We finally got a first look at Lady Gaga alongside Joaquin Phoenix in the upcoming movie Joker: Folie à Deux. Director Todd Phillips shared the movie still on social media with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Lady Gaga is set to play Harley Quinn opposite Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix in the upcoming Joker sequel. While the first film veered away from the superhero genre, focusing on a dark drama that doubles as the origin story of the iconic character, the sequel also takes a unique turn as it is set to be a musical film.
While the official synopsis for the upcoming movie has yet to be revealed, it has been confirmed that the movie will resume the story of Arthur Fleck, who has already spiraled into madness and assumed the identity of the anarchist Joker. This time, Phillips will also introduce Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn, Joker’s infamous romantic partner-in-crime.
Joker: Folie à Deux is set to be released in US theaters on October 4, 2024. More details about the movie are yet to be revealed.
Netflix has revealed the first teaser trailer for their upcoming anime series Pluto, which turns classic manga and anime series Astro Boy into a suspense thriller. Watch the sneak peek teaser trailer for Pluto below:
A highly-acclaimed manga, Pluto was created by Naoki Urasawa and his longtime co-creator Takashi Nagasaki based on Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy “The Greatest Robot on Earth” arc from 1964. Urasawa who is known for popular manga series such as Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Master Keaton to name a few, injected his dark drama and suspenseful style into his retelling of the iconic franchise.
The seriesis set in a futuristic world where humans and high-functioning robots co-exist. It follows Europol detective Gesicht as he tries to solve a series of murders where the bodies of the victims, both humans and robots, are positioned with objects on their heads to imitate horns.
“I applaud the courage of everyone that has taken on the challenge of making an anime based on PLUTO. I am excited about the birth of this new series to win over people’s hearts. I hope that now more than ever, Osamu Tezuka’s message reaches the world,” shared author Naoki Urasawa in a statement via Netflix.
The anime is produced by GENCO with animation from Studio M2. The voice cast includes Shinshu Fuji, Yoko Hikasa as Atom, and Minori Suzuki as Uran. The release date for the anime has yet to be revealed.
A reboot of the iconic horror movie spawned by Stephen King’s short story is coming to the big screen soon! The new Children of the Corn film has just unveiled its red band trailer, teasing another bloodbath perpetrated by innocent-looking kids. Watch the trailer for Children of the Corn below:
In this new retelling of the horror classic, a twelve-year-old girl named Eden gets possessed by an evil spirit in a dying cornfield. This prompts her to recruit other children in her small town to rise up and take over, leading them to a bloody rampage that leaves the town riddled with the dead bodies of adults and anyone who opposes her. It is now up to one high schooler to stop this evil from consuming the whole town.
Directed and written by Kurt Wimmer, Children of the Corn stars Elena Kampouris, Kate Moyer, Callan Mulvey, and Bruce Spence. It is set for release in US cinemas this March 3.
While fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are anticipating the release of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania in theaters this week, Marvel Studios dropped the new trailer for their next MCU movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Watch the trailer below:
As the trailer teased, fans can expect Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 to be a dramatic movie, as it also wraps up the story of the MCU’s beloved bunch of superheroes. While the official synopsis has not yet been revealed, the trailers for the film have confirmed that the story will explore the backstory of Rocket Raccoon, with his creator, the High Evolutionary serving as the main villain. The movie will also introduce Adam Warlock.
Reprising their roles in the film are Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Sean Gunn, Elizabeth Debicki, and the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper. Also joining the cast are Will Poulter and Chukwudi Iwuji.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 is set to hit US theaters on May 5, 2023. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
A new Marvel movie is hitting theaters this week! Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumaniawill bring back the eponymous heroes as they dive deeper into the Quantum Realm, facing a new villain that could be the next big threat in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
Before the new Ant-Man & The Wasp film hits theaters this week, we’ve rounded up a few facts about the movie that you might want to know. Check them out below:
1. Director Peyton Reed teams up with Rick & Morty writer Jeff Loveness for the movie.
For the third Ant-Man movie, director Peyton Reed who directed the first two films returned to helm the third installment of the franchise. Jeff Loveness of the adult animated series Rick & Morty served as a writer for the new movie and it seems like Loveness will be in charge of Kang the Conqueror’s rise in the MCU as he was also hired to write Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
2. The new Ant-Man & The Wasp film kicks off the MCU’s Phase 5.
After closing Phase 4 of the MCU with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios kicks off Phase 5 with this new Ant-Man & The Wasp movie. In an interview with Empire Magazine, Kevin Feige explains the bigger role Ant-Man will carry as he kicks off a new era in the MCU.
“We wanted to kick off Phase Five with Ant-Man because he’d earned that position. To not simply be the back-up or the comic relief, but to take his position at the front of the podium of the MCU,” said Feige.
Director Peyton Reed adds: “We’re not running around the streets of San Francisco anymore. We’re fighting one of the most powerful villains in Marvel history, and maybe these are the most unlikely Avengers to be the first to go up against this guy.”
3. Cassie Lang joins the MCU’s lineup of young heroes.
Stephen Lang’s daughter, Cassandra, now plays a bigger role in the film. Played by Kathryn Newton who replaced Endgame‘s Emma Fuhrmann, the teenage Cassie Lang is now ready to become another one of the young heroes in the MCU. In the comics, Cassie becomes Stature and Stinger, wielding the same powers her father has and becoming a member of the Young Avengers. With young heroes like Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, and America Chavez already in the MCU, the Young Avengers are also expected to join the MCU soon.
4. Kang the Conqueror poses a new threat in the MCU.
Fans have been teased with Jonathan Majors’ Kang in the Loki series, but it was only one of the variants of the time-traveling villain in the multiverse, and the one Ant-Man is set to meet in the new film promises to be a bigger problem. In fact, one of the two upcoming Avengers films, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty reveals that Kang is the MCU’s next big villain after Thanos.
“Kang’s a very powerful person, but when we meet him he’s in a position where he needs to get that power back,” Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told EMPIRE. “He has a ship and a device that would allow him to go anywhere, and anywhen he wants if he can get it online. If only he had access to genius scientists with Pym particles.”
Another iconic Marvel villain is also heading to the upcoming film. MODOK, known for its quirky look as a floating giant head, will be depicted on the big screen with a different look. In the comics, the technician George Tartleton was turned into the living computer originally called MODOC – an acronym for “Mental Organism Designed Only for Computing”. However, with his unlimited power, he decided to go rogue and renamed himself MODOK, changing “Computing” into “Killing”. We have yet to see if this story will also be translated into MODOK’s MCU debut.
“MODOK is maybe my single favorite thing that I got in the movie,” Loveness told SFX Magazinein an interview. “Obviously we are very faithful to the comics with the design and the look, but then there is a little bit of extra we put into him. Maybe I’ll get fired off The Kang Dynasty when people see it, but some of my favorite moments come from MODOK and the dynamics there.”
Photo: Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania trailer
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Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumaniaopens in cinemas nationwide this Wednesday, February 15. Book your seats in advance and buy your tickets here.
Love is in the air once more and aside from the flowers and chocolates, another celebration staple this season is treating your S.O. to a romantic date. But if you’re still wondering where to pull off that romantic date then this list is for you, we’ve rounded up hotel dining deals you can catch this Valentine’s Day!
HEAT(February 13 – 15) HEAT celebrates Valentine’s with the rich flavors of salmon, oyster, signature Japanese faves, beefy bites of Angus striploin and pass-around beef churrasco. Book your date at P4,000 net per person or book one of HEAT’s private dining rooms with butler service, a bottle of champagne, and a special setup for celebrating couples available at P25,000 net, available only on February 14.
Senju Senju offers a 5-course dinner which includes sumptuous bites of seaweed salad with duck liver in teriyaki sauce, sashimi and Aburi sushi, beef tenderloin in honey steak sauce, and Ogura banana tempura with chocolate maple syrup. Rate is set at P3,800 net per person, inclusive of a glass of red or white wine, or strawberry iced tea.
Lobby Lounge Lobby Lounge’s 5-course menu features a set menu featuring chocolates, which is available at P3,500 net per heart. The Lobby Lounge Valentine’s Special also features a wine pairing option available at P7,250 net per heart. They will also have an Afternoon Tea available at P1,750 net for celebrating couples.
Summer Palace Enjoy their Cantonese specialties for P6,500 net per celebrating couple.
Pool Bar Enjoy a starlit dinner and al fresco soiree for P1,800 net per person at the Pool Bar, available on Valentine’s Day. Book a gazebo in rendezvous for 2 at P27,800 net available for the month of February, featuring a welcome cocktail, a 5-course set dinner for 2, a bottle of champagne, and a dedicated butler.
The Bakeshop Get your sweet Valentine sweets at The Bakeshop, with rates starting at P1,650 per cake.
For more information, inquiries, and reservations, call 02 8633 8888, or e-mail manilaedsa@shangri-la.com. For takeaway and delivery, visit https://bit.ly/eslshangshop.
Jasmine (February 10 to 14) Enjoy Jasmine’s specially curated menus at P2,388 nett per person.
Cafe 1228 For P3,000 nett per person, groups dining on the 14th will be serenaded while they dine on special buffet offerings which include pink risotto in a parmesan wheel, cochinillo, rib eye steak, baked salmon, and a wide array of desserts for that perfect sweet ending. Ladies get a glass of sparkling wine, along with the hotel’s signature cake for the season, a heart-shaped chocolate cranberry cake.
The Lounge (February 10 to 19) The Lounge’s Sakura Afternoon tea set highlights an array of Japanese-themed items, combining sweet and savory selections.
For room inquiries and reservations, guests can call (63 2) 8811-6888, e-mail reservations.manila@newworldhotels.com, or book a room package directly via https://bit.ly/NWVDayPackage.
Crystal Dragon (February 13 to 15) Enjoy a curated five-course Valentine’s set menu of premium Cantonese cuisine and regional Chinese specialties for P4,000 net per person.
Nobu Manila(February 14) Nobu Manila’s sophisticated five-course tasting menu for two, is exclusively available for Valentine’s Day dinner at P11,000 net.
Haliya The modern Filipino restaurant beguiles lovers with their “Araw ng mga Puso” special five-course dinner menu available for P9,000 net for two on Valentine’s Day only.
For inquiries and reservations call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com. For more information, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.
Corniche (February 14 to 15) Enjoy a Valentine’s Day buffet for lunch or dinner which includes a glass of sparkling wine and live musical entertainment for P3,900 net per person.
Yurakuen (February 14 to 15) The Omakase Valentine Course is available for P9,988 net good for 2 persons with a glass of wine.
Poolside (February 14) Enjoy a Valentine dinner overlooking the sunset or the star-riddled sky with a 5-course set dinner for two persons with two glasses of wine, available for P6,200 net.
Lobby Lounge(February 14) Lobby Lounge offers a Couple’s Dinner Set Menu for P5,800 net for 2 persons, inclusive of a glass of wine.
Bar27 (February 14) Bar27 offers a Dinner Set Menu for two persons complemented with a glass of wine for P5,800 net or you can spend P1,800 net per person consumable.
For restaurant reservations call 8528-3000 ext. 1121 or email restaurant_rsvn@diamondhotel.com. Prior reservation is encouraged and room package is valid for local residents only.
Indulge in a delightful dinner buffet at Marcelino Street Café specially crafted for the season of love. For only P950 nett per person, treat yourself and your loved one to a gastronomic feast paired with a glass of red wine that will make your hearts full.
For more information on hotel’s offers and updates, please visit www.manilaprince.com.
Cafe Ilang Ilang(February 14 to 15) Dinner buffet will have two seatings on February 14 and 15, with only 350 persons each time. First seating will be from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM while the second seating will be from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM.
Champagen Room(February 13 to 15) The fine-dining restaurant offers a Valentine’s degustation dinner menu priced at P6,000 nett per person.
Starbucks Philippines has once again impressed coffee lovers and collectors with its latest Philippine-exclusive collection. In celebration of Valentine’s season, Starbucks is bringing love and happiness to your coffee routine with its Happy Hearts Collection. This series features an array of blush-colored mugs and tumblers with gold accents, perfect for anyone who wants to add a touch of romance to their coffee experience.
Happy Hearts Collection
The Happy Hearts Bundle is now available and priced starting at PHP 1,895 each. Each bundle includes one cold cup or mug, and one pouch, making it a perfect gift for yourself or your loved ones. The Happy Hearts Collection Bundle is the perfect way to show your love for coffee and your loved ones this Valentine’s season.
Set A Hearts Flutter (₱1,995.00)Set B Pink Passion (₱1,895.00)
This exclusive collection is a must-have for anyone who is passionate about coffee, and the love of Valentine’s season. Whether you are a coffee lover or a collector, the Happy Hearts Collection Bundle is the perfect addition to your collection. Get yours now and experience the love and happiness in every sip! See price list here: Starbucks Merchandise | Starbucks Coffee Company
It’s the time of the year again that we celebrate love and romance, and whenever Valentine’s Day arrives, you can’t let it pass without making your S.O. feel even more special, whether through chocolates, gifts, and of course, flowers! If you’re on the search for a pretty bouquet to bring your beloved, then this list is for you! We’ve rounded up shops in Metro Manila where you can buy flowers!
The Glass House Flowers
Founded in 2016, The Glass House offers a rich selection of modern floral arrangements, including their patented signature crystal and mirror boxes. They also have luxury balloons to pair with their beautiful arrangements to complete your perfect gift this Valentine’s Day.
Flowerstore.ph has now become a one-stop-shop for your flowers and gifts whatever the occasion is. This Valentine’s Day, you can purchase from them beautiful floral arrangements, jewelry, sweets, and other gift-worthy goods.
Knots is a brand brought to Manila by Singapore’s Xpressflower.com. Their selection of flowers includes Ecuadorian roses, tulips, sunflowers, and more that become part of lovely arrangements put together by their talented florists.
Floristella is another shop to check out for pretty and fancy bouquets of flowers. This season of love, you might want to consider their Love Bundles which already include their beautifully arranged flowers, sweets, balloons, and even stuffed toys.
Designer Blooms has been around in Manila since 1993, and their flower shop has now been bringing the beauty of their bouquets to different parts of the world. They have a lush lineup of flowers and gift boxes to fit your gift needs this season.
Celebrate the season of romance with Bloomingails’ Valentine’s Day Collection. Each arrangement is curated to make your special someone feel really loved. Their selection’s prices fit all kinds of budgets, ranging from P2,530 to P22,000.
Flower Chimp helps people express feelings through beautiful flowers that are guaranteed fresh with superior quality and the best value for one’s money. Flower Chimp has fulfillment centers in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Petalier has been in the premium gifting industry since 2015, and to this day, you can rely on them to prepare and deliver those luxurious flower arrangements this Valentine’s Day and beyond.
Spruce Designs offers a variety of blooms to choose from and customers are sure to find the perfect arrangement to express their love and affection this season.
Whether you opt for the classic red roses or a unique and creative combination of flowers, Te Amo Floristeria offers impressive arrangments that will make your significant other’s Valentine’s Day truly special.
Elevate your Valentine’s gift with Fiori di Marghi’s offerings. Aside from the classic bouquet of flowers, you can also purchase their many beautiful arrangements in wooden vases.
This year, Disney+celebrated the 17-year career of the K-pop group Super Junior by releasing the documentary Super Junior: The Last Man Standing which chronicles the rise of the South Korean boy band and how it heralded the great Hallyu wave around the world, brought by the popularity of South Korean performers.
During a recent press conference for the documentary, Super Junior’s leader Leeteuk and main vocalist Ryeowook talked about their journey through the seventeen years since the group debuted back on November 6, 2005. Check out some highlights of their Q&A with the Asian press below:
What does the title ‘The Last Man Standing’ mean for you?
Ryeowook: “The Last Man Standing” is part of the lyrics of our song Superman. I felt this from 10 years ago, that we will be the last man standing, so I do feel the responsibility and pressure to show our junior idol groups how to strive forward so I really want to work hard.
Leeteuk: I heard that the winner is the last man who smiles, so in 10 years’ time [or] 20 years’ time, I still want to say that Super Junior is going to be the last man standing.
Photo courtesy of Disney+
As a trailblazer in K-pop, how does it feel?
Leeteuk: I do feel a lot of pressure these days. Because we’ve come a long way, I think our junior idol groups will also try to work harder and longer. Because our documentary is so well-made, maybe the other idol groups will also love to have their documentaries.
Super Junior has remained for 17 years now, what do you think makes Super Junior the “Last Man Standing”?
Ryeowook: We never took breaks. Some of us enlisted in the army but even when some of us were in the army, the group didn’t cease to work and have new albums, so I think that’s one of the powers that we have.
Leeteuk: We weren’t trying to let go of anything, but what we did was try the hardest at every moment and I think those days piled up to be 17 years of time.
Photo: Super Junior: The Last Man Standing trailer
What do you think sets this documentary apart from the other documentaries that Super Junior had been a part of?
Ryeowook: There’s a lot of footage of when we were young, when we’re literally babies, so I think those rare footages and videos will be taken as really fun and enjoyable to our old and new fans.
If you could go back to November 6, 2005, what would you say to yourself?
Ryeowook: I would say that you are going to be the best so don’t be afraid, because when I was watching the documentary I felt like I was quite afraid when I was young so I couldn’t even really introduce myself so I wanna say that to my younger self.
Leeteuk: So if you watch the documentary, I think it was the first album jacket shoot and the reporter says ‘Hello, what’s your name?’ and Ryeowook says hello, then she said her name and he says ‘I’m the youngest in the group’, and she says, ‘Name?’ and he says ‘Ryeowook’.
Ryeowook: I was really nervous at the time.
Leeteuk: If I were to go back to 17 years ago, I would tell myself that you’re doing great, because there are things that I could fix, but at the time that was the best I could give. Sometimes I do want to go back, but I know I really tried my best.
Photo: Super Junior: The Last Man Standing trailer
— Super Junior: The Last Man Standing is now streaming on Disney+.
Channing Tatum is back for the third installment of the Magic Mike franchise! In Magic Mike’s Last Dance, the eponymous exotic dancer finds himself struggling as a bartender after a business deal goes bust and leaves him broke. When a wealthy socialite gives him an offer he can’t refuse, Mike heads to London for one last hurrah, while training a new roster of talented dancers.
Watch the trailer for Magic Mike’s Last Dance below:
Before Magic Mike’s Last Dance hits theaters this week, we’ve rounded up some interesting facts about the film you might not know about. Check them out below:
1. Magic Mike is inspired by Channing Tatum’s life.
To the uninitiated, Magic Mike was actually inspired by its lead star and producer Channing Tatum, who worked as a stripper in Tampa when he was 18. In a recent interview with Entertainment Online, Tatum also shared that he would eventually tell his daughter, currently 9 years old, about his past as a stripper.
“When she’s old enough to watch them, we’ll have that conversation,” Tatum explained. “There’s no version of me not having the conversation of ‘Dad didn’t just do them in movies, I was an actual stripper,’ so I’m not gonna lie to her.”
Photo from Magic Mike’s Last Dance trailer
2. Director Steven Soderbergh and producer Reid Carolin convinced Tatum to return to the role.
Channing Tatum has claimed before that he was done with the character of Magic Mike, but he is back with the third and final film in the franchise. According to the actor, it was director Steven Soderbergh and producer Reid Carolin that convinced him to give the character one more whirl.
Photo from Magic Mike’s Last Dance trailer
“In my opinion, we had chewed up all the meat on the bone, story-wise. Pun intended, I guess,” Tatum told IndieWire. “They’re essentially movies about guys made for women. We didn’t plan on making a second one. Then all of our ancillary characters were so good and fun that we felt like, ‘Let’s do another movie and give those characters more real estate that we didn’t have before.’ Once we did that, we felt like there was no other story. Let’s just like get out of jail.”
Tatum added that when they saw how the Magic Mike Live shows changed the “dark and weird” world of male stripping and what that experience could be for women, Soderbergh and Carolin convinced him that there was more to the story of Magic Mike.
3. Salma Hayek replaced Thandiwe Newton who was originally set to be Tatum’s co-star.
Before Salma Hayek got the lead role opposite Channing Tatum, British actress Thandiwe Newton was originally set to be the lead actress in the movie. According to E! News, Newton had to step down from the role because of “family matters.”
Photo: Channing Tatum on Twitter
4. Salma Hayek shares that she was “nearly killed” by Channing Tatum during a lap dance.
Tatum’s co-star for the latest film, Salma Hayek, appeared in Jimmy Kimmel Live! and talked about the complicated dance sequences in the movie, including a lap dance where she said she was “nearly killed” by her dance partner Tatum.
“You know, this one part that’s not in it where I’m upside down, and my legs had to be somewhere. But upside down, one loses sense of direction, and I didn’t do what I was supposed to do, so in the rehearsal, I went like, head down, almost hit my head.
“[Tatum] held on to my pants, but I was really concerned because my pants were going away, and I couldn’t remember if I had underwear or not in this moment. So, instead of putting my hands to protect my head, I just held onto the pants. He’s like, ‘Put your hands up,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no!’ Everybody came in, and kind of took me away from him, and he said, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I said, ‘What’s wrong with me? You nearly killed me!’”
5. ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ will end with a 30-minute dance sequence.
Looks like the third Magic Mike film is ready to wow the audience to the next level! In an interview with Empire Magazine, Soderbergh revealed that they will “blow the dancing up in a big way,” ending it with a giant dance sequence that lasts for more than half an hour.
“My job is, how do I make each one of these distinct? I can’t shoot them all the same way, I have to come up with a different approach for each dance. And that was really the challenge,” Soderbergh said talking about the challenges of such a large production.
Photo from Magic Mike’s Last Dance trailer
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Magic Mike’s Last Dance opens in cinemas nationwide this Wednesday, February 8. Book your seats in advance and buy your ticketshere.