American Samoa Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Michael Fassbender is a two-time Academy Award nominee who trained at the Drama Centre London before touring with the Oxford Stage Company; he’s performed Chekov and Shakespeare and worked a veritable who’s who of greatest living directors. Rookie actor Kaimana had never even considered trying to be an actor, noting she avoided school plays “like the plague.” Yet the two form a winning pair in “Next Goal Wins,” the funny, touching, uplifting new film from “Jojo Rabbit” filmmaker Taika Waititi, hitting theaters Nov.

Elisabeth Moss suffered a broken vertebrae while filming a stunt for the upcoming spy TV series The Veil, leaving her briefly unable to move.The actor disclosed the information during a new interview with Variety, where she confirmed that she was left lying on her back on a roof in Istanbul for two hours.In The Veil, which premieres on Hulu on April 30, Moss plays an MI6 agent trying to stop a terrorist attack. Episode two finds her character Imogen chasing a lead through the Turkish city, when she is attacked on a rooftop above the Grand Bazaar.“The [scene] you see in the show is actually the second time we shot it, about six weeks later,” Moss said.

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) has dropped his challenge to President Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination.

UPDATED, with first results: As the first polls closed on Super Tuesday, Joe Biden and Donald Trump were projected to be the winners of Virginia’s Democratic and Republican primaries, on a night where he and Donald Trump are expected to solidify the chances of a November general election rematch.

The suspense this Super Tuesday may be in watching how all of the networks try to make the night suspenseful.

BreAnna Bell Taika Waititi can’t say much about his forthcoming “Star Wars” film, but he does have a joke that might pique his fans’ sense of humor. When asked if his addition to the popular franchise would still show fans the same “Star Wars” they know and love, the “Thor: love and thunder” director animatedly told Variety on the red carpet of his “Next Goal Wins” premiere, “It will be … dramatic pause… a Taika Waititi film.” “It’s gonna piss people off,” he added with a laugh. In the meantime, the Hollywood multihyphenate is celebrating the release of his latest film, a soccer flick focused on the true story of an American Samoa team that infamously lost a FIFA match 31-0.

Taika Waititi is stepping out for the premiere of his new movie!

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Ahead of the theatrical debut of Taika Waikiti’s “Next Goal Wins” this weekend, Searchlight Pictures and the lifestyle brand Accompany have released a limited-edition, artisan capsule collection for soccer players, consisting of a handmade soccer ball and athletic socks. Waikiti stars in a campaign for the new collection, called the Fa’atasi Capsule, in which he sits in an all-white ensemble on a crisp soccer field.

You’ll recall in 2014, there was the ridiculously entertaining documentary “Next Goal Wins.” Directed by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, the doc follows Thomas Rongen, a Dutch soccer coach hired to lead the national team for American Samoa. This famously pitiful outfit spent nearly two decades at the bottom of FIFA’s international rankings.

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic Does it count as a white savior movie if the white character is the one who needs saving? In “Next Goal Wins,” the world’s top-grossing indigenous director, Taika Waititi, retells the story of how American Samoa went from having the world’s worst soccer team to, well, not the worst. While a white man was involved, the movie — which suggests how a film like “Cool Runnings” might be made with 30 years’ more cultural enlightenment — is mostly about how their coach (Michael Fassbender) needs an attitude adjustment. Come to think of it, that’s essentially the formula for most white savior movies.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Taika Waititi’s new film “Next Goal Wins” is based on the true story of the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. Their story was immortalized in the 2014 documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, so Waititi admits he took some creative liberties in adapting the story for the screen. “I had to twist the truth,” he told the audience before the world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.

Taika Waititi returned to TIFF tonight with his underdog soccer story about the American Samoa team, Next Goal Wins, which received great cheers and a heartfelt response.

“Next Goal Wins” will have its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF organizers announced on Wednesday.Waititi’s Oscar-winning feature “Jojo Rabbit” also premiered at TIFF and won the festival’s People’s Choice Award in 2019. His most recent film was “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022) for Marvel/Disney.A sports comedy starring Michael Fassbender, “Next Goal Wins” is based on the story of the 2014 American Samoa soccer team, which lost a FIFA match 31-0 and then hired a Dutch-American coach, Thomas Rongen, to help them prepare for World Cup qualifiers.

In exciting news for movie lovers and soccer enthusiasts alike, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced that Taika Waititi’s soccer comedy, “Next Goal Wins”, will have its world premiere at the 48th edition of the festival.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Taika Waititi’s sports comedy “Next Goal Wins” will have its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. “We’re thrilled to welcome Taika back to the Festival and share his audacious take on the most popular sport in the world,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF. “’Next Goal Wins’ is perfect for TIFF fans of the beautiful game looking for their football fix until the 2024 World Cup arrives.” Waititi, who most recently directed Marvel’s “Thor: Love and Thunder,” was last at the festival in 2019 with “Jojo Rabbit.” The offbeat comedy, about a 10-year-old Hitler Youth member whose imaginary friend is the Führer himself, won the TIFF People’s Choice Award and an Academy Award for adapted screenplay. Waititi is also known for “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” “Our Flag Means Death” and “What We Do in the Shadows.”

The Toronto International Film Festival is beginning to reveal its feature slate for its 48th edition, starting off with Searchlight’s Taika Waititi soccer comedy Next Goal Wins.

Michael Fassbender stars in the upcoming comedy-drama film which is based on a true story, Next Goal Wins.

“Next Goal Wins.” The film, an adaptation of the sports documentary of the same name, is based on the true story of Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), the soccer coach tasked with turning around the American Samoa national soccer team, considered one of the weakest teams in international play, in their bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Waititi’s humor is on full display in the trailer, with Abba’s “Take a Chance on Me” playing throughout. As blonde Fassbender stars as Rongen, a down-on-his-luck coach engaging in the sports formula of traveling to a different country to turn a ragtag group of soccer players into champions.

Michaela Zee editor Searchlight Pictures has released the trailer for Taika Waititi’s upcoming sports comedy-drama film, “Next Goal Wins.” Based on directors Mike Brett and Steve Jamison’s 2014 documentary of the same name, “Next Goal Wins” follows the true story of unorthodox coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) as he attempts to turn the American Samoa national soccer team into champions. The film takes place after the soccer team’s infamous 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. Along with Fassbender, the film stars Elisabeth Moss, Will Arnett, Uli Latukefu, Rhys Darby, Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Lehi Falepapalangi, Semu Filipo, Rachel House, Angus Sampson, Frankie Adams, Beulah Koale, Sisa Grey, Russell Satele, Karim Benz, and Chris Aloso. Variety exclusively reported in Nov. 2019 that Kaimana, a fa’afafine non-binary actor, will portray Jaiyah Saelua, the first non-binary player to compete in a men’s FIFA World Cup qualifier.

While most of Disney’s CinemaCon presentation was dominated by expected Disney fare like “The Little Mermaid,” “The Haunted Mansion,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Elemental,” there was still time spent on films from formally-Fox and formally-Fox Searchlight. Taiki Waititi and Iain Morris’ long-gestating “Next Goal Wins” stars Michael Fassbender as Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen’s efforts to lead the American Samoa national football team to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It also stars Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Kaimana, Rhys Darby, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss.

Searchlight Pictures is moving Taika Waititi’s next film, “Next Goal Wins,” into the Thanksgiving season with a release slate shift from September 22 to November 17. The Oscar-winning writer-director behind “Jojo Rabbit” and “Thor: Ragnarok” co-wrote the screenplay for “Next Goal Wins” with Iain Morris and is based on the true story of Thomas Rongen (played by Michael Fassbender), the soccer coach tasked with turning around the American Samoa national team, considered to be one of the weakest teams in international play, and make a longshot bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

Searchlight Pictures has pushed back the release date for the Taika Waititi-helmed Next Goal Wins, the soccer comedy starring Michael Fassbender, which the Oscar winner wrote with Iain Morris. The Hawaii-set feature is now set to open on November 17th, having previously been dated for September 22nd.

Searchlight’s Next Goal Wins from Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi is jumping from April 21 next year to Sept. 22. It won’t be a shocker if this film world premieres at TIFF as that’s whereWaititi’s Jojo Rabbit blasted off before its Oscar run winning the fest’s top prize, the People’s Choice Award.

SPOILER ALERT – Do not continue reading if you don’t want to know what happened during the finale of American Song Contest!

Kelly Clarkson is going hiking for her 40th birthday. The 39-yer-old pop star - who shot to fame at the age of 20 when she won the inaugural season of 'American Idol' back in 2002 - will reach the milestone birthday later this month and will be having a "low-key" celebration because she has had a "crazy" two years. She said: "I am literally so low-key.

Apple TV+ series Shining Girls starring Elisabeth Moss.Based on the novel by Lauren Beukes, Shining Girls follows Kirby Mazrachi (Moss) as a Chicago newspaper archivist who is the survivor of a traumatic assault. When she learns of a recent murder that’s linked to her case, she teams up with journalist Dan Velazquez (Wagner Moura) to understand her blurred reality and uncover the killer’s identity.Alongside Moss and Moura, the eight-episode thriller series stars Phillipa Soo, Amy Brenneman and Jamie Bell.Moss serves as an executive producer and director on the series.

2022 Winter Olympics are underway! The opening ceremony was held on Friday, at Beijing's National Stadium, which is also known as the «Bird's Nest,» and signaled the official start of the Games.The Parade of Nations, the part of the ceremony that highlights each competing nation in the Games, featured many standout moments including a shirtless skeleton competitor, a long-awaited moment for Jamaica, and a Ralph Lauren-clad Team USA.While the U.S. counted its second-largest Olympic delegation in history, other countries had just one athlete set to compete on their behalf. It all came to a close with an epic torch lighting that differed from years past.Keep reading for the five biggest moments from the opening ceremony.With Tonga's Pita Taufatofua sitting out the Olympics for the first time since 2014, fans worried that the cross-country skier's absence would mean they'd be deprived of a shirtless, oiled-up athlete during the Parade of Nations.

EXCLUSIVE: Deadline has learned that 7x Primetime Emmy nominee Will Arnett has stepped in for Armie Hammer on Searchlight Pictures’ soccer comedy Next Goal Wins directed by Oscar winner Taika Waititi.

Al Harrington, best known to classic TV fans as Detective Ben Kokua in the original "Hawaii Five-0" series, died Tuesday. He was 85.