Expresso Hollywood News Update at 7:30 pm on 15 February 2023

Let's begin with our top story. Priyanka Chopra is on a difficult journey to find love in her latest Hollywood film Love Again, releasing in theatres on May 23. Also starring Sam Heughan and Celine Dion, the movie follows the story of a grieving woman named Mira (Chopra), who finds a special connection by sheer accident after she sends text messages to her late fiance’s number, unaware it has been assigned to a man named Rob (Heughan). There’s a cameo from Chopra’s husband, singer Nick Jonas as well. Talking about Love Again, Priyanka Chopra told People magazine, the film tackles ‘mature issues’ and complexities that one finds in a journey to true love while navigating grief.

Meanwhile, Joker: Folie a Deux director Todd Phillips shared a new still from the upcoming movie, on the occasion of Valentine’s Day. The filmmaker revealed Lady Gaga’s first look on Instagram as the character Harley Quinn, alongside Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. He wrote, “Happy Valentines Day.” The comments section was filled with excitement as one person wrote, “Love is in the air.” Another commented, “We’re all hyperventilating! Where is my inhaler?” A third wrote, “My heart is about to drop.” The image was also shared by Lady Gaga on her social media. While other details about the film are under wraps, we do know that the movie is a musical of sorts, and is slated for an October 9, 2024 release date.

In other news, fans of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man can rejoice as Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed that a fourth Spider-Man movie is now being written. Feige made the revelation in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly. Marvel had one of its biggest hits ever with Holland’s third-outing, Spider-Man: No Way Home, which became the first pandemic release to gross over $1 billion worldwide. It ultimately finished with over $1.9 billion. It remains to be seen whether Holland will reunite with Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Both actors have expressed interest in reprising their roles in a new Spider-Man film, reported Variety.

Feige also confirmed to EW that Deadpool 3 will be the first R-rated movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie will team franchise mainstay Ryan Reynolds with Emma Corrin and Hugh Jackman, reprising his X-Men role of Wolverine. Feige was an associate producer on Jackman’s original X-Men film in 2000, so having the actor return as Wolverine and debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a “very full circle” for him. In the EW interview, Feige also confirmed Marvel’s Blade film, starring Mahershala Ali, will be shot this year. When original director Bassam Tariq left the project in September 2022, production on Blade hit a snag. Later, Yann Demange took over as director of the vampire tentpole, as per Variety.

Emma Corrin, best known for portraying Princess Diana on Netflix’s drama series The Crown, is set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor will co-star with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in the third instalment of Deadpool. Corrin’s exact role hasn’t been announced, but they are expected to play the villain opposite Reynolds’ snarky mercenary and Jackman’s Wolverine, reported Variety. Celebrating the casting on Twitter Ryan wrote “New addition to the family! The Deadpool family, for clarity. Which is just like a real family except with less swearing…. Welcome, Emma Corrin!” Corrin, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, have also appeared opposite Harry Styles in the romantic drama My Policeman and alongside Jack O’Connell in Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Moving on, Ryan Reynolds and his wife, Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, have welcomed their fourth child. She posted a picture sans baby bump and wrote a cryptic note on Instagram, “Puppy Bowl Sunday 2023… been busy.” The couple has three daughters, James (8), Inez (6), and Betty (3). Many of Lively’s followers left comments in the post that pointed out the absence of a baby bump, which seemed to suggest that the baby had already been born. Lively first revealed her pregnancy with baby No 4 in September, debuting her baby bump on the red carpet for the 10th Annual Forbes Power Women’s Summit. The couple has not shared a picture of the newborn yet.

Moving on, Ryan Reynolds and his wife, Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, have welcomed their fourth child. She posted a picture sans baby bump and wrote a cryptic note on Instagram, “Puppy Bowl Sunday 2023… been busy.” The couple has three daughters, James (8), Inez (6), and Betty (3). Many of Lively’s followers left comments in the post that pointed out the absence of a baby bump, which seemed to suggest that the baby had already been born. Lively first revealed her pregnancy with baby No 4 in September, debuting her baby bump on the red carpet for the 10th Annual Forbes Power Women’s Summit. The couple has not shared a picture of the newborn yet.

The annual Oscar nominees luncheon was held recently in Los Angeles, ahead of the Academy Awards on March 12. The luncheon allows nominees to interact with each other, with the highlight of the event being a ‘class photo’ of all the nominees together. New York Times reporter Kyle Buchanan shared snaps on Twitter. In the ‘class photo’, Shaunak Sen was seated close to Tom Cruise. “Naatu Naatu” lyricist Chandrabose posted a picture with Steven Spielberg and Keeravani on Twitter with the caption, “With the master Steven Spielberg.” Apart from “Naatu Naatu" and Sen’s All That Breathes, Kartiki Gonsalves’ The Elephant Whisperers is also nominated in the Best Documentary Short Film category. The Oscars will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Lastly, the slap sat front and centre at Monday, Feb 13th Oscar nominees' luncheon. Academy president Janet Yang neither had to describe it nor say the names Will Smith or Chris Rock for the ballroom to know what she was talking about when she aired her regrets. Yang, who was not president at the time, was interrupted by a mild round of applause and did not elaborate further, moving on to happier topics. She was met with whooping applause when she told the nominees that all categories will be shown live on the March 12 ABC telecast. Last year several Oscars were handed out in a pre-telecast ceremony and edited versions of winners’ speeches were squeezed into the main show.

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