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The Independent
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Celebrity Big Brother 2025 launch – LIVE: Mickey Rourke and Patsy Palmer lead this year's cast entering the house
✕ Close Most iconic Celebrity Big Brother moments Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Celebrity Big Brother is back on our screens, and a new crowd of famous faces is getting ready to spend the next few weeks living under constant scrutiny, with their every move, meltdown and ill-advised remark broadcast to the nation. The official line-up of stars will be confirmed when the launch episode kicks off at 9pm tonight on ITV but, as ever, there are plenty of rumours swirling round as to who will be taking part in the star-studded social experiment. Reports suggest that the likes of EastEnders star Patsy Palmer, former talk show host Trisha Goddard, retired Olympic athlete Daley Thompson and former Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant will be entering the CBB house. Also rumoured to be joining the line-up are Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd, American pop star Jojo Siwa and singer Chesney Hawkes. And perhaps the biggest name to sign up is actor and Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke, the 72-year-old star of The Wrestler and 9 ½ Weeks, who is reportedly the highest-paid of this year's contestants, securing a rumoured £500,000 fee. Will this eclectic line-up of celebs make for television gold? And which star will end up winning over viewers?
The Independent
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Looney Tunes fans rejoice after Coyote vs Acme film is saved from Warner Bros vault in ‘$50m' deal
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Looney Tunes fans are rejoicing after it was confirmed that the previously shelved Coyote vs Acme has been saved. The film, which stars John Cena, Will Forte, and Stephanie Hsu, acting alongside cartoon characters, will finally be released after an agonising two-year wait. Coyote vs Acme had been shelved by Warner Bros as part of a tax write-off, before Ketchup Entertainment swooped in to save it from gathering dust forever. The production company announced on Monday (31 March) that it had acquired worldwide distribution rights to the live-action animated film for an undisclosed sum. According to Deadline, the deal was 'pegged in the $50m range'. The publication also states that the film is expected to get a theatrical release in 2026. The film is estimated to have cost $72m to produce. Axing its release, however, allowed Warner Bros to take an estimated $30m tax write-down. At the time, Warner Bros called the decision 'difficult' and thanked the cast and crew for their work on the film. Fans were unhappy with the strategy taken by the studio, which also resulted in an almost completed $90m Batgirl film and an animated Scooby Doo film also being shelved. Those fans are now understandably overjoyed at this news from Ketchup Entertainment. BRING OUR SOLDIER HOME. THE JOB IS DONE. — Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) March 31, 2025 CEO of DC Studios James Gunn was among those to celebrate the news on X/Twitter, resharing the announcement with a love heart emoji. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free 'Repeat after me… TOONS NEVER DIE!' wrote another person in a post that has received over 26,000 likes. Someone else wrote: 'That Coyote vs Acme news made my entire year. Ketchup Entertainment is doing more to save cinema than any major studio. Can't wait to get Looney again!!!' In addition to Coyote vs Acme, Ketchup also recently released another Looney Tunes film jettisoned by Warner Bros – The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. 'We did it! We got Coyote vs Acme out of the Warner vault,' said one person, with another adding: 'That's great news. Thanks Ketchup Entertainment for saving the film from limbo.' Directed by Dave Green, Coyote vs Acme is based on a 1990 article in The New Yorker by Ian Frazier. The film follows Wile E Coyote as he files a lawsuit against Acme Corporation for the many faulty products that failed to catch him the Road Runner. Film-Coyote vs Acme ( AP ) Forte plays Wile E Coyote's lawyer Kevin Avery, who must face off in court against Acme's intimidating lawyer, played by Cena, who happens to be his former boss. The announcement that the film had been axed back in November 2023 was met with outrage from the cast and creatives. At the time, Forte, called the decision 'f***ing bulls***'. 'It is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better … it makes my blood boil and thank you for asking me about it because I like talking about the movie,' he said in an interview. People were further disheartened by its axing after learning that the film was supposed to be great, with Oscar-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller describing it as 'funny, charming, good physical comedy timing, with a surprising amount of heart'. Writer-director Brian Duffield also tweeted: 'I have seen this movie and it is excellent. It also tested in the high 90s repeatedly. It also had interested buyers. The people working at Warner Bros are anti-art and I hope multiple anvils drop on their heads.'
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Gal Gadot's ‘Snow White' performance ripped apart by viewers
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Snow White viewers have been sharing their critiques of the film – and have voiced their disapproval of Gal Gadot's singing voice. In the new Disney live-action remake, which was released on 21 March, Gadot plays the evil queen opposite Rachel Zegler, who plays the title role. Gadot gives two singing performances in the film, first with 'All Is Fair', and then in the film's reprise. However, viewers have been left criticising her singing ability and what they claim to be an unconvincing performance as the villain character. In a video titled 'I watched Snow White So You Didn't Have To', YouTube commentator Amala Ekpunobi, who has 2.4 million subscribers, said Gadot looked 'so uncomfortable in everything she was doing', which 'came off as robotic and mechanic'. 'The acting left so much to be desired with Gal Gadot,' added Ekpunobi. Another online reviewer called Grace Randolph said in her viral take on the film that Gadot was 'truly awful' in the role, adding: 'This could have been a fabulous role with a different actress.' Other online reviews echo similar sentiments, with one person writing on X/Twitter: 'I enjoyed the movie and Rachel but Gal Gadot ruined it truthfully, her acting… her singing was diabolical.' The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw has said that Gadot and Zegler give the 'dullest performances of their lives' in Snow White, while in The Independent's one-star review of the film, Clarisse Loughrey the 'Evil Queen is dripping in sequins and costume jewellery, which would suggest the anticipation of a camp performance, only to receive not a drop of that in return'. open image in gallery Gal Gadot in 'Snow White' ( Disney ) The show's stars have been subject to fierce criticism ahead of the film's release amid controversy over casting decisions and changes to the film's plot. Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, has faced backlash from right-wing voices who were unhappy about the character being portrayed by a person of colour. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free The West Side Story actor seemed to further provoke conservative fans by arguing the plot needed to be updated as, in the original 1937 film, Prince Charming 'literally stalks her'. 'It's no longer 1937,' Zegler said. 'She's not going to be saved by the prince, and she's not going to be dreaming about true love. She's dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.' The film has faced further controversy over Disney's inclusion of the seven CGI dwarfs in the remake. open image in gallery Rachel Zegler in Disney's 'Snow White' ( Disney ) Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage, who has dwarfism, said in 2022 that he was surprised Disney was so proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, while 'you're still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Take a step back and look at what you're doing there.' He continued: 'It makes no sense to me. You're progressive in one way, but then you're still making that f***ing backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together?' Politics has come into play, also – Zegler has shown support for Palestine while her Israeli-born co-star Gadot has spoken out in solidarity with Israel amid its war in Gaza. open image in gallery Pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protesters last week outside Gadot's Hollywood Walk of Fame last week ( Getty Images ) Gadot's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony was disrupted by pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protesters last week. Gadot acknowledged her home while accepting the honour, saying: 'I'm just a girl from a town in Israel. This star will remind me that with hard work and passion and some faith, anything is possible.' Zegler was also subject to political backlash earlier this year when Donald Trump supporters criticised her reaction to the US president's re-election. The actor posted to Instagram about the 'four years of hatred' he would bring about in America, but later apologised for 'contributing to negative discourse'.
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Adolescence actor breaks down ‘genuinely scary' confrontation with 14-year-old Owen Cooper
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Adolescence has received unanimous praise from both critics and viewers, many of whom are hailing it as one of the best dramas in years. Each episode of Netflix's four-part limited series – created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham – was shot by director Philip Barantini as a one-take, meaning the audience feels as though they're following the drama in the moment, creating an additional dose of tension. Actor Owen Cooper, 15, is already being tipped for Baftas victory thanks to his debut performance as Jamie Miller, a boy accused of murder. The third episode focuses on Jamie and clinical psychologist Briony (Erin Doherty), who has been tasked with completing a pre-trial assessment of the 13-year-old schoolboy. In an interview with Variety, Doherty said that she was impressed by Cooper, who was 14 at the time of shooting, and suggested there was a shift in his performance from the first to the 11th take, the latter being the one that was used. 'He played that character with such skill because you genuinely did feel for him,' she said. 'As Briony, that's got to be part of the essence of this dynamic; you can't help but root for him. When she enters the room, she is willing him to be the good guy, and that's what you see: the breakdown of that.' She later said that she felt Briony wasn't aware of what she was in the room with until Owen leaves, 'because she had to keep that professional guard up'. open image in gallery Erin Doherty and Owen as Jamie and in 'Adolescence' ( Netflix ) 'She knew what she was there for and what line she had to tread,' she continued. 'It's not until he leaves that these moments hit her in the face and she's able to really digest what has just happened. It is quite frightening, and that was all it was.' The moment where Jamie goes from childlike innocence to blazing anger was 'genuinely scary', she revealed: 'It's every actor's dream to get to a place where you forget yourself and you are in this strange reality that you've created. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free 'It sounds bizarre, but you genuinely do believe it in the moment. If the person opposite you is doing their job and you're doing yours.' She added that she was 'so proud' of Cooper and how he pushed himself as an actor, as he had previously struggled with becoming 'this scary thing, especially with someone he just met. So we really had to work on creating this safe space to let him know that he's going to be fine.' open image in gallery Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham in 'Adolescence' ( AP ) Ironically, Cooper recently told Netflix that one of the trickiest things he struggled with in the final takes was the hot chocolate that Briony brings to Owen at the beginning of the episode. 'That was minging that. That was horrible. It wasn't hot chocolate 'cause it had to get changed,' he said. The episode sees Jamie angrily throw the drink on the floor and, according to the actor, 'it was making the floor sticky for the cameraman'. 'I remember in one of them it spilt all over the table. I could see people in the cameras that could see into the room like quickly trying to clean it up, so by the time the camera came back in, they had to change it,' he said. Wincing, Cooper added: 'It was disgusting.' open image in gallery Owen Cooper didn't enjoy repeat shoots where his character drinks hot chocolate ( Netflix ) The young actor has received high praise for his performance, including his co-star Graham who calls it 'the biggest achievement' of Adolescence. He has since been cast in the BBC series Film Club, starring White Lotus's Aimee Lou Wood, and as the young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's forthcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, opposite Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jamie Laing's ultra marathon: Emotional Made in Chelsea star learns how much he raised for Comic Relief
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy BBC Radio 1 presenter Jamie Laing shared the emotional moment he learnt he had raised more than £2m for Comic Relief through his extraordinary Ultra Marathon Man challenge. The former Made in Chelsea star ran five consecutive ultra marathons in five days – a total of 150 miles (241km), from London to Salford, where he crossed the finish line on Friday (21 March). Laing, 36, who claimed to have never run more than 3.1 miles before taking on the challenge, was greeted at the finish line by his wife, Sophie Habboo, and his Radio 1 colleagues Greg James, Vick Hope and Jeremiah Asiamah. In a clip shared to Laing's Instagram page, fans were shown the moment he discovered he had raised a huge sum for charity, burying his face in his hands before triumphantly shouting 'let's go!'. 'Thank you everyone, thank you so much, thank you for digging deep, that is unbelievable,' he said. 'It just means the world, I'll never forget this… you are changing and saving lives.' Laing's friends, including his former Made in Chelsea co-star Ollie Proudlock, were among those sharing their support and admiration for him on Instagram. Jamie Laing was emotional as he heard how much he'd raised for Comic Relief ( BBC/Instagram ) 'COME ONNNNN!!!! LET'S GOOOOO!!!' Proudlock wrote. 'JAMIEEEEEEE omg I feel I've had an ultramarathon of emotions watching this INCREDIBLE human achieve this superhuman feat,' author and journalist Elizabeth Day said. 'Incredible!' singer Paloma Faith said. Laing previously said that he was dedicating the challenge to anyone who might be suffering with mental health, referencing his own challenges dealing with 'crippling anxiety' in his twenties. Red Nose Day's 40th anniversary show was filmed in Salford, where the media personality crossed the finish line. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free He began his career as a BBC radio presenter in March last year to some controversy, as critics hit out at the broadcaster for hiring a reality star to host the prestigious slot. Laing, whose great-grandfather founded the McVitie's biscuit empire, told The Sunday Times that naysayers were wrong to assume he had 'just swanned in' to the slot: 'I've been trying to get this job for eight years, constantly grinding, constantly asking to do little slots,' he said. 'No one is given a job here because their mum or dad helped them into it. You have to earn your colours.' He added: 'I suppose what people see now is that I'm maybe not just a posh idiot.' This year's night of comedy included sketches featuring some of the BBC's biggest shows, including Strictly Come Dancing, Gladiators, and Beyond Paradise, and was hosted by Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark, Jonathan Ross and Alesha Dixon. The programme had raised £34m for the charity by the end of the anniversary broadcast.
