Hollywood News Now: November 2024

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Maura Higgins shocks I’m A Celebrity fans after revealing her real age

Maura Higgins shocks I'm A Celebrity fans after revealing her real age | Metro NewsMetro logoSearch MetroClose SearchOpen Site MenuClose Site MenuSite NavigationExpand News SubmenuExpand Entertainment SubmenuExpand Sport SubmenuExpand Lifestyle SubmenuExpand Soaps SubmenuExpand Platform SubmenuExpand Shopping SubmenuExpand Video SubmenuExpand Newsletters SubmenuExpand Money SubmenuExpand Property SubmenuExpand Travel SubmenuExpand Horoscopes SubmenuExpand More SubmenuMetro on InstagramMetro on FacebookMetro on XMetro on TikTokShare this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Share this article via facebookShare this articleCloseShare this article via messenger.Share this article via email.Share this article via flipboard.Comment nowPlay VideoChannel: TVArrowArrowArrowdividerdividerShare this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Share this article via facebookShare this articleCloseShare this article via messe nger.Share this article via email.Share this article via flipboard.Comment nowPlay VideoChannel: TVPlay VideoChannel: TVChannel: ShowbizChannel: ShowbizChannel: GamingPlay VideoChannel: TVChannel: GamingPlay VideoChannel: TVChannel: ShowbizChannel: TVChannel: TVChannel: FilmRead more storiesPlay VideoChannel: ShowbizMetro logoMetro on InstagramMetro on FacebookMetro on XMetro on TikTok

I’m A Celebrity 2024 is finally speaking to gays like me

I'm A Celebrity 2024 is finally speaking to gays like me | Metro NewsMetro logoSearch MetroClose SearchOpen Site MenuClose Site MenuSite NavigationExpand News SubmenuExpand Entertainment SubmenuExpand Sport SubmenuExpand Lifestyle SubmenuExpand Soaps SubmenuExpand Platform SubmenuExpand Shopping SubmenuExpand Video SubmenuExpand Newsletters SubmenuExpand Money SubmenuExpand Property SubmenuExpand Travel SubmenuExpand Horoscopes SubmenuExpand More SubmenuMetro on InstagramMetro on FacebookMetro on XMetro on TikTokShare this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Share this article via facebookShare this articleCloseShare this article via messenger.Share this article via email.Share this article via flipboard.Comment nowPrevious PageNext Pageomment nowPlay VideoChannel: TVArrowArrowArrowdividerdividerShare this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Share this article via facebookShare this articleCloseShare this article via messenger.Share this article via email.Share this article via flipboard.Comment nowPlay VideoChannel: TVPlay VideoChannel: TVChannel: ShowbizChannel: ShowbizChannel: GamingPlay VideoChannel: TVChannel: GamingPlay VideoChannel: TVChannel: ShowbizChannel: TVChannel: TVChannel: FilmRead more storiesPlay VideoChannel: ShowbizMetro logoMetro on InstagramMetro on FacebookMetro on XMetro on TikTok

Monday, November 25, 2024

‘Gossip Girl’ actress goes missing in LA, husband ‘not willing’ to help family in 2-week search

"Gossip Girl" actress Chanel Maya Banks has been missing for the past two weeks — and her husband allegedly is "not willing" to help search for her.

The 36-year-old, who has been living in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles, was last heard from by her family on Oct. 30.

Authorities conducted four wellness checks between Nov. 7 and 8 but could not locate Banks, who played Sawyer Bennett in three episodes of the CW teen drama in 2009. They have gone on to declare her "an official missing person in California," per a GoFundMe campaign launched by her cousin Danielle-Tori Singh.

"Gossip Girl" actress Chanel Maya Banks has gone missing. @ohheychanel/TikTok Banks' family last heard from her on Oct. 30. abc7 Her cousin discovered that the only things missing from Banks' apartment were her laptop and phone. Gossip Girl

Singh detailed that she flew in from Toronto, while Banks' mom arrived from New York, to help search for the star. They managed to gain access to her home on Nov. 10 and discovered that "all of her belongings are still there," according to the page.

"The only items we did not locate are her phone and laptop," Singh shared before noting that Banks left her "little dog" behind, something she never does.

"She also does not have her vehicle because it's parked in her garage," the cousin wrote.

She went on to claim that Banks' disappearance is especially troubling because she never goes "somewhere without telling her mom."

"She also does not have her vehicle because it's parked in her garage," her cousin added. Gossip Girl "Five days without hearing from my cousin is red flags and alarm bells," her cousin told news outlets. Family Handout Want more celebrity and pop culture news?

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Singh told ABC7 Eyewitness News, "Five days without hearing from my cousin is red flags and alarm bells.

"She doesn't go more than 48 hours without speaking to me or her mom. … That girl is more like a big sister to me."

To help locate the "Blue Bloods" actress, the family wants to raise money to hire a private investigator as well as cover accommodations and expenses in LA to keep up the search.

In her plea, Singh also made some troubling claims about Banks' husband of more than a year, who has allegedly refused to help the family or authorities look for her.

Banks' cousin claims the star's husband is "not willing" to help search for her. @ohheychanel/TikTok The two married more than a year ago. Family Handout

"He's not willing to help LAPD. He's not willing to help me or her mom find her. He is removing flyers off of posts and cars," she claimed to Eyewitness News.

Singh also wrote on the GoFundMe page, "We asked him where is Chanel, and all he continues to say is 'She does not want to be found, she will reach out when she's ready.'

"He claims he does not know where she is, he says he hasn't seen or heard from her since November 7."

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KTLA that its investigators are looking into Banks' disappearance.

I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here fans are ALL saying the same thing about Maura Higgins

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Credit: ITV

I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here campmates have welcomed some new faces to the jungle, including Irish TV personality Maura Higgins.

I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here continued tonight (Monday, 25th November), seeing new campmate Maura celebrate her 34th birthday - much to the fans' surprise.

'Twitter hearing it's Maura's birthday and she's 34,' joked one I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here fan.

While another said, 'Would never have thought Maura was 34. She looks much younger.'

And another commented, 'How is Maura Higgins 34!!! I thought she was 28 tops.'

The former Love Island star celebrated her 34th birthday in the Aussie jungle, enjoying an iconic shower scene as per tradition for the I'm A Celeb campmates.

Fans were quick to wish Maura a happy birthday, with one writing, 'I just realised from I'm a celeb that I share a bday with maura Higgins our irish queen let's fcking go

And another said, 'Happy birthday to maura higgins.'

Meanwhile another said, 'Never would have guessed Maura Higgins was 34. She looks so fresh faced and could easily pass as 20. Like to know her secret.'

And another wrote, 'Maura Higgins is 34??? Thought she was about 22/23.'

Maura is set to be a popular addition to I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, with gambling websites predicting that she could be a contender to be crowned Queen of the Jungle.

Gambling.com posted after the Irish reality star joined the jungle, 'Maura Higgins is now a 5/1 to win this year's I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!'

But not everyone is such a big Maura fan, with some viewers calling her 'annoying'.

'They could not have picked a more annoying person than Maura Higgins to join the show, her voice gives me headaches,' wrote one viewer of the ITV show.

I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of There continues tomorrow (Tuesday 26th November) on ITV.

Why Hollywood Hasn’t Created a Blockbuster Like ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in 23 Years

December 19 marks the 23rd anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring's release. Stephane Cardinale/Sygma via Getty Images

If humanity is lucky (which doesn't seem to be the case lately), then once a generation it is gifted a miraculous creative creation like J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novels. If we're really lucky, such a story might be followed up half a century later with a towering film trilogy adaptation that establishes squatter's rights in cinematic history. Yet one overlooked reality is lost between the beloved multigenerational source material and the history-altering success of the movies: then-New Line Cinema Chairman Bob Shaye was taking the biggest risk in Hollywood history by greenlighting such an ambitious undertaking.

As we near the 23rd anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring's release (Dec. 19), we're going to revisit the gamble that was The Lord of the Rings trilogy, how it rewrote the rules of Hollywood franchise development, and the examples and elements the industry should focus on today to create new franchises of renown tomorrow.

The Lord of the Risk

"Not all those that wander are lost." – Bilbo Baggins

The three Lord of the Rings movies were green-lit as a package and filmed simultaneously in New Zealand from 1999 to 2000 at a combined budget of $281 million (equivalent to nearly $540 million today) before including any marketing expenses. While Hollywood had occasionally developed and made packages of content like this before, nothing at this scale had ever been attempted. The idea of leveraging a beloved intellectual property had taken root in the 1990s via Harry Potter and the Star Wars prequels. But New Line's upfront bet on Tolkien's legacy and filmmaker Peter Jackson's vision—which received rare creative freedom—for three films sight unseen could realistically be seen as lunacy by some at the time.

"Then and even now, it was a massive gamble," Shawn Robbins, Fandango Director of Analytics and founder of Box Office Theory, told Observer. "The sheer amount of money invested into a years-long project that demanded large crews and a cast working mostly outside the traditional Hollywood system and locations was unprecedented. Everything hinged on the first movie delivering with fans and audiences. Otherwise, the sequels would have paid the price for it at the box office."

Of course, we all know how this played out. The trilogy would earn billions globally, culminating in a historic 11-for-11 Oscars sweep by The Return of the King in 2004. It gave the green light for other franchises to adopt similar production schedules—such as The Matrix and Pirates of the Caribbean filming entries two and three back-to-back after the initial success of the first—though none nearly as precariously ambitious.

The Fellowship of the Ring marked the beginning of Hollywood's episodic approach to franchises. More importantly, it launched a new emphasis on IPs with built-in audiences that could develop into universes of specific fandoms.

Could another Lord of the Rings production process happen today?

"It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish." – Samwise Gamgee

For all intents and purposes, this was the true start to the Comic-Con era of entertainment—for better and for worse. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) coincided with the rise of the internet, which enabled film studios to essentially weaponize fandom. Pre-existing IPs with years of established fans were suddenly seen as viable financial bets with lucrative upsides.

Genre entertainment (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, superhero), once considered a fringe storytelling lane, became the bedrock of pop culture. But rather than understand Jackson's ability to create a story that was simultaneously epic beyond scope and intimately humanistic, studios merely chased after fantastical worlds and concepts without much thought to what made it appealing beyond its genre. That's why so many pale imitations such as 2006's Eragon, 2007's The Golden Compass and even 2016's Warcraft followed. A lot of money and countless jobs were lost chasing the LOTR trend. But only those who studied what made the trilogy successful were able to fold those learnings into their own game-changing franchises.

"Hollywood learned the value of cohesive storytelling and meticulous long-term planning across franchise installments," Derick Tsai, CEO of the IP development studio Magnus Rex, told Observer. "The Lord of the Rings demonstrated how continuity in character arcs, world-building, and thematic depth could sustain audience investment across multiple films. These lessons informed future franchises like Harry Potter and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where detailed franchise planning became a cornerstone of massive success."

Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two, a $715 million box office behemoth follow-up to the ten-time Oscar-nominated Dune, was only announced after the first film hit theaters. Universal fell ass backwards into the globe-trotting ensemble nature of the Fast and Furious franchise due to actor availability. The Avengers tease in Iron Man's post-credits scene was a last-minute addition. The closest contemporary example to LOTR may be Universal's $350 million, two-part Wicked series, which was already one of the best-selling musicals in history.

Grand franchise ambitions aren't planned and executed in a vacuum. Scheduling, location, story, budget and countless other factors determine the direction and fate of a film series. Given the painful contraction the industry is enduring at the moment, Hollywood has been retreating into the perceived safety of "sure things."

"In today's risk-averse, data-driven industry, a production like The Lord of the Rings would be rare," Tsai said. "Studios now prefer iterative approaches, where the success of an initial installment informs future expansions."

Having said that, Tsai points to small-screen examples such as Amazon's five-season plan for The Rings of Power and HBO's ten-season plan for the Harry Potter reboot that reflect long-term commitments supported by "extensive data and proven audience demand."

The reality is that it's extremely difficult for a new-to-screen concept to break through these days, even on streaming platforms where franchises don't face the same scrutiny (or boast the same cultural footprint) as theatrical. Audiences want familiarity. With magnified social media attention and divisive online factions, it's harder than ever to deliver a general crowd-pleaser. As such, Hollywood is constantly looking for other financial avenues to mitigate big-screen risk.

"Never say never, but it would take a massively confident pitch from established industry names, likely with ancillary benefits such as merchandising, IP extension into television, video games, theme parks and many other franchise-adjacent perks," Robbins said. "In this day and age, and in a risk-averse business, there usually have to be multiple safety nets."

How should Hollywood build franchises moving forward?

"May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out." – Galadriel

The Lord of the Rings novels are a once-in-a-lifetime story that got swept up by a generational filmmaker who happened to peak during the filmmaking process. This is not a replicable process.

"Filmmakers should prioritize telling a compelling, self-contained story rather than focusing on building a multi-part franchise upfront," Tsai explained. "The key is to ensure the characters and the world resonate deeply enough with audiences to create demand for future installments." Tsai points to the "epic prologue" and "emotionally grounding" first act of The Fellowship of the Ring as the best example of this in modern Hollywood.

What can and has been repeated is the desire to innovate within a proven genre at a reasonable cost. The first John Wick was a balletic orchestra of violence made on a low midtier budget. Knives Out blended sharp social commentary with an all-star ensemble cast, revitalizing the murder mystery. Taylor Sheridan's growing roster of Neo-Westerns and crime dramas share connective thematic tissue. Marvel is still the only studio with a successfully long-running interconnected universe at a blockbuster scale. James Cameron never stops innovating, and the success of his Avatar films is proof that marrying populist storytelling with boundary-pushing techniques can deliver huge hits.

"Ultimately, there is no single correct way to build a franchise," Robbins said. "This is where business meets the art form, and the former of the two has to be malleable when it comes to establishing a plan, to be willing to change that blueprint midway if necessary and to learn when to leave it alone."

Why Hollywood Hasn't Created a Blockbuster Like 'The Lord of the Rings' in 23 Years

I'm a Celebrity teases first overnight trial of series

I'm a Celeb teases first overnight trial of seriesITV

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2024 spoilers follow.

I'm a Celebrity has teased the first overnight trial of the series.

Tonight's (November 25) episode saw the campmates learn about the unexpected twist while they enjoyed their dinner.

"Tonight, you all have the chance to win treats. However, to be in with the chance of winning, you will all need to take a trip on The Fright Bus!" read the laminate, which was accompanied by a bag of bus tickets with seat numbers on.

While on the bus, each celebrity will be given the opportunity to win a piece of luggage from the luggage rack, which contain holiday essentials and tasty treats.

ITV

The campmates have to endure the bus ride, while working within their rows of three to escape at one of the four stops on the journey.

To successfully exit the vehicle, each row will have to wait until their stop to manoeuvre three tokens across a bar as fast as they can. Every token won will equate to a piece of luggage.

As the campmates took their seats, Maura Higgins was horrified when she realised that she'd have the longest trip from the back of the bus – on her birthday, no less.

"This isn't the party I expected to be honest," she said. "I don't think it's going to be fun, it's going to be hell."

ITV

The Fright Bus then begun its journey, with lots of creepy crawlies being dumped on the screaming campmates. How will they get on?

The show's viewers quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their excitement at the twist, with one writing: "Actually so excited to see The Fright Bus, will give us all a new perspective on who to vote for."

"Poor Maura she has to take part in an overnight trial on her birthday" another added, while a third said: "They should do more of these kinds of trials. More entertaining."

Tonight's episode also saw Dean McCullough win an impressive 10 out of 12 stars in the Bushtucker trial, while Tulisa and Melvin Odoom won the camp two Pringles each in the Deals on Wheels challenge.

I'm a Celebrity... airs on ITV1 and ITVX.

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What A LITTLE WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS’ Faith Values Mean for Entertainment Industry

Published: November 25, 2024

Photo from Great American Family's Instagram What A LITTLE WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS' Faith Values Mean for Entertainment Industry

By Movieguide® Contributor

Great American Family's new Christmas flick, A LITTLE WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS, retells a heartwarming story based on Louisa May Alcott's 1868 book, "Little Women," and while the network took some creative liberties, the heart of the story stays the same.

The movie follows "the lives and loves of the March sisters in a small Tennessee town at Christmas. Jo March is played by Jillian Murray, Trevor Donovan is Friedrich 'Fritz' Baehr, Meg March is played by Jen Lilley, Laura Osnes plays Beth March, Julia Reilly is Amy March, and John is played by Jesse Hutch. The one-and-only Gladys Knight performs 'Joy.'"

Osnes, Reilly and Hutch joined Annie F. Downs' podcast to share a little more about the film.

"I think there's some creative license obviously that's taken," Onses said when asked about the character of Beth (in the book, Beth dies part way through). "I think the entity is so beloved and well-known that they wanted to be able to embrace the four sisters, the family and faith values of this family."

"I guess Dion, our script writer…I think because it's a Christmas movie, they were like, 'Well she's just around again even though it's a contemporary retelling of the beloved [story].' Essentially in my mind, it kind of takes place like five to 10 years after where the book leaves us, so we just pretend that Beth never died because it's Christmas and we love this family," she said.

Hutch explained how audiences crave wholesome movies filled with hope, and A LITTLE WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS does just that.

"Movies that have faith in them are starting to do very well, and…I think that people ultimately want hope. I think in this genre and space too, I think everybody wants hope, everybody wants to find a way through whatever they're living whatever they're dealing with," he said.

Hutch isn't wrong.

Movieguide®'s 2023 Report to the Entertainment Industry found that, of the Top 25 movies at the domestic box office, those with very strong Christian, redemptive worldviews averaged $178,156,715, 100% better than those with very strong Romantic, occult, pagan, humanist or false religious worldviews

"It's got to start somewhere, but when someone starts writing, they'll put it in, and then all of a sudden you get a director that cares about faith," Hutch continued. "…Actors [then] come to the table that have faith. They start putting something in. So eventually, we're all kind of moving down this river that turns out a lot of us really appreciate faith and God, and we love trying to bring hope to the table."

Movieguide® called A LITTLE WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS "joy for fans of the classic novel."

It's faithful to the characters, their passions and personalities, while updating the story. It also sprinkles allusions to Alcott's work are also sprinkled throughout the story, rewarding fans who keep their eyes peeled. The movie also remains faithful to the book's Christian content. It also teaches strong messages about the importance of family and contains strong biblical allusions. One character spins a web of lies, but A LITTLE WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS is otherwise free of questionable content.

The movie premiered on Nov. 23.

A Hollywood Producer Lists His $17.3 Million Malibu Equestrian Ranch

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways

A movie producer's equestrian estate just hit the market in Malibu. Listed for $17.3 million, the four-acre property off California's scenic Pacific Coast Highway is being offered by James Veres, who brought 2005's Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical to the big screen, starring Kristen Bell and Alan Cumming. Property records show that he paid $940,900 for the property in 1994, though the sun-soaked estate has been around for longer, having been completed in 1963.

Veners and his ex-wife, German actress Ursula Karven, are selling the home, which they once used as their primary home in the U.S., because they have both left the country, according to the Oppenheimer Group's Emma Herman, who holds the listing. "This is the first time in 30 years this property is on the market," she notes to Robb Report via email. Being walking distance to the beach is certainly appealing, and future owners also have the ability to expand the current house, Herman says.

I'm A Celebrity's Ant and Dec on 'meeting' Dean McCullough on Britain's Got Talent

Exclusive:

Dean McCullough as part of The Glambassadors on Britain's Got Talent (

Image: ITV)

Presenters Ant and Dec have addressed their link to Dean McCullough after it emerged they have worked together before.

Fans discovered that the BBC Radio 1 presenter once starred on Britainâ€™s Got Talent, which is hosted by Ant and Dec. In fact, the Geordie duo were side of stage as Dean wowed as part of his dance troupe The Glambassadors in 2013.

Dean was aged just 20 during his time on the series, in which they got to the live semi-final. Fans have previously expressed surprise that the duo had failed to acknowledge previously knowing him.

But they cleared it all up during an Instagram Live Q&A with fans. One viewer asked: â€œDo you remember meeting Dean on Britainâ€™s Got Talent years ago,â€ to which Ant says: â€œGood question but the answer to that is no.â€

The Glambassadors (with Dean McCullough far right) perform on Britain's Got Talent (

Image:

ITV)

Speaking about his BGT appearance, Dean who had studied at drama school, said at the time: â€œWe formed because we all know each other through working in dance.

â€œBut a week before the auditions we lost two guys who got jobs in LA. So we found two other friends and we had one rehearsal before we got to the stage.

â€œI choreographed the dance so I was under pressure to get it sorted.â€œWe were winging it but I think because of the pressure we were under it all came together and now I have made friends for life. We have all been on this journey together, none of us have ever done anything like this before.â€

Opinionated: Ant and Dec have hit out at Dean

They lost out to eventual winners Attraction. Dean has had a love-hate relationship with Ant and Dec since the show began. They have been particularly enraged by his apparent lack of effort in trials at the beginning. Ant in particular has been very outspoken about him.

He even said this week: â€œIâ€™m never going to follow him on Instagram. Never. Thatâ€™s not going to happen. Never going to happen." His latest outburst against Dean came 24 hours after he begged viewers to stop voting for him to take part in the trials.

He told viewers: "Well, right. Letâ€™s all have a serious talk. Iâ€™m going to look directly into the camera here. I think itâ€™s good to see other faces down there."