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New Statesman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
A samurai lost in the wilderness
The Scottish director John Maclean's austere second feature film opens halfway through the story, with its heroine, Tornado (played by the Japanese singer Kōki), trying to save herself from a group of hideously threatening men. The year is 1790 and the setting somewhere in the British Isles; the group chasing her is following the orders of head honcho Sugar (an enjoyably dead-eyed Tim Roth). We don't know yet why these ne'er-do-wells are after Tornado, but they obviously mean business. As they follow her, Sugar casually slits the throat of one of his own underlings; even when Tornado seeks refuge in a beautiful manor house, her chances of survival don't look great. The film has been described as a samurai western – Maclean's debut, the much-admired Slow West, was set in 19th-century Colorado – and it does feel like it's been made by someone who knows their way around Akira Kurosawa's collected works. But it's also a gory revenge thriller in which considerable amounts of blood end up darkening the wind-beaten heath, and a period drama that says audaciously little about the period or locations it's set in (much of it was in fact shot in the Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh). Tornado, we soon learn, is being pursued by the men, who are thieves, because she's nicked their stuff. Specifically, their gold. They've stolen two sacks' worth of coins from a church. First the gold was taken from the thieves by a young urchin (Nathan Malone), then Tornado took the gold from him and hid it beneath a tree. What she hopes to achieve with the loot long-term the audience is never told – no one does anything so gauche as explain themselves in this film – but she seems to want to strike out from her father, Fujin (Takehiro Hira), who runs a travelling puppet show. Fujin is also a samurai of sorts, who has taught Tornado how to wield a sword with deadly skill. When they aren't practising sword-swishing, or putting on their quaint little show for entranced and grubby locals, Fujin gives his daughter life advice in weighty proclamations. She finds them, and him, quite annoying. 'I hate you,' she tells him, before he is killed by one of Sugar's men. The film looks and sounds like a better film than it is. Beautifully shot by Robbie Ryan (the director of photography on Poor Things) in a wilderness that feels forsaken, it has the tawny look of a Toast ad campaign. The costumes, too, are gorgeous, if a little distracting: Tornado troops around in an enviable poncho-type outfit and yeti boots, and Sugar's men – including Jack Lowden as his taciturn son, Little Sugar – sport rugged sweaters and overcoats. The score (by Jed Kurzel, who also wrote the soundtrack for Slow West) is angular and appropriately melodramatic, and the production design, by Elizabeth El-Kadhi, is charming. Among the places Tornado seeks refuge is a circus, and every frame of this sequence reveals inventive attention to detail, from the delicate lace left drying in the open air to the circus troupe's rickety carriages. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Even so, moments of beauty aren't enough to make a film worth seeing, and there is something lacking here. Characters speak ponderously and act incomprehensibly. Though Tornado looks deeply cool, with her long black hair flicking in the biting wind, you never particularly care about her. Lowden and Roth acquit themselves perfectly in their roles, but they're not given that much to do. As top baddie, Roth spends his time looking disappointed with the life he's condemned himself to, while Lowden mainly strides through long grasses and remains impassive when Sugar punches him. It's not unusual for films that present themselves as avant-garde – as Tornado does in its trailer – not to have all that much to say. Depths are promised but never delivered; characters are well acted, but the words they're saying are banal. Viewers who go to the cinema to see such films may feel virtuous for doing so, like they're engaging with high culture, but they are unlikely to emerge moved or amused or changed in any way. It's not bad cinema, per se, just rather pointless. 'Tornado' is in cinemas now [See also: Bruce Springsteen faces the end of America] Related
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars' Unveiled in Annecy: Studios Sneak Peek New ‘Regular Show,' ‘Foster's,' ‘Adventure Time,' ‘Gumball' Series
Cartoon Network Studios is expanding the beloved 'Steven Universe' franchise with a brand-new series, 'Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars,' now in development for Prime Video. The announcement was made Wednesday during the Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe showcase at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival by 'Steven Universe' creator Rebecca Sugar. After a very brief introduction from studio president Sam Register, the great and powerful – which featured a clip of him appearing as an Oz-like floating head surrounded by jets of flames – it was revealed 'Teen Titans Go!', the longest running animated series in DC history, has been renewed for a tenth season on Cartoon Network. The irreverent comedy, based on DC's teen superhero team, continues to follow Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven as they juggle crimefighting with the absurdities of teenage life. Executive producers Luke Cormican, Peggy Regan and Sam Register return for the milestone season. More from Variety 'Cat in the Hat' Teases Not One, but Three Different Worlds - and a Pig in a Wig Passion Paris, Amplitude Studios Partner on Animated Series Set in the Endless Universe (EXCLUSIVE) 'We Did Not Make 'Animal Farm' for Any Algorithm': Director Andy Serkis on Animating Orwell This year's Cartoon Network Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Hanna Barbera studio focus presentation was a bit different than what annual attendees have come to expect from the outfit. Traditionally, the company's executives offered up a rapid-fire look at large parts of its pipeline, but this year, with many of the company's most legendary creators in town to celebrate 25 years of CNS, the talent took over. Executive produced by Sugar alongside her partner and 'OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes' creator Ian Jones-Quartey, 'Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars' will follow up on the original show, tracking fan-favorite character Lars Barriga, described as an 'eternal teenager and space outlaw.' According to the official description, the sequel series will chart Lars and his pirate crew as they 'smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.' The original 'Steven Universe' became a cultural phenomenon during its 2013–2020 run, earning a Peabody Award for its storytelling, diversity and emotional depth. This new chapter promises to explore the 'past, present and future of the Steven Universe universe,' deepening the lore of the series that redefined modern animation. Before sharing her exciting news, Sugar, unannounced, emerged from the assembled audience to perform a new original song that she wrote for the upcoming second season of CNS's popular 'Adventure Time' spinoff, 'Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake.' Several clips and images were shared from the show's second season, which made it clear that the Huntress character will play a much larger role this time around. Leading the 'Adventure Time'-related section of the day's presentation was showrunner Adam Muto, who also offered up a very early look at 'Adventure Time: Side Quests.' The show's opening sequence, still a work in progress, was shared, and will feel extremely familiar to fans of the original series. 'Regular Show' creator J.G. Quintel teased his new 'Regular Show' series, but coyly kept most details, including the show's title, a closely hidden secret. He did say he would share some artwork of new characters from the show, but instead just flipped through a tasty looking slideshow of cartoon food products. Quintel was less withholding when it came to another of his projects, the upcoming YA animated series 'Super Mutant Magic Academy,' based on the comic of the same name by Jillian Tamaki. Artwork and an animatic were shown, giving the impression that the show will land somewhere between 'X-Men' and 'Harry Potter,' as its title plainly suggests. The Studio Focus also included an appearance from cartoon legend Craig McCracken, who shared an early look at his upcoming preschool adaptation of 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.' And while the show will be aimed at a younger audience, McCracken insisted it would not necessarily be educational or aspirational, prioritizing humor above all else. In a brief animatic clip, it was made clear when Bloo taught the invisible friends around him that the day's lesson was to never ever ever ever ever trust adults, because they will make you do things like eat broccoli. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 trailer: Fists, emotions and bouquets fly as beloved drama enters final season
Prime Video has released the trailer for the third and final show of teen romance drama, The Summer I Turned Pretty. It shows Belly and Jeremiah shock their moms with their big plans: marriage. Lola Tung, Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno are Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah, caught up a messy love triangle. While Belly and Jeremiah plan for a future, Conrad is on a spiral, finally realising he wanted Belly all along. However, things are not that simple for Belly either. 'When I'm with J, everything is easier, but everywhere I go there's a memory of Conrad,' she says in the trailer. The entire trailer is set to Taylor Swift's songs Daylight and Red. New faces have joined the final season of the popular show The Summer I Turned Pretty. Isabella Briggs (Fatal Attraction 2023, Sugar) and Kristen Connolly (The Cabin in the Woods, House of Cards) come on board as series regulars. According to a press release from Prime Video, the new recurring cast members include Sofia Bryant (The Girl In The Woods, I Am Not Okay With This), Lily Donoghue (Daisy Jones & the Six, Black Christmas), Zoe de Grand'Maison (Riverdale, Orphan Black), Emma Ishta (Stitchers), and Tanner Zagarino (Shrinking, Aftermath). The series returns on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, with its 11-episode third and final season. As per the official synopsis: 'It's the end of her junior year of college, and Belly's looking forward to another summer in Cousins with her soulmate, Jeremiah. Her future seems set, until some core-shaking events bring her first love Conrad back into her life. Now on the brink of adulthood, Belly finds herself at a crossroads and must decide which brother has her heart. Summer will never be the same.' Based on Jenny Han's best-selling book trilogy, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a multigenerational drama about a girl caught in a love triangle with two brothers. It delves into the complex bonds between mothers and children, enduring female friendships, and the emotional journey of growing up.
Engadget
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
There's a Steven Universe sequel series in the works at Prime Video
It's been five years since the Steven Universe saga ended, via a final season and movie that took the story into the future. Now, it's coming back, according to a report by Deadline . Prime Video is working on a sequel series, with franchise creator Rebecca Sugar in tow as an executive producer (and hopefully as a songwriter.) This doesn't look to be a straight sequel series, in that the focus is shifting away from Steven, the Crystal Gems and Beach City. Instead, the tentatively-titled Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars will follow punk rock slacker Lars Barriga and his ragtag band of space pirates. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Spoiler time: Just about every character got a cool arc in the main series, but Lars was one of the standouts. He started as a selfish jerk stuck at a dead-end job, but finished the show as the captain of an actual starship trying to make a difference in the universe. Deadline says the new episodes will follow the "space outlaw as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire." So this looks to be a series that will largely take place in space, exploring the fallout of the final episodes of the main show. We don't know which, if any, of Steven Universe's main characters will show up or in what capacity. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. The news was revealed by Sugar at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. She went on to say that she misses "my world and my characters" and that she "can't wait to share [the sequel] with you and can't thank you enough for all your support." Sugar's long-time production partner, Ian Jones-Quartey, is also involved. We don't have a release date for this, which gives you plenty of time to catch up on the OG show and the movie. There are 160 episodes, so buckle up. Once that's done, there are several affiliated video games to dig into .
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steven Universe Sequel Series in Development at Prime Video
Steven Universe is expanding. A follow-up to the hit Cartoon Network series is currently in development at Prime Video, TVLine has learned. Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars will explore 'the past, present and future of the Steven Universe universe,' per the official description. 'The sequel series follows Lars Barriga, eternal teenager and space outlaw, as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.' More from TVLine Maxton Hall Gets Very Early Season 3 Renewal at Amazon - Watch Stars Share the News Étoile Cancelled After One Season at Amazon, Despite Two-Season Order Daniel Dae Kim's Butterfly Spy Thriller Sets Amazon Release Date Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar is executive-producing the new series with Ian Jones-Quartey. The original Steven Universe aired for five seasons (2013–2019) on Cartoon Network, eventually spawning a feature-length movie (2019's Steven Universe: The Movie) as well as a 20-episode epilogue series (Steven Universe Future) that same year. Following the conclusion of Steven Universe Future in 2020, TVLine spoke with Sugar about the possibility of revisiting the show's characters again someday. 'I love these characters and this world, and I have theories about the timelines that follow Future — but I want to give the characters some time and some privacy, at least for a while,' she told us. 'I need a little of that too.' The news of Lars of the Stars was formally announced Wednesday during during a Studio Showcase presented by Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. During that same presentation, it was also announced that Teen Titans Go! has been renewed for Season 10, set to air on Cartoon Network (exact premiere date TBD). Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
