Category: Entertainment

Brenda Fricker, an Oscar-winning actress also known for a memorable role in Home Alone 2, has died, according to her agent. She was 81.

Fricker’s agent Phil Belfield confirmed Fricker died Thursday “after a period of ill health” in a statement to ABC News.

“It is with much sadness that I share the news that beloved actress Brenda Fricker passed away peacefully last night in Dublin, after a period of ill health, at the age of 81,” his statement reads.

Belfield continued, “We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her. I was honoured to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over.”

Fricker was born in Dublin, Ireland, on Feb. 17, 1945. Her career as an actress found her appearing in over 30 film and TV roles.

Fricker won a best supporting actress Oscar in 1990 for her role in My Left Foot. She played Daniel Day-Lewis’ mother in the movie.

Audiences would likely recognize her as the Central Park pigeon lady in the 1992 sequel film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

She recently published a memoir titled She Died Young, which appeared on the Irish Sunday Times bestseller list. Fricker was also recently granted the honor of the Freedom of the City of Dublin, “which she was particularly thrilled and proud of,” her agent said.

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Ready, set, binge! Here’s a look at some of the new movies and TV shows coming to theaters and streaming services this weekend:

ABC, Hulu
Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro: This new spinoff finds dancers competing to be the next pro on Dancing with the Stars.

Apple TV
Lucky: Anya Taylor-Joy stars in this new crime-drama series co-created by Reese Witherspoon.

Prime Video
Ride or Die: Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham star as besties on the run in this new action series.

Netflix
Heartstopper Forever: The beloved series is wrapped up in this film that concludes the show’s story. 

The Hawk: Will Ferrell stars as a pro golfer set to revitalize his career in the new comedy series. 

Movie theaters
The Odyssey: Christopher Nolan directs this adaptation of Homer’s epic poem starring Matt Damon as Odysseus. 

That’s all for this week’s Weekend Watchlist – happy streaming!

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The official trailer for Lioness season 3 has arrived. Paramount+ released the new trailer that features stars Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Kelly. Season 3 premieres on Aug. 2 and comes from Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan …

Paper Tiger, starring Adam Driver and Miles Teller, is the film that will open the upcoming 64th New York Film Festival. Film at Lincoln Center has announced that the James Gray-directed film will make its North American premiere in a gala debut on Sept. 25. It marks Gray’s fourth film selected for the festival, after The Immigrant, The Lost City of Z and Armageddon Time …

The limited series Enigma Variations has added more to its cast. Netflix has announced that Riley Keough, Devon Terrell, Nicholas Podany and Carl Clemons-Hopkins have joined the show’s ensemble. They’re added alongside the previously announced stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alicia Vikander. Enigma Variations is based on the bestselling novel by André Aciman. It follows the story of a man who is remade by the lovers he’s had over the course of six years …

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Heartstopper Forever, the movie conclusion to the popular Netflix teen romance series, is ready to make core memories.

The film, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, follows Kit Connor’s Nick Nelson and Joe Locke’s Charlie Spring as they grapple with what happens to their relationship after Nick leaves for university.

As their characters look toward the future, Connor and Locke are reflecting on what the series has meant to fans of all ages. Locke tells ABC Audio he’s feeling “very grateful” looking back on a “whirlwind of five years,” while Connor acknowledges being part of something so beloved doesn’t happen often as an actor.

“In fact, quite rarely … you get to be part of something that really seems to have a genuine impact on people beyond just sort of liking a show or being entertained by a show,” Connor tells ABC Audio. “There’s … a genuine impact on people’s lives that seems to have occurred, and I think no matter who you are, to be involved in that is a privilege and an honor.”

Heartstopper has grown up with its actors, with the film striking a more mature tone in its portrayal of sex, mental health issues, teenage relationship growing pains, and LGBTQIA+ identity and trans rights.

But in true Heartstopper fashion, there is, of course, a happily ever after. And since the title includes the word “Forever,” how do the stars hope it lives on?

“I hope it continues to make people happy when they watch it,” Locke says.

Connor adds, “I think that if it makes people feel comfortable, feel safe, feel inspired, feel brave — if it continues to do that, then I think we’ll be in good stead.” 

If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye just yet, Netflix is airing the behind-the-scenes special Heartstopper: Ending on a Hi on July 24.

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Kris Jenner is mourning the death of her beloved mother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon. She was 91 years old.

The TV personality and entrepreneur posted on Instagram Thursday that she and her family “said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ.”

“There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye,” Jenner wrote. “My mom was the heart of our family. She taught me everything that truly matters… to love your family fiercely, to be kind, to show up for the people you love, and to never take a single moment together for granted.”

She continued, “She taught us that family is everything. She showed us how to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little moments. She showed me how to face life’s challenges with resilience and faith.”

The media personality, who is a mom of six — Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Rob Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner — said that her mother’s legacy will continue to live on in their family and traditions.

Over the years, MJ appeared with Jenner and the rest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan on the reality shows Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Kardashians.

She also appeared with the family on an episode of ABC’s Celebrity Family Feud.

Born on July 26, 1934, MJ was a model and also an entrepreneur.

Before the Kardashians opened their famous Calabasas clothing boutique, Dash, and launched their own clothing lines, MJ owned a clothing store called Shannon & Company in 1980, according to People.

Jenner previously talked about what it was like growing up in the store and working there with her mom when she was younger.

MJ was married three times. Her first marriage lasted only four months, according to People.

In 2017, Kim Kardashian shared a conversation with her grandmother talking about how they had similar marriage experiences.

“We have a lot in common,” Kim Kardashian said in the video, which has since been taken down. “We both got married for two months once.”

MJ replied, “History repeats itself.”

MJ is also a two-time cancer survivor, battling both breast and colon cancer.

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Chloe Fineman is saying goodbye to Studio 8H.

The comedian is leaving Saturday Night Live ahead of season 52 after starring as a cast member on the late-night sketch comedy series for seven seasons.

Fineman announced her departure in an Instagram post Thursday.

“After 7 wonderful seasons at SNL I have decided it’s time for my next chapter,” Fineman wrote. “It’s cliche to say this but working at SNL has been the greatest privilege of my life. I still can’t really believe I got to be a part of it. I fell in love with the place the second I walked through the door. Lorne (if you’re reading this on your burner account) I want you to know that I am forever in your debt.”

The comedian continued, “It’s really hard to leave SNL but it does feel like the right time.”

“I’m going to miss it a lot. But the people who work there are my family and that place is my home, and I know I’ll never be too far away,” Fineman wrote.

Fineman joined SNL as a featured player on season 45 before being promoted to the main cast in season 47.

Her choice to leave the show comes after the midseason departure of Bowen Yang during season 51. Additionally, many cast members exited the series after the landmark season 50 of the show. Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim all left the cast ahead of season 51.

New cast members for season 51 included Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska. Please Don’t Destroy member Ben Marshall joined the show’s cast at the same time.

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Fans are getting their first glimpse of the upcoming Starz series Power: Origins. The prequel explores the early lives of fan-favorite characters James “Ghost” St. Patrick, Tommy Egan and Kanan Stark as they set out to make their mark in the New York City drug game.

The clip opens with young Ghost, played by Spence Moore, and Tommy, played by Charlie Mann, sitting in a car. “We came in this motherf***** to touch the sky brother,” Ghost says. “I won’t let us settle for less.”

The two are then seen confronting a group of men before attacking them with bats.

“This moment right here is when we start dreaming. It’s about proving to ourselves that we can do this s*** on our own,” he continues, as the teaser cuts to a meeting with Kanan Stark, played by Mekai Curtis.

The clip then returns to Tommy and Ghost in the car. “This how legends get made,” Ghost says. Tommy lets out a “whoo” before Ghost adds, “I don’t know if I actually believe all that s*** I just said, but it sounded so f****** dope coming out my mouth.”

Power: Origins is currently in production in New Jersey. The series picks up after the events of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which drops its finale on Aug. 7.

The original Power starred Omari Hardwick as Ghost, Joseph Sikora as Tommy and executive producer 50 Cent as Kanan.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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M-I-C … see ya real soon! K-E-Y … why? Because Disney+ is bringing back The Mickey Mouse Club. 

ABC Audio has confirmed that Disney+ has ordered a pilot for a reboot of the legendary show, which first aired in the ’50s, returned in the ’70s and then migrated to the Disney Channel from 1989 to 1996.

During that last run, the show’s cast included, at various times, future music superstars Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez of *NSYNC, as well as Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell.

The pilot will be executive produced by Ben Winston, whose credits include the Grammy Awards, Carpool Karaoke, The Late Late Show with James Corden and music projects for One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Adele, Bruno Mars, Harry Styles, Elton John, Sam Smith and Justin Bieber.

According to Disney+, the show will be “a showcase for today’s most talented young performers, where music, innovation, and self-expression take center stage.” The 11 new cast members boast credits including The Lion King, Camp Rock 3, Young Rock, Elio and Black Rabbit.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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Sophie Nélisse is ready to take on another romance series.

The French-Canadian actress will star as Lucy in Netflix’s TV adaptation of author Carley Fortune’s bestselling romance novel This Summer Will Be Different.

It will be “a simmering, sun-soaked romance set across multiple summers on Prince Edward Island about Lucy, a young woman navigating her 20s and her first real love with her best friend’s brother, the one person she was never supposed to fall for,” according to the show’s logline.

Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart serve as the adaptation’s creators and showrunners. They also both executive produce the show alongside Fortune.

This Summer Will Be Different will film on location in Prince Edward Island and in Toronto. It will span 10 episodes.

“I fell in love with Prince Edward Island first in the pages of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and again when I visited with my best friend in my early 20s,” Fortune told Netflix. “That vacation, the beauty of the island, the warmth of its people, and the friendships that sustain us are the foundation of This Summer Will Be Different. I’m thrilled to bring this sweeping love story to the screen with Netflix and to transport audiences to the glittering shores and windswept beaches of PEI.”

Nélisse is known for her role as young Shauna in Yellowjackets. She’s also the fan-favorite character Rose Landry in Heated Rivalry.

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Andrew Garfield stars in the official trailer for The Uprising.

Focus Features released the new trailer for the upcoming film on Thursday.

Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass wrote and directed the movie, which finds Garfield playing the leader of a ferocious rebellion against King Richard II’s tyranny.

“As war burns across England, he forms an army of the people to face the King’s might in a fight for justice and survival,” according to the film’s official synopsis.

Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Woody Norman, Katherine Waterston and Sky Yang also star in the film.

The trailer finds Garfield’s character gathering support for a rebellion against the king.

“I am no soldier. I am no priest. I’m just a farmer. The land is broken. We are forced to work beyond what our souls can take,” he says. “There will be no peace until we are free.”

In addition to writing and directing the film, Greengrass produces alongside Jason Blum.

The Uprising arrives in theaters on Sept. 11.

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