In brief: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ ineligible for BAFTAs and more
KPop Demon Hunters keeps goin’ up, up, up — but it won’t be headed to the BAFTAs. The animated film has been ruled ineligible to compete at the BAFTA Film Awards after an appeal by Netflix for an exception, Deadline reports. The film is eligible to compete at the Oscars, however, as it had a qualifying theatrical run in the U.S. ahead of its Netflix release on June 20 …
The upcoming Marvel TV series VisionQuest has added two new faces to its cast. Variety reports that DianeMorgan, best known as her character Philomena Cunk, as well as newcomer Lauren Morais, have joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the show that will directly follow the stories of WandaVision and Agatha All Along …
Idris Elba is set to return as detective John Luther in a second Luther film for Netflix. He will reunite with costars DermotCrowley and Ruth Wilson and director Jamie Payne for the new film, which is to be written by the flagship mystery series’ creator, Neil Cross …
Sophie Turner as Lara Croft in ‘Tomb Raider.’ (Jay Maidment for Prime Video. Image captured on the backlot of the ‘Tomb Raider’ production stages.)
Sophie Turner is the new Lara Croft.
With the Tomb Raider reboot series officially in production, Amazon MGM Studios has released a first-look image of the former Game of Thrones star looking the part of the iconic video game character.
Turner looks ready for adventure, sporting a green tank top, black shorts, red-tinted sunglasses and Croft’s signature gun holsters.
The series, from showrunner Phoebe Waller-Bridge, also stars Sigourney Weaver and Jason Isaacs. It’s set to air on Prime Video.
Turner is the latest actress to take on the role of Lara Croft. Angelina Jolie previously played the part in 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its sequel, 2003’s The Cradle of Life. Alicia Vikander took over the role in the 2018 reboot, Tomb Raider.
Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) and Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) in ‘Zootopia 2.’ (Disney)
Zootopia 2 has surpassed Inside Out 2 to become Hollywood’s highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Walt Disney Studios announced the milestone by sharing a drawing of the characters Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and Gary De’Snake from Zootopia 2 being embraced by characters from Pixar’s Inside Out 2, including Joy, Sadness and Anxiety. The top of the image says, “Congrats!”
The Chinese film Ne Zha 2, which is not a Motion Picture Association release, remains the biggest animated movie of all time with $2.25 billion.
Zootopia 2 is now also the ninth biggest film in history worldwide, having made $1.703 billion in its global gross to date. The film is still available to watch in theaters worldwide.
“This milestone belongs first and foremost to the fans around the world whose enthusiasm made it possible. We’re incredibly proud of our filmmakers Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Yvett Merino and the entire team at Walt Disney Animation Studios for creating a film that connects so deeply with audiences everywhere,” AlanBergman, the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, said. “Zootopia 2 is an extraordinary achievement, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life.”
Walt Disney Studios now has the top three animated film releases of all time with Zootopia 2, Inside Out 2 and Frozen 2.
Zootopia 2 opened in theaters on Nov. 26, 2025, to a record-breaking amount of $559.5 million in five days. That makes it the highest global opening of an animated film of all time and the highest global debut of 2025.
The animated sequel follows the rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, who go on a journey to discover the mystery of Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan). It was directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard.
Isiah Whitlock, Jr. attends the ‘Plane’ New York Screening at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Jan. 10, 2023, in New York. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images, FILE)
Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. has died, his manager confirmed to ABC News.
“It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of Isiah Whitlock Jr. He passed away today peacefully in NYC after a brave battle with a short illness,” his manager Brian Liebman said in a statement. “Isiah was a brilliant actor and even better person. He was loved by all who had the pleasure to work with or know him.”
Liebman also paid tribute to the actor on Instagram, writing, “If you knew him – you loved him. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed.”
He is known for The Wire and for frequently collaborating with director Spike Lee on films like Da 5 Bloods and BlacKkKlansman.
Born on Sept. 13, 1954, in South Bend, Indiana, Whitlock got his start as an actor while attending college at Southwest Minnesota State University, where he had a football scholarship and studied theater. He joined the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA, after graduating in 1976.
In 1987, he landed a role in the TV series Cagney & Lacey, in which, according to IMDB, Whitlock played a man getting in a cab.
He went on to book a few more roles in films like Gremlins 2: The New Batch, 1990’s Goodfellas, the TV series As the World Turns and more.
From 2002 to 2008, he starred as Senator R. Clayton “Clay” Davis in The Wire. He made the role his own when he developed a catchphrase for his character: “Sheeeeee-it.”
Following The Wire, Whitlock continued to star in several TV series, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Rubicon and Meet the Browns. He also starred in the 2011 film Cedar Rapids and the 2008 film Cadillac Records alongside Beyoncé, Adrien Brody and Jeffrey Wright.
In 2012, he collaborated with Lee for Red Hook Summer and also starred in the TV series Smash.
He went on to star in Veep alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus from 2013 to 2015 as George Maddox.
In 2020, he starred in the TV series Your Honor as Charlie Figaro alongside Bryan Cranston. The show lasted two seasons and wrapped in 2023.
His most recent role was as Larry Dokes in the Netflix miniseries The Residence, which he starred in with Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, Randall Park and more.
In the upcoming 2026 Disney film Hoppers, Whitlock voiced the character of Bird King. The film also stars Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep, Kathy Najimy and Dave Franco.
