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‘Scream 7’ director Christopher Landon quits project: “It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare”

Scream 7‘s director Christopher Landon has confirmed he left the project “weeks ago”. The Happy Death Day director was announced to be helming the seventh instalment in August, which would have marked his debut in the Scream franchise. He was supposed to take over from from Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who directed 2022’s Scream 5 and this year’s Scream VI and were set to serve as executive producers on the next film. Following the high-profile departures of Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera and Neve Campbell, Landon has become the latest name to exit the film. Advertisement “I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited Scream 7 weeks ago,” Landon said on X yesterday (December 23). “This will disappoint some and delight others. It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone. But it’s time to move on.” He concluded: “I have nothing more to add to the conversation other than I hope Wes [Craven’s] legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world.” I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited Scream 7 weeks ago. This will disappoint some and… Read More →

24DECNews

Where to watch ‘Home Alone’ in the UK

Home Alone is arguably one of the best Christmas films of all time. Directed by Chris Columbus, the 1990 comedy stars Macaulay Culkin as eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, who defends his family home against two robbers played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. The film spawned several sequels, with Culkin reprising his role in 1992’s Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. A third film in the franchise, released in 1997, starred Alex D. Linz. Advertisement In recent years, there have been several (forgettable) TV films in the franchise, including Home Alone 4: Taking Back The House, Home Alone: The Holiday Heist and 2021’s Home Sweet Home Alone for Disney+. Where to stream Home Alone in the UK At the time of writing (December 21), the film and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost In New York are both available to stream on Disney+. Both films are also available to buy and rent on Amazon Prime Video. Was there a reboot? Archie Yates takes on the lead role made famous by Macaulay Culkin. CREDIT: Sky 2021’s Home Sweet Home Alone was the latest attempt to reboot the franchise. The film stars Archie Yates as Max Mercer, who is the latest boy to be… Read More →

23DECNews

Katherine Ryan hits out at “grubby little eel face” Justin Timberlake

Katherine Ryan has hit out at Justin Timberlake for his behaviour towards Britney Spears and Janet Jackson in the past, calling him a “grubby little eel face”. Timberlake has received considerable criticism over various revelations Spears made about him in her recent memoir The Woman In Me. The pair dated between 1998 and 2002 and Spears claimed Timberlake had cheated on her multiple times, and also discussed how he damaged her reputation through the ‘Cry Me A River’ video, where “a woman who looks like me cheats on him and he wanders around sad in the rain”. She added that the media saw her as a “harlot who’d broken the heart of America’s golden boy” when in reality she was “comatose in Louisiana” trying to mend her broken heart while Timberlake was “happily running around Hollywood”. Advertisement Spears also claimed he pressured her to have an abortion when he got her pregnant because he thought they “weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives” and were “way too young”. Spears added: “If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it.” Timberlake appeared to acknowledge the incidents when he made a comment about “meaning no disrespect” during a recent performance… Read More →

23DECNews

The first KISS ‘avatar’ shows will take place in 2027

KISS have confirmed that their first shows using avatars will take place in 2027. The band played their final show as humans at Madison Square Garden on December 2, bringing their ‘End Of The Road’ world tour to its conclusion. There, they announced that they will continue in the future as virtual avatars, reportedly becoming the first US band to do so. Now, they have shared a teaser clip revealing when fans will be able to see their avatars perform. “50 years is a long time, and what the future holds is in the making,” reads the caption, while the video includes the wording: “2027 a show is coming.” Advertisement Bassist Gene Simmons recently said that the avatars will “get better”, revealing that “about 200 million” dollars is being invested in the technology. He had previously insisted the farewell tour is the “end of the road for the band, not the brand”. [embedded content] The avatars were reportedly made by George Lucas’ SFX company, Industrial Light & Magic and in collaboration with Pophouse Entertainment Group, which was co-founded by ABBA‘s Björn Ulvaeus and is behind the Swedish pop band’s Voyage avatar show. However, the KISS avatars are reportedly not likely to appear as realistic as the… Read More →

23DECNews

‘Connections’ answers and hints for today, December 23

Depending on the day, Connections can be one of the New York Times‘ trickiest challenges to solve. A free daily puzzle game that tasks players with finding the link between four sets of four words, Connections can require out-of-the-box thinking to solve. But if you’ve found yourself stuck, have no fear – we’ve put hints and today’s Connections answers for December 23 below. For anyone who needs a refresher, the goal of Connections is to band the words that are issued each day into four groups. This is done by working out which ones have a connection – for example, the words diamond, emerald, sapphire and ruby could be grouped as gemstones, and would be a group. There are 16 words and four connections to make each day, but answers can range from simple groupings (IE “food”), to wordplay or abstract selections. As a result, it’s easy to be caught out and lose your streak – which is why we’ve gathered hints and answers below. Connections hints for December 23 Advertisement If you’re still trying to solve December 23’s Connections yourself, here are all of the words in play today and some hints on what each group is. Car Game… Read More →

23DECNews

What films are on TV on December 23?

Die Hard and Fantastic Beasts are among the film highlights on TV for December 23. In the run-up to Christmas, TV channels will be showing a range of both festive and non-festive fare. READ MORE: The 50 best Christmas movies of all time Highlights for Saturday (December 23) include 2014’s Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, and 2019’s How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Other family-orientated offerings include How The Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald and Home Alone 3. Advertisement If you’re after an action classic, Die Hard is showing on Channel 4 from 9pm. For an action not-so-classic, there’s Men In Black 3 starring Will Smith and Josh Brolin. [embedded content] See all the films available to watch on December 23 below. Miracle On 34th Street – Channel 5, 11.45am How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World – BBC One, 1.15pm Sing – ITV1, 1.15pm Escape To Victory – Channel 5, 1.50pm Scrooged – Channel 4, 2.35pm Home Alone 3 – ITV2, 2.40pm Casablanca – BBC Two, 2.55pm How The Grinch Stole Christmas – ITV1, 3.20pm The Dirty Dozen – Channel 5, 4.10pm It’s A Wonderful Life – Channel 4, 4.30pm Peter… Read More →

22DECNews

Big Special share cover of “infinitely relevant” ‘Stop The Cavalry’ to raise money for Gaza children

Big Special have shared a cover of Jona Lewie’s Christmas Classic ‘Stop The Cavalry’ to raise money for children in Gaza. The duo – comprising Joe Hicklin and Callum Moloney – took to their official Facebook page to announce the cover of the holiday track. “One last thing to top off the year. We got a bit silly in the studio and whacked out a short punk cover of Jona Lewie’s Christmas Classic, ‘Stop The Cavalry’,” they wrote. They continued: “It’s devastating to hear how infinitely relevant this song is and we wanted to put it up on Bandcamp to see if we could raise a bit of money for Save the Children’s, Gaza Emergency Appeal. It’s up for a penny a second (£1.20) But you can pay what you want / can. All money made will be donated In the New Year. Advertisement [embedded content] “We also have a little video of us recording the song up on youtube, made by our awesome Whammoth, where there will also be a link to donate. It’s important to remember that whilst many celebrate over the festivities, others are living in unimaginable hell. To stand on the right side of history, we… Read More →

22DECNews

Wham! earn Christmas Number One spot with ‘Last Christmas’ after 39 years

Wham! have earned the Christmas Number One with their iconic holiday hit ‘Last Christmas’ after attempting to land the spot for 39 years. READ MORE: George Michael Obituary: 1963-2016 The track was penned and produced by the late George Michael with the aim of landing the Christmas Number One in 1984. However, ‘Last Christmas’ was kept off the top spot upon release by Band-Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, a track that would go on to become the second best-selling single of all time. Today, almost four decades later, ‘Last Christmas’ has earned the festive top spot. Wham! have also made history by setting the record for the longest-ever journey to the UK Christmas Number One. Advertisement [embedded content] Speaking about the achievement to Official Charts in a press release, Wham!’s Andrew Ridgeley said: “‘Last Christmas’ has finally ascended to the much-cherished and sought-after Official Christmas Number One, which was always the main goal.” He continued: “George would be beside himself [that] after all of these years, [we’ve] finally obtained Christmas Number One. Yog [George] said that he wrote Last Christmas with the intention of writing a Christmas Number One. It’s mission accomplished!” ‘Last Christmas’ was streamed a staggering 13.3 million… Read More →

22DECNews

Nicki Minaj says she would collaborate with Taylor Swift “in a heartbeat”

Nicki Minaj has declared that she would collaborate with Taylor Swift “in a heartbeat”. On Wednesday (December 20), the rapper took to X in a series of posts responding to her chart-breaking feats following the release of ‘Pink Friday 2’. Upon its release, ‘Pink Friday 2’ sold 25,000 vinyl copies, marking the biggest week of sales for a female rapper on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart since sales data began being tracked in 1991 by Luminate. The presence of ‘Pink Friday 2’ on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart disrupts Taylor Swift’s dominance in the top 5, the other four positions currently being occupied by ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’, ‘Midnights’, ‘Folklore’, and ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’. While the latter three albums occupy positions three through five on the chart, ‘Pink Friday 2’ lands at number two, failing to usurp ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ at the top position. Minaj’s recent tweets appear to address the potential competition that could arise between the pair. Advertisement Expressing that she had been discussing her vinyl sales with fans, her first tweet began stating: “The SAG QUEEN TAYLOR DESERVES!!!! PERIOD!!!!!” She went on to comment that Swift “takes months & years off then comes back with great music & fans… Read More →

22DECNews

8 incredible upcoming K-dramas to watch in January 2024

With a new year comes a whole new slate of K-dramas to dig into, from tragic historical fantasies, comedic police dramas to good old melodrama. Here’s all the upcoming K-dramas premiering in January 2024. On New Year’s Day, the highly anticipated Love Song for Illusion and Marry My Husband, both based on popular webtoons, will premiere. The former follows the star-crossed between a tortured young prince and the woman sent to assassinate him. Meanwhile, Marry My Husband sees an unlucky and mistreated young woman going back in time to change her fate. Historical drama fans are in for a treat this coming January, with the upcoming Flower That Blooms at Night and Sejak: Charmed Deceit. Both are set in the Joseon Dynasty and follow the secret lives of royals and nobles. Back in the present, Flex x Cop is a comedic police drama revolving around an intelligent but immature third-generation chaebol-turned-detective, who is paired up with a department veteran who despises him. Queen of Divorce revolves around another talented but comedic duo, this time in the realm of divorce law. Here’s all the upcoming K-dramas premiering in January 2024 Love Song for Illusion Advertisement Based on the Naver webtoon of… Read More →

21DECNews

Former Slipknot singer Anders Colsefni announces first Painface gig since 2015 – with Corey Taylor in attendance

Slipknot‘s former singer Anders Colsefni will play his first show with his band Painface in almost a decade next year – and Corey Taylor is going. The band will be performing at the Patio Nightclub in Las Vegas on January 27 and Taylor is set to watch it. He replaced Colsefni as Slipknot’s frontman in 1997. Painface have played sporadic shows since they reformed in 2010 but haven’t played a gig, they estimate, since 2015. Advertisement Taylor took to X/Twitter to share his excitement for the show, writing: “Hope to see everyone at this show on Jan. 27th! It’ll be great to have my friends Anders Colsefni and Painface in Vegas with The Darkest Day. Gonna be wild!” *ANNOUNCEMENT* Painface confirms special event at Patio Nightclub in Las Vegas with Special guest The Darkest Day! JANUARY 27TH 2024 6PM. Limited tickets go on sale 12-15-23 @ 10AM Central! The Patio Nightclub 1401 N. Decatur Suite 6 Las Vegas NV. pic.twitter.com/InparorQ6b — Painface Official (@Painface515) December 14, 2023 Hope to see everyone at this show on Jan 27th! It’ll be great to have my friends @anderscolsefni and @Painface515 in Vegas with The Darkest Day! Gonna be wild! Tickets here: https://t.co/fe8mh5qkwd — fuck… Read More →

21DECNews

Rachel McAdams explains why she turned down ‘Mean Girls’ reunion

Mean Girls star Rachel McAdams has explained why she turned down the opportunity to appear in a recent reunion with the cast. Lindsay Lohan, Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried all reprised their respective roles from the 2004 film for a new Walmart advert, but McAdams’ Regina George was nowhere to be seen. Explaining her decision not to appear in the ad, the Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret actress told Variety: “I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t that excited about doing a commercial if I’m being totally honest. Advertisement “A movie sounded awesome, but I’ve never done commercials, and it just didn’t feel like my bag. Also… I didn’t know that everyone was doing it. I would, of course, always love to be part of a Mean Girls reunion and hang with my Plastics, but yeah, I found that out later.” The advert saw Lohan’s Cady Heron working as a guidance counsellor at North Shore High School, with Seyfried’s Karen Smith still working as a reporter and Chabert’s Gretchen Wieners still trying/failing to bring the word ‘fetch’ into popular usage. Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert and Rachel McAdams in ‘Mean Girls’. CREDIT: CBS via Getty Images McAdams said she… Read More →

21DECNews

Watch Måneskin cover Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ as they end ‘Rush!’ tour in Manchester

Måneskin have commemorated the end of their ‘Rush!’ tour in Manchester, by paying tribute to Oasis with a cover of ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’. At the show, frontman Damiano David and guitarist Thomas Raggi took to the b-stage, armed with an acoustic guitar, as David spoke about his love for the musicians the city has produced. “This fucking city gave birth to a lot of very, very good artists,” he said, to a roar of applause. “But there’s one in particular which is pretty nice. We’re sure that if one day [they] see this cover, they’re gonna think it’s fucking trash.” Raggi then began playing the opening chords of the song, as the crowd erupted with cheers. As they played the song’s chorus, the audience can be seen holding up their phone lights as they enthusiastically sang along. Advertisement Watch Måneskin’s cover of Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ in Manchester below: [embedded content] Måneskin’s show at Manchester’s AO Arena marks the final date of the band’s world tour in support of their third full-length album, ‘Rush!’. The Italian quartet played a total of 30 dates, which saw them perform in five continents, beginning in Hanover, Germany in September,… Read More →

21DECNews

Taraji P. Henson breaks down over pay disparity in Hollywood

Actress Taraji P. Henson recently got emotional when talking about the pay disparity she has faced during her time in Hollywood. While speaking on Sirius XM to promote her new film, The Color Purple, Henson was asked by host Gayle King if the rumours of her considering quitting acting were true. Immediately, Henson got teary-eyed and said: “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do and getting paid a fraction of the cost.” “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired. I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ Well, I have to. The math ain’t math-ing. When you start working a lot, you have a team. Big bills come with what we do. We don’t do this alone. It’s a whole team behind us. They have to get paid.” Advertisement [embedded content] “When you hear someone go, ‘Such and such made $10million,’ that didn’t make it to their account,” Henson explained. “Off the top, Uncle Sam is getting per cent. Now have $5million. Your team is getting 30 per cent of what you gross, not after what Uncle Sam took. Now do the math. I’m only… Read More →

20DECNews

Sydney Sweeney says Angus Cloud’s death still doesn’t “feel real”

Sydney Sweeney has opened up about the death of her Euphoria co-star Angus Cloud, saying that it still doesn’t “feel real”. Cloud, who played Fezco in the hit HBO series, died in August this year aged 25. His cause of death was confirmed as an accidental drug overdose in September. The cast of Euphoria paid tribute to the actor at the time, with Sweeney writing on social media that he had the “kindest heart”. Advertisement In a new interview with Glamour, the Anyone But You star revealed that the cast were “constantly on the phone with each other crying, because it was just such a shock”. “I don’t think it’ll truly feel real or hit me until we’re filming and I won’t see Angus on set,” she said. “(At least) when we are filming, all of our eyes are on each other and we’re there for each other, just in a different way than we’re able to when we’re all in very separate places in the world,” she added. “It’s really interesting when someone passes away in our industry, because they’re still alive in so many forms.” (L-R) Eric Dane, Colman Domingo, Zendaya, Sam Levinson, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney… Read More →

20DECNews

‘South Park’ drop new special ‘Not Suitable For Children’ on Paramount+

South Park have released a new special on Paramount+ called Not Suitable For Children. It is available to watch in the US and Canada now. READ MORE: The 20 best South Park songs The brand new episode parodies the online content subscription site OnlyFans, which has become known for its adult content. “After discovering a South Park Elementary teacher’s OnlyFans page, Randy is compelled to take a closer look at the world of influencers,” a synopsis reads. Advertisement A teaser preview shared on social media today (December 20), Mr Skinner bursts into a classroom to announce they “have a problem”. Another snippet shows a meeting of concerned parents at South Park Elementary who fear their children will find the content online. “We’re talking about someone who influences our children!” Tweak’s dad exclaims. “This isn’t just softcore porn we’re talking about here!” Check out the trailer below. [embedded content] The new release marks the sixth South Park special to stream on Paramount+, following South Park: Post Covid, South Park: Post Covid: The Return of Covid, South Park: The Streaming Wars and South Park: The Streaming Wars Part 2 and South Park: Joining the Panderverse. South Park: Not Suitable for Children will be available on Paramount+ in the UK and… Read More →

20DECHit Singles

Emily De Nando: Captivating the World with “Signora”

In the effervescent world of pop music, a new star has emerged, radiating Italian elegance and melodic innovation. Emily De Nando ‘s debut single, “Signora,” is a testament to her unique artistry, blending Italian sophistication with contemporary pop sensibilities. With this release, Emily steps onto the global stage, showcasing her ability to weave cultural depth into modern soundscapes. “Signora” is not just a song; it’s an anthem of independence and feminine strength. Emily’s voice, both in Italian and English, resonates with the power and grace of a woman who is unapologetically herself. The lyrics, “Sono una signora / And I’m proud of it / I cannot be your woman / ‘Cause I’m running free,” speak volumes about her self-assurance and refusal to be constrained by traditional expectations. Emily De Nando’s songwriting process is an alchemy of inspiration and soulful introspection. Every song is a snapshot of her life’s symphony, composed in the key of passion. “Signora” captures this essence perfectly—its spontaneous yet deliberate creation mirrors Emily’s approach to her art and life. This debut single is a dance of heritage and innovation, where classical Italian poise meets the pulsating rhythms of contemporary pop. The song’s melody is catchy yet sophisticated,… Read More →

20DECNews

ITZY’s Yeji oozes confidence in music video for solo song, ‘Crown On My Head’

ITZY member and leader Yeji has released a music video for her new solo song, ‘Crown On My Head’. Today (December 20), ITZY’s Yeji released a music video for her solo track, titled ‘Crown On My Head’. The song will officially be released on January 8, alongside the girl group’s upcoming second studio album ‘Born to Be’. The visual for the powerful track opens with Yeji strutting and posing confidently into a room. Later, she sings and dances to the song as fire, lightning and sparks flicker around her. Advertisement “I’ma light my way, in the dark I set off a new flame / I deserve this ‘cuz I paid the price, and keep my dignity till the end / I got a crown on my head, crown on my head, chosen my life to shine,” she sings on the chorus. [embedded content] ‘Crown On My Head’ is the second of five solo tracks from ITZY’s upcoming album. The first released was Lia’s ‘Blossom’, which dropped in November alongside a lyric video. At the same time, the singer also confirmed that her hiatus would continue through the girl group’s upcoming album and world tour. The next music video to be… Read More →

20DECNews

Watch the trailer for BLACKPINK’s virtual concert, ‘BLACKPINK: A VR Encore’

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK have released a brand-new trailer for their upcoming virtual concert, ‘BLACKPINK: A VR Encore’. Released today (December 20), the trailer for ‘BLACKPINK: A VR Encore’ is set to the girl group’s hit 2018 song ‘Ddu-Du Ddu-Du’ and features footage from the special finale show of their ‘Born Pink’ world tour at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome. “Filming our upcoming VR concert in the heart of Seoul has added an extra layer of magic to this project,” BLACKPINK said in a press release, per Billboard. “It’s where it all began for us, and being able to share this unique experience with our fans around the world feels incredibly special.” Advertisement “It’s great to break down geographical barriers with The Diamond Bros and Meta, bringing back the memory of ‘BLACKPINK World Tour [Born Pink]’ finale straight into your home,” the quartet added. The 70-minute ‘BLACKPINK: A VR Encore’ concert special premieres in VR on December 26 at 5pm PT in Meta Horizon Worlds. Attendees are now able to RSVP to the event, and replays will be made available for a month after the concert. [embedded content] ‘BLACKPINK: A VR Encore’ is directed and produced by Emmy Award-winning production company The… Read More →

19DECNews

Johnny Marr issues warning over AI-generated voice messages

Johnny Marr has issued a warning over fake AI-generated voice messages that may appear to be him. The musician and former member of The Smiths took to his official X/Twitter account to share a tweet advising fans to be wary of fake messages that may be going around which appear to be from him but were created with the use of artificial intelligence. “Just a warning to people to watch out for fake messages from me generated by AI, including voice messages. If anyone receives one please send them my details as I’d quite like to have a dialogue with AI Johnny, who I really hope isn’t actually smarter than me…than I,” read his tweet. Just a warning to people to watch out for fake messages from me generated by AI, including voice messages. If anyone receives one please send them my details as I’d quite like to have a dialogue with AI Johnny, who I really hope isn’t actually smarter than me…than I. — Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) December 19, 2023 Advertisement Fans took to the comments to react, with one person responding with: “What if this is the AI Johnny trying to convince us all it’s the real Johnny?,”… Read More →

19DECNews

‘Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora’ Cave Root location

Released earlier this month, Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora is an open-world action-adventure game that expands upon James Cameron’s blockbuster epic. READ MORE: ‘Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora’ review: a stunning world let down by lacklustre action Taking control of a young Na’vi, players are tasked with staging a rebellion against the colonising humans. Advertisement As well as recruiting fellow Na’vi tribes for upcoming battles, players will also need to craft a number of weapons throughout Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora in order to maintain the upper hand. This is where Cave Root comes into play. At first, Cave Roots may appear pretty useless compared to some of the majesty that Pandora has to offer, but it’s an important part of crafting powerful weapons such as the Heavy Bow, which comes with the additional effect of Focused Draw, doubling the Heavy Bow’s exhaustion timer. Cave Roots are also needed as part of the quest to gain favour with the Over Gentle Water Na’vi Camp, who have set up camp near the Stoneblade Ridge, on a small island in the Blackwater Basin. ‘Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora’ Cave Root location Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora. Credit: Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft. Cave Root isn’t immediately available in Avatar:… Read More →