Holy smokes, it is official, folks! Award-winning actor Michael Keaton, who portrayed the vigilante superhero, Batman, during the Tim Burton era of the movies, will once again don the cape and reprise his role as the Dark Knight in the upcoming movie “The Flash,” confirmed Keaton’s talent agency, ICM Partners on April 19, 2021.
The last time Keaton’s version of Batman graced the screens was almost 29 years ago in 1992’s “Batman Returns.” The movie also featured award-winning performers Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny Devito as Penguin.
The 69-year-old actor first took up the mantle in the late 80s in Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman.” The movie was the first installment of Warner Bros.’s initial Batman film series. The film grossed over $411 million, making it the third highest-grossing Batman film of all time.
Keaton continued his portrayal of the Caped Crusader in the second installment of the series in 1992’s “Batman Returns,” also directed by Tim Burton, and later went on to gross $266.8 million.
After a shake-up in the studio led to Tim Burton being pushed out and replaced by Joel Schumacher, Keaton quit the role during the development of the third film in the series. The role later went to Val Kilmer.
In August 2020, Andy Muschietti, the director of the upcoming film “The Flash,” explained that he had big plans with a “substantial” role for Keaton’s Batman. The casting, however, seemed in jeopardy when Keaton told Deadline he was keeping tabs on the COVID-19 situation.
Ben Affleck is also reprising his role as Batman from Zack Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” “The Flash” will explore what Keaton’s version of Batman has been up to since he was last seen. The film is loosely based on the 2011 DC Comics crossover event “Flashpoint” — previously announced at Comic-Con 2017.
Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen travels back in time to prevent the brutal death of his mother at the hands of Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash. The speedster’s actions inadvertently create another universe. This alternate universe is guarded by Keaton’s Batman, who is now 30 years older since audiences last saw him. “The Flash” will be released on Nov. 4, 2022.
Written by Ebonee Stevenson
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
Entertainment Weekly: Michael Keaton confirmed to return as Batman in The Flash movie; by Nick Romano
The Wrap: Yes, Michael Keaton Really Is Playing Batman in ‘The Flash’; by Umberto Gonzalez
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Gage Skidmore’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Chronik Void’s FlickrPage – Creative Commons License
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CBS’s ‘Mom’ Canceled After 8 Seasons
CBS’s award-winning sitcom “Mom” is being canceled after eight seasons. On Wednesday, March 17, Emmy and Oscar winner Allison Janey told “The Late Late Show” host James Corden that she felt “sad” over the cancelation of the show.
I wish that we’d had at least another year for the writers to have that much time to ramp up to the ending. We sort of found out sooner than we thought we would.
The network announced in February 2021 that the eighth season which premiered on November 5, 2020, will be the show’s final season. The day after CBS announced their decision, the star wrote a passionate tribute to the series, thanking her colleagues and sharing a link to a petition to save the show.
The series premiered on September 23, 2013. Janey & Anna Faris star as a mom and daughter duo — Bonnie and Christy Plunkett — until Faris’ departure last season. The show is set against the backdrop of Napa County, California. It highlights the rebuilding of their relationship while both are struggling with substance abuse after being estranged for several years.Mom was created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, and Gemma Baker. Lorre and Grodetsly also serve as executive producers along with Nick Bakay.
The show has received multiple awards, including Janney winning two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Actress in a Comedy Series. The show has also garnered nominations from the Critic’s Choice Television Awards and The People Choice Awards.
Written by Ebonee Stevenson
Edited by Cathy Milne-WareSources:
Entertainment Weekly: Allison Janney reveals why she thinks Mom is ending ‘sooner than we thought; by Joey Nolfi
People: Allison Janney Says She Thinks ‘Most of’ the Reasons
CinemaBlend: How Allison Janney Reacted To Mom’s Cancellation On CBS; by Adreon PattersonImages Courtesy of Viacom|CBS – Used With Permission
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41st Razzie Awards Go to 2020 and Mike Lyndell Among Others
The 41st Golden Raspberry Awards once celebrated the worst in cinema in April 2021. On Saturday, the Board of Governors handed out “Razzie” statutes to winners in nine categories.
One thousand and ninety-seven Razzie members in 50 states and about 25 countries voted for Worst Picture, Actor, and Actress and the six others.
The Worst Picture and Worst Actor Razzie awards went to Mike Lindell, the MyPillow Guy for “Absolute Proof.” The pillow-dude self-produced a film billed as a 2 1/2 hour documentary despite being packed with dis-information and fallacies about the 2020 presidential election. YouTube banned “Absolute Proof” but was shown on conservative news outlets.
“Music,” a fantasy drama about an autistic teen, won three Razzies — Worst Actress, Kate Hudson; Worst Supporting Actress, Maddie Ziegler; and Worst Director, Sia. In February
2020, Roger Ebert said the film was “bad. Mystifyingly bad. Verging on ‘What were they thinking?’ bad.”Rudy Giuliani and his zipper took home the Worst Screen Combo Razzie for their appearance in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” While the Borat flick was well-received, former President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer’s performance was ghastly and fitting for the scoundrel who led the country in a crazed state-to-state search for a judge who would hear his unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump.
“Dolittle” earned the Worst Remake, Rip-Off, or Sequel Razzie. The film starring Robert Downey Jr. did not do well. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes wrote, “Downey brings a sense of bemused confusion” (Richard Crouse); “The story is silly and hyperbolic. The performances are manic, at times” (Candice McMillan/KOMO News), and “Dolittle announces itself as an adventure comedy, yet the adventure is nascent, and the comedy is tedious” (Andrew Kendall).
For the Worst Screenplay, the Razzie went to “365 Days.” Tomasz Mandez wrote the screenplay and co-directed the Polish erotic romantic drama film based on the first novel of
a trilogy by Blanka Lipińska.After a year that brought the world a novel coronavirus pandemic, face masks, darkened movie theaters, restaurants closed, and over 225,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States, the Golden Raspberry board decided to give out an extra award – Razzie’s board awarded a “Middle Finger Statue” to the worst calendar year ever, 2020.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
CNN: Rudy Giuliani and the MyPillow Guy among ‘winners’ in 41st Annual Razzie Awards for worst in cinema; by Claire Cobert
Business Insider: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was honored with two awards for having the worst film in 2020; by Yelena DzhanovaFeatured, Top, and First Inset Images Courtesy of Gage Skidmore’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Second Inset Image Courtesy of Prachatai’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License -
Meghan and Harry Speak About the Racism They Face in UK’s Media
When Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex — Meghan Markle — first began their relationship in 2015 British newspapers began their racist remarks. For example, a headline on Mail Online stated that Meghan was almost “straight outta Compton.”
The Daily Star had one that suggested that Harry would be marrying “into gangster royalty.” The headlines that broke in 2016 set the harmful stereotypical tone that began part of the United Kingdom’s media. These tones were especially harsh in the U.K.’s tabloid newspapers. They treated Meghan’s arrival into the royal family as one who stood out due to her race.
Due to the tabloid’s focus on the Dutchess’ race, Harry and Markle sued several papers. They singled out the tabloids because they were waging a “ruthless campaign” against the couple.
On March 7, 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview. Harry told Winfrey that they had no support from the royal family against the racism they faced from the media. The Duke further told Winfrey that his “family said” nothing “over those three years.”Meghan continued her husband’s thought with the media coverage “was bringing out a part of” everyone “that was racist.” Harry and Meghan are not the first ones to face prejudice from the U.K.’s media. According to a 2016 European Commission against Racism and Intolerance report, hate speech in traditional media and tabloid newspapers is a continued “serious problem.”
Many critics feel that Meghan’s treatment by the media contrasted deeply then what they gave to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. These critics believe this could be due to the lack of newsroom diversity. There are very few reporters and editors who hail from diverse backgrounds.
Marverine Duffy — director of undergraduate journalism at Birmingham City University — believes that the “right-leaning media” are heading the “charge against Meghan” purely due to the fact that “she’s Black.” Duffy is also a member of the editorial board of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity.
According to Meghan and Harry, they also faced racist remarks from some of the royal family’s staff. As they focused on their son Archie’s skin color. The Duke and Duchess said they received these hateful and hurtful remarks from the lowliest Palace footman to the most senior royals.
Since their interview with Winfrey, many people have taken to social media to voice their opinions. Many people were shocked. Some — like Serena Williams — voiced their support for Meghan and Harry. Others like Piers Morgan were irritated by the Duke and Duchess’ admission.
Morgan said that the couple’s interview was a “two-hour Oprah whine-athon.” Further calling it “a disgraceful diatribe of cynical race-baiting propaganda.” That was “designed to damage the Queen as her husband lies in hospital – and destroy the Monarchy.”
Even though the interview aired Sunday evening they filmed the whole thing three weeks prior. This was before the Queen’s husband was admitted into the hospital.
Written by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
Express: Oprah interview: Meghan and Harry SILENT on royal racist, the only truth we REALLY needed; Paul Baldwin
CNN: One reason Meghan suffered racist UK coverage: The media is not diverse; by Hanna Ziady
Featured Image Courtesy of Brecht Bug’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
