Latest news with #TinselTown
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Cancelled Will Smith's comeback is tragic – but selling less than 300 records is the least of his worries
HE dominated the nineties and noughties with a string of chart hits and Hollywood blockbusters. Collecting four Grammy Awards from eight nominations and an Oscar for his role in King Richard along the way. 10 10 But in recent years Will Smith, 56, has been struggling to get his spark back after being outcast by Tinsel Town following the 2022 Oscars. In case you've been living under a rock and somehow avoided the fateful night, Will saw red and slapped comedian host Chris Rock live on stage for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. His actions were indefensible - even if it did turn into one of the must-see moments of the year. Will later issued a grovelling apology insisting his behaviour was "unacceptable" and he was "deeply remorseful". But the damage was done and within a flash Will became a pariah - with the shallow world of Hollywood turning their back on him. When I spoke to Will at the premier of Aladdin, in which he plays the Genie, back in 2019 he was on top of the world. He told me: "I'm working a lot smarter, instead of harder and I'm having a beautiful time." But fast forward a few years and things are very different. Previously a box office powerhouse thanks to the likes of Men in Black, iRobot and I Am Legend, Will's latest work has been hit and miss too. Big-budget slavery movie Emancipation, for which he was reportedly paid £28million and also produced, was only rolled out to select cinemas before becoming available on Apple TV. Will Smith snaps at wife Jada Pinkett in previously unseen video as they discuss their marriage counselling On top of that, the Smiths' production company Westbrook has reportedly been forced to lay off half its staff. Before the fallout from the Oscars debacle, the couple had been close to selling Westbrook for over the billion mark. Meanwhile, Jada went on US TV to openly talked about her fling with son Jaden's pal August Alsina before admitting she and Will were a couple in name only - has also damaged his supercool image. Jada told The Sunday Times in 2023: 'We hadn't called each other husband and wife since 2016.' And insiders says the couple only remain married because divorce would hit the bank balance hard. They said: 'At this point the talk is that it's more of a business arrangement than an emotional connection. 'The two companies they're attached to serve as a vehicle for most of their money-making endeavours and it would most likely need to be split up or totally revamped if they were to put a formal end to the marriage. 'That is just not something that they have wanted to do. 'For logistical purposes it's been more convenient for them to keep the status quo and do their own things in different places for the better part of five years.' But Will was said to be hurt by Jada's reaction to the Oscars slap, which came after Rock's cruel joke about her alopecia. At the time, Jada, 53, said: 'People thought I gave Will a look and 'made' him do it. But let me start with this: Nobody can make Will Smith do anything, and surely not me.' Movie hopes With the Oscar scandal and box office struggles, many commentators were quick to assume the once lauded Fresh Prince of Bell Air was over. 10 10 However, last year's Bad Boys: Ride or Die met with surprise praise from critics - proving Will may be down but not out. In recent months, he has been keen to revive plans for his movie projects, including a possible sequel to 2007 hit I Am Legend and a remake of the 1987 Christmas classic Planes, Trains And Automobiles. And if you ask me, there's nothing more Hollywood loves than a comeback story. Though admittedly in today's age of cancel culture they also love a global pile look at the current situation with Katy Perry. Earlier this month Will released his first album in 20 years. Tackling his fall from grace head on, Based On A True Story directly references everything from the breakdown of his marriage to his Oscars slap. Int. Barbershop Day opens with: "Will Smith is cancelled" before going into a back and forth about the star's life and mistakes. This is the comeback arc in real time. A source "Will Smith used to be cool" it continues before adding: "He still the s***, he can fit your whole house in his pool." I have to praise Will for not hiding away from the global debate about his life and trying to turn it into art. Many celebs simply bury their head in the sand after scandal, but Will went the other way - to the extreme. The only problem? No one seemed to be listening. The album sold just 268 copies in its first week in the UK. It won't have helped that Will did next to no press for his new record. Many people I've spoken to didn't even know he had one out. A pal of the star told The Sun: "Sure, the first album didn't top charts but this was never meant to be a one-and-done moment. "It was a soft launch, the first chapter in a trilogy that's as much about growth as it is about music. "With a nearly sold-out UK tour and two more albums on the way, Will Smith isn't chasing validation, he's building something bigger. "This is the comeback arc in real time.' Another added: "This project was not about topping charts. It's about putting his truth into the world on his own terms. Will knows this isn't an overnight fix, it's legacy work now.' 10 While pals are always going to have Will's back, there is still time to turn his career around. In the age of songs going viral on TikTok and streaming, all it takes is for one track to catch on and boom - you're back to being loved. While some of Will's videos are cringeworthy - though aren't all TikToks if we really think about it - it's not like his followers have deserted him. His page boasts a staggering 79.8M followers with over 652.7m likes. This summer he will embark on his first ever headline tour. While not quite sold out, all dates are now at low availability - with promoters no doubt breathing a sigh of relief. A trip to Ibiza is also on the cards. The singer is the face of newly revamped superclub UNVRS - a brand new venue capable of hosting 15,000 revellers. There is no shying away from it. It's been a seriously rough couple of years for Will, I think even he would admit that. But a few months is a long time in showbiz and, who knows, by the end of summer Will could be the golden boy once more. Just keep his wife's name out of your f***ing mouth.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
When Ranbir Kapoor's mum Neetu Kapoor spoke about his break-up with Deepika Padukone: ‘Maybe he was not himself…'
One of the most iconic onscreen jodis of Bollywood, who fell in love off camera and soon became the IT couple of Tinsel Town in 2007, were Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor. However, after dating for two years, the lovebirds broke up, leaving fans scratching their heads wondering what went wrong. Today, RK is happily married to Alia Bhatt and is a proud father to their daughter Raha. Deepika, on the other hand, welcomed daughter Dua Padukone Singh into the world last year with husband Ranveer Singh. While the exes have moved on, the internet seems to be stuck in the past. We are talking about an old video of Ranbir's mother Neetu Kapoor, commenting on his infamous break-up, which has resurfaced on social media. A post shared by Ranbir & Deepika ♥️ (@ranbirdeepi) In 2012, almost three years after Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor parted ways for mysterious reasons, the latter appeared on talk show hostess Simi Garewal's show. In the episode, RK's mother and veteran actor Neetu Kapoor shared a video message talking about his break-up and the possible reasons behind it. Well, this clip has now resurfaced on social media and is going viral. In the video, Neetu shares, 'He's just had one girlfriend and that's Deepika. I think maybe there was something missing in their relationship. There was something not there. And maybe he was not himself, and he needed to break off.' A post shared by Jarp Media (@jarpmedia) Neetu went on to add, 'Everybody has relationships, and they move on. If it was perfect, they wouldn't break up. If I felt that the girl was not nice, I would just say in my own way. But I will not say 'don't get married' or 'don't have this girlfriend'. Then it's up to him, whatever he wants to do. But I will definitely voice my opinion. Definitely.' Meanwhile, Ranbir revealed that he's still friends with his exes, without naming anyone. Coming back to the present: on the film front, Ranbir will soon share the screen with his wife Alia and actor Vicky Kaushal in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War. Deepika, on the other hand, is yet to announce her comeback project after delivering Dua.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Spoof blue plaque commemorates Danny Dyer's Knaresborough visit
A spoof "blue plaque" has gone on display in Knaresborough to commemorate actor Danny Dyer's visit to the market town. The Eastenders star delighted residents when he showed up to shoot a Sky Original Christmas film with castmates Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson. Hairdresser Kelly Young said the production, filmed outside local shops and businesses in February, caused a huge buzz in Knaresborough. Inspired by her encounter with Dyer at her salon, she ordered a blue plaque as a funny way to remember the moment and put it outside her shop. "Knaresborough obviously has some official blue heritage plaques but I thought, because we'd had a few customers coming to the salon saying they were so excited to see us and Danny Dyer, it would be really funny to have a fake blue plaque outside," she said."He was here, he cuddled us, he had his fingers running through our hair and he took pictures with us. "It was to make a little bit of a tourist attraction for the town, just as a bit of a joke really." Ms Young said the town had been "dining out" on the filming of Tinsel Town, which would be released in time for Christmas."The whole cast and crew were open to talking to everyone," she added."They were so friendly that you felt like you could approach them and you realised they were real human beings- there to do a job, but great fun."According to the hairdresser, Dyer himself caused a big stir."The lads at the pub were trying to get him to go in and have a pint, telling him that the pubs in Knaresborough were better than the Queen Vic in Eastenders," she said."We were saying to come in and get his hair done. It would be absolutely awesome if he came up to Knaresborough to look at his blue plaque." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Knaresborough MP wants money from film shoot to be spent in town
An MP has called on a council to reinvest the money it received from a film production in the town where it was stars including Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson descended on Knaresborough when filming for a Christmas-themed production Tinsel Town took place in January and Dem MP Tom Gordon, whose constituency covers Knaresborough, said it would be "a slap in the face" for local residents if the £10,000 fee the council said it received was not spent Yorkshire Council's executive member for culture, arts and housing, Simon Myers, said he was against "ringfencing" money. Myers, who represents Mid Craven on the Conservative-led local authority, told a meeting of full council: "It would be very easy for everybody on this council to be very parochial and to demand that monies raised in their patch are only spent in their patch."Let's spent the money where there is the most need."Myers told the meeting the council was paid "just over £10,000" by a production company for renting Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough Castle and some car parks in the issue had been raised by Lib Dem councillor Matthew Walker at the meeting last told the BBC Knaresborough residents had been "inconvenienced" by filming, adding: "The money should come to the town by way of compensation." "There are so many worthy and necessary projects in the town that require investment – such as Conyngham Hall car park, Knaresborough Castle or the toilets on Waterside." 'Do the right thing' The North Yorkshire Lib Dems have started a petition calling on the leader of North Yorkshire Council, Carl Les, to ensure the "windfall" is spent in is understood the petition has yet to be submitted to the council, who have not told the BBC Knaresborough was being "overlooked" and called on the council "to do the right thing and ensure this funding stays where it belongs".In response to Walker's question, Myers told the meeting a £17.5m leisure centre had recently been built in Knaresborough, while Ryedale "hasn't had a bean spent [there] in years".He added: "Should the residents of North Yorkshire subsidise your gold standard in Knaresborough while people in Ryedale can't get decent facilities?"Let's not go down the path of being parochial even though it may play to our electorate."The BBC has asked North Yorkshire Council if a decision on how the money will be spent has been Town, which also features Danny Dyer and comedian Jason Manford, will be released later this tells the story of a washed-up Hollywood actor hoping to boost his career by starring in a pantomime in the north of England. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Coronation Street actor joins Hollywood stars as they start filming Sky Christmas movie
A former Coronation Street actor is amongst the stars currently filming in North Yorkshire as part of a new Sky Christmas film which will be aired later this year. The film, which is called Tinsel Town and is set to air on Sky later this year, features a host of Hollywood stars including award-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland and actress, writer and producer, Rebel Wilson. Many will know the Canadian star and son of Donald Sutherland for his long-running role as Jack Bauer in the series '24'. He also played President Tom Kirkman in the political drama series, Designated Survivor. READ MORE: The hidden castle 30 minutes from Manchester perfect for a half term day out READ MORE: The beach resort that's 24C in February with direct flights from Manchester Airport Fans will also recognise former Coronation Street and Emily in Paris star Lucien Laviscount, and Salford-born comedian Jason Manford on the star-studded lineup. The film follows award-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland as Bradley Mack, a failed Hollywood actor who ends up in a small, snow-dusted UK village to star in the town's production of Cinderella. He ends up encountering a colourful cast of locals who he eventually warms to, including no-nonsense choreographer Jill played by Rebel Wilson. Speaking about the new festive film Kiefer Sutherland said: 'I'm thrilled to be working back in the UK and with director Chris Foggin. The cast is fantastic, and I can't wait to tell this story.' Rebel Wilson added: "I love British Christmas movies - because in Australia we're just on the beach having a BBQ - and so now I feel like I get to have a classic British Christmas - freezing my t*** off but laughing and sledding all the way!' Filming for the Christmas rom-com has been taking place across the North of England and and at Leeds' Versa Studios. This week the North Yorkshire town of Wetherby has been transformed into a winter wonderland complete with festive decorations and a sprinkling of artificial snow for the movie. The festive caper boasts an extensive A-list cast, which also includes Gladiator II star Derek Jacobi, Jason Manford, Danny Dyer and former Coronation Street star Lucien Laviscount. Mawaan Rizwan, Maria Friedman, Asim Chaudhry, Ray Fearon, Alice Eve, James Lance, Meera Syal, Katherine Ryan, and Savannah Lee Smith have all been confirmed as starring in the show too. Robbie Williams' daughter Teddy was also pictured filming on set of the upcoming Christmas movie on Monday (February 17). Images from the set show Teddy holding hands with her co-star Rebel as they walked through the snow alongside actor Kiefer Sutherland. Also pictured on set, comedian Jason Manford can be seen with Rebel as the snow falls down on the North Yorkshire filming location. He can be seen sporting a green puppet ensemble and a pair of sunglasses. Directed by Chris Foggin, known for the 2023 Netflix comedy drama Bank of Dave, Tinsel Town will be available to stream on Sky Cinema at Christmas 2025. Meanwhile, in another shot from behind the scenes, Lucien Laviscount, who played Ben Richardson on the ITV soap Coronation Street from 2009 to 2010, is shown being fitted with a cape. Tinsel Town was commissioned and developed by Sky in association with Future Artists Entertainment. Mister Smith Entertainment will launch worldwide sales at the upcoming European Film Market. Directed by Chris Foggin, known for the 2023 Netflix comedy drama Bank of Dave, Tinsel Town will be available to stream on Sky Cinema at Christmas 2025.
