Latest news with #sharks
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Killer thriller: Jai Courtney sinks teeth into 'Dangerous Animals'
A serial killer and the hardened survivalist he aims to murder head out into shark-infested waters with not another soul in sight for miles. It sounds like the movie remix of the year. But to actor Jai Courtney, putting together serial killers and sharks in the same movie 'is the genre mashup of our dreams.' In Dangerous Animals, opening Friday, Courtney, 39, plays Tucker a deranged serial killer who uses sharks to sadistically dispatch his unsuspecting victims. He takes tourists visiting Australia out to sea for an up-close encounter with the deadly animals — with an emphasis on up close. 'It's a lot of fun,' the Aussie actor says with a chuckle via Zoom following the premiere of the horror thriller at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month. 'It mangles those two — sharks and serial killers — together, but at the centre of it, it's a survival thriller.' Courtney's psychotic boatman gets his kicks kidnapping unsuspecting visitors and feeding them to hungry sharks as he films the proceedings for his very own snuff movie collection. When we meet him, it seems that Tucker has been feeding live bait to the hungry predators for quite some time. Like the sharks he's so fond of, Tucker has become adept at seeking out his prey, targeting backpackers and vagabonds. After one gruesome kill, he celebrates by dancing around the main cabin in his underwear and a robe to Stevie Wright's 1974 classic, Evie (Let Your Hair Hang Down). But he meets his match when he abducts a tough loner named Zephyr (played by Yellowstone star Hassie Harrison) who threatens to end his savage streak. At the first sign of resistance, Tucker seems to relish the challenge Zephyr presents. 'Makes for a better show,' he says, sneering. 'This was such a different and unique world,' Courtney says of playing the madman. 'There's a menace to him and a maniacal obsessiveness that's like fodder for an actor to grab hold of and chew on … He's an enthusiast and someone with a deranged philosophy about how he fits into the ecosystem as an apex predator.' Director Sean Byrne, who made his mark as a horror auteur with his debut The Loved Ones, which won the Midnight Madness audience prize at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, ratchets up the tension as Zephyr tries to save herself. Playing the foil to Harrison's determined heroine allowed Courtney to add to a roster of villains that includes an antagonist opposite Tom Cruise in 2012's Jack Reacher and the DC antihero Captain Boomerang in Suicide Squad. After landing his breakout role alongside Cruise right out of the gate, Courtney joined a list of Australian actors, including Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe and the late Heath Ledger, who became sought after quickly making their mark on Hollywood. Working with Cruise, he says, offered him an early education on professionalism and career longevity. 'Having Tom Cruise as the lead in the first big film I ever did was a true gift,' Courtney says. 'No one is as hard a worker as he is. It's an inspiration to see that kind of ethic and see someone care so much about (their work). To see him still killing it at 60-something … he's still making some of the most exciting films out there. He continues to be an inspiration for me.' Joining forces with Cruise led to work with Bruce Willis in 2013's A Good Day to Die Hard, the fifth and final entry in the long-running action series. He also booked a role as future resistance soldier Kyle Reese in 2015's Terminator: Genisys. A year later, he partnered with fellow Aussie Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad (a part he reprised in a 2021 sequel). 'I had a chance to share the screen with some real icons and that was a real privilege and an honour,' he says looking back on his meteoric rise. 'I've been part of some really cool classic action-franchise stuff.' Other notable roles followed, including a part in The Divergent Series. More recently, after welcoming a daughter with his partner, Saudi actress Dina Shihabi, he has appeared alongside Chris Pratt in Amazon's The Terminal List. Next up, he'll co-star in Netflix's forthcoming sci-fi thriller War Machine with Reacher star Alan Ritchson. But when his agent calls with the offer of another villain, he'll be all ears. 'There's just a lot of colour in there that you get to play with when you play those guys,' Courtney says. 'I'm no stranger to playing a bad guy. I'll probably continue that trend for years to come … hopefully.' Dangerous Animals opens in theatres Friday, June 6. mdaniell@ 'Terminator Genisys': Jai Courtney says new entry into series not a reboot or a prequel Aussie Jai Courtney talks about 'big' 'Die Hard' role
BreakingNews.ie
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
First official Jaws documentary to examine film's impact 50 years on
The first authorised Jaws documentary is to examine the film's impact on the perception of sharks to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will feature interviews with director Steven Spielberg, Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw – who played professional shark hunter Quint, and Lorraine Gary who played Ellen Brody, along with other cast members, when it airs on National Geographic and Disney+. Advertisement The 90-minute documentary will also feature home videos and rare outtakes from Spielberg and writer Peter Benchley's personal archives, and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, including its malfunctioning animatronic shark and Spielberg's fears the film would end his career. The feature will also look at the wave of shark fear from the public following the movie's release, and will look at the novel which started the story through interviews with Benchley's wife, ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley and their children. Famous fans including JJ Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis will also speak about the film along with marine experts. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will be directed by Laurent Bouzereau, and will be produced by Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. Advertisement The documentary will be released on July 11 (Universal Studios/PA) The documentary frames Jaws, released in 1975, as the 'first summer blockbuster', with the movie being the highest-grossing picture of all time until the release of Star Wars two years later. Jaws tells the story of a man-eating shark, named Bruce by the film's crew, that attacks beachgoers at a resort town on Amity Island, and the attempts of police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and professional shark hunter Quint (Shaw) to hunt it down. The film, based on the 1974 novel by Benchley, was followed by three sequels, and has inspired theme park rides at the Universal Studios theme parks as well as video games. The documentary will premiere on July 11th at 8pm on National Geographic and will stream the same day on Disney+. Advertisement
CNN
20 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
Scavenging sharks' peaceful response to rivals surprises observers
Scavenging sharks' peaceful response to rivals surprises observers Observers captured video of tiger sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks peacefully feeding together on a carcass despite conditions that posed the potential for aggression. 01:31 - Source: CNN Elephant seal in Cape Town wanders into suburbia, stops traffic and wins the hearts of locals A Southern elephant seal makes a surprise visit to the residential neighborhood of Gordon's Bay in Cape Town, South Africa, and triggers an almost nine-hour rescue effort to return him to the coast. 00:57 - Source: CNN Why e.l.f. just bought Hailey Bieber's beauty brand for $1 billion e.l.f. Beauty is buying Hailey Bieber's makeup brand, Rhode, for $1 billion. Founded in 2022, Bieber's brand racked up $212 million in net sales in its last fiscal year. 01:11 - Source: CNN Contestants risk injury in cheese wheel competition An annual race held in England has attracted thousands around the world. It's been described as the world's most dangerous race: a 200-yard dash after a wheel of Gloucester cheese. 01:15 - Source: CNN Should Sean 'Diddy' Combs testify? CNN's Laura Coates speaks with Benjamin Chew, co-lead counsel for Johnny Depp in his defamation trial, about whether Sean "Diddy" Combs should testify in his high stakes criminal trial. 01:55 - Source: CNN SpaceX Starship outperforms previous missions this year Regrouping after two consecutive explosions, SpaceX launched the 9th test flight of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built. The mission marks the first time the company reused a Super Heavy booster from a previous flight. 01:55 - Source: CNN Two birds found onboard Delta flight A flight from Minneapolis to Madison, Wisconsin, was delayed for about an hour after two birds tried to stow away on a Delta Air Lines flight. 00:44 - Source: CNN Trump pardons reality TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley President Donald Trump has signed full pardons for imprisoned reality show couple Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in 2022 for a conspiracy to defraud banks out of more than $30 million, according to a White House official. CNN's Kaitlan Collins reports. 01:07 - Source: CNN Former 'Diddy' employee describes alleged abuse Former employee for Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Capricorn Clark, took the stand to testify in the federal trial against her long-time boss, seemingly corroborating accounts from witnesses Cassie Ventura and rapper Kid Cudi. Capricorn alleges Combs made threats and carried out acts of violence against her, including forced lie-detector tests Capricorn claims to have been administered by Combs' security guard while she was held. 02:37 - Source: CNN All-American Rejects singer talks house party tour The All-American Rejects lead singer Tyson Ritter joined CNN News Central to talk about his band's house party tour that started as a protest against pricey arena shows. 01:34 - Source: CNN 'Duck Dynasty' star dies at 79 Phil Robertson, patriarch of the reality show 'Duck Dynasty,' has died at 79, according to a family statement. Robertson founded Duck Commander, a business making duck hunting supplies, which later became the center of A&E's hit show. 01:06 - Source: CNN Truck explodes after possible propane leak A home security camera caught the moment when a box truck driving through a residential neighborhood exploded in Addison, Illinois. The driver walked away with only minor injuries, CNN affiliate WLS reports. 00:36 - Source: CNN Teens help rescue family from garage fire CNN's Fredricka Whitfield speaks with Aiden Kane and Tyler Sojda, who helped rescue a family in Marcy, New York from a garage fire after spotting the flames while driving home from junior prom. 01:16 - Source: CNN Where Kermit the Frog's tea meme came from Kermit the Frog tells CNN's Sara Sidner his thoughts on being an infamous part of meme culture. 00:41 - Source: CNN Verdict reached in Paris robbery of Kim Kardashian After a weekslong trial, eight people behind the multimillion-dollar armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris were found guilty. Most of them received prison sentences, portions of which were suspended, but all will walk free due to time already served. 00:43 - Source: CNN Anderson catches up with man sailing around the world Anderson Cooper speaks with Oliver Widger for an update on his viral adventures sailing across the world. Widger quit his job, liquidated his 401(k) and bought a sailboat to see the world with his rescue cat, Phoenix. 01:55 - Source: CNN See moment OceanGate team noticed something wrong Newly released video shows OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush's wife, Wendy Rush, who was working on the communications and tracking team, notice the sound of a 'bang' while monitoring the submersible. The Titan submersible imploded on June 18, 2023, killing all five passengers on board. 00:49 - Source: CNN 'The Points Guy' on the best deals for summer travel Brian Kelly, founder of breaks down the best deals for summer travel and how to make the most of your frequent flyer miles. 01:00 - Source: CNN
CNN
a day ago
- General
- CNN
Rare video shows 12 sharks co-feed socially
Observers captured video of tiger sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks peacefully feeding together on a carcass despite conditions that posed the potential for aggression.
CNN
a day ago
- General
- CNN
Rare video shows 12 sharks co-feed socially
Observers captured video of tiger sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks peacefully feeding together on a carcass despite conditions that posed the potential for aggression.
