Universal warming up for ‘Wicked’ sing-a-long screenings
Universal Pictures
If you think you won’t get enough Wicked a month after it hits theaters in November, Universal Pictures is singing your tune.
Variety reports the studio will be launching interactive versions of the musical starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande across 1,000 North American theaters starting on Christmas Day.
That means you and your fellow witches in waiting can belt out “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and many of the musical’s other songs — without bothering other moviegoers like those Swifties did in theaters in 2023 during the Eras Tour movie.
Director Jon M. Chu‘s Wicked Part 1 debuts on Nov. 22; the second part hits theaters Nov. 21, 2025.
The live-action Lilo & Stitch movie has a brand-new teaser for its reimagined 2025 film.
In the teaser released by Disney on Monday, a swooping shot of an ocean reveals a beach where Stitch can be seen in live-action form wreaking havoc, loudly giggling while destroying sand castles. The character maintained his long droopy ears and blue fur, made iconic in the 2002 original movie.
“A live-action reimagining of Disney’s 2002 animated classic, Lilo & Stitch is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family,” read a synopsis for the film.
Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere and Chris Sanders, the original voice of Stitch, are set to star, with Courtney B. Vance and Zach Galifianakis in key roles. Dean Fleischer Camp directs the film.
The final shot of the teaser notes that Lilo & Stitch is set to hit theaters on Memorial Day 2025, while Stitch sniffs and licks the message off the screen.
The 2002 version of the film featured the story of two sisters attempting to move on from the death of their parents, who adopt a strange-looking creature.
The film brought in over $245 million in worldwide box office and sprouted several follow-up projects, including Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch.
Jonathan Eirich and Dan Lin will produce the new film with Louie Provost, Tom Peitzman and Ryan Halprin executive producing.
Heritage Auctions has put on the block some priceless works of comic art, with some benefiting the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.
“Priceless” is of course not literal, seeing as bidding has already begun for original art for page 14 from The New Mutants No. 98 — otherwise known as the debut of Rob Liefeld‘s Wade Wilson/Deadpool — and bidding reached a quarter million bucks within minutes.
The page that hit the block hasn’t been seen since it entered a private collection in the 1990s, “just as Deadpool was taking over the Marvel Universe like few characters in its storied history,” Heritage says.
“Deadpool’s debut in New Mutants No. 98 was as much a cultural phenomenon as a page in comic book history,” says Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Todd Hignite. “For fans and collectors, this is an unparalleled opportunity to own a piece of the origin story that would eventually define a generation of comic book storytelling.”
Also up for grabs is comics legend John Romita Sr.‘s original concept art for the character Wolverine from 1974. The bids for that piece are already soaring past $105,000. A portion of the proceeds will go to hurricane relief.
Also hitting the block is original art from another Marvel icon, Steve Ditko: The Amazing Spider-Man #8 from 1964, as well as Frank Miller and Klaus Janson‘s original art from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #2 Dark Knight Triumphant.
Many more pieces of comic book history are available as part of Heritage’s Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction, which officially runs from Nov. 21 to Nov. 24. Check out all the details here.
The deadly wildfires that continue to rage in Los Angeles County are disrupting scheduled awards season events and the filming of several TV shows.
ABC suspended production on the shows Grey’s Anatomy and Doctor Odyssey, and canceled Wednesday’s taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, it confirmed to ABC Audio.
ABC Audio also confirmed that production on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California, was closed on Wednesday because of the fires. This halted production on Abbott Elementary, as well as All American and The Pitt. It also stopped production on the multicamera sitcom Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
Additionally, the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards, which were originally scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 12, have been postponed to Jan. 26 “due to the catastrophic fires ravaging Southern California,” according to a press release.
“This unfolding tragedy has already had a profound impact on our community. All our thoughts and prayers are with those battling the devastating fires and with all who have been affected,” Critics Choice Awards CEO Joey Berlin said.
BAFTA has also canceled its Tea Party, a key event during awards season. The event was scheduled for Saturday at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.
“In light of the dangerous winds and wildfires in Los Angeles, we are cancelling this weekend’s BAFTA Tea Party. The safety of our colleagues, friends and peers in Los Angeles remains our utmost priority and our thoughts are with everyone impacted,” BAFTA shared in a statement to the press.
