Latest news with #UniversalStudios
The South African
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Ariana Grande joins Robert De Niro in new sequel
Ariana Grande, the Grammy-winning singer and Oscar nominee, is stepping into the world of comedy films. She has signed on to star alongside Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in the next Meet the Parents movie. Universal Studios confirmed on Friday that Ariana will join the beloved franchise for its fourth instalment. The original trilogy has grossed over R19.5 billion worldwide. The upcoming film will be written and directed by John Hamburg, who worked on the earlier movies. The plot promises a fun reversal of roles, according to Daily Mail. This time, Ariana's character will be the new fiancée in the family. She is described as a 'ball-busting woman who seems all wrong' for her fiancé. Ariana herself shared the exciting news on Instagram Stories. She posted headlines from The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, writing, 'Very thrilled to be joining (meeting) the family.' Ariana Grande also shared a nostalgic snap of Robert De Niro, playing a former CIA officer, conducting a polygraph test on Ben Stiller from the original 2000 comedy. South African fans have taken to social media to express their excitement. One fan wrote, 'ACTORIANA on the rise,' while another said, 'Ariana in a comedy movie… this is the best day of my life.' A proud supporter added, 'SO PROUD OF MY GIRL ❤️.' However, some fans lamented that Ariana Grande might be stepping back from music. 'We will never see her touring again,' one follower commented. This is understandable, as Ariana recently told Variety she plans to focus more on acting. She said, 'Acting is feeling like home right now. I feel so grateful for it.' South African movie lovers can look forward to a hilarious new chapter in a franchise that has already brought so much joy. The film is expected to hit theatres in November 2026. Given the local appetite for both comedy and star-studded casts, it's sure to be a hit here. Meanwhile, fans of Ariana's musical talents need not worry. She reassured her followers, 'Music and being on stage will always be a part of my life.' But for now, acting is her main focus. With her star shining brighter than ever, South African fans have plenty to look forward to on both the big screen and in the theatre. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ariana Grande announces she will join Robert De Niro for a sequel to one of his biggest hit films
Ariana Grande has decided what her next big screen adventure will be and she's signed up to participate in one of Hollywood's most beloved franchises. The Oscar nominee, 31, who was unrecognizable as a grandma in a short film, has signed on to star in the next Meet the Parents installment. Universal Studios announced on Friday the Wicked star would be joining Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro for the fourth film in the highly successful franchise. Today date, the combined earnings for Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers is more than $1.16 billion worldwide. Blythe Danner and Teri Polo who were in the three previous film are also expected to return. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, s ubscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Ariana Grande has decided what her next big screen adventure will be and she's signed up to participate in one of Hollywood's most beloved franchises; pictured in Los Angeles in March According to The Hollywood Reporter, the plot of the new film, will be written and directed by John Hamburg. The plot is expected to follow the premise of the first film, only this time it is Grande who is the newly affianced member of the family. Her character, who will be engaged to one of Stiller and Polo's sons, is a 'ball-busting woman who seems all wrong for him,' according to the outlet. The Grammy winner confirmed the news, sharing headlines from both THR and Deadline in her Instagram Stories. 'Very thrilled to be joining (meeting) the family,' she wrote. She also posted a snap of De Nero, a former CIA officer, conducting a polygraph test on Stiller from the original 2000 comedy. Both De Niro and Stiller will executive produce the movie. 'ACTORIANA on the rising,' wrote one fan. 'Ariana in a comedy movie… this is the best day of my life,' was one fan's reaction on the Deadline Instagram page. 'SO PROUD OF MY GIRL ❤️' exclaimed another. The Grammy winner confirmed the news, sharing headlines from both THR and Deadline in her Instagram Stories. 'Very thrilled to be joining (meeting) the family,' she wrote One fan lamented, ''we will never see her touring again' One follower lamented, 'we will never see her touring again.' In January, the hitmaker told Variety she was interested in focusing on acting for the time being. 'I think the next few years, hopefully we'll be exploring different forms of art, and I think acting is feeling like home right now,' she said. . I feel so grateful to the acting, and I think my fans know that music and being on stage will always be a part of my life,' she began. 'But I don't see it coming anytime soon,' Grande continued. 'I think the next few years, hopefully we'll be exploring different forms of art, and I think acting is feeling like home right now. I am appreciative for [my fans'] understanding. I'm so grateful for the ways in which we've grown together over this whole journey with Wicked. The romantic comedy is expected to debut in theaters on Thanksgiving day in November 2026. Fans are anxiously awaiting the release of Wicked: For Good, which is scheduled to open in theaters November 21. Wicked broke box office records as the most successful film adaptation of a Broadway musical, conjuring up $755,995,933 globally. It's anticipated that Wicked: For Good will do as well or even better once it is released. Universal will re-release Wicked in theaters on June 4 for one day in North America. The special screening will include the first trailer of Wicked: For Good, playing immediately after the film.
Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Epic Universe debuts
Epic Universe debuts Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada The Atrium of the British Ministry of Magic in the queue of Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry in Epic Universe's Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Ministry of Magic.
Axios
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Everything to know before you go to Charlotte's new adventure escape room Keepers of Balance
A new massive adventure-style escape room facility is now open in Lower South End. Catch up quick: Keepers of Balance — started by Charlotte native Nick Maus, who partnered with former project designers from Universal Studios and Disney parks — is a family-friendly immersive experience that feels like you're stepping into the set of a movie like "Indiana Jones." Here are five things to know before you go: You're smarter together. Gather a group of two to six people to master physical and mental challenges that help you get into the next room. You'll want extra eyes to search for clues and assist with problem-solving. Think outside the box. Keepers of Balance has multiple immersive adventures to choose from, including an "Indiana Jones"-inspired game called "Temple of Light." You're tasked with capturing a light that represents goodness that you can disperse into the world. To do that, you'll have to use your mental strength to spot items that don't belong, search for missing pieces, find matching pairs, uncover riddles and even use sensory skills to help connect the dots. Be quick. You have 75 minutes to complete the entire experience. The "Temple of Light," for example, has five rooms with some transitional challenges along the way. Be patient. Don't stress if you're feeling stumped. Actors within the experience will provide hints along to way to guide you toward solving the riddle before the clock runs out. Plan your visit if you decide to go. Tickets sell out, so you'll want to book a time slot in advance to secure your spot. Tickets are $55 per person for groups of four and $50 per person for groups of five and six people. Find Keepers of Balance at 125 W Woodlawn Road. What's next: Over the next few months Keepers of Balance will open more adventures within its facility. "The Sunken Realm," which takes place in an old submarine with a goal to retrieve a lost artifact, will open in about four weeks. Another adventure called the "Rise of NEMESIS," where your goal is to retrieve a prototype robot, will open later this summer. Other adventures including "Beyond Darkness," which has references to the haunted ghost stories from Uptown's Dunhill Hotel, will open later this year.
Geek Vibes Nation
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'The Woman In The Yard' Blu-Ray Review - Psychological Horror Film Tackles The Lingering Nature Of Grief
'When the sun is bright and the wind is still, she comes to you like a sudden chill. Draped in black from head to toe, how she got there, you'll never know.' With that cryptic warning, an otherworldly woman sends a family into a seemingly inescapable nightmare. Already grieving the death of her husband, Ramona faces a new fear when this mysterious figure appears outside her farmhouse. With the woman continually creeping closer, Ramona must protect her children from the chilling grasp of this haunting entity whose unknown intentions are anything but peaceful. From Blumhouse, producers of The Invisible Man and The Black Phone. For in-depth thoughts on The Woman In The Yard, please see my colleague Cody Allen's review from its original theatrical release here. Video Quality The Woman In The Yard arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment with a wonderful AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Despite the darker thematic exploration, the cinematography on display has moments of brilliant luminance to complement some of the shadowy interiors. There are notable opportunities for vibrant colors to pop off the screen with the surrounding environment never failing to amaze. The color palette accurately showcases elements of the clothing and production design. The level of detail in this presentation remains as exquisite as ever, as all of the subtle aspects of the costumes and set design are crystal clear. Skin tones appear consistent across the entire cast with even the most minor facial details on display. The strong black levels are a major benefit as they allow for a pleasing amount of detail in shadows. The bright highlights during the day do not stumble with any blooming in this presentation. There are no exceptional instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable here. This Blu-Ray is top-notch as Universal maintains its high standards Audio Quality The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track is chillingly effective, and it never lacks when asked to deliver something unnerving. The movie uses environmental sounds to ideal effect, and the track retains precise detail even in the more unwieldy developments. Dialogue comes through clearly with none of the information feeling overshadowed by parallel elements. The soundscape on display here is complex with a nuanced design from beginning to end. Despite being a more talky affair, the film knows when to come alive with thrills that dig deep. All of the effects have a noble sense of direction within the mix with noises in the house prickling up your spine. The soundtrack and score are first-rate without being too overbearing to the competing elements. The track does everything it needs to. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided. Special Features Making The Woman In The Yard: An eight-minute piece in which the cast and creative team discuss the motivations behind bringing this story to the screen, finding the right performers for these characters, the themes that are explored, the direction of Jaume Collet-Serra, and more. Beneath The Veil: A five-minute look at the titular woman terrifying our protagonist and what she represents. Final Thoughts The Woman In The Yard is a psychological horror film that will frustrate many but is likely to hit home for those who have experienced loss or have survived a particularly tough time mentally. The script is overly impressed with itself at times, yet it does traverse some material that packs a surprising amount of depth for the type of horror movie it is marketed as. Any stumbling blocks are made less abrasive thanks to the powerful performance from Danielle Deadwyler and stunning cinematography from Pawel Pogorzelski. The current era of grief horror can be a bit exhausting, but this one is executed very well in a way that sticks with you. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a grand A/V presentation and a small selection of special features. Recommended The Woman In The Yard is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
