Tag: Hollywood

Actor-turned-director Kristen Stewart has criticised Hollywood for its treatment of female actors, saying the film industry does not give them any agency. In a recent interview, Kristen called how actresses are treated like “puppets” in Hollywood.
Speaking with Variety, Kristen, who is turning director with The Chronology of Water, spoke about the treatment meted out to female actors in the industry. “Actresses get treated like shit, I’ve got to tell you. People think anyone could be an actress, but the first time I sat down to talk about my movie as a director, I thought, wow, this is a different experience. They are talking to me like I’m somebody with a brain,” the actor said.
Drawing on her own experience, Kristen said that directors are put on a pedestal by the industry, while actors are relegated to the background. “There’s this idea that directors have otherworldly abilities, which is not true. It’s an idea perpetuated by men. Not to sound like I’m complaining all the time, but it’s worse for female actors than male ones — they get treated like puppets, but they are not. Imogen Poots put her whole body and soul into this movie,” she added.
Kristen Stewart, who is famously known for headlining the Twilight series, switched to directing with her latest project, The Chronology of Water. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, where it received a standing ovation for over 6 minutes.
The film, adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, tells the story of a woman’s journey to turn trauma into art. Kristen worked on this project for eight years. The film stars Imogen Poots, Jim Belushi, and Thora Birch.

Actor Amber Heard makes a poignant appearance in the new documentary Silenced, which premiered at the World Cinema Documentary Competition section at Sundance. But the actor wants to amplify that this is not her story to tell, because she did not really have a choice. “This is not about me. I have lost my ability to speak. I am not here to tell my story. I don’t want to tell my story. In fact, I don’t want to use my voice anymore. That’s the problem,” she says, speaking directly to the camera.
Silenced charts her story, but from the perspective of international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, who worked along with her during the 2018 lawsuit filed by Heard’s ex-husband Johnny Depp, against British newspaper The Sun. It is Robinson’s point of view that comes first, and she is among the multiple women whose stories are traced to contextualise how defamation laws are blatantly used to silence the stories/testimonies of survivors and victims.
Jennifer Robinson, whose 2022 book How Many More Women? How the Law Silences Women, inspired the film, wastes no time in opening up and threading the multiple stories together. Directed by Selina Miles, who uses the vérité approach to quite a moving effect, Silenced also considers the parallel cases of Mexico-based journalist Catalina Ruiz-Navarro and former federal government staffer Brittany Higgins. The details are traced closely enough as Miles moves from one case to another, overlapping the information, testimonies, and personal comments.
The urgency is instrumental to the film’s rage-inducing, shocking power. It demands your fury and channels it into questioning how much more women stand to lose when they decide to speak up. The misogyny, online harassment and public vitriol are all explored here, but because there is so much ground to cover, it never really digs into one case in particular.
Silenced is infused with the right kind of anger, but at times, it forgets to draw the line. From the break of the MeToo movement to the case of Gisèle Pelicot, to the details of Andrew Tate and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Silenced is bustling with compelling stories but glosses over many to fit in its 97-minute runtime.
Silenced also does not spend enough time with Robinson herself to truly understand her role in understanding and working towards the impacts of the legal system and the widespread expansion of defamation laws in the last few years. Even Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s case is brought up, but it is ongoing, and the film merely adds a passing reference to how terms like defamation suits and online smear campaigns have become more common than ever.
This is a film that wants to chart a history along these lines of trials swinging the other way. But the truth is that there is no finish line in immediate sight. It is scary but what is the point if there is no hope? This is a film that needed more time and a tighter structure, but it nevertheless serves as a cautionary tale of the fights yet to be fought. These voices will not be silenced.

Prime Video has announced that Elle, the prequel series to the Legally Blonde franchise, will premiere on July 1. The streamer has also confirmed that the show has been renewed for a second season, with production scheduled to begin in the spring. The series is set during Elle Woods’ high school years and explores the experiences that shaped her personality and ambitions before the events of the 2001 film. According to the official description, Elle “follows Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree) in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde film.”
Reese Witherspoon, who played Elle Woods in the original films and serves as an executive producer on the series, said the project offers a meaningful extension of the franchise. “Twenty-five years after the world met Elle Woods for the first time, it’s a dream come true to share the story of how she became the unstoppable force we all fell in love with,” Witherspoon said. She also praised lead actor Lexi Minetree, adding, “Discovering Lexi Minetree and watching her step into Elle’s fabulous shoes has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my career.”

Internal emails from Sony Pictures, revealed through unsealed court documents, show senior studio executives privately criticising Blake Lively during the It Ends With Us controversy, even as the company publicly expressed support for the actor.
As reported by People, the emails include remarks from Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, who questioned Lively’s future in Hollywood despite the film’s commercial success. In one email, Panitch wrote that it was “quite ironic” that Lively had a film headed towards $300 million at the global box office but “probably will never work again, or not for a while.”
While another Sony executive suggested that public backlash would eventually subside, Panitch disagreed, stating, “She is done for. At least for a while. It’s cooked.” He attributed the backlash to Lively’s own actions, writing, “She did it to herself.”
Panitch also criticised Lively for failing to protect “the show”, calling it a departure from established industry norms. He further took issue with the timing of Lively’s haircare brand launch, Blake Brown, which coincided with the controversy surrounding the film. Describing the move as “epic-level stupid”, Panitch suggested it worsened the situation. A source, however, said the launch had been scheduled with retail partner Target months in advance, before production delays caused the overlap.
Sony chairman Tom Rothman also expressed concern in internal communications, describing the situation as “a f***ing disaster.” He wrote that the focus had shifted away from questions of right or wrong, adding, “The mess is the story now, and it will define the film.”
Additionally, he also said in an email that the actor “has so much – looks, money, fame, hunk husband, kids – that the instinct of the crowd is to tear her down. Like what happened to Anne Hathaway, and neither of them deserve it, even though she did bring it on herself by refusing to listen to advice, and by selling her products.”

Actors Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have united behind a new anti-AI campaign calling out the tech companies exploiting copyrighted work without permission. The campaign, comprising 700 artists, writers and creators, argues that “Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple.”
Johansson, Blanchett, and Gordon-Levitt are among the many artists emphasising that the battle for authorship safeguards both their personal rights and the broader US creative industry. This sector, which includes television, film, music, digital media, and publishing, “supports millions of jobs, fuels economic growth and projects cultural power globally,” the statement read, as reported by Variety. That creative ecosystem faces a serious threat from AI developers who harvest original work. This process frequently occurs without the creators’ permission, fair payment, or any level of clear transparency regarding how the data is being utilised.
“America’s creative community is the envy of the world. But rather than respect and protect this valuable asset, some of the biggest tech companies – many backed by private equity and other funders — are using American creators’ work to build AI platforms without regard for copyright law,” the statement emphasises.
The initiative encourages organisations to establish formal content agreements or strategic partnerships, following the precedent set by several firms that have already adopted this collaborative approach. “A better way exists. It is possible to have it all. We can have advanced, rapidly developing AI and ensure creators’ rights are respected,” the statement highlights.
Johansson has long been a prominent voice against the risks of artificial intelligence, actively resisting the unauthorised use of her image for years. In early 2024, she publicly denounced a viral clip that featured an AI-generated version of herself seemingly protesting anti-semitic remarks made by Kanye West. Her legal battles continued in late 2023 when she sued an AI application for utilising her name and appearance in digital ads without consent.
Additionally, in May 2024, the actor criticised OpenAI for basing their GPT-4o “Sky” voice on her performance in the 2013 film Her directed by Spike Jonze. The 41-year-old was last seen in the science-fiction action film Jurrassic World: Rebirth.
Blanchett has also stressed the subject multiple times, most notably during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. While speaking with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, she emphasised the necessity of debating emerging technologies. She warned that society must approach these advancements with extreme care, noting that “innovation without imagination is a very, very dangerous thing.”
In 2025, Blanchett and Levitt joined a coalition of 400 industry leaders—including actors, writers, musicians, and filmmakers—in signing an open letter to the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy. The group urged the Trump administration to uphold existing copyright laws and resist pressure from AI firms seeking to diminish these essential protections.

Zoe Saldaña has officially secured the title of the highest-grossing actor of all time, surpassing her Marvel Cinematic Universe co-star Scarlett Johansson. This milestone is achieved as her latest blockbuster, James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, has propelled her career global box office total beyond the $16.8 billion USD threshold.
This accomplishment solidifies Saldaña’s position as Hollywood’s most bankable star, primarily due to her pivotal roles in three major franchises: Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Trek.
Saldaña’s ascent to the pinnacle of the box office hierarchy is founded on an unparalleled streak of commercial success. With Avatar: Fire and Ash surpassing $1.23 billion USD globally earlier this week, she has now featured in four films that have each grossed over $2 billion USD — a milestone no other actor has achieved. Her portfolio includes leading roles in the highest-grossing film of all time (Avatar), the second-highest (Avengers: Endgame), and the third-highest (Avatar: The Way of Water).
Johansson, who previously held the record with approximately $16.4 billion USD, had momentarily regained the top position last summer following the release of Jurassic World Rebirth. However, the consistent global performance of the third installment of Avatar enabled Saldaña to narrow the gap and ultimately seize the lead. The top five is completed by fellow MCU veterans Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt.
Avatar: Fire and Ash is presently playing in cinemas across the globe. Saldaña is anticipated to return as Neytiri in the fourth chapter of the franchise, which is scheduled for release in 2029.
Zoë Yadira Saldaña Nazario was born on June 19, 1978, in New Jersey. Her father was of Dominican descent, while her mother hails from Puerto Rico. Her full name embodies her heritage from both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. She grew up in Jackson Heights, New York City, with her two sisters.
Zoe Saldaña has a net worth of $60 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ragtag revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another” took top honors at Sunday’s 83rd Golden Globes in the comedy category, while Chloé Zhao’s Shakespeare drama “Hamnet” pulled off an upset over “Sinners” to win best film, drama.
“One Battle After Another” won best film, comedy, supporting female actor for Teyana Taylor and best director and best screenplay for Anderson. He became just the second filmmaker to sweep director, screenplay and film, as a producer, at the Globes. Only Oliver Stone, for “Born on the Fourth of July,” managed the same feat.
In an awards ceremony that went almost entirely as expected, the night’s final award was the most surprising. While “One Battle After Another” has been the clear front-runner this awards season, most have pegged Ryan Coogler’s Jim Crow-era vampire thriller as its closest competition.
But “Hamnet,” a speculative drama about William and Agnes Shakespeare based on Maggie O’Farrell’s bestseller, won in the dramatic category shortly after its star, Jessie Buckley, won best female actor in a drama.
It was a banner night for Warner Bros., the studio behind “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.” Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to be sold to Netflix in an $83 billion deal. Paramount Skydance has appealed to shareholders with its own rival offer. In his speech after winning best director, Anderson praised Warner co-chief Michael DeLuca.
“He said he wanted to run a studio one day and let filmmakers make whatever they want,” said Anderson. “That’s how you get ‘Sinners.’ That’s how you get a ‘Weapons.’ That’s how you get ‘One Battle After Another.’” The final awards brought to, or near, the stage a handful of the most talented filmmakers together in Anderson, Zhao and Coogler — plus Steven Spielberg, a producer of “Hamnet.” Regardless of who won what, it was a heartening moment of solidarity between them, with a shared sense of purpose. Zhao fondly recalled being at Sundance Labs with Coogler when they were each starting out.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are divorced and legally single. A Nashville, Tennessee, judge on Tuesday issued an order dissolving the 19-year marriage of the Oscar-winning actor and the Grammy-winning country singer.
The judge said in a court filing that the couple’s settlements on splitting assets and child custody are sufficient and granted them the divorce. Kidman filed for divorce in September. The superstar split was a surprise to most of the public, but it had clearly been in the works for a while. All the legal issues involving assets and custody had been settled and signed the day of her filing.
Tennessee requires a 90-day waiting period for couples with minor children before a divorce can take effect.
Kidman and Urban, both 58, have two teenage daughters together. Their divorce filing said they had “marital difficulties and irreconcilable differences.”
The plan they signed states that Kidman would be the primary residential parent to the children. It suggested they would remain living in Nashville, as they have all their lives. The filing states that neither parent would need child or spousal support and lays out a roughly equal division of their joint assets. Two of the biggest stars to come out of Australia in recent decades, Kidman and Urban met in Los Angeles in 2005 and were married in Sydney the following year. They were red carpet fixtures throughout their two-decade relationship, with Urban joining his wife at the Oscars and Kidman attending music events like the Academy of Country Music Awards. The couple had publicly but lovingly described some marital difficulties, yet there were still few outward signs the divorce was coming.
The marriage was the first for Urban and the second for Kidman, who was married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001. Kidman also has two older children with Cruise.

It is confirmed. Actor Sydney Sweeney is officially stepping back into The Housemaid universe, reuniting with director Paul Feig for a sequel that has now been put into motion following the film’s unexpected box office surge. According to a report in Deadline, the studio has greenlit The Housemaid’s Secret, the follow-up to the psychological thriller that has rapidly emerged as one of the year’s standout theatrical performers.
The sequel draws from the second novel in Freida McFadden’s popular trilogy and has been quietly taking shape for months. Production is expected to begin later this year, with Sydney returning as Millie — the enigmatic young woman whose attempt at starting over led her into a deeply unsettling household. Meanwhile, Paul will once again direct, while Michele Morrone is set to reprise his role as Enzo, the Winchesters’ groundskeeper and a crucial presence in Millie’s journey.
For the unversed, released earlier this year, The Housemaid proved to be a commercial win, earning $75.7 million domestically and $133 million worldwide against a $35 million budget, as reported by Variety. The R-rated thriller also generated strong word-of-mouth and online chatter, capped by an ending that teased Millie’s next chapter and featured Taylor Swift’s I Did Something Bad over the credits. “It’s clear from both the global box office and from the outpouring on social media that audiences have responded strongly — and audibly — to the totally unique and truly theatrical experience of The Housemaid and want to know what happens next,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group.
“We believed in these stories from the very beginning, and we are beyond excited to bring the next chapter of Millie’s story to life on-screen in collaboration with our outstanding creative partners Todd, Paul, Laura, Carly, Alex, and Sydney. The Housemaid’s Secret is another wildly thrilling book in Freida’s series that has captivated readers worldwide, and we look forward to translating it into a similarly rousing and riotous moviegoing experience,” he added. Paul also reflected on the film’s reception and the opportunity to continue the story. “It’s been thrilling to see audiences around the world fall in love with The Housemaid and the incredible work of our talented cast and crew. We’re lucky that Freida McFadden has already extended Millie’s journey on the page, and that we get to work with Rebecca Sonnenshine to bring this next story to audiences,” he said.

Forget Jack Sparrow, Priyanka Chopra is charting a far grittier course into the pirate genre. The actor is stepping into a brutal, blood-soaked world with The Bluff, and the first look at her as the fearsome Bloody Mary charging at her co-star Karl Urban teased no-holds-barred action.
On Jan 7, Priyanka as well as Prime Video released the first look into the upcoming project The Bluff. Priyanka shared the look on her Instagram handle with the caption, “Mother. Protector. Pirate. Meet Bloody Mary #TheBluff February. 25. 2026 Only on @primevideo.”
The first-look image from The Bluff freezes a ferocious showdown against a rugged seaside backdrop, capturing Priyanka mid-air as she lunges at Karl Urban with a weapon raised high. Clad in battle-worn pirate gear, Priyanka’s face is set in a fierce snarl. Karl is seen in a long dark coat, and has his sword lifted in an attempt to block the blow. In another striking image, Priyanka is smeared in blood and dirt, her hand clenched around a conch shell like a makeshift brass knuckle as she gets ready to attack her enemy.
Other stills capture the film’s gritty mood from Priyanka peering through a monocular scope to a frame of her drenched in blood, standing by a window with a gun clenched in her hand.

Actor-singer Jennifer Lopez opened up about her life and relationships, including her divorce from Ben Affleck, during the first night of her Las Vegas residency, Up All Night, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. She reflected on how much her life has changed and said that she is in her “happy era.” Jennifer spoke to the audience, discussing the significant ways her life has transformed since her previous Las Vegas residency a decade ago at Planet Hollywood’s Zappos Theatre, as reported by People. She said, “It’s such a huge honour to be asked back. Do you know it’s been 10 years since my last residency here? Almost 10 years to the day. It was in January. That went by in a blink, didn’t it?”
And in that time, I’ve only been married twice. That’s not true. It was only once. It felt like twice. I’m just kidding. It’s over and we just it’s fine. The good news is that I’m learning, and I’m growing, and we’re in our happy era. I’m in my happy era.

Jennifer and Ben initially dated between 2002 and 2004, having first met while working on the film Gigli. They rekindled their relationship in 2021, leading to their marriage in July 2022. However, the Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025) actor filed for divorce in August 2024, which coincided with the timing of their second wedding anniversary in Georgia.
In an earlier interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Jennifer called the separation transformative, saying, “Because it changed me. It helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow.” However, Jennifer and Ben have maintained an amicable relationship. They recently attended the premiere of Jennifer’s film, Kiss of the Spider Woman (which Ben produced), and were observed shopping together in Los Angeles in December 2025 alongside Affleck’s son, Samuel.
Jennifer directly confronted trolls from the stage about her bold fashion choices and age during the launch of her Up All Night residency in Las Vegas.

A case of sexual harassment has been filed against actor Will Smith, with a violinist from his Based on a True Story 2025 tour accusing the Hollywood star and his management company of misconduct and wrongful termination.
Brian King Joseph, who performed with Smith during the tour, has filed a lawsuit against the actor and his management firm, Treyball Studios Management, in a Los Angeles court. The suit, filed on December 31, alleges sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful dismissal following an incident that reportedly took place during the tour’s Las Vegas stop in March. According to the complaint reviewed by Variety, Joseph claims he returned to his hotel room—booked by Smith’s company—to find signs that someone had entered without his consent. He alleges discovering a sexually suggestive message, wipes, a beer bottle, HIV medication prescribed to another individual, and hospital discharge paperwork. Among the items was a handwritten note that read, “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us,” followed by a heart symbol and the name “Stone F.”
Joseph states that he immediately informed hotel security and alerted representatives from Smith’s team. He also reported the matter to a non-emergency police line.

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow admitted that receiving one of her first movie roles was a case of being a Hollywood “nepo baby,” sharing that the part wasn’t secured through an audition — but rather during a relaxed car ride with her famous godfather, director Steven Spielberg. Discussing the topic of privilege, she opened up about how she secured her role in Spielberg’s 1991 film, Hook.
Paltrow, during SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations event earlier this month, when asked about how the casting process of Hook looked like said, “You know there are certain advantages to being a nepo baby, which were that Steven very close with Steven and Kate.” Spielberg’s wife, actor Kate Capshaw, has long been close to Paltrow’s inner circle.
“Kate was actually my father’s best friend. They were best friends. Kate Capshawso I grew up with themthey’re really our family,” Paltrow highlighted. The actor then mentioned that the offer for the film came as a surprise when she was in the back seat of a car, heading out with the group to watch the movie The Silence of the Lambs.
“I remember we were going, my father and I were going to see The Silence of the Lambs with Kate and Steven,” the 53-year-old added. “We were going to the movie theatre and Steven was driving I was in the back seat and he kept like looking in the rearview mirror and squinting at me I was like, ‘Do I have something on my face? Like what,’” the Marty Supreme actor emphasised.
The pivotal question that launched her screen career followed. According to Paltrow, who was 18 at the time, Spielberg simply asked, “And then he said, ‘Gwenny, will you do me a favor?’”
“‘Would you play young Wendy in ‘Hook’ in this movie that I’m doing about Peter Pan?’” the The Fabelsman (2022) director questioned. The actor’s immediate response was one of disbelief, a reaction she quickly retracted.
“I said, ‘Oh, f**k off’. You know, no,” she initially recalled, before quickly correcting herself: “Oh, I did not say that I said, ‘Yes, I will. I will do that.’” Although the role was brief, the moment remains a significant and lasting memory in her acting journey. Paltrow features in Marty Supreme, alongside Timothee Chalamet. Chalamet features in and has produced Josh Safdie’s upcoming sports comedy-drama, a fictionalised story about a professional ping pong player. Although the film is not a biopic, it’s speculated to be inspired by the life of table tennis champion Marty Reisman.

Sydney Sweeney wants to make films that “save people’s lives.” In a recent interview with the BBC, the 28-year-old said she wants her movies to have an “impact.” This year, she starred in The Housemaid and the biopic Christy. Both films address domestic violence, which she thinks is a “prevalent” topic.
The Euphoria star takes a “lot of care” when playing such roles. “Being able to have a film that’s on a more commercial level talk about a very difficult topic is important,” she told the outlet. Addressing her latest thriller, based on Freida McFadden’s best-selling novel of the same name, Sweeney said she is a “huge fan of the book” and loves “all the characters” in it. Calling the film a “dream project,” Sweeney admitted that she loves “complex, juicy, crazy, twisted stories.” In The Housemaid, she stars opposite Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. Their characters, Nina and Andrew Winchester, hire the Echo Valley star’s character, Millie Calloway, as a live-in house help.
Seyfried likened herself to Sweeney, saying, “There’s a similarity between us that is uncanny, and it’s really fun to work with people [who] are doing life in a similar way, have similar ideals about the job and life.”

If there’s one actor who can commit to absolute chaos and still make it work, it’s Jack Black. And in case you somehow missed it, yes — he’s starring in the latest Anaconda movie. Paired with Paul Rudd, the casting alone feels like a joke. Set up as a survival thriller with a comedic edge, Anaconda unfolds in the depths of the Amazon rainforest. The film follows four friends — Doug McCallister (Jack Black), Griff (Paul Rudd), Kenny (Steve Zahn), and Claire (Thandiwe Newton) — who venture into the wilderness hoping to rediscover their love for filmmaking. What begins as a creative escape quickly turns into a fight for survival when a deadly anaconda begins stalking them through the jungle.
While the premise sounds intense, audience reactions suggest the film leans far more into absurdity than suspense, and viewers seem to be very aware of that.
Early reviews paint Anaconda as a film that doesn’t pretend to be prestige cinema. One viewer summed it up bluntly: “If you only see one movie in which a man sits on another man’s back in order to pee on a third man, make it this one.”
Others admit the film doesn’t always work, but still manages to land unexpected laughs. “This movie was generally not good, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cackle laughing when it turned out the pig strapped to Jack Black’s back was also still alive.” There’s also a recurring theme in reactions: nostalgia. “It gives early 2000s comedy vibes which is fine. Critics will hate it but I bet it finds a following.”
Some viewers felt the film’s chaotic energy works best with a crowd. “Way better movie to see in theatres, this would be awful on a plane/at home/etc.” Others appreciated the movie’s honesty about what it is—and what it isn’t. “Oh, it’s really not a good movie at all BUT it knows what it is and is very honest about what it is sooooo….it’s fine?”