Normani, along with Alicia Keys, Swae Lee, Jack Harlow and The Kid Laroi, announced as performers at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards

shutterstock_1621467979

After fans petitioned on her behalf,  MTV announced that Normani has been added to the list of performers for this year’s  2021 MTV Video Music Awards. The network also announced earlier this week that Alicia Keys, Swae Lee, Jack Harlow, Tainy and Ozuna and The Kid Laroi will perform at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards show, to be held Sunday, September 12 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Other previously announced performers include Justin Bieber, Camila Cabello, Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly and Olivia Rodrigo. Doja Cat will also serve as the host for the VMAs. Bieber leads the field of nominees with seven nominations, including Artist of the Year and Video of the Year for appearing in DJ Khaled’s music video for “Popstar.”

The MTV VMAs will air Sunday, September 12th at 8 p.m. EDT on MTV.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson teaming up for the new film ‘Ghosted’ for Apple TV+

shutterstock_1560403673

Avengers costars Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson are teaming up together for a new film for Apple TV+.
‘Ghosted,’ described as a ‘romantic action adventure movie,’ will be directed by Rocketman’s Dexter Fletcher, with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (“Deadpool,” “Zombieland”) serving as writers.

The duo last starred together in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Evans, 40, played Steve Rodgers/Captain America since 2011 while Johansson, 36, played Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow since 2010.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Actress Olivia Munn and comedian John Mulaney expecting their first child together

shutterstock_1688207860

Comedian John Mulaney revealed that he and actress Olivia Munn, who began dating earlier this year, are expecting a baby together. Mulaney appeared on “Late Night with Seth Meyers”, and opened up about the past year — which included a drug relapse, rehabilitation, a divorce from ex-wife Anna Marie Tendler, and his relationship with Munn.

Mulaney said of Munn, “She held my hand through that hell, and we are having a baby, together. I’m gonna be a dad! I’m really — we’re both really, really happy.” He also shared how Munn has helped keep him sober and healthy as he recovers from addiction, saying, “Olivia and this baby have helped save me from myself.”

John and Olivia initially met at Meyer’s wedding in 2013, but the couple’s relationship did not begin until May, shortly after Mulaney and his ex-wife of six years had split.   The baby will be the first child for both John and Olivia.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Imagine Dragons announce North American ‘Mercury’ tour for 2022

shutterstock_1119039956

Imagine Dragons announced they will hit the road in 2022 in support of their newly released fifth studio album, ‘Mercury – Act 1.’  Imagine Dragons — comprised of members Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee and Daniel Platzman — released Mercury – Act 1 last Friday, which contains 13 tracks including “Follow You,” “Cutthroat” and “Wrecked.”

The ‘Mercury’ tour will kick-off on Feb. 6 at the FTX Arena in Miami, finishing up on March 14 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.  Tickets go on sale for the general public starting on Friday at 10 a.m. local time through  Ticketmaster.com.

Editorial credit: Brandon Nagy / Shutterstock.com

Kanye West earns his 10th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 chart with ‘Donda’

shutterstock_514473973

Kanye West reach the top of the Billboard 200 charts with DONDA debuting at No. 1, marking Kanye’s 10th No 1 album.  The 27-track project earned a total of 309,000 equivalent album units, with 272,000 streaming equivalent units, 37,000 in album sales and under 1,000 in track equivalent album units. DONDA garnered 357.39 million on-demand streams in its first week, beating the previous record set by J. Cole‘s The Off-Season in 2021.

Halsey‘s If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power opened at No. 2 with 98,000 equivalent album units, and Lil Tecca‘s We Love You Tecca 2 at No. 10 with 30,000 equivalent album units. Olivia Rodrigo dropped to No. 3, followed by Doja Cat and The Kid LAROI at Nos. 4 and 5.  Making up the bottom half of this week’s top 10 are Morgan Wallen, Billie Eilish, Rod Wave and Trippie Redd.

Editorial credit: DKSStyle / Shutterstock.com

Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Dolph Lundgren to return for ‘The Expendables 4’ along with 50 Cent, Megan Fox and more

shutterstock_1409949239

Lionsgate has officially announced “The Expendable 4” is in the works, reuniting Sylvester Stallone, Couture, Jason Statham, and Dolph Lundgren for an all-new feature film. In addition, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, and Tony Jaa will join the franchise in new roles for the sequel.

“We are thrilled to partner with our friends at Millennium Media for the next installment of The Expendables franchise,” said Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “It’s so much fun to bring these stars together for a no-holds-barred action film. The new film will raise the stakes and be the biggest, most badass adventure yet.”

In an Instagram post earlier this month, Stallone referred to the project as a “spinoff” with the temporary working title of ‘Christmas Story.’  Lionsgate hasn’t yet announced a release date for ‘The Expendables 4’ (aka Christmas Story) but filming is set to begin this fall.

Editorial credit: Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com

‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ tops North American box office over Labor Day weekend with earnings of $90M

shutterstock_1590533218

Marvel‘s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ set a new Labor Day box office record with a $90 million in earnings over the holiday weekend. According to reports, the film surpassed 2007’s record holder ‘Halloween,’ which garnered $30.6 million. Shang-Chi also earned $75.5 million from 4,300 domestic locations across across three days, and its international earnings came in at around $127.6 million. Shang-Chi’s three-day earnings also marks the second-biggest domestic opening of 2021, just behind ‘Black Widow‘s’ $80.3 million. and above ‘Fast and Furious 9‘s’ $90 million opening.

Shang-Chi will be exclusive to theaters for 45 days before hitting Disney+ Premier Access; Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson, hit both the Disney+ streaming service and theaters on the same day.

Editorial credit: Eugene Powers / Shutterstock.com

Janet Jackson shares first look at her upcoming documentary “JANET”

shutterstock_1098981524

Janet Jackson shared the first teaser trailer for her upcoming documentary, “JANET,” which will air over two nights in January 2022 on Lifetime and A&E to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her debut album.

Jackson wrote on Instagram alongside the video: “Hey u guys. Excited to share the first teaser of my new documentary with u. 😘 #JanetDoc”  The teaser clip begins with interview snippets from Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey and Paula Abdul speaking about Janet’s impactful music career, and Janet’s older brother Tito Jackson appears, saying, “she will always be my baby sister,” as fans can be heard chanting Janet’s name off-camera. Footage from Janet’s life and career is then shown as her 1986 hit “Control” plays in the background. Included in the trailer is archival footage of Janet’s brother Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, and her Poetic Justice costar Tupac Shakur, who was killed in 1996. The 55-year-old Jackson says in voiceover: “This is my story, told by me. Not through someone else’s eyes.”

More than “five years in the making” according to the trailer, the “JANET” documentary was announced in March and was filmed around the time of the death of her father, Joe Jackson, in June 2018.  Janet says in the teaser: “This is the truth. Take it or leave it. Love it or hate it. This is me.”

Editorial credit: Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock.com

Watch Drake’s new video “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Future and Young Thug

shutterstock_59022472

Shortly after dropping his early-anticipated, sixth studio album ‘Certified Lover Boy’ last Friday, Drake has shared the video for “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Future and Young Thug. Future, Young Thug, and L.A. Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard all appear in the video with Drake, as the ultimate R&B group.

‘Certified Lover Boy’ features from JAY-Z, Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Future, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Tems, Ty Dolla $ign, and Giveon. You can watch the video for “Way 2 Sexy” – here.

Editorial credit: John Steel / Shutterstock.com

‘The Wire’ actor Michael K. Williams found dead in NYC apartment

shutterstock_1356547403

Actor Michael K. Williams, known for his role as Omar Little in the HBO series “The Wire,” was found dead in his New York City apartment on Monday afternoon. He was 54. Williams was found dead at about 2 p.m. EDT, according to the New York City Police Department. Authorities found Williams in his apartment, located in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Williams’ longtime representative, Marianna Shafran, confirmed the news in a statement: “It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy-nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss.”

Williams was a regular on many HBO series, including “The Wire,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Night Of” and 2020′s “Lovecraft Country,” according to Variety. He also acted in films including “Inherent Vice,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Road.”  Williams was nominated for three Emmy Awards during his career, including this year for his role as Montrose Freeman on HBO’s “Lovecraft Country,” where he was nominated for best supporting actor in a drama series. Williams also was nominated for an Emmy in 2019 for outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie for his role as Bobby McCrary in the Netflix series, “When They See Us.”

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com