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Paul Mescal's massive change for Gladiator sequel

<p dir="ltr">Paul Mescal has reaped the rewards of his intensive training after a video of him working out went viral on social media overnight.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 27-year-old Irish actor has been working out in preparation for his role as adult Lucius, the nephew of Roman Emperor Commodus, in the sequel of <em>Gladiator</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mescal impressed fans with his standing dumbbell rows and new look in the clip, as he worked out in just a pair of black shorts and trainers, rocking a beard and moustache, fully embracing his role as Lucius.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This guy’s got to fight and got to be a beast. And whatever that looks and feels like is right for me, is what it’s going to be,” the actor told <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7247143080187399466&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40letterboxd%2Fvideo%2F7247143080187399466&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp19-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fa5eae0659f6a4f10a93b40db83730084%3Fx-expires%3D1687503600%26x-signature%3DRNQf9VrXb3NPkoMQOLOEIPiggU8%253D&amp;key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">In the same interview for the outlet, he told them that he doesn’t want the focus to be on his physical transformation, and wants to still look “real”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sometimes I see films and I’m like, ‘That person doesn’t look real,” he said regarding his transformation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“With films like this and superhero films, there is sometimes a focus on that, which I don’t find that interesting.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Of course there’s a physical robustness required for the character, but past that, I’m not interested,” he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Thousands of fans took to the comment section on TikTok to praise the actor’s transformation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you letterboxd good god almighty,” one fan thanked the outlet for posting the video.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hard work pays off. Looking good man,” praised another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“OMG MY MAN I CANNOT WAIT” gushed another fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Paul I’m on my way,” commented a fourth.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok/ Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Body

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Avatar sequel trailer released 13 years after first movie

<p dir="ltr">A teaser trailer for the sequel to <em>Avatar</em> has been released almost 13 years after the first movie broke box office records.</p> <p dir="ltr">In just one day since the <em>Avatar: The Way of Water</em> trailer came out, it has reached more than four million views (correct at time of publishing).</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans are given a glimpse of what to expect in the exciting sequel which is set to drop in cinemas later in December around the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">The sequel, which is also set more than a decade after the first movie, will follow the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids) and the trouble that keeps following them and how they fight to keep each other alive.</p> <p dir="ltr">Director and producer James Cameron had previously announced that he has plans for a total of six movies for the <em>Avatar</em> series and that he had already begun filming for the fourth film. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Anything that had to be done with a specific actor, we did all the scenes for 2 and 3 together – and a little bit of 4," he told Variety.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I had to shoot the kids out. They're allowed to age six years in the middle of the story on page 25 of movie 4. So I needed everything before then, and then everything after, we'll do later."</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans can expect to wait just one year after <em>Avatar: The Way of Water </em>to see the third installment with the fourth movie a year after that, and <em>Avatar 5</em> for December 2026 and the final film in 2028.</p> <p dir="ltr">Watch the trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZrX_ES93JA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 20th Century Studios</em></p>

Movies

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Downton Abbey sequel announced

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Downton Abbey fans are thrilled as a second movie has been announced with all the original cast returning.</p> <p>The film began production last week and is set to be released in theatres on December 22, 2021.</p> <p>The plotline for the sequel is yet to be revealed.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We're thrilled to announce that Julian Fellowes and the entire Downton cast are back for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DowntonAbbey2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DowntonAbbey2</a>, with Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West joining!<br /><br />See the film in theaters this Christmas. <a href="https://t.co/OHopFgzqiM">pic.twitter.com/OHopFgzqiM</a></p> — Downton Abbey (@DowntonAbbey) <a href="https://twitter.com/DowntonAbbey/status/1384121359882588168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><em>Downton Abbey<span> </span></em>originally ran as a wildly popular TV series for six seasons between 2010 and 2015 before the initial film came out in 2019.</p> <p>The initial film followed a royal visit to the Crawley family and Dowton staff from the King and Queen of England.</p> <p>Producer Gareth Neame said that the new film would give fans something to look forward to at the end of a difficult year.</p> <p>“After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead and that next Christmas we will be re-united with the much beloved characters of<span> </span><em>Downton Abbey</em>,” he wrote.</p> </div> </div> </div>

TV

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Hugh Grant opens up on Notting Hill sequel with Julia Roberts

<p><span>Hugh Grant has revealed he is willing to do a Notting Hill sequel – but stressed that fans could not expect a happily ever after.</span><br /><br /><span>The British actor took to Twitter where he participated in a Q&amp;A session for his new HBO miniseries The Undoing.</span><br /><br /><span>The 60-year-old explained what it would take for him to revisit the romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts, 52.</span><br /><br /><span>“I would like to do a sequel to one of my own romantic comedies that shows what happened after one of those films ended,” he explained.</span><br /><br /><span>“Really, to prove the terrible lie that they all were, that it was a happy ending.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’d like to do me and Julia and the hideous divorce that’s ensued with really expensive lawyers, children involved in (a) tug of love, flood of tears.</span><br /><br /><span>“Psychologically scarred forever. I’d love to do that film.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Do you have a favorite character that you’ve played in your career? <a href="https://t.co/FVeW4fWOwW">pic.twitter.com/FVeW4fWOwW</a></p> — HBO (@HBO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HBO/status/1320547232437813248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><br /><span>The 1999 film follows London bookstore owner William Thacker (Grant) who, by a stroke of luck, meets famous movie star Anna Scott (Roberts).</span><br /><br /><span>The two develop an unlikely romance that involves tabloid drama.</span><br /><br /><span>Roberts’ lead character would also go on to say the iconic line: “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”</span><br /><br /><span>In the end, the couple ends up married, in love and with a baby on the way.</span><br /><br /><span>Grant has famously starred in a number of iconic romantic comedies during the ‘90s and early ‘00s including Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Nine Months (1995), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) and Love Actually (2003).</span><br /><br /><span>In his new show with Australian starlet, The Undoing, he plays Jonathan Fraser, who is accused of murder.</span><br /><br /><span>In January, Grant admitted it was freeing to take on a completely different role.</span><br /><br /><span>“Christ, it’s such a relief (to play bad guys),” he explained to TVGuide.com at the time.</span><br /><br /><span>“I can’t tell you. Richard Curtis, who wrote all of those romantic comedies did a lot of – it always used to make him laugh that people thought I was that nice, public, Englishman because he knew that exactly the reverse was true.”</span><br /><br /><span>“It’s very nice to be closer to home,” he added.</span><br /><br /><span>Grant does not want anyone to get confused though - he does not regret any of his famous rom-com movie roles.</span><br /><br /><span>“I was being paid tons of money,” he told the Hollywood Reporter.</span><br /><br /><span>“I was very lucky. And most of those romantic comedies I can look squarely in the face – one or two are shockers, but on the whole, I can look them in the face and people like them.”</span></p>

Relationships

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Mel Gibson axed from Chicken Run sequel over anti-Semitism claim

<p><span>Mel Gibson has said that renewed allegations of anti-Semitic comments levelled against him by actress Winona Ryder are “100% untrue”.</span></p> <p><span>In a recent interview with the </span><em>Sunday Times</em><span>, Ryder claimed that the </span><em>Braveheart</em><span> star had asked her if she was an “oven dodger” at a party close to 25 years ago, in an apparent reference to her Jewish background.</span></p> <p><span>She told the publication: "We were at a crowded party with one of my good friends, and Mel Gibson was smoking a cigar, and we're all talking and he said to my friend, who's gay, 'Oh wait, am I gonna get Aids?'</span><br /><span>"And then something came up about Jews, and he said, 'You're not an oven dodger, are you?'"</span></p> <p><span>The 48-year-old then revealed that Gibson attempted to reach out later on to apologise.</span></p> <p><span>A representative of Gibson said: "This is 100% untrue. She lied about it over a decade ago, when she talked to the press, and she's lying about it now.</span></p> <p><span>"Also, she lied about him trying to apologise to her back then. He did reach out to her, many years ago, to confront her about her lies and she refused to address it with him."</span></p> <p><span>After Gibson vehemently denied the accusations against him, Ryder mentioned she was with the late makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin at the time, and said the altercation remains a “painful and vivid memory”.</span></p> <p><span>She said: "I believe in redemption and forgiveness and hope that Mr Gibson has found a healthy way to deal with his demons, but I am not one of them.</span></p> <p><span>"Around 1996, my friend Kevyn Aucoin and I were on the receiving end of his hateful words. It is a painful and vivid memory for me. Only by accepting responsibility for our behaviour in this life, can we make amends and truly respect each other, and I wish him well on this lifelong journey."</span></p> <p><span>Ryder first accused Gibson in 2010 when she gave an interview to </span><em>GQ</em><span> magazine, suggesting Gibson was referencing the gas chambers used by Nazis during the holocaust.</span></p> <p><span>In 2006, Gibson was recorded delivering a controversial anti-Semitic rant after a drink-driving arrest.</span></p> <p><span>After the recent allegations, the 64-year-old has been axed from his upcoming film, the sequel to </span><em>Chicken Run</em><span>.</span></p>

News

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Smash hit Senior Moments returns for sequel with no equal

<div> <div> <p><span>A show for people who can remember being told the King was dead - that's George, not Elvis.</span></p> </div> </div> <p>The <em>Senior Moments</em> gang is back for another bout of hilarity from legendary performers Tony Barber, Max Gillies and Normie Rowe.</p> <p>These days Australian TV icon Tony Barber of <em>Sale of the Century</em> fame is having more and more “Senior Moments”. So is master satirist Max Gillies (<em>The Gillies Report</em>) and original rock legend Normie Rowe (<em>Les Misérables</em>).</p> <p>It’s no coincidence. They are appearing as part of the classic cast in the new show that follows the smash hit comedy revue <em>Senior Moments</em>. After wowing more than 55,000 seniors Australia-wide on their national 2019 season, the <em>Senior Moments</em> gang is back with a new show for another national tour in 2020.</p> <p><em>Senior Moments 2: Remember, Remember</em> is another 90 minutes of hilarious comedy sketches, songs and inspired senior silliness from a cast old enough to know better.</p> <p>“The show is suitable for all ages,” says Max Gillies, “As long as that age is in the high double digits or you can remember when we still used pound notes and milk came in glass bottles.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7833944/senior-moments-hero.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/088a1889a1024f71b4afc9f8da5f9208" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The gang getting ready for the show</em></p> <p>Among the highlights of the show: Tony Barber will be asking the questions in the quiz show sketch “Senior of the Century”. Yes, the senior contestants may be a little slower on the buzzers, and their short-term memory may not be what it used to be, but they still remember when “Boomer” used to be a kangaroo that people liked, not a generation young people blamed for everything.</p> <p>The show may be called <em>Senior Moments</em>, but Tony still can’t get away with asking the same question twice in a row.</p> <p>This is a show for people who remember when ‘wireless’ meant the radio, not an internet connection option.</p> <p>Amongst the silliness, Normie Rowe plans to sing one of his classics, but only if Max Gillies doesn’t sing one of his. But Max has even persuaded Bob Hawke to make a cameo!</p> <p>The <em>Senior Moments 2</em> cast also includes Kim Lewis (<em>Sons &amp; Daughters</em>), David Callan (<em>The Goon Show Live</em>) and Dave Gibson (<em>Andrew Denton Breakfast Show</em>) with the shockingly young virtuoso Mitchell Price-Norgaard dazzling on piano.</p> <p>It’s a second serving of hilarious sketches and wonderfully witty songs performed by legendary show business seniors ageing disgracefully before your eyes.</p> <p><em>Senior Moments 2: ‘Remember Remember’</em> is a seriously funny revue for slightly old people. If that’s you (be honest!) then grab some tickets before you forget!</p> <p><strong><em>Senior Moments 2</em> is touring Australia in Feb-March 2020. Dates and Tickets via the website. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.seniormomentsshow.com.au/" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">www.SeniorMomentsShow.com.au</a></strong></p> <p>Here's what people said about the original <em>Senior Moments</em>.</p> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/seniormomentsshow/posts/2454727404755605" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> <p>I just loved your show ... saw it at Sutherland... so funny. The writing and acting were just excellent. And the walking...</p> Posted by <a href="#">Meaghan Lee</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/seniormomentsshow/posts/2454727404755605">Thursday, April 4, 2019</a></blockquote> </div> <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/seniormomentsshow/posts/2453677374860608" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> <p>An absolute MUST to go and see. Especially if you're 50+. Laughed from start to finish - Only problem was.... I resemble most of it !!!</p> Posted by <a href="#">Chris Guest</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/seniormomentsshow/posts/2453677374860608">Tuesday, April 2, 2019</a></blockquote> </div> <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/seniormomentsshow/posts/2429443733950639" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> <p>Thank you for a delightful afternoon of fun at Chatswood on Wednesday. Best wishes for your future shows. Noela</p> Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Diamond-Fish/100012601412031">Diamond Fish</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/seniormomentsshow/posts/2429443733950639">Friday, February 22, 2019</a></blockquote> </div> <p><em>This is a sponsored article written in partnership with the <a href="https://www.seniormomentsshow.com.au/">Senior Moments</a> gang.</em></p>

Retirement Life

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“I’m old and fat:” Kelly McGillis opens about why she's not in the Top Gun sequel

<p>The 62-year-old actress is best known for playing Charlie Blackwood – a beautiful astrophysicist and love interest to Tom Cruise – in the 1986 film <em>Top Gun. </em>However, Kelly McGilis has not been asked to come back to any role in the sequel set to release later this year. </p> <p>The Golden Globe-winning actress wasn’t too surprised, however, and believes the reason is that she is “too old and fat”.</p> <p>The<span> </span><em>Top Gun</em><span> </span>star told <em>Entertainment Tonight</em>: “I’m old and I’m fat and I look age appropriate for what my age is and that is not what that whole scene is about.</p> <p>“To me, I’d much rather feel absolutely secure in my skin and who and what I am at my age as opposed to placing a value on all that other stuff.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829150/kelly.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6db5a0f80e9b4f2b9f9f3e7f59452e77" /></p> <p>In the upcoming film, 57-year-old Tom Cruise will play the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell once again, with Jennifer Connelly, 48, starring as his love interest. </p> <p>Since her time as an actress, McGillis said she left Hollywood after a while to “get sober” and to “figure out who the hell she was".</p> <p>"It was very challenging for me to have any kind of sense of self or self-identity or real self-worth other than what I did for a living," she said. </p> <p>"And it just – it didn't become a priority; what became the priority initially was raising my girls and being the best sober parent I could be."</p> <p>These days, McGillis spends her time with her two daughters Sonora and Kelsey Tillman. </p> <p>"I think just my priorities in life changed," she said. "It wasn't like a major decision that I made to leave, it was just that other things became more important. </p> <p>“I love acting, I love what I do, I love doing theatre, but I don't know. To me, my relationships to other people became far more important than my relationship to fame."</p>

Movies

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Frozen was our most important feminist film: Why the sequel won’t have the same impact

<p>“Elsa, the past is not what it seems.” The opening line from the latest Frozen II trailer invites us to revisit not only the original world of the film but to re-think its meaning.</p> <p>Of course, this is a well-worn technique with most sequels – a deeper dive into the mythology, sometimes deepening the experience (The Empire Strikes Back), sometimes complicating it to catastrophic effect (The Phantom Menace).</p> <p>However, it’s also an important time to reflect on what the original Frozen meant to our world, a very different time in 2013, and to make a bold claim: I think that Frozen is perhaps the most important feminist film ever made.</p> <p>It is still the most successful animated musical of all time, having made <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/">over $1.2 billion</a> in the cinema alone, not including the merchandising that permeates children’s bedrooms all over the world.</p> <p>To set the scene, in 2013 Obama was still president and Harvey Weinstein still respected, if not awed, as a film producer. No #metoo, little significant dialogue in the screen world on gender equality (although Geena Davis was making increasing impact with her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GDIGM/">Institute on Gender in Media</a>, founded back in 2004), and even less on racial diversity and gender fluidity.</p> <p>Frozen, a Disney animation about two princess sisters, one with the power to manipulate ice and snow, had been in development for decades, based on the Hans Christian Andersen Snow Queen story. Elsa was the villain. The film that audiences finally saw was somewhat of a happy accident: when one of the directors heard Let It Go for the first time (the now-forever-torch-song-of-self-acceptance), it inspired her to completely re-think the story and reshape it around sisterly love.</p> <p>The overriding messages of the film are almost embarrassingly simple: suppressing your authentic self is hugely damaging; fear is negative; love is positive. But here’s the meta-level kicker: it’s a fairytale (and a Disney one, at that) that tells us that princesses-in-jeopardy do not need a male to save them, thank you very much.</p> <p><strong>The Nevermind of this screen generation?</strong></p> <p>The take-home is clear: Women no longer need to be defined by their relationships to men. Here even romantic love is presented as problematic for the female characters, instead of a solution (opposite to the tradition of female love being the complication to the male hero’s journey). When Anna rejects her “true” love Kristoff to sacrifice herself for her sister, it is a deliberately symbolic meta-gesture, that had a far bigger impact than the filmmakers could have genuinely expected.</p> <p>It’s important to note here, that the problem (women always presented as objects-to-be-saved – especially princesses) was largely one created by Disney, although they should be given kudos for also being the one to eventually smash the trope. But it is also absurd that in 2013 the idea that women could have agency (and stories) independent of men should have been so culturally significant.</p> <p>Still, the fact that a Disney blockbuster overturned this trope was key. The huge commercial success of Frozen proved that these stories make money, influencing the mainstream to generate similar tales. Just look at the current output of Marvel and DC. The idea of women not defined by men has become a given, part of the intellectual fabric of an entire generation of girls and boys, something a challenging indie or art-house film could never hope or expect to achieve.</p> <p>And Frozen did something even more rare, it closed the door on those old damsel-in-distress characterisations, perhaps forever, in the same way that Dances with Wolves forever closed the door on the representation of American Indians as one-dimensional savages (noble or otherwise).</p> <p>In fact, I think Frozen has become the Nevermind of this screen generation; just as the seminal Nirvana album instantly dated all rock that come before it, Frozen magically made all previous fairy tales hopelessly old-fashioned.</p> <p><strong>A different world</strong></p> <p>So what for Frozen II (which will open in <a href="https://www.disney.com.au/movies">Australian cinemas</a> on November 28)? It’s arriving in a very different world from its predecessor. Story-wise, from the “autumnal” feel to the trailer, it’s clear that the film is going to be the second of four movies/seasons (no points for that one), and the “past is not what it seems” theme, combined with lots of Elsa in the sea does indicate (but I hope it doesn’t go there) that her dead parents might somehow be brought back to life.</p> <p>But will it have the same cultural impact? Absolutely not. And nor should it. Frozen was a lightening-rod moment in the zeitgeist, but to try to make it to strike twice would be disastrous, both creatively and financially. I am keen to see what happens to Elsa and Anna, but would worry if the film attempts to up the thematic stakes to extend the cultural conversation.</p> <p>Don’t get me wrong, I would love Disney and other studios to make films that better represented our ethnically, sexually and gender diverse populations (intersectional feminism, anyone?), but I think that might just be too much pressure on one narrative, even with all of Elsa’s magical powers.</p> <p><em>Written by Darren Paul Fisher. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/frozen-was-our-most-important-feminist-film-but-the-sequel-wont-have-the-same-impact-118915"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Movies

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See the first trailer for the Mary Poppins sequel

<p>We’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of the <em>Mary Poppins</em> sequel <a href="/news/news/2016/06/mary-poppins-returns-disney-cast-emily-blunt/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>ever since it was announced</strong></span></a>, and now, we’ve finally got our first look at the new film starring Emily Blunt as the iconic titular character.</p> <p><em>Mary Poppins Returns</em> is set in the 1930s, 25 years after the original film, and tells the story of the legendary nanny (who appears not to have aged) who returns to the Banks children after Michael and his three children suffer a personal tragedy.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PzcaR1N0pTI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Alongside Blunt, Emily Mortimer and Ben Whishaw will play Jane and Michael Banks and Meryl Streep will play Mary’s cousin, Topsy Turvy-Poppins. Julie Walters, Colin Firth and <a href="/entertainment/movies/2017/02/angela-lansbury-joins-mary-poppins-cast/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Angela Lansbury</strong></span></a> also star, with Dick Van Dyke <a href="/news/news/2016/12/dick-van-dyke-is-in-the-new-mary-poppins/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">confirmed to play a cameo role</span></strong></a>.</p> <p><span><em>Mary Poppins Returns</em> </span>will be released this Christmas. <span>Are you looking forward to watching the <em>Mary Poppins</em> sequel with your grandkids? Tell us in the comments below. </span></p> <p><span>Image credit: Disney/YouTube</span>.</p>

Movies

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6 book sequels you may not have known about

<p>Sometimes you fall in love with a book, and you’re actually a little bit sad when it ends. But when you find out that a book you adored had a sequel that you didn’t know about, this can definitely turn things around.</p> <p>Here are six lesser-known sequels that you should try and get your hands on if you loved the original.</p> <p><strong>1. <em>The Wedding</em> by Nicholas Sparks (sequel to <em>The Notebook</em>)</strong></p> <p>With most of the characters, ahem, ‘not available’ for a sequel, Nicholas Sparks focused in on the daughter of the couple from the original book. The book centres around the woman rekindling the spark with her husband of thirty years as they plan their daughter’s wedding.</p> <p><strong>2. <em>Doctor Sleep</em> by Stephen King (sequel to <em>The Shining</em>)</strong></p> <p>With a four-star rating on Amazon, this novel stars Dan, the little boy from <em>The Shining</em> who is now seeking to find his place in the world. Dan discovers that he has a gift for comforting the dying and finds work in a hospice where he befriends a young girl with her own ‘shining’ power.</p> <p><strong>3. <em>Gump and Co.</em> by Winston Groom (sequel to <em>Forrest Gump</em>)</strong></p> <p>It’s the 80’s and Forrest is broke after The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co has gone bust. He is taking care of his son, and still finding his way into some of the most iconic events of history. If you love the book (or the film) it’s worth reading to see what happens next.</p> <p><strong>4. <em>Little Men</em> by Louisa May Alcott (sequel to <em>Little Women</em>)</strong></p> <p>In <em>Little Men</em>, Jo and her German husband run a school for 12 orphaned boys (which was hinted at in the end of <em>Little Women</em> when Jo inherits the estate from her aunt). The characters are central to the novel, and the story focuses around their relationships and struggles.</p> <p><strong>5. <em>Closing Time by</em> Joseph Heller (sequel to <em>Catch-22</em>)</strong></p> <p>With thirty years between books, Heller looks at the pre-and post-war lives of some of the main characters from the original book. Based in the 1990’s it sees the characters confronting their own mortality at the hands of disease rather than on the battlefield.</p> <p><strong>6.<em> Revenge Wears Prada</em> by Lauren Weisberger (sequel to <em>The Devil Wears Prada</em>)</strong></p> <p>If you were left wondering what happened next to Andy and her larger than life boss, this will be a fast read. In this novel Andy finds her true love and gets married, while also starting her own magazine with enemy turned friend Emily. Unfortunately, her old boss is still able to wreak her own kind of havoc in her life.</p> <p>Which book do you wish had a sequel? We would love to hear from you in the comments.</p>

Books

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“Mamma Mia!” sequel confirmed

<p> A <em>Mamma Mia!</em> sequel has been announced and it will hit cinemas next year in July.</p> <p>The 2008 original film followed the story of a struggling hotelier in the Greek islands who was planning her daughter Sophie’s wedding.</p> <p>Without her mother knowing, Sophie was preparing for wedding but inviting three men from her mother’s past in the hope of discovering who her father was so he could walk her down the aisle.</p> <p>The musical combined humour, emotion and ABBA for a film that was enjoyed by mothers and daughters around the world.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">IT'S OFFICIAL MAMMA MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN in cinemas JULY 2018<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HereWeGoAgain?src=hash">#HereWeGoAgain</a></p> — MAMMA MIA! (@MammaMiaMusical) <a href="https://twitter.com/MammaMiaMusical/status/865840812432777217">May 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <p><em>Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again</em> will have Meryl Streep, Julie Walter, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Copper all returning to star in the film.</p> <p>The film will be set in the same location as the original, the Greek island of Kalokairi.</p> <p>The sequel will feature ABBA songs that didn’t feature in the original musical.</p> <p>English film director, Oliver Parker, is writing and directing this anticipated sequel. Parker was in charge of the screenplay for the 2011 film <em>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</em> and its 2015 sequel.</p> <p><em>Mamma Mia!</em> was released in cinemas in July 2008 and it made more than $600 million (USD) at the box office.</p> <p>Until this year’s <em>Beauty and The Beast</em> was released, it held the record for the biggest musical ever made.</p>

Movies

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5 best moments from the Love Actually sequel

<p><em>Red Noise Day Actually</em> has aired in the UK and eager fans have finally found out how their favourite characters love stories turned out.</p> <p>The mini-sequel premiered in honour of Red Nose Day, a fundraiser held by Comic Relief that aims to reduce poverty by raising funds and awareness.</p> <p>The sequel comes fourteen years after the release of the original rom-com in 2003.</p> <p>Stars the reunited for the film reprisal include Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Andrew Lincoln, Lucia Moniz, Rowan Atkinson, Marcus Brigstocke, Olivia Olson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.</p> <p>The sequel includes our favourite characters continuing their lives a decade later. Here are the standout moments of the film.</p> <p><strong>1. David recreates his iconic dance scene</strong></p> <p>Hugh Grant’s character is busy leading the country as Prime Minister but that doesn’t mean he can’t steal a few moments to create another iconic dance scene. In this film he gets carried away dancing to “Hotline Bling” by rapper Drake.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fofficialrednoseday%2Fvideos%2F1430284670325280%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=400" width="400" height="400" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p><strong>2. Mark reveals who he is married to in a card skit</strong></p> <p>Andrew Lincoln’s character uses more giant cards to profess some huge news to Juliet (Keira Knightley). It turns out Mark’s rejection in the last film has worked out for his benefit as he is now married to Kate Moss.</p> <p><strong>3. Jamie and Aurelia have grown their family</strong></p> <p>Jamie played by Colin Firth and Aurelia played by Lucia Moniz have had three adorable children since the last film. Apparently, Aurelia also announces that another addition to the family is on its way as well.</p> <p><strong>4. Joanna and Sam are getting married</strong></p> <p>Love-birds Joanna and Sam are all grown up and are now getting married. After serenading him with “All I want for Christmas is you” all those years ago, there love is a strong as ever. The couple return to the UK to ask stepdad Daniel (Liam Neeson) for Sam’s hand in marriage.</p> <p><strong>5. David says an empowering speech</strong></p> <p>Hugh Grant’s character, David, closes the film by tying in all the themes of the sequel with another empowering speech.</p> <p>“Wherever you see tragedy, you see bravery too — wherever you see ordinary people in need, you see extraordinary ordinary people come to their aid," he said.</p> <p>"Today is Red Nose Day and people are giving their hard-earned cash to people they'll never meet. But whose pain and fear they feel and want to fight. So, it's not only romantic love that's all around—most people still, every day, everywhere, have enough love in their heart to help other human beings in trouble. Good's going to win. I'm actually sure of it."</p>

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Trailer for the “Love Actually” sequel has arrived

<p>After <a href="/news/news/2017/02/big-news-for-love-actually-fans/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">it was announced</span></strong></a> last month that a short sequel to the hit 2003 film <em>Love Actually</em> was on its way, <a href="/entertainment/movies/2017/02/first-look-at-behind-the-scenes-photos-from-love-actually-sequel/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">fans went into overdrive</span></strong></a> speculating about who would return and what the characters would be up to today. Now, we have our first official look – and it’s only making us more excited.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLoveActuallyMovie%2Fvideos%2F10155152723390746%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>Andrew Lincoln, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rowan Atkinson, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson and Bill Nighy are just a few of the familiar faces to appear in the trailer.</p> <p>“On Red Nose Day, we'll meet again in Red Nose Day Actually,” those famous cue cards read. “Tune in to see what happened to everyone and, amongst other things, which one of us has aged the best. One thing’s for sure... it’s not Colin Firth.”</p> <p>The TV special will air in the UK and US on March 25, so it’s likely we’ll get our first look the day after. We can’t wait!</p>

TV

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First pictures from the set of Love Actually sequel

<p>Ever since a <em>Love Actually</em> sequel was announced last month, fans of the 2013 Christmas movie have been on tenterhooks.</p> <p>Filming for the 10-minute short film titled, <em>Red Nose Day Actually</em>, has already begun and pictures from the shoot show all your favourite characters are back.</p> <p><img width="467" height="262" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/03/05/16/3DFBA90000000578-4283708-They_re_back_Martine_McCutcheon_and_Hugh_Grant_have_now_reunited-a-15_1488732599579.jpg" alt="They're back! Martine McCutcheon and Hugh Grant have now reunited as their iconic Love Actually characters Natalie and David to film the Comic Relief sequel on Saturday" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-53f6606c520b24e8"/></p> <p>Martine McCutcheon and Hugh Grant have reunited as their iconic Love Actually characters Natalie and David. Hugh will reprise his role as the loveable British Prime Minister, with the film’s director Emma Freud confirming the couple are still together.</p> <p><img width="466" height="261" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/03/05/16/3DFBA6E300000578-4283708-Doing_his_bit_Whether_Hugh_s_character_is_still_leader_of_the_co-a-5_1488731882943.jpg" alt="Doing his bit: The broadcaster also emulated the view of beloved fans as she wrote beside an image of Hugh conducting a speech: 'And here he is. Our Prime Minister. Again. And still hot'" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-d225a3d239608d7a"/></p> <p>She captured a photo of Martine in front of the camera on Twitter with the caption: “Our pm is still married. And she's still lovely. #rednosedayactually"</p> <p><img width="306" height="329" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/03/05/16/3DFBA85300000578-4283708-Dynamic_duo_Pictures_were_released_of_the_pair_filming_new_scene-a-11_1488731928421.jpg" alt="First look: The short's director Emma Freud shared images from shooting on her Twitter page - confirming Natalie and PM David are now married" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-cc492445c1012fc9"/></p> <p>Sadly, Emma Thompson decided not to take part in the sequel in light of her friend Alan Rickman's death last year.</p> <p>However, the reboot will see most stars return including Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Lucia Moniz, Liam Neeson, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Olivia Olson, Bill Nighy, Marcus Brigstocke and Rowan Atkinson. </p> <p>Red Nose Day airs on BBC One in the UK on March 24. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2017/01/famous-biopics-ranked-from-most-to-least-accurate/">Famous biopics ranked from most to least accurate</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2016/12/things-you-never-knew-about-indiana-jones/">7 things you never knew about Indiana Jones</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2016/12/watching-movies-is-good-for-you/">6 reasons why watching movies is good for you</a></em></strong></span></p>

Movies

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Angela Lansbury joins cast of star-studded Mary Poppins sequel

<p>Veteran actress Angela Lansbury is set to join the already-star-studded cast of the upcoming <em>Mary Poppins</em> sequel, titled <em>Mary Poppins Returns</em>. The 91-year-old will appear as the Balloon Lady alongside such stars as <a href="/news/news/2016/06/mary-poppins-returns-disney-cast-emily-blunt/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Emily Blunt</span></strong></a>, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and <a href="/news/news/2016/12/dick-van-dyke-is-in-the-new-mary-poppins/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dick Van Dyke</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>Her character, while absent in the original movie, made an appearance in the book series written by P. L. Travers and “wreaks helium havoc in the park during one of Mary Poppins’ outing with the Banks children.”</p> <p>Lansbury has had an extensive career in film, TV and the theatre, spanning nearly 75 years. She has earned five Tony Awards, six Golden Globes, an Olivier Award, a Grammy Award and an Honorary Oscar. She is perhaps best known for her role in the long-running American crime drama <em>Murder, She Wrote</em>, which aired between 1984 and 1996.</p> <p>The latest film, which is set 20 years after the events of the 1964 classic, will follow Mary Poppins as she revisits the Banks family, who have been left reeling after a tragedy.</p> <p><em>Mary Poppins Returns</em> is set for release on Christmas Day next year. Tell us in the comments below, are you excited to revisit Poppins and the Banks family?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/12/dick-van-dyke-is-in-the-new-mary-poppins/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Dick Van Dyke just made new Mary Poppins a must-see</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/jane-banks-from-mary-poppins-today/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>What Jane Banks from “Mary Poppins” looks like today</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/angela-lansbury-performs-beauty-and-the-beast/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Angela Lansbury performs Beauty and the Beast</em></span></strong></a></p>

Movies

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First look at behind-the-scenes photos from Love Actually sequel

<p>Yesterday, it <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2017/02/big-news-for-love-actually-fans/">was announced that there’s going to be a Love Actually sequel</a></span></strong>. Although the sequel will only be a 10-minute short film, titled Red Nose Day Actually, the short will finally answer all our questions as to what happened to the characters and couples, 14 years after the end of the 2003 Christmas favourite.</p> <p>We know many of the original film’s cast will be returning, and now thanks to social media we get a behind-the-scenes look into the film.</p> <p>In a series of tweets, Emma Freud – the director of Red Nose Day and script editor of Love Actually – shared some photos of day one of filming, giving fans a sneak peek into the reunion.</p> <p>Here’s the photo of two of our favourites, Liam Neeson's bereaved single parent Daniel and his cute son Sam, played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster. But Neeson’s son is not a little boy anymore, he’s all grown up!</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rednosedayactually?src=hash">#rednosedayactually</a> shoot. Day 1. Yum. <a href="https://t.co/G7ihyTViw1">pic.twitter.com/G7ihyTViw1</a></p> — emma freud (@emmafreud) <a href="https://twitter.com/emmafreud/status/832196418974646277">February 16, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Freud also shared a photo of Love Actually director Richard Curtis with Olivia Olson. You may remember her as Joanna, the girl who wowed everyone with her rendition of “All I Want for Christmas is You”. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Oh hello <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rednosedayactually?src=hash">#rednosedayactually</a> cast member looking slightly older than she did in the original film.... <a href="https://t.co/6OY7SHP9dc">pic.twitter.com/6OY7SHP9dc</a></p> — emma freud (@emmafreud) <a href="https://twitter.com/emmafreud/status/832161827761029120">February 16, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Red Nose Day airs on BBC One in the UK on March 24. No doubt, it will be available on the internet soon after. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2017/01/actors-with-famous-relatives/">10 actors with surprising famous relatives</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2017/01/famous-biopics-ranked-from-most-to-least-accurate/">Famous biopics ranked from most to least accurate</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2016/12/actors-who-dont-watch-their-films/">7 actors who refuse to watch their own films</a></em></strong></span></p>

Movies

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Disney reveal who will play Mary Poppins in new sequel

<p>Everyone’s favourite singing nanny is set to return to the silver screen in a sequel to the 1964 classic <em>Mary Poppins</em>, which is set to hit theatres on Christmas Day, 2018.</p> <p>Disney has announced who will be donning the famous hat and umbrella for the sequel.</p> <p>Emily Blunt, who starred in <em>The Devil Wears Prada</em> and <em>The Jane Austen Book Club</em> will take up the role of Mary Poppins in the aptly named sequel <em>Mary Poppins Returns</em>.</p> <p><img width="499" height="385" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/21440/mary-poppins-in-text-_499x385.jpg" alt="Mary Poppins In Text -" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>And while no one could ever really replace Julie Andrews in the original, we think Emily Blunt makes a great choice to bring this character to a new generation. And even if you're not 100 per cent onboard, we're sure a spoonful of sugar would help the news go down.</p> <p>The script for the new film is reportedly based on the original Mary Poppins stories.</p> <p>What do you think of the casting choice? And what’s your favourite song from the original film? Please let us know in the comments below. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/09/the-benefits-of-having-a-pet/"><em>Why having a pet is SO good for you</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/"><em>Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/how-to-help-your-pet-conquer-their-phobias/">How to help your pet conquer their phobias</a></em></strong></span></p>

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