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And it did so with “Loki” and “The French Dispatch” star Owen Wilson in both a metaphorical and literal (based on the “Cars 4” sketch) driver’s seat as host. Host: Owen Wilson As far as a return to Studio 8H goes, “SNL’s” decision to have first-timer Owen Wilson host its season premiere is the kind of thing that deserves an understated “wow.” In fact, in a surprising turn of events — considering how often “SNL” loves to go for spectacle — this season premiere was about as atypical as it could get: from the cold open featuring only active cast members to Wilson’s low-key monologue to the amount of screentime given to the featured players (culminating in this week’s 10-to-1 sketch)....

Speaking to Variety about the movie, Campbell still credits Craven for the film’s popularity. “Wes was brilliant and the reason this is such a successful franchise,” she said. “I really didn’t know whether anyone would be able to pull this off, get the tone right, get the humor, get the cleverness.” However, she received a letter from Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin that expressed their reverence for Craven’s work on the franchise....

Host: Oscar Isaac Isaac’s opening monologue honestly provided the ethos for the entire episode: “It’s important to encourage kids to be weirdos.” As the episode went on, it was clear that it was equally important to encourage adults to be weirdos, and Isaac (as well as the “SNL” cast) was more than up for the task. The earnestness of host monologues has been a highlight of the predominantly first-timers nature of this season, and Isaac’s monologue featuring his home movie footage really set the tone for this episode....

In fact, Dafoe’s appearance in “No Way Home” was kept so secret by the production that Holland himself was tripped up the first time he met the actor on set. “It’s actually a funny story when I met Willem for the first time. Obviously, at that time, all of the villains in the film, it was a huge secret that they were in the film. So they would walk around set with these cloaks on....

The movie is helmed by Jon Watts, who also directed the first two “Spider-Man” films of the Holland era, beginning with 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” The script is by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, two writers who worked on “Homecoming” and “Far From Home.” Set for release by Sony on December 17, the movie is part of the Phase Four rollout of the evolving Marvel Cinematic Universe. The cast also includes Zendaya as Mary Jane, Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr....

SundanceTV, which premiered the first season of the show in May 2019, announced that Hornby and director Stephen Frears will reunite for the show’s upcoming sophomore season. Brendan Gleeson (“In Bruges”), Patricia Clarkson (“Sharp Objects”) and Esco Jouléy (“High Maintenance”) will star in Season 2, which will consist of 10, 10-minute episodes (just like Season 1). A specific release date for Season 2 was not provided. Per SundanceTV, the Season 2 synopsis reads: “State of the Union” cleverly explores relationships and the human experience....

Diane Kruger, who stars in the new television remake of “Swimming with Sharks” on the Roku Channel, recently opened up about her experience filming nude scenes on the show. In an interview with Insider, Kruger said she was extremely hesitant about doing nudity. As an actress, her approach is generally to avoid nude scenes unless there is a specific artistic justification. “The motivation behind sex scenes has to be a good one....

It’s not accurate to say that Derek Jeter never lost, despite the reputation that he fashioned for himself early in his career. The opening part of “The Captain,” a new seven-part ESPN series on the career and times of the Hall of Fame New York Yankees shortstop, does go through the struggles of his early professional days. There are tiny nods to the “what if” paths his life would have gone down had a few key injuries and pivotal second chances never happened....

It’s hard to imagine another living filmmaker with a style as instantly recognizable as Wes Anderson, a feat that works against him no matter how expansive his approach. “The French Dispatch” doubles down on it, with a freewheeling triptych of stories that make the case for his appeal by amplifying it. So much has been made about the precise frames, the vibrant colors, and the deadpan delivery of Anderson’s work, but less about the substance beneath it....

The special, which will celebrate the sitcom’s 30-year anniversary, will feature a look back at the series and the cultural impact “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” has had since its debut. The special is set to tape September 10th, which is also the 30th anniversary of the series’ 1990 debut. The reunion will launch exclusively on HBO Max around Thanksgiving. HBO Max is the exclusive SVOD home of the series in the United States....

“It’s been a whirlwind to say the least. Just growing into it day by day. Because you dream of stuff like this, but it rarely happens, so it’s surreal. It’s brilliant, it’s fun, it’s exhausting,” Bratton told IndieWire during a recent interview. “I made this movie to spark a conversation between left and right and that conversation is definitely happening, so I’m pretty encouraged by all of it. But it’s an interesting liminal space to exist in as a Black queer person....

It was really anyone’s game last night but, in the end, the ESPN series “The Last Dance” secured its first win out of three nominations. “The Last Dance” focused on basketball superstar Michael Jordan and his final year with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan’s tenure on the Bulls is beloved, and in a year where nostalgia has been the only safe haven in a world full of chaos, it’s a win that makes sense....

In his review of the series, IndieWire’s Ben Travers wrote that “’The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ flutters to life in bursts, offering reason enough to believe, with time to play out its own story and optimize its own strengths, the Prime Video creation could leave its own gleaming mark on J.R.R. Tolkien’s still-expanding universe. Genuine chemistry draws sparks of humor and heartache. Sizable set pieces house indisputably epic battles....

As it slips between these lyrical settings, Clooney conjures both the cosmic awe of “Gravity” and the eerie isolation of “The Thing,” an admirable set of traditions that lend an imitative feel for much of the movie. Yet for the actor-filmmaker, this somber, effects-driven tone poem marks his most sophisticated filmmaking in 15 years — that would be “Good Night, and Good Luck” — and it’s matched by a melancholic performance on par with his Oscar-winning turn in “Syriana” that same year....

The official synopsis for “The Nevers” from HBO reads: “In the last years of Victoria’s reign, London is beset by the ‘Touched’: people – mostly women – who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities – some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of… well, pretty much all the forces – to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place....

The concept, as well as its largely benevolent intent, isn’t far removed from Fielder’s 2013 Comedy Central classic, “Nathan for You.” Fielder narrates the episodes. He’s active on both sides of the camera, and rather than give a boost to small businesses, his overarching goal is to help each subject overcome an obstacle. But the rehearsals in “The Rehearsal” are stunningly intricate. Fielder hovers over his “actors” like David Fincher in a mobile laptop harness, supervising a level of meticulous thought and labor that makes “Dumb Starbucks” (a second-season entry that’s often and rightly heralded as one of this century’s smartest, funniest pieces of comedy) look as straightforward as ordering your morning coffee....

Grief is a fertile, if uncomfortable topic, and Nelson’s book approached it with the kind of open-hearted honesty it deserved, wrapped up in a careful package that made it accessible enough for the teenage audience it was meant to serve. A cinematic version? It could be maudlin or silly, leaning too much into the pain or way too much into the more cutesy elements of the story (its leading lady, musical prodigy Lennie, is prone to penning her thoughts on leaves and napkins and closet walls, a creative if potentially too zany way to show how she processes her pain)....

“I’m so excited that the incredibly loyal fans of ‘The Umbrella Academy’ will be able to experience the fitting end to the Hargreeves siblings’ journey we began five years ago,” Blackman said in a statement shared with media on Thursday. “But before we get to that conclusion, we’ve got an amazing story ahead for season four, one that will have fans on the edge of their seats until the final minutes....

The VOD sites are now benefiting from the theatrical play summer hits including “Maverick,” “Nope” (Universal/$19.99), and “DC League of Super-Pets” (WBD). among debuting releases — none of which are available on the studios’ streaming sites. Meanwhile, Netflix seems to be counter-programming with a heavily original lineup that includes titles that may have once been intended for theaters. Of note — “Maverick” is for sale as a digital download initially (EST, or electronic sell-through), not just a 48 hour rental....

“I grew up watching anime films as much as Disney and Pixar,” said Shi, who makes her directorial feature debut after her Oscar-winning “Bao” animated short. “I really wanted to bring this expressive style into the movie and convey how Mei was feeling at any given moment. She has such big emotions and we had to push the animation in a way, like in anime, where the character’s embarrassed or mad or sad or has stars in their eyes....