China Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Concert documentary, “Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus,” directed by Neo Sora, will open in mainland Chinese cinemas on May 31. The film had its world premiere in official selection at the Venice festival last year. That was followed by an acclaimed run at the New York, London and Camerimage festivals. Japanese composer Sakamoto, who was awarded an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy and two Golden Globes, had a four-decade career that stretched from techno-pop to Oscar winning scores on films including “Merry Christmas, Mr.

Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation, boyband NCT 127, Red Velvet‘s Irene and more are expected to release new music in the third quarter of 2024, according to SM Entertainment.Today (May 8), SM Entertainment released its Earnings Release report for the first quarter of 2024, where the K-pop agency previewed its line-up of music releases for the third quarter of 2024. It details a slew of planned album, mini-album and single releases from several SM artists for the period.Two artists – Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation and boyband NCT 127 – are expected to release full-length albums during the upcoming quarter.

The leading ladies of Pretty Little Liars: Summer School hit the black carpet at the season two premiere held at TCL Chinese Theatre on Tuesday (May 7) in Hollywood.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor As expected, TikTok filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the U.S.’s new law that would force parent company ByteDance to sell the app — or face a nationwide ban. TikTok filed the lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S.

Michelle Yeoh has never been afraid of working on a TV show. Just in the last couple of years, she’s starred in series such as “American Born Chinese,” “The Brothers Sun,” and “Ark: The Animated Series.” And for her next big project, the award-winning actor is set to lead the cast of the upcoming “Blade Runner 2099.” READ MORE: ‘Blade Runner 2099’: ‘Shogun’s’ Jonathan Van Tulleken New Limited Series Director According to Deadline, Michelle Yeoh has signed on for a secretive role in the forthcoming Prime Video series, “Blade Runner 2099.” The series, as the title suggests, is the latest sequel in the “Blade Runner” franchise, taking place 50 years after the most recent film, “Blade Runner 2049.” Not many details are known about the show right now, other than filming is currently underway in Europe and at least two episodes are directed by “Shogun” helmer Jonathan van Tulleken.

EXCLUSIVE: The Latino Film Institute has set its lineup for the 23rd Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, which will take place from May 29th through June 2nd at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.

EXCLUSIVE: Chinese-Kiwi actor Yoson An has signed with Sovereign Talent Group. Sovereign will rep An’s writing and directing work. 

CoppaFeel! founder Kristen Hallenga has died, it has been announced.The Pride of Britain winner was diagnosed with incurable stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 23 in 2009. Kris was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump at the age of 22 while living abroad in China for 8 months. She visited her doctor 3 times before being diagnosed with incurable breast cancer.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief China- and Netherlands-based sales firm Fortissimo Films has picked up the international rights to new Chinese sports feature film “Wild Punch.” It will launch the film in territories outside mainland China next week at the Cannes Market. Co-directed by well-established director Yu Lik-wai and Wang Jing (“The Best Is Yet to Come”), “Wild Punch is a sports and action drama about a top mixed martial arts athlete who has passed the peak of his career and faces competition from his young and gifted trainee. Both with something to prove, the two will have to face each other in the ring. Yu has directed four feature films, including Cannes competition title “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and Venice title “Plastic City.” He is also well-established as a cinematographer who has worked on films including “Still Life,” “A Touch of Sin,” and “Mountains May Depart” by Jia Zhangke, Lou Ye’s “Love and Bruises” and Ann Hui’s “A Simple Life.” “Wild Punch” is produced by Momo Pictures, the subsidiary of the NASDAQ-listed Zhiwen Group, which is best-known for its Momo instant messaging mobile application.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “The Last Frenzy,” a comedy film about a dying man’s last hurrah, took the top spot in mainland Chinese cinemas ahead of chasing pack of new releases. It earned $30.7 million (RMB218 million) between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Over its full five-day opening session, it accumulated $55.2 million. In second place was patriotic action thriller “Formed Police Unit” which focused on Chinese peacekeeping forces.

Ryan Gosling opened up about sharing the stage with Slash during his performance of “I’m Just Ken” at the 2024 Oscars earlier this year.

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer The war of words wages on between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, and this time it’s personal.

At the Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy, Mitsuhiro Mihara’s Takano Tofu clinched the Golden Mulberry prize, the top honor at the festival’s audience awards.

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The stars of the new movie Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes stepped out for the L.A. premiere!

FromSoftware is gearing up to launch Elden Ring expansion Shadow Of The Erdtree, but the studio has also hinted that a sequel could be in the works.The Shadow Of The Erdtree expansion for Elden Ring was first announced back in February 2023, with the DLC due for release June 21.According to Bandai Namco, it is “FromSoftware’s largest expansion to date, where players must unravel the hidden mystery of the world from the acclaimed fantasy action RPG.” In a new interview with Chinese outlet Campfire Camp, FromSoftware head Hidetaka Miyazaki has confirmed that Shadow Of The Erdtree will be “the first and last” DLC for the game. “We have no plans to add more content to Elden Ring,” he said (via IGN).“Elden Ring emphasises exploration and adventure in a big world. In order to provide such an experience, a vast and huge setting is inevitably needed.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Takano Tofu” claimed double honors on the closing night of the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. It won the Golden Mulberry audience award and the MyMovies Purple Mulberry award. Directed by Mihara Mitsuhiro, “Takano Tofu” is a melodrama about an elderly tofu-making craftsman, who is stuck in his ways but is also experimental and who is kindly, but whose stubbornness brings suffering on those around him.

The Visa Cash App RB F1 Team is bringing a couple of very colorful cars to the Miami Grand Prix this weekend!

TikTok is capping off this week of NewFronts in New York with an even larger extravaganza than its first-ever edition in 2023.

EXCLUSIVE: DreamWorks Animation/Universal’s Kung Fu Panda 4 crossed the $500M mark globally this past weekend, reaching the milestone on a staggered release pattern that has worked well for the partners in the past (think Puss in Boots: The Last Wish). Through Wednesday, it’s at $324M international box office and $509M worldwide.

Apple‘s fiscal Q2 numbers beat Wall Street estimates on the top and bottom line in a market that was waiting for them with some trepidation — mainly news of iPhone sales in China. The dip there was less than anticipated. The stock is up more than 7% in after-hours trading.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor From “Ally McBeal” to “Elementary” “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” “Charlie’s Angels” and Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence,” Lucy Liu has created memorable characters, and the actor is also an accomplished artist. But, as Gold House readies to bestow her with the Legend award May 11 at the Gold Gala, she says, “It’s so moving.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou this week made his first-ever trip to the Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine, and appeared to fall in love with the theatrical and festival experience all over again. At a masterclass on Thursday morning, Zhang spoke of his filmmaking techniques and priorities, his enduring quest for the human touch and why not all films need to be masterpieces.

ITV have axed two of its comedy shows after just one series.The broadcaster has cut both Ruby Speaking and Count Abdulla which were both exclusively created for ITVX. Ruby Speaking followed newly-single Ruby (played by Jayde Adams) who worked at Hellocom call centre in Bristol.

Man City star Jack Grealish is known to love a Chinese takeaway. So much so, he reckons he orders the same thing to eat after every game.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed Shanghai and Los Angeles-based production, distribution and investment company Fundamental Films for representation.

A popular restaurant with locations in Glasgow and Edinburgh has been crowned the 'Best in Scotland' at a prestigious awards co-founded by Gok Wan.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor A new U.S. law could effectively ban TikTok nationwide as early as January 2025 — and half of Americans are OK with that, with many citing concerns about data privacy and Chinese propaganda. A majority of Americans (56%) have an unfavorable view of TikTok, and half support a nationwide U.S.

One year after it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, the New Zealand black comedy “Bad Behaviour,” starring Jennifer Connelly (“Top Gun: Maverick,” “Snowpiercer”), is finally coming out in North America. The film is the directorial debut of actor-turned-filmmaker Alice Englert.

BBC Radio 2 star Sara Cox has shared her shock at the prices of food when she took her husband to a posh restaurant for his birthday. Sara, from Bolton, said she made her family eat "only starters" after clocking the price of main meals at the "spendy" Chinese restaurant in the capital.