Category: Entertainment

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are getting an early start on spooky season.

The duo made a surprise appearance at a Cinespia screening of their beloved 1998 movie Practical Magic on Saturday night, arriving to screams from the crowd at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

“[Practical Magic] is [the] perfect movie to show at a cemetery,” Bullock said to the crowd, as Kidman added, “Thank you for all your support for getting this second film made that’s coming to you very soon.” They also introduced the sequel’s new additions in Joey King and Maisie Williams, sharing a toast among themselves and the audience.

The night helped stir up excitement ahead of the upcoming sequel, which sees Bullock and Kidman reprising their roles as orphaned sisters Sally and Gillian Owens. In the original, the two — raised by their witch aunts Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) and Aunt Franny (Stockard Channing) — embrace witchcraft after avoiding it most of their lives. The sisters work to learn how to use their powers to ward off a curse that threatens women in the family from finding love, and leaves men they fall in love with dead.

In Practical Magic 2, set 25 years later, Bullock’s character now has two daughters — played by King and Williams — who have their own witchy abilities. King’s character discovers dark family secrets that plunge the Owens family into a crisis, and the women must confront the dark curse that threatens to unravel them once and for all.

Wiest and Channing have also returned for the follow-up, alongside other new additions Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña and Solly McLeod.

The Perfect Couple‘s Susanne Bier directed the film, which hits theaters Sept. 11. Bullock and Kidman are producing the sequel alongside Denise Di Novi, who was also behind the 1998 movie. Practical Magic is also returning to theaters for one night only, on Aug. 11, in preparation for the new film.

Governor Gavin Newsom is concerned about the antitrust lawsuit filed by 12 state attorneys general led by California against Paramount‘s $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, and what it will mean for the entertainment industry, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In a Friday report, sources told the WSJ that Newsom has said if the merger is blocked due to the lawsuit, state employment will suffer. The outlet also notes that “Newsom’s office has encouraged Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, which has independent authority to file such suits, to find a resolution out of court.”

Reps for Newsom and Bonta declined the WSJ‘s requests for comment; The Hollywood Reporter also reached out to California’s governor for comment.

On July 13, the states filed a lawsuit alleging that the merger would combine two of Hollywood’s top five studios, which would lead to higher prices, less movies in theaters and a decrease in the variety and quality of content. “There is no debate here: This merger will snuff out competition, drive up prices, diminish content quality, and produce fewer movies and shows each year,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta at a press conference at the time.

The filing of the suit led to a temporary pause on the merger, ruled by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín on July 20; that temporary restraining order was subsequently extended on July 23. One day later, Paramount agreed to hold off on the acquisition until the court makes a decision of whether or not the deal violates antitrust laws.

In a court document filed on July 24, Paramount said they will not consummate the acquisition until June 2027 or five days after the court issues a ruling on the case, whichever is earlier.

Alongside California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington are involved in the suit.

While organizations including Cinema United has shown support for the suit and actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong called on the U.K. to block the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger, Newsom is not the only democratic power player to reportedly push for a settlement.

On Monday, Ari Emanuel, WME executive chairman and CEO of TKO, wrote an op-ed for the WSJ in support of Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros.

“When government officials manipulate markets to reach political outcomes, antitrust stops protecting competition and starts threatening it,” Emanuel wrote. “The attorneys general should drop this case and get back to enforcing the laws as they are written. Let Hollywood creatives get back to trying to rip each other’s heads off at the box office, in streaming, online and everywhere else we compete. It’s what we’re best at.”

Marvel‘s Wonder Man star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is speaking out after the Disney+ series was un-renewed.

The streamer picked up the series for a second season in March before reversing course and canceling the renewal on Thursday. The decision came as a surprise after Wonder Man had a solid debut on Disney+ in late January, drawing 618 million minutes of viewing time during its premiere week, according to Nielsen’s streaming ratings. While the show fell out of the top 10 original streaming titles after that, it continued to earn positive reviews from critics and audiences. Abdul-Mateen also received an Emmy nomination for his performance of the title character.

Following the cancellation, Abdul-Mateen took to Instagram to share his reaction.

“Word just dropped that Wonder Man won’t be coming back,” he wrote in the caption. “That’s life, right? Everything will shake out.”

The Candyman actor continued, “I wanted to say thank you to everybody who WATCHED the show, ENJOYED the show, and SHARED that they enjoyed the show in some way or other. The show worked. And that’s my favorite thing about it. I could see it on the faces of the Youtube Reactors (because I watched along with y’all this time. Shoutout to y’all) and I can see in the messages I get saying how the show reminded some of you not to give up, and I feel it in the genuine love shared when I bump into some of you all during the day. So, thinking of you all today. I’m glad we got to be a part of something cool.”

He concluded his post: “Thank you for watching… And uhh… See you at the EMMYS.”

Abdul-Mateen is nominated for best actor in a comedy series alongside Steve Carell (Rooster), Matthew Rhys (Widow’s Bay), Jason Segel (Shrinking) and Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building).

Wonder Man co-creators Destin Daniel Cretton (Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Andrew Guest had also been set to return for a second season. They executive produce alongside Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Jonathan Schwartz and Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television and Marvel Animation. Guest also served as showrunner, while Cretton directed several episodes.

Ben Kingsley, X Mayo, Demetrius Grosse, Zlatko Burić, Arian Moayed, Olivia Thirlby, Dan Donohue and Kameron J. Meadows rounded out the cast.

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Lego has unveiled its first-ever The X-Files set, arriving Aug. 1 for Lego Insiders (Lego’s free-to-join membership program) or Aug. 4 for the general public. The collectible recreates Fox Mulder’s basement office alongside an alien arrival scene in the surrounding woods. It also includes eight minifigures: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, Mr. X, Alex Krycek, Carl Busch, the Flukeman and a gray alien.

1,478-Piece set

‘The X-Files’ Lego Set

Pre-Order

The X-Files Lego office is packed with references longtime viewers will recognize.

At 1,478 pieces, the build lands in the upper-mid range for Lego Ideas releases, making it a substantial display model without reaching the size of the company’s largest collector sets. Created by a fan designer, the project won Lego Ideas’ ’90s Nostalgia Challenge after receiving strong community support before being selected for production.

The set includes case files, investigative equipment and the iconic “I Want to Believe” poster hanging on the wall. A removable desk section allows builders to take a closer look at the interior, while minifigures can be attached to recreate memorable moments from the series.

Led by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, The X-Files became one of television’s defining sci-fi dramas during its original run from 1993 to 2002 before returning for two additional revival seasons in 2016 and 2018. A new Ryan Coogler reboot is currently in development for Hulu.

The completed Lego display measures more than 12 inches tall and is designed with adult collectors in mind. Builders can also use the Lego Builder app to zoom in, rotate the model in 3D and follow step-by-step digital instructions throughout the building process.

Lego Insiders members can purchase the set ahead of its wider release through the company’s free-to-join early-access program. While supplies last, qualifying purchases will also include the exclusive Scully’s Lab promotional gift, giving fans an additional mini build inspired by the FBI agent’s forensic workspace.

Cinema buffs of the world, get ready! The leopard is about to be on the loose again! Attendees of the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in the Italian part of Switzerland will get to spot the famous symbol and mascot of the annual celebration of cinema, and its gold or yellow and black colors, on all sorts of posters and bunting, on festival merchandise and on street and shop decorations all over town. In other words: Locarno will be covered in leopard print.

Fans of the festival will, similar to a big cat, be on the hunt for new and old cinematic gems in the lineup put together by artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro and his team for Locarno79.

Of course, the Pardo d’Oro, or Golden Leopard, the top prize at Locarno, and other Leopard awards will be coveted prey for filmmakers throughout the festival program. Before the juries decide the 2026 winners at the end of Locarno79, which runs Aug. 5-15, organizers will also bestow Leopard honors upon various big names.

Director James Gray, for example, will receive the Career Leopard, or Pardo alla Carriera. Director Darren Aronofsky will be honored with the Honorary Leopard (Pardo d’Onore), while Belgian-born actress Virginie Efira will be the recipient of the Leopard Club Award. And Zoe Saldaña will be awarded a Special Leopard. 

In other words, as is Locarno tradition, the leopard will be all over town throughout the annual showcase of cinema in all its forms.

That has been the case since the fest introduced the leopard as its signature animal in 1968, when its top award was officially renamed the Golden Leopard, which also ensured that it could be distinguished from Venice’s Golden Lion and Rotterdam’s Tiger.

Did you know that there is an actual leopard that is the current public face of the Locarno festival? After the same leopard served as its face since 2008, the team traveled to the Cotswolds in England in 2023 to meet Bagheera, the real-life leopard who has represented the Swiss fest on the world stage since 2024.

Michele Jannuzzi of Jannuzzi Smith was the creative director, with wildlife photographer Tim Flach handling the shoot that captured still photos and the animal’s movements for the festival’s pre-film trailers.

The leopard can even be seen on banners, posters and walls behind press conferences, at times making it seem as if it was taking a bite out of cinema history – or roaring at famous or up-and-coming actors, directors and other creatives. Just check out the photo with Willem Dafoe from the 2025 edition of the fest above.

Of course, the leopard is also a symbol, for example for the Locarno festival’s adventurous approach to cinema. “The leopard is different from a lion, in the sense that it’s a bit faster, it’s leaner, and it inhabits the feline kingdom in a very specific way,” Nazzaro tells THR.

“It’s a bit on the fringes, but this way it lives on the fringes of the savanna and the jungle is very central,” he concludes. “It’s also a very elegant animal, and it’s a very quick animal. So the king and the lion are always where they are supposed to be. The leopard goes where it wants.”