Will Smith Releases ‘Based on a True Story,' His First Album in 20 Years
Smith had preempted the new album with the singles 'Beautiful Scars' with Big Sean, 'First Love,' You Can Make It,' 'Tantrum' and 'Work of Art.' The album comes almost exactly 20 years ago to the day from when Smith released his last album, Lost and Found. Based on a True Story reunited Smith with DJ Jazzy Jeff and also features collaborations with Teyana Taylor, Joyner Lucas and Smith's son Jaden Smith. As The Hollywood Reporter reported last year, Smith signed a distribution deal with indie label Slang Records for the project.
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'The past couple of years, I've been doing a very deep exploration of who and what I truly am,' Smith said in a teaser video he posted on his Instagram hours ahead of the official release Thursday. 'The process of this album is really allowing myself to be more honest with myself than I ever have about who and what I actually am. This is about to be the greatest artistic creative period of my entire life.'
The past several years certainly have been eventful for Smith, as the actor is still in image rehabilitation mode for the infamous incident at the 2022 Academy Awards where he slapped Chris Rock on stage over a joke Rock made about Jada Pinkett Smith.
Still Smith seems to be keeping himself busy with the new music, announcing an overseas tour earlier this month that will take him through much of Europe starting later this summer. It's unclear what the demand for the new music will be given just how long it's been since Smith has been a full-time recording artist. Speaking on 'Sway in the Morning' on Thursday, Smith recalled advice he got from Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar on recording the project.
''You gotta say what's true for you and you'll be looking at the younger rappers and you'll want that to be true to you, but you don't live like that,'' Smith revealed Jay told him. ''Be true to your story. Tell your story.' And that's where I got the Based on a True Story, from Jay.'
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USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Michael Franti dropped by management amid 'troubling' allegations
Musician Michael Franti has reportedly been dropped by his management company, amid a string of cancellations connected to claims of misconduct. Activist Artists Management dropped Franti, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, as the pop-reggae artist attempts to weather a scandal seemingly brought on by a series of social media posts from singer-songwriter Victoria Canal. Activist Artists Management did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this week, Soulshine at Sea 3, an aquatic music festival headlined by Franti, was canceled after an exodus of slated artists. The cruise was intended to sail in November from Miami to Mexico—until artists like Dispatch, Maggie Rose, Hirie, and Liz Vice pulled their performances. "We've decided we will no longer be performing at Soulshine at Sea. We have been made aware of deeply concerning public allegations involving another artist on the lineup and have chosen to withdraw from the event," Dispatch said in an Aug. 16 post on Facebook. "We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding." Hirie and Vice also referenced "concerning" and "troubling allegations" in their respective social media posts. In a post to Soulshine at Sea's website Aug. 17, event promoter Sixthman referenced "recent events" when confirming the cancellation and promised to unveil a replacement cruise soon. Franti took to social media shortly after to acknowledge he had "a romantic relationship outside my marriage" with an unnamed artist, an admission seemingly connected to the cancellation. While neither Franti nor any of the Soulshine performers named the artist, their posts directly followed allegations made on Instagram earlier this month by Canal, who said she had been groomed by a "very powerful, decades older man." The abuse, the Spanish singer-songwriter alleged, began when she was 19, after she was "plucked" from the internet during her college years, and promised professional opportunities. Canal, 27, went on to allege that this man now enjoys a family-man image and active career, but "has a history of incredibly damaging behavior" behind the scenes and is protected by "a team of enablers." "This experience, which lasted a little over a year, has had a years-lasting effect on my intimate life," she wrote. "The truth is, I just couldn't carry on hiding this part of me. Hiding from the young women who follow me has felt so painful, and I finally feel so ready to speak on it openly." Reps for Franti have not responded to USA TODAY's request for comment, including questions on a nonconsensual relationship with Canal. Canal went on to promise the release of a new song that would address the trauma and explained that she was omitting the name of her alleged accuser for fear of financial and professional harm. When reached for comment, a rep for Canal said: "It feels very liberating for Victoria to speak on her experience as she continues to heal. She hopes sharing can help young women entering the world of music to keep their eyes open and protect themselves." Following Canal's posts, Tank and the Bangas, a group slated to tour alongside Franti for the remainder of the summer, also canceled their joint shows, writing on Instagram: "While we are not aware of any specific details related to the matter, in light of the recent post made by the artist, we have made the difficult decision to not participate, until we have a better understanding of the facts." Franti, in his own lengthy statement posted to Instagram, wrote that while he had had an extramarital affair seven years prior with a fellow musician on his tour, it was entirely "consensual." He did not name Canal. The pair collaborated on 2019's "The Flower" and Canal served as the opener on Franti's tour that same year. "I'm aware of the recent posts this artist made about our relationship, and while I support her need to express herself publicly, the relationship was completely consensual, based on mutual feelings and attraction. I vehemently dispute any version of the story that says otherwise," Franti wrote. "I will, however, take full accountability for not better recognizing the power imbalance as she was younger than me, and I was the headliner on tour." If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: (4673) and and en Español
New York Post
11 hours ago
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Glen Powell addresses possibility that he's playing the next James Bond
Glen Powell doesn't want the license to kill. The 'Chad Powers' star, 36, shut down the possibility that he's playing the next James Bond. 'I'm Texan. A Texan should not play James Bond,' Powell told The Hollywood Reporter in his joint interview with Eli Manning published Wednesday. 12 Eli Manning and Glen Powell on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter. Kurt Iswarienko @kurtiswarienko 12 Eli Manning and Glen Powell for The Hollywood Reporter. Kurt Iswarienko @kurtiswarienko 12 Glen Powell for The Hollywood Reporter. Kurt Iswarienko /The Hollywood Reporter 'My family and I joke around, I can play Jimmy Bond, but I should not be playing James Bond,' the actor added. 'Get an authentic Brit for that job. That's who belongs in that tuxedo.' Powell's been floated around as an option to replace Daniel Craig as the next 007. Other stars who have been in the conversation include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Theo James, Regé-Jean Page, Harris Dickinson and Kingsley Ben-Adir. 12 Glen Powell attends MPTF's 22nd Annual Night Before in Los Angeles on March 9, 2024. Getty Images for MPTF 12 Roger Moore as James Bond in 'Octopussy.' ©United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection Those men, unlike Powell, are all British. The past James Bonds — Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Craig — all hail from the UK. 12 Glen Powell at the 'Anyone But You' premiere in New York City in Dec. 2023. Marion Curtis / StarPix for Sony Pictures Since Craig's last turn as the iconic spy agent in 2021's 'No Time to Die,' there's been no official announcement about who will take on the role next. In February, Amazon MGM Studios obtainined creative control of the James Bond franchise from Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who got the rights from the late Albert R. Broccoli. 12 Sean Connery as James Bond in 'Goldfinger.' Everett Collection / Everett Col 12 Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in 'The World Is Not Enough.' ©United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection Then in June, 'Dune' director Denis Villeneuve was confirmed to helm the studios' first Bond. 'I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory,' Villeneuve, 57, said after being named director. 'I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.' 'This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor,' he added. 12 Daniel Craig as James Bond in 'Skyfall.' ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 12 Denis Villeneuve at the 75th Directors Guild of America Awards in Feb. 2023. AFP via Getty Images Like Powell, some actors have pulled themselves out of the race to be the next Bond. 'I think I'm too messy for that,' Taron Egerton told Collider last month. 'I really love James Bond and particularly Daniel Craig's tenure. But I think I wouldn't be good at it.' Idris Elba, for his part, said in 2023 that he got turned off from playing 007 when 'it became about race.' 12 Taron Egerton as Eggsy in 2017's action movie 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle.' 20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection 12 Idris Elba at Amazon's 'Heads Of State' world premiere on June 24, 2025. Jackie Brown / 'Those that weren't happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race,' Elba, 52, said on the 'SmartLess' podcast. 'It became about nonsense and I got the brunt of it.' Craig, meanwhile, isn't interested in which Hollywood man takes the Bond torch from him. 'I don't care,' he bluntly told Variety last year.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
THREE Frankenstein Movies (And One TV Show) Are In the Works
It's been an exciting time in the world of Universal Monsters. We absolutely loved Nosferatu, Robert Eggers' darkly poetic take on Dracula, which released last winter. And we equally enjoyed visiting Universal Epic Universe's Dark Universe, a theme park world that celebrates all things Universal Monsters, when the new park opened in the spring. But every other Universal Monster, it seems, will soon pale in comparison to the mark that Frankenstein will make on the world. There are FOUR new Frankenstein projects in the works right now, and that includes three movies and one TV series. The Frankenstein movies and TV show also have some pretty major creators and stars behind them. In short, it's a good time to be a monster. 'It's alive' has never applied more strongly. Here's everything we know about the three new Frankenstein movies and the one TV series coming soon to our screens. Jump to: // // // Three New Frankenstein Movies Are in the Works Guillermo del Toro Is Giving Us His Take on for Netflix This is the Frankenstein project you've probably heard of already. Iconic horror/fantasy/surrealist director Guillermo del Toro is directing and writing a Frankenstein movie for Netflix. Guillermo del Toro's movie will star Oscar Isaac as Doctor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as the Monster/Creature, and will also see Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz as part of its cast. That is what you might call a monsterously good collection of collaborators. We've only seen brief teases of del Toro's Frankenstein movie so far, but we know that this movie will blow us away when we see it fully come to life. The logline shares, 'Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley's classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.' Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein movie will release in select theaters on October 17 and stream on Netflix on November 7. Read more Jacob Elordi's Monster Emerges in New Images From Guillermo del Toro's FRANKENSTEIN Movie Will Star Sebastian Stan The newest Frankenstein movie to enter the ring is Frankenstein in Romania. Although Dracula is widely known for being from Transylvania, which is now a part of Romania, Frankenstein has no prior association with Romania. However, Sebastian Stan is Romanian. So it will be interesting to see Frankenstein linked with Romania in Frankenstein in Romania. The new Frankenstein movie will be written by Radu Jude, who told The Hollywood Reporter, 'I'm writing a film now. It's a Frankenstein film in Romania. Frankenstein in Romania, it's going to be called.' Jude reveals that he imagines Sebastian Stan will play 'both roles' in this movie, that is both Victor Frankenstein and his monster. We don't yet have many details about Jude and Stan's new Frankenstein movie, except that 'The story is understood to combine the real-life existence of a secret CIA prison in Romania in the past with the legend of the Frankenstein monster.' Very interesting. No release date has yet been set for Frankenstein in Romania, but we are eager to learn more about the movie sooner rather than later. Jump to: // // // Maggie Gyllenhaal's Bride of Frankenstein Movie, Is a Punk Rock Film with a Major Cast Joining the monstrous fray to offer the Bride of Frankenstein her due is the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed movie starring the Bride of Frankenstein, The Bride! This Universal Monsters movie is said to be a punk rock take on the tale, which features Christian Bale as Frankenstein's monster and Jessie Buckley as his bride. The movie's tagline is 'Here comes the mother fucking bride.' Yes, we feel the punk rock! So far, no teaser trailer or any other kind of materials have been released for Maggie Gyllenhaal's Bride of Frankenstein movie. Although Gyllenhaal did share first look images at The Bride and Frankenstein. But those who caught a sneak peek of The Bride! at Cinema Con describe it as incredibly gory. Gyllenhaal additionally shared, 'In the original 'Bride of Frankenstein,' the bride is in the movie for about three minutes, and she doesn't speak, which could not be more different than our bride.' She goes on to share the story of The Bride! revolves around the following conceit: 'What happens if his bride that comes back is beyond his wildest imagination and doesn't fit into the box that he imagined for her, or the box that the world's imagined for her?' It turns out The Bride! is also a period piece, taking us into the 1930s for a story of revolution. The official synopsis for this Bride of Frankenstein movie shares, 'A lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to seek the aide of a Dr. Euphronius in creating a companion for himself. The two reinvigorate a murdered young woman and the Bride is born. She is beyond what either of them intended, igniting a combustible romance, the attention of the police, and a wild and radical social movement.' RELATED ARTICLE See Christian Bale as Frankenstein's Monster in Maggie Gyllenhaal's THE BRIDE The Bride! will release in theaters on March 6, 2026. It additionally stars Annette Bening, Penélope Cruz, and Peter Sarsgaard. Mel Brooks Is Working on TV Series In 1974, Mel Brooks wrote and directed a hilarious Frankenstein movie with Gene Wilder titled Young Frankenstein. Now, approximately 50 years later, Brooks is turning that movie into a TV series for FX called Very Young Frankenstein—a truly brilliant title. This Frankenstein horror-comedy series is still in its earliest stages, nearly at a pilot order. But we feel excited about it already. Brooks will team up with a team that knows a monstrous parody when they see it: What We Do in the Shadows' Stefani Robinson, who will be writer and showrunner, Taika Waititi, who will direct the pilot, and Garrett Basch. It feels like a meeting of the minds born in monstrous heaven. The plot synopsis for the Very Young Frankenstein series simply reveals, 'Inspired by Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein.' So for now, we don't really have a clue as to what will happen in the pilot. But Nerdist's Eric Diaz previously wrote: With a name like Very Young Frankenstein, it could just be a prequel to Young Frankenstein. Although that doesn't sound nearly as fun. You wouldn't have the monster or other elements people love about the film… They could take a cue from What We Do in the Shadows when Colin Robinson de-aged into a baby. More likely though, this show will focus on the son or grandson of Gene Wilder's version of Dr. Frankenstein. They probably won't live in castle, but somewhere comparable to the Staten Island home of the vampires in What We Do in the Shadows. RELATED ARTICLE VERY YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Series in Development From WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Team We're also rooting for the series to be shot in black and white as an homage to the original Universal Monsters films and to Young Frankenstein itself. Jump to: // // // Will We See Even More Frankenstein Movies and Series in the Future? Four Frankenstein projects just doesn't seem like enough! (Kidding.) It's hard to say if other Frankenstein movies or TV shows will spark to life at this time. It does feel like these three Frankenstein movies and one TV series might be enough for now. But hey, the Creature from the Black Lagoon is available for his close-up. Then again, if these Frankenstein movies do well at the box office we may very well yet see more on the horizon. In the meantime, we'll just be yelling, 'It's alive!!!!' at the top of our lungs at every midnight release. Solve the daily Crossword
