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| 'Animals' teaser: Ben Affleck directs, stars in new thriller | Netflix is giving a glimpse of the new film Animals. The streaming service shared a teaser trailer for the movie Wednesday featuring Ben Affleck. Animals is a thriller co-written and directed by Affleck, who plays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped. Kerry Washington portrays Mark's wife Abigail. "When their son is kidnapped, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife find themselves drawn into a web of deception. As they scramble to raise the ransom payment, they're forced to make choices that could tear their world apart," an official synopsis reads. Other cast members include Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Mendez and Adriana Paz. Animals releases on Netflix and in select theaters Oct. 9. |
| 'SNL UK' to return for Season 2 in September | Saturday Night Live UK will return for a second season in September. Producers announced Wednesday that Season 2 of the late-night sketch comedy series will premiere Sept. 12 on Sky One. SNL UK is the British edition of the long-running American series created by Lorne Michaels. Also created by Michaels, the U.K. version is filmed live in London. Cast members include Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young. Season 1 premiered in March and concluded in May with episodes hosted by Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham and Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa. |
| Ellen Greene: 'Little Shop of Horrors' legacy keeps Howard Ashman alive | Ellen Greene said the legacy of Little Shop of Horrors keeps the late writer and lyricist Howard Ashman alive. Greene is touring with 40th anniversary screenings of the 1986 film adaptation beginning Friday through January. Ashman and songwriter Alan Menken wrote the original stage musical based on the 1960 Roger Corman movie. Ashman also wrote the screenplay adaptation. He died in 1991 while working on Aladdin. In a recent phone interview with UPI, Greene said the 40th anniversary tour and continued stage performances keep Ashman's memory alive. "I'm just glad that Little Shop is still alive and kicking," Greene, 75, said. |
| Famous birthdays for Aug. 12: Ilona Maher, Yvette Nicole Brown | Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo. They include: -- Artist Abbott Thayer in 1849 -- Educator/poet Katharine Lee Bates in 1859 -- Filmmaker Cecil B. |
| PlayStation announces new 'Wolverine'-themed console and controller | Sony has announced a new Wolverine-themed PlayStation 5 console and DualSense controller that will be released on September 15. The new items pay homage to Wolverine's classic black and yellow X-Men suit. Claw and scratch marks are also visible. Wolverine's likeness appears at the top of the PlayStation 5 console. Comic book veteran and graphic artist Jock provided the artwork. "I still draw all my artwork traditionally, so the opportunity to marry cutting-edge hardware with the energy and looseness of hand-drawn ink is incredibly exciting. I'm stunned by how well the console and accessories captured the raw energy of the drawing, bringing Wolverine to life in a completely unique way," Jock said in a statement. |