Expresso Hollywood News Update at 7:30 pm on 4 April 2024

In our latest news: Warner Brothers on Wednesday, 3rd April announced a fresh addition to the iconic Matrix franchise, revealing that Drew Goddard, acclaimed for his work on “The Martian,” will both write and direct the upcoming instalment. Drew Goddard’s involvement injects a substantial dose of sci-fi expertise into the project. He boasts an impressive resume, having started his career as a writer on the beloved 90s show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” before contributing to hit series like “Angel,” “Alias,” and “Lost.” Unlike its predecessors, this film marks the first Matrix movie not directly involving its co-creators Lana or Lilly Wachowski, although Lana’s attachment as an executive producer maintains a connection to the series’ roots.

Forbes unveiled its roster of the world’s richest celebrity billionaires, featuring stars such as Taylor Swift, Steven Spielberg, Kim Kardashian, Jay-Z, Rihanna, and more. George Lucas, the 79-year-old filmmaker reigns supreme with a staggering net worth of $5.5 billion. Esteemed filmmaker and producer Steven Spielberg secured the second position with a net worth of $4.8 billion. Talk show icon Oprah Winfrey claimed her spot in the list with a net worth of $2.8 billion, while the renowned director behind cinematic epics like the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises, Peter Jackson, amasses a net worth of $1.5 billion. While Taylor Swift secured her place in the billionaire elite this year, uniquely achieved this milestone solely through her singing career.

Popstar Shakira said she and her sons aren’t fans of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie as they found the 2023 summer blockbuster 'emasculating'. The singer, who shares sons Milan (11) and Sasha (9), with former husband footballer Gerard Pique, shared her criticism about the film. Regarded as a cultural phenomenon that explored themes of patriarchy and gender dynamics, Barbie grossed USD 1.4 billion worldwide at the box office. Shakira told Allure magazine, “My sons absolutely hated it (Barbie). They felt that it was emasculating. And I agree, to a certain extent.” As a mother of two sons, the multiple Grammy winner said she wants her children to also feel empowered while “respecting women."

Oppenheimer finally premiered Friday, March 29th, in the nation where two cities were obliterated 79 years ago by the nuclear weapons invented by the American scientist who was the subject of the Oscar-winning film. Japanese filmgoers’ reactions understandably were mixed and highly emotional. Toshiyuki Mimaki, who survived the bombing of Hiroshima when he was 3, said he has been fascinated by the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, often called “the father of the atomic bomb” for leading the Manhattan Project. “What were the Japanese thinking, carrying out the attack on Pearl Harbor, starting a war they could never hope to win,” he said, sadness in his voice, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Meanwhile: The Oscar-winning director of Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, and his wife and producer Emma Thomas, will receive a knighthood and damehood for their services to film, according to a statement from the UK government. Their recognition comes after their biopic about J Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb”, swept the awards season, notably at the Academy Awards earlier this month, where the movie won seven Oscars, including Best Film and Best Director. Nolan, 53, had previously been nominated for Memento, Inception and Dunkirk. The honours are formally awarded at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, often by the UK monarch in person. However, the king is currently not undertaking any royal duties, because he is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst gave one of Hollywood’s most memorable kisses in 2002’s Spider-Man. Kirsten, who played the role of Mary Jane Watson in director Sam Raimi’s trilogy recently opened up about the scene on ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show. She said, “I remember Sam Raimi giving me a book of famous kisses to be inspired, but also he really wanted to make it special, even though it was kind of miserable actually doing it. It was pouring with rain, freezing, Tobey couldn’t breathe so it was almost like I was resuscitating him.” Two years ago, on the 20th anniversary of Spider-Man release, Tobey also recalled he was “practically suffocating” while performing the iconic scene.

In some tragic news, Chance Perdomo, known for his starring roles in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Gen V, has died following a motorcycle accident. He was 27. Nobody else was involved in the mishap, his representatives told The Hollywood Reporter. “His passion for the arts and insatiable appetite for life was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth will carry on in those who he loved dearest. We ask to please respect the family’s wish for privacy as they mourn the loss of their beloved son and brother,” a statement from his representatives said. The actor most recently starred in Gen V, Prime Video’s spinoff of The Boys where he played the character of Andre Anderson.

Lastly in some more tragic news, Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries Roots, has died. He was 87. Gossett’s first cousin Neal L. Gossett told The Associated Press that the actor died in Santa Monica, California. No cause of death was revealed. Gossett’s cousin remembered a man who walked with Nelson Mandela and who also was a great joketeller, a relative who fought racism with dignity and humour. “Never mind the awards, never mind the glitz and glamour, the Rolls-Royces and the big houses in Malibu. It’s about the humanity of the people that he stood for,” his cousin said.

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