Latest news with #JeffreyWright
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
$200m blockbuster's mega cast stuns world
Sunrise on the Reaping, set 24 years before the events of the first film, had already generated buzz well before its huge casting news, largely fuelled by the popular theory that Suzanne Collins penned the new novel as a tongue-in-cheek punishment for fans who had been sharing President Snow thirst traps across social media. Picture: Instagram If you haven't read the book, Maysilee might be a fresh name, but she's a character you're bound to fall for fast. Picture: Instagram 'HELP, why is he hot?!' was just one of the many buzzing reactions flooding social media when Kelvin Harrison Jr. was announced as Wiress's partner in crime, the brilliant Beetee Latier. Known for his sharp intellect and quiet intensity in roles like Luce and The Queen's Gambit, Harrison Jr. is an inspired choice to bring to life the tech genius who famously rigs a deadly potato trap. Spoiler alert. I can't help but wonder, is this round two of Hunger Games thirst traps? And if so, will Suzanne Collins 'punish' us again with another amazing book? He's expected to earn between $500,000 and $1 million for the role. Picture: Supplied Beetee was originally played by Jeffrey Wright, who is just an Oscar away from an EGOT, having been nominated as Best Actor in the 2023 Academy Awards for American Fiction. Picture: Supplied Newcomers Louella McCoy (L) and Lou Lou (R) have me absolutely terrified - they're so tiny! Fans were quick to point out that Molly McCann bears a striking resemblance to a young Katniss, and if you know, you know. What a sweetheart (cue the tears). And then there was Iona Bell's reveal minutes after Louella's. Fans joked it was as swift as the Capitol was to replace her. Absolutely SCREAMING. Picture: Instagram Wyatt Callow was definitely not what I was expecting! Picture: Instagram Ben Wang first broke out in 2023 with Disney's American Born Chinese, and he's recently been cast as the lead in Karate Kid: Legends. Beyond that, there's not much known about this rising star, except that he's stepping into the role of my favourite oddball from the reaping that I never expected to root for. Picture: Supplied 'That's kinda crazy and cool that she looks like Rachel.' Picture: Supplied Fans will know that Lenore Dove Baird, who will be portrayed by Gossip Girl reboot star Whitney Peak, isn't exactly the Covey you should get attached to, but that won't stop us. Picture: Instagram With whispers linking her to her possible niece, Lucy Gray, I'm fully prepared to catch every haunting similarity, and to have my heart shattered all over again in the process. Picture: Supplied 'Please, why did this actually scare me.' The most unhinged and best reveal so far might just be the latest one, with the marketing team pulling a fast one on fans who were so deep in the world of Panem they momentarily forgot they hadn't actually been reaped. If it weren't limited to the US, I'd volunteer as tribute. Picture: Instagram We are absolutely sat waiting to see who the next A-lister reveal will be. Picture: Facebook
Jordan Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Jordan Times
Spike Lee says expensive for music artists to speak out
From left to right: British-US actor Elijah Wright, US actor Jeffrey Wright, US actor Aubrey Joseph and US director and executive producer Spike Lee arrive for the screening of the film 'Highest 2 Lowest' at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on Monday (AFP photo) CANNES, France — US director Spike Lee says music artists today are not as politically active as they were in the 1970s, because doing so is going to "hurt your pocketbook". "With so much money being made by artists, their record company or their management, if you speak out, it's going to hurt your pocketbook," he said Tuesday at the Cannes Festival after the premiere of his film "Highest 2 Lowest" out of competition. In his new film, veteran star Denzel Washington plays a music mogul who faces a moral dilemma. It is a loose adaptation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 1963 "High and Low", a classic following a wealthy businessman who believes his son has been kidnapped. Cinema bible Variety has called Lee's version "a soul-searching genre movie that entertains while also sounding the alarm about where culture could be headed". "I'm 68. And I grew up during the Vietnam War era. Artists spoke out and commented on what is going on in the world," said the two-time Oscar winner, who received the prize for his career's work and 2018 "BlacKkKlansman". "I think that was prevalent more back in the era growing up," he said, though quickly making an exception for US rock star Bruce Springsteen. "Springsteen's been on it," he said. Springsteen last week told a British concert audience his homeland was now ruled by a "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration", causing US President Donald Trump to lash out that the rock idol was an "obnoxious J…". Several cinema figures at Cannes this year have warned about Trump's administration, with screen legend Robert De Niro saying his country was "fighting like hell" for democracy and director Todd Haynes calling his presidency "barbaric". At the festival in 2018, Lee raged against the Republican president during his first term, after Trump refused to denounce violent far-right protests in Charlottesville, whose latest film will be released on Apple TV + on September 5, said he grew up with music. "I grew up in a music household," he said, explaining his father Bill Lee worked with Bob Dylan. "If you go to that Bob Dylan album, it's all over, Baby Blue. That's my father on bass," he added. "But Bob Dylan went electric. Everybody went electric. And my father refused to play Fender bass." So his mother had to work to support Lee and his four younger siblings. "In my early days, I was wondering, you know, Daddy, can't you just play electric bass? Mommy's working herself to death," he said. "Later on, I understood why. All money ain't good money."
Free Malaysia Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Denzel Washington receives surprise honorary Palme d'Or award at Cannes
Denzel Washington at the premiere of the film 'Highest 2 Lowest' at the 78th international film festival in Cannes. (Invision/AP pic) CANNES : US actor Denzel Washington received a surprise honorary Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday evening in recognition of his outstanding career, according to organisers. Washington, 70, was in southern France for the premiere of US director Spike Lee's latest film 'Highest 2 Lowest', an adaptation of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 'High and Low', which also celebrated its premiere on Monday. Washington, who was joined by co-stars A$AP Rocky and Jeffrey Wright on the red carpet, stars as David King in the crime thriller that marks the fifth time he and Lee have worked together. The two-time Oscar winner's movie roles have ranged from black activist Malcolm X, to a drunk but heroic pilot in 'Flight.' His turn as a rogue detective in 'Training Day' earned him his second Oscar in 2002 following his first win in 1990 for 'Glory.' He also directed and starred in the 2007 film 'The Great Debaters' about a professor who coached a debate team from a black US college to national glory, and produced and starred in the drama 'Antwone Fisher'. Robert De Niro received a Palme d'Or honorary award for lifetime achievement, announced in advance, at the festival's opening ceremony last week, where he used his acceptance speech to call for protests against US President Donald Trump. 'Highest 2 Lowest' is set to hit theatres in the United States on Aug 22.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Denzel Washington reveals why he REALLY skipped Cannes Film Festival event after tense red carpet showdown
Denzel Washington is now shedding light on why he skipped a press conference for his new film Highest 2 Lowest at the Cannes Film Festival following a dramatic confrontation on the red carpet with a photographer. The 70-year-old Oscar winner was missing in action when his director, Spike Lee, attended the event with two of the film's stars, Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera. Shortly beforehand, he had been seen shouting and pointing his finger at a photographer on the premiere's red carpet, which exclusively decoded via a lip reader. But a representative for Denzel now tells in a statement that he was 'always scheduled to be in and out of Cannes on Monday,' May 19, and he wasn't planning to be at the press conference. That's because Monday was his only day off from the Broadway production of Othello that he is currently starring in opposite Jake Gyllenhaal. In fact, it was previously reported that the festival had rearranged part of its schedule to accommodate the acting legend's presence in order to award him an honorary Palme d'Or. 'The studio and festival were aware weeks ago, ahead of time, that he would not be available for the press conference today due to his work commitment on the play,' Washington's representative explained. The press conference, sans Denzel, took place at the Palais des Festivals on Tuesday morning, after Washington was already out of the country. Seeming to hint at Washington's scandal, Lee, 68, quipped at the press conference: 'The last time I was in this room, I had to apologize for a f*** up, but I won't be apologizing today for a f*** up.' In 2021, while serving as Cannes jury president, Lee 'messed up' when he accidentally revealed the Palme d'Or winner, Titane, before the official announcement. The director also claimed that he doesn't see himself working with Washington again. They previously worked together on Inside Man (2006), Mo' Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1992) and He Got Game (1998). Speaking about their body of work, Lee mused: 'Denzel and I didn't know that our previous film, Inside Man, was 18 years ago. 'We were surprised because it felt like yesterday. But we didn't miss a step. 'It's been a blessing to have this body of work of us doing films that the people love. It's a blessing, again,' he continued. 'I don't know if we're going to do it again.' Lee added, 'I think this is it. Five [films]. He's [Denzel] been talking about retirement, even though he just did another deal.' Highest 2 Lowest is a remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller High and Low, and it will be released in theaters by A24 August 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ September 5. The stars have been on the promotional trail for the new film, but while attending the film's premiere, Washington found himself in a red carpet altercation. Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman has since told that the Malcolm X star appeared to have been set off by a photographer tapping him on the arm. Despite the intensity of his words, many of the photographers surrounding Washington — including the one he was yelling at — were smiling, suggesting that they may not have realized how upset he was. However, the actor has a long history of tense interactions with photographers over the years. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Washington and Cannes Film Festival for comment. Before calling out the photographer, Denzel had been standing on the red carpet with his Highest 2 Lowest costar, the rapper-turned-actor A$AP Rocky, 36. Despite his spat, Washington was in great spirits when he was later surprised with an honorary Palme d'Or award by director Spike Lee. Handing the award over to Washington, Spike said: 'This is my brother, right here.' 'This is a total surprise for me!' the actor replied. The actor, who posed for photos with Spike and A$AP Rocky, showed no signs of jet lag and was expected to fly back to New York immediately after the screening. When the festival first announced its lineup last month, Highest 2 Lowest wasn't included. But within hours, however, Spike himself announced the film was heading to Cannes and representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Denzel would attend the red carpet. The tirade comes seven months after Washington was filmed exploding at autograph hunters in New York City in October 2024. The Oscar-winning actor snapped at fans as he arrived at the Museum of Modern Art for a film benefit honoring Samuel L. Jackson - with the tense exchange captured in a dramatic video. The Man on Fire star was seen arriving at the museum and posing with a fan - while autograph hunters called his name to the side. A visibly annoyed Washington went to walk inside but then turned and addressed a fan in the crowd. While the entire exchange cannot be deciphered, the actor was seen pointing his finger and heard saying: 'I heard you. You talk about showing love...' '...Respecting me' to which the fan said 'we already do.' Washington retorted: 'I said I'll see you when I get out, which part of that don't y'all understand? 'It's about showing love' - before raising his voice and declaring 'or not, or not! we can do it another way... or not, we can do it both ways!' He then walked inside the building after the shock incident. And in 2021 Washington was pictured having an intense moment with a fan. The movie star was by his car when the fan walked over to him with a sack of photos for him to sign in New York City. The pair engaged in an intense conversation with the actor looking like he was given the fan some pearls of wisdom. He placed his hands on his shoulder and looked deep in his eyes, looking like he was forgetting to keep socially distanced for a second. While Denzel had his mask on, the fan had his pulled down to his chin for the moment as the Hollywood star placed his hands around his face. An onlooker claimed he told the fan to 'say a prayer' but it is not known what they were talking about.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Cannes Film Festival 2025: Denzel Washington gets surprise honorary Palme d'Or
US actor Denzel Washington received a surprise honorary Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday evening in recognition of his outstanding career, according to organisers. Washington, 70, was in southern France for the premiere of US director Spike Lee's latest film Highest 2 Lowest, an adaptation of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's High and Low, which also celebrated its premiere on Monday. Washington, who was joined by co-stars A$AP Rocky and Jeffrey Wright on the red carpet, stars as David King in the crime thriller that marks the fifth time he and Lee have worked together. The two-time Oscar winner's movie roles have ranged from black activist Malcolm X, to a drunk but heroic pilot in Flight. His turn as a rogue detective in Training Day earned him his second Oscar in 2002 following his first win in 1990 for Glory. He also directed and starred in the 2007 film The Great Debaters about a professor who coached a debate team from a black U.S. college to national glory, and produced and starred in the drama Antwone Fisher. Robert De Niro received a Palme d'Or honorary award for lifetime achievement, announced in advance, at the festival's opening ceremony last week. Highest 2 Lowest is set to hit theatres in the US on August 22.
