? That’s the central question of EA Originals’ upcoming game, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, announced at The Game Awards on Thursday evening. The title will be the first project produced by Abubakar Salim’s Surgent Studios.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter There’s nothing heroic about the final box office performance of “The Marvels.” The superhero sequel is officially the lowest-grossing installment in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After four weeks on the big screen, the comic book tentpole is running out of steam with $80 million in North America and $197 million globally. There would typically be optimism that attendance could rebound over the busy holiday season, but Disney apparently doesn’t expect that to be the case.

Uncharted starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg has topped the film chart on Netflix UK.Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the action-adventure flick is based on the PlayStation video game franchise of the same name, developed by Naughty Dog.The film follows Nathan Drake (Holland) who is recruited by Victor Sullivan (Wahlberg) in a race against corrupt billionaire Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas) and mercenary leader Jo Braddock (Tati Gabrielle) to locate the fabled treasure of the Magellan expedition.Despite mixed reviews from the critics, the film went onto gross $407million at the worldwide box office, against a budget of $120million.The film, which arrived on Netflix on November 26, has topped the streaming service’s film chart two days later (November 28).Other films in the top five include Sing 2, Leo, Hatton Garden: The Inside Story and Illumination’s 2018 adaptation of The Grinch. You can check out the top 10 below.Kenneth Branagh’s BAFTA-winning film Belfast, meanwhile, landed at number six on the chart.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Ridley Scott’s historical epic “Napoleon” may not have conquered the top spot in North America, but it emerged victorious at the worldwide box office. The film, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the infamous French ruler, debuted to $78.8 million, including $46.3 million internationally — enough to stave off the competition on global charts.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Amazon MGM Studios, the renamed joint venture of Amazon Studios and MGM, has acquired rights to James Ponti’s popular children’s book series “City Spies” and is developing a film based on the first novel. The idea is for the initial installment to launch a global franchise, described by the company as a “four-quadrant action-adventure that will delight audiences of all ages and as a universe-building property for the studio.” The story follows a 12-year-old coding prodigy, who is recruited by an eccentric MI6 agent to join the City Spies, a team of kids from around the world who feel unnoticed in their own lives.

EXCLUSIVE: DC and Marvel regular Jay Oliva has been set to direct iwot’s upcoming 3D animated feature, The White Tower, based on Robert Jordan’s epic novel series The Wheel Of Time.

EXCLUSIVE: Allen Media Group has acquired North American rights to the period action-adventure pic The Oath, from actor-filmmaker Darin Scott (Yellowstone), slating its release via their division Freestyle Releasing. The film will hit over 650 theaters across the country on Friday, December 8, emerging on digital and VOD March 26, 2024.

An all-new trailer for “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” sees District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) meet her “rebel” mentor, a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), for the first time.

EXCLUSIVE: Skydance’s long-development Bermuda Triangle action-adventure pic Bermuda has landed a director as Marc Webb has closed a deal to helm the project. While the studio has been working on the project for some time, this version is still in early days as no writer has been attached and until WGA strike ends, that will remain the same. Insiders add, that once the strike ends and a writer can be attached, Webb would consult with that writer on the script but is not expected to co-write.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Netflix has ordered a sequel to “Troll,” the Norwegian action-adventure film directed by Roar Uthaug, who helmed Norway’s first disaster movie, “The Wave.” “Troll 2” reteams Uthaug (“Tomb Raider”) with writer Espen Aukan andproducers Espen Horn and Kristian Strand Sinkerud at Motion Blur, the Oslo-based banner whose credits include “Cadaver,” “Amundsen” and “The 12th Man.” The first installment unfolds in the aftermath of an explosion in the Norwegian mountains, which awakens an ancient troll. The story revolves around a fearless paleontologist who embarks on a journey to stop the troll from wreaking deadly havoc.

Michaela Zee Welcome back to Camp Half-Blood. Disney+ has released the official trailer for its “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series, starring Walker Scobell as the titular 12-year-old boy, Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase and Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood. The official logline reads, “‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ tells the fantastical story of a 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson (Scobell), who’s just coming to terms with his newfound divine powers when the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt.

Holly Willoughby has thrown her support behind Dermot O'Leary and did so by sharing a selfie from the comfort of her bed. The This Morning presenters have recently been seen co-hosting alongside each other before Dermot was replaced by Josie Gibson.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan responded for the first time to allegations that Amber Heard’s role in the film was “paired down,” as the actress has put it.

James Wan, director of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is speaking out.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Ahead of the official trailer for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” launching Sept. 14, director James Wan spoke to Entertainment Weekly about many of the rumors circulating the DC sequel. The tentpole has been plagued by reports of a disastrous post production that allegedly included three rounds of reshoots as the film got caught in the middle of the executive overhaul at DC Studios, which is now run by James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Prime Video is getting a new spinoff series of its hit original show, “The Boys”. The forthcoming superhero series, titled “Gen V” will debut on the streamer this fall.

Steven Spielberg warned Antonio Banderas of the imminent rise of CGI back on the set of 1998 film The Mask of Zorro.Celebrating the 25th anniversary in a recent interview, Banderas reflected on the Martin Campbell-directed action-adventure film – which was produced by Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment – and how the latter told him that “things are going to change”.“Steven Spielberg said to me once when we were shooting, ‘This is probably going to be one of the last Westerns shot in the way the Westerns were shot in the old days, with real scenes with real horses, where everything is real, [real] sword fighting, no CGI.’ Everything was [practical],” Banderas told Yahoo Entertainment.“And he said, ‘But things are going to change. They’re going to change and they’re gonna change fast.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” topped domestic box office charts while falling short of initial expectations. Tom Cruise’s latest blockbuster collected $56.2 million between Friday and Sunday, a lackluster start for a movie that cost nearly $300 million before marketing. Heading into the weekend, Paramount and Skydance’s action-adventure was projected to set a new franchise record with $60 million or more. Instead, ticket sales landed behind 2018’s “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” ($61 million) and 2000’s “Mission: Impossible II” ($57.8 million), which remain as the top openings in the 27-year-old series.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” ignited to $7 million on Tuesday previews, a solid start before the film opens nationwide on Wednesday. Comparisons are difficult because “Dead Reckoning Part One” is the first installment in the long-running series to debut on a Wednesday rather than a Friday. But 2018’s “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” the most recent adventure anchored by Tom Cruise’s teflon operative Ethan Hunt, picked up $6 million in previews before launching to $61 million, a franchise record. For another point of reference, Disney’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” landed $7.2 million in Thursday previews when it opened in advance of July 4th. The action-adventure, starring Harrison Ford, went on to earn $60 million over the traditional weekend and $83.5 million through the five-day holiday frame.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Tom Cruise’s mission, should he choose to accept it, is to save the summer box office… again. After a lackluster start to popcorn season (“The Flash,” “Indiana Jones” and “Elemental,” we’re looking at you), Paramount’s action-adventure “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is hoping to bring people back to movie theaters across the globe. The big-budget tentpole is projected to collect at least $60 million between Friday and Sunday. Anything more than that would cement a new opening weekend benchmark for the long-running, globe-trotting spy series. “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” currently holds the record with $61 million, followed by 2000’s “Mission: Impossible II” with $57.8 million.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor The first major game centered on Marvel’s Black Panther will let you unfurl your claws and assume the mantle of Wakanda’s superhero protector… in a few years. Electronic Arts announced Cliffhanger Games, its new triple-A development studio based in Seattle, is working on a third-person, single-player Black Panther game in collaboration with Marvel Games. EA doesn’t have an expected release date for the title at this point, saying “we’re still early in development with a long road ahead.” “If you’re looking to take on an incredible next career move, we invite you to join our team, which we will be building over the next few years,” EA said in a blog post announcing Cliffhanger.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Indiana Jones had a short-lived box office reign. Disney’s action-adventure “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” dropped to the No. 2 spot in its second weekend of release, earning $26.5 million from 4,600 North American theaters. It was dethroned by Sony’s horror-thriller “Insidious: The Red Door,” which beat expectations with its $32.6 million debut from 3,188 venues. Ticket sales for “Indiana Jones,” the fifth and final installment to star Harrison Ford’s swashbuckling adventurer, declined by 56% from its $60 million opening weekend, continuing the theatrical misfortunes for the nearly $300 million-budgeted movie. “Dial of Destiny” added $31.8 million at the international box office, bringing worldwide ticket sales to $247.9 million. It has a long and winding journey to get out of the red, at least in its box office run.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is stumbling in its box office debut, generating $70 million internationally and $130 million globally to start. Those ticket sales wouldn’t be bad for a film aimed at older audiences, except for the fact that Disney and Lucasfilm spent $295 million before marketing to bring the fifth and final action-adventure, starring Harrison Ford, to the big screen. “Dial of Destiny” is posting similar numbers to Warner Bros. and DC’s misfire “The Flash,” which opened to $75 million internationally and $139 million globally but cost $100 million less to make. Both tentpoles are expected to lose money in their theatrical runs.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Disney’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” lassoed the top spot on domestic box office charts, collecting an underwhelming $60 million in its opening weekend. That’s a decent amount of money for a tentpole that’s aimed at older audiences, but “Indiana Jones 5,” one of the most expensive movies ever, cost $295 million before marketing. It’ll take a heroic feat, one that would test even an enduring legend like Indiana Jones, for the fifth installment in the decades-old franchise to become profitable in its theatrical run. It was a disappointing weekend at the box office as “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,” a $70 million-budgeted family film from DreamWorks and Universal, cratered in its sixth-place debut with $5.2 million. In addition to “Dial of Destiny” and “Ruby Gillman,” the DC superhero adventure “The Flash” tumbled to the No. 8 spot in its third weekend of release with $5 million, another embarrassing 67% drop. It has yet to cross $100 million domestically, with ticket sales at $99.2 million to date.

J. Kim Murphy Indiana Jones has begun his last box office crusade, with the fifth franchise entry earning $24 million on its opening day from 4,600 theaters. It’s a figure that includes $7.2 million in previews in Thursday previews. The action-adventure film from Disney and Lucasfilm is expected to debut near the bottom of projections, projecting a three-day opening of $60 million or so. It’ll be more than enough for the Harrison Ford finale to land in the top spot on domestic charts, setting itself up to draw crowds through the Fourth of July holiday — but it’s not exactly the victorious tone-setter for one of the 20 or so most expensive blockbusters ever made. With a whopping $295 million production budget, “Indiana Jones 5” faces quite the trek to theatrical profitability.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is gunning for the top spot on box office charts. The fifth and final adventure to star Harrison Ford as the legendary, globe-trotting explorer is targeting at least $65 million from 4,500 North American theaters in its opening weekend. The latest Indy installment is also debuting day-and-date at the international box office, where it’s aiming to add $80 million for a global start of $145 million to $150 million. Those ticket sales are decent, especially for the fourth sequel to a decades-old property that’s aimed at older audiences. But Disney spent a mind-boggling $295 million to bring the action-adventure to life. That’s not including marketing costs, such as a no-expense-spared premiere and afterparty at the Cannes Film Festival where much champagne was tippled. Even in the best circumstances, it’ll take a heroic feat — and a lot of nostalgia from long-time fans of the series — for “Indiana Jones 5” to turn a profit in its theatrical run.

Harrison Ford has confirmed that he has no plans to retire from acting just yet.The actor – who is stepping back from his iconic role as the titular character in the Indiana Jones franchise after the fifth and final instalment, Dial of Destiny – has shared that retiring altogether is not a prospect for him.“I don’t,” Ford replied to CNN in a new interviews after being asked if he had plans to retire. “I don’t do well when I don’t have work. I love to work.