Wicked Movie comes in two parts

After the exciting announcement of the cast in November, Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights,  is proud to announce that the highly-acclaimed musical movie adaptation will be divided in to two parts, to give justice to elements that might be in danger to be omitted in the full length movie.

Here's the official statement from Jon M. Chu:

SPECIAL WICKED UPDATE / Thank you for all the support these past several months in anticipation of the WICKED movie. We have so many exciting things to share but for now I'm giving you one... or two, rather.

Here's what happened as we prepared this production over the last year, it became increasingly clear that it would be impossible to wrestle the story of WICKED into a single film without doing some real damage to it. As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years. So we decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one WICKED movie but TWO!!!! With more space, we can tell the story of WICKED as it was meant to be told whole bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys of these beloved characters.

Cynthia, Ariana, and I -- and all of the cast and crew -- pledge to create nothing less than an experience that honors its foundation for all the fans who've waited for this movie, and to offer a thrilling, fantastical world full of dynamic characters that invites in those who are unfamiliar.

So get ready, because WICKED is finally coming to you on successive Christmas holidays beginning December 2024. Until then, I will be keeping you up to date throughout rehearsals, the shoot, and even editing. Here. We. Go. #WickedMovies

Jon M. Chu

Wicked Movie initially cast Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) and Ariana Grande as Glinda / Galinda. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, based on the characters and setting of the classic 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film The Wizard of Oz. The first movie is scheduled for release on Christmas 2024 under Universal Pictures.

Read More

Margot Robbie is Barbie!

Warner Bros. Pictures gave a teaser of the newest live adaptation of one of the world's most-loved toys, Barbie, with Margot Robbie getting the title character. The movie also gets its release date on July 21, 2023 only in theaters.

In the photo, Margot Robbie gets in her hot pink car wearing the baby blue headband and summer outfit ready to go on an adventure. I say that she is perfectly cast in this movie following her amazing stint as Harley Quinn in DC universe movies. Let's see some more as WB releases more information in the upcoming days.

Barbie is a Mattel signature brand that was loved by generations since the 1940s. It also inspired a song by Aqua in the late 90s or early 2000s and the biggest name in the doll industry. Barbie also gets her love interest Ken and now diversified into different skin colors and doll accessories and houses.

Barbie is directed by Academy Award-nominee Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the script with her partner Noah Baumbach

Read More

Summer Outdoor Fun Stuff from Pet Express

With summer ahead and easier travel, it’s the perfect time to have a pawsome break with your fur babies. Whether it’s just a stroll in the park, an afternoon in a mall’s Paw Park, spending a weekend getaway like swimming at the beach or a day hike with your dog, Pet Express has outdoor essentials that will keep your adventures safe and worry-free.

Pet Express , the one-stop shop for all your pet’s essentials, has a wide variety of outdoor accessories like collapsible pool and feeding bowls; tug toys and treat dispensing toys; and pet wagons and strollers, that will keep your dog active and safe this summer. Here are some practical tips to keep your active dog safe on your next adventure:

1. Create a checklist on your dog’s needs. Pack a lot of dog treats and meals that can be easily fed to your dog; and bring plenty of water and cool mat to beat the heat.

 

2. Have your dog checked with your vet before going on an outdoor adventure. Make sure that your dog’s flea and tick treatment and vaccinations are up-to date too.

3. Try not to feed your dog for an hour or two before you travel, this can help prevent motion sickness during your ride.

4. While on the road, have a bucket car seat for your dog to keep them in place while moving.

5. Start slow on your hike and always keep your dogs on a leash while walking on your trail.

6. Make sure your dogs are always place in a fully shaded and cool area after a long walk and keep them hydrated. Always bring cooling collars, vest and mats that are very useful during hot summer days.

7. Watch out for signs of heatstroke brought about my extreme temperatures - heavy panting, difficulty breathing, glazed eyes, dizziness, profuse salivation, vomiting, and a deep red or purple tongue.

Pet parents can now place their order online thru www.petexpress.com.ph and on their Call and Collect services in selected branches and shop thru a PAWSONAL SHOPPER at 0917.8091864. Also, Pet Express is now open at The SM Stores in SM Ortigas, SM Makati, SM Southmall, SM Bicutan, SM East Ortigas, SM Marikina, SM Novaliches, SM Bacoor, SM Marilao, SM Clark, and SM Cebu. For more info and updates, follow PetExpressPH on Instagram and Facebook.

Read More

Stranger Things 4 official trailer

In exactly a month, Stranger Things 4 will be dropping its latest season on Netflix and we've been served with the newest trailer that's got a lot of surprises and even "stranger things."

After the Battle of Starcourt which brought terror and destruction throughout Hawkins, our group of friends are struggling the aftermath separately. And navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down. Watch the full trailer below:

It comes to surprise that Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) has been stripped off her powers, Hopper was still alive after the explosion and there's a new monster to face. This season is definitely going to be mind boggling and exciting.

A force makes Max levitate

The new monster

Stranger Things 4 slates its release in two parts: May 27th and July 1st.

Read More

Warner Bros. asserts Box-office dominance with The Batman and Fantastic Beasts 3

“The Batman” shattered records in March. Then, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” scored a magical $193.4-M over the weekend, worldwide. And just like that, Warner Bros. Pictures is enjoying its best box-office season in years, with no signs of slowing down.

While receipts for the latest “Fantastic Beasts” movie are still coming in, Warner is celebrating the triumph of “The Batman” which has flown past $750-M at the global box office. The film has maintained its top spot as the highest-grossing film of the year, both in the U.S. and worldwide.

Earning widespread praise from critics and audiences alike, director Matt Reeves’s powerful new vision of the globally iconic DC Super Hero has taken in $365 million in U.S. receipts and $386 million internationally, and is still going strong.

In the Philippines, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” likewise opened at No.1 for the two-day April 16-17 frame, capturing a market share of 63%. Together with “The Batman” which is still playing in local theaters, Warner is dominating the market with an over-all 68% share for the same period.

“We couldn’t have started the year better,” said Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. Philippines. “`The Batman’ and the new `Fantastic Beasts’ are consecutive blockbusters for Warner this early in 2022, and we owe it to the local moviegoers who, despite the challenges, have trooped back to the theaters.”

For the rest of 2022, Warner is betting on Baz Luhrmann’s epic musical “Elvis,” the animated superhero comedy “DC League of Super-Pets,” the horror-thriller “Salem’s Lot,” the psychological thriller “Don’t Worry, Darling” and the superhero tentpoles “Black Adam” and “Shazam: Fury of the Gods.”

Read More

Cast of Top Gun: Maverick's intense pilot training

After more than thirty years, the producers of Top Gun: Maverick including Tom Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer felt the need for a sequel. The best aerial movie that inspired a generation is getting a part 2 that will speed to the theaters and IMAX on May 25.

In this behind the scenes featurette of Top Gun: Maverick, cast Tom Cruise (Maverick) suits back up and reviewed his piloting skills together with Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris. Assisted by the US Navy and Air Force, the cast went through gruesome aviation training and even a crash course on cinematography. They had experienced flying on the L39s, F18 Super Hornet to give them a feel of flying an aircraft. Watch the video below.

The film is written by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, based the characters created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie and David Ellison.

Top Gun: Maverick is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/

Read More

Viu is the number 1 premium video on demand service in Greater Southeast Asia

With the highest Monthly Active Users in 2021  according to MPA’s AMPD report

-PRESS RELEASE-

Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT video streaming service, announced today that the platform was the number 1 premium video on demand platform in terms of the number of Monthly Average Users (MAUs) in Greater Southeast Asia*, following the latest Media Partners Asia (MPA) AMPD Research report for Q4 2021*, released on March 28. The report revealed that Viu’s MAUs is once again ahead of other major streaming platforms in Greater Southeast Asia and continued to be the highest for all quarters of 2021. The platform also ranked second in both paid subscribers and premium video streaming minutes amongst major video streaming platforms in Greater Southeast Asia in Q4 2021*.

Ms. Helen Sou, Chief Business Officer, Asia, Viu, said, “Viu’s consistent performance in a very competitive region, coupled with our significant growth in monetization in 2021, firmly entrenched Viu as a leading player in this part of the world. Our content has clearly resonated with our Asian audience, and our freemium business model has consistently proven popular with both consumers and ecosystem partners. As the destination of premium Asian content, we will continue to invest in stories that are relevant, from both our expanding content partnerships as well as with Viu Original productions.”

Expanding the focus on original content
In 2021, the Viu Original production strategy proved to be successful in providing differentiation in the markets. Compared to 2020, the top 10 Viu Original titles showed stellar growth of over 94% in video views and an exponential increase of over 200% in video minutes. This helped drive subscriptions by 58% from 5.3 million in 2020, to 8.4 million in 2021.

With the focus on delivering content that has an international appeal and yet is rooted in what is familiar culturally in Asia, Viu Original productions paved the way for newer monetization avenues in non-Viu territories like the Americas and Europe, stretching over 20 platforms worldwide. In addition, within Viu markets, these productions also provide a great opportunity for working with brands on product placements and sponsorships.

Positive reception for local original content in markets such as the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia will see production increase dramatically, with 30 titles slated for release across six languages. Titles that will be released in April and May as part of this plan include the second season of titles Pretty Little Liars and Assalamualaikum Calon Imam, whose respective first seasons were well received not only in Indonesia and Malaysia but also around the region as well.

Thailand will have two highly anticipated titles released in the coming months, including rap musical Wannabe featuring Thailand National Film Association Award winner “Nonkul” Chanon Santinatornkul and veteran Thai Hip Hop artist “Tan” Jawpraya Tanyuk. Close Friend was extremely well received in Thailand too during its first season and returns for a second season at a time where online buzz for the title and the genre is at an all-time high in the country.

Following the success of the Korean Viu Original titles in 2021 such as Now We Are Breaking Up, two Korean Viu Originals are set for release in the upcoming months.

Based on a web novel of the same title, Again My Life will premiere in April starring multiple award-winning actor Lee Joon Gi. Also slated for release in the same month is the romantic comedy From Now On, Showtime! casting award winner Park Hae Jin and is directed by the man behind one of the classic fantasy romantic comedies, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.

Viu continues to invest in working with top creative talents in the industry to produce original titles that continue to appeal across the region, cementing its reputation as the hub of the best Korean and Asian content.

Viu-ers can catch these new titles and Viu’s extensive library of fan favourites, First-on-Viu and exclusive titles on the Viu app, which can be downloaded for free on App Store, Google Play, and selected smart TVs, as well as on the web at www.viu.com.

Read More