Wine lovers divided as world’s first tender stem broccoli tipple is launched

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterTiny yellow creatures are taking over the international box office.“Minions: The Rise of Gru” ignited to $93.7 million from 61 overseas markets and notched one of the biggest pandemic-era opening weekends for an animated film in many of those territories.Those returns take the fifth installment in Universal and Illumination’s popular “Despicable Me” franchise past $200 million at the global box office. In North America, “The Rise of Gru” debuted to $108 million over the weekend and looks to reach $127.9 million through Independence Day on Monday.Outside of the U.S. and Canada, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” enjoyed the strongest showing in the United Kingdom and Ireland with $12.9 million, followed by Mexico with $12.4 million and Germany with $4.8 million.

EXCLUSIVE: French distributor Newen Connect has struck its first ever deal with North American streamer Topic, selling the exclusive North American rights to four European shows.

Heyday Television President Tom Winchester has launched a production company backed by Power of the Dog producer See-Saw Films and talent agency Hamilton Hodell.

Naman Ramachandran A wealth of film and TV titles are available at launch on streamer Studiocanal Presents, which is now available as an Amazon Prime Video channel in the U.K.Some 300 films and series from Studiocanal’s catalogue are available at launch, including Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now: Final Cut” in 4K; Brian Helgeland’s “Legend”; Joel and Ethan Coen’s “Inside Llewyn Davis”; a digitally restored version of Carol Reed’s “The Third Man”; Lynne Ramsay’s “You Were Never Really Here,” zombie horror “Train to Busan” and Céline Sciamma’s “Girlhood.”Also available are Nicolas Roeg’s “The Man Who Fell To Earth” and Sidney Lumet’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” award-winners “Manchester by the Sea” and “Room,” seminal titles like Luis Buñuel’s “Belle de Jour” and Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless” and modern British classics “Submarine” and “Four Lions.” Other recent additions include Sharon Stone classic “Basic Instinct” and John Carpenter’s “Escape From New York.” Studiocanal Presents also offers TV series showcasing the best of Studiocanal and Canal+’s own TV productions, including “Hannibal,” “Spiral” and “All the Way Up,” which broke streaming records upon its launch on Canal+ in France.A variety of new titles will launch on the channel every month, many of which can’t be streamed anywhere else in the U.K. New titles arriving include “Possessions,” “Animal Kingdom” and “The Guard.” After a seven-day free trial the service costs £4.99 ($6) a month.

After five films spread over fifteen years, Daniel Craig’s time as James Bond is officially over. And Craig went out with a bang, as Cary Fukunaga’s “No Time To Die” had perhaps the most shocking ending of any Bond film to date.

Fans will have to wait a little longer for an update on which actor will replace Daniel Craig as James Bond.

EXCLUSIVE: James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has revealed that it will be “at least two years“ before the next 007 movie begins filming and that the task of finding an actor to replace Daniel Craig hasn’t begun “because it’s a reinvention of Bond.”

While it's nothing new, and we're certainly not complaining, Harry Styles' name is inescapable right now. Not content with scoring ten weeks atop the Official Singles Chart with As It Was, claiming the year's first Official Charts Double as Harry's House simultaneously nabbed Number 1, making moves in the beauty business with Pleasing and starring in upcoming movie Don't Worry Darling with girlfriend Olivia Wilde, the One Direction star's now treating fans across Europe to Love On Tour.

K.J. Yossman “No Time to Die” producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson were honored by Prince William in an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace today (Friday, June 24).The duo, who run James Bond production company EON, were both awarded Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBEs) in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honors list for services to film, drama, philanthropy and skills.After the ceremony, Broccoli told a reporter from The Independent the award was a “huge honor” and that she was still on the hunt for the next 007 following Daniel Craig’s retirement from the role last year.

Peaky Blinders and Cobra producer Joe Donaldson has set an indie, Magic Hour Television, and signed a first-look deal with All3Media International and All3Media-owned drama house New Pictures. Donaldson will develop a slate, funded by All3 and its international arm, and partner with New Pictures co-founder and CEO Willow Grylls to produce scripted TV.

Naman Ramachandran Joe Donaldson, producer of “Peaky Blinders” and “Cobra,” has launched new production company Magic Hour Television and signed a first look deal with All3Media and New Pictures.Donaldson will develop a slate, funded by All3Media and All3Media International, and partner with New Pictures co-founder and CEO Willow Grylls, to produce new scripted television content. He will also serve as executive producer for New Pictures on the upcoming third series ‘Cobra: Rebellion’ for Sky Max, which is due to start filming later this year.Magic Hour is set up to produce human stories about life in Britain and beyond, tapping into U.K.

K.J. Yossman Kristine Froseth and Alisha Boe are set to star in an adaptation of Edith Wharton’s final novel, “The Buccaneers,” for Apple TV Plus.Froseth, who has previously appeared in “The Assistant,” will play Nan St George while Boe, who had a central role in “13 Reasons Why,” is set to play Conchita Closson.Rounding out the cast as the buccaneers are Josie Totah (“Saved by the Bell”) as Mabel Elmsworth, Aubri Ibrag (“Dive Club”) as Lizzy Elmsworth, Imogen Waterhouse (“The Outpost,” “Nocturnal Animals”) as Jinny St.

The Darkness have announced a new UK tour for next year, alongside co-headline act Black Stone Cherry. 

First Aid Kit have returned with their first new music in three years in the form of new single, ‘Angel’ – listen to it below.The last original track the Swedish duo – comprising Johanna and Klara Söderberg – put out was 2019’s ‘Strange Beauty’, a tribute to the late David Berman. Their last studio album was ‘Ruins’ in 2018.‘Angel’, which showcases the Söderberg sisters’s signature harmonies, was written in the wake of major global events the past couple years.“It feels special to release a song after such a long hiatus,” the duo said in a statement.

Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney (aka Cassie Howard), likes to rock the boat when it comes to her fashion choices. Arguably, her most memorable on-screen moment was *that* bathroom scene with Maddy where she made country chic a lewk. Oh, and who could forget the teeniest tiniest Y2K crop top that she wore not too long ago.

Naman Ramachandran “Sex Education” producer Eleven has cast “Ten Pound Poms,” a drama series from “Brassic” creator Danny Brocklehurst for BBC and Australian streamer Stan. Michelle Keegan (“Brassic”), Faye Marsay (“Game of Thrones”) and Warren Brown (“The Responder”) lead the cast alongside Australian actors Rob Collins (“Mystery Road”), Leon Ford (“Elvis”), Declan Coyle (“Long Black”), David Field (“Shantaram”), Stephen Curry (“Hounds of Love”), Hattie Hook (“Savage River”), Finn Treacy (“The Portable Door”) and Emma Hamilton (“The Tudors”).The six-part series follows a group of Brits as they leave dreary post-war Britain in 1956 to embark on a life-altering adventure on the other side of the world, in sun-soaked Australia. But life down under isn’t exactly the idyllic dream the new arrivals have been promised.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorThe action in upcoming mystery thriller “The Reunion,” starring “Harrow’s” Ioan Gruffudd, centers on three characters in two time-zones, 25 years apart, but the emotions and personalities of the characters are consistent, the show’s British director Bill Eagles explained at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival Sunday.The English-language show, produced by Sydney Gallonde at Make It Happen Studio and co-produced by MGM Intl. TV Productions and broadcaster France Televisions, is based on Guillaume Musso’s bestselling novel “La Jeune fille et la nuit.”The story opens in the present day, at a reunion at an international school in the south of France where three former friends reconnect.

Naman Ramachandran James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are being accorded BFI Fellowships, the highest honor bestowed by the British Film Institute. The fellowships will be presented at the BFI chair’s dinner, hosted by BFI chair Tim Richards, on June 28.