Emmy Nominations 2019: ‘Game of Thrones’ and HBO Shatter Records

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July 16, 2019

Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 1 — Maisie Williams and Kit Harington in ‘Game of Thrones’ season 8 episode 1 (Photo: Helen Sloan / HBO)

HBO earned a record-breaking 137 Emmy nominations, with the final (and arguably worst) season of Game of Thrones contributing a record-setting 32 nominations to the network’s tally. HBO’s Chernobyl, Last Week Tonight, and Barry also earned multiple nominations.

Amazon’s critically acclaimed The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was the second most nominated series with 20.

Surprisingly, The Big Bang Theory and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt didn’t feel much love from Emmy voters this year. Neither did Oscar winner Julia Roberts (the star of Amazon’s Homecoming), George Clooney (Hulu’s Catch-22), or Connie Britton (Bravo’s Dirty John). On a brighter note, Schitt’s Creek was warmly embraced by voters, picking up four nominations including Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards are set to air on September 22, 2019 on Fox, beginning at 8pm ET.

Outstanding Comedy Series
Barry
Fleabag
The Good Place
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek
Veep

Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul
Bodyguard
Game of Thrones
Killing Eve
Ozark
Pose
Succession
This Is Us

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Billy Porter, Pose
Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Laura Linney, Ozark
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
Mahershala Ali, True Detective
Benicio Del Toro, Escape at Dannemora
Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
Jared Harris, Chernobyl
Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie
Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora
Emma Stone, Maniac
Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Aunjenaue Ellis, When They See Us
Niecy Nash, When They See Us

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Bill Hader, Barry
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek

Outstanding Reality Competition
The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice

Outstanding Variety/Talk Series
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Outstanding Limited Series
Chernobyl
Escape at Dannemora
Fosse/Verdon
Sharp Object
When They See Us

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Carrigan, Barry
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
Stephen Root, Barry
Tony Hale, Veep
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Henry Winkler, Barry

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Chris Sullivan, This Is Us

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Sarah Goldberg, Barry
Sian Clifford, Fleabag
Olivia Colman, Fleabag
Alex Bornstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Betty Gilpin, GLOW
Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones
Julia Garner, Ozark
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Fiona Shaw, Fleabag
Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Ron Cephas Jones, This Is Us
Michael McKean, Better Call Saul
Glynn Turman, How to Get Away with Murder
Michael Angarano, This Is Us
Kumail Nanjiani, The Comedian
Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid’s Tale

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Matt Damon, Saturday Night Live
Luke Kirby, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Peter MacNicol, Veep
John Mulaney, Saturday Night Live
Robert De Niro, Saturday Night Live
Adam Sandler, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Fiona Shaw, Fleabag
Kristin Scott Thomas, Fleabag Ann-Margaret, The Kominsky Method
Jane Lynch, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Sandra Oh, Saturday Night Live
Maya Rudolph, The Good Place
Emma Thompson, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
Ben Wishaw, A Very English Scandal
Asante Blackk, When They See Us
Paul Dano, Escape at Dannemora
Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl
John Leguizamo, When They See Us
Michael Kenneth Williams, When They See Us

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Cherry Jones, The Handmaid’s Tale
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Apocalypse
Phylicia Rashad, This Is Us
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black
Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder
Carice van Houten, Game of Thrones

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie
Patricia Arquette, The Act
Margaret Qualley, Fosse/Verdon
Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects
Marsha Stephanie Blake, When They See Us
Vera Farmiga, When They See Us
Emily Watson, Chernobyl

Outstanding Variety/Sketch Series
At Home with Amy Sedaris
Documentary Now
Drunk History
I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman
Saturday Night Live
Who Is America

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program
Ellen DeGeneres, Ellen’s Game of Games
Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, Making It
RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Marie Kondo, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
James Corden, The World’s Best

2018 Emmy Awards Winners

‘Grand Hotel’ Season 1 Episode 6 Preview: Photos from “Love Thy Neighbor”

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 16, 2019

Richard Burgi and Freddie Stroma guest star in season one episode six of ABC’s summer drama, Grand Hotel. Episode six was directed by Eva Longoria Baston from a script by Geoffrey Nauffts and will air on Monday, July 22, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.

The cast of season one includes Oscar nominee Demián Bichir (Best Actor, A Better Life) as Santiago Mendoza, ALMA award winner Roselyn Sánchez (Outstanding Actress in a Drama Television Series, Without a Trace) as Gigi Mendoza, Denyse Tontz (The Fosters) as Alicia Mendoza, and Bryan Craig (Valor) as Javi Mendoza. Wendy Raquel Robinson (The Mayor) is Mrs. P, Lincoln Younes (Home and Away) is Danny, Shalim Ortiz (Magic City) is Mateo, and Anne Winters (13 Reasons Why) plays Ingrid.

Chris Warren (The Fosters) plays Jason, Feliz Ramirez is Carolina, and Justina Adorno (Seven Seconds) is Yoli in the show’s first season.

Grand Hotel is written and executive produced by Brian Tanen. Eva Longoria, Ben Spector, Bob Daily, Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, and director Bill D’Elia also executive produce.

The “Love Thy Neighbor” Plot – The hotel faces a few obstacles from a neighboring hotel while planning their gala fundraiser. Elsewhere, Mrs. P goes undercover; and Javi embraces his new fatherhood role despite his family’s hesitations.

Series Details:

Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior.

Grand Hotel Season 1 Episode 6 — A scene from ‘Grand Hotel’ season 1 episode 6 (ABC)

Austin Butler to Channel Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s Upcoming Biopic

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 16, 2019

Austin Butler The Shannara Chronicles — Austin Butler in a scene from ‘The Shannara Chronicles’ season 2.

After months of casting rumors, Baz Luhrmann and Warner Bros Pictures have settled on The Shannara Chronicles star Austin Butler to play Elvis. Butler will star opposite Tom Hanks in the untitled Elvis Presley project expected to begin shooting early next year.

Butler will play Elvis Aaron Presley and Tom Hanks is on board to play Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager.

Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, and Harry Styles were among those who were reportedly seriously in the running to step into Elvis’ blue suede shoes.

“I knew I couldn’t make this film if the casting wasn’t absolutely right, and we searched thoroughly for an actor with the ability to evoke the singular natural movement and vocal qualities of this peerless star, but also the inner vulnerability of the artist,” explained Luhrmann. “Throughout the casting process, it was an honor for me to encounter such a vast array of talent. I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in The Iceman Cometh on Broadway, and through a journey of extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”

Director Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce wrote the screenplay, with Luhrmann and Oscar winner Catherine Martin (The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge!) producing. Martin will also serve as costume designer and production designer on the project.

Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis film will shoot in Queensland, Australia.

Austin Butler’s additional credits include The Dead Don’t Die, The Carrie Diaries, and Switched at Birth. He recently finished working on Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, opening in theaters on July 26, 2019.

The Plot:

“In the movie, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Luhrmann (The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge!) will explore the life and music of Presley, through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played in the film by two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia). The story will delve into their complex dynamic spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America.”

Exclusive interview with Austin Butler on The Shannara Chronicles

‘Burden of Truth’ Season 2 Episode 8 Preview: “Right Road” Photos and Plot

By

Rebecca Murray

-

July 16, 2019

The CW’s Burden of Truth wraps up its second season with episode eight, “The Right Road.” Episode eight was directed by Doug Mitchell from a script by Brad Simpson and will air on July 21, 2019.

The second season stars Kristin Kreuk as Joanna Chang (formerly Hanley), Peter Mooney as Billy Crawford, Star Slade as Luna, Jessica Matten as Gerrilyn, and Sarah Thompson as Molly.

“The Right Road” Plot – A LEAP OF FAITH – As the murder trial begins, Joanna and Billy defend against an avalanche of evidence. With things not looking good, Joanna risks everything by putting an unexpected witness on the stand. Billy faces the heartbreaking reality of his decision to get Shane (Andrew Chown) the help he needs.

The Plot:

Burden of Truth is a serialized investigative drama about life-altering legal cases, the helpless plaintiffs searching for answers, and the boots-on-the-ground lawyers fighting incredible odds to deliver justice.

Attorney Joanna Hanley (Kreuk) leaves her picture-perfect legal career as a partner in a corporate law firm to solve the case of a mysterious illness affecting the female high school students of her hometown Millwood in Manitoba – a prairie town with an industrial past and an uncertain future. She joins her former high school nemesis, local attorney Billy Crawford (Mooney), to find the source of the illness and win justice for the girls.

Billy and Joanna will have to put aside their resentments and opposing legal styles to find the answers they seek. Joanna also realizes there’s not just a legal investigation waiting for her in Millwood, but a personal one. She starts investigating herself just as she would a case, beginning with her darkest family secret: the reason her family was forced to suddenly leave town.

Burden of Truth explores human relationships in the context of a legal mystery, highlighting the stress and impact on the investigators fighting a case that might come to nothing, and the danger of a growing illness that they may never be able to identify or cure.

Burden of Truth Season 2 Episode 8 — Kristin Kreuk as Joanna Hanley, Star Slade as Luna and Peter Mooney as Billy Crawford in ‘Burden of Truth’ season 2 episode 8 (Photo © 2018 Cause One Productions Inc. and Cause One Manitoba Inc)

‘The Outpost’ Season 2 Episode 2 Photos: “This is One Strange Town” Preview

By

Rebecca Murray

-

July 15, 2019

The CW’s summer action fantasy series The Outpost has released a brief plot description along with photos from the upcoming second episode of season two. Episode two titled “This is One Strange Town” was directed by Marc Roskin from a script by Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin. “This is One Strange Town” will air July 18, 2019.

Season two will air on Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT.

The season two cast is led by Jessica Green as Talon. Imogen Waterhouse plays Gwynn, Anand Desai-Barochia is Janzo, Jake Stormoen is Captain Garret Spears, Philip Brodie is Everit Dred, Robyn Malcolm is The Mistress, and Andrew Howard plays Marshal Withers.

Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin created the series and serve as executive producers with Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan-Wilson. Jennifer Griffin and Jonathan English produce.

The “This Is One Strange Town” Plot – DEFIANCE – Talon (Jessica Green) tries to outmaneuver her new rival while Gwynn (Imogen Waterhouse) struggles to maintain control of the Outpost. A Baron named Tobin (guest star Aaron Fontaine) marches in and makes an outrageous proposal. The Mistress (guest star Robyn Malcolm) bitterly reunites with a close relative.

The Outpost Plot:

“Having defeated Dred and retaken the Outpost, Talon (Green) and Gwynn prepare for war. Talon delves deeper into demon summoning, while Gwynn (Waterhouse) recruits allies. The Prime Order trinity known as “The Three” reveal mysterious powers as they send spies, assassins, and a devastating weapon to the Outpost. As Talon uncovers the legacy of her people, she must decide who to trust, and separate her real friends from her enemies before the Prime Order attacks.”

The Outpost Season 2 Episode 2 — Lilli Hollunder as Rebb in ‘The Outpost’ season 2 episode 2 (Photo: Aleksander Letic © 2019 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment)

‘Krypton’ Season 2 Episode 6 Preview: Photos from “In Zod We Trust”

By

Rebecca Murray

-

July 15, 2019

Syfy’s Krypton season two continues with episode six airing on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT. Photos, plot details, and a trailer have arrived for the new episode titled “In Zod We Trust.”

The cast is led by Cameron Cuffe (The Halcyon) as Seg-El and includes Georgina Campbell (Broadchurch) as Lyta-Zod, Shaun Sipos (The Vampire Diaries) as Adam Strange, and Colin Salmon (Arrow) as General Dru-Zod. Ann Ogbomo (World War Z) play Jayna-Zod, Aaron Pierre (Britannia) is Dev-Em, Rasmus Hardiker (Your Highness) is Kem, Wallis Day (Will) is Nyssa-Vex, Blake Ritson (Da Vinci’s Demons) is Brainiac, and Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones) plays Val-El.

The “In Zod We Trust” Plot – In the wake of tragedy, Seg helps Nyssa rescue their son, while alliances on Wegthor fracture.

Krypton Series Details, Courtesy of Syfy:

“What if Superman never existed? Set two generations before the destruction of Superman’s home planet, Krypton follows Seg-El (Cuffe), the legendary Man of Steel’s grandfather, as a young man who fights to save his home planet from destruction. Season 2 brings us back to a changed Kandor, locked in a battle over its freedom and its future.

General Dru-Zod (Salmon) is now in control. He’s on a ruthless mission to rebuild Krypton according to his ideals and to secure its future by conquering the universe. Faced with a bleak outlook, our hero, Seg-El, attempts to unite a dispersed group of resisters in an effort to defeat Zod and restore hope to their beloved planet. Their chance at redemption is threatened however, by their opposing tactics, shifting alliances and conflicting moral boundaries – forcing each of them to individually determine how far they’re willing to go in pursuit of a better tomorrow.”

Krypton Season 2 Episode 6 — Cameron Cuffe as Seg-El in ‘Krypton’ season 2 episode 6 (Photo by: Steffan Hill/SYFY)

‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Season 6 Episode 10 Photos: “Leap” Preview

By

Rebecca Murray

-

July 15, 2019

Karolina Wydra, Maximilian Osinski, and Briana Venskus guest star in season six episode 10 of ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Episode 10 titled “Leap” was directed by Garry A. Brown from a script by Drew Z. Greenbeg and will air on July 19, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT.

Season six stars Clark Gregg as Sarge, Ming-Na Wen as Melinda May, Chloe Bennet as Daisy ‘Skye’ Johnson, Iain De Caestecker as Leo Fitz, Elizabeth Henstridge as Jemma Simmons, Henry Simmons as Alphonso ‘Mack’ Mackenzie, Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Elena ‘Yo-Yo’ Rodriguez, and Jeff Ward as Deke Shaw.

The “Leap” Plot – The party’s over, and now the team must trust each other in order to face impending doom and an enemy that’s closer than they think.

Season Six Details:

“Last season, the team leaped forward in time to a dystopian future they soon realized must be prevented. While facing multiple timelines and new enemies from faraway planets, they found family, friends, teammates and the courage to pull off their biggest challenge yet.

Their next challenge? Coming to grips with the knowledge that bending the laws of space and time may have saved the planet, but it couldn’t save Fitz or Coulson.”

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6 Cast Interviews:

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6 Episode 10 — Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Chloe Bennet, Max Osinski, and Henry Simmons in ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ season 6 episode 10 (ABC/Mitch Haaseth)

First Look: ‘The King’s Man’ Trailer and Teaser Poster

By

Rebecca Murray

-

July 15, 2019

Taron Egerton passes the torch to Harris Dickinson as the star of the third film of the The Kingsman franchise, The King’s Man, which just debuted a trailer, poster and new photos. Matthew Vaughn, director of 2014’s Kingsman: The Secret Service and 2017’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle, returns to direct the third entry in the action adventure series.

In addition to Harris Dickinson (Trust), the cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, and Tom Hollander. Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance also star in The King’s Man.

The film franchise is based on The Secret Service comic book by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. Matthew Vaughn, David Reid, and Adam Bohling produce. Vaughn’s behind the scenes team includes director of photography Ben Davis, editors Jason Ballantine and Robert Hall, production designer Darren Gilford, and costume designer Michele Clapton.

20th Century Fox and Disney are targeting a February 2020 theatrical release.

The Plot:

In 2020, they will become kings.

As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in The King’s Man.

The King's Man — Ralph Fiennes and Harris Dickinson star in ‘The King’s Man.’

The King's Man Poster — Teaser poster for 2020’s ‘The King’s Man’

‘The Lion King’ Review: A Visually Stunning Note-for-Note Remake

By

Rebecca Murray

-

July 15, 2019

The initial promotional pieces tagged the 2019 The Lion King as a “live-action” adaptation. The live-action description was ultimately dropped in favor of promoting the remake/reimagining as utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques and photo-real digital imagery to bring the beloved animal characters to life.

While the filmmaking technique is unarguably groundbreaking, the story never strays from the original animated classic. Just as with the original film, the 2019 version begins with King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and Queen Sarabi (Alfre Woodard) introducing their bouncing baby boy, Simba (JD McCrary), to the residents of Pride Rock backed by a rousing rendition of “Circle of Life.”

Mufasa’s proud of his young cub and eager to teach him the ways of the world. Along with his trusted right-hand man – or, more accurately, right-hand bird – Zazu (John Oliver), Mufasa imparts important life lessons to the young cub who is destined to be king.

Simba’s a curious little guy who’s unaware of the threat to the kingdom posed by his Uncle Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor in full-on acid dripping from his tongue villain mode). Tricked by Scar into luring his father to his death, a guilt-ridden Simba leaves Pride Rock and strikes out on his own.

Believing his family and friends would hold him responsible for Mufasa’s passing, Simba ventures into unfamiliar territory where he becomes the third musketeer to a farting warthog named Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and Timon (Billy Eichner), a wisecracking meerkat.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before…

Time passes, songs are sung, and Simba grows into a handsome (vegetarian) lion. Meanwhile, Pride Rock has suffered under the rule of Scar and his hyena minions. The herds of animals that roamed the kingdom under Mufasa’s rule have either been eaten or fled, and even the ground has transformed from luscious greenery to barren earth.

Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) is eventually forced into action, sneaking away in the dead of night to find help. Much to her shock and delight, she discovers Simba is alive and well. Sparks fly as Nala and Simba reunite, and Simba finally realizes it’s up to him to save his family and his father’s kingdom.

The Lion King’s at its best when it focuses on the young Simba. JD McCrary is terrific at conveying Simba’s inquisitive nature, the range of emotions he goes through in dealing with the horrific death of his father, and his joy as he tackles new adventures and relationships. When Donald Glover takes over as the adult Simba, the energy level is tamped down. The same can be said to a lesser degree comparing the voice work done by Shahadi Wright Joseph as the young Nala to that of Beyonce as the adult Nala.

Director Jon Favreau’s packed the supporting voice cast with a formidable ensemble of actors. The standouts among the group include James Earl Jones, once again lending his unmistakable bass voice to Mufasa as he reprises his role from the 1994 animated blockbuster. John Oliver’s terrific as the agitated, by-the-book Zazu and Chiwetel Ejiofor sends shivers down your spine as Scar.

But it’s Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner who walk/prance/dance away with the film as the Hakuna Matata-loving Pumbaa and Timon. The oddball warthog and meerkat friends (originally voiced by Ernie Sabella and Nathan Lane) were the surprise stars of the 1994 animated production, and remain fan favs decades after that film’s theatrical release. This 2019 version should also have kids bugging their parents for stuffed versions of the goofball characters.

The new version’s nearly a beat-for-beat remake with a few added shots of scenery and a couple of new songs. Truly, it’s all about the visuals with this remake and those visuals are spectacular. The new techniques utilized in 2019’s The Lion King have solved the creepy dead eyes problem that ruins most CGI characters. The eyes catch the light and the fur/feathers move realistically. The backgrounds are gorgeously rendered and inviting, so much so that it’s possible to forget this isn’t a nature documentary at times.

Disney’s been mining their animated films for remakes with mixed success. This year alone they’ve released live-action versions of Dumbo and Aladdin, and now The Lion King gets a photo-real version. Do we need these new takes on classic stories? No, not really. These remakes are blatant attempts to wring more cash from beloved tales and feel a little lazy.

Dumbo was a big miss, with the emotional heart and soul of the original absent from the remake. Aladdin fared much better as it used the basics of the original plot but added cool, updated touches to reinvigorate the story. The Lion King played it super safe, opting for a note-for-note recreation of the original. The story hasn’t been updated to reflect the strides taken in empowering females on screen, so don’t expect Nala and Sarabi to suddenly become warrior figures. Also, don’t expect to be humming the original songs written for this remake.

New audiences just being introduced to Simba and his friends will find a lot to enjoy about 2019’s The Lion King. Those of us who can still remember the words to “Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” might have a more difficult time understanding the point of this remake.

GRADE: B

MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of violence and peril, and some thematic elements
Release Date: July 19, 2019
Running Time: 1 hour 58 minutes

‘West Side Story’ Shows Off the First “Anita” Photo

By

Rebecca Murray

-

July 14, 2019

West Side Story Ariana Debose — Ariana DeBose stars as Anita in ‘West Side Story’ (Photo Courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

20th Century Fox and Steven Spielberg released the first official West Side Story photo of Ariana DeBose in character as Anita. Rita Moreno won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar for playing Anita in the 1961 feature film.

Moreno returns for the 2020 musical in the role of Valentina and also serves as an executive producer.

The cast of the 2020 West Side Story is led by Ansel Elgort as Tony, Rachel Zegler as Maria, David Alvarez as Sharks leader Bernardo, and Mike Faist as the leader of the Jets, Riff. Corey Stoll’s on board as Lietenant Schrank, Brian d’Arcy James is Officer Krupke, Curtiss Cook stars as Abe, and Ana Isabelle plays Rosalia. Ezra Menas is Anybodys, Ben Cook plays Mouthpiece, Sean Harrison Jones is Action, Patrick Higgins is Baby John, and Julius Anthony Rubio is Quique.

Ricardo Zayas is Chago, Josh Andrés Rivera is Chino, Sebastian Serra is Braulio, and Carlos Sánchez Falú plays Pipo.

Oscar winner Steven Spielberg directs and Oscar nominee/Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner adapted the screenplay from the 1957 Broadway musical. The original musical was written by Arthur Laurents, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Tony winner Justin Peck is choreographing the 2020 film adaptation. Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger are producing, and Gustavo Dudamel is charged with conducting Bernstein’s score. Oscar nominee David Newman (Anastasia) is arranging the score and Tony winner Jeanine Tesori is assisting the cast on vocals. Grammy nominee Matt Sullivan (Chicago, Beauty and the Beast) is the film’s executive music producer.

20th Century Fox and Disney will release the latest take on the classic musical love story on December 18, 2020.

The Plot:

“An adaptation of the original Broadway musical, West Side Story explores young love and tensions between rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks on the streets of 1957 New York.”

West Side Story Official Cast Photo

ShowbizJunkies

Emmy Nominations 2019: ‘Game of Thrones’ and HBO Shatter Records

‘Grand Hotel’ Season 1 Episode 6 Preview: Photos from “Love Thy Neighbor”

Austin Butler to Channel Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s Upcoming Biopic

‘Burden of Truth’ Season 2 Episode 8 Preview: “Right Road” Photos and Plot

‘The Outpost’ Season 2 Episode 2 Photos: “This is One Strange Town” Preview

‘Krypton’ Season 2 Episode 6 Preview: Photos from “In Zod We Trust”

‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Season 6 Episode 10 Photos: “Leap” Preview

First Look: ‘The King’s Man’ Trailer and Teaser Poster

‘The Lion King’ Review: A Visually Stunning Note-for-Note Remake

‘West Side Story’ Shows Off the First “Anita” Photo

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